Random crap with Uno.

[Unorthodox]

Wow.  BAPTIST missionaries.  That's a new one.  Musta thought they walked into Lucifer's house itself, with all the half finished projects in the front room tonight.  Hasty exit. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Was it funny or just sad?

[Unorthodox]

I find it humorous how it catches these kinds of folks totally off guard.  THEN they walked toward the neighbor's and saw Fred the scarecrow all crucified...yeah, I'm on a southbound train.  Might need to watch for vandals tonight. 

Though I'd have to hand it to anyone that managed to move Fred at all.  Had a group of teens try one year.  I watched them for 10 minutes before speaking up.  His support runs several feet down. 

[Geo]

Do you have to keep a regular watch over 'projects' standing in the garden?

[Unorthodox]

Not usually.  Most the local teens are on my side.  The year round projects are typically safe.  I do tend to stand guard from the time all the pumpkins are out. 

[Unorthodox]

Why Are Things Creepy?

[Buster's Uncle]

Huh.  I would have said it was because of you.

[Geo]

Nah, can't blame the toothy grin on UnO. 

[Buster's Uncle]

I just did.

Hey Uno, check out the Pulpomizer thread.

[Unorthodox]

Have they updated it?  Last time I tried to use it, it was cumbersome. 

Anyway, in case you all hadn't noticed, I've been mostly playing it rather casual re: halloween this year.  Er, casual for me.  Part of that is by design. 

2 major things happening this fall.

1.  We're heading to the mouse ears the first week of October.  This really changes the October dynamic for my time. 

2.  My daughter has already enterred the Chinese program.

Spent most the weekend trying to get the damn thing working on the laptop. 

I'm not sure how widespread this is in the nation, but here in Utah, this is a BIG deal.  Most districts have at least one immersion school, various languages.  The idea is to have them learn half the day in a foreign language from 1st through high school.  They would graduate high school with a minor in said language. 

Of course the district wants a commitment from US to stay in the program through highschool.  They currently only have the funds through 6th grade...

Virtually all the state's budget is tied into setting these up, the schools that get the program get that extra money, etc.  Oh, it's "Optional".  Sure.  As explained to us, there's 3 chinese classes Tali's age, and one normal class.  But, they're shuffling all the 'problem' children into the normal class, but you can still opt to send your child there, or to another school that has less funds and you have to arrange transportation. 

Anyhow, the chinese program comes with added responsibilities for us, especially first grade.  She's started homework already, 2 weeks before school starts.  She goes to school a full week early, and that first week is 9 hour days crash course in 100% chinese.     

[Buster's Uncle]

How does that work without Chinese-speaking teachers?

[Unorthodox]

We're importing teachers.

Started a couple years after Alec started school, so they now have teachers through the 4th grade.  Each year, they'll fire a couple local teachers and hire some chinese ones.  Real economy boost. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Hmmm.  I do see a problem, there...

[Unorthodox]

LONG term, the idea is that we'll create jobs for these Chinese speakers.  There is actually a fairly decent beginnings of a Utah/China economic partnership already. 

There are also spanish, french, and portuguese immersion schools, we're just 'lucky' to be the chinese pilot program. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Nothin' wrong with the idea, of course.  This could do a lot of good.

I just hope they work out the details sensibly, and sensibly is never the way to bet when it comes to public education.