This is what I have to say about that. (Black-Focused Schools)

I don’t like to talk about controversial issues on this blog, however I have been asked a number of times, what is my opinion regarding Black-Focused Schools. When I tell them what I think, I do manage to make them see my point of view, and I find that they do agree with me.

For those of you not living in Toronto, here is the issue: Some areas of the city that have schools with high a population of black students are finding that there are high drop out rates, and the student are scoring lower academically. Some people feel that the school system is not looking at the needs of the black students, because they do not understand were they are coming from, and that a Black-Focused school may address this problem. This is just my opinion of the issue as I see it, and I know that there is a lot more to it then that.

Now what do I think? Yes there is a problem, and yes the school system is not doing what they need to do to fix it, and yes we do need Black-Focused schools. However I don’t think that a government run black-focused school will help the problem.
First off; I did not support giving government money to Faith-Based School, (that issue made me change my vote from the PC’s to the Liberals) so giving money to have a Black-Focused school is the same thing.
Second; the school system needs fixing, and doing this will just put a new problem inside a broken system, fix the entire system first.
What needs to be done is have Black-Focused schools, that are created from the community, run by the community, with community money, and these schools must be run out side of the public system (but also complement that system). Now I know this is something that would be harder to get off the ground. The black community in Canada does not have the level of funds that they do in the States, however unless we as black people start to look at the problem within and stop pointing the finger at others, we will not move forward as a community. Yes there are problem from the out side, but in Canada, those problems can be fix with education, and a strong family, and we are starting to waver on both fronts. 

Technorati tags: Black-Focused, schools, toronto, black

LiveJournal tags: Black-Focused, schools, toronto, black

This is what I have to say about that. (Black-Focused Schools)

I don’t like to talk about controversial issues on this blog, however I have been asked a number of times, what is my opinion regarding Black-Focused Schools. When I tell them what I think, I do manage to make them see my point of view, and I find that they do agree with me.

For those of you not living in Toronto, here is the issue: Some areas of the city that have schools with high a population of black students are finding that there are high drop out rates, and the student are scoring lower academically. Some people feel that the school system is not looking at the needs of the black students, because they do not understand were they are coming from, and that a Black-Focused school may address this problem. This is just my opinion of the issue as I see it, and I know that there is a lot more to it then that.

Now what do I think? Yes there is a problem, and yes the school system is not doing what they need to do to fix it, and yes we do need Black-Focused schools. However I don’t think that a government run black-focused school will help the problem.
First off; I did not support giving government money to Faith-Based School, (that issue made me change my vote from the PC’s to the Liberals) so giving money to have a Black-Focused school is the same thing.
Second; the school system needs fixing, and doing this will just put a new problem inside a broken system, fix the entire system first.
What needs to be done is have Black-Focused schools, that are created from the community, run by the community, with community money, and these schools must be run out side of the public system (but also complement that system). Now I know this is something that would be harder to get off the ground. The black community in Canada does not have the level of funds that they do in the States, however unless we as black people start to look at the problem within and stop pointing the finger at others, we will not move forward as a community. Yes there are problem from the out side, but in Canada, those problems can be fix with education, and a strong family, and we are starting to waver on both fronts. 

Technorati tags: Black-Focused, schools, toronto, black

LiveJournal tags: Black-Focused, schools, toronto, black

Windy Morning

I guess I will start up this blogging thing again. Long time no blog. Not a good first month for 2008. New Years Eve, was sick, and could not get out of bed for two weeks, then my first night of volleyball, I sprained my ankle, and it will take 4 to 6 weeks to heal; and just last weekend, first poker night of the year, I lost big time (my first lost in a long time). And to top it off, yesterday I locked my keys in the car. Here’s looking forward to February.

Woke up to a lot of nose out side, and did not know what it was, it was a strange sound. I was not too concerned, because the dog was not barking, so I did not care. Then Just before Dan left for work, he told me to look out the window; that gave me my answer to the noise in the early morning:

Green and Blue recycle bin’s all over the street, and no garbage in them (oh god, I bet all the neighbours garbage is at the side of our house. People don’t heed the News; they did say that it was going to be very windy today.) Oh god, let this month be done with.

I think I’m done with TV

Well not completely done with it, I will still watch the news and other types of informational programming; however, I will not go out of my way to watch entertainment type programming. From now on I will wait for people to tell me a show is good, and then I may watch the “DVD”.

Oh yes, and yesterday the neighbours came over, to look at the house; we are thinking of moving and so are they. I really don’t want to move at this time, but moving downtown may be better for us, financially.

Back to Movie reviews: Elizabeth: The Golden Age

So if you have not seen the first movie Elizabeth, and you like movies about history, shame on you; Elizabeth was an amazing film. As for this one; Elizabeth: the Golden Age, I would say that it is  not as good as the first, and that is too bad. It had all the story elements for a good film, it just did not flow well. The film looks good, the actors are all good in it, and the fact that it’s history, you would think that this could not disappoint. Well it did disappoint; some scenes felt way to long, and other scenes that had more historical information were way to short.

I did not walk away from the film hating it, but I wanted it to be more in the end. 5.5/10

Technorati tags: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Shekhar Kapur, Clive Owen, ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, Sir Walter Raleigh, Queen Elizabeth I, Spanish King Philip II, movie, movie review

First Tooth gone, Three more to go

Last week I had my first wisdom tooth removed, and it was not as bad as a thought. Well the removal was not too bad, however, a few hours later I was in real pain, and the pain lasted for the next 6 days. This was the first time in my life, were I let myself take some drugs so that I could get relief.

Even thou the removal of the tooth was not that bad, it took my dentist, around 20 minuets to remove it, (when it should have taken 5 minuets). He was scared that my tooth was going to brake, and that would have been bad. lucky for the both of us, it came out all in one piece. He told me that he waited keep my tooth and show it to his students, because my roots were pointed out to the side, and not strait up, and he was surprised that he got it out without braking it, (lucky for me). However, to me it just looks like a normal tooth, what do you think?

My next appointment is in February and I’m not looking forward to it.

Technorati tags: Wisdom Tooth, Dentist, pain, blood

First Tooth gone, Three more to go

Last week I had my first wisdom tooth removed, and it was not as bad as a thought. Well the removal was not too bad, however, a few hours later I was in real pain, and the pain lasted for the next 6 days. This was the first time in my life, were I let myself take some drugs so that I could get relief.

Even thou the removal of the tooth was not that bad, it took my dentist, around 20 minuets to remove it, (when it should have taken 5 minuets). He was scared that my tooth was going to brake, and that would have been bad. lucky for the both of us, it came out all in one piece. He told me that he waited keep my tooth and show it to his students, because my roots were pointed out to the side, and not strait up, and he was surprised that he got it out without braking it, (lucky for me). However, to me it just looks like a normal tooth, what do you think?

My next appointment is in February and I’m not looking forward to it.

Technorati tags: Wisdom Tooth, Dentist, pain, blood

Fun with Windows Live.

OK, I have not blogged in a long time, and I don’t know how long I will continue blogging, but I thought that I would give it another try.

This entry will be a short one. A few days ago I was listening to a podcast, a podcast about windows, Windows Weekly. Well they were talking about, MS Live, and the new Live bata download, you can get it here. Anyway’s, today I saw this link in the new Photo Gallery program, “Create Panoramic Photo”; so I thought that I would try it out, and this is what I got.

First, I did my office, it did not work that well, you can see the errors in the picture.

These are the posters that I just put up, in my office

My Family room, with Frodo. This one worked out well.

and the Living room with the front door.

I think I will have some fun with this tool. Now I’m thinking that MS is not that bad, and I might not get a Apple. Well still thinking about it.

Technorati Tags: MS Live , live , photos , panoramic photo , Windows Live Photo Gallery

Getting too old for games

I hope it is not true, but I find I’m not into games, the way I use to be. The only games I want to play, are the ones that are short, and quick to play. However I feel this is the fault of the game makers, games take way too much time to play, and you can’t just stop save, and come back later to continue playing.

Also I find that when I play a game for a long time, it now feels like I wasted all that time doing nothing, and getting nothing out of it. I is strange that I don’t feel that way about TV watching.

Oh well just something I was thinking about on my way to work.

Just Stuff

The last few days have been long, but things are going well, however I did miss going to the gym (which is not good)
 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
This past Friday, Rod, Hethos, and I went to see, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. It was not a bad movie; however I was a bit disappointed. I don’t want to give anything away, but I felt that the end was a big letdown. And there was less action in this one, then the second, I feel. As usual the effects were amazing, and the pace was good, however I was expecting a bigger action scene at the end. Oh well on to the next summer movie

  5.5/10 it’s just ok
 
Saturday, was a busy day. We first went over to my parent’s house at 9am just to say hi. Then we were off to see co-workers of Dan’s; she was nice. After that we ran home so that I can meet up with Jim; he was coming over (with his dog) to help me wire up the house (I really did not know what to do, and I did not want to make a mess of things).
Frodo was not happy that the other dog was in the house, and he did not behave well at all. Jim and I managed to get one of the room wired, however we still have to do my office. Later, we had a small BBQ; the stakes were really good.

Oh, and on Sunday, I finally got back to decorating my office. I put up some posters, which brought me back to my childhood.