Archive for Education
Let’s Change The World
Posted by: | CommentsGoogle is planning to launch an experiment that we hope will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. We plan to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country. Our networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections. – Google Fiber Initiative
I’ll post the whole thing here at some point, but for now take yourselves over to googleavl to read all about Asheville’s effort to invite Google to town.
“You all heard about the Information Superhighway of the internet back in the day. Compared to a superhighway, this network is like a teleportation device. It’s so far beyond what anyone else is using that it gives Asheville the opportunity to dream big.”
More College Aid For Students
Posted by: | CommentsThumbs up to Congressional Democrats who passed this important reform of student aid. Our own Heath Shuler was among them – maintaining his strong record on education.
The House has voted in favor of the biggest overhaul of college aid programs since their creation in the 1960s — a bill to oust private lenders from the student loan business and put the government in charge.
Thursday’s vote was 253-171 in favor of a bill that fulfills an array of President Barack Obama’s campaign promises, ending subsidies for private lenders, boosting Pell Grants for needy students and paying for community college reforms, among other things.
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“Putting the government in charge of all federal loans would save taxpayers an estimated $87 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO says the figure could be much lower, $47 billion, when administrative costs and market conditions are considered.The money would boost Pell Grants for needy students, increasing the maximum grant by $1,400 to $6,900 over the next decade. It also would pay for a new college completion fund, community college reforms and more college aid for veterans.”
Protest NC Education Cuts Tonight at Pritchard Park
Posted by: | CommentsAsheville City Schools Superintendent – Budget Cut Webcast
Posted by: | CommentsState Budget Cuts Impact Asheville City Schools from Community Relations Department on Vimeo.
“The state house calls for cutting 6,000 classroom teachers across North Carolina. Additionally approximately 4,600 fewer classroom teacher assistants… 354 fewer instructional support personnel including counseling and media assistant personnel.”
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“10% reduction in the More at Four funging for preschool education.”
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“We’re going to place this list of items on our web page at Asheville City Schools, so I ask that you go and view this information.”
Behind the Irony Curtain
Posted by: | Comments
I couldn’t help but post this tidbit.
Apparently, Liberty University has booted the Democratic Party club from its campus.
Ray Reed of The News and Advance is reporting “Liberty University has revoked its recognition of the campus Democratic Party club, saying “we are unable to lend support to a club whose parent organization stands against the moral principles held by” the university.
“It kind of happened out of nowhere,” said Brian Diaz, president of LU’s student Democratic Party organization, which LU formally recognized in October.
Diaz said he was notified of the school’s decision May 15 in an e-mail from Mark Hine, vice president of student affairs.
According to the e-mail, the club must stop using the university’s name, holding meetings on campus, or advertising events. Violators could incur one or more reprimands under the school’s Liberty Way conduct code, and anyone who accumulates 30 reprimands is subject to expulsion.
Hine said late Thursday that the university could not sanction an official club that supported Democratic candidates.”
Read the rest of the article.
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Word is that campus officials are considering changing the name of their university to something other than Liberty to more accurately reflect the views and beliefs of the school.
May I suggest Liberty? University.
Bellamy Bringing the Broadband?
Posted by: | CommentsHunter Goosmann, the management mastermind behind the ERC’s regional broadband service, twittered a link to stimulus money dedicated to expanding broadband access:
Schedule and Milestones
Procurement for Grants Program Assistance Services March – June 2009
Award Contract for Grants Program Support June 2009
Preparation for Initial Solicitation for Proposals April – June 2009
Publish Notice of Funds Availability June 2009*
Initial Proposal Processing and Review Sept – Dec. 2009
Initial Grant Awards Made December 2009
Second Solicitation for Proposals Oct – Dec 2009
Third Solicitation for Proposals April – June 2010
All Awards to Be Made September 2010
Milestone Completion Date Award Contract for Grants Program Support 06/30/2009 Initial Grant Awards Made 12/31/2009 All Awards to Be Made 09/30/2010
Mayor Bellamy’s had her eye on it. Mtn. X:
The push to expand broadband Internet access in and around Asheville may be building steam, thanks to federal stimulus money. Mayor Terry Bellamy is meeting with state representatives and looking for ways to use money made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help make it happen.
In April, Bellamy was invited to attend Innovation Generation, a policy summit in Washington, D.C., whose guest list featured industry leaders, federal representatives and other mayors, touting broadband’s importance in leveling the field in education, technology and industry. Cheaper than laying new cables and other infrastructure, it also has a broader reach.
Action: Free The Spectrum
Posted by: | CommentsThe good news is that proponents of opening up unused “white space” on the broadcast television spectrum won a great victory with the news that the FCC is ready to vote to allow public use of unused t.v. spectrum for internet usage. This new pathway will allow rural people to have greatly increased and improved access to the internet. Watch this video to hear Minnie from Google explain the plan in four minutes
The bad news is that the teevee conglomerates don’t want plebes like you and me all up in their white spaces. This is an action item – read to the bottom for email addresses and phone numbers. The following info comes from Mountain Area Information Network:
Coming Soon – Scrutiny Hooligans Voting Guide
Posted by: | CommentsI had so many people come up to me after the primaries back in May thanking me for the voting guide that it felt like I got to vote several hundred times. I’ll be doing it again (hopefully before the early voting gets rolling on Thursday), and I wanted to put out the feelers to find out if there’s anyone here who has opinions on some of the harder-to-research races.
What do y’all know about the Buncombe School Board candidates? How about Soil and Water Conservation candidates?
Saturday Morning Reading
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Googly-eyed Bushbot Virginia Foxx isn’t the sure thing she used to be in NC-05. Her opponent is Coach Roy Carter, and the latest PPP poll has him within two points of an upset victory.
Extravablogiversapaloozathon 2008 is coming.
Kay Hagan, Holly Jones, Elaine Marshall, and a whole boatload of other Democratic Party candidates are yours today. I’m going to my niece’s 5th Birthday party, but y’all ought to go ask Bill Stanley about getting on board with his party rather than being such a Lieberman.
The Buncombe County Democratic Party is hosting a “United We Win” event at 4 p.m. today at party headquarters, 951 Old Fairview Road.
The event is free and open to the public, and free food will be provided.
Senior officials from the Bush administration and the Federal Reserve on Friday called in top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants, and told them that the government was preparing to place the two companies under federal control, officials and company executives briefed on the discussions said.
I’m guessing this isn’t the reason that Tim Peck is so worked up over Mayor Palin:
“The churches that Sarah has attended all believe in a literal translation of the Bible,” Ms. Kincaid said. “Her principal ethical and moral beliefs stem from this.”
Republicans swoop in to obstruct the Sarah Palin Troopergate investigation – Ah, it’s comforting that they’re so damned predictable:
“Also take note of the following, that we’re going to be looking into next week. Within days of Palin’s selection, at least seven of her aides and associates, who had previously agreed to cooperate with the trooper-gate investigation, informed investigator Steve Branchflower that they were now no longer willing to be deposed.”
Charles Taylor’s buddy Jack Abramoff is going to jail for his crimes against America.
McCain has all but abandoned his job in order to have enough time for naps between McCain First! campaign stops:
McCain by far, leads the pack of senators for votes skipped during the 110th Congress. McCain skipped 63.8% of votes. He beats out stroke sufferer Tim Johnson, and both Obama and Clinton in the midst of their epic struggle who all still managed to attend a majority of votes.
Is our children still learning?
Posted by: | CommentsSubmitted without comment.
(via News Hounds)
