Word For The Day, Thursday, September 4, 2003

The Verbivores | 9/4/03 | Teacher

[RikaStrom]

In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of “word for the day”. Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the “word of the day”; in a sentence. The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. Practice makes perfect.....post on....

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fatuous \FACH-oo-us\, adjective:
fatuousness; noun
fatuously; adverb

1. Feeble in mind; weak; silly; stupid; foolish.
2. Without reality; illusory
3. Vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish
4. Delusive; unreal.

"Publishers persist in the fatuous belief that a little hocus-pocus in the front flap blurb will so dazzle readers that they'll be too dazed to notice the quality of what's on the pages inside." Irish Times, October 7, 1997

Etymology: [Latin fatuus, foolish, idiotic, silly..]

[xsmommy]

no subway stop to G'town. Hillary CLinton and SENATORS live there, you know they don't want to sully their little niche with the commoners that take public transit! never will be a subway stop there. she would have to walk about 4-blocks down the hill to Key bridge and then across to Rosslyn. it is doable, bc i used to live in Rosslyn when i was in lawschool and had no car and i would walk to G'town. but i don't think i want her doing that just yet.

[Gabz]

I remember my first day of HS. Because of where it was in relation to where I lived - it was a 3 city bus ride to and from.

[secret garden]

Not here. They can be sent to the Alternative Learning Center and then sent back into the school. Sure they may have things written in the handbook but see how often they follow their own rules.

[doubled]

Egytians want to sue the Jews
They best watch out for what ensues
A fatuous case
That is way off base
May end paying the Jews their dues.

[secret garden]

Any possibilities from the zipcode party?

[VRWCmember]

Now i'm PISSED OFF!

[secret garden]

Sorry. Really. But maybe there's a silver lining and we can use this issue to beat over voters' heads.

[xsmommy]

you know, we just don't do stuff like that. we are a self sufficient lot and don't cotton to relying on others. when xshub is out of town i will call the upperclass St James girl and ask her to give xsteen a ride. : )

[Conspiracy Guy]

Here in the backwards south you can get booted in a heartbeat. We don't allow no BS here. Except in the innercity schools that drain money and produce laborers. Birmingham public schools have a program called "Just Show Up" because absentees hurts dey money. "Just Show Up" what an inspiration to be somebody. Just Pooooooot

[xsmommy]

several of xsteen's new friends live in DC and take the bus, which is why i think she was adventurous enough to try the subway. she really didn't balk at the suggestion when her father made it. i was horrified when he suggested it, but didn't let on to her.

[Gabz]

I just know what I have experienced with what friends of mine in Delaware are going through.

There is a thread about parents suing one of the Delaware school districts over it - there is a lot of corruption - but once these kids get expelled - there is no going back.

[xsmommy]

the computer geek got the gremlins out of my computer.

[xsmommy]

i don't know what the experience is in pub schools. i know that bootings from St James do go on. There were triplet boys that came from pub school for 7th grade and they were not back for 8th! that was the exlax in the music teacher's coffee cup episode... no lie.

[Gabz]

That's one of the reasons we wanted out of dover - hubby refused to allow his daughter to wind up in the same "day care" center (as he referred to the local district) as he himself had endured.

I also saw, through my niece, what happens to the kids that do excel, they are given token 'advanced' classes and allowed to get bored. The premise being the district will get more money if it looks like they are filled with under/non achieving students.

To me that is bass-ackwards - I would think they would want the high achievers to promote what a great school they are and encourag others to attend, thus increasing their funding. But what do I know, I'm a product of Catholic schools?

[CholeraJoe]

Oh that's right. They all take limos and live in gated communities or well guarded high rises.

I live in a tarpaper shack in Montana across the street from the LtGov and don't have to lock my doors. Oh and I can carry a gun just about anytime I want.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Yea for the geek!

[Gabz]

You have to start loosening the ties, sometime (VBG)

[Gabz]

I also have no personal experience, just what I saw my SIL and some friends go through with their kids in Delaware schools (different districts, not the same one)

And I did a lot of research about the Accomac district before we made the final decision this is where we were coming.

Only time will tell, and I do plan on being involved.

[xsmommy]

i am ready to loose them, i was just anticipating her reaction and was pleasantly surprised that she was amenable to the idea. This HS is going to really broaden her horizons and help her achieve independence and maturity. i am very proud of her.

[Conspiracy Guy]

It's fo da chilrens.