Race to the Top on Steroids

EDUCATION: Race to the Top on Steroids

After 10 years, it’s time to revisit former President George W. Bush’s signature domestic policy achievement, No Child Left Behind. President Obama on Tuesday asked for a rewrite of the revolutionary standards-based law. He wants to set a high bar for states and school districts and give local governments more flexibility for achieving those goals.
There’s just one problem. Obama is modeling his education proposal after the current Race to the Top grant program, which is unpopular with Republicans on Capitol Hill. “Race to the Top should be the approach we follow this year as we replace No Child Left Behind with a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids,” Obama said in his State of the Union address, according to the written version of his speech.
Yet GOP lawmakers in charge of this year’s spending bills are looking to eliminate funding for the Education Department’s competitive grant program, which rewards extra money to states that demonstrate innovative ways to boost student achievement. Republicans and other critics of Race to the Top say the government isn’t clear about how it doles out the money and that it is is too dictatorial about the award criteria.
Nonetheless, no one disputes that No Child Left Behind needs some attention. At the very least, lawmakers need to tinker with the fast-approaching 2014 deadline when all states must demonstrate 100 percent proficiency in K-12 education standards. Without any change, school districts across the country will face punitive measures in a few years.
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline, R-Minn., has said he wants to tackle No Child Left Behind in pieces, preferring to steer clear of a massive, unwieldy rewrite of the law. “My goal is to pull back federal involvement in the day-to-day operation of our classrooms so the innovation and accountability being driven by states and local schools has a chance to succeed, and I hope we can find agreement in Washington to allow that to happen,” Kline said on Tuesday.
Obama is sensitive to critiques about an overbearing federal government, but the administration is unlikely to relax its achievement criteria for the sake of giving more power to states. Still, Obama made sure to state that education reform isn’t “just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards, and communities.” 

Mr. President Obama Say Tuesday Night

Mr President Obama Say This on Tuesday Night

With four days until President Obama gives his State of the Union address, interest groups have buried the White House with a barrage of unsolicited advice about what they want him to say.

The suggestions come from all quarters — the Mr. Obama’s liberal supporters who are already suspicious of his commitment to their causes, the conservative activists who oppose his policies and independent groups who are urging compromise and conciliation.

Gun control groups want the president to call for restrictions on the size of high capacity ammunition clips. Gay rights organizations say he should talk about bullying aimed at homosexuals. Think tanks believe he should focus on the nation’s debt. Tea Party groups hope he will endorse a repeal of his health care overhaul.

Aides to Mr. Obama remained largely silent on which of those, if any, are likely to make it into the president’s address, which he will give Tuesday night in front of a joint session of Congress.

“The State of the Union is an annual occasion to get a mountain of advice both public and private on what to include in the speech,” said Dan Pfeiffer, the president’s communications director. “A lot ends up on the cutting room floor, but getting all the ideas and sifting through them is a very constructive process.”

The Caucus asked more than 20 interest groups in Washington what advice they are giving the president, either in public or in private. Here’s a sampling of their responses:

Mark McKinnon, No Labels: “President Obama, you have an opportunity in your State of the Union Address to bookend the great speech you delivered in Tucson. We are at a potential inflection point in our politics where we have an opportunity to tone down heated hyper-partisan rhetoric and recognize that our opponents are not “enemies” but people of pure motive who just have a different approach and ideas. Your speech next week can help heal the partisan breach by compelling us all to work together to achieve consensus on the pressing issues facing the country.”

Damon Silvers, policy director for the AFL-CIO: “We need to have an economic recovery that creates jobs and rebuilds the middle class because if we are reduced to competing to cut spending instead of deciding how to compete in the world economy then we are having the wrong conversation. … We also hope that the president will protect and defend Social Security and Medicare, which are crucial lifelines for working families, seniors and the disabled.”

Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women: “I am writing to you with a heartfelt plea to take a stand against Social Security benefit cuts or any other weakening of the program that may be attempted in the new Congress. Will you speak out against any undermining of Social Security in your State of the Union message?”

Edward F. Coyle, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans: “Retirees will be watching the State of the Union address on Tuesday, and they will support President Obama’s call to lower federal spending. But they know that Social Security did not create these deficits and that we cannot balance the budget on the backs of current and future retirees.”

Mark Meckler and Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinators of Tea Party Patriots: “Based on his newfound understanding and respect for the views of the majority of Americans, Tea Party Patriots hopes that he will encourage repeal of Obamacare in the Senate, and then sign the bill and begin to engage in true bipartisan negotiations to solve the nation’s health care problems.”

Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring: “If he fails to address the need to rein in the excessive and economically ineffective deficit spending of his administration’s first two years, anything that he says about raising the debt ceiling should be disregarded.”

Paul Helmke, the president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: “We’re hoping he’s going to say something about gun violence. Here’s a chance for some leadership and some eloquence. He should call for a presidential commission on guns and support for the legislation limiting the size of ammo clips.”

Fred Sainz, spokesman for Human Rights Campaign: “This past year Americans were confronted with the epidemic of bullying against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people that goes on in our schools. The State of the Union address would be an appropriate time for the president to assert leadership on this moral issue and call on all schools to address the problem head on.”

Jim Kessler, vice president for Third Way: “The president ought to make long term economic growth the theme of his State of the Union. He should declare that with the passage of health care reform, America’s 85-year quest to weave a strong safety net is now complete. From there he would describe a clear, tangible, and compelling destination for the nation – that of American excellence. It is a destination where America has the strongest, most vibrant, and most advanced economy on earth.”

Ralph Benko, senior adviser on Economics for American Principles Project: “President Obama must make the case that public funds for essential government services not be used up in paying exorbitant retirement benefits, a trillion dollar problem that news reports show is threatening more than 100 American municipalities with bankruptcy and up to 20 states with insolvency.”

Former Senator Pete Domenici, a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center: “First, he must carefully explain the severe nature of the nation’s debt and deficit problem, showing why it is unlike any other fiscal problem we have ever faced. Next, he should discuss the consequences that may occur if we simply continue to delay facing the problem with concrete proposals. Finally, I hope that he will outline a comprehensive plan of what must be contained in a real debt stabilization initiative.”

Adam Green, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee: “He should use the State of the Union to draw a firm line in the sand against any reduction of the Social Security benefits that American workers earned, paid for, and do not want to see cut. Then he should offer a progressive vision for creating jobs and fighting for middle class families over big corporations.”

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform: “You should say you recognize that spending $800 billion on stimulus didn’t create jobs. You should say you will bring corporate tax rates down, extend the expensing of business investment, and allow repatriation of overseas assets. These are tax cuts that you and Democrats have endorsed that would have bipartisan support.”

Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters: “In order to be the kind of transformational leader he can be, he should show the country the way forth on dismantling the so-called Defense of Marriage Act so that the law no longer robs the states of their right to decide the question of marriage, nor deprives lawfully married gay Americans of their federal benefits. That’s the advice I’m giving to all the people I know who might actually influence the speech. If you want to be a leader, this is the speech in which to do it.”

News From: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

Vanishing On 7th Street Movie 2011

Vanishing On 7th Street Movie Trailer  2011 Release

Vanishing On 7th Street, “Vanishing onto 7th Street”’be used until the end of time as a horror thriller, where those who have remained stumbling around in a dark, deserted city light research against a seemingly eternal night. What of the point of view of an evangelical Christian beliefs, the strict terms of horror film needs a better villain.

Logic does not interfere with the attributes of a bloody horror film, but the public wants to understand the basic rules. This darkness, containing voices whispering and shadows, probably those who disappeared during the abduction, conquers souls alike.

The only rule seems to be someone clutching all sorts of light, a flashlight or even a match, is spared. Sometimes. Lights on and off willy-nilly if nothing is certain. And, really, how many times can you have characters journey and lose control of torch without prompting laughter?

When “Vanishing” hit theaters, the audience may already have gone small and since the magnet will be available upon request six weeks before.

The film, directed by Brad Anderson, proudly proclaims it was shot entirely in Detroit, probably because it is a great American city center that can watch and depression desert without too much effort by a film crew.

After a few wide shots of abandoned streets and damaged cars after a power outage, the film quickly retreats into a single, a tavern with the name of ridiculous “Happy Hour” Sonny, where four terrified survivors nestle against the dark miasma.

This is a slick TV journalist (Hayden Christensen), a physiotherapist (Thandie Newton) lost her baby missing, a projectionist (John Leguizamo), the projector saved him and a young (Jacob Latimore) saves his mother’s bar.

The city’s infrastructure has collapsed and the daylight hours grow shorter precipitously. Meanwhile all the characters often scream and shout if the seat was as much mental as physical. And while it is the survivors continue to run the jukebox with its old fine collection of rhythm and blues, it takes forever to realize they are running the generator of the tavern, their only source of light.

Anthony Jaswinski script focuses on the shock and terror on religious issues, although the role of a church in the neighborhood of the savings of characters and a little chatter about guilt and destiny ensures that these issues are not completely fade into obscurity. The film is designed more to tease the audience as the edges of darkness creeping ever closer to its few characters.

Anderson provides a number of style and energy in his direction. But the threat is too amorphous and people disappear, leaving behind only a pile of clothes for their existence on Earth, with no real horror. Indeed, if not removed, their disappearance should not be cause for celebration?

As the film ends on a note very flat, it is possible that the filmmakers themselves never quite understood what this threat to humanity omens. Never go in the direction of a film of alien invasion, “Vanishing” fails to establish even an M. Night Shyamalan feeling of dread. A cloud of darkness creeping sensitive along the streets may be obscured already photogenic, but it’s not exactly a bad guy you love to hate.

Vanishing On 7th Street Movie Trailer

News From: usspost.com

Comcast's local-news On the Media

On the Media: Comcast's local-news pledge rings hollow

Given the hucksterism that qualifies as reporting in the 'public interest,' don't expect much improvement at KNBC-TV after the latest media mega-merger.

Among the many promises made in its just-approved takeover of NBC Universal, Comcast Corp. pledged to sustain and even add hundreds of hours to the news and public affairs programming at the 10 TV stations NBC owns around the country.

As a baby step in the right direction, NBC should start by putting in the garbage-disposal all those no-calorie "news" segments about, for example, "The Biggest Loser," "Law & Order," "America's Got Talent" and movies from Universal Pictures. Convert those time slots, instead, to some meat and potatoes coverage about what's happening in our neighborhoods, our schools, our city halls.

Not that there appears to be the vaguest hope that the news savants at NBC will ask local stations to back away from shameless hucksterism. That's the stock in trade across the television networks when it comes to using the news to pump up other corporate properties.

If you want to see Exhibit 1 that NBC's local stations don't have a clue about what constitutes real news, take a trip out to KNBC's headquarters in Beautiful Downtown Burbank. There, like at other FCC-licensed stations, you have the right to eyeball the "public file."

The file includes all sorts of interesting morsels but most importantly — for these purposes — a listing of the news programs that the stations consider serve the public best.

What makes you want to laugh (or is it cry?) are some of the stories listed under the report titled "Quarterly List of Programming Providing the Most Significant Treatment of Community Issues." In the last three months of 2010, there was a segment from Sept. 16 called "A giant inflatable gorilla has been stolen from a Simi Valley Kia dealership." Or this from Dec. 15: "KISS vocalist Paul Stanley has a second career as a painter."

Then come the multiple line items listing KNBC stories that shill for NBC's prime-time lineup, at least a handful for "The Biggest Loser," the same for "America's Got Talent," a couple of pieces on "Law & Order Los Angeles" and a story on the finale of the a cappella singing competition "The Sing Off."

But NBC Uni owns a lot of things. So don't just pimp your TV offerings. You've got theme parks too. In September, viewers saw about three minutes on the 11 p.m. newscast, according to the log, on the opening of "Bates Motel: The annual Halloween Horror Nights attraction" at Universal Studios. An anchor assured us it was a "great time" and weatherman Fritz Coleman called it "the best haunt in town."

And your Universal Pictures division has movies. So there's not only a story about "The Dilemma," the recent Ron Howard pic about a couple of buddies and marital trouble, but one hawking a title from Universal's film library. The public surely is well served by that story on the 25th anniversary of "Back to the Future," now available from Universal Home Entertainment! And for the 30th anniversary? Perhaps a half-hour "Special Report."

If this ranks among the "most significant" treatment of community issues, you would hate to see the worst, wouldn't you?

To hold an FCC license, stations like KNBC agree that in exchange for the use of the precious and finite public airwaves they will operate in the "public interest." That means airing programs that are "responsive to the needs and problems of its local community."

The helpful people at KNBC will lead you to a file drawer jammed with quarterly reports, dating back more than a decade, documenting its compliance with these rules.

In addition to the faux public service offerings promoting NBC Universal products, the bulk of the listings are for legitimate or semi-legitimate news stories. I found notations about political stories, piles of crime reporting and, for example, investigative reporter Joel Grover's look at how some local farmers markets aren't so local, or so organic.

As part of its union with NBC, Comcast has pledged to add 1,000 hours of news and public affairs programming a year across the 10 stations that it owns and operates, including KNBC. That would break down to just 16 minutes per day per station, according to public interest groups.

The company hasn't said how it will fulfill that obligation, or how anyone could really measure it, given the unspecified starting point for that kind of programming. Still, some who work inside KNBC think that the station will meet its portion of the obligation via a soon-to-be-launched digital news channel called California Non Stop.

The people I talked to, who didn't want to be named for fear of losing their jobs, predicted the California Non Stop programs would not reach nearly as many viewers as the mother station, KNBC. They said the lineup of shows on the drawing board — with names like "The Mix," and "the Rundown" and "Foodies" — will be fluffy, advertiser-friendly fare.

Another person inside KNBC defended the new programming, as well as the story choices that KNBC makes every day. "The lion's share of what we do are things that are substantive to the local market," said this individual, who declined to be named while the Comcast deal is pending.

I don't want to be a cynic about the chances of local news coverage improving under Comcast. But less than a year ago, USC's Norman Lear Center released a study showing that all Los Angeles' TV news stations manage an average of just 22 seconds of local government coverage for every half hour of news they put on the air.

And we're talking about the station, KNBC, that pushed into infotainment overdrive so aggressively that the previous news director hired one of the "Real Housewives of Orange County" to report a story on federal credit card rules. (That show is on Bravo, an NBC Uni cable channel.)

There has been lots of blather about the FCC imposing reporting requirements and other provisions to assure that the latest media mega-merger will not lead to a further diminution in the news.

If you believe that, think about this: The KNBC log book, chockablock with listings of promotional stories, was an earlier FCC device, designed to assure a flowering of broadcasting in the public interest.


News From: www.latimes.com

Soderling, Murray cruise, Clijsters marches on

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Robin Soderling and Andy Murray served up reminders that there are more than two contenders for the men's title at the Australian Open with dominant third-round victories on Saturday.

While a Melbourne Park bathed in sunshine awaited the much-hyped encounter between world number one Rafa Nadal and local teenager Bernard Tomic, fourth seed Soderling and fifth seed Murray joined defending champion Roger Federer in the last 16.

Kim Clijsters also continued to glide through the women's draw even if the Belgian admitted she was not at her best in her 7-6 6-3 victory over Alize Cornet, which spoiled the Frenchwoman's birthday.

"You never play a whole tournament playing your best tennis and you have to also work for it," said the three-times U.S. Open champion. "I think that's what I had to do today."

Sam Stosur was later unable to raise her game to keep alive her dreams of ending Australia's three decades without a local champion, the fifth seed crumpling to a 7-6 6-3 defeat to Czech Petra Kvitova on Rod Laver Arena.

Murray, who knows a thing or two about the weight of home expectation from his Wimbledon experiences, was clinical in his 6-1 6-1 6-2 dismantling of Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

"It was good," the Briton, who lost to Federer in the final here last year, said after the 82-minute contest.

"Obviously, it was a quick match. Served well. Hit the ball clean from the back. That was it."

Soderling's 6-3 6-1 6-4 trouncing of Czech qualifier Jan Hernych took longer but was equally comprehensive. Both he and Murray have yet to drop a set this week and the Swede thought Nadal and Federer were not necessarily shoe-ins for the final.

"I think there's many guys who can actually compete against them and have a chance to win the tournaments like this when they're playing well," he said.

Like Soderling and Murray, Vera Zvonareva is still seeking her first grand slam title and she was delighted with her form after a 6-3 7-6 win over Lucie Safarova.

"If you would compare today's match to my first match, I think I was playing a different level already," said the second seeded Russian.

Two men's seeds had less successful days, however, with 10th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny crashing out 6-4 7-5 4-6 6-4 to Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic and 2008 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga losing 3-6 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-1 to Alexandr Dolgopolov.

ISNER MARATHON

Big-serving Raonic played with a confidence that belied his ranking of 152nd and his victory over Russian Youzhny surprised everybody but himself.

"I know I can play well and I know I can play at this level," said the 20-year-old. "I can't say I would be shocked if I wasn't here. But I'm not really shocked I am here."

Ukrainian Dolgopolov rated his victory over Tsonga as the best of his career but admitted Tsonga, who slipped out of the top 10 after missing three months of last year with a knee injury, had not been at the top of his game.

"I knew the chances were in his favour, but I knew I was prepared to fight for every point... I can't say I would be shocked if I wasn't here. But I'm not really shocked I am here."

Dolgopolov rated his victory over Tsonga as the best of his career, but admitted the French 13th seed had not been at the top of his game on Margaret Court Arena.

"I could see he's pretty tired," said the 22-year-old Ukrainian. "His physical form is not probably the best now."

Tsonga, who slipped out of the top 10 after missing three months of last year with a knee injury, was blunt in his assessment of the reasons for his defeat.

"Because maybe he was better than me," said the 25-year-old, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 final and Federer in the semi-finals here last year.

"That's it. He was better than me. He played a better match. He was more consistent maybe than me. That's why."

News From: www.reuters.com