Oreo Balls, They Taste Great and They Sound a Little Naughty

I had to attend another baby shower today, the 3rd so far this year (with 4 more to go), but this time I really didn't mind because one of our special ed. teachers had made her infamous Oreo Balls. They are so good that I'd be willing to bet the folks who wrote the Lays Potato Chip commercial (Bet you can't eat just one) had traveled forward in time and sampled them. She was also kind enough to share her recipe, which follows:

3 bags of Oreos (2 reg. & 1 double stuffed)
4 boxes of cream cheese
Chocolate almond bark (for dipping)
Vanilla almond bark (for drizzling)

Crush the Oreos in a Ziploc bag and pour into a large bowl. Mix the cream cheese in with the crushed Oreos. The mixture will still have a crumbly texture. Put the mixture in the refrigerator and let it set overnight. Take the mixture out and form into balls. Dip the balls into the melted chocolate almond bark and place on wax paper. After the chocolate hardens, drizzle the melted vanilla almond bark over the Oreo balls. Store the Oreo balls in the refrigerator.

Go ahead, try it. You WON'T be able to eat just one.

Another Katrina T-shirt

This one is for NYC Educator, who liked the levee shirt but didn't think it was funny.

If this one doesn't make you laugh big guy I'll have to get out the dirty ones.

A Funny Shirt Being Sold in New Orleans

I spent 4 days in the New Orleans area last week. This is one of the funnier (and clean) t-shirts being sold, just in case you need a laugh.

Bush Family Ethics at Work

From Jim Hightower comes this story of how clueless Neil Bush is benefitting from legislation championed by his brother W. According to the story:

As honcho of an outfit called Ignite! Learning, he goes around to school districts hustling a computerized learning center dubbed COW, for Curriculum On Wheels. Made up to look like a purple cow, it's wheeled into classrooms where it uses jingles and cartoon videos to "teach" students. Each COW costs $3,800 and at least 13 school districts have used No Child Left Behind money to purchase them. That money is primarily intended to help disadvantaged kids learn reading and math – yet, Neil's COWs don't teach either of these subjects. Curious.

My favorite part of the story:

Ignite's ethics are also on display in a company video on its website. A Texas teacher named Lori gives a glowing testimonial about how COW did wonders for a young student named India. Only, Lori is really not India's teacher. She's Ignite's marketing director. Ignite says Lori was not lying... just role playing.

Hightower doesn't mention a few other ethically challenged players in the education "reform" movement including Junk Bond King and convicted felon Micahel Milken, the moneybags for K12 Inc. Or William "The Book of Virtues" Bennett, whose book shares stories of how we all should all be living our lives while he is racking up huge gambling losses.

On a side note:

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Ahhh, vacation

Yesterday was a great day, nice weather, last Friday before a week off, a payday AND cinnamon rolls in the cafeteria for breakfast. It doesn't get any better than that.

Well, there was that fact that I forgot to finish my lesson plans. And I think I left some rechargeable batteries plugged in to the recharger. But other than that it was a pretty good day.

Now I'm off to spend the obligatory 3 days visiting relatives in Louisiana.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

A Dirty Little Cartoon

This comic is so delightfully dirty I had to post it. Of course, if you were never once an immature 14 year old male, or don't currently have the maturity of a 14 year old male, you may not get it or find it that dirty.

Enjoy!

The Texas Parent PAC scores big in the election

Via TexasISD.com comes this press release from the Texas Parent Pac, a public education advocacy group who has been extremely successful in electing pro education candidates to the Texas Congress.

According to the group:

Children, parents, and neighborhood public schools were big winners in the Texas House of Representatives elections Tuesday, as many new legislators were elected who are committed to strengthening public education. This was partly due to the efforts of Texas Parent PAC, a statewide political committee formed in July 2005 with the goal of electing more state legislators who would stand up for children and high quality public education.

All of the candidates supported by the Texas Parent PAC were successful, many defeating pro voucher candidates whoring for San Antonio millionaire Dr. James Leinenger.

One mistake in their press release, Donna Howard is a Republican, not a Democrat. She defeated Republican lapdog and public school basher Kent Grusendorf in the Republican primaries earlier in the year.