“Being black is very taxing at Carolina. Micro aggressions are everywhere.”

Posted on November 22, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Snowflake so specialUNC Chapel Hill recently joined the Snowflake flurries hitting college campuses across the country when protesters interrupted a town hall on ‘race relations’.  UNC Chapel Hill is probably the most liberal, left leaning college in the state, by the way.

The event had barely gotten started when a group of students marched in and began making demands. WNCN covered some of it in the clip below.

Quotes from the Echo Chamber: “Whose university? Our University”, “Traumatized by a statue…”, “historical racial violence of this university”.

You should read the demands. They titled it “A response to anti-blackness”.

Their list of demands is the most incredible laundry list of far left causes,  the likes of which we haven’t seen since Occupy Wall Street.   In fact, I’m tagging this post as ‘Occupy’, because that’s what this is — a resurgence of Occupy.

Cue the pearl clutching. Statues commemorating students who died during the confederacy that went unnoticed for decades now make people uncomfortable.

Now remember, UNC Chapel Hill is liberal leaning and I mean very liberal leaning, yet it’s so racist and micro-aggressive:

The Snowflakes closed their 12 page list of over 40 demands not with their names and signatures or a typical enclosure, but with a threat:

UNC snowflake threat

I have to ask,  where are the parents? Not just parents of the students protesting, but how about the rest of the campus? Not a single parent showing up to yank their kid out?

Not a single parent concerned that the patients seem to be running the asylum?  Really? Well, I’m embarrassed for you.

SisterToldjah Storified the whole thing from beginning to end — go and check out her article, UNC Chapel Hill town hall on “race & inclusion” not very inclusive.

Finally, as most North Carolinians know, if someone says the word ‘racist’ three times near a TV camera, the Reverend Barber appears.

 

Related Reading

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), Occupy, Poltical Correctness, Racial Justice, Social Justice | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Fed Lawsuit: Yes, ACT and College Board Can Sell Your Child’s Data

Posted on November 21, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Yesterday, the news broke that the ACT and College Board had won a federal suit filed against them.

ACT and the College Board won. The kids and parents of America lost.

The lawsuit, Specter v. ACT & College Board,  was filed in Illinois several years back when it was learned that the ACT and College Board were selling personally identifiable information (PII) that was being collected from their tests to third parties and universities.

PII includes, but is not limited to, things like  name, gender, date of birth and social security number.

Government FundraiserOver 1.5 million kids take these tests every year. ACT and College Board were selling their data at a rate between .33 cents and .37 cents each. There are thousands of groups buying this data.

One of the main points of the suit was the fact here was no notification to the test taker or parent that this ‘sharing’ was going on, much less that data was being sold.

Students taking these tests, who are mostly minors under the age of 18, have to affirmatively opt out of the ACT, meaning they have to check ‘yes I want to make my data available’,  whereas the SAT has an Opt-In approach.

The Judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to make their case showing harm to the students due to the collection and sale of the data.

“A plaintiff’s claim of injury in fact cannot be based solely on a defendant’s gain; it must be based on a plaintiff’s loss. Here, plaintiffs have not alleged that they lost anything of value as a result of the alleged misconduct,” Circuit Judge Michael Kanne said, writing for the three-judge panel. (CourthouseNews)

The Judge also ruled on two other points:

Second, the district court rejected the claimed injury of
diminished value of PII because Plaintiffs failed to “allege
that they have the ability to sell their personal information or
that Defendants’ conduct foreclosed them from entering into
a ‘value for value transaction’ relating to their PII.” Id.

Third, the district court rejected the alleged injury of fees
paid by third parties for Plaintiffs’ PII because “a plaintiff’s
injury must be based on the plaintiff’s loss, not the defendant’s
gain.” Id. at 4. The district court found that the Plaintiffs’
had not alleged that “they suffered an economic loss,
[only] that [Defendants] profited.” Id.

The ruling is linked at CourthouseNews and I also have a copy here.

In a nutshell, the ruling sides with the test companies. This ruling will arguably play into the growing Opt Out movement.

North Carolina uses a wide range of ACT products including ASPIRE, PLAN and WORKKEYS.  I’ve written about these tests before – they are Common Core aligned.

The SAT is also given in our state. Seeing as it as an Opt In mechanism, I don’t think it will come under as much fire at the ACT will.

What will the State Superintendent, June Atkinson, have to say about this ruling?

Given that Atkinson is running for reelection, this question should be put to her.

Related Reading

Also: The Astonishing Amount Of Data Being Collected On Your Child

 

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), June Atkinson, Testing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Covil Comes Out Swinging Early In #NC20 Race

Posted on November 20, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

Tammy_Covil-SMimgIn case you missed it, Rick Caitlin won’t be running again for his General Assembly seat representing District 20 (New Hanover).

Conservative Tammy Covil threw her hat in the ring, announcing her campaign live on the radio via the Freedom Action Radio network on November 2nd.

Within a week, Covil suddenly had company in the race. That company that might be unwelcome to voters familiar with Hillary Clinton’s pal,  Sid Blumenthal.

Holly Getz Grange is that unwelcome company. Grange works for Osprey Global Solutions, the company that Clinton’s pal Blumenthal was trying to protect in emails released related to the Benghazi scandal.

Covil’s question was clear:

“I look forward to getting to know you better over the next few months,” Covil wrote in an e-mail Wednesday from her New Hanover County Schools account. “I’m especially interested to hear why emails between Sydney (sic) Blumenthal and Hillary Clinton, which surfaced during the Bengazi (sic) hearings last month, indicate that while Mr. Blumenthal was pushing Secretary Clinton to war in Libya, he was privately lobbying to secure lucrative contracts for your company, Osprey Global Solutions. According to several articles, Mr. Blumenthal appears to own a financial interest in Osprey Global Solutions as well.”

Daily Haymaker has been covering this turn of events and includes Grange’s response:

“It’s very unfortunate that Ms. Covil, a member of my own party, has chosen to start this campaign so negatively and question my family’s service to our country,” Holly Grange told WWAY when reached by phone in Pennsylvania this evening.

Did you  catch that, folks?  Covil asked Grange about her business affiliations and Grange responded with misdirection.

Gee, Ms. Grange, that response was worthy of Hillary herself.

Covil is a fighter and  wasted no time in firing right back with a press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:
Tammy Covil
CovilforNCHouse@gmail.com 

COVIL PRESSES FOR ANSWERS REGARDING GRANGE’S DUBIOUS BUSINESS DEALINGS 

Wilmington, North Carolina, November 19, 2015 – Holly Grange’s attempt to avoid serious questions regarding her company’s business dealings with Sidney Blumenthal, a known Clinton operative and crony capitalist, will not deter the public’s quest for answers. Her military service is not, nor has it ever been, in question. She seeks to represent the residents of District 20 in the North Carolina House of Representatives; therefore, the fact that Mr. Blumenthal was actively lobbying to secure lucrative contracts on behalf of her company, Osprey Global Solutions, and that these efforts surfaced in Secretary Clinton’s email communications during the Benghazi hearings, are more than relevant to the position Ms. Grange is pursuing.

The last thing the people of North Carolina need is to send another person to the state house that seeks to line his or her pockets through government connections and surreptitious contracts.

The people of New Hanover County are demanding answers. It appears that Ms. Grange is not listening.

Covil clearly isn’t playing around.  Good for her.

I have no doubt Ms. Grange is a nice person, who served her country and considers herself to be a conservative, however there is the unmistakable stink of Establishment cologne in the air.

I’ll have more about the candidates in the NC 20 race in the coming weeks and months.

Related Reading

Via Daily Haymaker:
#ncga: A candidate to keep an eye on in SE NC
#ncga: Weeeeeeell, THAT didn’t take long.
#ncga: The claws come out!

 

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), ELECTIONS, NCGA | Tagged | 1 Comment

What They’re Saying About Education In NC – 11/20/15 – #NCED

Posted on November 20, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

NCED IconA round up of education news in the state of North Carolina and beyond.

Highlights: Snowflakes attack at UNC, WCPSS fight video,  CMS’s changing Enrollment numbers, NCAE double dip and follow the NC Ed Money.

UPDATE: North Carolina Common Core Commission –  November Meeting Highlights

ACTION: Call Your Reps: ESEA Reauthorization Needs To Be Seen By Public, Vote Delayed

 

#1 – More Snowflakes complain of “climate of fear” on another expensive Liberal College Campus.

More Special Snowflakes: 

#2 – NAACP accuses Harnett County of school resegregation

#3 – Wake School Fights Raise Questions

More Wake County:

#5 – Be wary of Teacher Shortage Stories

#6 – Follow the Money:

#7 – Union Co. teacher was served domestic violence protection order at school; now faces sexual assault charge…​

​#8 – CMS Enrollment growth falls short of projection; hits 6 year low​
Update: CMS overestimated growth at several high schools, tally shows 

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), NC Ed Updates | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on What They’re Saying About Education In NC – 11/20/15 – #NCED

Rubio Campaign Channeling Leeeeeeerooooooy Jenkins – #CruzCrew

Posted on November 19, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

For those of you who aren’t gamers, let me introduce you to Leeroy Jenkins.

Via Know Your Meme:
Leeroy Jenkins is the name of a World of Warcraft character that is known for screaming out his name before ignorantly charging headlong into battle, killing everyone in his party. Though the video may have been staged, Leeroy Jenkins was embraced by Blizzard, making several appearances in World of Warcraft products.

Here’s the video clip that started it all;  NSFW language warning.

The latest attacks on Ted Cruz by the Rubio campaign seem to be invoking the Leeroy Jenkins strategy. That is to say, rushing into things before really thinking it through.

Look, I like Rubio. If it were down to him and Hillary — yeah, I vote Rubio. I think he’s a serious guy.  I just am not discounting Cruz as being the nominee.

I think a Cruz/Rubio ticket would be very interesting and formidable. Let’s face it, these two when let loose can eviscerate people when debating. So let’s be clear here, this is not a hit piece on Rubio type article. This is a ‘pointing out a stupid ass line of attack’ type article.

Cruz Gang of 8 LookFirst, Rubio’s camp tried to paint the picture that Cruz was somehow pro-amnesty or ‘did a 180 on legal immigration’.

Yes, this narrative is coming from ‘Gang of 8’ Rubio.

Yeah, ummm no.

In a nutshell:

Then, the Rubio camp seems to be trying to say Cruz isn’t a good friend to Israel but gee, Rubio has always been Israel’s friend. Also apparently Cruz is now pals with Chuck Schumer. I lol’d.

What Rubio is really doing here is attacking Cruz’s voting record, in particular on military spending items.  Continue reading. This is a poo flinging strategy.Rubio Leeroy Card

At the same time as this ‘no friend to Israel’ narrative was launched, the Rubio camp has
flung poo at Cruz on his overall voting record, claiming Cruz has missed a lot of votes.

Both of them have missed more votes recently, one can easily chalk that up in part to campaigning. However, in general  it isn’t wise for people in glass houses shouldn’t throw poo. It’s just messy.

Cruz’s vote data only goes back to 2013, so we will compare starting there.

From Jan 2013 to march 2015, Cruz has missed 120 votes. During that same time period, Rubio missed 155 votes.

Rubio’s data goes back to January 2011. Total overall votes missed since then is 184. The trend line of his missed votes shows a steady increase, where are Cruz’s has fluxed up and down.

Conservatives, Moderates, Rabble Rabble…
In recent days, we’ve seen the narrative that ‘Rubio is a moderate’ being played out on Twitter. Let me say clearly, I believe Rubio is conservative.

However, in my opinion, Cruz is more conservative; I can’t help but get an establishment vibe off of Rubio.  His camps latest attacks on Cruz are giving me flashbacks to the 2012 race which was heavy in Establishment assaults on Tea  Party candidates.

But I digress.

Let’s look at some rankings and ratings.

Heritage Foundation’s most recent Scorecard ranked Cruz at 100% (lifetime score 98%), Rubio at 93% (lifetime score 90%).

American Conservative Union’s rating has strong rating for both of them. Their rating has Cruz at 100% and Rubio at 98%.

Project Vote Smart also has profiles for Cruz and Rubio. You can filter by different issues to see what they’ve done and where they stand.  You can also filter their profiles by ‘Data Type’. I encourage people to use that functionality to sort for “ratings/endorsements” and see the timeline of how the two have scored over the years according to various right and left leaning organizations.

Numbers USA, which focuses almost totally Immigration issues,  has created a 2016 Candidate scorecard.  Some of the results for Cruz and Rubio are below, but explore on your own.  Numbers USA gives Rubio an overall D and Cruz an A-.

Numbers USA  Career Scorecard
Cruz   A+
Rubio D+

Numbers USA Immigration Report Card
Cruz  B “Usually supports less immigration, less population growth, less foreign labor.”
Rubio  C-  “Leans toward higher immigration, population growth, foreign labor.”

 

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), ELECTIONS | Tagged | 1 Comment

Correcting the Spin – Cruz And Rubio on Immigration

Posted on November 18, 2015 by A.P. Dillon

IMG_2651Before we get to the meat of this story, let me say up front that I support Ted Cruz for President.

Period.
The end.
Do not pass go.
Do not collect $200 dollars.

 

Having said that, I’m sure some people will yell, ‘she’s biased!’, to which I will ask them to read the whole thing and then ask themselves where the real bias is.

Through the Twitter and blogosphere, a narrative has emerged.

A laughable narrative, indeed: Ted Cruz is soft on illegal immigration… because of his proposed 2013 amendment to Gang of Eight legislation.

Cruz himself even laughed.

Where did such a laughable narrative come from? Likely Rubio camp oppoistion research. Opposition research which clearly underestimated Cruz’s gamesmanship, intelligence and political moxy, not to mention insulting the intelligence of the American people.

Clearly, they thought the public was too dumb to follow such a nuanced bit of policy footwork.  Fail. This underestimation has resulted in the inevitable DERP boomerang now heading back at them.

NRO’s Andrew McCarthy has picked up on this laugh-fest.

McCarthy explains; emphasis is mine:

Cruz has cast himself as the Republican field’s most consistent voice against “amnesty” for illegal aliens. Yet Rubio, with an assist from former Senator Rick Santorum, claims that Cruz has actually advocated granting legal status to illegal aliens.

Taken out of context, the charge seems colorable. But under the circumstances as they actually occurred, the proposal Cruz made was a case of intelligent legislating designed to expose the fraudulence of the pro-amnesty position. It was, in this way, reminiscent of smart legislating by Rubio (and, for that matter, by Cruz) that highlighted the folly of President Obama’s Iran deal.

It would be disingenuous to portray Rubio, an ardent Iran-deal opponent, as an Iran-deal supporter on this basis. Yet that is exactly what Rubio is trying to do to Cruz on immigration.

YEP.

Go read the whole thing.

McCarthy drives home what some media are missing and that is what really went down and he does so in full, ‘blather’ exposing techni-color:

Against that background, Senator Cruz, who was a vigorous opponent of the Gang of Eight bill, proposed an amendment that would have stripped the possibility of a path to citizenship from the grant of legal status. The point of the proposal was not to grant a form of legal status to the illegal aliens — they were already to be granted legal status by the Rubio-Schumer legislation.

Cruz’s objective was to illustrate the fraudulence of the “out of the shadows” blather. Obviously, if the Gang of Eight had been sincere, a grant of limited legal status would have accomplished their purported humanitarian objective. But Cruz knew the Left would bitterly object, revealing that the true “comprehensive immigration reform” agenda was to mint new Democratic voters.

Indeed, Cruz made clear in proposing his amendment that the Gang of Eight would betray millions of legal immigrants who sought U.S. citizenship properly and that it therefore undermined the rule of law. And as the amnesty-friendly Huffington Post reported at the time, the point of Cruz’s amendment was to “take away one of [the Gang of Eight bill’s] central purposes: giving a pathway to citizenship to 11 million undocumented immigrants.” It is thus remarkable to find Rubio, of all people, depicting Cruz as an amnesty supporter because of Cruz’s attempt to expose the Democratic agenda that Rubio, whether out of naïveté or opportunism, was then promoting.

Boom. 

Memo to GOP ‘smart set‘ promulgating the Cruz/Gang of 8 Amendment blather.. and right now, you too, Hot Air:

You’re not as smart as Ted Cruz.

Posted in A.P. Dillon (LL1885), ELECTIONS | Tagged | 2 Comments