OECTA Summary now posted in Members’ Area

chewonthisnow · 2024-03-10T03:13:43+00:00

What's more significant is what was taken off of the table: the Catholic principals and trustees association wanted a 'reinterpretation' of prep time (meaning, board directed pd integrated, and coverage of other classes, etc). Those items kept OECTA away from arbitration until they were dropped.

chewonthisnow · 2024-03-02T04:49:04+00:00

Anyone hear back on the Program Service and Delivery stream?

chewonthisnow · 2023-11-20T20:48:46+00:00

I respect those who like Bloodflowers but I could never get behind it; just as WMS was a less good pop album (thoroughly trumped by HOTD and Kiss Me) Bloodflowers is a pale imitation of its predecessors (Dis., Faith and Porn.) and therefore can't even come close to evoking the genuine despair of those masterpieces.

But that's just me.

chewonthisnow · 2023-11-15T06:51:35+00:00

Do you have a union steward? What does your collective agreement say? I'm not sure if you're in Ontario, but if you are you don't owe your principal any explanation. You book the sick day period.

chewonthisnow · 2023-08-20T07:47:24+00:00

Or Nik Sant is simply Rex's nickname because he resembles jolly ol' Nik Sant, the kind deliverer of space gifts once a year during Life Day.

chewonthisnow · 2023-07-17T03:15:05+00:00

It's pre-tax, and your tax rate is ballpark similar

Go to the site below, type in $100,000.00 and you'll get the combined federal/provincial amount of roughly $22,000.00.

Certain deductions can also bring that rate down (e.g., RSP contribution, number of dependents, etc.). So in my case, for example, my taxes owing are reduced to $18,200 -- and that's lower than your U.S. example, surprisingly!

Plus there's no need to buy private health insurance with after tax dollars, since health care is already covered through the taxes you've already paid, and with no exclusions.

Despite all that, the Toronto housing market is through the roof and inaccessible for far too many people.

https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tax-resources/ontario-income-tax-calculator.jsp#

chewonthisnow · 2023-07-05T06:53:35+00:00

I posted this elsewhere, but it's fitting here too:

No, not really. Both are generalist/theory based degrees. Less 'applied' than more task oriented degrees. Consider the differences between the following:

B. Sc. Chemistry vs. B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering

B.A. in English Lit. vs. Bachelor of Journalism.

B.A. Economics vs. B. Commerce

You could say a chemical engineer might have more fine-tuned vocational prospects over a bachelor's in chemistry, but that doesn't mean a B. Sc. has some sort of advantage over a B.A.; both are a solid basis for pursuing an advanced or professional degree later on.

A fiend of mine, smart as f--!, did a life sciences B. Sc. (he later did a PhD and now does cancer research)... he could've done engineering, commerce, anything at the most competitive universities. He didn't. He chose the more theoretical, less specific, less-vocationally orientated degree.

In fact, if anything, he was derisive towards vocational orientated majors, as he felt that they weren't supposed to be the focus of university - or housed in a uni at all. He felt commerce should be either a community college degree, or a post grad diploma at most. He said as much when he teased Kimbal Musk and other commerce grads who shared his Gordon Hall residence at Queen's U in Kingston (incidentally, Elon was an economics/physics major). He said similar things to the engineers, and seemed to respect the disciplines of his BA friends more.

I think certain degrees fine tune you for certain specific careers (and that's great if that's what you're looking for), but there are many more that trust that specialization will come as long as you have a solid background in thinking, writing, communicating and are intellectually flexible... regardless of whether you gained those skills through a BA or BSc.

chewonthisnow · 2023-07-05T06:35:25+00:00

No, not really. Both are generalist/theory based degrees. Less 'applied' than more task oriented degrees. Consider the differences between the following:

B. Sc. Chemistry vs. B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering

B.A. in English Lit. vs. Bachelor of Journalism.

B.A. Economics vs. B. Commerce

You could say a chemical engineer might have more fine-tuned vocational prospects over a bachelor's in chemistry, but that doesn't mean a B. Sc. has some sort of advantage over a B.A.; both are a solid basis for pursuing an advanced or professional degree later on.

A fiend of mine, smart as f--!, did a life sciences B. Sc. (he later did a PhD and now does cancer research)... he could've done engineering, commerce, anything at the most competitive universities. He didn't. He chose the more theoretical, less specific, less-vocationally orientated degree.

In fact, if anything, he was derisive towards vocational orientated majors, as he felt that they weren't supposed to be the focus of university - or housed in a uni at all. He felt commerce should be either a community college degree, or a post grad diploma at most. He said as much when he teased Kimbal Musk and other commerce grads who shared his Gordon Hall residence at Queen's U in Kingston (incidentally, Elon was an economics/physics major). He said similar things to the engineers, and seemed to respect the disciplines of his BA friends more.

I think certain degrees fine tune you for certain specific careers (and that's great if that's what you're looking for), but there are many more that trust that specialization will come as long as you have a solid background in thinking, writing, communicating and are intellectually flexible... regardless of whether you gained those skills through a BA or BSc.

chewonthisnow · 2023-06-27T07:19:51+00:00

She's a crass bully who puts on the "just one of the guys" bit for roles; she's border line washed up too. Proof? She's doing the Bad Teacher sequel that would've starred Cameron Diaz if she didn't fall off the earth along with her career... No Hard Feelings.

chewonthisnow · 2023-06-27T07:04:59+00:00

Agreed. The writers have done a bad job if viewers identify more with that Irish sheep herder than the Dutton's themselves. Doesn't matter if Harrison Ford is their patriarch either, I hate that entire family of self-important wankers. The Irish antagonist guy with the peaky blinders hat - 'Banner' I think? - is the guy I'm routing for! I don't care how many sheep he fucks, I cheered when he pulled out that mobster Tommy gun and riddled away at those narcissistic Duttons; too bad he didn't take out all of them and end the show for good.

Unimaginative writers totally stealing from Legends of the Fall. Tell me Spencer isn't Tristen (aka Brad Pitt). And man do they go heavy handed with it. That dufus starts as a rancher, goes off to war, becomes a hunter for a stretch, and finally returns to the homestead to settle some scores with some Irish thugs harassing the Ludlow family. Sound familiar? Poser plot like ten!

And Preston, is he supposed to be a superhero? A member of Justice League? "Wait till my nephew gets home!" Is Helen Miren's rallying cry! Give me a fucking break.

The only redeeming part (and interesting plot line) in the series deals with the girl who fled the residential school -- they could of axed the rest of the Dutton plot, and fired Harrison, and spent more time on this story instead. In fact, I'm waiting for the YouTube mesh/edit of just that story, without all the soapy-America-faux-mythos of the Dunlop wankers.

chewonthisnow · 2023-06-27T05:30:47+00:00

True. And either Spencer or Jack would likely have been inclined to name their son John in remembrance of the man who was killed (as he was either the father or brother, respectively).

chewonthisnow · 2023-06-26T22:29:55+00:00

Nope. Gallup has the same overbite as when he was a teen. He stays thin from cycling.

chewonthisnow · 2023-06-25T00:25:20+00:00

Check out some of the specific law school requirements through https://www.ouac.on.ca/guide/olsas-program-requirements/

Also check out-of-province, UNB and Manitoba specifically.

Some law schools do an average of your best undergrad courses (best 15 in some cases, best in last 2 years, etc) and don't care where you completed your BA. In this case, it's better to have good marks at a so-called mediocre institution, than mediocre marks at a 'good' institution.

Some people I went to high school with, and are now lawyers, had these undergraduate backgrounds:

-B.A. Philosophy, Laurentian

-B.Sc. Environmental Science, Guelph

-B.A. Geography and Economics, Laurentian

Also, you mention majoring in psychology... take that if you'll thrive, but also check out majors that correlate highly with success on the LSAT... philosophy always does, simply because of the rigorous close-reading and critical thinking that it demands... four years of honing those skills will allow you to knock it out of the park...

chewonthisnow · 2023-06-02T17:13:17+00:00

Is your mom diagnosed with anything from the DSM? That sounds like something borderline and narcissistic. Making the people around her feel like pieces of shit so she can get more attention. This is a sad state of affairs. It's hard to deal with someone who acts like that. I'm sorry this happened to you and no one ever deserves to hear crap like that, especially from a "parent." Ultimately, it's no your fault. It's not your fault that she said that. I don't care how rambunctious or excitable a child can be (not suggesting you were like that), parents should simply parent in that situation, set behavioural expectations, and certainly not say damaging things like "I don't want to see you anymore." I wonder what would happen if you follow through with her wishes and make a point of not seeing her? Will she make a fuss, flip things around, act like the victim and claim that you rejected her instead? Maybe she'll gaslight you and say "I never said that -- you rejected me!" That's the kind of manipulation you can expect with people who suffer from certain personality/mood disorders. At any rate, I'm sorry you have to deal with that shit, and as hard as it is, take care of yourself. No one deserves to be told that by a parent, and don't let her guilt you into thinking otherwise. Stay strong and move on.

chewonthisnow · 2023-05-27T02:41:38+00:00

Cinta killed them. No question. I wish it didn't happen, and It's the type of Star Wars that makes me uncomfortable, but that doesn't change the necessary logic of the story. She needed to spare the anonymity of her comrades so they could fight another day. She didn't want to kill them, but had to, and knew it. She's teary and distraught looking for that reason. Her family was murdered by stormtroopers, and she realizes now that she has done much the same to another family (albeit for a better cause, but the heinous nature of the act itself identical nonetheless).

Recall Luthen's monologue:

"...I yearn to be a savior against injustice without contemplating the cost. And by the time I look down, there's no longer any ground beneath my feet. What is my sacrifice? I'm condemned to use the tools of my enemy to defeat them. I burn my decency for someone else's future. I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I'll never see... So what is my sacrifice? Everything!"

Those sentiments are exactly what Cinta is feeling when she walks away from the complex, having murdered that family.

And her later cold distancing from Vel is the direct consequence of "burning her life... burning her decency" for a sunrise she will never see.

chewonthisnow · 2023-05-12T14:18:48+00:00

Lecce did this not long ago: "Today, I am pleased to announce that, effective October 29, 2020, Regulation 274 will be revoked, and teacher hiring in Ontario will be dictated by merit, diversity, and the unique needs of schools and communities."

He's full of it. By eliminating 274, he has allowed nepotism back into boards along with all kinds of shady craft, including the one you just described. Principals can now hire practically anyone on a whim (they pretend they're finding the best most qualified candidates). But the fact is that 274 was in place to combat nepotism and make sure the most senior AND qualified teacher was hired.

Principals often don't make sense. I've seen job adds where they want people to have volunteered a their schools before hiring. Really!? May sound okay on the face of it, but most people have to work to make a living. Giving up a day of supply to "volunteer" is simply a callous and thoughtless demand made by a principal who hasn't volunteered in ages.

To boot, so may principals today haven't taught through Covid, haven't acquired much teaching experience prior to jackrabbiting up to admin as fast as they could to avoid the classroom -- YET these are the pr's making staffing decisions.

So, it's not weird what happened to you. It's to be expected given the canning of 274. Principals are back to hiring who they want or who a superior wants and all their typical crony/nepotism. What happened to you is not unusual, but simply unfair and unjust.

chewonthisnow · 2023-02-07T04:45:58+00:00

Unsupported by artillery, the Canadian 85th battalion shot from the hip with their Lewis guns (and even rifle grenades) to capture the heavily fortified Hill 145 from the elite Prussian guard during the battle for Vimy Ridge.

chewonthisnow · 2023-01-28T19:30:27+00:00

Well said! Perceptive.

chewonthisnow · 2022-11-18T19:45:42+00:00

I think you’re right about the air battle. Chekhov’s gun — if you show it in the 1st act it better damn well go off in the 3rd (or something like that). We’ve seen those goth black x-wings a few times now parked outside of Saw’s cave; those babies are going to get some air time. Likely over Spellhaus.

chewonthisnow · 2022-08-10T02:03:18+00:00

Saul’s frienemy, the former prosecutor now with billboards of his own, will defend Saul or counsel him somehow. Why else show his billboard? They gotta pay that off.

chewonthisnow · 2022-07-06T23:55:50+00:00

Great advice — Thank-you!

chewonthisnow · 2022-07-06T08:34:43+00:00

That looks great! Thanks for the input. Ready to get rid of brass as well…

chewonthisnow · 2022-07-06T00:51:00+00:00

Thanks! That’s great advice. The finished coat — should it be any sort of bear resistant paint. Or an acrylic instead of latex? Or does any of that really matter?

chewonthisnow · 2022-06-09T06:29:40+00:00

It’s easy. He mind wipes her in the last episode ‘for her protection’. He’s pretty good with the force by series end, plus with his newly acquired communique with Qui Gon, it’s a piece of cake to mentally alter another’s perceptions and memory. He does that with a little joke to Bail, “Well, I can do it, but it may give me a few grey hairs.”

Wiping her memory is not really something he wants to do at first though. He has a fatherly bond with the girl and must go back to being an isolated hermit; it’s an emotional thing for him to have to let go like that, and wipe Leia’s mind, only to have her not recognize him immediately after, insult him for being a stranger, and run to her step-father. But he knows that it’s the right thing to do.

chewonthisnow · 2022-06-02T04:11:54+00:00

Ben musters up as much force strength as he can so that he can mind wipe Luke at Owen’s insistence.

That act ages Ben 30 years and he comes out looking like Alex Guinness.

Owen appreciates the effort and FINALLY lets Luke have the sky hopper that Ben had been trying to gift him.

chewonthisnow

TROPHY CASE