HELPING OURSELVES

Lynn Tech Electrical shop students' summer project aids school safety

This is the kind of positive thing LPS needs to do more of. Students learn while fixing the schools, a win-win. We have such a great resource at LYNN TECH, we need to tapp it more!

GOING GOOD OR JUST GOOD TO GO

The Daily Item: Latham on class sizes: We're in good shape

itemlive.com

THIS IS GOOD TO KNOW!

but.....

how do we know it's good?

I mean this is the same news source that touted the WASHINGTON SCHOOL as an INNOVATION SCHOOL. Everybody knows now they were wrong. LPS even took down the misinformation on their own website, http://www.lynnschools.org/.

I wonder though about the accuracy of this claim since FORD SCHOOL is going to have UNPRECEDENTED enrollment, at least in the past twenty years. Then there are the TRACY TROUBLES with a class the size of 31.

STILL, we are told....

"Class sizes at the elementary level are very good right now," Latham said.

That is an admission to me that there are overcrowding issues at the upper levels. We all heard stories last year of BREED BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. We have new principals at two of the three middle schools with new assistant principals at all three.

Makes you wonder about just what the definition of "good" is.

Besides once somebody lies, you're NEVER really trust anything they say.

BE ON THE WATCH

Just passing this along.......

.... because knowlege is power and the more I pass this along ...the more everyone helps keeping our teens safer. 
I just had a small C.W. meeting this evening and a Drug officer was in attendance. He shared with our group the likes of this Synthetic drug marjunia being sold as what appears to be a Harry Potter type of picture, the size of a kool aid package with the name on it Time Traveler (blueberry potpourri ) . If anyone knows of a store selling this please contact Lynn Police. The Packaging is geared more to the young teens.. and is in Lynn now ... just before the start of school...throught my research this goes by many names.. so beware.. keep eyes open at variety stores, gas stations, convienence stores..

WOTRING WING ON THE WAY!

The Daily Item: Marshall planning process moving forward itemlive.com

I can't wait to hear about the hearings. I'm doing finger exercises to get in shape. Maybe we should invite KIPP to Komment. I mean they did build that new school and well we have a few schools to build.

CLEO CRUNCHES THE NUMBERS

An Education: Lynn Educational Attainment Data

Look at CLEO's figures. STOP THAT! No I'm not talking about her shape, C'mon now, she could be my daughter.

Folks we have a problem. Doing nothing is going to cost us MORE. We have already paid for the solution, we just need to stop spending the money we have already paid on administrators raises and Ford's junk. Really, I was talking about the cars we lease for certain administrators at the tune of $350 a month!

GED’S AIN’T FOR THE FREE, DON’T YOU SEE

Lately I have been coming into my BOSTON STREET BRANCH OFFICE and complaining about the prospect of LPS paying for GED classes because they feel the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ought to pay for this expenditure. Guess what? They already do, it’s called TITLE 1. There is a mandate for PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. It is 10%

That’s currently about $600,000. How has this amount being spent? What programs are already in place? Maybe what we need is an independent audit.  That would be good because my arm is getting tired from lobbing information grenades. Sure, sometimes I use a flame thrower when a cigarette lighter would do, but hey I’m a POET that’s what I do.             

With a graduation rate hovering around 70%, LPS has to be adding somewhere near 300 new potential GED candidates a year. How many events during the year does any LPS school have that many people in attendance? Looks like the out-of-school activity is the biggest after activity, I mean with a FAILING school district I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Failure has no language barrier.

Why should we care? I mean if people get their GED’s, they would get better jobs, make more money getting off public assistance, food stamps, and all those other government freebies. Then our taxes would go down and I, for one, like paying taxes. .

Why should we care? I mean if people get their GED’s, they would get better jobs, make more money getting off public assistance, food stamps, and all those other government freebies. Then our taxes would go down and I, for one, like paying taxes. Yes, let’s keep those freeloaders right where they are (Oh, I forgot I don’t pay taxes, I’m one of the freeloaders).

The point is that by following a recipe for success LPS would be showing that education is important and we value it.                                 

A NEW ORGANIZATION, A NEW INNOVATION

Gathering in a basement last night, the group of parents forming the LYNN PARENTS ORGANIZING for BETTER EDUCATION pushed forward its positive agenda on how parents and educators could better interface to connect for our common goals.

A movement is underway. What had started as a handful of parents has become a full-fledged group. There is even talk of T-shirts.

Although there was around half as many there last night as where at the COOK-OUT KICK-OFF at JESSE’s house SUNDAY night. People came last night without the promise that JESSE would be on the grill. On top of that there were some DIFFERENT people, suggesting the width of this movement. In fact there was a need to translate every word.

Our differences represent the potential for energy, for ACTION. It is the coming together that will release that energy. Off we will go.

The conducting of a survey was discussed which poll parents at the different schools on what changes would need to be made at OUR schools and what WE need to do to make them. It was not about CONFRONTATION, it was about OWNERSHIP.

COBBETT CONDEMNED, TO CLOSE

Lynn School officials are scrambling to devise alternatives to handle the now "homeless" 700 elementary students. COBBETT is being closed due to numerous HEALTH CODE violations ranging from asbestos contamination to not having the proper number of restrooms for a building whose principal occupants are under the age of 13.

"We may be faced with delaying the start of the school year and subsequently extending the end of the school year", one anonymous official was quoted as saying.

Calls to the administration were characteristically un-returned.

Sources for this report were the same ones used in the ORWELLIAN report on the WAR OF THE WORLDS!

"JOHN THE RIPPER" WANTS CITY TO PAY FOR PART OF FORD'S JUNK

 Retirement board OKs Ford pension

I wonder how someone who gets a STIPEND and not a SALARY can be considered an employee? My guess and it is only a guess is that "LESS THAN GENTLE" JOHN has surveyed the scene, has some misgivings about the sustainability of his union pension and decided to use his documented penchant for slicing to CARVE UP some of the city budget.

I AM GLAD I AM POOR AND DON'T OWN PROPERTY. THE THOUGHT OF MY TAXES.....WELL, YOU KNOW!

SO YOU ARE ADMITTING DEFEAT?

If you notice on the LYNN SCHOOLS website, http://www.lynnschools.org/, they have taken off reference to the WASHINGTON so called-INNOVATION SCHOOL. Why is that? Could I be alluding to the illusion in innovation?

Listen I am HAPPY to have a NEW school and I'm sure the PRINCIPAL and the TEACHERS will do a good job or I will call them out on it. What I didn't like was the hypocritical defacing of the memory of our first president by distorting the facts and OUTRIGHT LYING.

Thank goodness for LORI for following up on this travesty.

Remember I once asked LPS if they were FEELING LUCKY? Guess not.

LPOBE HAS POP-(POWER OF the PARENT)

The time was Sunday night at 6 sharp; the place was the Jaegar backyard.

There was food everywhere, from steak tips and hot dogs on JESSE’S grill to spring rolls with boison sauce brought by one of the guests. Desserts were numerous and plentiful (Trippy got a plate of just sweets).I heard one parent joke about how their kid would try and justify carrot cake as counting as having a vegetable.

However, this cookout had a cause other than culinary curiosity. It was sponsored by LYNN PARENTS ORGANIZING for BETTER EDUCATION. About forty people showed up in JESSE JAEGAR’S backyard for a celebratory kick-off for the upcoming school year. Several ideas were discussed as ways to make the upcoming school year more productive. Since parents have such a vested interest in the various educational opportunities, the TARGET population was present.

After everyone had ample opportunity to feed their face, JESSE presented a message like a parental prophet: ORGANIZE. Single whispers can be multiplied to a booming voice. Verbal artillery is the weapon of choice.

TAKE OFF ON TITLE 1

 Carrasco: Lynn needs to offer more GED classes

Ten percent of the TITLE 1 grant is mandated to be for parent involvement. What a good way to spend that money, helping our under-educated parents get their GED diploma. Watching their parents go through the classes provides a priceless example of the value of education for our kids. It's like spending the money twice.

Since we get over 6 million dollars a year in TITLE 1 that would mean $600,000 for parent involvement, I wonder just what we ACTUALLY spend that money on? Would anyone else be interested in seeing a full accounting of just how the money is spent?

LPS "STONE COLD" ON SPECIAL EDUCATION

What's up with thee PARENT LIAISON position with LPS? Currently this position is occupied in a part-time capacity by FRANCES MARTINEZ. The only problem is working with parents has been the other part. She was ABSENT from the last few PAC meetings at the end of the school year last year. Seems like going to where the parents are would be an easy, logical way to start liasioning. Didn't happen.

Why is ole FRANCES part time any way. Ah yeah, because the person in that job is out on a MEDICAL leave because of injuries sustained in a car wreck (car wrecks and injuries, I am getting flashbacks while I write this). It's been what THREE YEARS NOW?

Why has this DRAGGED on? If she is not recovered enough by now to come back to work, she ain't gonna be. Give her her disability and move on. Parents are suffering from a LACK of MANDATED support and LAWYERS are getting rich from billable hours.

This would not be a new expense, the money is already there. What it would do is hamper accountants or business managers from shuffling off with their shells for their friendly games for friends.

IN CASE THE ITEM DOESN'T PRINT IT

Dear Editor,

Recently the MASSCHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF SECONDAR EDUCATION has that Lynn Public School has not been recognized as having an Innovation School points out a glaring inaccuracy in a recent article on the new Washington School. The journalistic integrity of this newspaper demands that a correction be made. Failure to do so may leave the impression of complicity in the deception.

I am sure that your further investigation and reporting will be forthcoming.

Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

Lynn, MA

LEGITIMIZING LUNACY

There has been a lot of fall out about some REPUBLICAN senator's choice of words, pairing the terms LEGITIMATE and RAPE together. If it is truly legitimate how can it be rape which everybody know is a hideous crime?

WELL....

someone should check his educational history. Maybe the confusion in terminology is not his fault. Face it if he had been educated at LPS, he would have been taught that it was okay to ravish the SPED department's treasury, pillaging programs for a little administration gratification.

He would have learned that it can be perfectly acceptable to say one thing and mean another like in our BOGUS BUDGET posting.

Let's not forget our recent innovations in deception in the promotion of the WASHINGTON SCHOOL.

Come on now don't be too hard on the guy, he probably has kids.

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - WHEN THE SUN RISES THINGS LOOK DIFFERENT IN THE LIGHT OF DAY

The local television station in NESOPOTAMIA will start airing a new FANTASY turned REALITY show -" The Women of Washington Want a Sweet Tooth". Seems like on inspection that there has been a innovation in identification. What was supposed to be a show about a CANDY CASTLE has been secretly rewritten to be an old building of imitation renovation. The curtain has come up on this construction chaos.

MORAL OF THE STORY - WHEN YOU TRY TO SELL A BILL OF GOODS, YOU BETTER HAVE THE GOODS.

STUDENTS TO FINALLY LEARN ENGLISH

It's that time of year again,the leaves are beginning to have a little color and summer is winding down. Our kids are beginning to blow the dust off their old backpacks and time for new clothes. Kudos to the teachers who are volunteering their time for this coming out party.

Lesson learned for some, the UNIONS aren't all bad!

Lynn English to hold freshmen orientation

LATHAM'S LULLABY

Now we can all feel relieved,
thanks to LORI we will no longer be deceived.

With the help of the ITEM'S media collusion
looks like LATHAM was trying for more deception.

Seems like LPS was teaching WASHINGTON to lie,
telling the public anything to slip on by.

INNOVATION SCHOOL is what we were sold
but now it's just STEM we are told.

GOT A TOOTHACHE NOW CANDY MAN?

 Principal John Licorish ignored the confusion and looked to Sept. 5, when Washington becomes Lynn's first innovation school.

THANKS TO LORI, WE KNOW THIS STATEMENT FROM THE ITEM IS NOT TRUE!

LOOK WHAT LORI SAID

Can you imagine an highly educated educator like DR. LATHAM playing with words to try and give some distortion on the perception on INNOVATION? Quite a reflection. She should have went to barber school because she is awful good at splitting hairs.

I guess she is not trained on LORI'S style cause she can't make the cut. Seems like LORI  is tuned into her actual meaning. Here is a copy of a recent e mail LORI sent her

From: loridamico74@gmail.com
To: lathamc@lynnschools.org
CC: charliengallo@gmail.com; Mariacarras2003@yahoo.com; Patti7761@hotmail.com; John.E.Ford@state.ma.us; John.Ford@mahouse.gov; rstarbard@comcast.net; tjourgensen@itemlive.com

Good Morning Dr. Latham:

 

I spoke to Rick Starbard this morning and he informed me he had just spoken to you.  He told me you explained to him that you are not calling the school an innovation school, but rather a STEM school (which is an innovative concept).  However, the announcement you have posted on the Lynn Public Schools website clearly states numerous times that you are in fact calling the Washington School an innovation school and that it is Lynn's first innovation school.  This announcement (which I have attached for you to view) is misleading and false and should be modified.  Washington School is not and will not be an innovation school as of Sept. 5.  I also feel that you should notify the Lynn Item and ask them to do a retraction or a follow up article that contains all the factual information regarding the school so residents and parents will not continue to be misled by the misinformation they have received into believing the school is something that it is not. 

 

Since I am also sending the school committee members a copy of this email, I would like to add that once again, Rick Starbard was the only person who cared enough and took the time to respond to the questions and concerns of a parent and resident of Lynn.  As always, thank you Rick!!   As for the rest of the school committee, it looks like I will once again have to remind each of you at the next school committee meeting who exactly it is you are suppose to be representing and what your roles and responsibilities are as school committee members.  Likewise Dr. Latham, as superintendent, when a parent contacts you with their questions and concerns, you should at least have the courtesy to respond to them.

 

Thank you all very much for your time

 

Lori D'Amico

I want to know LORI, who does do your hair? I think all of the citizens of LYNN need to leave that person a tip!

DID THE ITEM PARTICIPATE IN PLANNED DECEPTION?

I would like to think it was just a simple string of typos. I mean you all know I have that problem. Why not my journalistic BIG BROTHER?

It seems that the state doesn't recognize LYNN as even having an INNOVATION SCHOOL. Isn't that what I've been saying?

Here is what From: Rodriguez, Bridget (EOE) <bridget.rodriguez@state.ma.us> is saying:

My understanding is that Lynn had decided against their plan for an Innovation School at this time. 

What does that say to you? I wonder where the ITEM got their information.

MY GAME HAS NO SHAME

This post is unabashedly an attempt to get more readers for my autoblography. I got a life to tell.

ON A MISSION WITH THE COMMISSION – PART TWO

myautoblographylifestories.wordpress.com

WARNING! WARNING! COULD RACE TO THE TOP MONEY BE IN DANGER?

The Daily Item: New educator evaluation system 'unrolling' in Lynn itemlive.com

Here is a scary scenario. Because of being obstinate, ignorance and just plain politics on both sides, we may be in danger of having to forfeit our RACE TO THE TOP money and have to pay back what is already spent.

I have NO sources for this worry save my own active imagination.

BUT....

there is this -

 will only be partially in place in time for the Sept. 1 suggested state deadline 

AND....

then DR. WARRY says this.....

"It's not going to be in place on Sept. 1, but we're gradually unrolling it," Deputy School Superintendent Jaye Warry 

Isn't missing a DEADLINE how come we got the problems we have with our INNOVATION SCHOOL. What's going to happen when we miss this deadline. Just how patient do you think the STATE and FEDERAL people are going to be?

THE CANDY MAN HAS TO KNOW THAT SNOW CAPS ARE MY FAVORITE CHOCOLATE CANDY

Okay, I want to play along. Let's just concede for argument's sake that the NEW WASHINGTON SCHOOL is going to be an INNOVATION SCHOOL and a STEM one at that. I am even willing to overlook all of the deception in its presentation. Hey, let's not get personal. I mean everybody is supposed to be in this for the KIDS.

So, we got this new school in an old building here you see and it has lots of bells and whistles you see. It's a STEM school for goodness sake and technology ought to be in the forefront. How about a better explanation of just how these fancy gadgets are going to be utilized to maximize our kids educational opportunities. What concessions did you get from the TEACHER'S UNION on staffing and longer school days? What makes this district school any different from any other district school save a new paint job and some shiny new toys that you are unwilling to share with the rest of the students in the district?

I have looked into those moist blue eyes, DR. LATHAM , coming out of a meeting at MARSHALL. You breathlessly saying in a husky voice, "We could accomplish so much if we worked together". Everybody knows that I am a sucker for the ladies and well okay it's been a while. But hey don't they say absence makes the heart grow fonder? Maybe in this case it was abstinence, no matter here I am ready to take a chance.

With the help of the CANDY MAN maybe we got some sweets for the sweet or at least for you. Just what are you going to do here that makes this school so special? I want to help. I have become mesmerized by the memory of that tender exchange. Just how are these budding young scientista and mathematicians going to benefit from this SNOW job. Don't worry the MAYOR has replaced the missing snow removal money in the city budget.

CANDY MAN USES ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS

There is a growing variety of sugar substitutes. We have Nutrasweet, Splenda, and that old stand-by Sweet-N- Low. They are getting closer and closer to a match, but they're not there yet. How many of you get an aftertaste?. Yeah, you just can't replace real sugar with an imitation and not expect side effects.

A weird aftertaste is something we can pretty much avoid, just don't use it and completely avoid these imitation ingredients. There are also other side effects that are more serious and debatable like causing CANCER. No matter we can still choose to avoid products that use them.

However LPS will be serving up a product with IMITATION ingredients that students in the WASHINGTON SCHOOL district can't AVOID. They have to go this IMITATION INNOVATION SCHOOL. 

Why would they not chose to go? We've been told it is cutting edge. There are lots of bells and whistles. The trouble is that when we misrepresented the name, we didn't steal all of the philosophies that went along with it. The result will be an inferior product.

To help with the sell, LPS has sprinkled the creation with the letters S, T, E, and M to make this substitute more palatable. Maybe SCIENCE has changed a lot since I went to school, I mean after all, I do have my share of gray hairs (the scary thing is I think I am starting to get that STARBARD balding pattern), but I always thought you had to read first. Maybe by focusing on these subjects with this age group, they will be able to engineer a better back pack.

So by targeting this group, not only do we have an INNOVATION that is an IMITATION, we are also being INNOVATIVE that is not really RELATIVE. Maybe the CANDY MAN will be able to show them that there are corners in a circle.

You know this proposed new school is full of IRONY. What I am afraid of is that the memory of our first president will be tarnished. I mean, here was a man known for his HONESTY and now with this IMITATION INNOVATION SCHOOL being tied with his name, I wonder about one of our core values being weakened. Well maybe it probably wasn't a cherry tree after all.

SO JUST HOW LONG IS SIX INCHES?

The Daily Item: New Washington School principal wants to 'instill love of learning' itemlive.com

I hope the CANDY MAN does well and this school does well. Since we are not dealing with someone who operates from a love of the subtlety of words and their actual meaning, I will get straight to the "point" (take that you MATH lovers). A true INNOVATION SCHOOL would be designated by the state as such, have a small grant, and greater flexibility with the union contract for teachers.

Does the WASHINGTON SCHOOL have any of those?

NO......

but we got some FANCY BLACKBOARDS that are really WHITE.

Don't get me wrong, this school can still be a BIG success. A real LEAP FOR LYNN education. I like science, it is exciting. In another life, I used to be good at it. My sister-in-law (that's where I was when I was in TN) is a PHD for EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY and has been for over fifteen years. She is up there in administration now and was telling me how her company makes the polymer that coats a lot of medicines that allow them to function in an extended released capacity.

I digress....

but not really.

I mean we are hoping that the education we encapsulate our young students with will provide life-long treatment against the perils of ignorance. All of these FANCY gadgets at this new school could innoculate these young minds with a LOVE OF LEARNING that could provide life-long sustenance.

BUT.....

a misrepresentation of the facts could also be a POISON that hampers learning. We may be getting a BAD vaccination and you know what all those people are saying about how they think bad vaccinations are responsible for the explosion of AUTISM.

MAYBE.....

we are on the verge of some new affliction at LPS - DECEPTIONISM. Oh, that is an old school illness in LYNN. I don't know, I just would expect a man of math and science to be a little more precise in his FOCUS. I mean being FUZZY is a POET'S PREROGATIVE. Apparently, now it is also the CANDY MAN'S.

See how it's working.........!

"He did a phenomenal job in his interview, I'm told," Starbard said.

Rick never actually seen him, he's just going on what he's told. That's kind of like we are expected to do. So we are told this is an INNOVATION SCHOOL when it isn't one exactly.

If the CANDY MAN is willing to misrepresent the meaning of words, I wonder how he is on sizes.

ANONYMITY BLUES

How can we take you serious
when you chose to remain anonymous?

The claims you make are outrageous
and the charges seen as fictitious.

No need to be bold
if the truth be told.

It's only when you lie,
a lawyer you must buy.

KIPP'S KOME DOWN

Let's not leave that journalistic beacon, the LYNN JOURNAL off our WATCH watch.

KIPP School Opening New Facility Next Week

Really now. I mean it is a good piece about the new construction. Possibly it may lead to a follow up by HGTV or maybe something from ARCHITECTURE TODAY.

When it comes to EDUCATION, I find one reader's comments interesting. Being a FAILING school isn't all that pretty but at least we'll have a good view.

OLD DRINKING (AND DRUGGING) GAMES

You know I was researching, trying to look things up because of a inquiry from one of my WATCH watchers wondering if LSC lawyer JOHN MIHOS did some things a while back that did not reflect well on LPS. Words like ATTEMPTED BRIBERY and DUI were bandied about.

Now I like looking at a train wreck as much as the next guy so I had to go on ITEMLIVE.COM and look. Now here is what I found: Bar owners' lawyer hit with OUI. Now because it was published in 2010 they wanted me to PAY to see the story. Have I mentioned lately that I am POOR?

Now the way I see it if I want to find out details I have a couple of options: 1). I could ask you guys to comment and flesh out the details or 2). I could make stuff up again. The latter idea seems a might bit risky, I mean this guys a LAWYER and he might sue me for everything I have (Boy would he be disappointed).

Nothing must have came of it because he is still there and nothing ever gets swept under the rug in this town. It's not : "WHO YOU KNOW AND ON WITH THE SHOW", not LYNN. Innocent until proven guilty or something like that.

I do think it's funny in kind of hypocritical way that a year later, this was the story LPS was looking at: Lynn proposes drug testing for temp school hires. Did that mean you  could drink on the job if you were an old employee?

To continue the comedy at our expense, we only need to look back at what spurred that proposal :Lynn teacher's aide arrested on drug charges. The disposition of this case was kept kind of hush-hush or at least, I never knew. Maybe not to me, but it was of RELATIVE concern to some.

After all, LPS wouldn't want to PROMOTE this sort of behavior.

NEW SCHOOLS NEED NOT FOLLOW OLD RULES

This would be a nice story if I hadn't told WATCH watchers the basics weeks ago! Sorry Chris but thanks again for fleshing out some details for me.

Do I want a new school building and work done on existing buildings? You betcha!

BUT.....

we got a lot more older buildings out there and we got to be FAIR when it comes to construction priorities and who gets what where. Remember CLASSICAL? I don't want to have another SINKING feeling about the location of the new WOTRING WING of the new MARSHALL.

Makes you wonder about how KIPP got PRIME real estate for its beautiful construction. Then again, maybe there is no mystery.

I hear they are a little concerned about the referendum. Cause I hear there are BLOGGERS out there that like to EXPOSE shifty plans and shady deals. So I have an answer for them (a less congenial poet might call it a warning).

Be above board and keep the BEST interest of the kids first and we will be alright. If not, my pen is loaded (Okay so I go to McDonald's to use their Internet, it's FREE and the coffee comes with refills) and to quote CLINT EASTWOOD "You feeling LUCKY.......punk". Or should I say....."DR. PUNK"?

ALL SET WITH THE STATUS QUO

The Daily Item: Under Secretary of Education tours Lynn program

Congressman Tierney was eager to show just what we are doing here.

Obviously it must have been another area where the Congressman didn't know what was going on. He found out.


“That is painful for me to hear,” Kanter told a crowd of roughly two dozen educators and officials that came out to meet her.

How embarrassing for Tierney. I hope he was smart enough to BE EMBARRASSED. With a waiting  list of over 1000 the extent of the ineptness LPS has shown in dealing with this problem is both enormous and frightening. I understand the funding issue. I, also understand for every one dollar you spend in early education you get four dollars in return.

Where is LPS'S creativity? It's innovation? (oh, I forgot, we've redefined that word.) What about community or private partnerships?

DR. LATHAM has demonstrated her distaste for cooperation with the OCCUPY LVYI example. My friends at the NEW LYNN COALITION will probably be mad at me for bringing this up but it needs to be said. Remember all the lovey dovey talk of the board and autonomy, well limited autonomy. It's about to get VERY LIMITED.

That STIPEND position to help the school work with the COMMUNITY was created on DR.LATHAM'S own without any input from anybody. I heard from several sources that she admitted her haste in posting the position and had agreed to pull it down and discuss it before the whole committee last meeting.

I was there and I heard no talk. The position stayed up and while I've heard of no hiring but my being IGNORANT would not be a new thing. 

WATCH STAFF RECOGNIZED

Part-time WATCH photographer and PICKERING MIDDLE SCHOOL student, TRIPPY WOTRING was wished HAPPY BIRTHDAY tonight during a NAVIGATORS game. This was after LYNN ENGLISH presented the colors.

NAVIGATORS baseball combines the best of sports and academics. Do you know their shortstop is from HARVARD?

GRANT-ING AUTHORITY

Given his new duties of dallying in the newly reorganized GRANTS department, LSC member MARIA CARRASCO asked BUSINESS MANAGER KEVIN MCHUGH if his job description actually gives him the authority or lists its a one of his duties.

TO WHICH HE ANSWERED.....

well he wasn't sure, he'd have to review it and rewrite it if necessary. Kind of like we do with history when we don't like what it says.

GRANT ME SOME SERENDIPITY

On the subject of whether or not the city of LYNN'S new GRANTS writer, DONALD ARTHUR, could be used to write GRANTS for LPS, ATTORNEY GALLO said that it was his understanding he would be focusing on PUBLIC sources.

I don't think he really got the GIST of the question or he was being cleverly coy like lawyers are when answering a direct question. There IS a lot of  PUBLIC money out there and is MR. ARTHUR going to help us get it? It seems he hasn't done too well justifying his city salary.

Maybe some grant has come in that I haven't heard of. I mean I have been away and I have been Internet deprived lately but I wonder if LPS needs to throw good money after bad? Me, I don't worry cause I got no money to throw and if I did I threw my arm out pitching when I was younger anyway.

SILENT SEARCH

BARBARA RAFUSE has officially been name DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES after an exhausting search from a pool of qualified candidates.

ACTUALLY.......,

she was just moved up from the ACTING role and given a raise. I do think the NEW position was actually posted but I don't know if anyone else actually applied or interviewed. I am sure she is qualified and may well be the person for the job. I mean I can't do everything, it's just that I don't like the pretending like anyone else had a chance.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE

Better late than never, that's what I always say or at least that's what I used to say when my first ex showed up for our dates. Then I was 45 minutes late with my second ex for our wedding. Of course with my third ex......

Hey wait a minute, maybe I ought to re-look at that NEVER thing.

Anyway I want to talk for a minute about what didn't go on at the last LSC meeting/BUDGET HEARING. There was no OPEN-MIKE for the LSC meeting. We went straight from the BUDGET HEARING, where there was ample opportunity to comment on the budget, almost seamlessly into the regular meeting without giving the public to comment on the posted agenda.

Don't get me wrong, I was glad to get home early but somebody might have had something to say, besides I like to hear myself talk.

Anyway how can you complain about nobody wanting to get invollved and then turn around and not give them the opportunity,

NEW APPOINTMENTS

Two new appointments have been made to our high schools.

CAROL CONWAY has been made SPED Department Head at ENGLISH HIGH,

while.....

JUSTINA ALICUDO has been selected as Head Girls Soccer Coach at CLASSICAL HIGH.

Congratulations!

CLEO HAS A "B" IN HER BONNET

An Education: Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem

uneducacion.blogspot.com

What CLEO is so eloquently saying being all lady-like(I don't have that problem) and saying is that complaining and running your mouth about our problems without actually doing something about it is just B*$%@&ing!

Empty grumblings don't change things. Not only  are we still left with our problems, now you have to add noise pollution to the laundry list.

GET ACTIVE, GET INVOLVED!

KIPP IS KOMING

New KIPP building to welcome students next week

I have said many times before that I DO NOT like the funding mechanism of KIPP. I think the mixing of PUBLIC with PRIVATE dollars presents an almost irresistible opportunity for ABUSE.

BUT.....

that being said some students are getting a NEW building with promised state-of-the-art technology. On the other hand, LPS is faced with overcrowded, 100 year old buildings. The administrative monstrosity of PUBLIC EDUCATION is too slow to respond in a timely manner to keep up with current needs.

Have I partaken of the Kool-Aid and am now calling for the building of little KIPP KLUSTERS all acrooss the city? Well don't hold your breath but then again some of you can.

What the apparent success of KIPP'S KONSTRUCTION is is a clear signal that we need to reform the administration of PUBLIC EDUCATION so that it can concentrate on the business at hand instead of handing us the business.

Counting beans is okay once the crop has been raised but we need to spend more time growing the plant.

BANNER BULLDOGS

LYNN ENGLISH ROTC are doing LPS proud by presenting the colors at the NAVIGATOR games. Since there's playoff games, we should feel extra proud!

FIDDLING ON THE ROOF WHILE PEEKING THROUGH THE WINDOW

Projects involving fixing the roof at LVTI and replacing windows at BREED have had DESIGNERS and OWNERS PROJECT MANAGERS appointed by the MSBA. Hopefully buckets in the classroom won't be needed much longer.

SWEET SOUNDS

LPS received a gift worth $13,500 from MAGGIO CUSTOM REFINISHING. The donation was a MASON & HAMLIN piano which has got FINE ARTS DIRECTOR JOE PICANO humming a happy melody.

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON BENNETT STREET

Once again some ceremonial, procedural vote was taken by the LSC at the satisfy so that the MAYOR'S madness for proper protocol was somewhat relieved. However, she may feel a little better but the suffering lingers.

DR. LATHAM informed everybody that the transfer of the COMMERCIAL STREET offices to the BENNETT STREET property is scheduled to happen next JUNE. When have we heard this story before? I'm getting tired of writing about it. Still a vote was necessary and taken.

Now we are all legal like but we still don't have any firm answers to current problems. DR. LATHAM talked about needing to do this so that we have SWING SPACE available whenever the new MARSHAL ( with the WOTRING WING) is built. Really, maybe........

BUT...

we having crowding issues NOW. What happened to that 17 MILLION in FREE CASH our magnificent mayor has squirreled away?

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - PATCHING IT UP WITH POETRY

Seems like there is a lot of confusion in NESOPOTAMIA.  It seems there is a BARD in the SOCIAL CLUB who thinks he is all that. At times he is right thinking but there are other ones, like this one, he is on a COLLISION course with reality.

Being pesky is not being BELLIGERENT like the BARD is to whom I am referring to in regard to potential pursuits. With the passage of new state legislation he will need to concentrate on the RIGHT TO REPAIR the SOCIAL CLUB.

MORAL OF THE STORY - SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR FOR THE BIGGER TRIPS, A SHINY NEW PAINT JOB ISN'T ENOUGH

BLOGS AND BLACK OUTS

What's up with the supposed storage of the LSC meetings and the hearing and such? It's all supposed to be here:

 http://lynnsc.lynnschools.org/tcs/#page:recordingList&pageNumber:1

All I find is a JUNE 28 meeting and a nonworking link for a JULY 5 meeting. Why is that? I am sure with all those high priced degrees that we are paying for that somebody up there should have been able to fix the problem by now.

UNLESS......

somebody has something to hide. I mean, I'm kind of slow and I like to at least have the opportunity to review what was actually said.

Since nobody is apparently in a hurry to fix the I guess the people on COMMERCIAL STREET must be satisfied with the accuracy of my reporting.

It really means a lot to me to know I have their support!

DAYS OF OUR WORLD – LEFT OUT IN THE COLD

Head of a secondary princiPALity LORD T. STRANGELOVE exiled a renegade resident ALLISON AMANDA for being a lefty. Diversity was not tolerated under his watch.

“There is only vun right vay.”

LORD STRANGELOVE would not budge from his assumed position. There were those who wondered if his rigidity came from the fact that he, himself, was a latent left-hander or at least ambidextrious.

MORAL OF THE STORY – LEFT MAY NOT BE RIGHT BUT THAT DON’T MAKE IT WRONG.

NAVIGATORS, SETTING A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE

I went to the final home game of the NAVIGATORS last night. I saw DONNA COPPOLA, LSC COMMITTEE MEMBER and a few other LPS people there. The NAVS lost but they are playoff bound.

I had hoped to do a lot more promotional stuff with them for free just to show what a little creativity can do. It's not like I wanted paid, it was a creative thing. I am not good with money anyway. That's why I am poor.

What I really like about the team and  the FUTURES COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE is how closely continuing education is tied to hopes and dreams and actual success. Most of the players will never step on to a MAJOR LEAGUE field other than to run across the outfield in some promotional event.

WHERE....

 they will make the BIGS is in their education. Did you hear some of the colleges they're from?

I am going to give an INTENTIONAL PASS to DR. LATHAM here. I am putting her on because I have heard her on more than one occasion stress the importance of SPORTS and the ARTS to give our children a reason to come to school.

DAYS OF OUR WORLD – MANAGEMENT MODEL

When the peasants of NESOPOTAMIA pontificate the points the EVIL QUEEN is pondering while some of the SOCIAL CLUB rubber stamps her prodigious proclamations, WILL DODGE any answers for an ambitious agenda that might aggrandize the pesky public.

“They should know that we always do what we think is best for us. I mean us. Those darn pronouns.”

In his old age WILL gets confused sometimes. Not from dementia or Alzheimer’s but from inhaling the fumes from all that GRECIAN FORMULA.

MORAL OF THE STORY – A GOOD COVER-UP ALWAYS STARTS WITH A GOOD DODGE. 

GARDY'S GOT MY VOTE

An Education: 10th Essex District State Rep Election Q & A: Gardy Jean-Francois

uneducacion.blogspot.com

I had planned to get more involved in his campaign but life got in the way. If I had I would have advised him to first get a lot more signatures and most of all keep your mouth shut.

Honestlt I think it's shady how it all went down, first with the Mayor (I do think it would have been better if you had resigned then we could have made a BIG splash of it in the media that matters most, ME) and then with the ballot thing. Even if the charges you have level were true, politically it's not smart for you to make them.

Thanks to CLEO for keeping up to date and pointing out that education is central to his platform. It is vital that LYNN have someone in the statehouse fighting for our schools cause PROBLEMS, we have them. There is no way we can  come up with the money on the local level to FIX our schools.

THERE YA GO GARDY!

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - OUTSIDE THE BLOODLINES

Kept hidden from pOlitical freedom in the halls of the SOCIAL CLUB of NESOPOTAMIA is a secret Polish Princess named DAWN COPOWSKI. She is kept under house arrest by a majorityy of the bored members due to fear of exposure

MORAL OF THE STORY - WHEN DAWN COMES TO LIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE DARK

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - ROBIN COULD

Now the EVIL QUEEN had two ladies in waiting in the court of NESOPOTAMIA. One of them, J-WAR of the North Shore had a large presence in the institution of the administration.

With the help of the much NEEDed SPECIAL forces she was able to secure another lady-in-waiting for the SMOOSH room.

MORAL OF THE STORY - EVERYONE THINKS THEIR OWN NEEDS ARE SPECIAL

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - FRIENDLY FAIRY TELLS

Always looking for new ways to boost the reception for her deception, the EVIL QUEEN called on the RAT WITCH for counseling since she was a councilor and a counselor in some former positions.

Knowing that raising the bar too high could lead to long necks, RW rationalized that to take minds off trash taxes could also be used to finance a commercial about how good we all have it in NESOPOTAMIA since her and EQ came to town.

Maybe we can patch the potholes with cast of casts of footprints, a real walk of shame. The infomercial can be seen on the RECOVERY CHANNEL. (I admit nothing.)

MORAL OF THE STORY - MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, IF I CAN'T BE FAIREST AT LEAST LET ME STALL

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - A DIVERSITY OF IMITATION SWEETNERS

The EVIL QUEEN is known for having a sweet tooth for satisfying her passions and we all know DECEPTION is one of her most powerful. She has called on the CANDY MAN to provide her pleasure with an INNOVATION in IMITATION. He is going to head her hand-picked presidential principality.

The CANDY MAN can because he mixes facts with fiction and makes failure easier to swallow.

MORAL OF THE STORY - SUGAR CAUSES CAVITIES, IT DOESN'T PATCH HOLES

THATAWAY FOR HATHAWAY

Due to the unexpected closing of the HATHAWAY CHARTER SCHOOL it looks like about 50 NEW (really old) students will be looking to set a new course for courses for education at LPS. That's okay, we have plenty of room. No classroom crowding problems over here.

A TALE OF GRABBING A TIGER BY THE TAIL

Camp Tiger Pride a hit with incoming LVTI students

It's great to see LVTI being utilized over the summer to keep our kids busy and our buildings utilized. CAMP EXPLORER of last year (my son participated) has morphed itself into a success here. I would imagine a lot of credit for this success should go to DR. WARRY. DR. LATHAM has publicly stressed the need to have courses other than the STEM stuff in order to give the students a reason to  come to school. Looks like some kids have found some.

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - A BAD APPLE FROM THE FAMILY TREE

A board member of the SOCIAL CLUB, WILL DODGE has a respected name in NESOPOTAMIA with one principality bearing the family name. WILL has lived up to that name by avoiding any measure that would benefit the peasants at the expense of EQ.

MORAL OF THE STORY - THE THROAT YOU SLASH MAY BE YOUR OWN

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE

Time to introduce a new face in the queendom of NESOPOTAMIA. How about a warm and saucy welcome to FANNY MARTINO. She is the EVIL QUEEN'S bell weather on what's happening to the papas and mamas of the much NEEDed SPECIAL forces to keep  EQ comfy. EQ knows she can ring her anytime.

FANNY knows that EQ doesn't really care about the mamasitas and papasitas so she never comes to any rallies and only shows up at her office part time. She has BIGGER plans. Rumors are that MR. FELON wants her for his own little revolt.

MORAL OF THE STORY - IF YOU FANNY THE FLAMES OF REVOLUTION, BE PREPARED TO GET BURNED

SUNDAY GAMES

It's SUNDAY and time to lighten things up on this blog. There is too much drama going on at LPS, I think we all need a break. Hey, let's play a game!

Let's see, we could play WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE but those DUAL DEPUTY DIVAS would fight over who would turn the letters.

So okay, let's unscramble a word. You know, you rearrange some mixed up letters to see what it is actually spelled. Okay here we go:

                                                  RETIRED

Wow that looks pretty straight forward, oh what pretell could it be?

Wait a minute, if the R runs away with the T and the bottom arm is chopped of the E we have what actually happened to the GRANTS person:

                                                   F*I*R*E*D

Now let's have a definition. FIRED = LAPEY LEAVE.

Word on the street is rather than return to the dungeon as an ITINERANT LIBRARIAN she took the option to retire. An  ITINERANT LIBRARIAN really? What the heck is one? I mean, are they like tenement farmers who go around from school to school to see if they can cultivate the books in season? She would have been more useful to LPS if she had a new recipe to cook the books.

As often happens when people get fired, info is scarce. This is everywhere, not just LPS. No one even wants to go off record for the  reasons for this termination. (Hey even if it is a retirement it is still technically a FIRING - a separation of services, ie. - they will no longer be provided).

Maybe it had something to do with missing that INNOVATION SCHOOL grant. Still though that is to big a mistake to pin on one person. The money lost was minuscule compared to the union contract waivers and the increased flexibility.

So as usual I will call on the GODS OF POETRY (I mean I was sitting next to THOR at the LSC meeting. Did you see me?) to devise my dastardly theory.

Okay, GALLO has become the GRANTS guy so one would think he is a party to all the plans. No doubt he is connected. A real DEMOCRATIC DARLING, a party favorite and who doesn't love a good party?

LAPEY'S position was broken into pieces so no one person really knows what's going down with the grant money. There seems to be a lack of control, an opportunity for deception. Everybody has their own piece of pie.

Then you create one position that requires high, specific credentials and offer a relatively low salary thereby limiting the field of people who will apply. Anyway, you hire this person and lo and behold six months down the road you realize this job is just too much to expect results at such a low salary so we give this person a boost, a performance  incentive.

Everybody wins.....

EXCEPT ......

our kids!

QUESTIONS OF FIDUCIARY FIDELITY

At last THURSDAY'S BUDGET HEARING and LSC meeting, in attendance were members of LYNN YOUTH COUNCIL as CHARLIE GALLO pointed out. (I wonder why no CITY COUNCILMEN were there?) I always feel like he acts like he can take credit for their inception. I guess it's just a base, base thing.

Well CHARLIE, you can't take credit for the conception of my daughter, ASIAH WOTRING, who was there with them. I wouldn't wish my ex-wife on you, maybe some others.

I actually tried to fix her up with DR. LATHAM but she wouldn't return my ex's calls. Haven't I ALWAYS said she was a smart lady?

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - THE WOTRINI CODE

In a proposed effort to supposedly finance the supposed, proposed MAYORAL campaign, the BELLIGERENT BARD has floated the idea of putting the KEYs to NESOPOTAMIA on EBAY.

However on further reflection he judged that it would be better judgement to refrain from disclaiming the truth lest his dreams of THE WHITE HOUSE land him in the BIG HOUSE.

MORAL OF THE STORY - THE BEST KEPT SECRETS ARE THE ONES NOBODY KNOWS

A NEW PRINCI(PAL), A FRIEND OF A DIFFERENT FLAVOR

At the LSC meeting I was excited to learn the new principal hired for the WASHINGTON SCHOOL is a BLACK MAN, a double dose of diversity. I began writing the PRAISE SONGS for DR. LATHAM in my head.

THEN HE OPENED HIS MOUTH......

and I was reminded ignorance comes in many colors Now I have a well documented history of making mistakes and after all us poets, well we like to be fuzzy when it comes to facts.

But the new princiPAL,  Mr. John Licorish, of the INNOVATION (in name only) STEM SCHOOL is supposed to be a man of MATH and SCIENCE. Those people are supposed to be concerned with little things like details and QUANTIFIABLE truths.

During his introductory  remarks, he proclaimed that after an exhaustive Internet search, he thoght LPS was about to open the FIRST ELEMENTARY INNOVATION SCHOOL.

Really now? That would be quite an accomplishment if it were TRUE!

After the meeting I approached him and introduced myself interrrupting his tet e tete with DR. MENINO. I informed him I thought he was wrong and gave my example as proof, you know the REVERE SCHOOL that was the first INNOVATION SCHOOL in the state, who's principazl used to be the vice-principal at FORD.

Mr. LICORISH assured me he thought he was right and DR. MENINO either played dumb or actually was.

Anyway after about two minutes on the Internet yesterday I found this:

http://www.revereps.mec.edu/paul_revere_web/index.html

BUSTED! I always liked the RED licorice better anyway.

IN RESPONSE TO RICK

I know ours is a strange relationship, but I do have a history of interracial ones. In fact my children are mixed. My son is a born-again Republican thanks to my Dad.

Admittedly, I am at times cryptic. My own life is very hard for me to decipher. "Carrying the mail", I only meant you were advancing the points about the budget had been screaming about. It's not so much the actual numbers but how we arrived at those numbers. We NEVER discussed our at the time correlative position.

However, you succumbed to the CATHE KOOL-AID whenever you swallowed. The promise of
amendments and eventual disclosure was just a momentary panacea to insure passage and avoid embarrassment.

Can you tell me if the concerns you had before the LUCKY LATHAM MICKEY were answered really or addressed publicly?.

SURE......

the amendments were added but WHO SAW THEM? I am sure you were provided with them but mine and most other citizens must have got lost in that MAIL I thought you were carrying.

SORRY RICK, YOU JUST GOT SERVED!

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - BREAKING NEWS

That BELLIGERENT BARD is thinking about running for MAYOR of NESOPOTAMIA if he can stay here.

A MAYOR in a queendom? How's that gonna work?

MORAL OF THE STORY -  BETTER WATCH WHO YOU CRAWL INTO BED WITH

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - THE COLOR OF MONEY CAN'T ALWAYS BE FOUND IN RAINBOWS

Always on the look out to make the most of his mixed heritage, IVAN MCADOO has started to employ the services of little green midgets to look for that mystical, magical pot of salary gold.

It will be a daunting task to find any rainbows in NESOPOTAMIA because while it rains a lot, EQ likes to keep everyone in the dark.

MORAL OF THE STORY - BACK ROOMS CAN BE USED AS DARK ROOMS TO PREVENT OVEREXPOSURE

CLEO'S HEARS WHAT'S HEARD AT THE HEARING

An Education: FY13 Budget Public Hearing Recap

uneducacion.blogspot.com

I am so glad CLEO does what she does that way I am free to expand on what actually happened without doing all that typing.

I won't go over what I said because, well I kind of do that a lot. What I do want to talk about is what PARENT  - CHARLIE LOPEZ said. He talked about the deplorable, UNSAFE conditions at COBBETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

The normal, RESPONSIBLE answer to these allegations would have been to apologize, promise to investigate and then rectify any problems thereby insuring the safety of ALL 700 STUDENTS. Stories of kids being forced to wear their coats in class to keep warm. (Funny at FORD in the winter on the third floor they have to keep their windows open while the snow flies).

SO WHAT IS THE RESPONSE HE GOT....?

Pardon me if I interpret here, he did speak in SPANISH. 

TRANSLATION --

If you keep quiet we will look to move YOUR kid somewhere else. Our PARENT INFORMATION guy DAVE HEGEN just happens to be in the audience and he will see about geting someone to drive the BUS for your kid.

LPS'S PAYOFF'S COME IN EVERY CURRENCY.

STARBARD GIVEN SLEEPING SUPPLEMENT BY SOME SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

After carrying the mail for me (Didn't he know LPS pays someone to deliver intra-agency mail?) about the bogus budget, Rick went ahead and voted for the sham budget (well it was no longer exactly sham).

You see the budget as put out there to the public was amended there in public at STARBARD'S request. So I should be happy, no.

NO!!!!!!!!

All passing this revised budget did was to barely scold some other members of the LSC for trying to pull a fast one on the public. They weren't even told NOT TO DO IT AGAIN.

On top of that we were never given the actual figures regarding the raise and where it came from. We were told the money came from a salary slush fund with the unspoken implication there is more where that came from.

So at the risk of incurring LOIS'S wrath, I am going to publicly chastise RICK for falling for this SONG AND DANCE. The vote was 6-1, so he was NOT the only one. Only DONNA COPPOLA stood for transPARENTcy.

In my closing remarks at the PUBLIC HEARING I wished everyone who voted for this budget a good night's sleep because our nightmare continues.

BLAST BREAKS OUT AT PUBLIC HEARING

Business came to a standstill at the LSC meeting because the committee told the public to "Go pound sand".

The sound from the repeating rhythm made it impossible to hear what we are actually paying privileged people.

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - UNDERCOVER LOVER?

Always looking to make beef out of PINK-SLIME, IVAN MCADOO decided to make the most out of his mixed heritage and open up a new lunch program in the queendom.

Not wanting to overextend himself he decided to start with one item on the menu, that CLASSICAL tasty treat - a POTATO-SKINNED TACO, served with spicy salsa (at the queen's request).

MORAL OF THE STORY - YOU CAN PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG BUT WHO WANTS TO KISS IT

ENGLISH IN LONDON? WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU EXPECT?

» English High School student is All-American once again at cheering camp

It is truly encouraging to me to see this young girl receive such positive recognition. It gives me hope for my own daughter who is going into the eighth-grade and cheers for the EAST- LYNN POP WARNER. Go BULLDOGS!

DAYS OF OUR WORLD - CULTURAL EXCHANGE RATES

Keeping NESOPOTAMIA free of undesirable that aren't desirable ones that come with TITLE I money to be squandered at both the EVIL QUEEN'S leisure and pleasure, COMMADORE COMMANDO patrols the BARING STRAIGHT to infiltrating the queendom over the surface anyway (we wouldn't want the queen to be caught with her pants down).

However those LATINOS are crafty devils, instead of traveling on the surface of the sea they go UNDER WHERE TIO TAMALIE first penetrated EQ'S royal highness and they've been together ever since. 

MORAL OF THE STORY - A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME SOUNDS THE SAME, "CHA-CHING!".