When we do testing in schools to determine giftedness it is the top 95th percentile of different tests. It wasn’t just reading and math but also nonverbal tasks (like tangram type things). We used state testing and IQ scores as well. We tried to create a whole profile of a child and then determine which ones met the criteria of requiring gifted services (95th percentile and above). I don’t think there’s a federal guideline so each state (or even each district) sets their own parameters. The twice exceptional kids were the ones with ADHD or other diagnoses. But yes, it was possible that these kids were not the “smart, model student” though I’ve had plenty of those as well.

Our division does DARE with 4th graders still. Officers come in and spew that shit for a few weeks and kids get a bunch of swag and cupcakes for signing a pledge. I’m not a fan of any of it, but it’s above my pay grade.

From the article: “Anyone who lived within 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the derailment can get up to $70,000 per household for property damage plus up to $25,000 per person for health problems. The payments drop off the farther people lived from the derailment down to as little as a few hundred dollars at the outer edges.”

My parents and my brother live in the 2-4 mile range and when they got their paperwork it was up to $45,000 per household.

So the money isn’t divided equally between the 55,000 claims.

When my parents and my brother received their paperwork it was a different amount depending on how close you are to the wreckage site. 2-4 miles away was initially listed as $45,000.

One of my bigger complaints about BGW as a whole is the theming. I just don’t feel like the countries, rides, and other theming all flow together well. Then some rides have potential for theming and it falls flat, and some don’t even try.

I went to Busch Gardens Tampa once, SeaWorld Orlando twice, and Aquatica in Orlando once. I was planning on going to SeaWorld in San Antonio (cancelled by hurricane) and Sesame Place (cancelled by too much other unexpected travel). Most of the people who live around here have a lower tier pass, which offers different benefits.

I really like Canva. I used Canva for education both in grad school and now at the school where I work. Its problem is that it thinks it is better than it actually is. It is throwing all these “features” nobody wants and is charging outrageous prices.

I like these badges, and want them for my school. First, we absolutely need better gun laws and need to change the gun culture in the United States. But even the school shooter stuff aside, we have 700 elementary kids at my school. Several are prone to seizures. Several are diabetic. MANY have life threatening allergies. Several have disabilities (or poor parenting/lack of resources at home) that leave them prone to outbursts that at a minimum disrupt the classroom and at most endanger the safety of the other students. We do not have enough walkies to give one to every teacher who has a severe need in their classroom. That leaves the option of calling the front office or going to the wall and pushing the call button for the office to respond. Badges like this can help so many stressful situations, and eliminate the excessive amount of chatter on a walkie.

Yeah for the most part rides are not operated unsafely. Not addressing it specifically and closing it for a day is probably the best call. The internet allows people who don’t know what they’re talking about say a lot.

Our local school district provides swim lessons as part of a PE unit to all second graders by busing them to a local indoor facility. They even have free swimwear available for students who don’t have it. A previous school district I was in had a PE program where 3-5th graders got to learn to ride bikes, they brought in a huge trailer of different sized bikes. There’s a lot of physical activity that some people take for granted without realizing that not everybody has the same opportunities. Programs like this are so important.

The one near us has a self serve dog wash. I can take my dogs and use their water, their shampoo, their towels, their dryers, and not have my bathroom covered in dog hair for $10.

Disaster Transport

Dragon Challenge (Chinese Fireball)

Dragon Challenge (Hungarian Horntail)

Lightning Rod (-2020)

Mantis

Mean Streak

Mystery Mine (-2020)

Steel Curtain

Top Thrill Dragster

Volcano - The Blast Coaster

Wicked Twister

These are all according to my coaster-count account though some are just updated coasters, not actually defunct.