The Pierces are really thinking about schools lately. And it is going to get worse.

Here’s some factoids.

Both Mira and Robert went to California public elementary schools. Here are the current profiles for Emperor Elementary School (Robert’s school) and Bacich (Mira’s school).

Note the student ethnicity differences.  Ahem.  Also home values.

http://school-ratings.com/school_details/19650526022933.html

http://school-ratings.com/ratingsDetails.php?cds=21653346024319

Not sure this stuff means much.  In Robert’s snotty estimation, it does not look like it takes much to score a “10.” Sorry to all the hard working California public school teachers who may be reading this. It’s not a teacher thing . . . I don’t think.

The Pierces are really thinking about schools lately. And it is going to get worse.

Here’s some factoids.

Both Mira and Robert went to California public elementary schools. Here are the current profiles for Emperor Elementary School (Robert’s school) and Bacich (Mira’s school).

Note the student ethnicity differences.  Ahem.  Also home values.

http://school-ratings.com/school_details/19650526022933.html

http://school-ratings.com/ratingsDetails.php?cds=21653346024319

Not sure this stuff means much.  In Robert’s snotty estimation, it does not look like it takes much to score a “10.” Sorry to all the hard working California public school teachers who may be reading this. It’s not a teacher thing . . . I don’t think.

http://www.undispatch.com/how-to-build-a-latrine-in-51-seconds

Michiko Takutani reviews Don DeLillo’s new book of short stories.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/books/don-delillo-stories-led-by-the-angel-esmeralda-review.html?hp

“The Angel Esmeralda,” the title story in Don DeLillo’s first ever collection of short fiction, is a dazzlingly told tale of despair and ruination, the dream of redemption and the testing of faith. Set in the Bronx and featuring a nun on the lookout for a miracle, this 1994 story prefigures portions of Mr. DeLillo’s 1997 masterwork, “Underworld,” but it also stands on its own as a beautifully realized and singular work of fiction.

http://www.undispatch.com/how-to-build-a-latrine-in-51-seconds

Michiko Takutani reviews Don DeLillo’s new book of short stories.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/books/don-delillo-stories-led-by-the-angel-esmeralda-review.html?hp

“The Angel Esmeralda,” the title story in Don DeLillo’s first ever collection of short fiction, is a dazzlingly told tale of despair and ruination, the dream of redemption and the testing of faith. Set in the Bronx and featuring a nun on the lookout for a miracle, this 1994 story prefigures portions of Mr. DeLillo’s 1997 masterwork, “Underworld,” but it also stands on its own as a beautifully realized and singular work of fiction.

Robert thinks that this case is not difficult. Certainly Congress may require citizens to buy insurance.  For Commerce Clause purposes, Congress’ requiring citizens to buy something is conceptually no different than telling them they cannot buy something. The problem is that Scalia et al will use this rhetorical hogwash . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/us/politics/health-law-debate-puts-focus-on-limit-of-federal-power.html?src=recg

Health Law Puts Focus on Limits of Federal Power

Those questions have been the toughest ones for the Obama administration’s lawyers to answer in court appearances around the country over the past six months. And they are likely to emerge again if, as expected, the Supreme Court, as early as Monday, agrees to be the final arbiter of the challenge to President Obama’s signature health care initiative.
The case focuses on whether Congress overstepped its constitutional authority in enacting parts of the law. Lower courts have reached divergent conclusions.

Even judges in lower courts who ultimately voted to uphold the law have homed in on the question of the limits of government power, at times flummoxing Justice Department lawyers.

Robert thinks that this case is not difficult. Certainly Congress may require citizens to buy insurance.  For Commerce Clause purposes, Congress’ requiring citizens to buy something is conceptually no different than telling them they cannot buy something. The problem is that Scalia et al will use this rhetorical hogwash . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/us/politics/health-law-debate-puts-focus-on-limit-of-federal-power.html?src=recg

Health Law Puts Focus on Limits of Federal Power

Those questions have been the toughest ones for the Obama administration’s lawyers to answer in court appearances around the country over the past six months. And they are likely to emerge again if, as expected, the Supreme Court, as early as Monday, agrees to be the final arbiter of the challenge to President Obama’s signature health care initiative.
The case focuses on whether Congress overstepped its constitutional authority in enacting parts of the law. Lower courts have reached divergent conclusions.

Even judges in lower courts who ultimately voted to uphold the law have homed in on the question of the limits of government power, at times flummoxing Justice Department lawyers.

The Pierce Family has been enjoying  Kon Ichikawa’s film, Tokyo Olympiad, which ranks among the greatest documents of sport ever committed to film.  Utilizing glorious widescreen cinematography, Ichikawa examines the beauty and rich drama on display at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Olympiad