Opening Statement



Tuesday 1 December 2015

Teacher Free Speech: A Blogster Christmas!



Ho Ho Ho! Fa La La! Christmas time is almost here. Quite frankly, I get fed up with it pretty quick. All the forced cheerfulness gets to me. But let's face it -most folks love Christmas! So my site will include a number of Christmas features, of course, while I try to keep my kool doing the Christmas thing. 

On the home front, I'm fixing up the condo here in Toronto, to cocoon in comfort during the winter ahead. We had some major renos done during the summer. I'm still redecorating, and purging lots and lots of junk I don't use anymore since I retired. The floor to ceiling sliding mirror doors are now installed and finished. Two thumbs up! Plus for Janet's Christmas break, we plan to spend some time on the beach in Cuba. Let some out of town family stay at our place to look after it for us. Then entertain everybody at home this year. However, inbetween, you can still catch the following on my blogsite this month:



Toronto: Winter's Coming!

Teacher Free Speech December News and Views will continue, of course, with news + views links organized as usual under Teacher and Unions, Party Politics, In the News and Kulture Kult Ink. This monthly blog continues to be one of my most popular and well read. But of course, others will be posted as issues of interest arise. 

Christmas 2015 finds most of the teacher and education support worker contracts now in place or awaiting ratification votes [LINK]. On a go forward basis, it will be very important to monitor their implementation. Also all the many, many other related issues the OLP's Neo Lib austerity binge is having upon our profession, our students and our schools. We will need to watch closely and be eternally vigilant about the issues that continue to arise in droves, between now and your next round of CB! 

We know from experience, most recently with the teacher bashing this fall, that the mainstream media often either lies or leaves out half the story [LINK]. Consider filling in the missing pieces and unfinished or ongoing task here on my alt news and views site, take your pick. Also, expect more broader news coverage of the Ontario union movement and progressive issues of interest to educators and regular folk alike as I broaden my scope more. Though of course, there will still be a lot of teacher news!



Christmas: what's it really all about, eh?!?

Please subscribe to my Twitter news feed if you would like more news links of a similar ilk. Often also on a more timely basis, as the news happens. I sometimes also still do Teacher Free Speech News + Views Archive 2011-15 [LINK] retrospectives, re-posting blog links relating to a current teacher or other issue, or just as food for thought. I'm cutting back on the quantity, so it doesn't seem like spam. Still, I think you will find my Twitter feed is a pretty good progressive news link source for keeping in-the-know. If interested you can subscribe to my Twitter hashtag #davidchiarelli

I'll be updating some of the artwork and other non-blog features on my site to reflect the Christmas spirit. I don't plan on any new Christmas blogs per see, but who knows? Be that as it may, I will be highlighting a few existing ones, from my Teacher Free Speech Archive, which might be of interest:



Christmas in Cuba [1996] is a true story -I was there! It occurs in Santiago de Cuba, during the Special Period after the collapse of the Soviet Block. Christmas was suspect at best. Only nominally allowed, as you will see. By the way, for those of you wondering about whatever happened to Mati; I eventually got her the hell outta there. And we broke up amicably long ago. The story is worth a gander. Jesus even makes a subtle guest Christmas appearance, if you read carefully ..... Watch for the Christmas Star .... or was it a US spy satellite?!? Then afterwards, during the Christmas eve mass .... It's posted by chapter [Sample], or complete @ Cuba

My Kulture Kult Khristmas Klassik Guide features lots of recommendations and links to the best in Christmas music: reggae, blues, rock, country, lounge, and schmaltz. I'm considering 2 new additions, one of which might replace #10; either a gangsta rap "Christmas on Death Row" [Hear] or Bad Religion's punk "Christmas Music" [Hear]. Can't decide ..... Read @ Kool



John y Yoko Christmas

Remember, this month is also the 35th anniversary of John Lennon's death. He was fatally shot outside his Dakota digs in NYC on Dec 8th 1980. I'll be posting music videos and documentaries on Lennon and the Beatles. There are also 2 blogs you might be interested in; I Remember John Lennon @ Lennon and Double Fantasy: Death of a Beatle @ More Lennon

Best Christmas Wishes!

David C


Our new closet doors!

COMMENTS

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Halton Catholic Teachers....remember that one "lump sum" one per cent payment for the 2015-2016 school year? Turns out you won't get any of it until January at the earliest and then broken down into smaller amounts for the remainder of the calendar year.....how is that a lump sum payment????? Is OECTA even awake allowing this to happen???? Please explain Ann Hawkins.

Kulture Kult Ink said...

Looks like the MOE's dumping a lump of coal in your OECTA Christmas stocking this year!

Anonymous said...

Does contract language mean ANYTHING anymore? That is competent bargaining/negotiating now?

Kulture Kult Ink said...

Nova Scotia teachers have told their MOE and union to go stuff it -no more capitulation! See my Teacher Free Speech December News y Views blog!

Anonymous said...

David thanks for what you are doing.......here's hoping one day OECTA members will wake up and reclaim their union.

Post a Comment

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!
See below ...

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?
A careful analytical study!

Help! I Have No Arms!

Help! I Have No Arms!
Please scratch my back.

I can't find my underwear!.

I can't find my underwear!.
Have you seen them!

Weee! I can fly!

Weee! I can fly!
Look! I can crawl thru walls!

I have a headache!

I have a headache!
And a broken nose.

I have a square hole in my bum!

I have a square hole in my bum!

Here try this, it's very good!

Here try this, it's very good!
No. You have a bird face.

I have an ugly baby!

I have an ugly baby!
No I'm not!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!
OK but I need a new hand too!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

You don't look well.

You don't look well.
No. My head hurts +I have a sore chest.

Would you like a bun?

Would you like a bun?

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!
The Temple of Kukulkan!

Gotta love it!

Gotta love it!
Truly amazing!

Under Reconstruction!

Under Reconstruction!

Temples + Snakes!

Temples + Snakes!

The Snake!

The Snake!
It runs the length of the ball field!