How is everyone’s weekend going? Thanks spending a portion of it with the Six.
A busy early fall weekend for all.
Let’s proceed with the Six.
Poor Student Achievement and Zero Accountability in Illinois Public Schools.
This article was published first in June in Wirepoints. It re-surfaced this past week in an editorial in the Wall Street Journal and references data that basically says how in certain districts in the state of Illinois, kids can’t read, write or do basic arithmetic. Here’s a stat from the article that highlights the accountability gap: “according to the Illinois Report Card, 100 percent of CPS teachers in 2021 were evaluated as excellent or proficient by an administrator or other evaluator trained in performance evaluations. Yet, only 11 percent of black students and 17 percent of Hispanic children in the entire district could read at grade level in 2021.” It’s pretty clear the Chicago Teacher’s Union cares most about their rank and file. They don’t give a damn about kids.
Americans Want Weed to be Legal. Overwhelmingly so.
Earlier this week, the Biden Administration announced plans to pardon anyone who has been charged federally with simple marijuana possession. The president urged governors to do the same at the state level, and called for a reassessment of how marijuana is categorized on the “schedules” established by legal and medical authorities to reflect drugs’ potential for abuse. The move signals a step toward federal legalization – it’s already legal in 39 states plus D.C.– which reflects what most Americans support, regardless of political affiliation. Count me in pro-legalization camp for medicinal and recreational use. Pew Research has a detailed study on the data behind the push to adopt federal decriminalization legislation.
The Cost of Catching Aaron Judge Historic Home Run Ball.
MLB concluded its regular season this week. But it did not end without home run drama – that due to the bat of Yankee slugger Aaron Judge. Judge finally hit American League record-breaking home run number 62 (eclipsing ex-Yankee Roger Maris) in the second game of a doubleheader played in Texas. A spectator named Cory Youmans caught the ball, and by doing so, became in instant millionaire. Reports estimate the worth of the ball to be around $2 million. Should Youmans decide to sell, it will trigger an hefty IRS tax bill. Just how much? Entrepreneur magazine examines the cost of catching a piece of baseball history.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the most famous living musician, Paul McCartney, possesses a prodigious memory for music, for people, and for the trivia of everyday life. Is his capacity to draw on such memories, consciously and unconsciously, one key to his genius? "The richer and more varied our store of unconscious memories, the more combinations are generated, the more creative and insightful we’re likely to be,” writes the author. A really good essay that uses McCartney as instrument for writing larger theme about the origins of creativity.
Why the Instagram Capital of the World Is Terrible Place To Be.
Vox with an interesting piece on how travel has become optimized to the point of losing its charm. Between algorithms and Instagram-worthy best-of lists, going abroad often feels like visiting a theme park. In many popular locations, you’ll find five times more tourists than locals. Good line from the piece: “In the age of algorithms, the only way to replicate any semblance of luxury is to take the keystrokes less traveled.” The counter response to this from vacationers – and it’s beyond travel – will be unique experiences unavailable to everyone with a smartphone.
Ohio Woman Eats Pavement Running Away From Raccoon.
Want to thank my sister and Six reader, Heather, for passing this doozy along. This video is flat out hilarious. No set up needed, the pictures tell the story: woman talks to raccoon, raccoon chases woman, woman face plants on pavement. Mass hysteria ensues! Just kidding about that part. Enjoy the man vs. nature conflict.
Thanks for reading everybody and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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