Question for those who live in California

[plowhog]

the teachers and school administraion involved actually cares about the kids.

That is really good to hear. Glad it is working well somewhere!

 

[Sigarms]

That is really good to hear. Glad it is working well somewhere!

Seriously it is.

We had one son where we were on a first name basis with the high school principal

Both the guy and school system went out of their way in our opinion.

Funny thing, until we had kids, we didn't think much of the local school system in our rural county because, the best way to put it, is everything seems so outdated and old (particularly in the elementary schools).

From day one, the schools appreciated us for being involved starting Elementary school. Most of the teachers we've worked with were great in our opinion.

Don't get me wrong, we do have some bozo's we've encountered, but I do think that happens with every profession.

No different than business. I've always held an expression I still use today. People don't buy from companies, they buy from people. It's the people that make the difference IMO.

What I do know is with all this lottery money the schools are supposed to get, at least in our county, it's not exactly like a windfall of extra cash.

 

[jyoutz]

Given the fact that politicians are politicians no matter what state your reside in, I'd be very curious if what you state is accurate. At worst, I'd be curious as to the actual percentage of proceeds are given from the lottery.

In NC, it runs about 25% given to "education" from lottery proceeds.

All I know is that every in-state HS graduate is entitled to free tuition at any in-state university, contingent on maintaining GPA. The lottery funds are administered by a multi person independent board.

 

[California]

I'm probably wrong, but the white SUV, is that a 80's Isuzu Trooper?

My buddy had one, and God did I want to buy one because I loved his. Probably wasn't a better vehicle designed for all around outdoor use.

Yes! That orchard photo with the turkey was about 2003. Everything except the Trooper looks identical today.

I bought that new in 1988 for under $15k. It was ideal in all respects for our application then, running up to our mining claim almost to Quincy at every opportunity. Last 20 miles unmaintained logging skid trails, last civilization 50 miles. Also towing a tent trailer to Yellowstone, to Victoria BC, to Yosemite several times, camping in the Nevada desert, lots more. It broke my heart when a neighbor's tree fell on it in town.

(Link to a camping photo I posted here recently).

But with no air bags, no crumple zone, it wasn't comparable to a modern vehicle in protecting the family. So when it got crushed by the tree after 16 years I sold it as-is and started using the Subaru Outback in place of it. The Subaru is no rock-crawler but otherwise it fills the role well.
Finally, a note on Troopers: Starting 1989 the Chev V6 was an option. Recommended!

 

[two_bit_score]

Yep... Taxes and Insurance are more than I eran in my day job...

If I didn't have outside income from property management it wouldn't work.

May end up liquidating mom's land adjacent to her home not by desire but the taxes with special assessments plus the annual vegetation management not being able to use gas brush cutters will do me in.

 

[Racenut]

That would be great if it worked.

But we know of only a single very small craft cider processor in the region. He's not going to want the whole county's harvest. 70 tons is just my portion of that.

In the past some of our apple crop went to Martinelli's in Watsonville. (The fancy cider served to kids and non-drinkers at weddings, etc). But more recently Martinelli says they have plenty of apples from their local farmers so that's not an option.

My wife works for a cold storage that houses a lot of those Martinelli apples. Over 100 years old and still owned mostly by old apple growers and their families. Even here though, many orchards have been replaced by berries and other field crops. Even the cold storage used to be mostly apples and now they store a lot other stuff too. I guess it's still enough, she gets more Martinelli's cider than we can drink.

 

[Sigarms]

Yes! That orchard photo with the turkey was about 2003. Everything except the Trooper looks identical today.

I bought that new in 1988 for under $15k. It was ideal in all respects for our application then, running up to our mining claim almost to Quincy at every opportunity. Last 20 miles unmaintained logging skid trails, last civilization 50 miles. Also towing a tent trailer to Yellowstone, to Victoria BC, to Yosemite several times, camping in the Nevada desert, lots more. It broke my heart when a neighbor's tree fell on it in town.

Back in 88, I could only afford 5k, never could buy one as I thought they were overpriced in the early 2000's when I could afford more money (little did I know about used car pricing back then).

THAT vehicle was the things dreams were made of IMO when it came to the outdoors.

My buddy who had one taught me for the VW rabbit and Golf that I owned.

He took the rear seat out, built up a platform for sleeping, and stored stuff under the sleeping platform. There was SO MUCH room in that vehicle it was unbelievable.

That's what I did with my VW.s Took out the passenger side rear seat, built up a platform, could sleep in the in the back with very little issues (couldn't lay straight flat out LOL).

I didn't use my cars for "socializing" back then LMAO

 

[1Mech]

Yes, large California stores will be fined if they don't have a gender-neutral toy section

Under a new California law, retailers that sell toys will face up to $500 in fines if they fail to offer a gender-neutral toy section in their stores.

www.verifythis.com

Thats easy to fix, sell play dough in an area designated as "gender neutral". As I recall from my childhood days, both boys and girls liked to play with and sniff play dough!

 

[jyoutz]

Thats easy to fix, sell play dough in an area designated as "gender neutral". As I recall from my childhood days, both boys and girls liked to play with and sniff play dough!

And eat it

 

[California]

Thats easy to fix, sell play dough in an area designated as "gender neutral". As I recall from my childhood days, both boys and girls liked to play with and sniff play dough!

Oh no, they're told to conform to the Walmart standard! Have you Walmart shoppers felt emasculated when you go in and see this? Did you ever go back?

From your article:
"VERIFY found that some major retail chains including Target and Walmart started to remove gender-based labels from their toy sections nearly a decade ago. Walmart, for example, categorizes toys by product type".

"California Assemblymember Evan Low, the bill’s author, told the Associated Press he was inspired by the 10-year-old daughter of one of his staffers, who asked her mom why certain items in the store were “off limits” to her because she was a girl.

“If a little girl wants a science kit or a dinosaur to play with, she shouldn’t have to ask her parent if she can go to the ‘boy’s department,’” Low told VERIFY in a statement."

"California retailers with 500 or more California-based employees that sell kids toys ... require these large retail department stores to provide a gender-neutral section for toys and other childcare items. The law does not outlaw traditional boys and girls sections at department stores. Instead, it says large stores must also have a gender-neutral section."

Seems like any successful store will already be in compliance.