2010-03-02

A land where schools go out of business

I grew up smack in the middle of the rust belt, the wealthy suburbs of Detroit, Michigan.  Sixteen years after "graduating" from elementary school I learn that that school, Wooddale, is closing its doors permanently.  Its strange thinking that a place where I spent countless hours as a child is going to be no more.

Apparently Farmington Public School is in some dire straits.  They are closing 4 elementary schools, which will mean that kids will have to transition from elementary school, to upper elementary school, to junior high, to high school.  So a total of 4 schools over 12 years, which I think is a bit excessive.

On a larger note, you can bet that property values will tank in these areas.  Nobody wants to live next door to an abandoned school (brings to mind Nightmare on Elm Street).  Schools are very much the foundation of a community.  Farmington Hills, Michigan.  Formerly the home of one the best school districts in the country.  Now a land where schools go out of business.

2010-02-28

2010 Olympics Redux

I very much enjoyed these Olympics.  I probably watched at least 25 hours of coverage, at least as much as I watched the 2008 Beijing games.  

Overall I'm very happy that the US won the total medal count, which I think surprised everyone.  We even won some medals in Nordic Combined for I think the first time ever.  The snowboarding halfpipe was great too.