vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

12.10.2007

5? 500? Whatever

This is why math and science are so important in our schools:

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — It’s every math teacher’s mantra: Check your
work.
Apparently, Standard & Poor’s didn’t.
The company, which analyzed data for U.S. News &
World Report’s ranking of America’s top 100 schools, made a mistake in
calculating the score for Montpelier High School and erroneously ranked it the
nation’s fifth-best public high school.
Now, the magazine has apologized to the school, saying that while Montpelier High is among the top 500 of 1,800 high schools nationally, it is not No. 5.
Editor Brian Kelly told school officials in an e-mail Monday that he was sorry to say that due to a calculation error, the first edition of America’s Best High Schools, published earlier this month by U.S. News & World Report, mistakenly lists Montpelier High School as the fifth best public high school in America.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 3:59 PM |

Comments:

I guess the editors had one too many cocktails before they did their calculations.

;)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:16 PM, December 10, 2007

jwcoop,

Do us proud. Please e-mail US News and World Report to chastise them on their shoddy reporting.

There were 37 posts on the earlier blog about this topic. In some amusing way it proves this audience will argue anything, anytime with or without facts.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:56 PM, December 10, 2007

Anonymous said... 4:56 PM, December 10, 2007

Gee, thanks for chimin' in, little fella, but we're way ahead of ya.

We've seen your coalition of the clueless act.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 7:26 PM, December 10, 2007

"Gee, thanks for chimin' in, little fella, but we're way ahead of ya.
We've seen your coalition of the clueless act."

This says nothing and means nothing.

As usual.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:33 PM, December 10, 2007

Children, children, children . . .

Every day, no matter the topic, there appears to be a small handful of adolescents that use the comment section of this blog to poke each other in the eye. It's to the point that I don't check the comments like I used to, cause I know all I will see is the same silly, immature, off-topic schoolyard bickering that appears every day.

Here's a plan: why don't the 3/4/5 of you pick a date and time, meet behind some middle school somewhere, and fight! You can all pull hair, bite, kick and do all the things I would imagine you annoying little kids would do. But at least you could let off a little steam in the "real world", instead of fighting this incredibly annoying battle here on this blog, where some of us actually come to discuss newsworthy topics!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:23 AM, December 11, 2007

"where some of us actually come to discuss newsworthy topics!"

There's newsworthy topics on this blog? Could have fooled me.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:40 AM, December 11, 2007

Anonymous said...
Children, children, children . . .

"Here's a plan: why don't the 3/4/5of you pick a date and time, meet behind some middle school somewhere, and fight! You can all pull hair, bite, kick and do all the things I would imagine you annoying little kids would do. But at least you could let off a little steam in the "real world", instead of fighting this incredibly annoying battle here on this blog, where some of us actually come to discuss newsworthy topics!"

Hey, like I told ya before, pal, if you've got something to say, by all means, feel free to post it.

Just who and what is stoppin' ya?

Don't be shy. Knock yourself out.

For the sake of argument, let's assume you're not one of sport's little invisible anonymous allies and you're on the level as it were.

I repeat the question. Just who and what is stoppin' ya from posting something you deem to be so topical and newsworthy?

Knock yourself out. Dazzle me, dude. Dazzle everybody.

Here's an idea. Either speak your piece or stuff a sock in it.

It's your move.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 9:24 AM, December 11, 2007

I never thought that I'd miss Bubba.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:53 AM, December 11, 2007

I have to say, I was delighted when JW first appeared and kicked some life into this moribund blog.

But now it's getting to be same-old, same-old. How about a change of tune and change of tone?

And how about we stop the strange, paranoid googling detective work to try to build a file on JW? What's that about? If you are so obsessed with him, you truly need to get a life. Maybe go cold turkey for a while on the blog thing.

Now, please be amusing, entertaining, or at least informative.

Thanks.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:27 PM, December 11, 2007

Fair enough. So, do you have something amusing, entertaining or informative you'd like to add?

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 12:52 PM, December 11, 2007

How about this fractured melange of metaphors from today's Free Press? I was afraid to read on....

"The safety net in Chittenden County for families without homes has hit a snag -- the shelters are full, and money to pay to place people in motels will run out in January.

"We don't cry wolf, but this winter feels like the sky is falling," Rita Markley, executive director of the Committee on Temporary Shelter, told a crowd of concerned advocates, clients, state officials and legislators Monday in Burlington City Hall. "

God knows the Free Press is rarely informative anymore, but often unintentionally entertaining.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:59 PM, December 11, 2007

Yeah, if it weren't for the subject matter it'd be a scream.

Unfortunately, I don't see things getting any better until the nitwit in chief and his band of bozos is tossed in irons, classified as freight and flown at RNC expense to the Hague to be indicted, tried, convicted, sentenced and executed as the war criminal he is.

Until then, he's gonna keep vetoing everything and the poor are gonna keep taking it on the chin like they always do.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 1:23 PM, December 11, 2007

Hey, poop - aren't you getting bored with all of us knuckle-draggers? There's a website called Green Mountain Daily that you should REALLY like, as they all pretty much sound like you (on Prozak). In fact, your little buddy Doug puts out his daily "facts" there, as NO ONE will dispute him THERE! You know how you wing-nuts just HATE to have conservatives question your words of wisdom - won't happen there!.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:51 PM, December 11, 2007

Green Mountain Daily is a site for Dem hacks who rapidly toss anyone who dares question their wisdom.

And talk about no sense of humor!

Re. your comment, JW, don't you know in Bush's world there are no poor people? Just underachievers who don't want to take advantage of all America has to offer?

Remember Barbara Bush after Katrina? Saying that the refugees in the Astrodome were happy because they were better off than they'd been in their homes in New Orleans?

Let's not put him on trial -- let's just sentence him to live in the other America. Without his Daddy's friends to prop him up.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:23 PM, December 11, 2007

I wonder how many other errors there are in the US News Report? By "coincidence," Montpelier HS dropped to #505 and that school jumped up to #5. Wouldn't to have to change the ranking on all the other schools, would we?

At any rate, if the rankings hold any significance, Montpelier still ranked #505 out of 18,000 schools nationwide, and was the top school in Vermont. Congrats are still due to Montpelier High.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:59 PM, December 11, 2007

bubba said...

"Hey, poop - aren't you getting bored with all of us knuckle-draggers?"

Both of ya? Not yet, but I'll keep ya posted, bubbles.

As with everything else, you'll be the last to know.

"There's a website called Green Mountain Daily that you should REALLY like, as they all pretty much sound like you (on Prozak)."

Ya mean they can spell, read, write and reason beyond a fifth grade level?

I can see why you'd feel outta place there, too.

"In fact, your little buddy Doug puts out his daily "facts" there, as NO ONE will dispute him THERE! You know how you wing-nuts just HATE to have conservatives question your words of wisdom - won't happen there!."

Doesn't happen here, either.

So, they slice and dice ya over there, too, eh?

Where's the carrot? I might as well stay here.

Always a pleasure.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 5:02 PM, December 11, 2007

A-hole.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:14 PM, December 11, 2007

"Anonymous said... A-hole."

Now, now, we should all remain civil. That should be Mr. A-hole.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:43 AM, December 12, 2007

Or maybe Boy A-Hole.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:33 PM, December 12, 2007

I'm sure you'll turn to answer at the sound of any one of those titles, little fella.

Always a pleasure.