As a tutor and mentor at Valley Oaks Elementary School in Houston for over 10 years, Kenny Thompson has taken pride in helping out kids. So on Monday, when he found out that over 60 students at his school were eating cold sandwiches for lunch because of overdue funds on their accounts, he decided to pay off the negative balance. All $465 of it.
“It was the best money I ever spent,” Thompson, 52, told TODAY.com. “It was the best gift I ever gave myself. I went into my car and screamed.”
He didn’t realize how widespread the lunch account problem was until he learned that a Utah school had thrown away the lunches of students with negative balances at the end of January. That’s when he decided to look into the issue in his own community.
He found out that some students whose parents hadn’t paid were eating cold cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, instead of hot, hearty fare. And others avoided the lunch line altogether, preferring not to eat rather than face the embarrassment of not being able to afford the same lunch in front of their peers. Many of these students were already on reduced lunch, which costs just 40 cents a day.
“It was horrifying, it broke my heart,” he said. “These are elementary kids. They’re not bankers, and not responsible for the financial issues in the household.”
His wife, a teacher at Valley Oaks, encouraged him to follow through on the idea, but warned him that he wouldn’t be able to buy the new pair of Doc Martens he’d wanted. That was quite all right with Thompson.
“My work boots are still good,” he said with a chuckle.
You won’t see me
The boys:
http://youtu.be/mfMC-0FQEno
Graceland
They say losing love is like a window in your heart
Everybody sees you’re blown apart
Everybody sees the wind blow.
Paul Simon:
Seagull
Here’s a new band I think you’ll like. Saturday Sun:
Happy Hour: Herbie Hancock – Cantaloupe Island
Breaking: GOP blocks unemployment extension by one vote
An estimated 1.7 million unemployed Americans were kicked in the teeth today by the Republican party — again. The extension was filibustered in the Senate, and lost by one vote.
Harry Reid vows to bring it up again for another vote:
@BarackObama #RenewUI I'm physically sick right now. GOP is ridiculous. I can't take this anymore
— Ryan Donnelly (@diesel8335) February 6, 2014
“@rollcall: Four Republicans voted with Democrats on UI extension: Ayotte, Collins, Heller, Murkowski http://t.co/KcRkaqaOcN”#RenewUI THANKS
— Thatcher Scott (@ScottinChgo) February 6, 2014
#RenewUI 46 years old. Crying over a vote. What the hell do I do now?
— HATE THE GOP (@HatetheGOP) February 6, 2014
#voicesoftheunemployed To keep a roof over daughter's head, Carla moved in w/ estranged husband http://t.co/Ejq49IX9Bg #RenewUI Please RT!
— MomsRising (@MomsRising) February 6, 2014
@Eastsidephotos: My wife and I are sitting here shaking so bad. This could keep us from losing our home. PLEASE Hear them #GOP #RenewUI
— Escodaboss (@ortega_es) February 6, 2014
#renewUI looks like im going to have to got to jail to get 3 rats and a cot cause im homeless jobless foodless, and broke
— trick (@trickquestion) February 6, 2014
#renewui well, time to pack up the family, and drive off of a cliff. Thanks for killing my wife, son and daughter. #GOP.
— Cory (@XxTReeBLaZeRxX) February 6, 2014
@SaxbyChambliss @SenatorIsakson Senator's, Thank you for throwing more than 70 GA citizens under the bus. God Bless America. #RenewUI
— Kevin (@Krpfan) February 6, 2014
#RenewUI has once again been blocked by Senate GOP. Sociopaths are all around us, but concentrate in one political party. #uniteblue #p2
— East KY Liberal (@EastKYLiberal) February 6, 2014
@PeteSessions how could u vote against live-saving effort? not our fault that there r no jobs, what do u propose we do? #RenewUI DISBELIEF!
— Sheri Minkoff (@SheriMinkoff) February 6, 2014
I just telephoned Marco Rubio at his DC Office @ 202-224-3041 I told him what I thought re: UI. NO COMMENT FROM JOHN IN HIS OFFICE! #RenewUI
— DEAN RICHARDS (@DEANRICHARDS9) February 6, 2014
H/t attorney Kush Arora.
Heh
Q&A with Tony Matelli, artist behind Wellesley College’s scantily-clad sleepwalking statue (via boston.com)
David L. Ryan, Globe Staff By Jaclyn Reiss, Boston.com Staff A realistic-looking statue of a man sleepwalking in his underwear near the center of Wellesley College created a stir not only among the women on campus, but also news and media outlets across…
I could be wrong
But I’m going to conclude that any woman who wants a Disney engagement ring is probably not emotionally mature enough to deal with the reality of marriage.
Art by Panhandle Slim…
Book review
West of Babylon by Ted Heller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Why isn’t Ted Heller famous? Every time I read one of his books, I can’t believe that he’s not acclaimed for his smart, funny, exhausting and heartbreaking tales.
I read far too much for my own good — so much, I frequently forget authors and titles, remembering only whether I liked a book. I’m also a very busy person, and it’s rare that I would go out of my way to recommend a book. Ted Heller, I didn’t forget. I read his “Pocket Kings,” which I loved. I bought “Babylon” months ago and just got around to reading it yesterday. (I have to admit, I didn’t like the cover.)
If someone described this book to me, I never would have read it. A bunch of old rockers (from Long Island, no less) on their last tour? No, thanks. Boy, am I glad no one described it to me. It’s a wonderful read, a bit slow as we’re first introduced to the band members and their assorted family members, but it rapidly picks up the pace. Great musical references (points for Delaney and Bonnie!), beautifully developed characters and deep humanity.
Highly recommended.