This post is partially in reply to the whiners across the hall in reference to their annual rant about free swimming -- and partially my annual reply to their ostrich-like take on things when it comes to city pools.
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Bill Gates spoke at a high school about ten things they did not and will not learn in school. He talked about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1:Life is not fair get used to it.

Rule 2:The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will EXPECT you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3:If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

Rule 4:Flipping burgers is NOT beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping - they called it opportunity.

Rule 5:If you mess up, it's not your parents fault; so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 6:Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 7:Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools they have abolished failing grades. And they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the answer right. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 8:Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 9:Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee house to go to jobs.

Rule 10:Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

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I am SO sick and tired of people bitching and whining about the three dollars to swim. If you can't afford to send your brood of kids to the pools, then turn on the hose and let them slide on a few plastic bags in the front yard and YOU watch out for them and their well-being all day.

The lifeguards at these pools ARE NOT babysitters for your kids. Your tax dollars are paying their salaries to guard the pools and save a life, if necessary. Some of of these riff (woops!) rugrats (woops!) young people are dropped off in cabs at noon (sometimes a half dozen at a time with no adult in sight) and aren't picked up (by cab) until the pools close at 6:00 p.m. Most of the kids are left unsupervised and unattended for the better part of the day.

Is it the responsibility of the lifeguards and pool directors to watch that your kids don't get themselves into trouble? NO - It's their responsibility to watch the pool activity.

These kids have got a fistful of cash for when the ice cream jitney comes around, but no money for the use of the pool?? Please ...

It is a PARENT'S job to take their kids to the pools, monitor their behavior, keep them from tormenting other kids and discipline them when necessary. The lifeguards are (gasp) working during the summer for a minimal salary and should be a little more appreciated for the difficult job they do every day. Sure, they sit around in the sun all day - but if someone's kid gets into trouble in the water - no matter their race, creed, their parent's political affiliation or financial situation -they might have to save a life. The lifeguards may not be unionized policemen or firemen, but they have the difficult job of keeping kids safe in the water. They can't do their jobs properly if they have to spend their time watching for drug deals and breaking up fights.

You- bleeding hearts across the hall - get a life, get a job and take some responsibility for all the children you chose to have..




" ... I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ass. Get over it."
Get Over It - The Eagles

-- Edited by His Girl Thursday at 09:27, 2008-06-27