The RISD Trustees have been watchful, listening with a big ear to the rails.

They definitely didn't want or need to make waves in the wake of the superintendent and severance situation. That guy made out here like a bandit, and over yonder too. Who's in charge of things like that, eh?

They noticed a budget based tax rate increase would not be that well received. However when will they float that bond package that they had pulled back. I have heard a lot of chatter about it over the past many months. What increase in RISD taxes will be tied to it? Will it be packaged with an eye toward highest needs, efficiency and effectiveness in the final version?

I am still liking the new guy on the RISD Board of Trustees. I hope he does well.

I have been checking in with PISD too.

I am told that more news will come out about bond package ideas and drafts on what should be included and I am told to look for innovative cost cutting measures that are going to be proposed by trustees, staff, parents, students and others. It will be interesting to see what will come from all of us along those lines.

The French Lesson In Health Care

here

Flashback: French ban on Red Bull (drink) upheld by European Court (blogging Richardson, Texas)

here

In France, You Can Pump Your Own Wine by the Liter, Gas Station-Style

Geekosystem.com, here

Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax (blogging from Richardson, TX)

here

Twitterverse links France burqa ban and Eiffel Tower bomb threat. The French senate approved a ban on full Muslim veils, the AP reports. The bans will

go into effect next spring. The French police reported that.... more in Washington Post

France shouldn't ban burqas

One of the slogans of the Ministry of Truth in the novel "1984" was "Freedom is Slavery." George Orwell, meet Nicholas Sarkozy. The French president has led a successful effort to get his parliament to outlaw burqas and other garments that cover the entire body, including the face. Why? Because the burqa is "a sign of enslavement." He claims to be expanding freedom by taking away the right to dress as one chooses. Steve Chapman writes in Chicago Tribune.

Worker suicides at France Telecom

Five suicides of France Telecom employees in two weeks have raised concern in the partially state-owned company where 58 workers have taken their own lives since 2008. ... Not clear if related to working conditions at the telecom giant, which has 100,000 employees (in Paris). article

French Unions Set New Protests Over Higher Retirement Age (Blogging from Richardson, Texas)

Shortfall has government planning to cut (edit: "cut" is not the right word, change) retirement age from 60 to 62. People living longer, along with recession, has strained the system (according to) WSJ article.

Le French flag

Seen About The Town Shed (Richardson, Texas)

Le Tour de France - One of Lance's short cuts (blogging from Richardson, Texas)

1 min 46 secs