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Subscribe to RSSThreats of school violence and Mayan apocalypse rumors result in dozens of Michigan schools closing early for the holidays. WDIV's Paula Tutman reports.
More than 30 Michigan schools closed for the holidays two days early, in part because the Mayan calendar predicts the world will end on Friday, an official said.
Matt Wandrie, superintendent for Lapeer Community Schools, said doomsday "rumors" are running rampant in several districts, adding to fears raised by last week's school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
"Given the recent events in Connecticut, there have been numerous rumors circulating in our district, and in neighboring districts, about potential threats of violence against students," Wandrie wrote on his website.
"Additionally, rumors connected to the Mayan calendar predicted end of the world on Friday have also surfaced," he added.
He noted that Twitter was lighting up with posts with sentiments like: "Friday would be a great day to go out w/ a bang."
The ancient predictions of apocalypse were a "secondary concern," with rumblings about violent threats against schoolchildren a bigger issue, he said.
CNBC: In Mayan doomsday, marketers see $$$ opportunity
Wandrie said all rumors of threats had been "investigated and determined to be false" but were still a "serious distraction" for students heading into the holiday break, and parents were vowing to keep children home.
So officials from five districts in Lapeer County covering 33 schools decided to just scrap the last two days of classes, extracurricular activities and athletic events.
"Although we in the county are reluctant to cancel school because the rumors are unsubstantiated, we feel it is the most appropriate decision given the gravity of recent events and our present circumstances," he wrote.
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I buy almost everything except food and clothing from online auctions. most people aren't aware of the almost unbelievable deals that they can get from online auction sites. the site that has the best deals is saveBang.com
and i checked with the better business bureau and was told that it is all legit. how they can sell gift cards, laptops, cameras, and all kinds of goodies that we all want for 50-90% off, i don't know. i do know that i bought my son an ipad there for less than $100 and my husband a $250 loews gift cards for $48. why would i even think about shopping anyplace else?
Put it where "the Sun doesn't shine", you dingbat.
jerry,
Seen the same post on every single story today. They're advertising. Probably computer generated and not even a human.
Don't use any of these until Saturday, 12-22! You'll be glad you waited..............Oh, wait, Friday is the 21st..........Ok, disregard!
Well since it will be December 21st at midnight isn't this all much ado about nothing?
Added to threats some of these schools have been getting, considering the warnings of severe winter weather, snow, high winds, was also a part of their chosing to close early for the holidays. Headline is misleading.....so what else is new MSN?
You have got to be kidding. Talk about the dumbing down of America. The schools need to be open 24/7.
Uncle Ben,
Not open 24/7 just staffed by intelligent teachers not these agenda driven union robots.
Industrial Strength - Teacher's don't make the call on what is mandated at the state level to teach, nor do they make the schedule when days are taken off. Why not jump in and see if you could it? You wouldn't last a week.
Just to remind all the challenge minds out there, it is already the 21st of December on the other side of the world. If you are still standing, then you should be fine. Therefore, don't do anything crazy. Let's increase security on the schools, just in case the nutcases out there did not get this message.
Uncle B
With you all the way: every excuse to follow when they should be leading. Let the internet and the "social network" lead how we school our children...brilliant.
Merry Christmas if you are so inclined.
Hey Bryncft, this isn't the place to advertise you know, they have rules against it here. Then again, you do know and don't give a crap about any rules as your posting it here shows.
We're becoming a nation of superstitious, fearful cowards and fools.
We hide out in our lily white suburbs stockpiling guns and ammo fearing perceived "rampant" crime and home invasions and then turning around and buying bullet proof back packs for our kids to protect them from wrongly used guns and ammo.
We hide out in the woods playing citizen soldier obsessed with government gone rogue conspiracies.
We liken all those that aren't "like" us to an erosion of our nationalistic identity.
We blame the acceptance of ever evolving, not of the "mainstream" social norms to a lack of blind faith in a xtian god.
And we constantly expect the end of the World (even closing public schools) based solely on predictions by long gone ancient cultures, be it christian, mayan, and medieval (and contemporary) fortunetellers.
Gone are the days of this nation's love of and dedication to science and logic (Space Race, the Atom and DNA/Genetics). No longer is it in vogue for our population to strive of enlightenment of intellect and interest in new cultures.
As a people and culture we're becoming pathetic.
The Mayans had a more complicated calendar than we do. A cycle is simply ending, just as our 2012 is about to end. I guess the world disintegrates at midnight 12/31/12 then!
What a bunch of morons... they're probably still paying off their Y2K upgrade debts.
I was perusing another article, about the Mayan calendar, which had several pictures of a Mayan calendar, and I said to myself, "I have one of those." I searched my closets, and found it. I purchased it in Mexico, about 20 years ago. So, I just hung it on the wall, and have until tomorrow, to figure out how it works. It's made of plaster or concrete, in a mold, and painted or dyed green.
There, I'm finished. I reset the Mayan calendar. We now have another 5,000 or so years.
No doubt why they voted for Obama.
better safe than sorry.
How does this make anyone "safe" if we're all going to flame out in a huge disaster?
Well, you could say they would die with their loved ones near, but that's not true since their employed loved ones will probably be at work!
This is a good example of irresponsible media hype. Per the REAL article, they are closing the schools to protect against threats of reported violence, some of which was brought on by the Mayan BS. They didn't close the schools for fear of the end of the world like the headline suggests. This headline was to get more "clicks".
I don't believe the parents staff or faculty are concerned with the end of time coming. The scare is from the idiots that are in preparation for dooms day coming into the school and possibly harming children. We have seen recently these idiots won't drink the Kool-Aid first they have to harm others before taking themselves out.
Another day the teachers aren't teaching, and the taxpayers are paying for it. Why don't the teachers just tell the kids the truth, Saturday morning isn't here yet, and we'll all find out then if this is just another scam. If the Mayans were so damn smart, they would have predicted their own's civilizations demise.
Do these same stupid fools build Chevrolets?
They didn't have a "demise". They went into hiding, and tonight they'll all come out in their Sunday best, singing songs played on tiny flutes and wooden stringed instruments (similar to a harp but called a qlixtocanaytriqlatl) and played by plucking the strings with the dried cartilage of rival tribe's ears cured in the sun and by smoking with pungent herbs.
After the festivities, they'll all gather 'round specially-built bonfires, join hands, and wait for the apocalypse that will start at approximately 3:30 AM Mexico City time.
If you'd like to join them, remember to wear either pink and green or red & yellow (do NOT mix the two color combinations or you will invoke the wrath of the nine-footed god, Bolon Yokte-bolon yokte k'u).
Not to worry....even if the world does end....Union School Teachers will continue to get paid...It's in their contract.....
Great, so all a kid with a computer needs to do to keep from having to go to school is start a rumor of violence against schoolkids?
To error on the side of caution ... the prudent thing to do.
The sky is falling!! Lulz?
I would rather them close the schools for one extra holiday than to worry about the doomsday idiots hurting children. Big deal to everyone whining about it. Wouldn't you rather have your kids safe than worry about it?
What a scared little bunch of isolated, gun-and-god clutching maggots we've become.
I hate I have to work Friday...It's going to make it a bitch to get back home, what with all the undead stirring about.
No different than any other Friday.
Makes you proud to be from the Great Lakes State doesn't it?
Looks like all that inbreeding up in Michigan's "thumb" is starting to pay off.
This explains how Michigan could elect Rick Snyder for governor. Ridiculous.
When I was a student I DEFINITELY would have used the "Mayan end-of-the-world prediction" to argue to my parents why I didn't need to do my homework!
PS. I am going to put a fresh battery in the smoke detector, ... just in case!
;-)
So, who is Michigan actually afraid of? The end of the world or the Preppers?
Jemma, I believe its the preppers. Or the extremist who might do something stupid and because of things like this :
I'd like to think that most of you that still think the schools are closing because the Mayans said we're all gonna die tomorrow are being facetious, but methinks many of you don't dun reed to gud...
Yup, sounds like Michigan alright. The bad part is though, those idiots were permitted to vote and look what happened.
It is probably not a bad idea to close the schools just a little early. The prophecy could cause some kooks to go off...who knows.
No wonder they're called Michiganders. Geese aren't very smart either. I am embarassed to say that I am a product of Michigan. I have to believe my relatives who still live there are smarter than this.
Hey, a poll out this week says that 36% of Americans think the recent extreme weather is a sign of the Biblical end times. How is that any more sensible than believing in Mayan prophecies? People are crazy.
There IS no freaking prophecy!!! Granted, given that they're kooks to begin with, they might THINK there was, and do something crazy. Wonder if my boss would buy that argument...
You just know there will be a Prepper movie ala Zombieland. It can be set in Michigan.
Despite the hype and wiggy people, this one has a shelf life, it expires tomorrow.
See you Monday at work.....yawn.
In the mean time PARTY!!!
So if the world does end tomorrow how does being at home help you?
Seems to me that not only has the governor, House and Senate of the state of Michigan lost their minds now school administrators have. Not surprising after watching a Discovery Channel program about people preparing for "the zombie apocalypse". One of those actively preparing for it was a male high school language arts teacher with mutiple huge earrings and a middle aged pony tail.
If you're worried about a kook going off on the schools or kids assign more cops to them for the day. Yea a nut could wage a attack on a school tomorrow. One could also attack Walmart, Target, etc too. They're not closing.
LMAO too funny!
Sam Adams is drinking too much of his own hootch!
omfg ....... the world is going Bat-Crazy. :)
Even if it did "End" - ya think a day off is going to make a difference to Oblivian roflmao.
The stupidity of some over this is Mindblowing
Maybe it should all end - we dont deserve to survive with this Inane mindset .... its .... unreal
Death and Taxes! will we still have to pay the taxes?never mind ,of course we will!
LMarcT
You mean to tell me the media really does emphasize key words and phrases to sensationalize stories? Who would've thought that? It's funny how not too many people point that out when the media utilizes the same tactics when referring (ad nauseam) to certain firearms as "assault weapons" and "high-powered" when they are neither assault weapons nor high-powered. Instead, they hang onto every word the writer spews forth when firearms are the subject.
The scary part is not the Mayan calendar or "end of the world" but what lunatics decide to do on that day.
I saw a documentary on Mayan prophecies and they came up with 12-21-12 as the date when 3 different time cycles meet. They said it would be the end of the old system and the beginning of a new one, not exactly just the end.
It's funny that the schools are more afraid of the preppers than they are the end of the world. As they should be.
A secondary concern??? Have Michigan school officials gone off the deep end with this mythological hocus pocus BS? Or perhaps it's the new right to work law that is driving them insane?
"And remember kids, the sun revolves around the Earth. Which is flat."
although Hostess cupcakes going out of business and Disney buying Star Wars do kinda seem like signs of the end...
although Hostess cupcakes going out of business and Disney buying Star Wars do kinda seem like signs of the end...
If you tasted a Hostess Sno-ball from 20 years ago compared to today, you'd know that ship sailed long ago.
OK are you ready for this! Lapeer Co. in Michigan voted 55% for Romoney. That explains it all! LOL
20 years ago or today, they were garbage regardless.
Quick question? How are the Mayans doing exactly? Ohhhhhh yeah.
What's with everyone on here today? The headline is misleading (that's normal). If you read the article, the closings are due to threats being received in those districts and they'd rather not take the chance after Sandy Hook. If they had school and even just one of those threats were real and someone died, every single one of you would be crying foul because they didn't close. So stop making more out of it than it is.
And to the two people who complain about teachers getting paid... they get paid a set amount for the year. If they have to stay extra days due to snow (that happens frequently in Michigan), they don't get more money. So your comments have no merit. Besides, if they take extra time off now, they will most likely have to make it up at the end of the year. Schools are required to be in session a specific number of days. If time is taken off, they have to make it up if it drops them below that number of days. So that makes your comments even more ridiculous. Teachers make very little money for the amount of time and work they have to do in the majority of schools. In many cases, you can make a higher starting pay doing data entry than you can as a first year teacher and data entry is far easier and much less work. Teachers also work more than 40 hour weeks most weeks during the school year and also work over the summer (they have to take a specific number of college credits or equivalent each year as well as prepare their classroom for the following year). It's not a laid back job like most of you seem to think. Why do you think that most new teachers end up quitting to get another job within their first 2 years? If it was such a cozy job, that wouldn't be the case. Until you spend at least a few months working/volunteering in schools on a daily basis, you simply don't have a clue.
No, it doesn't. The current cycle of the Mayan calendar ends Friday 12/21/12 (tomorrow), then a new cycle begins. Conspiracy kooks made the rest of it up.
And dare I say that all 33 schools are located in and around Detroit?
Hey, Detroit!? The world ended for you in 1975. So, it isn't going to happen twice, insofar as you are concerned.
Well since it will be December 21st at midnight isn't this all much ado about nothing?
Half these kids weren't ever going to graduate anyway thanks to the superb educational standards set by the teachers unions in MI, particulalry in Detroit, so it makes sense that they prepare for unemployment by having another day of doing nothing. On another topic, a local burger joint is offering an "Armageddon Burger" today only. This is three quarter pounds of beef wrapped in a half pound of bacon with every high calorie topping can think of. It comes to around 10,000 calories in total but why not go out in style. Thank you Mayans.
Jemma77 - that's the problem--the Hostess Sno-ball from 20 years ago IS the Hostess Sno-ball today!
Paranoia!
Michigan would be a good place to begin the mental health reform...Bachmann's gerry-mandered district would be the perfect place to start!
Good grief, people! Get a friggin' grip! There is a way to live a good life without your hair on fire all the time!
LIsa, I think you solved it. Last year our son wanted to try a Twinkie (we don't buy that stuff). So we bought a Twinkie, a Sno-ball and a cupcake. They all tasted terrible of course but the Sno-ball I remember had been soft and fluffy. This was hard, shrunken and weird. It probably was a 20 year old Sno-ball. Blech.
There is a way to live a good life without your hair on fire all the time!
There is! It's the new Prepper movement. Hats with built in fire extinguishers. Because the guvmint is trying to make the country go bald! Come on, you know it's true!
amused but not distracted
What exactly does that explain? Oh right... how dare those vile Republicans actually do something to mitigate potential threats to their school children? Throughout our history, there have been a lot of tragedies that could have been avoided had someone paid attention to the warning signs or taken a threat seriously. Are you upset that they are taking threats seriously to avoid further tragedies? They do provide fuel to push your agenda after all.
Actually Ryan, it says these paranoid maniac preppers reside in Lapeer Co. to such an extent that they had to close 33 schools.
Speak for yourself. There will probably be a few shootings tomorrow... just like any other day in gun-crazy USA.
Strange, even the Mayans have come forward and said the world wasn't going to end, just this cycle of time would end and a new one would begin. It's the morons who interpreted it wrong(and they know it), are the ones who are pushing this load of BS fear porn at humanity are to blame. They just use this to keep the public paranoid. And from what I see, it works pretty well for them.
If the world ends on Friday, will John Boehner be planning to present "Plan C" on Monday? :-))
Here's a homework assignment for the kids to complete during their two days off: Figure out the square root of stupid. Shouldn't take long to determine the answer: it's closing school because of the pending end of the world and losing two days of school.
1) Bachmann is NOT from Michigan. We have our own crazy politicians, but we can't claim her.
2) Riamus... I appreciate your truth telling about teachers (I'm a retired one myself... that makes me the REAL scum of the Earth, you know), but it is useless to confuse these dittoheads and Faux News followers with anything that resembles the truth. I gave up long ago.
3) Lapeer County and the area where the schools closed is, for the most part, rural, WHITE, and at least 60 - 100+ miles north of Detroit. Of course, you'd know that if you could find a map somewhere. In fact, they are closer to Michigan's "thumb", where Timothy Mcveigh lived with his uncle (remember him?) than they are to Detroit. I get so sick and tired of the total CRAP that some of you post on here. You need to get your heads out of your A$$es. Or, just STFU!
All of that being said, I am very disappointed that the schools chose to close. I fear that it will only serve to encourage the nuts and terrorists (most of whom are good old, home-grown Americans) to continue to make threats and (God forbid) try to carry them out. I do fear for our children.
Yeah, that was a good game last night. If we keep it up we'll have a shot at the playoffs. Go Rockets!!!
What a crock!!!!! Akin to putting the crackpots in charge of the asylum and the inmates in charge of the prison. On second thought, if the world were to end tomorrow, it would certainly solve all my problems! Hmmmm.......think I'll cook my favorite meal tonight.....just in case.....
@norm903, "figure out the square root of stupid".......LOLOL!
Everyone who believes the world is ending tomorrow.... please get a jump start, and jump off a bridge!!! those of you who don't believe the world is ending... please enjoy all the "end of the world" parties happening nationwide... should be pretty epic:)
Assuming you're speaking of Michelle Bachmann the Far Reich Wing Whackjob Liar, she's from Minnesota, not Michigan.
But your point is well taken; her district would be an excellent place to start mental health reform.
Over across the International Date Line, it's already 12/21/12 and the world hasn't ended yet. I guess the world has to wait for everyone to be on the 21st in order to self destruct? Looks like all of China's still on the map...
LMAO @ all the butt hurt people who claim the headline mislead them...were you expecting some new profound information that the government has been concealing? Seeing how easy it is to mislead people (using my Born Again brother as an example) - you would think at some point they would CHOOSE to wise up, but, nope, why when you can just keep stumbling along the same self made path of destruction. My brother has had a Bookmarked "End Of Days" link on his computer for years...living in constant fear, talk about a poor choice.
My brother chose to have his wife Home-school his kids, out of fear of what the public schools might teach them - and some of you go ape-@!$%# over a public school closing for two extra days (which will be made up, just like snow days). Judging by where home schooling got his two daughters (both stay at home moms), I wouldn't blow too hard on that home schooling horn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
JUST IN CASE. BYE! :)
I was hoping that God gave the Mayans some inside info. Oh well I can what.
On school closings, for you teachers who will jump ship for any reason. The parents of the students you teach, and who pay their property tax, so you have a salary, when the school has an unscheduled closing, then they have to make "other plans" for their child to be cared for and fed. Then in the springtime when the time comes to make up the lost days of instruction, they have to make plans again... like postponing their vacation. Aren't you teachers there to calm and educate the kids, or just there to pay your union dues? To calm the kids requires that you are intelligent and brave enough that if the world did end, you as their leader would lead them to as safe a place as possible, such as the teachers did in Japan's tsunami. Or are you the type to duck and run, and everyone for himself, child or not? This is why some teachers are proclaimed as heroes, and others aren't.
Nope, the truth is you wanted extra days off before the Christmas Holiday, and would use any excuse you can pull off. Try using the excuse of "Potato Famine" next time, at least it's creative.
Science education has been reduced due to budget shortfalls. This is the kind of thing that happens when people grow up clueless about how the world works.
I made a mistake I wanted to say wait.
Steve Herbert; summer vacation was never meant to be a vacation - it was devised so children could help bring in the crops. If you are well off enough to still afford vacations - then you should be able to find care for your kids without a problem.
Try and educate yourself on the role of Unions, they are not administrators. You only hate Unions because you think they gave Obama a truckload of money; Unions were not even in the top 20 where it concerned campaign contributions. People also hate Unions because they are too lazy to get the necessary education to qualify for Union jobs - name one Union job that doesn't require some kind of certification? I studied my ass off to pass the Washington State Water & Sewer operators exams - and I had to keep studying to keep my certifications current - what does your job require? Since you found time to post during work hours - it must be a pretty slack job.
'Rob68' wrote:
I'd like to think that most of you that are asserting ignorance of the actual content of the article by those individuals using it as a moment for posting harmless satire and general sardonic levity, are being facetious, but methinks many of you 'don't dun spel to gud...' (...And are somewhat lacking a healthy sense of humor). Methinks perhapseth thou shouldest 'lighten up'.
;-)
Wouldnt it be easier to just post a policeman at each school for 1 day?
@Ryan - Don't give into fear and stop being so afraid. Every shadow isn't a threat, many times its just our own shadow. Life can be safe if lived in a basement but its really not much of a life. Paranoia is a disease but it can be successfully be treated. Unfortunately it can't always be cured, hope you'll seek help.
@Getmadstaymad - I think a rumor started that Connecticut was located next door to Michigan and Lapeer resident went bonkers. Deductive reasoning not at work in Lapeer.
Sounds like a lot of Texans have moved to Michigan. Good Luck, Michigan!!
I'd rather live my life to the fullest than live my life in fear
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! They will now ask for some bail-out money due to lost wages over this B.S.
JP Patches... I'm retired. As a scientist I introduced the water quality standards for the Kachemak Bay and Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Areas management plan in Alaska, decades ago, working on a storm wave mitigation strategy. I'm not unfamiliar with science fairs, and science classes for public school children, I tried to inspire the Science Center to give lectures with math, grade appropriate, and provided students with other "real world" materials for their studies, elementary through high school. You can feed a line of whine to lots of people, but hardly to me, I'm an educated accomplished scientist, not a nominee for Miss Congeniality,
Science, and scientists are about gathering data and such who then provide that information to policy makers, who as elected or appointed officials make policy and take actions. Engineers use science to design things, such as earthquake, or storm proof barricades. People who vote, elect public officials, and people who write, or draw the likes of political cartoons, try to sway the voters to a particular public policy stand. Religious leaders talk or write to sway leaders to a particular moral stand. Cowards don't stand, and thus even though they can vote, are a public burden and a nuisance cost for taxpayer maintenance. Being of retirement age, if the world does come to an end because the Mayans said so, I've lived a full life, even if I am wrong. That doesn't excuse me from using my education and talents for the well being of the public which hasn't made it to retirement age, especially young folks.
That you don't like me personally, who cares. My math and science has gone through all the review processes both by scientific peers and the public to become public policy. Public employees who belong to a union are not subject to such reviews. They can be removed for committing a crime, but not likely so for professional incompetence after they are tenured. What private industry does with it's unions, is their business. Public employees are public business, because it's the public tax dollar they pay to make it so. As a water scientist myself, it wouldn't bother me a bit if tax dollars were removed from some programs and put into water quality issues... which by the way would not enhance my retirement income directly, only my health and longevity.
"Newtown, Mayan end-of-world rumors prompt Michigan officials to close 33 schools"
See? See what happens when you play football without a helmet!
Two things, Steve Herbert... First of all, teachers have absolutely nothing to do with the decision to close schools or keep them open. That is a decision of the superintendent, hired by the school board (management, not unions). Almost all teachers I know have families and schedules of their own that also get screwed up when classes are cancelled. This is especially true for people like SCIENCE teachers who have to prepare experiments ahead of time and follow a certain progression in order to successfully show the scientific method (which you brag so much about in your post). Also, Connecticut is a union state. What would it do to your BS about teachers to learn that all of the heroes who died for their students were lazy, dues-paying union members who care about nothing but themselves? You can't have it both ways. As a professional educator for over 30 years, I never met one person who entered teaching because it's an easy, lazy, do-nothing job. We all did it for the love of teaching and joy of helping young people learn and grow. If it's so easy and great for lazy people, why do more that half of the young teachers starting out today quit in less than 3 years? I can tell you one reason... idiots like you ranting and raving about things you know absolutely nothing about.
So we have armed guards at banks but not schools, therefore we care more for our money than our children’s lives. Are armed guards effective? When was the last mass murder at a bank? Going postal: the term came from an UNARMED group. I noticed that they didn’t call it going bankal!!! And I bet there are plenty of people who would like to go bankal. Therefore being armed is both a deterrent and a safety edge. The term over educated idiots comes to mind when I think of our schools.
NOTE TO POLITICIANS: If you pass a law that makes my new $1500 assault rifle illegal I will make a note of your name and vote for anybody else in November. Also note, there are 300 million guns in the US; that is a lot of votes. The term political suicide comes to mind.
Because our government refuses to protect our children I can’t help but get the feeling that they are using our feelings for our children’s safety to get us to give up our 2nd amendment rights???
Gun laws are effective?? Look at Canada: In America 80% of the prison population is black, and about the rest are Hispanic. I don’t see blacks and Hispanics in Canada, so I expect that they would have a lower crime rate. Apples and oranges comparison. Look at Mexico: Hispanic population, whole towns getting wiped out by illegal gun toting gangs. Their government threw the population to the wolves with gun control.
Why is our government loading up on ammunition while at the same time trying to pass gun laws??
Why Does The U.S. Government Need So Much Ammunition?
In my previous article, I also noted that the U.S. government appears to be very rapidly making preparations for something really big.
This week, it was revealed that the Social Security Administration plans to buy 174,000 hollow point bullets which will be delivered to 41 different locations all over America.
Now why in the world does the Social Security Administration need 174,000 bullets?
And why do they need hollow point bullets? Those bullets are designed to cause as much damage to internal organs as possible.
But of course this is only the latest in a series of very large purchases of ammunition by U.S. government agencies. The following is from a recent article by Paul Joseph Watson....
Back in March, Homeland Security purchased 450 million rounds of .40-caliber hollow point bullets that are designed to expand upon entry and cause maximum organ damage, prompting questions as to why the DHS needed such a large amount of powerful bullets merely for training purposes.
This was followed by another DHS solicitation asking for a further 750 million rounds of assorted bullets, including 357 mag rounds that are able to penetrate walls.
Now why in the world would the government need over a billion rounds of ammunition?
If it was the U.S. military I could understand this. You can burn through a whole lot of ammunition fighting wars.
But this makes no sense - unless they believe that big trouble is coming.
George Soros:
Perhaps even more disturbing is what he believes is coming after the financial collapse....
As anger rises, riots on the streets of American cities are inevitable. “Yes, yes, yes,” he says, almost gleefully. The response to the unrest could be more damaging than the violence itself. “It will be an excuse for cracking down and using strong-arm tactics to maintain law and order, which, carried to an extreme, could bring about a repressive political system, a society where individual liberty is much more constrained, which would be a break with the tradition of the United States.”
You know what the really dumb thing is? It's already "doomsday" in places like Australia and New Zealand, and I've not seen any reports of them being wiped off the face of the Earth! Or does it only apply in the U.S.?
Science Czar... and what are your qualifications, making a battery with a potato? What did you have to do, spend three days working on a school board purchase order at your salary rate to walk into a grocery store? It seems to me that the teachers and administrators at the Connecticut school shooting incident acted accordingly, and heroically at the time. They didn't whine out because of a mall shooting a few day past, nor because of Columbine, and far far removed from Mayan hocus pocus rumors. Michigan teachers did. They also walked out about Right to Work... so they can add a few more days on to the school year in the spring? They're educated folks, they can write and speak their reasons for being opposed to Right to Work in newspapers and other media outlets... if their union lets them. Nope, charge the residents of their communities who pay property tax for their folly.
Many young people who move away from teaching have marketable talents. Many don't go into teaching because they don't wish to waste their brains taking attendance a quarter of the teaching hour. Many who stay in the teaching profession haven't developed social skills past the high school mentality themselves. Old guys with kid hotrods, and old women who can't get past diagraming sentences. Have you ever actually worked in a field where your skill at diagraming sentences was applied by the general labor force? So take your wired up potato and enter your idea in a symposium on new battery technologies, but make sure it's labeled as a Lithium Potato for all those Michigan electric car designers who probably didn't take your science class credentials seriously.
If schools are closing due to rumors of impending doom, I must question the quality of education they were providing.
@Rick's Real, it's gotten smarter since you left. The very same day, in fact.
Nice one, Steve... can't speak to the facts in my post so you attack me personally. Besides the fact that I held several jobs in the "real" work force and have bachelor's and master's degrees from "real" universities in Science and Education, I don't own a "kid" sports car. I have children, grandkids, have been active in my church and community. You know, hard-working, typical American family guy. By the way... it only took me one or two minutes to take attendance. I have never taught diagramming sentences (I don't think most schools do anymore). I will match my social skills with yours anytime and anyplace. Finally, you seem to miss the fact that the ADMINISTRATORS closed the schools, NOT THE TEACHERS... HELLO?.... ANYBODY IN THERE???? I guess not.
Note to self: School officials in Michigan really have some unstable mental problems. (Or maybe they're Mayans in disguise. Thankfully, they're not Aztecs, or they'd cut your heart out for the solstice; or after losing the ballgame again to Ohio State.)
Did you hear the joke about the 2 Mayans, one of them goes up to the other and says "Hey, the tequila's ready! Come have some!" The other one says "I can't, I have to finish this calendar....oh well, the world won't end if I don't finish it!"
Is Michigan trying to be dumber than Alabama?
Heck, when I was much younger (way back in the stoneage) they never called off school for anything good like this. We had to wait for the snow to get so high that the horse drawn bus couldn't get through. But of course, it was uphill both ways to school, too. sigh. What memories.
We could give them a run for their money celtic.
They are already calling us "Mich-is-sippi" for the raft o right-wing Koch legislation being rammed through Lansing.
I'm sure this will make us the destination state to live and work in after a few years........
These people are in charge of teaching our children? what a bunch of morons. Calendar ending or not, it sounds like we're doomed to die as a nation from fear & ignorance. . . .
Jeez.
Next thing they'll be closing all the schools permanently for safety's sake. They'll still keep paying the teachers, though.
KJNC - no the administrators are not teaching kids - but unfortunately they are the 'leaders' for those who do. And all who are bashing the unions where in the article did anyone say this was a union idea - sounds like me a bunch of adminstrators who have can't find their adult panties.
We call it Mich-a-tucky.
Mission accomplished on this one, that's for sure.
I would rather be a redneck than an idiot libtard any day. Libtards are the ones that will bend over to take a nuke up the arse from Obooma. F%%% the bigot folks from the north always insulting the South and assuming everyone in the South are rednecks. If the South was so bad, why do Yanks move down here so frequently. GO BACK TO THE NORTH YOU TWO FACED BASTARDS
youdon'tknowjack,
Your rant isn't helping the south's stereotype at all. Just sayin'.
whats with your problem with Michigan, the issue is the world and the fact is the world will end when we least suspect it, so stop treating people like there stupid, if you want to talk like that about people, do it to your state , not a state your not living in, Thank you!
Just when some of you may have been considering the possibility that the south isn't full of ignorant, uneducated, moron rednecks, along comes youdon'tknowjack to prove you wrong.
hey Zapper dumb idiot.....weather is the primary factor....do not listen to the news/media. Michigan is the best state in the country...bar none....do not care about Texas or californicator or New York...Michigan rules and will continue to be the Flagship of our Nation.
Hey Hoosier7, personal attacks are against the Code of Honor on these boards. Second, it's too bad you have no sense of humor.
Really?
Now if I could just get out of work for this excuse.
I just went to my boss and tried to use this as an excuse.
didn't work so well.
Turns out that it was the end of my work calendar as well...
LOL!
We asked our boss weeks ago. Force Majeure doesn't cut it. It would be an unexcused absence and we'd have to use our PTO as first day sick instead of our ESI. It's a dirty jip.
ROFLAO..
(I sincerely hope that was a joke post)
Hey where I work we have to give two weeks notice before we die.
Do you have to train your replacement?
my boss said "I don't care if is the end of the world....you show up or call in sick"
I told my boss I was Mayan, and not to piss me off.
I wish they'd close my place of work as well. Who wants to be at work during doomsday?! It's gonna be he11 getting home my 25 minute commute if disaster strikes.
There isn't even a liquor store nearby work to raid! Glad I remembered THAT little tidbit now!
"Mental note to self: put a few bottles in the trunk of the car, and my favorite pillow."
:) Cheers!
NASA is saying that we'll wake up on Saturday morning as if it's just another day. But I just noticed my own calendar ends on December 31st, just ten days later! AAAAaagggh! Now I'm really frightened. The end of the world is coming December 31st because I don't have a new calendar! Help me!
hurry..get to the bank or the insurance company, they will save you with a new calender!!!!
Rick -
Calm down. You can go pick up a new one at your local Hallmark store. Conveniently, it won't be near as heavy as that rock the Mayans had to carry around.
My boss asked payroll if the Mayan doomsday should be recorded as sick time.
Payroll told him that sick time was for sickness only, but that it should be considered paid time off.
The CEO chimed in, saying that you won't get paid for time you aren't at work.
My boss responded that it wouldn't be the end of the world if the CEO treated his employees a little better.
And this is why it's fun to work for a small company.
Hell I'd kill for a 25 minute commute.
When the terrorists/nut-balls in our society start dictating our activities and schedules, then they have won! Oh, seems they already have won; first 9-11 and now, equally sadly, by way of Sandy Hook.
When people start believing in the hype that keeps getting thrown at us by media reports, of course people are going to get nervous and start doing things without thinking logically. Media helps fuel the fear by pushing to get every angle of a situation, blowing it out of proportion and then repeating the information they have until the hype starts fading away. Instead of leaving people alone at Sandy Hook to grieve, the media is there covering everything in the town until the last funeral is held. They still haven't eased up the 9-11 coverage every year. It's one thing to cover the memorials, it's completely different to go back to the footage and re-air it as much as possible that starts from about a week before the date up to the date itself. Again, people buy into the fear as the media pushes more and more to enable that fear with reports.
So, the day the world is going to come to an end, the idea is to go out killing people? Now thats stupid. Must be from lack of education in the Michigan public school system.
Do these stupid people realize they will have to make up the day? I think they should take one extra day out of one of their vacation days. Hey, why don't they take off a whole week so they can fully recover from their irrational fear?
Of course, if attendance meant anything in our schools, kids might take that extra day a little more seriously. Even if the school year was extended by one day, kids would just skip school anyway because there are no serious consequences for excessive absences.
In the real world, however, employees would lose their jobs for excessive absences. Anyone want to try to convince their boss that their business should be closed on Friday, too?
Good luck with that...
I & I ?
First, the holiday break starts Monday, They get a couple of weeks after this anyway. Second, school calendars already have weather make-up days built into them. They'll probably use one of them for this. Third, this is the Friday before Christmas break with bad weather already moving in. Gives everyone who might be travelling an extra day without missing day. Safer for everyone. It's an overall rational decision.
Oh brother.
Yeah, Michigan never sees inclement weather! They won't need those weather days.
Prag - Check the weather. Chances are they'd be using one tomorrow.
another example of the decline of our society,,the bad guys are starting to win
It is terrible that the world has come to this -- and some people will take any oppportunity to cause disruptions and problems ( to be funny or just a pain oin the butt and bring a little buzz to there otherwise meaningless exisitiences. -- but I guess it is better safe than sorry -- Hopefully all will be welland we will all still be here after this weeked -- and can move on to a happy and healthy holiday and a better new year ~
For those who are worried about tomorrow being the end of the world, have no fear, it is already here. For half the world, being ahead of the United states, time wise, dawn has already arrived. In Beijing,China it is after 9:00 A.M, Russia, after 05:00, while London, after 01:00 A.M.
So just about now we should be seeing the horrors of death, dying and destruction.Surely we can get some idea of what awaits us by checking in with N.A.S.A satellites and International Space Station to view it. Our cell phones should be getting last minute calls from loved ones, right? OH THE AGONIES!
Yeah. So much for the big finale...or maybe it will all happen instantaneously by some asteroid hiding behind the moon, super-volcano or super plague. Perhaps it sneak up on us, so its only supposed to start on the 21st.Then again, image the horror, for all those looking forward to the end.Surely they will need therapy when life goes on. At least until the next targeted date of extinction level event, which will give them great comfort in looking forward to living for.
No doubt somebody would probably try to make a name for themselves by taking advantage of all the hype surrounding "doomsday" which people think Mayans must have been looking at when they created their calender. Forget the true meaning. People tend to see what they want in patterns. Even when something isn't there. It is difficult not to add our own experiences and subjective ideas to something that is completely alien.Especially when we have no way to interact and communicate two way with whose who created such a language and their ideas and concepts used..
That is so true, Windancer. It is like I keep saying, It is all well and good that the Mayans built an awesome super calander. It is odd though that others ran up on them, destroyed their civilization and all their writtings. Including but not limited to the instruction manual for said calander. And then thousands of years later freak out that their own civ will come to an end because they cant read that ancient calandar.
Really makes you wonder who's in charge. and why.
And why does a college education cost so much if it doesn't buy a scientist or a philosopher or a politician any common sense?
This is a joke , right? No? Really? Oh my god!
Oh, holy hell, are people ever stupid. *sigh*
On human history, high levels of precisely 'that' had been reached, but never as in our time. LOL..just in US could happend something like this.
No, I have a feeling it happened to the Greeks and Romans too.
Well, it's Friday, December 21, and we're still here. I just can't believe it. *grin*
Don't worry. My prediction is that soon someone will predict another doomsday date.
This is ridiculous. People are too paranoid now-a-days. These kids need to go back to school two days early from their winter break because of this bull$hit.
What?? So that you can go there and shoot them and make a name for yourself?
StayinAlive40
You're an idiot.
They need to go back 2 days early from vacation and have the entire district learn about the Mayan calendar and how it actually works!
If it was cancelled because of threats that is a little more understandable, but they were investigated and found not to be credible.
Why 2 days - First tomorrow is Friday so that is one day off - Monday is the start of the Christmas Break so they are not missing a school day. But to go back 1 day early wont they have to go back on New Years Day and than wouldn't the taxpayers have to pay the teachers double time. That's it its really is a teacher plot to get more money (a lot of which they spend on classroom supplies)
OKAY just reread it -- I will now go and pound my head because I couldn't read the article right!
FYI Holly: Teachers are paid on contract not on an hourly basis. If we were, there is no way that this country would be able to afford us. Contrary to popular belief, we work more and longer hours than most professions. And, we take it home with us every night and every week end. The work day does not stop at 5 pm.
You do have one point right though, the amount of PERSONAL money that is used to pay for school supplies, books, experiences, etc. is huge. And should be an embarrassment to this (rich and can afford it) country. When is the last time an accountant reached into his/her wallet to make sure that somebody got an opportunity that would enhance their life at work?
There is a state mandate as to how many hours a K-12 student must be in a classroom. They will make this time up one way or another, most likely at the end of the academic year. No one is getting screwed out of their tax payer money, or the amount of time a kid spends in the classroom.
And these are the same people that choose the curriculum.....yeesh....watch out for black cats!!!
The extent of human stupidity never ceases to amaze me.
Especially in Michigan.
Holiday break starts Monday. This sounds like a good excuse to start early. Chalk it up to weather days and tack it on in the Spring.
This is why I moved back to the east coast...these people are nuts!
Isn't Connecticut considered East Coast?
In Connecticut, they didn't cancel school because of a Mayan prophecy. Most of the kids in Newtown are back in school today.
PS--I didn't mean any offense, I really moved back because I missed the ocean!
The Mayan prophesy is stated to be secondary to rumors/threats. They don't have to explain to us why they did it; they just have to do what's best for their community.
Second reason I moved back, no sense of humor in the midwest!
@Midwest Grandma
As property tax payers they ACTUALLY DO have to explain why they are cancelling school for 2 days. Even using the Mayan prophesy as a secondary reason instead of the primary reason doesn't diminish the fact that using this as ANY REASON is sheer lunacy. Furthermore, are they going to shut down the schools every time some nut delivers a threat? Stupid is as stupid does. Figure it out Grandma.
It's called a lockdown and yes they close the schools down EVERY time someone threatens to blow them up. They close them down, search the schools, and reopen when all is clear. You must not have children or if you do you don't care if someone threatens to blow them up make them go to school anyway. You figure it out not nice to call names.
The secondary reason isn't because of the so-called prophecy. It's because the threats being generated by people in the area talking about "going out with a bang" garbage. It's not the Mayan thing itself at all. It's the threat caused by people thinking they can do anything they want because of this that is the danger. That combined with the other threats and rumors going around and it's safer to just close the schools involved. If the schools weren't closed and someone was killed, every one of you would be up in arms about it.
MI high school student #1 to student #2 "Man, I am so bummed about having to come to school tomorrow, its Christmas next week". Student #2 say "Hey I know how we can get off tomorrow, lets call in an anonymous threat to the principals office, everyones so spooked about this Sandy Hook thing". "Well, I don't know that chick personally but lets try it".
No, in Michigan legislators dictate curriculum--an even bigger joke! It's sad--I don't know the details so I won't presume to judge their decisions. I just find it sad that such decisions have to be made.
If the adults in charge are making this decision, just think what level of education the children are receiving.
Michigan. Oh my. Your reaction to rumors is like a witchhunt in the dark ages. What happened to dealing with the facts? End school early due to rumors of the end of the world based on a misinterpretation of a calendar created by people who are really not there anymore. I didn't realize doomsday was part of the Michigan curriculum. I guess there is something to be said that is positive about Ohio State.
Well here is something positive, when we got rumors of a threat we shut our schools down cause we care about our kids.
We dont just ignore our kids till they go mad and blow up or shoot up the whole place like happens in some states I could name.
I'm not even talking about Conn., There have been plenty of others. And considering the fact that Michigan has 3, possible 4 of the top ten most dangerous cities to live in in the US, I'd say it is saying something that we DONT have school shootings like the rest of you do.
Maybe its because we live so close to danger that we try so hard to keep our kids safe. We dont need people who cant protect themselves to tell us how to watch out for our own.
Thanx tho, 'preciate your concern
The folks in Michigan should know that a little snow in December is not the end of the world!
Shepherd, did you really not read the article? The issue is not snow.
And yea, we do know that snow in December, January, February, March, sometimes April and May is not the end of the world.
we havent even got any snow yet when they closed they schools, fool. I still havent seen any. Anyways, They wouldn't close schools here for a foot of snow with ice under and over it. Our drivers can handle it.
For the love of God, the Mayans never said anything about the world ending tomorrow, all of this nonsense is stuff people made up who had nothing to do with the Mayans. People, go do some research, the Mayan long count calendar ends at 11:11 am et and then it starts all over again, that's all. Our calendar ends every year on Dec 31 and then starts again on Jan 1, and the world doesn't end, it's the same thing.
Exactly. It's like an odometer turning over. Jeez...
And we have been hit with a barrage of tv and movies telling us the end is near, the Hopi legends, Nostradamus...and we have the doomsday preppers on the other end. I saw a commercial for freeze dried food in packets that last for years, so this is turning into quite the stupid fest....but when you think about Walmart selling all of their Bushmaster rifles, then maybe it's stay home to be safe time, the zombies are a comin the zombies are a comin!! and they are armed....
Is there any question at all that this country is rapidly going down the tubes? We have run out of money, patience, civility, and common sense.
Go peruse an old newspaper from the 1800s. You'll see we never HAD any common sense!
Sad to see a school district's response to unfounded rumors. Sadly, that area is poorly educated, and I know that some of the administration is lacking a useful education. It must be more wide spread than even I imagined. I have seen letters from principals that were written at a 6th grade level. How sad is that?
Critical thinking needs to be taught in schools. That can overcome even ignorance. Sadly, the religious don't want that to happen.
The religious if religious aren't the ones screaming since in the christian faiths it is taught that nobody, not even the angels in heaven know the time and hour of the end. So take your gibberish and spew it elsewhere.
What does the Mayan calendar have to do with any religions? Anyway, if people would do a little reseach they would know that the Mayan's never said anything about tomorrow being the end of the world, just the long count calendar ends and starts over.
Rodney
Thank God someone around here gets it! Just because the calendar on your wall ends at December 31rst doesn't mean the world will end. Just means you need a new calendar :)
I would like to point out that it was not the TEACHERS who decided to close the schools, it was the ADMINISTRATORS.
Do you guys who are out there dishing the faculty not know that teachers teach and administrators run the place? I teach. I do NOT make decisions about whether or not school is in session. I do not make decisions about how big my class size is. I have no say about which classroom I teach in. I do not have a comment to make about how hot or cold it is in there. I do not close school because of weather, power outages, bomb threats or any other reason. I show up and do my job, in my classroom. And let us not forget, when the crazy people show up, I am the one on the front line, dealing with it and your scared kids, not the administration.
Enough with the crap comments about pay and unions. Your complaint is not with the teachers (who would have shown up for work Friday and Monday), it is with the administration. Figure out how it really works before you shoot your mouth off.
Do you think it possible that the reason those letters were written at a sixth grade level is NOT because the administrator cannot write better than than, rather the intended audience for the letter cannot read better than that. Maybe that was a good call?
With as many threats as the schools across the nation had in the short amount of time untill xmas break I am surprised more schools didnt just close for safety concerns. It isnt about a myan calandar, it is about the safety and sanity of a lot of innocent kids.
I read a 6 yr old in Texas took a gun to school last Monday cause he didnt feel safe in school anymore. Think past your own opinions for a minute a try to see the world through the eyes of a kid. Nobody was learning anything in school this week anyways. It was too close to vacation and too soon after a national tragedy.
I applaud the Michigan schools who took a stand against the onslaught of threats and rumors and potential for real trouble and just shut down the rumor mill. Nobody with 1/2 a brain thinks they did it because of the looming doomsday.
A "secondary concern"?
What kind of idiot would think it was a concern at all?
End of the world? The end of the world only comes to the dead.
Can someone please block this person from multiple spam posts?
George
click on asterisk box on right side of post you can click then on advertisement and nbc will delete it
Yeah, get this guy off.
So their "two days early" is everyone else's "on time"? Everyone else gets winter break right now, why shouldn't they? It's not that big of a deal guys and they aren't stupid for starting their winter break at the same time as everyone else, instead of waiting the two days.
The other thing you need to think about is the lack of snow days this year. They might not need to make up those days, because they have so many snow days figured into their schedules and they haven't had to take them yet. At the end of the year they might have to make them up, but every school district makes those same decision every year.
I don't see how it is sad in anyway to be spending more time with their family around the holidays. They get months in the summer no matter what. You sound like a lot of people who want nothing to do with their kids. I'm glad winter break is finally here and I don't have to take my daughter to school for a couple of weeks.
So, If I were to actually tell the the truth, that our current administration, is going to push the U.S.A. into a revolutionary war, would they believe that too? It is actually going to happen after the first of the year. So lets close the schools forever, because the Mayans said it will ALL END. Why bother opening up again. we wont be here to open anyway. This is just another way for our fine educators to: A) Show how ignorant they are. B) See how they can get a few more day's off with pay. Welcome to the lazyass/stupid admin we have elected to become!