While I agree that teachers' unions (and plenty of other unions) partake in a good deal of organized thuggery, I sympathize with teachers who rightly feel threatened by "job performance" metrics. Teaching effectiveness is difficult to measure, and student performance is affected by a whole lot of factors outside of teaching.

Frankly, if I was looking for someone to blame for the crappiness of our education system, I'd probably start with the parents, then look at the politicians (including the union leadership), then the administrators. Bad teachers certainly do exist, but the problem is exaggerated. Not a lot of people want a job that's difficult, requires some education, and is generally insultingly low-paying.

If I died and went to a place that looks like New Jersey, I don't think heaven would come to mind...

They demoed E-bikes on my college campus, and with good reason- college yuppies are actually stupid and wealthy enough to buy E-bikes. I test-rode one, and it's fun, but not $2000 fun. I'll stick with my regular bike.

To make matters worse, these dumbasses ride around stupidly and create more hate for cyclists from pedestrians and motorists alike. Also, they're stimulating the bike theft market by locking up poorly. Last week I saw one locked with a U-lock around a single spoke of the front wheel and a cable through the rear wheel... the idiot didn't even think to take out the external battery.

Stop the presses, customers are being price-gouged by AT&T and Apple! Oh, the horror!

Who is going to expect sympathy over the fact that they have to pay $200 more to upgrade their iPhone?

Why is this even on the front page? Does Slashdot really worship the iPhone this much?

Really? I find that people who are for unimpeded immigration are usually Hispanic, and fail to comprehend that they will have to compete with the illegal immigrants that they support.