down on your knees before the queen

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Mon, 20 May 2013 00:58:00 -0400

latimes: An end to zero tolerance for willful defiance in L.A....

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:02:56 -0400

Manual Arts High School student Damien Valentine, 16, is photographed at Community Coalition in South Los Angeles.

Manual Arts High School student Damien Valentine, 16, is photographed at Community Coalition in South Los Angeles.

David Chinchilla, 15, of Augustus Hawkins High School in South L.A., was suspended for interrupting and cursing at a teacher.

latimes:

An end to zero tolerance for willful defiance in L.A. schools?

California schools have long brought about swift punishments for instances of so-called willful defiance, which have disproportionally led to suspensions of many minority students not just in our home state, but nationwide.

Take the case of Damien Valentine, a Manual Arts Senior High School sophomore fighting against the practice, who says that several such punishments earlier in his school accomplished nothing but setting him back.

So just what is “willful defiance?”

That offense is now widely criticized as an arbitrary catchall for any behavior a teacher finds objectionable, such as repeatedly tapping feet on the floor, refusing to remove a hat or failing to wear the school uniform. It accounted for 48% of 710,000 suspensions issued in California in 2011-12, prompting both state and local efforts to restrict its use in disciplinary actions.

A resolution moving through Los Angeles County would make L.A. Unified the first school district in California to ban suspensions for the aforementioned offenses.

Said Tonna Onyendu of the Liberty Hill Foundation, a Los Angeles nonprofit:

“This will be a transformational shift. Instead of punishing students, we’re going to engage them.”

Read more on the matter in Teresa Watanabe’s report.

Photos: Christina House / For The Times

The Lonely Island for Paper Magazine +

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:05:01 -0400

The Lonely Island for Paper Magazine +

The Mirror of Erised; ”It shows us nothing more or less...

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:07:34 -0400

The Mirror of Erised; ”It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you…”

imagine-dragonlords: thewayweride: If you’re lesbian and you fall for a guyFINEIf you’re gay and...

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:10:00 -0400

imagine-dragonlords:

thewayweride:

If you’re lesbian and you fall for a guy
FINE
If you’re gay and you fall for a woman
FINE
If you’re bisexual and you have a preference for girls
FINE
If you’re bisexual and you have a preference for guys
FINE
If you’re pansexual and have a preference
FINE
What’s not fine is telling someone they can’t love another person because it doesn’t fit into the confinements of a label.

T H I S

If you’re asexual and get attracted to someone somehow.

FINE.

shygirl364: Ben Affleck SNL Promo - Hosting 5/18/13 (x)

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:12:26 -0400

shygirl364:

Ben Affleck SNL Promo - Hosting 5/18/13 (x)

earthnation: people r cute when they get excited over little things

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:15:59 -0400

earthnation:

people r cute when they get excited over little things

jkrasweb: “John and Jenna are truly the younger brother and...

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:16:59 -0400

jkrasweb:

“John and Jenna are truly the younger brother and sister I never had. We’ve done movies and traveled the world and grown up from young pups to the old, haggard adults you see before you now. But there’s a lot of love in that trio.” - Rainn Wilson

colfver: It was this feeling the whole time like I shouldn’t be...

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:19:27 -0400

colfver:

It was this feeling the whole time like I shouldn’t be here among all these stars and professionals. I was trying to keep my distance because I wanted to watch everyone. But they want you to feel at home and be part of it, and it became normal very quickly - Evanna Lynch

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Sun, 19 May 2013 16:05:00 -0400

‘Saturday Night Live’ 38x21 | Weekend update

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:59:38 -0400

‘Saturday Night Live’ 38x21 | Weekend update

juliettburke: top 10 lost characters as voted by my...

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:57:54 -0400

juliettburke:

top 10 lost characters as voted by my followers

10. Sayid Jarrah

My dearest Clara, the Doctor entrusted me with your contact...

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:50:55 -0400

My dearest Clara, the Doctor entrusted me with your contact details in the event of an emergency. And I fear one has now arisen.

librarian-byday: I swear, I will do this every single time one...

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:47:54 -0400

librarian-byday:

I swear, I will do this every single time one of my little brothers graduates from somewhere.

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Sun, 19 May 2013 15:46:28 -0400

The sun persists in rising, so I make myself stand

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:42:54 -0400

The sun persists in rising, so I make myself stand

nbcsnl: Love.

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:42:02 -0400

nbcsnl:

Love.

nbcsnl: shygirl364: REALLY!?! With Seth & Amy -...

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:40:53 -0400

nbcsnl:

shygirl364:

REALLY!?! With Seth & Amy - 5/18/13

And she stuck around for jokes!!!

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Sun, 19 May 2013 15:21:55 -0400

Jimmy: I was eating dinner in LA… do you remember sending over...

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:24:26 -0400

Jimmy: I was eating dinner in LA… do you remember sending over a giant plant?
Portia: Oh yes, that was funny.