Octopus Overlords

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 1:46 pm**

Went to the Wonder Twins 6.6's First Grade Christmas program this morning. Seeing all the horde of kids on stage, I asked Mrs. Skinypupy if this was all first grade, or if they had other grades represented too. Nope...there's actually 136 first graders at this school.

Welcome to Utah.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:05 pm**

Is that a public school? If so, that's about on par with ours as well. I'm in SC.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:06 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 11:56 am The BBB is Yelp for old people.

Their Yelp rating is slightly better at 1 1/2 stars.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:12 pm**

Ours has about 35 over in 2 classrooms. But then it's the smallest of 6 or 7 public elementary schools in a half mile radius.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:13 pm**

stessier wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:05 pm Is that a public school? If so, that's about on par with ours as well. I'm in SC.

Yeah, public school.

Seemed kinda insane to me, but maybe it's not that out of the ordinary.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:20 pm**

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 1:46 pm Went to the Wonder Twins 6.6's First Grade Christmas program this morning. Seeing all the horde of kids on stage, I asked Mrs. Skinypupy if this was all first grade, or if they had other grades represented too. Nope...there's actually 136 first graders at this school.

Welcome to Utah.

Were they all named Osmond?

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:23 pm**

Ed.gov

Utah average elementary class size = 24.2

That's seven classrooms worth of 1st graders.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:25 pm**

Wow. My son's graduating class is about 70 kids.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:36 pm**

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:23 pm Ed.gov

Utah average elementary class size = 24.2

That's seven classrooms worth of 1st graders.

SC is 18.5.

That's not necessarily related though. More funding would mean more teachers and smaller classes.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:06 pm**

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:25 pm Wow. My son's graduating class is about 70 kids.

Before we moved, my daughter's class (1st-6th) would have been ~16 kids. Would not do that again, given the choice.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:23 pm**

Daehawk wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:01 am After joking about it in a stream tonight I now wish there was a movie called Don of the Dead. It would be about the 1930s mafia vs the undead.

"I did not kill him. There he is roaming the yard" ...or "We'z got some zombie folk here boss...shoot'm boys"...*tommyguns call out*

Someone get Pegg on this.

I would watch the shit out of that movie

Remember boys, headshots only. Unless you see that rat Lefty Schwartz. Its kneecaps for him. I want that son of a bitch dead for a good long time until I am through with him.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:04 pm**

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:12 pm Ours has about 35 over in 2 classrooms. But then it's the smallest of 6 or 7 public elementary schools in a half mile radius.

You're not a performing arts magnet school by any chance, are you?

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:37 pm**

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 4:04 pm
LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:12 pm Ours has about 35 over in 2 classrooms. But then it's the smallest of 6 or 7 public elementary schools in a half mile radius.
You're not a performing arts magnet school by any chance, are you?

Performing arts magnet cluster as a matter o' fact.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:10 pm**

I believe the twins are going to the same school. It doesn't happen to sound a lot like a former tennis star, does it?

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:12 pm**

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:10 pm I believe the twins are going to the same school. It doesn't happen to sound a lot like a former tennis star, does it?

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:00 pm**

stessier wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:36 pm
Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:23 pm Ed.gov

Utah average elementary class size = 24.2

That's seven classrooms worth of 1st graders.
SC is 18.5.

That's not necessarily related though. More funding would mean more teachers and smaller classes.

Between the huge class sizes, the low wages, the absurdly low funding (dead last in the country in per-pupil spending, again), and the growing number of conservative families who are adamant that the ladder get pulled up behind them ("I sent my 8 kids to public school, but now that they're done, why should I have to support yours?"), I have no idea why anyone would ever want to be a public school teacher in this state.

The fact that my mom did it here for 25 years - in special ed, no less - is more amazing to me with every passing day.

Posted: **Wed Dec 11, 2019 7:55 pm**

I like Lipton tea. Maybe I should buy some tomorrow.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:38 am**

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:10 pm I believe the twins are going to the same school. It doesn't happen to sound a lot like a former tennis star, does it?

Nope, it's the other one that sounds like the guy who did the Miami Vice theme song. Wife is on the LSC and I'm on the neighborhood board though so I hear way too much about all of them.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:04 am**

Not sure if Ive heard my alarm too many times or Ive lost my last marble but I keep hearing a bing bong bing bong like someone is constantly ringing a doorbell in the tone of my tablet's alarm sound over and over constantly in a low volume. Man I hope this goes away.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:10 am**

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:04 am Not sure if Ive heard my alarm too many times or Ive lost my last marble but I keep hearing a bing bong bing bong like someone is constantly ringing a doorbell in the tone of my tablet's alarm sound over and over constantly in a low volume. Man I hope this goes away.

Do you have a Bluetooth speaker or Echo-type device? We had a similar ghost sound and it turned out some device or another had connected and was ringing through Bluetooth.

For a while we thought the TV was ringing.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:30 am**

No none of that. But you got me thinking. The only things 'on' are my tv and heater. I turned them off and dont hear it. Back on I didn't hear it....until I just now thought about it and I hear it again. Much lower this time. So Im crazy. Thats a relief....wait.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:47 am**

The last three nights, we have had an anonymous person leaving gifts on our porch. The first night they left a little polished wooden box accompanied by a sappy story about "filling the box with Christ's love during the holidays". The second night, they left a package of brand new silver serving utensils with a sappy note about "serving others in Christ". Last night, they left a very nice brand new fleece blanket, accompanied by a sappy poem about "Christ's warmth and comfort". The first package had a "C" tag, the second had an "H", and last night's had a "R", so I'm guessing this is going to continue through Christmas. I am someone's holiday reclamation project, apparently.

Am I an asshole for wishing that whoever is doing this just take what they're spending (neither the wooden box, the utensils, or the blanket could have been cheap, and who knows what else is coming) and donate it to a charity instead? It's not like the whole conversion effort is going to have any effect, and I'd hate for them to keep spending money to leave me stuff that I don't really need or particularly want. Mrs. Skinypupy thinks it's a sweet gesture, but I'm just kinda bugged by it.

(any of these gifts that would be useful to a shelter or charity will be getting donated by us, obviously)

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:54 am**

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:47 am(any of these gifts that would be useful to a shelter or charity will be getting donated by us, obviously)

Which (if he can forgive me for saying), I think the man Himself would approve. Also, what's happening is creepy. Not call the police creepy, but I'd be uncomfortable with a random person deciding I needed religion by way of porch gifting.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:56 am**

And your neighbor is now wondering where his stuff is going.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:59 am**

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:47 am The last three nights, we have had an anonymous person leaving gifts on our porch. The first night they left a little polished wooden box accompanied by a sappy story about "filling the box with Christ's love during the holidays". The second night, they left a package of brand new silver serving utensils with a sappy note about "serving others in Christ". Last night, they left a very nice brand new fleece blanket, accompanied by a sappy poem about "Christ's warmth and comfort". The first package had a "C" tag, the second had an "H", and last night's had a "R", so I'm guessing this is going to continue through Christmas. I am someone's holiday reclamation project, apparently.

Am I an asshole for wishing that whoever is doing this just take what they're spending (neither the wooden box, the utensils, or the blanket could have been cheap, and who knows what else is coming) and donate it to a charity instead? It's not like the whole conversion effort is going to have any effect, and I'd hate for them to keep spending money to leave me stuff that I don't really need or particularly want. Mrs. Skinypupy thinks it's a sweet gesture, but I'm just kinda bugged by it.

(any of these gifts that would be useful to a shelter or charity will be getting donated by us, obviously)

I don't think you're an asshole...I think it's creepy AF (but then again, I'm neither a Christian nor a Utahn). You could leave a note on your porch telling them to stop trespassing on your property and go make a donation to a charity instead.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:08 pm**

Maybe it'll turn cool and one of the upcoming gifts will be the sword of the spirit.

You should stake out your porch and when the next present arrives, leap from the shadows wearing corpse paint.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:10 pm**

Totally creepy and inappropriate. I’d leave a note wishing them a happy holiday but politely telling them to stop.

[Or do what Sudy said; I like that much better!]

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:25 pm**

gilraen wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:59 am I think it's creepy AF (but then again, I'm neither a Christian nor a Utahn).

Anonymous porch gifting is actually pretty common during the holidays around here. It's usually just small things though, like homemade cookies, a Christmas ornament, candy canes, etc. This is the first time I've seen such a dedicated effort with such over-the-top gifts.

I actually wanted to leave a note telling them to please stop, but Mrs. Skinypupy vetoed it. She's probably secretly hoping it has an effect (she's active LDS).

Sudy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:08 pm You should stake out your porch and when the next present arrives, leap from the shadows wearing corpse paint.

Brilliant!

I've thought about keeping an eye on the front porch to see who's doing it, but that's way too much effort and would cut into my nightly gaming time. If they want to keep doing it, I'll just have more to donate at the end of the process.

Will report back tonight.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:59 pm**

God Drew Carey is STILL SO BAD at The Price is Right. My God he has zero emotion to him. Lady wins the final shows case and he says "A difference of $1,400 you won" all in one sentence all flat and no emotion and walks away. He is HORRIBLE.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:16 pm**

I don't understand the "creepy" votes. They are gifts. Keep them, throw them out, who cares? It is making someone feel good to give them, so accept them in the spirit they are given. I'm not talking the religious aspect, just the generosity someone is showing.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:21 pm**

I'd go with creepy, too. The motive taints the gesture.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:24 pm**

stessier wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:16 pm I don't understand the "creepy" votes. They are gifts. Keep them, throw them out, who cares? It is making someone feel good to give them, so accept them in the spirit they are given. I'm not talking the religious aspect, just the generosity someone is showing.

Giving someone with a gift to convince them of some type of religious teaching is manipulative. A gift (by definition) is a no-strings attached arrangement. They should be coming to the door, ringing the bell and offering to talk to them about their lord and savior. At which point the door should be slammed in their face. Leaving stealth gifts to avoid that is lazy and passive-aggressive.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:25 pm**

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:24 pm
stessier wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:16 pm I don't understand the "creepy" votes. They are gifts. Keep them, throw them out, who cares? It is making someone feel good to give them, so accept them in the spirit they are given. I'm not talking the religious aspect, just the generosity someone is showing.
Giving someone with a gift to convince them of some type of religious teaching is manipulative. A gift (by definition) is a no-strings attached arrangement.

It's a one way conversation. There's no debate going on. Ignore it or don't, it's up to you.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:35 pm**

The one way nature and no real way to interact politely is mostly what makes it creepy.

Any chance it’s your wife that’s doing it ??

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:47 pm**

I land more on the "annoying and unnecessary" side rather than "creepy". Maybe I've just become numb to the passive/aggressive attempts to lure me back to religion after living here as a non-Mormon for so long.

Unagi wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:35 pm Any chance it’s your wife that’s doing it ??

Doubt it. Unless she's a really good actor, she was genuinely surprised by it as well. In her mind, they're just nice gifts from someone to remind our family of the "real reason" for Christmas.

I'm much more skeptical as to the motives, but have mostly kept that opinion to myself.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:58 pm**

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:47 pm In her mind, they're just nice gifts from someone to remind our family of the "real reason" for Christmas.

Rampant consumerism?

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 3:16 pm**

Actual generosity would just be leaving gifts on the porch with no strings attached (ignorable or not.) This is just a form of advertising by giving away 'freebies.' The brake place doesn't give away calendars to be nice.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 3:25 pm**

Daehawk wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:59 pm God Drew Carey is STILL SO BAD at The Price is Right. My God he has zero emotion to him. Lady wins the final shows case and he says "A difference of $1,400 you won" all in one sentence all flat and no emotion and walks away. He is HORRIBLE.

This is the exact opposite of the Drew Carey I see when I watch TPIR. He looks like he's having a wonderful time.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 4:00 pm**

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 11:47 am The first package had a "C" tag, the second had an "H", and last night's had a "R", so I'm guessing this is going to continue through Christmas. I am someone's holiday reclamation project, apparently.

Need a photo of your expression when the next letter isn't an "i".

Seriously though, seems pushy at the very least. Unless it's someone you know just being too into the spirit of the season. But if it's not, time for a trail cam or Ring doorbell or something. Maybe leave an empty box of 12-gauge shells and some cigarillo butts lying around for good measure.

Posted: **Thu Dec 12, 2019 4:45 pm**

An elderly lady in front of me wrote a paper check. A paper check. Brought back memories. I mean I write them for the garbage man. But in a store?

EDIT: While standing there waiting I perused the impulse buy shelf beside me. I kinda chuckled at how people fall for that trick and thought to myself NOT ME. Then I spotted some weird chip brand Id never seen before called RAP Snacks. Seems to be based on hip hop and rap groups. But it was the flavor that stuck out...sour cream and ranch. Ok well never had that combo before and I love both so why not at $1 for a good sized bag.

WOW these suckas are good! I went to their website and theres other flavors I MUST find now to try like Honey and jalapeno and Jerk BBQ. More flavors finally in the chip world. Praise be.

http://www.rapsnacks.net/

Octopus Overlords

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