Turn Off System Beeps in Windows XP

System beeps can be disabled in Windows XP by going to the Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager. In the Device Manager, click the "Show hidden devices" option in the View menu. Go to the "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" section; right-click and disable the "Beep" device.

A Browner America

Between July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2005, the US population grew by 2.8 million nearly half were Hispanics. Hispanic women typically have 3 children in their lifetime compared to the 1.8 for non-Hispanic whites and there are 8.2 Hispanic births for every Hispanic death. Forty-five percent of children under the age of 5 are from a racial or ethnic minority. Hispanic are the largest minority group in the US with 42.7 million growing at a rate of 3.3 percent compared to African-Americans 39.7 million growing at 1.3 percent. The non-Hispanic white population is growing at a rate of 0.3 percent.

Georgia Schools On My Mind

With schools next to last in SAT scores and first in the nation in dropouts, Georgia schools don't need another blow to their reputation. But federal prosecutors presented evidence today to tie former state school superintendent, Linda Schrenko, and two co-defendants Stephen Botes and Peter Steyn of funneling $614,000 in federal education funds through a company called Computer Consulting Service Corporation run by Botes (President/CEO) and Steyn (COO). The evidence presented today is meant to show that Schrenko knew about the illegal contributions to her failed gubernatorial campaign in 2002.

Also, Georgia lawmakers have overwhelmingly authorized Bible classes in public school making it the first state in the nation to do so. At least Georgia students will be in good company with the rest of the nation where 53% of American adults believe God created humans in present form. Tim Callahan, the spokesman of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators says this just is another battle in the cultural wars. Georgia has been on the frontlines of the war since Cobb County schools proposed the requirement of a disclaimer in biology books in 2002 that read: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered." The evolution stickers was ruled unconstitutional in 2005 by a federal judge in Atlanta.

Sometimes its the little things that can do the most harm, such as a rendition of the "On Top of Ol' Smokey" which included lyrics about shooting a teacher in Suwanee, GA. Beth Ann Cox, a junior at Peachtree Ridge High School admitted to humming the song, but denied singing it loudly or directy the lyrics at her German teacher Phil Carroll. The lyrics included: "On top of Ol' Smokey, all covered with blood, I shot my poor teacher with a .44 slug." Carroll says she started singing the song out loud while they were discussing a grade on an assignment. Cox was suspended for five days.

Top 5% of Public High Schools

Even though numbers are not the end all of what makes a good school, the Washington Post has a list of the top 5% of public high schools based on the number of Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in 2005 divided by the number of graduating seniors.

The majority of the top schools in Georgia are in the Atlanta area. A member of Jackson County's board of education recently initiated a motion to implement the International Baccalaureate tests at Jackson County Comprehensive High School; my former high school.

In related news, forty percent of Americans aged 18-24 cannot identify Iraq on an unlabeled map even though the US has been fighting a war in the country for the past 3 years. More than one-third failed to find the Louisana and Mississippi on maps even with the daily coverage in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Child Misbehavior: Prenatal Cocaine Exposure And Chronic Headaches

University of Florida researchers have found that children exposed to crack or powder cocaine in the womb possessed the same disruptive behaviors as other children. Behavioral problems seemed more closely linked to maternal depression. Researchers studied 256 children exposed to cocaine before birth where most of the mothers were poor black and lived in rural areas. A high-number of depression symptoms were found in these women and the mothers tended to report more behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and implusive behaviors in their children. A study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse showed that cocaine-exposed children exhibited minor problem-solving differences in school.

Dr. Tara W. Strine and colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta published results in the medical journal Pediatrics that severe headaches in childhood are associated with notable pain, mental health issues and functional limitations. Headaches contribute to missed school days, affect children's peer and family relationships, and significantly impact children's quality of life, often times into adulthood.

Children with frequent or severe headaches were 3.5 times more likely to have a high level of emotional symptoms, 2.5 more likely to have conduct problems, 2.6 times more likely to have symptoms of hyperactivity or inattention and 1.7 times more likely to have peer problems. The children were 2.9 times as likely to be upset or distressed and to to have difficulties with home life, friendships, classroom learning, and leisure activities.

La Bandera de Estrellas

Last week, Bush responded to the issue of the national anthem sung in Spanish saying "I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English. And I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English, and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

But State Department's website features 4 versions of the national anthem in Spanish. The first version listed was created by Francis Haffkine Snow back in 1919. On last Sunday's "Face the Nation" on CBS, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said "I've heard the national anthem done in rap versions, country versions, classical versions. The individualization of the American national anthem is quite underway."