For all of our disagreements in modern American life, there are at least a few things most of us can agree on. One of those is the need for reform in public education. We don't all agree on the solutions but many of the challenges are undeniable: retaining great teachers, reducing classroom size and updating the focus of student curriculums to reflect the ever-changing needs of a globalized workforce. And while parents, politicians and activists debate those remedies, one voice is all-too-often ignored: that of teachers themselves. This is why a short video testimony from a teacher in the Atlanta suburb of Gwinnett County went viral. After all, it's hard to deny the points made by someone who was just named teacher of the year and used the occasion to announce why he will be leaving the very school district that just honored him with that distinction.In a video carried by Fox5 Atlanta, 2022 Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Lee Allen breaks down what he sees as the overriding problems in the county's school system. While his comments are specific to that of Gwinnett County, it's virtually impossible to not see the overlap across all of America and how the problems have become exponentially more challenging as students have migrated back to in-person learning."At the end of this year, I will be leaving Gwinnett County Schools, leaving behind the opportunity to submit for state teacher of the year, roughly $10,000 in salary, and most importantly, the students and colleagues I've built strong relationships with," Allen, a math teacher at Lawrenceville's Archer High School, says at the beginning of his remarks. "I'm leaving in hopes that I can regain the ability to do the job that I love."Normally, one might assume teacher pay is the overriding issue for educators like Allen. But he makes it clear that he is, in fact, leaving money on the table to avoid what he deems as unacceptable changes to the student body and how the district manages its teachers and the learning environment. Here are his main grievances, in order:"First issue at hand is student apathy and disrespect for school rules and norms. … We have an alarming number of students that simply do not care about learning and refuse to even try.""We are also experiencing incredible disrespect and refusal to follow basic school rules. There is little to no accountability or expectation for grades or behavior placed on students or parents. Rather than being asked what the student can do to improve their understanding, teachers are expected to somehow do more with less student effort." Cell phone use. Teachers simply cannot compete with the billions of dollars tech companies pour into addicting people to their devices. Phones allow constant communication, often being the spark that fuels fights, drug use and other inappropriate meetups throughout the day. We need a comprehensive district plan with support behind it in order to combat this epidemic and protect the learning environment.""Lastly, there is a huge disconnect between administrators and teachers. The classroom in 2022 is drastically different from just three years ago. Most administrators have not been in a classroom full-time in years or even decades. Many teachers do not feel understood, valued or trusted as professionals from administrators and the decisions that they make."While Allen points fingers at administrators and student behavior, he also says that the pressures put on both students and teachers alike by COVID-19 had a catastrophic impact on learning. "The pandemic has acted as a catalyst and turned a slow negative trend into an exponential crisis," he says.But he also offers some solutions, stating, "I won't list complaints without offering ideas for improvement."All administrators should spend at least one week in a high needs classroom, "without a suit, without people knowing your title and in the same room, all day, for an entire week."Prioritizing smaller class sizes. Greater transparency from the district in terms of needs and expectations and goals."We all want the same thing and we cannot accomplish this without supporting one another," he says near the end of his remarks.With more than 400,000 views already, it's clear his remarks resonated with people not just inside his school district. There's almost nothing more important than how we educate our children. And while the national political debate centers on areas of far less importance generated to gin up controversy and campaign fundraising, it's families and local leaders who will need to do the heavy lifting of reprioritizing the fundamental principles of learning and leadership if we want an American educational system that can compete on the global stage in 2022 and beyond. After all, when literal award-winning educators like Allen are walking away, it's clear something more needs to be done.This article originally appeared on 6.28.22

In 1964, Paul McCartney of the Beatles famously sang, “I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.” While Mr. McCartney’s sentiments were definitely a major foreshadowing of the hippie, free-love movement that was to come in the ‘60s, it appears as though he was also onto a big truth that wouldn’t be proven for another 50 years.10 years ago, researchers Hugo M. Mialon and Andrew Francis-Tan from Emory University embarked on the first study to determine whether spending a lot on a wedding or engagement ring meant a marriage would succeed or fail.The pair wanted to see if the wedding industry was being honest when it came to claims that the more money a couple spends, the more likely they are to stay together.“The wedding industry has consistently sought to link wedding spending with long-lasting marriages. This paper is the first to examine this relationship statistically,” the researchers wrote.The researchers carried out online surveys with more than 3,000 ever-married people living in the United States.After reviewing the answers to the questionnaire the researchers learned that spending big bucks on a wedding and engagement ring made a couple more likely to get divorced. The researchers determined that "marriage duration is inversely associated with spending on the engagement ring and wedding ceremony."Conversely, they found that "relatively low spending on the wedding is positively associated with duration among male and female respondents."The researchers also found that the number of people who attend the wedding matters, too. The questionnaire revealed that “high wedding attendance and having a honeymoon (regardless of how much it cost) are generally positively associated with marriage duration."The researchers haven’t studied why people who splurge on weddings and rings have a greater chance of having to hire divorce lawyers, but they have a few theories.“It could be that the type of couples who have a … (cheap wedding) are the type that are a perfect match for each other,” Mialon told CNN. “Or it could be that having an inexpensive wedding relieves young couples of financial burdens that may strain their marriage,” he added.Francis-Tan believes that people who have weddings with a large number of attendees are more successful because they have a lot of support.“This could be evidence of a community effect, i.e., having more support from friends and family may help the couple to get through the challenges of marriage,” Francis-Tan said. “Or this could be that the type of couples who have a lot of friends and family are also the type that tend not to divorce as much.”Could it also be that people who put a big emphasis on a flashy wedding and jewelry tend to bit a bit more materialistic? It makes sense that couples that are really into keeping up appearances may not have their properties straight when it comes to building a loving relationship.To finish things off with another pop music analogy, “If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it,” (just make sure it’s an inexpensive one, in front of a lot of people, in your backyard).This article originally appeared on 12.7.21

A server in Texas shared some personal information on TikTok to remind everyone why it's so important to tip those who serve us our meals, drinks, and cut our hair.The reminder is important at a time when restaurants, bars and hair salons are reopening across the country and many service industry workers are reeling from the downturn in business during the pandemic.Aaliyah Cortez filmed a video of her paycheck where she shows that although she worked 70.80 hours during a pay period, she only received a check for $9.28. "So this is why you should always tip your bartenders and servers, anyone who waits on you, or provides a service for you," she said. @f.aa.ded PSA #psa #fyp #foryou #bartender #server #work #tips #chooseone #CleanFreshHype #photography101 #hardwork #viral ♬ original sound - bronté The video shows that even though she was paid the criminally low federal minimum tipped wage of $2.13, the money she received in her check was further reduced by taxes, social security, and Medicare payments."Of course, I got tips, but this is what I got for my hourly," Cortez said. "This is why you tip."The rules for wages in tipped industries vary across the country. Texas is among the 16 states where the state minimum cash wage payment is the same as that required under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ($2.13/hr.). Now, if a server making $2.13 an hour doesn't reach the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour with tips, then their employer must make up the difference.The best state to work in for tipped wages is California where the minimum wage is $13 to $14 an hour, depending on the size of the business.In a follow-up video, Cortez further discussed the issue, noting that she doesn't agree with "state laws that allow restaurants to pay under minimum wage and expect the customer to pay our wages," she said."I make great money in tips, she added, "However, this is not the case for all service industry workers." According to Cortez, people aren't always that generous with their tips, even though their "state is expecting them to tip." Cortez's video is a great reminder of two things:First, that we should all be mindful to take care of those who serve us by giving them a decent tip. Secondly, that the U.S. needs to address the issue of the tipped minimum wage because it hasn't changed in 30 years."Since 1991, the federal tipped minimum wage has been frozen at $2.13 an hour," gender economist Katica Rot told NBC. "Meanwhile, the non-tipped federal minimum wage has risen 70.6% and consumer prices have gone up 90.24%."In fact, tipped employees are twice as likely (and servers three times as likely) to live in poverty than non-tipped workers.Women bear the biggest burden of the tipped minimum wage. They represent 70% of all workers in tip-dependent occupations.Recently, the Senate rejected attempts to raise the federal minimum wage as part of the Biden administration's wide-sweeping COVID-19 relief package. Although that fight is far from over, it means the average person needs to step up and do their part to help out.Cortez says that a big problem with her industry is that people just don't tip enough. Let that be a reminder that in a world where it's been painfully difficult to raise the minimum wage, we are all deputized to help those who serve us by pitching in with a generous tip to show appreciation and humanity. This article originally appeared on 4.5.21

If there’s one thing that just about everyone is passionate about, it’s food. Everyone has their own unique palate and if they don’t think something tastes good, it’s impossible to convince them otherwise. People also have strong preferences over where they like to eat. Are they a Taco Bell or Del Taco person? Denny’s or Waffle House? Starbucks or Dunkin’? People also have a sense of mortality about what they eat. Some are omnivores, others are Vegans. Some feel it’s wrong to eat food unless it died or fell off the tree naturally, while others are willing to eat fish that are still alive. That’s why a recent post by Araaa, also known as @Shawntifying on X, was so fun. She asked people to share their most “cancellable food take,” and people gave some extremely passionate opinions on food. The X thread was extremely popular, receiving over 42 million views. Here are some of the most “cancellable” food opinions to get your blood pumping and mouth-watering. we’re cancelling each other over FOOD takes today, post your cancellable FOOD take— Araaa (@shawntifying) October 8, 2024 Some people jumped into the thread to take shots at other people’s tastes and habits. Not liking pickles, mushrooms or onions as a grown adult is embarrassing— 優木 せつ菜 ?? | Love Live Superstar S3 SZN (@Nljigakulive) October 8, 2024 People who don’t like avocado should be thrown in jail.— gg (@gr6teful) October 9, 2024 Picky adult eaters should be unmercifully mocked— KatsyTheremin (@KatsyTheremin) October 10, 2024 Do people like pineapple on pizza? Many people showed up to defend their love for pineapple on pizza. That’s been a heated debate on social media over the past few years. So, what do most people think about pineapple on pizza? A recent YouGov poll found that most people are fans. A poll of over 1,000 people found that 22% love it and 37% like it. That means 59% or more than half of those polled like pineapple on pizza. On the other side of the debate, 18% dislike it and 19% hate pineapple on pizza. Pineapple on pizza is one of the best combinations ever tried.— Clearstag (@VScaleskin) October 9, 2024 Pineapple tastes good on pizza— 日本が大好きです???? (@O_K_J_R) October 9, 2024 Some people were passionate about the first meal of the day. What is ok to eat at breakfast is just what is socially acceptable.Tequila, no.Orange juice and champagne, yes.butter chicken, noBacon and eggs, yes.— moraggemma (@moraggemma) October 9, 2024 Y’all gonna hate my breakfast…leftover rice with a lil butter & sugar on toast!! My mom used to give me as a kid…I’ve searched far & wide and nobody’s heard of it pic.twitter.com/1Hg1BM5iqK— Life Is Short - Get out there & live it!!! (@GottaLo74831194) October 11, 2024 Strangely, many people shared their thoughts on candy corn. The polls show that people either love the Halloween treat or think it’s an abomination. Food flavor specialist Marie Wright tells Today that our opinion of the candy is closely tied to our experiences with it as children. "The area of the brain where we process smell (which has a major impact on how we process taste) … is in the same part of the brain where we store memories and evoke emotion," said Wright. "In that primitive part of the brain, often there is a strong connection between an event, especially when it's food, especially childhood." Fritos are the best chips.Candy corn is elite.— Ruben || Check the Rhyme (@checktherhyme1_) October 8, 2024 Candy corn is GOOD. If I see a bowl of candy corn I'll binge on it until I'm sick.— Spatula City??☮️ (@Spatula8) October 8, 2024 Sweet potatoes were also controversial, with people swearing by them or wanting them eradicated from the planet. Sweet potatoes have no business trying to be french fries.— SassyMétisChick (@SassyMetisChick) October 9, 2024 Pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie taste the same— A K❄️ (@AKdaMasian) October 8, 2024 Sweet potatoes are the glitter of the food word, like… why are you here?????— Homo Spirit Activate! (@durandbernarr) October 9, 2024 Sweet potatos are trash— ice mountain is better (@Daijon88) October 8, 2024 There were also some extremely hot takes about fast food restaurants. McDonalds Filet-O-Fish is decent— Ileana Almog (@IleanaAlmog) October 9, 2024 If Burger King had McDonald’s fries no one would ever go to McDonald’s— Husked4Life (@Husked4Life) October 10, 2024 in n out is overrated— anushk (@anushkmittal) October 8, 2024 Taco Bell crunchy beef tacos, when eaten fresh in the store, are as good as any high end restaurant meal. Pair it with a fountain Mountain Dew, and that’s good eating right there.— cincyjk (@cincyjk) October 10, 2024 Many people don’t like shellfish, which will save them thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Shrimp and lobster are just sea insects. No one should eat them.— Ceekay Tschudi (@beyondabyssal) October 9, 2024 Lobster is the #1 most overrated food and it’s not close— BioPharmaWrestling (@BioPharmaMeat) October 10, 2024 Seafood is the worst food. It all tastes like the dirty water in the bottom of the fish tank. It smells even worse.— Ceekay Tschudi (@beyondabyssal) October 9, 2024 Not everyone finds coffee delicious. Coffee doesn't actually taste good. We're all just addicts, that's all.— War Witch will hold this territory (@HRHTish) October 10, 2024 cafe au lait is better than cappuccinos, lattes, and all that crap— Until They Glow☢ (@nukepolicywonk) October 9, 2024 The bone-in versus boneless-wing debate was also a big issue among the people in the thread. Boneless wings are just nuggets— Lexsi Nevermind ? (@LexsiNevermind) October 10, 2024 Ranch dressing suck. Blue cheese dressing sucks. If you wings are so bad you need to dip them in garbage get better wings.— Adam Pierce (@Sir_Adam_Pierce) October 8, 2024 There’s more meat on a drum than a wing.— Tatjana Ball (@LeBakedFox) October 9, 2024 boneless wings are better than bone in wings.— Josh (@TheRealJosh05) October 10, 2024 And, of course, some people in the thread were just 100% wrong. The ? would be a better place if cheesecake hadn’t been invented.— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) October 9, 2024 Brussels Sprouts should be constitutionally banned.— EconGiggles (@Delightinstuff) October 10, 2024 syrup on fried chicken is ghastly— viksit (@viksit) October 10, 2024

from The National Pulse: The number of Chinese migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border has increased significantly over the past two years, prompting concern from some lawmakers over national security and border policy. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicates that encounters with Chinese migrants at the southwest border surged from less than 24,000 in 2023 to approximately 36,500 […]

Explosive election fraud information from Patrick Byrne. Most shocking video I have seen about election fraud in the last four years. Waukesha County WI using corrupt ballot printer to have ballots printed. As is Delaware and Lancaster counties PA, DuPage county IL Michigan… pic.twitter.com/9PGzKTGX5n — Peter Bernegger (@PeterBernegger) October 14, 2024

Tim Walz Investigation Closing In On Pedophile Claims pic.twitter.com/OcgngNYWDb — Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) October 14, 2024

I wonder how many of the US politicians who take bribes from Israel even know who they are supporting? The United States motto is ‘In god we trust’. Have a look at what the ‘chosen people’ think of you and your god. pic.twitter.com/Q5UcKk3NzY — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) October 14, 2024

by Martin Armstrong, Armstrong Economics: The welfare state has exploded under Biden-Harris. Democrat-run Massachusetts recently revealed that they added an astounding 672,483 people to its EBT card and welfare programs, a 34.6% increase in a 14-month period! These figures indicate that 10% of the entire state is currently on welfare. State Senator Ryan Fattman is […]

This Savory Pumpkin Dip is perfect for fall and holiday parties.  Serve it warm with your choice of crackers, breads, or veggies and watch it disappear! Serve this Savory Pumpkin Dip at your next fall party and watch it disappear fast! In This Article Why This Recipe Stands OutKey Recipe IngredientsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadWhat to Serve with Pumpkin DipCommonly Asked QuestionsSavory Pumpkin Dip RecipeMore To Cook And Eat View more This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Why This Recipe Stands Out Typically, pumpkin shines in sweet treats, but it’s time we let pumpkin do some savory work. You’ll be amazed at how tasty this savory pumpkin dip is! Here’s why we love it: Bacon and Cheese: While we are all about a slice of Homemade Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Coffee Cake, but we also love pumpkin with salty cheeses and bacon! Super Flavorful: We don’t go light on the flavor factor in this recipe. Pumpkin, bacon, green onions, and cheddar all bring bold flavors to the table. Takes 10 Minutes: Like many of our favorite dip recipes, Savory Pumpkin Dip only takes about 10 minutes to whip together. It couldn’t be easier! Hot or Cold: This pumpkin dip can be served hot or cold. It’s also amazing spread on sandwiches and wraps. Key Recipe Ingredients Cream Cheese – Regular cream cheese is the base for this ultra-creamy dip. Shredded Cheddar Cheese – We recommend shredding your cheese straight from the block rather than using pre-shredded. It will blend in so much smoother and melt much better. Pumpkin Puree – Avoid pumpkin pie filling as it has added sugar and spices. Look for 100% pure pumpkin puree. Roasted Pepitas – Roasted Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) add the perfect crunch to Savory Pumpkin Dip. Bacon – Crumbled bacon brings it’s classic smoky, salty flavor that enhances everything. Green Onions – We like adding some fresh green onions for a pop of color and freshness. Spices – A blend of onion powder, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and cinnamon bring the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and earthy to this savory dip. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions In a bowl, microwave cream cheese until soft. Mix all other ingredients into cream cheese until combined. Chill dip in the fridge and reheat in the microwave when ready to use. Serve with crackers, bread, or veggies. Enjoy! For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead One of our favorite things about Savory Pumpkin Dip is that it can be made in advance, which is great for hectic fall party planning. Here’s how: Cook the Bacon: Make sure to give yourself some time to cook and crumble your bacon before mixing the dip. You could definitely do this the day before and just keep it in the fridge overnight. Grate Cheese: Like we mentioned earlier, freshly grated cheese is the way to go. This can also be done several days in advance. Chop the Chives: Feel free to chop the green onions a few days in advance. We like storing them in an airtight container in the fridge with a damp paper towel to keep them fresh. Here’s some more tips on storing green onions. Make the Whole Dip: Completely make Savory Pumpkin Dip the night before and reheat in the microwave or with a fondue heater when ready to enjoy. What to Serve with Pumpkin Dip Check out some of our favorite ways to enjoy Savory Pumpkin Dip: Enjoy with Crackers: Serve this dip with your favorite crackers. We tried these Homemade Cheese Crackers with pumpkin dip and they’re a match made in heaven! Enjoy with Bread: We love dipping this Soft and Crisp French Bread and these Homemade Soft Pretzels in Savory Pumpkin Dip. Serve as a Spread: Leftover dip is amazing served as a spread on these Extra Soft Homemade Bagels or any savory sandwich. Serve with Veggies: Pretty much any veggie will taste instantly amazing with this dip: broccoli, cauliflower, carrot sticks, sliced bell pepper, cucumbers, you name it! Commonly Asked Questions How long can I leave savory pumpkin dip out at room temp? Generally, you don’t want dips with dairy in them sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. However, if you’re keeping this dip hot with a fondue heater, it will last much longer. How long can I keep savory pumpkin dip? If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, pumpkin dip will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. We don’t recommend freezing this dip, as it tends to separate and not have a very good texture after thawing. How much can you taste the pumpkin in this dip? You’ll definitely be able to taste the pumpkin, but it’s not overpowering – just a pleasant pumpkin note that blends harmoniously with the cheese and bacon. Is there a sweet version of this dip? Yes! We also love making this sweet Pumpkin Cream Cheese Dip in the fall. It goes great with any kind of fruit or on toast. Is savory pumpkin dip gluten-free? Yes! This dip is completely gluten-free. Just serve it with gluten-free crackers or bread and you’re all set. Print Savory Pumpkin Dip This Savory Pumpkin Dip is creamy, cheesy, and delicious. Serve it warm with crackers or your choice of breads. It's a crowd pleaser, and one moderate batch can feed the entire crowd. Course Appetizer, SnackCuisine AmericanDiet Gluten Free, VegetarianMethod Assemble, Mixing Prep Time 10 minutes minutesTotal Time 10 minutes minutes Servings 8 servings Calories 236kcal Author Amy Dong Ingredients8 oz regular cream cheese softened½ cup shredded cheddar cheese½ cup pure pumpkin puree½ cup roasted pepitas shelled pumpkin seeds5 slices bacon cooked and crumbled3 green onions thinly sliced½ tsp onion powder½ tsp garlic powder½ tsp black pepper plus more to taste½ tsp kosher salt plus more to taste½ tsp ground cinnamon InstructionsMicrowave cream cheese in a microwavable bowl in 30 second increments until very soft.Stir in all other ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Chill until ready to serve. When ready to serve, reheat dip in microwave or in a small fondue pot. Stir again. Garnish with extra bacon and green onions, if desired. Serve warm, with crackers or breads. Notes This entire recipe can be made the night before, chilled in the fridge, and reheated in the microwave or in a fondue heater.  Make sure to grab regular cream cheese. The low-fat version won’t blend as well or end up as creamy as we want for this recipe. For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon.  Serve Savory Pumpkin Dip with these Homemade Cheddar Cheese Crackers, this Naan (Grilled Flatbread), or your favorite veggies!   If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionCalories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 392mg | Potassium: 178mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2886IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg More To Cook And Eat Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe – Perfect for game days, holidays, and parties, this sweet and savory dip is an instant crowd-pleaser. Roasted Garlic Hummus – You haven’t truly tasted hummus until you’ve made it at home, and the roasted garlic in this recipe takes it to the next level! Hot Imitation Crab Dip – Imitation Crab Dip takes only 15 minutes to make and is truly hearty and satisfying. Easy Cheesy Chicken Dip – This easy chicken dip takes just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time. It’s the perfect party dip served with crackers and bread! The post Savory Pumpkin Dip appeared first on Chew Out Loud.