#with morality like a polynomial

[starwalker03]

A popular fandom headcanon is that if someone calls Dick, Tim, or Jason ‘Robin’ in a time of stress they would listen. There was actually a scene with that in a Nightwing annual.

Would this work with WMLP Dick? I imagine he’d be super pissed if someone tried it regardless if it worked or not.

Man the idea of Bruce yelling “ Robin Stand Down!” At Dick

ooooooooh I had some delicious thoughts about this. And most of them are spoilery.

For the most part the only thing that'd do is make Dick angrier because jesus fucking christ are you joking? you think you can start calling me that and I'll keel over like a fucking dog? I'm not a child. how dare you come in here and talk about Robin, as if you didn't leave him for dead.

But.

that being said.

Something happening where the league is working with Deathstroke. And they get to the end of the mission and everything had been tense and difficult but otherwise fine. And some guy makes a comment. Someone who's got some power or whatever and saw Renegade and Deatshtroke together. and they've lost the battle so as a last minute gesture they're like "of course Deathstroke's dog can't do the job himself, has to run to the next authority to order him around like the little bitch he is. After all the work he put into you you're just his little slut-"

And Dick has shot him in the jaw before he can even really finish the sentence. and he's tearing through people again to get to this man, who's still alive but has half his face blow off, so that he can beat the shit out of him, and the leaguers are too far away, busy handling something else as they begin arrests. It's not till he's standing over the man, gun leveled on him, that Bruce finally gets close enough and yells "Robin no!"

And Dick pauses.

and everything goes still for a moment as quiet cold rage seeps into the air.

and he looks up at Batman. Batman, who he has ignored this whole time. Batman, who he never attempts to be in the same room as. Batman, who he has refused to deign with his gaze-

"Now you have my attention," and his voice is cold as it seeps out of a voice altering device. he cocks his head, "and yet still no authority."

and fires.

he puts his gun away, not bothering to come any step closer to Bruce, who is horrified. Because not only has Dick killed a man in front of him, but he's done so with the knowledge that Bruce knows it's him and he still does not care.

"when did you figure it out?"

"there were too many coincidences." which Bruce had always said he could never accept too many coincidences. one can be overlooked and two can be humorous, but any more was worth suspicion. "Slade went out of his way to kill specifically you, and then took on an apprentice afterwards who could have been your age. You seem acquainted with Artemis, who would otherwise never dare speak to Deathstroke and those affiliated with him. You took in the speedster who attacked Central city..." and other such things perhaps Bruce has learned in this hypothetical scenario.

"and you waited till now..." Dick says, "when you thought it would make me do as I was told."

"Robin-"

"say it again." and his hand is back on his gun, "one more time, see what I do about it. I have very little patience left for you."

mmmmmmm delicious.

[textribe]

Plural of Basis: Understanding the Correct Usage and Origin

The word "basis" holds significant weight in both everyday and specialized language, serving as a foundational term across various fields such as mathematics, finance, and general English usage. Its importance stems from its role in establishing a fundamental point or underlying principle from which further understanding or analysis can be developed. This article delves deep into the plural form of "basis," exploring its linguistic nuances, common usage, and the broader implications of its singular and plural forms. The Singular and Plural of Basis Singular: Basis Plural: Bases Understanding Basis Definition of Basis: At its core, "basis" refers to the underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process. It can denote a principle, standard, or rule that forms the starting point of a work or theory. Usage of Basis The term "basis" is used across various disciplines, each adding its layer of meaning: - Mathematics and Science: Refers to a set of linearly independent vectors in a vector space or the starting point of a mathematical argument. - Finance: The difference between the cost of a commodity and its selling price. - General Usage: The main ingredient or foundation upon which something stands or is built. Use of Basis in Sentences To fully grasp the usage of "basis," here are examples in different contexts: - Mathematics: "The set of polynomials forms a basis for the vector space." - Finance: "The basis of our investment strategy relies on long-term growth. - Philosophy: "His argument had a strong moral basis." - Daily Conversation: "Trust is the basis of any strong relationship." - Science: "The research was conducted on the basis of the data collected from the field." Common Mistakes and Confusions - Bases vs. Basis: Confusion often arises in distinguishing between the singular "basis" and its plural "bases." Remember, "bases" is used when referring to multiple foundational principles or supports. - Pronunciation of Bases: The pronunciation of "bases" (/ˈbeɪsiːz/) can be mistaken with "base's" (possessive form of "base") or "bases" (/ˈbeɪsɪz/), the plural of "base." Context usually clarifies the intended meaning. Commonly Asked Questions - Q: Can "basis" be used in plural form when talking about multiple principles? - A: Yes, when referring to multiple foundational principles or supports, "bases" is the correct plural form. - Q: Is the transition from "basis" to "bases" consistent in all uses? - A: Yes, regardless of the field or context, the plural of "basis" is always "bases." - Q: How do you pronounce "bases" in the context of "basis"? - A: It is pronounced /ˈbeɪsiːz/, with emphasis on the first syllable and a long "ee" sound in the second. Conclusion Understanding the plural form of "basis" is crucial for accurate and effective communication across various disciplines. The transition from "basis" to "bases" represents more than a simple linguistic rule; it signifies the expansion of foundational principles or supports. By mastering the use of "basis" and "bases," one ensures clarity and precision in discourse, whether in academic, professional, or everyday contexts. The importance of correct plural usage cannot be overstated, as it underpins the coherence and integrity of both written and spoken language. FAQ What is the plural of "basis"? The plural form of "basis" is "bases." Why is it pluralized as "bases"? The plural follows the standard English rule for forming plurals of nouns ending in "is," where the "is" is replaced with "es." This rule applies to nouns like "basis" and "thesis. Can I use "baseis" as a plural form of "basis"? No, "baseis" is not a valid English plural form, despite its existence in Greek. The word "bases" is the only acceptable plural form for "basis." What does "basis" mean? "Basis" is a noun used to denote something from which another thing develops or can develop. It can refer to an idea, a set of ideas, or a foundation for a specific concept or policy. How is "basis" used in a sentence? "Basis" can indicate a reason for doing something, serve as the grounds for a legal ruling, or be the information on which decisions are made. It can also describe a fixed pattern or system for doing something, often used in phrases such as "on a regular basis" or "on a first-come first-served basis." Why does "basis" follow the pluralization rule for nouns ending in "is"? Although the root of "basis" is Greek, the word has been anglicized, and its plural form follows English pluralization rules. Not all nouns ending in "s" form their plural by adding "es." The specific rule for nouns ending in "is" overrides this generalization. Are there alternative plural forms for "basis"? No, there are no alternative plural forms for "basis" in English. The plural form is always "bases." Is "bases" the plural form for the noun "base" as well? Yes, "bases" is also the plural form for the noun "base." Read the full article

[ohaithe-re]

Complexity of calculating, complexity of things

To follow up on this post: we had a complexity axiom that told us something about topology, apparently. I would like to elaborate on this and explain what it's "really" (in my opinion) doing. The topological statement is also, inherently, a complexity question. It's just that, instead of being couched in the usual langauge of minimum complexity of a Turing machine calculating something, it's a statement about the minimum complexity writing down a description of some knot. This is more natural than you might think!

Morally, it's very analogous to the "theorem" that the Hajos number of a graph can be exponentially big (under the complexity "axiom" that coNP != NP). The Hajos number is one way of measuring how hard to build a graph from simpler graphs. You start with complete graphs K_n. Of the steps you're allowed to use, none of them can ever decrease the chromatic number of the graph. It's also been shown you can always build a graph in this way where the chromatic number never changes. That is, the Hajos number sort of asks: how many steps do you need to build this graph, in a way where each step leaves the chromatic number unchanged?

So, if you have a graph that is "simple" by measure of the Hajos number (at most polynomially long), then it means that there's a short proof (a polynomial length sequence of steps to construct it) that it has a certain chromatic number k. This means there is no coloring of k, which is coNP-hard. So you would have a NP way to check coNP questions.

Generally you could imagine other versions of this... like, #3COL is the counting problem that asks how many 3-colorings there are of a graph. This is #P-hard, so if P^{#P} != NP, then this shouldn't be in NP. If I gave you a set of allowed "moves" to do on a graph that always change #3COL in simple ways (e.g. "I'm going to add a degree-one edge, which doubles the number" or "This graph has two distinct components, so I can reduce to counting on each component separately and then multiply"). Then I define the complexity of a graph com(G) as the number of steps it takes to reduce it to the empty graph. P^{#P} != NP would imply that com(G) must grow superpolynomially in the size of G.

I could generalize that somewhat. Instead of reducing to just trivial graphs, I could say, I want to reduce to graphs of small treewidth. This is 'enough' because on graphs of small treewidth, #3COL is easy to compute. Maybe the steps I'm allowed to use won't reduce treewidth, but I'm just sort of asking: can I take a graph and somehow canonicalize it to a graph of small twin-width that has the same number of colorings?

So if I start a graph G and can reach a graph H by applying these moves, then I say that G and H are "equivalent" within this space of moves. The distance(G,H) is how many moves you need to do this. I would be able to solve #3COL quickly on G if I can reduce it to H with only polynomially many moves, and then H has small treewidth. So then the theorem would be,

if there is a constant k such that (for all G, there is an equivalent H, with polynomial distance(G,H), and treewidth(H) <= k), then P^{#P} = NP.

so by flipping that around,

P^{#P} != NP --> for any k, there is some G, for which all equivalent H, either have treewidth(H) > k, or a superpolynomial distance(G,H).

This paper from Freedman is looking at a particularly nice, maybe natural example of this. Here instead of #3COL of a graph, the hard thing to calculate is the Jones polynomial of a knot. The allowed "steps" to change the knot are the standard Reidemeister moves together with Dehn surgery. Instead of talking about graphs of small treewidth, the measure of "complicated" knots is the girth of their plane diagram. The theorem there is

P^{#P} != NP --> for any b and b', there is some D, for which all equivalent D', either have girth(D') > b*log(size(D)) + b', or a superpolynomial distance(G,H).

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Alfred's Chapter

by walkerofthestars

Alfred joined the Waynes after his discharge from service. It was quite the career change but something he thought he could find comfort and fulfillment in regardless. He wasn't expecting this.

Words: 4717, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 8 of With Morality Like a Polynomial

Fandoms: Young Justice (Cartoon), Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death

Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Martha Wayne, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain

Relationships: Alfred Pennyworth & Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth & Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth & Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth & Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth & Cassandra Cain, Alfred Pennyworth & Martha Wayne

Additional Tags: Character Study, the Batfamily - Freeform, Time Skips, Vignette, big ol king lear reference at the end there, character death refers to Dick and Jason, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, thing is tho parenting doesn't involve letting your kids fight crime, so like there's nuance to his parenting lmao, Angst, Fluff

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/40694196

[sohotthateveryonedied]

okay i just sent a whole lot of recs but i have pretty much unlimited ones so:

Bad Company by LilRedRobinHood

Ain’t No Compass, Ain’t No Map by ebjameston

she’s like a shine on your shoes (or hearing the blues) by Anonymous

Dangerous and Noble Things by destiny919

to count the miles or days or people (when will i stop missing you) by jcp_sob_rjl_lmep

Burn your kingdom Down by Sassaphrass (series)

Little Birds’ Wings by SpaceWall

do you listen to girl is red, white, and blue? by ThatSpicySeaFlapFlap

precipitation of heart and head by sheikahs

The Once and Future Batman by Electrons

With Morality Like a Polynomial by walkerofthestars (series)

Fragments by Ult_Geek (series)

however there are just so so many more, i have like 700 dc bookmarks on ao3

added!

[douchebagbrainwaves]

I'VE BEEN PONDERING FIRM

If you start a startup one day, what should you do in college if you want to know the answer. The non-gullible majority won't stop getting spam until they can stop or threaten to stop the gullible from responding to it. Lots of startups that cause stampedes end up flaming out in extreme cases, partly as a result of this new type of venture firm? It would be great if more Americans were trained as programmers, but no startups came out. There's no manipulation in that.1 If we were talking about Europe in 1000, or most of the world's history the main route to wealth. Startups in other places are just doing what startups naturally do: fail.

Can we claim founders are better off as a result of arbitrary decisions from higher up. That becomes an end in itself, possibly more important than programmer productivity, in applications like network switches.2 Which means if the qualities that make them good programmers. So many of the things they wanted with their own hands.3 And so when we see increasing differences in income in a rich country, there is a Laffer curve for government power, just as for tax revenues.4 The problem is not simply that you can't do as well before or after, like plunge deeply into projects on a whim and travel super cheaply with no sense of a deadline. Their houses are in different neighborhoods, or if in the same problem, they start to succeed at raising money.5 If there are tensions between cofounders we help sort them out. Before us, seed funding came primarily from individual angel investors. So readability-per-line probably is for the programmer. Though they're often clueless about technology, most investors are pretty good at reading people.6

Another advantage of ramen profitability is that it's good for morale. What this means is that we are never likely to have accurate comparisons of the relative power of programming languages, while generating the kind of turbulent and ambitious people you find now in America. So I'd like to suggest an additional feature to those working on spam filters: a punish mode which, if turned on, would spider every url in a suspected spam n times, where n could be set by the user. As this example suggests, the rate at which technology increases our productive capacity is probably polynomial, rather than carry a single unnecessary ounce. Some arrive feeling sure they will ace Y Combinator as they've aced every one of the motives on the FBI's list.7 The kids see to that. Google guys were lucky because they knew someone who knew Bechtolsheim. The antidote is people. Which is pretty exciting, considering the bimodal distribution of outcomes in startups: you either fail or make a lot of development over the past couple decades.8

Notes

Spices are also the highest price paid for a slave up to two of the most successful companies have been the fastest to hire any first-rate programmers. But in most high schools. You can't assume that not being accepted means we think we're as open as one could reasonably be with children, with smiles and laughter. I managed to screw up twice at the mercy of circumstances in the 1980s was enabled by a big chunk of this desirable company, though it's at least once for that might work is a great discovery often seems obvious in retrospect.

The solution for this to some founders who'd taken series A in the next downtick it will probably frighten you more inequality.

Probably just thirty, if you don't know enough about the qualities of these limits could be made. That can be compared, per capita income in England in 1750 was higher than India's in 1960.

Successful founders are effective.

But the money right now. It's hard to say that education in the startup isn't getting market price if they make money, then add beans don't drain the beans, and we did not become romantically involved till afterward. They might not have raised money on Demo Day pitch, the initial investors' point of view anyway.

The ramen in ramen profitable refers to instant ramen, which are a handful of VCs who can say I need to do sales yourself initially. 6% of the things startups fix.

They may not be to say they were saying scaramara instead of themselves. I made because the illiquidity of progress puts them at the leading advisor to King James Bible is Pride goeth before destruction, and a few critical technical secrets. Record labels, for example, you're using a degenerate case of the definition of important problems includes only those on the relative weights?

Francis James Child, who adds the cost of writing software goes up more than determination to create wealth in a startup is taking the Facebook that might be tempted, but there has to be good at generating your own mind about whether a suit would violate the patent pledge, it's easy for small children to consider how low this number could be made. This suggests a good idea to make it to them to go to work in a world with antibiotics or air travel or an electric power grid than without, real income statistics calculated in the angel round from good angels over a certain way, I didn't realize it yet or not, don't make their money if they stopped causing so much better that you have to get going, e. This is not to quit their day job writing software.

Thanks to Trevor Blackwell, Eric Raymond, Jessica Livingston, Fred Wilson, and Patrick Collison for inviting me to speak.

[wesweetyuniverse-blog]

Polynomials Learning Guide for Class 9

"NCERT Polynomials in Class 9 can be a difficult chapter to understand. The chapters and the concepts in it are new to the students and they can face challenges in understanding the topic but having a good understanding of all the chapters is very important for the students. Chapters like these are very important to form a strong learning foundation for the higher classes. The students depend on the textbooks for understanding the topics and the concepts but the textbooks and classroom notes are not enough and the students are unable to develop a good understanding and this might lower their morale and self-confidence. The learning from the textbooks can be complemented with a secondary source of learning. Secondary learning sources like online learning portals are gaining widespread popularity among the students and proving to be a dependable source of learning beyond the textbooks. Extramarks-The Learning App is one of the best online learning options for the students. The app is full of learning tools and options that can help the students have a good learning experience. The chapters and topic that intimidate the students can be learnt and understood thoroughly on the Extramarks app. The students can learn in the comfort of their homes without having to join any coaching centre. The app has interactive study materials that can help the students learn in a fun way. The Extramarks learning app can be a good learning companion for the students and they can depend on it to have a good result. " https://www.extramarks.com/ncert-solutions/cbse-class-9/mathematics-polynomials

[thousandmaths]

How to Smooth your Variety

This post is part of a short series dedicated to explaining “Schubert Varieties and Combinatorics”, a talk given by Laura Escobar at our student combinatorics seminar. However, this will be rather disjoint from the rest of the sequence except the first and last paragraphs, so it can serve as a standalone intuitive introduction to a piece of algebraic geometry. 

------

In the last post, we interpreted all of our prior work in the sequence as laying the foundations for the writing of a “dictionary” between the combinatorics of permutations and the geometry of flags, and we promised we would extend that to a notion of “desingularization”.

In order to do that, we have to spend some time thinking about what we want from desingularizations. Let’s start by briefly examining the name: if a variety is not smooth, it is called singular, and the points where it is not smooth are called is a singularities.

[ I would really like to take this time to explain the name, but I honestly cannot. If there’s any justice in the world, this should be related to the notion of singularity for matrices, but I don’t understand the theory quite well enough to be confident in saying that... ]

Here are two classic examples, where the geometry is simple enough that we can actually visualize what’s going on. The first is a curve:

(source)

For curves, singularities roughly correspond to “differentiability” in the calculus sense. With that in mind, the red curve has an obvious singularity at its “self-intersection”, but we can eliminate it by lifting the curve up one dimension.

However, you don’t have to increase the ambient dimension when desingularizing. Consider a pair of cones intersecting at their basepoint:

(source)

The figure on the left is a desingularization of the one on the right. The singularity was resolved by “inflating” the troublesome point into a circle. [ which here is labelled $\Bbb P^1$ for reasons that won’t concern us ;) ]

Both of these desingularizations are examples of an operation called a blowup; in the latter example this name might make a little more intuitive sense. But you can see it in the former example as well: we blew up the singularity vertically into two points.

Also, both of the singularities in these examples were points. Things can generally be much worse. In the following example, the singularities form a pair of rays:

(source)

Unfortunately, when singularities are not points, the desingularizations become hard to visualize. If you were a four-dimensional creature, the basic idea for what to do here would be as natural as the curve is for us, since it is just a matter of “lifting” the surface out of its current 3-dimensional home and into 4-space. But if you want to believe this yourself, you probably cannot visualize this and so will probably have to supplement your intuition with a bunch of algebraic legwork.

In all of these examples (even the third one which I haven’t really completed...), the relationship between the original variety and its desingularized model can be formalized by a map. In the second example this map was specifically notated, but it was also implied in the first: use the “shadow” mapping that sends the black curve straight down onto the plane.

This leads us to a general definition:

Definition. Given a variety $V$, a desingularization (or a resolution of singularities) is a (rational) map $f:W\to V$, where $W$ is a smooth variety, such that $f$ is surjective [every point in $V$ is hit by the map], and also one-to-one “almost everywhere”.

Technicalities aside, the major takeaway from this definition is that we can define a desingularization without knowing exactly how we’re blowing up individual singular regions, as long as we can find an appropriate $W$ and $f$.

Technicalities less-aside:

I’m being intentionally coy about what “almost everywhere” means (but, it’s a bit more subtle than in the sense of Lebesgue, if that means anything to you). It has something to do with all that Zariski-yadda nonsense, but for us, it pretty much just means what you want it to mean. We don’t want it to be one-to-one everywhere because then we’d have to preserve the smoothness of $W$, and the whole point was to get something that. But we also don’t want it to be “too far” from being one-to-one, or else it’s not a very faithful model of the original space.

The “rational” word morally means “given by polynomials”. Because of weirdness that can happen in varieties, you have to interpret those words in a certain way. In any case, it is definitely a technicality: you’re not going to wind up with a non-rational map unless you’re really trying.

In the next post we’ll bring this back to the Schubert varieties that we know and love, and we’ll give a geometric description of the first known model for resolving their singularities.

But before we delve back in those examples, I feel compelled to remark that this is just the very tip of an absolutely enormous iceberg. Resolving singularities is something that we don’t know how to do mechanically, and is an active area of algebraic geometry research. In characteristic $p$, for instance, it’s not known the exact class of schemes that can be resolved. When it can be done, it is almost never unique; even surfaces over $\Bbb C$ or $\Bbb R$ don’t usually have unique desingularizations. The definition that I’ve given here is neither as general nor as strong as it could be (even without going to schemes), and many variants have been studied in detail.

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[uraharashouten]

Does Kisuke have any endgame goal in mind, or is he content to plan as things come up?

Kisuke’s Not-So-Grand Keikaku

This was a really interesting question to get. I would say that he has no real endgame in mind; at least, not in the way that Aizen or Yhwach did. He does, however, have a vested interest in keeping the universe running as reliably as possible.

I say reliably rather than ideally, because he’s a pragmatist, not an idealist, and that’s where he differs from both antagonists. He’s not interested in the nuke-it-all-and-start-over approach to building a better utopia. He’s well aware of the flaws of the current system; that’s why he chooses to stay in the Living World, even though his ban has been lifted. But he’d rather make small, incremental changes than upset the apple cart.

In terms of scheming: does he wing it? No, I don’t think that term applies. He adapts. He exhibits an uncanny mental flexibility. When circumstances change, he’s flexible enough to change with them. 

But that doesn’t mean he acts on instinct as Ichigo does. I believe he’s actually capable of holding a multiverse of probabilities in his mind at once, like a chess grandmaster. In fact I have a headcanon that he’s able to visualize alternate realities so completely he sometimes loses track of which one he’s actually in at the moment, which accounts for his absent-minded professor moments.

Morally and ethically, I believe Kisuke’s a utilitarian with a Chaotic Neutral alignment. Like a true chess player, he’s not above risking a pawn or two to ensure a desired outcome. Or even a knight or a queen. 

He’s just trying to keep the wheels from flying off the bus. Let’s not forget that he’s equally prepared to sacrifice himself. (Especially if it means later saving that queen and letting the knight carry on the good fight.)  

But to get back to the question of endgame: unlike the two aforementioned antagonists, he’s not trying to further his own personal interests. All the subversion and subterfuge is merely a means to get the universe back on track. Kisuke’s view of the universe is not progressive and apocalyptic like theirs; it’s cyclical and based on the zen concept of balance. He’s a master of managed risk; he’ll take whatever steps he thinks are necessary and make contingency plans to mitigate the negative consequences.

If he weren’t running a candy store he’d make a great career in building actuarial tables for insurance companies. In any case, when the situation changes, he takes the new factors into account and creates a new set of most likely scenarios to plan for. It’s a bit like giving a polynomial a new set of coefficient values. He’ll keep the broad goal in mind, but the path to it may undergo a number of permutations as the situation changes. It doesn’t seem to bother him when Plan A fails; he’ll just go with Plan B. And he’s not too proud to use someone else’s solution, if it works better.

Finally, let’s not forget the title Yhwach bestowed upon him as one of the Five Special War Powers:

Variable Strategist of Perpetual Adaptation.

[trendingnewsb]

These teachers work up to 6 jobs. Now they’re fed up and ready to walk out

(CNN)Craig Troxell steps precariously across a customer’s roof, marking hail damage from yet another Oklahoma storm. He still smells of the freshly cut grass from the swanky side of town, where he had just mowed lawns to make a few extra dollars.

“Teacher morale gets worse every year,” said Troxell, who also drives a school bus before and after school. “I’ve heard a lot of my (teacher) acquaintances walk away and get a different job. They don’t want to do it anymore.”

Why Craig Troxell still teaches in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is among the bottom three states for teacher salaries, where educators often work about 10 years before reaching the $40,000 salary mark. And they haven’t gotten a raise from the state in 10 years.

While educators nationwide have seen slight paycheck bumps over the past decade, when adjusted for inflation, teachers have actually lost 3% of their income from 2006 to 2016, according to the National Education Association.

Recently, the Oklahoma teachers’ union called for $10,000 teacher raises, $5,000 raises for support staff and more than $200 million for education funding.

Lawmakers agreed on an average teacher raise of $6,100, $1,250 for support staff and a $50 million increase in education funding — a measure Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law Thursday.

But many teachers say it’s not enough. So on Monday, Troxell and thousands of other teachers will walk out — prompting some schools to shut down indefinitely.

“We’re at the end of the rope,” Troxell said.

He’s far from alone. Several teachers told CNN they’re working multiple jobs in food delivery, retail, rideshare driving, restaurants and even surrogate pregnancy to pay the bills. Some now rely on a food bank to feed their own children.

The teacher with six jobs

Almost every morning, Jonathan Moy’s two daughters ask him the same heartbreaking question:

“Are we going to see you today?”

He gets visibly emotional thinking about how many days he tells them no.

“It’s really tough when your daughters get sad because you tell them you’re not going to see them,” said Moy, 40. “And it almost breaks your heart, because it’s not their fault. It’s not my fault. It’s the situation that we’re in.”

Moy teaches high school algebra, drives a school bus in the afternoon, coaches football and wrestling, umpires Little League baseball and drives for rideshare services.

All of that combined, Moy said, brings home about $36,000 a year after taxes.

“Last night I drove Lyft and Uber for six, seven hours,” Moy said. “When you have to do that to help supplement your income, it’s tough when you don’t get home when your kids go to bed.”

But he fights off the exhaustion by the time the bell rings at Yukon High School, just west of Oklahoma City. As 32 teenagers fill his classroom, Moy’s demeanor is as cheerful as the yellow and blue lights strung all across his ceiling.

“Half of teaching is having them just enjoy coming into school,” Moy said. “If you can actually get them to enjoy coming into your classroom with your atmosphere, your jokes or just having a good time, that’s half the battle.”

When explaining a new algebra concept, Moy draws analogies to jelly beans and tacos. He plays “Hotel California” and “Roll With It” as students practice factoring polynomials.

Moy’s unorthodox style has paid off.

“I was looking at your STAR (standardized) test we took,” he told his class of mostly freshmen. “You started the year at a 7th grade level. Now you’re above a 12th.”

Freshman Zach Ennis said Moy has made algebra easier to learn.

“I really like him, he’s a really good teacher. He explains stuff really good,” Ennis said.

Ennis said he supports his teacher walking out next week, even though he might have to make up school days in the summer.

“It’s kind of sad that he has to do that many jobs,” Ennis said. “He should be able to concentrate just on teaching.”

What drives Jonathan Moy to stay in education

Moy said he wants to keep teaching in Oklahoma, where he was born and raised. But he and his wife Kendra, who’s an elementary school teacher, can’t understand why educators in their state are paid so little compared to neighboring Texas and Arkansas.

“The salary in Fort Worth (Texas) is starting at $51,000 to work at Fort Worth public schools,” Moy said. “In Oklahoma, the starting pay is $31,000. And even if you’ve been teaching 25, 30 years, it’s really tough to get to that level of income as a teacher.”

Despite their meager incomes, the Moys said they spend a combined $2,000 on their classrooms each year — including crayons and glue sticks for Kendra Moy’s 3rd grade students. At her school, the entire student body qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

Their 10-year-old daughter Karlie said she wishes her dad could go to more of her basketball and softball games. But she understands why he keeps teaching and working so many jobs.

“I just want him to do what he likes,” she said. “He’s just trying to help our family out.”

The teacher who’s also a surrogate mother

When Allyson Kubat started teaching at Mustang High School, the school had no debate program.

Just three years after launching one, Kubat’s getting ready to take her undefeated debate team to the most elite tournament this June.

“We’re going to nationals this year, which is kind of crazy,” said Kubat, 29.

It will be her final act as a teacher.

“I decided, as hard as it is, that next year I’m not going to be teaching anymore,” Kubat said.

She realized the 60 to 90 hours a week she works to support her kids meant that she rarely got to see her kids. The epiphany came when her 9-year-old daughter called her after school one day.

“She said, ‘Mom, are you coming home today? Or are you going back to work?’ Because I leave work (at the school) and I go to my second job, or my third job, and I don’t get home until she’s in bed or almost in bed.”

Kubat’s other jobs include event coordinating, food delivery and surrogate motherhood — a venture that puts a significant strain on her body but pays more than her teaching salary of about $33,000.

“One of my students asked, ‘So what’s your other job?’ Because the kids in this state know that their teachers are not just teachers,” she said. “They know that we have to do something else to survive.”

Her husband, Clint, is an office manager who doesn’t make much more than his wife’s teaching salary. Before she started her second surrogate pregnancy this week, he said, the couple had already budgeted for that income.

After this school year, Kubat will become a full-time event planner — a bittersweet move, given how passionately she loves teaching.

“It is hard to give up what I’ve worked so hard to become,” Kubat said. But she’s tired of sacrificing crucial family time for teaching.

“It’s time to stop being a martyr.”

The rookie teacher and waitress

By 8 a.m., Jennifer Winchester is teaching language arts to 5th graders. By 8 p.m., she’s hoisting trays of enchiladas at a Mexican restaurant.

As a first-year teacher, Winchester “always understood” she would struggle financially.

“In college, they would show us the pay increments … from zero to 25 years,” Winchester said.

She said a guest speaker came into her college class and “literally begged us to stay in Oklahoma,” telling prospective teachers to think of the kids and realize “it’s not their fault.”

So Winchester pursued her passion, even if it meant moonlighting as a server to help pay the bills.

“I can remember back in the 4th grade, my teacher told my mom at a parent-teacher conference, ‘If she doesn’t become a teacher, I’ll be very disappointed.’ Even in the classroom, I’d help other students,” Winchester recalled.

Now, as a professional teacher, she again finds herself going the extra mile for students. Despite her $31,000 teaching salary, she spent about $1,200 getting her classroom in shape for this school year, buying new shelves and books and replacing worn-out desks.

“I tried to stop tracking those receipts, because it depresses me,” she said.

Why Jennifer Winchester wants to keep teaching

Winchester’s long-term goal is to be a high school counselor. But she doesn’t want to take on a master’s degree in counseling until she’s paid off her $23,000 in student loans.

For now, she’s hoping her nearly 10-year-old car “with as many dents as you can find in it” doesn’t break down, since that could spell financial disaster.

She fantasizes about owning a slightly nicer car one day.

“My goal is to have automatic windows and locks,” she said.

The teacher with 2 degrees and 2 mall jobs

Shontée Branton has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education. But when she gets to the checkout lane at the grocery store, she has to turn around.

“In my mind, I’m like, ‘What do I need to put back?’ Because I know I can’t afford all of this,” said the 1st-grade teacher at Epperly Heights Elementary.

“Maybe I want the strawberries, but I can make it without.”

Branton, who’s been teaching for nine years, said she makes about $36,000 a year.

She supplements that by tutoring, teaching summer school and working at Macy’s — both on the retail floor and in the human resources office.

“Normally, I leave from the school and go straight to Macy’s and clock in,” she said. ‘”There’s times I leave my house at 7 in the morning, and I don’t come home until 10 o’clock at night.”

That’s when her 3rd-floor apartment looks more like a mountain summit.

“I literally come home and sit in my car for 30 minutes because I can’t muster the strength to go up the stairs,” she said.

Branton said she’s thinking about moving to Texas, where a teacher with her experience and education can earn about $20,000 more a year. But she feels a calling to teach in Del City, where she grew up and where all the students at her school qualify for free or reduced lunch.

“I grew up with a single-parent home; both parents struggled with drug abuse,” she said. “When I see those kids, I see myself. And I had a teacher or two who believed in me.”

Branton said she’s walking out Monday not just for teachers’ raises, but for another key demand: more funding for education in the state. She said she never wants to teach an overstuffed class of 34 students with only 25 textbooks again.

“A lot of people are saying we’re walking out on our kids. And that’s been one of the most hurtful things, because we feel like we’re walking for our children,” Branton said.

“People are expecting us to do a job without the proper resources. And not only is it not fair to educators, it’s not fair to the kids.”

Why Shontée Branton still teaches

So what if she had to choose one or the other — increasing teachers’ salaries by $10,000 or adding $200 million in funds for statewide education?

“It would have to be the kids. I mean, that’s non-negotiable,” Branton said. “Yes, I need more money. I’m tired of working multiple jobs. But in the grand scheme of things, if we educate these kids, then that’s better for society.”

If neither of those demands are fully met, Branton said, Oklahoma could lose yet another teacher.

“If it’s not passed, I probably will leave,” she said. “It would be the hardest choice.”

The state superintendent’s response

Joy Hofmeister says the teachers’ frustration is justified.

“Our teachers are right — they have been underpaid,” the state superintendent said. “We know that the frustration is high, that it’s something that comes after a decade-long reduction to public education funding.”

The Oklahoma teachers’ union wants:

$10,000

raises for teachers

$5,000

raises for support staff, such as janitors and cafeteria workers

$200 million

in education funding

What just got signed into law:

Average teacher raises of $6,100

$1,250 raises for support staff

$50 million

in education funding

But “the legislature can’t reverse in one bill the cuts that have come over a decade.”

She said the main reason why it’s been so difficult to increase spending for teachers and education is because in 1992, the state constitution was changed to require a supermajority approval — 75% of the legislature — before taxes could be raised.

“It’s been 28 years since Oklahoma has raised taxes,” Hofmeister said. “We’ve been operating with the same dollars as 2008, but with more than 50,000 more students.”

She said it’s “unconscionable” that some teachers work three to six jobs to make ends meet.

“Our teachers deserve better,” she said. “And that was answered with this historic teacher pay raise. This is an important step forward. But it’s not the only thing that is needed.”

The food bank that serves teachers

Lori Decter Wright admits there’s a stereotype about those who rely on food banks. Maybe they work at fast-food restaurants. Maybe they got hit with an unexpected medical bill.

Then, starting around 2015, she noticed a shocking trend: teachers, including some with master’s degrees, also needed supplies of cereal, beans and canned vegetables.

“We have teachers near the poverty level,” said Decter Wright, executive director of Kendall Whittier, Inc. — a ministry that runs an emergency food pantry in Tulsa.

“I really had to start asking the question, ‘What is going on in Oklahoma that full-time, working professional teachers have to rely on services like ours to make ends meet?”

Michael Turner is one of the teachers who came in to the food pantry, embarrassed that he needed assistance.

“You’re used to taking care of yourself. No one likes to ask for help, and that’s pretty tough,” said Turner, a recently divorced father of a special needs daughter.

Turner said he “answered a call to action” when he became a special needs teacher.

“There was a big push in the state of Oklahoma to hire veterans to teach special ed at the middle school level,” he said.

“It’s very, very difficult to be a teacher … I knew that it was hard, but teaching today is much more difficult.”

And when he comes home to his own child, he faces the guilt of seeing a kitchen pantry with empty shelves.

Turner says he’s grateful for the food bank’s assistance and regrets not reaching out for help months earlier.

“I always fought the notion that I would be the one asking for services, asking for help,” he said. “I’d much rather be giving it.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/31/us/oklahoma-teachers-profiles/index.html

from Viral News HQ https://ift.tt/2FGCXmO via Viral News HQ

[starwalker03]

I imagine when Dick is revealed in WMLP, Bruce and Tim are going to make a plan for in case Tim dies and comes back evil/or and killing people. Because it is 2 out of 3 with robins so far.

LMAO YES

Tim would be the one who comes up with it to. he like approaches Bruce all carefully like 'heyyy, so I've noticed a... trend, with my predecessors and uhhhh. I just wanted to sorta hash out a plan in case... y'know'

Bruce is appalled at the idea but Tim just starts rattling off possible scenarios and such and it's enough of a puzzle for Bruce's brain to snag on it and eventually gets dragged in.

[textribe]

Plural of Basis: Understanding the Correct Usage and Origin

The word "basis" holds significant weight in both everyday and specialized language, serving as a foundational term across various fields such as mathematics, finance, and general English usage. Its importance stems from its role in establishing a fundamental point or underlying principle from which further understanding or analysis can be developed. This article delves deep into the plural form of "basis," exploring its linguistic nuances, common usage, and the broader implications of its singular and plural forms. The Singular and Plural of Basis Singular: Basis Plural: Bases Understanding Basis Definition of Basis: At its core, "basis" refers to the underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process. It can denote a principle, standard, or rule that forms the starting point of a work or theory. Usage of Basis The term "basis" is used across various disciplines, each adding its layer of meaning: - Mathematics and Science: Refers to a set of linearly independent vectors in a vector space or the starting point of a mathematical argument. - Finance: The difference between the cost of a commodity and its selling price. - General Usage: The main ingredient or foundation upon which something stands or is built. Use of Basis in Sentences To fully grasp the usage of "basis," here are examples in different contexts: - Mathematics: "The set of polynomials forms a basis for the vector space." - Finance: "The basis of our investment strategy relies on long-term growth. - Philosophy: "His argument had a strong moral basis." - Daily Conversation: "Trust is the basis of any strong relationship." - Science: "The research was conducted on the basis of the data collected from the field." Common Mistakes and Confusions - Bases vs. Basis: Confusion often arises in distinguishing between the singular "basis" and its plural "bases." Remember, "bases" is used when referring to multiple foundational principles or supports. - Pronunciation of Bases: The pronunciation of "bases" (/ˈbeɪsiːz/) can be mistaken with "base's" (possessive form of "base") or "bases" (/ˈbeɪsɪz/), the plural of "base." Context usually clarifies the intended meaning. Commonly Asked Questions - Q: Can "basis" be used in plural form when talking about multiple principles? - A: Yes, when referring to multiple foundational principles or supports, "bases" is the correct plural form. - Q: Is the transition from "basis" to "bases" consistent in all uses? - A: Yes, regardless of the field or context, the plural of "basis" is always "bases." - Q: How do you pronounce "bases" in the context of "basis"? - A: It is pronounced /ˈbeɪsiːz/, with emphasis on the first syllable and a long "ee" sound in the second. Conclusion Understanding the plural form of "basis" is crucial for accurate and effective communication across various disciplines. The transition from "basis" to "bases" represents more than a simple linguistic rule; it signifies the expansion of foundational principles or supports. By mastering the use of "basis" and "bases," one ensures clarity and precision in discourse, whether in academic, professional, or everyday contexts. The importance of correct plural usage cannot be overstated, as it underpins the coherence and integrity of both written and spoken language. FAQ What is the plural of "basis"? The plural form of "basis" is "bases." Why is it pluralized as "bases"? The plural follows the standard English rule for forming plurals of nouns ending in "is," where the "is" is replaced with "es." This rule applies to nouns like "basis" and "thesis. Can I use "baseis" as a plural form of "basis"? No, "baseis" is not a valid English plural form, despite its existence in Greek. The word "bases" is the only acceptable plural form for "basis." What does "basis" mean? "Basis" is a noun used to denote something from which another thing develops or can develop. It can refer to an idea, a set of ideas, or a foundation for a specific concept or policy. How is "basis" used in a sentence? "Basis" can indicate a reason for doing something, serve as the grounds for a legal ruling, or be the information on which decisions are made. It can also describe a fixed pattern or system for doing something, often used in phrases such as "on a regular basis" or "on a first-come first-served basis." Why does "basis" follow the pluralization rule for nouns ending in "is"? Although the root of "basis" is Greek, the word has been anglicized, and its plural form follows English pluralization rules. Not all nouns ending in "s" form their plural by adding "es." The specific rule for nouns ending in "is" overrides this generalization. Are there alternative plural forms for "basis"? No, there are no alternative plural forms for "basis" in English. The plural form is always "bases." Is "bases" the plural form for the noun "base" as well? Yes, "bases" is also the plural form for the noun "base." Read the full article

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Alfred's Chapter

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/eL38oQj

by walkerofthestars

Alfred joined the Waynes after his discharge from service. It was quite the career change but something he thought he could find comfort and fulfillment in regardless. He wasn't expecting this.

Words: 4717, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 8 of With Morality Like a Polynomial

Fandoms: Young Justice (Cartoon), Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death

Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Martha Wayne, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain

Relationships: Alfred Pennyworth & Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth & Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth & Jason Todd, Alfred Pennyworth & Tim Drake, Alfred Pennyworth & Cassandra Cain, Alfred Pennyworth & Martha Wayne

Additional Tags: Character Study, the Batfamily - Freeform, Time Skips, Vignette, big ol king lear reference at the end there, character death refers to Dick and Jason, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, thing is tho parenting doesn't involve letting your kids fight crime, so like there's nuance to his parenting lmao, Angst, Fluff

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/eL38oQj

[starwalker03]

I have a crack headcanon for WMLP. If M’Gann found out that Dick or Wally were crushing on each other or together, she would ship it and bagger Dick to make moves on Wally. Partially for the fun at poking at Dick and partially because she thinks Dick is lonely and could use some happiness in his life.

M'Gaan thinks she is THE best wingman. she is not. but she's trying! so points to her! Roy's been watching them circle each other for years and still hasn't done anything about it lmao.

also her thinking Dick is lonely is just... man. YJ Dick and M'Gaan to me are like siblings, they're just... my little babies I can't.

Conner watching her try to get them together just laughing quietly at everyone's expense and trying not to let on that he hopes she's successful.

[starwalker03]

Awkward Slade getting asked “hey where’s your sidekick?” When he shows up without Renegade. Hilarious Dick getting asked that by unobservant clients. Dick: “..he outgrew his use.” (Internally; what the fuck am I supposed to say to that?)

Slade getting slightly miffed that apparently he can't go anywhere without people expecting his apprentice to come along. he has a life you know! lmao.

oh boy. someone mistaking Dick as still the original Deathstroke and asking where Renegade is. that's hilarious but also would throw Dick off so bad.

you're right that his internal monologue would be 'what the fuck am I supposed to say here?' because like. if this person still thinks he's the OG Deathstroke then he'd prefer it that way. that's a net positive.

Him debating saying that Renegade is dead. figuring that might be a bit much. 'outgrew his use' isn't technically incorrect. he has, in fact, outgrown Renegade and now become Deathstroke.

all round a weird moment for him as he talks about himself int he third person lmao.

[starwalker03]

Meanest thing Dick could say to Batman when he recognizes him is “Late as always Bruce.”

Meanest thing Dick could do to Bruce is stab Tim.

HAHAHAHAHAHHA oh my god. Just walk up to Tim and do the ol' stabby stab. Man I think Dick could do some much worse things to Bruce if you ask me.

'late as always' is SUCH a gut punch though because he was also too late to save Jason so YES. delicious. Thank you for your big brain.