This is Kirby, a little buddy who needs baby sitting.

This is Odie, a Toto (Wizard of Oz) kinda doggie. I'm house sitting his home till Monday. He's an energetic lil boy.

Earlier last week this blog reported on a recent study that suggested public and private schools performed equally on reading and math standardized tests.

The dialogue is continuing. Today, KPBS radio's These Days further discussed the study, and "Danny from South Park" called into the show with a comment.

The show was really informative and interesting. Most of the callers, as did the guest, had really good, smart input.

KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A counterprotester gestures to several Minutemen at demonstrations at the Laguna labor center Saturday.

In Laguna Beach, the Minuteman held a demonstration at a day labor site, which a big majority of that progressive community wants.

The demonstrators, who mostly aren't from Laguna Beach, accused the town of being "slave traders." They say that illegals are taking away jobs that Americans can perform.

If you want to find something closer to the slave trade, I suggest the Minuteman Project search China, and look at their policies of paying pennies to workers. Then they ship the Chinese-made stuff to Wal-Mart and Costco here, and the Minuteman people buy it up.

There are contractors who say they are against illegal immigrants in the US but hire them anyway.

That's no way to run a protest.

Here's some good news for public schools: 4th and 8th graders in public schools perform as well or better in math and reading versus 4th and 8th graders enrolled in private schools.

Wilco BW
Originally uploaded by LoveBirds.

This is really cool: Wilco's fan entered their photos of summer for prizes and fame. Here are the results: http://wilcoworld.net/contest/winners/0606/index.php