When I left off, my Saab 9-3 was dead. She had been a really reliable car for me and I was hesitant to give up on her. However, after doing more research I decided it would be impractical to put an engine into her. I had owned the car for 8 1/2 years and during that time the mileage went from 112,000 to 280,000 miles. It had given me a few problems over the years, but overall, I definitely got my money’s worth out of her.
I had $9,000 cash on hand for purchase and figured I could augment that with a loan if I had to. What kind of car did I want? It didn’t need to be fancy, since it was mostly used for driving to work and back. I had rented Camaros before and enjoyed driving them, even though the automatic transmission had too many gears and it would downshift twice before it would take off, but a manual one would probably be fun to drive.
I also thought maybe a Miata, In 1991 I rented one and a hotel room as a package weekend deal for my girlfriend’s (now my wife) and my 6 month anniversary/ my 20th birthday and we both really liked it.
As I looked for cars online I realized I had been sucked into a cult. Every car looked OK, but I felt something was missing.
I realized that what I really wanted was another Saab. I told my wife this and she almost laughed at me. “I thought you weren’t going to be a ‘Saab guy’?” I started looking at Saabs online, but there weren’t many available, especially with a manual transmission.
Then one of our lurkers, Violent_K, said his son had one for sale, so I had him send me the information. It was a 2004 Saab 9-5 Estate Wagon. I thought it looked nice, but when I saw the location was outside of Cleveland Ohio, I thought “No way I am going to Cleveland to buy a car”.
It had 120,000 miles on it, but was basically a one owner car, bought brand new in Vail CO and purchased by Allen 10 months ago. He had only put about 8,000 miles on the car. For the whole time it was in Colorado there were regular maintenance records and one small collision. Allen had done many things to improve the car, ceramic tint windows, LED interior lights, installed BlueSaab, a Bluetooth receiver that runs through the CD player and lets you use the steering wheel controls.
Allen also gave me a record of all the work he had done, including changing all of the vacuum lines for the turbo, a new radiator and water pump, changed the oil, put in new hood struts, and many other things.
The more I looked and didn’t find what I wanted the more I began to reconsider going to Cleveland. I realized that not only was the Estate Wagon my favorite body style, this was an Aero so it had the highest trim level.
If I was going to order a brand new Saab in 2004, this would have been almost exactly what I would have picked. It had a manual transmission. The color would have been my second choice. I would have picked the Espresso black like this one. The Steel Gray Metallic was a close second however. I realized I would regret letting this get away.
So pretty
I texted back and forth with the owner, he sent me receipts for the ceramic tint on the windows and a cold start video. He also sent me close ups under the car so I knew it was rust free. We came to an agreement on price and on May 31st I flew up to get her.
I planned on checking the oil and coolant and looking over it very closely when I got there. What actually happened was, I saw the car, fell in love, took it for a short drive, and signed the title. After that Ken(Violent_K), Allen(the owner), and I met Nephilium for lunch and had a lot of fun.
Then I drove the 8 1/2 hours home. I LOVE this car. It has the most comfortable seats of any car I have ever ridden in. She is a little slow off of the line, but once you get to 3rd gear the acceleration is incredible. She just wants to go and go. I am surprised I didn’t get a speeding ticket. I looked down a few times and realized I was going over 80 mph, but she is so smooth it doesn’t feel like it.
I stopped twice with no issues, but as I left a gas station 5 hours into the drive, the check engine light came on. I texted Allen and he said that had never popped up and maybe I didn’t tighten the lid all the way. He said it took 3 clicks and I had only clicked it once. Since the car was running fine and the light wasn’t flashing I kept driving. That was a fun drive, I got home a little after midnight.
The next day I checked the code and it said P1312 which is a misfire code. I cleared it, it didn’t come back and the car was still running great. The code came back a few times, but it was very random. Looking into it a little bit and talking more with Allen, we narrowed it down to the DIC (Direct Ignition Cassette) and the spark plugs. Saab doesn’t use traditional coils for the plugs, instead it has one big part that goes to all 4 plugs. So I ordered that along with 4 new spark plugs. I might have overreacted with buying the DIC because the plugs were definitely past due to be replaced, but I changed everything out and immediately noticed the car would start quicker. The light hasn’t come back since then.
Now I needed to do something about the stereo, the bass had to be turned all the way down or it would buzz. I couldn’t listen to an audio book because the distortion was so bad. I looked into it and learned I had the premium stereo, a Harman Kardon system that had a small subwoofer in the cargo section.
Looks simple, but that is a lie
I found out from Saabcentral.com that a Kicker 48compRT 672 would fit perfectly, so I bought one and went to put it in. To get to it, you have to start by the rear door and work towards the back because all of the plastic is layered under the piece in front of it.
Not fun
Not fun at all
Once I got that tore apart, it was easy to see the problem. The speaker paper had separated from the cone.
Well, there’s your problem!
The Kicker speaker fit like it was made to go there, it was a slight problem figuring out which were the negative and positive wires, but not bad.
Like it was meant to go there
Now I had to put everything together and with 21 year old plastic, this was not guaranteed. Luckily this was much better quality plastic than my truck, so I didn’t break anything.
It sounds really good for a 21 year old stereo. I am not planning on changing the head unit or any of the speakers. My truck has a really nice sounding system because it is the weekend cruiser/vacation vehicle, but for my work daily driver, this is good enough.
After I got the plastic all put together, I backed the car out of the garage and there was a huge puddle of coolant where the car was parked.
I pulled it back into the garage and popped the hood. It was leaking from the coolant bypass valve. That thing is on the firewall and buried under a huge electrical connection and a bunch of hoses. However, it is a common problem, so it was easy to find a YouTube video to assist. Watching this video and following the WIS it was a struggle, but manageable.
All of this happened in the first 3 months after I bought the car. I joked with Allen that it is like me and hates change. I know buying an older car is a bit of a gamble and since I changed the bypass valve, I have had no issues. I have put 9,000 miles on her so far, that is driving to work everyday, a couple trips to Raleigh to visit our son, and one trip to Baltimore to see Dream Theater. I have changed the oil once and am taking her for new shoes next weekend.
I wanted to change a few things on the interior as well. It had an ashtray, so I went on Ebay and bought a storage tray for that space instead. I saw this video and bought their cup holder and USB -C charger. The charger looks like it was put there from factory and even does fast charging.
Storage tray and USB charger
This car has no usable cup holders. It has a little one that pops out of the dash that will spill your drink if you are driving.The 3D printed cup holder looks great, I got the one with a Saab Griffin on it. It also works when sitting, but it is not good for driving because my arm hits it when I change gears and it doesn’t hold the drink very securely. Still looks better than the stock coin holder so I like it.
Push on the Griffin and the cup holder pops out
In the 6 months I have owned this, I enjoy driving it to work everyday. I don’t love it as much as my truck, but it is close. I have named her Helga, that seems appropriate for a big Swedish girl. I hope to keep it at least as long as my last Saab and am putting money away so that when this engine does blow, I can put another one in. I plan on keeping this car as along as I can still drive a stick. So far it has been quite a happy Saab story.
The only time I drove a Saab was when I still had my Z3 with its telepathic clutch. The contrast with the 9-3’s transmission did not impress me, so I wound up with a 328xi.
But then BMWs went to shit. I blame Chris Bangle.
A Z3 is a lot sportier than a Saab, I would think.
Yes, but that shouldn’t affect how/where the clutch engages, I wouldn’t think.
My Subie is much sportier than the Z3 was and its clutch is… challenging to get right.
Same. The clutch feel in my Subaru is just…vague. The RX-7 and BMW and even the horrible Beetle have fine clutches.
And the Chinese market.
I had 318ti. Reverse was next to 1st. Was it the same on the Z3?
I had a hand me down Z3 with a slushbox and it was close to the worst transmission I’ve ever used.
There was a time when the BMW automatic transmissions were explicitly intended as a punishment for not being able to drive a stick.
They gave me a 330i once as a rental.
I could never justify spending that much on a car, but it was very nice and a lot of fun to drive.
You can only blame Bangle for the styling. Someone else decided to make them look like an electronics market on the inside and overloaded technology integrated into the way it drives down the road.
“This car has no usable cup holders. It has a little one that pops out of the dash that will spill your drink if you are driving.”
We used to call those “Stereo Sprinklers.”
The late 90s/early 00s Mercedes E class positioned the drink holder right above the transmission shift lever which also incorporated a shift module. I had a customer that couldn’t back hers out of her driveway after spilling coffee on it. $1,100 later the husband decreed it a drink-free car.
My first car was a 69 Camaro. There were no drink holders. You held a drink in your hand while you drove. And this was a 3-speed manual with standard steering (no power). Cornering meant shifting gears with your right hand while fighting with the wheel with your left hand while also holding a drink. Good times.
You didn’t get the little wood drink holder with the sandbag weights? Those were big back then. I guess the manual transmission prevented that solution.
No, not a lot of space in the first generation pony cars. Front bucket seats, stick in the middle, and steering wheel pretty close to you.
The secret is to learn to down shift before you start the turn.
The seats on our 2008 9-3 are still the best I’ve ever sat in. Comfortable and bolstered.
Back then Saab had a program where you ordered a new car through a dealership. Then picked it up at the factory in Sweden, drove it around Europe for a while, then dropped it off at a port. We were absolutely going to use that program before Obama and GM destroyed the company.
That would have been a great time.
Yep. My wife is half Swedish. Might have done some research and found the old familyraiding bases.
A lot of Euro makers did that. I know Mercedes did, also VW.
Reverse was next to 1st.
Reverse should be above the dogleg first gear, as God intended.
My next car was an Audi A4 with the more standard R next to 4th. It took me several weeks to untrain my muscle memory.
The same time it took me remember where it was in the BMW when I first got it.
I have the same problem when I drive my staep dad’s 2006 Dodge Ram.
It is a 6 speed and reverse is where my 1st is.
R on my 6 speed Wrangler JK was next to 6th.
That had a Mercedes sourced transmission that once every 10 tries refused to go into R unless you double clutched it. After that it would slot right in.
Huh, I have an ’01 S4 w/6 spd and the reverse is to the left of 1st.
My truck and the Saab both have the same pattern.
https://www.esaabparts.com/saab/parts/5333331
My Mazda’s reverse is next to first. Makes sense with a 6-speed.
My Mustang and Challenger are both six speeds.
The Mustang’s reverse is next to first. You also need to pull a collar to get into first.
The Challenger’s reverse is next to fifth. There is a gate in the transmission that prevents you from getting into reverse unless the car is stopped.
That’s how my S4 is. My Corvette is also a 6spd and reverse is down and right of 6th gear.
Down and to the right.
As New Venture intended.
The only proper shifter
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
Don’t know what gobbledygook that shit was
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTYxvlXjOT2Qs75HrFj-8d6M4Vpb2hYJ-1Og&s
These are always interesting.
https://lencoracing.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=17
No love for three on the tree?
I’ve driven them. Don’t like them, but they don’t get in the way when your girl is in the front seat with you.
They make passenger seats, Kinnath. She doesn’t have to be in your lap.
Bench seating. No reason for her to be all the way over there.
My truck and the Saab both have the same pattern.
That seems to be the modern standard. The Hondas are like that, and I hate it. It feels awkward at best trying to hit fifth quickly through that spring loaded gate while trying to hustle from an on ramp into traffic. Or dropping to fourth on a two lane road to pass somebody.
I never had an issue, but maybe I don’t hot rod as much.
I also learned to drive on a 1975 Chevy truck with a 350 and a 4 speed, so every tranny after that has felt smooth in comparison.
The tight Eaton 10 speed in my new work truck is going to take some getting used to.
I have named her Helga, that seems appropriate for a big Swedish girl
Excellent.
Congratulations on the car!
Sensei, on the NH Journal article you linked on the dedthread: I think, based on trends like voter registration changes and other things, that many of the MA folks coming to NH since the Rona Panic are Republicans who come to NH because it is not MA. They want NH to stay that way. We’ll see how long the trend lasts.
Good luck!
The rot also comes from within. My two sisters, NH natives, are both true blue.
I miss my car, I had tires put on and an alignment done, but the rear was out of spec because the springs have sagged a little.
I had to order shims and they won’t get there until Monday, so I am stuck driving my wife’s 2011 Camry.
I’ve found my Tahoe rides like a dammed Cadillac now that I replaced the front springs/struts and read shocks. It rode fine before, but was touchy over bridge expansion joints and minor bumps. Now it is firm, but smooth over all surfaces. I’m headed to get the front end alignment checked after the strut/spring replacement. I gained 1″ of ride height due to the new springs and I imagine my camber is different, plus I’m sure the placement of the strut/spring was not the same within the shock tower.
I hoping my I35 responds the same way to new struts. Right now it will bottom out with only a couple kids in the back seat.
Our Yukon is a little rough. I’m sure it could use struts. Going to an 18” wheel from the factory 22”s made a huge difference though.
Three door, what suspension option does it have? There are far too many. Mine has smooth ride, but there is auto leveling air ride, magnetic, Z71, police package.
I did a ton of research on these because I’m obsessive. Let me know if you have any questions. There is a code list in the glove box that can provide more information on what options it has.
Now I had to put everything together and with 21 year old plastic, this was not guaranteed.
I do not like doing anything involving dealing with interior trim. This is just one of the reasons.
Push, push, pull……snap!
What could possibly go wrong?
Yeah. Remember when door cards were just backed with glorified cardboard? Pepperidge Farms remembers.
Alignment shop tales:
Long ago I had a 1969 AMX. It was great fun to drive, in its own peculiar way. Lots of power, short wheelbase and very heavy at the front. The handling was kind of diabolical, and you never ever wanted to let go of the steering wheel while the car was in motion. After doing a bunch of work on it, I took it to an alignment shop (do they even exist anymore?).
When I got it back the steering was just as twitchy as it ever was. I went back and told the guy, and he said they put right to factory specs. I said it felt like it had absolutely no caster, and he said, “It doesn’t. The book calls for minus one degrees.” Why? Who knows?
I then said, fuck the book, put some caster in it, please. When I got it back it was a completely different car. So much better. The steering would actually correct back to straight instead of diving for the ditch.
A quick AI suggests the that in 69 in came on bias ply tires.
I honestly don’t know if that’s true and when radials became widespread.
Bias ply and 14” wheels were standard on the AMC cars of that era. My buddy Andy had a couple of 71 Javelins and a huge pile of factory 14” wheels. I think his Matador had 15”s on it from the factory.
His book had a smashed gnat next to the number.
Around here there’s no shops that solely do alignments; just dealerships and one or two general repair places. You have to find a place where they know how to use the machine and what the numbers mean. I found one. It’s not a dealership.
AMC of that vintage had some spindly ass control arms too. Way too thin.
Sounds fun. My latest two acquisitions are a 2003 Infiniti I35 and a 2001 Audi TT Quattro. The Infiniti I probably paid too much for at $4,500 but I was in a hurry and was told that the car had been a pampered doctor’s car always garaged and dealer serviced. That may have been true at one time but after I got it and looked it over more it seems to have been sitting for several years. My main clue was the idler pulley which should have been shiny metal was covered in thick rust on one half and still had the imprint of the belt logo (Gates) on the other half. I figure somebody flipped it after getting it really cheap since it did have new (cheap) tires, a new alternator, a new battery and a new alternator belt. Probably an estate sale or auction.
With the weather, I haven’t been able to drive it much since those tires get stuck in wet grass. The three or four weeks I had it before the snow it needed a lot of work. I’d never seen antifreeze turn completely black before and the overflow tank disintegrated when I touched it so that need to be flushed and replaced. Since I could only get about 2/3 out of the system at a time it took 5 or 6 flushes with distilled water before it didn’t feel slimy anymore. I decided I should go ahead and replace the thermostat, you know, since I’m in there already and I didn’t know any better. Well, on a Nissan 3500, that’s a casting and when it’s in the I35, that engine is transverse mounted with said casting right up against the wheel well. Same with the crusty idler which can’t be installed in one piece. It has to be disassembled bit by bit to fit in there. OK, ready to go right? Nope, all that flushing and a new radiator cap cleaned out whatever goo was plugging up the radiator so, it popped. Next, one of the coils went. So new coils and plugs; no biggie. Wrong. The intake manifold collector has to come off for the rear bank. More gaskets. More cleaning. So now it’s running great but still setting codes leading to the replacement of the vapor canister purge valve and something called VIAS control solenoid valve. Finally no more codes, running great and getting 27 MPG. Then the snow came, so it sits. It still needs brakes and struts front and back and maybe a wheel bearing or two.
The Audi? It has had almost the same set of issues, but this comment is too long already. It does get around surprisingly well on the snow and ice but it sits way to low to be practical in the winter.
A quick AI suggests the that in 69 in came on bias ply tires.
When I bought it, it had some sort of bias plys on it. After radials, it fely like driving on ice. Except that, with practice, the bias plys actually had more feel and were more predictable. After a while I put radials on it, which I did not regret.
Push on the Griffin and the cup holder pops out
I kept clicking on it, but nothing happened!
OT apologies. Gotta bounce ‘n before I forget, Big Lebowski’s on IFC. 1:50pm, EST. All tits shown Dude dreams of chicks bouncing on trampolines. This likely was the channel I saw the Swisher Sweets ad, complete with smoking, cherry and puffs out. This is an interesting Tuesday development.
I’ve got the day off, but it’s time to fax docs to the Govt to see if I can still stay on Medicaid. I can’t unless I fall into something special, cuz now I hilariously earn enough to almost assuredly no longer qualify. They ask for attachments of any other info I might have for them, not including my pay stubs and info. (Kinda tempted to send a pic of my skull laid out on a table, didn’t but included a bit of info. *shrug* )
Very sinister, Machiavellian line, there, having subtle but powerful financial barriers to ‘almost’ encourage poverty. Whoddathunk, eh? (Ha!)
My eldest went through that with Medicaid. She went without insurance for years, when she moved back we got her on Medicaid. Then she made too much money and they cut her off. Then she broker her ankle and qualified again. Before she moved out she was limiting her hours so she wouldn’t get cut off again.
There really has to be a better way.
There’s lots of different ways to fix it, but most of them require people to take on risk and responsibility for themselves. This appears to be anathema to a large swath of the population. It also needs to people to understand that insurance is for unexpected expenses, not standard maintenance.
@ Neph:
Yep, insurance is suited for high-cost, low-probability events. It is not and never can be the primary way to pay for everything. The government’s policy has been to shunt every single person onto the 3rd party payer system and convert medical insurance into an ersatz welfare program. There was no widespread affordability crisis until this was done.
This story interests me. It’s not some epidemic, but teenage boys and probably girls as well are being “sextorted” by scammers who demand money after basically catfishing them. The story never mentions it, but I’d have to think part of the “threats” the scammers make and why the lives of these kids would be ruined is that they are sending and receiving sexually explicit photos of minors (even if one of the parties is themselves in many cases).
We have seen cases where law enforcement punishes teenagers for sexting even consensually. Nudes in themselves, while I”m sure embarrassing for a teenager, aren’t something you’d rationally off yourself over. You know, unless there was the threat of jail time or being labeled a predator etc.
We’ll never see the texts the scammers sent the teen, but I don’t think my inference is really off base.
The parents are pushing for harsher laws on cyberbullying as if it’s really going to change the fact that scammers who mostly aren’t in the United States or who are hiding behind a wall of anonymity are getting away with this stuff. The laws already exist to punish these people. Better use of time would be destigmatizing/decriminalizing the inevitable and frankly natural behavior of teens with the technology they have at their disposal. Take away the power of the threat.
I agree. Kids are kids. Kids are curious. Kids are full of bravado.
Kind of reminds me of kids drinking, smoking and sometimes participating in unanticipated behavior.
Adults should not condone but also should not be surprised. We all were kids, the technology has changed but kids haven’t. If we can get our kids through those years without serious physical harm we are lucky.
Personally, I would just never give a kid unrestricted access to the Internet. I had it when I was younger and got into things I shouldn’t have (probably wasn’t healthy to watch Taliban beheading videos in early teens) but it’s gotten worse today. I definitely wouldn’t give them social media. Sure, it’s hard to be the only kid who doesn’t have the latest thingy, but it’s better than the depression, anxiety, stunted maturity, and now sextortion schemes that happen on those sites. The risk vs. reward calculation is pretty clear to me.
Join the Church, surrender your earthly goods
The most comprehensive global environment assessment ever undertaken calls for a new approach to jointly tackle the most pressing environmental issues including climate change and biodiversity loss that threaten over 1 million plant and animal species with extinction.
The U.N. Environment Assembly — which the U.S. government didn’t attend — produced the new report this week by almost 300 scientists from 83 countries.
——-
Experts have warned that the world is nearing a tipping point on climate change, species and land loss and other harms. But efforts to address those problems largely have been pursued through individual agreements that haven’t made nearly enough progress, they said.
Instead, they advocate an approach that involves every area of government, the financial sector, industry and citizens and a circular economy that recognizes that natural resources are limited.
“What we’re saying is we can become much more sustainable, but it will take unprecedented change to transform these systems,” Watson said. “It has to be done rapidly now because we’re running out of time.”
They are experts. Obey them before all is lost.
Amazing how hair-shirts just never go out of style.
They’re the new “rapture is coming” people.
The plastic gives me twitches.
I want an interior that is 90% or so exposed painted metal.
Thanks Ron and all the commenters. It is a lot like a foreign language to me and I don’t care. I recognize some of the words though. My F150 starts and goes through the snow, it takes me to exotic places like the grocery store and post office.
It’s old enough to vote but like me, it doesn’t. I hope I never have to buy another vehicle, with all the touching things and a big screen. I’ve reached the point where I can’t change a tire, much like Robbie S.
That button near the cup holder? With a spade shooting fire out its ass?
I like that button.
Just saw this:
(begin blockquote)
Gender Traitor on December 9, 2025 at 6:17 am
Brrrr!!!! You win…at least until DEG or Richard shows up.
(end blockquote)
The NWS predicted an overnight low of -3F. This morning bottomed out at -15.8F. I’m glad I’d already decided to take the day off. I won’t try starting my ATV, which I use to commute into town, with the temperature that low.
We’re sending you some snow, Richard. 2 inches last night, 6-8 today, already has started. The turkeys have been busy under the bird feeders, I occasionally have an accident and spill a little corn.
Deer have started coming in the day time as well as after dark, hoping for some free groceries.
Tomorrow I’ll be out with Snowzilla, cleaning up nature’s challenges.
Thanks for the snow. The nearby Jay Peak ski resort is reporting record breaking snow:
https://digital.jaypeakresort.com/conditions/snow-report/snow-report/
From the report:
“It’s only the second week of December, but it’s skiing more like mid-February.”
A number of flatlanders bought houses in my small town during the COVID era. The winters since then have been unusually mild and I’m on record saying they’ll be surprised when we get a Good Old Fashioned Vermont Winter again. Ha! The third of the three forecast blasts of arctic air is scheduled for the beginning of next week. Seasonable weather may return by Christmas.
Richard:
Here in CLE, we had the snowiest November since 2014. I believe I saw our local ski resorts (as they are) are already opening (or planning to). Lake Erie has even started freezing.
That snow was stolen from the PNW, give it back!
The overnight low in this part of southern NH was -5F, so Richard has me beat.
The neighbors are having their roof replaced. The workers showed up around when the temps got over 0.
They’re still working. I think they’re starting to lay shingle. We have about an hour and 20 minutes of sunlight left.
We’ll see if they get done. Snow tomorrow.
Don’t worry, it will be 60d and raining for Christmas
Roofers are motivated to finish the jobs on move to the next. They’ll get done whether they are really done or not.
So what you are saying is that in Soviet New Hampshire, dick beats you?
So what you are saying is that in Soviet New Hampshire, dick beats you?
I should have seen that coming.
Roofers are motivated to finish the jobs on move to the next. They’ll get done whether they are really done or not.
It’s twilight here. The Sun is just about fully down. They are still working. I wonder if they will set up lights to finish?
Tonight’s forecast is for a possible ground blizzard. Haven’t seen one in 40+ years. No new snow falling, but winds will be gusting to 50 to 60 MPH. Any loose snow on the ground move to some new location and be replaced by snow from a different location. Potential for zero visibility.
Exciting!
Thanks for the report, Richard. Stay safe and warm! Meanwhile, in SW OH it’s mostly sunny and 43 degrees. (It won’t last.)
Adopting a comprehensive approach would be expensive, scientists acknowledge, but cost far less than the harms that otherwise could result.
The report says that to achieve a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and restore biodiversity, about $8 trillion in global investment is needed every year. But starting in 2050, economic benefits will surpass spending, growing to $20 trillion a year by 2070 and $100 trillion a year thereafter.
Nations also must look beyond gross domestic product as a barometer for economic health, because it doesn’t measure whether growth is sustainable or recognize its potential harms, Watson said.
You’re not looking at the right model. Our model is correct.
Were they all playing the Horst Wessel Song on kazoos?
Students who formed a human swastika on a high school football field and spread imagery of the spectacle online will face administrative “justice” this week, the school’s principal said.
A photo of the swastika, formed on-field last week, was shared through an anonymous tip line Wednesday night, before it spread online Thursday, sparking a probe, Branham High School Principal Beth Silbergeld said.
“We are responding in accordance with education code and our district’s commitment to restorative justice,” she said in a statement over the weekend. “The students who were involved are committed to taking accountability for the harm that was done.”
This is the sort of psychic scar which can never be healed.
There’s a lot of Indians in the Bay Area.
Was it canted 45 degrees?
“People were just shocked to see that this is happening at their school, in broad daylight, students purposely doing this,” Maya Bronicki, education director of Bay Area Jewish Coalition Education and Advocacy, told NBC Bay Area. “There was clear intentionality. The caption under the post itself was horrifying.”
This sounds like the work of a gang of technofascist libertarians.