For the first time since the election aftermath in December 2000, I have had three articles in the Daily Trojan in four issues this week.

In the Opinions section on Monday, I wrote about the antiwar left’s lack of accountability. Then on Wednesday and Thursday, my long-delayed news articles on faculty gender equity throughout the university and faculty gender equity in the sciences and engineering specifically were published in the City section.

Unfortunately and embarrassingly, the “editors” introduced errors into at least two, and possibly all three, of my articles.

In my Monday column, the following two paragraphs…

Then I had another thought. As it became increasingly clear that we were targeting only military and government sites, and that our “precision” weapons really were keeping the impact on civilians to a minimum this time around, I began to wonder whether Ron Kovic will apologize.

Who is Ron Kovic? And why should he apologize?

…were changed to this:

Then I had another thought. As it became increasingly clear that we were targeting only military and government sites, and that our “precision” weapons really were keeping the impact on civilians to a minimum this time around.

Who is Ron Kovic? And why should he apologize?

You tell me… how does that get through “proofs” (when at least four editors are supposed to read the almost-finished version of the paper and check for mistakes)? It contains a sentence fragment, and moreover, it doesn’t even make sense! Why would I ask who Ron Kovic is, and why he should apologize, when I haven’t said anything about him previously? Huh?

But that was only the beginning. Wednesday’s article featured an incredible volume of editor-introduced errors. I won’t list all of them here, but here are a few of the most awful.

What I wrote:

Recent statistics show that the proportion in 2001-02 was 31 percent – an increase of less than one percent in six years.

What got published:

Recent statistics show that the proportion in 2001-02 was 31 percent during the last six years.

What I wrote:

Among faculty members who are already tenured, the 2001-02 statistics show that 19 percent were female.

What got published:

Among tenured faculty member, 2001-02 statistics show that 19 percent were female.

What I wrote:

The report’s validity was later confirmed by its author, analyst Deborah Kac at the USC Office of Budget and Planning.

What got published:

Deborah Kac, the report author and the analyst for the USC Office of Budget and Planning confirmed the reports validity.

What I wrote:

Davenport said it is not necessary for the proportion of female faculty to exactly match the population.

What got published:

The proportion of female faculty to exactly match the population is not necessary, Davenport said.

And there were more. I’m sure you can understand my frustration. ARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

Today’s article was much better, largely because I went up to the office and stayed there through almost the entire process of editing, re-reading my article each time it was edited so that nothing would change for the worse. There was still one error, however, though at present I am unsure whether I introduced it or they did.

What I wrote (or meant to write):

Hiring and retention practices do not do enough to recruit and retain faculty members who don’t “fit the mold that (administrators) have in mind,” a failing that “disproportionately (hurts) women and minorities,” she said.

What got published:

Hiring and retention practices do not do enough to recruit and retain faculty members who don’t “fit the mold that (administrators) have in mind.” This failing that “disproportionately (hurts) women and minorities,” she said.

Ah, the joys of journalism.

Here is one version of events regarding the tragic deaths of those Iraqi women and children who were shot by American troops at a checkpoint shortly after a suicide bombing at another checkpoint

I have no idea if it’s true, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Even if it’s not true, their deaths are still Saddam’s fault — by using suicide-bomber tactics, he has left our troops no choice but to be hyper-cautious.

As if terrorism, war, and rampant disease weren’t enough, now we’ve got giant sea monsters on our hands.

(Undoubtedly, this has something to do with American imperialism.)

U.S. troops launch assault on Baghdad international airport, wire services report. CNN is working to confirm.

Seven soldiers killed, four rescued when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq, the Pentagon says. Details soon

I overslept today, and I have a ton of stuff to do, so my pool update, my elaboration on yesterday’s Dr. Phil experience, and various other things I plan to post here have been delayed a bit. Stay tuned. Hopefully I’ll have time to post them tonight.

Elements of U.S. 3rd Infantry Division take Karbala, move within 25 miles of Baghdad.

I ordered, and ate, freedom toast at the Farmer’s Market in downtown L.A. for lunch today. With strawberries. Yummy. Ah, the taste of freedom.

No freedom kissing, though. I have a cold sore. :)

Anyway, here is the French-bashing quote of the day, from a guy commenting on this blog post. I don’t agree with the extremism of his sentiments, and I get the sense that he’s probably a racist to boot, but even so, he’s got some great rhetorical flair:

Never again to shed blood for France, that must be our solemn vow. Let them choke upon the bile they’ve spewed so relentlessly, let them feast upon the bitter fruits of their treachery, let them rot in hell but not a single drop of blood shall the Anglosphere shed for the French again.

Then again, maybe he’s got a point. According to a Le Monde opinion poll, a third of French people are rooting for Iraq to win the war.

Rick Boeckler has taken the lead in The Living Room Times’s sixth annual NCAA women’s pool, and now the battle for first place is down to two: Boeckler and Matt Thomsen. It will be decided on Sunday by the Final Four game between Duke and Tennessee. If Tennessee wins, Boeckler wins the pool. If Duke wins, Thomsen wins the pool. Simple as that.

More to come.

UPDATE: There is a possibility that I made an error either in some recent pool update, in terms of the scenarios. I am looking into this, and will post any corrections ASAP. However, I have confirmed that Boeckler and Thomsen are definitely the last two contestants still alive to win the pool, and the Duke-Tennessee game will definitely determine their fate.

Central Command says U.S. Army prisoner of war in Iraq was rescued.

Done with Dr. Phil. Got to see two shows, both about Iraq. Cool. More later.

At studio now.

En route to Dr. Phil.

Becky and I are going to Paramount Studios early Tuesday morning to be in the studio audience for the Dr. Phil show, which Becky is totally obsessed with.

The topic, I think, will be “Coping With the War.” The air date, I think, will be Thursday. Both of those facts could change, but as it stands now, I believe that’s accurate. Here is the description from the website: “With his nephew serving in the Persian Gulf, Dr. Phil understands the emotional anxiety of having a loved one risking his/her life for our country. His sister, whose son is stationed overseas, joins the show to talk about this difficult time. Also, Dr. Phil talks with kindergartners and their teachers about discussing the war, and looks at how our access to news is impacting us.”

I will try to post occasional blog updates, but I think they will check my cell phone at the door, so they will probably be “before” and “after” updates.