If this is Arianna Huffington’s great new project to inject a liberal voice into the “conservative” blogosphere, I think she might as well be a spokesperson for the Republican Party, as her public idiocy will surely push moderates to the right.

Moreover, I hate it when someone jumps on a trend that’s been carved out by numerous other people and then claims that they are actually the ones who are pathbreaking. Uh, no. Actually, Arianna, if this is any indication, your blog is the imitative equivalent of a 3-year-old’s rendition of Picasso’s Guernica.

And to think I held out hope that Huffington’s blog would encourage intelligent discussion.

WEBMASTER’S NOTE: The linked article is actually a satire of Huffington’s blog. The real thing is scheduled to launch on May 9.

BREAKING NEWS: I have it on good authority that the university has not yet decided whether to bar the students who took the “Shocker” photo from graduation. Their fate is “still up in the air,” according to my source. So my previous post on the subject was premature.

I apologize for jumping the gun on this. I guess there’s something to that whole “two-source rule” thing, after all! :)

However, in keeping with the CBS News “fake but accurate” rule, I stand by my previously stated opinion on the university’s not-yet-made decision. Those things I said will become my opinion if and when the university actually does what I said it did. (Call it a contingent opinion. Or is it a vested opinion subject to complete divestment…?)

Anyway, I will keep y’all updated.

:)

Click here, if you dare…

A school district in the West Texas town of Odessa recently voted to add an elective course on the Bible to their high school curriculum.

The decision was based on a presentation given by a representative of the Greensboro, North Carolina-based National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools whose representative denies that the groups coursework is about proslytizing or preaching. The school district itself, who has yet to approve a curriculum, a process it says will be open to public comment, has stated that the course will be about considering the literal and historical impact of the Bible.

But the ACLU and People for the American Way have criticized the Council’s curriculum, saying it promotes religion.

While the President of the NCBCPA states in her message that “The central approach of the class is simply to study the Bible as a foundation document of society, and that approach is altogether appropriate in a comprehensive program of secular education.” She continues by saying that “The world is watching to see if we will be motivated to impact our culture, to deal with the moral crises in our society, and reclaim our families and children.”

NOTE:
I have filled this under the Elections and Politics category because Brendan doesn’t have a Religion or an Education catagory. So not only is he a Godless heathen, he hates teachers too!

It is a lovely day in the Washington, D.C. metro area and I’m stuck inside in front of a computer with a headache. Any suggestions on how to deal with either, or both, of these problems would be appreciated.

Regardless, scientists around the world are fascinated by a little Russian girl who can apparently diagnose internal diseases merely by looking at a picture of an afflicted person.

Seems that Maggie Gyllenhaal is getting a verbal spanking from her fans after she suggested that the US may have been partly responsible for the 9/11 attacks. I think I agree with her.

In a political skirmish that has been developing throughout the month, British academics have decided to boycott Israeli universities due to allegations that Palestinians receive unequal treatment in the ivory tower.

In a rather poorly worded objection, a spokesperson for the Israeli universities said:

“This is a very unbalanced decision … basically a shameful decision,” said Bar-Ilan’s president, Moshe Kaveh. “In academic spheres, one should not interfere between academic activity and research, and political decisions.”

While I agree that the concept of an academic union making this type of decision is a bit unusual, given the academy’s reputation for open discussion and debate, I think Kaveh is entirely mistaken that academics and politics are separate spheres.

Of course, the issue is a thorny one. Why should academics have the right to boycott and belittle political actions and opinions while lawmakers are crucified for mixing politics with research funding decisions? And what about academics who define themselves as political figures, ala Susan Estrich or, dare I be historical, Woodrow Wilson?

Clearly, the British intellectual cabal is trying to send a forceful message to Israel. I’m just not quite sure what that message will become after a game of telephone.

And p.s., this is the biggest mutha’ I have ever seen. In light of the current fuel-cost shenanigans, one might say the A380 is a bad idea, n’est pas? Leave it to the French to unleash the beast. Still, I totally want to fly on it!

Who needs a job when you can dig up a buried treasure…

What with Himself on another Moratorium for to review the material for Finals, I figured I’d better Man (so to Speak :) the Irishtrojan Queer Desk, here. :) (Yes, again. Yes, people are starting to Talk. Not that there’s Anything Wrong With That. :)
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See now, here’s a Case Study in why it can be a Challenge for us liberals to Respectfully Reach Out (as I have more than once Advocated & still do) to the very sincere and unsimpleminded citizenry of the CRA (Christianicist Republic of America) ~ and most especially to its Deep Southernmost affiliates. From the March 26 Evening News ~

(CBS) A college production tells the story of Matthew Sheppard, a student beaten to death because he was gay.

And soon, it could be banned in Alabama.

Republican Alabama lawmaker Gerald Allen says homosexuality is an unacceptable lifestyle. As CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassmann reports, under his bill, public school libraries could no longer buy new copies of plays or books by gay authors, or about gay characters.

“I don’t look at it as censorship,” says State Representative Gerald Allen. “I look at it as protecting the hearts and souls and minds of our children.”

[There ya Go. / ~ the guestblogger]

Books by any gay author would have to go: Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Gore Vidal. Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple” has lesbian characters.

Allen originally wanted to ban even some Shakespeare. After criticism, he narrowed his bill to exempt the classics, although he still can’t define what a classic is. Also exempted now, Alabama’s public and college libraries.

…in book after book, Allen reads what he calls the “homosexual agenda,” and he’s alarmed.

“It’s not healthy for America, it doesn’t fit what we stand for,” says Allen. “And they will do whatever it takes to reach their goal.”

Read the whole CBS transcript.

(more…)

Job searches are, by their very nature, humbling and horrible experiences. Your ego simply cannot believe that every employer isn’t jumping for joy the instant your resume hits their hands and your practical side is praying that you can find something a bit more remunerative than retail.

In some places, searching for jobs is easy because everyone is hiring. In South Bend, finding a job that doesn’t involve “would you like fries with that?” or some slightly more sophisticated sales pitch is essentially impossible… unless you have a nursing degree or more than five years of experience in sophisticated engineering.

Job opportunities for the humanities major are rather glum. And recent news foreshadows more trials, as more than 60 teachers will be laid off at the end of this school year because of piss poor administrative budgeting.

In the past month, I’ve applied to more than 15 positions as my current post is a temporary one. I haven’t heard back from anyone and my department is in the process of trying to hire someone to fill my post permanently. Although I’ve turned in an application for that post, I’m not holding much hope that I will get the job.

And facing unemployment is rather miserable. Ugh. It would be so ideal if the perfect job would smack me in the head and demand that I apply for it. *sigh*

“Somehow I have a feeling he’s going to analyze what it would be like if we really did all live in a yellow submarine.” –Lisa

(You have to be here to get the joke…)

The sprint to the finish, that is.

Less than 72 hours till the Property final. And soooo much property law still to learn. (Er, to review… yeah, that’s what I meant to say… review. :)

So I’m declaring a blogging and commenting moratorium for myself until further notice. As Baylor 2L Chris says, it’s time to “take a deep breath and, like, study for exams or something.”

(more…)

I’m in CivPro, the last class of my first year in law school.

Of course, I have these three little things called “exams” before the year is actually over…

UPDATE: In a fitting accomplishment for the final class of the year, Dmytro just reached Level 34 in Tetris. He says it was about a half-hour game with 336 lines and 341,216 points. :)

UPDATE 2: Class is over… and Ms. Velte officially made it through the entire year without getting called on in CivPro! Mr. Aemisegger, too!

UPDATE 3: Tidmarsh is one of the best and most popular professors in the law school, so naturally, he got a hearty round of applause at the end of class. You can listen here (WAV, 580 KB).