An update from Bogotá!
We (the US) would consider everyone here to be Hispanic, but since Hispanic = the mix of indigenous and Europeans, the people here are every color of the rainbow, with some who dont ´look´ Hispanic, at least as Americans would percieve.
Then, race here means indigenous, mestizo, white, or black.
I have a Colombian cousin who´s super pale, with freckles and red hair.
A revison: race as a perception from outsiders of onces ethnicity or background is silly.
Lets not even get started on white African-Americans...
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Revisiting: Arguments on the Overworked High School Student
We currently sit in the late-April, early-May rush known by high schools students and guidance counselors as Decision Time and by bored writers and public psychologists as Fretting About the State of Our Child's Worrying Time. Though surely, someone else must have said this by now, quite obviously all we just need to chill out.
While students around the country have finally received all of their thick or thin letters, including my own sister, the adult world takes this as a moment to pause and reflect on the perceived declining state of affairs of the students' well being, or pressures, or whatever else they threw at them. The latest phase of pressure on our students, supposedly, consists of having to be both smart and sociably well-rounded, qualities that have always generally been good for human beings to possess. On top of that pressure, their attempting-to-be open-minded parents struggle with what they want for their kids, and what they think they should want for their kids – or something like that.
A recent NYT piece profiling the 'amazing girls' of some New England town quote the parents whining about their children's pristinely planned and executed childhoods, and how they themselves just cannot rise above the social pressures that they tell their kids to surpass. Are these parents just products of the 'I'm special' movement as well? They ignore the easy solutions to their difficult decisions. Either you support your child and do not try to pull strings, honestly wanting them to follow whatever works best for their personal development regardless of grades or college admissions and therefore set a non-contradictory example – or you don't.
First I blame the parents for failing to have the strength to stand by their own principles, flowering out of their post-flower child upbringings. Then I do worry about their children, but only because of the warped double-edged neighborhoods they grew up in.
In another byte out of the NYT piece, two students treasure the sacrifice of have no social life to the alter of college admissions (with the implication that they only deem worthy of application those schools that would require them to forgo such adolescent fun). I really hope that this exchange of having an adolescence for having a fulfilling college experience - which includes non-resume items – works out for them in the end. Because if these students hit college, lock themselves in dorm rooms and then have mental break downs second semester freshman year, I would stick one in the 'not worth it' column. (Even, if I supposed, those non-resume items might just turn into interview fodder for the next step of their lives. "I sometimes go to museums for fun instead of studying!" "Oh, please tell me more!")
A coalition of liberal arts colleges, also originating out of the hallowed halls of the northeast, have begun a call for an end to college ratings, emanating out of colleges refusing to submit information to Princeton Review, Barron's, et. al. This duo of stories would appear to lean back into the 'everyone's special' mentality, and maybe solve the problem of everyone getting every to calm down.
While the rankings system needs to be revised, and while students need to wrench control back from crazed parents and guidance counselors and we all probably need a deep breath, this does not solve the problem.
Universities are not created equal, and those that put in effort to improve their quality of education or services deserve accolades. A reformed ranking system would help differentiate between colleges, the onus just has to swap over to the kids to figure out what qualities they need, other than being in the top 10 list.
I call for a referendum on everyone who preaches to 'just get involved with whatever interest you, but make sure you hit some of these suggestions' to just chop off the second half of that sentence.
I call for students to take the simple step of influencing the conversation, rather than just obliging, or even worse, buying into it all. Yes, I ask that teenagers take responsibility. Yes, I believe they can, because if some can, then the rest can follow suit, especially as the conversation does start to change.
Then lastly, if we really do want to look at these phenomenon somewhat scholarly, and how really to best prepare students for college, ask those who know best – recent and current college students. Stop looking at the situation from the inside, from the perspective that cannot know its own outcome – the most important aspect of a study. Pull together some college kids and ask them what works and what hurts and then rest assured that students do know what's good for them, at the end of the day.
While students around the country have finally received all of their thick or thin letters, including my own sister, the adult world takes this as a moment to pause and reflect on the perceived declining state of affairs of the students' well being, or pressures, or whatever else they threw at them. The latest phase of pressure on our students, supposedly, consists of having to be both smart and sociably well-rounded, qualities that have always generally been good for human beings to possess. On top of that pressure, their attempting-to-be open-minded parents struggle with what they want for their kids, and what they think they should want for their kids – or something like that.
A recent NYT piece profiling the 'amazing girls' of some New England town quote the parents whining about their children's pristinely planned and executed childhoods, and how they themselves just cannot rise above the social pressures that they tell their kids to surpass. Are these parents just products of the 'I'm special' movement as well? They ignore the easy solutions to their difficult decisions. Either you support your child and do not try to pull strings, honestly wanting them to follow whatever works best for their personal development regardless of grades or college admissions and therefore set a non-contradictory example – or you don't.
First I blame the parents for failing to have the strength to stand by their own principles, flowering out of their post-flower child upbringings. Then I do worry about their children, but only because of the warped double-edged neighborhoods they grew up in.
In another byte out of the NYT piece, two students treasure the sacrifice of have no social life to the alter of college admissions (with the implication that they only deem worthy of application those schools that would require them to forgo such adolescent fun). I really hope that this exchange of having an adolescence for having a fulfilling college experience - which includes non-resume items – works out for them in the end. Because if these students hit college, lock themselves in dorm rooms and then have mental break downs second semester freshman year, I would stick one in the 'not worth it' column. (Even, if I supposed, those non-resume items might just turn into interview fodder for the next step of their lives. "I sometimes go to museums for fun instead of studying!" "Oh, please tell me more!")
A coalition of liberal arts colleges, also originating out of the hallowed halls of the northeast, have begun a call for an end to college ratings, emanating out of colleges refusing to submit information to Princeton Review, Barron's, et. al. This duo of stories would appear to lean back into the 'everyone's special' mentality, and maybe solve the problem of everyone getting every to calm down.
While the rankings system needs to be revised, and while students need to wrench control back from crazed parents and guidance counselors and we all probably need a deep breath, this does not solve the problem.
Universities are not created equal, and those that put in effort to improve their quality of education or services deserve accolades. A reformed ranking system would help differentiate between colleges, the onus just has to swap over to the kids to figure out what qualities they need, other than being in the top 10 list.
I call for a referendum on everyone who preaches to 'just get involved with whatever interest you, but make sure you hit some of these suggestions' to just chop off the second half of that sentence.
I call for students to take the simple step of influencing the conversation, rather than just obliging, or even worse, buying into it all. Yes, I ask that teenagers take responsibility. Yes, I believe they can, because if some can, then the rest can follow suit, especially as the conversation does start to change.
Then lastly, if we really do want to look at these phenomenon somewhat scholarly, and how really to best prepare students for college, ask those who know best – recent and current college students. Stop looking at the situation from the inside, from the perspective that cannot know its own outcome – the most important aspect of a study. Pull together some college kids and ask them what works and what hurts and then rest assured that students do know what's good for them, at the end of the day.
Monday, April 23, 2007
some parts of the south scare me...
Students attend school's first integrated prom
Woooow.... Read the whole thing, it just gets worse and worse.
Some quotes :
"The white people have theirs, and the black people have theirs. It's nothing racial at all."
Um, definitely racial, even if you want to try to argue it isn't racist.
"In the past, two queens were chosen -- one white, one black."
"If they're not coming tonight it's because either they had to work and they couldn't get out of it or because their parents are still having an issue because they grew up in south Georgia."
I'm pretty sure it is either that last one, or they couldn't get out of work because they don't care about integration.
"Valerie McKellar echoed that sentiment as she watched white and black students pose together.
'That is so fake. There is nothing real about that,' she said.
'That's just like you're cooking a half-baked cake, putting the icing on it, and when you cut the cake, the cake ain't no good. That's how this prom is,' she said."
Yes. This really really just now happened in a school in Georgia.
Some of my friends have been talking about taking a cross country road trip, and cutting through the south. One of them, a black male, said he's questioning how comfortable he is driving through the south with a black male and a white girl or two and how people will react. We told him he was over reacting.... maybe not?
Woooow.... Read the whole thing, it just gets worse and worse.
Some quotes :
"The white people have theirs, and the black people have theirs. It's nothing racial at all."
Um, definitely racial, even if you want to try to argue it isn't racist.
"In the past, two queens were chosen -- one white, one black."
"If they're not coming tonight it's because either they had to work and they couldn't get out of it or because their parents are still having an issue because they grew up in south Georgia."
I'm pretty sure it is either that last one, or they couldn't get out of work because they don't care about integration.
"Valerie McKellar echoed that sentiment as she watched white and black students pose together.
'That is so fake. There is nothing real about that,' she said.
'That's just like you're cooking a half-baked cake, putting the icing on it, and when you cut the cake, the cake ain't no good. That's how this prom is,' she said."
Yes. This really really just now happened in a school in Georgia.
Some of my friends have been talking about taking a cross country road trip, and cutting through the south. One of them, a black male, said he's questioning how comfortable he is driving through the south with a black male and a white girl or two and how people will react. We told him he was over reacting.... maybe not?
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Um... Berlin, much?
US erects Baghdad wall
Uh.... hello? I though we built a wall in city in Berlin, back in the day, and it didn't go over so well.
For some reason, we seem to be on a wall building kick (Palestine? Mexico? Baghdad?)
Am I crazy? Did we not try this before and it sucked?
Uh.... hello? I though we built a wall in city in Berlin, back in the day, and it didn't go over so well.
For some reason, we seem to be on a wall building kick (Palestine? Mexico? Baghdad?)
Am I crazy? Did we not try this before and it sucked?
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Lobbying for the Big Picture
Do I live in a country of short sighted, ego-centric fourteen-year-olds (I will not ask “when did this become...” because it seems a persistent problem)? When it comes to political discourse, the major talk within mainstream media outlets, not to mention a good chunk of citizen media, reeks of impatience and immaturity, and an ignorance of the bigger picture. How about we all grow up a bit?
First, let's clear some things. The government represents a manifestation of the general, aggregated interests of all constituents, for the sake of moving on and making decisions. No, it is not perfect. No, it does not always watch out for everyone. That presents a call to arms to work towards perfecting it, rather than a reason to give up with abandon and feed into the failure, first person to the top of the hill wins mentality.
The public sphere exists for no honest reason but service to others, and, more specifically, service to everyone. As part of this premise of organized society, public officials and those who aim to influence them work to improve the current state of affairs, however interpreted.
Few phrases bother me more than the argument that “ nothing ever changes.” Have you been paying attention for the last couple centuries? The history of the world consists of nothing but change. I do not care that similarities or patterns persist, one cannot deny that, in the long run, situations improve. But instead of efficient, and well-meaning improvement, we often receive hacked together, mediocre 'solutions' that serve to further a person or a group more than the rest of us.
How to do this?
Step one: stop watching the 24 hour news networks and lamenting about the lack of intelligent discussion to your friends, and say it louder. People forget that change happens both slowly and requires patience to a achieve the big goal, but that change necessitates the small steps along the way. Jon Stewart went on Crossfire and said it “was hurting America,” -- canceled. Morgan Spurlock tears apart the bigger is better mentality of McDonalds – and the 'Super Size' becomes replaced with salads. Hell, Upton Sinclair writes The Jungle eventually leading to the creation of the FDA. Surely, these must merely represent coincidences.
Therefore, stop imagining the monster as too large. Big, evil, controlling organizations, for example, still have something bigger than them – economic forces. Create a siltation where it becomes economically less viable to support whatever status quo they currently stand by and they will fall ridiculously fast. Then repeat. And again. One foot in front of the other, and eventually the landscape starts to look different.
Step two: stop trying to convince your ideological opponent (or neutral passerby) using arguments important to you. What you believe to be morally or socially correct is irrelevant. Before the liberals get too excited, this applies equally to everyone from Evangelicals to hard-core secularists, to those considering themselves moderate. Neither the fact that people agree with you, nor that you believe you hold the moral high ground means a thing with regards to convincing someone else. Figure out who you need to address, what they care about, and format your argument accordingly. Sounds incredibly simple and obvious but so often ignored. Do not feel afraid that you will abandon your cause by modifying its argument and reason, instead accept that this gets the job done.
Then again, this last piece of advice pertains to those who honestly support whatever cause based on a belief that it helps everyone in the long run. Those engaged in discourse for the purposes of furthering only themselves need not heed. Get the egos out. No reason exists for politics to really be about winning and losing. This game continues much farther than even terms without limits.
Why complain quietly when you can shout. Find the small steps in to whatever needs to be changed and start walking. And keep in mind why you're doing it. Don't be afraid to actually talk to people on the other side. Negotiation is not only not a myth that requires diluting one's message or purpose. Actual discussion of issues, rather than fights, lead to solutions, rather than partisan plans of attack. So grow up, move on, and get some stuff done for once.
First, let's clear some things. The government represents a manifestation of the general, aggregated interests of all constituents, for the sake of moving on and making decisions. No, it is not perfect. No, it does not always watch out for everyone. That presents a call to arms to work towards perfecting it, rather than a reason to give up with abandon and feed into the failure, first person to the top of the hill wins mentality.
The public sphere exists for no honest reason but service to others, and, more specifically, service to everyone. As part of this premise of organized society, public officials and those who aim to influence them work to improve the current state of affairs, however interpreted.
Few phrases bother me more than the argument that “ nothing ever changes.” Have you been paying attention for the last couple centuries? The history of the world consists of nothing but change. I do not care that similarities or patterns persist, one cannot deny that, in the long run, situations improve. But instead of efficient, and well-meaning improvement, we often receive hacked together, mediocre 'solutions' that serve to further a person or a group more than the rest of us.
How to do this?
Step one: stop watching the 24 hour news networks and lamenting about the lack of intelligent discussion to your friends, and say it louder. People forget that change happens both slowly and requires patience to a achieve the big goal, but that change necessitates the small steps along the way. Jon Stewart went on Crossfire and said it “was hurting America,” -- canceled. Morgan Spurlock tears apart the bigger is better mentality of McDonalds – and the 'Super Size' becomes replaced with salads. Hell, Upton Sinclair writes The Jungle eventually leading to the creation of the FDA. Surely, these must merely represent coincidences.
Therefore, stop imagining the monster as too large. Big, evil, controlling organizations, for example, still have something bigger than them – economic forces. Create a siltation where it becomes economically less viable to support whatever status quo they currently stand by and they will fall ridiculously fast. Then repeat. And again. One foot in front of the other, and eventually the landscape starts to look different.
Step two: stop trying to convince your ideological opponent (or neutral passerby) using arguments important to you. What you believe to be morally or socially correct is irrelevant. Before the liberals get too excited, this applies equally to everyone from Evangelicals to hard-core secularists, to those considering themselves moderate. Neither the fact that people agree with you, nor that you believe you hold the moral high ground means a thing with regards to convincing someone else. Figure out who you need to address, what they care about, and format your argument accordingly. Sounds incredibly simple and obvious but so often ignored. Do not feel afraid that you will abandon your cause by modifying its argument and reason, instead accept that this gets the job done.
Then again, this last piece of advice pertains to those who honestly support whatever cause based on a belief that it helps everyone in the long run. Those engaged in discourse for the purposes of furthering only themselves need not heed. Get the egos out. No reason exists for politics to really be about winning and losing. This game continues much farther than even terms without limits.
Why complain quietly when you can shout. Find the small steps in to whatever needs to be changed and start walking. And keep in mind why you're doing it. Don't be afraid to actually talk to people on the other side. Negotiation is not only not a myth that requires diluting one's message or purpose. Actual discussion of issues, rather than fights, lead to solutions, rather than partisan plans of attack. So grow up, move on, and get some stuff done for once.
Men CARE
According to USC Men Care (Men Creating Attitudes for Rape-free Environments), according to confidential surveys given to 700+ undergrads, 79% of men at USC say they stop sexual activity when asked.
That means 21% don't.
That's slightly more than 1 in 5.
Edit: ok so I read more :
Statement : I stop sexual activity when asked, even if I am sexually aroused.
Strongly agree : 57.6%
Agree : 21.5%
Somewhat agree : 7.4%
Neutral : 6.6%
Somewhat disagree : 2.5%
Disagree : 1.3%
Strongly Disagree : 3.1%
Monday, April 16, 2007
Letter Re: Increased Security at Bovard
Letter I am sending to the DT Editors in response to most recent article on escalation of security measures at Bovard...
A clear contradiction exists between Todd Dickey claiming that the new security for Bovard will operate with a list, and DPS claiming he has only been instructed to prevent a student from entering if it is completely clear they will create a disturbance. Either the system operates with a list or it operates based on appearances, but this article and its quoted statements fall short of clearing up any disagreement.
Then in yet another twist of trying to explain their actions, DPS Chief Officer Drayton claims they want to prevent "these people, unknown" from doing "something" to people the building -- as if unknown, non-students plan to attack employees inside Bovard. Three differing reasons, coming from only two people, for why the administration increased security between themselves and theoretically their most important constituents, the students.
Furthermore, Dickey continues to propagate the falsification that students "took over" President Sample's office. In reality, the students sat peacefully in the waiting room, certain to allow ample room for anyone to pass through them, and merely performing the function that the room was built for -- waiting to talk to the President.
As many have said, USC's reactions to the SCALE protest have been ridiculous. The recently printed letter from the President of the FLA does a moderate job of trying to defend their actions (though while still missing key points). USC administration continues to fail to take the mature route of addressing the issues at hand publicly, in an intellectual and academic manner and instead has retreated to barricading themselves in Bovard’s ivory tower.
A clear contradiction exists between Todd Dickey claiming that the new security for Bovard will operate with a list, and DPS claiming he has only been instructed to prevent a student from entering if it is completely clear they will create a disturbance. Either the system operates with a list or it operates based on appearances, but this article and its quoted statements fall short of clearing up any disagreement.
Then in yet another twist of trying to explain their actions, DPS Chief Officer Drayton claims they want to prevent "these people, unknown" from doing "something" to people the building -- as if unknown, non-students plan to attack employees inside Bovard. Three differing reasons, coming from only two people, for why the administration increased security between themselves and theoretically their most important constituents, the students.
Furthermore, Dickey continues to propagate the falsification that students "took over" President Sample's office. In reality, the students sat peacefully in the waiting room, certain to allow ample room for anyone to pass through them, and merely performing the function that the room was built for -- waiting to talk to the President.
As many have said, USC's reactions to the SCALE protest have been ridiculous. The recently printed letter from the President of the FLA does a moderate job of trying to defend their actions (though while still missing key points). USC administration continues to fail to take the mature route of addressing the issues at hand publicly, in an intellectual and academic manner and instead has retreated to barricading themselves in Bovard’s ivory tower.
Back to females again
Great response to WaPo article at Garden State to Golden State (not to mention, sympathy for her blog name!)
Basically the Washington Post wrote a pretty bizarre fluff article about the woman who takes over when Tony Snow is sick. Two pages on her nervousness, and what other people think about her, and how she's doing just gosh darn fine so far, and how she met her husband. Weird, all over the place, and yes, not something they would think about writing about a guy.
Not to mention... if their second in command for Press Secretary is this nervous and unsure of her self -- let me remind you press secretary, aka your job is to speak in public, all the time, biggest public speaking job there is -- then what is wrong with who the administration is hiring!!!??? You can hire anyone in the whole country, and after your first choice you couldn't find anyone who was confident? Where are you looking?
Is this just another sign of administration incompetence?
Worth a read, I'd say.
"She may be petite, but she brings a lot of punch to the job." Ain't that just so sweet! Gee, thanks!
Basically the Washington Post wrote a pretty bizarre fluff article about the woman who takes over when Tony Snow is sick. Two pages on her nervousness, and what other people think about her, and how she's doing just gosh darn fine so far, and how she met her husband. Weird, all over the place, and yes, not something they would think about writing about a guy.
Not to mention... if their second in command for Press Secretary is this nervous and unsure of her self -- let me remind you press secretary, aka your job is to speak in public, all the time, biggest public speaking job there is -- then what is wrong with who the administration is hiring!!!??? You can hire anyone in the whole country, and after your first choice you couldn't find anyone who was confident? Where are you looking?
Is this just another sign of administration incompetence?
Worth a read, I'd say.
"She may be petite, but she brings a lot of punch to the job." Ain't that just so sweet! Gee, thanks!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
kf Beats Me to It
good job in pointing out poor LAT reporting over at kausfiles
A sentence that could not only have been written before this march took place but before virtually every march of the last 30 years for any cause. ...
Saturday, April 14, 2007
NYC Condoms
New York City is giving away free condoms all over the city and they're branded for NYC. Way cool. Apparently they're flying and everyone's taking them as quick as they can make them. Good job.
FYI: I work in the Resource Room and people always ask if we carry Trojans. We don't because a) Lifestyles (who NYC went with) and Durex and the others we have do better in clinical durability tests than Trojans and b) Trojan refuses to cut deals to let the university buy in bulk, so the other ones that do are much cheaper. Tidbit for the day!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Speaking of Student Protests...
Way to go Conservative Mormon School.
"BYU Students And Faculty Protest Cheney As Commencement Speaker"
"BYU Students And Faculty Protest Cheney As Commencement Speaker"
LAT Follow Up
USC Defends Tough Response
Important clarification :
USC alleges that the students' "disruptive behavior has interfered with the normal functioning of university business."
The students on the inside, the one's served with immediate interim suspension, were not disrupting university business. They were sitting in a waiting room, with a clear path from door to door, spending time sitting, reading, working on laptops.
The students outside, it could possibly argue, were 'disruptive' by holding a loud vigil all day.
But it was the students on the inside that were served with suspension for disruption, not the ones being loud.
Also served in the letter...
is apparently against the rules as well. So theoretically, not only all the students protesting outside, but all students who walked by the students protesting outside, who failed to call DPS and alter them to the supposed disruptance (which, I assume is what the school was trying to allude to, since offices were not disturbed) should also be hauled in and charged with something.
Important clarification :
USC alleges that the students' "disruptive behavior has interfered with the normal functioning of university business."
The students on the inside, the one's served with immediate interim suspension, were not disrupting university business. They were sitting in a waiting room, with a clear path from door to door, spending time sitting, reading, working on laptops.
The students outside, it could possibly argue, were 'disruptive' by holding a loud vigil all day.
But it was the students on the inside that were served with suspension for disruption, not the ones being loud.
Also served in the letter...
permitting others to engage in misconduct prohibited within the university community. Failing to confront and prevent the misconduct, notify an appropriate university official of the misconduct..
is apparently against the rules as well. So theoretically, not only all the students protesting outside, but all students who walked by the students protesting outside, who failed to call DPS and alter them to the supposed disruptance (which, I assume is what the school was trying to allude to, since offices were not disturbed) should also be hauled in and charged with something.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Day USC Defeated Apathy
Media Coverage :
The Nation
CBS
LAT
AP
DT
LA Voice
SCALE's blog
Union Voice aka click here support
My immediate commentary :
1. Someone in the administration of USC willingly made a decision to not allow the students to go to the bathroom without forfeiting their stand. A USC administrator actually thought it was a better decision to force to students to have not other option but to piss in buckets in Sample's waiting room than to let them go to the bathroom down the hall. Fucking inhuman, uncivil. You want to talk about not treating other people like they're human, too? You've got to be kidding me, this is ridiculous.
1b. Let me reiterate... USC thought it was best to leave tuition paying students to decide between pissing in buckets or giving up on their personal ethics, beliefs, and leadership steps -- attributes that the university professes to foster?
From the Code of Ethics of The University of Southern California ...
At the University of Southern California, ethical behavior is predicated on two main pillars: a commitment to discharging our obligations to others in a fair and honest manner, and a commitment to respecting the rights and dignity of all persons. ...
... building USC's stature as an ethical institution...
We nurture an environment of mutual respect and tolerance. As members of the USC community, we treat everyone with respect and dignity, even when the values, beliefs, behavior, or background of a person or group is repugnant to us. This last is one of the bedrocks of ethical behavior at USC and the basis of civil discourse within our academic community.
We do not harass, mistreat, belittle, harm, or take unfair advantage of anyone. We are careful to distinguish between legal behavior on the one hand and ethical behavior on the other, knowing that, while the two overlap in many areas, they are at bottom quite distinct from each other. While we follow legal requirements, we must never lose sight of ethical considerations.
2. Immediate suspension, followed by expulsion, which could only be appealed after 2 weeks, which would effectively fail the students for the semester because they would not be able to attend the most crucial weeks of class. For sitting for 6 hours. Yea, USC is that scared, apparently.
3. In response to LA Voice calling jail worse than suspension... First, they expected some student conduct issues, but not expulsion before other things were threatened. Maybe it could have been planned better around this blow, but that's just learning for next time, like everything in college. But jail worse than suspension? No way. A rap sheet for protest is way more a badge of honor than paying $20,000 and not being able to graduate and ending with half of the student group not being allowed on campus and therefore unable to continue the campaign for the rest of the semester... A few hours or days in jail versus no diploma, $20,000 down the drain, kicked out of your place and killing the campaign? uh...
4. How do you change the scenario to make the change you want to see become someone else's best interest? If they're business people, you make them look bad so it threatens their bottom line.... Objective accomplished. The conversation is now everywhere and USC is scrambling to look like they didn't just make their own students piss in buckets. Create the impetus that changes the game and forces their hand.
5. Props to SCALE for being good grassroots organizers. In contrast to Answer coalition protests, the group does not fall into today's protest model of posting a full minute by minute agenda on the internet so the cops know exactly where to be and having the organizers be the focus of attention, rather than the issues and the people. As Joshua Glenn lamented in Slate recently, "These days, whether you attend a rally, sign a petition, or forward a MoveOn e-mail, it can be a disempowering experience... obscured within these and other well-intended political actions is a philosophy of passive political spectatorship: they organize, we come; they talk, we listen." Way to break the current mold, SCALE. A protest where an apolitical, generally cynical friend of mine is inspired to personally lead a group to march in a circle around Bovard? A good protest, with real empowerment. Rock on.
6. Go USC students. I'd estimate at least 100 students were there throughout the day. Constant vigil? Damn right. Spontaneous adaptations to protest? Yup. That many people finally all getting together and getting everyone on campus talking? Good job.
Who's University? Our University...
Monday, April 09, 2007
No Comments, Just Complaint
"Reality TV Gets Real"
No commentary... just a complaint...
Someone (named Allison Samuels, but she's not alone) makes money to write that? And we assume she graduated past freshman year high school English and tried to write an 'edgy' 'controversial' paper 'questioning norms? Newsworthy enough for MSNBC includes the 'new' phenomenon that "Television is increasingly sensationalized"?
Not to mention that her thrilling commentary on the enfolding events arrive in the final paragraph, the previous 800 words of which merely consist of her watching TV?
Really, now... failing to have intelligent and or, I don't know, news on the 'news networks' is bad enough. Can we please write slightly better than a fifth grader trying to impress their teacher?
But isn’t it, in its way, exploiting their own tragedy? Television—and especially reality television—is increasingly sensationalized. It takes bigger and louder gimmicks just to get noticed.
No commentary... just a complaint...
Someone (named Allison Samuels, but she's not alone) makes money to write that? And we assume she graduated past freshman year high school English and tried to write an 'edgy' 'controversial' paper 'questioning norms? Newsworthy enough for MSNBC includes the 'new' phenomenon that "Television is increasingly sensationalized"?
Not to mention that her thrilling commentary on the enfolding events arrive in the final paragraph, the previous 800 words of which merely consist of her watching TV?
Really, now... failing to have intelligent and or, I don't know, news on the 'news networks' is bad enough. Can we please write slightly better than a fifth grader trying to impress their teacher?
Monday, April 02, 2007
Politics & Money
Wizbang Politics...
Its "excessive" because it is also excessive to spend $3 billion on selling soap. It is excessive because we do not trust companies to advertise to us based on honest virtues that make them better than their competitors, but we should be voting based on the best candidate rather than the most suave advertising campaign.
I remember in 2000, when total spending for the cycle for all offices from President to Alderman first exceeded $1 billion, the whiners like McCain were complaining in full voice, but that same year, Proctor & Gamble spent more than $3 billion advertising their personal hygiene and cleaning products. How can it be "excessive" to spend a third of what's spent on toothpaste and soap on our political future? Not to mention the political numbers were for a two-year cycle, while P&G advertises at that level EVERY year . . .
Its "excessive" because it is also excessive to spend $3 billion on selling soap. It is excessive because we do not trust companies to advertise to us based on honest virtues that make them better than their competitors, but we should be voting based on the best candidate rather than the most suave advertising campaign.
College & Money
Semi good interview at Newsweek on Congress making college more accessible.
Rep. George Miller (CA-D) spends too much time reminding the reader that the Bushies may be pretending like they are or have been working on education but really have failed to move until the Dems put pressure on them... It makes him sound catty and insistent.
He discusses improving costs for middle class families (a definite issue, though, I do slightly wonder how much of an issue it is for in state schools, which he then discusses later). At times the interviewer brings up poorer people, and he comments on it, and theres some weird cross over, but basically the article seems choppy.
Wow...
"Right now, about 35 percent of state college students need remedial education."
Ridiculous! More than a third of students who can get into state college still have to take remedial classes? Can we please fix education yet? Please?
Rep. George Miller (CA-D) spends too much time reminding the reader that the Bushies may be pretending like they are or have been working on education but really have failed to move until the Dems put pressure on them... It makes him sound catty and insistent.
He discusses improving costs for middle class families (a definite issue, though, I do slightly wonder how much of an issue it is for in state schools, which he then discusses later). At times the interviewer brings up poorer people, and he comments on it, and theres some weird cross over, but basically the article seems choppy.
Wow...
"Right now, about 35 percent of state college students need remedial education."
Ridiculous! More than a third of students who can get into state college still have to take remedial classes? Can we please fix education yet? Please?
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Some Urban Guerrilla-ist Did Well...
SW Corner of Adams & Magnolia
ps. the arrow is pointing the wrong way for the intersection
pps. please excuse cell camera quality
No, Its not that complicated; Arguments on the Overworked High School Student
NYT adds to the "oh sigh we must worry about our overworked HS youth" pile
Inexplicably, they focus on what they call "amazing girls"... at a co-ed public school. They barely touch on some issues of 'feminism' or 'feminist quandaries', but mostly just in addition to general issues of kids trying to hard to get into the top 50 or so schools. I did not see any explanation for focusing on females... odd.
But really, this small alcove of valuing education primarily as it appears on paper but at least (unfortunately?) being aware of the ensuing conflicts that NYT chose to profile seems to at least be indicative of the tone these types of articles take. While these articles frequently try to profile the contradictions the students receive, this piece goes further to include the parents. The supposedly rational, intelligent people with multiple degrees from Ivies who also grew up with rebellion being praised. These parents struggle with this? This piece and its interview questions and their personal responses fail to shame them in realizing the results of their actions and attitudes? The parents merely have to stop contradicting themselves, collectively or individually, and then game over, problem solved, at least for their children, who would then theoretically become well rounded people with solid perspectives.
Want to really know what all these pressures and questions will mean? Talk to college students or recent graduates who also had come through this school. Studying an ongoing phenomenon from inside, this this, fails to illuminate the whole picture. Do a longitudinal study, and get back to these kids in three years, and ask how their high school experience influence their college experience, and what they want to do when they graduate. The responses should be much more interesting and informing (rather than standard alarmist). You need that distance from the experience, and the enclave of attitude, to determine what affects you and from where your own attitudes arise, in contrast to others' experiences.
I'll save commenting on their terrible dilemmas of what to wear, and the fact that none of the non-'amazing girls' were even discussed for another day.
In summary : another piece of alarmist journalism with a small subject pool with its own answers obvious.
Inexplicably, they focus on what they call "amazing girls"... at a co-ed public school. They barely touch on some issues of 'feminism' or 'feminist quandaries', but mostly just in addition to general issues of kids trying to hard to get into the top 50 or so schools. I did not see any explanation for focusing on females... odd.
Ms. Kelley, however, wondered aloud: “Don’t you worry that she never rebelled? When I was growing up, you were supposed to rebel.”No. Its not complicated. Either you support your child and don't try to pull strings, and honestly want them to do what is best for their personal development regardless of grades or college admissions and set a non-contradictoryexample or you don't. Done, end of story. You either simultaneously say "oh honey, that's fine, as long as I know you are growing up well, and are developing your mind and self, then go for it," or but still lay on the pressure... or you (and all the other parents around you, because once one of you rebels, that little act of rebellion will be oh so cool and everyone will want to fall in line and be as liberal and open minded as you) actually support your child in what you profess to be your own values.
But she acknowledged that she had sent her own mixed signals. “As I’m sitting here saying I don’t care what kind of grades she gets, I’m thinking, she comes home with a B, and I say: ‘What’d you get a B for? Who gave you a B? I’m going to talk to them.'
...
Mr. Mobley nodded. “We’re not above it,” he said. “It’s complicated.”
But really, this small alcove of valuing education primarily as it appears on paper but at least (unfortunately?) being aware of the ensuing conflicts that NYT chose to profile seems to at least be indicative of the tone these types of articles take. While these articles frequently try to profile the contradictions the students receive, this piece goes further to include the parents. The supposedly rational, intelligent people with multiple degrees from Ivies who also grew up with rebellion being praised. These parents struggle with this? This piece and its interview questions and their personal responses fail to shame them in realizing the results of their actions and attitudes? The parents merely have to stop contradicting themselves, collectively or individually, and then game over, problem solved, at least for their children, who would then theoretically become well rounded people with solid perspectives.
“I said, ‘Aliza, this is crazy, I have so much homework to do, and I won’t be able to relax until I do it all. I haven’t gone out in weeks!’ And Aliza (who had also been staying in on Fridays and Saturdays to do homework) pointed out: ‘I’d rather get into college.’ ”I really hope that this is some sort of (questionable) trade off, where these students trade having an adolescence for having a fulfilling college experience - which includes non-resume items! (Even, if I supposed, those non-resume items might just turn into interview fodder for the next step of their lives. "I sometimes go to museums for fun instead of studying" "Oh, please tell me more.")
Want to really know what all these pressures and questions will mean? Talk to college students or recent graduates who also had come through this school. Studying an ongoing phenomenon from inside, this this, fails to illuminate the whole picture. Do a longitudinal study, and get back to these kids in three years, and ask how their high school experience influence their college experience, and what they want to do when they graduate. The responses should be much more interesting and informing (rather than standard alarmist). You need that distance from the experience, and the enclave of attitude, to determine what affects you and from where your own attitudes arise, in contrast to others' experiences.
I'll save commenting on their terrible dilemmas of what to wear, and the fact that none of the non-'amazing girls' were even discussed for another day.
In summary : another piece of alarmist journalism with a small subject pool with its own answers obvious.
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