DISQUS

As long as she doesn't ask Cheney that question...

I had a recent "fun" experience with TSA that I fully expect will put me in the "reasonable suspicion" category forever more for stuff like this. Apparently when exercising my rights, I was supposed to realize I don't have rights. Only a terrorist would point to the Constitution. If I don't have anything to hide...

Insane nonsense like this laptop search mess needs to be resolved quickly and correctly. I suspect the Supreme Court doesn't care.

As opposed to it being flatly wrong to kill people?

I've never gotten the appeal of Obama. I understand why people are drawn to him, but I also understand why the music is louder on commercials. I don't care how sweetly or loudly someone shouts their message, the message matters.

From the beginning I found nothing to appeal to me in Obama's message. As a libertarian, I expected that when I looked into his policy proposals. But even for progressives, Obama was always going to be a politician. I'm probably cyncical in my low expectations of politicians. Still, this type of calculated pandering was so predictable. It will only get worse.

That would be irritating. It's the same as media reports that "X posted a new blog" today. Seriously, you create a new blog for every entry? Isn't journalism supposed to involve a minimum amount of research?

There's nothing better than being a young curmudgeon.

I remember being amazed when I was graduate assistant while getting my MBA. I worked with a professor who taught senior-level classes that relied solely on case study. Five-page papers were the standard assignment. The number of poorly written papers shocked me. With only 18 students in the class, I returned 6 without grading and demanded the student give an iota of care for the English language. I had to tell one student to write in complete sentences by including verbs. I told another that 2 inch margins were not acceptable.

I was only a couple years older, so nothing had declined across years. I just wonder how much any of those students read beyond required class work, if they read that much. I know my verbal and written skills improved when I started reading for pleasure. I was always able to write well enough before reading for fun, but it's unimaginable that a student could get through almost four years of college and not understand that a sentence requires a verb. But that student barely stood out from the other poor writing in the class.

Like you, I'm a different, and I believe better, person today because I've learned new ideas from reading. I've discovered and questioned. It's strange that so many shun that.

Good luck. I've participated in NaNoWriMo in the past. I haven't succeeded yet, but it's great fun if you can let go of the internal censor.

If the cops had tasered him while he was struggling, I could understand because he was essentially resisting arrest. That wouldn't excuse the arrest, probably, because nothing we saw on the video demonstrated a specific crime. I suspect there was more that we didn't see. But to taser him when he's on the floor with a bunch of cops on him? Even in the unlikely scenario where this was justified, that's too far.

Interestingly, this also demonstrated how impotent Kerry is as a leader. The student was mostly uninterested in what Kerry had to say, despite asking questions. But wow, Kerry just droned on making small talk, even after the situation erupted. Not impressive from a current United States Senator.

I've been concerned by this complacency, as well. Too many people I talk to are content to believe that the appearance of safety equals safety.

Specifically to Virginia Tech, it's my alma mater (two degrees). I fear for the changes many will push. At 2,600 acres, the campus would be difficult to monitor, so the results of any effort would be scary. I'm optimistic, though, from hearing the reactions of students and knowing the culture at Virginia Tech. I don't think the school will overreact. Changes, yes. But not too much more than that.

However, on the infantilization of students, I do worry a lot. My brother had an issue in the fall at VT that involved a discipline hearing. Without his consent, they sent documentation of everything going on to our mom. It was helpful, I guess, but little I didn't already know from being involved in his life. At 18, his privacy should've mattered some, at least. Instead, federal law permits, and probably encourages, this violation.

College "kids" are adults, as you say. They should be treated as such. But our culture prefers to be protected from cradle-to-grave from any risk, no matter how small. Count me out. And I wonder why more don't want any part of it.

People like me are also an indicator that the degree isn't necessary to go into CS-type careers. I majored in Finance, but took my first job in IT consulting. Not exactly the same thing, of course, but I've programmed a few times in my career. As you say, the aptitude is what's important. And I've spent most of my career designing financial software, since so few in my field had the functional skills necessary.

Apple sells a $20 A/V cable that connects the video iPod to a TV. I have it and it works fine.

...barring an unlikely constitutional amendment setting limits on the First Amendment.

In other words, Commissioner Adelstein is suggesting that such a constitutional amendment would be the only legal way for the FCC to do what it's already doing. Wonderful logic.