Web Browsing- Professors' Liberalism Contagious? Maybe Not - NYTimes.com 3 November 2008Do liberal faculty affect the political leanings of students? These people say no. But let's look a little deeper. One author says "it is really hard to change the mind of anyone over 15." Does this mean that the average American thinks about politics now the same way he did when he was 15? Yikes. It appears to imply that political opinions are not firmly rooted in ideas, but in feelings and prejudices. The article also suggests that the real problem is that students aren't actually being educated. They aren't getting the "good stuff." In fact, this may be the root of the problem. Even if students don't buy the liberalism of their teachers, they don't get much else either. Notable deficiencies appear in political and military history, especially of the West, but also include traditional literary criticism (and probably content), civics, and economics.
- Obama, Shaman by Michael Knox Beran, City Journal Summer 2008 3 November 2008Beran brilliant combines culture, religion, and literature into a powerful commentary on the religious aspects of Barack Obama's candidacy. The article is rich (and lengthy), but certainly worth digesting.
- Obama and the Politics of Crowds - WSJ.com 30 October 2008Fouad Ajami offers a rich and culturally insightful glimpse into Senator Obama's magic. He draws upon broad themes and key historical features of American cultural history to make his case for caution. Perhaps most telling is his observation about an American distinctive. Whereas the rest of the world champions equality, American has championed liberty. Obama offers the former, and the current financial panic has suspended Americans' faith in the latter. Consequently, we are on the verge of electing someone who inspires in the way a relgious leader, a messiah, does. But the religious hype quickly fades and people realize too late that they have been fleeced.
- America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree - Chronicle.com 24 October 2008Chronicle of Higher Ed points out the pointlessness of most bachelor's degrees.
- Professors' Liberalism Contagious? Maybe Not - NYTimes.com 3 November 2008
Aug
14
The Mouse in the Night
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Here is a story from the family vacation that happened to my parents.
My parent’s bedroom was off the kitchen. It was the only bedroom in this area, although the hallway had a bathroom that Aunt Susan and Uncle John used since they didn’t have one in their bedroom. My mom woke up at 4 or 5 am hearing a strange noise. Eventually (either because of my mom or the noise) my dad woke up. They laid there trying to figure out what the noise was. It stopped for a little bit and then started up again. Eventually one of them got up and turned on the lights. They explored the room and discovered a mouse caught on a sticky trap behind a piece of furniture. Only the back legs of the mouse were stuck, and the mouse was making a lot of noise running around a small space dragging the sticky trap with it. I can’t remember why (or if anything else happened before this), but my dad ended up getting a broom and whacking the mouse to death.
Meanwhile, Uncle John got up to use the bathroom. As he walked through the kitchen he heard a lot of noise coming from my parent’s room and decided that maybe he will wait to use the bathroom. Aunt Susan was awake too. She knows Uncle John got up, and she could hear all the noise coming from the direction of the kitchen. She got annoyed with her husband thinking he was making the noise and wondering what he was doing (maybe starting breakfast too early?).