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
21
“Do you know where your son is?”
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Here’s one more vacation story.
I was helping Sharon and Nathan with Friday lunch when Michael came into the kitchen. He asked Sharon, “Do you know where your son is?” She paused and said, “No.” Michael suggested she go check on him and told her he was in their room. I followed her up. Luke (almost 4 years old) had first gotten into Sharon’s roll of trashbags. He had unrolled them through their bathroom, in the bedroom, down the hall, and into Michael’s room where the roll was pretty much finished.
Luke was only wearing a shirt. He said something about, “I was a little wet,” and launched into a long explanation of what he had done. Since he was a little wet he knew he needed to clean his clothes. This is what he used: all the baby shampoo, all of Sharon’s lotion (I’m guessing these were both small bottles), a Tide pen or Tide wipes (something like that), and all of Sharon’s chapstick (there may have been something else, but I can’t remember). I guess he wanted to make sure they were extra clean.
She commented that the situation wasn’t too bad, and she’s seen much worse from him. I suppose even though he didn’t clean his clothes properly he should be commended for knowing that they needed to be cleaned and giving it his best shot.