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Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Grad School II: I Write Letters 

The article in question:
One Chicago student, a male fourth-year who chose to withhold his name, has had particularly unsatisfactory encounters with CAPS. He argued that CAPS does not provide the alumni contacts that it should. “What they’re supposed to do is act as an intermediary to put students in contact with employers. Really, the role they’ve assumed is minimal in terms of guidance,” he said. “Organizations such as Blue Chips are taking on the role where CAPS has been lacking.”

My frustration with all this stems from this last point: I can't seem to find anyplace to get guidance. In comments to my earlier rant about all this, Maire had a very useful point. I'm going to come back to that in another post. To say the least, it's nice that I'm not the only one on campus unhappy with this situation. And it's espescially nice that the Maroon is reporting it.

My response.

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Journalism 

This is almost an interesting case. I say "almost interesting" because the hearing took as long as it did. The Judge was thouroughly correct. I question the assertion that the journalist in question could have been more wrong than he was.

There is no First Amendment issue in the case. The reporter's actions are protected under the First Amendment exactly as much as my act of publishing this post is protected. The specific legal error he made is his interpretation of the free press clause. "Press," according to the First Amendment, is "speech which is written." Nothing else. He could try to claim that testifying would violate the confidendiality agreement he has with his source. Problem is, that agreement is accorded no more legal protection than any other contract. In this particular case, they are contracting to commit a crime. There is plenty of precedent for the court to dissove the contract, and require testimony.

Exercise to the reader: In the above, replace all references to "the journalist" or "the reporter" with "Robert Novak."

Friday, November 12, 2004

Alberto Gonzales in Five Words or Less 

Abu Ghraib. Conflict of Interests.

This man will be lucky if he's still a member of the bar in 2010.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

You Know it's Going to be a Bad Day When... 

...There's a Physics problem set due at 10:30, arguing over Patent law at 11:30, and a German exam at 12:30. Oh, right, then the ScavHunt judges meeting at 8:00 that night. And Stat problem set due the following day.

All under control, amazingly enough.

Oh, by the way, I'm a scavhunt judge.

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Barack Obama: Ghetto Superstar 

Second in an occasional series:
Ghetto Superstar
Pras Michel, ODB, Mya

Man, look at the sky
All the stars man, the stars is beautiful tonight
Look at 'em

Ghetto superstar, that is what you are
Coming' from afar, reaching' for the stars
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh huh
From one corner to another, uh huh

Some got, hopes and dreams
We got, ways and mean
The supreme dream team always up with the scheme
From hub caps to selling' raps, name your theme
My rise to the top, floating' on this cream
Who than hell want to stop me, I hated those who doubt me
A million refugees with unlimited warranties
Black Cease, dating' top divas
Diplomatic legalese, no time for a visa
I just begun, I'm shoot them one by one
Got five sides to me something' like a pentagon
Strike with the forces of King Solomon
Letting' bygone be bygone and so on and so on
I'm teach these cats, how to live in the ghetto
Keeping' it retro-specie from the get go
Lay low; let my mind shine like a halo
P-p-politic with ghetto senators on the d-low

Ghetto superstar, that is what you are
Coming' from afar, reaching' for the stars
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh huh
From one corner to another, uh huh

My eyes is sore, been' the senator
Behind closed doors hitting' truths to the seafloor
The rich don't know, ignore, this tug of war
While the kids are poor open new and better drug stores
So I became hardcore, couldn't take it no more
I'm reveal everything' change the law
I find myself, walking' the streets
Trying' to find what's really going' on in these streets

Now every dog got his day, needless to say
When the chief away, that's when them cats want to play
I told you, messing' around you fools like Cassius Clay
Stretch my heater make you do pass de bourses
Kick your balls like Peel, pick em doing' ballet
Peak like Dante, broader than Broadway
Get applaud like a mandatory, cry yelling' ole
Who than hell want to see me, from O.K. to Cal?

Ghetto superstar, that is what you are
Coming' from afar, reaching' for the stars
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh huh
From one corner to another, uh huh

Just when you thought it was safe in a common place
Showcase you're finest is losing fast in the horse race
Two face, getting' defaced out, like Scar face
Throw your roll money let me put on my screw face

And I'm paranoid at the things I say
Wondering' what's the penalty from day to day
I'm hanging' out, partying with girls that never die
See I was picking' on the small fries, my campaign telling lies
I was just spreading' my love didn't know my love
Was the one holding' the gun and the glove
But it's all good as long as it's understood
Let's all together now, in the hood

Ghetto superstar, that is what you are
Coming' from afar, reaching' for the stars
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh huh
From one corner to another, uh huh

All stars

Ghetto superstar, that is what you are
Coming' from afar, reaching' for the stars
Run away with me, to another place
We can rely on each other, uh huh
From one corner to another, uh huh

Thursday, November 04, 2004

John Kerry: Superman 

My first attempt at reaction to the election. At least one of my preditions was right...

Waitin' for Superman
the Flaming Lips

Asked you a question
I didn't need you to reply
Is it gettin' heavy?
But they'll realize
Is it gettin' heavy?
Well I thought it was already as heavy
As can be

Is it overwhelming
To use a crane to crush a fly?
It's a good time for Superman
To lift the sun into the sky

'Cause it's gettin' heavy
Well I thought it was already as heavy
As can be

Tell everybody
Waitin' for Superman
That they should try to hold on
Best they can
He hasn't dropped them
Forgot them
Or anything
It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Is it gettin' heavy?
Well I thought it was already as heavy as can be.

Tell everybody
Waitin' for Superman
That they should try to hold on
Best they can
He hasn't dropped them
Forgot them
Or anything
It's just too heavy for Superman to lift


More to come in the next few days.

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Election Predictions 

I just got back from voting. Yay me.

I'm going to play along with the whole presidential-election-prediction game, at least so I can register a couple of things. This way I can tell everyone I told you so when I'm right. So here goes:
You have been warned.

Monday, November 01, 2004

the Weekend 

There was a party Friday night in the unit across the hall from us. The first we heard about it was around 11:00, when we started hearing all the shouting in the hallway and on the stairs. Steven and I finally decided to drop by for about 20 minutes. We later watched from our front porch as a couple stumbled out of the party drunk and almost walked into a CPD officer. The lady asked the cop for a cigarette, which he gave her. The couple then turned to go, but stopped again to ask the officer for a light.

Nora's mother was in town for the weekend. She took us out to Kinzie Chophouse, up by the Merchandice Mart. Mmmmm...dead animal.

Nora and I cooked enough dinner for 10 people, taking into account vegetarians. 6 showed up, including none of the expected vegetarians. The leftovers will probably last me through the better part of next week.

I probably don't really need to remind anyone to vote tomorrow.