Baylor Hates Holidays

Ok, so the title may be a little harsh, but seriously. Fall quarter finals always encroach upon the Halloween festivities, Winter quarter finals have a knack for occurring the days immediately after SuperBowl Sunday, and Spring quarter finals now have launched an attack on the NFL Draft weekend.

As some of the most important days of the year, next to Easter (which we don't really get off because it is a Sunday, and we're required to trek all the way back to Waco for class at 8am Monday morning) and my birthday (lucky me is on Labor Day), this atrocious scheduling of the quarter system displays a complete disconnect with the real world and what is important. Not to mention finals were dangerously looming during the whole inauguration process back in January.

So, I demand people be outraged. Go and be heard to the Baylor Dean of Terrible Scheduling like true American football fans dressed like Dracula.

Citizens Against Daytime Curfew

Why we oppose the daytime curfew:

• Truant chidren can already be picked up by police and taken back to school.

• Truant children are already fined $500 for each truancy offense. Do struggling families need an additional $500 fine that goes to the City of Dallas general fund, not to programs for troubled youth?

• Business owners and employees may be fined up to $500 if they allow children to remain on their premises between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on days DISD is in session.

• Conviction of a child, parent or business creates a criminal record.

• Of all daytime burglary arrests, more than 82% are adults - fewer than 18% are children under 17. Why criminalize so many children, parents, and business people?

• The police have said if a daytime curfew is imposed they plan to continue picking up children and returning them to the same place they currently take them - to DISD. They also said they pick up all the children they can find currently. If they already pick up all they can find, how does this help take more truants off the street? The only difference this curfew will make is to add $500 to the city general fund. This is a tax on the poor and struggling families in Dallas and does nothing new to fight crime or truancy.

This is the link to donate funds to support CADDC in getting the Daytime Curfew denied!

Malaria No More

In light of looming finals, I have lost touch with my blog lately. But, "history" was made last night when Ashton Kutcher reached 1,000,000 followers on Twitter (@aplusk) before CNN could. If you would like to watch his video of the victory (30 min.), it is available here.

Ashton gets on a soapbox but makes a very good point. New interfaces allow us to bypass or supplement mainstream media and make our own news, access our own news, and decide when and how we get our information. It's incredible.

Also, Ashton donated $100,000 to Malaria No More, which helps to purchase, transport and distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets to African countries, where they are needed most. They also have education and awareness programs about malaria that cover a range of topics, such as how to prevent infection. Monetary gifts also support Malaria No More's comprehensive malaria elimination strategies. www.malarianomore.org. *Note: they have an innovative donation scheme that allows you to donate either 1 net for $10, 3 for $30, 5 for $50, or designate your own amount, including an option to have a recurring donation such as monthly or yearly.

The weather conditions down in Texas have led to a number wildfires that our now raging near my home town, Dallas. An array of the surrounding cities have been evacuated. And although I have seen the photos of destruction from wildfires in California, Australia, and West Texas, it is still unbelievable that the wildfires are now knocking at my door. Central and North Texas is usually fairly immune to extreme weather: hurricanes destructive nature usually does not make it that far inland, snow storms happen um never, ice hazard delays are really just Texans wanting a day off, wildfires occur out West, and tornadoes rarely hit the big D (they are more common in the plains). Nevertheless, in this day and age of instantaneous news and updates, www.wfaa.com is kind enough to update its blog about the fires every few minutes such that public is aware and can take the appropriate preventative measures even during highly dangerous and unusual weather. Thanks technology. And, thanks cold front that is supposed to be bringing obviously MUCH needed rain tomorrow (though it will bring more wind first..always worst before its better).

Another "One Drop" Rule

So, this is a controversial subject, but in light of my earlier post about Adam Lambert, I thought I might bring it up. As you are now aware, Adam Lambert, even with months to go in the competition, is the front runner to win American Idol. However, there is an underlying issue brewing among the public about whether or not he is gay because of some pictures that surfaced of him kissing another guy.

Adam addressed it as a non-issue because the competition is about his singing not his personal life. Good point. Except is it true? Not necessarily. The idea of an American Idol is someone who is vetted by the public for months and found to be a solid individual who also has an incredible knack for singing/performing. Adam appears to qualify, if not overqualify. So why are these pictures important? Because it means he's gay, which makes him controversial because gays are meant to be outcasts (except Anderson Cooper, Ellen Degeneres, Elton John, Jodie Foster, Christopher Rice, etc, etc, etc,). Right? Or is it just too difficult or too politically incorrect and controversial to allow for the possibility that human nature, as gender studies have shown, may generally reflect some type of an affinity for both sexes, degree varying? As times change and homosexuality becomes more accepted, younger generations will become more at ease with expressing their own bisexuality, a danger to the Christian Conservative society that we have all come to know and love. Obviously, there are always exceptions to the rule; people who will never show any such tendency (highschool football players, oober conservative politicians, "priests"). However, the point is - have we as Americans created a "one drop" rule to homosexuality? One incident, one photo and that's it. You are playing for the other team. Traitor. *(Same press got to Lindsey Lohan too if you recall.)

A Star Graces the Stage

For this post you will need knowledge of 2 separate and distinct events of the past 24 hours. 1st is the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship and 2nd is this season's American Idol.

After Adam Lambert's performance tonight where Simon gave him a standing ovation, it is clear that Adam Lambert is equivalent to UNC Men's bball, and all the other contestants are equivalent to Michigan State (and every other team UNC has played in the last month with Ty Lawson participating). Adam is so "out of this world" that his performances are in a league of their own. At this point, the only contestants that even stand a chance are Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey, and that may be only because the competition inevitably will come down to a final, somebody against Adam. If it ended today, Adam would win by millions of votes while the others scrambled for his scraps.

Fans Value Goes Beyond Pocketbook in Some Places

So the Denver Broncos owner sent a letter out to ticket holders explaining the Cutler trade and calling on them to support the team and promote team unity. What a novel idea to reach out directly to the fans in times of controversy. Man, I wish Jerry Jones would do that. But then again, he would have to write much more than once to cover all of his missteps. Maybe he's better off just saving the stamp money.