Professors Protest as Students Debate

“Irvine Valley College in Southern California sent faculty members a memo that warned them not to discuss the war unless it was specifically related to the course material. When professors cried censorship, the administration explained that the request had come from students.”

Yes, professors…We know you are really excited about the war. But the students know that they need to make it through class to graduate. And they need to graduate, so they can get PAID.

For those not tenured, these things are a consideration.

Stevens Speaks on Senate Floor in Support of Opening ANWR

One of the things that was not given a lot of attention, because of the war, was the opening of ANWR beign discussed in the Senate. There is an oil field in Alaska that has

Ted Stevens, the perennial Alaskan Senator, argued passionately for this development. He put it all on the line.

‘ “People who vote against this today are voting against me and I will not forget it,” Stevens warned his colleagues just before the Senate roll call vote began. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Stevens can influence funding for a senator’s pet project or cause.’

That’s about as much pressure as he can possibly put out there.

It’s interesting that the vote was so close. 52-48 voted it down. Some Republicans went against party solidarity to vote against it. Some democrats went against their party to vote for it.

I am sure Stevens had a VERY stiff drink after that vote.

Okay, kids. I started my night class yesterday. UCLA! A REAL university. I was so worried that I wouldn’t get there on time, with traffic…I was afraid that I wouldn’t find parking…And I don’t know what else.

This is a creative non-fiction class. I have NEVER taken a creative writing class. I was so excited all yesterday. I was like that stupid “I lowered my cholesterol commercial.”

After my knows-everything-about-LA co-worker Eydie gave me some tips on how to get there from here (take surface streets), I made it. I asked a nice college looking kid…I must be getting old when COLLEGE kids start to look very young…where i could park. I descended into the belly of parking garage. Everyone was nice.

Everyone in LA is nice.

Then I walked up the steps onto the main quad, right below the Janess steps (for those of you who might know the campus).

I saw the grass and most of all the tall dressed-stone and brick buildings. It hit me bodily that I was a student here!
I started to cry, I was so happy.

I remember, Chris and I were talking a few weeks ago. He asked me what I would do if I won the lottery.

“Go back to school.” I said it without hesitation and surprised myself.

Just like I surprised myself at how strongly I reacted to being an on-campus student at UCLA.

Class was great. The teacher was funny and not snootish at all. I am a little nervous, not because I think I won’t be able to write anything. I’ve been having NO TROUBLE writing lately.

I’m just a little scared that I have to suffer criticism. I desperately want it, I want the feedback, that’s why I want this class. BUt I am afraid that I will be too sensitive.

I’ll have to make sure that I prepare myself beforehand.

I was so excited about the class afterwards, that I promptly got lost on the way home. I do that, when I get too deep inside myself. I should have been aware that I would do that, I know myself enough now.

At least I recognized it before I got too off track.

Anyway, there is more to come. I am sure all you readers will benefit from this class.

On Friday March 28, thousands of protestors gathered at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles. Unlike other recent protests, this one was about a very local problem. California community college’s budget has been reduced by Gov. Gray Davis. According to the California community college website, “Governor Gray Davis signed the mid-year budget cut bill for community colleges (SB 18X) late Tuesday evening, March 18.”

Although the state’s budget crisis demands that sacrifices be made, the belt-tightening is not equal. The same website goes on to say, “The cuts equate to a 3.3 percent decrease for community colleges – in comparison to a 1.7 percent decrease ($60.9 million) and a 1.5 percent decrease ($59.6 million) for the California State University and University of California systems, respectively.”

Members of the Los Angeles community came together to protest the cutbacks. Chris Covault, one of the volunteer event coordinators explained: “This event is permitted as a march and rally pertaining to the budget cuts coming from Sacramento.” A full range of people, of all ages and ethnic backgrounds, gathered to protest the reduced funding for community colleges. Groups from many local colleges banded together. Glendale College, Pasadena City College, and LA Trade Tech Community College and others were there holding banners and signs.

“No way! We won’t pay!” Shouting slogans, protestors carried various signs to make their point. “No Raised Fees-Equality and Access.” “Keep the doors open. Stop the Cuts. No Fee Hikes.” “I had a dream: Community College.” The people filled the entire breadth of Hill street and stretched on for more than four city blocks.

Many Los Angelinos have come to rely on the availability of community college programs. Tippy Briggs from Los Angeles Harbor College said that community college meant a lot to her: “Community college means a better education, a better job to support my kids. I’ve been a secretary for 20 years. Now, for me to be advanced, they’re telling me I need a A.A. or a B.A.” She is particularly worried about her daughter, who is approaching college age. Tippy is not sure her daughter will have a chance to get the education she needs without the availability of community colleges.

Staff workers as well as students are concerned. Tino Manzano, an administrator at Los Angeles Valley College was there “just to remind Gov. Davis that community college students matter.” According to a flyer passed out at the event, “Community Colleges are already canceling entire academic majors and job-related training programs and community college students needing to transfer to universities are forced to delay their education.”

Covault went on to say “Democracy requires education…Access to self-betterment is key.”

Imagine my surprise!

THe rally i was checking out not about peace. It was about community colleges.

I’m a returning customer of community colleges. This was interesting to me.

I’ll post my story.

There is a peace protest near my work. I am going to check it out. This is a peace hotbed, over here.

I plan to tell you all about it when I come back.

I never get a newspaper, like, on paper anymore. But this one was in the plastic wrap and sitting at my bus stop bench. Who could refuse

The front page was grim and scary. But a little deeper, in the California section, I found this story. Here’s the headline:

MUSTARD COMPANY DOESN’T RELISH ANY ATTACK ON ITS NAME

The story goes on to get to the main point:

“THE ONLY THING FRENCH ABOUT FRENCH’S MUSTARD IS THE NAME!” screamed the press release from French’s PR agency. “Recently there has been some confusion as the the origin of French’s mustard. For the record, French’s would like to say there is nothing more American than French’s mustard.”
This comes a a great relief.
If it’s true.

Appellate Court Rules Media Can Legally Lie. – SierraTimes.Com

This is what happened:
“On February 14, a Florida Appeals court ruled there is absolutely nothing illegal about lying, concealing or distorting information by a major press organization. The court reversed the $425,000 jury verdict in favor of journalist Jane Akre who charged she was pressured by Fox Television management and lawyers to air what she knew and documented to be false information. ”

This is yet another reason why I mistrust all the things on the news right now.

Thanks for this story, Tantek.

I’ve been posting almost everything I put on here on Blogcritics lately. Eric Olsen, the founder and nagger of blogcritics has this list of the side bar of top posters. To my surprise, I was on it. I was on the top 20! I had no idea.

WELL, I am not one to lose ground. I started making a huge point of posting on that site. I’m now number 7.

I am very inspired by things like that, measures of how I’m doing.

It’s been fun, just making myself post.

I decided that I should stop worrying about being perfect, and just kick out reviews. I think it’s actually improved my writing. Imagine!

I have also been spending a lot of time reading other people’s entries, and commenting on things.

People comment on my stuff there, too. I get very few comments here, mostly because I get very few visitors here.

What can I say?

But there, I got TOTALLY flamed for my Catch 22 review. Imagine! People can be rude.

And we’ve been having a big ole discussion about the top 100 novels list.

Makes me want to publish more lists.

But it also makes me feel like I have to be careful. I don’t like being flamed. But that’s the risk you take when you put your stuff out there. Not everyone is going to like you.

I still like doing it. It’s worth it to me.