Summertime's fun, but be safe in the sun

7/23/09 5:02 AM

Post by Travis Andrews — The summer’s hitting its stride, and the sun isn’t taking a break anytime soon. And, as someone who is about as white as white gets, I can tell you that it can be a dangerous world out there. As patronizing as it might seem to write about being safe in the sun — something I imagine most people in the sun are already doing — I am going to do that very thing right now. Because, I guess, I need to follow my own advice. Between trips to the beach, days spent with picnics on the Parade Ground and afternoons running around the LSU lakes, most students give themselves ample opportunity to be burned or poisoned by the sun. This is not good. And for more reasons than are obvious. Of course there is the basic, unsightly and...

Space programs are a necessary expense even in poor economic times

7/23/09 4:59 AM

Post by Matthew Albright — As the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon passes by, the world looks to the stars. Yet because of the recent economic times, and with widespread chaos and recession on a global scale, we are gloomily aware that our feet remain firmly on the ground. As budget cuts and financial woes assail everyone from auto workers to University officials, many people have started to wonder if space exploration shouldn’t be put on hold. Does NASA really deserve to exist while the government deficit blossoms? Why should we continue to search for water on Mars while we still scrounge for oil — and while millions struggle daily for survival — back here on Earth? These are certainly valid arguments, and they seem especially... 1 comment

Gay rights becomes a strong enough issue to literally divide denominations

7/16/09 3:59 AM

Post by Matthew Albright — There are few issues that divide Americans as much as the battle over gay rights. Nowhere does this issue cause a greater divide than within churches. In some congregations, it’s a matter of fierce debate. Those with strict interpretations of the Bible view scriptural warnings against homosexuality as church law, while more “liberal” Christians push for inclusiveness. While it’s a subject of great contention for most churches, the issue threatens to irreversibly rend some entire denominations in half. The Anglican church is one such body. That denomination has faced a possibly catastrophic schism on the subject of gays in the church — specifically over ordaining gay bishops — for several years. Those tensions... 1 comment

Palin’s motives for resigning are unclear, but the effects aren’t

7/7/09 5:00 PM

Post by Matthew Albright — Despite non-stop coverage of Michael Jackson’s death, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is still managing to make headlines. Unfortunately for her, those headlines are far from complimentary. Palin, who was the surprise pick for John McCain’s vice presidential nominee in the 2008 election, announced recently that she will resign her post as governor. Her announcement is sending shockwaves through the political community and is causing even Republican figures to scratch their heads. Palin is saying that her decision is a result of ethics complaints (which she maintains are false) and national attention resulting from her family drama, which she claims are limiting her ability to fulfill her duties. National response to the announcement is almost...

Jackson death's coverage hints at scary future for the media

7/7/09 12:19 AM

Post by Skylar Gremillion — In the days following Michael Jackson’s death, glad-faced news personalities stood on their soap boxes and constantly made reference to the egregious amount of news coverage the post-death drama received. I’ll agree that the news coverage of the Michael Jackson death procession is getting pretty ridiculous. But instead of complaining about it and returning to our ADD news cycle, we need to sit down and question what about our collective identity makes us so prone to accepting it. Everyone from Jon Stewart to Anderson Cooper has been calling for an end to the Jackson coverage and a return to regular news. But is that any better than the Jackson coverage? Our news cycle moves so fast that most people don’t have the time to sit...

Rep. King unfairly condemns Michael Jackson, media coverage

7/7/09 12:17 AM

Post by Scott Burns — On July 5, Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., called the media to wipe out the “psycho-babble” on Michael Jackson and instead turn their attention toward what he considers to be more pressing issues. “He was a child molester. He was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country?” King said Sunday at the American Legion Hall in Wantagh, New York. “We’re too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say, ‘We don’t need Michael Jackson.’ “He died, he had some talent. Fine. People die every day. “There’s nothing good about this guy,” King continued. “The bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be...