Fraternity wouldn't treat a dog the way they treated their rushes
Written by Terry Smith
Friday, 20 November 2009 15:50
The hazing allegations against the Delta Ta Delta fraternity at Ohio University reminded me of all the times in the past when I’ve heard Greek supporters assure anyone who will listen that their particular chapter is different from all the others.
The first time I heard this was in the ’60s when my oldest brother was pledging Sigma Alpha Epsilon at Bowling Green State University. At the dinner table, he assured our parents that SAE was different from “all the other frats,” and that they didn’t go in for excessive drinking or hazing. “We’re all about academics, philanthropy and community service,” he declared soberly.
Our reporter doesn't have anything to be sorry about
Written by Terry Smith
Friday, 13 November 2009 16:09
On Friday, Dave Hendricks, managing editor of the Post at Ohio University, criticized one of our campus reporters in his “Managing Editor’s Note.” While he charged that our reporter, Chelsea Toy, had been unfair in an article published Thursday, I don’t think she was, and actually think Hendricks was unfair in calling her out and apparently in failing to digest Chelsea’s whole story.
Our story, “Money Transfer to Athletics Stirs Debate,” briefly mentioned a Post story last Monday that detailed how the McDavis administration shifted student general fee money it said wasn’t needed by Student Affairs (specifically money raised by Student Health Services/Hudson Health Center) into Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA).
If in the next few months, the National Rifle Association trots out a survey purporting to show that a vast majority of Americans opposes a U.N. plan to force the United States to ban guns, I’m afraid I’ll be among those who answered in the negative.
About an hour ago, I got a call from a number in Manassas, Va., that was marked “NRA” on our caller ID. My suspicions that this was a surveyor were quickly confirmed when a breathless woman declared, “I have a one-question opinion poll to ask you. It’s about the U.N.’s outrageous plan to ban guns in America.”
Be afraid. Be very afraid (especially when the cliches come this quickly). The 2010 visitation of the feared and despised Asian ladybeetle has officially begun. The first one of the fall is right now crawling on my Court Street-facing office window, which, yes, faces the west. He just smiled at me. And check, it's a sunny, breezy late-October day, which is always the setting for the annual return of the ALB. It's hard to tell this early whether this will be a banner year for Asian ladybeetles, or whether it will be another year where their numbers are down. I'm hoping for the latter, since the prospect of killing ladybugs all winter iis something I dread.
I found this video online of a cabin in Iowa swarming with the nasty little beasts.
This is a great list to test your knowledge of world populations. Interesting to compare the global stature a country enjoys, to its population relative to countries with more or less stature...
GOP naysayers on gov's tax-cut freeze ought to be ashamed of themselves
Written by Terry Smith
Friday, 02 October 2009 10:35
You know, I’ve been having my problems with local and state Democrats lately. This includes Gov. Strickland’s misguided plan to balance the state budget with ghost revenues from slot machines, the Democrats in the legislature pretending like they’re Republicans when it comes to being phobic about taxes, and Athens area Democrats throwing away their ethics and credibility to support an indicted party chair, among other things.
But the GOP response to Strickland’s belatedly coming to his senses on responsibly healing a crippled state budget reminds me of how many Republicans at the state and national level are opportunistic party hacks (and/or fanatical anti-government ideologues). Their sense of the public welfare doesn’t move a millimeter past the idea that taxes are bad, no matter what they’re paying for.
In reaction to my blog on Saturday, in which I called for recently indicted Athens County Democratic Party chair Susan Gwinn to resign her leadership position, those who disagree point out, “She’s innocent until proven guilty.”
That’s true. With regard to the criminal justice system, a person is innocent until proved guilty in a court of law, either through a guilty plea or a conviction after trial. But that has little to do with my strong conviction that a person who is suspected of committing serious crimes has no business remaining in a position of moral and ethical responsibility.
It's time for Susan Gwinn to resign as Dem Party chair
Written by Terry Smith
Saturday, 26 September 2009 11:39
Athens County Democrats need to respond quickly to the news that their chairwoman, Susan Gwinn, has been indicted for alleged campaign finance irregularities.
What should they do?
Dump her, of course — that is, unless she saves them the trouble and resigns. As long as this criminal cloud hovers above her, Gwinn will remain a lightning rod for her political opponents, both outside the party and in.
A good rule of thumb in life is to never assume you understand anybody or anything. You can make hunches, of course, but always withhold a small reservoir of doubt, since unwavering certitude is a good way to make a fool of yourself.
Which brings me to the subject of my cats. Yes, dear readers, I’ve been remiss in not writing anything about the cats in my life, since regaling you with tales of our neighborhood Devil Cat last year. (And yes, Devil Cat makes an appearance in this tale.)
Today’s task is to prove why my country’s in danger of drowning in bile, mendacity and ignorance, and to explain why good people need to start doing something about it.
It used to be that nut bags wielding the Constitution to justify not paying taxes, refusing to obtain permits, and not recognizing even the most basic aspects of government authority were ridiculed and locked in the closet like crazy uncle Bernie.
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