Nightingale

So because some students raised an issue of institutional ethics and/or legality, the institution responded by having a tantrum. Sounds like that school in MS that canceled the prom rather than let the lesbian student bring a girl as a date. Group punishment is a very effective way of provoking internecine sanctions (it's not infrequently done in military training). In each case, the school is the one misbehaving, but the objecting student gets ostracized. A very potent deterrent directed at other potential dissidents. How very ethical of the school to behave that way. WWJD? As for WWJD, personally I don't think the club was acting in a very Christian manner by refusing an opportunity for ministry and not allowing everyone to participate and hear the Christian perspective on the law. Didn't Jesus go out and minister to prostitutes and other sinners? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought all that was required for salvation in Christianity was faith in Jesus, not living a perfect life, since that isn't possible for any of us. It seems like the student organization in question took a positive opportunity to share Christianity and turned it into something very negative. If someone is interested in hearing a Christian message, why would a Christian say no? As for my school, what ended up happening was that the students rallied around the club rather than ostracizing them, which I think surprised the heck out of the university, who was just expecting the problem to go away. Many students, not just club members took to wearing black t-shirts saying "The AGLA is an unrecognized organization at *college*", and it brought the university a lot of bad press in the school paper, which is not only read on campus but sent to alums. It took a year or two, but the university eventually decided they would officially sanction no clubs, but any "student run group" having a certain amount of members was entitled to a bit of funding roughly equivalent to the student body fees paid by the students in the group and a place to meet on campus.

The College isn't interfering with the students' freedom of association or freedom of religion, as the school's not saying they can't have their group, just that the school doesn't want to pay for it if all students can't benefit from the option of membership. This seems logical to me. People should be free to practice their beliefs, but they should not expect someone who disagrees with them to pay to help them. I remember when I was in college there was a big stink about the University refusing to endorse the Association for Gay and Lesbian Awareness (AGLA), as it's a Catholic school. The school's solution: "We're no longer endorsing any clubs." Everyone lost there.

You don't have to just keep your photos in iPhoto. When you're done making your changes (rotating, etc), just click "file" and then "export". Photoshop is available for mac, as is Photoshop Elements. Ditto with Premiere. Adobe dropped support for Premiere for Mac a while back, but they decided to revive the product, I think back in '07. So, no need to give up your favorite products unless you're looking for a cheaper alternative. I've never had a problem playing any video I've wanted to play, so I'm not sure how to address that question.

I have seen so many people slam on their brakes at a yellow when they should've proceeded through the light, but the intersection was camera controlled. Seen two rear-end collisions at these intersections myself, both caused by the aforementioned slamming of brakes. While the cameras may prevent fatalities by keeping people out of the intersection and reducing the likelihood of a higher speed T-bone type impact, they're definitely increasing rear end collisions. Studies have indicated that if the yellow light is lengthened and there is a second or two where red lights overlap, incidents of both kinds of collisions drop. This seems to indicate that those communities installing red light cameras are more interested in revenue than in collision prevention.

Absolutely not. First off, because it's an invasion of privacy and just plain wrong. Second, because drug testing isn't all that accurate. A kid on a legitimate prescription or who has eaten a poppyseed bagel may test positive. If a kid is on a prescription that may cause a positive test, they'd have to disclose private pieces of their medical history to people other than the child, the child's doctor's and the child's parents. If I were a parent, I wouldn't want my kid to fail a drug test due to cough syrup or something stupid like that, and if it was just something like an over the counter drug or poppyseeds, that poor kid is gonna be guilty until proven innocent, if not by the law, then by the school district and possibly their peers. This is a bad idea all around.

Miss you, Harry!

The lottery may be by chance, but it is a way for 55,000 people to qualify for entry every year. That's pretty significant.

Looking at my heritage, I guess I'd either be born in Ireland, Germany or the Netherlands, probably Ireland given that my family is mostly Irish. Given that and my occupation, I'd qualify for the diversity visa lottery on the basis of country of origin and occupation.

Really? "John Millsaps with the university system said college applications do not routinely ask about citizenship, only about state residency. The question of immigration status becomes an issue only if the college applicant says they are from another country. Out-state-students and exchange students pay four times the in-state rate and Colotl was assumed to be a Georgia resident because she graduated from a DeKalb County high school." http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/police-hunt-for-undocumented-526173.html And... She was admitted in 2006, just before the university began charging the higher tuition rate to illegal immigrants, according to a university statement. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0514/College-student-and-illegal-immigrant-Should-she-stay-or-go So, if the college is charging higher tuition to illegal immigrants, they are obviously admitting them. As she was admitted in 2006, at that time, I'm guessing the application only asked for the home address for residency purposes, and did not ask for immigration status.

I saw that... but do you have any evidence that this individual misrepresented her status? Or are you simply making that assumption? She may have answered the question honestly and the school decided to admit her anyway, or didn't pay attention to her answer. Also, she could have had a SSN. From the social security website: "The requirements are strict not only to obtain a driver’s license but to obtain a social security number as well. The Social Security Administration issues three different types of social security cards. ... The final card is issued to foreigners for non-work purposes and states “not valid for employment.”

I haven't seen any evidence of falsified records. If she did so of her own accord (rather than her parents doing so for her when she was a child, because she may or may not have known) then she should face consequences for that. If she was honest and the school admitted her anyway (it's happened, especially if the student is not applying for aid, which is where a lot of the checks on that would be) then that is the school's error and she is not at fault. Also, are we certain that the school does not admit illegal aliens? I haven't seen a statement from the school, just a politician.

Another article on her indicates she worked nights to pay her tuition. http://restorefairness.org/2010/04/will-immigration-reform-pass-this-year-olympian-medalist-hopes-so/ In a case like this, I'm not sure what the right thing to do is. The crime wasn't hers; it was her parents'. She was ten years old and had no control over where her parents took her, she has no ties to Mexico and doesn't even remember it well. The other side is that she is illegal, and offering her legalization could make the overall situation worse. I think the best solution has already been arrived at... let her finish her education, go back to Mexico, and reapply for entry. With a college degree, hopefully she has a good chance, and worst case, she'll have an advantage in Mexico due to her education.

Cannons and tall ships. and crocodiles.

Just found out that mid-June is an option. How is that? About as bad as July.

Go in August. The mosquitos in Yosemite are hell in July. You will be eaten alive. And the park is much less crowded, and crowds in Yosemite are a MAJOR issue. Unless you're going backpacking, you won't get anywhere without tripping over people in July. The place is as bad as Disneyland.

Looked like they were asking for donations, not looking for homes... They want to return them to the wild eventually. It is a Wildlife Rescue, not a cat rescue. The grey cat in the right picture IS a grey tabby. The article said she was brought in to nurse the little bobcats because she has kittens and looks close enough to the bobcats. The one of the bobcat kittens is pictured on the left.

I've never taken oxycontin, but I know it can be a lifesaver for people with severe pain, but because it doesn't have the additives (tylenol and iburprofen) that other opiates do, there is a high potential for abuse. When only vicodin or something similar is prescribed, there is the risk of insufficient pain relief. The drug exists and is prescribed because there is a need for it. However, that need is very specific. Unfortunately, because of the hightened FDA scrutiny some doctors are reluctant to prescribe opiates, and others do not prescribe them at all, which leaves legitimate pain patients either in pain or feeling like criminals. Neither of those is a good option.

Okay, whatever, but every fucked-up wedding is the woman's fault. You never see the guy pushing that crap over the top like that. No, but you will see the future Mother-In-Law doing it, particularly those without daughters. I have friends that have just handed over wedding plans to their future MIL to keep them happy, as the brides really didn't care all that much and just wanted to be married. Fine. Change it from the woman's fault to A woman's fault. Yeah, I'll give you that.

Put the dress in a consignment shop or sell it on ebay. That way you'll at least get something for it, and help bride who can't afford a new dress.

Okay, whatever, but every fucked-up wedding is the woman's fault. You never see the guy pushing that crap over the top like that. No, but you will see the future Mother-In-Law doing it, particularly those without daughters. I have friends that have just handed over wedding plans to their future MIL to keep them happy, as the brides really didn't care all that much and just wanted to be married.

Funny it's the same reason I switch from Rep to Libertarian (that, and, once I looked at it, their social agenda looked just as loony as the Dems though from the other side of a very twisty coin) I came to the same conclusion. I think both main parties social agenda is over the top and bordering on social control (see health care and prop 8) and neither party has shown anything resembling fiscal responsibility in the last decade or so. So, I declared a pox on both their houses and registered libertarian. While the libertarian party is not as politically influential as the republicans or democrats, it is the third largest political party in the USA and is getting more popular, particularly with republicans who don't like the religious bent that their party is taking, and with democrats who dislike the socialist social agenda that the democrats are pushing.

We have more parties than just the Republicans and Democrats. I used to be Democrat, switched to Libertarian because I thought the democrats were fiscally irresponsible. While we are largely restricted to voting for candidates from our own party in the primary election, where each party decides which candidate to put forward, in the general election we can vote for whoever we choose. Some of us vote along party lines, some examine the individual candidates and make and informed choice. Personally, I look at how my party advises me to vote, take that into account along with their analysis, and then examine each candidate and proposed new laws on my own, reading analysis provided by those outside my party as well. I then make my decision, and most times it is in line with the way the party is going (after all, I joined the party because I agree with their main stances), but sometimes it isn't.

Weddings were something I never really thought about, til I saw my cousin's. The dress cost more than I make in a month (and the thing was about five seams, a zipper and a hem! I could've sewn it myself!), and the reception was way over the top! They're going to be in debt for years paying that off. I thought they were insane then, and still do. So, I guess my only real thoughts on a wedding are how to make it as stress free as possible. After all, you should be celebrating your relationship with your family and friends, not fussing over whether the black irises are a bit too purple and OMG the bridesmaids shoes don't match exactly!

Exactly. If your family doesn't like your lady, listen to them, take their objections under advisement knowing they care about you, and be a man and make your own decision. If your family truly cares for you, they will accept the choice that makes you happiest, and hopefully as they get to know your lady, they will see her the way you do: for the wonderful person she is rather than only seeing her family background.

do not go forward with this plan. you will fail. here are a few things wrong with your plan: by creating such a huge calorie deficit, your body is going to think it is starving and slow down your rmetabolism. it will store fat and catabolize muscle. you will lose weight, but your body fat percentage will go up. protein contains nitrogen. increasing the amount of nitrogenous waste also increases the amount of water excreted (you pee more) making you vulnerable to dehydration. high protein diets also cause you to excrete more calcium in your urine. as a woman its even more important for you to keep the calcium you've got and with rigorous exercise, you'll need it to strengthen your bones. if you keep up this plan for 10 weeks, you will feel like shit, and you won't look good enough to justify the misery you will put yourself through. if you want to lose weight, feed your body the right fuel and exercise. you also must feed your body enough fuel. your daily calorie deficits should be small, and you should make sure you are getting the right things at the right times with respect to your workouts. the weight will not come off as quick as you want, but your metabolism will ramp up and your body composition will change. you will look and feel much better in the end. think of it as an investment. in your line of work, looking healthier (and hotter) can command more money than just being skinny. What he said.