Diversity failure is triumph

Last night, my technical writing class was discussing proposal writing. For an example, we reviewed an actual grant proposal submitted by the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD) in response to an RFP (request for proposal) seeking to fund new educational programs. UCD hopes to receive funding to offer a new certificate related to M.S. program I'm in.

One of the requirements of the funding organization was for the proposed program to involve women and minorities as part of a diversity initiative.

In their proposal the university sited a "diversity" statistic. Eighty percent of the graduates of UCD's technical communication program are women. That's 80%.

Remember back when there was a diversity failure if less than 50% of graduates were women? Now that it's 80%, that is advertised as a success. It seems more like a failure from my position. Overall, college enrollment is approaching 60% women. This hurts women as well as men.

How? Well, this is why well educated women are having problems finding dates. It's a fact, men are more likely to date women with less education than women are to date men with less education. That leads to a lot of single well educated women.

Back to the subject. Let's face it. "Diversity" doesn't really mean diversity. It means giving advantages to certain politically favored groups. Christna Hoff Sommers covers more about this in her book The War Against Boys.

The French don't get it

Remember this statement from a terrorist web site?

"As if there was any question of negotiation. Far from it - they must obey the demands of the Mujahadeen. If you refuse, we slaughter."

Here is the French solution to terrorism:

"France said Monday that it would take part in a proposed international conference on Iraq only if the agenda included a possible U.S. troop withdrawal...
Paris also wants representatives of Iraq's insurgent groups to be invited to a conference."

Strangely, France doesn't take the terrorists at their word. Why does France want to negotiate with people who refuse to negotiate?

John Kerry is.....orange?

Apparently George Hamilton has become a Kerry campaign advisor. Overnight, Kerry turned orange. Shocking.

Clearly this is more evidence of collusion with CBS. Fake documents/fake tan? Stay tuned for more details. Did Dan Rather coordinated with the campaign to choose which fake tan to use?


Tan-from-a-can Kerry 

It hailed tonight

Honeybun with a hand full that fell on our house 20 minutes ago.


Honeybun 

Hail at our house

This is what our driveway looked like after the hail storm. Nasty.


Hail storm this evening 

Hail, hail, go away

This one is dark, but you may see white on the street behind the car. That's not snow.


See white in the street? That's hail. 

Why we need to kill terrorists

It sounds harsh but it's true. We must kill the terrorists. The culture of Western civilization believes that differences can be talked through and negotiated. What many fail to consider is that other cultures do not share that beliefs and does not value human life in the same way we do.

The British government refused to negotiate with terrorists for the release of captive Kenneth Bigley. The two Americans taken with him had already been executed.

The British government may sound uncaring unless you realize the terrorists refuse to negotiate.

[The hostage takers] began taunting Western governments over their efforts to seek their citizens’ release from captivity. Late on Friday a fresh message appeared on a website believed to be used by al-Zarqawi which read: "What is laughable is the insistence of the ministers of all infidel nationalities on the phrase ‘no negotiations’. As if there was any question of negotiation. Far from it - they must obey the demands of the Mujahadeen. If you refuse, we slaughter."

The Islamic terrorists have defined the rules. Kill them or they will kill us. There is no "talking it out."

From the "well duh" files

My uncle forwarded a news article to me.

It has a good point that there needs to be more study on how a patient's gender can effect diseases.

Still, the article manages to make one person look pretty stupid.

"Women are different than men, not only psychologically (but) physiologically, and I think we need to understand those differences," says Dr. Catherine DeAngelis, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Women are different physiologically. This is a new conclusion? I figured that out for myself at a pretty young age without any medical training. In light of this evidence, it turns out I was a prodigy and should have trained in the medical field. I mean if I knew that men and women were different when I was 4 years old and medicine is only discovering that fact now, I should have been able to cure cancer by the time I was 25.

The new terrorists

The U.K. is finding a growing terror threat at home. This time, it is not from Islamo-fascists. Now, it's from animal rights groups. The Sunday Herald reports(emphasis added):

The case of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), a drug-testing facility near Cambridge, is one example of how far extremists can go. Last weekend, a “terror list” naming 150 individuals – including 21 children – emerged, most with an indirect link to the company.

If you keep reading the article you find out:

[Robin Webb of the Animal Liberaton Front] rejects the notion that the families of scientists and researchers should not be targets.

“Some say it is morally unacceptable but it is equally unacceptable to use animals in experiments. The children of those scientists are enjoying a lifestyle built on the blood and abuse of innocent animals. Why should they be allowed to close the door on that and sit down and watch TV and enjoy themselves when animals are suffering and dying because of the actions of the family breadwinner? They are a justifiable target for protest.”

How sick is this guy? This is not moral equivallency - it is moral bankruptcy. He doesn't believe that animals are equal to humans, he believes animals are better than humans.

Don't think this is a problem limited to England. The Center for Consumer Freedom warns about domestic animal rights terror coming to the U.S.

Jerry Vlasak has been associated with Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (an organization related to PETA). Jerry Vlasak also has connections to SHAC, an organization that has been indicted for terrorism along with seven of its leaders. Here is Vlasak's view on using terrorism to support the animal rights movement:

"I don't think you'd have to kill -- assassinate -- too many," Vlasak said. "I think for five lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, two million, 10 million non-human lives."

He later clarified his statement as reported by The Guardian from a radio interview:

"I am simply saying that it [violence] is a morally acceptable tactic and it may be useful in the struggle for animal liberation."

Don't support terrorism. Don't give money to PETA, PCRM, or SHAC.

Kerry first, America second

Teresa Heinz Kerry gave a speech in Phoenix last Wednesday (hat tip to James Taranto).
The Business Journal of Phoenix reports:

In regard to the hunt for terror leader Osama Bin Laden, Heinz Kerry said she could see the al-Qaida chief being caught before the November election.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he appeared in the next month," said Heinz Kerry, alluding to a possible capture by United States and allied forces before election day.
Heinz Kerry is accusing the Bush administration of a consipiracy theory.

Capture of Bin Laden bad for Kerry. The Kerry campaign would prefer Bin Laden be free rather than be captured to benefit their campaign. Scary stuff when Democrats love Bin Laden more than President Bush.

Bad career advice

You can tell when a actor/actress is having career problems when they star in a sex flick. Neve Campbell is having career problems. The Rocky Mountain News reviewed the film and wasn't too flattering in their opinion.

Apparently the movie becomes a series of random sex scenes complete with an orgy in Central Park and another scene with some lesbian action involving Neve Campbell's character. Unlike the movie Wild Things, Neve does drop her clothes in this one.

Why do actors think that these kind of movies will help their careers. Bo Derek's career was pretty much ended with Bolero. Elizabeth Berkeley became a laughing stock after Showgirls. Demi Moore's Striptease was a bomb. Eyes Wide Shut was a disaster for Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Their careers improved in spite of, not because of, that movie which only revealed that Stanley Kubrick had some wierd fantasies.

So why are stars so gullible that they keep doing this stuff?

Update: Add Meg Ryan to the list for "In the Cut"

The baptism

Here is a shot of Cody getting baptized. That's me in the white shirt and Honeybun the first on the right ready with the towel.


The baptism 

Aww, how cute?

Here is a question for the ages. Why is a baby with cereal all over his face normally disgusting. Then when you are the one doing the feeding, it's cute? I've never thought a baby with a dirty face was appealling in anyway. Then, last Friday, I was babysitting Cody and feeding him. Suddenly I think, "I've got to get a picture of this." What the...?

The good thing about this weekend: Years from now, when Cody becomes a smartass teenager (redundant phrase) I can now tell him, "I've changed your diapers." :)


Feeding Cody.  

On the road again

We're just about ready to get on the road to go back to Colorado. As I'm sitting here in shorts in warm southern New Mexico, the weather report is telling me that the high in the Denver area will be 47 degrees. Chilly.

I would change, but the car is already packed.

Godparents

Honeybun and I are now officially godparents. It's somewhat anti-climactic. Cody didn't get that wet after all, just a little dribble on his head that didn't even run over his face. He didn't cry. Not even a whimper either. He is a very good natured baby. He pretty much just looked around wondering what all the hubbub was about. Not much else happened. The whole thing was shorter than a Vegas wedding.

You'd think the church would have a gift-shop that sells "My nephew got baptized and all I got was this lousy t-shirt" t-shirts.

We did get a gift - a plaque that says "Godparents" with a greeting on it. Which is cool. We also got a card from Cody thanking us for being his godparents - but I suspect it was forged. I'm sure he doesn't know how to write yet. Which leads me to question, what did Dan Rather know and when did he know about the forged greeting card from Cody.

So Jase (you ask), when are you two going to have a kid? Well, Honeybun and I are talking about it. We're planning to pull the goalie off the ice after the holidays are over.

Low fat blogging

I can't say that I've done on "light" blogging the last few days since my blogging is normally light anyway. So, my posts being even less than usual, my adoring fans are down to low fat blogging at this point.

Why? Well, I'm in Las Cruces, NM visiting my in-laws. My nephew (see archive for February 17th) is getting baptized today. Honeybun and I are godparents. Cool huh?

Sorry, no witty rejoinders, this is a solemn family occasion (I'll even be wearing a suit and tie) Followed by dinner somewhere.

Get ready to get wet Cody.

What size is this?

Each of the last three nights, I've been going to McDonald's to get an ice cream cone for Honeybun and a chocolate shake for me. At the drive-thru, my exact order was "an ice cream cone and a medium chocolate shake".

It's actually become a game because each I get different sizes each time. I'm not sure if they know what a medium is - 21 oz. or 16 oz.

Apparently tonight is the medium is 21 oz.

Mmmmm. Chocolate.

Men & women

Honeybun recently told me to wash out a water bottle. Sure, I'll wash out the lip, but probably not fill it with soap to do the inside.

This is where men and women are different. If I'm cooking and I need some water for the recipe, I use the measuring cup, dry it out and put it back in the cupboard.

Honeybun would use the measuring cup, and put it in the dishwasher where it will be washed...with water.

I love being married.

Using rights to complain about no rights

I was perusing some blogs today and came up on Losers Lounge. In her side bar, the writer laments the loss of her Constitutional rights:

IN MEMORY OF: The Bill Of Rights (1791-2001) Slain By The Patriot Act. Rest In Pieces

Of course she voices her complaint by blogging and therefore using her rights of free speech and freedom of the press. She also uses a tyrant's title as her pen name, "Tsarina".

I guess she doesn't see the irony of her writing.

Tsarina doesn't understand the true threat. Bin Laden wrote an open letter containing his seven demands of the American People. Note the first:

(1) The first thing that we are calling you to is Islam.

And the consequences:

"If you fail to respond to all these conditions, then prepare for fight with the Islamic Nation."

The threat of freedom comes from Islamic fascists. Not from our government where the Bill of Rights is still the standard of liberty in the world.

Useless headline of the day

Dolphin's quarterback Jay Fiedler was benched at half-time in Saturday's game against the Titans.

An AP headline tells us "Dolphins' Fiedler Not Happy About Benching." AP must have Captain Obvious writing headlines.

When in the history of sports has a player ever said, "I'm happy the coach benched me. Did you see how bad I was playing? I was just about to ask him to bench me when he gave me the news. Hopefully, I'll be sitting the bench next week too."

CYA or self-incrimination

The memos supposedly revealing 1st Lt. Bush was AWOL and a bad soldier written by Lt. Col. Killian were addressed "To file", meaning they weren't actually sent to anyone, just filed in Lt. Col Killian's personal file. One of the memos dated 18 aug 1973 is titled "CYA" (link is to Powerline). It documents how (then retired) General Staudt pressuring the Lt. Col. to "sugarcoat" a review for 1st. Lt. Bush.

So let's get this straight. A retired General no longer affiliated with the National Guard (yes, that is redundant) is pressuring a commanding officer to falsify a report about a 1st Lt. That commanding officer is so concerned about the ethics of the situation, he agrees to accomodate the retired General then creates evidence his report was false by documenting he backdated the report and omitted a rating in lieu of giving a presumably bad rating. The Lt. Col. then calls that "CYA" (cover your ass).

Instead of filing a memo to self, a commanding officer would include justification for not giving a rating in the report itself. The reasoning for writing the memo doesn't follow. The implied logic is that if ever asked about the report, the Lt. Col. could claim "I filed a false report but I was pressured to do it." That excuse would not relieve him of the responsibility of making a false report. The memo would only prove he did so knowingly.

Was he a fool or is the memo a forgery?

Crash!

If you read my last entry, you've been waiting for the crash.

It happened thanks to ABC News laying out the evidence that the memos revealed by CBS were forged. Not good news for Kerry. The article's conclusion sums it up:

Many Democrats are worried that if they are found to be forgeries, it will be a setback for Sen. John Kerry's campaign to defeat Bush in November.

Its hard to come away from reading the article and not believe that articles were forgeries.

Uh oh!

As a child I remember the feeling of waiting to see if the dumb move I made would end in disaster. Like playing with your friend with a ball and bat. Your buddy tossed the ball and you hit it dead-on with the bat. There was that moment where you heard a satisfying crack. Then you and your buddy watch the ball arching toward the neighbor's window.

For a seemingly timeless moment your gut twists up and you say "uh oh". To your side you see your buddy's dumbfounded look as you both wait to see if the ball will crash through the window or somehow hit the ground before it without doing any damage.

Today the big news is that newly found documents indicate President Bush was AWOL and disobeyed orders while in the National Guard. That is the satisfying "crack" of the bat the Democrats felt.

Then later in the day, serious questions have been raised about the authenticity of the documents. Supposedly they came from the personal files of Mr. Bush's former commanding officer (why did the officer keep personnel files in his personal files?). That officer is now dead but his son believes the documents may be fake. Some typographists believe the documents are likely fake as well.

Uh oh.

Somewhere a Democrat oppretive and his buddy are staring at each other with a dumbfounded looks on their faces hoping this doesn't end in disaster.

If the documents are real, President Bush will take a hit in the polls and keep on rolling.

If they are fakes, CBS has egg on its face for not checking its facts before releasing the documents and revealing their biases. Some Democrats will be exposed (think Watergate, but worse) and President Bush will become bullet proof from any further accusations.

No, thanks. It'll give me gas.

This past Sunday, volunteers at the Nevada state fair in Reno laid down tortillas and heaped on refried beans, sour cream and salsa to create the world's largest burrito.

I've always wondered what happens to the food created in these stunts. Who gets to eat them? Apparently no one in this case. Organizers feared bacteria growing in the sour cream after sitting in the sun for the two hours it took to create the super burrito.

One volunteer said, "Sour cream and sunshine don't mix."

Football

It's football time again. The season opens tomorrow night with Indianapolis playing New England.

I've been a San Fransicso 49ers fan since grade school. This year I'm making the switch to officially being a Broncos fan (even though the preseason isn't giving me a positive feeling about this year).

Sadly, I now work on Sunday mornings. It will be mainly Internet game day coverage for me this year. I should be able to get home in the middle of the second quarter for the second game of the day and also catch the evening game.

Go Broncos.

The Kerry campaign

Another blogger has created a time line of Kerry campaign blunders from August. Not very encouraging if you're a Kerry fan.

What the?

You may have noticed I updated my blog template. Found it on blogskins.com then edited the heck out of it.

So what do you think? Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves in comments.

Security

I was speaking with a coworker about the security events at LAX yesterday. He made the observation that airports have much more security than our borders.

I pointed out that no one is going to take over the border and fly it into a building.

It seemed funny at the time, but then again, its not quite 7:00 am and I got up for work before 5:00.

Bounce

Newsweek is reporting that President Bush got a bounce from the Republican national convention. He is leading John Kerry by 11% in the latest poll.

When reached for comment John Kerry said, "But I served in Vietnam"

Kerry: begging to be unfit

In a midnight stealth speech this past Thursday, John Kerry whined that Vice President Cheney called him unfit for service.

One problem with Kerry's claim. Vice President Cheney didn't call John Kerry unfit for service. Cheney did question his senate voting record. Now if Kerry thinks that criticism of his voting record means he is unfit for service, it makes me wonder if it isn't true after all.

Sort of like when someone says, "I'm hungry" and another person replies replies "I didn't rob that restaurant," it makes you wonder if he robbed the restaurant.

His proof that he is fit and the President is not? Kerry once again pointed to his four months in Vietnam. After 20 years in the Senate, his main claim for fitness is a four month tour of duty that happened 35 years ago.

Kerry then responded to Cheney's non-accusation by calling President Bush and Vice President Cheney "unfit for service". Really.

So it is insulting to Kerry to be unfit for service when others don't say he is, but alright for him to call his opponents unfit.

Why does this man so badly want his oppenents to call him unpatriotic and unfit? There is something sad and desperate about that.

President Bush: Insensitive

President Bush expressed his concern for the residents of Florida who are in the pathe of hurricane Frances. He said:

"I've ordered teams to be in position to help the good people of that state"

The National Organization of Bad-people (NOOB) immediately condemned the remarks. NOOB Spokesbeing (the title Spokesperson is offensive to non-persons) Eustace Nutley issued the following statement:

Why do "good people" always receive assistance? Never bad people. I'm an ass and I demand respect! Bush is bad-person-phobic. We need a leader that will embrace his inner ass. NOOB demands an immediate congressional investigation into this adminstration's anti-bad-person policies.

The ACLU immediately agreed to take up NOOB and Mr. Nutley's cause. A lawsuit is expect to be filed right after the court house is rebuilt from the hurricane damage.