another thought on commencement:
When the honorary degree recipients were being presented, the scientist receiving a degree was an individual who (among other things) was asked to leave the President’s commission on Bioethics. When this was mentioned, why were people cheering?
The quote was “her beliefs differed from those of the administration”
Was the loud cheering for:
-The fact that she was “anti-establishment”?
-The fact that she disagreeed with the administration?
-In support of her views on stem cell research? (did most of the people know of these?)
A second question: What was with Jehuda’s “bling-bling” medallion? Heh.
The university has put out its press release about commencement.
But here’s some brief personal observations about today’s commencement exercises here at Brandeis today:
(oh, and I’ve got pictures to share, but those will be up in a few days)
(more…)
I’m now officially a college graduate. I can’t believe it. I know I’m not the only one who feels like that (my peers do too), and perhaps I’m in some sort of denial,
I can’t yet acknowledge the fact that now I’m an alumnus of Brandeis. It doesn’t yet seem real.
I’ll have more on graduation in a later post
Brandeis University Commencement Exercises–10:30AM
Gosman Convocation Center, Waltham, MA
Tomorrow I will formally graduate the university receiving a Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience.
I will then formally attain the status of being a Brandeis University alumnus (wow, that sounds so wierd).
I’m off to bed, as my “mini-commencement” is bright and early at 8am (why? I don’t know)
Anyone else see the documentary on CNN this past week(end) about the racial gap in education since Brown v. Bd of Ed–which focused on Shaker Heights High School?
That’s my alma matter 
What did you think about the documentary? About the school? I’m curious to hear.
The familial unit (My parents and siblings) are supposed to be arriving some time this afternoon for commencement weekend, which means I’ve got some cleaning to do, pronto.
As a result, blogging will be light, until I return home either Monday or tuesday. That’s all.
I came across an article by Brandeis Professor and former Sec. of Labor under Clinton Robert Reich via Econopundit (thanks!)
So you know how there are all these classification categories out there right now? Neocons, paleocons, etc.? Well it looks like Reich has created a new category, “Radical conservatives — “radcons”
What’s a radcon? Good question…..here’s how Reich attmempts to define them
(more…)
More reaction to Sen. Hollings’ idiotic anti-Israel column.
Here’s something from the Volokh conspiracy
(Though Bernstein makes some minor errors in the structure and methods of Israeli intelegence, let that slide)
And then there’s the indespensible Lielks
Listening to a radio host discuss this column by Fritz Hollings. What caused the war with Iraq? Simple! Charles Krauthammer used his super-powerful Jew Beams to cloud the minds of hapless pliable goyim. Then Bush realized he could win reelection by getting that overwhelming number of Jewish voters.
I know this sounds naive, but I still expect better from Senators. Better writing, better thinking. But I am coming to believe that the Senate is one of the biggest dunce-clubs around.
Here come the anti-Semitic calls. First one from a Republican who’s agreeing with a Democrat for the first time in his life! We were attacked in Somalia, says the first caller, because of our relationship to Israel. And the Bali bombing was because Australia supports Israel.
Man, did 9/11 overturn a large rock.
CJN:Where are kosher Krispy Kremes?
A quick check of local outlets for kosher Krispy Kreme donuts indicates they are no longer on Cleveland area shelves at Giant Eagle, Heinen’s and Tops Friendly Markets. The popular donuts and krullers have been available kosher for several weeks. They are identified by the sticker with the Cleveland Kosher hechsher (certification symbol).
Oh no! This is a Quagmire! Call the media! Call Sy Hersh! This warrants an investigation! Get Dennis Kucinich on the line!
(Note: I personally eat donuts, but know many who do, inlcuding my little brother)
Rabbi Shimon Gutman, of the regional Va’ad HaKashrus, which supervises the food manufacturing plants and processes before issuing the crown logo, explained that the regional Krispy Kreme donut plant, which bakes and supplies an area covered by 24 truck routes from Painesville and Mentor south to Akron and Canton, including Cleveland’s eastern suburbs, is still under kosher supervision.
Oh, in that case, call off the investigations and all, there is no problem anymore.
BBC: Gates backs blogs for businesses
Does this mean MS is going to attempt to roll out some blogging platform? If so, that would be bad, bad news (Imagine all the bugs those blogs would have!)
Last night my years at Brandeis really came full circle. As part of first-year orientation here at Brandeis, the week culminates with a cruise around Boston harbor.
Last night as the culminating event of senior week we went on the Boston Harbor cruise again, but this time we were all over 21–hence the name the “Booze Cruise”. It was a lot of fun, but now it’s wierd to look back and see how things have really come full circle.
I’ll have pictures up soon, but for those curious, some of the things our boat went past last night included:
Logan Int’l Airport, Coast Guard Group Boston, the USS Cassin Young, USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”)–whose CO is a Brandeis alum, Fort Independence among other things
Pictures will be uploaded soon
Who else remembers playing dodgeball in elementary/middle school?
You may have played it under a different name, like where I went to school we called it “dungeons”, but I’ve heard a variety of other names for it.
Recently a lot of elementary schools have banned the game, because they say it’s too “violent” for students (crazy schools).
It looks like the game is making a comeback though–this time with adults.
There are even leagues for it! Not to mention that someone made a movie about the game!
How soon till dodgeball is an Olympic sport? Any guesses?
The latest from Quagmire Watch: The DNC 2004 Convention in Boston
DNC Planners Release Traffic, Security Plan
It’s gonna be a zoo in Boston. I’d avoid the city if possible during that week
In a follow up to this post from yesterday about Sen. Fritz Hollings’ (D-SC) column which seemed to just about say that the reason for Operation Iraqi Freedom was to serve Israel.
From Cliff May saying Kerry should speak out against this
The SC GOP is calling on the Democrat candidate for Hollings’ Senate seatcandidate to denounce the statement.
A criticism which criticizes the column for being poorly written
and a note by Jonah Goldberg
In the interest of being fair and balanced Fritz defends his column
I still think Hollings was wrong–no questions asked
Does this quote make any sense to you?
“people who go to the Supreme Court ought to interpret the Constitution as it is interpreted, and if they have another point of view, then they’re not supporting the Constitution, which is what a judge does.”–John Kerry
But we all know that interpretations of the document almost always differ, no? I’m confused. Here’s the context of the quote
A very brief beginning of things that I’ve learned during Senior week:
–Beer is good (and certain brews are better than others)
–Keg parties can actually occur on campus (aside from Modfest) and be fun
–You can never be too creative
–more to come later…..
There’s already overwhelming evidence that the Yankees suck–there’s no question about it–it’s fact.
But for those who remain skeptical of this premise, here’s further proof of why the Yankees suck.
They’re getting rid of cracker jacks at Yankee Stadium in favor of Crunch ‘n Munch.
There’s no place in baseball for Crunch ‘n Munch. Are you kidding me? Cracker Jacks and baseball are virtually an institution (along with peanuts that is). This is absurd.
Here’s a few choice exceprts from a column by Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC)
Of course there were no weapons of mass destruction. Israel’s intelligence, Mossad, knows what’s going on in Iraq. They are the best. They have to know.
Israel’s survival depends on knowing. Israel long since would have taken us to the weapons of mass destruction if there were any or if they had been removed. With Iraq no threat, why invade a sovereign country? The answer: President Bush’s policy to secure Israel.
…
Every president since 1947 has made a futile attempt to help Israel negotiate peace. But no leadership has surfaced amongst the Palestinians that can make a binding agreement. President Bush realized his chances at negotiation were no better. He came to office imbued with one thought — re-election. Bush felt tax cuts would hold his crowd together and spreading democracy in the Mideast to secure Israel would take the Jewish vote from the Democrats. You don’t come to town and announce your Israel policy is to invade Iraq….
Now is it just me or does this sound more like the kind of thing you’d expect to hear from Pat Buchannan (or the like)? This is an absurd, absurd conspiracy theory and the Senator deserves some sort of rebuke for it.
A piece definitely worth reading today:
You Must be Likud! Anti-Jewish rhetoric infects the West.
This article shows how Anti-Jewish rhetoric has now become acceptable and somewhat normal (sadly) in political discourse. There are so many myths out there, and most of them are so bizarre I simply don’t know how they became acceptable in the mainstream.
Oh, and the Likud doesn’t control any American politicians for that matter.
Interesting article I was alerted to by the RJC
At AIPAC parley, pro-Israel policy of Bush trumps domestic agenda
and then there was Cheney’s speech in Florida
It’s food for thought at least