What is the big attraction to meth?
How can anyone even think about ingesting something mixed together in someone's garage, which includes drain cleaner and other similar goodies?
Meth is most widely used in rural America. Why in the world don't we hear more about it? Maybe publish some pictures of crack users' teeth?
Kudos to public TV for their Frontline episode on the problem.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Abortion
South Dakota is passing legislation to make all abortion illegal, save for medically necessary procedures involving the health of the mother.
This is an amazingly polarizing issue, considering that there are only something like 1.6 million abortions annually in the U.S. (I say "only" in the context of 300 million people).
The abortion issue is wholly intractable, because of the necessary co-existence of fetus and mom for 270 days of gestation. On the one hand, it's mom's body and life; on the other, the fetus becomes viable earlier and earlier in the process, and at some point becomes a full-fledged human being with its own rights. In this context, any claimed absolutes are the province of fools.
Most rational people agree on one thing: there is very little that is good in the context of abortions. Either you are an expectant mother who has made a difficult choice to terminate a pregnancy, you are a fetus being aborted, or you are in a situation where you are being forced to bear a child that you don't want or can't take care of (or both).
Since the 60's, the widespread use of oral contraceptives and other reliable birth control methods has become common and generally accepted (outside of the Catholic Church, anyway). Most people view the use of birth control as a decision wholly within the province of the individual.
After conception, the debate changes, and suddenly, everyone thinks they have a dog in the fight. Women's rights activists see issues of self-determination and empowerment. They think that our patriarchal society wants to take over their lives. Right-wing types see, essentially, murder for convenience. They think people get abortions because responsible use of birth control is just too much of a hassle.
I take a utilitarian approach to the issue: I would rather have an unborn fetus aborted than have an unwanted child born into this world to be abused or neglected. I don't like it, I wouldn't encourage it, but I can tolerate it if, on the whole, it minimizes suffering.
This is an amazingly polarizing issue, considering that there are only something like 1.6 million abortions annually in the U.S. (I say "only" in the context of 300 million people).
The abortion issue is wholly intractable, because of the necessary co-existence of fetus and mom for 270 days of gestation. On the one hand, it's mom's body and life; on the other, the fetus becomes viable earlier and earlier in the process, and at some point becomes a full-fledged human being with its own rights. In this context, any claimed absolutes are the province of fools.
Most rational people agree on one thing: there is very little that is good in the context of abortions. Either you are an expectant mother who has made a difficult choice to terminate a pregnancy, you are a fetus being aborted, or you are in a situation where you are being forced to bear a child that you don't want or can't take care of (or both).
Since the 60's, the widespread use of oral contraceptives and other reliable birth control methods has become common and generally accepted (outside of the Catholic Church, anyway). Most people view the use of birth control as a decision wholly within the province of the individual.
After conception, the debate changes, and suddenly, everyone thinks they have a dog in the fight. Women's rights activists see issues of self-determination and empowerment. They think that our patriarchal society wants to take over their lives. Right-wing types see, essentially, murder for convenience. They think people get abortions because responsible use of birth control is just too much of a hassle.
I take a utilitarian approach to the issue: I would rather have an unborn fetus aborted than have an unwanted child born into this world to be abused or neglected. I don't like it, I wouldn't encourage it, but I can tolerate it if, on the whole, it minimizes suffering.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Death Penalty
Terri Winchell
The practice of executing perpetrators of serious crimes is one of the more controversial aspects of American society. Recently a federal judge ruled that California's method of execution -- death by lethal injectoin -- is unacceptable because the murderer in question might feel pain. The San Francisco Chronicle has been following this case:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/02/22/MNGSUHCJFB1.DTL
No one in their right mind could feel sorry for Michael Morales, who viciously beat, raped and murdered a 17-year old girl 25 years ago. The man is a poster child for the cause of those who think we SHOULD torture those who prey upon the weak and vulnerable.
Apparently U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel somehow has come to equate the Eighth Amendment prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishment" with an execution that is "painless" to the perpetrator and risk-free vis-a-vis mishaps (e.g., insufficient anesthetic given prior to execution). Fogel arrives at this decision despite the fact that death by lethal injection is used in 36 states and has been around a long time.
Is the death penalty cruel and barbaric?
Hell yes. It's a tough punishment to fit the unbelievably awful crimes committed by the worst of the worst in our society. It has to be an awful thing to sit in prison for 25 years knowing that one day, the state will finally get around to putting out your lights. Good.
Of course, it is easy for those opposed to the ultimate penalty to forget about the incredible suffering of the victims in these cases:
According to prosecution testimony, based partly on his alleged admissions to friends, Morales sat behind Winchell in a car and tried to choke her with a belt. When the belt broke, he pounded her on the head 23 times with a claw hammer, then dragged her unconscious and dying body out to a vineyard north ofOpponents love to trot out straw men, like the specter of innocent people being put to death. While that may be a theoretical possibility, with the number of appeals and other reforms, I am not concerned about it.
Lodi, [California] where he raped her. He then stabbed her four times. [San Francisco Chronicle article, supra].
Remember the big hue and cry about Tookie Williams a few months ago? The world was going to come to an end if poor Tookie wasn't allowed to live to keep writing children's books about why not to get involved in gangs. Well, Jesse Jackson went off to Terrell Owens' party, Tookie was finally put down, and the world has kept on turning without him, somehow.
If Michael Morales feels a little twinge in his chest in the last few moments of his life, it is nothing compared to what Terri Winchell went through back in 1981. Let's remember that punishment and deterrence are the bedrock of our criminal laws.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Port Authority Non-Event
Oh come on, already!
Don't be part of the hysteria surrounding the pending transfer of ownership of a private ompany that oversees operations at 6 large U.S. ports (among many, many others worldwide).
Must be a slow news week again. Last week, it was the criticaly important story about Cheney accidentally shooting his hunting partner (I think some Congressional hearings are in order here. Why should Cheney be allowed to go around shooting people when the rest of us can't?)
This week, its the SHOCKING REVELATION that those damn furriners are at it again, trying to get a toe hold into this great country of ours by taking over IMPORTANT SEA PORTS.
Just calm down, Hillary. Sure it's yet another opportunity to take a swing at our beleaguered commander in chief, but there's really no there there once you get there. Excerpts from today's Chicago Trib story by Mike Hughlett:
Don't be part of the hysteria surrounding the pending transfer of ownership of a private ompany that oversees operations at 6 large U.S. ports (among many, many others worldwide).
Must be a slow news week again. Last week, it was the criticaly important story about Cheney accidentally shooting his hunting partner (I think some Congressional hearings are in order here. Why should Cheney be allowed to go around shooting people when the rest of us can't?)
This week, its the SHOCKING REVELATION that those damn furriners are at it again, trying to get a toe hold into this great country of ours by taking over IMPORTANT SEA PORTS.
Just calm down, Hillary. Sure it's yet another opportunity to take a swing at our beleaguered commander in chief, but there's really no there there once you get there. Excerpts from today's Chicago Trib story by Mike Hughlett:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-port-security,1,5987293.story?coll=chi-news-hed---------------------------------
Port experts say no risk in deal
---------------------------------
A state-owned Arab company's foray into the American maritime business has been abeled in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere as a terrorism risk and a virtual takeover of key U.S. ports.But the deal by Dubai Ports World to operate in 28 American ports is being viewed very differently by many shipping industry participants and some security experts. They said Wednesday that a change of ownership in the company that runs docks and warehouses won't compromise national security.
It won't change who works on the docks or what they do, they point out, nor will it change security procedures, which are overseen by the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency and armed port authority police.The ports themselves are government-owned, usually by states or cities . . . Some experts said that the biggest maritime security threat isn't at the dock but at factories and warehouses that could be located thousands of miles away. That is where the metal cargo containers being shipped to the United States are loaded and locked before crossing the oceans.
"The real issue is not so much what comes into the country, but where it starts," said Harlan Ullman, a senior adviser on national security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, D.C. . . . Security concerns
shouldn't be an issue in the Dubai deal, Ullman said, because terminal operators
like P&O and Dubai are relative bit players in port security.For the whole article, go to:
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
School Demographics and New Schools
I came across a recent entry by Jim Dey on the News-Gazette weblog regarding demographic changes in Unit 4 schools. The article definitely casts doubt on assertions that new buildings are necessary to accomodate enrollment growth. It also highlights the fact that Champaign schools are now only 50% white, down from 64% in 1992-93, and that the percentage of students who live in poverty has increased from 25% of the student population in 1992-93 to 37.5% in 2004-05.
http://www.news-gazette.com/ngweblog/index.cfm?post=326&blog=7
I read the 2002 court opinion and Second Revised Consent Decree, authored by Hon. Joe Billy McDade (former Bradley University basketball star), and was surprised to find out that there really aren't enough seats to accomodate all of the students who live near schools north of University Avenue. (That opinion, BTW, is Johnson, et. al. v. Board of Education of Champaign Unit School District #4 (188 F.Supp.2d 944 (Dist. Ct., C.D. IL) (Jan. 29, 2002)).
As of the 2001-2002 school year, the north end schools had total capacity of 1,656 students, compared to total Kindergarten - Fifth grade population of 1,745 students. Given that some of the schools in that part of the City (e.g.. Dr. Howard) tend to be older, anyway, it really does look like new buildings are long overdue.
There is still the issue of existing overcapacity, however. Historically, north side schools have been under-selected by north side parents taking part in the 'controlled choice' (nice oxymoron there) program. In other words, even if you live within walking distance of shiny new Stratton, you might well opt to have your kids bussed to shiny new Barkstall, on the far south end of Champaign.
So, in the interest of racial balance, Unit 4 has to actively promote Stratton and other north side schools, to try to get more south side families to choose that school. The uncomfortable fact is that lots of black parents are willing to bus their kids south to go to school, but few white parents are willing to bus their kids north.
In the long, long run, here's hoping that Unit 4 has great schools in every corner of town, so that parents who don't want to bus, don't have to, and those that do, have lots of great choices.
http://www.news-gazette.com/ngweblog/index.cfm?post=326&blog=7
I read the 2002 court opinion and Second Revised Consent Decree, authored by Hon. Joe Billy McDade (former Bradley University basketball star), and was surprised to find out that there really aren't enough seats to accomodate all of the students who live near schools north of University Avenue. (That opinion, BTW, is Johnson, et. al. v. Board of Education of Champaign Unit School District #4 (188 F.Supp.2d 944 (Dist. Ct., C.D. IL) (Jan. 29, 2002)).
As of the 2001-2002 school year, the north end schools had total capacity of 1,656 students, compared to total Kindergarten - Fifth grade population of 1,745 students. Given that some of the schools in that part of the City (e.g.. Dr. Howard) tend to be older, anyway, it really does look like new buildings are long overdue.
There is still the issue of existing overcapacity, however. Historically, north side schools have been under-selected by north side parents taking part in the 'controlled choice' (nice oxymoron there) program. In other words, even if you live within walking distance of shiny new Stratton, you might well opt to have your kids bussed to shiny new Barkstall, on the far south end of Champaign.
So, in the interest of racial balance, Unit 4 has to actively promote Stratton and other north side schools, to try to get more south side families to choose that school. The uncomfortable fact is that lots of black parents are willing to bus their kids south to go to school, but few white parents are willing to bus their kids north.
In the long, long run, here's hoping that Unit 4 has great schools in every corner of town, so that parents who don't want to bus, don't have to, and those that do, have lots of great choices.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Just Say No to More Blago
Wow, it seems so early in the year for me to be getting pissed about political ads. I can see already that the most annoying of all are going to be the Rod Blagoevich re-election campaign ads.
Top Ten list of Flashy Rod's impressive accomplishments in his first term:
1. Alienate 95% of the Illinois legislature. Check.
2. Spend the least possible amount of time as possible in Springfield. (No one told him that's the state capital and where things like legislation are pursued.) Check.
3. Build up a $14 million campaign warchest, largely by traveling and gathering money out of state. Check.
4. Buy several million dollars of flu vaccine (from a foreign source, and against FDA rules), get the vaccine 6 months too late to even use it, ship it off to a third world country, and then try to get out of paying the bill. Check.
5. Raise user fees and taxes on business all over the place, then have the temerity to tout the fact that you haven't raised income or sales tax rates. Thanks, and check.
6. Raid the state pension funds to balance the budget, so that (a) you don't have to make hard choices about cutting spending, and (b) can keep your "no new taxes" pledge when you run for President in 2012. (After all you saw what happened to Bush 41.) Check.
7. Follow the time-honored IIlinois tradition of putting your political cronies and other assorted hacks in every slot you can find for them. Check.
8. Air your ugly intra-family dealings so that all of us can listen in. Check.
9.
10.
Please, enough already, Rod. You are a do-nothing, feather your own nest, Bill Clinton-wanna be, no talent, all hair political hack.
For a much more thorough and entertaining look at Blago boy, see The Rod Report. http://rodreport.com/
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Unit 4 Bond Referendum
Voters in the Unit 4 School District will vote March 21 on a $66 million bond referendum.
The Cynical View:
Let's see, Unit 4 high schools are over-capacity, and elementary schools have empty seats, especially in that all-important "north of Universtity Avenue" area of Champaign.
Solution? Build 2 new elementary schools north of University Avenue, and 1 in Savoy. Throw in a little something for everybody, and you try to get the votes on March 21. (By the way, Unit 4 didn't choose to have the date of the referendum fall during the week many voters will be ot of town for spring break; that's just the date of the March 21 primary election in Illinois.)
I’m not the first to note that Unit 4 hired consultants who conducted surveys to find out what might garner some votes, e.g., air conditioning, and it troubles me that the whole thing looks like a bill in Congress: put in some pork for every district to get the bill passed.
I also wonder about estimates of growth which seem to be based, in part, on the fact that lots of new homes have been constructed on the fringes of town. (E.g., Unit 4 Board Board member Dave Tomlinson: "We're going to see rapid growth, especially in the Curtis Road interchange area, and I want to attract those new students to our schools." (News-Gazette, January 22, 2006). News flash: lots of those people are not new to the school district, they are just “moving up,” as the expression goes.
The News-Gazette noted today (February 19, 2006) that private and suburban schools have enjoyed recent growth, at the expense of Unit 4. (http://www.news-gazette.com/news/). Superintendent Culver has expressed the hope that parents who send their children to private schools “will take another look at the facilities Champaign will offer.” (News-Gazette, January 22, 2006). Forgive me if I don’t share his optimism, as I suspect most private school patrons are quite happy where they are. “Honey, look, they have AIR CONDITIONING! Now it’s OK for our little Johnny to go there!”
Finally, the whole consent decree thing is a mess that just isn’t going away. Ironically, by having Judge Joe Billy McDade and his band of merry social engineers insist that Unit 4 locate schools where there aren’t students, residents may be more reluctant to approve the bond issuance than if schools were going to be built where the kids are. Rather than have more resources to assist students, the referendum will tank and the new schools won’t happen.
If the bonds do issue, I can’t help but wonder: what will Judge McDade think when a hard-working family from north Champaign works and saves to buy a house in the Utopian suburbs of Savoy, only to learn, after they move in, that their kids will ride a bus every morning -- to a school north of Interstate 74?
The Good Citizen View:
Everyone wants modern, comfortable school buildings with good, caring teachers, books, computers, gymnasiums, and playgrounds. Quality schools are one of the hallmarks of a good community, and the costs of public education are easily outweighed by the benefits. Rehabbing and modernizing aging schools is a good use of taxpayer money, and there is that pesky consent decree and the Honorable Joe Billy McDade to keep in mind.
It will happen . . . sometime
There is no doubt: there WILL be lots of taxpayer $$ spent on school facilities in the coming years. A new high school is almost a certainty. As taxpayers, we should demand that the school district adopt a long-term, rational plan to use its existing facilities wisely, to locate schools where they make sense for the future, and to be completely candid throughout the process.
The Cynical View:
Let's see, Unit 4 high schools are over-capacity, and elementary schools have empty seats, especially in that all-important "north of Universtity Avenue" area of Champaign.
Solution? Build 2 new elementary schools north of University Avenue, and 1 in Savoy. Throw in a little something for everybody, and you try to get the votes on March 21. (By the way, Unit 4 didn't choose to have the date of the referendum fall during the week many voters will be ot of town for spring break; that's just the date of the March 21 primary election in Illinois.)
I’m not the first to note that Unit 4 hired consultants who conducted surveys to find out what might garner some votes, e.g., air conditioning, and it troubles me that the whole thing looks like a bill in Congress: put in some pork for every district to get the bill passed.
I also wonder about estimates of growth which seem to be based, in part, on the fact that lots of new homes have been constructed on the fringes of town. (E.g., Unit 4 Board Board member Dave Tomlinson: "We're going to see rapid growth, especially in the Curtis Road interchange area, and I want to attract those new students to our schools." (News-Gazette, January 22, 2006). News flash: lots of those people are not new to the school district, they are just “moving up,” as the expression goes.
The News-Gazette noted today (February 19, 2006) that private and suburban schools have enjoyed recent growth, at the expense of Unit 4. (http://www.news-gazette.com/news/). Superintendent Culver has expressed the hope that parents who send their children to private schools “will take another look at the facilities Champaign will offer.” (News-Gazette, January 22, 2006). Forgive me if I don’t share his optimism, as I suspect most private school patrons are quite happy where they are. “Honey, look, they have AIR CONDITIONING! Now it’s OK for our little Johnny to go there!”
Finally, the whole consent decree thing is a mess that just isn’t going away. Ironically, by having Judge Joe Billy McDade and his band of merry social engineers insist that Unit 4 locate schools where there aren’t students, residents may be more reluctant to approve the bond issuance than if schools were going to be built where the kids are. Rather than have more resources to assist students, the referendum will tank and the new schools won’t happen.
If the bonds do issue, I can’t help but wonder: what will Judge McDade think when a hard-working family from north Champaign works and saves to buy a house in the Utopian suburbs of Savoy, only to learn, after they move in, that their kids will ride a bus every morning -- to a school north of Interstate 74?
The Good Citizen View:
Everyone wants modern, comfortable school buildings with good, caring teachers, books, computers, gymnasiums, and playgrounds. Quality schools are one of the hallmarks of a good community, and the costs of public education are easily outweighed by the benefits. Rehabbing and modernizing aging schools is a good use of taxpayer money, and there is that pesky consent decree and the Honorable Joe Billy McDade to keep in mind.
It will happen . . . sometime
There is no doubt: there WILL be lots of taxpayer $$ spent on school facilities in the coming years. A new high school is almost a certainty. As taxpayers, we should demand that the school district adopt a long-term, rational plan to use its existing facilities wisely, to locate schools where they make sense for the future, and to be completely candid throughout the process.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Arrested Development
Sitting here watching the 2-hour season finale of "Arrested Development" on Fox, I am really going to miss this show, if it doesn't get picked up by another network.
Quirky, original, campy, off-the-wall, ya gotta love it. Why didn't it attract viewership on Fox? Too smart? (And narrated by Ron Howard!)
Quirky, original, campy, off-the-wall, ya gotta love it. Why didn't it attract viewership on Fox? Too smart? (And narrated by Ron Howard!)
Illini @ Columbus
The race in Big Ten men's basketball is absolutely exciting right now. Iowa remains atop the conference, but I don't think anyone outside of Johnson County expects them to remain there for long. Michigan State is moving into the home part of their schedule, while others, like the Fighting Illini, have lots of work to do on the road.
Last night the Ohio State Buckeyes took it to the Michigan Wolverines in fine fashion, walking away with the first big Ben Ten road win for 2nd year coach Thad Matta.
Without doubt, the Hawkeyes are right there, but didn't steal a possible win at Northwestern this week.
IF Illinois can take care of business in Columbus, and avoid slip-ups like last week's debacle against the Nittany Lions, anything is possible.
To even have a chance to tie for the Big Ten regular season title, the champs will have to take care of business, home and away, and have a lot of success against the top talent in the conference.
Last night the Ohio State Buckeyes took it to the Michigan Wolverines in fine fashion, walking away with the first big Ben Ten road win for 2nd year coach Thad Matta.
Without doubt, the Hawkeyes are right there, but didn't steal a possible win at Northwestern this week.
IF Illinois can take care of business in Columbus, and avoid slip-ups like last week's debacle against the Nittany Lions, anything is possible.
To even have a chance to tie for the Big Ten regular season title, the champs will have to take care of business, home and away, and have a lot of success against the top talent in the conference.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
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