Report Says Ex-Principal Put Pupils in Cage to Fight

The principal of a high school in Dallas was accused by school employees of sanctioning bare-knuckled “cage fights” to settle disputes between students.

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Racial Epithets in Cultured Accents

First it was Prince Harry. Now it’s Thatcher’s daughter. Old racial attitudes and political correctness clash in Britain.

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A Call Silenced in Cairo Is Warmly Received in Berlin

You might say the recent production of the play “Radio Muezzin” was as much about Germany promoting diverse voices as it was about Egypt’s silencing them.

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45 Roles, 628 Performances. Why Stop?

At 68, Plácido Domingo continues to be a powerful presence and shows little desire to retire from his work.

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Just a few wise words from one of my favorite opera singers of all time, and the only man besides my father who I ever caught my mother making goo goo eyes at.

Thomas Patrick Hogan

Yesterday around noon in Fairbanks I received a call from my parents telling me that my Uncle Tom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. My uncle was a proud father, wonderful husband and incredible grandfather. His Irish eyes were always smiling, in fact I imagine they still are.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Obama Lifts Bush’s Strict Limits on Stem Cell Research

Speaking at the White House, President Obama said his administration will “make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.”

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Russian scholar says US will collapse, Alaska will return to Russian control

MOSCOW – If you're inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn't mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world order.

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Denver Zoo earns environmental recognition

The Denver Zoo has become the first zoo in the United States to earn an ISO-14001 certification for the entire zoo. The certification is the international standard for environmental management systems.

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In an Auto Industry Hometown, a Familiar Financial Road

The State of Michigan is expected to take over Pontiac, a city that seems to be crumbling around those who live there.

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This one is a sobering read. The economic downturn is starting to become a reality for so many people. Even yours truly is feeling the pinch as I try to watch my spending while I continue to look for a job. But reading a story like this really drives home how lucky I am that I already hold a degree and have some money saved up. My heart goes out to the people of Pontiac, and all those suffering the frustration of the economic slow down.

Room for Debate: Talking to Syria

What are the risks and opportunities for the U.S. to resume diplomacy with Syria? And what effect might this diplomacy have on Israel, Iran and others in the region? Ronen Bergman, Trita Parsi, Andrew J. Tabler, Reuel Marc Gerecht and Rime Allaf weigh in.

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Cutler and Broncos make peace? - The Denver Post

There appears to be a resolution between Broncos coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler. A proposed trade last weekend would have sent Cutler from the Broncos to Tampa Bay in exchange for at least a first-round draft pick. Cutler felt betrayed McDaniels appeared ready to deal him away...

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Be prepared

In the previous 10 days, search and rescue efforts have been launched for 19 people in Alaska. Four of those people died. Several of those lost had prepared themselves well for the weather and the possibility of something going wrong. More had not, though.

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Facing Counterfeiting Crackdown, Beijing Vendors Fight Back

Tenacious vendors have staged protests against lawyers who are pursuing trademark cases, mocking them as bourgeois puppets of foreigners.

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Concept of One Europe Is Strained by Financial Crisis

An emergency meeting of European leaders pointed up the very worries it was designed to calm: that the crisis threatens to split Europe into rival camps.

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Narco-Tours: Different Kind Of Traffic For Some Taxi Drivers

With public outrage over drug violence tinged by fascination, some taxi drivers are giving “narco-tours” of sites associated with the notorious drug cartels. Mexicans are fed up with their country’s unprecedented level of bloodshed as rival drug cartels clash with the authorities and among themselves. But the outrage is tinged by a fascination.

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Chaput calls Catholics servile toward Obama - Denver Post

Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput, on a book tour in Canada this week, stirred controversy with remarks about U.S. Catholics, who he says exhibit "a spirit of adulation bordering on servility" toward President Barack Obama, an abortion-rights advocate.

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Northern Lights Are Quieter Than They've Been in Decades

The Interior’s normal wintertime light show has been noticeably absent this winter. “I talk to people in town and everybody asks me, ‘Where is the aurora? What’s happening?’"

Of course this would happen the year I move up to Fairbanks :(

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Dying 9-Year-Old Girl 'Weds' Friend

Jayla Cooper's dying wish came true as she married her friend in a dream wedding ...just 9 years old, likely has only weeks to live after having battled leukemia for the last two years...In the symbolic ceremony, put together in less than a week, Jayla wore a white dress and walked down the aisle on her father's arm.

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How Much Water Does Pasta Really Need?

The Curious Cook

By HAROLD McGEE

Published: February 25, 2009

The nation can save the equivalent of half a million gallons of oil a year by cooking pasta with less water and energy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/dining/25curi.html

And as some Swiss informed me, Americans regularly overcook their pasta anyway.

Tibetans Greet New Year in Opposition

International / Asia Pacific

By EDWARD WONG

Published: February 26, 2009

Tibetans are marking the normally joyous Losar holiday with an informal boycott and vigils.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/world/asia/26tibet.html

Olivia Judson: Guest Column: The Crumbling Ivory Tower

New York Times
OPINION

By Stephen Quake

Published: February 24, 2009

Peer review is the best way to deal with potential conflicts of interest in faculty research.

http://judson.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/guest-column-the-crumbling-ivory-tower/

An interesting read, especially following some of the ridiculous academic shenanigans in the past few years. Including, CU Boulder's very own Ward Churchill controversy.

Obama to Seek Higher Tax on Affluent to Pay for Health Care

New York Times
U.S. / Politics

By JACKIE CALMES and ROBERT PEAR

Published: February 26, 2009

President Obama’s budget will call for stricter limits on the benefits of itemized deductions, introducing a politically volatile edge to the Congressional debate over his domestic priorities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/us/politics/26budget.html

Mrs. Obama

For months it had been rumored that our new first lady would grace the cover of the incomparable Vogue magazine. This weekend at the news stand I found her on not one but two major magazine covers. As soon as I flipped on MSNBC is was straight from Senator Burris debates to Michelle's style and star power. Mrs. Obama is certainly becoming a force in American pop culture.

And You Thought Orientalism Was Uncomfortable...

I have to give Jay Chou credit. I mean sure his music is repetitive pop slop at best, but he has succeeded in turning the tables on hundreds of years of Orientalism. In the following video a wide array of unrelated American culture, historical figures, costumes and perceived cultural practices are mashed together to form hilarity. Thanks to my beloved friend Miss Phoebe Jiang for the tip off.

Intro

As a means of keeping far strewn friends and family updated on the insane (or is that inane?) details of my life I am going to keep this blog. So coming daily from Fairbanks, Alaska I will be posting news stories, the latest you tube finds, personal anecdotes, weather reports and random curiosities of all kinds. Enjoy.