Right on Alison! Don't bow to their will! If they want a pass they got to earn it.

okay, I've been having this debate in my head for a long while... and when I say it out loud, people invariably get mad at me... so I'm going to say it here.

What is the point of higher learning?
is it to learn?
is it to develop greater critical thinking skills?
is it to gain wisdom?
is it to get a job?
is it to prove that you can persevere and complete something?
is it solely to expose yourself to new and potentially contradictory ideas?

I mean, here I am, taking a degree in forestry... not because I love forestry, and think I'll end up a silvicultural planner (someone who cuts trees down and grows them back), but because I like the idea of challenging myself, gaining new knowledge and trying out new things... and people look at me like I'm insane.

University is not a place you go if you want to get a job. or, shall I say this more accurately, one should not attend university if one's ultimate goal is employment. That is what trade school and college is for. University, and the 'ivory tower' is about learning for the sake of learning... expanding ones' horizons and to see things with a different world view. I think we keep forgetting that.

I mean, after all, this is post-secondary we're talking about. you need secondary to function (unless you're Ralph Klein) in the world, and anything above that is a bonus (along with a salary bonus, usually), but anything above that is not necessary. so, forgive me if I get annoyed with undergrads, but quite frankly, if you're not here to learn, get the fuck out. I'm not here to get you a better job, I'm here to make you think. And I'm tired of dealing with students who think otherwise, and therefore expect (this is me preemptively anticipating a line of angry students at my door next week once the exams have been handed back) me to bow to their will and let them pass the course.

I also am thinking it might be cool to travel around and attend other peoples' lectures... there are so many great minds in this world, I'd love to bask in a few of them... if only for a brief moment of time...

(by the way, Stuart B. Hill... awesome.)

That's why they're calling in. I don't see the problem. Plus, the end result is bonnets for everyone!

is there any way I can be optimistic about this bonnet situation?

what the fuck????

See, I'm not an optimist. This guy is an optimist.

(Actually, it's a rather amusing radio adaptation (or, if you watch the video, puppet show) of one of the pieces from George Saunders's new book, The Braindead Megaphone. And it features an all-star cast, including John Hodgman, Jonathan Coulton, Jen Kirkman and Xeni Jardin.)

Sweet find Ed!

Lay off Iveson for a little while though... he saved my pizza.But the second he makes that rookie mistake because of his lack of business sense, hit him with all you got.

That's good to hear Ed! Alright more complaining, less bemoaning the fact that I elected some guy.

Al, you're allowed to complain more, since you're completely blameless in who got elected.