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Saturday, Nov 7, 2009
Published Letters: 144 Editor's Choice: 41
I stopped payiing attention to football some time ago, and started paying attention again maybe five years ago. I was confused at first. Gone was the penalty "clipping" (with the funny signal that made it look like the player had thrown themselves at the backs of the other player's legs) and replaced by "illegal block in the back." It took me a couple of times to realize it wasn't about an illegal block in the backfield.
I actually think "illegal block in the back", though a bit cumbersome, is better than "clipping"--it's more descriptive of what actually happened.
What I don't like is the replacement of the descriptive "wide receiver" with the non-descriptive and redundant "wide-out". Are sports fans perceived as so stupid that a four-syllable term is too long for them?
Not all straight men are homophobes who won't see a movie just because it's about gay men. That was mostly true 20 - 30 years ago, much less so today. I'll probably go see it (though I probably would have 20 years ago, too).
"Anonymous" stated that it's "interesting to note that Abu-Jamal's appeal is being granted on procedural grounds."
That usually is the case. In fact:
In In 1993's Herrera vs. Collins, a five-justice majority led by Chief Justice William Rehnquist ruled in a Texas death row case that a "claim of innocence," even a claim of innocence based on newly found evidence, does not entitle an inmate convicted in state court to constitutional review by a federal court. (From a September 2004 UPI story on the death penalty.)
That case should send a chill through anyone.
The story goes on:
Federal courts do not exist to correct errors of fact in state courts, Rehnquist said, but to make sure someone is not imprisoned in violation of the Constitution.
State Sen. Pat Miller (R-Indianapolis) proposed similar legislation in Indiana last year. It was withdrawn after news of the bill spread across the internet. Let's hope a similar fate awaits the Virginia bill.
It's just weird that the private-pilot blogger describes loss of cabin pressure as "unthinkable". Gee, every time I fly I think about it, when the cabin crew instructs me as to what to do in the event of a loss of cabin pressure.
Here's what King wrote on September 30:
And to answer a question I've gotten in a few e-mails, yes, I've decided to stop using the Washington football team's racist nickname. Call me self-righteous if you want. I just can't stand to type it anymore.
The newspaper here in Portland, The Oregonian made the same move several years ago, and they've stopped using similar nicknames, like the Cleveland baseball team's nickname, though I think they still call Notre Dame "The Fighting People From the British Isles Who Aren't Actually British."
Sorry to be the math police, but 1967 was 39 years ago, not 29.
Which makes Mick and co. seem just that much older.
First of all, Rebecca, thank you for this post.
Now, for the pet peeve--I wasn't sure where to post this, but I thought this should work. I read an obituary of Betty Friiedan that referred to
I have to admit, I'm not all that fond of the word "seminal" in the first place--I think there's a subtle sexism there, that creativity is somehow inherently male. It seems even stranger when applied to a woman's work.
Perhaps some day important, groundbreaking works will be referred to as "ovan" (or would it be "oval"?)
When I've seen Scott Hamilton before, what has struck me is how often he says "nicely done!"
I'm of an age (48) where Dick Button and figure skating commentary were synonymous--not just for the Olympics, but throughout the winter on Wide World of Sports (before it turned into the Wide World of Boxing). Sure, he seems a bit of a stuffed-shirt, but it seems to fit the sport.
I guess they all have to wash their hair that day.
Hey King,
Halfway through the first night of the Sweet Sixteen, and you're perfect.
I was just thinking, it's too bad there's not an Earl University with a major basketball program. The Duke - Earl scoreboard would even better than Brad - Pitt.
And think of the headlines when the Arizona and Villanova bowling teams meet.
The King of the prognosticators!
I really thought you were going to go 3 for 4.
I have to admit, I had mixed emotions about the UCLA/Gonzaga game. I tend to root for the PAC 10, especially with all the stories this year (and quite a few the last few years) about how it's a weak basketball conference. I'll even root for Washington (never an easy thing for an Oregon fan).
On the other hand, it's hard to root against the Bulldogs, and a pity for them to lose a game that it looked like they were going to win.
Okay, I know this is a little bit geeky, but I looked up the cumulative seeds in the final four, going back to 1979. During that time, the average cumulative seeding of the final four was about 10.6. Last year it was 11, slightly above the average, but the previous four years were 8, 9, 9, and 7. 2000 had the highest total, 22 (1, 5, 8, & 8) but the second highest was way back in 1980 with 21. 1980 was also the only year with no #1 seeds in the final four.
This year, the Atlanta bracket will send either a 2 or a 4, and the Oakland bracket will send either a 1 or a 2.
There may be a certain amount of parity affecting the first two rounds (I haven't checked that out), but the effect doesn't appear to reach to the Final Four.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The Maine fight was supposed to be the dress rehearsal for repealing California's Prop. 8 -- but gay marriage lost
Once one obtains Seriousness credentials in the Washington media, they are irrevocable no matter one's conduct.
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