January 4, 2007

An anti-war bumper sticker I'd like to see

Posted by Jon Sanders at 8:33 PM

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Econ faculty at Duke comes through

Posted by Jon Ham at 4:26 PM

Seventeen members of the economics department at Duke have come out in support of the indicted lacrosse players. We here at JLF have always know economists have more sense than most people. One anonymous commenter on KC Johnson's blog points out one economics prof who isn't on the list:

Michael Munger, who is chair of PoliSci, has a concurrent appointment in Economics. He has made his own statement on his blog that he's against Nifong and the Group of 88, but for some reason hasn't signed this. It may be an oversight of some sort — Munger is a bizarre character.

Okay, so maybe economists are little bizarre, but they still have a lot of sense, mostly.

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A theme song for Charlotte

Posted by Jon Sanders at 3:59 PM

Ooh my little city, fun city, fun.
Will I make it to work on time, Charlotte-a?

Ooh I idle here some, my motor run.
Done stuck here waitin’ in line, Charlotte-a.

Stupid railroad crap, give it up.
Such a traffic jam. All we are is stuck, but you’re up
For the choo-choo train.

My my my i yi whoo-whoo!
M-M-M-My Charlotte-a ...

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Slime Raleigh Slime

Posted by Jeff A. Taylor at 3:18 PM

To the tune of Shine Raleigh Shine, whatever that may be:

We’re a city on the ooze
We win, you lose
You'll be taken as we need
Got an old jones to feed
Lobbyist seed
Canned ham, expense account booze

Scandal rocks
Deception rules
Imaginations going wild

We legislate
We regulate
The greenbacks and blank checks, they pile

Chorus:
Slime Raleigh slime

Sink down and slime
If they put it all together

We'll retire to sunny weather
'Til then slime
Slime here

When evening comes
Twinkle little staffer

Up above the city high
It feels like a dream
This Raleigh scene
Gifts of diamonds you will ply

Whoa! Time to slink away
Feds may yet yell "freeze"
Make the sweetest getaway
Should you wake up in the morn’
To the Tijuana sun
Twitchy colon gripped by fright

Is it a brand new day?
Rule of law on the way?
Trepidation gnaws your bones

Cohort squeals, talks the talk
Flips Raleigh upside down
You feel it in your soul

Welcome to our house
As in Big, not small

Incarceration is on tap

Y’all come back or else

Your freedom we fear
Reclaim the city
You have turned to crap

Thanks and goodnight. Drive safe.

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Re: P.J.'s latest book

Posted by Paul Chesser at 2:03 PM

Speaking of O'Rourke, former Carolina Journal editor (and current New Hampshire Union Leader editorialist) Drew Cline interviewed him recently and obtained his current reading list.

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In defense of East Anglia

Posted by Jenna Ashley Robinson at 1:44 PM

Excepting the University of East Anglia's nutty climatologists, the faculty is in most departments is quite good. Unbiased even. For example, in my American History and Politics course that I took during my semester abroad, I learned that FDR did nothing to lift the US out of the depression, and might even have made it worse. I think that's a far more accurate picture of Roosevelt than the one presented at most American Universities.

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Governor Easley Rules DPI

Posted by Dr. Terry Stoops at 1:10 PM

Today, J.B. Buxton, Senior Education Advisor to Gov. Easley, was anointed Deputy State Superintendent of Education. Dr. Janice Davis, who has served as Deputy State Superintendent since 2004, recently retired.

Some have observed that Easley has firm control of the State Board of Education through his relationship with Howard Lee, board chair. Now, Easley is in a position to take greater control of the Department of Public Instruction. Given the opportunity, it is no surprise that an Easley insider was chosen for the post.

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P.J.'s Latest Book

Posted by Dr. Michael Sanera at 1:05 PM

P. J. O'Rourke has done the impossible.  In his latest book, On the Wealth of Nations (Books That Changed the World), he has explained Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments accurately and with his usual humor.  This conclusion is based on skimming the book in an airport bookstore.  But based on his previous books, I believe my conclusion will I stand up to any careful reading.

I hope that university economics students will use it as a substitute for Cliff Notes.

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Re: Don't tell Al Gore

Posted by Jon Sanders at 11:32 AM

---

While this year's El Nino is not as strong as it was in 1997 and 1998, its combination with the steady increase of temperatures due to global warming from human activity may be enough to break the Earth's temperature record, said Phil Jones, the director of the Climatic Research unit at the University of East Anglia.

---

Good ol' East Anglia. When you care enough to hunt all over the world for that "just right" quote, East Anglia's there.

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Tethering students to their states

Posted by George Leef at 11:20 AM

Inside Higher Ed today has a story on recent initiatives in three midwestern states to boost the economy by trying to lure more kids into college and then keeping them in-state.

I argue here that such gimmicks won't accomplish anything worthwhile.

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Just because you're paranoid ...

Posted by Mitch Kokai at 11:05 AM

... that doesn't mean the CIA isn't after you.

This is a rather bizarre story about the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, including comments from a Durham lawyer who's studied the issue. 

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UNC-Charlotte ponders key question for institution of higher learning

Posted by Mitch Kokai at 11:01 AM

Trustees mull an addition to the UNCC program. 

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It's getting hot in here

Posted by Mitch Kokai at 10:54 AM

Don't tell Al Gore. 

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Superb essay by Peter Wood

Posted by George Leef at 10:46 AM

Writing at NRO, Peter Wood (who has been honored by the Pope Center for his work in higher ed) gives us this thoughtful essay on the subject of, as he puts it, the New Anger. His lead examplar is Jonathan Chait and in particular his vitriolic response to the suggestion by Brink Lindsey that libertarians and liberals ought to be allies on some issues at least.

Peter also mentions his new book, which promises to be a brilliant read. I'm requesting a copy today.

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Re: Raleigh has a theme song

Posted by Jeff A. Taylor at 09:29 AM

Inspired me to help Charlotte close this yawning song gap.

To the tune of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida:

At the corner of Tryon, honey
World class city awaits you
At the corner of Tryon, baby
Banking towers provide the view

Oh, won’t you come with me
And rent a car?

Oh, won’t you come with me
We’ll hop some bars

Please rent a car!

All rights reserved.

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The Edwards circus goes to New Hampshire

Posted by George Leef at 09:23 AM

For all you devotees of political hokum, this piece by Shawn Macomber is not to be missed.

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Re: Raleigh has a theme song

Posted by Paul Chesser at 09:14 AM

Jon, with those lyrics I'm surprised that Raleigh isn't soaring on the wings of eagles.

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Leading Influences in Education Policy

Posted by Dr. Terry Stoops at 07:55 AM

The Editorial Projects in Education Research Center released a report ranking influence in education policy in four categories: studies, organizations, people, and information sources.

Here is the top in each category:

Studies: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). U.S. Department of Education

Organizations: U.S. Congress

People: Bill Gates

Information: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

So, three of the four of the top influences are related to the federal government. George Bush ranked second in the "people" category, even though, in my opinion, No Child Left Behind has been much more influential than any of the Gates projects.

On the upside, the following made the list: Jay P. Greene on high school graduation rates (research), Paul E. Peterson on school choice and vouchers (research), Fordham Foundation (organizations), Checker Finn (people), and Education Next (information sources).

On the downside, the following also made the list: American Federation of Teachers (organizations), National Education Association (organizations), James B. Hunt Jr. (people), Bill Clinton (people), Edward Kennedy (thing), Public Education Network Weekly NewsBlast (information source).

Also of note: William L. Sanders (of SAS in Cary) on value-added methodology and the Tennessee Value-Added Accountability System made the list in the "studies" category.


Hat tip: Shine Raleigh Shine!

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