otium cum dignitate

Deflationary Tactics

Here at Davidson College, bitching about grades has become such a universally accepted concept that it could well serve, and often does, as an appropriate conversation remedy in almost any awkward social encounter. But outside of our idyllic little North Carolina paradise, many students fear that the rest of the world thinks we are just a bunch of babies.  This could be true...but after all, we only graduate 1 or 2 summa cum laudes a year. 

Anyway, today provides a good example of what pisses Davidson kids off most.  I received the comments and grade for my recent 6 page "reaction paper" in my political science seminar on metropolitics and suburbia.  The thing is--I really like this class and I truly care about the work that I'm doing for it.  Anyways, here are my teacher's comments:

"While I've not taught you in class before, your apt and insightful remarks in class led me to anticipate a particularly probing, reflective first "reaction paper."  As both my remarks below and the grade indicate, this expectation has not been disappointed.  This is an articulate and well-organized and argued paper -- solidly grounded in a close and illuminating reading of all three texts."   GRADE:  B+/B

These sorts of inconsistencies seem to occur all the time here.  In many of my political science classes, indeed, it often seems that the highest grade even possible is a B+.  A's are only awarded to that special sort of genius-nerd kid who comes around every couple of semesters.  Probably the best justification for my complaints is that despite the fact that I have a lowly 3.36 overall GPA, this places me in the 71st percentile of my class. 

I guess, though, more people outside of this campus understand Davidson's deflationary tactics than I might have originally thought.  After all, I have been fortunate enough to get into a number of law schools where my raw GPA doesn't even put me in the bottom 25% of admitted applicants.  I think, though, the true test will hinge on my admissions decisions at Vandy and maybe even Duke.  If I get into either of those schools, I will cease with my bitching and maybe even contribute to the Senior class gift...maybe.

The NHL Debacle

Many NHL fans gave up on hockey when the lockout began; most of the rest have probably tried to forget the game after the last two days of complete idiocy and confusion on the part of the so-called "leaders" on both sides of this labor dispute.  I, for one, feel cheated as a fan after being teased by the 11th hour concessions on both sides only to see this sudden momentum end with a canceled season.

From the beginning, I have been on the owners' side.  After watching both of today's news conferences, I am even more convinced that Bob Goodenow has lead the NHLPA into a terrible position, both in terms of money and stature.  Clearly, the league is in serious financial trouble.  Mario Lemieux is one of many players who also sided with the owners and tried to push the stubborn union leaders into a more tenable position.  Mathew Barnaby likened the union's last-minute acceptance of the salary cap to a losing hand in poker in which your opponent calls your bluff.  Overall, one ESPN hockey analyst reported that an "overwhelming" amount of players were upset with the way the union handled the situation.

Why is this so hard to figure out?  You look at the most successfull professional league in America right now, the NFL, and you realize that market restrictions such as the salary cap really work.  On the other hand, you take baseball (the model for almost all of the NHLPA offers) and realize that the MLB would probably be taking most of the heat right now with its steroid scandals if it weren't for the NHL's problems. 

For the last 10 years, the players enjoyed up to 75% of league revenues while teams lost hundreds of millions of dollars.  Clearly, something had to change to improve the health of this league. 

In the end though, something has to be said for the inept bargaining skills of both Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow.  Instead of talking to each other about the $45-$46 million magic number, they whined to the public about how the other side was being unfair.  Although im taking his side, Bettman is certainly no angel.  I mean what is the sense in coming back with a $42.5 million cap and saying "this is my final offer" and then expecting the players to propose a new offer of their own?

If you read the e-mails between Bettman and Goodenow (by the way--why the hell were they not on the phone?) it is clear how much personal enmity exists between the two sides.  They hate each other.  I don't know how they could ever sit in the same room with one another much less write up a complex new collective bargaining agreement.

Bettman sums this whole situation up fairly well with, "I hope for their sake that [the players] think it was worth it, because I don't see it."  I truly don't understand how any of this can be more favorable to the players than just accepting the cap and playing. 

I really am sad about the downtrodden state of hockey right now.  As a longtime fan, I can only hope that this league may come back stronger than ever. 

Geo-Green

Friedman has inspired yet another post.  In today's column, he again denounces the Bush administration (and all administrations prior, for that matter) for its "no mullah left behind" energy policies.  Because of our oil dependence, we continue to rely on the corrupt governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia like an "addict" would to his or her "pusher."  It really is true that the U.S. is "financing both sides of the war on terrorism" as the world's largest consumer of oil.

My current seminar on metropolitics has helped me better understand the implications of Friedman's oft-mentioned gas-tax proposal.  He has repeatedly called for a tax on gas somewhere around $1 per gallon.  Among other things, Friedman is also a major supporter of hybrid cars and overall energy conservation. 

Gas taxes can have several effects on a society.  In Europe, gas is taxed very heavily and this has somewhat helped to prevent the sort of car-buying spree that we have seen in the U.S. over the last decade.  But calling for a gas tax and more hybrid cars at the same time almost cancels both out.  Ostensibly, a gas tax will curb spending on giant gas-guzzling cars and will keep more people off the roadways.  However, technology such as hybrids which drastically improve gas mileage will make incremental fuel taxes irrelevant.  Of course, environmental benefits would accrue and our yearly consumption of oil could decrease slightly, but overall we'd still see the same amount of cars (or more) on the roadways and congestion and sprawl would remain as bad as ever.  Not to mention that the first people hurt by such taxes are not going to be suburban soccer moms--instead, those most vulnerable (poor people) to added weekly costs will suffer the most.

Despite all this, the overall net results would be more positive than today's situation.  I really do like these sorts of progressive ideas--the problem is that such a tax is basically politically impossible to enact these days.  I think Friedman knows this...but there's no harm in making some noise in the NYT. 

More on how I feel about all this metropolitics stuff later...

Random Post

I almost called the Super Bowl score perfectly -- just needed one more touchdown from the Patriots.  New England, as expected, took care of business.  But I think the story of this Super Bowl is Terrell Owens coming back from a severe ankle/leg injury to catch 9 balls for 122 yards.  Pretty awesome.  In other news, I officially beat Nich in our final best-out-of-five Madden tourny to end the season.  He owe's me a six pack.

I was finally humbled today when Columbia slapped me down with the dreaded skinny letter.  All of a sudden, I'm addicted to law school admissions again.  I finally created my own user name on Law School Numbers, one of the most addictive online message boards/stats search engines to ever hit the internet.   It's actually a pretty cool site for those of us who are obsessed with these sorts of things.  So now, the updated list reads:

• UVA: pending
• Duke: pending
• Vandy: pending
• George Washington: accepted!
• Emory: accepted!
• WashU: pending
• William and Mary: pending
• UGA: accepted!
• Wake Forest: pending
• Columbia: slapped.

I relegated Columbia to the bottom of the list as punishment for their refusal to let me in based solely on the fact that my dad went there for business school. 

Im thinking about returning to Starbucks.  Not because I want to...but because my dwindling bank account may force me to take action.

Super Bowl Weekend

I always feel torn during Super Bowl weekend.  One part of me is excited about the biggest NFL game of the year while the other part realizes that this marks the official end of the NFL season.  Life without football just isn't the same.  While the NCAA tourney, baseball, and (usually) hockey are decent distractions in the off-season, there just isn't anything like knowing that one single day of every week will be devoted strictly to football. 

Last year's Super Bowl was perhaps one of the most exciting in my lifetime.  Not only was the game a nail-biter, but the hometown Carolina Panthers had made one of the most unexpected trips to the Super Bowl in years. 

I think it's pretty damn hard to pick against the Patriots at this point.  I heard something last night that makes this year's big game seem more predictable than ever: not only did the Patriots hold the league's best offensive team to 3 points and then score 41 points on the league's best defensive team, they managed to go through both games without ever committing a turnover.  This team always shows up. 

Then again, Mcnabb is pretty crazy these days and the Philly defense might actually be more of a defensive scoring threat than New England's.  Despite this slight edge, though, the Patriots are clearly the more balanced team.  Other than Tom Brady, perhaps the most clutch quarterback to ever play, they possess an extremely strong running game with Corey Dillon, their receivers are always reliable, and the defense is probably more physical than Philly's D. 

With all this in mind, my official blog pick is:

Patriots over Eagles ; 31-21

My cousin and uncle from Philly are actually going to be at this game.  Pretty incredible.  It's unfortunate that they'll have to watch yet another team come so close before falling short.

Iraq Vote, et. al.

Finally, some good news on the foreign affairs front.  Even skeptic liberals can't help feeling surprisingly optimistic after the apparent success of the Iraqi vote this past weekend.  Early vote estimates show upwards of 60% of registered voters braving the violence to go out to the polls.  Beyond anything else, this seems to really prove that there is indeed a "silent majority" in Iraq that wants Democracy and indirectly appreciates the U.S.'s efforts (albeit with mistakes along the way) to aid in the overthrow of tyranny. 

For Wilsonians and neo-cons alike, this vote is the real expression of all the theory that we heard in Bush's inuagural speech last week.  Of course, it is important not to get too carried away here.  Much remains to be done.  But this vote is a hugely important first step for putting Iraq back together.  It also vindicates those, including Tom Friedman, who argued for this vote to take place on its scheduled date despite ongoing violence.  Now, no matter how much bloodshed the insurgents continue to inflict, the world knows that the Iraqi people as a whole are dedicated to the rebuilding of their country as a new beacon of real Democracy in the Middle East.

Another important lesson should be drawn from Iraq--one that might help improve our own Democracy here in America.  When 60% of courageous Iraqi's go out and vote on election day knowing that they could be walking to their death, we here in the U.S. have absolutely no excuse for poor turnout in our own elections.  This first Iraqi election matched the U.S. turnout for the recent 2004 election--turnout that was at its highest point since the 1970's.  Americans take Democracy for granted.  It is ironic that Iraqis could teach us a lesson about appreciating our own liberties while we are the ones claiming to be the radiating light for free society in the world. 

Before finishing, I guess I should update my loyal blog-readers about my law school admissions status.  So far, so good.  I'm 3/3 but still really hoping for a school like Vandy to come through for me.  In order of my preferences:

• Columbia: pending
• UVA: pending
• Duke: pending
• Vandy: pending
• George Washington: accepted!
• Emory: accepted!
• WashU: pending
• William and Mary: pending
• UGA: accepted!
• Wake Forest: pending