TIME magazine has a very great article about the blogging phenomenon (Click Here). The secondary headline caught my eye: "Why are more and more people getting their news from amateur websites called blogs? Because they're fast, funny and totally biased."
The Romney Administration in Massachusetts is calling for John Kerry's resignation from the Senate while he pursues the presidency (Click Here/Click Here).
This is excellent advice for a number of reasons. First of all, Kerry is no longer attending the Senate, focusing instead on his presidential campaign. That is fine; that is his choice. But the people of Massachusetts deserve representation. It is not fair for them to not have their voice heard in the Senate because their senator chooses to seek higher office. Kerry's absence is even more serious considering the slim difference between the parties this term: his presence truly could change some votes.
Furthermore, a resignation from the Senate by Kerry would show his commitment to his campaign. There is nothing worse than a politician running for higher office who refuses to give up his old seat. It does not show confidence in his ability to win, to govern, or to lead. Resigning from the Senate would be a strong statement by Kerry saying he is fully focused on leading this country as the Chief Executive.
There are two examples that stick out regarding resignations while seeking higher office. The first is Joe Lieberman, who not only didn't resign from the Senate when he was on the Democratic ticket for Vice-President, but actually ran for Senate and Vice-President simultaneously. Talk about confidence in your campaign! The other example is on the other end of the spectrum regarding this question: Bob Dole. In 1996, Dole resigned from the Senate so that he could focus on running for president. Dole ultimately lost to President Bill Clinton that year, but Dole was unselfish enough to allow someone else to take his seat in the Senate while he could not be there so that the people of Kansas could be represented. Kerry should follow the lead of Bob Dole, not his Democratic colleague Joe Lieberman, in this matter.
posted by Kyle Still 4:26:09 PM
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Memo: Stay Alert at Baseball Games
A woman suing the Boston Red Sox for injuries resulting from being hit by a foul ball at Fenway Park has had her suit dismissed by the Massachusetts Court of Appeals (Click Here).
The reasoning of the court was that the Red Sox had no duty to provide for the safety of their patrons because fans assume the risk by coming to the game. This seems sound. I still think it would be good policy for teams to announce at the beginning of games the fact that they are not responsible for injuries and that alertness is prudent. It's what they do every game at my home team's park (the Durham Bulls). Baseball games are big tourist attractions, and for people unfamiliar with the game (say, foreigners) or for people who have to look after people besides themselves (children or elderly) it'd be nice to remind them of that fact.
posted by Kyle Still 8:35:16 PM
R.I.P., Ray Charles
Ray Charles, the fantastic singer who defined the genre of soul for later performers, has died (Click Here). God bless him, and condolences to his family.
While many people my age probably only remember Ray Charles for his Pepsi "You Got the Right One Baby, Uh Huh" commercials, I myself was a big fan of his music, especially his earlier material. I suggest anyone interested in him check out "Birth of Soul," a 3-CD set. It's pretty steep in price, but I checked it out from my local library, so that's always an option. I especially recommend the tracks "I Got a Woman," "Hallelujah, I Love Her So," and, of course, "What'd I Say."
In closing, I'd like to say that Ray Charles's rendition of "America, the Beautiful" is by far my favorite.
posted by Kyle Still 7:58:57 PM
Saturday, June 05, 2004
President Reagan Passes On
President Ronald Reagan died today (Click Here/Click Here). He was a great man, and a great president. He was not perfect, but he left an undeniable mark on American soceity, especially withhis interactions with the Soviet Union during the 1980s.
I was eight when Reagan retired from the presidency, so I don't have many specific memories from that time regarding the job he did. One of my favorite teachers in high school, Mrs. Dunkley, however, described Reagan as one of the most important presidents in American history. When explaining Reagan's importance, she said, "He made us feel good about being Americans again, after a the Iran hostage situation, Vietnam, Watergate and a flagging economy. Americans were once again proud of their country."
He will be missed. We should all pray for his family.
posted by Kyle Still 5:22:46 PM
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Swing Voters in This Fall's Election
The Hispanic population in America has grown tremendously in the past few years. Indeed, a group known as the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials has released a study saying that there will be 1 million new Hispanic voters in this year's election (Click Here).
It will be crucial for Bush and/or Kerry to attract these new Hispanic voters. This is possibly one of the largest growths of a voting bloc within an election cycle in recent memory. As the article I linked to notes, this fact is furthered by the fact that many of the new voters live in swing states, namely Florida.
posted by Kyle Still 9:34:22 PM
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Duke Standout Luol Deng Declares For The NBA Draft
There have been rumblings in the Triangle over the last week that this would happen. Now it finally has. Luol Deng, the freshman forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four this season, has declared for the NBA Draft (Click Here/Click Here).
Deng will not sign with an agent, so he will be eligible to withdraw from the draft and retain his college eligibility (provided he withdraw a week before the June 17th draft). This seems unlikely, because Deng is a concensus top 3 pick.
This potentially leaves the Duke frontcourt with some issues for next season. It's only frontcourt players next season will be Shelden Williams (one of the best post players in the ACC) and Shavlik Randolph (a heralded recruit who has struggled thus far during his time at Duke). Both are very good players, but they will both have to start and there is no one to back them up. This is potentially a serious problem, since both have been foul prone throughout their career.
posted by Kyle Still 11:03:56 AM
Monday, April 26, 2004
Fuel For W.'s Reelection Campaign
Bill Clinton's memoirs are coming out in late June, and he will start a promotional tour a few weeks beforehand (Click Here). I'm sure this is just what the Democrats want: Clinton is a media hound (and his story should be at least semi-sensational) so his book will deflect attention away from Kerry around convention time and place it squarely on himself. This attention might rile up the Republican base in ways W. could only dream of.
posted by Kyle Still 10:56:58 PM
Fey Stars in Movie, Forcing Her to Quit Conan Routine
According to this article in the Boston Globe, Tina Fey is one of the costars in the upcoming flick Mean Girls (Click Here), which looks like it's a combination between a teen comedy and a chick flick.
I say good for Tina. Unfortunately there are some negative repercussions for the Weekend Update star as well. Everytime she comes on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, she makes the same joke. Her and Conan pretend to plug a movie, but then when they show a clip of the "movie" they show old Our Gang footage or something. She then says, I'm not and never will be in a movie. You fooled us Tina Fey!
I hate that routine, and I'm glad she'll never do it again.
posted by Kyle Still 10:45:24 PM
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Ginsburg Keeps Clarett Out of the Draft
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, hearing an emergency appeal to the 2nd Circuit's recent stay keeping Maurice Clarett out of the draft, has upheld the stay (Click Here). This effectively keeps Clarett out of the draft this weekend.
It also jeopardizes his case significantly. His only option now is for the 2nd Circuit to rule in his favor when they finally give their opinion. This is perhaps unlikely, given the fact that they issued a stay, but not impossible. The NFL would hold a supplemental draft for Clarett if the 2nd Circuit rules in his favor. Additionally, Clarett could have the 2nd Circuit meet en banc with all the judges, a procedure usually reserved for very important cases. I'm not sure whether or not the 2nd Circuit would agree to do so in Clarett's case.
As I've said often on this blog, an appeal to the Supreme Court is out of the question. By the time the Supreme Court would actually hear his case, Clarett would be three years out of high school and thus eligible for the draft. Thus his case would be moot.
Clarett better hope his lawyers pled his case well before the 2nd Circuit.
posted by Kyle Still 3:47:05 PM
Monday, April 19, 2004
2nd Circuit Issues Stay to Keep Clarett Out of the Draft
My prediction from February regarding the Clarett case is coming true (Click Here). The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay today to keep Maurice Clarett out of the NFL Draft (Click Here).
An opinion should be forthcoming, but all 32 NFL teams have agreed to respect the stay and not draft Clarett. The existence of this stay makes it likely that the court is leaning in favor of ruling in the NFL's favor, but that is not a definite.
If the 2nd Circuit does rule in the NFL's favor, then Clarett has two options: 1) he can ask the 2nd Circuit to hear the case en banc (meaning all 2nd Circuit judges, not just the 3 that will issue an opinion in the coming weeks, would hear the case); this option is reserved for highly important cases and is unlikely to occur in the present case 2) he can appeal to the Supreme Court. If he does appeal to the Supreme Court, the litigation will take a minimum of a year or so. By that point he will have completed his junior year of college (or at least by the right age), so the age limit will no longer apply to him. Thus his case will be moot.
Basically, Clarett's challenge of the NFL's age limit all hinges on the 2nd Circuit's forthcoming opinion, which seems likely to go against him. We'll see.
posted by Kyle Still 11:18:22 PM
Monday, April 05, 2004
2004 Major League Baseball Predictions
Today, for all intents and purposes, is Opening Day for Major League Baseball. It's become a tradition here at the Kyle Still Free Press to pick the races, and I see no reason not to continue that tradition. (Here are the 2002 and 2003 editions if you're interested).
AL East 1. New York Yankees 2. Boston Red Sox 3. Baltimore Orioles 4. Toronto Blue Jays 5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
AL Central 1. Chicago White Sox 2. Minnesota Twins* 3. Kansas City Royals 4. Detroit Tigers 5. Cleveland Indians
AL West 1. Anaheim Angels 2. Oakland A's 3. Seattle Mariners 4. Texas Rangers
NL East 1. Philadelphia Phillies 2. Atlanta Braves 3. Florida Marlins 4. New York Mets 5. Montreal Expos
NL Central 1. Chicago Cubs 2. Houston Astros* 3. St. Louis Cardinals 4. Milwaukee Brewers 5. Pittsburgh Pirates 6. Cincinnati Red
NL West 1. San Diego Padres 2. San Francisco Giants 3. Arizona Diamondbacks 4. Los Angeles Dodgers 5. Coloraco Rockies
* - wild card
NLDS
Astros over Phillies Cubs over Padres
ALDS
Yankees over Twins Angels over White Sox
NLCS Astros over Cubs
ALCS Yankees over Angels
World Series Yankees over Astros
AL MVP - Alex Rodriguez AL Cy Young - Bartolo Colon
NL MVP - Jim Thome NL Cy Young - Kerry Wood
posted by Kyle Still 4:03:50 PM
Kyle Still is a senior Political Science major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He hails from Durham, North Carolina, and he is currently writing his honors thesis on the Ninth Amendment.
