Editor's note: The following column contains ranting, allegations, opinions, monstrosities, theories, idiosyncrasies, babbling and ballyhoo which do not represent the views of The State News, or the writer, for that matter. • George W.
Why does the State News continue to run John Bice's editorials ("Religion and mental instability an extremely dangerous combination," SN 05/24)? I think by now that we all understand Mr. Bice is an atheist who feels that those who believe in God are irrational fools.
Does being a journalist mean you dislike President George W. Bush, or does disliking our president qualify you to be an accredited journalist? For that matter, why should anyone believe what a journalist has to say if it's readily apparent that the scribe has a vendetta for Bush?
The unemployment rate in Michigan has historically been higher than the U.S. rate, and has caused many of the state's college graduates to fear for their future or to look elsewhere for employment opportunities. However, with an announcement by Gov.
"In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take religion more seriously than the practitioners." That quote, attributed to Jonathon Miller, seems true for many atheists these days.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em, Michigan. Your worst fears of hefty state taxes on cigarettes are quashed, and we're so happy that we could cough up a lung. Not on the merit that smoking is a positive activity, of course.
Tax evaders beware: You are unpatriotic. April 15 has come and gone. What a relief to millions of private Americans, and also to public corporations, which have a whole year to talk to their lawyers and accountants and plan how to avoid taxes in 2005.
Probably every individual at the university has at one time or another put some thought into the State of Michigan's double whammy decision to cut the amount of funding that MSU received this current school year.
If you were ever an avid fan of "Sesame Street," you might remember the public television slogan: "Libraries are the future." Tuesday, at a meeting of the City Council, the fate of the East Lansing Public Library was in jeopardy when it and the repair of city streets and sidewalks were on the chopping block for funding. However, the future of the library was insured by $50,000 in budget funding to aid in the updating of the institution. The decision to continue this level of excellence is an important step in the promotion of the city as an accessible place for interested scholars, especially youth. As a city where a respect for the arts is significant, East Lansing is further establishing itself among the world of the literate by allowing of the library to flourish and putting the demands of the streets and sidewalks second. The East Lansing Public Library has always aimed its faculties toward the future, and even in its mission statement it pledges to "facilitate and promote lifelong learning." And with the funding provided by the city, the library will have new materials and be more up-to-date. The resulting increase in possible tourism and appeal to potential incoming residents as a result of an updated library could in fact promote enough revenue to later be used in the repairs of streets and sidewalks. In this way, the City Council is not only doctoring the library, it is planning for the future.
This is in response to Janet Page's letter "Skyrocketing gas prices halt travel" (SN 5/18). Three words: quit yer whinin'! Some of us travel more than 1,800 miles a year for leisure and work and have no plans on stopping as gas prices fluctuate but steadily increase faster than the admissions grade-point average into the Eli Broad College of Business.
Robert McFadden's complaint about a mathematics professor (Nazarov) who gives low grades ("Profs to blame for low test scores," SN 5/17) shows how uninformed many students are about their own mathematical abilities.
Who is holding the smoking gun responsible for regular, unleaded self-serve gas prices topping $2.009 per gallon? President Bush says that if his energy bill had passed three years ago, we wouldn't be in this mess.
Americans today detest inconvenience. In fact, in recent years we, as a nation, have become addicted to the sort of commercialism that depicts someone with the ability to drive an elephant-sized sport utility vehicle, talk on a microscopic cell phone, drink a double grande machiato with no foam, and order a super-sized drive-thru meal with a diet Coke all while using a Palm Pilot to order the latest pair of cargo pants from the Gap. Is this simply a revolution in multitasking, or have the intentions of convenience become the vehicle for a less-than-convenient lifestyle? It seems that with every new convenience innovation, the time allotted for normal everyday tasks diminishes. With the capability to conference call while flying first class to Beijing to seal the deal, employers today allow less time and/or leniency to their on-the-go employees.
While reading the letter to the editor, "Mayo robbery article should have said race" (SN 4/30), I was surprised to learn that State News policy prohibits the publication of race in a criminal act.
What is it about May 17 that makes it host to triumph over civil rights struggles? On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled the "separate but equal" facilities of segregated public schools were unjust.
Each year we travel about 1,800 miles, but seeing that gas companies keep moving gas prices up, I and most of the people I know are not planning to travel outside of Michigan - or outside of town.
In the realm of popular culture, certain axioms repeat their validity as the years roll on. Young people will celebrate the styles and fashions of 20 years previous in an attempt to create unique identities.
This is in response to the State News, front page article "Risk vs.
What a cop out, what a crock: Editor's note: It is the practice of The State News to not identify the race of accused, at-large suspects unless other descriptive factors exist that will narrow down the list of suspects substantially.
Could (MSU President M. Peter) McPherson possibly have worse timing? On a day dedicated to celebration for the graduating seniors and their friends and family, our esteemed president has to steal the limelight by announcing plans for his retirement at the university's convocation ceremony.