Drudge Distort

This is a screencap from today's Drudge Report.

Hey kids, here's a SAT word association question for you.

Question: Matt Drudge is to "responsible journalist" as Sarah Palin is to:

Answer: "qualified candidate."

Express Elevator

Why am I now flashing on that line from Aliens?: "We're on an express elevator to hell - Going down!"

Stephen's Meat Products Neon Sign

While the Stephen's Meat Products building has been demolished and the land transformed into a parking lot, its famed neon pig was saved. That was nice enough, even though it hadn't been lit in months. Then a few nights ago I was heading home and saw -- the return of the dancing pig! Why San Jose is maintaining this thing, lighting it up at night... I haven't a clue. But I'm glad to share the good news: The neon pig dances again.

Trouble viewing the video? Visit this site and select "view in high quality" for best image: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InICmKLQRKA

Do you know more about the decision-making process that led to the sign being lit again? Post a comment!

Live Blog - First 2008 Presidential Debate

As you can see, I live-blogged this debate, and I surely made some mistakes in grammar and spelling (and even fact). Time permitting, I'll revise this document a tiny bit.

6:00: An empty stage...

6:03: Well, they say that 80 percent of life is just showing up. And after the silliness afflicting Washington and Wall Street this week, I'm amazed that both candidates are on stage. After some strange days, after months and months of endless electioneering, this campaign is finally reaching its culmination: a debate about America's future.

6:03: Moderator Jim Lehrer asks, "where do you stand on the economic recovery plan." Obama speaks first.

6:04: Obama speaks directly into the camera, "$700 billion dollars is potentially a lot of money." Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with you there.

6:05: Obama adds his note about an economic foundation that led to this current crisis being "supported by Senator McCain." First shiv of the night.

6:07: McCain on the greatest fiscal crisis in our time: "And I've been around a little while."

6:08: Lehrer: "Let's go back to my question..."

6:09: Obama pivots away from the question and returns to the attack, "how is it that we shredded so many regulations."

6:10: McCain adds, "I also warned . . . a lot of us saw this train wreck coming."

6:10: What's with the Eisenhower references?

6:10: McCain notes that Eisenhower wrote a letter of resignation about the failure (were it to happen) of the Normandy landing. I've read that letter. Was it a resignation? Or just an acceptance of blame? I recall the latter. [Here's the document.]

6:12: Lehrer: "Say it directly to him." Nice.

6:13: I get tired of wealthy politicians talking about "folks." Is it just me?

6:13: McCain: "I have a fundamental belief in the goodness and strength of the American worker." Bold, bold talk, you maverick, you.

6:14: McCain refuses (yet, at least) to mount an attack. When asked about fundamental differences between himself and the candidate, he complains again about how "we came to change Washington, and it changed us."

6:15: Again with that line, "I will make them famous."

6:16: McCain ends with an attack on Obama's earmarks. Obama turns on McCain's tax cuts for wealthy Americans.

6:17: Obama promises tax cuts for people trying to "fill up on gas that is killing them."

6:18: McCain on Obama's earmarks: "Maybe to Senator Obama that's not a lot of money." Yuck.

6:19: Obama interrupts, "I don't know where Senator McCain is getting his figures."

6:19: Obama turns to McCain, "You are neglecting people who are really struggling right now."

6:20: McCain responds to Lehrer's invitation to respond to Obama by... explaining the cost of high taxes on American businesses to Lehrer.

6:21: One of McCain's advisors needs to tell the candidate to stop using the phrase "my friends" as a comma.

6:22: Obama reaffirms: "95 percent of you will get a tax cut." For some reason, though, he chooses not to chide McCain on his previous definition of "rich" as making about 5 million dollars.

6:23: Obama talks about "workin.'" Dropping your 'gs doesn't make you down with the folks, senator.

6:23: McCain: "This is a classic example of walking the walk and talking the talk."

6:25: Obama calls McCain on a tax plan that gives oil companies more benefits.

6:25: McCain smiles at Obama as if he's dealing with an errant kindergartener.

6:26: Lehrer: What will you have to give up to pay for the $700 billion plan?

6:27: Obama pivots again, turning to what he wants to do: freedom from middle-east oil and fixing our ailing health care system.

6:28: . . . broadband lines into rural areas...

6:28: Lehrer: What priorities would you adjust, Senator McCain?

6:28: McCain: Senator Obama has the most liberal voting record in the senate.

6:29: McCain: We need to cut spending. Even defense spending. "I saved the taxpayers $6.8 billion by fighting a contract..."

6:30: Lehrer responds: Neither one of you seem to have made any changes because of the bailout.

6:31: Obama: "John's right. We need to make some cuts."

6:31: Obama: Being "wildly liberal" is mostly opposing George Bush's wrongheaded policies.

6:32: Lehrer: "One of you is going to be president." One gets the sense that he's a little depressed by both choices.

6:33: Obama: A spending freeze is using a "hatchet when you need to be using a scalpel."

6:33: McCain: We need to have off-shore drilling and nuclear power.

6:34: Lehrer is grinding on: Won't this bailout change your presidencies in some way?

6:35: Obama used the "d" word: Depression.

6:36: "McCain: Obama's health care plan amounts to handing health care to the federal government.

6:37: McCain: "I have plans to reduce . . . unnecessary spending." To which Obama notes, "It's your president" who has presided over these budgets.

6:38: McCain returns to the I-am-not-Miss-Congeniality line: an old favorite.

6:39: Lehrer asks about the Lessons of Iraq. McCain proposes that failed strategies lead to failure. Makes sense to me.

6:40: Obama returns to his old-standby. "I opposed the war when it was politically risky to do so."

6:42: Obama: "We took our eye off the ball."

6:43: McCain sticks the blade: Obama was wrong on the surge, despite all evidence to the contrary. He never went to Iraq. He's never had a hearing.

6:43: Unlike some presidential candidates, Obama can say, I'm very proud of my vice presidential running-mate.

6:44: Obama: "John, you like to pretend that the war started in 2007." You were wrong . . . You were wrong . . . You were wrong.

6:45: McClain: "I'm afraid Senator Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy." Snarl!

6:46: Obama needs to stop staring at the moderator as if to ask, "Are you going to stop this lunatic?"

6:47: Obama: "I absolutely understand the difference between tactics and strategy."

6:48: Obama flexes: "... so we can capture and kill" Osama.

6:49: McCain drips a bit of sarcasm: "I understand why Senator Obama was surprised..."

6:50: Lehrer: "Having resolved Iraq, let's go to Afghanistan."

6:51: Obama on the comparative numbers of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, "And that is a strategic mistake." He's not going to let go on that word.

6:53: McCain is now berating Obama for threatening strikes in Pakistan. Not for launching them, but for threatening them.

6:54: Can you imagine a McCain candidacy without General Petraeus?

6:55: Obama: "We should take 'em out."

6:57: McCain: "I don't think that Senator Obama understands..." Just a tiny bit of condescension here.

6:58: Obama is unwisely allowing McCain to run down a litany of "I have a record" bullet points

6:59: McCain is now on autopilot and Obama is a bystander.

7:00: Oh God. "I've got a bracelet too." Dueling bracelets!

7:01: Obama reminds the audience: The issue is judgment as well as experience.

7:01: McCain is again on the attack: Obama hasn't traveled adequately to Afghanistan.

7:02: McCain: "Senator Obama doesn't seem to understand..."

7:03: Turning to the threat from Iran.

7:03: McCain: Iran is an existential threat to Israel. What would Camus say?

7:04: Why does it seem that "straight talk express" only makes stops in banaltown, clicheville, and obviousland?

7:04: What the hell is a "League of Democracies"?

7:06: Obama does some damage control. "The single thing that has strengthened Iran is the war in Iraq."

7:07: Obama anticipates cooperation with Russia and China. Yeah, that's going to happen.

7:08: Oh no. Here comes the old "without preconditions" line. Ooops - McCain really should avoid trying to pronounce Ahmadinejād.

7:09: Obama: I'll meet with anyone if it'll keep us safe.

7:10: Obama uses McCain's advisor, Henry Kissinger, against him.

7:11: Obama has been reading the paper. North Korea, once proof that we've got a grip on things, proves that just about no one takes the U.S. seriously.

7:12: Obama nails McCain on his forgetting that Spain is both (a) in Europe, not in the Americas and (b) an ally.

7:14: Obama keeps pronouncing the Iranian president's name properly. He's been practicing.

7:15: Again with the "my friends" line.

7:17: Obama sounds pretty darned nuanced in his analysis of the U.S.-Russia relationship.

7:19: McCain, accusing Obama of naïveté: "I looked in Putin's eyes, and I saw three letters: K-G-B."

7:21: McCain is dropping the names! "Watch Ukraine." Geek slogan of the night?

7:21: Once more, Obama largely agrees with McCain.

7:21: McCain has done a good job of clearing away some of the cobwebs that his previous gaffes hung over him.

7:23: Obama: "We cannot drill our way out of the problem." I've got a plan...

7:24: Obama claims the "walk the walk/talk the talk mantle." Look at McCain's record.

7:24: McCain claims that Obama is for nuclear power, but against reprocessing and storing. That was tacky.

7:25: The candidates talk over each other until Obama turns once more to the boss: Jim Lehrer.

7:26: Last question: What are the chances of another 9/11?

7:26: McCain is taking credit for the 9/11 commission.

7:28: Will Obama get a chance to reply?

7:28: "Two minutes, Senator Obama." Back to the threat of suitcase nukes.

7:29: The basic thesis of Obama's campaign: The other guys are keeping their eyes off the ball. Will it work?

7:30: Obama: "We are less respected now . . . We have a lot of work to do in the next administration."

7:30: Obama refers to a shining "beacon" on a hill. I think he's referring to "shining city on a hill."

7:31: McCain's basic thesis tonight: Obama doesn't get it. We can't turn our country over to him.

7:32: Obama on China: The conspicuousness of their presence is only matched by our absence. Nice line.

7:34: McCain: There are some advantages to experience and judgment. Rorrrw!

7:34: McCain: "I know the veterans and I know them well."

7:35: McCain: "I don't need any on-the-job-training. I'm ready to go right now."

7:36: Obama is shifting somewhat awkwardly from his personal narrative to our national exigency.

7:36: For those of you who placed bets on how long it would take for McCain to cite his POW experiences, I'm calling it: 1 hour and 36 minutes.

7:37: Jim Lehrer: "And that ends our debate tonight."

So, who won?

That's a tough question to answer. In these debates, politicians rarely depart from their scripted patter; there's just so little genuine clash of ideas.

Moreover, many observers score victory by recalling the most memorable quip, as if our next president should inspire an "Oh, snap!" to earn our confidence.

Me? I'd prefer to evaluate a debater's broader ability to attack and defend at the level of policy. From that criterion, I'd award more points to Obama. He demonstrated a broader, deeper, and more nuanced understanding of the problems we face.

Still, John McCain was more effective in maintaining the attack on his opponent's comparative experience.

Bottom line: Supporters will find reason to find plenty of good news for their candidates either way.

Pushing the Pile

Today marks the beginning of the end of a multi-year process aimed toward my promotion to the rank of full professor.

For those readers who may not know, there are several steps along the path of advancement for tenure-track professors. In my case, the process began in 1998 when I was hired as an assistant professor of communication studies, an entry-level position for folks completing a doctorate and planning a career of teaching, research, and service. As an assistant professor, I did pretty much everything that any other professor does. But I knew always that colleagues were assessing whether they made the right call in hiring me. Tenure is a lifelong commitment; they have to be sure.

Fortunately, my university provides several opportunities to receive feedback on progress toward tenure. On the second and fourth year, candidates are asked to produce detailed dossiers of work to date, and they receive feedback from every level of university governance. Moreover, candidates receive more observations from their local department and college each odd year. No one wanders in the dark about this process.

In fall 2003 I submitted my dossier (copies of syllabi, teaching evaluations, peer observations, copies of published work, conference presentations, evidence of service to the university, field, and world beyond, and more) for tenure and promotion to associate professor. Thanks to the guidance of departmental colleagues, my dossier passed muster and I received the final OK at the end of the spring 2004 semester.

That's right. The final review process, from department to college to university to provost and president to board of trustees, takes a full academic year.

Since I did my best to follow Ray McKerrow's maxim during my probationary period, "when in doubt, act tenured," I observed little difference in my day-to-day life after receiving that promotion. I could serve on more committees and I got paid a bit more, but otherwise I remained pretty much the same guy who shows up to class in tacky aloha shirts.

However, I did note how the obligation to balance individual academic freedom with a focus on the needs of the larger community becomes more real, more tangible, after tenure. Reaching this point of job security is no license to goof off. It's a call to tackle ever more leadership on and off campus, to take responsibility for a university I call my own.

In the years from 2004 until now I've worked to earn advancement to this culminating point. I think I've been more productive since getting tenure than before. Perhaps I just couldn't stop thinking about the next dossier. But I prefer to imagine that I simply acculturated myself to the demands and delights of professorial life. And now it's time to undergo one final year of intense evaluation.

The paperwork is gathered (now including more external review, more articles and books, and even more piles of internal documentation), the pages are hole-punched, and the binders are organized. From the loose pile of paper you see in the photograph above, I've completed a bound dossier that looks fit for review.

It's amazing to think of all those years-old letters of observation and student responses and yellowed newspaper clippings that have endured to this point. I can't even imagine how I'd respond if a fire had swept its way through my file cabinet… We're talking about a thousand pieces of paper, some easily downloadable, some existing only in one copy. I never did count the total, but it's a lot. Finally it's all put together.

Now I can begin to relax. A little. After years of preparation and weeks of editing, my dossier is off my desk and working its way through the university. While I cannot guarantee the results of this process, I have submitted my work with confidence that this department has given me a fair chance to make the case.

I hope I'll have good news next May.

May 22 Update: The letter I received this morning started with "Congratulations!" I'm delighted to report that my promotion to full Professor is effective August 20.

Come back, John McCain!

So, apparently the nation's economy is swirling down the drain, dragging much of the world with it. Oil prices are gyrating wildly (but trending toward outer space), the dollar continues to sink, and millions of people are still clearing the debris of yet another hurricane. Now is clearly the time for John McCain to "suspend" his presidential campaign and race back to Washington for a photo-op.

Yeah, that's what we need.

Perhaps I'm being unfair. Maybe the GOP nominee genuinely feels that his insight into derivatives and stock-swaps is critical to cleaning this mess. This candidate who recently admitted that he really doesn’t know much about the economy is now threatening to bring a whole new storm to Washington: a press corps looking for news amid the tedium of real policy-making.

Only incidentally do we awaken this morning to Senator McCain setting up a new string of attack ads against his opponent. Speaking at the Clinton Summit, McCain opined that there's no time for frivolity, that the "real debate" transcends politics. Sure, the commercials have been pulled. But the edit suites are humming with fresh vitriol.

I'm with David Letterman on this one [video pops in new page]: something smells. The very candidate who marched lockstep with the president, assuring voters that the economy is sound, the one rightly suffering in declining poll numbers for such cluelessness, doesn't want to debate a strengthening opponent. At least not on a debate floor.

Time to seize the high ground.

Here's the problem. Although Senator McCain claims that he is putting country first, the candidate is clearly trying to paint his opponent as a politician in an age that demands statesmanship. It's a campaign funded by the taxpayers. And it stinks. Sure, we tolerate our candidates skipping votes to raise money in the endless campaign. But shouldn't we draw the line at a candidate who would transform the senate floor into a commercial studio?

This is the sad fact. Our economy is sufficiently screwed up - experts refer to this crisis as a once-in-a-lifetime event - that Barack Obama and John McCain are rightly marginalized. We don't demand their expertise, because they have little to offer. Better that they debate the broad parameters of the various solutions on the table and leave the details to the experts.

Senator McCain, here's what you should do: Find a glimmer of hope, some justification for reversal, and un-suspend your campaign. Our presidents must be multitaskers-in-chief, able to walk and chew gum at the same time. And the American people need to hear their political leaders debate the issues that confront our nation. Demonstrate our resilience, our ability to trudge forward, to those who believe that our nation is falling apart. Get back where you belong.

The election is fast approaching, and a critical mass of Americans still aren't sure which way to vote (amazing, but true). That's why, senator, you should return to the campaign trail and make your case. Eat stale pie at some small town diner. Entertain some bizarre question about riparian rights at a town hall meeting. Kiss a baby for the photographers. Just stay out of Washington.

That place needs real help.

Free Sarah Palin

CNN's Campbell Brown offers a clever twist on the "sexist treatment of Sarah Palin" argument...



Difficulty seeing the video, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSNkloIFTQ0