All The More Reason

Some educators had the bright idea of lying to their students convincing them that some of their classmates had died in a car accident due to drunk driving. It was all a hoax in order to scare them about the dangers of drunk driving. Boy who cried wolf mean anything?

I thought this quote effectively demonstrated how a young mind can be confused by this sort of tactic:

“You feel betrayed by your teachers and administrators, these people you trust,” said 15-year-old Carolyn Magos. “But then I felt selfish for feeling that way, because, I mean, if it saves one life, it’s worth it.”

I’d say you ought to stick with your first instinct on this one: you were betrayed and it doesn’t matter if it saves a life or not – they’ve helped lower the quality of life of those at the school.

Ever wondered what the front pages of 100s of newspapers looked like? Wonder no more.

Here’s a link to Nigel Kennedy playing a mean Vivaldi – the first movement to the Winter Concerto. Powerful stuff.

Here’s an interesting take on the West’s perception of Bhutto compared to some of her own countrymen.

How big, for example, is the gap between the Western perception of Hamid Karzai, the well-spoken, well-meaning, liberalizing president of Afghanistan, and the perception of his Afghan countrymen? So far, attention has focused on how Bhutto’s assassination might affect the course of events in Pakistan. My wish, for 2008, is that it not be a harbinger of what is to come elsewhere.

Mr. Richard Caborn (Sheffield, Central) (Lab):

I beg to move,

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:

Most Gracious Sovereign,

We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom and Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

Interesting interview with Hirsi Ali on the French 20 heures this evening. She was accompanied by the French spokeswoman for human rights, whose name escapes me right now.

J.S.