The O'Hara Factor

Moving forward

2006-08-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

Amid all this categorizational stuff, I've decided to make a switch.

First off, I'm moving over to the blogging service Blogsome. It's based on WordPress, and it allows file uploads and template editing. That's really all I need in a blogging service.

Secondly, the blog will no longer be known as The O'Hara Factor. Amid feeling really awkward introducing myself as the author of "The O'Hara Factor", and with the will to start a group blog again, I'm resurrecting an old name I've never been able to beat: The Arizona Growler.

Don't expect any new posts here as I intend to populate The Arizona Growler with posts as fast as I have here. If you're interested in contributing, see the welcome page over there. Thanks for the fun. See you over at The Arizona Growler.

Medler charges dropped for now

2006-08-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Wildcat reported some time ago that IFC president Robert Medler's charges of theft via official credit card have been dropped. I expect a civil settlement instead, as Medler does admit his guilt.

Tags!

2006-08-07T14:34:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to set up categories on here, so bear with me as I get these tags working. Looks like Technorati's not working fast enough to get the thingers working, so I'll have to take some embarassing semi-dead links for a little while.

File this in the opinions section

2006-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm guessing what was formerly known in the Arizona Daily Wildcat as "GoWild" is now known as "Heat Wave". Just what we need: another reference to the fact that weather in Tucson is hot. No crap.

And while I've never paid much attention to the section of either title, it's starting to look more like these things belong on the opinions page. Either that, or Heat Wave is some degenerated version of it (much like some of the mailbags).

Exhibit #1 is heaping praise upon the Dry River Collective and its moral and cultural degeneracy.

Tucson has earned its place on the map for having a socially conscious community and an accepting atmosphere. With alternative lifestyles like the gay and lesbian scene being openly embraced and the recent peaceful protests for humane immigration laws, the city has become a center of political freedom and a haven for knowledgeable citizens. One organization that promotes political awareness in downtown Tucson is the Dry River Collective, 740 N. Main St.

I'm only seeing this online, and I've previously noted significant differences between the print and online editions. At least online, this is not objective news. The Wildcat has every right to publish it, but please, please ensure it's labeled as COMMENTARY!

I suppose Exhibit #2 isn't disguised as objective news, but it too requires a commentary label. Perhaps the entire MSM should be concentrating on the recent attack in Seattle on a Jewish center by an obvious anti-Semitic radical Muslim rather than on a drunken Mel Gibson.

U.S. history versus the gened status quo

2006-08-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Arizona Republic reported two days ago regarding the possibility of requiring U.S. history at Arizona public universities.

Let there be no doubt: students are vastly undereducated regarding the history of our country, and there are not enough history professors to handle such a burden at UA right now. While the article only addresses these two issues, the current status of general education and academic bias at the university also come into play.

Students currently consider general education simply to be a burden upon what they really want to study before graduation. I doubt U.S. history courses will change that, but if the university wants to make room for such a possibility, general education will have to produce well-roundedness rather than burden and money drain.

Combined with the already-established academic bias of UA professors, what use are students going to gain from such Tier I or II courses as...?

INDV 102: Black and White: The Causes and Consequences (...)
INDV 102: Lesbian and Gay Studies (or we could treat people as individuals, too!)
*INDV 103: What is Politics? (at least under David Gibbs, promoted moral equivalency between Soviet Russian propaganda and that of the Reagan administration)
*JPN 245: Popular Culture in Japan (A course focused almost solely upon reading outdated, boring scholarly essays about popular art, not culture. Despite having taken four semesters of Japanese language and having been to Japan four times, this course was of no help.)
TRAD 101: The Africana Experience (stupid white men!!)
TRAD 104: Eroticism and Love in the Middle Ages (ooh, fun)

* Courses I've taken

Of course, there's good things about the general education courses as well. I give high marks to:

*INDV 101: Philosophical Perspectives on the Individual
*NATS 104: Nutrition, Food, and You
About to take TRAD 104: Justice and Virtue

The solution is simple. General education needs to be about things like classical philosphy and U.S. history, not sex and anime (but I repeat myself). After all, is there any use trying to find some way to blame it on the white man before actually studying history and philosophy?

New Afghani chief justice is UA-educated

2006-08-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

The end of Sharia law in Afghanistan may come from a UA-educated "technocrat", this according to the Pakistan News Service. Very good news indeed. This ought to rattle the "all cultures are equal" crowd. Let's see if UA has the guts to brag about it. I'll give them some time before levying specific criticism.

But in the meantime, we also have a professor facing jail time in Turkey for "insulting Turkishness." Instead, UANews covers a law professor getting a one-year appointment to the Nigerian president's cabinet.

There's more important news out there to report. Both the Wildcat and UANews totally missed the Shafak story, but the latter manages to brag about a temporary Nigerian cabinet post. Sure, the Nigeria story is newsworthy, but can we perhaps request some prioritization?

Hiatus day

2006-08-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

There's lots to write about and no time whatsoever. Expect something tomorrow. Thanks.

Update on Pac-10 cheerleading

2006-08-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Perhaps an actual cheerleader could clarify most of this terminology, but it looks like much of what cheerleaders do is now banned, this according to the Pac-10 itself.

Previous speculation stated that the conference would ban cheerleaders from stunts in which both feet leave the ground.

Previous:
Pac-10 set to ban cheerleading stunts

Missing the point of blogging

2006-08-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Via their listserv, I've just discovered the Arizona College Republicans blog (for the entire state, not just UA). Much like its predecessor operated by former chairman Pete Seat (to which I'd give a link if it wasn't now a splog), it entirely misses the point of blogging.

Political blogging is about independence, not a political party's line of propaganda. To paraphrase something I remember being posted on Pete Seat's blog, "I am yet to see one original thought here."

Then again, political blogging isn't about reputational self-destruction, either. (See "Google Bombs" at the bottom of the left column if curious.)

Update: You know your conservative organization is in trouble when it has a minority outreach coordinator.

Update 2 (August 4th): This must be the first time a "conservative" outlet has censored me. My comments are not there. Perhaps that's an overstatement.

Shafak to stand trial Sept. 21 in Istanbul court

2006-07-31T10:38:00.000-07:00

UA assistant professor Elif Shafak

from her website

UA assistant professor Elif Shafak's court date is September 21 in Istanbul according to a new report coming out of Turkey. According to the Guardian, nobody has been convicted under the law known as "Article 301", but the Arizona Republic notes that "Many authors, publishers and journalists have been charged under Article 301."

Looks like legal harassment rather than actual danger of jail. Nonetheless, it's completely unjust. Nothing heard from the university so far, even though it appears this has been going on for a while.

UA professor may be jailed in Turkey for practicing freedom of speech

2006-07-30T15:59:00.000-07:00

UA assistant professor Elif Shafak

from her website

The Arizona Republic reports today that Turkey may jail University of Arizona Near Eastern studies assistant professor Elif Shafak for up to three years for "insulting Turkishness" by criticizing Turkey's genocide of Armenians.

So far she's not jailed, but she has been interrogated by Turkish authorities and still could be jailed. Very distressing. Keep her in your prayers.

Update: Second link corrected.

What the Frisch?

2006-07-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Looks like Deborah Frisch doesn't know when to shut the hell up. Not that we didn't know that already, but still.

Now she's threatening to sue Jeff Goldstein. This is putting Goldstein in a lot of unjustified trouble; I think he should countersue. Either way, he's putting together a paper trail of Frisch's coorespondence.

That's why I repeatedly try to write to you by email, not on a blog. It is frustrating that you reply to every message "This is the seventh time I have asked you not to email me. Stop now." when my intention is to de-escalate the situation and also maybe sue you.

Some lawyer is going to be stupid enough to take up this case. Okay, so there already is apparently. No link.

Update: See Patterico for full details. Frisch was at it again earlier making sexual comments on Goldstein's blog and Ace of Spades HQ. Goldstein will probably sue/countersue; that's very good news IMO, but none of us wanted it to get this far either way.

UA makes valuable contribution to national security

2006-07-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

UA scientists are hopefully proving that terrorists hiding intelligence on the Internet is like a schoolchild hiding his bad report card under his dad's pillow. For all the arguments that UA 'scholars' make against national security, this is one contribution to it that I certainly welcome.

In contrast to the article's mention of white supremacists however, "Mike A." makes a good point to contrast "terrorism" from "hate" groups in the comments.

I think we need to make a differentiation between "terror" and "supremecy" or "hate" groups. The former uses violence and targets the innocent, the latter just hates people. As distasteful as that might be, terrorism is illegal, hating people is not.

The part I dislike about lumping these two things together, is that it is a subjective endeavor. It is probable that liberals would include Michael Savage or Rush Limbaugh in the latter group as well as pro-life groups as well as conservative groups doing the same with groups on the left.

Without some standard to separate these things, we are on a slippery slope that could very well affect some of our freedoms.

He's right, but these groups also ought to have enough personal responsibility not to post anything on the Internet they want public. Can you say Facebook?

Polling places sway votes both ways

2006-07-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

My polling place sticks water tanks in the desert for illegal aliens.

picture from Humane Borders website

According to a Daily Star article written by former Wildcat editor Daniel Scarpinato, the polling place in which people vote may sway votes one way or the other, that according to a Stanford University study.

Current reaction indicates that people think Scarpinato is part of some liberal conspiracy. From my recollection, Scarpinato's op-ed writings were very liberal indeed. That doesn't mean he can't be a fair journalist, though.

In fact, I've thought about this multiple times. For the time I've been registered in Pima County, my assigned polling place has always been First Christian Church, which regularly supports 'peace' marches and houses Humane Borders, an organization that sticks water tanks out in the middle of the desert for illegal immigrants.

So imagine walking into a polling place where there's a water tank for illegal immigrants outside. Bias, perhaps?

Students wait in line to vote inside ASUA's office spaces

Matt Robles / Arizona Daily Wildcat

The same principle ought to apply to ASUA as well. When ASUA put up its own early voting site, students voted just near an office responsible for lobbying the state legislature for increased education funding, feminist advocacy, and homosexual advocacy.

Does this condemn the elections process to become a home based process either via the Internet or mail? In a certain way I hope it does.

Clarification: First Christian Church is the polling place for all students living on the UA campus. While I spent my second and third years of school living off-campus, my polling place has remained the same.

Thoughts on the Middle East

2006-07-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Psalm 91

Wildcat Observations II

2006-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

A few observations of today's Arizona Daily Wildcat.

Claire Laurence | Arizona Daily Wildcat

Diverse Greek life?

The picture to the right depicts what I ultimately feel has been a consistently-proven stereotype of a University of Arizona sorority: lots of rich, blonde sexual objects. (Okay, so some might have made themselves blonde.) The equivalent fraternity pictures probably have a bunch of dirtbags with poppped collars. And I'm not even going to try going into the insult against the military that such regard for camouflage entails.

The individuals pictured all have the freedom of association guaranteed in the First Amendment. I'm no affirmative action supporter, but there's probably something wrong when the picture doesn't even have a single minority, let alone a black-haired white person.

So how do we fix Greek organizations' racial diversity problems? I know! Let's voluntarily create segregated racial sects!

While both chapter presidents admit that stereotypes exist of the greek community as predominately upper class and white, diversity on the UA campus is changing the face of greek life.

Several chapters have emerged which are oriented toward multicultural interests, addressing ethnic, religious and sexual-orientation issues.

"I think what's happening in the greek community is just a reflection of the general campus climate as well," said Ballinger, regarding the trend toward greek diversity.

Huh?

Union food still a rip-off

In an on-campus grocery store, students can purchase a 15-ounce box of Cheerios cereal for $5.89, but students could save more than $5 by heading to Target near East Broadway Boulevard and North Dodge Boulevard, where two boxes of Cheerios costs $4.99.

Mallory Yontz, a political science sophomore, said she used to shop at Highland Market because it was convenient and she didn't have a car to go off campus with.

"When I lived on campus I would go to Highland Market for lot of little things every day, like milk and cereal," Yontz said.

Jennifer Barclay, a pre-physiology senior, said she usually doesn't shop for anything other than books on campus.

"I think the grocery store on campus is a bit overpriced," Barclay said.

She said she usually shops at grocery stores, like Fry's or Albertson's, for her groceries.

"It's closer to my house, cheaper and I get more savings if I become a member," Barclay said.

I'm not sure if I agree with being a member of a supermarket considering how they keep track of your purchases on those darn cards. I'm not sure if the union does anything similar with the CatCards.

But six bucks for a box of Cheerios?

Film on academic bias seeks UA screening help

2006-07-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

On the Fence Films is nearing the release of Indoctrinate U, a film concerning American academic bias. I immediately contacted them when they mentioned screening films at college campuses: I want one at the UA.

One or more clubs on campus are needed in order to bring a screening together. How about the College Republicans? Or the Republicrats? Or ASUA itself?

We can do this, so let's make it happen. Contact me at gpohara[aat}gmail.com and I'll get you in touch with the appropriate people.

ASU Students for Life sues ASU over viewpoint discrimination

2006-07-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

From ASU Students for Life Photobucket site

The AP and others report that ASU's Students for Life club is suing ASU over attempting to keep two events from taking place. The group's website does not make mention of the lawsuit, but I did subscribe to their email list.

They also have photos of what I believe are the two events in question on their Photobucket site.

Good veto

2006-07-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Even regardless of my ethical sensibilities concerning destroying embryos, President Bush's veto of the stem cell bill was a good one. Now to get him to veto a spending bill.

Karen of Scottsdale has more info on the scientific applications of embryonic stem cells, deeming the concept junk science.

Brit Hume: "Professor [Frisch] goes postal"

2006-07-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Brit Hume's "Political Grapevine" reported on the Deborah Frisch affair last night, and reported on it quite well for the short period of time he had for it.

Download Video (ht: Ms Underestimated)

Frisch continues to dig a deeper hole for herself, having broken her second promise to disappear. Go see for yourself. From now on, I think I'll follow Patterico's current policy with regards to her blog: no link. I'm sick of this.

Daily Mildcat sugar-coats Frisch affair

2006-07-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Frisch made a comment referring to the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey, saying she wouldn't feel bad if Goldstein's son faced a similar fate. Frisch said that she now feels she "crossed the line."

It seems the Arizona Daily Wildcat kept it just as mild if not milder than the Tucson Citizen article.

The Wildcat has a long track record of being sexually crude in both article and advertisement content. Strip-club advertisements regularly run in the back pages. Advertisements from Campus Health Service entitled "Sex Talk" are a regular starter of crude conversation among students. A search in the Wildcat's online archives comes up with 317 web pages containing the F-word. (Note: The Wildcat recently switched servers, so you'll have to keep the search key in the format presented.)

Shall we look at those comments again?

I’d like to hear more about your “tyke” by the way. Girl? Boy? Toddler? Teen? Are you still married to the woman you ephed to give birth to the tyke?

Tell all, bro!

And

[...] as I said elsewhere, if I woke up tomorrow and learned that someone else had shot you and your “tyke” it wouldn’t slow me down one iota. You aren’t “human” to me.

[...]

So if you could just tell me the AGE and SEX of your “tyke,” I’d be stoked!

Thanx!

And

Ooh. Two year old boy. Sounds hot. You live in Colorado, I see. Hope no one Jon-Benets your baby.

Are you still married to the woman you humped to produce the toddler?

And

I reiterate: If some nutcase kidnapped your child tomorrow and did to her what was done to your fellow Coloradan, Jon-Benet Ramsey, I wouldn’t give a damn.

And

Give your pathetic progeny (I sure hope that mofo got good genes from his mama!) a big fat tongue-filled kiss from me! LOTS AND LOTS OF SALIVA from Auntie MOONBAT, if you don’t mind!

Somehow, Jeffy boy, I think you get off on the possibility of Frenching your pathetic progeny, even if it is a boy. You seem like a VERY, VERY sick mofo to me, bro.

And

You know, Jeff, I just don’t get it. You say, and I believe you, that a human female chose to procreate with you and you have produced a 2 year old progeny.

But you live in Colorado and I really can’t believe there are women desperate and/or stupid enough to procreate with the likes of you.

What am I missing, dude?

So the poor bitch is dirt poor and that’s why she pretended you were worthy of procreating with?

And

Just my two cents: The pathetic jeffy boy goldstein plays the jew card 24/7. Didn’t you notice?

THIS IS A CESSPOOL!!! GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!!!!

JEFF!!! DRINK THE KOOLAID AND LET YOUR WIFE RAISE THE little Goldstein Junior!

And

I am SHAKING, I tell you, SHAKING!!! in my boots at the prosect at an FBI and/or state police trooper tromping down my driveway to see if I was a threat to the progeny of the pissant name of Jeff “pissant” Goldstein of the pathetic, neutered, sissified, state of Colorado. I don’t give a rat’s ass whether the pissant’s progeny live or die, but I have no intention of snuffing the mofo’s chillen myself.

And

Still waiting for some words of wisdom (NOT!) from you, Jeffy boy!

Your little boot-lickers have had their say. What say you, king dingbat?!

Wanna escalate this game. Fine wit me.

Bring it on, hombre.

Bring it on.

Some double-standard.

Update: If you would like to contact the Arizona Daily Wildcat concerning their article, their contact email is letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Goldstein on the radio (as of 2:13pm AZ time)

2006-07-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

Jeff Goldstein is on the radio at AM 710 KIRO. Protein Wisdom has more detail, but the times are wrong for us Arizona people, as the interview started at 3:05pm Mountain Daylight Time, not Standard.

Update: Interview over. It's nice to hear it audibly from the source, however the interview didn't reveal much that we didn't know already (near as I could tell).

Update 2: Frisch writes that she's done "for a while." For the second time, of course. Is a while longer than a 6.5-hour-month?

Interfraternity Council president accused of stealing $18K

2006-07-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

In news unrelated to all that other stuff below, another individual at the U of Arizona is in trouble. The president of UA's Interfraternity Council is in jail now facing charges of stealing $18,000 using an organizational credit card between March and June.

Robert Thomas Medler told police he made numerous personal purchases and withdrawals from the IFC's bank account using a credit card he was issued as president, according to a search warrant return filed Monday in Pima County Superior Court.
The $18,035.38 in unauthorized charges, which stretched from March 10 through June 15, was discovered by the group's treasurer when he received the bank statements, according to court records.

This incident appears similar to that of Maceo Brown, who is accused of stealing $200,000 over a period of four years while working with the Arizona Students Association.

Frisch likes, Goldstein refutes Citizen article

2006-07-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

Deborah Frisch continues to comment on the affair, now declaring that the Tucson Citizen article is her "favorite." If the identity of the second commenter is true, then Jeff Goldstein is one to disagree, having written a long refutation of the article. No such refutation appears on the Arizona Daily Star article. (Note: I also had a problem with line breaks on the Tucson.com comment system.)

Just as I was writing this, Goldstein made a new post about the Citizen article. I left a comment on the post myself.

So this is why they call it the Tucson Comrade...

Frisch has also left a comment on my previous post that you should read.

Garrett,

I think you are the only UA student blogging about this issue so far.

I don't agree with everything you say, but you say it very well and of course, I am glad to see you using your first amendment.

Thanks for paying attention,

Deborah Frisch

If Frisch is only referring to the coverage of her dealings with Goldstein, then there isn't much there with which to disagree. Perhaps Frisch believes she's sorry, but she's not showing much of that shame. I'm confused. Somebody get me a psychologist. :-P

Frisch removes offensive image, continues commenting

2006-07-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Former UA psychology professor Deborah Frisch has updated her blog with a link here per my request. I figure the readers who see her response to me ought to be able to see my response back. Moreover, the post containing the image of "Count Cockula" is gone as I and others suggested, and Frisch continues to blog about the Goldstein affair, breaking her original promise not to comment on it for a month.

Perhaps "Walking in Memphis" might be an appropriate post if (and only if) she is truly sorry, but then she talks about forming a "discussion group" formed of those "fascinated by the workings of the mind of the count." Somehow, it seems Dr. Frisch still thinks she's blameless enough in all this to justify forming a discussion group of "moonbats" (Frisch's words) to figure out exactly why Jeff Goldstein isn't happy about how she has treated him and his family before and after the newsbreak. Clearly, the apology to Mr. Goldstein still isn't very sincere, and I am personally questioning the true sincerity of her apology to the university community as well.

Update: Might I add that she takes the time in the limelight to make a target of herself by mocking dead soldiers?

Update 2 (11 July): The Tucson Citizen now has a story up, but I say again: Frisch does not appear to be sorry. No matter what she says to a reporter over the telephone, the evidence on her blog still shows otherwise.