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[Baffler]

So something called the University of [Redacted] Divest campaign started sending me emails. They want the university to stop doing business with companies that do business in the contested parts of Israel/Palestine and therefore contribute to the Israeli settlement programs in those areas. It at least resembles a good idea on the surface, but on the list of companies to stop doing business with are giants like General Electri and Hewlett-Packard, among others, who're are essential to keeping the university running. If they were to stop doing business with them, I wonder if the university could find a replacement with the logistical capability to handle their needs. Student Government seems to have similar concerns, and decided not to act on the movement's requests. It should be interesting to see how it plays out, but I'm almost certain it'll die there before it ever gets to the desk of anyone remotely relevant.

It seems I was wrong. Just yesterday student government passed their proposal by a margin of 21 to 4. The full list of companies to be divested from is CEMEX, General Atomic, Hewlett-Packard, Proctor & Gamble, and Rolls-Royce. I wondered at first why it passed so easily when it didn't even make it to a vote before, then I went and found it and discovered this little gem had been added to the second to last paragraph.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Student Government urges the UT Foundation managers to divest, as soon as such divestment may be accomplished without injury to UT’s investment interests.

Emphasis mine. It passed by such a wide margin because the University can safely do very little while still adhering to the letter and spirit of the proposal. One of the four who voted against the proposal is bringing a vote of no confidence, but it seems unlikely that she is doing anything but posturing (for who, I wonder? Even when they're doing controversial stuff not many people pay student government much attention.) This is the only thing student government has done in recent memory that people cared enough about to go to their meeting anyway. Now it just remains to be seen what the administration thinks of it.

[Aklyon]

So basically its 'Hey, this is bad. You should stop helping them in the future when its doable and everyone's probably forgotten about this proposal'?

[Frumple]

Nah, it's, "Hey, this is bad. But you don't actually have to do anything about it. Ever."

"Without injury" is a pretty much impossible goal. Even if there's a net gain from such action, there would still be injury. Which means it'll never happen. Never be able to happen, unless the companies in question spontaneously dissolve into the aether.

And this, kind student government, is why you actually be careful with your wording when making stuff like that

[nenjin]

"Make a big fuss about how morally you're opposed, but do nothing in the interim."

Sounds like they're well-prepared for a life in real politics.

[MonkeyHead]

FFS.

Some parents are assholes.

I find myself summoned to a "disciplinary panel" to defend myself tomorrow thanks to a parent complaining about the quality of my subject delivery. This is despite her performing 25% better in my course than any others, me having evidence to support not only the quality of my work (including detailed and dated content list) but also the pupils under-performance compared to her peers. The parents main allegation surrounds what the student in questions parents consider to be the quality and quantity of the resources provided to her - they claim that what they are looking at is not good enough. This is despite the fact that I have in my possession the girl in questions course material, and have done for 2 weeks as part of a review relating to her under-performance. They literally have nothing in their possession to base such accusations on. Something smells bad - and I suspect it is the bullshit she is feeding them as part of an non-objective grudge against me. They are probably swallowing it up as their perfect princess (who has been warned she faces action of her own after being found to be homophobically bullying my best friend...)... GRRR ANGER!

Of course, abundant empirical evidence means nothing to crying parents who have already had 2 complaints against other staff members rejected the last few years, and 2 prior complains against me I had no idea about already thrown out. So, arguing my case it is tomorrow. Fuckers.

[flame99]

Here's hoping you successfully defend yourself.

[Graknorke]

It's tomorrow.

[GiglameshDespair]

Well, seems like you've got a pretty solid position there, so I wouldn't worry too much.

[flame99]

It's tomorrow.

Dammit, autocorrect changed defend to defended. I knew that.

[Neonivek]

... Neo, John A. MacDonald WAS the first Prime Minister. He helped create the damn office. What do you think he was instead? And who was the first?

It is a complicated answer, because the position he was in wasn't called the "Prime Minister" and if we go to the first person actually in a position called "Prime Minister" then someone had that position after him.

If we are going for someone with the position "equivalent" to Prime Minister, then it is someone before even him.

Him being the first Prime Minister is mostly a creation caused by Canada's Grand Narrative.

I can find names if you want, but I'd have to dig through a few books of mine.

[BlitzDungeoneer]

What the fuck did I just watch.

[GiglameshDespair]

... Neo, John A. MacDonald WAS the first Prime Minister. He helped create the damn office. What do you think he was instead? And who was the first?

It is a complicated answer, because the position he was in wasn't called the "Prime Minister" and if we go to the first person actually in a position called "Prime Minister" then someone had that position after him.

If we are going for someone with the position "equivalent" to Prime Minister, then it is someone before even him.

Him being the first Prime Minister is mostly a creation caused by Canada's Grand Narrative.

I can find names if you want, but I'd have to dig through a few books of mine.

That's odd. He's recorded as the inaugural member of Canada's Prime Ministership.

[Rolan7]

From another forum I browse: http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=62B4FDF5-C8F8-4674-9C2B-08E9A0E7E908

Yep, that's right. The Senate Judiciary Committee puts together a press release the equal of what your 13 year old brother or sister could whip up with 20 minutes of access to Buzzfeed.

Holy crap.  I generally believe in immigration law enforcement but that page is completely disgusting.  Possibly the worst advertisement I've ever seen...  And from flipping house.gov.

Whatever they're proposing exactly, I find myself hoping it fails.  Which isn't rational, but...  Yeesh.  Looks like trite anti-Obama rhetoric anyway.

[SealyStar]

House Republicans are literally Buzzfeed.

Alright, now even I will say the US is fucked. It's just as well The Colbert Report is over, because we've reached peak Republican where nothing can be done to mock them anymore.

[SquatchHammer]

What the fuck did I just watch.

Paula Deen High.....