There’s some good conversations happening out there in the blogosphere that are worth checking into.  Here’s a few of them:

Over at his blog, Jay Greene comments on the new set of uniform national education standards proposed by a panel of “experts.”  If you think a one-size-fits-all approach is a good idea, why not see if your favorite novel made the recommended reading list?

Strangely,  Max Brantley over at the Arkansas Blog thinks he likes the national standards approach.  I am pretty sure Max has voiced his opposition to NCLB numerous times, yet now he says he likes the idea of national standards?  I thnk this illustrates the confusion people have with the abstract and the actual.  In the abstract, of course national standards sound good.  But when they are actually articulated it’s another story.

I don’t care at all to get into the debate about Diane whats-her-name’s opinion about school choice and NCLB.  The whole story, for the most part, lacks any substance.  It’s really more of a story of political alliances and betrayals and personal motivations and feelings. If I wanted that I’d be better served following the Tiger Woods saga.  That said, I have to give credit to Rick Hess for bringing some actual substance to the conversation over at his blog on EdWeek.

Locally, Jonah over at the Iconoclast blog is skewering Fayetteville’s Advertising and Promotion Commission over a lack of transparency.  Why does it matter?  Well, check out Ozark’s Unbound for a breakdown of how much money is being doled out, and who is receiving it.

As a parent, I’ve never been a huge Santa fan.  I do a lot of research and make a lot of  exhausting trips to the stores during Christmas to track down the items that will make my children happy come Christmas morning, and it’s always annoyed me that the guy in the red suit gets all the credit.

But the whole Santa enterprise got a lot more annoying this year.  During a trip to the Northwest Arkansas Mall, I discovered that parents are no longer allowed to take their own pictures of their kids sitting on Santa’s lap.

Obviously the mall and the guy in the red suit deserve to be compensated.  But, in the past, that compensation has always been indirect: The mall provides a Santa, I visit the mall as a result, and I inevitably spend some money while I am there.  I thought that was the deal.  And, if I want to snap a picture with my own little point-and-shoot camera that fits into my pocket, so what?  The lunch I bought my whole family at the food court should cover the 30 seconds my son spent with Santa.

Given how long this Christmas-time transaction has been implicit at malls, I was mildly annoyed (though not as annoyed as most of the parents I encountered) when I found that the Northwest Arkansas Mall was prohibiting parents from taking their own photos of their children with Santa.

I might have easily dismissed this act as yet another sign of the struggling economy and respected the tough decision the mall managers had to make.  That is, if myself and every other shopper hadn’t been insulted in the process.  Here is the sign the Santa Plus company had posted at the Santa Line:

Now, I would have had no problem with a straightforward sign that spelled out the policy.  Heck, I would have admired a brutally honest sign that said something like “your kids have snot noses and we’re trying to make a living here, so no personal cameras are allowed, Bub.”  But to cite safety?! If you’ve ever doubted how stupid some retailers think we are, you should make a mental note to never doubt again.  That is, unless you think a bit of Allspark might be loose in your local mall and could turn your camera into a killing machine.

And, in case you’re wondering how much they were charging for photos:  The cheapest item a parent could buy was a single 5×7 for $14.99, and the prices went up from there.  At these prices, you’d be better off buying your own Santa suit.

This is probably the last year Santa will be a part of my Christmas, simply because my kids are getting too old.  But I expect annoying policies like this one will cause a lot of other parents to reconsider whether or not this whole Santa business is even worth it.  I also think that retailers at the mall will eventually suffer as a result.

I would advise other parents to do what I did this year.  If the people who wrote that sign truly think that people are that stupid, then oblige them and play along.  I acted like I couldn’t even read when I pulled out my own camera and took my own picture of my son sitting on Santa’s lap.

We don’t actually have technical difficulties, but we’ll be taking a break from the interweb to enjoy the holidays.  You should quit wasting your time reading silly blogs and do the same! In the meantime, here’s a fun holiday video.

I’m glad the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers won the right to have their solstice exhibit displayed on the grounds of the state capitol. We are all fond of expressing our love for freedom, but sometimes we forget that freedom can be messy.  It can lead to dissonance and it can make people uncomfortable.  But the cost of removing that dissonance far outweighs the benefit.

If there’s one thing that’s clear about the bickering down in Little Rock, it’s that the reactions of people against the Freethinkers validate the actions of the Freethinkers.  The mere fact that people can get so bent out of shape when their monopoly on public space is threatened  is reason enough to threaten it.  I doubt that the Freethinkers would care to erect their own monument if they weren’t so appalled that so many forces were opposed to them exercising their right.

Disputes over public displays of religion are usually resolved in two ways.  Public displays can become areas where any form of expression is excluded, or areas where anything can be included.  Either nobody wins, or everybody wins.  The Freethinkers chose the latter approach, and it’s the right approach.  They didn’t attempt to remove any acts of expression, they simply insisted that they be given the same opportunity to be included.  It would be nice if their opponents extended them the same courtesy.

Nobody who is confident in their beliefs should be afraid to let their views freely compete in the marketplace of ideas.  The history of free ideas exemplifies the greatest example of a meritocracy that humans have ever achieved.  Good ideas  grow and flourish, and bad ideas whither and die.  And if you’re as right as you think you are, there’s nothing to worry about.

Of course, inclusion can have it’s drawbacks.  In an article where The Economist reported on the display in Little Rock, they accounted a similar chain of events:

The Arkansas Freethinkers do not want the Little Rock Nativity scene removed. They simply want the state to set up a “free-speech zone” and let them be part of it, along with Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. “The holiday is big enough to accommodate everyone,” says Tod Billings, a Freethinker.

Some say that this will lead to chaos. In Olympia, Washington, the capitol’s all-inclusive free-speech zone became hopelessly overcrowded. Even the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster mounted a display. This year the state has banned the lot. The only evidence of the holidays? An evergreen tree in the capitol’s rotunda. It’s definitely not a Christmas tree, mind.

Too bad.  I would’ve liked to have seen that Spaghetti Monster display.

On a related note, in an attempt to make fun of the Freethinkers, Arkansas blogger Jason Tolbert requested and got permission to add a Festivus display to the mix.  Word is, however, that he is chickening out and doesn’t plan on delivering the Festivus pole after all.

Come on, Jason, we all want to see you and the Freethinkers engage in a good old fashioned airing of grievances before one of you is pinned in the annual feats of strength!

UPDATE: The Dem-Gaz reported some good and bad developments about this issue today.  The bad: Rep. John Lowery, D-El Dorado, who is against the Freethinker’s display, called for the Arkansas Legislative Council to denounce the federal court’s ruling.  Lowery says he is “fearful,” and that “History tells us when this is allowed to happen in high places by people in authority this is what happens: Societies become chaotic, economies collapse and nations are taken over by other nations.” He added that lawmakers would be “cursed” if they didn’t voice their objections.  Too bad he didn’t provide any examples of the chaos and collapse he is referring to, because history seems to tell us the opposite.  There are many examples of societies that have collapsed when the state has the sole power to dictate one version of state sponsored truth.  On the other hand, governments that allow for greater economic and social freedom have flourished.  Someone should get Rep. Lowery a history book for Christmas.

The good:  Rep. Nancy Blount, D- Marianna, voted “no” on the resolution.  Blount said she was a Christian who believed in free speech: ” I think people ought to have the right to believe in whatever they want to believe in. The Constitution says we are allowed to do that.  We say we will uphold the Constitution when we are sworn in.  We would be double-talking to then turn around and say we were against the Constitution.”  Well said, Ms. Blount.

After losses to Morgan State, East Tennessee State, and South Alabama, and having to go into overtime to squeak by Appalachian State (all home games!), it’s likely that John Pelphrey will have to pull off a miracle to save his job this year.  I’m not saying I’ve given up on Razorback basketball, but all signs suggest this could  be one of the worst seasons in history.

So, while I hope Pelphrey turns things around, it’s realistic to start thinking about a replacement.  I think that replacement should be Mike Anderson, former assistant coach under Nolan Richardson and current coach at Mizzou.

It’s hard to say if Anderson would be interested in the job.  Arkansas had their chance at claiming Anderson, back in 2002 when Frank Broyles ran Nolan Richardson off.  Anderson had been at Arkansas with Nolan for 17 years, and he deserved a shot at the job.  But Broyles thumbed his nose at Anderson, who instead went to The University of Alabama at Birmingham where he coached the Blazers to 3 NCAA appearances and made it to the sweet sixteen in 2004 by upsetting #1 seed Kentucky.  Now he’s at Missouri. The Tigers went 31-7 last year (Arkansas was 14-16).

With Anderson, Mizzou has won 22 in a row at home and hasn’t lost a home non-conference game since the 2005 home opener.  The Tigers are now 33-0 in home non-conference games.  They recently beat Oregon 106-69.

The symptoms of Pelphrey’s problem have become obvious: He can’t recruit and retain quality players.  The cause of those symptoms is less clear.  How does one explain that out of six of last year’s highly touted recruits, only Rotnei Clarke currently plays for the Razorbacks?  Gone are Montrell McDonald, Andre Clark, Brandon Moore, Jason Henry, and, for the moment, Courtney Fortson.

With that many failures, it’s hard not to question Pelphrey’s abilities to manage young athletes.  For whatever reason, he can’t seem to keep players from bailing on him.  Some would argue that it is simply because he is a tough no-nonsense disciplinarian, but so are plenty of other coaches.  Maybe his disciplinary methods fail to address problems in a constructive way.  Perhaps he fails to gain the necessary respect of his players.  From the outside, it seems like his main source of doling out discipline is simply to suspend players from playing.  Surely there is a better way to help these young players grow and learn.

At any rate, if we end up in a coaching search come spring (and I think we will), we can only hope that Mike Anderson will still give us the time of day.  Hopefully it means something to him that Frank Broyles is no longer in charge, and that the vast majority of Arkansans never wanted him or Nolan to leave.

Besides, can you think of a better way to put Frank Broyles in his place than to bring ”the hell” back to Bud Walton?

I can’t.

Fayetteville High School students are participating in an annual ritual to raise money for less fortunate families in the district.  Here is the announcement from the district blog:

The annual FHS Student Council Homeless Vigil will be held on Thursday, December 3, beginning at 5 pm. The fund raising goal for the 2009 vigil is $11,000, and all proceeds go to help families in need in the Fayetteville School District. The students will sleep outside in makeshift shelters, warming themselves by a fire in a barrel. Donations of cash and non-perishable food items are greatly appreciated and may be dropped off at the vigil, which will be held in front of the FHS gym on Stone Street.

These students slept outside in the frigid temperatures last night and continue their vigil today.  The students had raised $6,400 toward their goal of $11,000 as of 10 am this morning.

These same students are also assisting with the blood drive at the high school today.

If you live or work in Fayetteville, please consider stopping by the high school to show your support for these kids and their causes.

UPDATE: FHS students raised $14k+!

Thursday, of course, was our national day of thanks.  Friday, then, was the national day of shopping.  When I turned on my TV Saturday morning, I was surprised to find that Saturday was the national day of Tim Tebow worship.

Here are some of the tidbits from Saturday, or Tebow-day:

Announcer’s Voice:  “The remarkable career of Tim Tebow ….”

Announcer’s Voice:  “Tebow has given so much to Florida ….”

Announcer’s Voice:  “Tim Tebow invented the I-phone during a TV timeout ….”

OK, I made that last one up, but the spirit was appropriate.

Don’t get  me wrong …. he seems like a good football player and a really nice kid.  He interviews well, is polite, mentions God a lot, and even writes bible verse references on his eye-black for big games.  He also appeals to do-gooders like me as he has engaged in missionary trips to help the disadvantaged in other countries.

That is all good.  But I still don’t understand this over-the-top hero worship of the quarterback in a powerhouse program that almost never loses.  It seems downright un-American.  Aren’t we supposed to love the underdog?  Don’t we hate the Yankees and the Patriots?  Don’t we cheer for the Valparaisos of the world to upset North Carolina in March Madness?

What gives?  Does he deserve all of this attention?

PS:  I guess we will learn a bit more how much we Americans love our heroes as we watch another Florida story (this one involving a squeaky-clean golfer possibly doing a John Daly imitation!) unfold this weekend…

The current state of journalism is well known.  No one is surprised anymore when they learn that newspapers are losing revenue and closing.  No one is surprised anymore when television tabloid journalism receives more airtime and attracts more viewers than serious events.  Still, it’s worth noting when media outlets fall by the wayside.  And it’s worth pointing out when a half-serious blog run by volunteers (like this one) inadvertantly has more journalistic prowess than a full-fledged professional outfit.

Yesterday, the Fox News affiliate that serves Northwest Arkansas, KNWA, passed away after a bold attempt to water-ski over ferocious man-eating sharks.

Well, not exactly.  What they did do, though, was probably worse. They interviewed a frickin’ vampire.  And they did it with a straight face.  They did it without laughing at the loser.  They did it without laughing at themselves.  In fact, they pretty much insinuated that vampires were real.

Now, I’m not going to pretend that before KNWA jumped the shark they were a good example of quality journalism.  Even before the vampire interview they resembled student journalism, and it seemed intentional.  They had a laid back we’re-hipster-cool-cats kind of style and hired female newscasters for their uncanny ability to look good in HD.  But the vampire story was officially the last straw.

They’re not so cool as to make their videos embeddable, but you can view the vampire story, and pay your final respects, here.

Here is the October edition of Reason.tv’s Nanny of the Month.  And in case you missed it, you can also check out September’s winner in the second video. We’ll post future editions as they are released.

It has been a good week for freedom of speech.  First, FBI agents arrested two Chicago men for plotting to kill a cartoonist in Denmark.

From the Chicago Tribune:

The Chicago men, who knew each other from a military school in Pakistan, on Tuesday were accused of an international plot dubbed “The Mickey Mouse Project” that since late 2008 included scheming with others to “commit terrorist acts against overseas targets,” according to federal criminal complaints made public in Chicago.

The North Side men are accused of plotting to target employees of the Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, which published cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in 2005, sparking violent riots across the Muslim world.

The most controversial of the 12 cartoons depicted Mohammed wearing a bomb with a lit fuse as a turban. That cartoon was drawn by Kurt Westergaard, 78 — who was targeted for assassination, authorities said.

Westergaard has said that the meaning behind the cartoon was that extremists exploit the prophet to legitimize terror by drawing “spiritual ammunition from Islam.” Extremists, outraged by the cartoons, including the would-be-murderers arrested this week, responded by exploiting the prophet to legitimize terror by drawing spiritual ammunition from Islam.

Ironic, I know.

In other good news, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took a stand against a U.N. resolution that aims to prohibit the defamation of religion:

From the Examiner:

The Organization of the Islamic Conference, a group of 56 Islamic nations, has been pushing hard for the U.N. Human Rights Council to adopt resolutions that prohibit the defamation of religion. The resolution “condemns… any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

The resolution is an attempt by Islamic countries to restrict the freedom to criticize religion. The resolution would be used to justify crackdowns on free speech in Muslim countries, and give cover to those who would harass religious minorities.

In her remarks, Clinton said:

Some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies…. I strongly disagree. The protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faiths will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions. These differences should be met with tolerance, not with the suppression of discourse.

And, in not-so- good news for freedom, a church in North Carolina is holding a good ole Halloween book burnin’. Of course, there’s nothing  anti-free speech about people burning their own property. What is problematic is that authorities are threatening to stop the burn and fine the church members because of (what sounds like a trumped-up) ban on book burning. I gotta support the church on this one.

In truth, the story is funny enough that it sounds like something out of The Onion.  Based on the list below, can anyone tell me which music shouldn’t be burned? From the church’s website, here’s the plan:

Halloween Book Burning

Has NOT Been Cancelled!

Burning Perversions of God’s Word

October 31, 2009

7:00 PM – Til

This event is not open to the public. Only our members and those by special invitation from the pastor only. All others are tresspassing.

Great Preaching and Singing

We are burning Satan’s bibles like the NIV, RSV, NKJV, TLB, NASB, NEV, NRSV, ASV, NWT, Good News for Modern Man, The Evidence Bible, The Message Bible, The Green Bible, ect. These are perversions of God’s Word the King James Bible.

We will also be burning Satan’s music such as country , rap , rock, pop, heavy metal, western, soft and easy, southern gospel, contemporary Christian , jazz, soul, oldies but goldies, etc.

We will also be burning Satan’s popular books written by heretics like Westcott & Hort , Bruce Metzger, Billy Graham , Rick Warren , Bill Hybels , John McArthur, James Dobson , Charles Swindoll , John Piper , Chuck Colson , Tony Evans, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swagart , Mark Driskol, Franklin Graham , Bill Bright, Tim Lahaye, Paula White , T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn , Joyce Myers , Brian McLaren , Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa , The Pope , Rob Bell, Erwin McManus , Donald Miller, Shane Claiborne, Brennan Manning, William Young, Will Graham , and many more.

We will be serving fried chicken, and all the sides.
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