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Hurricane Sandy

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Boyfriend President: How Both Parties Try To Woo Women By Linking Voting To Sex

Twenty six year-old director Lena Dunham sparked a conservative backlash Friday with her new Obama campaign ad, “My First Time,” which plays on the idea of having sex for the first time to talk about voting for Obama in 2008.

Your first time shouldn’t be with just anybody. You want to do it with a great guy. It should be with a guy with beautiful…someone who really cares about and understands women. A guy who cares whether you get health insurance, and specifically whether you get birth control…My first time voting was amazing. It was this line in the sand. Before I was a girl, now I was a woman. I went to the polling station, pulled the curtain, I voted for Barack Obama.

Watch it:

 

The right-wing blogosphere erupted in outrage over Dunham’s coy sexualization of voting. Breitbart.com called Dunham’s video “astoundingly tasteless,” while the Right Scoop condemned it as “disgusting” and “a new low.” Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly questioned on Twitter whether it was “appropriate.” The National Review called it ”cringeworthy”.Minnesota Republican Party deputy chair went so far as to say the video was proof that Obama was being advised by Satan.

But Dunham’s president-boyfriend metaphor is hardly out of the ordinary; in fact, conservatives have been harping on essentially the same theme all election season, dodging direct references to sex but sexualizing the office of the presidency and a woman’s political life. Here are the top five examples: ThinkProgress

Interesting Man

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/arts/jacques-barzun-historian-and-scholar-dies-at-104.html?pagewanted=1&src=recg&adxnnlx=1351263886-z2OEaC4QWiFBOdHBSMn3QQ

This seems like a heavy read at first, but it's a great obit on an interesting guy: Jacques Barzun. Barzun devoted his life to Columbia and helped design its core curriculum. He also seems to have had some Delbanco-esque thoughts on the purpose of a university (though Delbanco probably had Barzun-esque thoughts as Barzun was 104 and definitely came first).

Of course this happened.

Pennsylvania lawmakers recently proposed a bill to reduce food stamp benefits for mothers who cannot prove their pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.

Because apparently denying assistance to low-income women and children while also perpetuating dubious attitudes toward survivors of sexual assault is a great way to move this country forward. 

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=2718&pn=4295

On a brighter note, these things also happened:

1. http://vimeo.com/51920265 

2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/president-obama-criticizes-mourdocks-rape-remarks-on-leno-show/2012/10/25/810f0a26-5444-43a5-b7e0-5caafdc505c7_video.html 
3. http://www.happynews.com/news/10192012/puppies-kept-lost-boy-warm-rescuer-says.htm

Women really do make less than men...

Interesting Post article... Women make only 82% of what men do. Usually people argue that men choose higher-paying jobs, but even when controlling for this factor there was still a 6.6 point gap. This makes repaying college debt harder for women than for men.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/one-year-out-of-college-women-already-paid-less-than-men-report-finds/2012/10/23/ece71cb0-1d3a-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html

#bayonets

Remember this gem from last night's debate in Boca Raton? "You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets, because the nature of our military’s changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers, where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines." - President Obama

"Bayonets" seem to be the most talked about item from the debate! Here are some fun facts about them for anyone looking to get informed about one of the most pressing foreign policy issues of our time.

(Photo: Reuters)

College sweatshirts of the future

MOOCs!
http://coolmaterial.com/style/the-internet-sweatshirt/?utm_source=Cool+Material&utm_campaign=8e0b3e9697-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_DAILY&utm_medium=email

Educating technicians vs. Educating citizens?

Don't really like the fact that the emphasis is only on math and science.

Obama makes unexpected push for improved math and science education during final debate

President Obama brought up the importance of improving math and science education in the U.S. multiple times during Monday's final presidential debate, arguing that it would boost job growth and keep America competitive globally.

Near the beginning of the debate, Obama said he wanted to hire more math and science teachers because the U.S. has fallen behind in these two subject areas and additional teachers "can make a difference." He claimed that his GOP challenger Mitt Romney previously told teachers this wouldn't help grow the economy. The Hill

Still haven't sent in that absentee ballot?

Maybe these videos by the Onion will help you make up your mind (Note: If you're not familiar with the Onion and get offended easily, just don't watch them... but there's some funny stuff)

http://www.theonion.com/video/the-onion-voters-guide-to-mitt-romney,29764/

http://www.theonion.com/video/the-onion-voters-guide-to-barack-obama,29673/

Win by a Nose

Looks like the presidential race is getting closer. I recently registered as a VA voter, so I will be able for once take part in a swing state where my vote actually might have a say in the outcome. Down to the final furlong and looks like either one could win by a nose (sorry for rachorse terms...)

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/22/14615212-first-thoughts-presidential-race-couldnt-be-tighter-how-each-one-wins?lite

How did I miss this...

So I actually read the Opus email this morning, and discovered a hilarious video at the end. I've been really into these bad lip-reading videos since the primaries, and this one may be my new favorite...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlwilbVYvUg

Ex-Marine turned teacher: 'Stop demonizing me and my profession'/ The Washington Post

“I got tired of seeing kids as victims or criminals and went back to a school to try and help them from the other side of life. I became a teacher. I took a $24k per year pay cut for this privilege. I saddled myself with 20 years of student loans. I spend in excess of $1000 a year of my own money to provide equipment and student supplies so I can do my job effectively. I take every student in my class, whether it was the year I am doing inclusion teaching or the year I have the AP kids. I turn none away nor should I. As an American citizen, It’s my task and privilege to educate everyone who comes through my school’s door. I make progress with every student but that progress cannot always be measured by a standardized test. I feed some of my kids. I’ve bought them clothing. I’ve visited them in juvie, hospitals, hospices, and at the graveside. I’ve been praised, cussed, disrespected, honored and ignored by parents and administration.

Please help me do my job for your child and community. Stop demonizing me, my profession, and my fellow teachers.” The Washington Post

Voter ID laws disenfranchise transgender voters

Reason #243,981 why fixing a nonexistent problem with voter suppression (sorry, ID) laws makes no sense: 

“‘Gender incongruent identification exposes people to a range of negative outcomes, from denial of employment, housing, and public benefits to harassment and physical violence’… This year, with the new wave of voter ID laws, problems with that atavistic M/F box may disenfranchise up to 25,000 transpeople, according to a recent study by UCLA’s Williams Institute.”

http://www.salon.com/2012/10/21/voting_while_trans/

For more information on transgender voting rights, visit http://www.votingwhiletrans.org/.

Joe Biden as a Waiter

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2012/10/01/121001sh_shouts_barol

This is a little out-dated, but its based off the DNC speech Biden made and its fantastic.

Binders upon binders

Hey guys!

To add to Katrina's post I also found some good memes that related to the "binders" comment. I think they are all pretty funny. Enjoy!

http://politicalhumor.about.com/b/2012/10/17/binders-full-of-women.htm

Binders full of women

I missed the majority of the debate last night, but looking at the responses this morning, it seems like things were different than the first time around... A more humorous part of the debate was apparently when Romney said that after Massachusetts was looking for women to fill cabinet positions, women's groups brought him "binders full of women" candidates. This remark sparked a Tumblr... A lot of the posts aren't funny, but some are, like this one.

Charlie LeDuff Eats Cat Food

If you need a good laugh.  He is a real reporter believe it or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDqu8tXrQWU

Romney Blood in England

Hey guys! I thought this was interesting and I for one didn't know that Romney's ancestors converted to Morminism in England and then later moved to the United States to follow their faith and find the "promised land". After looking at the photos, I think I would like his relatives. They all seem pretty down to Earth, maybe a little more so than their distant cousin...

http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/08/14289471-mitt-romneys-english-roots-surprise-long-lost-cousins

iTunes U

Came across this app when I was updating my phone, not sure if others have seen it, but it's really interesting to see the classes that are offered and it's relevant to our class. The next thing in online education: taking classes from your cell phone...

http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/

What if all debates were like this?

Democracy is alive and well in Vermont!

http://video.pbs.org/video/2287529580

Looking Ahead to Thursday

Politico: A Veep Debate That Could Really Matter

Who will come out ahead this time?

Romney Admits Pushing Misinformation In Debate

Romney Admits Pushing Misinformation In Debate

During Wednesday night’s president debate, Mitt Romney claimed that “half” of the green firms Obama invested “have gone out of business” and noted that “a number of them happened to be owned by people who were contributors to your campaigns.”

Fact checkers — including this blog — quickly pounced on the claim, explaining that only a tiny percentage of firms that received grants or loans from the Recovery Act have actually filed for bankruptcy. And now, the Romney campaign itself is walking back the GOP presidential candidate’s claim. From Michael Grunwald, author of The New New Deal: The Hidden History of Change in the Obama Era:

ICYMI: Romney camp told me (after my tweet-rants) Mitt didn’t mean to say half the #stimulus-funded green firms failed. Probably <1% so far.

Important post-debate material

Borderline inappropriate but..

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6830834/mitt-romney-style-gangnam-style-parody

This is clearly why Romney is failing.

Once again, we hear of the great advantages for people of color in presidential elections:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-romney-running-out-of-clock/2012/10/01/55922ea4-0bec-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story.html?hpid=z7
 

Where else have we heard this recently..?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/19/opinion/navarrette-romney-latino/index.html
 

 Won't someone think of the rich white men who want to be President? 

Liberal Arts vs. Internships

Came across this article when I was looking for one for Wednesday's class. Thought it was interesting both because of the discussion we've been having about internships and credit, and the article actually focuses on NESCAC schools.

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/08/20/study-finds-liberal-arts-colleges-hesitant-about-awarding-credit-internships

Debate Questions

Hey guys! I found this article and thought it was interesting, especially since the debate is this week! Hope you all find it interesting too!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/spitzer/2012/09/28/presidential_debate_the_four_questions_obama_and_romney_must_answer_.html