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THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013
opinion
FREE FOR ALL
Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351
nananana BATMAN!!!!!!!
Why do I smell tatertots in Anschutz?
It wouldn't be spring at KU without all the dead baby flags by Wescoe...
To the girl that said ENGL 101 is THE worst because it's SO boring, your freshman is showing. Stop.
You can still get prego "practicing safe sex" but bad call on no privacy for people actually needing a test.
Forget Obama. Spring canceled on KU as well.
But snuggles conquer all, including sickness.
Oh free pregnancy test from your RV AND you have candy? Seems legit, sign me up!
You know you're going to have a good day when you wake up from a dream about fighting Lord Voldemort. Editor's note: Depends if it made your forehead scar burn.
I'm lost. Is it spring, winter, or what...?
The President is coming here to high-five the chancellor's husband. Shade is.
I often wonder what it'll take to evolve past my twiggly alien body, into full-blown dad body.
Bipity bopity Booyah!!
Did anyone else feel like they were in Narnia at Mrs. E's yesterday?
The editor is letting to many infernal hashtags slip through again. He must be new. Editor's note: You'd be surprised.
If you spend $175 at The Buckle,
you're tacky and I hate you.
The sudoku is a mushroom today?
Getting creative!
This is college. Shouldn't we be beyond sticking gum under the desks bv now?
My background on my iPad are my classes... I still forgot times and go to class
Wait... People still shop at The Buckle?
“Remember it's always a great day to be a Jayhawk!” <- That is my motto.
Wescoe smells like flavored vodka.
Keep it classy KU, keep it classy.
Dude, could you imagine if Brittany Griner and Anthony Davis made babies.
Please don't respond to this, it's a bait.
Go India for not opening a Playboy club.
For all the whistle haters out there as a person who works at the KU power plant, I shall inform you that the whistle is here to stay!
You know you live in a scholarship hall when you live right next to the Hawk and have never been.
STATE POLITIC
Government choices overshadow state's allure
Kansas, I love you, but you're bringing me down. Your ridiculous policy proposals, racism and embracement of the extremism that shearing apart the rest of the country aren't making you the easiest state to call home.
I was a stone's throw away from being born a die-hard republican. Maybe something in my DNA would have turned me to a blue-dog or some sort of bastardized, liberal defector. In a state like Kansas though, that's a shot in the dark. I'd be in denial if I didn't think my family's moderate liberal views didn't shape mine.
Living in an oasis of liberalism like Lawrence has coddled me. It's convenient not having to grease Obama signs during election season so that people won't uproot them. Walking up to your car and not having bumper stickers
scraped halfway off is a great perk, but I've become pampered. It's as if Brownback doesn't exist here and he's just the Wicked Witch of the Western side of Kansas).
It's disappointing, even frustrating, that when I mention that I'm from Kansas to anyone, all I get are grins and questions about the cornfield and evolution. Kansas, the stunts you've pulled recently aren't helping that reputation of bible-thumping hicks. It seems like you aren't even trying.
The Salina Journal reported on Saline County Commissioner Jim Gile, who used the phrase "nigger-riggings" candidly in a meeting earlier this month. He then tried to excuse it saying he wasn't prejudiced because he had, "built Habitat homes for colored people."
the Wichita Eagle reported that the Kansas Supreme Court ruled the education funding of $3,838
a student unconstitutionally low. Some conservative legislators have suggested an amendment to the constitution to continue to drastically underfund education. While watching education funding dip to new lows, Governor Brownback intends on slashing the income tax for the second time.
And then there's House Bill No. 2366, an otherwise innocent number, but probably the single most ridiculous piece of legislation I've ever seen. This out-classes even the racist policy relics from the
civil war. This bill would illegalize using "public funds to promote or implement sustainable development."
Keep in mind that this is just a proposition and it never even made it onto the docket for deliberation. While it won't ever see the light of day, it does reflect an attitude in Kansas' politics that anything even vaguely in public interest is a cog in the socialist takeover machine and must be destroyed.
This flurry of news could each be mistaken for stories in The Onion, and that's only in the past few months.
for the liberal Californian who's picked Kansas for their undergrad; it must be like living on an inhospitable, far-right alien planet.
I think for the entry-level college student who is just now finding their liberal side, it's easy to start disliking the Sunflower state. I mean the weather's decided by an eight ball, and so much as thinking about getting an abortion can prompt a citizens arrest. I feel bad
Even so, I won't give up on this flatter-than-a-pancake Heartland that I call home. All of this absurd extremism is a recent development that rushed to the fore on the coattails of the Tea Party. It's easy to forget that Jayhawkers once trod these plains, that Brown v. Board of Education was decided within these borders, and that this was once the home of progressive center-right politics.
I'll stick it out and hope that this is just a phase, like being really in all things French. I still love you, Kansas, but you're making it harder to call you home every day.
Kenney is a freshman majoring in political science and journalism from Shawnee.
MEDIA
ESPN, sports media pundits criticized for Boston coverage
The shockwaves from the Boston Marathon bombing are still being felt by our collective nation as we try to not only find out who's responsible, but to also ask the question, "Why?". Every news outlet is all over this story, and for good reason, but a unique aspect of journalism — in particular sports journalism — has been brought to the forefront of news reporting and, more importantly, where sports reporting fits in.
Sports website Deadspin came out with a story Tuesday describing a contingent of people – I'll refer to them as the "stick-to-sparters" – complaining about sports media outlets and its involvement with the reporting of the Boston Marathon bombing. Many took to Twitter to unleash their frustrations with what they described as sports media outlets reporting on an issue that was way out of its league. The tweets ranged from frustration with sports outlets like ESPN to general disbelief that sports commentators would dabble in hard news. Here are some of the tweets that can be found in the Deadspin story:
"#bobcostas stick to sports
"Come on ESPN I know this is a tragic event but that's what CNN is for. Can you please stick to sports news," tweeted by @ ailasanda18.
because your politics are awful," tweeted by @Jacksovertens.
The debate will rage on concerning the legitimacy of sports media outlets' relevance to sensitive domestic issues like terrorism, but bear in mind one glaring fact of this particular matter – the Boston Marathon is a sporting event. While I agree that this is a rare case in which an act of terrorism occurred at an American sporting event, I don't see why sports journalists – those with the exact same academic training as many within primarily news oriented outlets – should be kept out of the reporting circle, especially when the story centers around a sporting event.
When it comes to sports personalities giving a particular political opinion after an event like the Boston Marathon bombing, I concur with the "stick-to-sporters." I view someone like Bob Costas as a powerful national figure, not just for his sports input but also his persistent
unearthing of the many repulsive activities that take place within the realm of sports. But that's just the thing – he's an investigative guru within a particular field. Sure, he's had times where he's commented on gun control and race issues at the Masters. But it's a dangerous proposition for sports personalities to hide behind their respective shields (ESPN, NBC Sports, etc.) for opinionated protection. Tensions are high and people are looking for any excuse to blame someone or something, so it's probably best to pay respects to the families affected by the tragedy and continue focusing on sports.
To me, personal political commentary coming from sports personalities in wake of events like the Boston Marathon bombing – or any other act of terrorism on U.S. soil – comes off as distasteful and inappropriate. This is where I feel the line should be drawn – when it comes to personal opinion, it's best for sports personalities to voice that "off air". But when it comes to reporting, coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing should be fair game for sports and news media outlets alike.
TELEVISION
Roque is a senior majoring in journalism from Overland Park. Follow him on Twitter @stephanerou4
CAMPUS CHIRPS BACK
Bourdain still on top with new show
When Anthony Bourdain left the Travel Channel
Travel Channel and joined up with CNN to do "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," I was excited and concerned. I loved Travel Channel's "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations," and I was scared CNN wouldn't be able to do the show justice.
"No Reservations" had the food, the history and the culture to keep me coming back, and the storytelling kept me enthralled every episode. The videography? Left me drooling for chicken curry ('I'm a vegetarian, so that is impressive) and craveting to visit the most obscure of places. "No Reservations" made me love food and planted a seed of desire in my soul to do international journalism.
The one constant was Bourdain, who I knew would be as snarky, witty and philosophical as ever. I honestly don't think the apocalypse would faze the notoriously sassy chef and writer. But would the show still push all the right buttons for viewers?
Sure, CNN has the resources and contacts to get Bourdain and his crew into places the Travel Channel couldn't. Dangerous places like Libya and Myanmar. Places that Americans don't know about — that is the attraction of his new show.
But when I turned the channel to CNN to watch the first episode of "Parts Unknown," I wasn't convinced they could pull it off.
I was pleasantly surprised. Anthony's trip to Myanmar illustrated everything I loved about "No Reservations": delicious food, narrative storytelling, and
stunning images of the country. It was awesome.I didn't notice any significant difference in the show, and I'm relieved.
Future episodes will feature places like Morocco, Libya, Peru and Colombia. But the show will also cover Los Angeles, and I'm hoping they will be able to spin it in a new angle. I've seen enough travel shows on Los Angeles to create one on my own, so they are really going to need to step it up.
If "Parts Unknown" is going to be as successful as "No Reservations," they are going to have to focus on the places no one has done, or at least, not done correctly.
I'm most excited for the Libya episode, which will air May 5. The area is in turmoil, and I can't believe they managed to pull off filming there. Again, a positive of working with CNN now.
If "Parts Unknown" improves on "No Reservations" legacy, they will keep their loyal following of chefs, travel junkies and food lovers. Keep inspiring people to travel, "Parts Unknown," and you will have a successful show.
Check out "Anthony Bourdain:
Parts Unknown," on Sundays at 8
p.m. CST.
Brown is a freshman majoring in journalism from Overland Park
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