Writings and Ruminations

That's suitably alliterative. Or is it consonance that it exhibits? How does one make an adjective out of consonance (and am I spelling consonance correctly?). If you find this the least bit interesting, let me know.

The articles below are on various subjects. Most of them were written for the Tulane Hullabaloo, the student newspaper at Tulane, my undergraduate alma mater. I occasionally wrote editorials that were published, and you may find one or two at the above site. The year would be 1996.

Other writings were composed in odd moments, to release certain emotions, or just because I felt like writing. They also have some travel accounts. Some of my academic papers are also on this site.

No claims are made about the literary merit of the writing below. A few of the essays might have been htmlized from draft version and I don't usually check my off the cuff writing for spelling so there are probably a few spello's. I'll make the changes, but finding errors is left as an exercise to the reader. If you do find erros, or just want to comment, please do so.

• Article about grade inflation.
• Article explaining why Tulane should eliminate its athletic department.
  • This one actually inspired a letter, which was in the paper on 13 October, 1995.
• Article calling for varsity athletes to be paid. If we're going to have them.
• Article castigating lazy professors. Based on a true story. The title is due to my good friend Jon Beyer.
  • Original Article from The Tulane Hullabaloo - October 13, 1995.
• Article that was actually used as part of a sociology class exam. It appeared in the university paper and the class was asked to comment on it. I received phone call after phone call from students who wanted to know what I meant and what I thought and on and on. Quite a flattering experience. I changed the title for my Dad. To see if he gets the Paul Simon allusion. If he reads it.
• Article about a world map and Republicans. Just a rant, really.
• Article about the baseball strike of 1995. A bit partisan with lots of flag waving.
• Article exhorting everyone to perform community service. Rather patronizing.
• Article about pornography, community standards, and democracy.

• This essay is about the effect music has on me. I was rather emotional when I wrote it, but I'm much better for having gotten it out of my system. I hope.
• Once, when I was living in Edinburgh, one of my flatmates missed a great adventure when he went on vacation.