This summer, there were honestly a few times when I could identify with the vintage STYX song "Too Much Time on My Hands." I think this happens to some folks more often than they care to publicly admit.
But, now that I am teaching three classes over two community college campuses and one prison unit in two states, I am more likely to identify with the David Bowie/Queen classic "Under Pressure."
The blog may suffer for this sudden, drastic change in my professional schedule, but I hope to still post here as often as I can.
As a result of my new hectic life, I thought I would only focus on eight headlines to various stories in today's "Washington Post." I will provide links to find out more about some of the stories cited here.
The headlines are as follows:
1) "Bush Wants $50 Billion More for Iraq War." *
2) "Paper by Cho Exhibits Disturbing Paallels to Shooting Sources Say." **
3) "Idaho Senator Asserts: I Never Have Been Gay." ***
4) "Bush May Fight for New Attorney General"
5) "Riots at Iraqi Religious Festival Leave 28 Dead"
6) "Gul Elected to Turkey's Presidency"****
7)"Trojans Have Horses at Linebacker"
8) " 'Balls of fury' Takes the Ping Out of Pong" *****
For all stories:
*-http://www.motherjones.com While I do not always agree with the views of the left-wing journal "Mother Jones," they have been at the forefront of reporting the evils and corruption of the Bush administration and this bothced war in Iraq.
**_ http://www.collegiatetimes.com
Both publications have articles about new discoveries regarding the mindset of the Virginia Tech campus shooter. "The Roanoke Times" published a poem by the man who killed 32 people in Blacksburg in April. The work, which has suicidal themes, clearly illustrates just how disturbed this very troubled youth was.
There is a new book by my friend Roland Lazenby, a Tech professor, which talks about the rampage and its effects from the perspective of Tech students. Another friend of mine, Ilhan Tuzcu, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., who once taught at Norris Hall, lost two friends in the massacre.
***_http://www.theyoungturks.com
Fellow Turkish-American and political progressive Cenk Uygur, who hosts a radio talk show on Air America, wrote a brilliant blog entry pertaining to Sen. Larry Craig (R-Id.).
Craig was once considered to be the fourth most prominent GOP senator, and Uygur clearly shows the veteran senator's hypocricy as he plead guilty to charges of soliciting gay sex from an undercover officer in Minnesota, and now maintains that he is not a homosexual.
Craig stepped down from his senate advisory role in the Mitt Romney campaign as a result of the scandal.
****-http://www.turkishdailynews.tr and http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice
Like most people in the Turkish diaspora, I am not entirely pleased to see Abdullah Gul, whose political party has Islamic fundamentalist roots, become the occupant of Cankaya Palace (the Turkish White House).
The new president's wife Hayrumisa Gul becomes the first Turkish first lady to wear a head scarf.
But, based on interviews I've seen of him, Abdullah Gul does seem to be at least slightly more intelligent than our 'beloved' GWB. And, he maintains that he will still try to get Turkey into the EU despite stiff obstacles.
On the BBC site, I was stunned to see outspoken Turkish writer Elif Shafak, who has created waves with her comments about the Armenian Controversy of 1915, actually express support for Gul! But, then again, if you know anything about Turkey, nothing is really too suprising given the country's geographical makeup and past history.
*****-http://www.filmcomment.com
If there was one thing which was more shocking than Shafak's comments, it has to be highly respected cineaste Chris Norris' endorsement for this seemingly ultra-silly film about competitive ping pong (ever the oxy moron) which opens today.
It features Chrstopher Walken in a supporting role, but I sincerely doubt that this one will rank up there with Walken's Oscar-winning role in "The Deer Hunter," which he supposedly parodies in this film. But, if I were dating Walken's "Pulp Fiction" co-star Uma Thurman and she wanted to see this film, I think in all likelihood, I would accomodate her request!
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