California is the largest state in the United States. It has the highest population by over 12 million. So why is it that it ranks so low in the educational rankings? We are said to once have had an economy that would be able to self-sustain its citizens. There are ten University of California campuses, 23 California State University campuses and countless private universities and community colleges. One would think that with such a huge higher education system, a state would be eager to give necessary funds to it in order to help their students succeed. Unfortunately this is not the case.
As far as the legislature goes, the California higher education system gets about 9.7 percent of the California budget, which equals about $13 million. This is not enough. This past year there was a budget cut, causing increases in tuition for students, pay cuts for instructors, and for some universities, mandatory days off from instruction. There are millions of California higher education students who are struggling to get through college to get their degree. Without the proper funds, there are not enough professors to teach and not enough classes to accommodate the students who need them.
Right now there is a bill in the California legislature called AB 656. It would impose a severance tax on oil companies who drill in California. The bill is said to be able to raise around $1 billion dollars. All the funds allocated would go to the higher education systems in California. In order for this to happen, the bill first has to be passed. There are a few obstacles in the way, such as a few conservative assemblymen who seem to be turning a blind eye on our education crisis.
I know that if the bill is passed and made a law, it will most likely not affect my educational debts. My sister however will be affected either way. She is a senior in high school and will possibly be attending a California university or college next year. If this happens, she will be going to a community college. In my humble opinion, I think that the education budget crisis is absolutely ridiculous. If California expects it to get back on their feet after the recession we just went through, they need to be able to educate its youth. If the state keeps cutting the budget, this will take much longer than the state can afford. This bill needs to be passed in order to help resurrect the California higher education system.
pernicious
found in Gertz v. Rober Welch Inc. 418 U.S. 323 (1974) in Zelezny pg 74.
However pernicious an opinion may seem, we depend for its correction not on the conscience of judges and juries but on the competition of other ideas.
Pernicious (adj.): having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
In high school, girls can have pernicious opinions about each other.
In the first chapter of Z.Z. Packer’s Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, she tells the story of a Brownie troop, all black girls, from South Atlanta and their encounter with a troop of white girls. She tells their tale through colorful imagery and surprisingly deep reflections. In “Brownies” she uses a narrative voice, that of Laurel, a quiet girl who seems to be friends with the girls she’s around simply because they grew up together. She’s a good girl and wants to stay out of things. You can tell by the way she describes the other girls that she is very observant and probably the smartest of the bunch.
When describing the Brownie troop leader, Packer used a metaphor, comparing the woman to a mother duck. In another scene, one of the girls, another quiet girl, is cleaning up the bathroom after their troop had hatched a devious plan. She likened the look of the girl to that of a custodian who had done many years of work hunched over. Throughout the whole story, you get the feeling that you could be standing right there with the girls in the room, completely invisible to them. The setting is a camp in the middle of a forest.
The scenery is lush and green, nothing like the girls home of South Atlanta. At some times those tall trees provide beauty and shade and at others seem dark and menacing. When describing the bathroom, you can see it perfectly in your head, mess and all. We have all been in that kind of bathroom. The spot beside the stream is easily pictured in your head, as is the troop of white girls with their leader gently chiding them if they got too close to the water. It gives you a sense of peace and of mischief all at once.
Estoppel
estoppel (noun) – the principle that precludes a person from asserting something contrary to what is implied by a previous action or statement of that person or by a previous pertinent judicial determination.
"The question before us is whether the First Amendment prohibits a plaintiff from recovering damages, under state promissory estoppel law, for a newspaper's breach of a promise of confidentiality given to the plaintiff in exchange for information."
found in: Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. 501 U.S. 663 (in Cases of Communication Law by Zelezny) pg. 170.
Under the state promissory estoppel law, if a newspaper promises anonymity to a source and they go back on their word, the newspaper is at fault.
In an interview with Jane Lynch, one of the stars of Fox’s new hit show “Glee”, Melissa Block delved into the actress and her character by mixing questions with a light-hearted conversation. It is obvious that Block did a little bit of research on her subject, which made for the conversational tone of the interview. She also knew Lynch’s height and hair color. As far as the questions went, they weren’t hard hitting questions but really queries into how she got her start and how her career had evolved.
Block’s research was apparent when she was able to point out her favorite scenes from “Glee” and ask how it was to prepare for the character. Lynch happily obliged and allowed her comedic prowess to shine through just through a quick interview. One such question that showed both Block’s research and Lynch’s comedic ability was when Block asked how hard it was to prepare for the role of a hard-charging, opinionated and hated coach on a show that is mostly a musical. Lynch replied, “Oh trust me, Sue (the character’s name) is not very far beneath the surface.”
Block’s strategy was to engage Lynch in a lighthearted interview and also give the show’s audience a glimpse into the person behind the brilliant character. It was not a devious strategy or an emotional interview. There were no awkward pauses or questions that gave Lynch trouble. In fact, most of the questions got answers that were mixed with laughter. It did not seem that Lynch and Block knew each other previous to the interview, but they knew who each other were.
From this interview, I learned that when interviewing a comedic actor or a well-known person, it is wise to do your research and not approach them with a strategy that would be off-putting. Do your research and know a few things about them. Block did this well by knowing where Lynch went to school and how her career had evolved from that point on. Overall it was a great interview that provided a playful insight.
Her head held high with her red headband tilted perfectly, she walks with purpose towards the steps. The clothes she wears seem out of a preparatory magazine, consisting of a white and navy striped blouse with a navy tie, a navy pencil skit and white stockings She speaks with a manner that indicates she knows she is the boss. Her speech comes out fast and clipped imitating her perfect heels that, of course, compliment the rest of her impeccable outfit.
Proselytization
proselytization ( verb)– (proselytize) convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another
found in Mass Media Law by Pember & Calvert (pg. 117)
“Face-to-face proselytization or confrontation is a part of the religious practice of members of this sect.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
When I was in high school my Mormon friends tried to proselytize me.
