No Footenotes has not moved to Wednesdays, I just got a little swamped this week. Good thing I did though because while I normally use the first bit of the blog here to rant I’m going to go ahead and calm down a little and be happy at the news. Turns out ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is (maybe) over! Look, I know, the Justice Department has appealled the decision and if this year has taught us anything it’s to set the bar low but c’mon – isn’t this nicer than talking about some of the other unsavory things going on as we creep towards election day? I’m looking at you Carl Paladino.
Seriously, who is this guy? You don’t want your kids “brainwashed” into thinking homosexuality is acceptable?
No. Settle…calm…nice thoughts, nice thoughts…let’s talk about the blogs!
Over at A Fast-Changing World CUNYites want to know where Obama is on that climate change legislation he was so excited about at the beginning of his term. I’m surprised there wasn’t more cross discussion here with the folks over at The Obama Presidency blog on the Commons. Have you two met? I realize this makes me the laziest CUNY affiliate ever but sometimes when I get disappointed with this administration I think back to the good old days of “with us or against us.” Seriously, it helps. Just push back from the desk a little and try to visualize the cool mechanical hum of Dick Cheney’s cold robot heart.
Speaking of Presidents, Tim Wilson @Twilson over at Franglophone Studies posted a review of “Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson.” I really want to catch this show but it’s looking logistically impossible. He also hints at the upcoming Pee-Wee Herman show headed to Broadway. Oh Paul Reubens…where are you? Actually, I know exactly where he is, he was in the sleeper hit ‘Life During Wartime‘ that might still be playing down at the IFC Center. It feels a little risky recommending a Todd Solondz film, so I’ll just say – it exists. That either means something to you or it doesn’t.
While you’re downtown seeing movies The Paradox of Sustainability Seminar blog recommends you check out 2012: Time for Change, a film about the need to shift the paradigm away from the one we’re watching crack apart at the moment. Sounds good, though I do love dystopian future stories. Didn’t everyone want to huddle around a garbage pail lit on fire for warmth while drones fly around? No?
It’s basically coming to that though for those of us in Higher Ed – or at least it might feel that way. News hawk Tony Picciano @Apicciano pulled out the ‘The Browne Report‘ this week for those of us who like getting our feelings hurt. It looks like most of what’s headed down the pike for the UK schools is headed across the pond. A couple of weeks ago Tim Wilson called out SUNY’s plan to gut the language departments of its schools, and as if you don’t already know – CUNY isn’t exactly in the best shape either.
So actually, if the weather on the blog roll is any indication, we’re a little glum this week.
Nothing a little Monty Python can’t cure.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Chin up – till next week folks!
