Thursday morning: Political edition news edition . . .

1. This one really bothers me. President Bush is saying we should not pass a resolution. That’s fine. But he is saying we shouldn’t because it will upset an ally. He is saying we should not do it for political reasons.
How about whether it’s right or wrong?
How about Rep. Pence? He calls it a genocide, but will not vote for the bill.

 

From Today’s Boston Globe
WASHINGTON - A key congressional committee approved a resolution yesterday that brands the World War I-era Ottoman Empire massacres of Armenians as genocide, despite warnings from President Bush that the measure would anger Turkey, a crucial US ally assisting the effort in Iraq.

In a rare show of urgency, Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates each declared that the resolution the House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved could lead Turkey's leaders to curb vital US military supply routes through their country, leaving American troops without enough equipment to conduct operations in neighboring Iraq.

"We all deeply regret the tragic suffering of the Armenian people," Bush told reporters on the White House lawn hours before the vote. "This resolution is not the right response to these mass killings."

The 27-to-21 vote by the Democratic-controlled committee, which broke largely along party lines, sends the resolution to the House floor for a vote in the coming weeks. Supporters argued that the resolution is long overdue, while those against it declared that it comes with a high price for US interests in the region.

"We will not forgive this genocide. But I cannot support this resolution at this time," said Representative Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican, citing US troops in Iraq who depend on Turkish supply lines. "This is not the time for this nation to speak on this dark chapter of history."

2. Also from the Globe front page: Are we down to Rudy and Mitt?

Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are increasingly treating the campaign for the Republican nomination as a two-man race, ignoring their rivals as they assail each other over taxes, spending, and national security.

Yesterday, they opened a new front in a battle growing testier by the day, questioning each other's capacity to be commander in chief.

The former New York mayor ridiculed Romney for saying during a debate Tuesday that he would consult with lawyers before deciding whether he would need congressional approval to take military action against Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons program.

Giuliani's campaign called it a "lawyer's test" for national security, and sought to saddle Romney with a comparison to a former presidential candidate from Massachusetts, Democrat John F. Kerry, who was roasted for saying during a 2004 debate that America must pass a "global test" before taking military ac tion.

Romney's campaign responded by saying Giuliani gave the "most muddled and puzzling answer" to the question of whether a president needs the blessing of Congress when Giuliani said during the debate, "it really depends on exigency of the circumstances and how legitimate it is."

That's all for now.

Thursday morning Part II: Thoughts on school shootings . . .

I heard a "flash" on the radio yesterday about yet another school shooting. The good news, at least, is that only the shooter died -- at least so far.

A week or two ago, the police stopped a potential shooting situation with no gunfire and arrested the person threatening to do the shooting.

These are good things in some ways.

However, my friends in the media continue to struggle with how to approach things:

1. We’ll start with the Associated Press. It goes a lot of places and, in my mind, spreads out a lot of blame. The fault apparently lies in the fact that no one reported his threat, the school's metal detectors were not perfect, Marilyn Manson and his mental illness. Right. (Note, one other story said there were no emtal detectors.

CLEVELAND -- A 14-year-old student who opened fire at his high school, wounding four people before killing himself, had a history of mental problems and was known for cussing at teachers and bickering with students.

Asa H. Coon, who had been suspended for fighting, warned classmates of an attack _ but none took him seriously.

"When he got suspended, he was like `I got something for you all,'" said student Frances Henderson, who said she often got into arguments with Coon. "I guess this is what he had."

Police believe Coon targeted the two teachers he shot Wednesday. He also shot two students while others hid in closets and bathrooms or ran out of SuccessTech Academy alternative school. Students gathered outside, many in tears, hugging one another and talking on cell phones.

Parents were angry that firearms got into a school equipped with metal detectors that students said were intermittently used.

Coon's troubles seemed to come to a tipping point this week when he was suspended for fighting outside with a classmate. Students said Monday's fight was over God _ Coon told his classmates he didn't believe in God and instead worshipped rocker Marilyn Manson.

2. From the hometown Cleveland Plain Dealer:

SuccessTech Academy, one of Cleveland's best public high schools with a 94 percent graduation rate, seemed a highly unlikely place for a Columbine-type outburst of gun violence.

But, suddenly, that all changed Wednesday when a student with black-painted fingernails and wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt opened fire in the downtown high school, injuring two teachers and three students. Police said he appeared to be targeting both teachers.

Asa Coon, 14, who had been suspended from school for a fight on Monday, then turned the gun on himself, unloading a fatal shot.

3. Wait, the reporter at Crime Library approached it a different way:

CLEVELAND, OH (Crime Library) — A young man wearing a black Marilyn Manson concert shirt, black jeans, and black-painted finger nails walked into SuccessTech Academy today armed with two .38 caliber revolvers, and opened fire, shooting four people before turning a gun on himself.

Thursday morning The Third: Various notes (Take Two) . . .

1. The Dropkick Murphys are starting a new tour to support their new CD, "The Meanest of Times," which I will review soon, and which I will give a "But It Now!" recommendation.There are stops in cities in some folks on my friends' list live. Ifyou do not know the Dropkicks, think Pogues, Flogging Molly, etc. Irishpunk. Great, great stuff. When Tickets come out for Burlington, Vt., I will probably try to organize a group trip.

2. In case you are wondering, the comment which brought up the sex-filter discussion was ( look here )

3.I do very much appreciate LJ and the SCA. Last night, when evilnicolaposted that her train might be late into Boston, two long-time SCAfriends -- goldsquare and new_man,offered rides. Now mind, she never asked for rides. But they offered.Thanks, fellas. And thanks,bubbette for the times youhave helped me and helped us.

4. Well, the dishes are not doing themselves. (Did that sound dirty?) Time to go.

5. Speaking of Alethea, tomorrow she will be the guest on the local radion station in thet town where her library is. It ought to be fun.

Too much time at XKCD

How we deal with disagreements in the Hewett-Toscano household:

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Joining the rest of my friends' list . . .

Reply to this post, and I will list three things I love about you.Maybe more than three. Then repost to your own journal and spread the love.

Thursday evening -- Five at five

1. I find it sad that Arlington National Cemetery has to expand because it has become so busy because of the combination of World War II and Iraq-Afghanistan deaths.

2. I am so glad I have discoverd podcasts.

3. OMFG. Someone on SportsJournalists.com just posted a lolcat. The cat is reading the paper with the line “In yur sports section, lookin for junior varsity stories.” We are discussing that many parents believe sports sections should cover junior varsity and junior high sports and how many sportswriters would rather gouge their eyes out with spoons.

4. Rule No. 1 on The Intrawebs: “Think before you post.”

5. Rule No. 87: It is very difficult to post with a tail under your nose. Avoid this situation.

A job-hunt post with details from yesterday's interview . . .

I want to thank everyone for coping with all of my job-search posts.

Of course, when I do get a job, I know a lot of you folks will be depressed because I won’t be able to post nearly as much.

The search continues, and today I cranked out 10 or 11 cover letters and resumes. (Yes, I lost count. I love being able to submit most of them by e-mail.) I also got a call for an interview today.

I remain confident that this search is going to result in a terrific job that will either launch a new career, extend my teaching career or re-start my newspaper career. There is something special waiting out there.

Also, I have been getting tremendous support from home.

Yesterday’s interviews for the fraternity and sorority director position were fascinating and a lot of fun.

I had already done a telephone interview with a group of folks, and yesterday I had there sessions, another group interview, a one-on-one with the director of housing (the fraternities and sororities operate out of the dorms) and another one-one-one with the director of student activities, who would be my boss.

I think I did well, and I know I can do this job.

They have to finish interviews, then they will call back finalists, they said, and that would mean interviews with two top administrators (including the guy who is in effect the acting president of the college). That’s pretty heady stuff.

OK, the funny part happened while I was talking about establishing a rapport with students, etc.

I really liked all the people I interviewed with. One of the ones I really liked was the head of multicultural affairs, and an associate director. Her reminded me of the character of Carlton Banks, Will Smith’s cousin on “The Fresh Price of Bel-Air.”

He was the person coordinating my interview, and he was welcoming, but had a serious tone.

So I am chatting on about how I get to know kids, telling stories, mentioning they would say things like, “Mr. T., let me ask you something . . . “

I keep going, and this gentleman is sitting there, laughing hard.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked.

“No, he said, “I am still stuck on Mr. T.”

I swear, some day I will wear bling and a Mohawk.

They all also got a chuckle out of the fact that I was in a fraternity that eventually burned down and then had someone make off with the insurance money.

There *is* a ZBT chapter on campus, and like ours at URI, it is not mainly Jewish, like the national organization is.

I think this particular job would be an absolute hoot.

Three jobs I did not apply for today:

• Lube man


• UNIX administrator


• Crime analyst for the City of Albany

Thursday evening questions . . .

1. Is anyone coming to Northern Region Fight practice in Glen Linn this Sunday? It's a potluck!

2. Is anyone going to World Fantasy Con in Saratoga Springs, NY, the first weekend of November? *Of couse* it conflicts with East Kingdom Crown in Albany. We plan to hit both.

3. alethea_eastrid is wondering if snyone is going to the yarn and wool extravaganze at Rhodebeck, NY., a week from Saturday. If you are in the Albany area, she may want to car pool.

4. Why didn't anyone tell me to invest in Tim Horton's when it had its IPO. The stock hit a high today.