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I’m Back

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:58:36 +0000

So, my stuff is unpacked, my house in in order, and my textbooks are slowly filtering in. I am finally ready to start this site again, and will be doing so on Monday with the continuation of my Presidents series. My goal is to continue the two-a-week pace until I am done with this series. After that, I will see where I go.

Thank you all for patiently waiting for me, keeping my RSS feed even though it wasn’t used, and, well, just reading. I hope to see you all back on Monday for the next President.

where has Barga been?

Robert M. Barga — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:21:04 +0000

For those waiting to try and figure out when I will finally update this again, you are going to need to wait longer. I am currently packing and eventually moving out to Connecticut for law school, and that, along with work (I want text books) is eating up all of my time. I should start posting again once I settle in out there (around the 7th or so), but will update you guys later once I know more.

I am sorry that this is taking away from the site, and I was hoping that it wouldn’t, but this is important for my life, so it needs to be done. Please hang in there with me

Hampshire vs. Rawls, who know Political Liberalism Better?

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:57:39 +0000

In 1970, John Rawls published his seminal work, “A Theory of Justice,” shortly following it up with his longer, and more intensive update, “Political Liberalism.” In these works, Rawls restarted the long-dormant field of political philosophy, and discussed what justice is, how a government can be legitimate, and how public reason can be used in governing. In 1993, Stuart Hampshire released “Liberalism: The New Twist,” a short article that took Rawls to task for various inconsistencies within his works. In this paper, I will examine various issues where Hampshire has a good potential attack, but needs improvement, where Hampshire has a valid argument against Rawls, and the various ways in while Rawls could, conceivably, responded to those arguments.

One of the biggest areas in which Hampshire could knock Rawls down a peg or two, but does not do so, would be in the examination of Rawls’ biases. In various locations throughout his text, Rawls expands upon what he considers to be a just government, not what anybody could consider just. He discusses abortion from a ‘liberal’ vantage point instead of from a general or allowable viewpoint; this allows Rawls, as a liberal, to concluded that it is just to let the woman choose, instead of, as a potential Catholic or conservative, concluding that it is not just to kill any form of life. While this is simply one example, Rawls utilizes similar political-conceptions throughout the piece, clearly showing his biases and how narrowly he defines political reason (read, making it a liberal concept).

While Hampshire clearly points out that Rawls has several ‘liberal’ and hard-set views that seem to indicate a clear-set definition (read bias) of rational though, Hampshire neglects to draw any attack on this basis. Rather, he attacks specific examples of this situation, hoping to catch Rawls in some form of trap. While he does attack Rawls on this basis when dealing specifically with abortion¹, Hampshire neglects to focus on this attack, and leaves it simply as something that could be addressed by a neutral third party. Had Hampshire followed through with this attack, he would have been able to reveal a glowing inaccuracy in how Rawls believes that legitimate governments could be formed (overlapping consensus), and actually drive a wedge under the entirety of Rawls’ logic; instead, he allowed for this to be brushed under the rug.

While Hampshire notices, and, for the most part, ignores, the majority of political biases that Rawls projects, he outright misses the problems that ethnocentrism causes throughout Political Liberalism. In fact, the opposite occurs, as Hampshire seems quite happy, or at least content, that Rawls is American in his viewpoint². While he focused on the political biases as being a problem when dealing with political reason, Hampshire, for some unknown reason, believes that other biases are perfectly acceptable, which is a slight problem.

Obviously, avoiding the hypocrisy here, there are several other issues that rise out of the forms of ethnocentrism that are prevalent in Rawls’ piece. The idea that reason is defined by an American sensitivity removes several valid, and reasonable, beliefs from the table. The American political climate of a republican form of government is found throughout the piece; it is even implied that any other form of a government would be deemed unreasonable, and, thus, the idea, and the creator, would no longer be included in the overall governmental system. This, obviously, leads to the idea that public reason is only inclusive of those who agree, in the main areas, with Rawls, and, only to the countries that practice western concepts of government.

Hampshire outright missed a great counterpoint by ignoring this glaring problem in Rawls’ piece. Rawls relies upon the fact that most of his readers either agree with him in practice, or are willing to accept his beliefs in concept. Obviously, with a diverse people, neither of these can be assumed nor ensured. Had Hampshire attacked Rawls on ethnocentric and western ideals, he would have had a perfect argument, and drawn in far more support from the more conservative members of the world. Furthermore, as Rawls proudly claims that he has been translated into three non-European languages³, his argument, when viewed in the international climate, would clearly take a hit if his American-centered viewpoint was brought the the open. Clearly, Hampshire missed a golden opportunity by not pushing this matter any further than he did.

While there are two glaring holes in Rawls’ work that Hampshire ignores, Hampshire, for the most part, nails Rawls in the other obvious areas of concern. The first area attacked by Hampshire, and probably one of the key concepts for Rawls, is that the deciders in this society will be required to throw out any personal considerations or motives, and must instead focus solely on what is good for the group and the whole⁴. For Rawls’ theory to work, this “imaginary assembly of abstract persons” must act behind a “veil of ignorance” in order to fairly and properly decide upon the issues of the day.

Obviously, there are some looming problems with this approach to public reason, which Hampshire clearly points out. For starters, the group of people will probably come to a concord in terms of how the institutional government is to be made. Secondly, they will probably agree that even the bottom of the hierarchy must be accounted for in their institutions. Finally, according to Hampshire, the group will also probably agree that personal liberty is essential in their society, and have that of a high concern⁵.

While they may agree on these three critical issues, Hampshire still believes that they will fall apart when dealing with the smaller pictures. Hampshire, along with other critics of Rawls’ views, believe that this abstract of people is already biased in that they believe that all men are to be treated equally and freely. They argue that “Without this assumed liberal ideal there could be no constraint that would compel a rational man to prefer liberty to all other human goods, or that would compel him to mitigate, or never to increase natural human inequalities.⁶” Clearly, Hampshire and others believe that rational people will not willingly give up their advantages in order to help unknown strangers, thus placing Rawls’ argument at in a perilous position.

In response, Rawls has collected several theories that attempt to demonstrate “that any reasonable body of men, if they disregarded their own particular interests and characters, would arrive at principles of social justice which would be recognizably liberal.⁷” That is, Rawls believes that even with internal disagreements over what should be tantamount to society, these men should be able to find common liberal grounds in which to pitch their tent. He contends that men will willingly remove some of their power in order to create a stable society (see Hobbes, Locke) and that men will form a bond that they would agree to if they were in the worst position. After all, nobody wants to be locked into a bad deal, and so, these men, aware that their positions in the social hierarchy could change, would chose an overall good deal. This, according to Rawls, would limit the personal biases from coming into account during the concord meeting.

Furthermore, Rawls could easily argue that it would, in today’s society, not be possible for a group of people to not form a liberal agreement concerning their overall governmental institutions. Rawls could argue that this assembly of people would be required to be rational (a perfectly valid assumption and argument), and, as such, they would have certain biases that led to this formation. A rational person, in Rawls’ view, would have a moral decency about them, as well as a desire to advance their society as a whole. This would lead a reasonable person to decide in the manner that Rawls believes to be just, as it would not be ethical to condemn those worse off, nor would it be advantageous to the society to remove certain persons from being able to participate. Furthermore, even those who would take a gamble on their own advantage in the society might consider implementing liberal ideals, as they would better society, thus bettering their advantage as being part of said society.

Hampshire, having already considered this reasonable response, has an answer ready to counter Rawls. According to Hampshire, even those with moral decency might decide in a manner that promotes a non-liberal view of political institutions⁸. While these men could form a version of moral decency that allows for the inclusion of the lower caste in their institution, they might still feel as though they are not privy to certain rights or freedoms as they are of the wrong group, or place those of a select group (his group) higher in the hierarchy. As all humans form hierarchies of betters in their head, and it relies on the perceptions of historical and natural situations, this point of view would be neither crazy nor unreasonable; that said, however, it clearly counters the beliefs that Rawls has.

Rawls, of course, could conceivably come up with various ways in which to answer this argument. For starters, he could easily limit what is rational to fit within his logical framework – that is, he could define reasonable people as those who have a moral compass that encompasses the views Rawls desires. Likewise, Rawls could define reasonable “men and women… [as those who are]… sensitive to the political value of a public life and to the duty of civility as one duty among others.⁹” If people fit within this category and they make up the deciding group, then odds are greatly in Rawls’ favor, and his chances of finding his desired institutions would greatly increase.

Hampshire, to his credit, already has a response ready for this ploy. Hampshire believes that every single grouping of people (Catholics, Jews, Republicans, Democrats, Capitalists, Socialists, etc.) will decide what constitutes welfare differently, and will act upon their own biases. As such, even those who are sensitive to the political value of public life will not decide in the same manner, thus dehedging Rawls’ bets. Hampshire also states that even the individual will have their own personal reasons for their decisions in this assembly, and that their conclusion, even if reasoned along the same lines (read their well-being or fear of being cast down), would not always have the same outcome. Essentially, Hampshire is arguing that two people with the same mindset would conceive of vastly different ways to accomplish their goals, including ones that Rawls could not think of. As such, it would not be possible for these people to guarantee the desired outcome.

To respond, Rawls could argue the utilitarian standpoint when trying to find the perfect group of people for his imaginary party. Rawls could, conceivably, “Call on everyone to come together in assessing the consequences of their practices and institutions, as being favorable or unfavorable to the general welfare.¹⁰” By doing this, Rawls would be limiting the scope of the reasonable person, without introducing any personal biases (this would also eliminate the changeable outcome due to internal factions), as well as creating a system that should produce his desired result. Even more, Rawls could argue that these people would be concerned not only with the well-being of the worst off, but that they would be worried about moving back down into that class. If the people making the decisions are either concerned innately for the lower levels of society, or are close to entering one of those levels themselves, they are likely to make that level political active and ensure freedoms for it.

The problem with this, as Hampshire could (though he doesn’t) point out, is that several real historical examples show that men, even if they are rational and desire a favorable outcome for the general welfare, can, and will, create institutions that are far from being Political Justice, or even a democracy. Take, for instance, the case of George Washington Plunkitt¹¹, a political philosopher and one of the district chiefs in the Tammany Hall political machine of New York City. In New York, Plunkitt ran a system where he was always the first on the scene after a fire, made sure that his constituents got food and shelter, and was generally around at all times if anybody needed him. Similar to the Godfather, however, this goodwill was the result of a patronage system. For Plunkiitt, he simply requested that those he helped would vote for his platform and candidates.

This form of patronage most certainly would meet the requirements of general welfare concern and concern over their place in the social hierarchy, but would not produce Rawls’ desired outcome. Rather, it would create an undemocratic system where one person continuously has the upper hand, due to their insistence (and demonstration) that they are the only ones able to help the poor. All those of a lower class, even if they felt as though they could increase in status, would be hesitant to bite the hand that fed them. As such, even these clearly rational people would stick to a system of patronage, simply to protect the current status quo, just in case (which, of itself, is exceptionally rational).

To this point, there is very little that Rawls could state that would counteract this argument or be a valid response to it. While he could argue that it is inherent that rational men would eventually seek to place themselves higher in the hierarchy, there is no guarantee that they would be successful, and, as a result, no guarantee that they would try to change the institutions in order to reach this goal. Likewise, it would be hard for Rawls to argue that these people are not rational, as they are thinking primarily about themselves (those in the patronage upper levels are clearly thinking about general welfare) and their family’s future (those in the lower levels), which is clearly a rational concept. Frankly, on this sort of attack, Rawls would be left defenseless.

With Rawls on the run, Hampshire continued to attack his contemporary, this time when discussing minority rights. “It will quite often happen that… a group of citizens, probably a minority, finds its strongest moral convictions overridden by policies that have been fairly chosen.¹²” Even if they agreed upon the manner in which the decision is made (see the abortion debates from earlier in the paper), these people can not, and will not, accept what they consider an unjust and morally repugnant idea or solution. That said, however, these people are clearly rational at most points, and meet the qualifications needed to be part of Rawls’ deciding group of people. With concerns to their minority rights (similar, logically, to Rawls insistence on the concern of lower class right), they are unwilling to form or join a system where Public Reason overrides what they know to be right.

To this, Rawls could, and indeed does, offer an immediate and logical reply, by defining Public Reason and Political Justice from a liberal point of view; “He [Rawls] is writing about the basic structure of institutions in a just society, not about the choice of policies.¹³” As such, Rawls would contend that it is illogical and improper to attack him on these grounds – after all, he isn’t even arguing anything along these lines. Rawls is not attempting to find a system that allows and takes care of all possibilities, rather, he is looking for something that creates the general framework that he desires.

However, if Rawls was inclined to attack Hampshire’s response instead of retreat in defense, he would have one of two courses to take. For starters, Rawls could argue that most Catholics would agree that the Supreme Court is legitimate and just, and, while they disagree with the decision, will accept it as the law of the land (and then, of course, fight it with new laws). Secondly, Rawls could argue that any person who requires a supreme being in the sky to tell them what to do would be irrational, and thus should be tossed from the equation¹⁴. If the people who do not rely upon rational, scientific basis are kept outside of the formation, or if they are considered irrational and thus do not matter, Rawls is able to create the society that he desires, without any potential problems emerging from these historically volatile groups.

To the first argument, that he was not attempting to create a specific system, rather a set of guidelines, Hampshire has little recourse to argue. He could, however, point out that Rawls is quite specific in other areas, clearly indicating that this is not his attempt at all, but, rather, a smoke-screen in order to prevent Hampshire, or other dissenters, from arguing on this point. To the second argument, Hampshire has room to make an attack back at Rawls. As it is unreasonable to act against your vested interests – and the immortal soul is an important interest – very few rational people would actively do so. The congregation of the church, even if they agreed with the processes that resulted in the decision, would be horrified by the end result. As such, either they irrationally support the decision (thus making them not reasonable, and out of the picture), or they actively fight against it. This, of course, brings conflict into the picture.

Rawls’ third argument has likewise similar issues which Hampshire could easily pick apart. Much like the argument from class, it is hard to find a scientific reason for everything that we do. There is no rational reason to not kill others, except for the contract that we formed to leave the State of Nature (see Hobbes, Locke). Likewise, there is no rational reason as to why doctors should treat people who can not pay an exorbitant amount for their medical care, even if it is bad. However, when one would consider those two examples, they will rarely think that either is acceptable; this unacceptablness is their own biases showing up. As so, it is hard to argue that a society could be formed, let alone formed in a desired manner, that eliminates irrational concepts from the mix. After all, every person in existence has some form of irrational desires or feelings, yet we must include some.

In conclusion, it seems as though Rawls has some clear holes in both his arguments and his basic reasoning to defend his views of Political Liberalism. While Hampshire missed a few very valid points, and sugar-coated many of his other arguments, he clearly was able to find Rawls’ boat and sink it. While there are (essays) some valid responses to Hampshire, as well as various potential responses, it seems as though the Rawlsian camp needs a restart in order to gain validity with these theories. Even with a restart, however, it would be difficult to gain ground, as Hampshire has, very successfully, torn apart almost every argument that Rawls uses, as well as several potential rebuttals. Clearly, Hampshire has Rawls’ number, and was able to point out the folly of his ways.

1“A liberal… may be convinced that is unjust that the law should deny a pregnant woman the freedom to terminate her pregnancy in the first trimester, this is his conviction because… the freedom of the individual has an overriding priority. His Roman Catholic adversary may be certain that it is unjust to allow an innocent living sou… to be destroyed for any reason whatever: this is his belief because he is convinced that… God’s will is correct.” – Hampshire, page 10

2“Reading Rawls one is impressed by his distinctively American account of republican virtue, and of the political conception of persons as free and equal participants in a democracy.” – Hampshire page 2

3Rawls, Inside Cover

4“The choosing persons are abstract choosers, because they are required to discount any knowledge that they have of their own position in society, of their own abilities and dispositions, and of their particular advantages and disadvantages. Behind the “veil of ignorance” they are to decide what sort of society they would consider to be just if they had to live in it.” Hampshire, Page 4

5As a personal side note, I have an issue with this concept on, well, ethnocentric areas. There is no guarantee that people will form liberty-promising concords, as, history has often shown that they will not. Frankly, in my opinion, when it comes to forming governments or social constructs, the majority will relapse to their biases, no matter what their intentions are, and remove certain ‘undesired’ aspects from the society (as our class did in removing the horror that is the Nazi Party from participation in the liberty-inducing concept of democracy). As such, it would be impossible to find a perfect group of people who will always find for absolute public liberty.

6Hampshire, Page 4

7Hampshire, Page 5

8“a person may have reasons to believe that a small group of human beings has access to the

truth about good and evil, and that all the others will be ruined if they are not induced to respect the

authority of the few. Such a person will not believe that absolute priority should be given to the liberty of

the individual, and yet he may be … eminently “reasonable.” After reflection he chooses a hierarchical society which engenders respect for principles of justice allotting appropriate privileges and constitutional powers to the group of superior and discerning persons.” Hampshire, Page 5

9Hampshire, Page 5

10Hampshire, Page 3

11All information here taken from William L. Riordon’s recordings “Plunkitt of Tammany Hall”

12“It will quite often happen that in “a well-ordered society” which is “a fair system of cooperation between reasonable and rational citizens regarded as free and equal,” a group of citizens, probably a minority, finds its strongest moral convictions overridden by policies that have been fairly chosen within the basic institutions recognized by the dissenters are not irrational fanatics, and they agree that fair and just institutions out to be respected and obeyed, except when they engender policies that are for them morally unacceptable.” – Hampshire, Page 6

13Hampshire, Pages 7 and 8

14This is similar to the argument used in class.

The Top 10 iPhone Applications of January 2010

Robert M. Barga — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:23:09 +0000

Hello, and welcome to the first installment of iWant, iNeed, iRecommend for 2010. This is a monthly series that will, simply put, present the top ten iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch applications from that month. At the end of the year, these 120 applications will then go head to head to see which apps become the top ten for the year. If you would like to read my previous top ten lists, as well as all my other iPhone and iPod Touch application reviews, you can see them here. While this list is subjective (as are all top ten lists), I did my best to base this on actual use, not my own opinion. Enjoy.

10. Engadget for the iPhone

As you might have realized by now, I am quite into this whole technology thing. While I use various sites like crave and Slashdot, most of my news comes from Engadget. Lucky for me, Engadget has decided to release an iPhone app that makes viewing their site much, much easier. You can browse articles, stream their videos (without Flash of course), and customize the look to your heart’s content. I love being able to view Engadget on my phone without any distortions. You can grab Engadget for the iPhone and get your nerd on for free.

9. The White House App
Well, the title of this app pretty much speaks for itself. The White House app is provided by the Federal Government (probably with our tax money) in order to get information out to the populace. You can access the briefing room, look at the blog, and look at the news feed. Most impressively, the app allows you to watch speeches, and even live stream them to your iPhone. I believe that the White House app is extremely important, as it allows quick and easy access to important information, and it keeps with Obama’s promise of transparency. You can get the White House App for free today.

8. Google Voice
While Apple might have thought that they blocked Google Voice from the iPhone by banning it from the app store, Google cleverly found a way to get on the device anyway. By using Safari, and building a web app, Google is able to run Google Voice on your iPhone, even if the makers don’t like it. This allows you to make cheap phone calls, have your voice-mails transcribed (I want this on the iPhone as a supported feature), and send free text messages. Frankly, this is a great idea, and will be useful until Apple figures out how to shut it down. While Google Voice is free to run (but costs to call), the build of the app makes it feel like an expensive purchase. Please note, this will not work on the iPad as it has no speaker/microphone.

7. Guerrilla Bob
Let me just start by saying this: Guerrilla Bob is an outstanding, mind-blowing, absolutely, positively amazing game. Hyped it up enough? Well, probably not, as it would be hard to do justice to this iPhone game. Guerrilla Bob is a dual-stick shooter that takes the normal formula (wave after wave of enemies, limited guns, decent animations) and turns it on its head. With stunning graphics, an exceptionally large arsenal, and actual level progression, this game has become one of the best of its kind. Chillingo seems to have hit the gold here, and they took it by a large margin. You can get your finger on the trigger for only $2.99!

6. iCamcorder
Are you jealous of the fact that the iPhone 3GS can record video? Well, with iCamcorder, you no longer need to be. iCamcorder is an application that allows you to ‘record’ video using your iPhone, even if it is not the most recent version. By taking 15 pictures a second, and recording audio in-sync, iCamcorder creates a slide show that, for all intents and purposes, acts like a video recording. This is pretty amazing, and it is quite nice to be able to do the latest thing with some older technology. Get your friends together and record your fun for only $1.99. Please note, this will not work on the iPad as it has no camera.

5. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Grand Theft Auto is one of the most innovative series of the last two decades. Continuing on this legacy, Rockstar Games decided to release their latest iteration on the iPod Touch and the iPhone. The game, which is a basic dual-stick shooter, follows Huang Lee as he tries to avenge his father’s murder. The game is quick, intuitive, and quite fun to play. While it is intensive (which causes some lag occasionally), the overall feel is polished and outstanding, which, of course, is what we have come to expect from Rockstar. While GTA: Chinatown Wars will set you back $9.99, it is well worth the price.

4. Cogs
I hate to admit it, but I am a bit of a nerd (an astounding surprise, I know); when I see a puzzle game, a logic puzzle, or anything that will test my mental capabilities, I go insane. Chillingo (the same people who made Guerrilla Bob, this month’s #7 pick) just released one of the more impressive puzzle games on the iPhone. In Cogs, the user simply manipulates tiles and items to create complex puzzles. While it might sound boring, it is actually a lot of fun. Cogs is a game that leaves me feeling both happy and challenged, which is quite impressive. As a great way to erase boredom on long bus trips, I recommend that you grab Cogs for only $.99 right away.

3. Chomp
While I believe that Chomp is one of the best apps of the month (and probably will be for the year), I was quite conflicted in telling you about it. See, Chomp is an application that allows you to find other applications. You can view reviews of other apps, see which ones are currently liked or disliked, and leave your own reviews. Furthermore, Chomp will recommend apps based on your own reviews, which means that you will be finding new games and products quickly. Basically, Chomp competes with me and this feature, which is why I was hesitant to talk about it. That said, however, as Chomp is an amazing concept and product, I believe that it is an essential for every iPhone and iPod touch out there. Get Chomp for free today, but be sure to come back — please.

2. Tap Tap Revenge 3
Once again, Tapulous has come out with another iteration of the amazing Tap Tap series. While this would seem to be yet another repeat, the company somehow keeps on innovating and updating their new releases. Like the others, you still simply keep beat with your fingers. Unlike the others, however, Tap Tap Revenge 3 lets you create avatars and play online. The fact that you can take out other players is amazing, and actually makes the game quite fun. Tap Tap has grown mightily in the last few months, and I only expect them to keep growing in the near future. You can get your fingers tapping for free right now.

And the #1 iPhone app from January 2010 is…

1. StickBo
“Holy crap!” These were my first words after finishing the first wave of StickBo. This side-scrolling third person shooter allows you to shoot through wave after wave (after wave after wave) of little stick figure enemies. Use a flame thrower, sniper rifle, or my favorite, a simple Bowie knife, as you run across a background littered with enemies, obstacles/cover, and dead bodies. Complete each level only to move onto the next one, which is similar, but is much harder. This game is amazing, and it actually has caused me to yell (curse) at my iPhone many a time. StickBo is one of the best games EVER for the iPhone, and you can play it for free (there are in-app purchases)!

Well, folks, there you have it, the top 10 iPhone and iPod Touch applications from January, 2010. If you wanted to buy all of these applications, you would be set back only $15.96. If you have any suggestions for next month’s list, or want to tell me what I missed, please let me know in the comment field.

When Guns are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Guns

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:23:36 +0000

Please note, while this is a school essay, it has many sources and facts that are quite interesting. Anybody on either side should read it, as I guarantee that they will discover something new. That said, this is written in response to chapter two of “Lethal Logic” by Henigan

When Guns are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Guns

I chose Chapter two, “When Guns are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Guns,” because I have been hearing this phrase for years. Ever since I was a young child, I heard those on the pro-gun side of the debate utilize this rhetorical phrase in order to scare the population into opposing gun control. At the same time, I heard the anti-gun people responding to the phrase, pointing out other countries where this situation has not occurred. I have always been conflicted when dealing with this phrase, and believe that by furthering my research into it, I can learn the truth behind these words.

In Chapter two, Henigan starts his take on this famous phrase by discussing national politicians. When Sarah Palin was the dark-horse Vice Presidential candidate, she uttered a statement that roughly translates into this phrase. Henigan uses this, not to show that the phrase is true, but to show that the general public, and our elected officials, utilize this concept on a regular basis.

Henigan then moves on to the logical problems with this phrase. He starts to examine the claim that criminals will arm themselves, regardless of the gun laws of their nation. To do this, Henigan first considers the fact that curbing gun access is not dependent on whether the criminals will follow it or not. Rather, the mere act of curbing gun rights for the dangerous people, the government is able to enforce and arrest previous and/or current criminals before they commit a crime with the gun.

Staying with this logic, Henigan then explains how the gun laws themselves could keep actual criminals from owning guns. “But what about the possibility that there are potentially violent individuals who are deterred from carrying guns by the illegality of doing so”(Henigan 42)? In this statement, Henigan is stipulating that the mere concept of breaking a law could keep those who would not normally violate the law from doing so with a gun. This would keep the drive-by criminals from getting guns, and thus committing more crimes.

Finally, Henigan finds a second logical problem with the phrase; he discovers that the argument implies that any law-abiding citizen will not be able to defend themselves from the criminal who still has a gun. He argues that main-stream society has various manners in which to protect themselves, and that guns are not needed to do this. Essentially, Henigan is stipulating that even if criminals get guns, the statement’s implications are not valid.

I believe that Henigan’s take on this phrase, specifically when dealing with the common usage of it, is valid and correct. In 1979, Edward Abbey started the mainstream adaptation of this phrase, with his essay known as “Abbey’s Road.¹” Ever since that moment, it is has been a common bumper sticker, a common statement, and a common sign on a fence. A simple Google search of the phrase, or even part of it, will bring up 369,000 hits of sites, articles, and blogs regarding this common concept. From this, it seems clear that Henigan’s views of the commonality and usage of this phrase are correct, and that the general public, and our elected leaders, use it daily.

When Henigan moves on to discuss the concept of a gun ban stopping drive-by criminals from committing gun crimes, I, yet again, must agree with his logic. Henigan argues that people who have the potentiality for violence or violent crimes, yet themselves are not criminals, would have no access to guns. In 1993, Pub.L. 103-159, 107 Stat. 1536, more commonly known as “The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act” was signed into law by President Clinton. In the years after the Brady Bill was introduced, including those after the Supreme Court struck down background checks, gun crime in the United States has decreased by 25%², compared to a 14% drop for all other violent crimes.

With an 11% difference in the rate of decline, it is clear that something unique is going on in the gun crime sector of violent crimes. The Brady Bill, which created waiting periods (until they were replaced federally with instant computer checks), clearly is one of the main causes of this decline. The waiting period that was implemented served its purpose by causing those who were simply in rage, but not actually criminals, from buying guns. By requiring them to cool down, their rage would disperse, and they would not add to the statistics. From these percentages, it is clear that Henigan is right yet again, and that gun control will indeed stop the drive-by criminal from ever becoming one in the first place.

Yet another area in which I agree with Henigan is his contention that gun laws will in fact reduce the number of guns used by criminals. Henigan believes that a reduction in the availability of guns will result in less guns being placed into the hands of criminals. In the United States, the number one manner for criminals to obtain a firearm is through straw-purchaser sales; that is, a friend, relative, or a neighbor will go into the store and purchase the gun for them³. By eliminating this legal method of sales, the number one method of illegally obtaining firearms would be removed, and thus, the criminals would be less likely to get one.

While this would only indicate less guns for the criminals, it still does not show that guns would be used less in violent crimes. That said, however, one can see the effect that similar gun bans have had on criminal access to guns based on cases from around the world. After their banning of firearms, the Australian Attorney General stated that “firearms are being used less often in murder, attempted murder, assault, sexual assault and armed robbery in 1998 compared with 1997.⁴” Likewise, after stricter English gun laws went into effect in 1996, the overall violent crime rate decreased by around 5%⁵.

By looking at the results of gun laws from around the world, one can see that stricter gun laws relate to less crimes committed with guns, as well as less violent crimes committed in general. This fact runs contrary to the expressed sentiment of the phrase, and leads credibility to Henigan’s take on it. Clearly, Henigan is right in saying that a reduction in the availability of guns (gun control) has a direct correlation with a reduction in crimes committed with a gun.

While it seems clear that Henigan’s views of this phrase have valid evidence behind them, they still suffer from a few weaknesses. For starters, Henigan seems to believe that criminals who get a gun would be caught by officers prior to using the gun in a crime. Current laws limit the ownership of guns for certain felons, criminals, and paroles. By using this, officers making a basic check-up, or even a traffic stop, would be able to find the gun and get the violent offender off of the street.

While this stipulation seems nice in theory, it suffers a few flaws. Firstly, it assumes that these criminals will have a plain-site gun, as well as have it stored in an easy to access location. It also assumes that the officers will act correctly, and that there will be a time between the purchase of the firearm and its use in crime, when the officers could find it. Obviously, neither of these are guarantees. In Sacramento, California, straw-purchasers purchased and supplied guns to known felons, all 32 of which were used in crimes⁶. Henigan’s contention that criminals with guns could be stopped is shown to be faulty in this and other instances. This clearly reveals a major weakness in Henigan’s presumption.

Another flaw in Henigan’s logic is that he believes that even without guns, Americans will be able to defend themselves against aggressors with guns. Henigan argues that a basic assumption of the phrase is that the population can not defend themselves without guns, and that they will be helpless if the criminals get the guns around the law (already shown that this will not happen). He believes that the population will indeed be able to defend themselves, and that they will not need guns for self-defense.

While there are various techniques for defending oneself from an aggressor with a gun, most of them require extensive training and/or physicality. Furthermore, with an average of 1.5 million uses of firearms as a form of defense per year⁷, it is clear that the American populace utilizes guns as a form of defense. Even if Henigan is correct is stipulating that one can defend themselves without guns, it is clear that guns are an essential defensive tool. As such, his contention is once again flawed.

While the phrase “If guns are outlawed, only criminals will have guns” might be a fun talking point for politicians and people in the gun-right battle, it is clear that the phrase is rather unfounded. A Henigan points out in chapter two, the assumptions and accusations of the phrase have no grounding, and they are not valid. Though there are a few problems with his logic, the overall argument is sound and well rounded. This common phrase clearly is overused, and, as evidenced in this chapter, should be removed from the public lexicon.

1“Abbey’s Road,” Abbey, Edward. 1991

2“Summary of the Brady Law.” Handgun Control, Inc. 1999

3“How Criminals get Guns,” Dan Noyes. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/guns/procon/guns.html viewed 2/1/10

4“The rights and wrongs of bearing arms” Dom Night. The Sydney Morning Herald, 2007

5“Crime in England and Whales” Home Office Statistical Bulletin. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb703.pdf

6“ATF Arrests ‘Straw Purchasers’ Who Supplied 37 Guns to California Felons” The Examiner via press reports.

7“Guns in America: National Survey on Private Ownership and Use of Firearms.” NIJ Research in Brief 1997

Here’s the article on the study.

Why laws banning cellphone use while driving have no effect

kadim — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:20:38 +0000

I’m not surprised to hear that, and here’s why.

Hypothetically the “safest” way of texting while driving is for the driver to hold the steering wheel with one hand and the phone in the other. The phone should be held relatively high up within the driver’s line of sight, that way the driver can quickly and easily glance back and forth, switching attention as effortlessly as possible.

The texting while driving laws might curb some driving while texting, but might cause drivers who keep texting to hold the phones relatively low (like near their laps) so that the phones are not visible to law enforcement. Obviously this is the least desirable position, because it dramatically increases periods of inattentiveness and the complexity of switching focus between the phone and the roadway.

So the accident rates don’t change. The safety gains from fewer drivers texting are offset by the drivers who are texting in a less safe manner.

The Big Ten (11) Preview: Time to go Bowling

Robert M. Barga — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:22:39 +0000

Each week of the 2009 college football season, I will be examining all the games in which a Big Ten Team plays. All kickoff times are ET and all poll numbers are from the BCS rankings as provided by ESPN. All records are for the entire 2009 season, both in and out of conference, and all bowls are listed in order of when they will be played, starting with the earliest. The Bowl Games are as follows:

#25 Wisconsin (9-3) vs. #15 Miami (FL) (9-3) in the Champs Sports Bowl
While I am still surprised that Wisconsin wasn’t picked for the Outback Bowl, I feel as though they are a great match up against Miami (FL) in the Champs Sports Bowl. Both teams have potent offenses, and both have shown that they are able to shut down on defense if need be. The Hurricanes’ 95 rushing yards allowed to Georgia Tech shows that they have the potential to keep the Badgers at bay. Their 287 against Virginia Tech, however, shows that their defense is too random to count on. Wisconsin should be able to keep Miami (FL) off balance, as their 200 ypg in both passing and rushing is a nice mix. As long as John Clay keeps eating up the clock with his 4 YPC, the Badgers should earn the victory.
Wisconsin 24, Miami (FL) 17
This game will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29.

Minnesota (6-6) vs. Iowa State (6-6) in the Insight Bowl
I hate to say this about any game, but this should be the easiest bowl win for the entire conference. Frankly, with Minnesota’s horrific offense and porous defense, that is somewhat insulting to Iowa State fans. With stagnant offenses on both sides of the ball, this game will come down to field goals and punting, neither of which are areas where the Cyclones of Iowa State excel. I expect Minnesota to be able to get good field position and use that to kick plenty of field goals. Whoever has the most accurate kicker should win this game; wow, that is sad.
Minnesota 15, Iowa State 3
Somehow, these two teams ended up on the NFL Network. They will be televised at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 31.

Northwestern (8-4) vs. Auburn (7-5) in the Outback Bowl
Two paragraphs and a poll later and I am still shocked that Northwestern is in the Outback Bowl despite Wisconsin’s better record. That said, however, I am happy with this match up for Northwestern. In the last 60+ years, the Wildcats have not won a bowl game, and it might finally be their time. The defense has played against the spread many times this season, which should help them against the Tigers. Their offense, though non-existent at points of the season, came through in the major games. Unless Auburn decides to play like they did against Alabama (unlikely), this game will probably be a decent win for Northwestern.
Northwestern 27, Auburn 17
This game will be televised on ESPN at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 1.

#13 Penn State (10-2) vs. #12 LSU (9-3)
This, frankly, is a hard game to predict. Both teams look good on paper, but both also have clear flaws. With the exception of LSU’s accidental loss against Mississippi (seriously, that should not have been a loss), both teams look the exact same. They both had good offenses and defenses, until they came up against the best teams in their conference – at that point, they disappeared. If Penn State focuses on a running game, they should be able to beat the Tigers. However, if they are forced to throw the ball, the strong secondary of LSU should easily stop the Nittany Lions. I expect this one to be close, but baring a stupid mistake by Les Miles (likely), LSU should eke out a victory.
Penn State 17, LSU 21
This game will be televised on ABC at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 1.

#8 The Ohio State University (10-2) vs. #7 University of Oregon (10-2)
For the first time in over a decade, both the Buckeyes and the Ducks will be heading to the Rose Bowl. That, however, is the last of their similarities. Ohio State plays a position game, where they primarily run the ball, work on getting good field position, and either kick a field goal or punt and leave their opponent inside their own 20. Oregon is a high-powered, strike first offense. This allows them to score at any time, from any spot, with any player. The Buckeyes will need to be quick on their feet in order to win this game, while the Ducks will need to overcome one of the best defenses in the country. If Oregon strikes first, the Buckeyes will probably lose the game. That said, however, I believe that the Buckeye defense will hold Oregon long enough for Ohio State to gain a lead, and that the Buckeyes will be able to keep it for the rest of the game. After losing their last three BCS games, the Buckeyes will finally win again.
Ohio State 27, Oregon 20.
This game will be televised on ABC at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 1.

Michigan State (6-6) vs. Texas Tech (8-4) in the Valero Alamo Bowl
Before the end of the season, I would have said that a potent (when they want to be) Texas Tech offense could run circles around Michigan State’s defense. After the suspension of eight Spartans, I would say that the second string of the Red Raiders could easily handle Michigan State. Simply put, this is a no-brainer — Texas Tech will be winning this game, and they will thoroughly dominate the Spartans. Hopefully, this will be the only embarrassment of the bowl games.
Michigan State 10, Texas Tech 43
This game will be televised on ESPN at 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 2.

#10 Iowa (10-2) vs. #9 Georgia Tech (11-2) in the Orange Bowl
The key for a Big Ten victory in the Orange Bowl will be how well Iowa stops Georgia Tech’s running game. Tech relies very heavily on their running, which could be a problem for them, as Iowa has a dominating defensive line. Unless the Yellow Jackets can get Josh Nesbitt and his ilk to the outside, the Hawkeyes should be able to keep this game in check. With a powerful and physical offensive line, Iowa should be able to score when they need to, keeping them in the game. I expect the game to be close, but a disciplined effort by the Iowa defense should give them the victory.
Iowa 27, Georgia Tech 17
This game will be televised on FOX at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5.

Overall
Overall, I believe that the 2009/10 bowl season will help redeem the Big Ten Conference. After being embarrassed on a national stage the past few years, the Big Ten will go 2-0 in BCS games and 3-1 against ranked teams. They will go 2-0 against the ACC, 1-0 against the Pac 10, and 1-1 against both the Big Twelve and the SEC. With the sole exception of the beat down that Michigan State will receive, each team will be fighting in a close and exciting game, which should help increase the number of viewers. Overall, I expect the Conference to go 5-2, and finish the post season strong.

Group Writing Project: 90 Reviews of 2009

Robert M. Barga — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:42:59 +0000

As some of you know, I participated in a group writing project where we picked the best of something for 2009 and wrote about it. Two of my articles made it into the group, and they are sweet (but already posted here). Many other articles in the group are amazing, and I think that you should check them out. Anyways, I am going to link to some of my favorites and then post the entire group below that. Just click ‘continue reading’ to see it.

Enjoy

Barga’s Favorites

Biggest Scam of 2009: by Matt Jezorek

3 Blogging Phrases That Died in 2009 (and 3 Phrases That Replaced It): by Rhys Wynne

A Look Back at “Ten Amazingly Accurate Tech Predictions for 2009″: by Robert Barga (that’s me!)

Biggest Parenting Failures of 2009: by Jill Smokler

My Top 40 Frugal Living Tips of 2009: by Dimes2Vines

Top Ten College Football Games From 2009: by Robert Barga (that’s me!)

7 things you heard in 2009: by Simon

8 Popular Website Design Trends From 2009: by Amey Shivapurkar

Original Post

From HERE

Group Writing Project: 90 Reviews of 2009

by Daniel Scocco

All right guys, we finally have the final list of entries for the “2009 in Review” group writing project. We had 90 participants in all sorts of niches, and it was interesting to compile the list of entries. I am sure you will have fun reading them as well.

If you are one of the participants, make sure to blog about your favorite entries, to retweet them, stumble and whatnot. This will give more traffic and exposure to everyone.

Blogging & Social Media

10 Ways Twitter Improved My Business In 2009 : Twitter has dramatically improved my business during the course of 2009 and in this post I want to share 10 specific ways Twitter allowed me to run a more profitable Internet Marketing Campaign. (by Igor Kheifets)

Top 5 Bloggers That Inspire New Bloggers In 2009 : If you’re new to Blogging and looking for tips to help you get started, the last thing you need is a blog that only confuses you while you try to learn. (by Peter Brown)

Top 10 Twitter Web Apps for Your BlackBerry in 2009 : In 2009, I have spent much time to find interesting web apps and to play with Twitter on my BlackBerry, so in this post, I will introduce 10 web apps which can be used to update your twitter on your BlackBerry. (by Young Yang)

5 Best Web Apps of 2009: Even though relatively new to the game, new webapps are being created at a break-neck speed and hundreds of small companies have appeared out of nowhere with intuitive if-not-popular webapp that does something you never thought you’d need to do – and it does it perfectly! (by Robert Benjamin)

My Top 10 Blogs of 2009: These are blogs that I read on an daily basis via my preferred RSS reader (Bloglines) and have an impact in my thoughts and often the directions that I focus my marketing on. (by John Landells)

Group Blogger Terbaik Tahun 2009: Memang sudah waktunya untuk memiliki proyek tulisan grup baru. Sejak 2009 semakin dekat berakhir, saya menduga bahwa “2009 dalam Tinjauan” akan menjadi topik yang baik untuk itu. (by Haji Abidin)

3 Blogging Phrases That Died in 2009 (and 3 Phrases That Replaced It): With the blogging/web design niche still in it’s infacy, words come & go, phrases enter consciousness, and then leave. Some stay, but many meet a sad end in the eye of the general public. So with a tear in our eyes, let us remember those words that we lost from the collective conscious of bloggers & the social web in 2009.(by Rhys Wynne)

42 Most Popular Blog Posts About Blogging 2009: 2009 has been a great year for blogging. Established blogs got bigger and better, several new “blogs that blog about blogging” were started and thousands of great blog posts about blogging were published (and there’s still plenty of time to publish even more). (by Antti Kokkonen)

10 FREE killer WordPress themes in 2009: A great blog design doesn’t always have to cost you a bundle. Sure, paying for a theme has its benefits like good support, increased probability of a good back-end, and typically fewer clones. But for bloggers who are strapped for cash these days, there are many free WordPress themes that can do the trick. (by Gabe)

5 Things I learned in 2009: I am participating in a group writing project put on by Daily Blogging Tips and since I have been blogging only a year, I want to share with you the five things I learned during 2009 about Quilting Bloggers. (by Caroll)

Business and Marketing

Best of 2009, Top 20 Stocks With 1000% Returns: The year 2009 was quite the roller coaster ride for investors. The S&P 500 started the year making fresh decade lows then proceeded to embark on a huge 60%+ rally from its March lows. (by Blain Reinkensmeyer)

Marketing The Spork – Our Marketing Successes and Failures in 2009: Inspired by Daily Blog Tips author Daniel Scocco and his “2009 in Review group writing project“, I’ve decided to recap 2009’s failures and successes of marketing our own little company. (by Jason Lancaster)

21 Lessons I Learned In 2009 That Gave Me The Greatest Return On My Investment: On January 1st of 2009, I jumped in and started my blog, Newbielifeline.com. I chose this niche because I found the “How to Make Money Online” business was overwhelming for a newbies. (by Sheila Atwood)

Three Steps to Business Success in 2009: In 2009, my wife Jill and I launched a business that is, so far, surpassing our expectations. Here are three of the main factors that contributed to our success in 2009… (by George Manty)

2009 In Review – Top 3 Opportunities To Build Your Online Business: Being able to set up membership sites using just a plugin created a level playing field for everyone doing business on the internet in 2009. (by Connie)

The 13 Best Things About the Recession of 2009: Who said that this recession is all bad? Not me! There’s an upside to the effects of the recession that we’ve been experiencing of late and, as a casualty of that recession, here’s my personal take on a few of them. (by Ken)

Cooking and Parenting

My Top 10 Recipe Sources in 2009: How time flies by so fast! It seems only yesterday that I celebrated the new year of 2009 with a resolution to cook proper food for the whole year. (by Hesti L. Damm)

The 30 Best Recipes I Discovered in 2009: It’s that time of the year again. Looking ahead is Christmas. Looking back on the year that was, everyone has recession and unemployment to speak about. 2009 has been an eventful year and to sum-up in one article all the ‘best of the best’ recipes and photographs is difficult. (by Abraham Chacko)

Review of 2009: Ten Best Comment Threads at A Mother in Israel : I’ve compiled the most interesting comment threads since the beginning 2009. I left out many excellent posts where everyone agreed with me—below are the posts that inspired debate and discussion. (by Hannah Katsman)

Biggest Parenting Failures of 2009: Not only did Richard and Mayumi Heene think they could get away with claiming their son flew away in a home-made balloon, but they also named him Falcon. The irony is tragic. (by Jill Smokler)

12 lessons in leadership from 2009: Here’s my summary of my key leadership lessons in 2009. ( (by Jude Jennison)

Cool Baby Kid’s Top Five Picks of 2009 for Mom, Baby & Kid: We have a Top Ten Toys of 2009 as well as a Top Picks designation, but choosing just five among a few hundreds products and companies we’ve spotlighted in the last year forces us to pick the best of the best. (by Cecelia)

9 New Things I Tried in My Kitchen in 2009: 2009 has been a great year for so many reasons. Some great things have happened in the lives of my friends and family–weddings, babies, houses, grad school, degrees, jobs, and just all-around happy things. (by Jacqui Long)

General

The Best of JobMob in 2009: Looking for something good to read? These were the most-visited and most retweeted articles blogged on JobMob during 2009. (by Jacob Share)

2009: The Beginning of the end and Beginning of the beginning: The year 2009 is an interesting and significant year. Factors, such as the credit crunch, the fears of climate change, war, increasing unemployment make depressing reading. So I stop reading – the news that is.

2009 in Review: 9 Things I Learned While Planning My Wedding: 2009 was an exciting year. I learned to ride a motorcycle, conquered my fear of flying, bought a house and got married. Encouraged by Daily Blog Tips recent group writing project 2009 in Review, I decided to write my own review of 2009. (by Selena Alderman)

16 Historical Anniversaries That We Observed in 2009: Another year has come and gone. Here’s a look at 16 anniversaries that we celebrated in 2009. (by Steven Durham)

2009 – The Green Cleaning Year: Looking back at 2009 one trend in the home cleaning industry has overshadowed all of the others. Green Cleaning has turned from a buzzword into actual mainstream products and services over the last year. (by Chester Nutt)

New Madrid Seismic Zone 2009: The New Madrid Seismic Zone extends from Cairo Illinois, mostly left of the Mississippi River, to near Memphis. Little shakes happen about every day. It has a history of shaking violently about every 500 years. There is evidence the big shakes go WAY back. (by Fred Keller)

Was Last Year Happy or Horrible For You?: Wow, Time Flies. I think we just had New Year’s Eve a few weeks ago. Either time moves faster or we move slower as age and circumstances come along our life’s journey. (by Judy H. Wright)

Top 9 News Stories of 2009: Just about every man woman and child on the planet saw some form of hardship in the year that we would all like to forget. But, in the unlikely event that you would like to remember something about 2009, here’s a list of the top 9 news stories of the year. (by Jack Gamble)

20 Most Influential Auto Blogs – 2009 Edition: After a while we realized that it might be interesting to put together a list of the most influential auto blogs on the internet (focused on the USA). (by Jason Lancaster)

The Greatest loss of 2009: This was not a loss of stocks or bonds. It also wasn’t a loss of fixed assest or capital. It was a loss far more overwhelming! It was the passing away of Michael Jackson, the greatest Entertainer of all time. (by Rodney Piper)

My Life In 2009: As the year 2009 is winding down, i feel the need to recap the crucial events of this year. (by Zelda)

Top 10 Discoveries of Cancer Treatment in 2009: I have gathered the cancer research news from Google and NCI. Below are some of the new findings of cancer treatment which I found really benefits to the world. (by Kok Slong)

9 Shocking Moments of 2009: As 2009 draws to a close, most of us look back on the year’s events with fondness. Or grimaces, depending on which event you’re thinking of. This was a year of “shocker” moments–every couple of months, it seemed, we were blindsided by some unexpected news story. (by Rachel)

My Top 40 Frugal Living Tips of 2009: 2008 saw our family move from the “secure” life in Alabama (job with a monthly paycheck) to the exciting life in west Texas to start a vineyard (no paycheck at all !). (by Dimes2Vines)

10 Notable Losses in 2009: Walter Cronkite died at age 92. While I was growing up he was the news anchor that all other news anchors aspired to be. (by Bob)

Springsteen I Migliori Bootleg del 2009: Considerando che tradizionalmente questo è un periodo di bilanci e che il tour di Working on a Dream si è chiuso da poco ecco una lista dei bootleg di Springsteen audio e video che ho più apprezzatto di questo 2009. (by Larry)

Lifestyle

Four Great Ways Ways I Saved And Wasted Money In 2009: Here are some of the best lessons I learned in saving money over the past year. (by Nicole Ouellette)

50 Inspiring People of 2009: I created this list below as part of a group writing project called “2009 in Review” initiated by http://www.dailyblogtips.com/ and to honor 50 inspiring people of 2009 (there are so many, but here are some). (by Stacey Porto)

The Best of Music Videos 2009: 2009 was a great year! The Music videos released in this year had definately caught my eye. So, I conducted a Survey to find out what were the best Music Videos out there that came to us in 2009. (by Elvina Dsouza)

Inspiring Blogs that Motivate-2009: I am very much a novice blogger. I have kept up with a personal family blog for past one year. It is only very recently that I have decided to write more about my interests and share more with the global community. (by Santhi & Sara)

The Best Things Made at Home in 2009: My topic of choice looking back on 2009 : The best things made at home. I love this topic because not only does it get our creative juices flowing and inspire us to save money without having to “do without”, (by Clayton & Dustin Burns)

Top Ten College Football Games From 2009: With the regular season behind us, it is time to take a quick look at the biggest games of the seasons. Some of these games defined a team, some destroyed an otherwise perfect season, and some served to create more controversy in the current BCS system. (by Robert Barga)

2009 Coffee News – Everything From Coffee Wars To Coffee Viagra: It’s about that time. I can’t believe how fast 2009 flew by. It seems like just a few weeks ago, I hit publish on the first Daily Shot Of Coffee blog posts. It’s actually been about seven months since Daily Shot Of Coffee launched. (by Mike Crimmins)

The Best of 2009: Creating New Visions of Happiness: For me, the greatest blessing was the financial crisis, letting us know there is more to happiness than money. With all of the challenges of the year, one of the biggest has been the confirmation that really makes us happy may be our bonding, our relationships with each other, our families and communities. Indeed, research has demonstrated that once basic needs our met, a continued emphasis on money may lead to anxiety and depression. (by Alice Vlietstra)

Another year’s over: Più o meno da quando è online questo nuovo blog, Zzi mi suggerisce di postare una volta al mese la classifica dei post più letti nel mese precedente, così i visitatori saltuari non si perdono le parti salienti. (by Larry)

Fashion: Highlights of 2009: Getting a glimpse of some of the most luxurious and glamorous brands in the world was the perfect gift that makes us love H&M year after year. (by Jose Aponte)

10 Popular Eco-Tourism Destinations of 2009: Eco-tourism is responsible travel to a natural and preserved location that conserves the environment, protects its animals and elevates the living of its local people. Fortunately, eco-tourism or green travel is a growing industry as more and more people are interested in contributing world-wide. (by Roxane Gonzalez)

18 Best Tips to Healthy Aging for 2009: There is no rule that says getting older means getting sick, being weak and frail, and not having your wits about you. The fact is we are living longer than ever because of advances in medicine and technology. (by Ruthan Brodsky)

The Hottest Luxury Travel Trends for 2009: As 2009 draws to a close I’d like to take a moment to pay homage to the little bits of luxury that made this year great. (by Sue Johnson)

Chivalry Awards Of 2009: If there was such a thing as the Chivalry Awards, perhaps the following would be this year’s winners. But chivalrous people don’t follow their ideals to get trophies or make speeches – they simply do what needs to be done, and set the examples that need to be set, in order to make the world a better place. (by Valerie Williams)

Top 10 Online Dating Articles of 2009: These are the top 10 Online Dating articles of 2009 as voted on by members of the #1 ranking system on the Internet, Digg.com. (by Steve)

2009 in review: top 15 yoga blog posts!: What a year it’s been! At the beginning of 2009, “blogging” was this annoying task that I had to do in my busy life as an overworked magazine editor. But once the magazine I worked for closed and I was out of a job, I started to spend my abundance of free time reading blogs. And so I decided to start my own. (by Roseanne)

Writing and Education

The 8 Books I Wish I Read in 2009: I chose to go a little off topic for my “2009 in review” piece. Copywriting and marketing are always interesting to me, but it feels good to write about something a little different. (by Sara Lancaster)

Alanna Klapp’s Four Guest Host Podcasts for The Writing Show in 2009: My name is Alanna Klapp, and if you’re reading this, thank you! I’m a writer and guest host for The Writing Show, a podcast which provides information and inspiration for writers. (by Alanna Klapp)

VAJ’s 10 Hottest Author Interviews of 2009: Everyone loves interviews. I think what we love is that feeling of sitting down for a chat with leaders in our field while they share their secrets of success and insider tips. (by Aggie Villanueva)

2009 Top Ten Hits: The results were surprising because they differed slightly from the posts that I considered to be the most important for other group write projects. (by Philip)

10 Popular Phrases You Must Immediately Delete From Your Writing: I eagerly downloaded and printed a 30-page Special Report from a well-known blogger. Highlighter pen in hand, I began reading, expecting to find many nuggets. I did do a lot of underlining, but not the things the author hoped I’d highlight. (by Laura Christianson)

Amazon Kindle Publishing in 2009: The Sheriff Came to Town: For self-published authors who wanted to get their work in front of Amazon’s massive traffic, putting their work on the Kindle platform seemed like a no-brainer. (by Nancy)

43 Most Inspiring Writing Advice Posts of 2009: This year there have been billions of articles about writing posted all over the Web, detailing everything from getting started to writing a first draft to self-editing to finding a publisher–and everything in between. (by Jennifer Blanchard)

Technology and The Internet

A Look Back at “Ten Amazingly Accurate Tech Predictions for 2009″: Last year, I wrote an article detailing Ten Amazingly Accurate Tech Predictions for 2009 here on Blogcritics. At the time, the article generated pages of comments and debate, all of which centered around how insane I was. (by Robert Barga)

7 VPN Services Launched In 2009: The end of the year is approacing quickly bringing reflections on the year past. Reading about the ‘Group Writing Project: 2009 in Review’ hosted by Daniel Scocco on his Daily Blog Tips blog – I decided to list seven VPN services that were launched in the last year and helped a lot of people. (by Adrian)

Five ways the Internet made me a happier grandma in 2009: As Grandma’s Briefs is all about being a grandma — with a few totally unrelated posts diversions along the way — my year in review post should, I figured, be about being a grandma. And being an online writing event, it seemed appropriate to incorporate the Internet into my angle. (by Lisa)

Top 10 Cloud Computing Service Providers of 2009: We are just 3 weeks short of for the beginning of a new year [2010] and a new decade [2010 – 2019] of 21st century. Let me share about the technology trend that dominated the year 2009 in particular, and was a general buzz almost throughout the decade. (by Basant Singh)

Facebook: New Communication Platforms 2009: Ada laporan menarik dari situs Morgan Stanley tentang Economy + Internet Trend 2009 dan hubungannya dengan Facebook.Ada laporan menarik dari situs Morgan Stanley tentang Economy + Internet Trend 2009 dan hubungannya dengan Facebook. (by Munawar AM)

7 things you heard in 2009: This year we heard about the release of 3 Operating Systems. 2 “updates” and 1 brand new. We all heard about Google Wave, this private apps which made us languish and now everyone can provide invitations no one wants ! And finally we must talk about Twitter and jQuery. (by Simon)

50 Viral Images The Web Shared In 2009: Good visuals help marketers, bloggers and anyone with ideas communicate them quickly. They tell the story faster than text and feed into the web’s fast-past culture of real-time sharing due to their instant gratification. (by Adam Singer)

8 Popular Website Design Trends From 2009: With 2010 right around the corner, it is time to get prepared for the new designs and content delivery methods that we’ll be sure to see the minute the clock strikes midnight. (by Amey Shivapurkar)

Most Searched Queries and Controversial Issues of 2009: Google Zeitgeist is the tool if you want to peek into the global mindset. It also reveals interesting trends across various categories and countries, and how the lists were created. (by Poch Peralta)

Biggest Scam of 2009: December is normally the month that all the “of year” posts come out so I might as well follow suit, however on this site being named the best of or the biggest of the year might not be the best thing. (by Matt Jezorek)

Top Keywords and Searched Terms for 2009: The year 2009 is coming to an end and it’s time to see some interesting statistics and trends that were popular among web users – from Twitter to Facebook to Michael Jackson. (by Amit Banerjee)

20 Best Web Apps of 2009: The Observer is back with another great post, just for you! We at Review of Web are participating in Daniel Scocco’s Daily Blog Tips Group Writing Project: 2009 in Review, and we took our time to pick 20 of the best web applications available in 2009. Let’s get crackin’ shall we? (by Review of Web)

Review 2009-Top 5 Photo Geotagging Applications For iPhone: Geotagging—adding data to a photo that reveals the location it was taken—has quite literally added a new dimension to enjoying and sharing photography.

Top 10 2009 Cell Phone Stories: 2009 was a very popular year for cell phone usage and cell phone advances. You saw new phones, new apps (applications), new services, and new odd uses for cell phones. Here are the top 10 2009 cell phone stories of the year according to the popular web ranking service Digg.com. (by Steve)

Ten Creative Videos Worth Spreading From 2009: If you are like me you get a lot of links that come from friends to see this or that video. I’ve collected the ten that I still go to again and again for inspiration or that just make me smile. (by Christopher)

How Online Classes Helped Define Writing In 2009!: Looking back at all the happenings in cyberspace & the world of the freelance writer in 2009, I’m most grateful for and comforted by the influx of online class facilitators and their offerings of help via the easy highway of web surfing. (by Clara)

Top 10 Free LifeSaver Softwares of 2009: Life savers? Yes, when you are addicted to your computer, it ceases to be a mere tool in your life! In fact, it becomes your life and you’d do anything, just anything to keep it alive- from black death or blue death or whatever! (by Comps-Tutor)

The Time Finder’s 10 Top Time-Saving Twitter Tools of 2009: Finding time to write great content, create new products, run your business and maintain an engaged and engaging presence on the web is a major challenge. (by Paula)

The Top 10 iPhone Applications from 2009

rmb.reviews — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:39:36 +0000

Hello, and welcome to the the first yearly wrap-up of iWant, iNeed, iRecommend. To make this list, I looked at all of my previous lists, and chose the 10 best applications from the year. If you want to see my previous lists, please visit them here. While this list is subjective (as are all top 10 lists), I did my best to base this on actual use, not my own opinion. Enjoy.

10) Nano

“Nano is a very interesting application. I am not sure if it is a game or a meditation device, but I liked it either way. Basically, you direct streams of ions to receivers, trying to get only the good ones (cool colors) in, while keeping the bad ones (hot colors) out. In the background, a random music plays; it is created by how you play and what is streaming into the receivers at any given moment. To me, this was a really relaxing game, and I think that you will all enjoy it. You can get Nano for $0.99 in the app store.” — from the February 2009 Top 10 list.

As I said in my full review of Nano, this game is amazing. I still play it while heading to work, and I will play it at night when trying to sleep. The simplicity of the game, along with the soothing music, still make it a great meditation toy. While this game might not be for everybody, my weekly use indicates that it should be in the top 10.

9) Kindle for iPhone

“Kindle for the iPhone was launched at the beginning of March with much fanfare. Finally, people could read the e-books that they bought from Amazon on the iPhone. While most public domain books were already covered…now they could read new novels. You can adjust text size, sync with your actual Kindle, and also leave bookmarks. Simply put, this application is everything you would expect from the real deal except with a smaller screen. Though you can get Kindle for the iPhone for free, most books will cost you $9.99.” — from the March 2009 Top 10 list.

I am going to tell you this right off of the bat: I do not use Kindle. Personally, I like reading books, smelling the musty pages, and flipping through those very pages. The Kindle, along with other e-readers, do not let me do this, so I really can not stand them. That said, however, the Kindle for the iPhone is an important application, as it opened the door for iPhone users to the vast library of Amazon. I believe that this contribution merits placement in the top 10.

MLB at Bat 2009

“MLB At Bat 2009 is a collection of baseball information gathered from MLB’s official Web site. You can see batting information, game scores, and even the normal game-cast. Additionally, the newest feature…is the ability to watch live streaming games. That’s right, you are able to watch live baseball games from your iPhone. Frankly, I believe that this addition makes the application essential for fans, coaches, players, and sports writers alike. At $9.99, all fans of the sport should grab MLB At Bat 2009 today.” — from the July 2009 Top 10 list.

Frankly, MLB at Bat was probably one of the best applications of the year. I would sit at live baseball games, and be able to stay up-to-date with other games from around the league. Sure, I could have gone to ESPN and checked the stats and scores there, but MLB at Bat kept me in tune with all of the games, and had everything easy to access. I believe that this application was one of the most user friendly, cleanest, and best apps made this year.

7) Sirius XM

“The iPhone application from Sirius XM was one of the most anticipated applications of the year. The application basically gives you access to Sirius Satellite Radio on your iPhone. This allows you to listen to sports, new music, or talk shows while wandering around your city. It also means that you no longer need to buy a dedicated device to get access. Though the Sirius XM application is free, you need to pay the monthly fee of $13 for service.” — from the June 2009 Top 10 list.

I no longer use Sirius as my main iPhone radio, as Pandora (see below) has replaced it. That said, however, the quality of talk shows, sporting events, and other interesting features (Bob Dylan, I am looking at you) still make Sirius XM for the iPhone a fun and exciting application. I would still recommend using it, and still believe that it is one of the best apps of the year.

6) Smack Me

“I cannot say enough about Smack Me. This is one of the best games I have ever played on my iPhone and is quickly becoming my favorite application of the year (sorry PRO series). The game is just like bob-it, but on the phone. Utilizing multi-touch, the accelerator, and just simple touch (one finger) the game uses anything you can do to your phone. Pinch it, smack it, freeze it, lift it; the game has everything possible. This is easily one of the most addictive games out there, on any platform, and one that you will love immensely. When I first got it, I didn’t put it down for an hour or two. The $1.99 that you will be spending on Smack Me is well worth it, and I recommend that you get it today.” — from the February 2009 Top 10 list.

As I said in my full review of Smack Me, this game easily deserves 5 out of 5 stars. Having amazing gameplay, addicting elements, and just being fun is what makes this game so great. While I have gotten tired of it (several months of playing while on bus trips does that to you), my friends still enjoy it, and I still stand by its rating.

5) Pandora Radio

Pandora was the only application that had not previously been on a top 10 list.
When I walk around campus, ride on the bus to work, or go jogging, I like to listen to music. Sometimes I listen to my own songs, but other times I want to hear new and entertaining creations. Pandora — which recommends songs, creates custom playlists, and generally is a kick-ass DJ — allows me to do this. I simply start the program, pick a song, and my entire activity is taken care of. I love this application, and use it daily. Try Pandora out yourself for free.

4) Bento

“At the end of April I was contacted by a company called FileMaker about a new product they were going to release for the iPhone. Though I could not see it in practice until its May 1 launch, the demo that they showed me was absolutely amazing. Ever since that point, I have been enamored with Bento. Bento is a database system that I use almost every single day on my phone. I keep recipes, shopping lists, exercise logs, and even my checkbook on it. I use it so much that my class notes are organized on it and my Blogcritics review list is stored on it. Think of a list, or really anything that you need organized, and Bento can do it for you. Plus, it has a great user interface, a good look, and feels truly natural to the iPhone. At only $4.99, this simple application will make your life easier, and I strongly urge you to buy it.” — from the May 2009 Top 10 list.

As I said in my full review of Bento, this is one of my favorite applications ever on the iPhone. I still use Bento everyday, and it makes my life so much easier. All of my law school data is currently stored in a Bento database, and everything else that I do in life is in there as well. Bento is essential to my sanity, and still is a good buy.

3) The Avalinx Pro Collection

One company has only made six iPhone applications, and yet they have been in my list six times. Avalinx, a Dublin, Ohio-based company, is a maker of fine iPhone games. Most of their apps have to do with gambling, and all of them are fun. They contain stunning graphics, smooth gameplay, and actually teach you some nifty games. While each individual application does not merit placement as the third best app from 2009 (though some do merit placement in this top 10 list), the overall contribution of Avalinx merits such a grand placement. I strongly suggest trying some of their products today. For reviews of their products, as well as an interview with their founder, check out my writer page.

2) Quickoffice Mobile

“One of the things that has been keeping the iPhone from reaching a wide business audience is the lack of any real Microsoft Office support. Sure, you could read and view documents, spreadsheets, and PDFs, but you really couldn’t alter them if you wanted to. That is where Quickoffice steps in. The application allows you to open all sorts of documents, edit them, save them, and send them. The UI is extremely easy to use, and it feels native to your fingers. I often thought that I would never find a good office suite on the iPhone until Microsoft released one, but Quickoffice surprised me. Though it seems expensive at $19.99 a pop, it is essential for any business person.” — from the June 2009 Top 10 list.

While various other companies have released office applications lately, Quickoffice still reigns supreme in my book. Nothing is easier to use, quicker to learn, or as fully featured. I still stand by my contention that no suite can be better until Microsoft releases one, and then it will be a close call. Quickoffice is, and will always be, my office suite of choice.

And the #1 iPhone application from 2009 is…

1) Tap Tap

In 2008, one of the top apps of the year was the original Tap Tap game. Several of this year’s top 10 monthly lists feature a variation of this game. Frankly, Tap Tap is the best iPhone series created, and easily dwarfs every other game. While I do not play it often, nobody can deny the ease, fun, or endless gameplay that these games have. To the makers of these games, keep up the good work: you have a golden game on your hands.

Well, folks, there you have it, the top 10 iPhone and iPod Touch applications from 2009. If you have any suggestions for next year’s list, or want to tell me what I missed, please let me know in the comments. This is part of the 2009 in review group writing project.

Top Ten College Football Games From 2009

Robert M. Barga — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:10:06 +0000

This is part of the 2009 in review group writing project. To find out more about this project, please check out Daily Blog Tips.

With the regular season behind us, it is time to take a quick look at the biggest games of the seasons. Some of these games defined a team, some destroyed an otherwise perfect season, and some served to create more controversy in the current BCS system. Some of these were close games, others simply played a major role in the final polls. No matter who the game was between, or how big it seemed at the time, these games directly altered the college football world this season. So, without further ado, here are the top ten football games from 2009 (bowl games don’t count):

10) September 3: Boise State 19, Oregon 8
In the first game of the 2009 season, Oregon met up with the constant BCS-buster Boise State. Not only did they throw down on the field, but they also threw down in a nice little boxing match after the game. LaGarrette Blount ‘punch heard round the world’ removed one of Oregon’s best running backs for the season (well, until they decided to change that) and set them off to a bad start on the year. For Boise, the game helped to launch yet another undefeated season and another BCS bowl game. Though the game didn’t harm Oregon too much, it seemed as though it was a major loss at the time.

9) September 19: Washington 16, USC 13
One week after beating Ohio State in a close match in The ‘Shoe, USC had an easy cupcake on their schedule. Washington took offense to that and decided to take USC out of the national championship picture. For yet another year, the Trojans lost a game that they should have won right after taking out a larger program. Though this game didn’t affect the Pac-10 at the time, it started the downside of Pete Carroll’s program, finishing at 8-4 and putting them in a mid-level bowl game.

December 5: Cincinnati 45, Pittsburgh 44
While everybody knew that this game would decide the winner of the Big East and a automatic BCS bid, nobody knew that it would be this close. Pitt took an early 21-point lead, but then squandered it in the second half. This game cemented Cincinnati’s place in the BCS hierarchy, left them undefeated for the season, and helped to create more BCS controversy. If Cincinnati wins their bowl game, their win against Pitt will cause more calls for a playoff.

7) November 14: Ohio State 27, Iowa 24
While the Big Ten has no conference championship, this game equated to it. Whichever school won would have at least a share of it, and would win all the tie breakers. Basically, the winner of this game went to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl. Not only was this an important game, but it was extremely close. OSU won in overtime, allowing me, and thousands of my closest friends, to rush the field. For the first time since 1997, Ohio State booked its ticket to the Rose Bowl.

6) November 14: Stanford 55, USC 21
While OSU and Iowa were slugging it out, there was this. Though the game between these two Pac-Ten teams didn’t do much in the standings, it greatly effected USC’s season. Not only was this their third loss (their most since 2001, Carroll’s first year), but it also knocked them out of the running to be champions of the conference. For the first time in almost a decade, USC no longer was the best team out west. Oh, and for OSU fans, Stanford going for the two-point conversion with a huge big was a refreshing reminder of how great rivalries can be.

5) September 5: BYU 14, Oklahoma 13
In one game, the entire football world got turned on its head. The 2009 national championship runner up was beaten in the first week at home. Their star quarterback and defending Heisman winner Sam Bradford, was taken out for most of the season. Oklahoma showed why games are not played on paper and why preseason polls are useless.

4) December 3: Oregon 37, Oregon State 33
Whoever schedules Oregon’s games is a genius. First, they schedule a game against Boise State on a Thursday, when nothing else is on, and it has huge implications. Next, they schedule the Civil War on another Thursday, making it the biggest event of the night. Nobody expected this game to decide the Pac-10 champion, but it did. With a win, Oregon booked their ticket to the Rose Bowl, where they will be playing against Ohio State (for the eighth time ever, and OSU has won all seven previous meetings).

3) December 5: Texas 13, Nebraska 12
In what was supposed to be a pushover, Texas entered the Big Twelve Championship game expecting to leave it undefeated and with a ticket to the National Championship game. Nebraska, on the other hand, felt that they had a shot to win. Frankly, Nebraska outplayed Texas and almost earned a BCS bowl bid. Alas, that was not the case, as a last second (literally) field goal kept Texas in the ranks of the undefeated. However, the closeness of the championship game brought about more controversy, as several commentators feel that TCU is a better team.

2) November 7: Northwestern 17, Iowa 10
While I am sure that this ranking for this game is in controversy, nobody can deny the importance of this one. Iowa was perfect and entered the game as a heavy favorite, looking to continue their barely-winning pattern. Northwestern was struggling, having almost lost to 0-12 Eastern Michigan two months earlier. When Iowa’s starting QB Ricky Stanzi was taken out with an injury, the whole game plan went in the gutter.

1) December 5: Alabama 32, Florida 13
This game, obviously, was the most important one of the season. Two undefeated teams entered, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, and only one left. A rematch from last season’s championship, Alabama and Florida once again decidied who would go to the BCS National Championship. Alabama absolutely slaughtered Florida, making Tim Tebow cry in the process (I love this fact). There is no question about it, any game that decides one member of the National Championship game, and perhaps the Heisman, is clearly the best game of the season.

There you have it folks. These were the top ten college football games from the 2009 season, and they were a huge factor throughout the year. Seasons were made and broken during these games, and controversy was created several times. While I might have missed some of the big games, I feel that most of the important ones were represented. Disagree? Well, then tell me what games were more important in the comments section.

The Big Ten (11) Preview: Week Twelve – The Rivalry Edition

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:39:57 +0000

Each week of the 2009 college football season, I will be examining all the games that a Big Ten team plays in. All kickoff times are ET and all poll numbers are from the BCS rankings as provided by ESPN. All records are for conference play only. Week Twelve is as follows:

Overview of Week Eleven
Last week, the Big Ten worked out several of its kinks. OSU won yet another conference title, as they defeated Iowa in overtime (closer than I expected) – I, along with thousands of my closest (and drunkest) friends, rushed the field after the game. While Penn State and Wisconsin won (as expected), Purdue decided to lose again, this time to Michigan State. All-in-all, it was a good week for the conference, as they kept four teams ranked, and still have 3 in the top 15 (with Wisconsin at #16).

#10 The Ohio State University (6-1)@ University of Michigan (1-6)
Well, we might as well start this week’s preview out with the most important game of the week: The Game. While The Game is considered the greatest rivalry in all sports, it has been lackluster as of late. This week’s version has a horrific Michigan team up against a strong Ohio State team, so it should be in a sad state. While OSU already has the Rose Bowl berth, they still could keep Michigan from being bowl eligible if they win. With no defense, and a stagnating offense, the Wolverines have absolutely no chance on Saturday, and the Buckeye players should be heading home with yet another charm. OSU 28, UM 10. This game will be televised on ABC at 12:00 p.m.
The Game has no trophy, but for each win, members of the Buckeyes get a gold pants charm

#13 Iowa (5-2) vs Minnesota (3-4)
Even though they lost the automatic BCS berth last week, the Hawkeyes still have a chance to make it to a BCS game this season. To do so, they must first get by a tough Minnesota team. Sure, the Golden Gophers have not shown up strongly on the scoreboard during their games, but they have a strong defense, and a decent offense. With Iowa’s starting quarterback gone, Minnesota might have a chance to keep the game close. Even if it is close, however, Iowa still will be fielding a better team. If they can keep their turnovers to a minimum, the Hawkeyes should be going home with Floyd, and a probable BCS berth. Iowa 24, Minnesota 21. This game will be televised on ESPN at 12:00 p.m.
The trophy for this rivalry is a bronze pig named The Floyd of Rosedale.

#14 Penn State (5-2) @ Michigan State (4-3)
While Penn State still has a chance to get into a BCS game, the odds are very slim. Either Iowa must lose, or Penn State needs to dominate over Michigan State. With a potent offense led by their strong running game, the Nittany Lions have a chance at doing just this. The Spartans have allowed roughly 300+ yards a game, which will not win this one for them. If they want a chance for the win, they need to be able to stop the run, and keep a close secondary. Both of these are a rarity for Michigan State, so they have almost no chance for the upset. Though Penn State should easily beat Michigan State, it will not be by enough to jump Iowa for the BCS spot. PSU 28, MSU 17. This game will be televised on ABC at 3:30 p.m.
The trophy for this rivalry is a wooden box with statues, pictures, and dates on it called The Land Grant Trophy.

Purdue (4-7) @ Indiana (4-7)
With neither team able to be bowl eligible, this would normally be a boring game. However, there are bragging rights riding on this, and a huge revenge factor for Indiana. After getting embarrassed (62-10) last year, the Hoosiers will be looking to take the Boilermakers out. With a strong passing game facing a weak secondary, Indiana might have the chance. However, their running game will be non-existent, as Purdue has done well at stopping all ground movement. Indiana’s only liability is their defense, which is on and off this year. If the defense shows up, and in a rivalry game it will, they should win. Purdue 10, Indiana 28. This game will be televised on BTN at 3:30 p.m.
The trophy for this rivalry is one of the oldest trophies in all of football; an old bucket with bronze chains called The Old Oaken Bucket.

#16 Wisconsin (5-2) @ Northwestern (4-3)
The only non-rivalry game of the week promises to be a good one. Both Wisconsin and Northwestern are fielding decent teams, and both have the offensive power to get it done. While Wisconsin has a better defense, the Wildcats have a fairly good one. With the two teams being evenly matched, Saturday’s game will be one of quarterbacks. If Scott Tolzien continues his domination, then the Badgers should have this in hand. If he can’t get his passing down, then Mike Kafka has a good chance at leading his team to another upset. While the game might be away, I believe that Tolzien will get another 4+ TD game, and lead the Badgers into another victory. Wisconsin 37, Northwestern 21. This game will be televised on BTN at 3:30 p.m.

Illinois has the week off.

Overall
Overall, this should be yet another good week for the Big Ten Conference. While their main teams will continue to win, the national exposure should help to lift the conference in the eyes of the nation (I can hope, can’t I). After Week Twelve, the Big Ten should still have four ranked teams, all of which will be within the top 15. They will also have two BCS bowl bids and seven of their 11 teams will be bowl eligible.

The Evolution of a Nation:

Robert M. Barga — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:27:26 +0000

The Evolution of a Nation:

The socio-biological formation of nations

Robert M. Barga

“During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man.”^¹If Hobbes is correct, and anarchy results from the absence of a nation and its central authority, then it is no surprise that primordialists find that nations have existed and been an important factor for humans for all of recorded history.

Throughout history, people have united under common bonds and formed into nations. They unite under religious, cultural, historical, linguistic, racial, and/or ethnic ties. Overtime, these connections evolve into group identities. When the groupings are a point of pride, and become one of the uniting factors of the group, then these people share a nationalistic identity. This identity is what creates nations.

While theories of nationalism and nations are many, most fall within one of three ideologies. Social scientists are more drawn to the socio-biological root of nations, and thus are known as primordialists. They contend that “nations, ethnic groups, and races can be traced to the underlying genetic reproductive drives of individuals.”^² Socio-biologists believe that nations will always be in human nature, as they are an extrapolation of our genetic need for reproduction. By helping to preserve our genes, or those of groups we consider kin (ethnic ties), nationalized humans are more likely to pass on their traits.

Socio-bioloigicalists handle the formation of nations with ease. The theory simply states that first the family group was created. This was then expanded, for obvious protection issues, to the tribe. Then to the city, the city-state, the confederation, and finally it led to the nation. By utilizing close genetic ties (race, shared attributes, etc.), or by creating a myth of common origin (Persians, Norse, etc.), members of these nations will protect and remain loyal to each other and the nation, thus creating nationalism.

Some theorists believe that it would not be possible for nations to form as a result of evolutionary needs, as several nations have multiple genetic groupings, and therefore would not evolutionarily be beneficial for each other. To counter this, socio-biologicalists simply point out tribal groups in nature. Most of the upper level mammals will form tribal groups. These groups have a clear leader or formation of leading body, a clear hierarchy, and a shared genetic heritage. Furthermore, they will assimilate other, non-genetically-related creatures into their system if need be. While the exact reason that this occurs is unknown, it is assumed that the extra members add both genetic protection from diseases, add territory into the clan, and that the member serves as an additional protecting force in the group. By extrapolating upon this phenomenon, they can determine that it is a natural tendency to form groups with close genetic ties, and they can extrapolate that these groups can expand into larger groups without the same genetic ties.

Likewise, other theorists would contend that these ties are not strong enough to form a nation. A simple look at many current nations shows otherwise. By glancing into Africa, one can see the tribal nature of the populace. These people form very loyal nations, and war against other nations. The main reason for these wars is the differences in genetic heritage of the two parties. Ethnocentrism and the desire to keep the xeno away clearly indicate that this is the case^³.

Another main theory of nationalism would be that of the Modernists. Modernists contend that the formation of nations and nationalism is a relatively modern phenomenon. They hold that “nations are derived from such novel economic and social factors as industrial capitalism, regional inequality, and class conflict.”^⁴ By adapting to something that has not happened before, people celebrate and unite around what the elites tell them to, thus forming nations and their nationalistic tendencies.

Most modernists claim that the birth of nations and nationalism came to a head with French Revolution^⁵. Prior to this event, the modernists do not see any strong sense of nationalism, which is needed for the nation. Without the free time and free thought that modern societies had, there would be no way for nations to form. The French Revolution, along with later political and cultural upheavals, was the first time that free thought was utilized in the changing of a nation-state, thus forming the first clear nation.

While modernistic theory can explain the birth of many first-world countries, as well as the strong nationalistic pride felt shortly after their birth, it can not explain historical nations, or even acknowledge them. The Jewish Nation has been united for over 3,000 years (under The Midrash Tradition)^⁶, sharing a common commitment to their people, religion, and culture; this commitment created a nation. Likewise, the Japanese Shoguns united their people in fierce loyalty, creating nations. These historical nations contradict modernism, and lead to the theory’s demise.

The main opponent to the modernist theory is perennialism. Perennialists hold that nations have existed for as long as humans have lived in society. They contend that nations, along with nationalism, can be discovered by tracing cultural characteristics over time. Looking at how these characteristics evolved, they are able to find nations throughout human history. With the discovery of nations throughout human history, perennialists argue that nations and nationalism can not be a modern creation, and therefore modernism is wrong.

While perennialists are correct in finding that nations are not a modern construct, the theory does not go far enough into why nations form. Perennialism, it seems, only focuses on the mere fact that nations existed historically, not the how or why of it. The theory itself has no general model as to why these nations form; merely it shows that they do form. To rectify this, several perennialists adhere to the theory of artificialisim.^⁷

The artificialists believe that nations are a social construct created by the elites. Sharing their formation theory with the modernists, these perennialists believe that nations are created by an elite force working behind the scenes; “political elites have competed to promote different types of nationalism linked to their political values and interests…”^⁸ This change in nationalism creates a new nation, or a new cause for one, which both the artificialists and modernists agree upon; the only factor which the two disagree upon is how old nations are.

This theory, however, also has several problems. For starters, primordialists have already shown that nations can form in nature without elites, and that the elites usually serve simply to expand upon that nationalistic pride. Furthermore, within human society, there have been several nations without elites (Roma, Kurdish, Jewish (Midrash only), etc.). Primordialists would contend that artificialists are simply selective in their picking of nations, which is why they do not find those without elite leaders.

While the theory of nationalism and nations may never be fully realized, and it is still a hot topic, the socio-biological argument is the best one presented. It is clear that modernists are off the ball, as a simple look at history (the Jewish Nation is a prime example) shows that there are historical problems. Likewise, the artificialists fall flat when you notice that many nations sprung up with the lack of elites (Talmud (elite) vs. Midrash (not elite)). With those two theories full of faults, it becomes clear that the socio-biological theory is the only logical one remaining. Not only is this tied to naturally observable events, but it also fits well with the scientific knowledge of homo sapiens. It is clear that nations form as a result of a genetic self-defense mechanism.

1 Leviathan, ch. XIII – Thomas Hobbes

2 Nationalism, pg. 52 – Anthony D. Smith

3 An Invitation to Anthropology: The Structure, Evolution and Cultural Identity of Human Societies, pg. 200 – Joseph R. Llobera

4 Nationalism, pg. 47 – Anthony D. Smith

5Nationalism, pg. 45 – Anthony D. Smith

6 Living with Contradiction – http://haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtStEngPE.jhtml?itemNo=1104191&contrassID=2&subContrassID=15&title=%27Living%20with%20contradiction%20%27&dyn_server=172.20.5.5

7 An Invitation to Anthropology: The Structure, Evolution and Cultural Identity of Human Societies, pg. 202 – Joseph R. Llobera

8 A Nation-state by Construction – Suisheng Zhao

The Big Ten (11) Preview: Week Ten

rmb.reviews — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:14:44 +0000

Overview of Week Nine
Last week, the Big Ten decided to mess with my head. For starters, Illinois decided that they wanted to beat Michigan. I mean, how the heck was anybody supposed to predict that? Then, Wisconsin, a team that lost convincingly to OSU, decided to shut out Purdue, a team that beat the Buckeyes. I know, caveman logic doesn’t work, but still. Thankfully, Penn State, OSU, and Iowa all won, keeping the conference high up in the BCS standings.

Illinois (1-5) @ Minnesota (3-3)
Last Saturday, Illinois decided that they were going to do the impossible. Instead of losing like they have been doing all season, they easily beat the Michigan Wolverines. This will probably fire them up, but it will do little to help this season out. Minnesota, however, has a chance at making it to a bowl game this season, and they clearly are looking forward to it. A win on Saturday, in front of a home crowd, would make them eligible for a postseason game, which is something they desperately need. Expect Minnesota, led by a strong running game, to easily score on Illinois, thus becoming bowl eligible. Illinois 10, Minnesota 24. This game will be televised on BTN at 12:00 p.m.

Indiana (1-4) vs. #21 Wisconsin (3-2)
Last Saturday, Indiana had a chance to turn the football world on its head by beating Iowa. Instead, they lost the game in the final quarter, and ended up getting embarrassed. It is clear that Indiana has some talent, but they do not have the depth needed to play an entire game, this will probably cost them for the rest of the season. Wisconsin, who is ranked again, also has that talent, but they also have the depth needed. Expect the game to be close for the first few quarters, but then a rested secondary for the Badgers should take the lead late. Also look for running back John Clay, who will rake up the yards, getting another 100-plus yard game. Indiana 17, Wisconsin 23. This game will be televised on BTN at 12:00 p.m.

John Clay is going to tear it up for Wisconsin.

University of Michigan (1-4) vs. Purdue (2-3)
After a great start to the year, Michigan has fallen into a deep pit. Losing to Illinois, who is easily the worst team in the conference, was just icing on their cake of despair. Purdue, likewise, has had a season that they would like to forget, though several close loses, and a beating of OSU, give them some pleasure. For this week’s game, the question simply is one of turnovers. Both teams love giving the ball away, and they both rarely love taking it back. As long as the Boilermakers hold onto the football, they should easily win the game. Michigan 14, Purdue 28. This game will be televised on BTN at 12:00 p.m.

#16 The Ohio State University (4-1) @ #11 Penn State (4-1)
This is, obviously, the most important game in the Big Ten during Week 10. Not only will it decide who will be ranked higher, but it will probably also decide who is going to the Rose Bowl come January. This will be a real test for Penn State, who has only played one good team all season. That team, Iowa, easily defeated the Nittany Lions, and handed them their only loss. OSU has faced several good teams this year, and they only lost to one of them, USC, and it was close. While Terrelle Pryor might be young and play poorly, he has had some experience against good teams, which should help him on Saturday. Penn State is untested against strong teams, weak in the secondary, and not a strong running school. Expect OSU’s strong defensive line to win the game, and score some points. OSU 21, Penn State 10. This game will be televised on ABC at 3:30 p.m.

No Buckeye fan wants to see this happen again.

Northwestern (2-3) @ #4 Iowa (5-0)
If Iowa is looking to jump Texas to become the second team in the BCS National Championship (against the SEC champ), playing against teams like Northwestern is not going to help any. Frankly put, this should be a sleeper game, and it shouldn’t prove anything to the rest of the nation. In fact, it will probably be used by pundits to explain why the Big Ten sucks, even when they don’t. Iowa is going to run over, pass through, and just dominate the Wildcats. Northwestern’s only hope is that they score at least one point on Saturday. Northwestern 0, Iowa 28. This game will be televised on ESPN at 12:00 p.m.

Michigan State (3-3) vs. Western Michigan (-)
At the start of the season, I would have laughed at this game. However, after MSU lost to Central Michigan, it looks as though this might actually be a decent competition. Michigan State allowed five touchdown passes last week, while giving up 400+ yards through the air. This is a sign of an exceptionally weak secondary, and a sign that a passing team can handle the Spartans. The Broncos are a passing team, and they should be able to utilize this sparse secondary for their advantage, grabbing some touchdowns. While the Spartans might be able to run through the Broncos, expect Western Michigan’s passing to be the factor in this game. Michigan State 17, Western Michigan 31. This game will be televised on BTN at 12:00 p.m.

Another team from [insert location here] Michigan is going to take out the Spartans.

Overall
Overall, this is not going to be a good week for the Big Ten. While three of their four ranked teams will win, only one of them (OSU over PSU) will be against a decent opponent. To make it worse, one of their teams will lose to an out-of-conference small school. Add to this that only two games will be nationally televised, and the conference will not come out of Week Ten looking so good. Sure, they will still have four ranked teams, but they will appear weaker in the eyes of the nation.

On Issue Three: Vote No

Robert M. Barga — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:05:51 +0000

The text of Issue Three is as follows:

Authorize only one casino facility at a specifically designated location within each of the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo.

Levy a fixed tax of 33% of gross casino revenue received by each casino operator of the four casino facilities.

Distribute the casino tax as follows:

51% among all 88 counties in proportion to such counties’ respective populations. Half of each county’s distribution will go to its largest city if that city’s population is above 80,000.

34% among all public school districts

5% among all host cities

3% to the Ohio casino control commission

3% to the Ohio state racing commission fund

2% to a state law enforcement training fund

2% to a state problem gambling and addictions fund

Require each initial licensed casino operator to pay a single $50,000,000 fee to be used for state job training purposes and make a minimum initial investment of $250,000,000 in its facility.

Permit approved types of casino gaming authorized by Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana, and Pennsylvania as of January 1, 2009 or games subsequently authorized by those states.

Authorize the casinos to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the discretion of the casino operator and require that the casino facilities shall be subject to all state and local laws and provisions related to health and building codes, but that no local zoning, land use laws, subdivision regulations or similar provisions shall prohibit the development or operation of the casinos at the designated sites.

Create the Ohio casino control commission which will license and regulate casino operators, management companies retained by such casino operators, key employees, gaming-related vendors, and all gaming authorized by this constitutional provision.

Now, I want to come right out and say that this is a horrible bet (see what I did there?) for the citizens of Ohio. There is no way that allowing casinos into our state will help us in any way, and they will most likely harm the state. Furthermore, they will lead to economoic decay, as well as urban decay, in the locations where they will be built, ruining what is left of three of the cities. For Columbus, they will ruin what is becoming a great location.

My first problem with the proposal is that it allows no control to our board of casino control. If a game is approved in the four surrounding states (possible just one, not sure on that), then it is allowed in Ohio. Yep, anything that is cool in PA, MI, WV, and IN will be cool in Ohio, no matter what it is.

Then, the proposal creates a monoply in our constitution. While I would be more okay with a general allowence of casinos (governed by a board), this one allows up to four, very specifically. Granted, they don’t need to build all four, but that is all that there could be.

I hate the idea of limiting local control, and Issue Three outright does that. By not letting the casinos be governed by normal local laws (save health codes), the amendment would basically be giving them veto power. Who cares if the town doesn’t want the casino there, the owners can just ignore it. This is not allowable, and needs to be stopped before it happens.

Basically, I feel that Issue Three is a horrific idea and proposal for the state. Not only will it not help, but it will harm the state, and require a constitutional amendment (supposidly hard to do) to get rid of it. I think that we, as a state, should vote against it, and, once again, say FUCK YOU to casinos.

The Big Ten (11) Preview: Week Nine

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:01:26 +0000

Overview of Week Eight
Last week, the Big Ten did exactly what they should be doing. With national exposure, the powerhouses won, while the rest of the conference just played their games. OSU and Penn State easily handled their opponents, while Iowa decided to barely win theirs (again). Though Northwestern and Michigan decided to screw me over, my overall picks were pretty accurate, and I felt as though the week was a pretty obvious one. Let’s hope the same is true for Week Nine. By the way, if you are into picking teams for wagers, Checkout BetUS sports betting.

Wisconsin (2-2) vs. Purdue (2-2)
While Wisconsin was sitting around whittling last week, Purdue won their third game of the season. Sure, it was against Illinois (who hasn’t beaten them?), but it was still an impressive win. This gives the Boilermakers two wins in a row, after a strong route of Ohio State the week before. While Purdue likes to run a lot, they are also able to air the ball out. Wisconsin, on the other hand, doesn’t run too often, but they do air it out frequently. This should be an interesting game, as both teams have strong rushing defenses. Purdue does have an edge though, as their passing defense is much better than Wisconsin’s. Expect Purdue to keep their streak going, though in a close manner. Wisconsin 14, Purdue 20. This game will be televised on ESPN2 at 12:00 p.m.

Indiana (1-3) @ #4 Iowa (4-0)
For the 5.72 percent of you who thought that MSU would beat Iowa, their game last week probably caused you to cry. For the 34.84 percent of you who think that Iowa will run the table, that was a perfect game. Like normal, Iowa was playing the level of their opponent, until they realized what time it was. They kicked it into gear, and just sprinted on past MSU. The 4th best team in the nation will continue doing that on Saturday, as they will easily handle the Hoosiers of Indiana. Indiana 10, Iowa 28. This game will be televised on ESPN at 12:00 p.m.

University of Michigan (1-3) @ Illinois (0-5)
After starting their season off very well, Michigan has entered into a bit of a slump. They have lost three of their last four, and they have shown some holes. Illinois likewise is in a slump, though they never were a good team to begin with. The Fighting Illini have won just one of their seven games, and are playing extremely poorly. Look for Tate Forcier to pass like there is no tomorrow, and watch the strong Wolverine rushing game, led by Carlos Brown, to take control of the game. Michigan 35, Illinois 7. This game will be televised on ABC at 3:30 p.m.

Keep on looking upset, the year is not going to get any better

Minnesota (2-3) vs. Michigan State (3-2)
Though Michigan State barely lost to Iowa, that was a fluke, not an indication of a decent team. MSU has been playing decently of late, though they normally play badly. The team has problems sustaining a drive, keeping the ball, and scoring. Their defense is weak, and they turn the ball over too often. Lucky for the Spartans, Minnesota happens to be in the same exact boat. The Golden Gophers are also always turning the ball over, not having an efficient offense, and leaving gaps in the secondary. This should be a fun game, as mediocre meets mediocre – that normally means that the home team wins. Minnesota 21, Michigan State 17. This game will be televised on BTN at 8:00 p.m.

Hey, look, it’s laughing time

# 12 Penn State (3-1) vs. Northwestern (2-2)
Sure, Northwestern found a way to come back from a 25 point deficit, and sure, they have won five of their eight games, but it is Northwestern. There is no way that the Wildcats can come into Happy Valley and beat Joe Pa. The last time that Penn State lost to an average team was back in 2007 (to MSU), and it isn’t going to happen again. Penn State 55, Northwestern 10. This game will be televised on ESPN at 4:30 p.m.

#17 The Ohio State University (4-1) vs. New Mexico State (-)
HAHAHAHAHAHA. Seriously, there is no chance that this will be an enjoyable game, let alone a close one. OSU will easily dominate the Aggies, and probably even shut them out. Expect Pryor to play only the first half, second strings will come in midway through the third quarter, and I will leave by the 40 minute mark. OSU 42, New Mexico State 0. This game will be televised on BTN at 12:00 p.m.

There is a reason the Aggies are always on this list

Overall
Overall, this looks to be a decent week (again) for the Big Ten. Their three main schools – PSU, Iowa, and OSU – will continue to dominate and impress the nation. Additionally, four of the six games the conference will participate in are being televised nationally. For other Ohio teams, check out these NFL expert picks. This should help to show the strength of the Big Ten (or, well, how crappy their small teams are) and lead to more national respect.

One Issue Two: Vote Yes

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:50:03 +0000

The text of Ohio Issue Two is as follows:

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board for the purpose of establishing standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in this state. In carrying out its purpose, the Board shall endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families. The Board shall be comprised of the following thirteen members:

(A)(1) The director of the state department that regulates agriculture who shall be the chairperson of the Board;

(A)(2) Ten members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The ten members appointed by the Governor shall be residents of this state and shall include the following:

(E) If any part of this section is held invalid, the remainder of this section shall not be affected by that holding and shall continue in full force and effect.

(a) One member representing family farms;

(b) One member who is knowledgeable about food safety in this state;

(d) One member who is a veterinarian who is licensed in this state;

(e) The State Veterinarian in the state department that regulates agriculture;

(f) The dean of the agriculture department of a college or university located in this state;

(g) Two members of the public representing Ohio consumers;

(h) One member representing a county humane society that is organized under state law.

(A)(3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be a family farmer;

(A)(4) One member appointed by the President of the Senate who shall be a family farmer. Not more than seven members appointed to the Board at any given time shall be of the same political party.

(B) The Board shall have authority to establish standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in this state, subject to the authority of the General Assembly. In establishing those standards, the Board shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.

(C) The state department that regulates agriculture shall have the authority to administer and enforce the standards established by the Board.

(D) The General Assembly may enact laws that it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, to facilitate the execution of the duties of the Board and the state department that regulates agriculture under this section, and to set the terms of office of the Board members and conditions for the Board members’ service on the Board.

Now, part of me really wants to recommend that you vote against issue two. I hate the idea of yet another governmental entity telling people what to do, but, in this case, it is somewhat needed. However, in the case of issue Two, it is needed.

Issue two will not only ensure that our food is well and treated properly, but it will help the overall state of the state. By encouraging local and organic products, people of the state are encouraged to help stimulate the economy. Furthermore, it will ensure that food is treated well, which makes all humanitarians pleased.

Now, I still have an issue creating another board, but I think that that is overridden by the benifits of the proposal.

On Issue One: Vote Against

Robert M. Barga — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:50:01 +0000

The text of Issue One is as follows:

* Authorize the state to issue up to two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts, and to pay for the administration of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Bond Retirement Fund and the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund.
* Authorize the Ohio Department of Veterans Services to provide compensation to persons who have served in active duty in the United States armed forces at any time during the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts and who were Ohio residents at the start of active duty services and are currently Ohio residents.
* Allow certain survivors to receive the same compensation as the person who served in the armed forces would have received, if that person dies or is designated as missing in action or held in enemy captivity.
Authorize the state to issue bonds only for the time period from the effective date of this amendment until December 31, 2013.

Now, before you start, let me explain that I do support veterans. I truly believe that our veterans, and the active duty soldiers, deserve our respect and admiration. They are risking their lives for our well being, and that is extremely important. Likewise, I believe that we should pay them more, and that we should treat them with the best health care.

That said, however, I do believe that it is not the responsibility of the state, or her citizens, to pay for this. The Federal Government initiates these actions, and they should be the ones footing the bill. Sure, the fees come back to us in federal taxes, but it should not be a state one. I do not believe that the state should be paying, no matter what amount, for this care.

Furthermore, I am opposed to all bonds possible in Ohio. While the state can not go into debt, they can issue bonds, which, more or less, are the same thing. I do not support getting bonds for this, as it will only cost the state more in the long run. Bonds carry interest, and I do not support passing the buck to my children, literally.

All-in-all, I feel that Issue One is a bad investment for the state. While I support soldiers, I do not believe that this is a state issue, and therefor recommend voting against it.

The Big Ten (11) Preview: Week Eight

Robert M. Barga — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:40:54 +0000

Overview of Week Seven
Wow, just wow: that is all that I can think of when I consider OSU’s loss to Purdue. Not only did it screw up my predictions, but the loss exposed how horrific OSU’s offensive line is, and that Terrelle Pryor is exceptionally overrated. The loss also altered the BCS picture, and really gave Iowa the all-clear for winning the conference, and maybe making it into the BCS National Championship. Last week was interesting and surprising, and this week will be too.

#6 Iowa (3-0) @ Michigan State (3-1)
This season, Iowa has their destiny in their own hands. As long as they keep on winning, they should be heading to the BCS National Championship, potentially giving the Hawkeyes their first NC since 1958. To make it there, however, the Hawkeyes first need to get past a tough Michigan State Team. The Spartans have been controlling the ball well as of late, and they are definitely holding onto it. Their defense, though having a porous secondary, is easily stopping the rushing game. In years past, that might have been a problem for Iowa, but it no longer is. Though Iowa traditionally is a rush first team, lately they have been airing the ball out. Against MSU, expect Iowa to throw the ball often, and use that to win the game. Iowa 28, Michigan State 10. This game will be shown on BTN at 7:00 p.m.

Illinois (0-4) @ Purdue (1-2)
Last Saturday, Purdue did the unthinkable and took out Ohio State. The win not only shook up the standings, but it also showed that Purdue is a decent team this season. Not only did they beat a highly ranked opponent, but most of their losses came by a touchdown or less, all of which were caused by turnovers. Clearly, Purdue is a good team, when they hold onto the ball. The Boilermakers have nothing to fear from Illinois’ defense, as the Fighting Illini don’t cause that many turnovers. Look for a strong showing from Purdue, with few mistakes, as they easily handle Illinois. Illinois 17, Purdue 35. This game will be shown on ESPN 2 at 12 p.m.

#13 Penn State (2-1) @ Michigan (1-2)
Now this, this will be a fun game to watch. Both teams are vying for spots this postseason, and both are playing very well. Sure, they both lost to Iowa, but, well, Iowa is dominating this year. If Penn State wins at Michigan, they will probably get a bump in the polls, and will cement their position for the Rose Bowl (assuming Iowa goes to the BCS National Championship). If Michigan wins, however, they will jump into the BCS rankings, and the Big Ten will be an interesting conference come November. With both team’s hopes resting on this game, it will surly be a fun, and tough one. With both teams about equal, and Michigan being the home team, watch for them to barely pass Penn State for the win. Penn State 28, Michigan 31. This game will be shown on ABC at 3:30 p.m.

Can Tate Forcier lead Michigan to victory over Penn State?

Northwestern (1-2) vs. Indiana (1-2)
I hate to say it, but who really cares about this game? Except for diehard fans, everybody knows that this doesn’t matter one bit. Sure, there are some bragging rights, but both teams are near the bottom of the conference, so bragging doesn’t mean a thing. With both teams roughly equal in total yards and turnovers, this should be a very boring game. If either team sprouts a defense, then they would probably win. As I don’t expect this too happen, I am betting on the home team. Northwestern 21, Indiana 14. This game will be shown on BTN at 12 p.m.

#19 The Ohio State University (3-1) vs. Minnesota (2-2)
This has to be a rebound week for one of these two teams (thankfully you cannot tie in college football, unlike the NFL). OSU is coming off a humiliating loss at Purdue, where Terrelle Pryor played like a high-schooler. Minnesota is coming off a shutout by Penn State, where they simply couldn’t run, pass, or play defense. Both teams need a win this week to keep their season alive, and both will be fighting hard for it. If you look at the lost games, however, you notice that OSU has a problem only when they turn the ball over often. Whenever they hold onto it, they simply dominate. Minnesota also has this problem, and that costs them. That said, however, Minnesota doesn’t have a defense that forces many turnovers, whereas OSU’s simply seems to like stealing the ball. I expect this to be the fundamental decider in Saturday’s game, and the Buckeyes have the edge. OSU 35, Minnesota 17. This game will be shown on ESPN at 12:00 p.m.

How many turnovers will Pryor have this week?

#21 Wisconsin (2-2) has a bye this week

Overall
Overall, it looks like an interesting week for the Big Ten. While there will be an upset, their main team Iowa (who would have thought that) will continue trucking along. At the end of the week, five teams will be in the BCS rankings. This, combined with the three nationally shown games, should help to bring the opinion of the conference up.

Terrelle Pryor and the Terrible Twos

rmb.reviews — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:35:28 +0000

Last Saturday, the Purdue Boilermakers (2-5) embarrassed the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-2) during a 26-16 upset. Ohio State, who had been relying on their strong defense all season, just were out played, and plain beaten up, by the meek, and little, Boilermakers. This was not only an embarrassment to the team, but an embarrassment to all Ohio State fans. The reason for this embarrassment is one player, a guy who turned the ball over four times, though he tried to twice more, #2, Terrelle Pryor.

2007
After being manhandled in the BCS National Championship for the second year in a row, this time by LSU (which I attended, much to my disgust), OSU was on the search for a good backup quarterback. Troy Smith, winner of the 2006 Heisman Trophy, had left and their current starter, Todd Boeckman, who was a first team Big-Ten player, was starting his final year. The Buckeyes needed a good backup, and somebody who would be amazing when he started.

Looking to the east, Coach Jim Tressel found his backup in a young athlete from Pennsylvania. Terrelle Pryor was playing for Jeannette Senior High School, and was considered the best nationwide recruit of his class. The kid could run, pass, and score. It looked like Pryor would be a Godsend, and that all of OSU’s troubles would soon be over. With Pryor at the reigns, there would be Heismans, National Championships, and everything that a true OSU fan would desire. #11 signed with the Buckeyes, became #2, and the new era was upon us.

2008
Fast-forward a year, when OSU is playing USC out in California. The Buckeyes are decimated, and leave the state with a 35-3 loss hanging over their heads. Boeckman had been sacked countless times, and the offense just stagnated. A week later, the Buckeyes took to the field, and #2 was leading the offense (apparently, I was one of the few students opposed to this idea). The new era had started, and Pryor was holding the reins.

With Pryor at the helm, the Buckeyes were looking decent. Well, the team was looking decent; Pryor was somewhat struggling. The kid fumbled the ball, threw many picks, and had bad judgment. He simply didn’t seem to understand the game at this level, and it was clearly a problem for him. Of course, he was a freshman, so we Buckeye fans were able to forgive him.

2009
Fast-forward again, to 2009. Terrelle Pryor was named Big-Ten Player of the Year before the season started (can we say overrated?), and the highly ranked Buckeyes were ready to dominate during the season. The superstar would get revenge on USC for what they did the year before, and he would become the second sophomore to win the Heisman (Bradford was a redshirt, and doesn’t count). Clearly, the Buckeyes would make it to Pasadena and play in the National Championship, and they would beat whomever (hopefully Florida) they found there.

Of course, this didn’t pan out like it was planned. Instead, the Buckeyes lost a close one to USC, and they almost lost to Navy. The season started to look better, as the Buckeyes shut out Toledo and Illinois, back-to-back. Pryor looked to be gaining some composure, though he was still making mistakes. Purdue, however, decided that it was time to show the Buckeyes that their winning ways were over.

Now
Now that the Buckeyes lost a game to Purdue, and have debuted at #19 on the BCS initial standings, what is next for Ohio State. If you look at the fan blogs, as well as the comments on the site of the local paper, it is clear that the fans want Jim Tressel to be fired. Never mind that has the highest win percentage of any OSU coach (well, any that has coached for more than a year), or that he keeps on beating Michigan, or that he has five Big Ten Titles – nope, he must go.

Me, on the other hand, I wonder why we don’t just let Pryor go. I mean, face it, Tressel is a great coach, and the kid just plain sucks.

Pryor is clearly one of those quarterbacks who were overrated when he came into college. He has talent, and lots of it, but he just can not use it. The kid doesn’t run at the right time, doesn’t throw well, and he looks down his receiver. That might have worked back in high school, when he was playing against a bunch of tiny towns and small programs, but it doesn’t work at college, especially not at a nationally ranked school. He also has a lack of judgment, which the Michael Vick incident clearly exemplifies. To make it worse, he has fumbled the ball 12 times (5 for turnovers) and thrown eight interceptions (on only 10 touchdown passes). Clearly, this kid is not that great.

Of course, many fans blame Tressel for this. They think that it is the anemic play calling, the lack of a spread offense, and other folly. They want an offensive coordinator, a quarterback coach, and anything else that might make Mr. Pryor play better. Most importantly, they want Pryor moved to a spot that better suits him, either a different offensive type (read, spread or wildcat), as a wide out, or even as a running back. The fans can not believe that this person they placed so high on a pedestal sucks so badly, and they need to find something else to blame.

Maybe they should blame Pryor, as he clearly has caused these problems himself. He wanted to go to OSU so he could learn to pass, and that is what he is trying. His recruiting agreement probably was worded to let him pass when he wants, the number of snaps he gets, and what position he plays, all of which limits Tressel’s ability to coach. Basically, Pryor screwed himself, and all of the Buckeyes, when he decided that he should be something that he is not. Now that he has realized it, he is acting out (talking back to Tressel, the eye black, turning his back to the coach while be talked to, etc.) and acting like, well, a toddler. Maybe it is time to change this.

I suggest that Jim Tressel puts Joe Bauserman (the current backup) into the game on Saturday. While Minnesota is a tough opponent, I believe that Bauserman can throw the ball well enough to win the game (something that Pryor can not do). This punishment to Pryor should calm him down, teach him a lesson, and make him work for his spot. It shows that he has lost favor, is no longer guaranteed anything, and that he has to work for it. Maybe a little competition could help drive this wild toddler towards puberty, and make him the player that he was meant to be.

If Todd Boeckman and his family were less classy, they would be holding their bellies and laughing right now.