As a longtime observer of the political process, I was intrigued to see that disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was out of prison and had written an apparently "tell-all" book. I first heard him on 60 minutes talking about the "revolving door" - how easy it is for senior lobbyists to entice senators, congressmen, and their staff (particularly their chiefs of staff) with the prospect of a job in lobbying after they're ready to move on. With this golden opportunity dangling before them, the powerful person on Capitol Hill was sure to do your bidding so long as they remained in power. (Lobbyists … [Read more...] about Review: Jack Abramoff’s Capitol Punishment
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Trak Magazine
For those of you who enjoy World magazine (as I have for years), and have kids in the teen years, you might want to know about Trak, a new monthly periodical from God's World Publications specifically for teen readers. The first issue came out this past month, and I've been given permission to post it. Subsequent PDF versions will be available only to subscribers. I am a regular contributor to Trak, and my article appears on page 17 (no, I did not come up with the nifty, creative, rhythmic title for the column). :) … [Read more...] about Trak Magazine
Family Vacation (Aug 6-20)
Picture us on a beach, fiddling (as it were) while America burns. … [Read more...] about Family Vacation (Aug 6-20)
Top 10 Shots at Wimbledon
Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more. … [Read more...] about Top 10 Shots at Wimbledon
Surviving vs. Thriving (at College)
I wrote a guest post for the Tyndale House Publishers blog today. Here's how it starts: You’ve heard the statistics: 80% of Christians fall away from their faith during college. Watch out for the party scene. Don’t run with the wrong crowd. Don’t experiment with drugs. Don’t cut class. Don’t flunk out. Don’t get pregnant. Don’t get someone pregnant. I don’t know about you, but when I went to college, it seemed so many of the messages were well-intended warnings of what terrible dangers awaited me away from home. The goal, it seemed, was survival. Read the rest of it. … [Read more...] about Surviving vs. Thriving (at College)
Who is responsible for academic plagiarism?
My friend Nick Kennicott was kind enough to post a penetrating question in response to my last post about the industry built around plagiarism. Nick pointed out that "Ed Dante" argued (towards the end of his article) that the academic system tolerates if not encourages plagiarism. Can a case be made that universities are to blame? This strikes me as a complex subject, and one of those times where blogging helps me formulate and develop my thoughts. Here's where I'm at for now, and I welcome any new insights: 1. The reward system for faculty at some schools is all about research, not … [Read more...] about Who is responsible for academic plagiarism?