I was intrigued by the proposal to make public students' evaluations of their UC Irvine instructors in the "Motion to Release Teacher Evaluations" article on Feb. 9. It would be a nice way to end the misguided dependence some have on RateMyProfessors.com (RMP), where anyone, student or not, can post an evaluation, and there is no control over sample sizes or bias of participants. A number of assertions made by interviewees in the New University article, however, need context and consideration before they serve as a basis for a new policy.
Earlier this year, a compromising photo of wholesome American superstar Michael Phelps preparing to smoke from a bong surfaced. The photo, which immediately became the topic of the day in the sports world, as well as the rest of the world, has lead to eight arrests, public statements from Phelps, attempts at damage control from his handlers and actions from Phelps' sponsors.
David Sedaris' "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" is largely a collection of short stories based on Sedaris' real life and family. His humor is mostly self-deprecating and pokes fun at his middle class, dysfunctional family.
Hosted by Irvine Queers on Thursday, Feb. 12, the UC Irvine Kiss-In featured a photo booth for boyfriends, girlfriends or best friends to get their polaroids taken just in time for Valentine's Day.
Most people desire only two things: security and attention. The two continually war over our hearts; on one end, there is the peaceful calm of security, bound by time and routine, by a lover reliable and devoted. On the other, there is the attention, that spatial leap, the risky rendezvous, the late-night reveries, always craving something less patient than the ticking clock.
Highly acclaimed Japanese violinist and composer Mari Kimura performed at Winifred Smith Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Kimura's performance, "Reinventing Tradition: Violin and Computer Plays the East and Beyond," was presented by the Gassmann Electronic Music Series. Kimura's compositions combine elements of classical violin, Japanese and Eastern music and electronics.
How appropriate, in current economic conditions, that an action film is released that demonizes bankers. More specifically, the antagonist of "The International" is a bank that exists above the law – stationed in neutral borders and holding a big enough profit to bribe God – whose illegal business practices are safeguarded through the routine "accidents" that happen to anyone and everyone able to fight it.
THE SWAGGER: It seems like the LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant debate is all over the sports world today. Heck, I wrote my column about it just two weeks ago. But since Kobe's 61- point slashing of the Knicks and LeBron's almost triple-double performance in New York, the blogs have been going crazy. It is safe to call this relationship between the two players an official rivalry. And rivalries are one of the best things about sports...
