I Love the Internet.

Healdsburg, California is where fun goes to die.

Don’t get me wrong: it’s a nice enough town, centered around a pleasant little town square where community events and farmer’s markets are held with frequency, and nearly everyone knows each other. Most everything is centered on wine, wineries, tasting wine at wineries, or emptying your pockets on material yuppie garbage. Crime’s low, schools aren’t overcrowded… it’s a pretty good place to raise cute little urchin children, especially if you want to indulge your own narcissistic illusions of wine connoisseurdom while you bounce a tyke on your knee. (more…)

Prof. Robinson Case Terminated

On June 24, UCSB officials announced the end of the investigation of sociology and global studies professor William Robinson. Robinson, who became the focus of a debate on academic freedom that garnered worldwide attention, had been under review for circulating Internet material to his students that compared Israeli soldiers and Nazis.

The university’s verdict? Case closed and all charges dismissed. According to a letter from Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas, “the [Charges] Committee did not find probable cause to undertake disciplinary action in this matter.”

Check www.dailynexus.com for a more in-depth look at the case in the coming days.

Telling, Not Asking

Local congresswoman Lois Capps – and 76 of her colleagues in Congress – just told President Obama he needs to wise up. How can this be, you ask? Well, you can thank UCSB’s Palm Center.

In a letter sent on June 22, the legislators urged Obama to suspend the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and initiate a repeal process. The reasoning is evident, of course: The law discriminates unfairly against a segment of the population and it hurts the military by banning openly gay individuals from service. After all, according to the letter, more than 12,500 people have been discharged since “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was implemented in 1994 (nice one, Bill). Obama’s already seen 250 servicemen and women kicked out under this law.

As for how UCSB comes into play? Well, it’s kind of a big deal. The Palm Center recently released a study that showed the president has the authority to end the ban by executive order. Before the study, many people claimed only Congress could do so. Now, however, UCSB has put Obama in the spot.

[Image Courtesy of BrokenSphere under Creative Commons]

London: On Moats, Ducks and Spelling

LONDON - I’m interning — or, more accurately, completing a term of indentured servitude without pay — in London over the summer. It’s great, of course; my work actually interests me and, more importantly, London is the world’s best city. I’ll be telling you more about why over the next few weeks.

But first, there are some classic blunders going on right now across the pond. (more…)

Dear Grandma

Well, I’m all packed and ready to go. In a mere two days time, I will be in Berlin. Things sure go fast, don’t they? It seems like just yesterday I was accepting various prestigious awards for high school academics and athletics; and now here I am, living the dream I have cherished since childhood: studying abroad.

Life in Southern California has been growing a little stale, a little too familiar. Going to the beach everyday in December has gotten boring and I’m tired of going to the same old charity events with the same old people — I feel like I needed a change. I needed to “get out.” That’s why I’m leaving for my junior year. (more…)

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