Conservatism and idiocy's peculiar union

There is no necessary connection, I am sure, between conservatism and idiocy. Lately, however, the noisiest conservatives here in the U.S. have revealed themselves to be either the most cynical bastards the world has ever seen—or, well, idiots. I’m sure you know why I say that.

A few days ago, I noted a new poll that revealed that even more Brits than Americans now favor teaching creationism and “intelligent design” in the public schools.

That blew me away.

Tonight, I read Ben Goldacre’s column in the Guardian (Influence from the Sun and the Moon).

Goldacre notes some idiocies recently blurted forth by some contemporary British conservatives. They are remarkable.

He offers a recent remark by Conservative MP (for Bosworth), David Tredinnick. Tredinnick is a proponent of alternative medicines. Said Tredinnick,

It is no good people saying that just because we cannot prove something, it does not work ... I believe that the department needs to be very open to the idea of energy transfers and the people who work in that sphere.

Energy transfers. I see. He goes on:

In 2001, I raised in the house the influence of the moon, on the basis of the evidence then that at certain phases of the moon there are more accidents. Surgeons will not operate because blood clotting is not effective and the police have to put more people on the street. … I am talking about a long-standing discipline – an art and a science – that has been with us since ancient Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Assyrian times. It is part of the Chinese, Muslim and Hindu cultures... Criticism is deeply offensive to those cultures … and I have a Muslim college in my constituency.

Tredinnick is obviously an idiot. Those who question Tredinnick’s peculiar beliefs, reports Goldacre, are met with charges of superstition and ignorance. Skeptical scientists are, says Tredinnick, "deeply prejudiced, and racially prejudiced, too, which is troubling."

Meanwhile, writes, Goldacre,

the flag bearers for conservatism at the Spectator magazine are now promoting climate change denialism … and Aids denialism, even in its print edition. ¶ And the Next Left blog recently pointed out that of all the top 10 Conservative blogs, every single one is sceptical about man-made climate change.

What on earth is going on?

And why are British MPs so goddam ugly, tell me that!

"No angry confrontation in any shape or form"

ZOMBIES. Playin’ catch-up with DtB, the OC Weekly’s Spencer Kornhaber is posting some of our pal Jason’s cool photos of zombies, protesting budget cuts at UCI: Zombies Protest UCI Budget Cuts.

Writes Kornhaber, “The blog for the school's literary journalism program has arty, creepy photos of the event here and here.”

Well, yes, I suppose you could say that they're arty and creepy. I’ve always told Jason that’s he’s got a definite, even an unmistakable, POV.

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SOUTHWESTERN. Meanwhile, over on the Save Southwestern College blog, they've reprinted a series of letters sent to the college's administration about Southwestern's “suspended faculty” controversy. You’ll recall that, last Thursday, not long after a student protest over planned budget cuts, four faculty sympathetic to the rally were suspended but were not told why. (Soon thereafter, one instructor was unsuspended, leaving three in limbo.)

El Toro Road this afternoon

Since then, we’ve learned that the odd administrative action was the result of an alleged run-in these faculty had with campus police after the rally. No details have been released.

In today’s post, Mark Van Stone’s letter to administrator Nicholas Alioto (he's all that's left after Southwestern College President Chopra blew town immediately after the suspensions) noted the latter’s recent remark that “No disciplinary action has been taken.”

Well, maybe not, but, in fact, four instructors were handed letters explaining that they were not to set foot on campus or use college email. That may not be "disciplinary," but it surely is a bummer.

He asks,

Why not admit you haven't a case and immediately reinstate the "not-suspended-just-prohibited-from-doing-their-job" professors? And then open some REAL action towards solving our problems together?

A classified (non-instructional) employ named Tom Holst offers his eye-witness account of the alleged incident that led to the suspensions:

[Last Thursday], I took my lunch break and went down in my CSEA t-shirt to show support for our students. I arrived as the last speakers finished. There were a couple of students who urged the group to "take it to the streets." I followed the procession down to the 100 area where they were redirected around the 100 building where the procession stopped at the breezeway between 102 and 100 building. The police blocked all breezeways. At the 102 breezeway, I watched the group question the police as to why they could not enter area. The Sergeant and one other cop explained they could not allow disruption of campus business. I saw absolutely no angry confrontation in any shape or form. A couple of male students were a bit loud but the crowd quickly lost interest and dispersed. A petition was passed around for a minute or two. I went back to work. I was within 10 feet of the whole thing. This whole thing is just ridiculous.

Approaching Cook's Corner

A woman named Eliana Santana demands transparency regarding the alleged wrongdoings of these instructors:

I'd be interested in seeing the evidence you have collected that these three faculty members were engaged in a violent act with the police. Where is the evidence? Besides, if they were involved in violence with the police, there would be an arrest and charges filed. Where are the charges and where is the police report?...The community would like transparency in this matter.

Dan Moody wrote Alioto, expressing surprise

that these three teachers are being accused of "physical confrontation with police officers." As someone who knows these three teachers as I do, I find this allegation absolutely impossible to believe.

Let’s hope that Alioto heeds these requests and explains exactly what is going on— beyond crude intimidation and PR bungling.

Irvine Valley College on a quiet Friday

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ENROLLMENTS UP. College enrollment up, mostly at 2-year schools (AP)

…While it's good news more students are enrolled in college, the Census figures say nothing about whether overcrowded two-year institutions will succeed in getting students the credentials they seek or helping them transfer to bachelor's degree programs.

Many are bursting at the seams, cutting some courses to meet budgets and holding others late at night. It's impossible to say how many have been turned away for lack of space (California estimates about 200,000 in that state alone)….

A sculpture, at IVC, pointing towards the sky, and threatening to mean something

El Toro Road near Portola