Political Quiz!

(Hat tip to the newly-married Neighbors Man for this one)

You are a Social Liberal (80% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (71% permissive) You are best described as a: Libertarian Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid.com: Free Online Dating Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Southern Man tested just as he always does on these sorts of things; fiscally conservative and socially liberal, which makes him (according to them) a Libertarian (and, if you look at the picture, within striking distance of anarchist). Well, no; the libs have some fundamental philosophies and many platform planks with which Southern Man agrees (mostly based on the Libertarian idea that what consenting adults do in their own homes is none of the State's business), but many others that are so naive (at best) that they'll never be a viable political force in this country. But anyway, it was a fun quiz, so take it and see how it categorizes you!

Weekend With The Kids

Well, sort of; teenage son spent most of the weekend running around with his friends but the girls pretty much stayed at Casa Southern Man. We did a fair amount of baking; nine-year-old daughter and Southern Man made Cocoa Rice Krispy Treats and teenage daughter made "puppy chow" and from-scratch snickerdoodles (much to her amazement, la cocina del Southern Man had all of the ingredients except cream of tartar, and a quick trip to the store remedied that) and Southern Man made his surprisingly popular potato soup, twice. Teenage daughter elected to skip the state fair on Saturday evening but teenage son went (with his friends) and nine-year-old went with Southern Man. She rode a bunch of rides and we walked through a building full of exhibits and ate delicious Fair Food. It was a pleasant evening. And the weekend ended all too quickly and Southern Man had to give them all back on Sunday morning. Can't wait for the next one!

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Arr, mateys, it be 19 September, and that be "Talk Like A Pirate Day" so Southern Man gives ye his official "Pirate to Professor" translator. You'll be pardonin' me if all me knowledge of piraty talk is from the Pirates of the Carribean movies.

Aye! Hoist the colors! All lubbers on deck and man the guns!

Yes, I'll be having office hours today.

Avast, ye mangy bilge rat, or ye'll be keel-hauled fer sure and it'll be the Locker for ye!

I'm sorry, but I don't accept late homework.

Aye, aye, cap'n, the wind be at our backs! Set course for Tortuga!

Of course I'll have that assessment report done by the end of the day.

Ahoy, ye saucy wench, break out the rum and see what crawled out of the bung hole today!

(Addressed to a female colleague) Would you like to join me for lunch?

Arr, we be gathered here today to nail yer hides to the mast, ye poxy curs!

Students, we'll be having a pop quiz today.

Me lords the Official Talk Like A Pirate Guys will be pleased to see me proper use of the "Five A's", as shown in this here video...



And the Dutchman has jut signaled that since Talk Like A Pirate Day is on a Friday, it's officially Talk Like A Pirate Weekend! So Talk Like A Pirate this weekend!

Liberal Arts

Southern Man teaches in a private, church-affiliated liberal arts college. That's right - the marketplace of ideas, the last bastion of free and open thought, where honest debate reign supreme.

Or not.

In a brief hallway gathering, Southern Man heard all of the following in less then five minutes:

• All Republicans / Christians / Country Bumpkins (there seemed to be little distinction between these categories) deny that global warming exists, with the added thought that any such notion should be repressed at all costs.
  


• VP Candidate Sarah Palin insists that creationism be taught in schools and demanded that the local library ban a lengthy list of books (both debunked here).
  


• Southern Man's state (which leans towards the red) is populated by idiots who have no idea who or what they're voting for (during a discussion of electronic voting technology and the ease of hacking thereof; our backwards little state uses paper ballots and optical scanners, which is about as foolproof as it gets).



• And my favorite quote from the gathering, from the dean of my college: "I won't think in your church if you won't preach in my classroom."

It is to weep.

Color Guard

Spending thirty minutes looking for a place to park - annoying.

Admission to the high-school football game - $14.

Watching your daughter's marching debut with the color guard - PRICELESS!