Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

No way to rationalize political ignorance

June 3, 2009

Recently, I read a letter to the editor of my hometown newspaper. The author had worked himself into a tizzy over President Barack Obama and the entire democratic leadership in Washington and their push for universal health care. He declared that any attempt at a universal health care system was an attempt at socialism and should be protested with equal zeal as one would protest Stalin's Red Army coming down the road.

OPINION | COLUMNS

U.S. justice system needs overhaul

By ERIC CHIANESE | June 1, 2009

Lately, and between reading entries on the Rotten Library, I have turned my attention to the criminal justice system.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Eco-awareness hitting the mainstream

June 1, 2009

In these heady times of global awareness and eco-knowledge, it seems the bad eco-news comes at you from every angle. Nobody is safe from the onslaught of negative press if even Google is under eco-scrutiny. A researcher this year claimed that a single Google search is worse for the environment than driving a car, mostly because of the way Google's "cloud computing" uses clusters of servers together at once to achieve superfast results for every single search.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF budget cuts reflect sound course of action for students

By Jordan Johnson | May 27, 2009

During Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting, I voted to approve President Bernie Machen's budget cut plan because it puts UF in the best financial position going forward and serves the interests of the entire student body as well as it can during these trying economic times.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Post-graduation marriage a bad idea

By MATTEW MELTZER | May 27, 2009

Not long ago, I had a friend, who was recently married, pull me aside in a men's room when I had brought a date to have dinner with him and his wife. The desperation in his eyes told me all I needed to know. "Please tell me you're going to sleep with this girl," he told me, "because I can't. My life is over. Look at me, look me in the eyes: Don't. Ever. Get. Married. You got that? Ever. Don't get me wrong, she's great, but she's ALWAYS THERE."

OPINION | COLUMNS

U.S. ideology does not include torture

May 25, 2009

Typically, I like the game of politics. I like the strategy and the plotting. I like a good fight.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gallow humor holds significant place in America's history

By ERIC CHIANESE | May 25, 2009

An employee is leisurely stocking shelves in the supermarket one day when a man with a gun busts in. The criminal shoots the stock boy and then flees the scene. Another employee rushes to the aid of our hero, eager to console him. The stock boy looks up at his friend and meekly says, 'cleanup in aisle 7.'

OPINION | COLUMNS

Twitter or /the next big thing/ may not wow users overnight

By Joshua Lee | May 25, 2009

Like you, I'm pretty hip to what's happening in the world.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Pelosi’s cats steal speaker’s spotlight

May 20, 2009

Nancy Pelosi may be the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the most powerful woman in the history of American politics, but she is stunningly bad at being a public figure in the digital age. Thankfully, her genius cats communicate so well for her on YouTube.

OPINION | COLUMNS

President Obama must take steps to end war in Afghanistan

May 18, 2009

Janet Weil, Alligator Guest Columnist

OPINION | COLUMNS

Use of diplomacy will help to stop Middle Eastern terrorists

By Louise Diamond | May 18, 2009

Hard power, soft power, smart power - what is the right mix of U.S. resources for engaging with the world and its challenges? This is a question sweeping through Washington, and rightly so, as the Obama administration seeks to reverse the toxic legacy of eight Bush years on America's world standing.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t save some of that for the sequel

By ERIC CHIANESE | May 18, 2009

I was a bit bored yesterday when I noticed that the Sci-Fi Channel was running the first two "Saw" films, back to back. Now, it's been some time since I've seen the "Saw" films, and so I watched them both. The first one was, as I remembered, a wonderful little horror movie with an intriguing perspective on things. The second one was, while moderately entertaining, nowhere near the quality of the first film. As I sat and pondered the sad state of "Saw," it occurred to me that there are still three more films after the second, with a sixth in production right now - each has been worse than the last and has been clearly motivated by a lust for profits. This bespeaks a serious problem implicit in the blending of art with profit.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Oprah's latest act not finger–lickin' good

May 13, 2009

Oprah Winfrey rose to power by capturing the hearts and minds of millions of devoted followers. According to industry estimates, her weekly television audience and magazine subscribers combine to form a bloc of over 50 million committed supporters.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Failure of car industry falls on consumers

May 11, 2009

I don't like Chryslers. Or Fords. Or, for that matter, anything GM makes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Invisible Children looks to aid children of Ugandan civil war

By Stacey Nelson | May 11, 2009

"In the name of love… Oprah come and rescue us."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Justice Souter's departure from Supreme Court overhyped

By ERIC CHIANESE | May 11, 2009

With the honorable Justice David Souter's announcement that he will retire from the U.S. Supreme Court, the cheap world of our national punditry has become a much more hysterical place than usual - which, it should be noted, is a truly impressive feat. These are rather exciting times to be alive; it's not every day we get to see the ideological liberals and conservatives in our country bickering and bashing each other. Oh. Wait a minute. We do.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Editorial love letter to Tebow fails to consider ulterior motives

By MATTHEW MELTZER | Apr. 21, 2009

Well, it seems the Alligator is once again on an all Kool-Aid diet. Nothing else would explain the 600-word fellating this paper gave Tim Tebow on Tuesday. See, I like to think most people in the communications field are bright enough to notice a PR move when they see one.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Style over substance only goes so far

By NAUDIA JAWAD | Apr. 21, 2009

She's never even heard of YouTube, but the video of Susan Boyle's performance on the talent show "Britain's Got Talent" has set the record for the number of views in a week - and it shows no sign of stopping any time soon.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Behind the scenes, England’s forgotten prince stirs up trouble

By ERIC CHIANESE | Apr. 20, 2009

England. It is a country I've always had a soft spot for - I consider myself something of an Anglophile, and when I was younger, I always wanted to move there.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Rap game and politics go hand in hand

Apr. 20, 2009

Conservative voices in government and in the media seem to be convinced that President Barack Obama's foreign policy stance is decidedly pansy. Bowing to the Saudis, shaking hands with Chavez and agreeing with European leaders has cemented Republican opinion that Barack is a sissy on the world stage.