College Senior on Wal-Mart

A graduating college senior has written the following about Wal-Mart:

"Wal-Mart, the company that has changed the way business is being done today. Wal-Mart being the largest retail in the world has shifted businesses from the United States to China...Wal-Mart claims that it helps people in the middle class and lower class society, but who really benefits from their way of business practices?...

"What does Wal-Mart really offer to the public; do the prices really meat the consumers needs? Yes, Wal-Mart does have the lowest prices then anywhere else but through their stampede over other businesses they don't really leave much room for quality and expertise in the product that we as the consumer purchase. Through billions of dollars of merchandise that is imported through Chinese manufacturers not one has any long lasting quality..."

Howard S. Katz on Unemployment

Howard S. Katz has written a superb blog on unemployment.

In Spring, A Student's Thoughts Turn to GETTING OUT OF THE EXAM

When I was a student I viewed an exam as a competition at which I would try to excel. For the first time in my 16-year teaching career students in several classes have been trying to get me to delay or cancel my exam. My practice is to wait until very late in the semester to give an exam, and I warn the students from the first day of class that the exam will be competitive. There is only one week left to the semester. I received the following seven e-mails today all from different senders in three different classes. Are our educational system and culture on the right track?

I. Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:16 PM

Hello Professor Langbert,

The reading for the exam has been little much for me, because I'm taking 6 classes this semester and I'm also interning for 20 hours a week. I feel like I need more time and I want to ask if there is any chance you would consider moving the exam date later in May? We can present our papers this Sunday instead of having the exam now. I hope you understand, but if not, I certainly do understand.

Thank you professor,

II. Saturday, May 03, 2008 7:25 PM

Good morning professor Langbert,

How are you? I was wondering if you might be kind enough give the class an extention on the exam? I have 4 other classes and the materials are a lot to cover.

Thank you!

III. Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:57 PM

is there any way of postponing our exam tomorrow ???
wouldnt your rather see 80s and 90s than have to curve the exam ??

please advs
Saturday, May 03, 2008 11:11 AM


IV. Hi Prof. Langbert, this is...and I wanted to know if I can please have an extension on my paper and the exam on May 4. I wanted an extension because i have not finish all my reading.

Saturday, May 03, 2008 12:43 AM

V. Professor,

How are you doing sir?
I got email from the classmates and I found out that some of us are having a hard time preparing for the exam.
I would greatly appreciate if you could post-pone the exam for us.
Thank you very much for your understanding.


Best regards,

VI. I received an email from ... indicating that you may post pone the exam tomorrow. Since I did not see an announcement on blackboard, I was just wanted to confirm that the exam is tomorrow May 4th.

Thank you,

VII. Prof. Langbert -

A few of us were wondering if you would consider postponing the exam.

My response:

The exam is tomorrow at the stated time and place, and it is going to be hard.

Progressives and the Cone of Silence

The very phrase "cone of silence" evokes hilarity, and anyone old enough to have watched Get Smart will agree. Tom Elia notes on Ann Coulter's blog (hat tip Larwyn) that Progressives have been calling for Democratic candidates who appear on Fox News to only do so when the Cone is down:

"Washington (Rooters) -- Angry over appearances of prominent Democrats on the Fox News Channel, some netroots 'progressives' are demanding that Democrats now use only the 'Cone of Silence' when speaking out.

"In response to the report by The Politico's Mike Allen outlining the disgust in the 'progressive' community over the recent appearances by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on Fox, as well as DNC Chair Howard Dean's scheduled appearance Sunday, some 'progressives' are demanding that Democrats speak only when using the 'Cone of Silence' made famous by secret agent Maxwell Smart...

Good idea, Tom. Maybe the Democratic networks (CBS, NBC, ABC, HBO, etc.) might benefit from applying the cone full time!