Dear USA TODAY Editor,

Nail the coffin shut on America, free thinking has apparently become a waste of time and money. Or so you might think if you read USA Today’s cover story for November 19, 2008. Here, reporters expose a horrifying trend that college athletes overwhelmingly pursue *gasp* social science degrees. At first gloss, it doesn’t seem to be much of a story; that some athletes look for an easy academic load and cluster around so-called ‘easier’ majors fits the stereotype. But a closer look at the story reveals a wholesale condemnation of liberal arts and social sciences degrees, by the authors, by those directing the study, and those asked to comment, as a waste of effort, a waste of money, and as incapable of providing people with any valuable skill. (more…)

I wrote this note to my colleagues at UAF from a small village in Mexico. I thought anyone who still checks out this site might like to read it as well… Greetings and salutations from Tucson! I hope that my letter finds you in good health and not too frozen. I myself have adjusted to the milder weather and now can understand what motivates the snowbirds to travel so far each year. Arizona has been a kind and friendly destination so far, and my hosts here at the Sonoran Institute are as hospitable as one could hope.

I think that I could not have chosen a more enlightening, yet grounding internship experience.  

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I like eating greens. Spring greens, collards, kale, beet greens, fennel greens, turnip greens, brussel tops, you name it. Each June I relish the first few pick-ups of my CSA, eating much of the sweet and spicy salad mix before I get home. By the end of the year I’m sad to see them go—you might recall that last year around this time I shared with you the ritual end-of-season recipe for a “farewell to greens” salad. Well, this year something I thought was impossible has happened: I am absolutely sick and tired of eating greens. 

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