This week is the 40^th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s hard to believe that the number 40 is correct. Really? Could it have been that long ago?

There are reminiscences and interviews, tributes and ‘what-ifs’ galore, and you’ll have to try hard to avoid them. Well, if you want to avoid them, stop reading this now.

I remember that day well. I was a young man (yes, it’s hard to believe, but I actually was young at one time. Stop it) and I think I lacked a bit of perspective. Looking back, I think the whole country did as well. Surprised but not shocked. It felt as though the event had a certain inevitability to it.

I remember the times. It’s hard to believe, but assassinations were, while not commonplace, occurring with some regularity. President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, and his alleged assassin was himself killed days later, all of this live on television. Three New York Civil Rights workers were murdered in Mississippi while pushing to register voters. Malcolm X was similarly killed earlier that decade. Horror seemed to simply change to anger and angst, but not righteous outrage. If you were trying to change the mindsets of people who were benefiting from the status quo, apparently death was going to be a part of the equation. It was more than just a symbolic risk you took, there was a good chance.

Violence seemed to be everywhere; war in Southeast Asia, riots in Watts and Detroit, political upheaval everywhere you looked.

Amid all of that, I do remember how the idea of Nonviolent Resistance took hold of people. What a powerful message for all of us. What courage it took to do what he did! This was truly someone I could use to measure myself and my life against, always striving to be better. I got courage from watching him face constant anger and violence with calm purpose. It was hard to believe that anybody could do that knowing what could happen.

Of course, the manner of his death unleashed that message and keeps Dr. King alive. Nonviolent Resistance still communicates and accomplishes where violence doesn’t. His son delivered that thought to us here at Lourdes College recently and brought all of this back to me.

40 years ago. It’s hard to believe in so many ways.

Monday, March 31, 2008 2:27:02 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Here is the way an interview with Chris Matthews would really go:

Chris: Welcome to the show. I am THE Chris Matthews. Let's play Hardball - That is I throw the fastball and you get hit.

Matthews: Professor Lanigan, welcome to MY show

Lanigan: Thank You. I am...

Chris: Now, wait a minute. Why do you you professors always start out a sentence with I ? It's as though you think that the world really cares about you and what you have to say. Now, who are you supporting for President?

Lanigan: I am supporting Senator Obama. I..

Matthews: Now, wait just a minute. Do you really think that you, as a professor, should be indicating who you are supporting for president? Are you one of those professors who tries to shove his beliefs down the collective throats of students who have paid a lot of money to sit in your classes? Anyway, why do you support Obama?

Lanigan: I believe that his vision for...

Matthews: HOLD ON. There is that word vision again. That means nothing. People aren't interested in vision. Vision doesn't put food on the table or pay the electric bill.  Anyway, do you believe that Hillary Clinton should drop out of the race at this point?

Lanigan: It would probably be good for the party if she....

Matthews: Come on. There you go again. It sounds as though that is your party. Are all professors Democrats? That is what is wrong with this country today. There is no unbiased objective commentary out there, except , of course, on MY show. Now, calling upon the enormous amount of collective wisdom that you and other professors think, unjustly so, that they possess, please inform those of us who aren't as brilliant as you are, who will win the presidential election that the country will be experiencing come this November, and keep in mind that the election will not be until November so all that you say at this point is really meaningless.

Lanigan: Regardless of who gets the nomination of the Democratic Party, the general election will be close....

Matthews: Stop now. You are not saying anything that I don't already know. Have some substance to what you say. I could have brought on someone from the Fixed News Channel for that brilliant analysis. Why do you professors always hedge your bet? Come out and take a stance. But, I am afraid that we will have to wait until your next appearance on the show, which will occur when the Cleveland Indians win the World Series, to learn what nobody really wants to know anyway and that is who you think will win the election, which by the way I would like to inform those in the largely uninformed public will be held next November. Now, of course, if they tuned in every other hour to MY show, they would not be as uneducated as they are. I have found this to be very enlightening but then again everything that I say is enlightening. Now, I hesitate to say this because I know that professors have a tendency to talk too much, but do you have any final word to say to the public that is on the edge of their seats waiting for you to actually say something that will be of some value as they try hard to make it in an economy that is frankly in horrendous shape thanks to politicians who have no understanding of what is happening in the lives of ordinary people and to television commentators who are afraid and unwilliing to ask the tough questions of their elected officials?

Lanigan: Yes, thank you for having me on Mr. Biden. Now you can go.....

Matthews: See, I knew that you couldn't end this spectacular interview with just one word.

Saturday, March 29, 2008 12:09:44 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

I am so tired of shoveling the snow and wearing big coats with my signature hats, when is it gonna stop snowing ! I am ready for the warm weather and the flowers to bloom! I can not wait to start flying the new Kite I brought my nephew a week ago I think I am more excited then he is . lol :)

I hope eveyone stays warm this weekend !

Friday, March 28, 2008 11:14:50 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

The Lourdes College 2008 Commencement Ceremony is being moved to the SeaGate Convention Centre, 401 Jefferson Avenue, in downtown Toledo. The College has experienced enrollment increases over the last four years which has culminated in a record number of graduates for 2008.

 “The decision to move from the Stranahan Theater to the SeaGate Convention Centre was based on the available seating for the graduates’ family and friends who want to attend commencement,” offers President Robert Helmer, Ph.D., J.D.

Known for the personalized and caring education it offers, the new venue allows this year’s graduates the opportunity to invite as many guests as they wish. “The May 17^th Commencement Ceremony is a day of celebration for our graduates,” adds Dr. Helmer. “It was important that Lourdes not lose sight of what makes us distinct. When students attend a larger college or university, they often receive a limited number of tickets for commencement. Lourdes does not issue tickets and the SeaGate Centre allows us to carry on that tradition.”

Friday, March 28, 2008 10:19:24 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

You know I don't about spring break, it makes me not want to come back to school I almost forgot we were still in shcool ! I love the two week Spring break it was great, but I have to admit I was getting a little restless just sittting aroun the house ! I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring break !

P.S. Sheena and Dawn G. I hope you guys got a chance to catch up on your school work, because I didn't lol !  :)

Thursday, March 27, 2008 4:10:35 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Hello All! We are back from our fabulous trip to Jacksonville, Fl. What a trip it was! Yes it was a long drive, but not bad at all when you are surrounded by all your loving buddies!

Once we arrived at the church, we were greeted by a man named Bob who showed us where we could rest our sleepy, tired little heads. Where you ask was that? In a lovely little office building next to the church where we all pulled up a piece of the floor to take a power nap! (all except for princess Krystal who was hand delivered a fluffy mattress!)Don't get me wrong, none of us cared that there were giant dead bugs laying with us or that it was 80 degrees in there, we were just happy to finally be able to stretch out!

Once we woke, we headed over to the hall to eat an awesome lunch with about 300 people.  The funny thing about that was I had a shirt on that said: "Pick one: A. I don't care / B. I don't know " I did not feel real comfy at this point in the trip. But, still funny. Then after we all ate and located our swimsuits, we showered and headed off to the beach! What an awesome beach it was! Most of us went in the ocean and all of us received some sort of a sun burn.

The work week was hard work, but we loved it! My favorite part was siding! We were able to side almost an entire house the first day we worked. It was great to see the result of all our hard work. My least favorite task was landscaping! That consisted of leveling the yard and then laying sod.  The sod down South however is not at all like the sod up North! Their sod is cut into rectangles, brown crab grass, and filled with ants that bite you (just ask Brittany, they got in her pants as soon as we arrived at the work site!) and lizards that jump into your face without any warning! But, it was a fabulous time while we listened to Billy Gene on the radio and sang to other workers on their work sites via cell phones.

I will post pictures of our trip at a later time only because they are not on the computer I am blogging from.

More on the whole trip later......

P.S. Buddies....."Get r Dun"

Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:35:49 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] | 

The following is a transcript from the show Hardball with Chris Matthews:

Chris:   In the last segment of our show tonight we examine the proliferation of blogging today. Our guest is from Sylvania, Ohio and has recently become the 200 millionth blogger. We welcome Dane Copti to Hardball.

Dane:   Hi Chris, thanks for having me on the show. Wow. There must be over 10 people watching.

C:         Very funny. Tell me why you think we need 200 million people blogging?

D:         I didn’t say I think we need it.

C:         Ok. So why are you doing this?

D:         Seriously, I don’t know. I don’t have the time, I really don’t. Just to write this baloney today I’ve put off grading my 200 millionth paper. I keep thinking that if I had the time I’d do something great with my life. Instead I’m starting this. I don’t know how I get off the track sometimes.

C:         You must have some goals for your blog.

D:         You’d think, but no. I am not trying to advance humanity, teach, or even elevate anything. Some days I believe that I have something worthwhile to say, but then I remember that everyone thinks that sometime. Goals? No, not really. So in the middle of a brutal semester I think I should start blogging. What an idiot.

C:         (aside) who booked this guy?

C:         OK, fascinating. We’re off for a short break. Don’t go anywhere.

During the break:

C:         Man, maybe you should go get an anti-depressant.

D:         Thanks, but I’ll be fine.

C:         Not for you, for me.

C:         OK, we’re back with Dane Copti, 'Blogger Superfluous'. Dane, do you have any positive thoughts about this project?

D:         Oh sure, Chris. In the end I think I’m doing this because I DO have things I want to say for myself. If no one reads it, fine, but I get my say. I love Lourdes College. I love my job, my profession, NW Ohio. I love my daughter, my friends, my life, and I like to write. I’ll find the time somewhere and other things will suffer for it. I’ll look up later and realize that important things will have gone undone and I’ll be at a total loss as to why. It’s ok; I’ll probably just blame George Bush for it.

C:         Excellent. In the last few seconds, is there anything else you want to say?

D:         Yeah. I have some things to say to my fellow faculty bloggers.

Joyce Litten, what happened to you? I read about the End of the Conservatist Agenda then I wait for more. And wait. Are you kidding me? You mean to tell me nothing is happening anywhere in the world that would follow that? Where are you? Oh yeah, probably busy. Does that come as a total surprise?

Tom Estrella? I know there are things you want to say. How do I know this? YOU’RE TOM ESTRELLA! That’s how I know it. What happened? You got on the front page of the Blade and figured you met all of your goals? Elvis as the Antichrist left me wanting more. I never got any more. It’s been only 6 months, so I guess I need to learn patience.

Finally, Dale Lanigan. Important stuff you’re writing there, Dale. Look, everyone knows that people often confuse us for each other. We look so much alike you’d think we were separated at birth. But blogging? In a moment of sheer profundity, you asked about the words to the song “Take On Me”. How terribly deep! I actually got an email from a well-meaning student complete with the lyrics. Keep it up, Dale. Maybe we’ll even get an easy opening CD from this.

Come on, faculty. Our blog page is little more than promotional announcements anymore. Don’t get me wrong, IA does a good job, but please.

C:         Thanks, Dane, and thanks to all of you for watching. Countdown with Keith Olbermann starts right now.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:19:45 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

At least I'm not as bad as last week.  Last week was all work related.  This week it's life in general.  Life in general has had its way with me for the past few days.  And life in general comes in the form of beloved fiance.  We have been together for three years and at times it seems like three years too long.  We were raised differently in EVERY way possible, and naturally that makes things really interesting.  Or really irritating.  Or really awesome.  But I digress...

So we've been together this long, been engaged for almost a year, and we want to move in together.  Cool, I'm all for that.  So how much money should we have saved before we decide to vamos?  We've set some goals, and I, being the logical one, would like to have a happy little nest egg saved so that I may also be able to take care of my student loans when they get out of the grace period and have some money to buy some nice things with.  Well, apparently my beloved just wants to save "X" amount of money and once we get that then we'll move out the next weekend.  HUH?

Ok, so that's peachy and all for someone who flies by the seat of their pants. But for me, said weekend would more than likely fall somewhere into the area of my pinning ceremony, commencement, and graduation party.  But he just wants to move out.  And because I'm busy in May, that's just an excuse not to move out.  Where's the common ground here?  I guess I just feel like my priorities are not respected or recognized.  Just because I am out of college does not mean I focus on him 24/7.  He is a huge part of my life, but I am just getting into the swing of things with my new job and I'm trying to adjust. 

Well, what if we moved out here, or on this date, or whatever.  Newsflash:  We don't even know where we are going to live nor what our dwelling will be.  He'd be happy if we found a field of mud and made a house out of mud and slapped a tin roof on it.  As long as he's with me.  He'd have been happy if we went out last weekend and built an igloo.  As long as I'm with him.  I'm surprised he didn't go find a cave somewhere, build a fire and then bring home a carcass to show his devotion to me. 

I want to move out. I am so ready.  At 29 I still live with my parents.  My little brother has been out on his own for over 2 years.  I love my parents, but my mom has this menopause issue going on that sometimes proves quite entertaining but more often than not proves to be a nightmare.  It can be like living with Linda Blair from the Exorcist.  Then there's my dad.  He walks after work.  Then he sits at the computer.  Wow. Stimulating.  But that could also be a diversion from the Damien-like creature known as mom, who by the way, is convinced that an owl lives in the tree next door and she hears it on a nightly basis.  Maybe she's got more than menopause going on...

The long and short of is that I'm ready. But I'm afraid to get my feet wet.  What if I make a mistake? What if things get worse between me and my dude? What if, what if, what if...

To Be Continued...

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:51:05 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

On Friday, April 18, two Lourdes College faculty members will give presentations focusing on diversity issues during the 8th annual Quest for Community: A Call to Action conference at Wright State University. This year’s conference is supported in part by Lourdes College and will be held April 16-18.

Dale Lanigan, Ed.D., Director of the Lourdes Criminal Justice Program, will present “Students Preconceptions Regarding Racial/Ethinic Groups and Implications for College Personnel.” Beth VanRheenen, Ph.D., Lourdes College Associate Professor of English, will present “An End to Othering: Examining our Preconceptions about Other Ethnicities.”

Quest for Community is a state-wide conference exploring diversity issues in higher education. Each year over 250 participants attend the conference. Quest brings the public together to encourage an understanding of and commitment to diversity issues and offers participants opportunities to exchange resources related to diversity enhancement. This year’s guest speakers include mother and activist Judy Shepard and Executive Director of the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs Dr. Nadinne Cruz.

The cost of the Quest for Community conference is $20 per person. For more information, please visit http://www.wright.edu/quest/2008/.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 10:18:05 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I am really irritated today. 

First, I just got home from work after being there for 13 hours and there is an extremely annoying banging sound outside my house.  I have looked out the windows and cannot locate said irritating noise, so either it's so loud it's travelling my way or it is merely a figment of my annoyed mind.  And it isn't stopping.

I just don't understand how or why certain people are the way they are.  It's like they've been living in a cave in an undiscovered part of the world and all of a sudden here they are.  I don't know how a person cannot know things about their health. Or why they are so ignorant about it that they go into respiratory arrest and nearly die yet they keep on keeping on.  I don't get it. 

I don't understand why people become helpless little lost bunnies when they are coming in for a procedure they have already had before.  And their families are equally helpless.  I understand being concerned, but questioning me every five minutes about a heart rate bouncing between 80 and 90 is a little excessive.  (By the way, that is a normal heart rate, and it fluctuates because of activity.)

No, you are not going to die if you get out of bed and sit in a chair.  But you will cause damage to your body if you don't move.  And the same goes for eating.  You need fluids and food to help your body.  Refusing to eat is not an option for getting better. 

Hospitals are scary places, I agree.  I am just getting comfortable with my new unit and it is still intimidating.  So please don't go poking around the machinery by yourself. Ask someone to explain it to you.  For example, don't mess with the oxygen meter while your father is using it to breathe.  It's programmed where it needs to be programmed and you technically aren't supposed to touch anything in the room besides the patient and the sink. 

I could go on and on, but I won't.  I just had one of those weeks--overbearing and uncooperative patients and overbearing uncooperative families.  It happens, I know.  So thanks for listening to my ranting. 

And that noise still has not stopped!

Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:10:29 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |