Ramadan a "veil of religious pietism," not a time for peace

I take issue with Mariam Durrani's column in Friday's Wildcat ("Ramadan is a time for peace and perspective.") While I agree that the idea of a month of purging oneself of impurity is fine, in theory, that is not what is practiced in mainstream Islam today. Ramadan today is used as an excuse by most Muslims to destroy, hurt and maim others while hiding behind a veil of religious pietism. [Read article]

As lame-duck legislators sharpen their budget-cutting knives in preparation for a special session that opens today, it appears virtually certain that the UA will be left with somewhere between a $16.7 million and $18 million cut to its budget.

Painful as that may be, it's not realistic to expect anything less from the Legislature, which has to deal with a $500 million state shortfall.

Though state lawmakers have not exactly been known for prioritizing universities, it would be unreasonable to expect them to spare the UA, ASU and NAU from budget cuts when the three schools combined take more money than any other state [Read article]

This Friday before you begin your endless trek from the most distant parking space on the planet ÷ located somewhere in New Mexico ÷ to the consuming frenzy in your local mall, hang your head in shame and mourn our loss.

Gone are the days when the swankiest toy one could have as a child was a straight, relatively sturdy stick (pointed tip optional) which one could spend endless hours turning into anything one's twisted little four-year-old mind could comprehend, and then later use to whack one's four-year-old best friend behind his knee. [Read article]

What could be so important as to interrupt college football on Rivalry week?

A kidnapped child.

On Saturday morning, a male ÷ not man, because man carries connotations of responsibility and adult behavior ÷ drove to his daughter's house and took her. So what? Well, he just happened to lose custody rights after he was sent up the river for years because he couldn't keep from stealing. Apparently, four years wasn't enough; he didn't learn his lesson. [Read article]