Governor's pressure on Sabino's lions 'nonsense'

I continue to observe the mess that has come of the mountain lion problem in Sabino Canyon with amazement. Today, minutes after authorities called off a search for the lions due to political pressure, the Arizona Daily Star reported that a woman observed a lion crossing Sabino Canyon Road headed toward the residential area that borders it. The pressure from the governor's office is nonsense and politically biased in a situation that necessitates common sense. I fear that it will take the death of a few house pets, a child or perhaps even one of the adult residents or a hiker in the canyon before the chief executive of the state realizes her poor judgment. Growing up in Arizona, I recall several stories of these cats encroaching on residential properties and thinking nothing of feasting on pets for meals, and in fact approaching humans with probable intent to harm. The idea to tranquilize the cats should have satisfied all parties as to the safe and humane removal of the cats, though I noted with further disgust Gov. Napolitano's failure to support the effort with National Guard helicopters, perfect vehicles with which to complete such a mission. It is time to end the nonsense and remove the cats from the canyon area. It is necessary for the safety of those that wish to continue to hike the area and those that want to continue to live in the area to eliminate that threat. Without rapid action based on common sense, Arizona will suffer embarrassment and grief when the consequences of inaction are felt and heard throughout the country. [Read article]

I probably will lose my reputation as a serious movie buff by saying this, but I have to confess: I love chick flicks. Don't get me wrong, some of my favorite films feature mind-blowing plot twists, intense character development and Anthony Hopkins.

Yet the chick flick will always have a hold over me. It's the cinematic equivalent of comfort food, unabashedly trite, but satisfying nonetheless. One of my favorites is "Steel Magnolias." [Read article]

Call Dick Clark and break out the champagne! It's a party every student in Arizona is invited to, because our beloved schools might be getting a raise from good old mom and dad, the state Legislature.

That's right, for the first time in three years, after cut upon cut, there is talk about giving the universities more money instead of seeing what they can do with nothing in their wallets. It's about time we see more money from the state that the university's name bears. Finally, we might be able to afford things that we need - like paper - and hire more people we need - like professors. Both are essential to a place of learning, or so we found out after a few years of having very little of anything. [Read article]

The best in last week's editorials from college campuses across the nation

University of Connecticut

America has been overrun by fat, but only because it has allowed itself to be through consumerism and inactivity, diseases in themselves that can be reversed. The keyword behind the medical statistics, though, is "preventable," as fast food is not addictive like nicotine.

But at the same time, the Surgeon General should consider requiring warning labels to be printed on fast-food wrappers, because if one were faced with the choice, a cigarette kills fewer people than a Big Mac. [Read article]