I'm always appalled when I hear about incidents of racism and sexism occurring in Arizona. I was raised in what I believe is a typical Arizona family, and to discriminate against someone for such a trivial reason was considered absurd and disgusting. In case you're wondering about the April Fools' joke, I was also raised to have a sense of humor.

The idea of affirmative action is appalling, mainly because it is racist. That statement doesn't come from opinion; it comes from a dictionary. Affirmative action differentiates people on the basis of race, and despite your personal opinions on the policy, any reasonable person would have to admit that it is, by definition, racist. [Read article]

Happy tax day, everyone! That's right, today is the last day to send in your federal income tax return without the Internal Revenue Service getting all pissy and charging you a bunch of late fees. Here's a fun little experiment for you. If you're in the Student Union Memorial Center, or any place on campus where people congregate, watch the door for someone to come in holding a newspaper. Then watch as they start to read it. I'm sure there's someone out there who's reading this line right now with a look of horror on his face and the phrase "Oh shit!" running through his mind. [Read article]

I came across an interesting piece while browsing the news the other day. Apparently the next G8 Summit is going to be in Sea Island, Ga., a coastal community about 80 miles south of Savannah. As you probably know, the G8 Summit usually draws huge crowds of protesters. Sometimes these people are responsible adults who go about their business in a respectful manner. But more often than not, these crowds turn into huge mobs of childish rioters. [Read article]

The first round of lawsuits against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act have been filed, and it's time we take a look at what this procedure really is and what merit, if any, there may be to these appeals.

First, let's go over what a so-called partial-birth abortion - or "dilate and extract" (D and X), the medical term for the procedure - actually is.

D and X is performed in the second or third trimester of a pregnancy. By that time, other forms of abortion are usually not feasible because of the size of the fetus. The procedure basically entails dilating the mother's cervix, pulling the fetus partially out of the mother, feet first, then puncturing the fetus' skull and vacuuming out its brain. I'm not making this up, folks; that's really what happens. [Read article]

A few weeks ago, it was environmentalists; now it's university administrators. It seems like everywhere you look, someone's too focused on his or her own little piece of the system to see the necessity of compromise and its benefit to the greater good.

On March 10, the Wildcat reported that there was a bill in the Arizona House of Representatives that would allow community colleges to issue four-year bachelor's degrees in fire science, law enforcement, nursing and teaching. The idea is to provide greater access to higher education for rural and low-income residents. [Read article]

Did anyone see that show "Straight Plan for the Gay Man" on Comedy Central? I thought it was hilarious. How could you not be amused by the look on the gay man's face when the Flab Four bought him a lap dance at the strip club? I have to admit, though, that I was pretty confused by the end of the show. When they were coaching the guy on how to pick up women, they told him not to do several things that I do all the time. I probably shouldn't put too much stock in the Flab Four's suggestions, considering that it didn't sound like any of them had girlfriends. Still, I can't help but wonder if I've been doing something wrong this whole time. [Read article]

If you've ever really looked at the things that environmental groups spend their time and money on, you've realized they're much less interested in protecting the environment than they are in going after industry. It's blatantly obvious from the lawsuits they file and the bills they oppose that protecting the environment is a secondary concern to taking down those who use land to make a living. The latest incarnation of their deception is the Center for Biological Diversity's opposition to a proposal reforming the way state trust land is managed. [Read article]

I am a member of one of the last oppressed and persecuted groups in this country. It's not because I'm white, heterosexual, middle-class or male. It's because I am a gun owner. I have chosen to take on the responsibilities associated with exercising one of my constitutionally guaranteed rights. And because of that, many people develop an unwarranted fear based on an ignorant point of view. Those who write policy for the university, apparently among the ignorant public, have codified this fear in a policy banning weapons on campus. So today, I'm going to explain to all of you why you need not fear me and my brethren, and why you should, in fact, trust us. [Read article]

Anyone who's had exposure to any kind of media in the last week has noticed that the homosexual revolution is upon us.

From marriage licenses on the left coast to judicial rulings in Tax-achusetts, gays are receiving the same protections afforded to all other Americans, much to the chagrin of the religious right, which is running around like Chicken Little, convinced that the end is upon us.

First to the right: You all need to unclench. I doubt this will be the worst affront we'll see to the morality of the United States in the near future. [Read article]

It looks like our good friend Rep. Linda Lopez is at it again. A few weeks ago it was smoking; this week it's drive-thru liquor stores. I'll bet in the next month we'll see a proposal to ban strip clubs, and after that, who knows? After all, we only have so many vices in this state, and the Indian casinos are on sovereign land.

Monday's Wildcat reported that Lopez, a Democrat from Tucson, has proposed a bill that would prevent the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control from issuing new licenses to liquor stores with drive-thru windows. The argument from Lopez and Yolanda Herrera, president of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association who initially proposed the idea, is that drive-thru liquor stores promote drinking and driving. They also argue that these stores contribute to problems in the neighborhood such as littering and loitering. I hate to burst their bubble, but the drive-thru window isn't their problem. [Read article]

I've come to the conclusion that the quite possibly the most annoying thing in the world a bad driver. I can't tell you how many times in the last two weeks I've been irritated by a someone doing something stupid on the road. So I've finally decided to write a column about all the little induhviduals out there who are allowed to drive a motor vehicle despite gross incompetence. What follows is a list of the dumbest things you ÷ and I do mean you, even though you think you're a good driver ÷ do to annoy those of us who know, respect and obey the traffic laws. All is not lost, however. Read the following wisdom and right your sinful ways. [Read article]