Loose Ends In The Washington Post Rape Expose

The Washington Post has a few investigative trails to follow now that they seem to have exonerated  Phi Kappa Psi and identified a lifeguard from a different  fraternity  who denies having  met Jackie.

First,  is his frat house physically near Phi Psi, where Jackie was "rescued", and can Jackie ID the guy from a proper photo array?

Second, there must be other  lifeguards  from the fall 2012 time frame still on campus. Do any of them remember lifeguard drama with an upper class guy getting friendly with a freshmen girl (like that EVER happens...), with a subsequent blowup? If the lifeguard did have a relationship with Jackie it proves nothing (she may have cast a guy she scarcely knew in a nightmare of her own imagining) but one might wonder why he denied the relationship. (Managing these interviews without naming Jackie or the target lifeguard is doable  but if a penny drops another lifeguard, memory jogged, may piece it together anyway. Which may have already happened.)

Next, Jackie claimed one of her assailants was in her  Anthropology  class. The working hypothesis is that he should be in the same frat as the lifeguard as a new sophomore  brother  - how long a list could that be? If it's  too short, try looking in a few other classes (Anthropology, History, who knows? But probably not Calculus.)

Finally, are there cell phone records available to reporters or the police? Maybe the lifeguard called or texted. And how did all the excitement of a new freshmen year go unremarked on Facebook and Twitter by Jackie and her friend and dormmstes? Hmm, review the musings and gossip of twenty young ladies over a month? Police Brutality!

Per Caitlin Flanagan as quoted  in Slate by Benedikt/Rosin, an organized gang rape is incredibly unlikely. Still, for the police these investigative steps  should not be that hard. Has to be easier than trying to type on this tablet, actually   (hence the lack of links).

Comments

[RickB]

Is Mary Landrieu going to be a casualty of the War on Women today or will Freeshit Army shock troops rescue her?

[henry]

TM, you assume the WaPo is interested in / capable of finding the truth. Not in evidence (Ferguson etc.). The local police are a better option, but the trail is very cold on whatever happened. Another problem is whether the women's advocates brainwashed "Jackie" (like the Amirault "victims") and substituted narrative for fact in her mind.

Louisiana is not of Landrew.

[RickB]

Henry,

Isn't TM just calling a little attention to the WaPo's lack of investigative skills? Isn't the WaPo demonstrating artful wrapping of the Embarassing Embiggenment without actually doing the shredding that would reveal the unreality of TawanaCrystalTraytableGiantJerk Jackie's Tale?

[henry]

Rick, probably. I need more coffee.

[Old Lurker]

The FSA has to make up about a 16% deficit for Porky. So who knows?

[narciso]

a misunderstood lad, who btw, has tried to sneak back into the country, he was an associate of Atta and Abdullah Muhajir, but hey:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/6/pakistan-says-top-al-qaida-militant-killed-in-raid/

[Captain Hate]

What does Althouse say? She tends to go full Costanza on these things.

[narciso]

there seems to be a different narrative standard,

http://www.stlbosnians.com/attack-of-bosnian-woman-being-investigated-as-hate-crime/

[Extraneus]

Democrats already win white college graduates. It's the non-graduates that they need, yet this coordinated campus "rape" attack is sure to drive some of these white boys away from the left.

Is that a good strategy? I don't get it.

[Bori]

Narc,

Well according to the victim they did ask her if she was Bosnian, which was the excuse in the other attack that because they did not refer to the hammered victim as Bosnian it was not a "hate crime".

Who knew that Bosnian was now a race.

[Cecil Turner]

First, is his frat house physically near Phi Psi, where Jackie was "rescued", and can Jackie ID the guy from a proper photo array?

I'm not sure what the point would be. Jackie's story is hopelessly lost, and no three-frat house tour is going to rehabilitate it. Nor is there any chance of a prosecution, even if something did happen (a point I find questionable, but now irrelevant).

At this point, the only thing to do is find lessons learned, which I'd suggest go something like:

• If you are sexually assaulted, go to the police;
• If you want to tell a story about sexual assault, have a police report handy;
• If you're going to write a story about sexual assault, review the police report;
• If you're an editor of a major publication, check the reporter's review of the police report;
• If you own a frat house, see if you can find a good litigator;
• If you're agitating for an extrajudicial procedure for campus sexual assault cases, take a few days off.

[Miss Marple]

I fear we are rapidly descending into tribal warfare, all motivated by some ill-conceived idea of payback, aka known in the olden days as "revenge."

Women's Studies types have an inordinate influence on campuses, which they have worked on attaining for years. Ditto Black/Urban Studies types, gay groups, and Muslims.

The confluence in these groups is their desire to wield power over white Christians and Jews, particularly men, in order to somehow "show them." That is what this "white privilege" meme is all about, why the campus Christian groups are driven off campus, why fraternities and sororities are under attack, etc.

It is now spilling out into the wider culture off campus, and it is NOT something I thought I would see in my lifetime.

It's very disturbing.

[Old Lurker]

MM at 10:15...what, MM, you were not a fan of France's Reign of Terror?

[clarice]

Excellent, Cecil. That Volokh piece is especially good.

[narciso]

yes, it does appear so, the events in Grozny seem to have been ordered by a brother of the late Doku Umarov, or some member of his clan or teip, they have a long memory when it comes to slights, probably back to 1785

[Jane]

OT:

WHy does Kerry want to stall the "Torture" report?

[Old Lurker]

Cecil as usual is dead on.

[Bori]

Professor Volokh made a good point in Wapo:

Would you rather be known to prospective employers, clients, friends, and lovers as “the frat guy in that story I read about the alleged frat gang rape, and apparently he was cleared or there was a settlement or something”? Or would you rather that the story not be part of their perception of you at all? One practical check on meritless libel lawsuits (filed, for instance, to buffalo a poor defendant into submission) is that they draw more attention to the reputation-injuring allegation, and can thus backfire against the plaintiff. But unfortunately that is also a practical check on meritorious libel lawsuits as well.

This is the reason I don't foresee a lawsuit in this case. It is a Lose/Lose situation for the frat and school.

Besides the RS has already backtracked to a point that, though the damage is done, any award would be moot point. The story had enough ambiguity in it to do damage but insulate the RS.

[narciso]

at least this is one account,

http://tass.ru/en/russia/765490

that was indeed a poser, his previous effort in the 80s, sowed some of the seeds of the paranoia that has been reaped in places like Ferguson,

[Old Lurker]

It is high time for Jim Rhoades to register his lurking which I hope is the case.

[Old Lurker]

Even from the headline, you knew what the name would look like:

NORFOLK, Va. – A Navy civilian engineer has been indicted on charges he tried to steal schematics of an aircraft carrier under construction and have them sent to Egypt.

Federal prosecutors said Mostafa Ahmed Awwad, 35, of Yorktown, Virginia, was arrested Friday on two counts of attempted exportation of defense articles and technical data.

[Threadkiller]

NO RULE OF LAW IN AMERICA 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmcBu1E5vuM

Plenty of Justice though.

[RickB]

"Is that a good strategy?"

Extraneous,

What if it's a tactic used as part of a strategy to drive out Bent Willy's chief enabler? The whole more cow bell, amp to 11 nonsense regarding a Rape Culture when reported rapes have been falling for more than a decade suggests the actual target is the wife of the Rapist in Chief rather than an attempt to strengthen support in a cohort which, as you note, is already characterized by the weak mindedness necessary to support the Fascists.

[narciso]

I was referring to Lurch, the dining companion of the ophthalmologist, and Mubarak,

[narciso]

this is why the most accurate parts of Mockingjay, is when 'hijacked' Peeta, who really is extra wooden, is questioning the motives of Katniss, rather than attempts to kill her, Ironically Danny Strong, the screenwriter, is just the sort that President Snow would employ, seeing his previous work,

[Rob Crawford]

What would Egypt do with a carrier? Can anyone imagine a carrier manages with Arab attitudes toward maintenance and information?

Was he dealing with the previous MB government? I'd imagine they'd be interested in the carrier's weak spots...

[Beasts of England]

Rape? Was there a rape at UVA? Let's hope this gets some media attention...

[Miss Marple]

Day Two of the Marion Barry funeral here, including a live stream link in case you want to watch the FOUR HOUR memorial service, complete with colored glossy program issued to all attendees.

[Miss Marple]

Oops. Forgot to post thelink to the Barry funeral coverage:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/liveblog-live/liveblog/updates-d-c-mourns-its-mayor-for-life/?hpid=z2

[Beasts of England]

I've never wandered by UVA's fraternity row, but I've seen pictures from a buddy's SAE days in Charlottesville. Looks like the Phi Kappa Psi's have a proper Greek edifice, as well, soon to be upgraded with a heated pool, 9-hole golf course, bottomless Guiness taps, and an eighty car garage. Filled with sparkly new BMWs, I hope...

[Comanche Voter]

Yup--I was all WTF? when I see that Egypt wanted schematics of an aircraft carrier. Where were they going to build it? Would it have shallow draft enough to go up the Nile? If they ticked off the Israelis, would the Egyptian Air Force have any remaining planes to put on the carrier? How many camels would be needed in the engine room?

I know that some dictators get all liquored up and have dreams of glory, but even old King Farouk in the 1950's wouldn't have had this dream.

[rse]

Remember Theresa Sullivan is also pushing that $12 million dollar center at UVa that one of the Greenwish hedge fund managers endowed to blur the distinction between rational thought and 'feeling'. This entire episode shows that giving the two parity in higher ed ends up celebrating nonsensical actions that should have been handled better.

I was off laying out the vision for workplace development and Career Pathways for all and other federal and state initiatives politicians adore but do not want to admit exist. http://www.invisibleserfscollar.com/quietly-coercing-a-vassals-and-fiefdoms-future-for-all-of-us-while-hyping-economic-development/

WIOA goes into effect July 2015 and some states may choose to be early implementers. The duplicity in all this is astonishing as official reports simply fail to mention the federal mandates to keep the fiction that this is an independent state-led initiative and thus consistent with a our federal system.

[Miss Marple]

Funeral will also be carried on CSPAN-1. (I notice Barry's funeral gets CSPAN-1, but hearings of national importance such as Benghazi or IRS seem to get CSPAN-2 or even 3.)

[Jeff Dobbs]

Miss Marple:
Day Two of the Marion Barry funeral here

Isn't this essentially the Rolling Stone defense now on the UVA story? "B*tch set us up!"

[Miss Marple]

hit,

Indeed it is. And if you scroll through that blog, you will find a mourner who says that Barry didn't do anything wrong, and that he was set up.

I actually thought a nice touch would be the crowd chanting "B**ch set me up" as the coffin passed by, but DC crowds seem to lack imagination or a sense of history.

[Threadkiller]

Schematics for a carrier have to be in the thousands of pages. What portion was he interested in? Or was he stealing the whole file?

[Miss Marple]

Also, TK, exactly who was he stealing those plans for?

I don't think that the current Egyptian government has the money to build one nor the need to have one. The Muslim Brotherhood, however, would like those plans for 2 reasons:

1. To pinpoint areas of weakness for terrorist attacks and/or sabotage.
2. To sell to someone else interested, like the Chinese.

[Miss Marple]

Further questions to be asked about the guy who tried to steal the plans:

1. How long has he been working for the US government.?
2. How thorough was his security screening and who did it?
3. Did some objection to his employment surface in the security screening, and was it overruled? If so, by who?

[Iggy]

--Even from the headline, you knew what the name would look like:--

Yeah, because if he was Chinese we wouldn't have caught him and if he was Russian we only would have caught him after he emailed the plans.

[Iggy]

--Louisiana is not of Landrew.--

Superb Star Trek pun, henry.

[Beasts of England]

The narrative trajectory for the UVA rape fiasco is taking the same arc as the Ferguson debacle. Once the facts become available, the shift goes from the individual cases to 'the larger problem'. Sorry libtards, you picked Brown and 'Jackie', and you're stuck with them.

Hopefully sometime in the next few years there will be a special game permit week where it's legal to hunt progressives. Bag limit of 100 per day. And, because I'm a true sportsman, I'd suggest precluding hunts over baited fields. Starbucks, Malibu, and the New York Times headquarters would all be off limits.

[mockmook]

Good lord TM, how many contradictory/inconsistent things does Jackie have to say before you start to doubt her WHOLE story?

[docweasel]

I suspect this is a subversive attempt to completely destroy the story :p

Just my personal take: I don't think any rape happened, no one else was involved at all, or else why wouldn't she just say that? Disturbed people, men and women, make up elaborate, outlandish stories to gain attention, the problem with this the unethical RS reporter exploited this mentally disturbed young lady and publicized the story all out of proportion, and now we have UVA taking ridiculously overblown actions like shutting down innocent fraternaties and punishing people who have nothing to do with all this.

The problem here is that radical feminists are invested in the "rape culture" myth and are grasping at straws for narratives, even if they have to concoct them, to back up the dismantling of any and all male institutions, which they perceive as oppressive, including frats, male sports, flirting, sex jokes, almost any male activity, actually.

RS was ok with destroying a mentally disturbed and vulnerable young girl. We shouldn't be as cruel, inhuman and sexist as radical feminists in our quest to push our own agenda. Let's let this one go, McGuire.

[Threadkiller]

Obama left a classified stealth helicopter in Pakistan, an unheard of drone in Iran.

If he was President for life he would probably sail that carrier right into whichever ever harbor his fellow Muslims requested.

[Steve]

Trey Gowdy DESTROYS Marielena Hincapie At Immigration Executive Action Hearing:

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2014/12/trey-gowdy-destroys-marielena-hincapie.html

[RickB]

docweasel,

What agenda do you suppose MicWire to be pursuing?

[Iggy]

--I fear we are rapidly descending into tribal warfare, all motivated by some ill-conceived idea of payback, aka known in the olden days as "revenge."--

That's the whole point of the rape culture BS and the war on women in general BS and the coppers and we are all racists BS.
Western Civilization and Christianity gave the world the first and only comprehensive societies not only increasingly free of tribalism but expressly opposed to it and also the only societies with an inherent recognition of the God given rights of individuals.

What could possibly be more antithetical and hated by statists and collectivists who despise individuals and worshp at the altar of absolute state power than a civilization that not only grants value to individuals but recognizes individuals as the source of political power and a transcendent God as that which is to be worshipped rather than the state?
All of the seemingly unconnected weirdness and separate strategies of the left all stem from ther central project; destroy that which stands in the way of the Road to Utopia, known to the rest of us as Hell on Earth.

[Iggy]

--The narrative trajectory for the UVA rape fiasco is taking the same arc as the Ferguson debacle.--

Yep. Am about ready to start ignoring this thing too, since it's ginned up for precisely the same reason as the phony racist spiel of the race-based whore-mongers.

I call for the new snark free Ben to join me in just shutting our traps.
I'll gladly take one for the team in pursuit of a greater good. :)

[Jim O]

"If you read the [original
Rolling Stone]article carefully, you’ll notice that almost everybody who knows Jackie closely treats her about the way you’d treat a friend who starts talking about having been abducted by aliens." - Steve Sailer

[MarkO]

Then, there is the utterly unverifiable report that 1 in 5 college rapes goes unreported.

[Beasts of England]

Several good football matchups today. Here's a little video intro to the one that'll have my undivided attention:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cKj2ItPt1mA

[rse]

This from one of my newsletters. Closing post offices is unacceptable whatever the cost because they are places of employment in rural areas and a good job for minorities.

"The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on Wednesday wrote to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations urging the inclusion - in the absence of comprehensive congressional reform legislation - of language in any omnibus appropriations legislation or continuing resolution that would prevent the USPS from closing or consolidating any additional area mail processing facilities during Fiscal Year 2015. Sweeping changes proposed by the Postal Service, according to the letter, would have a significant, detrimental impact on workers in both urban and rural communities and in communities of color. On Monday, The Leadership Conference wrote to the U.S. Senate asking senators to oppose the reappointment of Mickey Barnett to the USPS Board of Governors because of his previous work as a lobbyist in the payday lending industry - an industry that is heavily concentrated in African-American and Latino-American communities and often traps borrowers in repeated cycles of debt."

The vision 5 years from now is that every employer will have to justify why their workforce is not just as diverse as the population with the exception of major league sports and the post office.

[RickB]

"an industry that is heavily concentrated in African-American and Latino-American communities"

So it's a Plantation Management issue. If local sharks make the loans then Tribal Police can handle collections and all the money stays in the Bahamas neighborhood. I wonder what the sharks offer on average to discount EBT money?

[Cecil Turner]

An analysis of the plans provided by Princess Leia has demonstrated a weakness in the battle station. But the approach will not be easy . . .

Achmed bin Skywalker: "Allahu akbar!" Color me skeptical, but . . . I guess it's possible.

More likely they could sell them to a third party (or use 'em as a bargaining chip). There were stories (e.g., this one and this one) of burgeoning Egypt-Russia military ties. You'd think the PRC would be at least as interested, but if I had to guess . . .

[Old Lurker]

"I wonder what the sharks offer on average to discount EBT money?"

Heard on the radio that 70 cents on the dollar works in places.

[rse]

OL-here's an FCC commissioner outlining the Obamaphone program so that it includes a right to broadband and not just voice service/

http://www.fcc.gov/document/commissioner-clyburn-remarks-american-enterprise-institute

Oh, and it's not right for this program to require providers to verify eligibility. Seriously said that.

It can become fungible and marketable like EBT.

[RickB]

OL,

That would be reasonable for EBT in hand but far too generous for anticipated EBT. You have to factor in collection costs if Tribal Police have to be used. Arms and legs don't just break themselves.

[Old Lurker]

Well Rick, then you are speaking of the EBT futures market, Rick. Clarice and I are setting one up in the wagons and pikes subsidiary. It is getting a little complicated because JP Morgan is making it hard for us to get a firm price on the derivatives we want to sell and I think they don't want to accept the AIG insurance we offered as part of the package. But stay tuned since as a director of this company, you will need to vote on it.

[Old Lurker]

That would be Rick squared

[rse]

OL-perhaps JP will be more amenable if you tell them the sales concession fits into their Global Cities vision for all of us.

[Jane]

Then, there is the utterly unverifiable report that 1 in 5 college rapes goes unreported.

I think we have a definition problem.

I'm gonna ask my earlier question again. Anyone know why Kerry would resist having the release of the report on "torture" delayed?

[Beasts of England]

Reggie Love is writing a book about working for his boyfriend Barry.

I'm not sure if this calls for speculative book titles or #ReggieLoveLoveSongs.

[daddy]

Yesterday on the Five Dana Perino said that this Rolling Stone Reporter, Sabrina Rubin Erdely, was in the same Journalism Class at The University of Pennsylvania with Stephen Glass. Google says they are both U Penn grads, but her age iOS not p[rovided so I can't match them up as classmates. He is 42 I think.

Anyhow, probably coincidence, but might be interesting to see if they worked together in the past.

[Danube on iPad]

Blumenthal...Blumenthal...say, wasn't there a wife-beating thingy in there somewhere? And didn't he have DUI?

[Danube on iPad]

Jane, I think he's concerned that the report will put some of our allies in a bad light.

[Bori]

DoT,

Agree, but I also think that releasing it now will not be as beneficial politically than in the future

[clarice]

The capper from today's waPo:http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/06/no-matter-what-jackie-said-we-should-automatically-believe-rape-claims/

[daddy]

Somebody at SLATE must be reading JOM.

From a Washington Examiner piece, on reporters from different rags being angry at standing up for the Rolling Stone Rape story, we get this:

"Welp. Turns out many of us, myself included, were wrong to trust the story," Slate's Jamelle Bouie tweeted.

[boatbuilder]

I have had the privilege of representing a number of fraternities and/or their local chapters in civil lawsuits arising from the tragic consequences of drinking and/or hazing activities (no rapes-although I have had some peripheral involvement in some litigation involving rape claims). While boys will always be boys, even in the worst frats the majority of members and pledges are decent human beings--and there are always members who join and don't stay. If anything remotely like what was described in the RS piece had occurred there is absolutely no way that it would have remained hidden by some code of silence or "organized" (it is to laugh!) conspiracy among the 18-21 year olds involved (who generally have a very hard time organizing the weekly beer-pong competition, let alone the secret rape club). Word would get out and those with a shred of decency would tell the truth, even if it meant prosecution of the sleazeballs amongst them. Especially when the shit hits the fan and the police--and the parents--come into the picture.
Also when the national fraternities get even a whiff of scandal they sell out the local chapters and their individual members in a heartbeat. Members are expelled, investigations conducted (not always in that order),chapter charters revoked, and strict codes of conduct are promulgated. More importantly insurance coverage is declined for various behaviors which don't conform (such as serving alcohol to underage persons-I suspect rape might also be in that category).
And the college administrators, far from sweeping things under the rug, come down very hard on the involved individuals, chapters, and anyone remotely connected. Even when the accusers prefer to remain anonymous.
Perhaps UVA--and the involved frat--are exceptions to all this. But I seriously doubt it.

[Beasts of England]

That's what my earlier comment was about, Clarice. The narrative is so adaptable to changing facts that it never has to be wrong. Goalposts on casters.

[RickB]

RSE,

I believe you have three plantations within mortar range. Have you ever considered doing a cash flow analysis wrt plantations, determined by Census data? Plantation herd sizes are pretty well standardized so extrapolations of averages determined for three would only require adjustment for Section 8 rent differentials. In fact, a Section 8 cash flow analysis would probably be the most entertaining, given the President's auspicious start in politics as a slumlord shakedown artist.

[Jane]

Interesting perspective Boatbuilder.I suspect you have nailed it.

Jane, I think he's concerned that the report will put some of our allies in a bad light.

Clearly I'm very jaded, because I have a hard time imagining he would care.

[daddy]

13 seconds to go and some school named NJIT is beating Number 17 Michigan by 1 point, 70 to 69.

Go NJIT, whatever and wherever you guys are from .

[daddy]

Wow. It's the New Jersey Institute of Technology out of Newark!

How can I not pull for 'em. 3 seconds to go, up by 1, and they have a guy at the foul line about to try 2 free throws. Go Newarkian's!

[Old Lurker]

You did nail it, Boatbuilder. And I think you are right about UVa and that house. And about 18 year old boys.

[daddy]

The Newark "Highlanders" are now up 3 with 4.3 seconds to go. Michigan needs a 3 to tie.

Hand's up, don't shoot!

[daddy]

I suspect you're all on tenterhooks now, so I'll do play by play.

Highlanders fouled Michigan with 2.6. The Michigan guy hit the first shot, but intentionally missed the second. Scramble for the ball ensues, but the Newark scholars grabbed the rebound and got fouled. Some other stuff happened, but I haven't had e'nuff coffee yet...

Newark wins, 72 to 70!

Looks like the broadcast is taking place at Indy, so I hope Miss Marple is hanging out with hoopster fans in her town this morning. Good Morning, everyone!

[Stephanie De Nile is a river in Progtopia]

Was just remarking to the hubs when I saw that game in the abc/espn chyron "how would you like to be an alumnus from n-jit" sounds an awful lot like eeejit.

[Iggy]

"Hands up, don't shoot!"

Brilliant, daddy.

[Iggy]

--Loose Ends In The Washington Post Rape Expose--

Is that supposed to be some kind of double entendre?

[Bori]

Clarice,

I wonder if she would be singing the same song while black men were lynched based on mere accusations of white women.

Or this any different from that?

[Miss Marple]

daddy,

I am that rare breed of Hoosier who has NO interest in basketball. Zilch. The last time I got enthusiastic for a game was when my high school made it to the semi-state when I was a freshman, back in 1962.

I do not follow basketball at all. I am working on my computer doing listings for cash money.

[Beasts of England]

I've heard three different announcers / commentators saying that TCU was making a statement. Over the 2-9 Iowa State Cyclones? Ugh.

[daddy]

I am that rare breed of Hoosier who has NO interest in basketball. Zilch.

I've heard of this affliction Miss Marple, but I thought it was an Old Wive's Tale.

Do you think it's genetic? For instance, are your grandson and granddaughter similarly afflicted, or are they normal humans? I would sure hate for this mutation to get into the larger Hoosier gene pool.

[Jack is Back!]

Bearcats up on Houston28-17 with a few to go in 3rd Q. Gunnar Kiel has cramps and they brought in the No. 1 Ranked Name in Football: "Munchie Legauex " at QB. And he is marching down the field again.

Munchie will chew you up while Gunnar will mow you down. Choices.

[Janet - I wish my family had a poncho]

One more observation...I had to ask my daughter about -

This from the WaPo link -
"In that Slate podcast, when asked who these people were, she [Erdely] responded, “I don’t want to say much about them as individuals but I’ll just say that this particular fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi — it’s really emblematic in a lot of ways of sort of like elitist fraternity culture. It’s considered to be a kind of top-tier fraternity at University of Virginia…It’s considered to be a really high-ranking fraternity, in part because they’re just so incredibly wealthy. Their alumni are very influential, you know, they’re on Wall Street, they’re in politics.”

My daughter says that isn't true. Other frats at UVA are considered MUCH more elite. Phi Kappa Psi (at UVA anyway - each campus chapter differs) is more of a "regular joe" frat. If you are NOT connected & NOT super wealthy you can still probably get into Phi Kappa Psi.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/12/05/rolling-stones-disastrous-u-va-story-a-case-of-real-media-bias/

[Miss Marple]

daddy,

Grandson loves all things basketball, but his sports are soccer and pole vault. Older granddaughter plays no sports and has no interest. She is the musician and robotics competitor.

Youngest granddaughter plays basketball and volleyball. She is tall for her age.

Don't know why I am that way. I have plenty of friends who watch avidly, and no one ever discouraged me or anything. I think I just never got interested in it once I didn't know the players personally, which ended when I graduated from high school.

[Miss Marple]

Ed Henry reports on Twitter that the president has been complaining of a sore throat so his doctor suggested "diagnostic tests." So he has gone to Walter Reed.

[Old Lurker]

The jokes write themselves, MM.

[Iggy]

--I wonder if she would be singing the same song while black men were lynched based on mere accusations of white women.--

Ouch. Superb point Bori.

[Miss Marple]

OL,

I report facts. I am refraining from editorial comment.

Now I have to get back to work!

[daddy]

Just joking Miss M.

I think if the older Granddaughter does get a West Point slot she will be required to play some kind of intramural sports, so hope she spends some time on the treadmill building up her wind. Distance running is interesting to me in that you can hate it as a kid, but then if you wind up having to do it in later life for Boot Camp or whatever, suddenly you find it's exhilarating and addictive, and when you can't do it anymore you really miss it.

I thought it was great hearing the other day that GMax used to run I think 2 880's at a track meet, then anchor the Mile relay. I would have hated to have done that in High School or college, but would have loved to be doing that by my mid 20's.

[Beasts of England]

Sounds like Barry has 'the drip'.

[Iggy]

The comments at clarice's WaPo link are about 95% none too kind to the poor, confused Miss Maxwell.

[Danube on iPad]

Zucker fired Candy Crowley because she was "too old and too fat," and my heart soars like the hawk.

http://www.examiner.com/article/candy-crowley-out-at-cnn-reportedly-for-being-too-old-and-fat

[anonamom]

Can you get a West Point slot if you don't have a high school sport?

[daddy]

According to the Washington Times, the Arab Engineer I mentioned last night who tried to steal the plans for the new US Aircraft Carrier, was trying to get the info to learn how to sink it:

During a hotel meeting on Oct. 9, Mr. Awwad gave the undercover agent, posing as an Egyptian spy named “Yousef,” secret drawings of the vessel and “discussed where to strike the vessel with a missile in order sink it,” the affidavit says.

The Times also tells us: Mr. Awwad cried as he was led into a courtroom for a hearing on Saturday.

I am unsympathetic.

[Old Lurker]

You saw his pink shirt, Daddy?

[daddy]

Zucker fired Candy Crowley because she was "too old and too fat," and my heart soars like the hawk.

I hope fat Candy sues the snot out of CNN.

[narciso]

we don't believe claims, we believe evidence,
how hard is it for the Bezos post, Carlos Slim's unemancipated chimps, to understand this, rhetorical question.