The University of Waterloo once extended to yours truly an Offer of Admittance. Lucky for them I never took them up on it and eventually graduated instead from the U of Goo ("Why in hell would ya wanna go there?... nothing at U of Goo but steers 'n queers" a concerned academic counsellor warned) and Outhouse College, where I distinguished myself as Captain of the Drinking Team.
But enough about me. According to a full-page ad in today's Globe the University of Waterloo flourished after my snub and is celebrating its greatness and commitment to innovation, discovery, and academic excellence by bestowing honorary degrees on ten Great White Men. (I'll admit I'm relying on the pictures in making that judgement, and there's a possibility the Higgins chap has a non-Caucasian ancestor or two in his family tree, and if that is the case I apologize.)
Everybody knows how the honorary degree game is played. Universities honour prominent individuals with their honorary degrees in hopes that some of that individual's perceived prestige will reflect well on the institution. And while I know nothing about the accomplishments of the ten worthies chosen to be honoured at the Spring 2014 Convocation ceremonies, I must say I am shocked that every one of them is a white male.
That such a coincidence would slip unnoticed past the vetting committee at a serious university, in this era of inclusiveness, in this land of diversity, is scandalous indeed!
Showing posts with label Chris Hadfield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Hadfield. Show all posts
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Watching Miss America
What? They still do this stuff?
I didn't realize Miss America had survived late 20th century feminism. I just barely got through that era myself, and much the worse for wear, I might add.
Why is Miss Arkansas wearing a slinky dress instead of bib overalls?
Why is Miss Alaska black and Miss Mississippi white?
Why does that crowd in Atlantic City never stop their imbecilic cheering?
The first and last time I was in Atlantic City was the year the US landed on the moon.
It could be just my memory playing tricks on me, but I'm thinking we're not seeing as many anorexic women as we would have back in the day.
I've heard it said that the Miss America contest is as fake as the moon landing.
I don't know why people have to be so cynical. Is it not possible to land a man on the moon in the same universe where we have really great baton twirlers?
Hell, wasn't that Chris Hadfield twirling batons in the International Space Station just a coupla weeks ago?
We all bring different strengths to the game of life, and it is for some to walk on the moon, and it is for some others to twirl batons...
We're now witnessing the swimsuit part of the competition, which the presenter has just informed me is about health and fitness.
Really? There's a lot of feminist studies grads who probably think it's about the objectification of women.
Have to say I don't get it one way or the other.
But it would have been nice to say we're over this kind of stuff.
I didn't realize Miss America had survived late 20th century feminism. I just barely got through that era myself, and much the worse for wear, I might add.
Why is Miss Arkansas wearing a slinky dress instead of bib overalls?
Why is Miss Alaska black and Miss Mississippi white?
Why does that crowd in Atlantic City never stop their imbecilic cheering?
The first and last time I was in Atlantic City was the year the US landed on the moon.
It could be just my memory playing tricks on me, but I'm thinking we're not seeing as many anorexic women as we would have back in the day.
I've heard it said that the Miss America contest is as fake as the moon landing.
I don't know why people have to be so cynical. Is it not possible to land a man on the moon in the same universe where we have really great baton twirlers?
Hell, wasn't that Chris Hadfield twirling batons in the International Space Station just a coupla weeks ago?
We all bring different strengths to the game of life, and it is for some to walk on the moon, and it is for some others to twirl batons...
We're now witnessing the swimsuit part of the competition, which the presenter has just informed me is about health and fitness.
Really? There's a lot of feminist studies grads who probably think it's about the objectification of women.
Have to say I don't get it one way or the other.
But it would have been nice to say we're over this kind of stuff.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Canadian becomes most famous astronaut in history
I would have bet a million bucks the most famous astronaut is Neil Armstrong. First man on the moon and all that stuff.
But no, the most popular astronaut comes from a country that doesn't even have a space program.
Google Neil Armstrong and you get 32 million results.
Google Chris Hadfield and there's 59 million.
Everybody know what Armstrong did.
What does Hadfield do? He is supposedly the "commander" of the International Space Station. Why is it that whenever you see him, which is pretty much constantly, he doesn't look like he's anywhere near the bridge of the Starship Enterprise?
No, he's playing his guitar, or chit-chatting with William Shatner, or joking around with some class of school kids via the internet. When does he even have time to do all that scientific astronauty stuff that we send those folks up there for?
He doesn't, obviously! Hadfield has grabbed his fifteen minutes and is running with it! And nobody can stop him. If he was down here somebody could tell him to empty out his desk and escort him off the premises, but Hadfield is homefree!
With the kind of internet stardom he's achieving I expect to see him follow this act up with a career in politics, like John Glenn.
Who, by the way, gets over 280 million google results.
But no, the most popular astronaut comes from a country that doesn't even have a space program.
Google Neil Armstrong and you get 32 million results.
Google Chris Hadfield and there's 59 million.
Everybody know what Armstrong did.
What does Hadfield do? He is supposedly the "commander" of the International Space Station. Why is it that whenever you see him, which is pretty much constantly, he doesn't look like he's anywhere near the bridge of the Starship Enterprise?
No, he's playing his guitar, or chit-chatting with William Shatner, or joking around with some class of school kids via the internet. When does he even have time to do all that scientific astronauty stuff that we send those folks up there for?
He doesn't, obviously! Hadfield has grabbed his fifteen minutes and is running with it! And nobody can stop him. If he was down here somebody could tell him to empty out his desk and escort him off the premises, but Hadfield is homefree!
With the kind of internet stardom he's achieving I expect to see him follow this act up with a career in politics, like John Glenn.
Who, by the way, gets over 280 million google results.
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