U Maryland moves to Big 10

So one of the Post's sports commentators discussed the money UMD had to pay to switch football conferences.  None of the other stories seemed to mention it. The solution to the whole problem is much simpler- if varsity sports, especially football, are costing too much, drop them.  Or at least stop paying the coaches more than the professors.  Stop the athletic scholarships.  Stop being a farm team for the pro sports and do it like baseball- let the sports run their own farm teams.  Think colleges have to have big athletic scholarships to attract students?  Ask the Ivys- they don't.  Ask U Chicago if you have to have Div 1 varsity football to attract students- they don't.  Maybe if colleges and universities paid more attention to their academics they wouldn't get as many jocks but they might just get better behaved students.  UMD basketball fans are disgusting and I decided after they rioted back in 2005 was it when they lost in March Madness that I didn't want my kid going to any school where sports were more important than education. 

Black Friday Blues?

A lady complained in today's Post about the earlier start times of stores for "Black Friday" (namely starting on Thursday, Thanksgiving day) "I think it's unfair and unjust.  It's infringing on your quality time with your family."  Huh?  Is someone MAKING her go shopping on Thanksgiving day?  Is she buying something that she/her family absolutey need to survive, like drugs or food she can only get then?  I seriously doubt it.  If she doesn't want to leave her family to go shopping, don't go shopping.  It's that simple.  And if people don't fall for this trap the stores will stop doing it.  Think about the poor employees who have no choice.  Stay home.