In 1973, an American anthropologist, by the name of Clifford Geertz, described a Balinese cockfight as an "explosion of animal fury so pure, so absolute, and in its own way so beautiful…" What kind of uproar would a statement like this cause today if used to describe a dogfight? Today, dogfighting has been officially demonized by the state and the people.
Blank screens. Confusion. Frustration. With registration beginning for special and priority groups on March 31st many students face a difficult decision. Whether or not to pick their classes based on the quality of the teacher or the time it is offered. It seems that the most common pattern for freshman and new students when registering for classes is to pick a class that starts later in the day while upperclassmen have learned to pick courses based on which teacher is offering the course.
Another election year is upon the American people; and keeping with tradition, candidates are littering the media with controversy, glittering generalities, and slander. Beneath all of the primetime coverage of each public office up for grabs, a few important issues remain unscathed.
"Residents," - or the players, if you will - of "Second Life" (SL) would take offense to me calling their home away from reality a game. Since there is no way to win or lose, and no clear objectives, it is difficult to call it a game, even if it does look like one.