Eric Scheske

In general, Americans are remarkably optimistic. It's consistent with what de Tocqueville found when he came here 200 years ago, but to be honest, we're not sure what to make of it. Link [http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050518-110514-8271r.htm]. Excerpts: > A landmark

Good for the Catholic high school . . . almost: > A pregnant student who was banned from graduation at her Roman Catholic high school announced her own name and walked across the stage anyway at the close of the program. > Alysha Cosby's decision prompted cheers and applause Tuesday from

This from the Cardinal Newman Society: > Today Baltimore's Cardinal William Keeler informed Loyola College of Maryland interim president David Haddad that the Cardinal refuses to participate in an event honoring Rudolph Giuliani, an advocate of abortion rights and probable Republican candidate for U.S. president in 2008.

Well, we spent a few moments surfing the site, and though we're not overly optimistic, we feel compelled to let everyone know that there is a manufacturer that makes modest swimwear for women and girls. Link [http://www.wholesomewear.com/]. Culture needs a little more modesty (actually, a

Pat Buchanan blisters the NYT and op-ed writer Arthur Hertzberg for continued slander about the Church, Pius XII, and the holocaust. Link [http://www.theamericancause.org/a-pjb-050518-pius-print.htm]. Excerpts: > Hertzberg and the Times are perpetuating a blood libel that is Hitlerite in dimension. Just

Must not have been Tantric Buddhist temples: > Photos of bikini-clad Miss Universe 2005 contestants in front of some of Bangkok's famed Buddhist sites have irked protectors of Thai culture and prompted some self-censoring of the pageant's publicity footage, media reports said on Wednesday.

A high school senior was quoted in the local paper as saying "she likes drinking" and plans to drink alcohol with her friends after the prom. The school, citing its zero-tolerance policy, has now banned her from attending the prom. Link [http://www.wltx.com/fyi/fyi.

We keep hearing that today's youth aren't hung-up on the political correctness of their parents' generation. Here's a good piece of anecdotal evidence: > Students voting on superlatives – a staple of yearbooks for decades – elected Richards as "Most Whipped" by

Oh whatever will we do with all that ennui as more and more people decline to travel? > An airline catering company must take major steps to clean its Honolulu location or risk the unit's closure after U.S. health inspectors found live cockroaches, dirty utensils and an

Corruption in the big city? Nawwww! Boss Tweed would be rolling over in his grave. > Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick doesn't want you to know about some things: > The spa visits. > The hotel room for his family babysitter. > The posh suite at the Luxor casino