I finally finished the second book of Edmund Morris's Theodore Roosevelt trilogy. So far it has been an excellent series, and I look forward to finishing the life and career of the most interesting president in American history (some might argue this, but hey, the man was shot point blank and went on to finish the speech).

The president of Oregon State University just informed us that the Corvallis campus will shortly ban smoking on school property. I am not a smoker, and like the idea of never walking behind a smoker again, but this edict seems a bit hypocritical to me. President Ray gives two reasons for the ban, 1. smoking is polluting the campus air, and 2. people should not smoke anyway.

With the 23rd census date behind us, it is time to reflect on the greatest US electoral injustice outside the District (No Taxation Without Representation!). I am of course speaking of the "Great" Compromise of the Philadelphia Convention.

GROSS SIMPLIFICATION WARNING!!! \/
The biggest non-slavery problem facing the Constitutional Convention was legislative representation of states. Large states wanted representation in proportion to their population, whereas small states wanted all states to have equal representation.

Today's Supreme Court decision (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html) overturning a century of campaign finance law makes me wonder how the 5 justices in the majority are considered the "conservative wing," but more than that, I wonder where we go from here. I find the prospect of a corporation having full rights as an individual insulting and troubling. How can an entity designed not for life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness be afforded the same rights as a citizen?