constructing dialogue

I’m sure I’m going to get kicked off a lot of emails lists if I keep doing this, but I couldn’t help but be fascinated by an email sent out over GOP-Open a few days ago:

Subject: [GOP-Open] conservative women – have strong feelings about feminism, bettyfriedan?

Let me know ASAP, like this night. We have an opportunity to put somebody on a panel on NPR radio to discuss this issue, taking place TOMORROW. They’re looking for “a smart, articulate young woman who feels disillusioned by the [feminist] movement.” You would probably be going up against people who are supporters of Betty Friedan / the more radical strain of feminism.

The whole thing reminds me of a strange episode during the Larry Summers/Sex Differences debate of last year. My blockmate was supposed to go on TV (as “the woman” representing the Crimson Ed Board) but was replaced when the show found out she had a nuanced, and not completely anti-Larry position (she wrote a great piece about it). Considering both incidents, it seems fair to ask: is there any reason to believe that any dialogue on TV or radio or anywhere else is “representative”?

snowball fight!

Via Dems-Talk:

WHAT: MASSIVE SNOWBALL FIGHT
WHEN: TONIGHT AT 10:30PM
WHERE: HARVARD YARD

Sharp Shooting Cheney

Numerous national news outlets are reporting that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney shot a 78 year-old man with a shotgun today while on a hunting trip in Texas. Although the story is that it was a mistake, how can someone mistakenly shoot a person while aiming at a bird? Also and possibly equally important, who shoots a relatively small bird such as a quail with a huge, powerful shotgun? Will the man, a lawyer from Austin, Texas, pursue charges against the VP? We’ll have to wait and see…