Michigan State University students had an unconventional math class this week after professor John McCarthy, 57, reportedly stripped naked in Calculus 1 class and began screaming that “there is no f—ing God” and “It’s all an act and none of it’s real.” In the age of laptop computers, the most surprising thing is that the students noticed and looked up from their computers. Presumably one student asked the standard question of “will this be on the test?”
Witnesses said that McCarthy was going through a routine derivative equation when he started to talk about his colleagues and how “they’re all actors.” He added that “It’s all an act and none of it’s real.”
McCarthy was arrested but not actually charged with a crime. He can certainly be charged with indecent exposure but I hope that he is not and that the police show a modicum of discretion. He obviously had a psychological meltdown. Brilliance sometimes comes with such mental issues as vividly shown in movies like “A Beautiful Mind.”
I would also hope that the faculty treats this matter as a mental illness and allows McCarthy to seek treatment rather than simply fire him. I realize it will be difficult for him to return to the classroom, but we need to treat mental illness like other forms of illness. Thus far the school has merely reassigned his classes. I expect that he is unlikely to return to teaching but in my view the school should treat this matter as an illness rather than misconduct. What do you think?
Source: NY Daily News
Is W running again? Geez!!!
Blouise, They loved Bush in the south and the southwest. Viva Bush was a popular bumper sticker.
I like this take on the debate:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lynn-parramore/why-the-pundits-are-wrong_b_1939137.html
It’s my contention that people didn’t really like Georgie II … they liked Will Farrell’s version of Georgie II
Mike S,
Romney probably gained a point movement in the polls but he needs a lot more than that. As Drew Linzer says, “To win, Mitt would need undecideds to break 5-1.”
Besides, candidates usually off set one bad performance with a good one and the time to do the good one is later, not sooner, Reagan proved this in 1984. This is why debates usually end in a draw and are only talked about 4 years later when the next debates start … and usually only talked about by pollsters and political scientists.
How many voters have you heard talking about how the debates of 2000 convinced them to vote for Bush or Gore?
“How many voters have you heard talking about how the debates of 2000 convinced them to vote for Bush or Gore?”
Blouise,
Quite true, but underscored by the MSM’s and pundits need for things to talk about.
George W was a frat boy and never grew out of that mentality. He was a bumbler, if you look at his “business” record before becoming Governor, he lost millions of dollars (of Saudi money received because his Dad was President), before he struck upon the idea of ripping poor people off by the use of eminent domain (by his friends in Texas Government, on his behalf, because his Dad was President). He’s nothing but a good ol’ boy fraternity kid, getting by using his Dad’s money and political influence to build his own money and political influence, he was never anything but an affable, privileged, willing front-man for the evil geniuses behind him. I think he was fully aware of that evil, and really just did not care, because of some combination of nature and nurture, he was just a shallow thinker and selfish adolescent, and that will not ever change.
As for the Syria/Turkey issue this is really serious. I could understand that considerable discussion is taking place in the Administration as to what to do.
Assad is desperate at this point and will do anything to remain in power. Ironically, when he took over for his Dad he seemed to be promising. Western educated and apparently more moderate. The trouble is that when you are trying to maintain a start-up dynasty, whose progenitor was an Army Colonel instituting a coup therefore lacking legitimacy, moderation doesn’t work well in maintaining power.
“A M. Spindell: Monsieur, n’importe! Vous pouvez continuer en Anglais…”
Malisha,
I must warn you that the only two courses I ever failed in schools were French I in High School and French 101 in college. In other words while I get the other words, n’importe & pouvez are mysteries to me. 🙂
Gene and Tony,
I think the overall strategy is to further isolate Iran. Assad is a stumbling block to that isolation.
Realizing that the only way to save his regime is to actively involve Iran, Assad may have taken this step … after all, what does he have to lose?
I doubt anyone really wants to go to an active war with Iran as that puts oil in jeopardy … and let us not forget China in that oil mix.
Assad is a dangerous player because he’s desperate.
I suspect lots of backdoor diplomacy is going on and Assad will either improve his position through this action or lose out entirely. I’d watch China closely on this.
Yeah, I thought it strange that “meth was the culprit.” This is news if there is some lawsuit or some criminal charge; otherwise it looks to me like a personal catastrophe that doesn’t hold much information in it having to do with our society or our culture. The guy was on the job when he had his melt-down. Fortunately (a) his job did not involve the safety of a large number of people, such as a bus driver or an air traffic controller; and (b) the harm that may have come to his students, in terms of their stress and/or fear while the scene played out, can probably be handled, so long as the kids have good mental health provisions in their insurance policies. Oh, uh oh…
BATH SALTS! (well, maybe not – he didn’t chew on anyones flesh .. )
@Gene: but my stipulation…
I think I agree with that. Never let a good disaster go to waste…
I think either Assad is losing his grip on his military, or if he ordered the attack on Turkey, he is hoping for a US and/or NATO intervention that brings Iran to defend his rule, by preserving a ‘friendly’ on their border.
A M. Spindell: Monsieur, n’importe! Vous pouvez continuer en Anglais…
😆
Blouise,
“Syria has been seriously weakened over the last few years and Assad, as stubborn as he may be, is ready to topple. That leaves Iran almost naked.”
The question being will they defend their clothing? I think the probability of Iran jumping into a Syrian/Turkish fray increases dramatically if it becomes a NATO operation. They’ve been talking the talk so long about the West being regional aggressors and that they would not stand for it, they’ll have to take action of lose domestic credibility in the current regime.
“I think that’s the plan and having Syria start the fight means Turkey can’t be blamed for finishing it.”
And I don’t disagree, but my stipulation is that the situation in Syria is a result of confluence and not complicity.
I watched the last night of a great baseball season. I flipped to the debate a couple times for about 10 minutes total. It looked to me like a robot on espresso bouting a robot on demerol. The games were much more real and entertaining. Cabrera winning the Triple Crown was heartwarming. I was a kid in Ct. when Yaz last won it in 1967. Sports are real, politics are fake.
@Gene: Authority for a year?
This sounds suspiciously like the US rhetoric since Vietnam, “it isn’t a war, it is a military action (intended to overthrow a government).” 🙂
Oh, plus “we will do it with a coalition of international bodies, that makes it okay.”
Anyway, it makes sense to me for the US / UN to use Turkey to neutralize Syria. In modern warfare, money can replace troops, and regardless of their rhetoric, the Turkish parliament has just authorized the invasion of Syria.
Gene,
Tony’s points are valid from various viewpoints.
Syria has been seriously weakened over the last few years and Assad, as stubborn as he may be, is ready to topple. That leaves Iran almost naked.
I think that’s the plan and having Syria start the fight means Turkey can’t be blamed for finishing it.
Turkey has been doing our dirty work for decades. This is no different.
The BBC is reporting:
“Turkey’s parliament authorises military action in Syria
Turkey’s lawmakers debate in parliament in Ankara (4 Oct) Turkey’s parliament made the decision following an emergency session
Turkey’s parliament has authorised cross-border military action against Syria, if required by the government.
The bill, which was passed 320-129, gives the government authority for one year to send troops into Syria or carry out strikes against Syrian targets.
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said the priority was to act in co-ordination with international bodies.
[. . .]
Government sources have said Turkey is not planning to declare war on Syria.”
Read the rest here.
@Gene: Those two posts crossed in the ether. Good link.
The development of nuclear weapons may be the least of Ahmadinejad’s problems. Sanctions are working. and he may soon be replaced. The price of oil has been dropping.