This summer, television and radio personality Glenn Beck launched his own, unaccredited, college (?) - Beck University.

According to Inside Higher Ed, Professor Stoner is slated to teach a course on charity, but instead says he plans to focus mainly on Constitutional issues. Specifically...

"... he said in a brief interview that the lectures are all focused on general issues related to the Constitution and the development of American traditions. His first talk will be about federalism, his second on the separation of powers, and the third on individual rights."

So in other words, at Beck University, you can relearn your high school social studies curriculum. Or at least Political Science 101. I have to be honest: It worries me a little bit if this is new knowledge to Glenn Beck's baccalaureates.

Also, Professor Stoner is the only actual professor (one of three, actually) teaching at Beck University. Just a thought.

It's just the curse of being a girl

I have to confess, I haven't posted nearly as much as I would like to because I've been busy. Dealing with job hunting, roommate issues, getting ready for school, and working a part-time temp job in the meantime, but I felt like writing now because of something that happened today.

I had my MFA orientation this morning, and it went splendidly. Afterwards, I had to head to the Post Office for a money order. As I exited near the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue J, I heard kissy noises fired in my direction, followed by a "Hey, sexy!"

Slightly shaken, mostly angry, I turned to find the source of the offending noises, a squat little troll sitting in the passenger seat of a dark-colored, sedan-type car. He continued with the kissy noises as I looked at him for half a moment. Then, appropriately, I flipped him the bird and started walking towards the Metro station.

He was clearly Not Happy that I had rejected his generous "compliments" in such a flippant manner. The troll taunted me as I continued walking: "You can shove that up your ass, sunshine!" and the like. This is what we females are supposed to consider "just a compliment"?

Oh, and did I mention that he was actually following me in his car as this happened?

I have to admit: I was a little bit afraid because in that instant, I didn't know what this dude was going to do. I continued down Nostrand Avenue towards the train stop, trembling with rage, my mouth filling with saliva, ready to hock a loogey in this guy's direction if he came within spitting distance of me. Eventually, he got stuck at a red light and I escaped into a crowd. Relief.

I understand that catcalls are an unfortunate aspect of being female and living in a city, but still, it angers me that women must accept second-class status, particularly with regard to personal safety. We shouldn't have to shrug off some douchebag's backasswards idea of a compliment, we shouldn't have to carry pepper spray or look over our shoulders every few steps.

Perhaps my actions could have provoked this Neanderthal to violence. I'm lucky that didn't happen, but I don't regret my actions, either. If you can, I encourage every woman finding herself in a similar predicament to do the same thing I did. Respond. Let the offender know that you do not appreciate his harassment, that you are not some passive object existing only for his viewing pleasure. Flipping the bird is certainly not the most creative response to a catcaller, but catcallers, by their very nature, are uncreative beings.

If I have to give the self-described pickup artists credit for anything, it's for having at least a little more creativity than their wolf-whistling counterparts.

The New York Times had an article the other day on electronic gadgetry etiquette.

I have my own code of etiquette that I try to follow when it comes to picking up phone calls and texting.

• If you are hanging out one-on-one with somebody, it is rude to pick up a phone call and hold an extended conversation, unless it is an emergency. There are some situations where it might be acceptable to pick up the phone, for example, if you're meeting up with another friend and need to give them directions or tell them you're running late. Otherwise, you should give your real-life friend your time and attention. I was once driving to the mall with a friend who picked up a phone call and proceeded to have a 25-minute conversation with another friend. I found that extremely rude.
• There are, however, some situations where it might be more acceptable to pick up the phone when you're with another person. An emergency is obviously one of those exceptions. A quick, important, non-emergency phone call is also acceptable. If you and your friend are going to meet up with somebody else, it's probably OK to call the person you're planning to meet up with, if say, you need to give them directions or tell them you're running late.
• The family dinner table is never an appropriate place to text. It may be different with your friends, tough.

And finally...

• It is never, ever, ever acceptable to text while driving. This one should be a no-brainer. Pull over. You may insist that you're good at it and that you can do it without crashing, but remember that there are other people on the road. Driving requires your full attention.