FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[finsleft]

Isn't the purpose of a commencement to celebrate graduation?

No, it's not, at least it's not according to whomever picked the speaker for commencement at SJU this year. Apparently, the purpose is to bore the entire audience to tears. Mission accomplished!

[OzJohnnie]

Isn't the purpose of a commencement to celebrate graduation?

No, it's not, at least it's not according to whomever picked the speaker for commencement at SJU this year. Apparently, the purpose is to bore the entire audience to tears. Mission accomplished!

HA!  I think back to mine and all I can remember is a wa-wa-wa-wa waffle sound like the teacher in a Charlie Brown cartoon.

[Touchdown Tommy]

Mr. President- I pick May 26, if this team doesn't kill me 1st. Was there last night and experienced numerous mini-cardiac arrests.

Mayor so you are telling me you stuck it out for all 13 innings (just past midnight) without leaving early?

[tmerton]

I don't have time or interest to carry on about Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama.  I think far too much has already been made of it - as I perhaps made too much of ND doing the same for Ronald Reagan in 1981 (sigh).  As the resident Domer, however, I will merely seek to put this in some context:

Past 10 Commencement Speakers at ND:

2008 Theodore Cardinal McCarrick
2007 Jeffrey R. Immelt
2006 Mary McAleese
2005 Vartan Gregorian
2004 Alan Cedric Page
2003 Richard Green Lugar (dreadfully boring; this was #1 son's graduation)
2002 Timothy John Russert
2001 President George W. Bush
2000 Kofi Annan
1999 Elizabeth Hanford Dole

Presidents who have spoken at ND commencements in the past:

The last sitting president to give the Commencement address at Notre Dame was President George W. Bush, who spoke in 2001. It was Bush's first commencement address after his election in 2000.

President George H.W. Bush was the principal Commencement speaker at Notre Dame in 1992, and in May 1981, President Ronald Reagan made his first public appearance after a March assassination attempt when he was the University's Commencement speaker.

President Jimmy Carter spoke to 1977 graduates. President Dwight Eisenhower spoke at Notre Dame in 1960 as the first U.S. president to give the Commencement address.

[Mr. Ypsi]

While I have no wish to get involved in the ND commencement brouhaha, may I simply remind people that if 70-71 bishops signed a protest, that also means than over 120 did not.

[OzJohnnie]

2004 Alan Cedric Page

I was working in a St Paul 7-11 back in the day (it became a SuperAmerica shortly after I left for the Navy) and this HUUUUGE guy comes in with wrists about the size of 6-year-old poplars.  He gets a candy bar and a soft drink, no gas.  I stand a bit over six foot and was looking up at this giant man in his grey tweed jacket and I say, "You look just like Alan Page."  And he says, "I am Alan Page."  And I say, "That's $2.25."

And that's my run in with history.

[retagent]

As has been shown above, it seems as though it is a tradition for the President to be the ND commencement speaker in the spring after he is first inaugurated. Fine, if you want to keep the tradition. However, it may not be the most wise thing to offer this President an Hororary (accent on HONOR ary)Degree. It is also Christian to inform one of their errors and try to persuade through reason, and show them why they are wrong. This can be done without malice. I wonder where the idea of protesting speakers, and trying to get them "univited" comes from. Look back over the past few years and see who is more open to opposing viewpoints.

[OzJohnnie]

LLLLLLLets get ready to rummmblllllllle!



(Should we consider brawling over Corporate/Magic?  Is there anyone to take the Corporate position?  Can we have both?)

[ritz72]

Any honorary degree is like being named "Best Attitude" at band camp.

Another glowing example of the fine quality graduates that USTD is putting out:

http://www.startribune.com/local/east/45017382.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr

[tmerton]

Back to beer - see 36 views of the Hamm's brewery in San Francisco.  Yes, there was a Hamm's brewery in SF.   I used to see this sign every day driving back and forth between San Francisco and the Navy base in Alameda.

[BDB]

I saw it from a freeway when I was a kid, in the 60's: the giant neon beer glass atop the Hamm's building in San Francisco. It was three dimensional, made of steel and rings of animated neon. The brewery closed in 1972, so the sign is gone. But I'm obsessively re-iluminating it in a series of acrylic paintings. It is my Mt. Fuji.

That must've been an awesome sight!  8)

[janesvilleflash]

good grief.

[Retired Old Rat]

Ritzy, we better be careful about throwing stones.  You know what I'm saying?

[repete]

Back to beer - see 36 views of the Hamm's brewery in San Francisco.  Yes, there was a Hamm's brewery in SF.   I used to see this sign every day driving back and forth between San Francisco and the Navy base in Alameda.

Thanks for the link, tmert. Mrs. Repete, a 5th gen SF-can, recalls fondly how the beer and foam would light up followed by letters.

Meanwhile, I'll pass this along. I am working to ensure its accuracy.

[johnnie_esq]

2004 Alan Cedric Page

I was working in a St Paul 7-11 back in the day (it became a SuperAmerica shortly after I left for the Navy) and this HUUUUGE guy comes in with wrists about the size of 6-year-old poplars.  He gets a candy bar and a soft drink, no gas.  I stand a bit over six foot and was looking up at this giant man in his grey tweed jacket and I say, "You look just like Alan Page."  And he says, "I am Alan Page."  And I say, "That's $2.25."

And that's my run in with history.

Justice Page is a pretty good guy.  He often plays his Sousaphone to welcome TC Marathon runners near his house each year (when he isn't running in it) and is quite down to earth despite his football and legal accomplishments.

The man has the largest hands I have ever seen though.