Vanguard - Arts & Entertainment

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This past Saturday night, the intersection of Old Shell Road and Florida Street was alive with people enjoying booze and blues at the Midtown Music Festival, an inaugural benefit put on by Taste Wine Bar (on Old Shell Road) and some other local businesses to raise funds for Mobile's Penelope House, a non-profit organization that aids domestic violence victims. On Friday night, guests enjoyed a high-end wine tasting and acoustic performance by singer-songwriter/ winemaker Gary Koehler. Local bands like Port Wine Stain, Morris Minor and Mob Towne Revival serenaded Saturday's crowd, and jewelry, art, and food booths framed the event. Captain Planet was spotted mingling with guests and baby sitting a pleasant dog named Oliver.

HEADLINE NEWS

‘Think Twice’ Before Dropping Classes

With the final drop day for spring classes coming up March 26, it may be decision time for some students. For whatever reason students decide to drop a class or withdraw for the semester, Cynthia Porter, senior associate registrar, urges students to think twice before clicking “drop course.

USABC Educates Students, Community

Nestled in the heart of downtown Fairhope, Ala., under a canopy of lofty oak trees, USA Baldwin County (USABC) awaits students and faculty with the serenity and quietude that set the campus apart from any other college campus in the area. Even USA’s busy main campus can’t rival the warmth and welcoming tranquility USABC has graced downtown Fairhope with for over two decades. 1 comment

This Week in GEEk

Update on Last Week’s Column Less than 24 hours after Ubisoft released “Silent Hunter 5,” its Digital Rights Management (DRM) was cracked by a group called Skidrow. Ubisoft claimed that the cracked versions were incomplete, and according to users on shady software pirate sites, there are problems with playing some missions.

The Foundation of USA Softball

Senior Pitcher Beth Pilgrim and the Jags took their first steps together in building USA softball

Senior pitcher Beth Pilgrim and the Jags took their first steps together in building South Alabama’s softball program in 2006 and continue to build today. Just four years ago, South Alabama launched its inaugural softball season. The Jags selected former University of Mobile Coach Becky Clark, to tackle the formidable task of building a team from the ground up.

We Need Better Recycling

Each week, Mobilians place their garbage bins curbside, full of trash they wish to have taken off their hands by the city. This service requires no outright fee to obtain, as it is paid for with taxes. Free, city-wide waste pickup is one of the most valuable services a community can offer, but is the city doing enough when it offers to remove just the trash that can’t be recycled? Mobile needs more emphasis on the importance of recycling, and it could start by re-evaluating the ways its citizens can do so. 2 comments

OUR SEX
THEIR SEX
SAME SEX

Point: What Is The Most Appropriate Setting For Sex Education?

Sex Ed Should Be Taught By Professionals

Not having complete sex education in schools is not just a political issue. It is dangerous and negligent. Parents bear the brunt of responsibility for educating their children about sex and its consequences; however, parents vary in their beliefs and their teachings. Full story

Counterpoint: What Is The Most Appropriate Setting For Sex Education?

The Home Is The Best Place For Sex Ed

Consider that the living of a life is something of high concern for the individual. Sexuality, being an intimate aspect of that individual, is all that much more a private and individual issue. In light of this, an individual’s family is more aptly positioned to provide sexual education than the government or school system. Full story

Clearing the Air

Another Same Sex Hurdle

As of March 3, the District of Columbia is now the sixth locale where gay couples can “tie the knot.” Already there’s been analysis of how this will affect gay marriage in California and on the national level. Personally, I find local legislation like this in a completely different realm than nationally recognized same-sex marriage. Full story

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March 8, 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Debate Misses Point

Dear Editor, Mr. Hager and Stutman both left out the most vital reason to repeal marijuana prohibition; namely it reduces public safety. Every hour my colleagues spend chasing a Michael Phelps and his supplier mean less time for the deadly reckless and DUI. 1 comment

Legalizing Marijuana Helps Health

Dear Editor, Regarding Robert Stutman’s Mar. 1st op-ed, if health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. 3 comments

Lies, Lies, and More Lies

Dear Editor, Robert Stutman is still arguing the same kind of nonsense Harry Anslinger used to get marijuana outlawed in the first place. The best reason Stutman can come up with for banning marijuana is “for the simple reason that we will have far more users,” but without any specific danger, there’s no reason to worry about how many users there are. 1 comment

Christianity Implies Legalization

Dear Editor of the Vanguard, As a Christian, I’m in favor of ending the sin of caging responsible adults for using the relatively safe, God-given plant cannabis (marijuana) and one reason why that doesn’t get mentioned (“Heads” vs. 5 comments

Keep Your Ignorance

Gabe Grimes: “No Sperm Is Safe” was an interesting article, but you misrepresented Catholicism and I feel obligated to respond with this piece of advice: If you are willing to admit your ignorance on a subject, consider keeping mum. From the Catholic’s point of view, life is sacred.

Assorted Rantings from Victor Davis Hanson

Dear Editor, On a dreary night, Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, the University of South Alabama department of foreign languages and literatures and the department of philosophy presented the Hellenic Endowment Distinguished Lecture with Dr. Victor Davis Hanson on “Society and Warfare in Ancient Greece”.