Paul Weber wrote on October 18, 2007 05:48 PM: Another aspect of the supposed "worldwide AIDS pandemic" is that African immunodeficiency syndrome is falsely linked with AIDS in America and Europe.

The alleged "African AIDS" shares almost no symptoms with American and European AIDS. No Kaposi's Sarcoma, for example.

There are all kinds of immune-suppressive situations and behaviors: recreational drug use (a likely culprit in American gay AIDS), anal intercourse, malnutrition.

Why are all these various diseases lumped together under the single name AIDS? Because one gains political capital by making the AIDS epidemic seem much bigger than it really is.

Don Evans wrote on October 18, 2007 11:42 AM: Sir,

I have a question, reference your opinion article published in the October 16th opinion page; what if your mechanics "hunch" had been incorrect?

You seem to draw a distinction between the positivistic method and engineering, when none exists. They both utilize probabilistic methods (i.e. statistics) to determine a PROBABLE outcome, not certainty. Anyone who has graduated college with a degree in any science,moreover, would understand the changes in the various theories that you proposed. Hypothesis are meant to be questioned, and changed when found to be erroneous. This method is merely a means of coming to some AGREEMENT on those possible outcomes.

In the case of your mechanic, the agreement was between you two. You accepted his hunch as being correct, and took the risk upon yourself. What if the wheel came off due to damage to the spindles that were unforeseen with his "experience" with the product dimensions and tolerances? He would have potentially cost you; 1) your life, and/or 2) your property, 3) the lives of others on the road. Was it worth the risk?

What if the risk of such a singular person's "guess" were forced upon you (apply this to any circumstance upon which you were attempting apply the metaphor). I don't know about you, but I know a very good attorney in California.

Paul Weber wrote on October 16, 2007 07:53 PM: Regarding the degree programs in "Hotel/Motel Management," Vin is one hundred percent correct.

Of course, you can't just step off the street and manage a hotel without training. However, that training is best provided by the Hotel itself, along with job experience.

There is no need for a college degree in the field; hotel management does not require complex academic theory.

There are many, many professions in America that would be best learned in an apprenticeship format, rather than through phony, expensive degree programs. Hotel Management would certainly be one of them. Teaching (up through High School) is another.

I know this, having gotten a teaching credential by proving my ability to sit through hours and hours of absolutely useless, moronic classes in "education theory."

Mike wrote on October 15, 2007 11:20 AM: I learned restaurant management the old-fashioned way: on the job from the bottom up. No schooling, no classes, and the only thing resembling a course was a one-day training seminar on foodborne illness. I did it for five years and was very successful at it until a jealous boss destroyed my career and health. I haven't been in that industry since, even though I have the knowledge and experience and I loved the work. The pay doesn't cut it anymore. Not for the crap that we go through from impolite customers, poor quality food, and corporate BS.

So call your congressman and/or Senators and tell them to support Dr. Ron Paul's Tax Free Tips Act, which would exempt all service industry tips from the IRS. That's a massive pay raise for those areas and great for the lower and middle income earners.

Then get out and go vote for Dr. Paul for President, because he's the only candidate that is truly for the little guy.

Great column, Vin, as usual!

Bill Smith wrote on October 15, 2007 07:08 AM: Once again Vin, you speak the truth. I see Brian and John F both went to government schools. A high school drop out can run a hotel.

Ben wrote on October 14, 2007 11:57 AM: Brian,

Get the chip off your shoulder pal. Criticizing a wasteful system that is more interested in homogeneity than scholastics doesn't mean that the author is damning all those who were subjected to it. Remember, "Dissent is Patriotic", unless you're disagreeing with the self anointed social engineers.

Paul Weber wrote on October 14, 2007 09:40 AM: I gave up on public schools and started homeschooling my kids about six years ago. Three started at community college at age 16. My youngest is studying math and language arts using our home computers.

With the ready availability of learning programs on the internet, there is no reason to send your kids to the mandatory government indoctrination camps. (This was also true before the age of home computers, though you would have to spend a lot more on conventional books.)

One comment I have heard consistently for the past several years from folks at the retail stores, is how polite my children are. I wonder if not having to deal with gangs and peer intimidation has something to do with this? Ya think?

John F wrote on October 14, 2007 08:55 AM: Vin,

I'd like to see you undertake the successful management of a hotel. What's your background in operations? Finance? Marketing? Human resources management? Facilities management? Food and beverage? Health and safety administration?

How could you disparage this highly challenging business field the way you did in the city that houses the finest hotel management program in the world? Oh, I forgot. The Harrah School of Hotel Management is housed in a PUBLIC university.

Brian wrote on October 14, 2007 08:26 AM: Hey Vin,

Where did you learn to write so well? Did you learn while be home schooled, or did you learn in those spurned government youth concentration camps?

Show me a parent who cares about his or her child's education, and I'll show you a student who is succeeding in a public school--and goes on to be successful in college. Quit blaming the schools.