vxbush 7/14/2020 6:22:07 AM

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Morning, campers. I haven't watched or read the MSM news in absolute ages, so I have no idea if the lawsuit by Harvard and MIT against the administration's ruling that international students with F1 visas may not stay in the states if all classes are online is a big deal for anyone else or not. The local university is hyping it, noting how the president has signed a letter saying how awful it is, and joining a lawsuit against the administration in this state. 

Meanwhile, I went and read the plaintiff's argument and a few of the amicus briefs. Some were well written; some were pretty bad. The worst one was the one from the unions representing the graduate students who are in those unions. Why am I not surprised? 

I was somewhat surprised to see the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) had fired an amicus. I didn't think this would be in their area of interest, but they actually presented an interesting argument on first amendment grounds. I don't think that will have much use Harvard/MIT, but it was interesting to see the argument. 

As I understand it, the administration is saying that the international student has to take at least 25% of their classes in person in order to qualify to stay in the US. This has caused such vapors on the part of these universities that they are screaming and crying about how awful this is in the age of COVID. For a 12-hour full-time load, that means 1 class. One class. One. 

If you all want to discuss this today, I'm game, but I'm guessing most people aren't interested. 

vxbush 7/14/2020 6:26:06 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 1:

I should note that this came up because the administration waived the rule about needing to attend classes in person because of the COVID situation while all the universities moved their classes online, and now the administration thinks the pandemic is over and the universities disagree. 

doppelganglander 7/14/2020 6:43:26 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 2:

One headline I saw described this as a new Trump rule. It's been in place since 2012. Why let facts get in the way of blaming Orange Man?

buzzsawmonkey 7/14/2020 7:05:23 AM

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midwestgak 7/14/2020 7:09:15 AM

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In #2 vxbush said: because of the COVID situation

That is being used as a lazy excuse for many things.

lucius septimius 7/14/2020 7:25:19 AM

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vxbush 7/14/2020 7:39:09 AM

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In #5 midwestgak said: That is being used as a lazy excuse for many things.

Perhaps. But I can possibly see the argument that Harvard/MIT is making. The temporary decision to waive the requirement was a reasonable move to make for the students. Now the question is: should the administration have announced it XX days before enforcing it? That is the point of Harvard/MIT's lawsuit and is also an argument that some of the amici are using.

We know these people filing these lawsuits don't want this enforced. I know, I know. And I know they won't be satisfied if there are any limitations to their behavior. But on a procedural basis, how long is it from the time that a federal decision like this is made until it is officially enforced as the rule? I have no clue on that. 

JCM 7/14/2020 7:53:29 AM

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Bothell [WA] officer killed, second officer shot during traffic stop, pursuit

BOTHELL, Wash. (KOMO) — A Bothell police officer was killed and a second one was wounded during a Monday night traffic stop that turned into a gun battle with the driver, authorities said. The suspect was later arrested after an hours-long manhunt.

Occasional Reader 7/14/2020 8:31:04 AM

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In #6 lucius septimius said: Qu'un sang impur

Hmm...  sound "problematic"....

Anyway, thanks for the reminder that today is Catorce de Julio, the day France won its independence from Mexico, or something like that. 

Occasional Reader 7/14/2020 8:32:34 AM

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Reply to JCM in 8:

Another super-undercover white supremacist, I see.  

buzzsawmonkey 7/14/2020 8:48:50 AM

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In #9 Occasional Reader said: sound "problematic"

Is that the new Ronco Problematic?  I hear it can create mounds of word salad in minutes!

doppelganglander 7/14/2020 9:04:31 AM

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Reply to buzzsawmonkey in 11:

+++++++

Occasional Reader 7/14/2020 2:00:26 PM

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Occasional Reader 7/14/2020 2:08:06 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 13:

Isn't it rich?
Don't Black Lives Matter?
We cry "defund the police!"
Then the blood spatters
Where are the cops?
Send in the cops...

JCM 7/14/2020 2:44:56 PM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 13:

Blacks are disproportionately crime victims.

Defunding the police would increase that disproportionality.

Therefore Defunding the Police is racist.

Roll that one around in your heads lefties......

JCM 7/14/2020 4:07:47 PM

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Kosh's Shadow 7/14/2020 4:19:46 PM

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In #6 lucius septimius said: Aux armes, citoyens,

What's this about cars?/////

Kosh's Shadow 7/14/2020 4:22:35 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 17:

That's a Citroen. Figures the French would name a car "lemon"/

buzzsawmonkey 7/14/2020 4:23:33 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 17:

We had one of those.  Great car.

buzzsawmonkey 7/14/2020 4:25:48 PM

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Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 17:

That one's missing its headlight covers, though.

Kosh's Shadow 7/14/2020 4:31:12 PM

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In #19 buzzsawmonkey said: We had one of those.  Great car.

Had a bad reputation, though. Did yours have the weird hydraulic transmission with the shift lever sticking up like this?

Kosh's Shadow 7/14/2020 4:39:58 PM

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Reminds me of the joke

In Heaven, the French are the chefs,

the Germans make the cars

And the police are British

In Hell,

The French make the cars

The British are the cooks

And the police are German