Kellenberg High will not host a senior prom this year -

I first posted this story when I read it in Newsday and The Curt Jester, Open Book and Relapsed Catholic picked up on it and gave it a boost. The story deserves wide circulation. Ray Keating from Newsday writes about it here. I saw mostly positive reactions to this decision in print, and in the blogosphere, including from a couple of high school students, one a Kellenberg student. I think if the school can host a prom alternative it would be best, but overall you have to love the leadership for their, well, leadership. The prom culture is sick and as Amy Welborn pointed out, the jock culture should be examined next. The letter the school posts on their website is in PDF form and since it is a must read, here it is in regular old, html form. Note, the school already addressed the jock culture as it no longer sponsored a hockey team either. Some good excerpts:

• "Long Island, known in some circles as Wrong Island, is an alcohol culture. It starts
  early and never ends. Because of our affluence and arrogance everything has to be
  exaggerated bigger, better, more, over the top. Our students do not learn how to drink
  socially. Their goal is to get roaring drunk as quickly as possible and boast about it the
  next day. The incidence of binge drinking is rising on college campuses. Long Island has
  more than its share of what is an American flaw we eschew moderation. Here is the
  irony: we decided some years ago that a youth reached “majority” at eighteen years of
  age for everything (marriage, contracts, etc.) except for drinking! He and she can get
  married, buy a home, have a child, but legally cannot have a drink at their own wedding.
  Europe does not have that adolescent problem of drinking. Why can’t we be moderate?"

• "Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, say the Scriptures."

• "Wealth is a wonderful thing. It is a sharing in the fmits of God’s creation. Becoming
  a millionaire can be a spiritually enriching experience, provided you answer two
  questions correctly: how did you get it, and what are you doing with it."

• "Our Lordship over all creation is not without moral consequences. As with time, so with wealth we will be called to account for how we have used them. The current culture of the prom on Long Island does not represent to us a proper Christian use of wealth."

It is good to see a school taking a stand against the prom culture, drinking culture, jock culture, vanity culture that are all out of control, and not just here on Long Island. There is a good news story from a local ABC affiliate that is available on video here. Click Eyewitness News Video under the sidebar. The entire text of the letter is also available on the sidebar also.

"If you don't go see Bono, the terrorists win"

Review of U2's opening night at Madison Square Garden in today's Newsday. I was there, just as I was there at opening night in Jersey a few months ago. With all the talk of a bombing plot for New York City subways I ventured out on a LIRR train and ate a nice leisurely dinner at Houlihans in Penn Station. Vertigo was played twice in Jersey and was a show highlight for me, since I was never much of a fan of U2 at the time and didn't know too many songs. This time, Vertigo was played once, and it wasn't anything special. The show opener Friday was City of Blinding Lights and it rocked. They also did Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, with a faster, funkier beat. The whole crowd sung most of the song, and it felt like a revival. Stuck in A Moment was dedicated to that guy from INXS who killed himself, Michael Hutchens (sp?). They did Miss Sarejevo which I am told they rarely do, and it sounded good. Highlights for me were Pride (In the Name of Love) and Elevation. I have been converted to a U2 fan!

"The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - a 1,456-page art-book epic of every panel ever published"

List of Islamic Terror Attacks since September 11th, 2001

via Little Green Footballs

"No evidence suggests that the deadly earthquake that rocked Pakistan on Saturday injured or killed the world's top terror leader, Osama bin Laden.

The quake shook the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where bin Laden is believed to be hiding. However, authorities at this point have no information indicating he's been injured or killed, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the information's sensitivity."


I certainly hope the US has not slacked off in hunting down Bin Laden and associates. I have read that Bin Laden's capture is not a priority because he is so isolated, but he still is responsible for killing thousands of my neighbors.