Josh Baylin

News

Religious Right In America --Time to Leave

By Josh Baylin | November 20

I admit, I was skeptical about the "War on Terrorism." I thought it was a great opportunity for CNN to take over our living rooms, an opportunity to broadcast a war that in all truth was much less exciting than the ones I wished could have been broadcasted. (I'm a sick guy, but the Spanish-American War would have been kick-ass). But, lo and behold our "War" worked, or at least the first stage. The Taliban has essentially been rooted out, and a "coalition" government is developing. Or is it?

News

Midlife Crisis At the Edge of College Years

By Josh Baylin | November 13

We're college students. We drink beer, smoke marijuana, protest war (at least we did back in the '60s and '70s) and regularly retreat to our world of self-absorption and indulgence. We've got "so much to look forward to" and we're enjoying "the best time of our lives" -- the life of a college student. Not me. I'm 21, and I am in the midst of a midlife crisis. No, it's not the perennial senior slump, and it's not a typical case of depression. Zoloft, Prozac or St. John's Wort are of no help.

News

UNC's Potential For Intelligence Hopefuls High

By Josh Baylin | November 6

Our University has an obligation to its students and its country, which is why UNC needs to begin doing its part in fighting the war on terrorism.

News

Hope In Dope: Lighting the Economy Up

By Josh Baylin | October 30

Both our national security and our economy are at risk. We need sound solutions -- here comes one. Legalize marijuana. No, I'm not trying to start a revolution or create a new breed of super hippie protester types -- they suck. I will not make traditional worn-out arguments for the legalization of marijuana which have been futile. Instead ... National Security The New York Times reported Sunday that since Sept. 11, a shift in demands has had an adverse effect on the nation's police forces.

News

Placing Blame: CIA, History Or Frat Boys?

By Josh Baylin | October 23

Milli Vanilli's backup singers said it best, "You've got to blame it on something." Milli Vanilli blamed everything on the rain. The world has grown up since spandex pants and fake dreadlocks captivated the nation. But the message still rings true -- everyone's got to blame someone or something for their own misfortunes. Osama bin Laden, well, he blames the United States, Israel and the world's Jewish population. The United States, well, it blames Osama bin Laden. But I associate blame for the world's precarious situation with an entirely different entity.

News

Tao Te Ching: Putting World In Perspective

By Josh Baylin | October 16

Lao Tzu said, "There is nothing better than to know that you don't know. Not knowing, yet thinking you know -- This is sickness." Well ... I don't know. With the world literally becoming more disjointed than that kid's thumb in elementary school, some have turned to less conventional coping methods -- I turn to the Tao Te Ching. Lao Tzu, the wise sage credited for writing the Tao Te Ching, offers insight into a way of being. Through his maxims one can put conflict in perspective without every fully understanding it -- such is the way of the Tao.

News

Poppy Plants, Foreign Policy All Connected

By Josh Baylin | October 9

Hell Up In Harlem Opium and heroin will be back baby -- in a big way. And the world's addiction to drugs will be used to fund Taliban efforts against U.S. military strikes. That crazy Nancy Reagan. She thought she could get rid of this timeless drug addiction just by saying no! Silly rabbit, hits are for kids! The United States is now at the forefront of two ambiguous wars - "The War on Drugs" and "The War on Terrorism." The two have come full circle and are one and the same.

News

Knowing Thug Life -- It's All In the Lyrics

By Josh Baylin | October 2

Anything can happen in the world (as I think the events of the past three weeks have shown). But can the average columnist be transformed -- from a hard-working student into something far more profound, more dangerous and more "hard-core," if you will? I reckon yes. Trick Daddy said, "I don't know what this world's gonna bring/But I know one thing, that this is the life for me." What life is he referring to? Thug life ... damn. And after hearing what he had to say and looking back on some of my college experiences ... the proof is in the lyrics.

News

Banning Songs Is Just Simply Bad Business

By Josh Baylin | September 25

With the world on the brink of war, what more could placate our anxiety than listening to John Lennon's "Imagine" or Cat Steven's "Peace Train"? Lennon says, "Imagine all the people living life in peace." Correct me if I'm wrong here, but that would be good, right? Stevens goes even further with his emotions, saying, "Why must we go on hating/Why can't we live in bliss?" Living in bliss ... hmmm. I could see where that would be a problem.

News

We Can't Let Microsoft Stop All of Our Fun

By Josh Baylin | September 18

In case any of you hadn't noticed, the U.S. Department of Justice recently dropped its case against Microsoft like Cypress Hill was dropping bombs in 1993. Now, to those of you who don't fully comprehend the influence Microsoft has on the world's hardware, software and media industries, it's imperative you read on to see that our rights are being threatened. You may ask (and rightly so) what rights are these, Josh? Well, experts in the world of technology spit-off nerd lingo like "icon placement" and "software tying."