Off to Richmond, VA! UCLA’s Accidental Diversity!

Dear Readers: I am off to Richmond, VA to visit my college friend, drink malt beverages, and spend days by the pool with the Young Prince and his friends.

I will be back July 1st, and at that time I will continue my normal level of agitation. Before I leave, I wanted to take care of a few loose ends.

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ITEM #1

The first thing I wanted to do was to give a big GODDESS OF CAPITALISM BLESSING to Brad Delson, guitarist of a successful group called Linkin Park and the keynote speaker at UCLA’s graduation ceremony last week. Apparently, he was the replacement for actor James Franco (who was deemed too young and inexperienced by members of the graduating class to be so honored).

Brad gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard in my life. As a parent of a newly-minted UCLA alumni, I was a bit annoyed at the standard “diversity” drivel offered by the speakers preceding him. The two speeches before him were essentially political rallies and did nothing to directly honor the graduates themselves nor encourage them to fully succeed in their future endeavors in a profit-oriented manner. The two minority speakers seem to think “diversity” was the key to all happiness — and as a mother of a Caucasian son, I was beginning to wonder if my boy would ever be allowed to attend UCLA or be considered for any honor, no matter how hard he would work.

Then, Brad Delson arrived and quite saved the evening. I have posted the two videos show his full speech, and they are well worth watching. Brad had the perfect blend of humor and experience sharing. He had several witty lines pertinent to UCLA. He unified the class, and the audience of tuition-paying parents, in a way that the “diversity speeches” failed to do.

There was so much to compliment Brad on, I hardly know where to begin. I think one of my favorite aspects of this address is that I couldn’t tell what Brad’s politics were, nor did I care. Some of the UCLA graduates complained that they didn’t get a bigwig (like Michelle Obama, who spoke at UC Merced). I think Brad’s speech was far better than anything that could be offered by any politico — it was the view of a savvy alumnist who took a risk and achieved success in a high risk field.

Brad’s speech really did merit the “diversity” designation in so many ways. It should be a standard for all future commencement addresses at UCLA and other institutions of higher learning.

I would like to also give a big Goddess of Capitalism thank you to the UCLA administration members who showed real “out of the box” thinking. Your genuine creativity will be rewarded, as I am more inclined to donate and potentially send the Young Prince to your institution. There is a big movement among those of us who value capitalism and free enterprise to forgo expensive university programs that fail to prepare students for real world work efforts and focus on skills training; Mike Rowe WORKS is a good example of this new trend. This is a bit from Mike Rowe’s site (note – the Young Prince adores Mike)

Doesn’t it seem strange that we can have a shortage of skilled labor, a crumbling infrastructure, and rising unemployment? How did we get into this fix? Are we lazy? All around us, society has slowly redefined what it means to have a “good job.” The portrayals in Hollywood, and the messages from Madison Avenue have been unmistakable. “Work less and be happy!” For the last thirty years, we’ve been celebrating a different kind of work. We’ve been aspiring to other opportunities. We’ve stopped making things. And we’ve convinced ourselves that “good jobs” are the result of a four year degree. That’s bunk. Not all knowledge comes from college. Skill is back in demand. Steel toed boots are back in fashion. And Work is Not the Enemy.

Someone like Brad Delson could get these potential tuition-paying parents to reconsider.

BRAVO BRAD!

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ITEM#2

Most of you know that I have been following the Sarah Palin Tea Party protests. At this point, it seems David Letterman offered Sarah Palin and her daughters a quasi-apology, which was gracefully accepted by the Governor of Alaska. The Berman Post has the best roundup of pictures and videos. Though the rally was attended by between 30 to 50 people (and I have to question the report numbers), I don’t think the pull-out of advertisers and the determination of new activists is going to stop because of Letterman’s weak remorse. I know our home will remain a CBS-free zone for the foreseeable future.

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Item #3:

The Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition, LLC is promoting over 25 July 4th Tea Party events throughout the state. Please check our site by clicking HERE to find the location nearest you. The main item to be features during these rallies is information related to the Obama administration’s proposals for reworking the healthcare system.

NOTE: Our group organizes California, but our umbrella organization – Tea Party Patriots — organizes nationally. Please click HERE for information on other states.

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MUT’s MONEY LINKS

I have prepared some articles for the San Diego News Network that will be posted during my absence. Please check out my blogs, HERE.

During my absence, please check out my blogroll. Here are some awesome posts from these Capitalist Heroes who will speak for me while I take a vacation from the Shrine.

The Anchoress (my blogging icon):

I also wanted to direct everyone to the Anchoress’ post on Iran; this is an awesome synopsis of another change in the type of media that is successful:

Twittering Liberty…and Hope –

Mut’s Money Quote: Pray for the living. Pray for the families of the dead. If you are reading this at night and want to pray for these, I have a podcast of Vespers of the Office for the Dead here. If you are reading this in the morning, those prayers are here.(NOTE: I will be listening to the Vespers of the Dead podcast and offering my prayers for freedom).

Dreaming strange dreams
Michelle Malkin (Defender of Capitalism): Obama’s AmeriCrooks and cronies scandal
Hot Air/Ed Morrisey (Capitalist Hero): FBI probing obstruction of justice in related Walpin case; Update: Walpin breaks out the Obamateurism defense(Money Quote: No matter which way you go on the Walpin case, you have to admire the man’s huevos grandes)
Allahpundit/Hot Air (adding perspective and humor): Ensign: I did a bad, bad thing
Gateway Pundit (wonderful international roundup): Awesome! Iranian Soccer Fans Wave “Free Iran” Flags & “Go to Hell Dictator” Banner
Big Hollywood (Real Capitalism on Display): The Man Who Would Be God
Fire Andrea Mitchell: White House Health Reform Communications Director is Former ABC News Correspondent #hhrs #tcot
Founding Bloggers: Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) Throws Obama Under The Bus
Little Miss Attila: Here’s One from Cynthia Yockey (David Letterman Protester).
Protein Wisdom: David Letteman, Intentionalist
Bizzyblog (One of our key business pundits): Obama to Cali: No Bailout

Finally, there are also the writings of my good friends at American Freedom Network! I will warn you that my views are the most liberal of the bunch — but in a good way! 🙂 😉