How To Write A Better Weblog. I'm getting bored of all these self-help writing articles. They basically rehash the same points over and over again. Just get a copy of Strunk & White and stick to it. I'm more in favor of an idea pointed out in Adam Curry's article, Blogging: Tune Out and Switch On, that writing will improve with more practice.
For this year, a ban is in place to eliminate alcohol at parties due to particular members of the house violating the alcohol policy (they set up a "beer fridge" that was easily accessible to minors and an unauthorized alcohol bar was set up at a party last year). The ban will be lifted once a "responsible" party is thrown (which happens to be tomorrow) where no alcoholic drinks will be served.
I'm not squeamish about alcohol itself; I would have no qualms if everyone drank responsibly. But I hate it when I have to worry about and take care of people who are passed out and vomiting. My philosophy is that others can do whatever they want as long as they don't take an advantage over someone else. If I'm forced to take care of someone because they delibrately did something, that's taking advantage of me.
I see this as a failure of society, parents, and personal maturity. If drinking wasn't so "forbidden", this clamor to get smashed might not be a problem. And despite constant warnings, people still just don't get it. In this case, people argue that fighting the alcohol ban is more about principle--that the administration should not be taking away privileges. But if you choose to fight the administration on this principle, choose something else. Alcohol is a poor example for student rights.
