The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 16, 2004, Page 6, Image 6
6 Online.POll ^THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, June 16, 2004 Online.Poll.ReSUltS
Do you think the Gamecocks will win Jml ~1 I i^TTT | I ^ Did you vote in the S.C. Senate elections?
the College World Series? '’A I H, l/%/ I * III \ | 53% voted 20% didn’t 27% elections?
www.dailygamecock.com -■—■—* * » '-7
IN OUR OPINION
Anti-spam list
lacking support
The Federal Trade Commission declined to create an anti
spam registry Tuesday; rather it will defer to the private
sector in its efforts to produce authentication systems. A
federal advisory committee willbe established if an authen
tication standard faiis to appear.
While the National Do Not Call Registry was a blessing in
the fight against telemarketers, such a list for spam will
simply provide an easy list of addresses. The fact that so
many spammers use false e-dresses will delay punitive action
against the spammers, thereby making the list less effective.
Even most major Internet companies agree that a “do not e
mail” list isn’t the solution to the problem.
Until authentication’s universal, the best things to do are to
utilize your provider’s anti-spam programs and just hit delete.
In Your Opinion
With all the hero hype of Ronald Reagan, I think it is also time to re
. mind people of some of his less “heroic” accomplishments. Reagan
presided over and aided the rise to power of both Saddam Hussein and
Osama bin Laden. He allowed the poor people and AIDS victims of this
country to suffer while his tax cuts allowed the rich to become richer.
Furthermore, let us not forget his most notable accomplishment—the
illegal sale of weapons to Iran through Israel and Saudi Arabia, all in an
effort to send profits to terrorists in Central America. Hopefully, when
the dust blows away, we will all remember Reagan’s true legacy and
drop the silly talk of memorializing him on U.S. currency, Mount
Rushmore or even in our hearts.
Ben Angstadt, 2004 USC graduate
ABOUT THE GAMECOCK
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The Gamecock is the student newspaper of
the University of South Carolina and is
published Monday, Wednesday and Friday
during the fall and spring semesters and
nine times during the summer with the
exception of university holidays and exam
periods. Opinions expressed in The
Gamecock are those of the editors or author
and not those of the University of South
Carolina. The Board of Student Publications
and Communications is the publisher of The
Gamecock. The Department of Student
Media is the newspaper’s parent
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Department of Student Media.
SO BAZilUoN VeAHS AGO:_
- -
r M
INSTITUTION 1
0j[ SINGLE-CELL,
l REPRODUCTION? fl
Bad taste is an ageless error
ALLYSON BIRD
GAMECOCKOPINIONS@GWM .SC.EDU
The first time I saw this phe
nomenon, I was interning at the
State House, where they de
scended like locusts in their pur
ple-vest suits and bright red hats,
looking frightening but aged.
The next sighting was more
iconic than in the flesh, as I came
upon a display window in down
town Charleston showcasing
those bold colors with unmanned
headwear. I was again bewildered,
realizing they weren’t exclusive
to Columbia and wondering just
who these red-hat ladies were. I
turned next to the universal on
line pal, Google, who revealed all.
This Red Hat Society was inspired
by Jenny Joseph’s “Warning,” a
poem about greeting old age with
verve, numor ana elan, i aian t un
derstand two of those three nouns,
and even spell check was befuddled
by one. So I probed further.
The group was begun by Sue
Ellen Cooper, self-dubbed the
Exalted Queen Mother of the most
extremist cult fashion. And where
do the EQM and her worker bees
dwell? California, of course.
But the scary thing about the
Red Hat Ladies is that they’ve got
chapters in 20 countries—400,000
members including 8 chapters in
Charleston, 19 in Columbia and
even a chapter in Cowpens called
the “Mighty Moo Red Hatters.”
There are no official rules,
only to pay $35 to become an of
ficial chapter. So it seems “offi
cial” is a relative term.
According to its Web site, the
members scoff at charity in their
theme sqng. It proclaims, “All my
life, I’ve done for you. Now it’s
my turn to do for me.”
And they do for themselves
with outlandish clothing for no
real reason. The group has its
own card, the Purple Perks Card,
witn simuany amDiguous tunc
tions. Under-aged hatters are en
couraged to wear pink and laven
der until they hit 50, at which
point they wear a bruise-colored
ensemble and a bloody cap, plus
red gloves to match.
Good for them for embracing
the inevitable and cherishing the
tacky while they’re at it. But I’m
not going to pretend the idea
doesn’t depress me.
College students are crossing
the threshold into adulthoodwhen
their parents are cresting that
middle-age hill. That’s enough
emotional confusion without see
ing year-round Mardi Gras out
fits on a sagging bunch that nerv
ously mocks the aging process.
Perhaps once I’ve moved to mid
dle age, I’ll throw in the gloves, put
on some red ones, and embrace old
age with verve, humor and elan.
But until then, pink is a beiow-the
shoulders color only, and I’ll sim
ply associate 50 with Cent and the
cost of a payphone call.
Bird is a second-year print
journalism, student.