Let us give thanks

In keeping with the benevolent traditions of the holiday season, we of the IDS Editorial Board want to send warm wishes to all of IU, and give thanks for life, learning and the freedom to speak and debate openly.\nWe also give thanks for ...\nNo explosion with the chemical spill on State Rd. 45/46 \nThat situation could have been much more tragic than it turned out to be. Our condolences go out to the family of the woman killed in the accident. It was a touch of grace that saved our fellow students that day; the mix of ammonium nitrate from the tanker and the leaking diesel fuel from the truck is the same type of explosive that was used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Kudos to the Bloomington Township Fire Department Hazardous Waste team and local law enforcement in working to keep everyone safe.\nThe ouster of Michael McNeely\nApparently, McNeely ruffled some feathers over in the athletic department. No, let's be honest -- McNeely didn't just ruffle feathers, he almost skinned the entire bird. McNeely fired four coaches, ran up a deficit and changed the entire color scheme in the 16 months he was here. That is too much change, too fast. Some of his changes will be appreciated, such as the cleaner-looking football uniforms and luxury boxes that will bring in more money, but other changes just left a sour taste in the mouths of coaches and students alike.\nThe end of the Corvette fiasco\nMichella Taylor sold her Corvette to a Wisconsin man for just over $40,000. After taxes and titles, Taylor will keep nearly $30,000. Not a bad early Christmas gift from IUSA. We're just glad the car issue is settled and over. We didn't think it was fair to give one person out of the entire student body such an expensive freebie, but the matter is now closed, and life at IU can go back to normal.\nLooking at the bright side, IUSA ensured that one IU student would have a very merry Christmas.\nRutgers didn't get Myles Brand ... the NCAA did\nThe State University of New Jersey (named for a Jersey Revolutionary War hero) was rumored to have asked Myles Brand to apply for their presidency. Brand said he did not and would like to stay at IU for a significant time. Who knew that he actually found a better job opening? The NCAA hiring process was so secretive, even Brand's co-workers claim they didn't know about the impending defection. \nAnd somewhere in Lubbock, Tex., Bob Knight is kicking himself because Myles Brand has power over him yet again.\nThe FBI hasn't seen fit to wiretap us ... yet\nUp to this point, we haven't stirred up too much trouble with our stated opinions, and we haven't received any threatening federal requests or had any men in black suits come to our doors. This, however, might change. Congress has passed laws that will make it easier for federal agencies to use invasive espionage techniques on citizens of this country. Along with that comes the authority to use computer programs that search nearly all media for keywords like BOMB, TERRORIST, ALLAH and other such phrases.\nThanksgiving Break\nTime to go home, be with family and eat real food. Have a happy break. You know we will.\n-- George Lyle IV for the Editorial Board