Welcome to my web page. Students should check it frequently for updates like study guides and assignments. I'll also notify you here of any important or urgent information. (A major political event, paper due, or class cancelled, etc.) Also, check out the links on the left for all sorts of useful and relevant information.

- Prof. Nalder

The campus recently held a day long event called "After Prop. 8" on October 26. It is focused on how we can achieve civil discourse even when issues are emotional and people disagree. http://www.csus.edu/prop8/ The webcast should be available soon.

I had an op-ed published in the SF Chronicle recently entitled "Dysfunctional California: Maybe it's Time to Stop Scapegoating Legislators". Read it here.

If you are interested in state politics, there is a great series of webcasts available from a conference sponsored by CSUS, Berkeley, and Stanford on "Getting to Reform: Avenues to Constitutional Change in California" via the California Channel. Scroll down to the "featured videos". It's also available at IGS.

Due to unprecedented budget cuts, the CSU is requiring un-paid furlough days of all employees this year. We are not allowed to work on the furlough days. That includes teaching, answering e-mail, office hours, our own research, class preparation, advising, grading, etc. Therefore, I may be unavailable or slower in getting back to you than usual this year. My furlough days for Fall 2009 are: Sept. 14 (Mon.), Sept. 23 (Wed.), Oct. 8 (Thurs), Oct. 16 (Fri.), Nov. 20 (Fri.), Nov. 24 (Tues.), Dec. 4 (Fri), Dec. 10 (Thurs.), and Jan. 4 (Mon.).

• Citizens need the truth. Three great sites to get it: politifact.com, The Washingon Post, and factcheck.org
• The Newseum has stapshots of newspaper front pages from all over the world here.
• Want to see how international news organization see the U.S.? Watching America has it.
• What is public opinion like in the rest of the world? See some polls here.
• Here's a good site with political information and campaign ads.
• A comprehensive list of military contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan with details here.
• Here is my list of media critique sites.
• Here is a helpful guide to the difference between high school and college. First year students should certainly read it, but everyone can benefit.
• What entertainment programs do you watch? Sports? Arts? Comedy? That may have something to do with whether you are a conservative, moderate, or liberal. See the Lear/Zogby study here.