It isn't much of a stretch to assume that college students are expressing their political opinions these days on blogs. But in one UNC Chapel Hill class, it's required.

Sociology Professor Andrew Perrin is requiring the freshmen in his First-Year Seminar course to blog on the presidential race, North Carolina's Gubernatorial race, and the U.S. Senate contest between Kay Hagan and Elizabeth Dole.

Students are divided into nine blogging teams, each of which is expected to post comments at least once a week. The blog component is worth 25 percent of each student's final grade in the course.

Said Caitie Forde-Smith, a student from Greenville:

"It connects us as a class even when we're not in a classroom setting. Dr. Perrin has encouraged our biases, and that's what produces thought-provoking blogs. Things that spur discussion in class, things that we care about and have opinions about enable our discussion. It's a chance to have our say, to be concerned and active citizens all the time, not just in class."

Forde-Smith comments come from this UNC news release.

Former homeboy Ryan Adams seems to regard blogging the same way Mark Twain did smoking. It's something he quits with great regularity, but never for very long. So despite a recent announcement that he was through wth the online world, Adams' Foggy -- the Cardinal Cave blog is back in business. The latest batch includes links to various works in progress, so check it out while it's still there.

Meanwhile, still no word about a possible Charlotte date on Adams' latest tour. But according to his tour schedule, there's a 22-day gap between Atlanta on Oct. 17 and Dublin on Nov. 8; so maybe one will pop up in there somewhere.

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