(no subject)
Professors who make you write your own recommendation: I believe there's a always a place for a polite "no." If you really cannot write the recommendation yourself, you're putting the student in an awkward-as-hell position by making them write it, and making yourself look lazy or dishonest. I think it's much better to just say, "Sorry, I have no basis for recommending you," and then let them find somebody else who can do a better job. I think both parties win this way, ne?