Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Obama
One of the things I like about living where I do is that I have a one-mile walk to and from campus every day. It's a nice time for me to think to myself and reflect -- typically on whatever I happen to be thinking about at the time.
In the mornings, I walk to work along 55th, which is a pretty big street. As such, there are several newpaper dispensers that I pass. This morning's Trib has the headline, "Old, new guards rebuke Bush for drive to war." The first time I passed this (still east of the IC tracks, ~Cornell), I didn't like it too much. Part of that is that Obama's speech was the only part of the convention I've seen. But I felt that there was more to Obama's speech than simply faulting Bush for the war. I also sort of felt that, being the keynote address, the speech was more important than Kennedy's.
By the time I got to the Toasters (where 55th splits for a block), I noticed a subtlety in the headline. The comparison is meant to suggest that Obama is becoming the new leadership of the Democratic Party. This, I felt, was apt.
In the mornings, I walk to work along 55th, which is a pretty big street. As such, there are several newpaper dispensers that I pass. This morning's Trib has the headline, "Old, new guards rebuke Bush for drive to war." The first time I passed this (still east of the IC tracks, ~Cornell), I didn't like it too much. Part of that is that Obama's speech was the only part of the convention I've seen. But I felt that there was more to Obama's speech than simply faulting Bush for the war. I also sort of felt that, being the keynote address, the speech was more important than Kennedy's.
By the time I got to the Toasters (where 55th splits for a block), I noticed a subtlety in the headline. The comparison is meant to suggest that Obama is becoming the new leadership of the Democratic Party. This, I felt, was apt.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
purpose
Now that I actually have some energy, and I'm feeling empowered and all that, let's explain all these obtuse references I've been making.
If I had wanted this simply to be a personal journal, I would have gotten a LiveJournal. I don't want that. Mostly because, if I did want that, I would prefer to keep a journal in hard copy rather than electronically. On the other hand, this blog is not going to be enirely commentary about the real world. It's supposed to be a mixture of the two. Something like what Connor has. This is sort of my activist project right now.
As such, a couple of Activism links have been added in the last two weeks, despite my non-posting status. I'm taking activism very broadly here (cf the FIST).
If I had wanted this simply to be a personal journal, I would have gotten a LiveJournal. I don't want that. Mostly because, if I did want that, I would prefer to keep a journal in hard copy rather than electronically. On the other hand, this blog is not going to be enirely commentary about the real world. It's supposed to be a mixture of the two. Something like what Connor has. This is sort of my activist project right now.
As such, a couple of Activism links have been added in the last two weeks, despite my non-posting status. I'm taking activism very broadly here (cf the FIST).
Thursday, July 22, 2004
dumpster diving
My room finally became fully furnished at 11:30 last night. It has a bed, a dresser, a nightstand, a desk, and a desk chair. Total cost: $0.00. I am a dumpster diving machine.
Monday, July 12, 2004
the month of June
So here's where I was for so long: I was surviving the month of June.
10th week, I was catching up on work I should have been doing all quarter, hopefully to be caught up in time for finals. And then finals. All of which was a very generally negative experience. There was a short break in there for one positive moment, which I shall note below. I barely made it through finals in one piece. Then we had to move into the apartment. That wasn't so depressing as finals had been. In fact, it was quite optimistic. But it also took up every waking minute for a week and a half, and completely drained everyone, both physically and emotionally.
I went to California for a week. Had plenty of time while there, but no inspiration to write anything. I've been back in Hyde Park for two weeks, and have spent all my time either at work, continuing to unpack/clean up my room, or too tired to do anything but sleep.
The one positive thing between 10th and Finals weeks was meeting Nora. I noted below that I was selling myself on the Vegan Date Auction. Well, Nora bought me. We hit it off so well that we're now dating.
All of this leads to this one point in time. I am now feeling, primarily due to Nora, rejuvinated and capable of being a functional human in the mid- to longterm. Expect this space to change as I put this newfound energy to good use.
10th week, I was catching up on work I should have been doing all quarter, hopefully to be caught up in time for finals. And then finals. All of which was a very generally negative experience. There was a short break in there for one positive moment, which I shall note below. I barely made it through finals in one piece. Then we had to move into the apartment. That wasn't so depressing as finals had been. In fact, it was quite optimistic. But it also took up every waking minute for a week and a half, and completely drained everyone, both physically and emotionally.
I went to California for a week. Had plenty of time while there, but no inspiration to write anything. I've been back in Hyde Park for two weeks, and have spent all my time either at work, continuing to unpack/clean up my room, or too tired to do anything but sleep.
The one positive thing between 10th and Finals weeks was meeting Nora. I noted below that I was selling myself on the Vegan Date Auction. Well, Nora bought me. We hit it off so well that we're now dating.
All of this leads to this one point in time. I am now feeling, primarily due to Nora, rejuvinated and capable of being a functional human in the mid- to longterm. Expect this space to change as I put this newfound energy to good use.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Fourth of July
Steven and I had the idea Saturday afternoon to host a barbeque Sunday evening. This ended up putting a cramp in our schedule for that day, as we no longer had time to make to the TMBG concert at the Taste that afternoon. But things went off as planned. About 20 people showed up, which was about what we were hoping for. And the ones who did show up were the ones we most expected/hoped to see, so that was good.
At 11ish or so (?), we all gathered in the dining room for a reading (Steven's idea). I began:
Steven and I traded off until Steven finished with:
At 11ish or so (?), we all gathered in the dining room for a reading (Steven's idea). I began:
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Steven and I traded off until Steven finished with:
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
