Oh, my sinuses

It's allergy season in Santa Fe!

Last night I ended up trying to get some sleep sitting in my (big, comfy) chair, because lying down made it nearly impossible to breathe.

I hate spring.

Also, seriously? Home ownership?

Also, apparently one of Obama's priorities is tax credits for people who...have mortgages.

I guess that "owning a McMansion in the suburbs that lets you fuck over both the environment and poorer people in many ways" is a more fundamental right than "marry the person you love, regardless of their gender."

Well, I'm a little bit disappointed.

I got this in my mailbox this morning from Richardson's former campaign. The crux of it: vote for Obama.

During the last year, I have shared with you my vision and hopes for this nation as we look to repair the damage of the last seven years. And you have shared your support, your ideas and your encouragement to my campaign. We have been through a lot together and that is why I wanted to tell you that, after careful and thoughtful deliberation, I have made a decision to endorse Barack Obama for President.

We are blessed to have two great American leaders and great Democrats running for President. My affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver. It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall. The 1990's were a decade of peace and prosperity because of the competent and enlightened leadership of the Clinton administration, but it is now time for a new generation of leadership to lead America forward. Barack Obama will be a historic and a great President, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad.

Earlier this week, Senator Barack Obama gave an historic speech. that addressed the issue of race with the eloquence, sincerity, and optimism we have come to expect of him. He inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility. He asked us to rise above our racially divided past, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races, who struggled and died to bring us together.

As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants--specifically Hispanics-- by too many in this country. Hate crimes against Hispanics are rising as a direct result and now, in tough economic times, people look for scapegoats and I fear that people will continue to exploit our racial differences--and place blame on others not like them . We all know the real culprit -- the disastrous economic policies of the Bush Administration!

Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race. He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans.

His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And, after nearly eight years of George W. Bush, we desperately need such a leader.

To reverse the disastrous policies of the last seven years, rebuild our economy, address the housing and mortgage crisis, bring our troops home from Iraq and restore America's international standing, we need a President who can bring us together as a nation so we can confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad.

During the past year, I got to know Senator Obama as we campaigned against each other for the Presidency, and I felt a kinship with him because we both grew up between words, in a sense, living both abroad and here in America. In part because of these experiences, Barack and I share a deep sense of our nation's special responsibilities in the world.

So, once again, thank you for all you have done for me and my campaign. I wanted to make sure you understood my reasons for my endorsement of Senator Obama. I know that you, no matter what your choice, will do so with the best interests of this nation, in your heart.

Sincerely,

Bill Richardson

Okay. Nicely worded, he eventually was going to endorse someone (though I'm willing to bet this is the first time ever when candidates have really wanted the governor of New frickin' Mexico to endorse them), blah blah blah.

But...seriously: are we picking our favorite candidate based on their stance on racism? Or are we just picking them based on their race? Either way is utterly idiotic.

It's not 1962 anymore. Yes, there is still racism and yes it sucks. There will always be racism. As long as there are different races there will be racism. That's humanity for you. As long as there are differences between groups of people - nationality, religion, race, political beliefs, whatever the hell else, some people will be upset at the existence of 'not us'.

If we want to really make meaningful change and really get equality, here's what we've got to do: Focus on the real social issues. Attack poverty, do away with idiotic 'faith-based' initiatives that encourage separatism, funnel as much money and time and effort as humanly possible into our schools, improve urban infrastructure, make the government more accessible - then we'll start to see progress.

Or you can be Senator Obama, make lots of speeches about "Look at me! I'm black(ish)! Therefore I have a deep and natural understanding of the racial issues in this country! You should vote for me because I'm a charismatic black man! Policy? Uh, I'll get back to you on that! See how many college kids have hard-ons for me?"

I accept that at this point, it's almost a given that he'll get the nomination. I'll vote for him, probably, because...we'll, I'm not going to vote for Nadar or McCain, and Obama is the least obnoxious of all of them. But I'm not going to be happy about it, because Obama's busily promising us another four years of the same ineffectual bullshit.

*sigh*

My god, it's full of stars...

Sir Arthur C. Clarke, brilliant scientist, author of dozens of fantastic novels, inventor, and all-around genius has passed away.  

It's the loss of a truly tremendous giant in several different fields.  He certainly won't ever be forgotten.  I suppose now he's just on the next journey.  Let's hope it's a good one.

Deeply satisfying

Take a cold, lousy and rainy night in suburban New Jersey.

Mix with soup and sandwich from Panera.

Enjoy the much-improved night.

How to have a good country

Recently I was reading something about Bhutan.  Bhutan is a very, very isolated place, wedged between India and China.  It's small, landlocked, and up until quite recently, was pretty well cut off from the world.  They have no formal diplomatic relationships with most Western countries, including the US and the UK.  They'd had a ban on television which was finally lifted in 1999.  In short, partly due to governmental planning but also due to the harsh geography of the region, Bhutan is probably one of the most 'intact' cultures in the world.  They've only had a couple years during which they could Westernize at any appreciable rate.  

What's interesting about Bhutan is, perhaps as a product of the increasing westernization, they are in the process of electing a democratic government for the first time, changing from a totalitarian monarchy.  

Now, from what I've read, it seems like a fairly benevolent monarchy.  The current king, worried about the effect that westernization was having on the country, introduced something called "gross national happiness", an idea that I personally find to be wonderful.  In addition to looking at how our economy is doing, we'll also take a look at how happy people are.  Good idea, right?  A little bit inexact and if it's anything more than just a soundbite, it's a bit problematic, but a nice idea.  The Bhutanese people seem to by and large like their king, which I suppose is a good thing.

So here's the really interesting thing about the transition Bhutan is going through.  It was mentioned in the National Geographic article I read about the country.  Here's a quote from it:

Rural peasants aren’t the only ones harboring doubts. At a trendy Thimphu nightclub called P. Wang, a trio of power brokers relaxes after a round of golf, singing karaoke and toasting the monarchy. “I don’t want democracy, because it can lead to chaos, like in Nepal or India,” says Tshering Tobgay, a businessman. “But whatever the king says, we must eat—whether sweet or sour, poisonous or delicious.” Even Bhutan’s chief election commissioner concedes that he would prefer not to have elections. “Given the choice, of course, we’d want to continue to be guided by the monarchy,” Dasho Kunzang Wangdi says. So why change? “It’s a simple thing: The king wants it.”

I don't get it.  I really, really don't get this.  The only way I can possibly get this to make sense is that because their contact with other nations has been so limited, they just don't really understand what democracy means.  Democracy means you're in charge.  It means that you, the voters, get the ultimate say in how your country is run.  Don't like what the government is doing?  Tell them, and in theory they're obligated to listen.  They don't listen when you tell them?  Vote them out of office.  Still not happy?  Run for office yourself.  Democracy means you have the absolute power, not some dude who's sole qualification is he inherited Daddy's job. 

Try to parse this: The people of Bhutan don't necessarily want a democratic government.  The king does.  So the king is forcing the people into the change of needing to think for themselves.  It's like some insane inverted form of a dictatorship: "Instead of telling you what to do, I'll make you tell me what to do!"  It's really incredibly strange.  

How not to be remembered after death

Philly.com: "Camden cop shot, nude man dead."  

Bummer, dude.

Break time

I am now finished classes for two full weeks.  

I haven't even started packing, yet I feel incredibly relaxed right now, because I don't have lab this afternoon and I don't have four classes worth of homework to do this weekend.  This semester has been really wearing me down, but we're now halfway through, and I think I can get through it with sanity intact.  

It's so delicious

Happy Pi day!  But far, far more importantly, happy last day of classes before break!

Also, happy 'apparently I'm getting another cold' day!

Godspeed, Endeavour

Say what you will about the cost, about the risk, about any of that.  Space flight is still truly, literally, awesome, and makes me kind of squishy inside.  

Politics the way it should be

Two brief items of minimal importance:

1.  I just got back from lunch to discover that, on the chalkboard hanging in the hallway, someone had written: "It's OK, Kant thinks you're a jerk too." This pleases me.

2.  Apparently, I get nervous for my friends who are about to have the senior orals.  By the time mine is a few hours away, I think I'll probably die of heart failure.

Weather whine #8,234,869

Dear Santa Fe,

PICK A DAMN SEASON.  STICK TO THAT DECISION.

Today it was warm enough for me to comfortably walk into town.  By the time I headed back to campus, thick clouds had rolled in and the temperature had dropped a good ten, fifteen degrees.  As I headed off to work, an unpleasant wintry mix was beginning to fall.  "Blah," says I, "It's not cold enough for it to stick and now everything will be all wet."  

Three hours later I walk out of work and there's three damn inches of snow on the ground.  

Winter or spring.  Please stop this nonsense where it's both, several times a day.

Yay America

Five videos.  One of many reasons why the "Support our Troops!!1" idiocy is just that.

I admit I only watched the second and third, because I'm pretty sure the rest of them involve killing or torturing dogs, and I can't watch that.  The first video, I believe, is one I heard about in which a puppy is tortured.  I'm not going to watch it to find out.  

Our military seems to be composed primarily of assholes.  Go us.

Argh.

Dear body:

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for me to be awake at 5:48 AM.  

However, I understand things happen.  Maybe you were excited to see the snow that had fallen overnight.  

But there's really no reason why you should wake up at 5:48 AM and then refuse to fall back asleep.  Given that normally getting up at 7:30 AM is perfectly sufficient to do whatever I need and get to class on time, your stubbornness on this issue is not appreciated.

Santa Fe Weather, ladies and gentlemen

Today: Currently 54, with a high of 64.  Sunny.  

Tomorrow: High of 44, winter storm watch in effect through Sunday night.  I'll be wearing jeans and a t-shirt today and might break out the down jacket tomorrow.