“fifteen white boys come running at you, shirts rolled up, khakis…i thought i had fallen into an abercrombie commercial, i was like oh my goodness! …but they can sing.” that’s a paraphrased quote from a yale university freshman during a capella rush week. yes, a capella rush week. the story was on npr this morning, and i was quite amused.
so general howell, the center director, addressed all jsc employees this morning. why? as far as i can tell, he just wanted to encourage employees to stop gossiping about budget cuts and program shake-ups, and reassure the jsc workforce that there is still plenty of work to do and that their jobs are secure. interesting. his speech really was not that great, but i give him leeway because he’s a former marine, not a politician. he’s not supposed to know how to speak, right?
{sigh}
i’m tired today. i was on my way to bed last night at 10:20 or so when i decided to check my email. i saw that carter was online so i figured i’d say hi. little did i know it’d lead to an hour-long political discussion, mainly about how bush is doing as a president and feelings about the “let’s attack iraq” mentality.
now, i don’t usually discuss politics. i don’t have a clear reason for not doing so; i just don’t. i feel uneducated about most political issues (the space program being the single glaring exception), and feel like it’s not my right to argue one side versus another if i don’t have anything to go on other than my own emotion. and yes, i know i could just go out and read more and learn about the issues, but to tell the truth, i’m usually not too interested. i know that politics affect me on a higher level, but they don’t seem to affect me on a day-to-day basis. and there’s also my constantly-reinforced impression that no one in washington could give a crap about me as an individual; why should i waste my time caring about them?
but anyway. the gist of my opinions on the subject are: 1) it seems to me (and i admit i haven’t done any research on this issue, this is based on what i’ve heard in passing) like we’re going to attack iraq just for the hell of it, and maybe in hopes of getting republicans reelected, and that’s absurd. 2) i like bush. he seems like an ok guy, an ordinary guy, someone who actually does have an idea of what the general american public is like, and i think it’s a nice change. yes, he has a shady past and he’s a daddy’s boy and he’s a lousy speaker and he’s making some questionable decisions on iraq, but in the end, he’s the president, and i respect that.
and i’m a registered republican, so think what you want about my political leanings.
anyway. so that’s that.
my polaroid that i just bought yesterday off ebay is already in houston! i’m amazed, and once again in love with being able to track packages. however, the website says delivery is scheduled for september 30, so i wonder if i will really sit in the warehouse all weekend before finally being brought to my apartment on monday…
also, i’ve pretty much decided which enlarger i’m going to get. i’m going to order from b&h in new york though, and they’re close until monday because of the jewish holidays. i guess i’ll order on monday. this weekend, i’m going in search of a local photo store where i can get the chemicals, etc that i’ll need.
(10:26 a.m.)
michael jordan, man, i love you, but enough is enough.
i forgot to mention that the reason the whole political discussion began was that carter asked if i’d watched the season premiere of west wing last night. i did. i’ve never really paid much attention to the actual plot of the show, the “satire of american politics” or whatever, but good lord, the writing on that show is just amazing. they crack me up time and time again with the wit displayed by the characters. “my name is toby…i work at the white house.” “schmalzy pants.” the whole discussion about to-take-or-not-to-take a photo with an old guy who’d had his picture taken with hoover the day before the great depression began. calling the girl unwholesome in front of her boyfriend. “didn’t vote for him the first time, don’t plan to this time.” “i love dry rub!” the writing is freaking incredible.
