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Good lord. I haven’t posted in so long that my own blog logged me out. My own blog! Hrm…

Well, it’s been a busy few weeks. In the wake of the election … all of the work that piled up while obsessively reading every election blog and Sarah Palin news tidbit worked its way around, found my derriere, and chomped with a tremendous and painful ferocity.

In the last four days? … Four exams, one paper, one 401 (see: the graduate class that’s fairly working my butt off…) problem set.

I don’t think I’ve really “bombed” an examine before (I mean… at least in high school calculus, there was Hannah Hagstrom to help me out (thanks, Hannah!)). But today, at 11:00 am (actually, more like 11:10 am, because I was late from finishing my last exam), I opened up and pawed through my five page Money and Banking exam, and realized … I didn’t know the answer to a SINGLE question on the exam.

No worries though–the class takes the best two out of three exams … and I did pretty well on the first two. Basically, the incentive structure was this: study a LOT and have a chance of improving grade slightly. Study NONE and grade (a marginal “A”) stays the same. Any other week, I might actually have studied.

Now, I’m blogging on my floor, on my paralytic’s mat. Actually, it’s a Thermarest, and I’m not at all paralyzed–though my back seems to have regressed this week. But I like thinking about that wonderful Bible story where some dude had his friends take him, on his paralytic’s mat, to a place where Jesus dazzling the crowds, dig a hole in the roof, and lower him down on wires. I’ll probably get along just fine without JC but … if anyone happens to find him speaking somewhere (where tha’ party at?!) and wants to blow a hole in the roof and lower me down on wires … I’d be down. Just sayin’…

Actually, I love this story. I’ll post it!

One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
(Luke 4:17-26)

Sagar, I’m sorry I haven’t been better about keeping touch. I guess that goes for everyone, though. Family … I’m sorry!

Oh! In the interest of getting a absolutely stunning-spectacular score on the GRE, I’ve been beefing up on my vocab as of late (I’m sure you can tell … er, …). My favorite new word is the interobang. Interobang?! I really need to incorporate more interobangs into my sentences?!

Well, it’s November 21st … and it finally snowed. Wednesday, it was 67 degrees (F … Sagar, not C!). Last night, it snowed (at long last!). But November 21st means Thanksgiving, right? Apparently… Christina has decided that it’s time for Thankgiving. While I’ve been reading about the Microsoft Antitrust case (which … as much as I want to, I can’t convince myself that the DOJ actually had a case against Microsoft … warming my bones by the natural gas fire…), Christina has been commanding an army of sous chefs (namely, Lindsey, Bovard and Matt…) cooking up a storm. Apauruvent (which is the misspelled french word for “apparently”), it’s time. Mmm!

Well, that’s all for now. (Vegetarian) Thanksgiving dinner time! Huzzah!

I think the stars are shining just a little bit brighter tonight. Perhaps its merely some anomaly of the cosmos. Or, perhaps, it’s the shining of a renewed spirit of hope–hope for America, and hope for a better, brighter future.

Tonight, I pledge myself to a renewed spirit of service–a renewed dedication to making America that great nation that Barack Obama has conjured during his campaign, and that he has pledged to our great nation.

I’m proud, tonight, to be an American. I’m proud, tonight, to live in a free and functioning democracy.

The challenges that face me, and all members of my generation, are looming and large–but not too large to overwhelm the American dream: the ability to triumph over adversity, and the ability to accomplish great and hitherto-unfathomable feats. The ability to rise up and meet challenges, tet-a-tet, and to see change and progress win this land.

This burgeoning spirit of optimism tonight is vindicated by the results of the election, and vindicated by Barack Obama’s challenge to us all. If you missed it, watch it here–goodnight, and, godspeed to the days, challenges, and accomplishments ahead.

Go vote!

On your way to the polls, do me a favor: pull out your cellphone, and call everyone in your address book, ask them to vote, and to call their friends on the way.

Not certain where to vote, or what to do if something goes wrong? Here’s some info, below, from MoveOn.org:

Happy voting!

I received this “chart” in my email today from the McCain-Palin campaign:

This chart in an outright assault on the truth. It wouldn’t even be true in the McCain-Palin “fantasy-land” where both seem to be living–where truth is based on belief, not reality. Don’t believe me? Let’s do a reality check:

Taxes
Both McCain and Obama will lower taxes, on net. McCain will lower taxes more (-2%, on net), but, Obama will lower taxes as well (-0.3% on net). The only way that this claim is true is if you make more than $603,403 per year, in which case, yes, Obama will raise your taxes (to their 1990’s level), and McCain will cut your taxes.

Fact: 60% of taxpayers make less than $66,354 per year, and will receive much larger tax cuts under the Obama plan than the McCain plan.

Economy
The claim that Obama will “destroy jobs” has no more basis in reality than the claim that McCain will “create jobs.”

Fact: Obama will eliminate tax-incentives for companies that outsource jobs, and will create a tax-credit for companies that create jobs in the United States.

Energy
John McCain has consistently voted against funding for alternative energy research. Obama has provided a more comprehensive and thorough energy plan, and has pledged the funding to support it.

Fact: the time horizon for taping American off-shore petroleum reserves is similar to the expected time horizon for many alternative energy technologies to come online — 10 to 20 years.

Healthcare
The McCain healthcare proposal, not the Obama healthcare proposal is likely to “break employer coverage” by taxing (for the first time) employer-provided healthcare benefits as earned income. The economic data is clear: this will lead to fewer employers providing health insurance for their employers. Moreover, the economies of scale of group plans make group policies cheaper, meaning that a greater portion of premium payments are used to pay for treatment, rather than administration.

Fact: the McCain healthcare proposal will drive employees from employer-provided policies, which will increase the per-capital administrative costs of healthcare, reducing spending on treatment.

Reform
Barack Obama has been a driving force behind ethics reform in the Illinois and National Senate. Sarah Palin has endorsed the man who is only the fifth-ever Senator to be convicted of a felony while in office. Over the last twelve months, McCain has “reformed” the vast majority of his “reformer” positions that earned him the title in the first place.

Spending
John McCain will increase spending. According to data from the Tax Policy Center, McCain will increase spending, on net, more than Obama.

Education
John McCain’s sole education reform proposal is to extend the “voucher” program in Washington D.C. to allow more parents to send their children to private schools. Obama’s plan will increase funding for early-childhood education, which studies have proven effective. Furthermore, Obama has pledged increased funding for schools–who have seen the relative caliber of teachers decline hand-in-hand with the decline in relative income.

Fact: America needs education reform well beyond the confines of Washington D.C..

Iraq
Didn’t we already declare “mission accomplished” in Iraq? Didn’t we already “win”? The sole difference between Obama and McCain on this issue is that Obama favors the withdrawal of the majority if American troops from Iraq on a 16-month timeline. McCain opposes any sort of timeline, and has vowed one-hundred more years of war, if necessary.

Fact: neither candidate favors immediate, careless or hasty withdrawal from Iraq. Obama favors a withdrawal timeline, which McCain opposes.

This whole chart is so far out in “fantasyland” that it can’t even be adequately be responded to. To the McCain campaign: denying the truth doesn’t change reality. One can only hope such outlandish lies don’t change the minds of undecided voters. The American people deserve better than unabashed lies of the Bush administration and the McCain campaign.

So, reader …

Vote.

Put an end to this madness.

-m

My buddy William is a DJ at the local college radio station, KGLT.

He recently took over the Wednesday morning, 6:00-9:00 am show, which means that he’ll have the first show after the election results come in.

“I’ve prepared two mixes,” he tells me. “One’s a normal mix. The other mix is more of an … apocalyptic mix. You know, some 16-minute political-punk-rock apocalypse ballads.”

Then, he pauses, looks up and laughs, telling me, “I hope I get to play the normal mix on Wednesday!”

Ha! Well, me too, William. I hope so.

Speaking of music, while studiously not writing a paper this morning, I happened to find this on the YouTube channel of one of my favorite bands, Mute Math.

The thing I’ve most enjoyed about Mute Math’s first, self-titled album, is how rich and complex the drum tracks are. In many of the album’s tracks (“Chaos” comes to mind), it sounds almost as though there are two drummers. I don’t have the technical or music background to be able to aptly describe the effect–but it’s to create two layers of rhythm–as though one drummer is keeping time, and the other drummer is improvising his own beat/counterbeat. If you take the time to listen to it, it’s really neat.

(Oh–and, the music video for “Typical” is a favorite of mine! Click here!)

—

At long last, I finally made it out to knock on some doors this weekend for Barack Obama. It’s been an interesting and fun experience, to be sure. More than anything, I’ve been reassured of the basic kindness and generosity of Bozemanites (I’d like to say “Americans” … but I’m just not that cocky). Admittedly, there’s been a few rude people, but on balance, even the McCain supporters have been courteous and kind: “I’m voting for McCain, but thanks for being out and involved!”

My favorite, though, was an older couple, just arriving home. I asked if I could bother them for a few minutes. They looked at each other, a little hesitant, but then relented. “Sure! Come on in!” the husband, Rick, told me.

So then, for the next twenty minutes, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table with two interested and inquisitive voters. I told them what I knew about Barack Obama, and why I’ve voting for him on Tuesday. I answered their questions as best I could, before declining their offers of coffee and candy, and heading back out into the darkening rain.

I don’t know if I won any “converts” but, perhaps, I made two new friends. Rick and Elizabeth, thank you for your time, courtesy, and hospitality! I’ll see you at the polls on Tuesday!