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Well, for those of you know don’t know– I’m back. Well, no, check that– I’m not. Officially, I return on Friday. Brandon is throwing a party for me: if you want to see me, find Brandon’s house in Laramie on Friday night. That’s when I officially return. =)

I know I owe several of you phone calls. But 1) I haven’t had my laptop, and my Palm screwed up, so I haven’t had access to my phone numbers and 2) remember, I’m not officially back yet.

Yeah.

Is it good to be back? Of course. Is it bad? Well, I dunno. Like everything in life, coming home has been a shade of gray.

I’ve been home for almost a week now. I still haven’t managed to sleep in my bed, which is the first thing I expected to do. The bed is covered with stuff, waiting to be put on the wall, or thrown out, or otherwise sorted. So I’ve been sleeping on the floor, under my desk (the only clear space on my floor). The prospects for tonight aren’t looking very good, either.

I’ve had two very happy discoveries since my return: (well, more than that, but not of the sort that I’m going to discuss here) 1) fast internet. My high-school dreams of high-speed wireless internet finally materialized. My parents are now hooked up with Millhouse Electric point-of-sight broadband. Which is glorious. There’s still a few problems to be ironed out before I can begin downloading the internet, but I trust that a few phone calls will have me well on my way. 2) Bawls is now being sold in Cheyenne. B&B Computer Service now sells the world’s most caffeinated carbonated drink. It’s not as tasty as RedBull, but has a way cooler bottle. =)

Let’s see…

Chester is adorable.

The mountains are incredible. They’re suddenly bigger. And bluer.

Wyoming should be colder. A lot colder. I want snow. Lots of snow.

Wyoming is beautiful. Breathtakingly so. Barren, desolate, and brown-patched-with-white, I love Wyoming’s endless, empty plains.

At the moment, I’m searching for a job.

Link: South Dakota bans abortion

On Wednesday, the 22nd of February, the state of South Dakota banned nearly all forms of abortion. The ban rejects exceptions, even in the case of rape or incest. In a statement from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Senior Staff Attorney Eve Gartner assessed the ban as “an attack on women’s fundamental right of privacy and their ability to make the most intimate and personal choice about when and whether to have a child.”

This scares me. Yeah, it’s a big step backwards. But what scares me is that this could starting point for the long-lasting effects of the Bush administration. Gartner points out that “The U.S. Supreme Court has reaffirmed time and again the constitutional right to make the private choice to have an abortion.” The PPFA has promised to “go to court to ensure women, with their doctors and families, continue to be able to make personal health care decisions — not politicians.” There’s no doubt that a court case was anticipated by the South Dakota lawmakers.

The broader significance of this case, however, has less to do with abortion in South Dakota. That’s big, but this is bigger: it has more to do “testing the waters,” so to speak, of the newly right-dominated Supreme Court. This ban directly defies the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal (throughout the country). If (or when, rather) this case reaches the Supreme Court we’ll be able to begin to asses the extent of the legacy the Bush administration may or may not leave on America through his choice of Supreme Court nominations.

The timing is suspect. The New York Times notes that “since 2005, bans similar to the bill have been proposed in at least five states.” 2005. Well, what happened in 2005? This: 2005 saw the installment of Bush-nominated Chief Justice John Roberts Jr and Bush-nominated Justice Harriet Ellan Miers to the supreme court. Obviously, conservative states are chomping at the bit to see how far the new installments will go towards achieving the right’s agenda.

Thai PM Taksin announces snap election

As a friendly reminder that people DO have a voice, Thailand’s (seemingly) corrupt and lavishly rich Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra has been forced by mounting opposition to announce declare a snap election for April. And it’s about time. Taksin, in addition to being PM, is a major media tycoon and opponent of free speech and free press. Although it would be dangerous for any one man to have a monopoly on the media in Thailand, it’s especially so for that man to also have a political monopoly. And a media monopoly is exactly what he’s been working to build. Protest broke out a few months ago when Taksin’s media conglomerate attempted a hostile take-over of Thailand’s other major media source (television, newspapers, radio), Matichon. Fortuantely, stong public outcry prevented the takeover.

Taksin’s list of offenses is both long and grievous, ranging from a borderline-totalitarian and militaristic response to unrest in Southern Thailand, suppression of opposition by suppression of free speech to using his high position to avoid paying taxes.

The public response has been slow, but steadily mounting. I include this news item here not because many (any?) of you care about the political situation in Thailand, but rather because there has been a strong public response against Taksin that is forcing him to acknowledge the grievances against him. Rallies in the parks, petitions signed and signatures collected– they’ve had their effect. And if it works in Thailand, it could work in the United States. We have a thousand and sixty (1060) days left of the Bush regime. That’s way too many.

Oh, and I post this because, while in Thailand, I had the opportunity to participate in the Sondhi-lead anti-Taksin protests. Which is a cool feeling for me, to think that maybe I helped in some tiny small way the push for democracy in Thailand. =)

Heh. I don’t usually post this sort of thing, but this made me laugh. A lot:

Did I mention how much I love Singapore? It’s… what? It’s like… an American oasis in the middle of the Asian-Pacific region. Heh. And, well, I’m American. So it feels rather like home. And that’s a good feeling, sometimes. Especially after a few months of being surrounded by absolutely nothing familiar, whatsoever.

But it’s like this: I’m hanging out in an airport that shames O’Hara International for overall pleasantness and efficiency, drinking a Nantucket Nectar, using free internet, and listening to some good jazz that’s playing. Yeah, I have a six hour layover between planes. But when it comes to layovers, I can’t think of another airport where I’d rather spend 6 hours.

So I had a Stewards Key Lime Pie soda with lunch, and– imagine this– they know how to make a good Americano here. It’s fantastic. It’s like America… with better food, and more diversity. And no civil liberties– but hey, you win some and you lose some. And right now I feel like I’m winning. Aside from that pesky cold that I came down with last night.

Really, though, I’m very impressed with Singapore. I mean, well, it doesn’t have a lot to offer in the way of scenic, natural beauties– but as far as cities go, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cleaner, more modern city. Somehow, Singapore manages to be as industrialized and developed as the United States, but without the grime, noise and pollution. Lots of big, green parks. Wide sidewalks. Quiet streets. And jazz, Nantucket Nectars, and diversity. =)

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It’s interesting: Bangalore’s International terminal, servicing a booming IT sector and 8 million people, is about the same size, and not nearly as nice as Bozeman’s airport. Serving, possibly, 50,000 people.

Changi is about the size of DIA. And it’s amazingly efficient. I’ve been through customs here twice, and never waited more than 30 seconds to go through immigration. I’ve even been greeted with a smile.

Mmm. Can I admit? It was a pleasant moment for me, this morning (around… when? 1:00AM?), when the immigrations officer in Bangalore quizzed me, “you don’t need a visa for Singapore?”

“Nope,” I replied. “I’m American.”

And, well, as long as I’m making confessions: my six months in SE Asia have had just the effect on me that I was afriad they might: I’m geniunely proud to be an American. I’m just as (if not more) aware of America’s shortcomings and faults, but being away from America has given me an opportunity to view, with a proper sense of perspective, how many good things America has going for it.

But I also find myself more determined than ever to do whatever I can to fight for and defend those things that make America great. And to fight and resist everything (see: Wal-mart, Dick Cheney, etc) who threaten American prosperity and emminence. Heh. What form that will take still remains to be seen. But I have plans, mind you…

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Hmm. Hotel California and free internet. I may never leave.