A Natural Anthem

Wrap-up

2009-06-18T18:09:00.003-05:00

I think I need to bring this blog to its natural conclusion.

For those of you reading it for information about Moldova, you need to start at the beginning of 2008, because the recent posts barely touch upon my time there.

Moldova is an incredible country full of contradictions and confusion. If you're assigned there as a PCV it will be a experience you will not forget.

Thanks to all that read it; sorry it got off topic so much.

Catch you on the flip side.

So this crisis was caused because the government forced banks to give home loans to poor people?

2009-03-11T11:10:00.005-05:00

Subprime mortgages took off after 2004. Subprime mortgages had been around for a long time. But their popularity took off in late 2004. Most subprime mortgages were issued after 2004, according to a survey by the New York Federal Reserve.

Subprime mortgages were not used primarily for new home purchases.
One of the familiar media narratives is that subprime loans were used as part of a government policy to make home ownership affordable to low-income people. But in fact most subprime loans were used to refinance existing mortgages, and not for new home purchases. And most of those refinancings were also used by home owners to take out more cash from their home equity.

Many people who would have qualified for a traditional prime mortgage took out a subprime mortgage instead, based on the recommendation of mortgage brokers, who earned bigger upfront fees from the subprime product.

A big percentage of subprime mortgages had inadequate documentation. It's easy to engage in mortgage fraud if you don't need to prove your income or your net worth. And the proliferation of "no income, no asset" mortgage loans did just that. It was an invitation to fraud. This product was most popular in California and Florida.

Most subprime mortgages had adjustable rates. Most subprime mortgages had low introductory interest rates that reset after a few years. Often, when the rates were reset, homeowners discovered they were no longer able to afford the monthly payments.

Subprime Mortgages With
Adjustable Interest Rates
Arizona 73%
California 69%
Florida 65%
Nevada 68%
Wash., D.C. 68%
U.S. 61%

For an incredibly detailed analysis of all the math involved in the mortgage crisis, go here.

The Daily Dish, Andrew Sullivan

2009-03-01T08:42:00.001-06:00

28 Feb 2009 01:38 pm

Dissent Of The Day II

A reader writes:

I came to this country and worked hard also.. and, like you, have been lucky enough to be successful. This country is wonderful that way - if you work hard you have a good chance of being successful. But many people work very, very hard and are not successful - and not because they are stupid, or lazy. The difference between Obama and his predecessors is that he realizes that the people who work hard and don't make a lot of money, or work hard and don't have health insurance, or who worked hard all their lives and now - in their golden years- have little to show for it also deserve some minimum level of dignity.

And yes, someone has to pay for it, and I'm happy for it to be me and people like me, because there for but for the grace of God. It's not punishing the successful, it's realizing that hard work is only part of the equation and we as a society need to recognize our obligations to those people who have held up their part of the bargain but didn't end up on the winning side (and children get an automatic pass).

a full repost of an andrew sullivan article

2009-02-23T14:34:00.000-06:00

February 22, 2009

Mad, maddening America, the wisest of all

The US is hobbled by bigotry but it has an unrivalled vitality that pushes it ever forward

Andrew Sullivan

America can drive you up the wall. To Europeans and world-weary Brits, it can sometimes seem almost barmy in its backwardness. It is a country where one state, Arkansas, has just refused to repeal a statute barring atheists from holding public office but managed in the same session to pass a law allowing guns in churches. It incarcerates a higher percentage of its population than even Russia and aborts more babies per capita than secular Europe.

Darwin remains a controversial figure, but Sarah Palin was a serious candidate to be vice-president. Last week the California legislature took five days to prevent the entire state from going bankrupt; and more than three months after the election, and five months since the financial system went kablooey, the Treasury secretary had not mustered the staff sufficient to craft the details of a rescue package for the banks.

There are times in the quarter of a century since I arrived in America that I have been tempted to throw my hands up in frustration. To give a brutal, personal example, I’ve lived in the US since 1984. I’ve made a home and a life here. But I still cannot even begin the process of becoming a citizen because the United States makes it illegal for anyone with HIV to get a green card.

The ban was passed in the 1980s in a moment of total, ignorant panic. It took two decades to repeal it last summer, and the government bureaucracy still hasn’t changed the regulation. There are only 12 countries in the world with such a draconian policy on HIV-positive immigrants: Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sudan and the good old USA. Quite some company, no?

Another small insanity: the residents of the city I live in, Washington DC, America’s capital, do not have any representation in Congress. Since the founding of the country, the district has never been formally a part of a state, and so cannot, according to the constitution, have representatives in the House or the Senate. Imagine the residents of Westminster not having any MPs in the Commons. The residents of Bagh-dad, in fact, have more democracy than the residents of Washington but no one in government cares enough about this actually to amend the constitution to make that change.

And yet I stay and love it and defend it, even as it can push me to bang my head against the wall at times and may eventually throw me out altogether. Why? Because I’ve learnt over the years that the constitutional system that seems designed to prevent change has more wisdom in it than some more centralised parliamentary systems; and because the very chaotic, decentralised and often irrational mess of American state and federal politics also allows for real innovation and debate in ways that simply do not occur as vibrantly elsewhere. The frustration and innovation are part of the same system. You cannot remove one without also stymieing the other.

Take gay rights, a cause dear to my heart. Many Europeans feel quite smug about their enlightenment, and the transformation of the debate in Britain in the past decade has been as profound as it has been welcome. But few doubt that America pioneered the gay rights movement, as the movie Milk, up for eight Oscars tonight, underlines. New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the 1970s forged a liberation movement that changed gay lives throughout the world.

Yet even now, though I have a marriage licence, something no gay couple in Britain have, my five-year relationship is not recognised by the federal government. In Massachusetts, a state where gay marriage is legal and where I married my partner Aaron in August 2007, the licence is no different in any respect from that given to heterosexual couples. Civil partnership may provide rights at a national level, but it is still indeli-bly a separate and lesser institution than marriage itself, and offers a lesser measure of the social, psychological and cultural acceptance that civil marriage provides.

In California, gays just suffered a horrible setback as a majority narrowly voted to take away marriage rights. But at least they had a chance to get them in the first place. And the debate was a real and raw one – which made victory more meaningful and defeat more profound.

In America, the bigotry you face is real, unvarnished and in the open. In Britain, it can come masked or euphemised or deflected into humour. It hurts much more to punch a brick wall than to punch a deep velvet cushion. But if you punch hard enough, the wall will one day crumble, while the pillow will constantly absorb the blows.

There is plenty of religious bigotry and fundamentalist rigidity and crude sectarianism in America. But there is also a clear and invigorating religious energy that takes the question of God seriously and does not recoil from it in apathy or world-weariness. Give me a fundamentalist to argue with any day over someone who has lost the will to care that much at all.

On race, of course, this is especially true. No civilised country sustained slavery as recently as America or defended segregation as tenaciously as the American South until just a generation ago. In my lifetime, mixed-race couples were legally barred from marrying in many states. But equally in my lifetime, a miscegenated man who grew up in Hawaii won a majority of the votes in the old slave state of Virginia to become the first minority president of any advanced western nation.

That is the paradox of America; and after a while you find it hard to appreciate anything more coherent. What keeps America behind is also what keeps pushing it relentlessly, fitfully forward.

That Canadian genius Leonard Cohen put it best, perhaps. In his anthem Democracy he called the United States “the cradle of the best and of the worst”.

You live with the worst because you yearn for the best, because the worst in its turn seems somehow to evoke the best. From the civil war came Abraham Lincoln; from the Great Depression came FranklinD Roosevelt; from segregation came Martin Luther King; and from George Bush came Barack Obama. America may indeed drive us up the wall, but it also retains a wondrous capacity to evoke the mountain top and what lies beyond.

S. 162, The Fiscal Discipline, Earmark Reform, and Accountability Act

2009-02-05T11:22:00.002-06:00

S. 162 would provide greater accountability of taxpayers' dollars by curtailing congressional earmarking.

It's a Feingold, McCaskill, McCain "joint". Support it by emailing your legislators. It's just in the senate, so you can go to www.senate.gov, but it doesn't hurt to tell your house folks to, and you can find out who those people are here: http://www.votesmart.org/

Kids letters to Obama....

2009-02-05T10:31:00.002-06:00

Dear Obama,
I hope this letter reaches you in the best of health and condition, following your victory in the presidential race.… I guess the best thing about the White House is the experience of being there for a term or two terms and really sucking everything up, be it good or bad.
Sincerely,
Mohammad Jama, age 14
Ann Arbor, Mich.

Dear President Obama,
The first thing you need to do is put your stuff in the White House. Be careful, Abraham Lincoln haunts one of the bedrooms. Look around the White House. Meet with your helpers. Get a puppy. Talk to America. Make a speech.
Sincerely,
Matthew Wong, age 8
Chicago

Dear Mr. Obama,
As president, I would move into the White House and get some people to help me with my homework. I would fill the White House with chocolate and gravy (but not together) and mashed potatoes or maybe fill it with root beer. I'd drive through the White House on a boat. We'd make the floor out of mashed potatoes and the house would be filled with mashed potatoes. …
I'd have a couch made out of pudding that you could eat with a giant spoon. And I'd have a pizza carpet. After we'd eaten all of our furniture, we'd buy real furniture.
Amir Abdelhadi, age 6 (as dictated to Katie McCaughan)
Chicago

Here is a list of the first ten things you should do as president:
1. Fly to the White House in a helicopter.
2. Walk in.
3. Wipe feet.
4. Walk to the Oval Office.
5. Sit down in a chair.
6. Put hand sanitizer on hands.
7. Enjoy moment.
8. Get up.
9. Get in car.
10. Go to the dog pound.
Please enjoy your experience as president.
Sincerely,
Chandler Browne, age 12
Chicago

Dear Mr. Obama,
Hey, I'm Sheenie, I'm kinda a poet. I really hope you put America back together. No pressure though.
Sheenie Shannon Yip, age 13
Seattle

Dear President Obama:
You are awesome!!! Some things you should do are:
1. Stop the use of oil in cars.
2. Clean up the ocean.
3. Help animals that are endangered.
4. Help immigrants get better jobs.
5. Give money to schools.
6. Fire the governor of California.
Love,
Hilda Herrera, age 12
San Francisco

Dear President Obama,
Could you help my family to get housecleaning jobs? I hope you will be a great president. If I were president, I would help all nations, even Hawaii.
President Obama, I think you could help the world.
Chad Timsing, age 9
Los Angeles

Dear President Obama,
If you could lower gas prices, it would be good so people could not waste their money. Or if they waste all their money, they should have more chances before they become homeless.
Jackson Huang, age 10
Los Angeles

Inspiring 5th Graders.

2009-02-04T13:34:00.004-06:00

So these are public school kids in New York - in a regular school, no magnet or anything, I checked. And I just think they're awesome.

It's been awhile....

2009-01-29T14:23:00.002-06:00

I haven't written an actual posting in a serious long time, and truth be told, I have much to update about.

Prague.

Egypt.

Moldova.

New apartment.

All these things have kept me busy in the past few months - kept me away from my computer. Or at least, away from writing anything.

Plus, when the election ended, things just kind of - crashed emotionally. It was a serious buildup of emotion and fear, and when that ended it was such a relief that I didn't even watch the news for awhile.

Yes Rachel Maddow, I... forsoke you? forsaked you? But only for a few months. Only until the inauguration. Now I'm back to my "no he did not do that!" state of mind.

Except for now it seems to be more of the "yes, he *totally* did that!" kind of exclamations.

Anyway...

I'm in the midst of this momentously huge task of Model United Nations, and it's sure been a tough project. We're greatly expanding it, and it's hard to do a project in a nation that has very little internet access and sketchy phone system. Oh, do I have stories.

But the competitions for MUN start in two weeks, and I am finishing trainings in romanian (which are horrible) so that the local competitions can start, and once they're finished, I'm finished! Huzzah!

The end of February, folks, I'll have so much more free time. But I'll try to be on here more, promise promise.

What Obama Can Learn from "Old Europe"

2009-01-29T14:17:00.001-06:00

This is a ridiculously long article to republish on a blog.

I don't care. It deserves a reading. Not that anyone will. But it will make it easier for me to find and quote later.

"The inauguration of the 44th president looked like the most dramatic debut since the Beatles arrived in New York. But now it's time for Team Obama to produce results. For three of President Obama's top priorities -- energy and climate change, health care, and jumpstarting the economy -- he would do well to look toward "old Europe" for guidance.

Energy and the Environment
The European Union recently displayed global leadership by enacting its 20-20-20 Plan: agreeing to cut human-produced carbon emissions that contribute to global warming at least 20 percent by 2020. They will do this by ramping up renewable energy technologies to 20 percent of energy usage, as well as by implementing far-reaching conservation measures and enacting the world's most ambitious carbon-trading program.

Displaying an important principle that will be crucial to any global climate agreement replacing the Kyoto Protocol, the richest European nations will contribute a greater share toward combating climate change.

Importantly, the EU has not allowed the recent economic crisis to thwart its drive. EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso told the BBC, "The financial crisis is not an excuse. On the contrary, we can make it a win-win situation. We can create more green jobs; we can promote more investment in the low-carbon economy of the future."

Indeed, the European wind and solar industries are creating thousands of jobs, many of them in rural areas where job creation can be difficult. Germany's economy has received a major boost from a massive investment in the renewable energy sector. Tens of thousands of Germans are employed in the wind-turbine industry. Germany's entire renewable energy industry -- including wind, solar and biomass power - included 249,300 jobs in 2007, a 50 percent jump from 2004. On a per capita basis, that is comparable with creating 1 million U.S. jobs.

A study by the German government predicts that by 2020 there will be 400,000 domestic jobs in the renewable energy sector. Other EU nations are enjoying similar economic surges; in Portugal, a massive solar plant is bringing jobs and development to the traditionally poor Alentejo region, 125 miles southeast of the capital Lisbon. The business of wind, solar and other renewables is growing deep roots in fertile European soil, and Europe is leading by example. In a friendly challenge to then President-elect Obama, Barroso said, "Our message to our global partners is: Yes, you can ... especially to our American partners."

Health Care
Similarly on health care, the Obama administration can learn from what has worked in Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) rates European countries as having the best health care systems in the world, spending, on average, far less than the United States for universal coverage and quality results. France has the top-rated health care system, while the United States is ranked 37th -- just ahead of Cuba and Slovenia. In the Czech Republic, a proposal to introduce a $2 co-payment per office visit nearly toppled the government, as health care is considered a basic right in the social contract.

The United States ranks 28th in the world in infant mortality, at seven deaths per 1,000 live births, tied with Poland and Slovakia, and substantially higher than Sweden (3.4 deaths), France (4.3 deaths) and Germany (4.5 deaths). In life expectancy, the United States ranks 29th, its 77 years lagging behind Italy (81 years), France (80 years), Sweden (81 years) and Germany (79 years), and about the same level as South Korea (76 years) and Cuba (77 years). The United States has fewer per capita physicians, nurses and hospital beds, fewer MRI and CT scanners than the average for other advanced nations, and has the highest rate of medical errors (receiving the wrong medication, incorrect test results, a mistake in treatment or late notification about abnormal results). And of course, the U.S. has some 45 million Americans without health care, with that number rising as more Americans join the ranks of the unemployed and lose their employer-based health care.

In addition to providing better health coverage, Europe also manages to spend less. According to the WHO, the United States spends the equivalent of 16.5 percent of its economy on health care, about $6,100 per person, compared to an average 8.6 percent in EU countries. France spends just $3,500 per person, or about 10.7 percent of its economy. As Dr. Christopher Murray, director of WHO's Global Program on Evidence for Health Policy, says, "Basically, you die earlier and spend more time disabled if you're an American rather than a member of most other advanced countries."

How do the European countries manage to provide better health care than most Americans receive for about half the per capita cost? While there are differences from nation to nation, there also are some broad generalities to point to, as well as national specifics. These give us a pretty good snapshot that should be instructive to the Obama administration as they grapple with a health care system that is continuing to hurt American workers, businesses, and increasingly will hurt American competitiveness in the global economy.

The first overriding difference between American and European healthcare systems is one of philosophy. The various European healthcare systems put people and their health before profits. It is the difference between health care run mostly as a nonprofit venture with the goal of keeping people healthy and working, or running it as a for-profit commercial enterprise. For example, UnitedHealth Group CEO William McGuire received an obscene $124.8 million in compensation in 2005. He's just one of many grossly overcompensated kingpins of the U.S. health care industry. If nothing else, the U.S. health care system provides a valuable tale illustrating that corporate profits and affordable, quality universal health care are not a viable mix.

The second major difference between American and European healthcare is in the specific institutions and practices that flow from this philosophy of "health comes first." Contrary to stereotype, not every country in Europe employs government-run, "socialized medicine." Unlike single-payer Britain or Sweden, France, Germany and other nations have figured out a third way hybrid with private insurance companies, short waiting lists for treatment and individual choice of doctors. This model is based on the principle of "shared responsibility" between workers, employers and the government, all contributing their fair share to guarantee universal coverage. Health care is mandatory: everyone pays what they can afford into the health care fund so that everyone can receive health care.

A similar health care plan now is used in Massachusetts, and has been proposed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in California, but with two essential differences: in France and Germany, the private insurance companies are non-profits. Doctors, nurses and health care professionals are paid well, but you don't have corporate health care CEOs making hundreds of millions of dollars. Generally speaking, the profit motive has been wrung out of the system.

The second key difference is in the area of cost controls. In France and Germany fees for services are negotiated between representatives of the health care professions, the government, patient consumer representatives, and the private nonprofit insurance companies. Like in America's publicly financed Medicare system (which provides health care to the retired and elderly), the negotiations establish a national agreement for treatment procedures, fee structures and rate ceilings that prevent health care costs from spiraling out of control. In the end, this not only benefits personal health, but also has been good for European businesses, which aren't exposed to the soaring health care costs that have plagued American businesses.

Economic Stimulus
The Obama administration also could take notes from how the Europeans are jumpstarting their economies. Europe sometimes is criticized for its lack of unity, but sometimes that multi-headed hydra affords certain advantages. Having so many powerful nation-states allows each nation to act as a laboratory for the others, learning from each other's successes and shortcomings.

For example, during the massive financial meltdown in the fall of 2008, as markets reeled and the US announced a $700 billion bailout plan, Europe was harshly criticized for its initial failure to craft a continent-wide bailout. Eurosceptics saw it as another example of Europe's disunity and weakness.

But that was a rush to judgment. Each country initially tried its own bailout formula, and less than two weeks later the British strategy under Prime Minister Gordon Brown emerged as the most effective. Much of the rest of Europe followed, as did the United States in a change of tactics from Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson's original plan, which had proven to be so ineffective.

The European plan also includes tighter controls over the bailout money, equity in the banks, reductions in dividends and concessions from the bankers (including restrictions on executive pay in some countries), all of which were lacking from the US bailout. And Europe already has enacted a fiscal stimulus worth hundreds of billions of dollars at the continental and national levels, while Americans still await Obama's plan. Europe is looking relatively light on its feet, while the U.S. has looked flatfooted.

With a half billion people, Europe is the largest, wealthiest trading bloc in the world, producing nearly a third of the world's economy -- as large as the U.S. and China combined. While its critics have derided Europe as a land of "creeping socialism," in fact Europe has more Fortune 500 companies than the US, China or Japan.

Like the United States, Europe is fighting to pacify the rising economic floodwaters. But something about Europe and its "social capitalism" seems particularly well-suited to this make-or-break century challenged by a worldwide economic slump, global warming and new geopolitical tensions. Team Obama would do well to take notes."

Steven Hill is director of the Political Reform Program at the New America Foundation. His book "Europe Rising" will be published by the University of California Press in September 2009.

A Change is Gonna Come

2009-01-29T13:46:00.001-06:00

If there is one thing Mr. Obama has not gotten around to changing, it is the Oval Office décor.

When Mr. Bush moved in, he exercised his presidential decorating prerogatives and asked his wife, Laura, to supervise the design of a new rug. Mr. Bush loved to regale visitors with the story of the rug, whose sunburst design, he liked to say, was intended to evoke a feeling of optimism.

The rug is still there, as are the presidential portraits Mr. Bush selected — one of Washington, one of Lincoln — and a collection of decorative green and white plates. During a meeting last week with retired military officials, before he signed an executive order shutting down the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Mr. Obama surveyed his new environs with a critical eye.

“He looked around,” said one of his guests, retired Rear Adm. John D. Hutson, “and said, ‘I’ve got to do something about these plates. I’m not really a plates kind of guy.’ ”

From "White House Unbuttons Formal Dress Code" in NYTimes
by Sheryl Gay Stolberg

Published: January 28, 2009

How to Slow Google

2009-01-22T13:49:00.001-06:00

There was only one force powerful enough to dampen the Internet’s hunger for all things Obama yesterday: Barack Obama himself.

Of course.

Check out the chart below, via the “Official Google Blog,” which shows the overall volume of queries at the search engine giant yesterday.

That valley in the middle of the graph? That’s the period when Obama actually spoke during his inauguration ceremony, starting a little after noon Eastern time. That’s one powerful speech.

When Al-Qaeda Starts Whining....

2008-11-27T05:49:00.003-06:00

I personally believe that Al-Qaeda is going to start some s*it in the next few months. How can they not? Their credibility has been blown.

And if the news of Mumbai today is anything to go by, well, I'm not too far off the mark.

But here's the thing: When Al-Qaeda releases weak videos calling the President-Elect of the United States a House Negro, and then starts whining when their video isn't well received in the foreign or native press, you kind of know something is going right. The wind has truly gone out of their sails, because it's kind of hard to be scared of whiners. These aren't impressive people, they're just bullies, and right now, they're bullies who are having their biggest weapons taken away from them. I can no more be scared of them than I can be scared of an earthquake or a car accident

Don't you think?

When Al-Qaeda starts complaining that the media is unfairly biased towards Barack Obama....

Well, maybe they should talk to Mark Halperin. I'm sure he'd *totally* be fair and balanced.

World Reactions to Obama's Win

2008-11-27T05:02:00.003-06:00

A taste of world reactions:

Italian Newspaper: The World Changes

Iraqi Blogger:
I am so happy today. I feel hope in the wind. Obama is the elect president of the U.S of A.

Am I happy for Iraq? I don't know. I don't know what will happen and I'm afraid. Will he pull out the troops? Will he care enough to reach a good compromise – fair to the Iraqi people? Or will he have to go overboard in some issues just to prove that he's American? Can he withstand the pressures?

But in spite of all my fears, I am so happy for America - You have come such a long way. You had the strength, the will to elect this man of change. And with all my heart I hope he puts America on the path to recovery. To see America again on the pedestal of freedom and democracy, a benign force that heals instead of hurts, unites instead of divides – soon inshalla.

I wish to congratulate you all.

Prominent Saudi columnist Dawood al-Shirian.
"Today, reality in America has superseded fantasy. ... Americans have struck a deadly blow to racism all over the world. Americans have regained themselves and have regained the American dream. The picture of the U.S. that was disfigured by the Republicans in the past eight years fell from the wall today. The picture of the America we had in our minds has taken its place."

Syrian Daily: "We Hereby Declare Obama the 44th President [Before It's Official]... Even If It Might Be Considered Irresponsible Journalism"

In its headline, the Syrian daily Al-Watan named Obama president even before the official results were announced. The editorial that accompanied the headline explained: "We wanted to declare Obama president... as a show of solidarity with millions of Americans, Arabs, and colleagues in the world media who [all] yearn for 'change' in U.S. foreign policy. They are all betting on Obama - who has been waving the slogan [of change]... in hope that he will be different not only in the color of his skin, but also in his view regarding Washington's policy towards the world...

"Some claim that if Obama wins he will be no better than Bush, if not worse... They may be right, since it is well known that no American president has ever stood on the side of the Arabs - rather, they have all stood on the side of Israel...

"Yesterday was undoubtedly a long, exhausting, and historic day by any standard. The American people [voted] with a vigor not seen in any [previous] U.S. presidential election, in a bid to make history and change the ugly face of the U.S.

"Out of respect for them and for everyone who voted for change, and out for respect for the souls of the Syrian, Iraqi, and Arab martyrs, we hereby declare Obama the 44th president of the U.S., even if it might be considered irresponsible journalism. We are sure that our readers will forgive us if we turn out to be wrong - [a possibility] for which we do not hope."

Mostafa Eqbali, a merchant in the Iranian capital, Tehran: "Let me tell you that now I believe in American democracy. Honestly, I did not think that Obama would be president. I thought that the invisible hands of the big trusts and cartels would not allow a black man to be president of the United States."

A journalist from South Africa:

Damn, I love Americans. Just when you’ve written them off as hopeless, as a nation in decline, they turn around and do something extraordinary, which tells you why the United States of America is still the greatest nation on earth. But too, what is happening in America and Kenya holds lessons for politicians everywhere, and South Africa would do well to take heed.

Britain's Guardian newspaper: "Today is for celebration, for happiness and for reflected human glory. Savor those words: President Barack Obama, America's hope and, in no small way, ours too."

Mali President Amadou Toure: "The United States has given a lesson, a lesson in maturity and a lesson in democracy."

Japanese artist Terumi Hino: "Americans overcame the racial divide and elected Obama... I think this means the United States can go back to being admired as the country of dreams."

Nelson Mandela: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."

Tristram Hunt, a British historian: Mr. Obama "brings the narrative that everyone wants to return to — that America is the land of extraordinary opportunity and possibility, where miracles happen."

And something written BEFORE the election by a journalist in Ramallah:

"But what if the face of America were Obama’s instead, and the warmth of feeling extended to Americans could not instinctively be denied their leader? What if the posters of Mohammed Ali would come down and posters of, of all things, the US president would be filling their spaces—filling, that is, some of the holes in the hearts of fruit vendors, terrified by globalization, from Palestine to Jakarta? Obama’s campaign, and many pundits, have made the point, so I won’t go on about it. But I thought I might report that one cannot take a cab in Ramallah and not run into what this means."

And some videos:

A New York City Subway

Europa

Sydney, Australia (although this is what *my* party looked like)

Obama City, Japan

Where I wanted to be more than anywhere else in the Whole World

But probably my favorite video, just because it's my favorite story: Washington DC, the White House

People just flooded out into the streets, apparently, and ended up marching to the White House in an uncoordinated march of joy. I heard that someone hung up a sign saying "Welcome Home, Malia and Sasha."

November 5th, 2008

2008-11-27T04:49:00.002-06:00

"The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults."
Alexis de Tocqueville

On the Eve of the Millenium, I spent my night alternating between partying on the beach on South Padre Island in Texas and running back to the condo room my friends and I had rented so that we could watch as each time zone turned over, starting with New Zealand. On that particular island, we learned that on New Years Day it's tradition for people to run out into the sea to meet the sunrise; that year they happened to greet the dawn of a new age as well.

I remember the feeling of trepidation as we waited for Moscow's New Year - Yeltsin had just stepped down unexpectedly, and no one really knew why. Despite a cancelled state celebration, people gathered in Red Square and threw their own party - complete with homemade fireworks.

Cairo got in on the fun, and you can't really beat a light show against the pyramids. Of course, unless I'm mistaken, it wasn't technically their New Years, but who didn't want to join in on the Millenium Party?

The successes of these initial shindigs, and the constant tv images of everyone gathering, was intoxicating. Who needed the cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon we had bought?

But it wasn't until I watched images of Nigeria count down that I became, for lack of better words, giddy on the history I was witnessing: the people in the capital there were singing and dancing to Madonna's "Holiday." Yes, in my mind, the world was united, by Madonna.

I still can't listen to that song without getting a little emotional, because it reminds me of the feelings I had after that night. Nothing bad had happened, despite dire predictions. Everyone just... paused... for one night... in a single and common expression of hope and joy. And it made me feel so... excited, and proud, and hopeful. That feeling lasted for a surprisingly long time.

I have to tell you, that this was the same feeling I had on November 5th.

I spent election day and night in London. It was interesting to be away from the United States - to watch and listen to non-Americans while they watched us with bated breath make this one ginormous decision.

I spent my night at the London School of Economics. They hosted one of the many all-night election parties in London, as indeed there were all-night election parties all around the world.

I was surrounded by Americans, Brits, Indians, Irish, and countless people from other nations. So many people came to the party that they had to shut the building down - we had become a fire hazard.

People counted down the closing of the polls in each area like it *was* New Years, cheered - not just when a state was declared for Obama, but when polls showed positively for Obama... even if only 2% of the precincts were reporting.

I found that kind of silly, but I'll admit the enthusiasm was catching.

People who know me know that for the past two years, I've been pretty focused on Obama becoming President. I can list a whole host of reasons that I have for being supportive of him, including the fact that I think the man is a chess player of a politician from the great city of Chicago, and god knows we need a long-term thinker who is comfortable playing some rough and tumble politics in the White House.

But I have a much more global reason for being so supportive.

While I certainly can't claim to be a globe trotter, I have traveled enough in the past decade to know that being an American abroad is not something that works in your favor (and yes, our downward spiral started before the Bush administration). I've heard the term "American" thrown around like a curse-word in multiple languages.

But on November 5th, it's like a switch was thrown around the world.

That day, walking around LondonTown, people heard my accent and congratulated me; I even got high-fived at a grocery store. Obama was everywhere in the news, and on the television. Commentary and images suggests that my story of international support is anywhere from unique.

What has started to become crystal clear to me is that people from around the world have been hungry for America to be... America again; to be the America that people idealize, the America that dreams are made of, and where dreams can come true for anyone from anywhere. America may be mocked for being overly idealistic and hopeful, but it seems that the world wants to have a Shining Beacon of Hope-iness nation to look to. The speed in which the world switched back to the belief that we are that nation is astounding - and is indicative of just how *hungry* people were to have that belief back again.

Am I overstating? Being dramatic? Maybe. But then again, maybe not.

The last big Democrat event in Grant Park-Chicago was the Convention in 1968, when 20,000 police and national guardsman gassed and beat 10,000 protesters, doctors and reporters. The Mayor at the time (the father of the current mayor) remained unrepentant of the event to his last days. As newscasters projected the images into the homes of America, the protesters chanted "The Whole World is Watching, The Whole World is Watching."

The events of that night changed the course of American politics.

Just a little over 40 years later, in exactly the same place, I feel like it's fair to say that the whole world was watching as Americans did something that no one in the world thought we'd ever do - elect a black man named Barack Hussein Obama who grew up in Jakarta and Hawaii to be the President of the United States. There is history and power in what happened that night, and it resonated across the globe.

These events could well change the course of World politics.

It definitely changes the course of our worldview - my nieces and nephew (at least the younger ones) are going to grow up in a different America than I grew up in. They will never remember a time where it wasn't absolutely normal for an African American to hold the highest office in the land.

Now I believe that Obama is in for a rough ride, as indeed we all are. And no doubt - no doubt - the world will lose some of its enthusiasm for Mr Obama when they realize he is our President, and will act in our interest - not theirs.

But just like with the Millenium turnover, I want to bask in the glow for a little while, to revel in what was accomplished, and to imagine the possibilities. And yes maybe, I do want to gloat a little bit. All those folks around the world who hated on America, they can go, well, eat crow. We may not be perfect, we may make mistakes, but our system is designed to allow us to correct those mistakes as we will. There is majesty in that.

One of the reasons Obama's win has reverberated so strongly across the world is because they recognize that America is the only nation where such a thing is possible. Those are not just words from a stump speech.

For a very brief moment in time, we became the better angels of the world's nature.

I don't really mind feeling superior to the French. Or the British. Maybe particularly the British, as disdain from the people of the "Sun Never Sets on Our Empire" seemed acutely hypocritical.

But most importantly, I believe that we have delivered a striking blow to terrorists dedicated to the destruction of our country. And I am humbled by that knowledge.

So am I happy with the outcome? Happy does not seem an appropriate adjective, because while I'm excited and proud, god knows I'm also very scared. But still, I'm basking. Just for awhile. Just for a little bit.

Long Time, No...

2008-11-27T04:46:00.002-06:00

So I haven't had much time to write lately, mostly because I haven't had access to the internet since I moved from my host family's apartment. Oh, and I also went on vacation to London.

So while the silence does indicate a certain amount of busy-ness, it mostly just indicates a lack of connectivity.

With that in mind, I wanted to go ahead and jump right into it - but I'll have to post what I wrote immediately following the election first. November 5th was a big day for me, as you can imagine.

A Real American from Real America

2008-10-21T12:19:00.002-05:00

First Opening of the Daily Show Post 9/11

2008-10-21T06:48:00.004-05:00

I haven't really written a lot lately because, well, I don't really feel like right now is time for a lot of frivolous stuff. I'm naturally worried about people at home in the states, and members of my family.

I also am trying really hard to keep my mouth shut about politics out of deference to the people I love.

But something is really grating on me.

The past few days a bunch of articles have come out about the Millennial Generation, and they're not very flattering.

"Sources describe millennials as self-centered, needy and ill-equipped to handle failure and disappointment. And if handling those personalities weren't headache-inducing enough, [this article suggests], companies must also deal with the parents that instilled those attitudes with incessant coddling."

We have an entitlement problem. We expect too much too soon. But hey, it's really our parent's fault - they started it. They coddled us, told us we were awesome from birth.

I've addressed this before.

And, apparently, some parents are flat out crazy: "[some] will badger employers as easily as teachers. One General Electric Co. recruiting manager [said] that parents have called him trying to negotiate fatter paychecks for their children. A Conference Board official told of a worker who at first refused to travel to a business meeting because the worker's mother had deemed the trip unnecessary."

The fact that we refuse to give up our lives in "loyalty" to the cause of a corporation who we know will absolutely have no loyalty to us is considered abhorrent...

oh, and the fact that we consider pantyhose anachronistic...

and it's considered immature that we want flex hours even though we know that we work better from 10 - 7...

these are big big problems for corporations and recruiters.

Have they ever read about the productivity of Google? Does the fact that they have shares going for like, $500 give them one inkling of a clue?

You know what, I was told I was special and smart, and when I screwed up on something, I was told I could do better or I was yelled at to do better. But my parents sure as hell never called my work to try to negotiate a deal for me.

And you know what? They can bitch about our self-confidence, but it's because of this confidence that I've been so successful. All things considered, I've produced and done some pretty fantastic things, and I'm not embarrassed to say that, nor do I think I'm being overly congratulatory to myself. Google me.

Really, do they really want to bitch about a generation of kids that were "groomed" to rise the ladder when a full 1/3rd of our country's youth is no longer graduating high school? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. They should be kissing our needy asses, and recognize that what we're trying to do is create healthier, holistic lifestyles. This is not a crime, and is indeed something that should be celebrated. The fact is if they work with us, they'll get the loyalty that they want.

I also think it's pretty rich that the generation that raised us, the Boomer Generation, is calling us the generation with too large a sense of entitlement when a) they're our bosses and, to repeat, they raised us and b) are they not considered to be the most entitled generation to have *ever* occupied this country? Do we need to review the holy shitstorm of economic crisis we're in now? The one that they're leaving us, the Millennials, to deal with?

I'm extraordinarily grateful that I have a family that I know I can fall back on. I'm not going to lie that I know this is there, and that some of my decisions have been made with this knowledge in the back of my mind. But this knowledge made me exquisitely conscience of all the people that don't have this luxury, which is an unacceptable amount of Americans. Maybe if some of the corporations complaining paid one red cent of taxes we could have some modicum of an education system in this country, and they could then have a broader pool of people to chose from to hire. Greed sure bites you in the ass, don't it?

French First Lady and the winner of the French "American Idol" singing the Juno Song.

2008-10-10T04:42:00.000-05:00

tee hee

2008-10-08T04:59:00.002-05:00

I'm not meaning to hate on her, but this is just damn funny.

She's an Astronaut

2008-10-07T08:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks Pan

Houston, We Have a Problem & (How Peace Corps Volunteers' make for the best American Propoganda)

2008-10-06T06:45:00.005-05:00

Looking Back to Georgia

I don't know how many people heard that on Friday last week a car bomb went off in South Ossetia, killing three civilians and eight Russian soldiers, including a senior officer.

The U.S. is understandably concerned about other things right now.

Here's why I think it's important: any flair up that occurs in any corner of the world (and Pakistan and Afghanistan are powderkegs at the moment as well - Pakistani troops firing on American planes? Holy Crap!) could radically change the outcome of the election.

After I wrote my original post on the Georgia/Russia conflict, I had some interesting discussions with a few of you. Some folks thought that I was misinformed, getting spun information - that Russia was the provocateur, Georgia this haven of democracy.

Colin Powell agrees with me: Georgia started it. And Human Rights Watch agrees with me as well: Georgia's democratic freedoms have been slipping away with the Saakashvili administration.

With this most recent attack, Georgia is accusing Russia of engineering the whole thing so that they would have an excuse not to withdraw. Russia blames the Georgian secret police.

I'm not going to speculate on who's to blame; I don't think you could call either administration all that trustworthy.

But it's not exactly a good "sitch," as the kids say, for people in countries with disputed territories supported by Russia.

Like Moldova.

And I'll tell you something that makes this a whole lot worse...

All CIS countries (former soviet states, still strongly linked to Russia) are pumped full of Russian TV, and Russian "news."

Recently, there was a show on here that was showing pictures of President Bush, juxtaposed with Hitler. This was a propaganda piece being passed off as news, saying WE provoked the Ossetian conflict, saying that WE caused the death of all the Ossetians, saying that WE got Saakashvili elected, and that as a country our leaders were just as bad as a man who started WWII and introduced the world to mechanized mass murder.

Pretty crazy.

The Peace Corps and the Propoganda Machine

So the second goal of Peace Corps is to "Help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served."

We're supposed to be mini-Ambassadors - in a way more true ambassadors, of America than any foreign service worker, because we don't live in a gated community on embassy row. The whole structure of PC is based upon living in the communities we're placed with, on becoming part of the community, on gaining trust and acceptance. Learning the native language, eating the local food....

PCVolunteer's - those that actually stick to their committment and stay the full 27 months are strongly respected for the work they do - even if they don't end up getting much done. Because people here are used to broken promises, and shocked that someone would stick around... with them... for two years.

Because I work for an umbrella organization, I've visited villages who have had volunteers in the past, and those that have had good experiences cannot talk enough about "their" American, and everything "their" American did and oh, do I know "their" American?

But those that didn't have a good experience give off a vastly different vibe. It's "that" American didn't learn the language. "That" American left after a month. "That" American never came out of his room.

I think a PCV who leaves a small village for no good reason probably does more to hurt the reputation of America than the propoganda machine of Russia does.

Dramatic? Yes. But people know that Russia exagerates and has an agenda. These face to face contacts with the "Corpul Pacii Voluntarii Americii" leaves a much greater impression on the general populace.

President Bush said (before he, you know, cut the funding of the program :P )

"Peace Corps volunteers don't carry our culture; they carry universal values and principles that are so incredibly important for all mankind."

Next time anybody dares to call me a hippy, I'm so gonna say that George W Bush called me an exporter of universal values necessary for the good of mankind...

But 150 people combatting the Russian spin and propoganda that reaches into probably 95% of Moldovan homes? That's a challenge. In total around the world, there's only about 8,000 PCVs.

Not exactly a large number to be, you know, carrying these universal American values and principles around the world.

I'm not saying. I'm just saying.

There's a reason I love this neighborhood In D.C..... (Attila, this is for you)

2008-10-06T06:13:00.000-05:00

When Monsters Attack (or die and wash ashore)

2008-10-06T05:29:00.002-05:00

For some reason there seems to be a host of monster sightings this year... from Montauk to Martha's Vineyard... and now Russia.

From Gawker.com:

In an effort to ramp up competition with the United States, Russia has produced its own version of the feared and revered Montauk Monster. It's the Moscow Monster! Its carcass washed ashore on the Eastern coast of the Motherland, indicating that Sarah Palin likely shot it from hundreds of yards away in Alaska, while nestled in her rooftop hunting blind. Russian scientists have yet to identify the creature. Note that it is a more hideous and distorted version of the kinder, gentler American original....

Happy (slightly belated) Anniversary, Obamas

2008-10-06T05:24:00.003-05:00

I just really like the way he looks at her. It reminds me of the way my dad looks at my mom.

I can't see him ever calling Michelle a c*nt or trying to sign her up for a wet t-shirt contest.

thoughts on the Corps Experience

2008-10-05T08:05:00.003-05:00

Below is from an article written by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer named Rude that I can't publish in it's entirety, because I would probably get in trouble. But these two paragraphs I thought were pretty intense.

"We made a difference!"

No single Peace Corps experience can be generalized to all volunteers, countries or eras touched by the Peace Corps. Nevertheless, there are common themes that have made the Peace Corps a unique and enduring organization. One theme borne out by historical experience is that the problems addressed by volunteer efforts have been immense – in fact, far beyond their capacity to solve, in nearly every case. This discovery alone has been worth the venture.

The facile, oft-used phrase, “We made a difference!” is a frank admission that making a dent was all that volunteers had a right to expect. Hunger, poverty and disease have grown immeasurably worse over the past 40 years. Peace Corps volunteers have witnessed these tragedies, but for all their passionate caring, they have done little to avert them. Because they were sent as emissaries from the world’s wealthiest nation, a nation perceived as having the capacity (but not the will) to alleviate global suffering, Peace Corps volunteers were viewed as complicit in the very problems they tried to solve.

Volunteers found themselves in circumstances similar to the “innocent” German citizens of Dachau. At the end of the Second World War, as the people of Dachau were required to visit the death camp on the edge of town, they could no longer cry innocence to God or their neighbors. Figuratively, Peace Corps volunteers have also smelled the stench from the ovens. Figuratively, the ashes of AIDS, ignorance, oppression and starvation have been scattered all over their immaculate clothing after they returned from overseas.

Rian----> When I was applying for Peace Corps, I was asked if there was anywhere I wouldn't want to go, and I said that I couldn't go to Africa. I couldn't go because I was afraid that such an experience was something I couldn't come back from - that I would never be able to live with the guilt if I happened to see things that were too vivid.

The rate for suicide for photojournalists who cover Africa is astronomical. I think it's easy to imagine why - having to see tragedy and chaos and be powerless to do anything about it could easily lead to despair. I wonder if there is a comparable statistic with returning Peace Corps volunteers from Africa. Somehow, I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on such statistic.

Mai departe.

The Common Humanity that volunteers discovered

A second, even more powerful discovery of Peace Corps volunteers has been the surging river of common humanity that volunteers, as Americans, could scarcely be aware existed, until they were immersed in it. American popular culture has tried to tap and exploit this yearning, but those who have lived in the so-called developing world know that Hollywood and the media are missing the story of global suffering—as well as global resilience.

What Peace Corps volunteers understand – because they have lived in the places where one third of humanity tries to survive on $2-a-day or $1-a-day – is that laughter, late-night conversations in dimly-lit courtyards, wailing chants at weddings and funerals, and tears of loss, shared with friends who happen to be from different cultures – these humble experiences define humanity for all of us. (emphasis added) This has been a life lesson granted to few Americans, seldom even to the best-educated Americans: that what binds people together as human beings is far more important than what tears them apart. Most volunteers, even those who revert to the middle-class attractions of consumerism, understand that ultimately these attractions are illusory. Love, suffering and courage are not exclusive traits of any society or culture -- they transcend our material world, and bind together the lives of rich and poor alike.

These discoveries–that they were witnesses, more than saviors, and that they shared their humanity with their hosts–is what gave legitimacy to the word “Peace” in the title of the Peace Corps. Who can deny that the agonies of Israel and Palestine, or of India and Pakistan, are based on arbitrary and artificial enmities? Over and over, Americans (watching on TV) hear the pleas of ordinary people whose societies are shattered by war and terrorism. “We just want to live in peace!” they say. And how, exactly, is peace to be defined? As Peace Corps volunteers have lived it, in their daily struggles among people who, with all their differences, are amazingly like themselves.

Rian ----> These are not shocking new principles to me, nor did it take me becoming a Peace Corps member to discover them, nor do I think they're unusual ideas for many people reading this. But I have smart friends. And I think maybe I had a head start thinking about these things anyway.

These are principles that should be, I don't know, common, understood. And I don't think that for many people they are. Not in America, not in Moldova, not anywhere.

There's a word that this article never uses, and it's emphathy. I think that PC does teach people to be very empathetic. And that can never be a bad thing.

The Peace Corps' Secret

2008-10-05T07:53:00.002-05:00

originally published in The Washington Post on March 17, 1999 by Michael Kelly (the first American Journalist Killed in Iraq).

The Peace Corps is modest; the legislation establishing the agency required it to perform only three tasks: "to help the peoples" of host countries, "to help promote a better understanding on the part of the peoples served, and a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people." Done, almost by definition.

The Peace Corps is, on America's behalf, self-interested. In his 1960 Cow Palace speech proposing the Corps, John F. Kennedy made repeatedly clear that the primary strategic function of Corps volunteers was not to altruistically help the world's suffering poor but to serve as anti-Soviet propagandists by deed for the American way.

The Peace Corps is, on its own behalf, not self-interested, at least by bureaucratic standards. Its charter forbids its officials to serve more than five years, which forces the agency to remain young and active, and discourages careerists. This structurally enforced ethos attracts thousands of people each year to volunteer for two years of hard, dangerous work (220 volunteers have died in service).

The Peace Corps is subversive. It attracts idealists and free spirits, and it does not tell them that they are to advance American foreign policy. But they are, and they do, because they think they are not so doing. "Of course 90 percent of Peace Corps alumni will assure you that they were never, ever an arm of American foreign policy," says Carroll. "Which simply proves that the whole thing works: It is an arm of American foreign policy precisely in as much as it is not an arm of American foreign policy."

A creation of government that actually understands and exploits human nature. What an idea.

I smell like Chocolate

2008-09-29T09:53:00.003-05:00

So today I finally broke down and bought foreign body products.

I did this because they are miles cheaper (or, kilometers cheaper?) than American products.

But it means me often have to figure out what things are by pictures, location, ingredients, and smells.

For some reason, I had decided that I was going to move away from the fruity genre. I wanted something warmer. I was thinking - can I buy a cinammon body spray? Wouldn't it be cool to smell like cinammon?

I don't know where this thought came from.

I started my shopping experience with body wash. This I went straight on look alone. It's Duru Moods - it's golden, the gel is all shiny and sparkly, there's golden pearls on the pictures, it says "Luxury" on it, which seems to be a universal word. It's in Romanian, Russian, and Turkish, and smells like - well I don't really know what it smells like, but it smells warm and good, and it was super cheap.

Then came lotion. I actually thought it was shampoo at first. And when I got home, my family told me it was body wash.

What are you going to do?

But it smells like chocolate. I was really taken, for the moment, with the idea of chocolate lotion. I guess chocolate body wash might not be so bad, but it won't last as long. The scent I mean. I wonder if the same brand has a lotion.

This brand is a Israeli brand, by the way, and thus, all the writing is in Hebrew.

Shampoo. This is straight up Russian, and I figured since I was obviously going for the darker scented, food categories, why not try the bottle with a picture of wheat, mint, and a mug of beer? Beer is supposed to be great for your hair right?

Other bottles had eggs and aloe on them. I have heard these things area also good for your hair, but these bottles smelled nowhere as delicious as the beer shampoo smelled. Literally, I was like, huffing the bottle in the middle of the store. (All these products are 100% Russian).

Last but not least, I have recognized that I will eventually run out of my aveeno face lotion, and god knows I can't afford any of the american products. So, I decided to branch out. What would I choose? Another Russian product, named "Olives." Luckily with ingredients in English, I know that this has honey, soy, pumpkin oil, shea, olive oil, lemon acid....

And I know that it's day lotion because I asked. " Scuzaţi-mă vă rog, asta este pentru a zile, şi pentru fata mea?"

All good things, right? Surely these things cannot hurt my fair skin. I'm trying a some tonight.

So I'll let you know how my branching out into foreign products goes. For all 4 products, I spent a whopping 12$ - I spent more on the lady's speed stick, I think, then most the rest of the stuff combined (the Olives tipped the scale).

Mincarea

2008-09-28T14:35:00.002-05:00

Food, glorious food. Hot sausage with mustard.

Or not. I don't think I've seen mustard in this country. Ketchup? Loads. Mayonnaise? O lord yes. And sour creme seems to be a condiment here as well.

I've been thinking about food in Moldova (and out of Moldova) and thought I'd share some of these thoughts.

Like, who in Moldova thought of the idea to put mayonnaise on pizza? And how can we end this travesty?

Continuing with this thought, how can ketchup be construed as pizza sauce? It is so patently a different substance. It is also a tradition that should die an unglorious death.

On the other hand, there is flavored ketchups here, including a spicy (uite) ketchup that I really like. It shakes up the banality of eggs and potatoes.

Oh yes, smintina. Otherwise known as sour creme. It goes on everything - in my household, it is a substitute for butter. Actually when you think about it, it probably is better for you then butter, but it always amuses me to see my little host sister smear her bread with a huge dollop of sour creme.

Moving on to compote. Oh, this is one of the best things to happen to me in Moldova. And I'm very sad it's going to end. Compote is like a delicious natural juice - you throw in a bunch of apples, or plums, or whatever (raspberries, strawberries) and you boil the daylights out of it, add a bit of sugar (but in my household, not a lot) and then serve cold. It's the most refreshing, clean thing I've ever drank. I don't know how else to describe it - it's a clean, crisp, delicious taste. And it's about over.

Fruit and Veg season is about over. Alas. Have I mentioned before that Americans have *no earthly clue* as to what good fruit actually tastes like? And vegetables for that matter. I'm eating eggplant here, for chrissake. I hate eggplant. And scarfing down plums by the dozen. Eating a peach here is a near religious experience, like biting into an orb of heaven.

Le sigh.

Speaking of fresh things, I've had my first taste of straight off the tree walnuts - and again, completely different then the stuff we buy in the stores. These nuts are soft, and taste like butter. So delicious and good.

Speaking of delicious and good, since I've been here I've been eating this grainy type of item called greasca. It's not something that I've ever eaten before, but I really like it. Well, after two minutes of searching on internet, turns out I've been eating buckwheat.

Buckwheat groats to be exact. Commonly called Kasza, or Kasha, in the United States.

Well. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get it in the US. Silly me.

Apparently, Groaty Porridge is a traditional dish on Guy Fawkes Day in England. And guess who's going to be in England on Guy Fawkes Day? Yes, that would be me.

Have I mentioned that I'm going to england? Oh, I know I have. And this is a food posting! But this is ALL about food, my dear.

Because I realized in the middle of a conversation that I'm going to be able to get a Thomas the Baker Curry Vegetable Pasty (pronounced past-e) in about a month. For only 2.50$, I'll have a little pocket of pastry filled heaven.

Of course, London also has every other ethnic dish that one could want. Sushi on escalators. Indian Food on every corner. Haggis.

Well, that one will never happen.

I haven't been this excited about FOOD since... well really I don't think I've ever been this excited about food. It doesn't bode well for my newly slenderized figure.

But really, how much harm can a person do in one week? Hmmmm?

So, how do you like them apples?

Military donations favor Obama over McCain

2008-09-28T14:28:00.002-05:00

Didn't McCain say something in the debate about knowing and loving veterans, and wanting to take care of them? Maybe the soldiers don't believe him.... he has been kind of difficult to understand lately.

Troops donate more campaign money to Obama than McCain, despite McCain's military record

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. soldiers have donated more presidential campaign money to Democrat Barack Obama than to Republican John McCain, a reversal of previous campaigns in which military donations tended to favor GOP White House hopefuls, a nonpartisan group reported Thursday.

Troops serving abroad have given nearly six times as much money to Obama's presidential campaign as they have to McCain's, the Center for Responsive Politics said.

For Full Article, click title.

I'd heard rumors that soldiers were favoring Obama this year, but the numbers shock me - active soldiers are giving money at a rate 6:1 in favor of a democrat. Remarkable. As in I'm remarking upon it.

Course, when the Disabled American Veterans give McCain a 20 percent approval rating vs an 80 percent rating for Obama, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America give Senator McCain a grade of D in comparison to Obama's B-plus, maybe the discrepancy isn't so surprising.

During Recent History, Democratic Administrations....

2008-09-25T05:41:00.008-05:00

Were Better "Republicans" than Republicans were...

Were More Fiscally Responsible than Republicans were....

Grew More Personal Wealth than Republicans Grew....

Created More Jobs than Republican Created......

And Leveled the Playing Field at Greater Levels...

(I'm not saying, I'm just saying....)

Source: The Licsio Report s

$700 Billion for Bailout Plan? It's just a number they pulled out their A**

2008-09-25T05:11:00.002-05:00

"It's not based on any particular data point," a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "We just wanted to choose a really large number."

To read this Forbes article, Go Here

No, this is not a Onion Article disguised as a Forbes article. This would be an article in the Onion disguised as a Forbes article:

McCain’s Economic Plan For Nation: 'Everyone Marry A Beer Heiress'

EPA Won't Remove Rocket Fuel From Drinking Water

2008-09-25T04:59:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has decided there's no need to rid drinking water of a toxic rocket fuel ingredient that has fouled public water supplies around the country.

EPA reached the conclusion in a draft regulatory document not yet made public but reviewed Monday by The Associated Press.

The ingredient, perchlorate, has been found in at least 395 sites in 35 states at levels high enough to interfere with thyroid function and pose developmental health risks, particularly for babies and fetuses, according to some scientists.

To read the rest of this article, go here

TV Show Heroes: One Giant Metaphor for Adults Screwing Their Kids

2008-09-22T12:26:00.002-05:00

The heroes in this science-fiction drama are a group of young people with special supernatural abilities who seek to save the world from a dark, high-level conspiracy, spawned by the Me Generation that is hellbent on annihilating humanity.

“Heroes” is of course a comic book, a sleek cartoonish battle between good and evil. But the saga also serves as an allegory of generational malaise, a venting of the indignation and self-pity of 20- and 30-somethings reduced by the sins of their fathers to ever-diminishing expectations.

.....

Young people today can’t repay their college loans; they can’t afford apartment rents, let alone mortgages; their Social Security is being sucked up by their elders; and H.I.V. left them out of the sexual revolution: what was once free love is now a viral minefield.

.....

“Heroes” gives its fans cathartic validation: You inherited a screwed-up world, and it’s not your fault.

...

“Save the cheerleader, save the world.” On second thought, maybe just save Social Security.

...

Some of the most likeable characters are stuck mopping up their parents’ mistakes. In Season 2, after Peter manages to wrest back the vial containing the world-threatening virus and destroy it, his fellow hero Matt (Greg Grunberg), whose father was also one of the founders of the Company, is less relieved than disgusted. “Your mother, my father, God knows what else they’ve done,” Matt says bitterly. “How much longer are we going to have to clean up their mess?”

It could be a while.

To read full article, go here

Does this blog sometimes seem like a blog about Google?

2008-09-18T09:27:00.001-05:00

September 17, 2008, NYT

Google and General Electric Team Up on Energy Initiatives

By Miguel Helft

Google and General Electric said Wednesday that they would work together on technology and policy initiatives to promote the development of additional capacity in the electricity grid and of “smart grid” technologies to enable plug-in hybrids and to manage energy more efficiently. The companies said their goal is to make renewable energy more accessible and useful.

...

“All this talk about renewable energy will not be realized if we do not build substantial additional transmission capacity,” Mr. Reicher said.

Without additional capacity, Mr. Reicher said, it would not be possible, for example, to get power from a solar plant in the Mojave Desert to Los Angeles, or from a wind farm in the Dakotas to Chicago. Mr. Reicher said that environmental standards, overlapping state and federal regulations and other policy issues are among the biggest impediments to building additional transmission capacity.

...

For Google, the partnership with G.E. is part of larger set of energy initiatives, including direct investments in green technology to help develop renewable energy that is cheaper to produce than coal-generated power. For its part, G.E. has made a large bet on green energy technologies, an initiative the company calls “Ecomagination.”

full article here

Things Moldova has taught me....

2008-09-17T02:37:00.003-05:00

Moldova has taught me how to drink beer.

Moldova has taught me how to drink beer warm.

Moldova has taught me how to drink cognac and brandy.

Moldova has taught me that it's not necessary to drink whiskey when drinking (almost).

Moldova has taught me that simple is better.

Moldova has taught me that simple food is better.

Moldova has taught me to think of butter and jam on bread as gross. Just jam, or just butter please.

Moldova has taught me that sour cream is an acceptable compromise to both jam and butter on bread.

Moldova has taught me that really? Three ingredients is often two too many.

Moldova has taught me that using basil as a spice in some countries is considered faintly sacrilegious.

Moldova has taught me that jello can be savory instead of sweet. You know, if you wanna roll like that.

Moldova has taught me that fried smoked string cheese is one of the most delicious things ever invented.

Moldova has taught me that there is no such thing as being fashionably early.

Moldova has taught me that being on time is a relative concept.

Moldova has taught me that being fashionably late is more in the 45 min to 1 hour range than 15 minutes.

Moldova has taught me that free-flowing air in houses and cars are critically dangerous to your health (explanation at a later date).

Moldova has taught me that it is possible to sleep on extremely uncomfortable sofa beds. Broken sofa beds.

Moldova has taught me that it's possible to live off of 500 g of food per day.

Moldova has taught me that the hora can be sexy.

Moldova has taught me that Americans have no clue as to what fruits and vegetables are supposed to taste like.

Moldova has taught me that being clean is a relative concept.

Moldova has taught me that being dirty is a relative concept.

Moldova has taught me that shoes can never be too clean. Ever.

Moldova has taught me that it can be colder inside your house than it is outside your house.

Moldova has taught me that sometimes it's necessary to take shots of whatsoever is handy (house wine, vodka, cognac) to combat the cold. Because if you think about it, one shot of Alcohol is much cheaper than having your gas on all night.

Moldova has taught me to get a sick pleasure at seeing the Euro fall and the Dollar rise.

Moldova has taught me to appreciate (oh, do I appreciate) the American work ethic. And our timeliness.

Moldova has taught me that subtlety is overrated.

Moldova has taught me to hate my timeliness, as it does not jive well with the culture of the country I am living in.

Moldova has taught me that much of the rest of the world thinks that American's are freak super-speed demons at their work, and need to slow down (incet, rian, incet!)

Moldova has taught me that people still look to America as the land of opportunity.

Moldova has taught me that an entire country can actually watch and wait months to see who another country will elect. (No, seriously, I was told this by a college student who asked me who I liked - Moldova, she said, was "watching and waiting" because the election was "very important to our country.")

Moldova has taught me that often people who live outside our country care more about who gets elected to our highest office than those who reside in it.

Moldova has taught me that McDonald's is a dish best served in a foreign country.

Moldova has taught me that it is possible to pay more for water than you pay for beer. Much, much more.

Moldova has taught me that I shouldn't drink coffee.

Moldova has taught me that obviously Starbucks frappacinos is not really coffee.

Moldova has taught me to miss the craziness of my old job.

Moldova has taught me to miss the pressure of my old job.

And finally, for now, Moldova has taught me that nobody does drama better than a bunch of Americans forced to live together for two years in a small country. The Real World ain't got nothing on this craziness.

Ok

2008-09-17T02:02:00.005-05:00

So I recognize that this blog has veered off its original intended topic.

Why aren't I talking about Moldova? Where's my interesting stories of cultural integration?

Well at the moment, I don't really have any. My mind is filled with annoyance at the pushback I'm getting from my organization I'm working for, and a general sense of boredom and ennui.

So what you're reading is what I'm thinking about to keep me sane. (also keeping me sane? inserting pop culture referencing into everything I'm writing for work and Peace Corps and in my emails and seeing who gets them. Alas, not many get them. I'm obviously not cut out to be a Gilmore Girl writer)

And like I wouldn't be obsessing about the election anyway.

More than likely, when February rolls around you're going to hear about the Moldovan election.

I like politics. What can I say? And y'all should realize that I'm actually trying really hard to edit, and tone things down. If you were to get full-throttled political me.... I don't think my sister would ever return to this site.

However, I do recognize that there are some things that I could talk about that I haven't addressed, always pushing off for a later time, and I'll try to talk about some of these things.

But I'm going to be really honest folks, the main thing on my mind now is my upcoming vacations.

London.

Prague.

Egypt.

I'm going to London (with a dash of a side trip to Edinburgh, please) over Halloween and Guy Fawkes Day. Why am I doing this? It is not for either of these holidays, although it is surely a happy coincidence. No, I'm going to watch the American election in real time, an impossible thing to do here unless I watch it on a computer screen on CSPAN or something. All the cable we get here is military cable, and thus a daylate to ensure maximum censorship opportunities.

I will have access to Indian food for a whole, glorious week. And Top Shop.

Maybe I'll take a side trip to the Tower, and get goosebumps yet again in the place where Elizabeth was held as a Princess. She was the equivalent of a modern day graffiti artist, and carved her initials in the stone.

I'll go see Abraham Lincoln's statue in Parliament Sq, a copy of the one residing in Chicago's Lincoln Park, and the Charlie Chaplin Statue in Leicester Square.

Maybe next post I'll tell you about my plans for Prague and Egypt. But these are the things I'm living for at the moment. Obsessing over the election, and obsessing over my vacations. Because I have naught to obsess over, job-wise. Am I feeling slightly stupid because I'm here, spending my time re-watching episodes of the XFiles and Battlestar Galactica and the Office? Yes. Should I be exploring more of Chisinau? Probably. There's not all that much to see. The same pattern repeats. (over and over... and i do hear morning bells).

After this week, I'll have license to travel the country again. Maybe I'll go visit people in their villages. But then again, that means no internet for a whole weekend. Until the election is over, I don't know if I can handle that type of suspense.

On a more somber note - I know the market has gone all wonky - hope everyone is doing okay.

Guns

2008-09-10T06:45:00.004-05:00

This maybe isn't the smartest thing to put in my blog.

I know my grandma will be a little freaked out about it.

A few weeks ago, I talked about how the greatest fear of Chicago kids was getting shot.

I thought maybe this would go further into explaining why:

View Larger Map

The above map details the shootings the occurred during the summer months in Chicago. The pink pins indicate a fatal shooting.

As you can see, this is not a west side problem, or a southside problem.... it is quite obviously a pretty devastating Chicago problem.

In the months of Summer 125 people were shot dead. That is twice the amount of soldiers that were killed in Iraq during the same time period. Actually, it's also about the same number of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afganhistan combined.

The youngest fatality was a 10 year old girl.

247 people were wounded.

Where's the famous lakefront liberal outrage over this?

In the entire city, there were only two districts that did not have a fatal shooting. One of them was the district I live in. (Go, district 20!)

But this is a matter of semantics. I live across the street from district 23, and across the park from a different district. The trees outside my apartment in the last year started to get carved up with Latin King symbols.

Supposedly, bad economic times always increase violence, and murders are up 18% this year.

Not exactly good advertisement for the Olympics.

America more communist than China?

2008-09-08T15:09:00.001-05:00

The nationalization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shows that the U.S. is "more communist than China right now" but its brand of socialism is meant only for the rich, investor Jim Rogers, CEO of Rogers Holdings, told CNBC Europe on Monday.

"America is more communist than China is right now. You can see that this is welfare of the rich, it is socialism for the rich… it's just bailing out financial institutions," Rogers said.

Read the rest of this article HERE

They were against it before they were for it, and for it before they were against it

2008-09-04T14:44:00.002-05:00

Micheal Phelps wants the Olympics in Chicago....

2008-09-04T09:36:00.002-05:00

Look at him sporting that ROCKING shirt (or, triciou, in Romanian).

Memory loss, thy name is Huckabee

2008-09-03T15:33:00.001-05:00

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told NBC/NJ today that the recent wave of potentially-damaging news stories about Sarah Palin – including news that her teenage daughter is pregnant – represents a "sexism that is really, really disgusting and embarrassing," and could ultimately galvanize support for the GOP ticket.

Calling media critiques of Palin "unprecedented" he posited that "they never did this to Chelsea Clinton."

Rewind to 1998:

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."

- John McCain

Whoa (an update on Millenials)

2008-09-03T13:23:00.002-05:00

By the presidential election of 2016, Millennials will be one third or more of the citizen-eligible electorate, and roughly 30 percent of actual voters—and this is making no assumptions about possible increased turnout rates among Millennials in the future, which could make their weight among actual voters higher. Moreover, from that point on, the Millennials’ share of the actual voters will rise steadily for several decades as more and more of the generation enter middle age.

How Big of a Deal is Income Inequality?

2008-09-02T09:41:00.000-05:00

by William Bernstein
A Borrowed Post

Retired neurologist William Bernstein is probably known for his investment books The Intelligent Asset Allocator and The Four Pillars of Investing. His two latest books, A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World and The Birth of Plenty, deal with the history of world trade and economic growth.

For nearly all of human history, the lot of the average person improved not at all. Then, about two hundred years ago, the material well-being of the planet’s inhabitants began to grow at about 2 percent per year.

Although this may not sound like much, it means that the life of a child is nearly twice as prosperous as that of its parent; over a century, the standard of living increases sevenfold. Today, per capita G.D.P. is higher in Mexico than in the world’s wealthiest nation in 1900, Great Britain.

The paradox of economic growth is that the same mechanisms that create great wealth –secure property rights and rule of law guaranteed by an independent judiciary — also give rise to great inequalities in its distribution. Private property provides a powerful incentive to produce wealth for oneself while simultaneously denying that same wealth to others. Wealth does trickle down to the rest of the population, but often not fast enough to avoid political strife and worse.

The reason for this is simple: if individuals cannot keep enough of what they earn then they will not produce. If, on the other hand, the most productive do keep what they earn, significant inequalities inevitably result.

Further, in a technologically driven world where an individual’s unique talents can be scaled up to an almost infinite degree, inequality increases dramatically.

For example, researchers Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez calculated that between 1972 and 2006, the portion of income earned by the top 10 percent of the population rose by half; for the top 1 percent, meanwhile, it doubled; and it quadrupled for the top 0.1 percent. For the top 0.01 percent, it rose sevenfold. The current disparities are nearly identical to those of early 20th-century American robber-baron capitalism.

Economic libertarians argue that this growing inequality is unimportant: aren’t the poor of 2008 still far better off in terms of real income, health, life expectancy, and material comfort than even the richest citizen in 1900?

The fallacy of this argument is that human beings do not measure their well-being by absolute real income or longevity — but rather in relative terms. To paraphrase H.L. Mencken, a wealthy man is one who earns more than his wife’s brother-in-law.

Further, a growing body of research reveals that the social and medical costs of inequality are high. Here is the tiniest of samplings:

• Among both American states and Canadian provinces, homicide rates closely track income inequality, even after the absolute level of income itself is carefully controlled for. That homicide is not driven by poverty alone is demonstrated by Canada, where, because of aggressive redistributive policies, the poorest provinces have the lowest inequalities and also the lowest number of violent deaths.

• It is becoming increasingly obvious among obesity researchers that the primary underlying factors in this epidemic are social class and income inequality.

It is no accident that the U.S., with the highest income inequality among the world’s developed nations, also has the highest incidence of obesity and its attendant comorbidities: diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease.

Obesity may also be the reason that the U.S., ostensibly the world’s wealthiest nation, ranks 29th in life expectancy, right behind Jordan and Bosnia. Those who think that these problems are primarily the result of voluntary lifestyle choices should reflect on the difficulty of providing a family of four with fresh fruits and vegetables on a minimum wage salary.

Worse, extreme income and wealth inequality alone may hinder growth. After all “respect for property rights” is really, in most cases, shorthand for “respect by the have-nots for the property rights of the haves.” If those on the bottom rungs do not feel that they are getting a fair shake, the very bedrock of our prosperity crumbles into social and economic apartheid as millions of Americans flee to gated communities, millions more are required to staff the burgeoning private security industry, and yet more millions fill our prisons.

This is likely the reason why supply-side economics fails in the real world. Cross national comparisons in developed nations, for example, show no correlation between tax rates and economic growth. Further, the “golden period” of growth in the years before 1973 occurred in an environment of higher tax rates than in the lower-growth 1980’s and 1990’s.

More ominously, several data sets now connect high national income inequality with low growth. Correlation is not causation, and clearly, much more research is called for.

But these data should give pause to those who are complacent about increasing income and wealth disparities, and who further believe that reducing the top marginal income-tax rates and eliminating the “death tax” leads to economic Valhalla.

McCain Labors to find a position on Sex Education and Disease Prevention (Happy Labor Day)

2008-09-01T12:35:00.003-05:00

In an August 1999 speech that McCain delivered to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, he said:

"I'd love to see a point where [Roe v. Wade] is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force x number of women to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."

In the 2006, McCain declared that he does not merely favor overturning Roe, but supports a constitutional amendment that would ban abortion in almost all circumstances. On a "Meet the Press" appearance, he claimed that he has "always been pro-life, unchanging and unwavering."

A year ago McCain was asked a series of questions that drew some... interesting responses.

Would he support taxpayer funding for contraception in Africa to prevent the spread of AIDS?

McCain initially replied that he preferred a program of abstinence education but would provide condoms in places where abstinence "was not being followed," that is, where sex is happening, which is everywhere. r on issues of reproductive rights and health.

Moments later, he attempted to amend his answer. "Let me think about it a little bit ... I don't know if I would use taxpayers' money ... I'm not informed enough on it. Let me find out ... I'm sure I have taken a position on it in the past ... I have to find out my position on it ... I am sure I am opposed to government funding. I am sure I support the president's policy on it."

A reporter followed up by inquiring whether McCain supports sex education that discusses contraception and preventing the spread of AIDS and other disease, or whether he backs President Bush's abstinence-only education program.

McCain replied, "I think I support the president's policy." After another long pause, he replied, "You've stumped me."

The puzzled journalist responded "I mean, I think you'd probably agree it (contraceptives) probably does help stop [AIDS]?"

The Senator replied: "Are we on the Straight Talk Express?"

Then: "I'm not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I'm sure I've taken a position on it in the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception -- I'm sure I'm opposed to government spending on it, I'm sure I support the president's policies on it."

It has been noted that there is some irony in a man so very proud of his extremely scurrilous youth to so righteously and sanctimoniously demand that today's generation remain chaste and good. How quickly they forget the temptations of the flesh.

Or maybe not.

2008-08-31T14:54:00.000-05:00

Study: Bankruptcies soar for senior citizens

2008-08-31T10:07:00.003-05:00

In 1991, the 55-plus age group accounted for about 8 percent of bankruptcy filers, according to the study, but by last year, filers 55 and over accounted for 22 percent.

While age groups under 55 saw double-digit percentage drops in their bankruptcy filing rates over the survey period (1991-present), older Americans saw remarkable increases. The filing rate per thousand people ages 55-64 was up 40 percent; among 65- to 74-year-olds it increased 125 percent; and among the 75-to-84-year-old set, it was up 433 percent.

A number of factors are contributing to the increase. Higher prices for ordinary consumer goods have hit seniors on fixed budgets. For older Americans living below the poverty level, or not far above, a safety net likely doesn't exist for economic setbacks such as medical problems. And some fall prey to scams that cripple their finances.

Professor Elizabeth Warden of Harvard Law School and Author of the Report: "Increasing numbers of Americans are entering their retirement years with significant debt and are still paying off mortgages. It [is] wrong to assume that lives of luxury are bankrupting seniors; rather, they're incurring debts to meet needs such as medical treatment.

"There's no evidence that the problem is consumerism," the professor said.

"Nor is there a significant aging trend to blame."

For more, go here

The new King of the Viral Videos (He's ready enough-ish to lead!)

2008-08-29T16:23:00.005-05:00

SO FREAKING HILARIOUS

Billboard outside of the Twin Cities in preparation for the RNC Convention...

2008-08-28T08:07:00.002-05:00

Something pretty cool

2008-08-26T12:34:00.002-05:00

These are videos done by a volunteer here. The first one is a photo documentary of Moldova.

And this one is about being a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova (the first few minutes chronicles the making of our mural in our lounge area in Chisinau, btw).

And that's a hookah with tobacoo in case anyone was wondering. Very popular here.

Russia warns Moldova against "Georgian mistake"

2008-08-26T11:02:00.000-05:00

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned ex-Soviet Moldova on Monday against repeating Georgia's mistake of trying to use force to seize back control of a breakaway region.

To read the rest of this article, go here

The real life Simpsons

2008-08-24T14:58:00.000-05:00

Speaking of the Olympics....

2008-08-24T09:31:00.007-05:00

So Chicago is up for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Mayor Daley and crew went over to China on a "fact finding" mission to watch the games, and I'm sure as they were watching the opening ceremony the words "Holy Crap, how can we top this" went floating through their minds.

As I'm sure it flitted through the minds of every candidate city and city already chosen, and rightfully so - there's no way most democracies that operate under the direct scrutiny of the media, taxpayers and politicians and spend the $40 billion China spent on the games.

London is all "WTF" and "[We] don't think in terms of living up to (Beijing) or making direct comparisons." They've had to deal with a significant downturn in the global economy and cost overruns on the overall US $17.2 billion budget for Olympic venues and infrastructure. (To read a hilarious column with some ideas for how London can save money by recruiting free dancers by gathering participants from the clinically obese community via a quick trawl of the fast food restaurants, providing an "an unbeatable opportunity for the active participation of one of our core sponsors, McDonald's!" go here.)

Chicago's plans include more than a dozen new permanent and temporary venues and money to make existing venues Olympic caliber at an estimated cost of $900 million. There's also a $1 billion athletes' village that would be a public-private partnership.

Yeeeeeaaaaaa. I don't think I need to tell you that these numbers are causing a bit of... disbelief. But that's not the point of

This Blog Post!

I want to show the four different host cities up for the 2016 Olympics and have a discussion about their chances for winning!

And I thought the best way to do that was to look at their ready-made Bid Videos!

Enough with the Exclamations. We're starting with Madrid:

Um, so, doesn't Madrid seem a little weirdly obsessed with cars and mopeds? Actually, forms of transportation in general? And they spent an odd amount of time in an Olympic Video on their airport. Maybe they're very proud of it, I don't know. (Psst, hey Madrid, Chicago has an airport, too! Actually, we got two. Suck it!)

Rio's is just odd in all that Sepia tones... I couldn't quite figure out if it was my screen, or air pollution... and I do think it is so hilarious how they show the Rolling Stones - as if them hosting a concert is a viable reason to give them the games. It does look like a really pretty location though, I'm not going to lie.

As for Tokyo, I can't for the life of me find their video on You Tube, and I can't even get their videos from their website to play on my computer... they've got these weird commercials that are 15 seconds long that are obviously made to drum up support in the population...

Or, at least I think that's what they are. Here's their website, if anyone's interested: http://www.tokyo2016.or.jp/en/

And now, on to my hometown, Chicago. For your approval or disapproval:

Actually, Chicago had to put out a second video because... well, we had to change our logo. You see, it's not exactly kosher to use the Olympic Torch in a logo, apparently. So we changed our logo, and then the Olympic Committee got Chicago kids to explain what it means...

So what do we think? Which city has what it takes? Well, according to some other people that are not me:

"[The] IOC member called Chicago a "“hot favourite” to win the 2016 Summer Games and said only they can mess it up. He said “they are streets ahead of their rivals. They have been the frontrunners since day one and nothing has as yet changed my mind that they can lose. However, as the saying goes ‘it is theirs to lose’”.

And Chicago is the current favorite at $43 according to Intrade, an online trading exchange and prediction market website whose members speculate on the outcomes of non-sports related future events:

The "Dark Horse" in his race is Rio, and for a good reason - South America has never hosted the games so, you know, they kinda deserve to host it after 150 years of games. Intrade has them at $23.

I believe in the power of markets to predict some events. To a degree. Markets are like... competitive wikipedia. Playing the wisdom off other people's wisdom. Or other people's stupidity. Or inside trading. Whatever.

You know what else Intrade trades on? Elections. And those bets should be watched more keenly then the bets on the Olympics, because apparently the decision might be more about who is running the candidate city's country.

The whole thing will "boil down to one thing should the two frontrunners be neck and neck – the head of state of the country... " says an unnamed IOC source. Gamesbid.com says that "It is believed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin played a big role in their countries winning the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games."

Well, we got two leaders to think about, Mayor Daley, who largely gets what he wants, and the President of the United States, as yet to be determined. If Obama gets elected, the Olympics would be, indeed, ours to lose. The timing is too perfect, the location, idealic, and apparently the IOC likes Obama. There's some indication they're not so fond of McCain, so Daley would have to overcome that if Obama were to lose.

I'm not going to lie there's a whole host of other reasons having to do with tv sponsorships and private/public sponsorships, but... really, I think that about covers it. Who knows though - in this world, anything can happen.

The final decision is October 2, 2009. It's a long time off.

In the meantime, it's not a bad idea to show your support for Chicago is you think it's a good idea. Senator Durbin has set up a website to sign a petition and to send video messages directly to the IOC: http://ga3.org/campaign/olympics2016.

And here is the Chicago Olympic website http://www.chicago2016.org/News/Pages/home.aspx. It's fun because it gives you the opportunity to write in phrases of what you think Chicago is....

Like... Chicago is A Rockstar City! Or... Chicago is the Heart of America!

Woot!

Susan Eisenhower Leaves the Republican Party

2008-08-24T08:39:00.007-05:00

"Hijacked by a relatively small few, the GOP of today bears no resemblance to Lincoln, Roosevelt or Eisenhower’s party, or many of the other Republican administrations that came after. In my grandparents’ time, the thrust of the party was rooted in: a respect for the constitution; the defense of civil liberties; a commitment to fiscal responsibility; the pursuit and stewardship of America’s interests abroad; the use of multilateral international engagement and “soft power”; the advancement of civil rights; investment in infrastructure; environmental stewardship; the promotion of science and its discoveries; and a philosophical approach focused squarely on the future."

"This week, I changed my registration from Republican to independent. The two political parties as they exist today, and the partisanship that they foster, reflect the many fights of the cold war, the Vietnam era, the post–cold war and the 9/11 periods. Today we are in a different place altogether, where our security as a nation is challenged not just from abroad but also close to home. The energy, health-care and financial crises threaten our national prosperity and well-being, just as surely as any confrontation overseas or an attack by radical terrorists."

Susan Eisenhower is the granddaughter of President Dwight D Eisenhower and current President of the Eisenhower Group, Inc, which provides strategic counsel on political, business and public affairs projects. She is the current Chairman of Leadership and Public Policy Programs & Chairman Emeritus of the Eisenhower Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C. and associated with Gettysburg College.

Read full text here.

President Eisenhower, Susan's grandfather, in his farewell address, said the following:

"As we peer into society's future, we must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."

This is the video of his final address:

Reasons to Love Google, Yet Again

2008-08-24T08:09:00.002-05:00

Google to Invest in Geothermal

By Tom Zeller Jr.

Efforts at mapping geothermal potential in North America at Southern Methodist University are receiving financial support from Google. (Photo: Southern Methodist University)

Google.org, the public-spirited division of Google.com, charged with addressing “climate change, poverty and emerging disease,” is using the backdrop of the National Clean Energy Summit here in Las Vegas to announce a new round of clean energy financing.

In a nutshell, the company is investing an arguably modest sum — a little over $10 million — in the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS. The technology differs from “traditional” geothermal in that rather than exploiting existing wells of earthbound steam and hot water, EGS drills deep — miles down — to access layers of heated granite that exist underfoot everywhere on the planet. Water can be circulated downward for heating, and then upward to drive turbines and generate electricity.

See rest of the article at the New York Times Here

And here's a video about what geothermal energy is:

Chicago Ascendant

2008-08-18T12:04:00.005-05:00

2008 is the Year of Chicago.

Proudly multi-racial, ruthlessly pragmatic, open to hustling newcomers and somewhat audacious, Chicago's unique culture is ascendant.

Perhaps most importantly, both the Cubs and the White Sox are leading their divisions (the Cubs have the best record in the National League) and a CTA Red Line subway series this October is looking more and more likely. (This would be a real subway series where the same transit line - the Red Line -- directly connects Wrigley Field and the Sox's U.S. Cellular Field).

To read the rest of this story, go here.

The kind of person I want to be when I grow old.

2008-08-18T05:54:00.005-05:00

Sigur Ros is an Icelandic Band who sings in a made-up language called Hopelandic. I got obsessed with them when I lived in England, and luckily, they really liked playing in Chicago... They played some of the most amazing concerts I have ever seen.

They play hauntingly beautiful music, I think, and I just love this video so much I had to share it. It gives new meaning to the phrase, "never grow old."

Here's a link to their You Tube Page: http://www.youtube.com/user/sigurros?ob=1

And now below is a live version of my favorite song of theirs of old, Starflur.

Guns for Texas school's teachers

2008-08-18T05:52:00.000-05:00

Teachers in one part of the US state of Texas are to be allowed to carry concealed firearms when the new school term opens this month.

The school superintendent in Harrold district said the move was intended to protect staff and pupils should there be any gun attacks on its sole campus.

Teachers would have to undertake crisis management training first, the superintendent, David Thweatt, said.

In recent years the US has seen a number of fatal school shootings.

Trustees had approved the policy and parents had not objected, Mr Thweatt said.

"When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started," he wrote on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's web site.

Mr Thweatt said he believed the school's proximity to a large, busy motorway could make it a target.

"If something were to happen here, I'd much rather be calling a parent to tell them that their child is OK because we were able to protect them," Mr Thweatt said.

Texas outlaws the presence of firearms at schools unless individual institutions allow them.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Quotes of the Day

2008-08-14T09:35:00.003-05:00

"Where would we be without the agitators of the world attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?"
---Dick, on Third Rock from the Sun

"One of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen is to go about repeating the very phrases which our fathers used in the struggle for Independence."
---Historian Charles A. Beard
-
"If combat means living in a ditch, females have biological problems staying in a ditch for thirty days because they get infections and they don't have upper body strength. I mean, some do, but they're relatively rare."
---Newt Gingrich (aka the Republicans' Yoda)
-
"Oh, 'meltdown'---it's one of those annoying buzzwords. We prefer to call it an unrequested fission surplus."
---Mr. Burns

(Thanks to the Daily Kos)

Quote of the (last) Century

2008-08-14T09:30:00.003-05:00

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts...and beer"

Abraham Lincoln

old jokester

Transnistria breaks off Peace Talks

2008-08-13T12:28:00.003-05:00

Well, me and my big mouth, saying it wouldn't affect me at all. These peace talks were supposedly going well. Or, as well as could be expected at the moment....

My organization has partners in Transnistria. Ain't no way I'm visiting this area now.

Moldovan separatists break off talks over Georgia

Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:52pm EDT

By Dmitry Chubashenko

CHISINAU, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Leaders of Moldova's separatist Transdniestria region said on Tuesday they would break off all contacts with the ex-Soviet state's central government until it denounced Georgian "aggression" in South Ossetia.

Transdniestria's Russian-speaking leaders split from Moldova in 1990 in Soviet times on the grounds that the republic's Romanian-speaking majority would join neighbouring Romania.

That never happened -- but the two sides fought a brief war in 1992 and a resolution has yet to be found. Transdniestria's leader met Moldova's president in April for the first time since 2001, but the talks produced few results.

"Transdniestria hereby declares a moratorium on contacts (with Moldova) until the Moldovan side issues a decisive, unconditional denunciation of Georgia's aggression," the separatist region's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It accused Moldova of behaving like Georgia by trying to "change the format of talks, reduce Russia's role to a minimum and create conditions for the use of force to solve the conflict".

Moldova's Foreign Ministry had earlier endorsed a European Union statement noting the "worsening situation in South Ossetia". Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, on holiday, has yet to comment on events in Georgia.

Georgia sent troops into South Ossetia last week to try to retake the territory, but Russia, which backs the separatists, responded with a military incursion into Georgia proper.

A six-point peace plan for South Ossetia proposed by the EU and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe called for troops to withdraw to pre-conflict areas and a pledge to renounce the use of force.

Transdniestria, like the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, broke away as the Soviet Union was near to collapse. None of the three has international recognition.

Like Georgia, Moldova proposes broad autonomy for its rebel region, but Transdniestria's leaders say they will settle for nothing less than independence.

The region's voters have overwhelmingly backed independence in a referendum, as well as the idea of joining Russia one day.

A Tale of Two Countries (or, Where's Georgia?)

2008-08-10T14:46:00.013-05:00

So... who can tell me where Georgia (the non-US state) is, and why it makes any difference in this Peace Corps/Moldova volunteers life?

Thanks to this helpful map (courtesy-o-Lonely Planet) we can see that my country is numbered 27, and Georgia number 16. We're just across that whole Black Sea thing.

But proximity is not my concern.

I'm really unsure as to how clear the whole situation is in South Ossetia, so I'm going to try and break things down as simply as I can.

Except I'm not going to even try to deny that this post could get extremely complicated.

It's no secret that all across the world there are pockets of populations that are separatists. They are fighting to break off piece of territory out of an already existing country, and create something new. They want autonomy.

In the United States, I feel like we are familiar with the Basque situation in Spain or the Zapatistas in Mexico.

Or, to use a very current example, Kosovo.

In February of 2008 the city of Kosovo broke away from Serbia and declared their independence. Several nations (the United States, Turkey, Albania, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Republic of China (Taiwan), Australia and others) announced recognition of Kosovo as a country, despite protests by Russia and others in the UN.

So as you can imagine, people in areas wishing to break away from their countries saw this Kosovo action as a pretty nice little precedent. If America and these other pretty important nations were willing to support this little break-away city... why not their efforts as well?

Georgia, in fact, has two break-away provinces - Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Moldova, where I live, has... two: Transnistria and Gaugazia. The reason I hesitate to say two is because only one is broken away at this point - the Gaugazians and the Moldovan government have come to a settlement on their differences, and Gaugazia has been granted the autonomy they desired in a peaceful manner. They are still part of Moldova, and integrated (mostly) into the Moldovan society.

Transnistria is decidedly un-integrated.

What both Moldova and Georgia have in common is that the break-away provinces in their countries (Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia) are supported by Russia.

The Russians have troops in those areas to "keep the peace." They are peacekeepers, they say.

This means that there are indeed Russian tanks and troops less than two hours away from Chisinau, the Moldovan capitol. That's my current home.

The reason that Russia supports these territories is because both Georgia and Moldova have shown a disturbingly "western" trend. Indeed, President Bush told Georgians in 2005 that their country was a "beacon of liberty for the region and the world". Georgia wants to join NATO, and shows every indication of europeanizing.

Even Moldova, democratically-elected communist government country that we are, has indicated that it is headed firmly in the european direction, although the current government (up for re-election in February - watch this space!) has previously eschewed any NATO desires. But being a part of the EU? Moldova is all about it.

The break-away provinces in both countries lean decidedly eastwards.

To say that the desires of the main countries threaten the Russian sphere of influence is an understatement. And Russia makes no about wanting to maintain its spheres.

I could speak much more on this issue, and perhaps I will at a future date, but about this Georgian crisis....

Everyone I've talked to has asked me if I'm okay, and the answer is emphatically yes. People ask if this affects me, and the answer is really no.

But all the Peace Corps Volunteers in Georgia have been evacuated. They were very quickly taken out of there, which should make everyone feel good just in case something should flare up here. But the likelihood of that happening is not so high.

Because I don't think my host government is going to launch a large-scale military assault after declaring a truce with Transnistria, and while Russia is distracted by the Olympics.

The Moldovan government is not jaw-droppingly stupid.

Please don't misinterpret this as taking sides in this tragedy, but it's important for people to understand that Russia did not start this. Georgia is absolutely responsible for initiating what is going on.

The Georgian government has killed a lot of people. It initiated a large-scale bombardment on a city - that it calls it's own. That city has been flattened.

This all happened before Russia had a chance to respond. The Georgian general's were smug in the fact that they had thought to do this during the Olympics, a busy time for the Russians. They thought they could re-take the area, all quick and dirty-like.

Dirty being the operative word.

Furthermore, despite what you hear, Georgia is not a defenseless country. Indeed, it has been armed and trained by the U.S. Military.

The Georgian government was under the false impression that being loved by the West - a possible involvement in NATO, being a part of the "Coalition of the Willing", having soldiers in Iraq - meant that they could start something that they singularly could not finish.

They were absolutely wrong in thinking that anyone would come to their defense, and frankly, I think Russia took this as an opportunity to prove a point:

Don't f*ck with their interests.

And they're saying it very loudly and quite violently.

Moldova, by integrating Gaugazia through giving them a great deal of autonomy (their own prime minister (who is a member of the larger parliament), the right to have their own language (a hybrid of Turkish) the running of their own schools, etc), did exactly what Mikhail Gorbachev recommended for both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia, unwilling to give up control of the areas, did not agree with these concepts, and now there is absolutely no way Abkhazia and South Ossetia are going to agree with them.

Actually, I don't really think the Russian government was willing to accept Gorbachev's idea either. It certainly isn't willing to accept that idea for Transnistria. Peace and resolution of the issue would mean getting rid of the need to have soldiers in the area.

Spheres of Influence and all that.

There is no good guy in what is happening right now.

But please don't go thinking that Georgia is being underhandedly invaded - that's not what happened. In fact, they can claim that the Russians are breaking their territorial integrity or sovereignty, or whatever, but it's important not to forget - they did do it first. They broke a ceasefire. By bombing the crap out of a city unprepared for it, because they were under a truce.

So everybody thinking that we need to go protect the poor little guy who is getting hit by the big bad monster should take a look at the broader picture. Or at least get a full understanding of the facts before making up their minds.

One final note of interest I think. United Nations ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad straight out asked Russia if they were attempting a "regime change" in Georgia. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin replied: "Regime change is purely an American invention... We're all for democracy in Georgia."

Churkin did admit, however, that the President of Georgia had become "a problem" and was no longer seen as a possible working "partner" of Russia.

But here's the real kicker, in my mind: Khalilzad told reporters the telephone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were "disturbing," adding that the days of overthrowing European governments by force were over.

Nice. So, overthrowing nations by force in South American countries are Okay? And Africa is sanctioned? What about SE Asia? Is Australia included in that? Probably not, they're like, an honorary European country, right?

Greatest Fear of Kids in Chicago? Getting Shot

2008-08-07T03:57:00.007-05:00

I love my city. This is not news to anyone who reads this blog. But it also can be a dangerous place, particularly if you live in a low-income neighborhood. And if you happen to be unlucky enough to be a kid growing up in one of those neighborhoods, you can live in nothing less than a perpetual prison.

Asked how her life would be different if there were no guns in her city, a 7th grader said "It would be wonderful because I wouldn't have to go outside thinking I could get shot at any minute and there would be no more of me."

Eighth grader Rosalind said "Oh my god. If my community had no gangbangers, no guns, no dangers, it would be very cool. The reason is because we would be able to dress however we want. We will be able to play where ever we wanted. We would be free to do whatever. There would be more block parties without gunshots. No more people getting scared of letting their children go outside and play. There would be children out in the streets playing and laughing. You would see smiles and laughs and children all around."

When the Supreme Court struck down the Washington DC gun ban law in July, it basically signaled to all the other places with similar laws that their laws would probably go down as well. Including Chicago's.

Indeed, probably mere minutes after the decision was handed down, the Illinois Rifle Association sued the mayor and the city to overturn the 26 year ban. Our very own Mayor Daley of course vowed to fight it.

But for a city where all you have to do is cross the county line to buy a handgun, or drive 20 minutes to Indiana, pardon me for asking, but what the hell is the point in a handgun ban?

Now, I'm not saying we should go this far, and mandate that all 3 million Chicagoans carry handguns, but it's pretty obvious to me, and it must be pretty obvious to those kids who live in perpetual fear for their lives, that the gun control ban isn't working.

I've yet to see proof that any gun control legislation anywhere deters crime.

Instead, gun control laws mean that you have a lack of registered guns, or you have guns registered outside of the state, and it virtually guarantees a flourishing black market.

Kind of like the drug trade.

I absolutely believe that guns are dangerous, and should be regulated, but I'm not convinced that you can ban them successfully in a locale.

Unless you ban them everywhere.

And somehow, I don't see that happening in this country.

This debate is stale. It needs to be looked at with fresh eyes and a new approach. It shouldn't be about winning a legal debate about something that obviously isn't working. Maybe instead of spending the millions of dollars to fight this case, the city of Chicago should put that money into programs that have been shown to work - like Crossfire. Or, god forbid, work-programs or education, so that people have other choices but gangs in the first place.

The articles I've linked to on top are worth going to, because they carry a photo gallery of children's drawings and how they perceive their life being. It reminds me of a another set of drawings that I saw by children in the gallery at Spertus - those of Sudanese orphans from Darfur drawing about their attacks by the Jamjaweed.

McCain Straight Talk Express Sports Obama Bumper Sticker

2008-08-07T02:41:00.004-05:00

The curse of the falling dollar

2008-08-07T02:09:00.002-05:00

Every day, I have to walk past a thousand currency exchanges. And so every day, I have to watch as the dollar keeps falling, and falling, and falling.

When I got to Moldova (five months ago) you could get 12.50 lei for every 1$. Yesterday, you could get 9.20 lei for every 1$. That's a severe fall. And it's really really depressing.

Apparently less than a year ago it was 15 lei to a 1$. When it got to 10 lei to a 1$, pretty much the entire country switched from using greenbacks to using euros.

This is bad bad bad for Peace Corps. We have a finite amount of money, and that money is now worth a lot less here than it was a year ago.

This is also bad for anyone wanting to travel. The little pot of money I have saved to go traveling with is somehow looking less and less like it's going to get me anywhere.

Europeans aren't happy with this situation either - unless they're traveling to America, where all the sudden their Euros are worth 1.5 times what they were worth in their home country.

Hence the sign, above. Apparently the amount of american tourists has fallen so precipitously that we're being pitied and given discounts on food and drink.

Interesting as well, don't you think, that they're citing the subprime market failure as the reason for our current trials.

How a tire gauge can Save the World! (or at least 660,000 barrels of oil per day)

2008-08-06T13:08:00.005-05:00

When I was growing up, my dad always taught me of the importance of keeping my tires inflated and changing the oil.

I suspect the latter was because I had a step-sister that blew her engine up because she never refilled her oil, and the former because he didn't want me stranded somewhere with a flat-tire, but nevertheless, the lesson was taught.

So when Obama came out with his whole "you too can help keep oil prices down by simply keeping your tires full of air" statement, I must admit I was impressed. It was certainly a little tidbit of information that I didn't know.

And look how cute the tire gauges have gotten now! Why, on a simple google search, I've found a plethora of stylish blue, orange, and even this fancy red one. Who wouldn't want to sport that on their dashboard, I ask you?

Obviously, the McCain camp disagrees with the brilliancy of the simplistic recommendation... the heckling and jeering that has come out of that camp in response to this statement (although, can his camp do *anything* but heckle and jeer anymore?) is pretty remarkable. They even sent out parcels containing tire gauges to the press corps ridiculing the statement.

I guess, on the surface, maybe it does sound a little silly. I mean obviously, there's no way that the act of simply keeping our tires inflated could save the amount of oil that offshore drilling would gain us right?

Wrong.

The U.S. Department of Energy says keeping your tires properly inflated and your wheels aligned could improve gas mileage by around 3.3 percent.

If we're using 20 million barrels a day, then blowing up our tires would save something like 660,000 barrels a day. Starting, oh, tomorrow.

Hell, a simple tune-up can improve your gas-mileage by 4% - a possible 800,000 barrel per day savings if everyone bought in to the concept of... you know, basic maintence.

Whereas offshore drilling could produce a whole 200,000 barrels a day of additional oil (not to mention oil-company profits!) by the year 2030.

So who exactly deserves to get heckled here?

Time magazine says "the RNC is trying to make the tire gauge a symbol of unseriousness, as if only the fatuous believed we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil without doing the bidding of Big Oil. But the tire gauge is really a symbol of a very serious piece of good news: we can use significantly less energy without significantly changing our lifestyle."

"In other words: Obama is right."

Paris responds to John McCain's Celeb Ad

2008-08-06T12:53:00.001-05:00

Oh Paris, you've totally endeared yourself to me with this.

Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Adfunny videosFunnyOrDie.com

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Totally hot.

Quote of the Week

2008-08-05T06:49:00.004-05:00

Hey, at least he tried...

"When leaders of the world’s richest nations, the so-called Group of 8, gathered two years ago in St. Petersburg, Russia, President Bush was caught using some blunt, colorful language as he munched a roll during lunch. For four enlightening minutes, the world was treated to an unvarnished view of George W. Bush as he expounded on everything from his penchant for Diet Coke to his long-winded fellow leaders. (“I’m not going to talk too damn long like the rest of them.”)"

"At this week’s gathering on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the lunchtime microphones were on again. The life-of-the-party president, mingling before the meal, chatted animatedly about his parents’ health, his birthday and the corruption charges facing one of his best buddies in Europe, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy."

“Amigo! Amigo!” Mr. Bush called out cheerily in Spanish when he spotted the Italian prime minister. “How you doing, Silvio? Good to see you!”

Read full article in New York Times here

Project Approved!

2008-08-05T06:39:00.002-05:00

This bird (Image via AP) represents quite nicely how I feel right now. I've been staring at a computer screen so long, I think I'm going cross-eyed.

For those of you wondering, it did not rain this weekend, at least not in Chisinau, and so I still have water.

But the sky is all dark and gloomy right now, so who can say.

But Moldova has accepted outside aid, and it's coming in from many quarters, so that's something.

All the people in my group are no longer on lockdown - which basically means that we can go wherever we want, whenever we want. And also, that we are free to go on vacation if we have accrued it.

I actually start a non-vacation vacay on Friday... my org is one of those uber-liberal European orgs that takes three weeks mandatory. Except, since I'm a Peace Corps volunteer, I don't really get to take that time off, so I'll be working during it anyways. That's okay. At least I don't have to get up early during that time.

Plus, I got my project approved! I think I'm going to be organizing a national campaign with the help of another nonprofit, and i'm pretty excited about it. That will be my "fuarte mare lucrire" very big thing, and then I have other things that I'll be doing as well.

National sounds cool, but again, country the size of Massachusetts, population the size of Chicago.

But, in a different language, so it will be difficult.

Nevertheless. Getting approval was half of the battle. Now I can actually start to GO. Or at least, I'll be able to after everyone gets back from vacay. But oh, will I have plans for then.

Here Comes the Rain Again

2008-08-01T07:01:00.005-05:00

Recently, I've had the privilege of talking to a few of you, and it seems to me that everytime I did so, I was just coming in out of the rain.

It's raining a lot here. And it's really not a good thing.

I don't know if it's being reported or not, because god knows America's like the king of extreme weather, but this area of the world is getting kicked hard right now with severe flooding.

And I mean hard.

Yesterday, it rained so hard in Chisinau, where I live, that we had flash flooding through the streets. It was so quick and so hard that two people got swept up in at and were trapped underneath cars. They drowned. Another woman was found dead under a bridge.

Vadu lui Voda, that tourist spot I told you about where I went "camping" on the Nistru River, has been completely swept away of all its touristy attractions. No more cutesy coffee shops and restaurants and bars...

In Moldova thus far, 100 houses have been destroyed and 5,000 people evacuated. Anecdotally, I have heard that many did not want to leave their houses.... they told the authorities that they had spent their lives building their houses, and they would rather die with them then leave them.

The United Nations is currently reporting that 35,000 people have been evacuated from the three countries of Romania, Ukraine and Moldova, but I have heard this to be an inaccurate and low assessment. They are also estimating at least 36 people dead thus far.

In Chisinau, we have been warned that if the Nistru levels climb to 15m, the pumps in Vadu lui Voda will be unable to withhold the pressure, and will break. The result of this is a complete shut-off of water to the capitol city inhabited by a third of the country's population. We have been told to begin storing water now.

Just so everyone understands, 15 meters is almost 5o feet.

That was two days ago, when the water was at 13.5m. And yes, it has rained significantly since then.

Perhaps the most dangerous thing for the country in the whole is the potential loss of agriculture income. Last year was devestatingly bad, and for a nation whose primary industry is food, another year of mangled outcomes could signal a world of bad news.

Of the three countries I've mentioned, Moldova is the only one who has yet to ask for international assistance.

But we will need it.

Russia has stepped in and is shipping material supplies to both the Ukraine and Moldova. Being a former satellite has its uses.

As I type, it's sunny and beautiful and HOT. Generally, this means nothing in this country. But it is supposed to be sunny this weekend.

I hope for once the forecasters are right.

Talking Plants (aka, Seymour Lives)

2008-07-31T13:42:00.006-05:00

Recently, in one of my normal moments of non-thinking chattering, I espoused to someone that plants talked to each other. The look I got was incredulous, to say the least, and ended up with them mocking me and me being all "but it's true! I read it somewhere."

That statement is always my downfall. I've always "read it somewhere" and I always can't remember where, because I read like, 10,000 pieces of news a day. The fact that I had also had a bit to drink and had gone off on my rant about quantum theory did nothing to support people's belief in my statement that:

Plants Talk To Each Other.

I dropped the subject sullenly, knowing I couldn't win. And of course now, I have proof....

Plants Talk, Even Eavesdrop

According to Live Science, the parasitic dodder vine taps into the host's communication system by stealing its RNA molecules. This amazing plant also sniffs the air for signs of plant victims...

The sagebrush in the U.S. warns its brethren of attackers (i.e., insects), it will release odors into the air so that other sagebrushers know to kickstart their own defense mechanisms.

And some plants - well, they don't so much talk as be talked through... the mustard plant is used as a telephone by bugs.

No kidding.

I've read of other examples as well.

It's difficult being right so much, truly.

But the truly difficult part is not being able to remember who didn't believe me about the talking plants. Now I can't be all "neh neh neh neh neh neh"

Chicagoans happier with their city than Parisians, New Yorkers

2008-07-30T05:03:00.002-05:00

Like this is news:

"Forget Paris! Chicagoans are much happier with their city."

Music Of The Millennials

2008-07-28T03:37:00.006-05:00

Girl Talk considered anthem music of the Millenials

By Chris Bodenner in the Atlantic Monthly

Many people consider my favorite musician, Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk), no musician at all. In fact, certain stuffed shirts want to prosecute him for what he does. That's because Girl Talk creates mash-ups: tracks that blend samples from other artists, usually without permission. Mash-ups began as novelties, and most are just clever combinations of two songs. But on his last album alone, Girl Talk sampled nearly 300 different songs (up to 26/track), spanning hip hop, indie rock, dance pop, and dozens of subgenres. His more creative combinations include: the lyrics of Notorious B.I.G. over Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," rapper Drama over Roy Orbison's "You Got It," hip-hop duo Clipse over Grizzly Bears' indie hit "The Knife." His albums are a seamless string of frenzied dance tracks. At his live shows, the skinny, pasty, ex-engineer flails around with his fans and ultimately leaves in boxers. (For a fuller profile, see this piece I wrote last year.)

Girl Talk just released his newest album, Feed The Animals. In the spirit of open source (and following the lead of Radiohead's Rainbows), he put the album online as a "pay what you can" download. It's not quite the masterpiece of its predecessor, Night Ripper, but pretty damn close. Recently, fans have started to adapt Girl Talk tracks into music videos, splicing together snippets from sampled originals found on YouTube. This one is truly brilliant (the intro blends '60s British prog rock and Dirty South rap, and you can't miss the scenes from "Footloose" at 3:25):

Warning: Not appropriate for youngsters or grandmothers!

("Still Here," featuring 50 Cent, Kenny Loggins, Salt-n-Pepa, Beck, Cat Stevens, etc.)

Girl Talk embodies the Millennial Generation like no other artist. An archaeologist from the future could find no greater musical artifact than Night Ripper or Feed The Animals, which feature music from the 80s (new wave, gangsta rap), 90s (grunge, Dirty South) and 00s (emo, crunk). Much of the fun is recognizing songs you haven't heard since middle school. But his albums aren't just nostalgic soundtracks; their ingenuous genre-blending makes them far greater than the sum of their parts. And Girl Talk would hardly have been possible without the generation-defining Internet. Online file-sharing allowed him to get almost any song for free. Editing software on his laptop (which he uses at live shows) allowed him to splice and dice music without the need for expensive studio equipment. And of course blogs and websites made word-of-mouth and distribution far easier for an amateur with a day job.

Picture of the Week

2008-07-28T02:50:00.001-05:00

Video quote of the Week

2008-07-26T09:30:00.003-05:00

An Iraq and... Pakistani Border?

Can an American be a Citizen of the World?

2008-07-25T07:13:00.012-05:00

Last night Barack Obama made a speech in Berlin in which he said that he was:

"A proud citizen of the United States and the fellow citizen of the world."

I have to admit, I cringed. Not because I don't believe that I am a citizen of the United States and of the world - because I absolutely do - but because I don't think that line is going to play so well in many people's heads in the States. I can see the newspapers now: "Barack Obama Citizen of the World!" Headlines that conveniently drop the first part of that sentence to focus on some kind of supposed disloyalty to the American people.

Obama's little jaunt around my neck of the woods has caused a striking amount of discussion in Europe. The commentary, I think, has been very interesting.

Columnists ask, "why is it that Europeans like Obama so much?"

Which is, frankly, a VERY good question. Europe, folks, for all their high minded attitudes, is a racist place. In the EuroCup that was just played, organizers had to put up advertisements reminding fans to be respectful of people of different colors - because the fans would throw cups of beer at the black players and call them monkeys. Before every game, they had each team say a short statement about racial solidarity.

In England, there is severe mistreatment of Pakistanians. France? Has a huge problem with a very large African population. And Germany? Well, apparently they've got a Turkish population they can't stand.

And do I even need to mention how the entire continent feels about the Roma population?

So the commentator's questions are more than valid. It's not just that Obama is seen as the opposite of Bush, and that McCain is seen as a Bush extension. So why does Obama have a 85% approval rating in Western Europe, and has just now toppled McCain in the race to win Russian hearts and minds?

Jack Lang, the former Socialist Culture Minister in France, said it was because he represents “the America we love ... the youth and racial mix of an America under transformation and in movement”.

Which, have to give credit to Abe Greenwald of the Times of London for pointing out, if that's the America the French love, then "why are they demographically aging, defined by tribal identity, and violently resistant to reform?

But that very excellent point is besides my point and question.

I had the privilege of watching Obama's Berlin speech with some Moldovan friends, an interesting experience on multiple levels. First of all, it was being dubbed over in Romanian, and so I was very close to strangling the tv announcer for being so screechy. Secondly, they cut off the speech in the very middle.

What the heck was that all about?

But it was really very interesting because it led to a discussion on America - how Europeans look upon it, how we look upon ourselves, how we look upon Europeans, how we look upon others who look upon us, etc. It was a twisted conversation.

My main point, initially, was that the 200,000 people at this rally for Obama in Berlin does not bode well for his candidacy in the States, that his 85% approval rating was probably a bad thing. Dar de ce? Oare Americanii nu doresc sa lucreze cu lumea? Well, yes, Americans kind of want to work with the world....

Or at least about half of us do?

Nu doresc sa fie America de a placut din nou?

Well yes, I think it would be pretty cool if America was liked again.

Atunci de ce?

Why indeed.

Because there's nothing more dangerous than a president who is too close to the Europeans? Because we think Europe is soft, that your people don't have it takes to get the job done, and when push comes to shove we always have to save your continent's...măgar. Because too many European men are pretty boys, and you make our presidents look effeminate, and we can't be having that.

Because we don't care what you think, and the more you push us the more we're going to do the exact opposite of what you say just because you told us to. We're ornery like that.

Nu ne intelegem.

I don't understand it sometimes either. Looks kind of childish when it's all typed out like that, although I gotta agree with the whole Europe's been ... pansy- măgar when it comes to combat. I think it has something to do with us thinking we're god's gift or something (and I say this without a hint of sarcasm or irony).

In Moldova there is still a very strongly held belief that America is the land of opportunity and riches. They understand that there is a severe economic crisis, and yet I've had many people ask if I can bring them over to work.

We've done really well, extraordinarily well, at perpetuating the idea of the American dream.

And that's what it is... it's an idea. And it's one that I was taught and raised on from a very early age.

I was taught, I told my friends, that America is the best country on earth. That we were destined for greatness. That we had the best government, the best country, the smartest people, and some people say that God destined this greatness himself. Manifest Destiny may have started out as just a complete and utter takeover of the central part of North America, and dominion over every native tribe, but it ended up being rationalization for the mission to promote and defend democracy throughout the world.

I never really thought about how odd it was to be raised with the idea that you were a citizen of the greatest country on earth until my friends looked at me all wide-eyed last night. There's been a lot of talk about arrogance and presumption lately, but geez... the idea that America was the best was a part of our daily diet.

But they were also, apparently, a part of the rest of the worlds as well.

Ronald Regan, in his fairwell address to the nation, quoted (not for the first time) early pilgrim John Winthrop to talk about his vision of America as a "Shining City on a Hill." He said:

"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still."

Beautiful.

I don't care what Regan's politics or policies were, it feels to me like he saw America like people on the outside see America - a place "stronger than oceans" and "teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace."

And I think it's that very vision that has made people so very upset at us. And also identifies, fairly succinctly, why Barack Obama is so attractive to them.

Because the idea of America has been tainted for some - and maybe it's not that people take pleasure in cutting down the big guy on the block - maybe it's that we're a disappointment. It hurts to have something you believe in taken away, and people all over the world absolutely believe in the idea of America. And when something you believe in gets taken away, people can react quite violently.

The people of Europe wouldn't have come out in throngs to see Gordon Brown, or Sarkozy, or any other world leader I can think of.... although you could probably gather a few thousand in protest against a few. But people came out to see Obama - people care about some candidate for office in a country not their own - because of America. He makes them believe that America can be that the Shining City on the Hill again. He represents, in all his "unlikely" story, the best possibilities of America, the promises of America.

Manifested.

To quote the movie that comes out today, they really Want to Believe.

In our idea. In the American idea.

So can an American be a Citizen of the World?

To a certain extent, how can we not be? And I'm not talking, farms in the midwest causing the foodcrisis kinda way....

It's our principles and ideals that are consistently looked to, the world over.

We have been the instigators of international laws and organizations.

We are the motivators - in form and function - of the change we did not seek.

Doesn't the question become then: do Americans have what it take to be true American citizens? and do we even know what that dream means anymore?

Government in Moldova passes Anti-Corruption Law. Entire Country Collectively Laughs.

2008-07-25T05:48:00.003-05:00

"A new law regarding the prevention and combating of corruption in the Republic of Moldova stipulates that civil servants who commit acts of corruption will be fired regardless of the magnitude of the action and the right to hold public offices with be withheld for five years."

But seriously, the depth of corruption in Moldova has got me thinking... how did corruption lessen in the states (when and where it has lessened?)

Mostly, hasn't it been because someone has been embarassed? Some tv channel has done an expose that manages to capture money changing hands, or tracks bank accounts or something, and there's a "big public outcry," and someone gets fired?

Many of the comments in the article that talks about this law are from Moldovans who say that corruption is everywhere, and to a certain extent that's true... but it is said that the bribes given to public officials here are equal to 2/3rds of the annual budget. That's a little extreme.

Press isn't as free in this country as it is in many western countries... maybe corruption flourishes because there's no one to call them on their behavior publically.

Quote of the Day

2008-07-25T05:18:00.002-05:00

"Well let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israels"

Barack Obama

2008-07-24T15:25:00.002-05:00

New Zealand Judge forces parents to rename their daughter

2008-07-24T07:42:00.003-05:00

Talulah, 9 year old New Zealand girl, is about to undergo a court-ordered name change.

You see, her full name is Talulah Does The Hula From Hawaii.

Seriously.

Other names that parents have been forced to change? Fish and Chips, Yeah Detroit, and Keenan Got Lucy and Sex Fruit.

But others were allowed, including Number 16 Bus Shelter and Violence.

Hey I've considered naming a girl child "Fury." (should I ever have a girl child, mind you). What? I can hear you judging from here- back off, it's a pretty word!

Today, all my troubles are gone

2008-07-24T05:48:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I was complaining that I couldn't work on google docs offline.

Today, they have created a google gadget to allow you to... (gasp!) work on docs offline.

Mind readers, I swear.

A 800 issue person

2008-07-24T04:18:00.003-05:00

Samuel L. Popkin, author of "The Reasoning Voter," suggests that Americans' awareness of issues has been growing for decades, but argues that voters use shortcuts to make judgments about the candidates, relying on things like endorsements, the advice of friends, and the candidate's party.

Amy Gershkoff, who wrote her Princeton dissertation on issues and voting behavior, says that
"many Americans vote because of one or two or three issues...they might care a whole lot about health care or prayer in schools and not at all about foreign policy, and maybe that leaves them sounding dumb when they're asked about Iraq. But they know enough about the issues they care about, and that's what they vote on."

For a girl who spends days researching all the judges on the ballot, forgive me, but this really pisses me off. I was asked by a poll once if I would vote for a candidate who would do away with freedom of choice rights if he or she agreed with the majority of my other positions. My answer, while it made me cringe, was yes. I brought this subject up later, for better or worse, at a bar. My more hardcore friends were... disappointed, to say the least. Allowing for any alteration in Roe v Wade is akin to blasphemy among many of the more lib crowd.

But how can anybody vote on one issue? Everything in politics is connected, and I'd rather give up a right to save 50 others, or eat a tax to save education, knowing that, in the long run, it would save the entire country money because we'd have a more educated base that would be able to support themselves. But maybe this is a generational thing, I don't know.

It pays to be a sports fan....

2008-07-24T04:00:00.003-05:00

NYTimes: As both campaigns look toward their conventions in late August and early September, observers have noted more than once that Obama's speech happens to be scheduled for Aug. 28, the 45th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. McCain's speech, on the other hand, will fall on Sept. 4, the opening night of the NFL season, which features a game between the Washington Redskins and the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

A Millenial Xer

2008-07-23T10:55:00.022-05:00

I've been thinking about generations lately.

There's public and private reasons for this pondering.

The public reason is that it's an election time, and I'm feeling all tingly (to use a hot buzzword).

There's a lot of discussion about generations in this election - which candidate is in what generation, what that means, etc.

It's interesting to me that McCain is from "the Silent Generation." Time Magazine coined the phrase in 1951, and called them a generation that is "grave and fatalistic, conventional, possessing confused morals, expecting disappointment but desiring faith." William Manchester, my all-time favorite narrative historian, called in his obituary by the New York Times a "biographer who used his novelist's eye to fashion meticulously researched portraits of power," commented that the members of this generation were "withdrawn, cautious, unimaginative, indifferent, unadventurous and silent."

They are also called the "Seeker" Generation. I wonder, what exactly were they seeking?

Now we skip a few generations...

the Baby Boomers: the generation being called the most self-absorbed and acerbic in American history, but hey, cred for the whole Civil Rights thing;

The Jones Generation: coined the term "i'm jonesin'", these are the children, technically a part of the Baby Boomers, but who missed the social revolution and jumped straight into that 70s groove.

The Disco Gen: Also technically Baby Boomers, but sadly, the children of platform shoes and highwaisted jeans. Those poor poor children.

Until we come to Generation X.... also called the Lost Generation...

There's 30-some million of them. I want to say I'm not part of it because, hey, who is not embarassed by grunge? But the truth is I'm a little bit of X, and a little bit of Y. More on that later.

Xers are the first generation that probably won't do as well as their parent's financially, and are way more likely to need (and receive) help from their parents or grandparents, a big, big descent from the American dream...

While their parents practiced free love, they've inherited AIDS; Their parents led the Civil Rights movement while they watched the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

They're fiercely independent, people say, because they had to be. They are the first latchkey kids, and the first products of broken marriages.

They're considered cyncical and lazy... but they're a generation that had to put up with the rapid de-industrialization of America, the out-sourcing of previously safe jobs, and also were the creators of the tech industry.

They're a group kind of hard to define, but Meridith Bagby (all around interesting person) says this about their (her) politics: "We are after what produces the greatest good for the most people, not doctrne, rhetoric, dogma... we seek the avenue that produces the greatest results...we want a government that W-O-R-K-S--that... protects the environment, fosters business, secures our future by deficit control, makes our streets safe, and stays out of our way as much as possible while doing it."

"Our political-speak is about action, restructuring, saving money. It is not about ideology. It is about practicality."

She calls her generation "the Rising Generation," and says that self-reliance is second nature to them.

Based upon my experience working with many in this Rising Generation, they're also destructive. They hate "the system" and are distrustful of it, are disdainful of labels and corporatism, and think that government has allied itself with those interests.

I've been thinking about this because I was recently reminded that the people I surround myself with aren't necessarily run-of-the mill politicos. And I'm not talking about Moldovans. Or Peace Corps members, necessarily... who seem so far to be pretty on top of it. Because of my friends and the places that I've worked I am steeped in politics (politics in Chicago is not a spectator sport, after all) and I sometimes forget that old stereotypes are still the most prevelant....

That many people still think that republicans are the spend less, fiscally thrifty, anti-big government party. That democrats are all tax!tax!tax! and support the welfare queen! and would swell the deficit to 10 trillion if given the opportunity.

These are things that I heard so often when I was a kid I kind of believed it. Republican? party for economic conservatives. Democrat? party for bleeding heart liberals.

But the Wheel of Time turns, and just as both parties have had to reinvent themselves dozens of times before, so too has this happened now.

The democrats, crushed during most of the Clinton and Bush years, made almost irrelevant on the national stage, have reinvented themselves. Granted, this was out of necessity, but nevertheless, the change is there.

And the change was driven by Xers. The credit must be given.

David Callahan, creator of the think tank Demos, thinks that members of Gen X are likely to hold different opinions on specific political issues, but what binds them together is a political orientation that is distinct from boomer politics.

"My generation has more of an interest in rethinking ideas - figuring out whether the big liberal ideas of the twentieth century are in fact appropriate for the 21st."

Because more than likely they're not. Fiscal responsiblity? Necessary. Free trade? Necessary. These are ideas that old school democrats didn't find ... necessary.

The X-er economic philosophy was described by Ted Halstead in The Atlantic Monthly as "balanced-budget populism," combining "fiscal responsibility with a concern for income inequality."

"With this pragmatic approach comes a certain impatience with the "romanticism" of boomer lefties. X-er progressives are far less inspired by the idea of "saving the world" than fixing the local school system or creating a green transit alternative that can be replicated across communities, as long as it's a specific problem with a concrete solution.... We're not trying to change things. We're trying to fix things," Anne McCord proudly told Time in 1990. "We are the generation that is going to renovate America. We are going to be its carpenters and janitors."

"It's a roll-up-your-sleeves, nuts-and-bolts politics, built on collaboration" says Batista Schlesinger. "Before I had a political ideology, I had a process." These process-oriented values are reflected in adjectives -- collaborative, open, transparent, bottom-up, fair -- rather than big vision statements or policy slogans like Limited Government or Global Peace. The netroots' "user-generated politics" is a natural extension of these values. "What they stand for is different from traditional liberalism. And the influx of the Millenials, who are now aligning themselves with Democratic politicians and policies, is a direct result of that shift," says Armstrong.

Me? I just want the education system fixed. And a viable train system. And better jobs. And I really don't care who comes up with the solutions.

And oh, am I ever so disdainful of the romanticism and idealism of the liberal boomers.

From the way Barack Obama speaks, it's like he's quoting from the Gen X playbook... "I'm a Democrat. I'm considered a progressive Democrat. But if a Republican or a conservative or a libertarian or a free-marketer has a better idea, I am happy to steal ideas from anybody, and in that sense I'm agnostic".

Oh but wait. Obama has denounced the Baby Boomers, and aligned himself with the Millenials. And some people are calling him the first Millenial President(ial Candidate), despite the fact that he can't be a Millenial, and he's probably technically not even an Xer... more likely he's a Joneser. Tee hee.

Which brings us nicely to: Generation Y

According to some, the kids in this group (some 70 million of them!!) have a rendezvous with destiny, and they might even be "the Next Great Generation."

One in three is not Caucasian. One in four live(d) in a single-parent household. Three in four have working mothers. While boomers were still mastering Microsoft Windows 98, their kids were instant messaging on their cell phones. They have a (apparently sometimes overdeveloped) sense of self-worth, and they get upset if they're not allowed to wear their flip-flops to work.

Boy do I sympathize with that one.

They were raised by parents who loved them, coddled them, and told them they could do anything. And apparently the kids believed.

Instead of rebelling against labels like the Gen Xers did, Millenials revel in things like MacBooks, Mudd Jeans, and the new Ipod. And Iphone. Le Sigh.

"Unlike the young baby boomers, millennials want to strengthen the political system, not tear it down." A 2006 survey by Frank N. Magid Associates indicated that millennials are more likely than older generations to believe that politicians care what people think and are more concerned with the good of the country than of their political party.

"Millennials' political style is also similar to the GI generation's. They aren't confrontational or combative, the way boomers (whose generational mantra was "Don't trust anyone over 30") have been. Nor does the millennials' rhetoric reflect the cynicism and alienation of Generation X, whose philosophy is, "Life sucks, and then you die." Instead, their political style reflects their generation's constant interaction with hundreds, if not thousands, of "friends" on MySpace or Facebook, about any and all subjects, increasingly including politics. The millennials have learned to be concerned for the welfare of everyone in the group and to try to find consensus, "win-win" solutions to any problem. The result is a collegial approach that attracts millennials to candidates who seek to unify the country and heal the nation's divisions."

Or something like that. They do like brands, and they do genuinely believe that things can change for the better. And they have yet to be disappointed. Which is probably why the Obama campaign has bypassed the Gen Xers, and gone straight for the Gen Y's, now sometimes known in some circles as Generation Obama.

The Newsweek Article by Andrew Romano (or blog report) that talks about Barack being a millenial talks about how Millenials, like no other generation before, have been shaped to be goal-oriented, self-improving resume builders. He quotes David Brooks essay "The Organization Kid," saying that the Millenials, counter to the Gen Xers, are not "trying to buck the system, they're trying to climb it, and they are streamlined for ascent."

They are the kids who were ran around from piano lesson to soccor to violin to play practice, who had every minute of every afternoon planned out, and who were taught how to work the system to their benefit.

As many bloggers have lamented, and Ryan Lizza pointed out in the New Yorker (but most people missed in the Hubbub over the cover, "perhaps the greatest misconception about Barack Obama is that he is some sort of anti-establishment revolutionary. Rather, every stage of his political career has been marked by an eagerness to accommodate himself to existing institutions rather than tear them down or replace them."

Snap.

As a side note though, I always wondered why people were surprised when he compromised. Not that I wasn't upset at some of his compromises, but please... he never made any secret of his republican poker playing ways. That was part of his charm.

So who am I? Born in 1980, half of the studies say I'm an Xer, half that I'm a Millenial. I'm a cusper. Wikipedia calls me the MTV Generation, neither here nor there. Not that I ever really watched MTV. And I definitely have a longer attention span than 6 seconds.

According to a completely tech-biased survey, I am soooo a Millenial. I've always been a computer geek. And, I sure do love my Macbook. And my ipod. I think I would die without internet and I wore flipflops to my college graduation. I have been on friendster, myspace and facebook, but have recently repudiated all but facebook. Oh, and also, I started saving for retirement at the age of 24 because I refuse to have financial problems if I can in any way avoid it, and want to find anyway possible to shorten my workday because seriously? I work incredibly fast, and it's not fair to keep me at the office just to keep me there. Apparently, these are all signals of a Millenial. And I don't believe that all companies are evil. See google, mission statement. Just, you know, most companies. But not the workers. It's complicated.

And I don't have any problem working for "the man." See Rian: Americorps, Peace Corps, future hopeful government employee.

Notice the word hope.

But, I'm a pragmatist. I worked within the Chicago political sphere, so come on, I recognize that sometimes things work in a nice and democratic way, but mostly they don't. I just want things to start working, and half the time you gotta put a lot of pressure to make that happen. I know that the solutions proposed in the past by both parties are non-starters, and that 9/10ths of the time problems can only be fixed by people themselves.

So I don't know. I went into this thinking I was obviously a Gen Y, but now I'm not entirely sure. Obviously I have aspects of both. I do see seeds of the conflicts I've had with co-workers within these generational differences though, me leaning towards Yness, them being more X-ey, which is interesting.

I'm not sure if anyone else can understand my reasonings for writing this... but politics and history have movements and players and when I get a thought in my head and it becomes a thing, my need to research and read about it endlessly is pretty profound. I enjoy the fact that I play a part, however ultra-minutely, in history, and I kind of get off on the fact that the generation I seem to be most aligned with is being touted as the next Greatest Generation.

Even if what that actually means is a generation who has to deal with hardship, responsibility and sacrifice.

Not to reference a wildly cheesy pop-culture movie from the Millenial Generation or anything, but I say Bring It On.

2008-07-23T10:53:00.001-05:00

QUOTES OF THE DAY

Wall Street got drunk.

President GEORGE W. BUSH,
describing the nation's troubled economy at a GOP fundraiser after requesting that all cameras be turned off

The good news and the bad news....

2008-07-21T04:07:00.002-05:00

First, the good...

The agrarians in all Moldova regions started grain harvesting campaign. The northern regions started campaign later than others, because grains ripen there 10-12 days longer than in the southern regions. Currently, the capacity of 1-grade grains totals 30 c/ha.

In some areas of the northern regions the agrarians harvest even 42-48 c/ha of grains.

According to Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova, such favorable conditions for grains ripening and harvesting happens once in decade.

The agrarians of Moldova harvested almost half of the yield of the main food crop – wheat, sown at the area of 387.000 ha this year.

The harvesting campaign is successfully being held in four regions, and half of the areas has been already harvested, reported Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova on June 18.

The average crop capacity of wheat totals 36 c/ha.

As a reminder, in 1989 Moldavian agrarians received a record yield – 44 c/ha of milling grains.

So, a bang up year for the agrarian sector of Moldova, eh?

Unfortunately,

Moldova's salary arrears down by 35 million lei

Jul. 18, 2008 / [4947]

Chisinau, 18 July /MOLDPRES/ - Overall salary arrears stood at 80 million lei (5.1 million euros) in June 2008, and decreased by 34.7 million lei against January 2007 and by 9.9 million lei as compared with the arrears registered in December 2007, according to data by the Moldovan Economics and Trade Ministry.

The biggest salary arrears are registered in agriculture - 44.5 million lei, industry - 23.6 million lei, including the processing industry - 18.9 million lei.

At the same time, 12.4 million lei are arrears of state-owned enterprises, 50.6 million lei of private enterprises and 17 million lei of public/private enterprises.

The issue of salary arrears is discussed monthly at the meetings of the National Commission for joint consultations and negotiations, which are attended by leaders of the enterprises with the biggest salary arrears.

Currently, the state Labour Inspection service is investigating the reasons for salary arrears and is considering the possibility of closing down insolvent enterprises.

the Hot Political News on the Moldovan (Romanian) Streets

2008-07-18T10:20:00.002-05:00

- Presa araba se teme ca relatiile dintre George W. si Laura ar putea provoca cel de-al treilea razboi mondial

Translation? Arabic press feel that the sour relations between George W and Laura could cause the Third World War....

Additionally...

Daca exista un sambure de adevar in faptul ca secretarul american de Stat Condoleezza Rice are un rol important in acest divort, povestea de dragoste dintre Carla Bruni si presedintele francez Nicolas Sarkozy va pali.

If even a sliver of truth exists that Sec of State Condeleeza Rice has a role in the cause of this divorce, the story of the relationship between Carla Bruni and French President Nicolas Sarkoy will pale.

Oh yes, did everyone else know that Condi and President Bush were having an affair? Because apparently all Moldovans think they are.

Satire That's Actually Funny

2008-07-17T06:23:00.003-05:00

Link

Wow.

2008-07-16T14:40:00.001-05:00

Nationally, RealtyTrac shows 261,255 properties received foreclosure notices during May -- a 7 percent increase from the previous month and a 48 percent boost from May 2007.

The report also states one in every 483 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing during the month.

And it's not just homes.

Senior centers, office buildings and even churches have been forced to deal with the threat of losing their million- dollar real estate to the lenders, forcing them to scramble to escape foreclosure auctions.

Exploring Moldova's wine caves

2008-07-16T12:14:00.002-05:00

There's a really great article in the LA Times by Kay Mills about Moldova's Wine Trade. Here's a link and an excerpt:

By Kay Mills
Special to The Times

July 20, 2008

Few people, myself included, know much about Moldova, and fewer still have visited here. This former Soviet republic is sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine. Its two state-run wineries, Cricova and Milestii Mici, have almost 100 miles of underground winemaking and storage facilities in old limestone mines.

A few months later, I was riding in a Toyota 4Runner through those caves, one of the more surreal experiences in my life.

The caves at Cricova and Milestii Mici are so big, 34 and 62 miles long, respectively, that you drive through in a car or ride a small electric train. With winemaker Sergeiu Galusca as our guide, my driver, translator and I took the Toyota through Milestii Mici, 12 miles southwest of Chisinau. At times, we were more than 200 feet underground.

During our tour, Galusca pushed a button and a hidden limestone door rolled open. Behind it the winery hid 10,000 bottles of the winery's best stock -- placed there during Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign in the mid-1980s. That effort led to the destruction of many Moldovan vineyards and threatened the winery's historic collection.

The next day, we drove to Cricova, nine miles north of the capital. Most tourists ride a little red train through the caves, but we drove the faithful Toyota with our guide.

After passing racks of sparkling wine in production, we saw Cricova's historic collection. Its oldest wine is a 1902 vintage, kept on its side under a bell jar so no one will disturb it. The collection also includes 1930s vintages that the Soviets confiscated from No. 2 Nazi Hermann Goering as World War II ended.

We toured five tasting rooms, each done in a different style. One is an opulent, official-looking room with a table seating 25 to a side. Here, our guide explained, many state documents are signed.

Looking Back

2008-07-16T11:41:00.002-05:00

So looking back on this blog a bit, and thinking on some of the questions I've received, I have realized a few things....

that I've said I'd talk about stuff and then I totally didn't.

that my generally whiney-ness could be interpreted as being miserable.

One big thing, at least in my mind, is that I never mentioned how my big presentation went, the one I was so scared about... which, if I was reading the blog would indicate to me that it went badly.

Not so.

In fact, I rocked the house. People were very impressed. And then confused when they tried to talk to me like a regular person afterwards and I was all "huh??"

But as far as first tests go, I did a really good job, and impressed my organization and all organizations in the network.

Now... I am not the director and/or producer of any of the videos on this blog, and neither is the organization that I work for. I just ran into them on youtube. I thought that was pretty obvious with the documentaries, but maybe not so much with the Chisinau one. But no, definitely not me.

As far as being unhappy... yes, I miss Chicago and that ain't no lie, and I also do think I had the second month slump... but think of it this way - I don't write when I'm happy. I forgot because I'm in a hurry, or have too many things to do.

Like, for instance, I went to this place called Vada Lui Voda last weekend for a birthday party. It's like a resort village on the Nistru river across from Romania. And I had an AWESOME time. It was so much fun, and it was so nice to get away.

Also, I haven't really been working, but I've still had to go to work. This makes for crankiness. However, I've just submitted and received (almost complete) approval for a two year work plan with some pretty heavy projects that should keep me busy. One national campaign needing to be built from the ground up and the creation of two independent centers for disparate populations in Chisinau. And those are just the long term.... to say nothing of all the forums and seminars and raising volunteerism across the country...

I like being busy.

It does suck being broke all the time. The curse of living in Chisinau has reared its ugly, ugly head. Things are going to get much more messy when lock-down (the three-month period newbies are not allowed to leave their site) ends, which is at the beginning of august. At that time, all my friends are going to be coming into Chisinau, wanting to hang.... and I'll be broke. Oh, and on vacation, because my organization closes for three weeks.

Le Sigh. Cum trist.

So I've set up work and a school for myself. Translation of things for the webpage into english, research for funding, and in-depth language study, 3 hours a day. I'm excited about it. And maybe the homework will keep me busy enough so I won't be able to go out.

Yea right. Cine este de mare mincinoasa? Who is the big liar? That would be me. Asta ar fi de mine.

I think that's all I wanted to cover.

Me? Not depressed.
Videos? Not Mine.
Organization? Can't give you the info unless I know who you are, G.
Miss and love everyone? Yes and yes.

this summer, I'm going to fall in love... (with a new band)

2008-07-16T11:26:00.003-05:00

Lately, I've been listening to a new band called Vama Veche. I've been trying to listen to more Romanian music, romanian news, etc. It's better than surrounding myself with English, ya? Anyway, this band is a ton of fun, and I genuinely, genuinely like them.

He's singing about how this summer he's going to fall in love (cu tiine - which means "with you")

The google dance of Joy

2008-07-16T10:46:00.016-05:00

Many of you (oh so many of you), have heard me rhapsodize about how much I love the company google. About how if I had *any* money, I would buy stock in this company, (currently $524 and change, having risen a full $8 today despite the general economic downturn)....

About how it's like google reads my mind, because the minute I think of an application that would be useful, they turn-around and come up with it (think about bundled email in gmail, embedded chats, the amazing notebook, sharing documents, converting documents back and forth between programs - ahhh, it's magic).

Oh google, now you had to go and outdo yourself, forcing me to embarrass myself in fawning gratitude. You see friends, Google has created a translator bot. And not just any old translation application, that you stick a word into and hope it comes out okay, but a real, working, "you can put phrases into me and I'll spit it back at you conjugated and in complete sentences" application. And it's in Romanian.

No Translator Application is ever in Romanian. I mean, not the good ones. Oddly to me, the google translator spells it Rumanian (a very old spelling I think) but hell, if that's the price I'll even start to spell it that way! There's nothing I won't forgive after this! That whole You-Tube thing, pish-posh, whatever, all our data is being watched by somebody anyway. People need to get over it. Google is still a wonderful, amazing, do no evil company and I love them.

My only sadness is that I could never work for them and spread this love in a professional capacity. Apparently google only hires the best of the best (meaning Ivy League). Seriously guys, you don't know what you're missing in me. I am your biggest advocate.

So what does this mean, and why am I writing about this so much??? Well, for one thing, having the ability to translate things completely has made the task of learning a language FUN again. Seriously, almost a joy. I write something, try to translate it myself, see what google thinks....

So thank you google. You have, yet again, forced me to be your ridiculously adoring fan.

McCain defends non-existant country...again again

2008-07-16T04:30:00.004-05:00

UPDATE JUNE 15: McCain made the same mistake again today during a town hall meeting in New Mexico.

Hm..... seriously, Senator McCain needs better handlers. Or better alzheimers medicine. Or more sleep. Poor guy.

Tee Hee.

2008-07-15T06:24:00.002-05:00

Of course, I am a completely unbiased and apolitical Peace Corps volunteer....

However....

when somethings funny, it's just funny... and sad, too, obviously. Observe.

McCain avoids Viagra question

Posted: 12:19 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Watch McCain field a question about Viagra and health insurance.

(CNN) – John McCain is known for his frequent chats with reporters and his willingness to discuss nearly any issue.

But at least one is off-limits, the Republican presidential nominee suggested Wednesday: Viagra.

"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue," the Arizona senator said aboard his "Straight Talk Express" bus in Ohio when asked about his views on health insurance covering the medication.

But the off-message topic was raised from a member of McCain’s own team: national co-chairwoman Carly Fiorina, who had said earlier women often express frustration over the fact many health insurance plans cover Viagra but not birth control medication.

"Let me give you a real, live example, which I've been hearing a lot about from women. There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth control medication. Those women would like a choice," she said Monday.

A McCain spokesman later said the Arizona senator supported competition in the healthcare industry, presumably allowing women to nix policies that cover Viagra but not their specific needs.

Election Center: Where McCain stands on healthcare

McCain has voted against Senate measures that sought to require insurance companies to cover birth control medication.

The exchange also followed a town-hall event during which McCain touched upon the abortion issue, a matter that traditionally hasn’t animated him on the stump.

After praising President Bush’s efforts to expand faith-based programs, McCain pivoted: “I also think that we should do everything that we can, and one of those in my view is respect for human life both born and the unborn.”

The comments led to a standing ovation — his first at that event.

McCain Defends Czechoslovakia, A Non-Existent Country -- Again

2008-07-15T05:48:00.006-05:00

And a double tee hee!

(I've bolded something, just to pull it out for you. Really, anytime somebody gets schooled by President Bush in geography, you gotta ask yourself some questions...)

John McCain expressed concern about relations between Russia and a country that hasn't existed for quite some time. According to a rough pool report transcript, he said:

"I was concerned about a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several days. One was reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia. Apparently that is in reaction to the Czech's agreement with us concerning missile defense, and again some of the Russian now announcement they are now retargeting new targets, something they abandoned at the end of the Cold War, is also a concern."

Czechoslovakia, of course, split into two separate countries in 1993.

It isn't the first time McCain has made this mistake, as TPM's Greg Sargent points out:

Around three months ago, McCain told Don Imus that he would "work closely with Czechoslovakia and Poland and other countries" to install the European Missile Defense System in Poland, according to the Democratic National Committee. (The slip-up was referenced elsewhere, too.)

And during a GOP debate in October 2007, McCain said: "The first thing I would do is make sure that we have a missile defense system in place in Czechoslovakia and Poland, and I don't care what his objections are to it."

There are more: in 1994, McCain suggested NATO be expanded to include Czechoslovakia. At a dinner in 1999, he "twice thanked the ambassador from 'Czechoslovakia' for his efforts," according to the Washington Post.

In fact, George Bush himself dinged McCain for this blunder back in the 2000 primary. Steve Clemons writes:

Second, before Republicans condemn Dems for being picky on this, let's not forget that in the 2000 campaign, when McCain also screwed up Czechoslovakia, it was none other than George W. Bush who said it deserved to be a campaign issue: "A guy gets up and quizzes me [on world leaders] ... but John McCain says something about the 'ambassador to Czechoslovakia.' Well, I know there is no Czechoslovakia [there's a Czech Republic and a Slovakia], but yet it didn't make the nightly national news."

This longstanding confusion persists despite McCain's numerous visits to both the Czech Republic and Slovakia (he described his 2001 meeting with Czech President Vaclav Havel as "an experience . . . I can tell my Grandchildren about.") In fact, the former U.S. ambassador to Slovakia endorsed McCain's candidacy for president. Maybe he should offer the candidate some geography lessons too.

Rachel Weiner

The Huffington Post, July 14

really random

2008-07-14T08:35:00.002-05:00

in an article about Obama, Abner Mikva (one of the coolest men to ever walk the planet) had something to say:

Chicago taught Obama a key lesson, Mikva noted. He was an outsider with an unusual name, but he was able to overcome those obstacles. "This is a big city, but it's a very open city," Mikva said. "People plant their flag in Chicago, and this is where they're from. You can be accepted quickly. Being here has given Barack a very large comfort zone."

Not to continue my excessive talk about a city I no longer live in, but that line just kind of struck me: "People plant their flag in Chicago, and this is where they're from."

It's interesting being here, not knowing what to say when people ask me where I'm from ... I was born in St Louis, yes, but my home is Chicago. I've hedged on this question, answered it indirectly... It's an odd thing. But a city that is *still* made up of immigrants welcomes those even from the next state over, and maybe if I just admit that I've planted my own personal Rian flag, I'll finally know what to say when I get asked that question next time.

World Leaders Discuss Global Food Crisis Over 18-Course Meal

2008-07-09T03:14:00.005-05:00

Like anybody would want beetroot foam, anyhow.

A few words on the food crisis, though.

I remember before I left the states bitterly complaining about how high the cost of food was getting. It seemed like the cost of milk had doubled, as had all dairy products, really...

And if you wanted to get nice fruits and vegetables, well, forget about it.

In Moldova, in the four months since I've been here, the price of flour has doubled. The price of rice has tripled. I'm not sure of the price of corn products, but you can bet they've skyrocketed as well. In *four months.*

Right now, maybe this isn't that big of a deal because Moldova is rich in fruits and vegetables in the summer. But come autumn and winter, things could get seriously messy.

From the Washington Post:

"In Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City, traders watched from the pits early last summer as wheat prices spiked amid mediocre harvests in the United States and Europe and signs of prolonged drought in Australia. But within a few weeks, the traders discerned an ominous snowball effect -- one that would eventually bring down a prime minister in Haiti, make more children in Mauritania go to bed hungry, even cause American executives at Sam's Club to restrict sales of large bags of rice.

As prices rose, major grain producers including Argentina and Ukraine, battling inflation caused in part by soaring oil bills, were moving to bar exports on a range of crops to control costs at home. It meant less supply on world markets even as global demand entered a fundamentally new phase. Already, corn prices had been climbing for months on the back of booming government-subsidized ethanol programs. Soybeans were facing pressure from surging demand in China. But as supplies in the pipelines of global trade shrank, prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, rice and other grains began shooting through the roof.

At the same time, food was becoming the new gold. Investors fleeing Wall Street's mortgage-related strife plowed hundreds of millions of dollars into grain futures, driving prices up even more. By Christmas, a global panic was building. With fewer places to turn, and tempted by the weaker dollar, nations staged a run on the American wheat harvest.

Foreign buyers, who typically seek to purchase one or two months' supply of wheat at a time, suddenly began to stockpile. They put in orders on U.S. grain exchanges two to three times larger than normal as food riots began to erupt worldwide. This led major domestic U.S. mills to jump into the fray with their own massive orders, fearing that there would soon be no wheat left at any price.

"Japan, the Philippines, [South] Korea, Taiwan -- they all came in with huge orders, and no matter how high prices go, they keep on buying," said Jeff Voge, chairman of the Kansas City Board of Trade and also an independent trader. Grains have surged so high, he said, that some traders are walking off the floor for weeks at a time, unable to handle the stress.

"We have never seen anything like this before," Voge said. "Prices are going up more in one day than they have during entire years in the past. But no matter the price, there always seems to be a buyer. . . . This isn't just any commodity. It is food, and people need to eat."

People in the south of Moldova wake up every day and pray for rain. Maybe in the United States in the Midwest, y'all are waking up every day and praying for less rain.

Personally, at this point I'm praying for a discontinuation of subsidies to the farming industry for biofuels (well, to the farming industry as a whole, really), an investment and institution of subsidies to public transportation i.e. a national train system, and a release on tariffs from places like Brazil, who have managed to make turning sludge sugar into fuel an act of art.

But that's just me.

An Education in Moldova

2008-07-03T12:04:00.004-05:00

I ran across a few things today that I thought might be of interest to those who want to know more of the country that I'm living in. Unfortunately, I can't embed them into this blog, but I can link to them as I describe each. This is slightly over an hour of material on Moldova folks, a goldmine, actually, if you're seriously interested in where I'm living. Poftim.

The first video is about Moldova in general, and it does do a fairly good job of describing much of the situation. It does a very good job of describing the economic and infrastructure story of Moldova. And although the financial situation has gotten better since 2001, Moldova is still the Poorest Country in Europe.

Moldova: Europe's Poorest Country

There was actually an article that came out the other day with updated data that is applicable:

Chisinau, 30 June /MOLDPRES/ - The average monthly salary was 2,370 lei (152 euros) in Moldova in January-May 2008, increasing by 27 per cent against the first five months of 2007.

On this period, the average monthly remuneration in the budgetary sector was 1,862 lei, and in the real sector of the economy - 2,639 lei, according to data put out by the National Statistics Bureau (BNS).

According to the BNS director-general Vladimir Golovatiuc, the average salary of an employee in the financial sector was of 5,328 lei in January-May 2008, in constructions - 3,149 lei, in transactions - 3,003, in industry - 2,842, in public administration - 2,597, in health and social assistance - 2,075 lei, etc.

On the other hand, the lowest average monthly salary was recorded in agriculture and forestry - 1,149 lei, fish breeding - 1,251, education - 1,632, etc.

The average remuneration was 24 per cent higher last May against the same month of 2007.

The above data covers all the budgetary institutions, as well as the enterprises from the real sector, except for those situated in Transnistria, Golovatiuc said.

I would like to remind people that, as of today, 10$ = 100 Lei (around), so when it says the average salary has jumped to 2370, that means the average person makes $237 per month. It is not my place to discuss my family's situation, but suffice it to say that my living here doubles their monthly income, and we live in a government subsidized building (making our rent very very low). Rent in Chisinau is seriously expensive, shockingly expensive to me, and food prices here have tripled since I've been here.

A result of the country being so poor is the massive exodus of people working abroad. This has left many villages practically empty, and also left a veritable army of children without parents. I believe that I talked about some of the children (who barely deserve the name) I met in Peresecina, girls 12, 13 years old that are taking care of younger siblings, doing all the chores, etc. The following video actually highlights this phenomenon.

Left Behind

And finally, a video on the Transnistrian conflict. This video brings up a lot of stuff, and is frankly a little scary. Moldova is, tragically, known for being an inbetween state, a poor state, and this had fed into a large human trafficking problem. Maybe this is a larger problem in Transnistria, and I am absolutely willing to believe that to be true, I'm also not going to say it's not a problem in the general population in Moldova.

Recently, Moldova has been smacked by the world community for its part in global trafficking, and this has caused somewhat of a stir. The following was reported about a recent council meeting: (President) Voronin asked bodies in charge of the issue to quickly adopt a comprehensive plan of measures which would lead to concrete results. He concluded that the issue of human trafficking is of utmost importance for ensuring the interests and security of Moldovan citizens, but, he said, it is also a question of prestige, of Moldova s image.

I added the bold in that last sentence there.

(Sometimes, politics in this country reminds me so much of Chicago politics I can't even stand it)

Europe's Black Hole

So, poftim. (Poftim, by the way, means just about anything. In this context, it means "there ya go." It can also mean "excuse me?" or "you're welcome" or "thank you" or "I didn't understand a word you just said". It's a general, all purpose word that I have begun to use in abundance.

Poftim.

A video of my new city: Chisinau

2008-07-03T11:40:00.001-05:00

Mistakes

2008-07-03T08:46:00.004-05:00

Many people go into the Peace Corps, and leave boyfriends and girlfriends behind. This becomes, inevitably, a problem. People pine, romanticizing the past and how great things were. Or they move on, and find something else.

I didn't come here with a boyfriend, but I have realized something: I'm in love with a damn city.

I'm so homesick for Chicago it's killing me. But it's not for people necessarily (although, god knows, I miss my family tons, talking to my grandmother, and the fact that I'll miss christmas with my nieces and nephew still hasn't kicked in yet), but right now I'm missing a Chicago Summer. And that really sucks, because there is nothing like a Chicago summer.

I made the mistake of watching the Chicago Top Chef the past few days (a Chicagoan won - Woot!) and seeing all the places... the gay Whole Foods, the space where they did Restaurant Wars was the space where I won Fight Club, I'm almost positive.... I seem to be inundated with sightings of sailboats, even on a Moldovan calendar, although there is no sailing in Moldova so I'm not really sure what that's about.

It's with a degree of certainty that I write that this homesickness is part of a general lethargy and even a slight bit of ennui. I've been here four total months, and I've completely lost the desire to learn the language in the past week. I'm not yet doing anything substantial at work, although that's about to go through a world of change, whether my org knows this or not. And I very much dislike living with a family. I feel like my wings have been clipped. I can't sleep at all, (I'm literally dosing myself with benedryl to get sleep) but I realized that maybe my mind is staying up because the only time I have to myself is when everyone is asleep. I have no privacy, and as much as I like my family, I'm too old to have a 10 year old sister and too old to be living with a mother.

I'm such a whiner though, and I know this. I have a much better situation than everyone else, living in the city. Chisinau is cool I guess. Looking at things from this perspective, and how big a whiner I am being, it cannot be denied that there may have been serious problems had they put me in a village.

But I wonder how many people loved their life as much as I did before making a decision to join Peace Corps. And maybe I am romanticizing! I know I had issues, and I got stressed.

But I always loved my city. Seven years into living there, and driving down Lakeshore Drive would still give me goosebumps and put butterflies in my stomach.

I haven't the slightest intention of leaving Moldova, and I'm sure I'm just going through a normal initial placement slump. But I really want summer to be over already, so I can stop thinking about the Taste (which I actually hated! But I loved the vibe it gave the city) and the 4th (or 3rd, in Chicago) up on the rooftops, Chicago Architecture Foundation tours, sitting outside at T's, and sailing...

I really need to stop watching tv shows that highlight Chicago, and I need to stop reading the Chicago Trib and Sun-Times, and cancel all my e-subs to various cultural things. I think trying to hold on so tight has been a mistake, and it's making the transition harder.

But it's hard to let go when you're in love.