Midtacular
I only mentioned it briefly in this blog, but during fall 2004 (my senior fall), I took a class called 'Democratic Theory & Practice'. It was a good class; we read democratic theory (de Toqueville, Putnam, etc.) and volunteered with nonpartisan voter registration drives in Chester. I definitely felt aware of and actively involved in that election.
This year, not quite so much. I was lazy and didn't change my voter registration to Philadelphia, and I didn't do any election-related volunteering. However, on Tuesday I did wear my 'Campaign for Peace & Democracy' t-shirt from voter registration, I did vote, and I did participate in the sport Laughing at CNN Pundits.
I voted in Swarthmore after longsword. I still got to vote for Casey (who I met when he visited my firm's office), and I did enjoy the chance to vote against Weldon. At 19.30, I was the only voter there for a couple moments. No problems with my name on the rolls, no problems with pushing the screen to make red lights appear. It was fun, easy, and reminded me of the civic sense I had in '04.
Afterwards, I discovered the perfect place to watch the inanity of CNN talking heads: Yale House. First off, there was Mali's sun-dried-tomato-pesto pasta, mahi mahi steaks, and romaine & goat cheese with champagne vinegar. Then, there was an abundance of snarky and wiseass comments about phrases like 'gods and gays', the Republicans 'ingesting...certain products', and 'involuntary' guests of the federal government. We decided they were drinking rum, not coffee. In all seriousness, though -- for goodness' sake, can't someone, of any political bent whatsoever, actually sound clear, coherent, grammatical, and not pompous? Ugh. They were also clearly having too much fun showing off their wrap-around-the-room flat screens with buttons and waving flats. I think the waving flags made the other graphics seasick.
Of course, at 11, there was the Daily Show/Colbert Report Midterm Midtacular. By the way, they grace the current front cover of Rolling Stone. They're so adorable together.
This year, not quite so much. I was lazy and didn't change my voter registration to Philadelphia, and I didn't do any election-related volunteering. However, on Tuesday I did wear my 'Campaign for Peace & Democracy' t-shirt from voter registration, I did vote, and I did participate in the sport Laughing at CNN Pundits.
I voted in Swarthmore after longsword. I still got to vote for Casey (who I met when he visited my firm's office), and I did enjoy the chance to vote against Weldon. At 19.30, I was the only voter there for a couple moments. No problems with my name on the rolls, no problems with pushing the screen to make red lights appear. It was fun, easy, and reminded me of the civic sense I had in '04.
Afterwards, I discovered the perfect place to watch the inanity of CNN talking heads: Yale House. First off, there was Mali's sun-dried-tomato-pesto pasta, mahi mahi steaks, and romaine & goat cheese with champagne vinegar. Then, there was an abundance of snarky and wiseass comments about phrases like 'gods and gays', the Republicans 'ingesting...certain products', and 'involuntary' guests of the federal government. We decided they were drinking rum, not coffee. In all seriousness, though -- for goodness' sake, can't someone, of any political bent whatsoever, actually sound clear, coherent, grammatical, and not pompous? Ugh. They were also clearly having too much fun showing off their wrap-around-the-room flat screens with buttons and waving flats. I think the waving flags made the other graphics seasick.
Of course, at 11, there was the Daily Show/Colbert Report Midterm Midtacular. By the way, they grace the current front cover of Rolling Stone. They're so adorable together.