Currently Reading:

My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki

I’ve been on a book rampage recently. Yesterday, I checked out a book from the Columbia library for the first time. No, it wasn’t for work. It was purely for pleasure, and it was about meat. Well… sort of. And now, all I can think about is eating lamb chops. I’ve become so engrossed that I think I’m actually going to make some tomorrow!

So when I get into reading, I really get into reading. And even though I have at least half a dozen books lying around that I’ve been meaning to read, once I get emotionally invested in a book, I can’t put it down. In my newfound excitement for reading, I went to Borders and bought three more books. Just in case I didn’t have enough on my to-do list. And inevitably, it’s all fiction. I know, I know. Men don’t understand why women love fiction so much. In fact, I’m sure a couple of my friends would rather me read the Phil Jackson memoir than a work of fiction. But I can’t help it. I just love it.

And speaking of fiction, my friend showed me this website the other day. And even though I know that women have been using chicken cutlets for years, it never occurred to me to put them… there. The even have padded undies for men. I have yet to find a male friend willing to try a pair out. They also have these odd pantyhose-type implements, designed to push the caboose up and out. I am not convinced.

Listening to

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02 – Inside Out

I’ll have you know that I’m not listening to this tune voluntarily, despite my undying love for late 90s alternative rock. The frat boys next door have kindly allowed me to eavesdrop on this old classic by turning their stereo up to full volume and further enhancing the melody by shouting along at approximately the same rate.

So I was talking with a friend, who suggested that humans are most heavily shaped by the events that occur during their “formative years,” which she interpreted to mean junior high and high school. But my neighbors, I’m just confused by them. Every weekend, they put on a collection of their favorites, which always include the hit list from my formative years. But assuming that college undergrads are on average about 20 years old, I don’t understand how they can quite love The Offspring’s Americana album as I love it, since they were about 10 years old when it came out.

Anyway, I wish I had a lot of insight to share about how wonderful the new James Bond movie was, but I really don’t. In fact, as much I dislike the idea of spending another $12.50 to watch the movie again, I think I might have to. Because after surviving all the distraction of the shaky camera technique, I barely had time to try to understand what supposedly had happened in the film. Plus, nobody quite explained what exactly Quantum of Solace means. Although, I have to admit, the process of getting our tickets and our seats was a marvel in teamwork to behold…. But that might have to be a story for another day.

You know it’s bad when people just assume bankruptcy at the slightest sign that something’s not right. Like this conversation that I had:

him: Citibank didn’t go under today did it?
me: Um… Not that I’m aware of, why?
him: Well, their website is down

In other news, my weekly guilty pleasure, Lipstick Jungle, has been canceled. It’s heartbreak all around. Just as well. Who needs TV anyway?

With all the excitement over the election celebrations, I forgot to post a most amusing “conversation” overheard while we watched the results come on. After ABC NY anchor Liz Cho introduced herself, confusion ensued:

Dude 1: Cho? Is that an Asian name?

Dude 2: Yeah, we figured she was either half Asian or is married to an Asian guy.

Dude 3: Do you think an Asian guy would have enough juice to secure that one?

[3 seconds of silence. Pin drops on carpet.]

everyone else: JUICE?!

Dude 1: So do you think she looks half-Asian?

me: Hey, don’t you come from Vancouver? Aren’t half the people there half-Asians?

Dude 1: No, because 80% of the people in Vancouver are Asian.

How said America has overcome racism? Apparently it was still alive and well in that room.

With all the attention given to the US presidential election, some of the more interesting local elections seemed overlooked. Notably, there were some interesting ballot initiative this year, as there always seems to be. I, for one, was particularly happy about the strength of character and the sense of responsibility of Massachusetts voters as they said “Thanks, but no thanks” to Question 1: an offer to eliminate the state income tax.

How many times are we given the opportunity to watch as voters say “no” to the temptation of short term personal gain at the detriment of long term societal prosperity? Not only did the people of Massachusetts say no, they did so overwhelmingly, with nearly 70% of voters agreeing that the extra dollars in their pocketbooks was not nearly worth the pain of the complete lack of social services that would ensue.

In short, these voters acted as reasonable, responsible adults who acknowledged that there was no free lunch. Is there waste in the state’s budget? Surely. But they understood that there were more sensible ways to eliminate that waste than to wreck havoc on society. So much for game theory and the tragedy of the commons.

In other news, my friend had this to say about the passage of Proposition 8 on the California state ballot:

It’s not over for Prop 8 in California, but it’s something that shouldn’t have been voted on. You don’t vote on something that would hurt the minority. It would be like if we all voted on whether Bill Gates should give everyone $1,000. Chances are, it would pass.

What are your thoughts on the election, pure “rational” economic self-interest, and whether Billy should be forced to give us some cash?

A replica of the piece of art that my Math Camp instructor drew on our first day, depicting the income distribution and where we lie within it.

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Well, yesterday was an exciting night in New York. After the election results

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were announced, spontaneous rallys broke out all over the city. I was barely able to get home. Therefore, the obvious solution was to take photographs of the scene, where Columbia students had blocked off Broadway in celebration. Now, more than 12 hours after the last polls closed, I can still hear occasional cheers from outside my window.

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It’s election day, which is why I would like to invite you to walk with me back through time and check out this page from the NYTimes in 2000. Doesn’t it give you a nice chuckle?

I’m sure many of you out there will be watching the coverage tonight, stocking your home with popcorn, soda, booze, and maybe cyanide, in case something awful occurs. I’ll be at home following it too.

Listening to:

Some Great Reward – Depeche Mode
06 – Somebody (2006 Remastered Version)

I was reading Nick Kristof’s blog, and I came across this post where a high school Civics teacher told of his non-traditional approach to teaching civics, including canvassing for Obama.

At one house, the elderly woman who opened the door reacted joyously: “I am so glad young people are involved in politics. I love Obama. I hope he wins. I am so happy you are here.”

When asked if she would vote for Obama, she said no.

“My priest told me that he [Obama] supports gay marriage and abortion, so I can’t vote for him. But I hope he wins.”

Um… I love elderly women, I really do, but… Really? So you’re not allowed to vote for him, but hoping that he wins is ok? This logic seems really bizarre to me. Is the act of sin in action only, and thoughts don’t matter? Can someone better versed in (I guess Catholic) religious doctrine please inform?

In other Kristof news… Here’s a fun fact:

Osama bin Laden’s approval rating in Pakistan (34 percent) is almost double America’s (19 percent).

Exciting, isn’t it?