Sorry, Blog

I'm under pressure this week - marking and dissertation deadlines. Blogging has had to be sacrificed.

Hope to be back soon.

WTF???

Yup, that pretty much sums it up.

Neck Deep

I have so much marking, dissertation and publication work to do this week, as well as the normal child care, home life and financial crud to get done. Also, a lot of marks to enter into the online gradebook, a process I *hate*. I have 50 out of a 150 students, so I have to comb through and enter grades - it is both time consuming and painful on the eyes. HATE HATE HATE it.

Oh well, moaning is not going to make the task go away, so I may as well get a jump on it while Dec is (FINALLY) taking his morning nap.

sigh.

a bit of levity

Dear Lord, No!

Disgusting.

You've been warned.

Back

I'm back on the Internet, but am now attacking my marking and other work before I sink under a pile of stuff.

It was a nice visit, and I got some help rearranging the apartment, so my mood is significantly brightened.

BACK TO WORK!

Update

I have been out of communication due to in-laws visiting for the week. All is relatively well - term is wrapping up, and I am even managing to get a bit of work done.

Should be back to regular posts soon-ish.

Remember Kristallnacht

Oh, Obama!

*Holocaust Survivor Speaker*

Holocaust Survivor Pinchas Gutter is coming to tell his story of survival to WLU & UW students.

Everyone is welcome to attend this event.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
7:00pm - 8:30pm
BA209 (Bricker Academic Building), WLU

yowzers

it's already the 7th! damn.

The Aftermath...

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

YAY!

YES THEY DID!

numb... is this true???

Up Late Contemplating Langston Hughes

Today, we will find out if the Immortal Hughes was correct when he wrote:

By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President.

Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All?

Today, the American Dream is tested.

Today the world watches.

This just in....

Dixville Notch votes for Obama, 15 to 6.

And so it begins!

Why I Care About the American Election

I have a lot of verve for the 2008 US Election. I am not an American. Still, I am participating in select Internet activities to try to mobilize the American voters for Barack Obama, my preferred candidate.

At first, I didn't feel right publicly expressing an opinion on this election, even though having a basic private opinion was unavoidable. I wondered if it was wrong of me to interfere at all with the American democratic process, even though my opinion is not likely to have much impact. After all, non-Canadians rarely have much direct sway in Canadian elections (Michael Moore aside), so we enjoy, on the surface, a fairly sovereign right to choose - except for, of course, the hours and hours of entertainment, news and other media source exposure we receive from the United States, the impact of which is largely incalculable.

So, why then do I feel I have the right to speak in the American election?

Firstly, I guess I can point to the concrete practical situation I am currently in - my husband, an American, lives in the US, and my son, though born in Canada, is half American, and who knows where we will end up as life progresses? The bottom line, though, is that I want America to be a nation my son can be proud of, and I believe Sen. Obama is a better road to that than is Sen. McCain.

Secondly, I am a democrat, and, this, I feel, is an ideological leaning that knows no specific borders. As a democrat, I support the NDP at home, and am friendly to the democrats world wide, as we share a common vision. It is possible that a democrat in Maine has more in common with me than a Conservative in Alberta, and I shouldn't pretend that is not so.

Finally, I am a citizen of the world. I don't take this lightly; this was the line that got Chaplin deported, after all. Being a citizen of the world means that I have not only the right but the obligation to consider the well being of the global community. It also means I should raise my voice when I have an opinion about world politics. Honestly, none of us can deny that he/she who rules the USA has a significant impact on all our lives, whether we like it or not. We are in bed with an elephant, so we have to watch which way it rolls, no?

In the end, my voice will likely not mean anything. I cannot vote in the American elections, as that is the sole privilege of the citizens of that potentially-fine country. However, I see no harm in, most importantly, urging them to exercise that vote, and, secondly, saying, for what it is worth, I prefer Obama.

American or not, we are witnessing History. None of us will be completely unaffected by the results of November 4th, so I cannot say I find any real reason why we shouldn't speak up.

I only hope Americans realize how much all of us depend on their judgement.

best enjoy election humour while it's still going

Touching

The World Keeps on Turning

Everybody has plans tonight, except for me. Here I sit, alone with the baby - no one is online or around. I never was a bar person, but it might be nice to be able to go see a movie again sometime before Declan turns 18.

I wish it were late enough to go to bed.

Holy Flying Time, Bat Man!

My brother turns 39 today! In my head, he is still 18.

Happy birthday, bro.