Well, it's Thursday, and with no classes tomorrow and no lesson plans in my head, I suddenly have a hundred tiny (mostly insignificant) things I want to write about. No time to write anything last night, so this will be one of those internet club posts I promised myself I wouldn't write anymore.
First off, the SOTU, which has been bugging me since it was spoken. Bulgaria got a mention in the list of allied nations, its sacrifice appreciated. After that, though, the speech showcased everything I haven't liked in Bush's domestic and foreign policy over the last year. He again fudged on WMD, saying that Iraq had "program activities," whatever those might be. I thought the evidence for war was sound, but the implication that there were bombs under the sand that we would find if we dug them up always bugged me. There might still be nuclear weapons in bunkers somewhere in Iraq, but we might never find them. Bush asked the world to trust him when he thought there were active weapons and programs in Iraq. I think it's time he admitted that that threat wasn't severe in the ways we thought, but the other threats from Saddam (genocide, weakening the UN's authority, etc.) were. Everything else on down the list also jabbed at me: bragging about an improving economy when most aren't feeling it, steroids!? (Which, for some reason, seems to be the highlight of the speech for CNN Int and EuroNews), and the threat to all judges who go against his will on marriage rights when they're trying to figure out laws for their own states, all that got to me. I'm liking uncharismatic Kerry more and more, but would really like Dean if he let some of the air out of himself every once in a while. I've never been a Bush-hater, never will be, but I'm leaning pretty far away from him now.
tri...dve...edno...Reklama! The Lakers! Recommended by 4 out of 5 SoCal Orthopedic students as a way to study for the boards. "Ooh!" as they're crushed by the Suns! "Aww!" As they're pounded by the Grizzlies! Marvel at Gary Payton's humility in playing for the bare minimum with future hall-of-famers Jamal Samson, Kareem Rush, and Slava Medvedenko! Wonder at Phil Jackson's ability to come to games without cyanide tablets in his coat!
I'm going to miss not seeing them win the championship live this season, but some parts of the season are best avoided. And that's all I have to say about that.
And a hearty thanks to Sofia Sideshow for the link and compliment I don't at all deserve. I check out his great writing every day for the Bulgarian west side scoop, and I recommend you all do likewise.
I think that about sums the better stuff up. Oh, Owen's boogers are freezing. There was a Calvin and Hobbes about that once.
Posted by Rob at January 22, 2004 05:38 PM