I can't get a read on the state of the primaries. Is America loving Clinton? Who loves Obama--young people? Are Republicans okay with the more moderate McCain? They elected Bush last time, for Christsake. Wouldn't McCain seem too leftist for them? Or at least too NeoCon? I'm so far away--I read the news every day, listen to political podcasts in the morning, keep up with the NYTimes polls, but I just can't get a sense of what the nation is thinking.
So I'm instating a vote.
Help me understand what Americans are thinking. In the spirit of Democracy, the poll to the right is completely blind--I can't see who voted what, readers can't see either. Strip down all your wishy washy back-and-forthing and click a button--in your gut, who do you feel should be president? If everyone who visits the site votes, it could be really interesting to see where the poll goes.
Divergent topic: I went to French class last night. There's a guy there, JJ, who is one of those older learners. You know, the middle age guy/gal you had in your college classes from time to time. The one who sat in the front and asked a seemingly unending list of pointless questions: poli-sci old learner asks "but what IS a president?", eastern religion old learner asks "do Thai practice Thai Buddhism?", shakespearian tragedy old learner asks "in act 3 scene 2 why would Hamlet use the word 'werefore'?" You listen, patiently, patiently listen to this person piddle away your very expensive class time. Your head rolls on your neck, your eyes roll up to the ceiling. You don't want to be, but you're frustrated.
JJ is my current old learner. In the past, he's pitched such home runs as "Do you call a woman of 50 Madame or Madmoiselle? A woman of 40? A woman of 45? A woman of 20 who is married?...", and also "Can I say bonjour at sunset?" It's endless. Last night was no exception. JJ was on fire. JJ shouted answers to questions directed at other people. When JJ heard the word "etrange" (strange), he shouted--literally--"LIKE THE BOOK ETRANGER!". And when JJ heard John Paul Sartre mentioned in a sentence about writers (Sartre est ecrivain francais), he DEBATED it. JJ contends that Sartre was a philosopher, not a writer. I contend that I don't really care, because I'm there TO LEARN FRENCH.
So, I may have told you my secret, that I kind of embarassed JJ a few weeks ago. I said something quippy under my breath at one of his stupid questions, and I instantly felt terrible and guilty and horrible and it made him really self conscious and made him stutter. Well, I've committed myself to overcome my annoyance and atone for my sin, but.....ohmygod I can't. He is so righteously annoying. I can't help it. It's absolutely laughable.
So that's my French night. Even with JJ, I have such a great time in it--the class gets along really well and I have come to really look forward to Wed night. Now, I gotta tell you--I have to go. I'm hearing an abnormally large number of eff words coming from the executive corner of the office, which is usually a sign that I'm about to be dumped on with a million tasks, so I'm going to open a spreadsheet and try and lay low right now.
So I'm instating a vote.
Help me understand what Americans are thinking. In the spirit of Democracy, the poll to the right is completely blind--I can't see who voted what, readers can't see either. Strip down all your wishy washy back-and-forthing and click a button--in your gut, who do you feel should be president? If everyone who visits the site votes, it could be really interesting to see where the poll goes.
Divergent topic: I went to French class last night. There's a guy there, JJ, who is one of those older learners. You know, the middle age guy/gal you had in your college classes from time to time. The one who sat in the front and asked a seemingly unending list of pointless questions: poli-sci old learner asks "but what IS a president?", eastern religion old learner asks "do Thai practice Thai Buddhism?", shakespearian tragedy old learner asks "in act 3 scene 2 why would Hamlet use the word 'werefore'?" You listen, patiently, patiently listen to this person piddle away your very expensive class time. Your head rolls on your neck, your eyes roll up to the ceiling. You don't want to be, but you're frustrated.
JJ is my current old learner. In the past, he's pitched such home runs as "Do you call a woman of 50 Madame or Madmoiselle? A woman of 40? A woman of 45? A woman of 20 who is married?...", and also "Can I say bonjour at sunset?" It's endless. Last night was no exception. JJ was on fire. JJ shouted answers to questions directed at other people. When JJ heard the word "etrange" (strange), he shouted--literally--"LIKE THE BOOK ETRANGER!". And when JJ heard John Paul Sartre mentioned in a sentence about writers (Sartre est ecrivain francais), he DEBATED it. JJ contends that Sartre was a philosopher, not a writer. I contend that I don't really care, because I'm there TO LEARN FRENCH.
So, I may have told you my secret, that I kind of embarassed JJ a few weeks ago. I said something quippy under my breath at one of his stupid questions, and I instantly felt terrible and guilty and horrible and it made him really self conscious and made him stutter. Well, I've committed myself to overcome my annoyance and atone for my sin, but.....ohmygod I can't. He is so righteously annoying. I can't help it. It's absolutely laughable.
So that's my French night. Even with JJ, I have such a great time in it--the class gets along really well and I have come to really look forward to Wed night. Now, I gotta tell you--I have to go. I'm hearing an abnormally large number of eff words coming from the executive corner of the office, which is usually a sign that I'm about to be dumped on with a million tasks, so I'm going to open a spreadsheet and try and lay low right now.
Good Thursday!
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