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Nov. 5th, 2008
(no subject)
Nov. 5th, 2008 08:52 amI am so fucking happy right now I simply cannot describe it. I had hope, yes, but I don't think I really *believed* it could happen. One of my hopes my whole life had been to live long enough to see a black President and a female President. I don't think I really believed either could happen before I was 50. Well I got one of them 20 years earlier than I ever dreamed. I am so proud of my country right now, and I'm not sure that is something I have ever felt before. I have felt proud of what my country used to be, of its history and traditions, at times, but never before have I been really proud of what my country is.
Not that we don't have a ways to go. The one shadow in my otherwise brilliant glee is the passing of propositions like the bans on gay marriage in Arizona and Florida (and quite possibly California, although I still have my fingers crossed), and the ban on gay couples adopting in Arkansas. I'm disappointed that my state and even my parish went Republican this time (the first didn't surprise me, but the second did).
On the other hand, I was happy to hear McCain's concession speech. It was gracious and generous, and more like the McCain that I considered voting for way back when. I think it was telling that the poor man had to remonstrate his own people for their much less gracious reactions to the outcome.
And President-elect Obama's speech -- I had tears in my eyes. It was powerful, and beautiful, and one of the most wonderful moments of my life to date. I think I had to be reminded that despite the truly horrendous track-record this country has had during my formative years and early adult life, it has really only been about 20 years since I was old enough to understand what was going on. I must remember that when my mother was born, African-Americans still had to sit at the back of the bus. The Civil Rights Act that outlawed racial and gender discrimination was not passed until she was 9 years old. Now we have an African-American President. Change *can* happen in one person's lifetime. So I now have a new goal. I want to die in a country that I am truly proud to have lived in. I have to believe it is not an impossible dream. We took the first step last night. Yes, we can. Yes, we will.
Not that we don't have a ways to go. The one shadow in my otherwise brilliant glee is the passing of propositions like the bans on gay marriage in Arizona and Florida (and quite possibly California, although I still have my fingers crossed), and the ban on gay couples adopting in Arkansas. I'm disappointed that my state and even my parish went Republican this time (the first didn't surprise me, but the second did).
On the other hand, I was happy to hear McCain's concession speech. It was gracious and generous, and more like the McCain that I considered voting for way back when. I think it was telling that the poor man had to remonstrate his own people for their much less gracious reactions to the outcome.
And President-elect Obama's speech -- I had tears in my eyes. It was powerful, and beautiful, and one of the most wonderful moments of my life to date. I think I had to be reminded that despite the truly horrendous track-record this country has had during my formative years and early adult life, it has really only been about 20 years since I was old enough to understand what was going on. I must remember that when my mother was born, African-Americans still had to sit at the back of the bus. The Civil Rights Act that outlawed racial and gender discrimination was not passed until she was 9 years old. Now we have an African-American President. Change *can* happen in one person's lifetime. So I now have a new goal. I want to die in a country that I am truly proud to have lived in. I have to believe it is not an impossible dream. We took the first step last night. Yes, we can. Yes, we will.
Daily post
Nov. 5th, 2008 10:23 amSleep: 1:30am to 6:30am
Weather: cloudy, 64F, 82% humidity, high 80F
Daily BPAL: A BLADE OF GRASS
Description: Autumn leaves scattered among blades of grass.
In bottle: Fresh-mown grass, but a little chemical-y too.
On me: Better. I get the dry leaves mixed with cut grass this time, and it doesn't smell as chemical-y.
Daily Tarot: 2 of Swords, Reversed: Release, movement of affairs, sometimes in the wrong direction. Avoid impostors. Sympathy for those in trouble. Disloyalty.
MyMiniCity: Increase Population
Increase Transportation
Increase Industry
Increase Security
Reading:
Myths of the Norsemen: from the Eddas and Sagas by H. A. Guerber
Letters by Cicero
Th1rte3n by Richard K. Morgan
Sandman Vol 9: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman
Kate Crackernuts by Katherine M. Briggs
Weather: cloudy, 64F, 82% humidity, high 80F
Daily BPAL: A BLADE OF GRASS
Description: Autumn leaves scattered among blades of grass.
In bottle: Fresh-mown grass, but a little chemical-y too.
On me: Better. I get the dry leaves mixed with cut grass this time, and it doesn't smell as chemical-y.
Daily Tarot: 2 of Swords, Reversed: Release, movement of affairs, sometimes in the wrong direction. Avoid impostors. Sympathy for those in trouble. Disloyalty.
MyMiniCity: Increase Population
Increase Transportation
Increase Industry
Increase Security
Reading:
Myths of the Norsemen: from the Eddas and Sagas by H. A. Guerber
Letters by Cicero
Th1rte3n by Richard K. Morgan
Sandman Vol 9: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman
Kate Crackernuts by Katherine M. Briggs
Second Life
Nov. 5th, 2008 02:05 pmOk, I have to do a presentation on both the pros and cons of creating a library presence in SecondLife. So, on the pro side, can anyone give me examples of really good Library/University/Education sims in SecondLife? I've got a few, but I need more.
(no subject)
Nov. 5th, 2008 04:54 pmOk, with the final numbers in, my parish (what Louisiana calls a county) did in fact go for Obama (51%-48%) not for McCain like they were reporting last night. This makes me feel much better, ironically -- it certainly didn't make a difference in the whole state, but it's nice to know that I didn't really misjudge my city (although it was still closer than I expected).
Louisiana has 64 parishes. Of those, only 10 went for Obama:
Caddo (where Shreveport is located)
East Baton Rouge (where Baton Rouge, the capital, is located, and where I live)
East Carroll
Iberville
Madison
Orleans (where New Orleans is located)
St. Helena
St. James
St. John the Baptist
Tensas
Hurrah for the little islands of blue in the sea of red.
Louisiana has 64 parishes. Of those, only 10 went for Obama:
Caddo (where Shreveport is located)
East Baton Rouge (where Baton Rouge, the capital, is located, and where I live)
East Carroll
Iberville
Madison
Orleans (where New Orleans is located)
St. Helena
St. James
St. John the Baptist
Tensas
Hurrah for the little islands of blue in the sea of red.
Twittering
Nov. 5th, 2008 05:15 pm- 12:44 I am succumbing, finally, to the allure that is twitter. #
- 13:09 This is wonderful: www.barackaspresident.com/ #
- 13:28 The more I read about Arkansas Proposition 1 the angrier I feel. It screws the children over royally. #
- 13:53 I'm having a really hard time concentrating on work today. #
- 16:45 I want to take a nap. I really shouldn't. But I really *really* want to. #
- 17:13 My city really did go for Obama on final count. I feel justified :) #