Clinton 2012?

There has been a lot going around about Clinton trying to sabotage Obama in 2008 so she can have another go in 2012. While this is possible, I don't buy it. This line of reasoning assumes that Obama is the nominee. So far, so good. It seems nearly impossible that Obama won't be the Democratic nominee. But where the logic seems to have fallen off the tracks is that if indeed Obama fails to win the White House and it is even remotely traceable to something that Clinton did, Democrats will most certainly blame her and are not likely to be forgiving. She will be seen as the one who spoiled it for her own selfish reasons.

I personally don't think that this is her plan. I think she is trying to honor all the people who have sacrificed so much for her campaign. I think she wants to set an example that strong willed individuals do not ever give up while there is a chance (however slim) that he or she can prevail. Its not the route I would take, but I think I get it.

I could be wrong. But if MI and FL are seated in some fashion after the May 31st meeting, I think she will bow out within a few days after June 3rd.

The Case For Webb

Reihan Salam of the Atlantic Monthly makes a convincing argument for why Obama should select Virginia Senator Jim Webb as his Vice Presidential running mate over other qualified candidates.

Competing To Be Green

The New York Times has a very cool article about college student's attempts to become green using the following logic...

“It’s not about telling people, ‘You have to do this, you have to do that...’ It’s about fitting sustainability into our own lives. [And hoping] that a friend will come over, recognize that it’s fun, start doing it, and then a friend of theirs will start doing it.”

One of the most important ideas highlighted in this article is one that I have seen with increasing frequency - that is the idea of using human nature's natural attraction to competition to increase desirable behavior. The example offered in the NYT article goes as follows...

"Lucas Brown, a junior at Oberlin College here, was still wet from the shower the other morning as he entered his score on the neon green message board next to the bathroom sink: Three minutes, according to the plastic hourglass timer inside the shower. Two minutes faster than the morning before. One minute faster than two of his housemates.

Mr. Brown, a 21-year-old economics major, recalled the marathon runner who lived in the house last semester, saying: “He came out of the shower one morning and yelled out: ‘Two minutes 18 seconds. Beat that, Lucas!’ "

But timing each others shower durations is only one way to use competition to encourage smart consumerism. People claiming bragging rights over their cars MPGs in lieu of its horsepower is another that I have both read about recently and witnessed personally. Cap and Trade policies, similarly drive at the heart of competitive non-consumerism.

The majority of American society still admires those who contribute most to the consumer cycle. The more you own - car, house, clothes, etc. - the greater your worth is and the more you are valued. But there is no real reason this has to be a conclusive means of determining worth. It could easily be argued that the more one buys the big cars, the big energy-sucking homes, the more they are mucking it all up for the rest of us and, therefore, the less we value these consumption decisions. So I would argue that the more we place ourselves into competition with each other over conscientious consumerism, the more accurately we will be able to assess at least one facet of someones true value to his or her society.

Lost in Translation?

I recently learned that the verb "to vote" in Bambara is kalafili. I have been told that kalafili is also the verb used in phrases like "to randomly select a card," and "to roll the dice." I wonder how much this tells me about the psyche of the average Malian voter. Is voting seen as a random selection, and that the act of voting has no real impact on the outcome but is rather simply the impetus for an outcome to occur? Is it just like when someone rolls the dice and they normally don't have any expectations of influencing the outcome but roll it just so that there is an outcome? Hmmmm.... I'll need to do some asking around.

A Reminder

Before coming to Mali, before deciding to join the Peace Corps, I was in line to pursue a career in the corporate world. I had graduated with a degree in international business, taken a job with a reseller of computer software and hardware and had determined that my sense of civic duty would manifest itself through individual acts of kindness, thoughtful consumerism, and, every 4 years, volunteerism in political campaigns. These are all admirable ways to demonstrate personal investment in your community.

But on Tuesday, July 27th, 2004, just before Barack Obama stepped on the stage to deliver the 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Speech that would make him famous, a far less known figure in national politics echoed John F. Kennedy’s original call to service. Teresa Heinz Kerry said, “To me, one of the best faces America has ever projected is the face of a Peace Corps volunteer. That face symbolizes this country: young, curious, brimming with idealism and hope -- and a real, honest compassion.” Her words were a call to a generation to embrace, not repress, such virtues. To put these to use in pursuit of public service. It was this speech that inspired me to become a Peace Corps volunteer. And my time as a volunteer has had a profound impact on the direction of my life.

My pursuit of a graduate degree in Public Administration is, in part, a result of watching Obama mature as a politician. This change in the direction of my career from corporate world to public service is not a product of doey-eyed optimism, it is rather the product of inspiration. It is real. And almost every day I listen to Barack Obama I am truly inspired.

The other day, Sen. Obama stood in for Ted Kennedy as the commencement speaker at Wesleyan University. In his speech he offered a reminder of JFKs original call to serve our country. His speech was a reminder of why I am choosing public service.

Here is what he said...

Each of you will have the chance to make your own discovery in the years to come. And I say “chance” because you won’t have to take it. There’s no community service requirement in the real world; no one forcing you to care. You can take your diploma, walk off this stage, and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should by. You can choose to narrow your concerns and live your life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America’s.

But I hope you don’t. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, though you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get here, though you do have that debt.

It’s because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in America’s story.[...]

You know, Ted Kennedy often tells a story about the fifth anniversary celebration of the Peace Corps. He was there, and he asked one of the young Americans why he had chosen to volunteer. And the man replied, “Because it was the first time someone asked me to do something for my country.”

I don’t know how many of you have been asked that question, but after today, you have no excuses. I am asking you.

(Thievery reference - quote found on Ezra Klein's The American Prospect)

The Post-American World

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I am graciously treated to a free subscription of Newsweek. Normally they come in bundles of 4 or 5 and cover the last two months of news. This was great while the internet was not available but now I am properly equipped and consequently I don't read them all too often anymore.

It's unfortunate really because I used to be exposed to voices I wouldn't normally seek out like Fareed Zakaria. He is an important journalist and in my opinion Newsweek's best buy in terms of its contributors. He was a 'post-American' thinker before he coined the term in his new book "The Post-American World." I don't always agree with him - particularly when it comes to global financial issues (he has a tendency to compartmentalize financial success and social responsibility). But I agree with him enough to enjoy reading him.

Excerpts from his new book are available on Newsweek online here. After having read them I am so excited to read his book. Item number 1 on the "To Do" list once I am home. Below I have cut out some moments from the excerpts that demonstrate to me the prescience and perspective his work will bestow upon us.

I. The End of Pax Americana

Why do we think we live in scary times? Part of the problem is that as violence has been ebbing, information has been exploding. The last 20 years have produced an information revolution that brings us news and, most crucially, images from around the world all the time. The immediacy of the images and the intensity of the 24-hour news cycle combine to produce constant hype. Every weather disturbance is the "storm of the decade." Every bomb that explodes is BREAKING NEWS. Because the information revolution is so new, we—reporters, writers, readers, viewers—are all just now figuring out how to put everything in context.

III. A New Nationalism

In many countries... nationalism arises from a pent-up frustration over having to accept an entirely Western, or American, narrative of world history—one in which they are miscast or remain bit players... divergent national perspectives always existed. But today, thanks to the information revolution, they are amplified, echoed, and disseminated. Where once there were only the narratives laid out by The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, the BBC, and CNN, there are now dozens of indigenous networks and channels—from Al Jazeera to New Delhi's NDTV to Latin America's Telesur. The result is that the "rest" are now dissecting the assumptions and narratives of the West and providing alternative views.

IV. The Next American Century

Foreign students and immigrants account for almost 50 percent of all science researchers in the country. In 2006 they received 40 percent of all PhDs. By 2010, 75 percent of all science PhDs in this country will be awarded to foreign students. When these graduates settle in the country, they create economic opportunity. Half of all Silicon Valley start-ups have one founder who is an immigrant or first generation American. The potential for a new burst of American productivity depends not on our education system or R&D spending, but on our immigration policies. If these people are allowed and encouraged to stay, then innovation will happen here. If they leave, they'll take it with them.

IV. The Next American Century

To bring others into this world, the United States needs to make its own commitment to the system clear. So far, America has been able to have it both ways. It is the global rule-maker but doesn't always play by the rules. And forget about standards created by others. Only three countries in the world don't use the metric system—Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States. For America to continue to lead the world, we will have to first join it.

I think this book will be very important. Although, I am a bit skeptical as to how post-America the world actually is. It may be a bit like Friedman's "The World Is Flat" in that while the idea is correct, it has not yet fully been realized. I'll need to read it to find out though.

Just Let Her Have 'Em

Recently, Clinton has been backing off her campaign's previous claims that this will all be over shortly after the last primaries on June 3rd. She has been publicly pushing (again) the idea of taking the issue of the currently unseated FL and MI delegates to the convention. Here is a quote from a recent speech give by Clinton

"Now, I know that Senator Obama chose to remove his name from the ballot in Michigan, and that was his right. But his choice does not negate the votes of all those who turned out to cast their ballots, and we should not let our process rob them and all of you of your voices. To do so would undermine the very purpose of the nominating process. To ensure that as many Democrats as possible can cast their votes. To ensure that the party selects a nominee who truly represents the will of the voters and to ensure that the Democrats take back the White House to rebuild America.

"Now, I’ve heard some say that counting Florida and Michigan would be changing the rules.I say that not counting Florida and Michigan is changing a central governing rule of this country - that whenever we can understand the clear intent of the voters, their votes should be counted. I remember very well back in 2000, there were those who argued that people's votes should be discounted over technicalities. For the people of Florida who voted in this primary, the notion of discounting their votes sounds way too much of the same."

I know, I know. This gets many people's nerves all in a tussle. But lets try to maintain perspective. Of course I think it is incredibly hypocritical of her to be pushing for this now that it suits her - especially after she said that is was clear that the Michigan primary wouldn't "count for anything."

Before we get ourselves too worked up, though, lets think about what the potential outcomes realistically are. Huffington Post contributer Brendan Farrington wrote today, "But trailing Obama by almost 200 delegates, even seating both Florida and Michigan delegations in the way most favorable to Clinton would still leave her behind the Illinois senator." So regardless of what happens with MI and FL we know that Obama will still have a majority of delegates. Which means we also know that Obama will be our nominee. The only thing that is being fought for know is recognition.

So what we are concerned about now is preventing this from going to the convention and beginning as soon as possible the process of reconciliation. As for the former, the only thing getting worked up about Clinton's new agenda will do is give off a feeling of panic. Panic is the last thing a candidate with the majority of pledged delegates, superdelegates, popular vote (by most everyone's count outside of Clinton's campaign), and states won should feel. And, of course, Obama doesn't.

And as far as the latter, I would argue that Obama has been doing quite well on that front as well. If you listened to his speech from Iowa last night he is almost exclusively focusing his attention on McCain and simultaneously praising Clinton for what she has brought to the race and how greatly she has contributed to and altered our political history.

Now Obama has been showing lately that when necessary, he packs a pretty good punch. He has fought back effectively against attacks from within the party all primary season long and I think his deft handling of the 'appeasement' attack demonstrates how effective he will be against John McCain in the general election. I believe in fighting when necessary. But I think Obama should concede this issue of FL and MI for several reasons. Even though doing so would mean the rules didn't really mean anything, it would allow Obama to yet again claim the high road. And it would not change the fact that he maintains the delegate lead which is, according to the DNC, the means through which we elect a nominee. The only reason Clinton brings up the popular vote is to convince superdelegates to support her over Obama. It has absolutely no direct impact on the selection of our nominee. And it's not exactly like Clinton's popular vote argument has been persuading any supers to side with her. Obama has been racking up superdelegates by the dozens even after big Clinton wins (WV, KY). It would also win him points with voters in those states - states that are completely contestable come November.

This is of course all contingent upon the result of the May 31st meeting in which Dem rule-makers will decide whether to count delegates from Florida and Michigan. I don't think Obama should say anything until after they have made their decision. But if they agree in favor of upholding the current disqualifications of FL and MI and CLinton still vows to take this to the convention, then I think Obama should agree to seat those delegates according to the voting.

I really don't know if Obama will go this route but if he does concede this one, what will Clinton possibly have left to argue. He will have given her everything and she will still be behind.

(Thievery Reference - Clinton Quote found on Andrew Sullivan's The Daily Dish)

Our Thoughts Are With You...

Last 70 Years of War as a Food Fight

This is great. Hugely creative. Just trying to figure out who is who is fun!

(Thievery reference - video found on Ezra Klein's The American Prospect)

And in a shamelessly self congratulatory manner, this is my 100th post!

Bush Gets "Gotcha'd"

Regarding the White House's beef with NBC, I would say they have a legitimate complaint. Not that I feel bad for them. The ones who are complaining now are the same people who have engaged in the most egregious forms of deliberate manipulation of facts in my lifetime. And I think "manipulation of the facts" is about as nice as any honest person could possibly state it. To be fully forthcoming would require recognizing the fact that this administration has blatantly lied to us throughout the last 7 plus years.

Although I do not feel bad for the White House being on the unfavorable end of the population not being fully and properly informed, it should nonetheless not be tolerated and I think NBC should air the interview in its entirety. This is another case of the media cherry picking that which will make for a good story in order to fulfill the predetermined agenda. It is exactly the type of journalism that Ezra Klein was repudiating in his column that I just posted a couple days ago.

So while part of me loves to see just deserves being administered with such a heavy dose of irony, I know that ultimately this does not serve to better inform the public and therefore should not be tolerated.

Take a few minuted to read the official letter sent by Ed Gillespie, Counselor to the President, to NBC which Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic Monthly generously placed next to the footage that actually aired on NBC.

Two Hopes

On my way to work today, I was thinking about the Huffington Post article I recently read on the historic significance of Hillary's run for the White House. This has been an immensely important election for all Americans. That goes without saying. But for women and African Americans there is obviously an additional factor that makes this election even more personal. And when something is personal, the stakes are so high, and there is so much on the line, it has the potential to get ugly. I am not an election historian, but from everything that I have been able to piece together, both Barack and Hillary have remained comparatively civil from a historical standpoint.

Yet, there have been moments that have bordered on vicious. In thinking about all of this I remembered a quote from a review of the book The House of Sand and Fog which I read a couple of years ago. The review was from the Los Angeles Times and it stated, "The most rending kind of war is not between two hatreds, but between two hopes." I think this is an important thing to keep in mind when we think about who our 'adversaries' are.

It is easy for Barack supporters to box Hillary into a caricature of an overbearing, power obsessed, do-anything-to-win tyrant. But it is just as easy for Hillary supporters to box Barack into a caricature of an elitist, arrogant, self-aggrandizing egoist. But I think it’s pretty damn hard to run for president without being a bit power-obsessed (the appropriate euphemism is ambitious) or a little arrogant (the appropriate euphemism is confident).

Most importantly, I think we must keep in mind that the reason this has been so ferociously fought is that although Hillary and Barack both represent the hopes of many of the same people, they also represent the hopes of many different people. And when these hopes from different people exist, as they likely always will, our unified future depends on our ability to conflate our common hopes and put that which is personal aside.

Obama Trounces Seattle Mariners

Yesterday, Barack Obama was able to attract approximately 75,000 spectators to his event in Portland, Oregon. That is 75,000 people in one day to one single event. It takes the Seattle Mariners about three times that long to accumulate as many fans. Now, I realize that Safeco Field only seats just over 47,000, but with an average attendance this year of approximately 27,000 that leaves around 20,000 empty seats available per game.

In contrast, the capacity of Obama's event yesterday was 60,000. Which means that there was 15,000 in overflow! I'd love to see a Mariner's game with 47,116 inside Safeco Field and another 10,000 crowding the streets outside. But unfortunately the Mariner's chances of making the playoffs (a sure way to attract a crowd) look tragically more like Clinton's chances of earning the Democratic nomination.

"McCameronism?"

Last week I briefly mentioned that there appeared to be some evidence that McCain might be taking some steps towards remaking the Republican brand in the spirit of the David Cameron's Tories of Britain. Yesterday, Andrew Sullivan discussed this in further detail in a Sunday Times column which can also be found on his blog.

Today's Letter is "K"

The center of a seesaw from the American International School's playground.

The Media and "Gotcha Politics"

Ezra Klein has an insightful op-ed piece in today's LA Times on how the media contributes to the distractions that prevent us from having informative debates on the issues - that the media business model in fact requires these distractions. Here is a highlight from his article...

"...gaffe-hunting makes up a substantial slice of contemporary campaign journalism. It is certainly the part that candidates fear most. And it is poisonous to our polity. You often hear that the media are too liberal or too conservative, too corporate or too effete. But to politicians, they are something else altogether: too trivializing and too intent on ferreting out moments of humiliation. They rob politicians of their ability to campaign in an honorable or spontaneous way."

I would like to offer a reminder, as I said before, that the media is a consumer market and while we may wish that the networks and various media outlets would hold themselves to a higher standard, ultimately it is the consumers (you and me) who determine what sells. Our viewing habits can either encourage the media's current model or it can force networks to redesign their business models around a consumer base more demanding of substantive political debate.

Today's Letter is "J"

This is a drain which allows rain water to run off the roof of a neighbor's house.

Today's Letter is "I"

This was found under the bridge that spans from one side of a swimming pool to the other.

Gumption and Being Presidential

This is why Obama is not Kerry. I want to be clear that I think John Kerry is an honorable man; I worked my little tale off trying to get him elected because I knew that compared to the alternative he was the best man for the job. But while he is a great man he was missing something in 2004. What he was missing was the rhetorical fire and gumption that is required to stick up for yourself, your ideas, and your vision. Obama has that. And this is proof of it. Its proof that he has what it takes to be our President.

The Great Crossing

For a few weeks now, my friend, Jeff, and I have been talking about how much we wanted to try swimming across the Niger river in Bamako. Today we did it and it was every bit as fulfilling as I thought it would be but also quite a different experience than the one I imagined. First of all I thought we would be swimming a great majority of the distance if not the entire way. But the river is relatively low given that rainy season has not yet fully commenced. So although we did do some swimming, the majority of the distance we were able to cross on foot with the water hitting mid chest to shoulder. Looking at the picture above, we started on the Niger's south bank and swam north west to a very Hemingwayesque island in the stream. From there we traversed the island and swam almost due west to the next island. The rest of the way we swam and waded our way around various obstacles.

At no point was I ever fearful of the current taking me, but there were a couple moments when I got pretty exhausted and realized the potential that I could end up further down stream than I had intended. But thankfully I was able to push through it when I needed to and often I just planted my feet on the rolling rocks below to give myself a breather. And with Jeff leading the way I was able to prepare myself for the areas where the river bottom escaped us.

About half way in between the second island and the other side of the river, Jeff and I looked around and were able to really take in the view. It was so peaceful. The hubbub of the cars and motorcycles zooming back and forth along the bridge remained ever visible. We could still see all the women bent at the hips over their laundry on the banks of the river just up stream from hordes of splashing children. But far from those banks, in the middle of all this water, wading chest deep through the Niger's murky flow, the invasive, cacophony of Bamako slipped away and I just stood there letting the scenery soak in, wash over me.

This is without a doubt one of my favorite experiences here in Mali and I only regret not having a camera with me to capture every moment of it. Now lets just see if I was fortunate enough to escape schistosomiasis.

(Thanks Micah for all your help with the graphic! And thanks to Mariel for creatively naming our adventure "The Great Crossing!")

The Hamas Flip Flop?

Did I miss something here? I have been reading for a couple of days now that John McCain has flip flopped on Hamas. Nothing that I see below tells me that.



McCain said that "we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another." But dealing with someone - or a group of someones - doesn't unequivocally imply (to me at least) that he is going to negotiate with them. The tone of his rhetoric has, however, certainly changed and I definitely find McCain 2006 more palatable than McCain 2008. I also think that McCain 2006 is likely more representative of who McCain really is but it is telling that he is willing to take on this alternate persona in order to appeal to the republican base. And I really don't think this whole "worst nightmare" business does him any good. He just makes people think of a nightmare when ever they see him.

Regardless of all that though. I don't think McCain flip flopped on this one. He just adopted a style of talking about the subject that people, myself included, find repugnant.

The Olkahoma City Barons

This is just weird. Oklahoma City is holding a contest to see what they want the name of their team (currently the Seattle Supersonics) to be. The four finalists are the Thunderbirds, Outlaws, Barons, and Thunder. I guess Barons is getting the most hype right now though. Some sports fanatics in Seattle are not happy about this. I on the other hand think that since they are moving there anyways, it might just help create a nice clean break. If I turned on Sportscenter and heard this and that about the Oklahoma City Sonics, it would just be a reminder of what we lost. But, even though it doesn't really bother me that they want to change the name, it is still weird to think about.

Escher vs Usher

In discussing semiregular polygramic tessellations today with Mr. K's 6th grade class I brought up the famous M.C. Escher. After all, he has done some great work with tessellations and I thought this might give the kids something tangible to hold onto in their attempt to understand the tessellation concept.


One problem. No one in the class knew who M.C. Escher was. For about 10 minutes I went on and on about how basic tessellations could become very complex and intricate. And then one of the students said, "I thought Usher just made music." That's when I knew I needed to take a step back. It took a while but I eventually explained the difference between M.C. Escher, the amazing early 20th century Dutch artist, and Usher, the modern R&B musician. While I think they now get the fact that there was a Dutch artists who often used tessellations in his work, they still refer to him has Usher. You can imagine their confusion though.

Escher...

Usher...

If only these kid's parents knew that their $13K a year was going toward only the finest quality education! I am not meant to be a teacher.

Inequality Is More Than Income Disparity

I am really beginning to like Ezra Klein. His politics are right on for someone like me but what really gets me going is his subject matter. It's not just headlines. It's his thoughtful coverage of social issues that aren't exactly page 1 material but should nonetheless be indispensables to the progressive agenda. A good example from today reads...

INEQUALITY AND DEATH.

I guess this goes into the unsurprising category, but a new study shows that the risk of premature death plummets as you wander up the educational ladder. To make a meta-point, I post on these sorts of socio-health studies frequently for a reason: We tend to think of inequality in terms of some people having more stuff than other people. That's true, to an extent. But the poor in our society are also sicker, in more everyday pain, and have a greater chance of dying young. We're comfortable with inequality of stuff, but are we really very comfortable ignoring such gross inequality of pain, of illness, and of death? That's not to suggest that we'll ever have a society where everyone feels the same amount of pain, but it is to argue that the poor are not just different because they have less money, but because their lives are substantially worse, and worse in ways that better social policy could help alleviate.

Take the ten minutes to read the above mentioned 'new study' covered in the Washington Post. The findings are depressing but they do provide valuable support for focusing more of our efforts on reestablishing improved education as a primary objective. Expanding access to higher education by reducing costs to students is not only a moral issue, although that should be reason enough. It is also a means of alleviating financial burdens on the government. Studies (I'll see if I can find sources) show that the more someone is educated the less likely they are to require state assistance programs like welfare. They are also less likely to commit crimes which lead to taxpayer-covered court fees, public defendants, prison costs, etc. These are just two examples, but there are a million ways that expanding access to and improving education improves our society and there is something for everyone - from the bleeding heart liberal to the fiscal conservative who doesn't want to pay for someone else's free ride.

McCain the Maverick continued...

I've wondered for some time now what a Republican advertisement on the environment would look like. Thanks to Andrew Sullivan, now I know...



You just knew national security was gonna make it in there somehow!

Also, Marc Ambinder has an interesting perspective on McCain's "tiny" ad buy.

Is McCain the 'Maverick' Back?

McCain has been talking about the environment lately. Not exactly a GOP talking point. So is he trying to reestablish his maverick image?

I, for one, don't think so. He has pandered to the far right more often than not since beginning his bid for the presidency. Examples are countless but some of the more egregious ones include his acceptance of Bush's tax cuts (the same ones that "offended his conscience" 6 years ago), his unflagging support of the war in Iraq, and most appallingly his 180 on torture.

So the question is if he is willing to swallow something so personal as torture in his pursuit of the White House, why is he even bothering with something as 'non-issue' as the environment? Don't get me wrong, the environment is NOT a non-issue to me and to a great deal of democrats but to all the people who he has been working so hard to appeal to it seems like he could exhale carbon dioxide in a more productive way.

I don't think he is trying to reestablish himself as a maverick, though. I think his take on this issue is a product of a changing social and political atmosphere. One in which the stigma of radicalism attached to environmentalism is fading. Perhaps this is proof that all the work that has been done by left-wing kooks like Al Gore - not to mention many, many others - is actually having an impact.

There is no doubt that without the leftist environmental movement McCain most likely would not be talking about the environment, and spending valuable campaign resources to do so. But his is still not a politically popular position among those whom he will rely on in November. And for that I think he deserves our praise.

On only a slightly related note, I wonder if McCain hasn't been inspired by the British Tories recent success and sees the future of the Republican party depending on its ability to remake itself in the same conservative light.

Barack the Vote

Lord of the Flies

This week I have been filling in again as a substitute teacher, this time for 6th grade Math and Science. The kids are working on their science projects that are going to be displayed at the school's science fair. So although there is a unifying theme to the classroom, they are all at various stages of completion and all require different levels of attention and support. I know any teacher reading this is laughing at this basic reality that comes with being a teacher but I have not yet acquired the skill set necessary to manage this chaos. So of course with in the first 20 minutes of class I witnessed nice young children with burgeoning minds turn into out-of-control monsters. It was Lord of the Flies and I was that pig's head on the stake. I was defenseless against the madness. I have always held teachers in high regard (well, since graduating high school I have). The work they do is invaluable to our society and its progress. But my respect for teachers as managers grows each time I step into a classroom. I applaud you!

A Plan For Unity

George McGovern lays out what he would like to see during the remaining 3 weeks before primary voting ends. Unfortunately, like the hundreds of other plans I have heard for building unity or settling MI and FL, etc., this one probably wont happen but it I like the idea.

As I stated before, I don't think Hillary should drop out if she can remain civil. This would provide a nice platform for her to make her case as it would be sure to get lots of news coverage, so its a plus for her. It would also harness the fundraising capabilities of these two oversized personalities and strengthen local parties - something both the nominee as well as senate and house goers will desperately need to win in November.

Another Malian Music/NYT connection

Another article in the New York Times features Malian music. I almost went to the festival this article refers to but for several reasons I ultimately did not. Sad, but I guess you cannot do it all. Great pic though, huh?

(Dime dropped by Micah)

Coldplay: What Happened?

I just listened to Coldplay's new single Viva la Vida from their soon to be released album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (don't ask me, I didn't come up with it). Overall, it was quite a disappointing experience. I don't know why really. X&Y was not that good of an album but for some reason, as Chris Martin sang, "You go backwards again you go forwards" at the end of the closing track of their last album I had hope that this was some not too subtle message that the next album would be better. Maybe it will be, but based upon what I just heard, I'm not getting my hopes up.

From Pitchfork Media,

"The sights, sounds and flavours of Latin America and Spain have definitely been infused into this album...No maracas or castanets, but a vibrancy and colourfulness that owes much to the atmospheres of Buenos Aires and Barcelona. The effect is subtle but important."

I have never been to either Beunos Aires or Barcelona but if their spirit is manifested in this song, I am not sure I want to go. If Viva la Vida is all I had to go off of, I would say these cities offer a veneer being of initially pleasant but are ultimately unimportant. The song sounds like they are trying to carry on the spirit of U2 but when U2 made cheesy songs at least they had a worthwhile message. Plus, U2 is currently the band fulfilling the role of carrying on spirit of U2. Anyway, by the end of the first listening to Viva la Vida you already are acutely aware that you have been subjected to a repetitive auditory experience ad nauseum.

Maybe I am being too harsh. A single is, after all, supposed to be catchy and get stuck in your head. But I hope the album has something to offer besides what I just heard.

Happy Mother's Day!

To my magnificent and fabulous mom. The one who is always right. Who dragged me kicking and screaming through high school, who supported me through college, and who inspires my actions every day. She is more than the reason I was born - she is the reason I made it out of my teenage years alive! And the only thing I can do in return is try to make her proud. Thank you for everything mom!

Is Clinton Saving the Democratic Party?

I know this may not be what you are reading in the news or on blogs and it may not be what you personally think, but I am seeing a new side to Hillary since Tuesday. I don't know exactly how I would label her recent approach but if I was forced to call it something I might call it brave. Sure this is easy coming from someone who feels certain 'his guy' is going to win. Its always easier to be magnanimous when you get what you want. But still I think Hillary is not deserving of some of the criticism I have seen lately. Granted I think at many times throughout the campaign she acted in ways that made me want to strangle her, but I am seeing a new side to her. Its a side that has most likely come about because she knows she has no real shot at becoming the Democratic nominee, this time around at least.

What I have seen is her courage to persist, but in a new direction. This is what I think she is thinking. She knows she cant win. But she has incredibly passionate supporters who have poured their hearts into her campaign and she wants to honor their effort. She can do that in a couple of ways. One, see this thing through to the end. June 3rd. This will make her supports feel she did everything she could and that her not winning had nothing to do with a truncated primary season or her being forced out. If her supporters feel that she lost legitimately they are far less likely to resent Obama and therefore more like to vote for him this fall. Second, she can use this time - and the platform that comes with it - to be constructive to the Democratic party. Granted, there was that stupid comment about 'hard-working white voters' that, even if not intentionally, did have the effect of implying that other voters are not as hard working. But I don't think that is what she meant and she has apologized for that comment. I think what she has been trying to do in general, however, is to continue to make the case for why she is a qualified candidate and by doing so from the position of someone still in the race she is going to ensure that all the benefits associated with primaries (voter registration, organization, etc.) are brought to every last state.

Sure some people think that she should drop out. But I think as long as her tone remains what it has been for the last couple of days, I think she is actually doing Democrats a favor. She continues to make her case - she has to if she is still a candidate - but she is focusing the majority of her criticism on John McCain. This does a very interesting thing that is probably even more important that all the voter registration and organization building. If she is no longer attacking Obama so forcefully but is rather going after McCain, now what we have in the news is what appears to voters as a united front. Even though they are still competing, they are saying many of the same things and this helps remind voters that in the end Democrats are Democrats and people should not vote for McCain if their first choice is not the eventual nominee. So while pundits and strategists are decrying Clinton for 'destroying' the party, I think that if she maintains a respectful tone, she is actually helping in the healing process.

In Justice: Equity or Efficiency?

Science Daily is featuring an article today on a study that sought to answer how people approach the question, "Which is better, giving more food to a few hungry people or letting some food go to waste so that everyone gets a share?" The question was designed to determine whether equity or efficiency plays a bigger role in satisfying our brain's sense of justice. Very cool stuff!

Bambara Bible Translation

One of my earliest blog posts was on the LOLCat Bible Translation Project, which is currently translating the entire bible into LOL speak. I live next door to missionaries and through an unusual series of events I got my hands on John 20.19-26 translated into Bambara. It looks like this...

Yesu y’I jira a ka kalandenw la
(Matiyu 28.16-20; Marka 16.14-18; Luka 24.36-49)

19 O don yεrε, dogokun don folo wula da fε, kalandenw lajεlen tun bε so do kono ka so daw sogo Yahutuw ņεsiran koson. Yesu nana k’i jo u cεma k’a fo u ye ko’ “Hεrε ka kε aw ye.” 20 O folen ko, a y’a tεgεw ni a kεrε jira u la. Kalandenw ya Yesu ye minkε, u ņagalila kosεbε. 21 Yesu y’a fo u ye ko kura ko: “Hεrε ka kε aw ye! Ne Fa ye ne ci cogo min na, ne fana bε aw ci ten dε.” 22 O kumaw folen ko, a y’a da fiņε kε u kan k’a fo u ye ko: “A’ ye Ni Senu minε! 23 Aw mana mogo o mogo ka jurumuw yafa a m, o na yafali soro. Ni aw ma son ka minnu ka jurumuw yafa u ma, olu tεna yafali soro.”

Yesu ni Toma ko

24 O y’a soro Toma min bε wele Filanin, ni Yesu ka kalanden tan ni fila la kelen tun don, o tun tε u fε yen Yesu na tuma la. 25 Kalanden tow y’a fo Toma ye ko: “An ye Matigi ye!”
Nka Toma y’u jaabi ko: “Ni ne ma gengen nεgεw no ye a tεgεw la, ka ne bolonkoni don da a kεrε la, ne tεna dannaya kε fewu.”
26 O don kunņogon, Yesu ka kalandenw lajεlen tun bε so kono ko kura, Toma tun bε u fε yen. So daw sogolen tun don nka Yesu nana k’i jo u cεma k’a fo ko: “Hεrε ka kε aw ye!”

Obviously the reasons behind the bible being translated into Bambara are probably different than the reasons behind the LOLCat Bible Translation Project. But it is interesting to see nonetheless.

Alphabet Photo Essay

I decided that it might be nice if people could see all my Alphabet Photo Essay pictures all together. I added a link under my recommended sites that allows you to do this now. As I add more pictures on this blog, I will also add them to this link.

Today's Letter is "H"

Metal fencing protecting a tree from goats and sheep. I found this close to my work on my way to get a taxi.

Even better!

The latest painting by Mariel Superartist.

Clinton's Case to Undecideds

Yesterday, I said that I couldnt imagine by what means Hillary thought she had proven herself to be the better candidate. Today she enlightens us all. TPM's Greg Sargent got his hands on this Power-Point presentation which she distributed to every Democrat in the House of Representitives today. In this presentation she lays out exactly why she thinks undecided superdelegates should support her despite having lost the popular vote, the pledged delegate count, and having won fewer states than Obama. I see the logic, but is this really all that her campaign as to go on? Is this and the 'hard-working white voters' really her final and most convincing arguments?

Obama Wrong on the Gas Tax Holiday?

Turns out there is some historic evidence that suggests that Obama may be wrong about the gas tax holiday, and that he of all people should know better. Expert economists have been pretty harsh in their criticism of this Clinton and McCain-backed proposal but it wouldn't be the firs time "experts" got it wrong. OK, so the man is not perfect. And I still think Clinton was pandering.

In Markets We Trust

This election cycle the only thing that has been more worthless in predicting the outcome of primaries than me are the polls. The polls have been way off and all over the place. However, what has been more or less consistantly correct are the markets.

Prediction markets are different than polls in several ways but most of all they are more accurate because they do not calculate anyone's prefrences. Rather, according to Rasmussen Reports, a "'prediction market' or 'futures market' harnesses competitive passions in a way that becomes a reliable... indicator of upcoming events." In other words, because people have to actually put money down on the matter they are more likely to be less biased in their calculations as to who they think will win a particular state. Another reason they are more accurate though is that they dont normally consider the spread or the percentage by which a candidate will win. They only measure who will win.

Prediction markets are highly sensitive and change on a daily basis depending on what events have occured throughout the day or week. For example leading up to NC and IN (which the 4 markets I follow correctly predicted) Obama was given about a 75 percent chance of winning the democratic nomination. His numbers had been higher but in response to Obama's worst 2 week stretch in the media which involved Wright's incendiary remarks and bitter-gate his numbers had fallen. The day after NC and IN he is now given anywhere from 88-90 percent chance of winning the nomination.

I mention all this not because I am trying to convince you that Obama will be the democratic nominee. If you dont get that by now, well, ya... Anyway, I explain all this as a primer for some good news that many Dems may not know yet. Many Dems, including the party's elite, are growing increasingly concerned about the potential for long term divides with in the party that could cause democrats to lose the big one in November. While this is entirely possible, it should be comforting to know that right now, in the middle of the dems most devided moment, with the most critical eye following the party's every tiff and tussle, the markets are still predicting that a Democrat will take the White House back in November. Today, Rasmussen Markets, Intrade and Iowa Electronic are all giving who ever the eventual democratic nomineee is roughly a 60% chance of winning this November. If we are doing this well now, just imagine once we move beyond our differences and unite behind a single candidate.

As the Dust Settles

I wanted to take a couple of days to let the belligerent, post-primary spew calm before I weighed in on the state of the democratic primaries.

Although it was pretty obvious before last Tuesday that Hillary was done, and the whispering of not if but how she was going to lose began, most pundits were reluctant to come out and say unequivocally that this race was effectively over. Last Tuesday changed that dynamic and most people are calling it a wrap and doing so much more openly than before. This is because before NC and IN there was a chance that Hillary could catch Obama in the popular vote if she somehow was able to get the MI and FL votes to count towards the total. Now it is obvious that even if you did include those currently disqualified states, Obama still has her beat in this metric.

The fact that Hillary is continuing to pursue the nomination suggests to me the following. Like I mentioned before, she really doesn’t think that 'such numeric metrics' as popular vote and pledged delegates earned via the primaries should prevent her from being the nominee. Because she cannot secure either of those Hillary must believe that she has proven that she is the best candidate through other means (what those are, who knows...) and that the undecided superdelegates should select her over the "elected" nominee. She must think this even if she doesn’t say it publicly because that is the only option remaining for her.

One of the arguments she will use (and has been using) in trying to make her case is that she is more electable than Obama. The problem with this strategy is that it’s difficult to claim that you are more electable when you are essentially asking to be appointed over your opponent who was elected. That is, the greatest demonstration of one's electability is to be elected. But so far it’s been Obama who has seemed to posses a better understanding of how the game works. His whole campaign strategy was based upon the rules of the game and therefore the accumulation of delegates.

Conversely, Hillary's campaign strategy has been to find every possible way to rout the rules (MI and FL) and change the means by which we determine the winner (popular vote vs. delegate count). The problem with this strategy is that most know this is not how the game works. We know this because the sting of the 2000 presidential election remains. We all know that Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000, but that is not the means by which we determine our president. For better or for worse the electoral college is the means by which we select our president and by that metric George Bush won, and you can see (albeit painfully) that he indeed was our president.

So why should the remaining superdelegates take a chance with someone who is trying to change the rules when we all know that we won't be able to do that in November? The truth is, they won't. They know better. And so, for better or for worse (although I strongly believe it’s for the better), Obama will be our nominee.

Now, given the reality of this race being over for her, I see Hillary as having two distinct paths she can take if she remains obstinately 'in this.' She either attempts to do irreparable damage to Obama so he loses come November and she can have another go in 2012, or she begins calling for democrats to be united while staying in so as not to upset her supporters. I personally think she knows this is over and is going to ride this out just like Huckabee did - active but not forceful. Then once all the votes have been counted (mid June) she will bow out. We'll see.

Today's Letter is "G"

This is from part of the wrought iron gate leading to the shower at the swimming pool that Mariel and I visit on the weekends. Gate shown in full below.

Working Women of Mali

Here is a picture of one of the women who work as servers at the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant where I eat lunch on work days. Last Thursday she was a bubble about to burst. On Monday she came to work with a baby strapped to her back and ready to serve up some rice and sauce. I have no idea which day her baby was born or if she decided to perhaps take a day off the job (you know, to give birth and all), but given the dates I saw her working, there is no way she had more than three days off. What an amazing work ethic. Still, you cannot help but know that she is only there so soon because she probably really needs that day's work, especially now that there is one more mouth to feed in the family.

I have not worked a lot with pregnant women over my almost 3 years here in Mali, but I have heard from several of the health sector volunteers (some of whom have even delivered babies), that getting back to some form of work this quickly is actually quite normal. I even heard the story of a woman who gave birth in the morning and spent the evening pounding millet in preparation of that night’s dinner. I am deeply impressed by Malian women every day I am here.

My Continuing Education

Pictured above is Parrington Hall, the building on UWs campus that is home to the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. I found out today that I have been admitted to the Evans school and thus will be spending the next two years studying public policy.

The whole process of getting into grad school was emotionally exhausting - researching schools, selecting ones that fit my interests, studying for the GRE, taking the GRE (twice, oops...), preparing the application, writing the essays, collecting references from inert supervisors, and then the worst part... waiting. And waiting and waiting. A rejection letter here, waitlisted there... but finally acceptance!

I am, to say the least, very excited. One, because the process of applying and waiting is over, and, more importantly two, because I am going to study something that I believe will make me very happy!

Scarlett! Say It Aint So!

Men across the country are mourning the news that Scarlett Johansson is now engaged and off the market. Then again, it is Hollywood so I wouldn't give it more than 2-3 years.

Keep hope alive, Micah!

"Cycling is Sexy"

According to Ezra Klein from the American Prospect

"In Hungary, the Ministry of Economics and Transport actually has a Deputy Minister for cycling by the name of Adam Bodor. Bodor's job, put simply, is to get people on their bikes. And so they've produced this ad campaign, meant to convey the idea that cycling is sexy..."

From the same post the following translation is provided

"First of all, on the biker lady’s bag it says: bike to work.

Then the lady asks the old man: would you like some tea?

He answers: thank you, that would be lovely.

As she is listening to the noises coming from the other room, she mutters under her breath: you should rather be biking, too, Rezso.

And then at the end, the tag line is almost the same: You should rather be biking, too or (ride your bike instead as well - which is a more literal translation)."

This is a great ad. One conclusion that I have come to while in the Peace Corps is that the most difficult thing to change is culture and the behaviors that are so deeply engrained in it. Sometimes change in behavior occurs as a bottom up push by the people and legislation follows in order to confirm the people's will. But sometimes it takes a large scale public service announcement campaign like this one (its like the recycling push during the early 90's but way cooler).

If I end up at the University of Washington I am looking forward to being able to get around to almost everywhere I need to be via bike!

Bad Ass in Chief

While Obama looking this cool is not a reason to vote for him, it does make it fun to cheer him on.

(Thievery reference - pic found on the CNN political ticker)

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my brother Matt. He too is older than me thus keeping me young as well! Matt, 29 is awfully close to 30.

Bringing Malian Music to New York's Subway

This picture was on the front page of the New York Times Online today. The man shown here is named Balla Tounkara, and he is holding a Kora - "a 21-string instrument fashioned from a large gourd wrapped in cowhide, with a wooden neck and handles" as the NYT describes it. The one Balla is holding was most likely hand made to Balla's specific requirements making it an original piece of artwork and probably worth several hundred dollars.

Most koras in Mali are not as nice as the one pictured above though. The kora is one of Malian music's most common instruments much in the way the guitar is common to much of American music. In fact I have one. I never use it because I don't have a clue how to but I do have one. When I was living in Niono there was a vagabond musician who lived with me for 2 months or so. He played a killer Djembe (West African drum) but he was also a skilled kora player and he made one for me in exchange for having a place to crash. As you can tell from the picture below it is neither as beautiful as the Balla's nor is it worth as much in monetary terms. But the memories I have with it are priceless. I think most koras, because they are each hand-made, one of a kind pieces of art, carry very personal histories for their players.


Mali has a rich tradition which combines oral history and music. The fact that it is being shared with Americans in this traditional manner is only appropriate given its culture. I rag on Malian music a lot in this country (I just get too much of it), but I am sure that if I was in a New York subway I would spend a great deal of time blowing off my obligations in order to hear Balla share his country's rich history with all who are simply willing to stop and listen.

Today's Letter is "F"

Broken tile floor from the restaurant where I eat lunch on work days.

Gas Tax Holiday is a "Holiday from Reality"

When libertarians are saying that the Gas Tax Holiday, as proposed by Clinton and McCain, is a "holiday from reality," you know there is a problem with the whole concept. See here as Sam Stein from the Huffington Post cannot find any expert support for this shameless pandering.

Here are a couple of commercials from Hillary and Barack.





Update: Yet even more support for Obama on this issue by those pesky people called experts.