Good news

My sister is pregnant! I'm gonna be a "funny" uncle :)

Fun things to hear

My trip to visit Karen's family was delightful! Her parents are perfectly hospitable. Although on Sunday we decided to stay an extra night in a hotel and not tell them, just to be spontaneous.

Anyway, to summarize my trip let me list things that are fun to hear:

"I hope you like steak"

"We can replace your phone for free"

"Those jeans make your ass look good. You should get them."

"Of course we should get more wine"

"Here's your swordfish"

"I'd love to sing showtunes with you both"

"That's enough football, let's get in the hot tub"

"No, sir, it isn't a problem to cancel your 6am wake up call"

I'm not cranky

At least I don't think so. In an effort to provide a bit of mood diversity I am going to describe my afternoon. I don't usually do this because, I really don't think people are all that interested in the details of my day to day life instead of the big moments or my (admittedly cynical) views on politics or policy.

I went to professional responsibility class this morning (an unnecessary requirement in the training of lawyers), afterwards I got some work done, and then went to lunch with Karen and Alan.

We sat outside on a patio for two hours eating our lunch and drinking wine. We just relaxed, enjoyed the sun, and had a good time talking. I'll be visiting Karen's family this weekend so we discussed what we wanted to do (oh that reminds me, I might be MIA this weekend: I'm not sure if blogging will be a priority when I am visiting Karen's family). All in all, it was a pleasant, leisurely lunch.

The best thing is we do this at least three times a week now! Like I said before, for third year law students with jobs, school is only a minimal commitment.

Now, don't you wish you were me? ;-)

Well, that was fun

I got back safe and sound. I went to visit my friend Karen (whom you may remember from here, or here-Sean by the way is out of the country). Some highlights:

I woke up the first morning not in Karen's apartment like I should have, but instead in the hallway on the floor above.

I learned that I will make out for a drink. Sometimes for less. (I'm a little embarrassed about that one).

I saw some great theater.

I had one of the best steaks in living memory.

I got to meet Karen's friend Kim. She lives in a charming porno district.

I spent more money than I care to think about.

On the plane trip back I read Harry Potter 7.

Good times, good times.

My new best friend Andy

I just got an email from Andrew Tobias (well, yes, it was a two line response to one I sent him, but do you have a personal letter from the treasurer of either the DNC or RNC? I didn't think so). Mr. Tobias, apart from being a mover and shaker, also wrote The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, and more importantly The Best Little Boy in the World, which I found incredibly comforting as I contemplated my own coming out. For that reason, besides his political clout (but in the WRONG party!) and his financial advice, his little nod is especially meaningful to me.

Also, he seemed to think I would be more comfortable in the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. Well, no one's perfect :-)

Grassroots Mobilization

I'm up to my old tricks again, by which I mean posting about something that comes courtesy of Andrew Sullivan (who in turn got it courtesy the Political Science Weblog): It seems that grassroots mobilization campaigns increased voter turnout by 7%. I find this encouraging, even if the study specifically found that MoveOn.org and other lefty-loons to be effective.

First, I haven't had time to read the entire article, but I would guess that they do not provide data suggesting how that extra 7% voted. Although, the article did mention that both parties exceeded their voter turnout goals. Meaning, part of that 7% may well be folks who saw MoveOn doing its thing and though "uh oh, those hippy liberal pansies are mobilizing. I'd better get out and vote too!" (Please note that "hippy liberal pansies" were their words not mine. You don't believe me; I can tell). Similarly, some may have been folks who listened to people more of like mind with me and thought "uh oh, those gun nuts are coming out in full force, I'd better go vote!"

Second, I like to see grassroots work effective; it captures democracy to my mind. We have groups educating constituents about issues, and encouraging those constituents to vote, and they do! What is most exciting, is that grassroots seems to work even in high-stakes elections, where voter turnout would be higher anyway.

Finally this is encouraging because we "the little people" can have more of an impact at the grassroots level than anywhere else. I don't have enough money to hire a lobbyist to go to Congress and persuade Representatives to vote against gun control, for example. Even by joining the NRA and paying my dues, I am only barely participating. But I can spend a weekend or two as part of a grassroots campaign talking to "Ordinary People" about the value of self protection and encourage them to vote! Sure maybe the two or three people I get to vote may not have a substantially or statistically bigger impact than my $35 NRA membership dues, but it allows me to to control the message that I am sending. I'm not sure I know or would even agree with all the things said on behalf of my membership dues, but I do know what comes out of my mouth. Besides that, it allows me to participate actively in the political process, and encourage others to do the same.

I used the example of gun rights, but really I have another cause in mind. It shows me that I can tell people "Hey not all Republicans are homophobes" and "Hey, not all gays are liberals," and maybe, just maybe, they'll listen.

Hope

Looks like we have made a pretty big breakthrough on the road to a cure for HIV:

The scientists engineered an enzyme which attacks the DNA of the HIV virus and cuts it out of the infected cell, according to the study published in Science magazine. The enzyme is still far from being ready to use as a treatment, the authors warned, but it offers a glimmer of hope for the more than 40 million people infected worldwide.

* * *

The researchers engineered an enzyme called Tre which removes the virus from the genome of infected cells by recognizing and then recombining the structure of the virus’s DNA.

I'm not even going to make a snarky comment about government funding (the scientists were German anyway).

Goosebumps

I just ran across this (thanks to Andrew Tobias, of all people). Listening to this poor, sad, insecure but talented man gave me goosebumps. I'll let you listen for yourself.



Yep, still choked up.

Oh and he did win.

Social calendar

I'm seeing the date boy again tonight. Tomorrow is a Firm Cocktail party, and then Friday night I have a date with another boy. Saturday I am going to a party at the house of the Lesbian I had lunch with. I've never felt this popular.

One good thing

The one good thing about exams in the spring as opposed to those in the winter is that you can study outside. Today is gorgeous enough that not even the Internal Revenue Code can ruin it!

It Doesn't Suck to be Me

This morning, and I am not sure why, it occurred to me that I have much to be thankful for.

First, I live in a country that despite all its problems is still the greatest place to live in the world.

Second, I come from a loving family. My parents never neglect to tell me they are proud of me. Although we are not Butler and Bentley rich, we are very comfortable. My father's hard work afforded me opportunities that he did not have. Heck, we provide our dog with better health care than most of the world can provide their children.

Third, I have some great close friends who accept me for who I am without a moment's hesitation.

Fourth, I am (at the risk of sounding arrogant) rather talented. I am able to take the opportunities my father's hard word provided me and make the most of them.

Fifth, I am young, healthy, educated, and ambitious.

Finally, I have many other blessings too numerous to list here.

Keeping an eye on these things makes my daily stresses and mild disappointments seem far less important by comparison.

Ann Coulter, attention whore

Sorry I haven't been writing lately, I have a big project deadline that has been hanging over me lately. But then Ann Coulter did something that made the perfect topic for my blog.

Ann Coulter's latest stunt of making a joke suggesting that John Edwards is a "faggot" has got some people up in arms. Here's the thing:

1) Only those who agree with her will listen to what she has to say to begin with.

2) In order to get attention from the others, she says what she has to say outrageously.

3) It works. The Left will tear her apart with the slightest provocation; this for an example.

4) The Right sees this, and give her even more attention

5) See "2)"

Michael Moore, Al Franken, Rush Limbaugh, John Stewart, Bill O'Reilly all do the same thing for their respective audiences.

"But, Pink Elephant" you say aghast, "Are you defending her for what she said?"

No, rather I am doing a bit of eye rolling at everyone involved in this. Ann Coulter is shamelessly trying to get attention, and the Left is more than happy to give it to her.

Another thing that I roll my eyes at are people who think regulating "hate speech" will somehow change the prejudices of those who use it. I'll bet my right arm that forcing a bigot to moderate his (or her) speech only creates a resentment that fuels the prejudice to begin with. Besides aren't there more pressing issues (like marriage) than the words people use?

In other news: Looking back on some of my old posts, I get a sort of "woe-is-me" vibe that I do not intend. I'm not all that melancholy, I swear. I guess I usually only get motivated to blog when I am unhappy about something. From now on, I am going to try to blog about the good stuff too.

I had a really good day today. I got all the work done I had planned to do. The weather was beautiful so I ran 2 miles. I watched several episodes of Arrested Development. And now I am enjoying a quiet Saturday night at home after a crazy Friday night out (from which I somehow escaped a hangover!).