I’ll be curious to see how much attention Americans will give to the bombings that killed so many in Madrid today. Americans are kind of pre-Copernican in their worldview; we assume that the rest of the world revolves around us and whatever happens here. And then we shrug our shoulders and change the channel whenever there is a human tragedy somewhere beyond our shores. Maybe it’s some weird interplay of geography and psychology. Being bounded by two oceans probably encourages our isolationist streak. I thought 9/11 would force Americans to become more engaged with the world, but that hasn’t happened. If anything, it seems that we’ve turned even more inward.
One of my work-related perks allowed me to purchase a copy of Office 2003 for only twenty bucks. I installed it earlier tonight and I’ve been messing around with it. I like the new Outlook and the little pop-up that appears when new mail arrives. And Word has a nice look to it; I’ve been using Word 2000 the last few years and it always felt kind of klunky to me. I’m not sure if all this new software will make me more productive, but it sure looks purty.

I went to see my doctor today because I’ve been having a weird little pain in my left side. Nothing serious, but I wanted to get it checked before I left for Miami. They didn’t find anything, which I guess is good. But in the course of my checkup, various nurses and doctors and other assorted professionals had me in various states of undress. Now, I’m not a shy person. Years of being cared for by nurses and PCAs have kicked a lot of the modesty right out of me. When I stop to think about it, hundreds of people have probably seen me naked. Many of them are probably still in therapy, recovering from the trauma. If I were an exhibitionist, I’d probably be filled with a great sense of accomplishment. However, I sometimes wish I had a bit more privacy in my daily life. Everything about me is always on display. Not just my body, but my work, my interactions with friends, my compulsions, etc. I suppose it’s the price I pay to live my life, but I still crave those fleeting moments that belong only to me.
I have to give a brief speech at the U of M Law School tomorrow. It’s a recognition ceremony for students who have completed so many hours of public interest work. I never prepare for these things, so I’ll probably wing it and hope I sound like I’m making sense.

Tonight is the premiere of the new Sopranos season. I do enjoy the show, although I was a little disappointed with the unevenness of last season. I’m looking forward to seeing how Steve Buscemi is integrated into the plot–that’s Steve Buscemi of the wood chipper in Fargo and of Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs. I think he’s a great actor who most people only know as “That Guy.” You know, That Guy in That Show. My only hope for this season is that they find a way to off Tony’s son. That whiny little punk annoys me.
I may have found a guest blogger to sub for me while I’m in Miami. More details soon.

Ohboyohnboy. My new Radeon card arrived. Now to install it and indulge in some long-overdue shoot-’em-up goodness. But before I go, check this article about Ralph Nader and his…supporters. It’s official. The man is a crank.

Last night at the caucus, I’m sitting near a young woman who was acting as the caucus secretary. After the caucus, she asks me (and my nurse) to have a drink with her. Okay, I say. When we get to the bar and sit down, one of the first things she said was:
“I hate this fucking country.”
She then lists, in detail, the many reasons the good ol’ U.S. of A. has earned her spite. Our president. Our prudishness. Our crass culture. I nod my head in agreement with many of these things. She then goes on to tell me about all the time she has spent in Europe. About how Europeans are enlightened and critical thinkers. About how she never felt homesick in Europe. About how she dreams of moving there permanently.
I mention that I have a German mother and I was born in Germany.
Her face lights up like Vegas. “Then you have EU citizenship! What in the hell are you doing here?!”
Um, because if I lived in Germany or most other parts of Europe, my crippled ass would be wasting away in a nursing home.
Of course, I’m polite and I don’t say that. And I don’t tell this story to disparage anyone. But her negativity really reminded me of something; I’m glad I live in the States. I have uncles in Germany and they can’t believe someone like me owns his own home and holds a job. They tell my mom that would never happen in Germany. In terms of accessibility and community integration, Europe lags behind the States by a good decade. And so while I may passionately disagree with most of the policies of the present administration, I’m obliged to recognize that living in America has presented me and my peers with opportunities that we never would have had elsewhere. Things certainly aren’t perfect here, but I wouldn’t be doing policy work if I didn’t believe that if there is one constant in America, it’s our capacity for change.