Well. I have lots to say, but little time to say it in, since I actually plan on getting sleep tonight.

First, let me just say that it is a tragedy that Elliot Smith has passed away. I first heard an Elliot Smith cd at a Jump, Little Children show. I absolutely loved the beautiful, haunting sounds of his music, which sounded sad yet somehow upbeat, and I had to know who was the maker of the sounds falling over me. No one else seemed to be paying attention, because it was merely music to take up space between the opener and Jump, but I bugged my friend Robyn to tell me who it was. She was like "oh, that's Elliot Smith...He's good, but a little too mellow". I not only did not think of him as too mellow, I thought he was the closest thing to the Beatles since...well...the Beatles, and that he was amazing. His harmonies are miraculous, and the raw sound of the strumming of the guitar lets you hear his pure talent. And I feel purely selfish for some of my first thoughts being "I never got to go to a show!" and "No more cds??". Why is it that some of the most brilliant people have the hardest time with life? I heard a quote once that said "Life's harder the deeper you feel things". Yup. Anyway, go listen to A Question Mark, or Tomorrow Tomorrow...right now.

My friends Stephen and Melissa were representin at this past weekend's propeace rally in DC.
I have some really fun pictures that Stephen sent me from it.
So what's this I hear about boycotting coke? I mean, big corporation, I can see it as a nice statement, but honestly, some vices I have issues with giving up hehe. Someone fill me in on what's up with that and why people were apparently trying to push a boycott against coke at the rally.

I went CAMPING this last weekend, and my friend Ashley has some lovely pictures :) We hiked like 7 miles all around Hanging Rock park. It was crazy, but lots of fun.

I have a ton of different sites to refer to because Lauren who is one of the most politically minded people that I know, totally sent me in great directions for information. I haven't had a chance to look through all of them, but I'd say 9 times out of 10 I would trust anything given to me by Lauren. In fact, I have yet to come across anything that I didn't like that I was sent to by her, so I guess 10 out of 10. Also, just for reference, John is her boyfriend, and together they are the cutest, most politically aware, awesome couple...well...ever. Plus John has some interesting thoughts about Dean. I'm still not sure where I stand on the whole election issue, but I'm working on it. Like I said, I'm on the search for information, but school is slightly hindering this (ie my test today and my paper due tomorrow, RA duty tomorrow night as well as an inservice, planning a meatless thanksgiving dinner as a program, then Wednesday I have a staff meeting and a Jump concert I must attend :)). Anyway, below John's comments about Dean there is a response arguing against Dean, so if you are so inclined, feel free to browse that too.

And now for all the other links that Lauren sent me to:
Anybody but Bush...but... (looks like a lot of people arguing back and forth on what is up about how to get rid of Bush, the best way to do that, and what is the most realistic ways of achieving that goal. I haven't had a chance to finish reading, but feel free to browse.
DSA - This is democratic socialism, so its not QUITE socialism. It seems right up my alley, since I honestly don't know if I would consider myself a socialist. In looking up what socialism is exactly, I found:
socialism -
\So"cial*ism\, n. [Cf. F. socialisme.] A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme.

So while I'm not really all about the "lawlessness", I really can dig the "more just and equitable" part. I guess mainly I agree with this in moderation.
I enjoy this from the site though:
"We are socialists because we reject an international economic order sustained by private profit, alienated labor, race and gender discrimination, environmental destruction, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo.
We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane international social order based both on democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships."

Well, that's about it for tonight, and clearly I've spent too much time on this entry because it is long, rambling, and...and its almost 2am. There go my hopes for sleep. Oh well, it was worth it :)