the last day
so friday was my last day at state...for the summer at least. overall, it was a good day. i worked in the morning, wandered around turning in my hard drive and getting my check out sheet signed in the afternoon, and then we had a party before i left. we had a hall party last week, so to celebrate the holiday weekend, my going away, and use up all the leftovers, we had another party. During the party I got a nice plaque saying thank you for your service and a really nice pen. :-) The plaque is signed by the acting assistant secretary, which is super cool. everybody wished me well and only had good things to say. they all seemed genuinely pleased that i am coming back in the fall too. then again, what are they supposed to say when i am right in front of them, lol. anyway, i was going to write more, but im tired, and i leave for italy tomorrow...crazy! it still doesn't seem quite real. oh well though, its happening whether im ready or not.
il giorno ultimo
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
politica
politics
what happened to the days when working to help the public was more important than getting re-elected? i know it has been this way for years, but it is really depressing. i mean, the whole point of having senators and representatives is to represent the people. granted, the positions were created because the founders didn't necessarily trust "the people" to make important decisions or to do what is best for them. however, that doesn't mean that those elected have the right to care more about their own survival than the good of the country and the lives of their constituents.
now, what brought this on, one might ask. the answer to that would be good old pelosi. i'm happy for her that she is the first female speaker of the house, as it is a very prestigious position and such, and i am happy california is representing, but i am just not a big fan of hers. and now, with this whole cia/water-boarding fiasco, i feel like she is deflecting the blame, pointing the finger, and changing her story time and time again. personally, i agree with her saying that the republicans in congress are harping on her to take the focus away from the bush administration's authorization of torture, but she is very inconsistent is what she knew and is not taking any blame for anything because to do so would be tantamount to political suicide. first there was no meeting, then there was no memory of what was said in the meeting, then she knew but couldn't say anything, and now cia lied by omitting that water-boarding did occur. make up your mind! i'm not denying that some of what she has said did take place, i just wish she would be more forthright and honest instead of circling around. i know that will never happen though, because as stated before, the power of being a politician is more important than doing what is right for the country nowadays.
the really sad thing is that the ic is going to be hurt by this in a number of ways, the biggest being that congress won't trust anything the ic says and the ic will become more risk averse and won't trust congress to back them up. with that kind of relationship, how can we truly protect ourselves?
what a mess.
politica
what happened to the days when working to help the public was more important than getting re-elected? i know it has been this way for years, but it is really depressing. i mean, the whole point of having senators and representatives is to represent the people. granted, the positions were created because the founders didn't necessarily trust "the people" to make important decisions or to do what is best for them. however, that doesn't mean that those elected have the right to care more about their own survival than the good of the country and the lives of their constituents.
now, what brought this on, one might ask. the answer to that would be good old pelosi. i'm happy for her that she is the first female speaker of the house, as it is a very prestigious position and such, and i am happy california is representing, but i am just not a big fan of hers. and now, with this whole cia/water-boarding fiasco, i feel like she is deflecting the blame, pointing the finger, and changing her story time and time again. personally, i agree with her saying that the republicans in congress are harping on her to take the focus away from the bush administration's authorization of torture, but she is very inconsistent is what she knew and is not taking any blame for anything because to do so would be tantamount to political suicide. first there was no meeting, then there was no memory of what was said in the meeting, then she knew but couldn't say anything, and now cia lied by omitting that water-boarding did occur. make up your mind! i'm not denying that some of what she has said did take place, i just wish she would be more forthright and honest instead of circling around. i know that will never happen though, because as stated before, the power of being a politician is more important than doing what is right for the country nowadays.
the really sad thing is that the ic is going to be hurt by this in a number of ways, the biggest being that congress won't trust anything the ic says and the ic will become more risk averse and won't trust congress to back them up. with that kind of relationship, how can we truly protect ourselves?
what a mess.
politica
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Villa le Balze
In 10 days time I will be traveling to Italy for a 3 week study abroad program on International Law and Security in Florence. After the program is over I am going to hang out and travel for a week since hey, I am already there. While I am abroad, I figured I would post in a blog instead of writing long and obnoxious emails every couple of days. On top of that, if people want to check they can, and if they don't care what the hell I'm doing, they can ignore the link and don't have to be stuck with annoying emails in their in-boxes. Since I don't need my family to see my personal blog, I have created a new one specifically for travel. Now, I doubt anyone will really follow, but just in case, I thought I would post the link to it here.
http://michellesrestlessfeet.blogspot.com/
happy summer :-)
http://michellesrestlessfeet.blogspot.com/
happy summer :-)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
a lavoro
at work
im sitting at work, and while i don't have time to actually write an entry, there are a few things that have been preying on my mind lately...
hunger strikes...they always end when someone has a "medical issue." um, isn't that kind of the expected result?
the media...i find it fascinating how quickly the media turns from one topic to another. less than a month ago it was all about piracy. now, you don't see a thing on the topic. unless you are me of course, working hard (haha) for the government.
weapons...it boggles my mind that countries just keep making bigger and stronger weapons. they seem to forget that they live on the same planet as their target, and that one weapon going off essentially means world destruction. and putting the us or a us base in your sights doesn't make you invincible. no, i cant say what brought this last thought, id have to kill you if i did. :-)
footnotes...they can be fabulous when taken into account. however, when they are ignored you don't get the whole picture. and no, i cant explain where that came from either.
swine flu, excuse me, h1n1 influenza...im sorry, but am i alone in thinking the whole world has overreacted? yes, it sucks, and yes it hit mexico hardcore. but here in the us, where we have a better medical infrastructure and go to the doctor for every little thing, don't you think it is a bit much? and egypt killing all their pigs when you cant get it from eating pig? i smell an excuse to get rid of a way of life (pig farming) that is despised by those in charge.
i could go on, and i might later, but now i have to get back to work (reading :-) )
a lavoro
im sitting at work, and while i don't have time to actually write an entry, there are a few things that have been preying on my mind lately...
hunger strikes...they always end when someone has a "medical issue." um, isn't that kind of the expected result?
the media...i find it fascinating how quickly the media turns from one topic to another. less than a month ago it was all about piracy. now, you don't see a thing on the topic. unless you are me of course, working hard (haha) for the government.
weapons...it boggles my mind that countries just keep making bigger and stronger weapons. they seem to forget that they live on the same planet as their target, and that one weapon going off essentially means world destruction. and putting the us or a us base in your sights doesn't make you invincible. no, i cant say what brought this last thought, id have to kill you if i did. :-)
footnotes...they can be fabulous when taken into account. however, when they are ignored you don't get the whole picture. and no, i cant explain where that came from either.
swine flu, excuse me, h1n1 influenza...im sorry, but am i alone in thinking the whole world has overreacted? yes, it sucks, and yes it hit mexico hardcore. but here in the us, where we have a better medical infrastructure and go to the doctor for every little thing, don't you think it is a bit much? and egypt killing all their pigs when you cant get it from eating pig? i smell an excuse to get rid of a way of life (pig farming) that is despised by those in charge.
i could go on, and i might later, but now i have to get back to work (reading :-) )
a lavoro
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