It's a Monday morning.

And I am facing the work week with something like cheer. I ultimately did the bills that had to be done this morning, this morning, and will do the rest this afternoon when I get home (after the grocery shopping, since I discovered I couldn't make my lunch today unless I wanted to bring in a can of soup, a frozen microwaveable entree (tempting, but it might confuse someone), or have crackers and fruit bars for lunch.

Right. I'll see the nice people at the deli later today....

But it was a very good, very relaxing weekend. I've already babbled about most of it, but...for a weekend in crunch time? Relaxing. Had a very good time visiting my parents (wrestling their air conditioner into the window, a lot easier than wrestling ours in or out ever was - of course, they don't have a sink in front of the window in question!). I set my allergies off something awful in the end, by cuddling a bunch of the outdoor cats, but it was worth it - I like cats. (Of course, I also left my parents a huge vacuuming chore. The cats would be shedding. Like crazy.)

On the drive back, we stopped at the rest area on the Wilsonville Road. For about three seconds, which is all I needed to conclude it would be better to see what it's like in another season. (What's it like now? Overgrown. With waist-high grass. Even the paths are only about six inches wide, between the grass.)

Then I hung out, chatted with friends, and ultimately got a fun little scene in as well. I like roleplaying, and I like hanging out with friends, so...very good evening.

And here I am, at work, on a Monday morning, and I feel human. I'm not really ahead, but I'm not behind either.

Grrrr. It's illegal to turn your back on the president?

I'd try to write eloquently about this, but so many others already have, and I'm steamed.

The first link I saw (from cadhla) was to vyoma who writes this entry (note the links in the comments to various other articles on the matter):

http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?journal=vyoma&itemid=376607

And camwyn gives information on where to get contact information for your senator and representative, if you need that information, here:

http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?journal=camwyn&itemid=49545

Update: Note the mention (of at least the statement of intent) in the last paragraph of the CNN article, here:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/06/14/bush.ohiostate.ap/index.html

Political whatnot.

Okay, now I'm not at work, and now I'm not in the midst of the first reaction to seeing it. And as my initial post was somewhat incoherent, I figured I'd follow up with how I view this.

1. George's fault? Maybe, maybe not. No way to know if he influenced that. QUITE possible the university got that bee up their backside all on their own.

2. Write your congresspeople? Yes, because they should be aware that this is a disturbing, unwelcome trend. Statements need to be made.

3. Write the president (or rather, whoever reads his mail)? YES, because he should (and could) say something (even if only behind the scenes) to the people involved and in similar situations.

4. Write the university. Definitely. I need to find contact information. They did make the announcement, and it was stupid.

Now, what do I object to and what don't I. I have no problem with their removal of people who did that from the event. It's rational, it's within their rights, and it promotes the dignity of the moment. (If they would not have removed people who threw things later, or the like, I would question it.) Regardless of whether or not it's right, it's legal, and it's their choice.

Expelling students involved. Um. This is still within their legal rights, but is overreaction. (Now, reprimanding, suspending for a time, and if graduating denying the walk to them? Sure. But expelling? Overkill - unless the student is already a chronic offender.)

Suggesting they will be arrested? That's what really steamed me. In response to turning their backs on the president? That's overkill. Now, if they resist being removed (see previous point regarding their right to do that)...fine. THEN have the police deal with them, being as you do have the right to throw them out.

The way it was handled smacks of involving the law and government in people's right to turn their backs on someone. Not just the university's ego-fluffballs.

And that disturbs me a lot. They have no place there. The further you move toward it being or being able to look like a government objection to protest (rather than a university objection to embarrassment at ceremnies), the further you move toward problems.

What will be next?

No, I don't like the man, I admit that. I am gleefully looking forward to our chance to elect someone else, and I hope by all that I hold holy we earn, make, push for better candidates this time around. But I would be no less upset if this were done in the name of a president I liked. (I admit, I'd probably have been less upset - especially initially - if it had been done at a time when I wasn't stressed for unrelated reasons, tho.)

News bite.

Sorry, very bad pun. Jobs I never want.... (Image.)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/020616/168/1pafn.html