esprit de l'escalier

TERRIBLE news for Polaroid lovers

My mother just saw this breaking news from a NYTimes blog. Polaroid is abandoning what made it famous and will soon be stopping to make its instant film. I am heartbroken. I knew this was going to happen eventually, but I hoped I'd have a few more years. Now I need to start hoarding film. No more new film after 2009.

Morning after

I have been looking forward to seeing the end of this election cycle. I'm pretty jaded with the electoral process. This may have everything to do with the fact that the second election I ever voted in was the 2000. That election didn't really sow seeds of confidence in a young woman's idealistic heart. Nor did the presidential election to follow. Though I guess my latent political junkie came out last night, because I surprised myself by staying up way too late to watch Chris Matthews honk at Keith Olbermann. I am pleased with some of the results (what with the House and all), though I fear we're going to have some lawyers holding us back for a couple weeks in Virginia (and Montana?).

I'm not terribly pleased with the governor results in my state, but my hope is that G-Rod gets indicted soon and kicked out of office. (Thought it's too bad about Duckworth.) I'm very pleased with the Senate and Governor seats in Ohio, though. I was also paying attention to the 15th district there, where I was once a constituent. I (sort of) know Mary Jo Kilroy, but it doesn't look good for her, which is too bad. (I campaigned for her once when I was 15 or 16.)

Back in my college stomping grounds, I was very pleased to see that Hostettler got kicked out of Indiana's 8th District and Baron Hill won in the 9th.

All in all, I hope we settle these disputed races soon. Frankly I'm just happy those horrible campaign ads are gone.

UPDATES: As for thoughts on the IL governor election, here's a quote from today's Beachwood Reporter:
How do citizens vote against corruption if both candidates in a given campaign are corrupt? That was my question. (The Beachwood Reporter has become a daily read for me. Check it out if you live in the Chicago area, though it's made me more bitter towards the politics here.)

Here is a great post by Sara Robinson about the historical momentum leading up to yesterday's elections and where liberals should go from there. (Hat tip to Res at Republic of Dogs.)

Matt of the Tattered Coat has a great quote from Whitman, which was the perfect way to start my day.

Full of rage in the morning

I have made a fairly conscience decision not to write about politics here. It's not that I don't care; I do, very much so. I just think that there are a lot of people who cover politics and do such a good job of it that I don't think it's necessary for me to join the fray. This morning found me particularly full of pique and I thought I'd copy down my angry journal entry that I scrawled on the train today. Sorry for the extra dose of spleen.

Many mornings find me muttering or yelling things at NPR. It's not Morning Edition that makes me mad, but rather what Steve Inskeep and the lot are reporting. This morning's news has me bristling with anger in a way that hasn't happened in a while. (Since the 2000 election, there are stretches of time where I'm too numb to the goings-on in Washington for much reaction.) This Foley scandal had me shouting in the apartment, in the stairwell and on the steret on the way to the L. Some of Hastert's constituents in Batavia were interviewed saying that they don't think he should be held responsible for not acting on his knowledge of Foley's inappropriate behaviour with minors. I learned it's possible that Hastert has known for at least 2 years about this behaviour. TWO YEARS or MORE?? Hastert says he won't step down from his leadership position because it's "what the opposition wants." NO, you fool. We want someone to actually ACT LIKE A LEADER. We want an example of leadership, which means TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. Why does no one in Washington seem to remember what being a true leader means? It's doesn't mean hiding behind lies or ignoring the press's questions. Cowards. Do we not, as a country, know how leaders are supposed to act anymore? My roommate says that she thinks people are so enured to scandal that we expect cover-ups and don't seem to blame people for covering their asses. I am INFURIATED with the arrogance of politicians who haven't learned that cover-ups never work and the complete apathy of the populace.

To counteract my ire, I listened to some Whiskeytown on my iPod on the way to work. I normally don't listen to music on my commute but read, but I really needed some distraction. I thought Ryan Adams' sorrow tinged alt-country songs would act as a palliative. Plus my friend Jayb had sent me a link to a blog post about Whiskeytown and I knew I had to listen to it this morning. Listen to some clips here.

More to read from the good professor

Mother, you should be proud, I'm trying to dutifully read Prof. Cole everyday. He writes today about the travesty that is our news for not reporting on what Sharon is doing in Jerusalem. The Washington Post won't cover it, but our good professor does. And you should all read it.

A Juan Cole must read

This is Prof. Cole's article from Salon today. If you aren't a member, sign up for a free day pass to read the entire article.

London

I've had all day to think about what happened in London this morning. It was the first thing I heard today-- Tony Blair's grave voice saying something about terrorists. That's a way to wake you up. And consequently make you late to work, turning on the tv, calling your mother and friend, trying to figure out what happened. I've been really angry all day. I'm so upset that this happened. My thoughts have been in London a lot recently-- I've been fantasizing about visiting there again and reading British authors and watching the BBC. All of this madness has made me angry again. Ever since 9/11 my anger comes in waves and it washes up and over me and then recedes. My mother has been spitting angry ever since. She reads Juan Cole religiously and I can't think of anyone more shocked by the past election than her. I keep finding her anger inside me too. I was so angry this morning. Yesterday I was so happy for London, winning the Olympic bid. I looked at all of the joyous celebrations in Trafalgar square and was happy for them. This morning I couldn't get over the juxtaposition of it all. My mother said she has been waiting for the other shoe to drop. That she was glad my sister didn't go traveling abroad this summer. But I don't see that as right. We shouldn't curtail our plans out of fear of what might happen. That is no way to live. I want to go to London, and have been scheming of how I might get there next summer. My heart was there this morning.