Who calls a shot like that? Who makes a decision like that? It's a disturbing trend.?

Writing the first line of anything is a tedious chore, I recalled while starting an essay on biofuels last week. Curiously, most of the literature I found online regarding biofuels as a viable fuel source were unenthusiastic, at best. Even considering the BP oil spill, I am not convinced. In the past the material that has been presented to me has been deceptive and has neglected to mention the crippling effect growing the feed stocks has on staple food item markets. The extent of government subsidization has been vastly misrepresented.

Anyhow, moving on...

Haven't been doing much diving recently, as the weather hasn't looked 100% ando ther things have piled up. We have a "reading period" before exams, which is a strange concept to me. As the semester ends, people have begun packing up and thinking about home. Some of my friends have already left and I know being here next semester without my current flatmates will be weird.

I've spent a bit of time trying to find quality content on youtube. Most of it isn't very good, but a lot of the political commentary is spot on. Has anyone seen Matt Damon's take on Sarah Palin? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk
Excuse the advertisement at the beginning. This is pretty much EXACTLY how I feel. Regardless of your political beliefs, Palin as a VP nominee at the nation wide level is just absurd. ISarah Palin shouldn't be in charge of anything more important than a PTA meeting or bake sale. I'd be concerned if she was on city council, let alone in the White House.

Usually I keep a watch on the political arena, but can't be bothered to actually participate in discussions around. So many people are of the belief that if they read two unopposing articles their opinion is obviously well supported, irrefutable, and correct. It's not that simple. Until you hear Palin attempt to discuss her experience with foreign policy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg&feature=channel

Perhaps the best defense of Palin I've heard derives from my friend believing that she stands for the American dream, representing the idea that any American can influence the nation (and globe) through winning political office. While I agree that everyone should have an equal opportunity to serve as a major political figure, I do not believe that just anyone should. Let's break it down-- most people would agree that any student wishing to become a medical doctor should be allowed the education and if they show diligence, a steadfast work ethic, and proper skill, the profession should be an option. While the option should be a possibility for anyone, you certainly wouldn't want your doctor wondering what the difference between a scalpel and a stethoscope is. If a high school math teacher couldn't quite grasp basic algebra or a civil engineer grossly miscalculated a bridge's holding capacity it would be beyond unacceptable. Why then, do we support major party political candidates who are unable to explain their job description or adequately, rationally support major decisions? Why do educated citizens accept the same ill-supported poorly articulated discriminatory legislation time and time again? Because it's the moral choice, to protect the nation, or, my personal favorite, my religious beliefs align most closely with this political agenda.

Anyhow...

I am quite exasperated by people thinking that, as an American, this is pretty much my thought process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
After watching many Americans away from the US interact with others though, the fact that many people around the world have reached this conclusion does not surprise me. I would do the same, and do in fact do the same; when people ask me if I'm American I sigh and nod. It's infuriating to be assoicated with Tim James for Governor, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9ohsvJHkbY , and Jan Brewer, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwOluhbz86c . You would assume that in a nation of 300 million people we could do better.

Back to how it feels to be an American abroad: in a word, embarrassing. I was under the impression that students curious enough to leave home and throw themselves into a foreign setting quite different from the things they had grown accustomed to would share my desire to get out there and explore, to welcome unfamiliar ideas, to try new things, and more than anything, to give things a chance and try to understand before passing judgment -- and I could not have been more wrong.

To my surprise/confusion/displeasure, almost sll of the UC students studying at the University of Auckland spend time with each other, almost exclusively. This is not just a fortnightly dinner party or coffee break, it is quite literally every chance possible. So many people have phoned home requesting products they can't find here, crucial items such as General Mills Cereal, Kool-aid, Betty Crocker mixes, Taco Seasoning (because they don't have that here...oh wait...). Imagine my surprise to find some had even brought microwave dinners (yes, microwave dinners) across the ocean. Seriously? Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of this phenomenon is the people who will return home, feeling as though they really experienced another culture. Barely able to pronounce Maori and completely oblivious to any facet of New Zealand society, many will arrive back in the United States bragging of their amazing new found worldly perspective and priceless friendships. My room mate Adele and I frequently ask each other why some people even bother booking the air fare, when they get here it's as though they never left.

Perhaps the worst things I've heard abroad:
"did you hear about what's happening in Germany?"
"oh, someone sent me a link about something over there. but I didn't read it once I saw the title"
"why's that?"
"well it's not America so I don't care"

"you know, it's kind of shocking that no one knows about the Duchess of York"
"oh, it's Britain. No one really cares about"

while I agree with the sentiment that no one really does care about Britain (hahaha....), that sort of response by Americans to anything not concerning America is so painfully familiar.

on that note, I should get back to reading up on polymers o_O