Random Notes from the Week

As the title would suggest, this is not a well organized and cohesive posting. Rather, it is a smattering of comments on the week that has past...

A colleague ate some Pop-Rocks that expired six years ago! While it is quite an achievement to still own a packet of Pop-Rocks of that vintage, I do not see it as a good thing.

Republicans wear red ties, Democrats wear blue ties. Seriously, it's like a uniform.

Last night I saw an old Star Trek episode with Spock and Captain Kirk shackled in a dudgeon next to the skeleton of someone who apparently died and decomposed in situ. You could clearly see where the skull cap had been cut to remove the brain while the deceased was being prepared for life as a classroom skeleton. Instead, this skeleton became a Hollywood star...

The Great Debate

I'm not a fan of politics. Not a die-hard fan of any one party (be it here or back home). I can't even vote here (not that I'm complaining!). Yet I am about to write about politics for the first (and probably only) time.

Why? What has caused this sudden political awakening? The 2nd Presidential Debate is on tonight (the VP Debate doesn't count), and it's on across the road. I don't mean that in a figurative way... The debate will be held right in a university building that is across the road from my apartment (in about 2 hours)!

Having a Presidential Debate in such close proximity is a new experience for me. Roads are going to be closed. Foot paths as well. Street vendors were set up outside the apartments this morning, selling T-shirts in support of the candidate who is less likely to forget where he put his car keys. Residents have tidied their front gardens and put up signs of support. Fancy cars are park outside houses that do not own fancy cars.

I have questions: Will we be able to see one of the candidates? What will our walk home entail? But my biggest question is this: Will we be able to get to my apartment tonight?

Watch this space...