NY ♥ NY

Oh hey, I’m alive, don’t worry. I’ve just been swamped with papers (which is always the case, I know). Since I’ve finished four out of five at this point, I’m feeling pretty good. That is, I’m really excited to finish the last of the bunch so that I can actually relax and spend my time outside of the library. Aside from being distracted by these papers, of course, I’m looking forward to several other things:

• This Thursday, 11/13, the Gallatin Journal of Global Affairs will be holding its delayed launch party for the 2008 edition in which my paper (“From Combined to Green Propaganda: BP’s Decade-Long Greenwashing Cycle”) is published. I originally wrote the research paper for my Propaganda course last fall. I volunteered to do a 5-minute reading of it at the event, which will probably be small and intimate (true Gallatin-style). Any NYU student can come so if you’re interested in free “global” food and drinks, and my nervous tongue-tied reading, definitely come (715 Broadway, Rm. 522, 7 pm)!

• On an equally (if not more) dorky note, I can’t wait to register for spring semester courses. My top choices? New Media Research Studio, Finance for Social Theorists, Law & Society, and Biology & Society. It would be fair at this point to conclude that I like society and all things social. If you were my mom (and yes, my mom does read my blog), this would be the point at which you ask me what I plan to do with my life…to which I would respond with a deeply-frustrated sigh and again bring up the possibility of law school to assuage her (and my) anxiety.

Since I actually abandoned this post halfway through and have now returned to it whilst in the middle of writing said fifth paper, I will make this last point short.

I AM EXCITED THAT BARACK OBAMA IS NOW PRESIDENT-ELECT.

notice "flagboy" who eventually got arrested. pic from Max's iPhone.

A little delayed, but there we go. It’s old news but it’s amazing news. Max and I spent Election Day (that is to say, Election Night) celebrating with the huge crowds in Union Square and in the East Village. Everyone was ecstatic, high-fiving, cheering, and simultaneously shouting variations of “Obama,” “No More Bush,” “Yes We Can (Si Se Puede),” and “Yes We Did.” There was one guy who kept trying to start a “The Red is Dead” chant, which signified to me the bipartisanship/divisiveness which Obama denounces. What immediately ran through my head was the following: “We have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America.” So in the unifying spirit of Obama’s victory and an unbelievable Election Day, I started cheering “USA,” and people joined in (that is, after the guy with the bullhorn helped).

Max's again.

And the fact that Obama’s victory was largely attributed to his engagement with and mobilization of people on the internet is unprecedented. Change.gov allows people to send in their stories and reactions to the election, submit their ideas on what the next administration should do, and also apply for a job. Seriously. This website, along with the fact that my.barackobama.com is going to “live on” (thanks Mike for the link) makes me excited about the ways in which the people will interact and communicate with the next President of the United States. There has been much talk about digital “fireside chats.” TechPresident is also a website tracking the presidential campaign/administration’s relationship with the internet (Barack + internet = BFF, IMO). Bottom line: A new and connected kind of presidential administration? Yes, please. I will work for your new media team anyday, Barack!

Badass.

I have to return to my paper now but expect a post soon about the possible deterioration of intellectual life in college and why I think that is bull.