the complex notion of a flawed smile.

this morning i had major dental surgery, providing me the opportunity to pursue the following guilt-free activities until i return to work on monday.

> read the day's news for more than twenty minutes.
> legally ingest carefully prescribed painkillers.
> watch 'the west wing' so much i enter a state of hypnosis wherein i believe the day-to-day theater within the white house is a magically choreographed utopia written by aaron sorkin.
> shop craigslist for cycling gear, persian rugs, and danish furniture.
> begrudgingly study for the LEED exam**

i also recommend the following links >>

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/business/media/10adco.html?8au&emc=au

http://www.slate.com/id/2199720/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090801910.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122090791901411709.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

http://www.bahaindex.com/news/a-campaign-of-persecution-against-a-faith-of-tolerance.html

the last article was sent to me by my dad. It should be noted that john keech is a loyal conservative, a remarkably honest professional, a devout mizzou fan, and as always, in favor of sticking it to iran and continually looking for more reasons to do so. I understand where he’s coming from, and I’m beginning to see why so many people are fearful of countries that are ostensibly, pardon the pun, loose cannons.

All that said, the fundamental issue here is small-mindedness. I would argue that intolerance is as omnipresent in this country as it is in places like Iran. Case in point - how many people are going to vote against Obama simply because he’s black? How many black people voted against Hillary because she wasn’t black? How many people are going to vote agains McCain because his running mate can bear children?

This obviously doesn’t include my father – he’ll vote for a republican just like he’s always done, but his reasons are far more nobile, well-thought and based upon facts and data. On the other hand, I just can’t see how people can honestly and willingly dismiss the opportunity to show the rest of the planet we’re ready to distinguish ourselves by moving past these superfluous and shallow issues, vote for Obama, and set a new example. It’s not that I think our country is stupid, it’s just that I think we’re losing the will to think critically.

In the end, all the political discourse has made me wish I had a vote in a more relevant state.

**i do not, in any conceivable way, take pleasure in this activity.