r v l . c o m

A few snapshots from my week in SF:

With less than a week to go before the election, things are getting crazy here.

The polls seem to fluctuate up and down day by day, mostly because of changes to McCain/Palins approval rating; Obama seems reasonably constant. The battle between intelligent, educated, open-minded, optimistic, inclusive Americans, against the redneck, white, racist, xenophobic types has never been more apparent to me than it is right now.

The approach of the Republican party is unabashedly fear-mongering, scaring voters with the “unknown”. If I hear the phrase “who is the REAL Barack Obama?” one more time I am going to implode. This party represents the ugly side of America, the America that is despised internationally - loud, fat and astonishingly stupid. How anyone can vote for McCain/Palin and look themselves in the mirror I can not, and never will, understand.

A few of the buzz-issues I can’t get past, include:

Joe the Plumber: Firstly, I would not at all be surprised if he was planted by the Republicans - it smacks of a setup. Secondly, he doesn’t even pay the his current taxes, so why does he care about tax policy? He earns less than $40k a year, could in no way afford to buy the business he works for and would personally be better off under Obama’s tax plan than McCains. And now he’s campaigning for the Republicans?!? Does not compute.

“Spreading the wealth”: Since when is this a bad thing? I will receive a tax rebate under Obamas plan, but I would happily pay a few % more if it meant better schools, better health care and a cleaner environment for everyone. I can’t think of a better human quality than caring for those who have less, especially when you have more than you personally need.

Skin cancer, hockey mums and nuclear launch codes: John McCain is fundamentally a good man, who has sold out to his party. He is angry and old, 72 years old. There is a very real chance he will pass away from a relapse during the next 4-8 years. This would lead Sarah Palin in charge of the most powerful defense force on the planet. A hockey mum with a “degree” in sports journalism, a smarmy, self-righteous attitude and potentially with the authority to actually launch nuclear weapons. The entire world should be terrified of this possibility.

Strength in diversity: History has shown that a diverse population is a strong one. Obama has made an effort to appeal to so many sections of American society; rich/poor, gay/straight, male/female, white/non-white, and bring them together under the notion of the common good. McCain has done little but try to wedge apart the voting population, by making them afraid and suspicious. By appealing to greed.

There are other issues, but surely these are enough!?

I’m currently stranded at SFO, having missed my earlier flight and trying to get on the last flight back to JFK. As a result, I missed the live screening of Obama’s 30-minute special (which should have been called Obamarama) but thanks to YouTube, here it is:

Coming to San Francisco feels like visiting an old friend.

I was first here 20 years ago this year (or maybe next year, but anyway), with my Dad. Also on a work-junket; the more things change hey. I think this is my 3rd or 4th visit since I came here as a spoiled, fat, teenager. Having been here during some very different periods of my life, I feel a strange sense of connectedness to this city.

My impressions this time are again tarnished by the huge number of homeless men that rove the street - every street - and seem so entrenched here that I feel like I am trespassing in their homes by walking around the city. I cannot understand how a state with so much money can not have solved this problem yet.

Today I almost drowned, at the beach above. Yes there were signs warning people not to swim, but I don’t trust signs. Turns out they were kind of correct, it is really dangerous - and REALLY cold. I managed to dive under a couple of waves, but got totally cleaned up by a gigantic 4-5m monster, which slammed me against the sand, sucked me back up into the middle of it and spun me around a few times before I could figure out which way was up and fight my way to the surface. It was very dramatic.

I’ve been taking some great pics - it’s a super picturesque city - but I didn’t bring the cord for my camera, so they will have to wait. The weather has been perfect, maybe a little too warm, so I’ve got some good shots, including of the bridge above.

There are a few things that have been annoying me though, including:

1. How sloooow people walk.
2. How much it smells like dope (which I guess explains #1) and homeless people.
3. How confusing the public transport system is (bart? muni? what are these words??).

This also has to be one of the most environmentally hyper-conscious places on the planet, which is semi-annoying. The key for my hotel room is even made of cardboard (with text instructing me to recycle it when I check out… puhlease…) and every second car is a Prius. Damn hippies!

Uugh… time for bed. I’m presenting my poster tomorrow, so I have to be perky and enthusiastic about science!

The results from the swim meet I competed at recently (see image on left) were published this week.

Here’s how I did - nominated time, actual time, placing in age-group:

50m breaststroke: 0:38.00 | 0:39.61 (6/8)
100m freestyle: 1:07.00 | 1:07.41 (6/10)
100m Individ. Medley: 1:20.00 | 1:18.02 (5/10)

I also did the mens 4×50m Individual medley relay (the fly leg!) and the 4×50m freestyle, but I cant remember which team I was in now, so can’t find my times from those. I’m pretty sure I did the slowest leg in both relays though - damn these over-achieving, single-digit-body-fat, type-A, new-yorkers.

Personally I blame the fact I was prepared for a long course pool, could not find a comfortable place to sit in between events and spent most of the day hyperventilating in anticipation of the performance from Cheer-NY.

Also there was NO coffee available in the entire facility, putting me on the verge of a total mental and physical breakdown and obviously adding tens of seconds to my times.

I have nothing (coherent) to say at the moment, on or off-line.

• I want to get a pet - even considring a cat (more apartment-friendly than a dog, which I would really like).
• I saw a homeless man recently with a sign taped to his chest that read “I have issues”. At least someone is honest in this city.
• I saw Avenue Q this week. It sucked, but I am apparently the only person alive to think that. Racism jokes are just so 90’s. Plus 2hrs of nasely puppet voices? Annoying.
• Next Thursday I leave for a week in San Francisco, at this conference. I have to practice acting superior to everyone because I’m from New York before I go. Ok, I’m ready.
• I have not bought anything new for a long time. New MacBooks are super tempting though.
• Britney is supposedly touring next year. I’m considering deploying an army of (honest) homeless people to camp out for tickets.
• My goal in life used to be to have my own Personal/Executive Assistant. I recently met someone who is an actor on Broadway and as a result my new life goal is to have an understudy (or two). How awesome -someone in a constant state of readiness to fill in for me on those days I don’t feel like getting out of bed.
• I feel bad for Madonna, but happy that she’s going to be living in NYC now. I recently walked past her apartment - she didn’t invite me in. Maybe next time.
• I am trying to find a t-shirt that says “ELITIST”.

Today I hauled myself out to Flushing, Queens at the satanic hour of 8am on Saturday morning, to participate in the TNYA swim meet; Aquapalooza.

The meet was actually a short course one, so all my mental preparations for a 50m pool were a waste of time. Sigh…

I did 2 relays, a 100m free, 50 breast, 100 IM and something else I can’t recall now. There were about 250 swimmers in total, which is a pretty good effort on behalf of the organisers. There’s a meet dinner tonight that I’m boycotting, but an after-party at Splash even later tonight, where I shall rejoin in the festivities.

My times were nothing special, I don’t think I medalled in any of the events - possibly a 3rd place in one of the relays.

The highlight of the entire day, and possibly my entire life, was the appearance by Cheer New York(!) and their fabulously tacky choreography, outfits, music and forced smiles. This has totally upped the ante for all future swim meets in my opinion.

Cheerleaders! Can you believe it?! In case you can’t, here’s a little video I recorded - although the sound didn’t work for some reason. Still, you can see why I was so excited.

Unfortunately I have to subtract points for a disappointing lack of spirit-fingers, pyramid formations and glitter-cannon usage. However given the constraints of the environment and fact that 99.9% of the swimmers were trying to ignore them, I say: job well done. And where do I sign up?

Obama T

Originally uploaded by Barton van Laar.

Personally I attribute the support of myself and my parents to his current lead in the polls. What can I say, we’re influencers.