An Aside, Ape.

Everyday, before I take my morning piss and after I brush my teeth at night, I watch the news.  It's become a sort of ritual (read: obsession), and at the very least determines my mood for the rest of the day and tone of my dreams at night.  As in, if after having watched two hours of video podcasts (admittedly, Anderson Cooper and Keith Olbermann) I feel particularly miserable for the state of this country, I will parade around obnoxiously in my Obama "Hope" t-shirt.  Also, if after having watched Jon Stewart rant about the phenomenon (read: ridiculousness) that is Sarah Palin, I dream that I am having his children.

But I digress.

I have the feeling that my roommates find this new ritualistic obsession somewhat annoying.  In part because I tend to interrupt their conversations with "She [Sarah Palin] makes me want to vomit all over my shoes," and because they, my roommates, undoubtedly read and watch the news as vigilantly as I do.

But that's just the thing.

What is most hopeful and exciting about this presidential election, aside from Bush Jr. finally getting out of office, is that my generation, specifically those students voting for the first time, can and are making a difference.  I am by no means a pioneer of this generation, but when my roommates gather around  me to watch news clips, subsequently engaging in conversation, I can't help but think that for the first time, maybe, just maybe, the people of this country will make the right choice.

ISO 800, f/2.8, 200mm, 1/320 sec

Seaport World Trade Center, Boston. February 5, 2008

And I believe that it is this generation, the generation that sat through two outrageous presidential elections unable to voice their blatant objections on a ballot, that will change Washington.