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2 . 2 5 . 0 3 Have an econometrics midterm tomorrow, need to review a bit more for the evening before I'll feel ready for it. Seem to have been lagging in the school department lately, lots of distractions and what not. Plus world events just keep getting more and more interesting as the days go by. Otherwise keeping pretty busy. broke open that bottle of awamori last night I think it helped my studying a bit. at least psychologically anyway. Saw RENT this past weekend at the civic center, it wasn't quite as impressive as the first time I saw it, partly due to the fact that I had seen it totally new. However I think the caliber of the performers was a lot better about 3 years ago. Many of them seemed more focused on getting their choreography down pat instead of the music. the band seemed a little off too. It got cold again. One thing about this towne that I don't really like is the below freezing temperatures and frigid windchills. Especially when you're walking home late at night. Jess is visiting Madison in March for spring break, hopefully It'll warm up a little by then. 2 . 1 9 . 0 3 Pretty eventful weekend, went to the HASA dance on saturday, got to see Pheng, Kuo, Tsai, Juanita, Vue, and a bunch of other people whose names I probably can't spell correctly. went to a house party after and denny's. been going there quite a bit lately. Also went up to Wausau on Friday, the first of many field visits we have scheduled tentatively for PA 958. It is a different feeling to actually get out and interat with members in the community and at least try to work on actualy policy issues as opposed to studying them in theory exclusively. Took some neat pictures on the way, along with a bag of Milk (i'll explain more later). Watched the "Warrior and the Princess", and part of the "Burmese Harp". Khamphian and Hanako's recommendations respectively. Also saw "Chicago" at the Orpheum, it was pretty good, not bad but not Oscar caliber either. I was surprised how good Zelweger can sing, not to mention Richard Gere. Still working on the AASP site, got some pictures up from around campus, need to hunt down the faculty for biographies and what not. I'm supposed to start tutoring next week pretty soon, need to contact the students who are interested and set up a time. busy busy. hopefully I'll be able to find some time to Study. Meanwhile Kina san is busy. 2 . 1 1 . 0 3 Lots of snow on the ground and in the air, apparently its colder in Madison and the greater midwest than Alaska this time of year. And meanwhile theres more terror stuff going on. Wondering when the second war of my lifetime is going to be starting, if at all. Some people are thinking that this saber-rattling is a bluff, but honestly I don't think so. Still looking for fellowships for next year, that and my summer plans while I'm at it. Lots of opportunities in so many places, thinking that I should probably narrow down the options a bit for sanity sake. Plugging away at the studies, need to get cracking on some of it. Heading up to Wausau this weekend, make some contacts with health agencies in the community. Researching on the side on open record's policies in other states, there is a ton of information out there. Speaking of information overload - I think it is more true than not, probably the big challenge of the generation will be sifting and winnowing through the wheat and chaff of media coverage. Actually in this day and age it probably doesn't hurt to keep a skeptical eye on everything. Meanwhile more drama on the homefront, nothing all that new really. Will have to see how the cards lay out. 2 . 5 . 0 3 First week of Feb and its getting pretty busy. school that is. Met with the Legislative Council earlier this week, pretty impressive office building next to the capital. Will be researching open records policy for electronic use. Lots of topics come to mind, sex offender registration, correction and law enforcement personal information, social security numbers, identity theft, and of course the public nature of email and internet website postings. Found an interesting book on Brazilian Nikkei-jin repatriating to Japan. Kind of a cultural hodgepodge of misconceptions, integrations of culture, discriminiation - not unlike two distant cousins staring at each other in bewildermnet. Obviously I can relate in more ways than one. The author also mentions the Hawaiian Nikkei quite often, especially when it comes to food and affirmations of affection between people. Thinking about going to a lecture on Wartime propaganda and Japan, in some sense I see parallels being drawn with the current war drumming. obviously not in the same degree, but we'll see how history works things out. Ny visit to Yasukuni-jinza is still in my mind. My readings for class are interesting, but I'm beginning to think that my deep passion is in international and cross-cultural affairs as opposed to purely domestic policy. need to brush up my language proficiency. Watched "Battle Royale", it was pretty sick and entertaining. 2 . 2 . 0 3 Classes are going well, I'm meeting with my group at the Capitol tomorrow morning with the Legislative Council. We'll be getting more details on our assignment, and start researching. I'm meeting later today with my Health Policy group, probably be planning a trip up to Wausau later this week or next weekend. Econometrics is proving to be a slow start, I'll have to find focus and grind out the reading. Also looking into internships for the Summer. I already applied to the GAO, adding in OMB, CBO, DOD, DOJ, NICJ, and my home Senators pretty soon. Otherwise theres always coming back to work for Public Safety. Or maybe going to Okinawa or Hokkaido for a language study program. will see. Guess I was quoted in the Wisconsin State Journal in response of the State of the Union a couple days ago. Well actually I was a little mis-quoted, but she got the gist of what I was trying to say. Wondering what is in store for the next couple weeks and months. The Space shuttle Columbia went down over Texas yesterday morning, it brought back memories of the Challenger explosion. Another national tragedy to mourn. On a lighter note, I saw some pretty decent movies, Punch-Drunk Love at the Union, with Adam Sandler finally finding a good role for his one-character. Hawaii and the Royal Hawaiian had a cameo in the movie, however brief. They had a shot from the Honolulu Festival as well, I think I was not too far away from where they filmed it. Neat seeing home on a big screen. Also saw "Branded to Kill", the prequel to "Pistol Opera", need to rent it again, it was pretty weird and entertaining. Still waiting to get Battle Royale. |