Bridge and Tunnel

Yes. I am B & T. What is this you ask? During one of our many Woodrow Wilson get togethers in Princeton, NJ I discover yet another label people have for us. This time the labelers are New Yorkers.

Bridge and Tunnel--the name of those who travel through bridge or tunnel to get into the city. I will be making my way up to New York now and again and this is what they will call me. I am proud!

I walk into Graduate Sign In today and picked up the sheet of paper under the sign "For Pennsylvania Residents Only." Of course, that's me!

Well, apparently not. I am a New Jersey resident.

Sick.

Welcome to Princeton

As friends travel the world doing good deeds, I will spend two years in Princeton, NJ. Culture shock is an understatement. This is the land of excess. I quote an administrator in my department--there is no free lunch in life, but there are lots in Princeton! Literally, my department just throws food at us.

Only pictures will tell the story of Hogwarts:



This is my dorm, where the Graduate College throws free happy hours on Thursdays and Fridays to keep the phD kids sane and social. I am cinderella or quaisimodo--depending on how you look at the situation. I live in a small tower. I must climb a small winding staircase to my room and I'm told I live next to the organ. On Sundays, students play the bells in a nearby tower. Why? I'm not quite sure. But listening to Lauryn Hill while the bells are playing is a bit surreal.


Sadly, I am subjected to the life of an undergrad at Hogwarts. Welcome to the dining hall:




Robertson Hall:



This is my home away from home. Our "math camp" classes are here (don't get me started on this). This is the most unique building on campus--it's lost among the campus attempt at Cambridge.

While the physical surroundings reek of elitism and beauty, the student body in my program is amazing. I am inspired by their stories and commitment to service and the public sector. I also found people to practice my Japanese and Portuguese.

English as the Official Language

Somewhere along the way, English became the official language of the United States. According to the Senate that is.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article548909.ece

While this issue has been on the national back burner for years (other than that one West Wing episode where Josh and Joey Lucas go at it on the language of Shakespeare), how did it just slip between all the news stories? Inofe's amendment is a product of fear and contempt. No one is afraid of the multiple languages. People are afraid of Spanish and punish those who are speaking it.

Spanish At School Translates to Suspension:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/08/AR2005120802122.html

Don't lie Senators, admit that you're afraid of Latinos living our lives as we normally do--in Spanish.

Granted, it's is official documents. Critics will say--it's only the government forms and "official business." This is just symbolic.

Yes, these are just official forms and every law is laced with symbolism. This time, the symbolism is loud and clear.

Why the Republicans shouldn't support the amendment:
1) 47 million Spanish speakers. Yesterday we were smacked in the face. If Latinos find a way to organize, we're not voting for you the next time. (But I never voted for you anyways.)

Why I never want to be a Hill Staffer

Wonkette has a nice tidbit on the salaries of Hill Staffers (or i.e. incestual 20 year olds in suits). According to the Anonymous Hill Staffer, House staff get paid a lot more than Senate staffers. But the key "learning" (can we really call it learning because I'm sure those outside of the beltway knew...) is that the Hill salary infrastructure will always be kind to those with money coming into the game.

"It might surprise most people, but House staffers make a shit load more than Senate staffers. A Senate Staff Assistant makes between 18k and 25k a year, which a House Staff Ass usually makes from 25k to 32k or so. Which makes you think…what young professional is getting by on $18,000 a year in Washington D.C.? Do you realize that’s only fifteen hundred bucks a month? And now if you are like me, you’re asking yourself “who the fuck can live in Washington D.C. on $1,500 a month?” And you’re in luck, because I can answer that question.

The only people who can live on $1,500 a month in Washington D.C. are either on food stamps or recent college graduates with huge allowances from their parents. I’ll let you figure out which one is working on the Hill (Hint! They don’t shop places where food stamps are accepted). Those staffers who don’t have a healthy allowance usually turn to drugs (think of the guy selling pot and listening to Dave Matthews down the hall from you in college) or prostitution of some kind or another (butt sex for money and so on). Same concept applies with Legislative Assistants…an LA in the Senate—who has to have some kind of advanced degree, keep in mind—makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 30k to 40k a year. In the House, that salary is anywhere from 40k to 55k WITHOUT GRAD SCHOOL."

"So, again, ask yourself “what kind of Harvard Law grad is going into a job where they only make $40k a year?” Well, either the kind that sucks too much to get a real lawyering job or one that doesn’t have any obvious need for income. And, if you want to extrapolate a real-life civics lesson here, you can probably figure out a big part of the reason why Congress (both D’s and R’s) is so out of touch with regular old Americans. Thousands of Senate staffers are playing government (and oddly enough making major policy decisions) while their parents subsidize their living. So while constituents grapple with the realities of the new economy, these staffers can continue driving their Audis and shopping at Whole Foods. Look at me, I’m in public service! I’ll refrain from pointing out the obvious irony of my current employment situation. Wait, I think I just did."

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/ask-a-hill-staffer/ask-a-hill-staffer-mind-on-his-money-money-on-his-mind-168293.php

A Day in the Life

After getting in at 3:30 am, I couldn't sleep. Let's just say there is more work for our presentation about mortgage foreclosures!


I read the news for the first time...in a long time.

In 1st Major Shift of 2nd Term, Bush Looks to Inner Circle

Oh yes. And I recieved this over e-mail. This make me embarrased about my alma mater.




Brains over beauty
PHOTO: Meghan White
Rocco Panella and Sucharita Mukherjee were crowned Mr. and Ms. Schreyer Honors College on Sunday night.

What is going on.

----

After today, I will be free! Almost!

This is the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs.

Remember me? I do this thing called the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs.

1) We take notes of things that don't make sense...






2) We also have funny dance moves and wear short ties.











AND we dress up in Newsie costumes for the non profit community.