Fun in the Sun

My friends and I got out last weekend for some fresh air and leisurely exercise. We went hiking, something that I have not done since my Girl Scout Camp days (as a staff member, not a camper). We hiked the Holy Jim Falls Trail in the Cleveland National Forest. It was a bumpy ride out to the trail head, but we survived. Our hike was nice and leisurely, littered with many breaks to appreciate nature and snap photos. It felt really good to take a break from the daily grind and escape Orange County for the day.

Winter Quarter Halftime

We are halfway through the winter quarter now. Here's the latest update:

Classes are going well, and I think I'm finally starting to understand statistics. My students have an exam on Friday, so I'll be busy grading essays next week. In some exciting news, I finally bought a laptop. You can't really see this in the picture, but it is indeed pink. I have been busy writing, and my new computer makes it all the more enjoyable. Now I have no reason not to get my work done.

I also finished crocheting a tote bag. It turned out quite nicely, if I say so myself.

Of course, I've been baking- lots. Tonight I made Red Velvet Cupcakes. I ran out of red food coloring, so they're not super red. I did a taste test, and they're not too bad.

Happy Super Duper Tuesday!

Election 2008 is well underway. Since I am a total political science geek, I have to talk about it, right? This week's discussion sections in my Intro to US Government class was devoted to the nomination system and the electoral college. So, let's start from Square 1: The nomination process is how we will get McCain (hey, I think he's sealed the deal) vs either Obama or Clinton on the ballot this November. It is how we got Bush vs. Kerry in 2004, Bush vs. Gore in 2000, Clinton vs. Dole in 1996, well, you get the general idea. Now, each state has a primary or a caucus. They get to decide which one to have, so each is different. Simply put, a primary is an election and a caucus is a meeting.

Iowa and New Hampshire kick off the nomination circus. Why IA and NH? Well, it all started in 1972 and now it's tradition. There is no good reason. They garner a lot of candidate and media attention, which doesn't seem quite fair now considering how small they are, right? They set the agenda and narrow the presidential playing field. If you have a poor showing in these states, well, you can kiss the presidency good bye. Just ask Giuliani. As we move through the nomination process, candidates start to drop out like flies. This means that the states with primaries or caucuses early in the process get media attention and candidate attention. They have more clout and will start to narrow the playing field. Because of this, we see something called frontloading, which is when states move their primary or caucus to the front of this whole process. When you go early, you get choices because candidates have not yet thrown in the towel.

In my discussion section, the students consider the pros and cons of this system. It's a long process, and candidates need a lot of money to stay in the race. Also, aren't McCain, Obama, and Clinton neglecting their Senate duties?

I organized a department Happy Hour for the faculty and grad students to watch the election returns on Super Tuesday. It was our version of the Super Bowl. Attendance was great, and the evening was a success.