A number of mid-level Democratic operatives--the kind who could expect a good job in any Democratic administration--told me they didn't believe [Hillary Clinton] could win a general election, especially against a popular Republican like McCain. But at the same time, they did not entertain the possibility of working for another Democratic candidate. "It's simple, really," one of them explained to me. "Bill Clinton made my career--I wouldn't be who I am, in the job I'm in, if he hadn't made me. There's no way I could ever work against Hillary." He was conflicted about this, as are many others. It sounded as though he and his colleagues would rather cede the race than work against Bill Clinton's wife.On personal fronts, today has largely been taken up by a self-declared SLURP (Squalid Lifestyle Urgent Reduction Program). I did have a surprisingly strong run of my Standard Shorter Loop, as Sal e-mailed to taunt whether I would be ready for our half marathon in Tulsa the weekend before Thanksgiving.
One thing I learned from my recent trip to Penn State was that, like the University of Wisconsin, the university makes ice cream that is highly regarded by locals. I had a scoop of the Penn State vanilla--the accepted apples-to-apples comparator in the ice cream domain--and Penn State's was better, although it was better by tasting more like custard than ice cream, so maybe they are playing fast-and-loose with food labeling. (N.B.: One friend who has spent time in both places thinks that Madison's ice cream is better, although I think her reasons focused on Madison doing more and more unrestrained flavors.) Anyway, I mention this here because that scoop of Penn State ice cream is the last ice cream I am having between now and the Tulsa run. I am thinking of writing a $1000 check to the Republican National Committee, to be sent off by a conservative friend should I break this vow.
* I'm not linking to the story because I read it in, whatchamacallit, print, and I don't know if it is available online (and am too lazy to look). As reading things online continues to claim an increasing share of my recreational reading, I'm down to only two print magazine subscriptions, the other one being The New Yorker. Oh, and Contexts.
8 comments:
It's one thing that you bother subscribing to Contexts, but to actually admit to it? Yikes!
I am impressed, however, to note that you wouldn't send the check off with your name on it. So how many conservative friends do you have who'd be up for this task?
Contexts? So you're the one.
Madison's has gelatin in it. Does Penn State's?
When I visited Penn State, they practically forced their ice cream down my throat. They would not stop talking about it.
I have tasted both kinds of ice cream many times, and Penn State's is definitely better, in my opinion.
I would like to be one of the few Penn Staters to admit that Creamery ice cream is not that good. Of course, my opinion may have something to do with the fact that my Penn State experience was limited to graduate school training and thus I may not have been indoctrinated fully to the “We are…Penn State!” world view. Although I have never had the pleasure to sample Madison's milk-based confections, my vote for the best ice cream goes to Cornell (where, incidentally, I was indoctrinated).
I am proud subscriber to Contexts and supportive of its general mission. I think the people who have run it have done a good job in difficult circumstances. I think if they come up with a model for being able to get appropriate compensation from students who use Contexts articles in their undergrad classes, the financial picture will improve.
I have no idea what the ingredients in Penn State's ice cream were, other than that it was suspiciously custardy but very good. Last anon, you should try the Madison ice cream if you ever come to town, as it's very good also without seeming like it's cheating toward custard.
As a Pennsylvania native, but 6-year Madison resident, I'm going to have to go with Madison on the ice cream thing. I have never, however, done the vanilla-vanilla comparison, so my opinion might be somewhat skewed.
Post a Comment