I can’t figure out if this placard is pro- or anti-Obama. I hope it doesn’t mean that Palin has half a penis because, um, ew.

***

So, the debate.

Disclosure: (me am vote for Obama.)

I think Biden did well, but aside from fumbling her first answer, Palin really shone. Of course, it’s not like the bar for her was very high, especially after her earlier appearances. Still, being able to form coherent sentences in English was a marked improvement, and I thought she found that most important quality of hers: her voice. I don’t think it’s going to win her many people over who weren’t already leaning towards McCain, but she’ll stop being quite as much of an embarresment as she has been the last few weeks. For me, the most powerful moment of the debate was when Biden choked up talking about how he knows what it’s like to have a child who you don’t know will make it or not. I think folks leaning for Obama will claim Biden the winner, people for McCain will claim Palin. Personally, I think the momentum Obama’s campaign has built over the last several months, topped with the excesses of the last eight years of Bush/Cheney, have pretty much rendered this debate pointless. The best McCain & Co. can hope for is to win a few battles: they’ve lost the war.

Point of note: yes, I was drinking during the debate. And, yes, I was drinking alcohol. I really wish I’d thought to have a “Debate Drinking Game”: “Take a drink whenever Palin says ‘maverick.’ Take two if Biden says it.” Hah!

UPDATE:

I like reading, after the fact, the live-blogging by Hal at RTftLC. Best: “9:26: No, no no. NOT THE KITCHEN TABLE AGAIN! From now on, my wife and I are talking about our financial situation around the toilet. Or, maybe after this debate, a bong.”

In a sense, this was a very scary trip for me. That may sound silly, but I’m still adjusting myself to 100% use of public transportation: and this involved a familiar station, at an unfamiliar time of day, on an unfamiliar bus, on an unfamiliar route, into an unfamiliar part of the city. And I’m one of those people who, if you tell to relax, can’t do it. I wish I had a relax switch, but I don’t. I’m either relaxed, or I’m not. And new experiences tend to make me very much not relaxed. In any case …

I did everything right: I got off the K-Street exit, got on the DC Circulator — I thought I could pay with my Smartrip, couldn’t, but the driver, bless her, recognizing my bewilderment (or maybe just feeling really really sorry for my dumb white ass), let me on without paying — and monitored my location as best as I could, getting off the bus about two blocks north of M Street. I didn’t mind the walk: this was my first time to Georgetown since I moved to DC, and I really enjoyed having the streets mostly to myself. Plus, the day was crisp and cool and even though I didn’t have a coat, I could’ve stayed out all day.

I had a little trouble finding an open entrance to the mall the DMV is located in, and I was dismayed to find a rather long line, but I stuck it out — and after twenty minutes, realized I’d forgotten to bring my lease, and, not having my lease, and thus being able to prove that I’ve been a resident of the District for the last three and a half months (Johnny-on-the-prompt, I’m not), there was really no point in waiting in line longer just to be told to come back later.

I think a guy ahead of me had the same problem: he started saying “Fuck you Fuck you” as he made his way away from the desk. I’ve worked in the service industry long enough to know that such reactions don’t make things go smoother: you say “Fuck you”, and I’m determined not to help you. You say, “Oh, wow, I didn’t realize”, or, “I can’t believe I forgot!” or “how fucking dumb am I?” and I’m much more willing to help. I mean, I know the DMV isn’t a retail shop, but I can’t see anyone going out of their way to helping this guy in the future.

Right, so: not having my lease, I think I’m going to back first thing Saturday morning. I caught a Circulator back to Farragut North, and the Metro to work. I really like the Circulator busses I was on, especially compared with Mongtomery County’s RideOn shuttles, which is what I’m usually on. They were clean, with a gorgeous interior you might expect to see on a starship: dark gray floors and bulkheads, red trim, hand-holds and assorted buttons and flashing lights. I did, in fact, pay for the trip back to Golden Triangle.

Pretty much sums up my feelings on the book.

HT: David Raynes

Having procrastinated and procrastinated, I finally made the decision that I would get to the DMV today. Admittedly, part of the procrastination was making sure I had all the necessary documents to transfer my Maryland driver’s license to DC in one-go without having to wait in line only to be told to “come back later.”

I have to admit, scanning DC’s DMV site, I was surprised that I couldn’t get a license from their location near Judiciary Square, which is far more convenient than taking the Metro down to Golden Triangle and catching a bus or walking west to Georgetown.

In any case, I believe I have all the requisite documentation, and cash in my wallet, and hopefully, I’ll arrive early enough that there won’t be a line … or that it will be a negligible one. I’m sure my next post will be a horror story of some sort.

DC Blogs wonders “whatever [a Malnurtured Snay] is” while linking to yesterday’s post, so for those who are new to this blog, there’s a helpful little primer: the background of the name, and the background of me.