Wanna Meetup?

Since returning home, I've been far from all my friends from camp and college and I've had a fun time trying to fill in my social calendar. I discovered recently that the opportunities are endless. I discovered this great website called Meetup.com. You can sign up for free and there are an infinite number of groups that you can join in your specific area of the world depending on your interests. Want to meet other singles?, or maybe you prefer to meet other withches or track ghosts in your town. Perhaps your style is a little more refined and you'd rather go to a museum or theatre show. Whatever your taste there's likely to be others in your area to who'd love to revel in a common interest. Can't find a group you like? Just start your own!

The webpage is a bit like Facebook where you can create a profile with a photo for each group to which you belong and people can leave posts on your "shout out" wall. Depending on the group, there are periodic e-mail updates on the schedule of events. When an event is nearing you just RSVP - Yes, No, Maybe, and online you can see who has RSVPd. If you attend the event you're asked to rate it and provide a short comment.

I just think this is an awesome idea. Just last week I went to a Spanish meetup at California Tortilla in Clarendon, VA, not too far from the city. There were over 35 people there and the whole purpose was to just get to know each other and, of course, todo en español. Yesterday I met up with another Spanish group for intermediate/advanced/native speakers to play games on the Washington mall in between the Wash. Monument and the Capitol building. We had name tags and started the meeting by introducing ourselves. Because this is such an international city there were people from all over the states and world. the leader of the group is Argentine and there were people from Bolivia, Peru, Ukraine, Colombia, and obviously the U.S. We had a blast playing frisbee, peppering with the volleyball, and ending with a game of soccer.

What's so great about this type of social activity is that it's not the awkward encounter of meeting up with a friend who introduces you into his or her social circle and you stay the newcomer the whole time. Everyone is the newcomer in these meetup things because that's the whole point - to meet people. And then what glues it all together is that there is instantly something to talk about because the groups exists around a common interests, so obviously everyone can talk on that subject or participate in that activity. So I encourage you all to step out of your normal routine and go have some fun with some new people!

Who can turn down a hug?

On the days that I'm not commuting with my dad to work in DC , I take the metro. At many of the metro stations in the DC area there is a person handing out free Washington Post Expresses. Not all of the news presented in this paper is substantial but at least it promotes the dissemination of information and awareness of current events - and it's FREE! The greatest part about this service, at least at the Rockville station is the man who hands out the papers. He is the cheeriest and most friend paper man I've come across. I'm usually standing on my ride or have other material to read, so each day I have to kindly turn down his offer but he still wishes me "a wonderful day!"

Well about a week ago, I was approaching from a distance and saw a woman walk up to this man, take the paper and they embraced in a huge hug. At first it seemed that they knew each other. But as I got closer I saw not one, but two other people give the paperman a hug. And they didn't stay to chat, but moved on with their days. I saw it happen again a few days later.

Whether these people were strangers to the paperman or not, I was inspired. I finally got up the courage yesterday and as the paperman reached out to hand me a paper I impulsively said, "I don't want a paper but I sure as heck want a hug!" "You betcha!" he said as he pulled me into a great big bear hug and a smooch on the cheek" Alright maybe I could have done with out the smooch, but boy did the spontaneity of that hug feel good!

It reminded me of the Free Hug Campaign started by an Australian man. There's something uniquely touching (no pun intended ;) about connecting with fellow human beings this way. Maybe it's the randomness of it or the fact that there's no qualifications to deserve such a gift either way, it's a good reminder that love can be (no, it is) present, no matter where you are or who you're with.

To be young and voting

There was a good commentary in Christian Science Monitor on May 5th that discusses the surge in young voters (ages 18-29) during the primary election season and it claimed that this will likely have an impact on this year's presidential election. One could also argue that the effect of the youth involvement will take this country in a direction that is drastically different from its present state - hopefully for the better. And it's a good thing to consider because change is the key word of this season. Tradition is not the bandwagon people want to jump on. And the candidates are noting this desire for change, for a fresh new approach to leadership and politics.

This article reminds me of a conversation my dad and I had about the differences between generations when it comes to political involvement and how that involvement impacts the direction of the country. He thought it was great that so many young people are excited and involved in the political scene but he also made an interesting point about the expectations of Generation X and the Millenials. Barack Obama has been very successful in tapping into the younger generation through the internet and inspirational speeches and empowering them by involving them in the process - Yes we can do this for America, instead of Yes I can do this for America. However, he said, because this generation was raised with so much technology and with the expectations of instant gratification, there is the chance that we will give up to quickly and not put in the hard work necessary to see real change come about. If the expectation is to have a political revolution and alter bureaucratic habits in just one election, then we are going to be very disappointed. We have the excitement but can we sustain it? This nation is 232 years old and we're just now having the opportunity to have a female or black president? My dad's point is that change takes a very long time and patience, something that is very rare these days, is going to be the key trait the young generation will need to develop and really see change come about.

Good point

What would you do with $3 trillion?