STOUTESTboasts

Quicktime

The lunar eclipse from Griffith Observatory on February 20th, 2008.

6:51 a.m. - Got up early and went to the gym

11:29 a.m. - Walking up the hill to the Observatory.

1:57 p.m. - The Periodic Table display. There are samples of every element. Well, every element that is safe and stable.

2:17 p.m. - The creepy, vacant eyes of the James Dean monument freak me out sometimes.

3:34 p.m. - In the Depths of Space. Today I ended up talking less about science and more of just “Please don’t jump on the scales.” “Don’t tap on the glass.” “Slow down, please.” The depths was crazy with kids today.

6:13 p.m. - Sunset. I’m quite surprised at my abilities as a human tripod in this and the next few photos. I was playing with the exposure settings and had to hold pretty steady.

6:16 p.m. - Again with the human tripod-ness. I actually got a picture of stars. The one on the top left is Betelgeuse, Orion’s right shoulder.

6:26 p.m. - This view. Still hasn’t gotten old.

8:25 p.m. - This was posted at the desk downstairs. I don’t know, if I found this rabbit, I would have to think twice about not keeping it for myself. It’s just about the coolest stuffed animal I’ve ever seen.

9:08 p.m. - The motor that very slowly drives the telescope, allowing it to track objects in the sky.

9:56 p.m. - The 12″ Zeiss refracting telescope, which has lived in the east dome of Griffith Observatory for over 70 years. Original cost: $14, 900 in the early 1930’s. And incidentally, the most looked-through telescope in the world. Over 7 million people have looked through it.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not usually terribly political on my blog or in my life. But the current race, and in particular the Obama campaign, has inspired me to follow politics more closely. I even made a donation to the Obama campaign, something I have never before done in the 13 years I’ve been a voting American.

So you’ll forgive me if I’m just learning some of the nuances of party nomination politics.

I’ve just learned about superdelegates.

I’ve heard the word tossed around here and there over the past few weeks. Superdelegates. I just looked it up. I actually, physically felt disappointment. This wonderful democratic system doesn’t seem quite so democratic anymore. Sure, maybe I don’t totally understand the system. In fact, I’m sure I don’t totally understand the system. But I have to wonder how democratic it is that 796 individuals get a larger voice in the Democratic nomination than I do. That’s 796 superdelegates out of 4,049 delegates total. Nearly a fifth. That’s enough to swing a vote. I don’t care if they’re party leaders or if they’re sleeping with a Kennedy, nobody should have any more say than anyone else.

I’m deeply disappointed. Am I missing something? What is the advantage? Is it because we, the uneducated Philistines, may make the wrong decision and need these 796 enlightened individuals to help us?

Someone explain this to me.

Seriously. I want to know why this makes sense.