  * thunk*  * buries her face in the squooshy leather couch out in the forum*  So,  Jen pulled yet *
another*  all- nighter trying to get the story she wanted to do in a format that somewhat approached her desires. nbsp;  I know - I know -
 I am capable of producing emotionally effective prose,  of handling the topic I've ( finally)  chosen with grace. nbsp;  But goddamn it,
 at five this morning,  that just * wasn't*  happening.  Why five in the morning?  Mmn,
 well,  let's see.  Yesterday after getting out of seminar,  I had approximately two hours before the mandatory volleyball court cleanup.  We pulled a few tons of weeds out of the court ( incidentally,
 it's a very nice court,  a combination of clay and sand,  but it needs far more maintenance than one group of rowdy teens can provide) nbsp;  The court cleanup ended at about four;  I stayed out with most of the rest of the group to play some volleyball.
 Our team dominated ( 20- 10,  thank you very much,  and I served eight of those points)  and the game ended about four.
 Lots and lots and lots of fun.  Thereafter,  of course,  I had to go upstairs and peel out of my incredibly messy clothes,  and shower to remove copious amounts of dirt from my hair.  I can't really account for the next couple of hours.
 We had dinner (  I thought it was good:  I wish people here would stop complaining about the food.  It could be worse.  We could have hamburger helper for dinner every night,  the way I do at-
 never mind.  * angelic grin*  Anyway,  so besides eating,  Jen did copious amounts of napping,
 as well ( I'm thinking about& nbsp;  stealing one of the couches from the forum when I leave.  I'll give up all my clothes,  all my bedding,
 everything.  All I want from life is that couch.  .  . nbsp;  and bestirred myself about eight to go try to work on my story.
nbsp;  I finally hit on a concept ( which I'll relate later)  but didn't have time to develop it;  at nine we dashed out the door and hiked down to the Ithaca Commons ( it's a bit like Lawrence's downtown)
 to see Farenheit 9/ 11.  On that subject-  I wish,  in a way,  that I'd gone to see it on my own.
nbsp;  I have a tendency to echo others' opinions& nbsp; of art when I'm not sure about my own views,  but I think that after twenty four hours,  I've pretty much settled my opinion-
 which agrees on many points with the views expressed by the rest of TASP.  9/ 11 is * not*  a movie that will change anybody's views.  If anything,
 it only polarizes the two sides more. nbsp;  That's not particularly surprising,  or necessarily a bad thing.  ( Though I think it only makes any kind of political progress even *
more*  unlikely - which is also not necessarily& nbsp; a bad thing.  But what bothered me about the movie,
 what continues to bother me about it,  even a day later,  is the manipulation inherent in Moore's approach to his subjects. nbsp;  I understand the value of seeking out a family whose child was killed in Iraq,  to have them speak on their feelings,
 on their experiences. nbsp;  But Moore overplays it. nbsp;  Regardless of whether the family feels Bush is responsible,  having them read a letter in which their son denounces Bush,
 from his post in Iraq-  forcing them to relive that,  and then using their grief to put& nbsp; Moore himself in the inassailable position of " defender of the griefstricken and member of the moral right"
 gets my hackles up. nbsp;  There& nbsp; are other issues in the movie I didn't like.  Moore is a good investigative reporter,
 but he overestimates the importance of his& nbsp; own& nbsp; discoveries.  His neat connect the dots,
 at the beginning of the movie,  portrays Bush as part& nbsp; of a huge& nbsp; fiscal and political conspiracy dedicated to devouring the oil reserves of the middle&
nbsp; east, nbsp; and while I think that's almost certainly Bush's goal,  Moore overplays these connections,  too.
nbsp;  Perhaps I'm just a political cynic,  but it doesn't surprise me at all that Bush's cronies and financial partners are deeply woven into the fabric of his war effort. nbsp;  To be honest,  wealth and family connections are *
necessary*  in politics.  I'm almost glad Bush has them:  they undoubtably oil& nbsp; America's already&
nbsp; rusty political machinery.  Don't get me wrong,  I don't admire that kind of political manuevering on a moral level.  But it's necessary,  and on that basis,
 I consider it something desirable in a leader.  There is a place for scruples,  and that's * not*  politics.  And Moore's sanctimonious,
 pedantic attitude about his revelations makes me wonder if he thinks the Democratic party any better-  I rather doubt it.  So the movie ended ( the popcorn,  at least,  was really good)
 and I got back,  and got to work. nbsp;  But as exhausted as I've been,  I didn't get anything productive accomplished-  I know my idea is so good,
 but goddamn,  couldn't write * anything*  worthwhile to go with it.  Well,  I've got time,
 now. nbsp;  And I'm going to go get some sleep. nbsp;  Talk at y'all later!  Jen 
