I've had much less time to read about current events at school than I did over the summer, and it shows.

Anyway, President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. Though the Nobel Committee cited his establishment of a "new international climate" as the main reason for their choice, it seems that the award was given more out of the Committee's expectations for the President rather than what he's actually accomplished--and that just smacks in the face of all of the journalists, politicians, relief organization staff, and activists who have provided more concrete support for the peace effort. (I know, I know this is similar to the Republican complaints against the President's accomplishment, and that the Committee must surely have had good reason for their choice, and that I don't know enough about international politics to make any worthwhile comment.) Thorbjorn Jagland's comments on the decision certainly reflect the idea that they're waiting for President Obama to accomplish great things, and that the prestige of this award will contribute to that.

As a more worthwhile contribution from me, here are two articles about remarkable people who have striven for peace: an essay about U.N.H.C.R. officials in Chad, published early this year, and a shorter piece about Ko Ko Gyi and Min Ko Naing, the leaders of 88 Generation Students in Burma.

( And now, for that TRC review I've been planning on writing... )

( ...with a note about Kobato. )

My stomach has been churning almost all day today.

( My left ear has been deafened... )

( ...my right hand has been shamed... )

( ...and I seem to be inexplicably drawn to movie soundtracks. )

Only eight more to go! Trying to complete these while staying on top of school turned out to be more difficult than I thought.

( We look up the hill of dreams,/ The crest is in sight! )