Opinion

With Halloween just behind us and the winter holidays fast approaching, I find myself thinking back to when I was a little girl, to the days of pigtails and sleepovers.

I'm not sure what triggered this attack of nostalgia, but it made me realize that I want to spend some time remembering, and even reliving my childhood.

The intention of this column at the outset of the school year was to report and inform regarding events and trends in the world of journalism. Last week was supposed to be a one-time blip on the radar, a brief detour from our regularly scheduled program. Given that Tuesday is Election Day, however (P.S.: Remember to vote), I feel an obligation to use this space for the common good. Vote no on Proposition 8. That's really as simple as the message gets. Voting yes on Prop 8 affirms that bigotry and discrimination have a place in our society at a time when nothing should be further from the truth.

Twenty-three months and $1.5 billion dollars worth of campaigning has come to a head and is about to burst. But rather than urge you to take part in the popping of this political pimple by voting for one candidate or another, I'm going to do the opposite; I'm going to urge you to stay home.

I was sitting at lunch with the applicants for Teach for America when it struck me that I was surrounded by an amazing group of people. I knew that the organization designed to serve the underprivileged children of America by giving them the education they deserve is great, but I had never taken time to think about the individuals involved. These people are good to the core. Not only do they care about closing the achievement gap, but they care about people in general.

1. The wasteful donut

Ever wonder why donut places offer you one free donut with a purchase of a dozen donuts? What additional satisfaction does the customer get with one extra 13th donut? In my local bakery, a dozen donuts cost me $6.00 and a single donut costs 75 cents. The customer's value on the donut decreases with every additional donut.

For an election season that has lasted two years - with candidates firstly and formally entering the race, then campaigning and fundraising, persisting through the primaries, accepting party nominations and now, reaching the final stages of the general election - the experience is presumably a draining one.

There's a measure on your ballot that doesn't require hours of pouring over confusing language or a legal expert to figure out … It's called Measure W.

Clear and straightforward, if you support science, math, English, foreign language, music, social studies, librarians, athletics, debate, journalism, and the teachers who enliven the minds of our next generation, then you support Measure W. The choice is clear.

Proposition 1A: Yes.

This initiative will unite the state, reduce fossil fuel emissions and help take the burden off of California's already notoriously over-crowded highways. Establishing high-speed rail is an unprecedented step forward in finding alternative forms of transportation for Californians. Though this is an expensive bond measure, the end result is well worth the cost.

October's winding down, the leaves are crisping, and school is kicking my ass. It's like a fat, freckled bully shoving a nerd against the wall and stealing his lunch money in third grade. My room is also littered with tissues and cough drop wrappers. I'm told that my raspy transvestite voice is sexy and that I should appreciate it. I do, though I'd rather be through with the hacking up of my lungs. Seriously, kids, do not sit next to me in class.

In a few short days, voters nationwide will be riveted to their television screens watching the ultimate chapter of the presidential race unfold. As polling places begin to close and news outlets read Tarot cards and throw chicken bones to preemptively call a victor, Americans will see their destiny reflected in a pie chart predominated with red and blue. A narrow majority of an assured record turnout will determine in whose hands our future will be entrusted. Hopes will fly high, bets will cross the table and expatriation will surely be threatened in the grand American contest we revere on an even higher plane than the Super Bowl. When the haze clears on Nov. 5, the world will awaken to the reality of a new lot of U.S. figureheads - and all the challenges they represent. By the time my next column is published, the race will have ended, so this week I would like to impart one last treatise before Judgment Day.

My little rant last week nearly cost me the Miss America pageant, so I wanted to get back on the right track this time. Back to world peace, love, holding hands and getting along. One of the first occurrences of "getting along" that I can think of in American history is the original Thanksgiving. The "O.T.," if you will.

For the third time in four years, abortion is back on the California ballot.

Under Proposition 4, physicians would be required to notify the parents of a minor seeking an abortion 48 hours prior to the procedure.

College is a time to mature. A chance to take on additional responsibilities. An opportunity to become independent.

Don't worry if that doesn't sound appealing to you.

Change. We've heard a lot about it lately. Although presidential hopefuls have advocated it since the Republic's founding, this election seems to emphasize it in an unprecedented way. We find ourselves in the midst of raging uncertainty and facing a fork in the road that will take us on two distinct paths; one leading to genuine salvation, and the other to epic ruin.

I've decided to shake things up a bit differently this Halloween. Despite all my judgments and insecurities, I'm determined to go ahead and dress up "provocatively." Alright, who am I kidding, it's just straight up skanky. I still have some reservations about it because one, I feel like I'm selling out to "the Man," and two, my body isn't at its most pristine condition as of now. Let's just say that the corset I bought probably cries little corset-tears because it might as well have been used for gift-wrapping a surfboard.