Omens

I've never been one for superstitions, but sometimes I have to wonder. Today I move out of Connecticut and back into Manhattan. Last night I packed my things, and after work today I start moving. This morning, I woke to a torrential downpour--not exactly good weather for moving. Yet, the forecast for today says it'll be sunny and 50 degrees by the time I go outside again. They say rain on moving days (and wedding days, and....) is good luck, but how nice it is to have the good luck and nice weather!

Furthering the theme, this morning was my last commute into the city on the train. And as if to say, "it's time for you to not ride the train from Connecticut anymore," my train caught fire halfway in. It wasn't a big deal, one of the heaters started sparking (probably from the rain) and there was smoke. Still, they evacuated the car, and almost evacuated the whole train.

But wait, there's more. One of my dearest friends is around this week visiting. I've been trying to convince him to move here, but of course needs a job to support it. Quite suddenly, someone in my office quit yesterday and we have a whole to fill. With a few words to my boss, my friend has an interview today.

I'm sure it's all coincidence, but at the same time, I can't help but feel that New York is welcoming me back.

Never Better

Despite the rather morose tone of the last two posts, I have to say, things have never been better.

I love my job. It's not astrophysics, but it's fun and challenging and new. I work with some great people, I get to battle through problems that no one has ever solved before, and at the end of the day, I can point to something that millions of people look at and say, "look what I did."

On Monday I sign the lease on a new apartment in NYC. I don't move in until March 1st, but once I sign, the deal is done. I am very excited. It's a two bedroom that I'm sharing with a very nice roommate. It's down in the Financial District, which is a very up-and-coming area. The building itself is 100 years old, and at twenty-two stories, was considered one of the first skyscrapers in the world. It's lobby is all marble and terra cotta, it has a twenty-four hour doorman, valet services, and its own gym. My apartment itself has a dishwasher and its own washer and dryer--something almost unheard of in New York apartments. (Well, affordable New York apartments, at least.) I cannot wait.

I've had some great visitors. A dear friend from Michigan came out, and will be coming out again soon. My mom is in town for this weekend, too.

My girlfriend's recital for her Master of Music degree is tonight, and there are lots of friends and family around for it. I'm super excited, and while I know she's nervous, I know that she'll be great.

Things are, on the whole, good.

Leftover Confetti

One million people rang in the New Year just a block away from the building in which I work. One million people stood in an intersection, screamed numbers, kissed strangers, and loudly sang a song to which they hardly knew the lyrics. Months were spent building and testing a ridiculously expensive sphere just so it could have thirty seconds of that oh-so-famous downward motion. Seven thousand pounds of confetti poured onto those one million people, washing away old resolutions and cleansing them of a year grown old.

And then it was gone. A new morning on a new year brought not more than a team of sanitation workers to that intersection. The usual river of yellow taxis, the crowded sidewalks of tourists and tour guides, they all took their place as if nothing happened. All the noisemakers, all the hats, all the champagne bottles, all the hopes and dreams of a million people, the billions little bits of confetti paper that showered them, gone.

Or perhaps not all. As I sit in my office building high above Sixth Avenue, staring blankly out the window and pondering the intricasies of where to go for lunch, a little bit of brightly colored paper wafts by. And another. And another. Little ripped pieces of revelry and celebration ride the never-ending air currents that ebb and flow through skyscraper canyons. One brash little blue number swoops wildly and drunkenly kisses my window. You're a little late, I say to myself pretending it can hear, the party's over. No, I fancy it replies, it's not over until someone forgets about me. Until I hit the ground and some city employee throws me away. How long do you think I can last before I fall to the street?

The whole year, I hope.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas, If Only In My Dreams"

This will be the first Christmas in all my years that won't be spend with my family.

I've got a wonderful new job, and I'm really enjoying it (more details to come later), but it means I don't get much time off for the holidays. We had a half-day on Friday, and we get Christmas day off--but it's back to work on Tuesday morning. The same goes for the New Year, though I've asked for all of that Friday off. I need the money, it's the right choice. But still, it just won't be the same without Christmas eve and morning with my mom. It won't be the same without the big dinner with all the Soave's. It won't be the same without our crazy gift-giving game that no one can ever remember the rules of.

It won't be the same without my family.

I am, however, blessed with a warm welcome to the Christmas of my girlfriend's family. They're traditions are different, but their hearts are the same.

I feel both sad and happy at the same time.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to.....Work?

First day on the new job; you want to make a good impression, you want to show up a little early, you want to prove to your new colleagues and coworkers that you're the right person and deserve to be there....

....you want to do something.

I arrived at the building a good twenty minutes early--my first mistake. Getting up to the offices, there was no one around to let me in. (Little did I know, there's a receptionist on the floor below me who could have let me in.) So, I wandered around a bit, and conveniently ran into my new boss on her way in. She showed me my new desk (which is unfortunately temporary, as it's right by a window), gave me a paper describing how to setup my computer, and asked me to wait until another person came in to actually show me what to do. Well, the computer took a few seconds, and I've read all the papers that happened to be sitting on my desk (no idea if they're meant for me). Since then, I've just been waiting. Over an hour.

I met the guy who's desk is next to mine, he seems very nice. A few other folks have given me curious glances, but mostly the office is still pretty empty. It's 10:20am!

Maybe this isn't far off from grad school after all....

And Now For Something Completely Different

Yesterday did not start well. I slept in a little, and cut myself shaving, and couldn't find any hot water for a shower, and the glass was half empty, and cracked, and I cut my lip on it, and chipped a tooth.

However, once I was awake and moving, I had to get into the city for an interview with Conde Nast. Now, I know what you're thinking; "Conde Nast? The magazine publisher?" Yes, the very same. I was offered a position as a producer of the websites that accompany the magazines! I've been fiddling with websites for years, but never really considered it a career. Even in this job, though, I won't be coding much (there's a whole design team for that), but I'll be producing. What this means is a little unclear to me at the moment, but I think it mainly involves checking everything over to make sure it'll look right on the screen, clearing everything with the magazine, and finally taking the website live for the world to see.

Not something I ever would have thought I'd be doing. But, I do enjoy playing with websites, and getting paid for it hardly seems a burden! I'm starting as a temporary hire, until I can learn their system and gain some experience. With some hard work, I'll be able to step into a permanent position in a few months.

And all of this is because I sped across the country to meet my aunt for drinks. Go figure.

It'll take some time for all the paper shuffling to occur, but hopefully I'll be starting next week!

Oh, and I still haven't heard back from that other company. It's been almost a week. If they offer me more, I'll probably still go with them. But at this rate, I don't know if I'll ever heard back from them....

I Got a Job!!!

Details forthcoming....

The Suspense is Killing Me

I haven't heard back from that company yet, which makes me think it won't be today. They did say early this week. Well, tomorrow is mid-week, and I'm going crazy waiting. I really like these guys, and if they offer, I think I'll take it.

In other news, I have an interview tomorrow with a publishing corporation, and another on Friday. The one tomorrow isn't exactly for a permanent position, but it'll at least be money in the bank as I keep searching.

Anyone know any ways to retain sanity whilst waiting for a potentially life-changing event to occur any moment?

Holding My Breath

The second interview yesterday went wonderfully. I spent almost three hours there chatting with two partners, and the folks I would be working directly with should they hire me. I'm really trying not to get my hopes up, but I just feel so good about this firm. They are great people, and the office is so comfortable.

I have two more interviews next week, but there is this very real hope that I can cancel them. I'll know Monday or Tuesday.

The Good, The Bad, and The Utterly Classless

The Good:

Andrew:

Thanks so much the additional info. Can you come by this Friday afternoon, to meet with other members of the team?

Also, thanks much for your patience. I have been traveling extensively.

All the best,

D--- F----

|| Hooray! A second-round interview! I can't wait 'til Friday.


The Bad:

I got a phone call rejection from a prominent search engine. How nice of them to actually call me.


Completely Classless:

EXCITING FINANCIAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR RECENT GRADUATES!!!!
Cust#: 0
Internet reply

Dear Andrew Fleming:

Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at [company]. We strive to find the right person for the right opportunity. At this time, we will not be pursuing you as a candidate for the position but would like you to keep [company] in mind for future career opportunities.

We appreciate your interest in [company] and wish you success in your future professional endeavors. We encourage you to stay current on our career opportunities by visiting [company's website].

Kind Regards,
The [company] Recruitment Team

|| Shameful. The email address this came from displayed the following: "****** DELETE, [COMPANY]/731 LEXIN" My mailbox thought it was spam! Oh, and I love how you would like me to keep your company in mind for the future. You turned me down, and you want me to come back asking for more? Most companies have the decency to lie and say they'll keep me in mind, but you won't even trouble yourself with that one. No, you want me to keep you in mind, to regularly check your website just in case there's a chance I might be of some use to you. I don't think so.

Alright, Who Didn't Keep Their Fingers Crossed?

Dear Andrew,

Thank you very much for meeting with us.

We have thoroughly reviewed your qualifications, and, although excellent, we feel they do not quite fit the position we have in mind at the present time.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in becoming associated with our firm and we regret that this response cannot be more favorable.

We wish you well in locating the opportunity you desire.

Sincerely,

L---- T-----
Recruiting Coordinator


||Well, L----, what can I say? Your company was the most attractive to me of all of them. It was also my first consulting interview ever. I had the energy, but was decidedly lacking in experience. This transition out of academia is tougher than I thought. Fortunately, you have been incredibly polite and kind to me through my interview process with your firm, and I really appreciate that. You've shown me that I was right about the atmosphere of your firm, which sort of makes the sting of this letter a little worse. I would have really liked it there.

Another Interview

Three, to be exact. I had an interview with a consulting firm this morning that consisted of three interviews with different people. Some parts felt very good, and others were a little awkward. I am very comfortable chatting with people, no problem there. But when they asked me to add two and two in my head with them watching--I answered five. (No, not really, just an oversimplification to get the point across that basic math escaped me under pressure.) On the one hand, they know this was my first consulting interview, so maybe they'll go easy on me. On the other, I'm afraid I won't mark very high in the "works well under pressure" category.

If you're reading this, I really do work well under pressure. Really. Look at my last two years of college....

I really like this company, we seem perfectly suited to each other. I just hope they see that, too.

Spent the weekend in Houghton, first time back in over two years. It was much fun. I got to see a lot of old friends, made some wonderful new ones, and really connected with some great people. Maybe you can go home again after all.

But I seem to have brought a cold back with me, so it's off to bed.

Networking

They say the key to getting a good job is knowing someone on the inside. Well, with one company so far, that's backfired on me. The folks looking at my resume decided I was getting too much help from my friend on the inside and so declined my application. But it is still true that connections more often help than hinder.

Two weeks ago, my mom and step-father went to his forty-year high school reunion. There they ran into an old friend of his who just happens to be a cardiologist living in Greenwich, CT. Greenwich is the next town over from Stamford (and even more wealthy). He told my parent's to have me call him, and so I did, thinking that it'd be nice to know someone else in this area. He then told me about all the high-profile patients he has and how he'd love to drop my resume to them. He asked me to email him my resume and meet with him for lunch last Thursday so he could get to know me.

Well, apparently, he forwarded my resume the same day he received it to a friend of his who runs a hedge fund across the street from his office in Greenwich. This guy then calls me to talk about how to apply my mathematical skills to the financial world. I'm thinking, wow, how wonderful of this guy to call and chat with me and give me all this information simply on the word of a friend of his whom I have yet to meet! But that's not all; the hedge fund guy then asks me to come in to his office and meet with him before lunch with the doctor on Thursday. He says he wants to talk about my resume, my experiences, and my skills.

It sounded like an interview to me, but I still thought perhaps he was just being helpful and preferred to talk in person. But I went, with extra copies of my resume, and met with him. I drove down to his office. He was incredibly personable and friendly, smiling and making jokes about the decor of his office. We talked about his hedge fund, how it works, and how I could fit into that picture. We talked about ballroom dancing, he's also a competitor. We talked about my schooling, my research, my interests. He even gave me a tour of the whole office, and introduced me to some of the other folks working there. Then he asked for some writing samples, and told me he'd talk to his team about hiring me! Could this possibly be true?

After my meeting/interview, I went and met the doctor for lunch. He was also very nice, and took me to a small seafood place for lunch (where he knew half of the other patrons there). We also talked about my past, present, and future, and he offered to help me in any way he could. He knows a lot of people working in and around Greenwich, and took some copies of my resume to hand out to them. He even offered to help my girlfriend land a singing gig with a wealthy, opera-loving lady in the area.

I am so lucky to be meeting such genuinely good people.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed!

Dear Andrew ,

We are in receipt of your resume and would like to invite you to interview with us in [location]. If you are available, our November interview sessions are:

[dates and times]

If these are not good dates for you, we will be finalizing December dates in late November, and, if you wish, we will forward those to you.

[details relevant to the company]

All interviews will be conducted in our [location] office. All your interview-related expenses will be reimbursed to you promptly upon presentation of valid receipts. All expenses should be submitted to my attention.

Please let me know which interview session you prefer. Also, email me or call me at [phone number] if you have any questions. Please note that I will be out of the office on November 2nd and 3rd.

We're looking forward to meeting you!

Best regards,

L---- T-----
[company name]


|| Woo hoo!!

FOAD

Back at Michigan Tech there is a tradition of posting FOAD letters proudly on your door for all to see. For the uninitiated, FOAD letters, or Fuck-Off-And-Die letters, are those wonderfully vague and somewhat vapid little wastes of paper that companies send to applicants to inform them that the company has no interest in giving the applicant an interview. There are various reasons for this, most of them lies. Of course in this day and age, why waste the paper? A simple email will suffice, it costs nothing to send and all you have to do is copy and paste the poor applicant's name to send the same letter to everyone you want to FOAD. An even more cowardly trend these days is not to reply at all.

In my years at Tech, I've seen several of these letters up on friends' doors. Some of them were on quality paper with embossed letterheads, and some were nothing more than post-cards (hang your head in shame, Toyota). Now that I'm looking at jobs in the real world, I'm beginning to understand the subtlety that is the FOAD letter. Since no one will see them on my door, I will post them here, for your enjoyment.

Company names have been omitted, and people's names changed, to protect the guilty.

#1

Thank you for taking the time to apply to [company name]. Unfortunately, we will not be able to extend you an invitation for a first round interview. Please be assured that this is not a reflection on your fine achievements, rather, that we can interview only a very small percentage of the large number of highly qualified candidates that apply. There is a team of [company name] consultants and recruiting staff that review all incoming applications. I can not tell you specifically why your application was not selected, however, I can share with you a few of the things that we look for in screening candidate applications: leadership, commitment, academic excellence, analytics, and knowledge of [company name]. I hope this is helpful.

Best of luck with your employment search,
N-----

|| Well, N-----, I appreciate your taking the time to send me a stock letter in which you didn't even bother to write my name. Unfortunately, all of the things you look for were specifically addressed in my resume and cover letter. So no, not helpful in the slightest.

#2

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for your interest in -----. Although it is clear that someone with your qualifications has much to offer, we have
been unable to identify a good match between your particular background and experience and our immediate requirements. However, we will keep your resume in our files on the chance that a suitable position should become available at a later date.

We appreciate your taking the time to contact us and wish you the best in your job search.

Sincerely,

Strategic Growth
[company name]

|| Well said, anonymous person from the Strategic Growth department. Your letter has just enough flattery that I still feel warm and fuzzy inside, and I have absolute confidence that you'll call me the very second a suitable position becomes available. And hey, thanks for actually looking up my name.

#3

We appreciate the time you spent interviewing with us and thank you for the interest you expressed in [company name].

We have now had an opportunity to review all of the candidate's credentials. Although your educational background and skills were impressive, we believe we must consider other candidates whose experience will more closely match the needs of the organization.

We regret that at the present time we do not have another position available to utilize your skills and training. We shall keep your resume on file should this situation change in the near future.

Thank you for your interest in our organization and best wishes for continued success in your career endeavors.

Very truly yours,

L---- B----
NY Recruiting Coordinator
[company name]

|| L----, the reason I contacted you was to get an interview, so while I appreciate your appreciation of my time interviewing, there was no interview. Does that mean there really is no appreciation? That makes me sad. However, now you're in a race with anonymous from above to get in touch with me when another position opens. The ball's in your court, L----. By the way, unless I was the only candidate, you misplaced the apostrophe in the second paragraph.

The Big Update, or, How I Learned to Pronounce "Quinnehtukqut"

Just for you.

After two wonderful years in NYC, I've moved--temporarily, mind--to the suburbs. Yes, I'm staying in Stamford, CT to avoid the exorbitant rents in the city until the job search reaches a successful conclusion. (Call me a Nutmegger, and face the consequences!) Friday morning I moved most of my furniture up to my dad's place in the Catskills, and spent the rest of that night and following morning hanging out with him and my uncle. Saturday I moved the rest down to Stamford, but quickly ran back into the city for a very important birthday party, making Sunday night my first night in CT and yesterday my first day as a suburbanite (the horror!).

So, what have I learned about this tiny little state? Well, it only takes about half an hour to get "upstate," it's the most densely populated state in the union, and has the highest per capita income, making it the wealthiest state as well. It's been home to Michael Bolton, Ann Coulter, and President Bush the Younger--but despite all this, still seems to be a pretty nice place. There are a lot of parks, and the rolling hills and forests make it downright beautiful, especially now that the leaves are changing. Of course, we mustn't forget the F4U Corsair, official state aircraft of Connecticut.

All in all, though, things are moving along. Job interviews are rolling in, all scheduled for later this month. The family I'm staying with is beyond wonderful, and I'm only a 45 minute drive from the ol' Manhattan neighborhood where friends and loved one still reside.

The summer past was, for lack of better description, busy. Two weddings in Michigan and one in North Carolina were a blast. It's wonderful to see so many of my friends find such happiness. A trip to Wisconsin was a lot of fun. My last (for now) observing run at Kitt Peak was wonderful (especially my rental car--brand new Mustang!). Lots of traveling, indeed, but it was all worth it. Should I expand on this? Probably, but knowing me, I'll never really get around to it.

These days the goal is to get back into the city as quickly as possible, so all you potential employers out there, hire me! Second to that, I've just got to put together a good group for playing Killer Bunnies....

....oh, and I have to look for a plane ticket to Houghton. More on that later. (If you're lucky.)

And There It Is, Sir

This man continues to be my hero. (Link for you Facebookers: Click here.)



Updates on me will come, soon. Really.

May This Country Forgive You - Video

May This Country Forgive You

As many people as possible need to read this, if they didn't see it on television last night.



The Nation
Mon Sep 11, 9:49 PM ET

The Nation -- Keith Olbermann is without a doubt the best news anchor on television today. Two weeks ago, echoing the spirit of the legendary Edward R. Murrow, Olbermann took Donald Rumsfeld to task for comparing critics of the
Iraq war to Nazi appeasers. Tonight, broadcasting live from above a desolate and still demolished Ground Zero, Olbermann delivered a stirring eight minute commentary indicting the Bush Administration's shameful and tragic response to 9/11. The entire speech is worth watching and reading, so I'm posting the full text below.

Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.

All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.

And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.

I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.

And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.

However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.

Five years later this space is still empty.

Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.

Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.

Five years later this country's wound is still open.

Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.

Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.

It is beyond shameful.

At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."

Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.

Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We cannot dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground." So we won't.

Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.

Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning.

And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.

And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.

The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.

Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.

Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.

Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.

History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.

Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people.

The President -- and those around him -- did that.

They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused, as appeasers, as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists."

They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken, a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated al-Qaida as much as we did.

The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication."

The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."

Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space, and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.

Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11.

Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible for anything in his own administration.

Yet what is happening this very night?

A mini-series, created, influenced -- possibly financed by -- the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.

The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option.

How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death, after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections? How dare you -- or those around you -- ever "spin" 9/11?

Just as the terrorists have succeeded -- are still succeeding -- as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero.

So, too, have they succeeded, and are still succeeding as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.

This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney's continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.

And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street."

In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm. Suddenly his car -- and only his car -- starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man's lights go on. As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot -- but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help. The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials are seen manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there's no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it's themselves."

And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight: "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men.

"For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn."

When those who dissent are told time and time again -- as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus -- that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American...When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"... look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:

Who has left this hole in the ground?

We have not forgotten, Mr. President.

You have.

May this country forgive you.

What if things were different?

I've come to a very difficult decision. I am going to take some time off from academia and explore something new. There is a lot to say, and a lot going on, but now is not the time. I love astronomy, and I'll come back to it again someday, but I need to do something else for a while.