And Monday morning it is!

2002-06-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

General News

Went running today for the first time in a while. Still going on walks, hopefully, my physical fitness will improve. I’ve started lifting with some lightweights in my room while I job hunt. Beefcake, Beefcake.

I went to Elke’s for a potluck dinner hoping for a free meal. Anyway, it turns out everybody is lazy. Nobody brought any food. Nevertheless, it was a good time and I met some cool people.

I went dancing with Kate, Lindsay, and a few others. I am the greatest dancer in all the land. On the way home, I stopped to walk somebody home who was being bothered by a drunk. She was walking alone and it was late. The drunk was asking her to buy him toothpaste and wouldn't leave her alone. Kate and the rest of them teased me about helping a damsel in distress. Oh well, makes me feel good.

It was a rough end to a good weekend. My friend Terry lost her mother. Her mom was killed in a car accident. Terry had just emailed everybody for a welcome back party, and then she had to sent out another email saying it was canceled because her mom had died. She’s studying in Australia for the year. I hope she’s doing okay, but that’s really hard when something like that happens. I only have her old apartment number, not her cell phone so I haven’t been able to get in touch with her since she sent the email.

I found this funny. I don’t like to end an entry on a down note. From Howard Kurtz’s media notes:
“China's state-run Beijing Evening News had breathlessly told its readers that American lawmakers were threatening to pull out of Washington unless a fancy new Capitol was built, complete with retractable dome and luxury skyboxes. The source? The satirical paper the Onion.
Now, the Los Angeles Times reports, the Beijing paper has apologized, with this parting blast: "Some small American newspapers frequently fabricate offbeat news to trick people into noticing them, with the aim of making money. This is what the Onion does." Right.”
Ah, most favored prank victim.

Quote of the Day

"Our Critics are our friends. They show us our faults” Benjamin Franklin

Quote from the Gang

"It’s the most fun I’ve had since Collateral Damage” Ron Overton on Scooby Doo.

“ I tell you brunettes don’t have it all bad. Sure they have Marilyn, but we have Stephen Hawkings.” Lillian

Today’s Person I Admire

Ryan Spiegel- Ryan was one of the principal reasons that I join Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He is an amazing person and dedicated leader. He is currently attending Stanford Law and will next year be in Europe serving in The Hague.

2002-06-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

General News

My interview went well. The job sounds interesting. I’ve never worked in lobbying so this would be something new for me. The people who interviewed me also seemed really friendly and talked a lot about that atmosphere of the office. I’m still hoping to be the campaign manager. Although I don’t think I get the position this cycle since most campaigns have already found managers

Hung out with Kevin last night. We watched the Godfather II on TNN. Afterwards we went to a party. I saw Sean there so we hung out for a while. It was a good time. I went back to the dorms and hung out there for a bit afterwards. Also fun.

Going down to see Cake in a little bit. I really love these free concerts.

Quote of the Day

“It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle than to initiate a new order of things” Niccolo Machiavellia

Quote from the Gang

"Sometimes it's hard to see my cards when I have sooo many chips in front of me. It's like when I have so many supermodels in my bed and they're just throwing themselves at me, and all I want to do is just sleep. But, they just keep throwing themselves at me." Phil Folkemer

Today’s Person I Admire

Scott Luftglass- Scott has always been a good advisor and confidant. He was an outstanding APDA president and a lot of the ideas I have about what APDA should be, I get from him. He’s also one of the most skilled politicians I have ever met and has one of the best understanding of human psychology I have ever seen.

2002-06-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

General News

I’m still job hunting. I have an interview with National Strategies Inc on Thursday. I feel somewhat silly for turning down the job at Paine Webber, but I really didn’t want to work there.

Talked to Kristin Webb today. She’s from my hometown so I got updated on a lot of my friends that I’d lost track of. We may have a party at the fraternity house for the old Walkersville crowd.

I’m going to see Cake this Saturday and seeing Shout ‘N’ Feel at the Kennedy Center on the 8th. Anybody who wants to come along, drop me a line.

Camelot Update: Lindsay still hasn’t sent me the Honorary Board stuff. I’m still working on remaking the website.

APDA Update: About to send out the timetable for the budget process.

On an unrelated note, I have no skills. I repeat no skills. I don’t just need a wingman; I need a freaking fleet.

Quote of the Day

“Even when I’m railed at, I get my quota of renown” Prince Aretino

Quote from the Gang

“Do me a favor, give one of those poor freshman that you bust a 'Matt Mcmillan waiver' and claim that you are doing it for the irrational reason that a friend of yours asked you to pardon one group of freshman from the wrath of the college park administration” Matt McMillan

Today’s Person I Admire

Kevin Oxendine- Kevin has an amazing sense of purpose and a good heart. He’s always been a good source of advice for me.

2002-06-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

General News

I’ve been really busy lately so I haven’t had much time to update this site. I was home for most of the first part of the week visiting my friend Ron and my family.

Saw a free concert this weekend. Going to see Cake for free this weekend. I’m also going to go to a swing dancing performance at the Kennedy Center.

Camelot News: Arthur sent out the stuff for the newsletter. We’re starting to get responses. After we get the newsletter together, we’re sending out the stuff on the honorary board- Lindsay needs to finish this stuff.

Job Hunting is still going on. I just don’t want to take a crappy job that I’ll hate for the summer. Lindsay just got a job at Victoria Secrets. Well, I don’t mind loosing a job opportunity to a friend (kidding).

I definitely need the football season to start. I was so desperate for football I actually watched NFL Europe.

APDA news: Saint Peter’s College is joining APDA. I’ve very excited. This is the first new school I get to work with.

Quote of the Day

“Don’t you like TV? I thought all young people disliked effort and liked cartoons” Anya from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

“Kindness is the mark of faith; and whoever has not kindness has not faith”- Muhammad

Quote from the Gang

“I don't give milk for free if I hate the farmer.” Lindsay Hamilton

“So we’ll travel to World’s via Asterdam”-Greg

“Greatest APDA president ever”- Kate Myers

“Well, you can invite Sean so long as nobody hates him” Lindsay Hamilton

Today’s Person I Admire

Elke Chen- Elke is a great person. She has this capacity to really listen to a person. She never makes you feel like she’s judging you. She always looks for the best in a person and has incredible patience for those who disagree. She also will do the sweetest things without any provocation or self-interest involved. (Elke also owes me lunch).

2002-05-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

General News

I finished most of the building work today, which was nice. It’s a really weird feeling to be in a dorm when everybody else is gone. I think there are around 14 people left in the building and it holds over four hundred. We’ve had a few cart derby/bummer carts, but other than that the building has been pretty tame.

Still job hunting. Hopefully, I’ll find something good. The interview at Paine Weber didn’t go as well as I hoped. I still think I have a good chance at getting the job. I’ll be applying to more places tomorrow. I signed on to work for the Ross for State Assembly campaign today. He seems like a nice guy and his office is about a block from where I’ll be living. I’ll be out on Sunday doing some work for him

Took some stuff home today, and picked up my security deposit for summer in the fraternity house. I’m looking forward to living there again. I don’t get to see my fraternity brothers enough. Also I have a single, which is great.

Still working on King Henry V’s speech. I’ll have it memorized in a week or so. I need to get back to writing more. Getting ready to watch Cruel Intentions. I really enjoy that movie.

Quote of the Day

Being miserable is easy. Being happy is tougher and cooler. - Thom Yorke, Radiohead

Quote from the Gang

“You would fall in the Matchbox20 demographic” Helen Rosner

Today’s Person I Admire

G.B. Jennings, my grandfather. He has Alzheimer now, so we don't get to talk much. Nevertheless, my grandfather was a great guy. He is extremely patient, always looking for an opportunity to fix something (a trait that my father shares). He served through nearly the entire war, operating in the pacific theater nearly exclusively. After they dropped the bomb, my grandfather walked down the streets of Hiroshima . His name was originally GB Jennings, but during WWII the Army changed it to G.B. Jennings, since he didn’t have a middle name. Both my father's name and my name come from this change: Gerald Bruce (GB 2) and Gregory Bryan (GB3).

2002-05-21T23:45:00.000-07:00

General News

My interview went well today. I have another interview in Bethesda with UBS-PaineWeber tomorrow. On Thursday, I have a meeting with Joe Ross’s campaign manager at Starbucks.

Amanda Entin posted a sad blog entry about being in NYC. Honestly, I wish I had a great response all prepped up in my head, but I don’t so, I won’t lie. Life is pretty scary. I lived in Indonesia during the Persian Gulf War and the Embassy was my mother worked received a bomb. When I worked for Congressman Earl Pomeroy this fall, I walked into the office and they were putting anti-shatter covering on both sides of the window, which is really scary when you stop and think about it. I got through those times mostly by focusing on work. I remember hearing a line in a movie that you do the stupid thing and get the courage to do it afterwards. From my experiences, I believe that statement to be a more accurate paradigm of the human condition than one would hope.

More of my friends are having trouble finding jobs that I would have thought. I didn’t realize that the economy was that bad.

I started the reports section on the Camelot web page. I started looking at other PAC’s web pages and many of them contain a report section. I’m going to send the letter to Democracy Corp later in the week. Hopefully, I’ll get a response. Democracy Corp is run by James Carville and is a nonprofit progressive polling agency. I’m hoping that we can put together a collaborative project to determine what issues most interest young people.

Still working on the five-year plan. It’s tougher than you think.

Today, I was watching Crossfire and I tend to feel that the Democratic Party is barking up the wrong tree. So far, our attacks have been “it’s the economy, stupid,” the same basic assault that we used to defeat the first Bush. The political climate is significantly different. Foreign policy, in particularly the Middle East, is the most important issue. Rather than try to steal the issue from the Republicans, the Democratic Party spends its time demanding a prescription drug benefit for seniors. If we polled seniors, they are far more altruistic, and would probably be willing to put off such a benefit. The 2004 presidential ticket for the Democrats must focus on foreign affairs. A possible sleeper candidate for the Vice President: Claudia Kennedy. A former Lt. General of the Air Force, she has experience serving in the intelligence community. Besides having the heralded Kennedy name, she also benefits by being a Virginian, a state that has in recent times been Republican, but elected a Democrat Governor and Lt. Governor.

Quote of the Day

"It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning." - Calvin

Quote from the Gang

“There are two groups: The Me and the Not-Me group. Of these you should be concerned with one of them.”- Phil Folkemer

Today’s Person I Admire

Ron Overton- My best friend. The man could not be less interested in all the things I do, which is great because I get tired of talking about the same old stuff all the time. Ron has an impeccable ability to have those long conversations where you actually figure stuff out about yourself. He also has a strong sense of loyalty.

2002-05-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

General News

I have an interview tomorrow at 11:30 to be a supplemental instruction leader and an interview with UBS Paine-Weber on Wed at noon. I also got an email about working on the Ross state senate campaign.

Still working on Camelot’s web page. I downloaded a graphics program called GIMP, which my friend Ron assures me is on the better free programs out there. I’m still trying to figure it out. Actually, starting this Blog helped me come up with a title for Camelot Project’s newsletter: Inaugural address.

I watched the Season Finale of Ally Mcbeal. I was disappointed. It was a very bad episode. David E Kelley is a very good writer/producer, but he gets bored with shows easily. The end result is that he creates far too many programs, most of them are only worth watching for the first two seasons.

I’m working on memorizing King Henry V’s speech “Once more unto the breech” speech. I love that play.

All and all, I’ve had an unproductive day. It’s the end of the semester; however, which makes this behavior normal.

Quote of the Day

“He lives well who conceals himself well.”- Ovid

Quote from the Gang

“Raise your hand if you matter in International Affairs, not so fast hippy IMF protestors.”- Liam Toohey

Today’s Person I admire

Steve Maloney- Steve is one of the most genuine people I have every known. You can always tell what he is feeling by looking. He never shirks from complimenting people when he desires to do so He was also one of the most helpful mentors when I started debating.

2002-05-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

Inaugural Entry

So here is my blog. Thank Ms. Haney for the title. It’s a line from the American President, which is my favorite movie. Other possibilities that we thought of were "Chief Executive of Fantasy Land," "the Capra-esq Quality," and "Inaugural Address." Since this is the first one, It’ll probably be longer than most.

Who I am?

This is for those people who don’t know me. My name is Gregory Jennings. I was born in the Philippines on Subic Bay Naval Station where my father was stationed. He served in the Army for 22 years as a microbiologist. Currently, he works for USAID, helping third-world countries design their healthcare plan. My mother is in charge of Frederick County’s low-income energy assistance program. I also have a sister. She’s majoring in International Relations at Penn State.

While my family moved around a decent amount, I grew up mostly in Frederick, Maryland and Jakarta, Indonesia. I now live in College Park, Maryland, where I attend the University of Maryland. I am starting work on my Master’s in Public Policy and finishing off my Bachelor’s in Government and Politics. I am a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, a Resident Assistant in Ellicott Hall, and a member of the Maryland Debate Team. I enjoy Public Service. I have worked for Congressman Steny Hoyer, Richard Gephardt and Earl Pomeroy. I also volunteered at the White House, working in Mrs. Gore’s office, the White House Public Liaison Office, and the Vice President’s Domestic Policy Council. In addition, I have a bit of experience with local campaigns and worked for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. I was also a page for the Maryland General Assembly when I was in high school. Public Service has always been a part of my life. I keep two books on my desk. A copy of the The Burden and the Glory, a collection of speeches that JFK delievered, and the Bible that my grandfather carried through World War II.

General News

APDA news. Northams is done. The formal announcement is coming out this evening. We’re starting to work on the budget. I love working on budgets. I'm looking forward to the work.

My family is currently in Michigan for my Abby’s confirmation. Before he left, my father asked me to design a five-year plan listing all my goals and how I plan to attain them. This is a slightly more difficult endeavor that I originally thought.

Currently, the Democratic slate is empty for Maryland Assembly District 4A and 4B. It’s my hometown. I’m disappointed because I wanted to work on a campaign there, because I could gain more political experience and get to see my family. Frederick is a really conservative area so I don’t think most Democrats would have a chance; however, I don’t like the idea of anybody running uncontested for a spot. Although the Republican primary is going to be vicious, so you never know.

Trying to get Camelot back on track. I’ve been somewhat negligent in dealing with it and I’m very disappointed in myself. In fairness, I haven’t been alone among the rest of the staff in my neglect, but I should set an example. For those of you who don’t know, I’m starting an organization known as Camelot Project. It’s been in the work for close to a year now. The basic premise behind Camelot Project is a simple one. Most people are interested in young people getting involved in politics. It is, however, not economically feasible for campaigns to do so. They need to maximize the effectiveness of their dollars, leading them to target mostly middle age, middle-income voters. The end result is that young people are ignored; they don’t vote, and their issues become ignored. The idea of Camelot Project is to raise money from people and then to donate that money on their behalf to candidates who are interested in involving young people, as well as placing strings on the money to ensure this. I’m working on fixing the web page tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll probably work on getting the donor’s list up and running, which is going to be a big headache.

I’ve decided to close each blog entry with three items: A Quote of the Day, Quote from the Gang, and Today’s Person I admire. I did this because I don’t get enough of an opportunity to reflect on the people and ideas that make an impact on my life.

Quote of the Day

"There is good sense in everything you have said; nevertheless you ought not to be so timid always, or to think of every accident which might possibly overtake us. If upon the proposal of the plan you are always to weigh equally all possible chances, you would never do anything. I would much rather take a risk and run into trouble half the time than keep out of any trouble through being afraid of everything."- Xerxes I

Quote from the Gang

“How can you say that hockey doesn’t involve mindless “thuggery?” It is the only sport that has built-in jail. You don’t have a jail in any other sport.”- Liam Toohey

Today’s Person I Admire

Marcel Winokur: As a result of meeting Marcel and a few other guys, I joined Alpha Sigma Phi. He is an amazing individual who I don’t get to see as often as I would like. He graduate two years ago and is attending law school. On time, he yelled at our fraternity when we were disappointed at our homecoming match-up. He said that the character of man depended upon how he treated all people. This was in a long email which included references to Civil Society and concepts of Virtua. He was a strange duck, but he had an amazing heart.