So, I had my interview last night with the local Peace Corps recruiter. We met at a local coffee shop, Muddy Waters, where we talked for about three hours. Her name was Carmen, and she served in Uganda back in the mid 1990s. Very nice lady.
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I had a marginally heated discussion this morning about terrorism-related security in the United States, in particular, allowing agents of the government to search everyone boarding any form of public transportation (in addition to airplanes, busses, trains, etc.) to prevent bombs and whatnot from being smuggled aboard. Additionally, this individual was arguing in favor of allowing police to perform random searches, out and about, in the general public. “Why would you be opposed to this,” he said, “if you have nothing to hide?”

I think the argument that the only grounds for opposing unreasonable searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment anyone?) is that you must have something to hide, is a product of the kind of narrow-minded herd mentality that appears to have swept the nation since 9/11. Some parts of the Patriot Act (actual legislation) have broken down some of the safeguards provided by the Bill of Rights, in particular the First and Fourth Amendments, even though much of it contains uncontroversial and highly beneficial security measures to thwart terrorism. However, as with everything, balance is of absolutely paramount importance: we need to balance the need for increased security with the need to maintain the personal Rights that define what it is to be an American, and this requires constant vigilance. To cripple, erode, or destruct our Constitutional Rights is to cripple, erode, and destroy that which defines America as the Land of Opportunity.
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Quick recap so far:

I submitted my volunteer application and health status review on June 20th. About a week later, around the 28th or 29th, I started receiving mail from the Peace Corps, including a large envelope containing fingerprint forms, skill addendums, background check forms, and so on and so forth. Included were two informational sheets on programs I had qualified for: Computer Science, and Health Extension.

Most of those forms were easy to fill out, but the skills addendum for the Computer Science program took several hours and 7 (yes, seven) pages, typed and single spaced, to provide all necessary information. In contrast, I was able to fill out the Health Extension skills addendum quickly, in about a minute. Needless to say, I think I know which position I’m most qualified for.
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Yesterday I did something I thought I would never do… I traded in my Jeep Wrangler (red X model, inline 6 200HP, fully loaded) for a Ford Focus (silver ZX3-S model, inline 4 136HP, barebones + AC).

Why?

First, I’ve gotta say the Jeep was a LOT of fun to drive, especially with the top down, warm summer days along back roads, yeah - that’s the stuff. But it rains often up here, so most of the time if I don’t want to have a soaking wet interior, my top’s up. sigh But one thing I’ll say about Wranglers: they have personality.
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