numbers

in contrast to my last post about the scarcity in Los Angeles (and because of the second ever comment on this blog), i want to talk about numbers. this is not my attempt to talk about "numerouses" but i will talk about things around me that exist in large quantities. (for the most part, i'm talking about few or numerous dollars, physical and social currency)

first of all, i work for Project Vote and value what I do. i work to collect data on voters (registered, unregistered, infrequent, inactive, minority, young, low-income, etc) and often the numbers speak for themselves.

for example, about 50% of non-citizens at birth vote while 93% of citizens at birth voted in November 2004. that means that, despite acquiring citizenship, many non-native Americans refrain from exercizing their democratic right. furthermore, efforts to include 'New Americans' in the voting process remain weak. data source.

other numbers don't necessarily speak for themselves. often, where there is strong integration between those with 'few' and those with 'numerous' (parts of Los Angeles have high rates of ethnic, social, and economic mixing), no numbers exist to characterize the social fabric.

(so far this is my worst post ever but i'm going to continue anyway)

i want to talk about something that doesn't require numbers. the feeling i have in my stomach when i think about, read about, talk about, and play ultimate frisbee is non-quantifiable. other than 'butterflies,' what do you call the stomach churn that occurs when i see my friends embracing after a victory? my love for the game goes beyond the time i spend with friends and enters my body. i mean that i really feel my own passion, as well as the general energy, for the game inside my belly.

next week, i'll play, watch, cheer, make love to ultimate frisbee at nationals. two more track workouts, some throwing, and a little dancing/stretching, will top off all the preparation and i'll drift to sarasota's dunes and green grass for a really long weekend.