For the University and the nation, it sometimes feels like Jay-Z’s song “99 Problems” should be the theme of the times. So in this time of mixed economic news, abnormally high amounts of political insanity and a never-ending stream of problems to worry about, ranging from tuition to exams, I say be a conservative for once: go take part in a tradition and stop by the N.C. State Fair.
In a world where Goldman Sachs, after receiving billions in government funds to stay afloat, manages to save up $16.7 billion for bonuses and attempts to justify it by putting $200 million in its charitable foundation, do you really want to talk about Wall Street? And against an unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent, do you really want to talk about the job market? And if you are about to graduate and are looking for a job or need a bit more money for the beer fund, do you really want to hear the words “job market” unless you are extremely intoxicated or have built a time machine?
When it comes to life around Raleigh, it doesn’t get much better. I’m almost certain that at times, the construction workers on Hillsborough Street have managed to completely change the pedestrian traffic pattern and crossing lanes over the course of an extended lunch. And I know I’m not the only one who started exiting at Winston Hall before realizing the crosswalk in front of the building was closed off, leaving me and a number of other people cursing the construction and wondering how much time we now had to eat lunch.
Oh, and if anyone mentions the t-word around me (the one that rhymes with “valley”) or something about a vote that took place a few weeks ago, I’m probably going to throw something at said person. And I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone in my sentiment regarding those arguments surrounding the T-word or the voting spectacle — while important, we seriously all need to agree on a one week moratorium on discussing that stuff.
To top it all off, we all have that annoying academic stuff to take care of, with Thanksgiving being the only break in the routine. As turkey and major sales are six weeks away, I can only see each weekend becoming more and more cherished and each Monday going from an annoying return to work to the bane of all our existences.
So I say let the only things that worry you be finding a place to park for free to head to the fair, the amount of fried food you can eat without getting sick and the sort of rides you can go on without… well, without making you sick. It beats the heck out of worrying about all that other stuff, even if you only go there for a day.
