There is only so much time
My writing here, as well as to the NPA blog has been limited not by a lack of material, but by a lack of time to draft out even half-processed thoughts. Such is the life of a resident.
But there are so many things I've wanted to comment upon, so let's just run through them.

• Barack says No to Public Financing. I winced at this, mostly because he said he would support the system, but now has realized that he's better off being financed directly by members of the public, rather than through a government program. The record will show that I'm not a supporter of campaign finance, but it is important for leaders to stick to their principles. However, we should also recognized that circumstances change, and the new environment may result in a different policy even while sticking to the same set of principles.
  
• What to do about Hillary? When she suspended her campaign, I was surprised to see continued bitterness on the part of Obama supporters. I understand hesitation to help her pay down her debts (why should we pay for her mistaken belief that she should stay in it to the very end?), but I also see that offering support is a tangible way to unify the party. That being said, I haven't exactly opened up my checkbook for Clinton.
  
• What happened to Iraq? In short, the surge worked. Sort of. Buying off the enemy has also been helpful. But the violence and chaos (and death toll) has quieted. Have we finally brought sufficient security to the Iraqi people? Did they finally tire of killing each other? Similar to the economy, the Democrats are again in the awkward place of secretly wishing for things to go badly because it is to their advantage. Will Obama be able to change the rhetoric to declaring victory so we can bring our troops home?
  
• Wow, gas is expensive. I remember when gas first crept above $2 in Chicago. I didn't own a car then, so it didn't really affect me. But when I borrowed a friend's car, to thank her, I filled her tank (with Premium, nonetheless). I gasped at paying $2.39 per gallon. Yeah, now people would give their first-born child for that. I had filled my tank just prior to Hurricane Katrina, so I was able to hold out for some time before paying more than $3 per gallon. But soon that barrier fell. And now, gas is $3.89 around here. My tank is nearing empty, but thanks to nice weather, I haven't driven to work in weeks. I'm hoping I can hold out until July when my credit card will give me 5% cash back on gas.
  
• Apparently, it's not just Hillary that the GOP hates. During the primary season, when the Republicans thought Hillary would be the nominee, they spent a considerable amount of time attacking her. That's par for the course. But now that Barack has the nomination secured, they have turned to attacking ... Michelle Obama? Do they not care if they are perceived as purely misogynistic? Are they afraid that if Barack is elected, in 8 years Michelle will get the idea in her head that she could become the first woman President (and black, to boot), and she'll run for the third Obama term?
  
• What is the value of nature? That really is the question we are asking when we talk about global warming, carbon footprints, pollution, etc. The marketplace is great at assigning value to widgets, but it begins to falter when faced with things are exist, but were not made. For instance, health. It is a commodity that can be traded (just as a coal-miner or logger), but the market does a lousy job of assigning the value to it in the first place. Similarly, unless we live like Neanderthals, we are bound to have an effect on the environment. The question should be how to measure that effect and create incentives to minimize it when possible.
  
• ANWR. So, if we don't drill now, isn't not like the oil is going to disappear, right? Why not wait until we 1) have better drilling and extraction techniques with less environmental impact and 2) the value of oil is even higher to justify the damage that will be done.
  
• Gitmo. Go figure -- the people we have imprisoned there have rights after all. That only seems like a founding principle of our country!
  
• Want to change the hearts and minds of the Middle East? I propose the following: a scholarship program for Iraqis/Iranians/Syrians that provides for a 1-year study in the US for young people age 16-22. Offer a couple thousand kids the opportunity to come to the US for a year (and maybe expand to two, if they want). They'd get a English immersion course, and then join appropriate level of schooling. But mostly, they'd be here to interact with average Americans. Place 6-10 in a community so they would have others to bond with, but would also have ample opportunity to live the American life. All paid for by the US government. Heck, why not even pay for their families to come visit for two weeks each year on an all-expense paid tour of the US.
  Sure, there would be a risk that some would want to stay indefinitely, and there would be the fear that a few terrorists would try to join the program. (However, the greater risk would be to the participants once they returned home that they'd be a target for extremists.) This would be a great way to influence the next generation of leaders in those countries. And you know, that would be a whole lot safer and cheaper than invading those countries in 15 years.
  
• Residency can be a chore. Two years down, one more to go (plus Chief). Until I had today off, I had worked 130 hours over the previous 10 days. (Hint: there are only 240 hours in 10 days, so that's more than 50% at the hospital.) In medical school, I found it possible to do school, plus a couple of other side activities (AMSA, running, socializing, writing, research, sleeping, grocery shopping, etc). In residency, you work at the hospital and then get to choose one (and only one) other activity from the above list. Lately, I've done running and biking (it's light until 9pm!), but that leaves a lot that isn't happening. (I am thoroughly impressed by all of my colleagues who have families.)
  And on Saturday, I start life as a senior resident by being on call. Oh, the look in the interns eyes will be priceless.