PiscesGrl

It's the final countdown...

7 days and counting.  I have a 2 page memo/journal entry, a 6 question project and a 5 page paper due next week.  So...buckling down starts today.  =)  Nope, I'm not procrastinating too much. 

My Quantitative class has the 2 big projects, and Intergovernmental Relations has the 2 pager due.  I've basically finished the 6 question project, and I'm formulating my ideas for the paper.  I already know what I'm writing the memo/journal entry about, so I feel like I'm in good shape.

I don't know if anyone saw or attended the TEA parties last week.  Apparently, there has been a huge amount of backlash after the fact, along with some interesting terms from reporters like Keith Olbermann.  The more I watch the news, the more I wish we didn't have to have the reporter's quirky and funny comments added in.  When did the news stop reporting NEWS?  Why do channels like MSNBC and FoxNews and others feel the need to direct it toward one opinion or another?  Oh, and that reporter from CNN?  She's a whole other story.  Talk about embarrassing.  Reporters are supposed to report the news, not become it.

In the event you don't know what the TEA parties were for, it wasn't just taxation or government spending.  Attendees and supporters are angry their tax money is being thrown at different corporations with no real direction or rules.  And they aren't just Republicans...they're conservatives.  Specifically, fiscal conservatives.  "Cutting taxes", "halving the deficit" and "rampant spending" do not equal out or work together.  "We're angry and we're very frustrated because, you know, we feel helpless."  It's not the taxes alone, and it's not the spending alone.   It's everything together.  Eventually, we won't have a shovel big enough to dig future generations out. 

Spring Break!!

Though, I'm not going away until the 26th, but hey...no classes!!!  I have a week to catch up on reading.

Just finished my presentation for my Intergovernmental Relations class. It went well.  I wish my section had gone first, since I had more of an overview of everything.  It seemed strange to put the overview last, but it's done.  I emailed the draft of the paper to my partner, and it will be turned in by Tuesday. 

This week I'm also going to be working on the project for my Quantitative class.  That's going to be brutal, though I have already analyzed the data.  Now, I just need to write up my findings.  And I need to read the article for my final in that class.

I feel like I've had alot more work for these classes and this semester.  At least, provided everything lines up appropriately, I'll be graduating next May.  Then, I might go for a masters in Economics or my CPA.  We shall see.  I figure, having the CPA means I'm always employable.

Other than that, things have settled down a bit.  I actually had a day to myself today...which was well needed.  And I'm leaving for North Carolina on the 26th to see a couple of friends.  That will definitely reorganize and recharge me.

1/2 way through the semester...

I've finally broken out of my "blah, don't want to do any more reading for school" phase.  And not a moment too soon, since I have a group project due next Wednesday.  For the project, I'm working with 5 of my classmates to present a panel discussion on intergovernmental relationships for the state.  We narrowed our topic of discussion to environmental issues, and then we split it further to "state-federal", "state-state" and "state-local".  I am working on the state-federal part, and I interviewed 2 EPA employees yesterday with my group partner.  Now, I just need to read a few things and develop my portion of the paper/presentation.  We have a relatively good idea of how we want things to go, so I think we'll do fine. 

My quantitative class is interesting.  We have a couple of groups of people who think it's more important to talk during the teacher's presentation than pay attention, which is annoying because it pulls everyone else's attention away.  And a few people have been leaving early/not showing up because they have "so much work in other classes OMG!!"  I understand feeling swamped, but one of the most important parts of graduate school is time management.  Personally, I have been procrastinating, but I'm out of that now (PHEW!  Otherwise, I'd be screwed).  These classmates seem to think the only way to write a paper is a 2 AM the night before...and FOR SHAME!!!! The library closes at ELEVEN!!!

I'm nitpicking, for sure, but it surprises me that they are shocked about the amount of work for 4 classes.  I mean, they signed up for the 4 classes, and they're going full-time.  Seems like they should have known??

Time management - I'm helping my sister with her wedding, planning her shower/bachellorette party, my SIL is pregnant (so I have that shower this weekend) and she just got laid off (major stress, not helped by MassMutual liquidating her 401(k), which I am trying to take care of), plus I was away last weekend.  So, from today:

Today - work, birthday dinner, structuring outline for paper/presentation, beginning introduction for presentation, reading for class.

Friday - work, library, class, Watchmen

Saturday - lecture at my hometown library, gym, reading for class, starting analysis for quantitative, finishing presentation rough draft, flower-making party at my sister's house.

Sunday - baby shower, FBBL draft, editing presentation/paper, laundry/clean apartment.

Monday - work, run-through for presentation.

Tuesday - work, class.

Wednesday - work, presentation. 

Then I'm pretty much home free.  This ought to be fun lol.

We are officially 17 days into the new administration.  President Obama's "economic" stimulus plan has more than TRIPLED in size, and my entire Intergovernmental Relations class (mostly big D democrats) were against large portions.  And then there's me...the wacky conservative.  I'm not a Republican...probably closer to a Libertarian.  Look, I don't care what you do to yourself or in your home life, but I have an issue when you take my tax dollars and spend them inappropriately. 

So, what do the Senate Republicans deem as wasteful and inappropriate? 

February 4th, 13:14 CNN) -- On Monday, House Republican leaders put out a list of what they call wasteful provisions in the Senate version of the nearly $900 billion stimulus bill that is being debated:

The Senate is currently the nearly $900 billion economic stimulus bill.

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/02/gop.stimulus.worries/index.html
H/T: Andrew Sullivan

We discussed all of this in class last night.  From what I see, there's alot of "social programming" and not alot of "economic stimulus".  Pushing the bill over $920B is a tax break for home buyers.

If I were going to do it?

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.

I basically just cut out anything that didn't seem IMMEDIATELY pressing or that wouldn't create jobs.  The census creates jobs as people go door to door in many communities for the survey.  And I'm sure upgrading the FSA computers would allow for more productivity and less downtime during crashes.  Hybrids and energy-saving programs are nice, but we can worry about that when the country is out of it's fiscal crisis.  I'm back down to $6.7B for this, plus whatever it takes to stop the bleeding in the housing/financial market. 

I'm also having an issue with a 650-page bill, when the President is acting like Chicken Little by writing newspaper columns and sending emails that we MUST pass THIS bill or ELSE!!!!!!  That makes me wonder what else is hiding in those pages.  (Yes, I am a conspiracy theorist.  I feel that, if I can't see it, it could REALLY be bad...which is why I don't swim in reed-infested swamps). 

I could be overreacting, but I'd like to know where all of the money is going.  I mean, I wouldn't pay a credit card bill if I couldn't see all of my charges.  Would you?

CPSIA = Death to small business...

I posted this on Livejournal a couple of weeks ago.  Apparently, today is the day Etsy sellers blog about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and how it will hurt them.  Spread the word.

Well, this could be a huge problem.  http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=85542

According to this article, 02/10/2009 will be the date the "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008" is implemented, and it will force anyone who sells any product for children under 12 to have their products tested for lead and phthalates.  Both of which were HUGE issues when they were found in products from China.  This will cost small business owners huge amounts of money because each product shipment must be tested whether they come in shipments of 1, 10 or 50,000.  Thus, the charges for the testing will affect the small business owner more than, say, Wal-mart . 

As a note, the bill was introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., it was passed by 424 members of the House (9 voted "present", only one voted against - Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas).  In the Senate, 89 were for, 8 "present", 3 against (Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla, Jim Demint, R-SC, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz). Bush signed it in on 8/14/2008. 

While I understand that testing the products is a good idea, but putting small businesses into a position where they won't be able to make a profit is awful.  There has to be a way for the testing to be made more affordable and less detrimental to small businesses.

Short update, better tomorrow...

I know I'm a couple of days late on updating.  =)  I've been working on a response journal (yes...it's only one page...but this one is harder than a 5 pager), and I'm getting back into the reading.  We are learning about the "normal distribution" (think of it as a symmetrical bell curve) in Quantitative, and we are delving further into Federalism in Intergovernmental Relations.  I'll have more of an update tomorrow.  (I also decided it would be an appropriate time to get really sick this morning.) 

Wow...It's already school time again!

I'm a little overwhelmed.  Though I really shouldn't be.  I'm only taking 2 classes: Quantitative Statistics w/ Snow and Intergovernmental Relations with Burke.  Tons of reading, tons of writing (in the sense of a weekly journal entry, a few papers, and 2 written finals).  Definitely need to get myself focused in.  

Over the past few months, we've seen Prop 8 pass in CA, as well as several other propositions that are inherently anti-gay.  (Personally, I've been suggesting people move to MA...more tax money for us, more college students with great ideas developing great companies...we'll just expand to NY!  lol.)  Unfortunately, it took a very direct hit on one artist at BYU.  He is a photography student whose installation was removed from an art show.   Apparently, Michael (the artist) photographed openly gay members of BYU, along with a friend/family member/supporter for each of the students.  BYU decided the topic was too controversial and pulled his photography.  http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/12/08/gay_people_exist

Unfortunately, you can't view his photography (or blog) anymore, as it literally disappeared as I watched.  I'm not sure if it's related to the censorship at BYU (I'm sure it could be), but it always frightens me when one part of your life can dictate all others.  I hope he is able to post again...and I also hope this wasn't all a hoax.   I believe his installation was put back up again, but the point still stands.  40+ years ago, this country went through the Civil Rights revolution, which was supposed to make us realize that all men/people are created equal.  It seems we still aren't there yet.

BYU apparently censors artist's project due to "gay-themed" content

Apparently, Michael (the artist) photographed openly gay members of BYU, along with a friend/family member/supporter for each of the students.  BYU decided the topic was too controversial and pulled his photography.  http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/12/08/gay_people_exist

Unfortunately, you can't view his photography (or blog) anymore, as it literally disappeared as I was typing this.  I'm not sure if it's related to the censorship at BYU (I'm sure it could be), but it always frightens me when one part of your life can dictate all others.  I hope he is able to post again...and I also hope this wasn't all a hoax.

Happy Thanksgiving??

Wow, um...I was supposed to do this last week.  Funny how last Friday "when I get home from the DMV" turned into this Tuesday "panicking because I'll totally forget it again".  No excuses, other than life getting in the way.

Thanksgiving week is notoriously slow for school.  We did our "Assurances of Learning" bit for my law class - basically meant that we answered partially and our teacher filled it in.  To be fair, we all knew the answers, but I know I checked out sometime last week (which is bad, since I have a debate for the class due Monday).  I think everyone else did too.  I find it really hard to pay attention when Christmas is being shoved down my throat.  Consider this:

October 31st - hey...that's Halloween!  The holiday of candy and costumes.  Right?  Hmm, then why is Santa's village already up at the mall, and why are decorations already hanging?  The little kid dressed as a kangaroo, I get.  Can't we wait until, oh, the Friday after Thanksgiving to panic about presents? 

November 11th - Veterans Day?  Yep, sales and sales.  Because, nothing says patriotism like buying Christmas presents during a weird Tuesday/Wednesday sale. 

And, then there's the 4th Thursday in November...commonly known as Thanksgiving in these parts.  Oh, wait, that's just the day before Black Friday...the day that you're supposed to  be in the Best Buy parking lot at 4 AM (actually before) to buy up whatever random electronics you don't need but MUST HAVE because they are SO on SALE!!!

I love Thanksgiving.  I like hanging out with my family, eating good food, watching football, and eventually leaving around midnight.  LOVE it.  I almost hate Christmas though...all the buildup for an hour of present opening.  My family does things slowly...we'll open presents until Noon if we feel like it (dude...Cinnamon Rolls cause it...seriously).  My husband's family?  They're practically slamming consumerism down my throat.  Iunno...it all rings hollow eventually.  I like being with my family, not buying for my family.  Bah Humbug, I suppose...though I love the decorations and lights (After Thanksgiving...kthx).

So, it's kind of hard to stay focused when the holidays are being pushed up every year.  It's too bad too.  This is the time of year when I have the most time to myself...sort of.  It's cold, so apple picking and hay rides and all that are out.  I end up inside and in front of the TV mostly.  Now, just to get the motivation to finish my debate and be done with it.  Yeah.  That. 

Enjoy the holidays as they come.  They go by wayyyyy to fast.  =)

It's November? Really??

Well, I'm officially married, so that's one LARGE CHUNK OF INSANITY off my to-do list.  =)

Today (well, 11/11/2008 as I'm writing this) is Veteran's Day.  Do me a favor.  Honor the Vets and get to the parades if you can.  They put their lives on the line so we can have the freedom to be who we want to be and do what we want to do.  They deserve, at LEAST, this one day. 

I won't make any outstanding comments on the election.  We will see over the next 4 years whether this country can make any changes, or if we just expect things to be corrected for us.  (AIG - cut out the crazy parties huh?  The taxpayers are paying ENOUGH to keep you afloat.  Don't take it for granted.)  I'm a little peeved that Kerry was re-elected, since it's likely he'll leave in 2 months for a position at the White House, but that's beside the point. 

California, and ANY other state voting against gay marriage, should be ashamed of themselves.  It's been 40 years since the Civil Rights Movement, and we're still treating certain people as second-class citizens.  Equality for race, color, creed, and all orientations. 

Anyway...I have one case brief, one debate, one paper, one take-home final and one presentation w/ a memo due by December 1st.  It's all in this order:

11/14 - Take-home final due
11/17 - Case Brief due
11/19 - Presentation w/ Memo due
12/01 - Debate and Paper due

And then I'm done for the semester.  Yikes.

I signed up for Quantitative w/ Professor Snow, Intergovernmental Relations w/ Professor Burke (we'll see if he actually teaches the class.  He's bailed on the last 3 classes I tried to take with him.  LOL!), and Politics of State Government w/ Professor Melconian for Spring.  Ought to be interesting. 

Oh, something that annoyed me that started 2 weeks ago.  When arguing, you tend to lose all credibility when you retaliate with a personal attack.  I.e. the topic of drug testing pregnant women w/out their knowledge came up...the case in question had pregnant women who tested positive for drugs being charged with child endangerment.  A thought came up, what if they were on public assistance for healthcare...is it ethical then?  The conversation got a bit heated, and one girl in my class responded to the original speaker with "Well, I hope you get disabled and find out what it's like!"  At that point, she lost all credibility because she refused to come up with any other argument to support her thoughts.  Nevermind the fact that we weren't talking about disability... 

In this case, the girl basically lost it at the end of class, and she thought she was well within her right to make such a comment and not have anyone disagree with her.  And she got defensive when anyone told her it was inappropriate.  She also doesn't like the guy who made the original comment. 

Fast forward to yesterday's class - the girl walks in and starts making a comment about someone (I thought the person she was referring to worked in the financial aid office), specifically that she couldn't wait to meet them because she thought they must have been a mail-order bride and didn't speak English, but it turned out she was well dressed, etc.  And 1/2 of the class was agreeing with her.  Come to find out, it was the guy in our class who she doesn't like (and I'm friends with him).  This girl works in the financial aid office, and she had just met the guy's fiancee, who she didn't believe was real.  (And this was NOT the first time she made that comment). 

Personally, after putting 2 and 2 together, I was embarrassed for her.  She doesn't like him, and she lets it cloud her judgement and ethical behaviour (i.e. the way she's acted in class the past couple of weeks).  It makes me sad that, as a woman, she thinks it's okay to basically assume that the guy's fiancee is a pushover (she's not), an idiot (also not true), or a mail order bride who doesn't speak English (considering he likes to debate, that would SO not be in his best interest lol). 

And then I got to thinking of the way Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were treated during this election.  Most comments were directed toward their "shrill" voices, or their outfits, or issues other than things directly effecting the election.  Hillary was a B****, Palin was Stupid (among other things), and we wonder why history went the way of a black man in the White House rather than a woman?  Probably because women are still judged on their appearance, and trying to appeal to the masses as an intelligent female is impossible.  And women are women's most harsh critic (see Katie Couric's interview with Palin for proof of that). 

Considering the fact that I just read an article stating that Carla Bruni now has a formidable opponent for "hottest first lady" in Michelle Obama?  I don't think much is going to change.