New Years

Last day in O'Ville at our "pool hall, bowling alley and arcade"...all in one, what a treat!
I am not in this photo, as I am taking the picture (right after mine and Daryl's victory with Pool Hahaha), and just as I am about to jet.
That night was a blast.
Miss ya all! (or y'all, take your pick)
Tah tah

Some Random Thoughts, and the State of the Union...

Well, I made it through another day. My nine hours of classes isn't seeming so bad at the moment, considering I have only made it to two, thus far. Yes, I decided to say oh well, to two classes. My Thursday begins at 6AM when I get up to get ready for my 9AM classes. Well, last night, I collapsed under my covers from about 4PM 'till 6PM, when I had to finish (at this point, only Part One) my Philosophy homework sets. There were three, and by the end, it took almost 50 pages handwritten.
I would hate to be her, marking it.
So alas, I worked on it until about 4AM, when it remained I had but two major questions left. Each would take up approximately a half hour to do, but I would rather be able to cognitively answer them, so I decided to go to bed. 6AM comes, and the alarm goes off. No. There was no way I was making it. This was after, by the way, I slept through last night's English Lecture to which they decided to neglect posting the notes from it on WebCT. Ugh, how inconsiderate. And since I missed the lecture, and I know that there is something to do with writing as though we were Al Purdy, and presenting to the class in Seminar, I consciously decided early that night that I would be skipping that class that took place today. So I basically slept through history again, and used the free time of English to get ready. I went to Philosophy- for the first time able to stay connected to what was happening, and participate- and after, I set out across campus to buy the novel I should have read for Culture. Ugh, it is 5! Freaking Cold!!! Tomorrow's high is 7. So as I was leaving the book store, who do I see? My English TA having a cigarette. Oh Damn... I really was ill.....*shifty eye*.
We get participation marks, and that doesn't bode well, but I haven't missed a seminar yet, so screw it.
So, I have shopping to do after classes today. Yay, it is going to be O out. But it must be done. Then get started on History and Politics. Only 4 weeks left for each and I haven't even a topic. I'll be satisfied with a good proposal by the end of the weekend, at least, though.

Now, the State of the Union:

Again, Bush concluded the speech with "We've met challenges, and faced dangers, and we know that more lie ahead. Yet we can go forward with confidence, because the State of the Union is strong,, our cause in the world is right, and tonight that cause goes on. "
Bush delivered the speech with good pose and confidence. He did not do many gestures that he does that often makes some feel as though he is being patronizing. The language of the speech was well done, as well.
He was definitely playing to a democratic Audience.
It was good how he introduced Nancy Pelosi, and made point of Fact that he was proud to be the first President to be able to say "Madam Speaker".
He spoke well about bi-partisanship and how the American people realize there is a definable split in party lines, however, when it comes to bidding the nations business, they expect (whle staying faithful to their own convictions in their own party) they must be willing to cross party lines to acheive goals that will benifit the American people on a whole, saying: "Our citizens don't much care what side of the isle we sit on, as long as we are willing to cross that isle when there is work to be done".
So first business of the speech, was the economy.
Bush spoke about the growth in the job market over 41 months, that has added about 7.2 million new jobs to the job market. My criticisms will be in Italics. I don't know how he can claim such a figure. With the backhanded elimination of foreign Trade tariffs, and his mis handling of the "exporting of American Middle class jobs" as Lou Dobbs would call it, it is hard to believe that the growth balances out with the decline.
I have no actual exact figures, so my argument here is weak, simply an observation.
Spoke about wages are rising. The Min. wage has not been risen in ten years, and the bill failed last year that was supposed to rise it. A new proposal passed the House two weeks ago and it has but the Senate to clear now, so who knows.
Economic reforms:
1. Balancing the Fed. Budget. He wishes to do so without raising taxes.
That brings him to the spending discipline.
By 2009, there was a goal to cut the deficit in half, and evidently, that goal has been met three years ahead of schedule.
Within the next five years, the fed. deficit should be eliminated completely.
Earmarks were discussed.
The elimination or at least, control of, them as a major issue. Often no one actually votes them in, or signs them as law, however, they slyishly work their way in.
13,000 -or 18billion dollars worth- of earmarks last year, alone.
Challenge of entitlements. Social Sec., Medicare and medicade.
Public schools and the no child left behind. -Raising standards and holding schools accountable.
Giving parents the right to go outside the district if the school is of poor quality.
All children have available and affordable healthcare. -gov't have responsibility have responsibility to take care of disables, poor children and elderly.
All others:
Standard tax deduction- like for dependence- Families with health insurance will pay no income on payroll taxes on 15,000 dollars of their income
single Americans with Health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on 7,500 of their income.
With this, it is the goal that more than 100,000 people tht are covered via employers will benefit from lower tax bills.
This aims to also even out the field for those not covered at all, currently, through job or otherwise. For independent health care subscribers, it would mean substantial tax savings, thus easier to afford the insurance.
ie) 4,500$ for a family of four making 60,000$
This would also allow for a new basic health plan within others' reach.
He also put fortha proposal to give Fed. assistance to independent State plans to assist the uninsured with a state plan.
Expand the health Savings accounts, small businesses offer coverage, and reduce costs and technology.
Price transparency
Medical liability reform
--------
border security
Infrastructure and security-
Take pressure off border here's where he begins to play to the Dems
Temporary guest worker plan
enforce immigration laws at work sites.
give employers tools to verify status of those working at the sites.
Need to resolve the status of the illegals already in the country- they get ahead of the line pickin's while those takin' the long and honorable route have to wait another 11 years?
He did say without amnesty, though

Energy reform:
There was the good ol' foreign oil remark again
"Way forward is through Technology"
Clean- Coal, solar/ wind and nuclear power
battery research
clean deisel
biodeisel
ethynol

Reduce usage of oil by 20% in 10 years.
Mandatory fuel standards? 2017 - 35 billioin gallons of renewable fuels (5x current target)

Homeland security
"To win the war on terror, we must take the fight to the enemy"
Success in the war meassured by that that did not happen- brought out specific examples.
in the mind of the terrorists, the war began long before 9/11, and it will not end until their goal is accomplished.
Zarqawi warning/ Osama warning. It was haunting.
made an allusion to Iran's leader, Ahmadinejad (Shia extremists, funding Hezbollah)
Bush then used assurance to protect the nation from the aforementioned dangers
Spoke inspiringly about not giving in. A desire for liberty in the Middle East.
Reminded about Iraqi vote
He did discuss how the Iraq war is not going as planned "Not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in..."
How people should not give in, and how there is still hope for victory.
A new Stratagy in Iraq. The new wave of troops. 20,000
did talk about forcing the Maliki gov't into stepping up.
Spoke more about the specifics involved with the new 20,000 troops headed off to Iraq.
The rest of the speech was primarily discussing some of the extrordinary citizens, and bringing out about four examples of outstanding heroism and achievement.
The speech was well delivered, well written, and well done.
He gained more support from the democrats and more applause than from republicans, it seemed.
Anywho, I have to go off to Politics class, I am going to be late.
Tah tah

You are being tracked...

Alright, a little story for those who enjoy the spy-tales. No one knows exactly who is responsible for this little security lapse, but so far, Canada, Russia, China and France have had fingers pointed at them. Canada...well, we might not be advanced, technologically enough to pull off a scandal such as this, but maybe we were in on it.
The story is in regards to tiny little tracking devices placed inside the quarters of American currency. Apparently everyone is a little baffled at how they were planted, but the why was answered as apparently they were common to carry out assassinations.
These tracers were placed on promenant members of America's intelligence community as they passed through Canada.
CSIS is denying they knew, or had anything to do with, the mishap.
The story can be found:
We're Watching You

Another story about Canada has been released this week, regarding the '70s, and the CIA.
A psychologist by the name of Dr. Cameron working out of a hospital near Montreal was carrying out experiments to achieve 'depatterning' in patients. This used all sorts of horrendous experiments done to patients going to him for what they thought, was regular treatment for disorders.
For 12 years, he carried out such actions against many patients- some of which were compensated by the government of Canada- and all of which were compensated by the CIA almost immediately after the clinic was shut down.
The CIA had been paying him for his research to be carried out on the unsuspecting Montrealers, the Fed. Government was also fully aware of the actions being taken by the man. It is not clear if the CIA was also aware of his methods, or just that he was experimenting with depatterning.
One of the victims of Dr. Cameron stepped forward this week claiming that she deserved restitution for her suffering and that she had been abandoned by the Canadian Fed Government. Though they had covered some of the victims of Cameron, they would not agree to give her restitution, because they did not think she was quite...psychologically manipulated enough? Hadn't been hurt too badly by the 12 yrs of psychological torment?
Anyway, her case is strong, and she was covered by the CIA, this is strictly to get recognition of the horrendous action by the government, and the fact that the government refuses to recognize just how bad it was, and how wrong.

I am rather tired after today's much driving and errands, so I think that is all I'll write for now. More, later, if I get a sufficient amount done on Philosophy.
Tah

Picture time... I really don't have much to say, so why not.

This is Thomas, my friend's cat.
I liked that shot.
I have to scan the one picture I have of my old cat and post that. He was only with us for a shot time (had to give him away) so didn't get many good shots, and the ones I did get was with (gasps) film, not digital.
Hmph, he was a gorgeous little guy.
Oh wells. Tah tah for now. I am still lost as to whether or not I have a history seminar. My polisci one was cancelled (very last minute).
Well, Tahz

Meet the Fish

Meet the fish!
I am still thinking of a name for him.
He is nice to watch when I am procrastinating on homework. I am not a television person, anymore. Too much to do.
I am going to go back to "intending to do homework" for tomorrow's classes. Tah

First lesson of '07

Facebook is the tool of the Devil.