CalJunket |
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Campus personalities present and past Rebecca C. Brown and Tommaso Sciortino tackle the issues. This week on a very special CalJunket: Rebecca learns not to chew with her mouth open and Tommaso finds out his best friend is addicted to no-doze. Site feed: caljunket.blogspot.com/atom.xml
AIM Rebecca:
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Friday, December 31, 2004
This year I resolve to be more civil in my blog discussions and treat people with contrary views with more respect. I resolve to work on my comic more with an eye toward finishing it time for Alternate Press Expo (APE). I resolve to finish paying of my student loans. Lastly, I resolve to actually learn some new songs on piano and practice expanding my singing range. D above middle C is just not good enough. (0) comments A ship without a navigator Friday, December 24, 2004
I would like to wish all my Christian readers (who celebrate it) a merry Christmas and all the rest a happy December 25th. Hell, I hope all your days are happy. Yes, even the right-wingers; May you all be visited by three ghosts and learn the true meaning of Christmas. I’ll be gone visiting the grand canyon with my girlfriend but I’m sure patriotic spirit of political discussion will be just fine without my hot-head musings. Goodwill to all people… except for maybe Osama Bin Laden and all those insurgents shooting at our guys. Actually, I wish them goodwill too: the type of goodwill that asks them to put down their weapons and surrender. That probably won’t happen but hey, if Bush can make a war plan that depends on it, I can wish for it too. This season, let’s remember those who are less fortunate then ourselves: because really, everything we have is a gift from God and it’s vanity to think that we deserve any of it. Let’s remember all those fighting for us overseas and at home; those who live under the yoke of oppression, be it from the negligence of their fellow citizens or tyranny; those who are sick and dying; and those who are alone. May we open our hearts and recognize the common humanity that we all share. Happy Holidays and a good New Year! (0) comments Why do Republicans want to destroy social security, a healthy successful system? Friday, December 17, 2004
Today marks the 15th anniversary of the premiere of the Fox Television smash "The Simpsons." Celebrate accordingly: By watching your DVDs/illegal downloads of seasons one through six, and maybe seven if you have time. (0) comments |
The liberals and their communication problem
So I’m going to try writing for the Smart-Ass (Berkeley Dem paper) and I decided to submit an article about Liberals being bad at communicating. Help me out. To me, nothing is more emblematic of this problem than the protest. But does it serve some kind of non-communicating goal? Does it help recruitment? I suspect that it doesn’t do anything that a bake sale or hosting a speaker wouldn’t do but maybe I’m wrong. I also want to mention how there seems to be an instinctual fear of liberal media. As if had Al Gore actually purchased a news channel he would have turned it into the Socialist weekly. Anyhow, any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated. Either post a comment or send me an e-mail at {my last name} @ gmail.com.
(0) comments
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
As if the movie weren't mind-blowingly awesome enough...
Now you can also buy the soundtrack for Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic." Along with the usual Mark Mothersbaugh genius, and some tracks from David Bowie and Devo and the Zombies and Joan Baez, the real cake-taker is Sau Jorge's renditions of David Bowie classics in Portuguese. When I saw the film and heard the acousitc-only Jorge version of "Life on Mars," I nearly shed a tear.
This one is on the top of my Christmas list, as should it be on yours.
(0) comments
Monday, December 13, 2004
No more homework, no more books, no more teachers' exhilarating lectures
Rebecca C. Brown as of 2:13 this morning, Pacific Standard Time, was finished with all academic obligations of the Fall semester for 2004.
I had two final assignments this semester; both were 5-7 page take home essays; one actually had an impact on my grade.
To all my engineering/physics/mathematics/CS major friends, I can only concede that humanities students really are pieces of shit.
Good luck on your (*snicker*) finals!
(0) comments
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Mike Davis has some good points. That, and a free money machine
Wouldn’t it be awesome if my great-great-grandfather (Giocchino Tomasello) had invested some money away for my retirement? I’d be like a millionaire! With that much money I could squirrel away a bunch of money for my great-great-grandson. Obviously, this speculation isn’t really that useful because, without money, there’s no obvious way I can go about becoming a millionaire. Certainly borrowing is out of the question!
It would be better if instead of paying for the current retirees, each generation invested their money for their own. That way the money would sit around for 40 years and gain interest. But then, I suppose it would be even better for the money to sit around two generations and gain even more interest! In this much I can agree with Mike when he suggests that we try to move to a system where people’s money sit around gaining interest instead of the one we have now. The problem is getting there while in debt. Republicans suggest we borrow money.
Mike Davis says “in any 30 span of history you care to look at, a total stock market fund significantly out performs the government mandated interest payments on a person’s contribution to SS”. Mike, along with Republican law-makers, leads us to draw the conclusion that investing the money in stocks would be better than the system we have now. This seems obvious! Why is it that this obvious conclusion indicates that the Republicans have a magical enchanted system for producing absolutely 100% free money? It takes a little bit of economics to explain:
How do government bond interest rates get set? The answer is those infamous “invisible hands”. The government wants you to buy its bonds so it can make money. It goes out and offers the lowest interest rates investors will put up with. Bamn! Capitalism is awesome.
Now, the Republican federal deficit is growing every year. So, if you wanted to take money out of SS to put into stocks while maintaining benefits, you’d have to raise the money through selling bonds (mostly to China). So really, it’s only going to save us money if stocks do better than bonds.
Until recently investors seemed to habitually undervalue stocks in favor of bonds. This looks like a good old-fashioned market inefficiency. We could take advantage of that. The problem is that market inefficiencies tend not to last too long after they’ve been caught. As soon as people realize that stocks are better than bonds, the government finds it has to offer higher interest bonds to entice people to buy. Meanwhile, stocks get more expensive as stock buyers have to compete with all those guys who used to foolishly stuff their money into bonds. There are a lot of indications that this switch has already happed: stocks price to earning’s ratios have gotten a lot higher in recent years.
To believe that we can make money by switching to stocks you’ve got to believe that the market inefficiency is going to persist. That no one who buys bonds is going to decide to go into stocks instead. If you believe that then you can create 100% free money as follows:
- Have the government raise one trillion dollars through the sale of bonds
- Invest the one trillion dollars in the stock market
- Wait
- Sell all the stocks
- Buy back the bonds.
- Count your free money. On average it should be equal to $1,000,000,000,000 * (stock rate of return – bond rate of return) * time you waited
Indeed, the whole plan is to assume that the debt government takes on, trillions and trillions of Republican debt, will made up for by the extra money people get from stocks. But here’s the kicker: if you assume the projection used to forecast social security troubles, stocks will end up doing too poorly to break even. Not to mention the fact that plan involves additional risk for each individual senior. (Sorry you invested in Enron! They looked solid!)
In normal times I would expect Republicans would show some balls like the Democrats did in 1982 and actually start raising Social Security investment or reduce benefits. I’d expect them to try to pay back the deficit like Clinton did so we could have some real option in making social security stronger. If they really believed their plan will work I would have expected Republicans (like Greenspan) to support Clinton’s proposal to move 15% of SS’s surplus into stocks. But we do not live in normal times. Sadly, we live in interesting ones.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Don't they care that I'm trying to write a paper?
I'm in the Wheeler MCF right now, attempting to complete in 30 minutes what I've had four weeks to do (namely, my American Studies final paper), and from here I can hear that some people with megaphones are protesting outside Califronia Hall, demanding the Chancellor. I can only assume that this has to do with the Multicultural Center, but our protesters need to work on their diction. The script goes like this:
"What do we want?"
"Figly rephun botter nougret!"
"When do we want it?"
"Now!!!"
Since I had to leave the Senate meeting last night at a very early 10pm (to, you know, work on my paper), I never found out what conclusion my elected representatives came to about the MCC. I do know that Karen Kenny, Dean of Students, mentioned that if the Senate could not come to an agreement and vote in favor of the MCC last night, the Chancellor would choose to seize Heller Lounge (which is in MLK, and ASUC building) and force us to put the MCC there.
Exciting stuff. Hopefully some of my readers in the know can keep us all informed and updated about this MCC madness.
(0) comments
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
It's not like you were putting it to good use anyway.
Wanna share a pint of your blood for a worthy cause (namely, saving people's lives)? I thought so. There's a Red Cross blood drive in Pauley Ballroom (fourth floor of MLK Student Union) tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. I'll be there at about 12:30 to do my part.
Afraid of having a needle poked into your arm and having and eighth of your most important body fluid extracted from your pale, quivering body? Get over it. I promise that it's painless, and not just compared to getting your tragus pierced. It very honestly does not hurt one bit, and not once have I experienced bruising, dizziness, or nausea afterward.
Plus, if you plan on drinking Thursday night, think how much easier it will be to get sloshed when you're only running on 87.5% of your tank....Just kidding. Don't do that.
Who's gonna give me a nickel every time a nurse compliments me on my enormous arm veins? Anyone? Paul?
(0) comments
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Lured into the Dark Side
Mark this day in human events as nothing short of revolutionary. Rebecca C. Brown has joined facebook. Note, though, that I have joined strictly for work-related purposes. My ASUC Street Team is going to have a facebook group by next semester, and it would be downright hyprocritical of me if I weren't "in." If I haven't invited you to do so yet, and if you're semi-cool, I encourage you to be my friend.
Jesus, this is sad.
(0) comments
Monday, December 06, 2004
Does anyone know of a good FDR biography?
A co-worker at my new job and I got into a political conversation the other day. He said that I seemed to be unusually optimistic considering the Republicans controlled the government. I responded that it’s not enough to win elections; you have to be right, too. The New Deal radically changed America and created a lasting political majority for a generation, but not because FDR was a good politician. It persisted because FDR was right. Though it isn’t universally the case, as long as democracy isn’t undermined too much, the party whose backward policies weaken their country will soon be tossed out on their asses no matter how good their PR is.
Oh, we tried to stop the fundamentalists from having their turn at bat and in that, we failed. I’d almost be glad to stop hearing their incessant whining from the bench, if it wasn’t for the fact that our team really needs a homer. But anyhow, it’s time for them to face the pitcher, and I wouldn’t be a liberal if I didn’t expect them to strike out.
In conclusion, FDR was handicapped and thus could not play baseball.
(0) comments
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Turns out that "Shabbat" loosely translates as "sabbath."
Who knew? Further, who knew that people tend to hold religious ceremonies on said sabbath? Life is full of wonderous mystery.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 02, 2004
C'mon, Senator Narodick. You have a good point and all, but...
**Update** Ben didn't write a bill...he filed an injunction. Big difference. My mistake. Reading is hard for my brain.
Ben Narodick, my good friend from the Heuristic Squelch and all-around fun guy, has written a bill that freezes Commercial Revenue Funds for the President and EVP until some "issues" are "resolved" by "people." In short, Misha Leybovich and Christine Lee have wisely decided to use some money from the Student Store to invest in computer equipment for the ASUC offices. It's not much money, and the computers are I think about twenty yeard old. (The moniters are five inches across and we do data input with punchcards. No kidding.) Ben wants that money to go through the Senate rather than directly to the executive officers' offices.
I like it that Ben wants a tidy system of checks and balances. I like it (in theory) that Ben wants to perhaps prioritize giving money to student groups over putting money into functional computers for ASUC staff. The SQUELCH! party, indeed, does stand for giving money to publications and activity groups and whatnot rather than indulging the whims of elected officials.
The problem is that, well, the current computer situation in the office just plain sucks. Sucks goat balls. Twice. It very literally inhibits productivity. Second, if the money doesn't go to capital improvement, it'll probably end up going to some lame campus special interest whom I don't really care to support, rather than, say, a particular humor magazine. Third, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the idea that Ben takes his job this seriously. It's like finding out that your daughter has decided to marry a circus clown...you'll ultimately grow to love him, but for now you're just a little confused.
Lastly, I need 120 smackaroos to get a new web host for the year, and I was hoping to get that money directly from the aforementioned commercial fund. Will I have to get the money from the Senate now? Do I have to write a bill? Do I have to get it sponsored? I'm confused. I need that money by the first week of January. On the bright side, if I do indeed need to go through the Senate, maybe I'll throw in a rider on the bill demanding that Wednesdays be officially declared "Pantsless Wednesdays" by the ASUC.
More as it comes in.
(0) comments
Now you can also buy the soundtrack for Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic." Along with the usual Mark Mothersbaugh genius, and some tracks from David Bowie and Devo and the Zombies and Joan Baez, the real cake-taker is Sau Jorge's renditions of David Bowie classics in Portuguese. When I saw the film and heard the acousitc-only Jorge version of "Life on Mars," I nearly shed a tear.
This one is on the top of my Christmas list, as should it be on yours.
(0) comments
No more homework, no more books, no more teachers' exhilarating lectures
Rebecca C. Brown as of 2:13 this morning, Pacific Standard Time, was finished with all academic obligations of the Fall semester for 2004.
I had two final assignments this semester; both were 5-7 page take home essays; one actually had an impact on my grade.
To all my engineering/physics/mathematics/CS major friends, I can only concede that humanities students really are pieces of shit.
Good luck on your (*snicker*) finals!
(0) comments
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Mike Davis has some good points. That, and a free money machine
Wouldn’t it be awesome if my great-great-grandfather (Giocchino Tomasello) had invested some money away for my retirement? I’d be like a millionaire! With that much money I could squirrel away a bunch of money for my great-great-grandson. Obviously, this speculation isn’t really that useful because, without money, there’s no obvious way I can go about becoming a millionaire. Certainly borrowing is out of the question!
It would be better if instead of paying for the current retirees, each generation invested their money for their own. That way the money would sit around for 40 years and gain interest. But then, I suppose it would be even better for the money to sit around two generations and gain even more interest! In this much I can agree with Mike when he suggests that we try to move to a system where people’s money sit around gaining interest instead of the one we have now. The problem is getting there while in debt. Republicans suggest we borrow money.
Mike Davis says “in any 30 span of history you care to look at, a total stock market fund significantly out performs the government mandated interest payments on a person’s contribution to SS”. Mike, along with Republican law-makers, leads us to draw the conclusion that investing the money in stocks would be better than the system we have now. This seems obvious! Why is it that this obvious conclusion indicates that the Republicans have a magical enchanted system for producing absolutely 100% free money? It takes a little bit of economics to explain:
How do government bond interest rates get set? The answer is those infamous “invisible hands”. The government wants you to buy its bonds so it can make money. It goes out and offers the lowest interest rates investors will put up with. Bamn! Capitalism is awesome.
Now, the Republican federal deficit is growing every year. So, if you wanted to take money out of SS to put into stocks while maintaining benefits, you’d have to raise the money through selling bonds (mostly to China). So really, it’s only going to save us money if stocks do better than bonds.
Until recently investors seemed to habitually undervalue stocks in favor of bonds. This looks like a good old-fashioned market inefficiency. We could take advantage of that. The problem is that market inefficiencies tend not to last too long after they’ve been caught. As soon as people realize that stocks are better than bonds, the government finds it has to offer higher interest bonds to entice people to buy. Meanwhile, stocks get more expensive as stock buyers have to compete with all those guys who used to foolishly stuff their money into bonds. There are a lot of indications that this switch has already happed: stocks price to earning’s ratios have gotten a lot higher in recent years.
To believe that we can make money by switching to stocks you’ve got to believe that the market inefficiency is going to persist. That no one who buys bonds is going to decide to go into stocks instead. If you believe that then you can create 100% free money as follows:
- Have the government raise one trillion dollars through the sale of bonds
- Invest the one trillion dollars in the stock market
- Wait
- Sell all the stocks
- Buy back the bonds.
- Count your free money. On average it should be equal to $1,000,000,000,000 * (stock rate of return – bond rate of return) * time you waited
Indeed, the whole plan is to assume that the debt government takes on, trillions and trillions of Republican debt, will made up for by the extra money people get from stocks. But here’s the kicker: if you assume the projection used to forecast social security troubles, stocks will end up doing too poorly to break even. Not to mention the fact that plan involves additional risk for each individual senior. (Sorry you invested in Enron! They looked solid!)
In normal times I would expect Republicans would show some balls like the Democrats did in 1982 and actually start raising Social Security investment or reduce benefits. I’d expect them to try to pay back the deficit like Clinton did so we could have some real option in making social security stronger. If they really believed their plan will work I would have expected Republicans (like Greenspan) to support Clinton’s proposal to move 15% of SS’s surplus into stocks. But we do not live in normal times. Sadly, we live in interesting ones.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Don't they care that I'm trying to write a paper?
I'm in the Wheeler MCF right now, attempting to complete in 30 minutes what I've had four weeks to do (namely, my American Studies final paper), and from here I can hear that some people with megaphones are protesting outside Califronia Hall, demanding the Chancellor. I can only assume that this has to do with the Multicultural Center, but our protesters need to work on their diction. The script goes like this:
"What do we want?"
"Figly rephun botter nougret!"
"When do we want it?"
"Now!!!"
Since I had to leave the Senate meeting last night at a very early 10pm (to, you know, work on my paper), I never found out what conclusion my elected representatives came to about the MCC. I do know that Karen Kenny, Dean of Students, mentioned that if the Senate could not come to an agreement and vote in favor of the MCC last night, the Chancellor would choose to seize Heller Lounge (which is in MLK, and ASUC building) and force us to put the MCC there.
Exciting stuff. Hopefully some of my readers in the know can keep us all informed and updated about this MCC madness.
(0) comments
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
It's not like you were putting it to good use anyway.
Wanna share a pint of your blood for a worthy cause (namely, saving people's lives)? I thought so. There's a Red Cross blood drive in Pauley Ballroom (fourth floor of MLK Student Union) tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. I'll be there at about 12:30 to do my part.
Afraid of having a needle poked into your arm and having and eighth of your most important body fluid extracted from your pale, quivering body? Get over it. I promise that it's painless, and not just compared to getting your tragus pierced. It very honestly does not hurt one bit, and not once have I experienced bruising, dizziness, or nausea afterward.
Plus, if you plan on drinking Thursday night, think how much easier it will be to get sloshed when you're only running on 87.5% of your tank....Just kidding. Don't do that.
Who's gonna give me a nickel every time a nurse compliments me on my enormous arm veins? Anyone? Paul?
(0) comments
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Lured into the Dark Side
Mark this day in human events as nothing short of revolutionary. Rebecca C. Brown has joined facebook. Note, though, that I have joined strictly for work-related purposes. My ASUC Street Team is going to have a facebook group by next semester, and it would be downright hyprocritical of me if I weren't "in." If I haven't invited you to do so yet, and if you're semi-cool, I encourage you to be my friend.
Jesus, this is sad.
(0) comments
Monday, December 06, 2004
Does anyone know of a good FDR biography?
A co-worker at my new job and I got into a political conversation the other day. He said that I seemed to be unusually optimistic considering the Republicans controlled the government. I responded that it’s not enough to win elections; you have to be right, too. The New Deal radically changed America and created a lasting political majority for a generation, but not because FDR was a good politician. It persisted because FDR was right. Though it isn’t universally the case, as long as democracy isn’t undermined too much, the party whose backward policies weaken their country will soon be tossed out on their asses no matter how good their PR is.
Oh, we tried to stop the fundamentalists from having their turn at bat and in that, we failed. I’d almost be glad to stop hearing their incessant whining from the bench, if it wasn’t for the fact that our team really needs a homer. But anyhow, it’s time for them to face the pitcher, and I wouldn’t be a liberal if I didn’t expect them to strike out.
In conclusion, FDR was handicapped and thus could not play baseball.
(0) comments
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Turns out that "Shabbat" loosely translates as "sabbath."
Who knew? Further, who knew that people tend to hold religious ceremonies on said sabbath? Life is full of wonderous mystery.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 02, 2004
C'mon, Senator Narodick. You have a good point and all, but...
**Update** Ben didn't write a bill...he filed an injunction. Big difference. My mistake. Reading is hard for my brain.
Ben Narodick, my good friend from the Heuristic Squelch and all-around fun guy, has written a bill that freezes Commercial Revenue Funds for the President and EVP until some "issues" are "resolved" by "people." In short, Misha Leybovich and Christine Lee have wisely decided to use some money from the Student Store to invest in computer equipment for the ASUC offices. It's not much money, and the computers are I think about twenty yeard old. (The moniters are five inches across and we do data input with punchcards. No kidding.) Ben wants that money to go through the Senate rather than directly to the executive officers' offices.
I like it that Ben wants a tidy system of checks and balances. I like it (in theory) that Ben wants to perhaps prioritize giving money to student groups over putting money into functional computers for ASUC staff. The SQUELCH! party, indeed, does stand for giving money to publications and activity groups and whatnot rather than indulging the whims of elected officials.
The problem is that, well, the current computer situation in the office just plain sucks. Sucks goat balls. Twice. It very literally inhibits productivity. Second, if the money doesn't go to capital improvement, it'll probably end up going to some lame campus special interest whom I don't really care to support, rather than, say, a particular humor magazine. Third, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the idea that Ben takes his job this seriously. It's like finding out that your daughter has decided to marry a circus clown...you'll ultimately grow to love him, but for now you're just a little confused.
Lastly, I need 120 smackaroos to get a new web host for the year, and I was hoping to get that money directly from the aforementioned commercial fund. Will I have to get the money from the Senate now? Do I have to write a bill? Do I have to get it sponsored? I'm confused. I need that money by the first week of January. On the bright side, if I do indeed need to go through the Senate, maybe I'll throw in a rider on the bill demanding that Wednesdays be officially declared "Pantsless Wednesdays" by the ASUC.
More as it comes in.
(0) comments
Wouldn’t it be awesome if my great-great-grandfather (Giocchino Tomasello) had invested some money away for my retirement? I’d be like a millionaire! With that much money I could squirrel away a bunch of money for my great-great-grandson. Obviously, this speculation isn’t really that useful because, without money, there’s no obvious way I can go about becoming a millionaire. Certainly borrowing is out of the question!
It would be better if instead of paying for the current retirees, each generation invested their money for their own. That way the money would sit around for 40 years and gain interest. But then, I suppose it would be even better for the money to sit around two generations and gain even more interest! In this much I can agree with Mike when he suggests that we try to move to a system where people’s money sit around gaining interest instead of the one we have now. The problem is getting there while in debt. Republicans suggest we borrow money.
Mike Davis says “in any 30 span of history you care to look at, a total stock market fund significantly out performs the government mandated interest payments on a person’s contribution to SS”. Mike, along with Republican law-makers, leads us to draw the conclusion that investing the money in stocks would be better than the system we have now. This seems obvious! Why is it that this obvious conclusion indicates that the Republicans have a magical enchanted system for producing absolutely 100% free money? It takes a little bit of economics to explain:
How do government bond interest rates get set? The answer is those infamous “invisible hands”. The government wants you to buy its bonds so it can make money. It goes out and offers the lowest interest rates investors will put up with. Bamn! Capitalism is awesome.
Now, the Republican federal deficit is growing every year. So, if you wanted to take money out of SS to put into stocks while maintaining benefits, you’d have to raise the money through selling bonds (mostly to China). So really, it’s only going to save us money if stocks do better than bonds.
Until recently investors seemed to habitually undervalue stocks in favor of bonds. This looks like a good old-fashioned market inefficiency. We could take advantage of that. The problem is that market inefficiencies tend not to last too long after they’ve been caught. As soon as people realize that stocks are better than bonds, the government finds it has to offer higher interest bonds to entice people to buy. Meanwhile, stocks get more expensive as stock buyers have to compete with all those guys who used to foolishly stuff their money into bonds. There are a lot of indications that this switch has already happed: stocks price to earning’s ratios have gotten a lot higher in recent years.
To believe that we can make money by switching to stocks you’ve got to believe that the market inefficiency is going to persist. That no one who buys bonds is going to decide to go into stocks instead. If you believe that then you can create 100% free money as follows:
- Have the government raise one trillion dollars through the sale of bonds
- Invest the one trillion dollars in the stock market
- Wait
- Sell all the stocks
- Buy back the bonds.
- Count your free money. On average it should be equal to $1,000,000,000,000 * (stock rate of return – bond rate of return) * time you waited
Indeed, the whole plan is to assume that the debt government takes on, trillions and trillions of Republican debt, will made up for by the extra money people get from stocks. But here’s the kicker: if you assume the projection used to forecast social security troubles, stocks will end up doing too poorly to break even. Not to mention the fact that plan involves additional risk for each individual senior. (Sorry you invested in Enron! They looked solid!)
In normal times I would expect Republicans would show some balls like the Democrats did in 1982 and actually start raising Social Security investment or reduce benefits. I’d expect them to try to pay back the deficit like Clinton did so we could have some real option in making social security stronger. If they really believed their plan will work I would have expected Republicans (like Greenspan) to support Clinton’s proposal to move 15% of SS’s surplus into stocks. But we do not live in normal times. Sadly, we live in interesting ones.
(0) comments
Don't they care that I'm trying to write a paper?
I'm in the Wheeler MCF right now, attempting to complete in 30 minutes what I've had four weeks to do (namely, my American Studies final paper), and from here I can hear that some people with megaphones are protesting outside Califronia Hall, demanding the Chancellor. I can only assume that this has to do with the Multicultural Center, but our protesters need to work on their diction. The script goes like this:
"What do we want?"
"Figly rephun botter nougret!"
"When do we want it?"
"Now!!!"
Since I had to leave the Senate meeting last night at a very early 10pm (to, you know, work on my paper), I never found out what conclusion my elected representatives came to about the MCC. I do know that Karen Kenny, Dean of Students, mentioned that if the Senate could not come to an agreement and vote in favor of the MCC last night, the Chancellor would choose to seize Heller Lounge (which is in MLK, and ASUC building) and force us to put the MCC there.
Exciting stuff. Hopefully some of my readers in the know can keep us all informed and updated about this MCC madness.
(0) comments
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
It's not like you were putting it to good use anyway.
Wanna share a pint of your blood for a worthy cause (namely, saving people's lives)? I thought so. There's a Red Cross blood drive in Pauley Ballroom (fourth floor of MLK Student Union) tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. I'll be there at about 12:30 to do my part.
Afraid of having a needle poked into your arm and having and eighth of your most important body fluid extracted from your pale, quivering body? Get over it. I promise that it's painless, and not just compared to getting your tragus pierced. It very honestly does not hurt one bit, and not once have I experienced bruising, dizziness, or nausea afterward.
Plus, if you plan on drinking Thursday night, think how much easier it will be to get sloshed when you're only running on 87.5% of your tank....Just kidding. Don't do that.
Who's gonna give me a nickel every time a nurse compliments me on my enormous arm veins? Anyone? Paul?
(0) comments
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Lured into the Dark Side
Mark this day in human events as nothing short of revolutionary. Rebecca C. Brown has joined facebook. Note, though, that I have joined strictly for work-related purposes. My ASUC Street Team is going to have a facebook group by next semester, and it would be downright hyprocritical of me if I weren't "in." If I haven't invited you to do so yet, and if you're semi-cool, I encourage you to be my friend.
Jesus, this is sad.
(0) comments
Monday, December 06, 2004
Does anyone know of a good FDR biography?
A co-worker at my new job and I got into a political conversation the other day. He said that I seemed to be unusually optimistic considering the Republicans controlled the government. I responded that it’s not enough to win elections; you have to be right, too. The New Deal radically changed America and created a lasting political majority for a generation, but not because FDR was a good politician. It persisted because FDR was right. Though it isn’t universally the case, as long as democracy isn’t undermined too much, the party whose backward policies weaken their country will soon be tossed out on their asses no matter how good their PR is.
Oh, we tried to stop the fundamentalists from having their turn at bat and in that, we failed. I’d almost be glad to stop hearing their incessant whining from the bench, if it wasn’t for the fact that our team really needs a homer. But anyhow, it’s time for them to face the pitcher, and I wouldn’t be a liberal if I didn’t expect them to strike out.
In conclusion, FDR was handicapped and thus could not play baseball.
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Saturday, December 04, 2004
Turns out that "Shabbat" loosely translates as "sabbath."
Who knew? Further, who knew that people tend to hold religious ceremonies on said sabbath? Life is full of wonderous mystery.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 02, 2004
C'mon, Senator Narodick. You have a good point and all, but...
**Update** Ben didn't write a bill...he filed an injunction. Big difference. My mistake. Reading is hard for my brain.
Ben Narodick, my good friend from the Heuristic Squelch and all-around fun guy, has written a bill that freezes Commercial Revenue Funds for the President and EVP until some "issues" are "resolved" by "people." In short, Misha Leybovich and Christine Lee have wisely decided to use some money from the Student Store to invest in computer equipment for the ASUC offices. It's not much money, and the computers are I think about twenty yeard old. (The moniters are five inches across and we do data input with punchcards. No kidding.) Ben wants that money to go through the Senate rather than directly to the executive officers' offices.
I like it that Ben wants a tidy system of checks and balances. I like it (in theory) that Ben wants to perhaps prioritize giving money to student groups over putting money into functional computers for ASUC staff. The SQUELCH! party, indeed, does stand for giving money to publications and activity groups and whatnot rather than indulging the whims of elected officials.
The problem is that, well, the current computer situation in the office just plain sucks. Sucks goat balls. Twice. It very literally inhibits productivity. Second, if the money doesn't go to capital improvement, it'll probably end up going to some lame campus special interest whom I don't really care to support, rather than, say, a particular humor magazine. Third, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the idea that Ben takes his job this seriously. It's like finding out that your daughter has decided to marry a circus clown...you'll ultimately grow to love him, but for now you're just a little confused.
Lastly, I need 120 smackaroos to get a new web host for the year, and I was hoping to get that money directly from the aforementioned commercial fund. Will I have to get the money from the Senate now? Do I have to write a bill? Do I have to get it sponsored? I'm confused. I need that money by the first week of January. On the bright side, if I do indeed need to go through the Senate, maybe I'll throw in a rider on the bill demanding that Wednesdays be officially declared "Pantsless Wednesdays" by the ASUC.
More as it comes in.
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Wanna share a pint of your blood for a worthy cause (namely, saving people's lives)? I thought so. There's a Red Cross blood drive in Pauley Ballroom (fourth floor of MLK Student Union) tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. I'll be there at about 12:30 to do my part.
Afraid of having a needle poked into your arm and having and eighth of your most important body fluid extracted from your pale, quivering body? Get over it. I promise that it's painless, and not just compared to getting your tragus pierced. It very honestly does not hurt one bit, and not once have I experienced bruising, dizziness, or nausea afterward.
Plus, if you plan on drinking Thursday night, think how much easier it will be to get sloshed when you're only running on 87.5% of your tank....Just kidding. Don't do that.
Who's gonna give me a nickel every time a nurse compliments me on my enormous arm veins? Anyone? Paul?
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Lured into the Dark Side
Mark this day in human events as nothing short of revolutionary. Rebecca C. Brown has joined facebook. Note, though, that I have joined strictly for work-related purposes. My ASUC Street Team is going to have a facebook group by next semester, and it would be downright hyprocritical of me if I weren't "in." If I haven't invited you to do so yet, and if you're semi-cool, I encourage you to be my friend.
Jesus, this is sad.
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Monday, December 06, 2004
Does anyone know of a good FDR biography?
A co-worker at my new job and I got into a political conversation the other day. He said that I seemed to be unusually optimistic considering the Republicans controlled the government. I responded that it’s not enough to win elections; you have to be right, too. The New Deal radically changed America and created a lasting political majority for a generation, but not because FDR was a good politician. It persisted because FDR was right. Though it isn’t universally the case, as long as democracy isn’t undermined too much, the party whose backward policies weaken their country will soon be tossed out on their asses no matter how good their PR is.
Oh, we tried to stop the fundamentalists from having their turn at bat and in that, we failed. I’d almost be glad to stop hearing their incessant whining from the bench, if it wasn’t for the fact that our team really needs a homer. But anyhow, it’s time for them to face the pitcher, and I wouldn’t be a liberal if I didn’t expect them to strike out.
In conclusion, FDR was handicapped and thus could not play baseball.
(0) comments
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Turns out that "Shabbat" loosely translates as "sabbath."
Who knew? Further, who knew that people tend to hold religious ceremonies on said sabbath? Life is full of wonderous mystery.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 02, 2004
C'mon, Senator Narodick. You have a good point and all, but...
**Update** Ben didn't write a bill...he filed an injunction. Big difference. My mistake. Reading is hard for my brain.
Ben Narodick, my good friend from the Heuristic Squelch and all-around fun guy, has written a bill that freezes Commercial Revenue Funds for the President and EVP until some "issues" are "resolved" by "people." In short, Misha Leybovich and Christine Lee have wisely decided to use some money from the Student Store to invest in computer equipment for the ASUC offices. It's not much money, and the computers are I think about twenty yeard old. (The moniters are five inches across and we do data input with punchcards. No kidding.) Ben wants that money to go through the Senate rather than directly to the executive officers' offices.
I like it that Ben wants a tidy system of checks and balances. I like it (in theory) that Ben wants to perhaps prioritize giving money to student groups over putting money into functional computers for ASUC staff. The SQUELCH! party, indeed, does stand for giving money to publications and activity groups and whatnot rather than indulging the whims of elected officials.
The problem is that, well, the current computer situation in the office just plain sucks. Sucks goat balls. Twice. It very literally inhibits productivity. Second, if the money doesn't go to capital improvement, it'll probably end up going to some lame campus special interest whom I don't really care to support, rather than, say, a particular humor magazine. Third, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the idea that Ben takes his job this seriously. It's like finding out that your daughter has decided to marry a circus clown...you'll ultimately grow to love him, but for now you're just a little confused.
Lastly, I need 120 smackaroos to get a new web host for the year, and I was hoping to get that money directly from the aforementioned commercial fund. Will I have to get the money from the Senate now? Do I have to write a bill? Do I have to get it sponsored? I'm confused. I need that money by the first week of January. On the bright side, if I do indeed need to go through the Senate, maybe I'll throw in a rider on the bill demanding that Wednesdays be officially declared "Pantsless Wednesdays" by the ASUC.
More as it comes in.
(0) comments
A co-worker at my new job and I got into a political conversation the other day. He said that I seemed to be unusually optimistic considering the Republicans controlled the government. I responded that it’s not enough to win elections; you have to be right, too. The New Deal radically changed America and created a lasting political majority for a generation, but not because FDR was a good politician. It persisted because FDR was right. Though it isn’t universally the case, as long as democracy isn’t undermined too much, the party whose backward policies weaken their country will soon be tossed out on their asses no matter how good their PR is.
Oh, we tried to stop the fundamentalists from having their turn at bat and in that, we failed. I’d almost be glad to stop hearing their incessant whining from the bench, if it wasn’t for the fact that our team really needs a homer. But anyhow, it’s time for them to face the pitcher, and I wouldn’t be a liberal if I didn’t expect them to strike out.
In conclusion, FDR was handicapped and thus could not play baseball.
(0) comments
Turns out that "Shabbat" loosely translates as "sabbath."
Who knew? Further, who knew that people tend to hold religious ceremonies on said sabbath? Life is full of wonderous mystery.
(0) comments
Thursday, December 02, 2004
C'mon, Senator Narodick. You have a good point and all, but...
**Update** Ben didn't write a bill...he filed an injunction. Big difference. My mistake. Reading is hard for my brain.
Ben Narodick, my good friend from the Heuristic Squelch and all-around fun guy, has written a bill that freezes Commercial Revenue Funds for the President and EVP until some "issues" are "resolved" by "people." In short, Misha Leybovich and Christine Lee have wisely decided to use some money from the Student Store to invest in computer equipment for the ASUC offices. It's not much money, and the computers are I think about twenty yeard old. (The moniters are five inches across and we do data input with punchcards. No kidding.) Ben wants that money to go through the Senate rather than directly to the executive officers' offices.
I like it that Ben wants a tidy system of checks and balances. I like it (in theory) that Ben wants to perhaps prioritize giving money to student groups over putting money into functional computers for ASUC staff. The SQUELCH! party, indeed, does stand for giving money to publications and activity groups and whatnot rather than indulging the whims of elected officials.
The problem is that, well, the current computer situation in the office just plain sucks. Sucks goat balls. Twice. It very literally inhibits productivity. Second, if the money doesn't go to capital improvement, it'll probably end up going to some lame campus special interest whom I don't really care to support, rather than, say, a particular humor magazine. Third, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the idea that Ben takes his job this seriously. It's like finding out that your daughter has decided to marry a circus clown...you'll ultimately grow to love him, but for now you're just a little confused.
Lastly, I need 120 smackaroos to get a new web host for the year, and I was hoping to get that money directly from the aforementioned commercial fund. Will I have to get the money from the Senate now? Do I have to write a bill? Do I have to get it sponsored? I'm confused. I need that money by the first week of January. On the bright side, if I do indeed need to go through the Senate, maybe I'll throw in a rider on the bill demanding that Wednesdays be officially declared "Pantsless Wednesdays" by the ASUC.
More as it comes in.
(0) comments
**Update** Ben didn't write a bill...he filed an injunction. Big difference. My mistake. Reading is hard for my brain.
Ben Narodick, my good friend from the Heuristic Squelch and all-around fun guy, has written a bill that freezes Commercial Revenue Funds for the President and EVP until some "issues" are "resolved" by "people." In short, Misha Leybovich and Christine Lee have wisely decided to use some money from the Student Store to invest in computer equipment for the ASUC offices. It's not much money, and the computers are I think about twenty yeard old. (The moniters are five inches across and we do data input with punchcards. No kidding.) Ben wants that money to go through the Senate rather than directly to the executive officers' offices.
I like it that Ben wants a tidy system of checks and balances. I like it (in theory) that Ben wants to perhaps prioritize giving money to student groups over putting money into functional computers for ASUC staff. The SQUELCH! party, indeed, does stand for giving money to publications and activity groups and whatnot rather than indulging the whims of elected officials.
The problem is that, well, the current computer situation in the office just plain sucks. Sucks goat balls. Twice. It very literally inhibits productivity. Second, if the money doesn't go to capital improvement, it'll probably end up going to some lame campus special interest whom I don't really care to support, rather than, say, a particular humor magazine. Third, I'm not quite comfortable yet with the idea that Ben takes his job this seriously. It's like finding out that your daughter has decided to marry a circus clown...you'll ultimately grow to love him, but for now you're just a little confused.
Lastly, I need 120 smackaroos to get a new web host for the year, and I was hoping to get that money directly from the aforementioned commercial fund. Will I have to get the money from the Senate now? Do I have to write a bill? Do I have to get it sponsored? I'm confused. I need that money by the first week of January. On the bright side, if I do indeed need to go through the Senate, maybe I'll throw in a rider on the bill demanding that Wednesdays be officially declared "Pantsless Wednesdays" by the ASUC.
More as it comes in.
(0) comments