(no subject)

... and 30 minutes later, I'm done with my Archaeology final! Seriously, I was far from the first to go. I took lots of time reading each question and the corresponding answers, I even went back to check all my answers and ponder the ones I wasn't sure of. Half of the class was already gone by the time I left. And my next final (3 long essay questions) isn't until 4:30pm, so even if I can't find the accessible path to the pool, I have plenty of time to slowly walk up and down the torturous stairs.

So I've had time these last 24 minutes to peruse my LJ friends list, read a couple of linked articles and hey, now I can share one from Michael Moore's blog courtesy of amecia regarding the BIG 3 BAILOUT LOAN, TOTALLY A LOAN:

Let me just state the obvious: Every single dollar Congress gives these three companies will be flushed right down the toilet. There is nothing the management teams of the Big 3 are going to do to convince people to go out during a recession and buy their big, gas-guzzling, inferior products. Just forget it. And, as sure as I am that the Ford family-owned Detroit Lions are not going to the Super Bowl -- ever -- I can guarantee you, after they burn through this $34 billion, they'll be back for another $34 billion next summer.

So what to do? Members of Congress, here's what I propose:

1. Transporting Americans is and should be one of the most important functions our government must address. And because we are facing a massive economic, energy and environmental crisis, the new president and Congress must do what Franklin Roosevelt did when he was faced with a crisis (and ordered the auto industry to stop building cars and instead build tanks and planes): The Big 3 are, from this point forward, to build only cars that are not primarily dependent on oil and, more importantly to build trains, buses, subways and light rail (a corresponding public works project across the country will build the rail lines and tracks). This will not only save jobs, but create millions of new ones.

2. You could buy ALL the common shares of stock in General Motors for less than $3 billion. Why should we give GM $18 billion or $25 billion or anything? Take the money and buy the company! (You're going to demand collateral anyway if you give them the "loan," and because we know they will default on that loan, you're going to own the company in the end as it is. So why wait? Just buy them out now.)

3. None of us want government officials running a car company, but there are some very smart transportation geniuses who could be hired to do this. We need a Marshall Plan to switch us off oil-dependent vehicles and get us into the 21st century.

This proposal is not radical or rocket science. It just takes one of the smartest people ever to run for the presidency to pull it off. What I'm proposing has worked before. The national rail system was in shambles in the '70s. The government took it over. A decade later it was turning a profit, so the government returned it to private/public hands, and got a couple billion dollars put back in the treasury.

This proposal will save our industrial infrastructure -- and millions of jobs. More importantly, it will create millions more. It literally could pull us out of this recession.

Yes, it could. If we had had a government willing to make such demands. Maybe by summer, they will. *sighs* But we all know how likely that's going to be. Our crap-tastic Democratically controlled Congress doesn't seem to do much lately that's for anyone's benefit except a handful of excessively wealthy individuals. But we'll hope that somehow this proposal makes it into the minds of people who can implement the changes needed. We could forward this letter to our representatives and senators for a start, right?

Oh, and we've been watching a lot of episodes of The Office and funny enough, on the homebirth community someone posted a link to Melora Hadin (a.k.a. Jan) and her experiences with attachment parenting and breastfeeding. I know birthing doesn't appeal to everyone, but I liked seeing someone in the mainstream talking about both of these topics--and even mentioning the Sears books!--and being open. I may have most of two years left to finish my B.A., but my midwifery dreams are still floating about. ^_^

Swimming

I went swimming at the IMA this morning. Forty minutes of work later, and I came out of the water shaky, hungry, and barely able to lift my arms. It was wonderful! Craig acquiesced to my request for pho, and it hit the spot. You'd think I wouldn't still be thirsty, but I am. I'll get tea before the last final, but now I study!

Oh yeah, totally sent from my iPhone.