So this is what regression feels like

The dow fell over 500 points in 3 seconds today. Congress, too afraid of not being re-elected, did not do their job. No one liked the bail out package, but without it, we will cease to be a great society - possibly even a society.

We have made money the means for our exchange. Therefore, it is the lifeblood of our country. We've placed our trust in a piece of paper that is not backed by anything - that only holds value because we believe it does.

Congress just used up any sort of cred they had with the financial sector. Now there is real urgency around passing a bailout package. And that desperation puts taxpayers at an even bigger disadvantage. We were given time to think. Last week, markets held out. This week, I don't think they'll be as patient. They certinely weren't forgiving today.

hilarious

www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

watch it. it'll change your life, in a funny way.

Let's find a good babysitter

I know I don't have kids, but I thought this was a good analogy:

Elections are like finding a good babysitter. You have to trust them enough to leave them with your kid for a couple hours (like we leave the country in the hands of someone for a couple years), but we get to make a choice as to if they get to watch our kids again.

Let's choose someone responsible this time. I'm willing to pay for someone if they can guarantee they won't steal from me, will play educational games with my kids, and know basic emergency proceedures if something bad should happen (ie - someone who will use federal dollars responsibly, who has a realistic view of how to reform our failing education system, and who has the foresight, knowhow and smarts to deal with international and national crisies, natural disasters, and any other difficult thing thrown our way).

No matter who you choose - make sure you trust them. It's your future that's at stake.

I smiled today

Its cold in the office, and I put my scarf over my nose. It smelled like winter. I smiled. I can't wait to see snow again.

Charlie Bit me!

Hilarious!

In today's digital world, its amazing that we can share laughs and moments together. Even if we don't know who we're impacting.

Charlie - thanks for the laugh.

The girl effect

I like this...I wonder if the facts back it up. In my international econ classes, we talked about micro loans being given only to women in the brazillian favallas, because most men didn't use it in ways that improved the economy. When women are given a dollar, children had a higher percentage of staying in school, eating, and being clothed. Interesting. Watch and make your own opinion.

The last time a pic like this was taken in my fam, I was the newborn

The torch has been passed.

White House Unveils $1 Billion Georgia Aid Plan (NYT article)

Piss me off, man.

I understand the need for stable international relations - hell, it was one of my majors. However, do we have $1 billion just lying around? I don't think so...

So, we're going to borrow $1 billion from China and ship it off to Georgia so that Russia doesn't install an undemocratic leader. Then American tax payers can foot the bill for democracy in Georgia, where there will probably be termoil for some time to come because the region will believe that the President of Georgia is just a puppet for the US, and Russia will learn it can just bleed the dollars of the US by creating skirmishes on the outskirts of a region it once dominated.

Yup, my tax dollars hard at work for someone else who doesn't pay taxes and sees their use as manipulative to an entire country's population.

This is imperialsm masked by a moral arguement to "do the right thing". Somebody shoudl define "the right thing" for me really freaking soon.

too amazing for words

The gorge was beautiful, healing. the concerts were just icing on the cake. the band rocked, but the view took my breath away...literally. i didn't have much to say to anyone all weekend, just kept staring at the mountains, the desert, the river. i feel so lucky to have had a moment like this weekend. Its inspired me to really go for this change i want and need...slow and steady.