Agreeing with a Republican

I never thought it would happen but a recent column in The Cornell Daily Sun captured my anger and position on where stimulus money should and shouldn't be spent. All that and it was written by a Republican. Well, enjoy the article and here is hoping for a better tomorrow.

Quote of the Post:
The worst generation enjoyed all of the fruits and plenty of the labor, hardship and sacrifice of those that came before.... Despite that privilege, they’ve indulged this nation in social values that should make us all cringe: a greedy pursuit of unlimited individual financial accumulation, mocking of collective rights and responsibilities, militarism over intellectualism, and war in the name of democracy. To that worst generation, I ask: please stop squandering our future.
- Matthew Ricchiazzi, The Cornell Daily Sun

Depression II and the Dark Ages

I feel like I'm either in the dark ages or the 1930s and neither one is particularly appealing. It's appeared for a number of weeks at least that this is a true depression rather then a recession. I wonder if a renaming is in order. You know how the Great War got renamed WWI when we (we as in humanity) were stupid enough to have a second one? Well here we managed to debt ourselves into a possibly even worse depression the the original. Guess we don't learn very well.

Well, as to what really inspired this early morning rant. My quote of the post was the NY Times quote of the day. It actually made me sit back with my jaw hanging. I know there are men that still think that way but wow, really? A public official not only said that but implemented such a program. Our welfare system looks so modern and supportive now. And I'd like to point out, relating back to the first topic, exactly how many female CEOs have you seen coming for stimulus money and have to come back again because they spent it on bonuses? None, really? Yeah, me too. Must be becuase they are so fiscally irresponsible. Anyway, love to all and have a great day.

Oh, wait. One last question. Is the US paying for this great new welfare system in Baghdad? Yes would be my guess, but I'll have to look into that.

Quote of the Post:
If we give the money to the widows, they will spend it unwisely because they are uneducated and they don’t know about budgeting. But if we find her a husband, there will be a person in charge of her and her children for the rest of their lives.
- Mazin al-Shihan, director of a city agency in Baghdad, on his plan to pay men to marry Iraqi war widows

Speed Dating

So I tried out a whole new world last night, speed dating. I had more dates in an hour and half then I've had in the last year! 25 in total I think, bit overwhelming by the end but I had a good time. Went with a couple of friends. It was hosted by the grad program but half the girls were from the vet school; yep, we are male deprived. Haven't heard if I matched with anyone, but it was a good time either way.

I also managed to somehow break the "," on my keyboard. It won't fully depress and I have to press it hard at a specific angle to get it to work at all. I never realized how often I use commas until now.

Quote of the Post:
Interjections (Hey!) show excitement (Yow!) or emotion (Ouch!).
They're generally set apart from a sentence by an exclamation point,
Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.
- Schoolhouse Rock!

Testing the iTouch

I am trying out a new toy, which I hope will let me keep in touch and even blog while I travel Australia. This program should allow for picture uploads soon. If not guess I'll change to blogpress but it costs a lot more. I spent all night shopping for fun applications but now I am out of time to try them. Ces't la vie. Guess there is always tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Gone ... to the Gym

So every year I make a bunch of resolutions but never seem to keep them. This year I decided not to make any and yet, for some reason, I felt inspired to join the school's gym this morning. We get a foot of snow dumped on us, so, logically, I decide to get up early, shovel myself out and go to the gym. Despite the weather, it felt good to get out and exercise. I haven't had time since clinics started a year ago so I hope that I keep this up. Maybe I'll slim down by graduation, that would be nice.

Yesterday I had my first (and hopefully last) photo shoot. You can catch my great look in the law school's spring edition of the alumni magazine, complete with interview. Yep, I'm a celeb ... "This morning I caught up with Lena for coffee at the vet school coffee cart. She seemed relaxed in her white coat complete with stethoscope and I just had to ask ...." ;-)

Anyway, hope you are all doing well despite the weather and economy. I've high hopes that Obama might come through on some of his talk; what a concept for a president!

Quote of the Post:
Step into any supermarket and you're accosted with stupidity. Has anyone ever wondered why magazines feature the same celebrities at every single checkout counter? Why not a magazine about finding a cure for leukemia? Or a magazine about solving world hunger?
- The Genius Club

I PASSED BOARDS!!!

I just found out that I passed the NAVLE, North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. This means I'll be a licensed doctor when I graduate, one who can actually write prescriptions, do surgery and charge money to see patients! Yep, a real doctor. I really thought that I was going to fail since I never actually studied. There was too much going on with clinics and I had tough rotations right before the test. I did manage to complete about 25 vetprep questions, but seeing as your suppose to do about 2000 questions two times each to study, I was a little short. I guess sitting through all those lectures, I learned something. A thank you to the great professors at my school for that! Well, now I just have to reconquer the MPRE and learn to conquer the NY and Mass bar exams.

Quote of the Post:
Personally, I have always felt the best doctor in the world is the veterinarian. He can't ask his patients what is the matter — he's got to just know.
- Will Rogers

Australia - Here I Come

One of the places I've always wanted to go is Australia! It's a country, continent and island complete with animals and plants like no where else. I even have family there; my uncle and his kids are there in the Brisbane area so I'll have a home base for my month of exploration. The problem is there are too many things I want to see - the Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, the Red Center/Alice Springs area and even Darwin. I think I'm going to just have to forget seeing Perth and the Western half if I'm even going to see half of what I want. Anyone who's been or knows someone there - I'd love advice and tips.



Quote of the Post:
AUSTRALIA, n. A country lying in the South Sea, whose industrial and commercial development has been unspeakably retarded by an unfortunate dispute among geographers as to whether it is a continent or an island.
- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

Man in Black: You've made your decision then?
Vizzini: Not remotely. Because iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me. So I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you.
Man in Black: Truly you have a dizzying intellect.
Vizzini: Wait 'til I get going... where was I?
Man in Black: Australia.
Vizzini: Yes, Australia, and you must have suspected I would have known the powder's origin, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
- The Princess Bride