Month: November 2005

Save Douglass Again

And the banter about saving Douglass College continues.

The only problem I have with all this is there IS not Douglass College. All that exists today is a women’s residential experience. Douglass College students attend class with men, go to the dining hall with men, ride the buses around New Brunswick with men, and generally have a collegiate experience that otherwise includes men with the exception of single sex dorms. If everyone wants to have a women’s college, that’s a great thing. But let’s not pretend that Douglass College is that women’s college.

News

Another Money Giveaway

Few of my friends would doubt my progressive bonafides. So when I react with dismay to another article that promises a money give-away to Third World countries, you might be surprised.

Take the latest plan on expanding digital technology.

The Geneva summit disappointed many countries after the rich nations failed to back a Digital Solidarity Fund.

The fund, intended to help finance technology projects in developing countries, was formally launched earlier this year.

The voluntary fund has so far only raised $6.4m (£3.68m) in cash and pledges, so the UN will be hoping to encourage more contributions.

I can only imagine what would happen with yet more large dollar grants handed off to ineffective developing nation governments. These funds have a history of overpromising and underdelivering. In order to make a difference, initiatives around micro loans and volunteer programs such as Geek Corps that have the largest potential to foster on the ground improvements in the quality of life for residents in developing nations. The countries themselves simply don’t have the infrastructure to disburse large sums of money effectively, nor, in many cases, does the political will exist to try. Using even a franction of that money to further expand these kinds of initiatives would go a long way.

News

Post author By cdymek
Post date November 27, 2005
No Comments on

It’s nice to know our Big Government GOP party still believes in personal responsibility for the most vulnerable among us. The government plans to cut payments effective December 1st for the 54,000 families displaced by Katrina still living in hotels and motels throughout the region, just in time for Christmas. Not to worry, though, because we have the great GOP here to help us out.

Texas Governor Rick Parry stressed that evacuees must take personal responsibility for their welfare and housing.

But wait, maybe everthing’s not so rosy with this scenario.

“However, my great concern is that there is still no long-term housing plan for the hundreds of thousands of Katrina victims who lost everything – including their homes – as a result of the storm,” he added.

But in the Big Gov GOP personal responsibility plan, that’s your problem.

Courtesey of the BBC

News

Tsunami Warning System

A tsunami warning system is being deployed off the coast of Indonesia, finally, in response to the devestation last December. The long overdue system may not have gathered much press attention, but at least it’s happening.

Personal

M.I.A.

I’ve been MIA again, largely due to the hours I’ve been keeping at the office. My first time out as PM, I was handed an upgrade of a vendor software package. While it seemed like it wouldn’t be too difficult initally, I somehow spent over 100 hours in 10 straight days at the office leading up to Thanksgiving. We’re almost there, though, since I now only have to have a few loose ends tidied up, including the budget. I’ve learned on that point that meeting budgets feels a lot like trying to make a square peg fit in a round hole, but that’s all part of the fun.

The layoff watch is in high gear, with speculation likely to pick up in a huge way coming up this week. Any announcement will likely come on Merck’s “Analyst Day” December 15, when we host the investment community and explain our plans to boost the company’s stock in the upcoming year. Rumors abound, with cuts anywhere from 5% – 25% expected, including wholesale shuttering of our bulk chemical manufacturing, among other thoughts.

Nothing like happy thoughts before the holiday.

Personal

Congrats

Congrats to the Little Schrieber, who will be attending Trenton State (TCNJ) for their masters program in English beginning in January.

Personal

December Football

Rutgers will be playing December football after a 44 – 9 win over Cincy today. With the win Rutgers if 7 – 4 overall and is almost certain to get a bowl bid, most likely to the Insight bowl in Phoenix.

Who woudda thunk it? The RUT in a bowl game! I’ve got my plane tickets ready to go to Phoenix.

Personal

Santa Con 2005

As we move in to the holiday season, it’s important to remember to take time to celebrate. And what better way than to partake in Santa Con. That’s right, time for some bawdry tawdry holiday cheer.

Anyone who’s interested should contact me.

Personal

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays of the year. May everyone have a safe and happy one. I know I will, as I’m thankful this is the firs tday in a week and a half that I won’t work, let alone work a 10 – 12 hour day. And it was nice to get a full night’s sleep at that.

Enjoy your turkey today, and have a happy holiday!

Travel

Expedia: My Craziness Ends

Post author By cdymek
Post date November 12, 2005
No Comments on Expedia: My Craziness Ends

I wanted resolution, so I called the hotline number today. The long and short of it – I reconfirmed one of my two reservations, so that one will be honored. I didn’t reconfirm the second, so they’re cancelling it. Is that right? Certainly it’s better than nothing for me, and works out in Expedia’s favor as well.