Graduate School--the First Class

Well I started my first graduate class a few weeks ago, and there are a few things that I noticed:

1. Graduate students don't want to take breaks--they want to leave early (Does taking breaks speed up the clock?).

2. There are very few people in the graduate class compared to my undergraduate class.

3. I find myself drifting off of the main subject because the teacher (I mean lecturer) is doing the same. So I guess I'll read a little bit more and take good notes.

4. "What does feminism have to do with realism and idealism in international relations?" I think my sister-friend to the left of me was not happy at all about the subject.

5. I work from 6:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the evening and start class at 5:30. I'm glad it's just once a week for now.

6. Some of the class was shocked that I had almost completed my research paper--shoo pick a subject you like to talk about, and you'd find it hard to stay within the limits. I need to save this subject and expand on it for my main paper, too [subject undisclosed].

Finally, I am happy that I decided to go and complete my graduate program. I'm still a young, old head LOL.

Support my Tour de Cure--St Louis Area

I will be cycling 50 miles in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure fund-raising event June 17, 2006 in the St Louis area with Team Smooth Run. Please support my ride with a donation by selecting the "Click Here to Sponsor Me" button. Our efforts will help set the pace in the fight against diabetes. So let's get in gear and bike to beat diabetes!
Last year I put in over 500 plus miles training for long rides--now I want to put some money towards a good cause while I ride this spring/summer season.
Click here to Sponsor Me

You may also consider joining a riding team, too, or to learn more about the Tour de Cure effort in your area.

U.S. Republican/Democratic Party President Debt Comparison June 30, 1950 to September 30, 2005

Six Republican Presidents
$17,418,946,823.59 1953-1961 Dwight D. Eisenhower [5]/Cold War
$124,439,418,745.59 1969-1974 Richard Nixon [2] Vietnam War/Cold War
$226,278,000,000.00 1974-1977 Gerald Ford [1]Vietnam War/Cold War
$1,828,701,960,187.32 1981-1989 Ronald Reagan (3)Grenada/Panama Invasion/Cold War
$1,554,057,922,952.06 1989-1993 George H.W. Bush (4)/Cold War/Persian Gulf War/
$2,125,246,249,523.44 2001-present George W. Bush** (2)9-11/Persian Gulf War II/
Total Debt Accumulated
$5,876,142,498,232.00

5 Democratic Presidents
$21,392,462,040.29 1950-1953 Harry S. Truman [4] Korean War/Cold War
$13,178,083,844.25 1961-1963 John F. Kennedy/ Bay of Pigs/ Vietnam War/Cold War
$58,878,736,195.24 1963-1969 Lyndon B. Johnson [3]/ Vietnam War/Cold War
$3,097,869,000,000.00 1977-1981 Jimmy Carter* (1)Iran Hostage Crisis/Cold War
#1,395,974,529,060.68 1993-2001 William Clinton (5) Bosnia & Herzegovina
Total Debt Accumulated
4,565,900,349,100.17
[The difference between Republican and Democrat accumulated debt in the 55 year period is one trillion, three hundred and ten billion, two hundred and forty-two million, one hundred and forty-nine thousand, one hundred and thirty-one hundred dollars and eighty-three cents ($1,310,242,149,131.83). You also have to consider the amount of wars, interventions, and invasions of other countries under each president, and other factors such as changes in technological advances, growth of the economy, dependencies on foreign trade etc that may increase/decrease spending. For example according to a statistical study at http://www.cwc.lsu.edu/cwc/other/stats/warcost.htm the U.S. spent 61 billion dollars in the Gulf War, but was reimbursed 54 billion by coalition countries so the actual U.S. cost was 7 billion dollars. It's a tricky game so I urge you to not accept everything you hear on face value without considering a little homework and see how different your opinion may be compared to just accepting what's portrayed on the news]

I for one don't care what party is in office--I care about what they are doing for us as a people today, and for the future!

Legend:
* = Presidents with the highest accumulated debt
** = Presidents with the second highest accumulated debt
"(1)" = ranking after U.S. debt reached 1 trillion dollars
"[1]" = ranking after U.S. debt reached 1 billion dollars

Note: Study does not indicate whether a party had majority rule over congress.

Data source: Bureau of the Public Debt: Historical Debt Outstanding-Annual http://publicdebt.treas.gov/opd/opdhisto4.htm

The Facts on the U.S. Deficit Snapshot

The National Debt is $8.2 Trillion as of 6 March 2006


Source: http://www.federalbudget.com/

Find out for yourself how our taxes are distributed--avoid political twist and Red Herrings so check out the full disclosure.

Master's Degree for Master Plan

I pondered the thought of continuing on with my education for about five months now, but out of the blue I walked over and register at Webster University. I had planned to obtain a certification in Microsoft; however, I did not feel like driving all over the place or catching the train after work to go into the lab etc. I guess you could say my decision to start my M.A. was out of convenience until you see the price of each class ($810 + Books). Let's see I could have spent $3700 for 4 months or $9720 plus books for two years. I don't know really, but I do know that I am interested in competing for local offices and fighting to catch all the money that trickles down from the government only to return because not enough people are writing the correct grants or creating a income base in the area besides services to improve the conditions of the up and coming citizens who may not realize the game. So I will use the master degree as a resume enhancment to allow me to compete along with my experience and determination with my opponents while enhancing the team of folks currently fighting the game. We are turning rapidly towards a globalization unprecedented and if you take my statement lightly then you may want to read up on how much of America is owned by foreign countries and companies. Let's spin the dial, and set up shop here in the so-called ghettos of America and tap into the global money. I won't disclose my plan yet, but believe me I'm doing my homework. My master degree will be in international relations, my BS is in Workforce Education and Development, my AAS is in Transportation Business Management; however, my heart is with the people. That has always been my charge--to change things for the positive. Look for my petitions and name on the ballots by 2009.

Disclaimer: In no way do I discount the efforts of those out there working hard for the betterment of the nation not those who have come and gone before me--I intend to bring my plan to the table with the same diligence and/or greater than the effort I gave to the U.S. Military for two decades.