Random notes #257157104
I wish I could say I was surprised by what's going on Iran right now, and it's distressing that I'm not. The fact that it's escalated into so much violence...the fact that I have no clue what we can and/or should do...it's just a terrible, terrible mess that makes me want to bang my head against the table in frustration. Growing up taking freedom of speech for granted, I'm always outraged to see pictures of dead students or hear tales of people being clubbed in crowds for voicing their protests.
I am, however, pleased that the cat killer (or possible ringleader of a group of cat killers) in Miami has been caught. Nineteen cats--pet cats, that were loved and taken care of by their owners--mutilated and left on lawns to be found. I'm not even a huge cat person but I find any gruesome act like this more disturbing than I can express. Not that I find violence against people even better, but violence against animals always makes me feel like there's a heavy object lodged in my heart. (And I know, I know, innocent until proven guilty. But I'm going to hope this is the real culprit.)
On a smaller related matter, I'm conflicted with how I feel about the governor's idea to help slash state spending by cutting funds to city and county shelters. Right now, animals are kept alive for no less than six days, unless taken in by a rescue group or something. This would cut that minimum holding period down to three. :-\ There are more animals in shelters now because of the economic downturn right now, and I really didn't think shelters had enough funding before that started becoming an issue. At the same time, I recognize that we need to cut spending somewhere, and that there will likely be cuts across the board (I work for a state university, so trust me, I know ALLLLL about it), but I just want to say...does it have to be this? But if not this, then what? Ugh.
I had the surreal experience of registering for classes today. Going back to school, even on a very part-time basis, still feels very weird. Hopefully I'll like it. If not, just keep trying to figure out what to do if the writing thing doesn't pan out (and hope all this schoolwork doesn't hinder my progress too much. Even if I feel I'm still a ways away from beginning to submit, I need to keep practicing to improve!). Signed up for two classes. Got my first-choice session for one, and my second-choice session for the other. I'm first on the wait list for the first-choice session for that one, so if it opens up I'll just drop the second-choice session, although the difference and order of preference between my first and second choices is minimal.
In dorky news, Crisis Core is pretty good so far. Advent Children Complete was freaking sick.
I am, however, pleased that the cat killer (or possible ringleader of a group of cat killers) in Miami has been caught. Nineteen cats--pet cats, that were loved and taken care of by their owners--mutilated and left on lawns to be found. I'm not even a huge cat person but I find any gruesome act like this more disturbing than I can express. Not that I find violence against people even better, but violence against animals always makes me feel like there's a heavy object lodged in my heart. (And I know, I know, innocent until proven guilty. But I'm going to hope this is the real culprit.)
On a smaller related matter, I'm conflicted with how I feel about the governor's idea to help slash state spending by cutting funds to city and county shelters. Right now, animals are kept alive for no less than six days, unless taken in by a rescue group or something. This would cut that minimum holding period down to three. :-\ There are more animals in shelters now because of the economic downturn right now, and I really didn't think shelters had enough funding before that started becoming an issue. At the same time, I recognize that we need to cut spending somewhere, and that there will likely be cuts across the board (I work for a state university, so trust me, I know ALLLLL about it), but I just want to say...does it have to be this? But if not this, then what? Ugh.
I had the surreal experience of registering for classes today. Going back to school, even on a very part-time basis, still feels very weird. Hopefully I'll like it. If not, just keep trying to figure out what to do if the writing thing doesn't pan out (and hope all this schoolwork doesn't hinder my progress too much. Even if I feel I'm still a ways away from beginning to submit, I need to keep practicing to improve!). Signed up for two classes. Got my first-choice session for one, and my second-choice session for the other. I'm first on the wait list for the first-choice session for that one, so if it opens up I'll just drop the second-choice session, although the difference and order of preference between my first and second choices is minimal.
In dorky news, Crisis Core is pretty good so far. Advent Children Complete was freaking sick.