(no subject)

So the news is that the Senate is approving drilling in ANWR through a tricksy budget bill. I can't say I'm suprised, only suprised that it has taken so long. Long enough, infact, that businesses are now questioning its profitability, so I guess that is something. I grew up in Alaska for about half my childhood - I know that the majority of folks there think the drilling is a good thing. AK has repeatedly put republicans of the numbnut variety in office, and tend to support it. So far as I can tell, the population of Alaska is a very mixed bag of hippy environmentalist types and staunch states-rights Republicans. I think a lot of Alaskans will be happy about the drilling news. Some folks have been pushing for it for as long as I can remember. It just makes me sad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4355871.stm

In other news, the government is now allowing jet fuel/percholate in our water and mercury levels are detectable in breast milk. Luckily I found a nice comic about it to make things seem less dire:

http://www.angelfire.com/comics/hathor/index.html

http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/mar/1/87_billion_the_damage_mercury_does_to_your_babies_annually

http://www.mercola.com/blog/2005/feb/21/epa_sets_standard_for_toxic_fuel_component_in_environment

(no subject)

Yay I just heard from F, a fellow grad student who is doing his research in Xinjiang. He may come to Tashkent for a visit if he can get a visa. That would be so great!!!

I over did it yesterday on the food and activity. I'm staying home today and trying to make sure I don't exacerbate any of my problems from the tummy sickness. I skipped yoga since it made me so weak on monday, and am debating skipping the class at the conservatory I usually observe. I think I may just need a day of rest.

Tomorrow I will try to go observe the performing ensemble at the Uchilish and hopefully I'll have a Farsi lesson. It is hard to balance taking it easy and getting enough work done at the moment.

I just finished my abstract for the CESS conference I'm applying for. I'm not going as crazy with the conference papers as I have in years past, but I figure I will need to focus on my dissertation.