For those that aren't aware, I am taking Microeconomics this semester. Today's class was spent mostly on the gas situation in the state of Georgia. Our gas supplies in the state come from the Gulf region, which if you aren't aware of by now, it basically hell in the United States. Yesterday, rumors ran amuck in the state about gas shortages. Savannah was not spared. People formed lines at the gas pumps. Some stations ran out of gas. This scenario played out across the whole state. So with what happened yesterday, it was the perfect example for discussions in class today. The professor basically told us that their is no gas crisis, we will not run out of gas, the retailers were losing money yesterday, and that we should be thankful gas was as cheap as it was yesterday, since they could have charged more and it would be perfectly acceptable in this market.
Speaking of the Gulf region, oh God, what can be said about it? Each day, the news gets worse. Last night, I was watching Newsnight on CNN. Aaron Brown's the host and he showed some emotion about it. He was going on about how it just felt uncomfortable calling the living victims of the hurricane as refuges. He explained that in the American mind, refuges are in other countries, not our county. Because of this thought, he was having trouble saying that word. Later, I watched the repeat of The O'Reilly Factor. Bill O'Reilly referred to New Orleans as a dead town. Both gentlemen's comments struck me as odd. I guess you can say I'm in shock about it all.
Not only is the hurricane affecting my life here with gas prices, it also hits close to home. My aunt on my mother's side of the family is buried in Louisiana. My mother is concerned if her sister's grave survived or is her body floating? What about my aunt's ex-husband and his wife. Are they ok? And finally, how is her nephew? Does he still live there? Did his family come out ok? It's been years since he's contacted us, but still, we wonder.
Shock I tell you, shock.
My mother is scared about Savannah now. She's afraid of living here and is seriously thinking about moving. I told her if that happens, I won't move. I am in college. I'm deep into my degree. I have my financial aid in order. I've getting close to the end. I have too much invested. I don't want to risk that. I told her I'd move to the dorms.
In other news, I bombed my Calc quiz for today. Oh well. I'll do better next time. In the time between Economics and Calc, I tried working on my assignment that was due today for Networking. I had trouble completing the assignment because I spent most of the time speaking to my Database professor (
) about opportunities as an IT student and my current skills. It was a very interesting and enlightening conversation. As for the Networking assignment, I did complete it. I finished it between Calc and Networking. For some reason, I just wasn't in the mood to work on that assignment this week. I had other pressing issues.
Posted by Shawn at September 1, 2005 6:57 PM in General, Schooling.
I know how you feel. I just can't grasp the thought of all of those people down there. It is just so pitiful. As for gas, a LOT of the gas stations here are closed. They are just completely out of gas here. I don't know what is going to happen. My little Corolla doesn't use a lot of gas, and 12 bucks USED to fill it up. I put $20 in yesterday, and it was only 4.6 gallons! AHHH!!! Michael has been driving my car to work now, because we can absolutely not afford to fill up the Durango right now. So it is parked! I don't know what to say about your family moving. You never know, you may enjoy living in the dorms. A change may be good for you. I don't know. Take care.
Posted by: Seglenda at September 4, 2005 4:48 PM
My car, Sunday before the storm, took $28.00+ dollars to fill the tank. As close as 4 years ago, same car only need $10.00 to fill the tank.
However, the wrath of Katrina is just mindblowing. I was watching Fox last night, and the Accuweather guy told us on the east coast to be on the alert for a hurricane this week. That's a little scary.
As for the dorms, my good friend Misbah said they would do some good for me. If they do move, then I will go. I have too much vested in my degree to start all over again.
Posted by: Shawn at September 5, 2005 11:22 AMI was up at 4 am this morning...couldn't sleep...and I was that there is a hurricane out in the ocean a little past Bermuda. BUT they said that one will not hit any land. They also said that there is one out in the ocean heading towards Florida. They don't know if it will reach land or not. OK lets just pray that it is will not. I know what you mean about school. You have gotten this far, don't you dare jeopardize it. You have to have an education to get a job now. It is very important. I have been drilling that into MariLynn's head. She wants to go away for school. I hope she changes her mind. She wants to go to NYU! LORD! She is so determined and independant. She wants to be an anthropologist! I just can't see her digging in the dirt for atrifacts, but she can do whatever she wants to do. I will get off of here now. Take care!
Posted by: Seglenda at September 5, 2005 6:53 PMhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050906/ts_usatoday/wavesofevacueesswamphostcities
read this one. when i'm right, i'm right. People everywhere of every color are doing everything in their power to help. and i am glad to see that. I never once said that America's delay in responding was a general consensus regarding race. The FEDERAL government had the means to prevent this level of disaster and to send more people there immediately. There's only so much a city's mayor can do. and now with the displacement of so many victims, a large percentage having lived in New Orleans below the poverty line, the FEDERAL government has to ensure that they will be allocated to cities with federally backed housing. With resources already so scarce for the nation's residents living in abject poverty, this is definitely going to become an issue of race and color.
and that is all i am going to say about this. everyone has an opinion.
Posted by: misbah kyrene at September 6, 2005 10:21 PMThe Feds screwed the pooch, just like the city and state governments did. No one took responsibility.
But since you are making it a race issue, let me highlight a quote from the article:" Leaders of the
Congressional Black Caucus last week advocated placing black families in cities with large black populations."
Now since a majority of the nation's cities are strained to care for it's poor and are well known they are black, won't this policy strain and hurt those that are already living in other cities and poor? Isn't this, in effect, advocating segregation?
Sadly, those people were black but everyone playing the race card makes me want to scream! Now is not a time to be making racial judgments. Now is the time to help everyone and be color-blind. This fighting over race only hampers the efforts, not help them.
Posted by: Shawn at September 7, 2005 7:12 AM
