(no subject)

So you know those wonderful noncompetive contracts we gave to some of Bush's sweethearts?

Seems they couldn't do a decent job.

This story about how Bechtel screwed up basic repairs to iraqi schools sounds about like what you'd expect from a company on a non-competitive government contract.

The subcontractors Bechtel hired left paint everywhere - on the floors, on desks, all over windows. The classrooms were filthy, the school's desks and chairs were thrown out into the playground and left, broken. Windows were left damaged, and bathrooms that were reportedly fixed were left in broken, unsanitary condition.

"Would you allow your child to use that bathroom? I wouldn't," Scharf said, pointing to a photograph of a stained, broken hole in a dirty, tiled stall.

They has contracts to repair 1200 schools, and in an audit of 20 of them: In the Oct. 11 memo, it found that nine schools were left in "poor" condition, with no electricity or bathrooms at the start of the school year. Five were rated "fair" but still had hazardous construction material and needed minor repairs. Four were deemed "good," and two "outstanding," the report found.

(no subject)

Just finished my microeconomics final, didn't do as well as I wanted to, it's going to be a B or possibly even a C, and since it is 50% of my grade I think that means I am going to get a B for the class.

A B is not too bad a grade in the grand scheme of things but for my purposes, as an exemplar and test to grant me entry into the magical world of grad school, it won't cut the mustard (especially since this was a simple introductory class).

I suppose I can still get into grad school if I really want to (I do), but it means that I really can't expect to do it at one of the top schools like I was hoping and need to lower my expectations.