Wednesday May 6th

Shalom,
As my tasks become less and less, I feel a great weight lifted from my shoulders. My IR paper is done. My geology final is over. Only four more things stand in the way of me and my freedom. My next obstacle? Sailing final exam. I am currently taking a break from memorizing points of sail and honing my navigational skills. I'm good to go. But there are more important matters at hand that require discussion. With today's receding economy, the issue of money has been close in mind to the American people. Americans are asking themselves, have we saved enough? Can we ride out this financial hurricane? Shall we (if I may use a sailing analogy) reef our mainsail and lower our jib to slow our spending in these high winds and rough seas? And this concern over money brings us to our Daily Topic: US CURRENCY


Well America, money has been on my mind too. Yes, although I make an astounding average of $1.78 off of this website a month, it is something that I too have to think about. However, my concerns with US currency may differ slightly from those of your average American. I have several issues, so lets start at the very bottom. The Penny. The once-sign of good luck and odd-man-out when it comes to color. Who doesn't love a good collection of pennies? ME. As of 2008, it cost the United States 1.23 cents to mint every penny. Worth it? I think not. Pennies are not accepted in any coin operated machines and are rarely given in payment, only in change. Additionally, in relative terms, a US coin has never been worth less. When the half-penny was discontinued in 1857, it had the relative spending power of 13 cents today. And while we may have to abandon the saying "that's my two-cents," I applaud the efforts of Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe for introducing the Currency Overhaul for an Industrious Nation act into Congress, lobbying to abolish the penny as a monetary unit. With respect to the other coins, I have no major issues except for this: not one US coin has a numerical value on it. Extremely considerate to all of the non-English speaking tourists. My next complaint is the ten dollar bill. The esteemed Alexander Hamilton adorns the front of this piece of currency. Ten Dollars? That's all we could give to the first Secretary of the Treasury? Ben Franklin gets the 100 dollar bill for flying a kite during a thunderstorm and we give Hamilton the ten? Treasonous. My last complaint is, of course, the 50 dollar bill. I don't know about you but I can't remember the last time that I saw a fifty dollar bill. While it serves its purpose for graduation cards and Daily Routine donations, the fifty is fairly useless otherwise. Few places will break them (at least in the neighborhood I live in) and even fewer will give them back. Additionally, Grant? Great, you won the Civil War for us and served as a mediocre president basking in the glory of your battlefield victories. I'd give him the five dollar bill at most.
And that's my two cents,
-ROF

Daily Food: Pasta

Daily Activity: Studying

Daily Song: Money - Pink Floyd

Daily Attire: USC Hats

Daily News Everyone Should Care About: Before U.S. Talks, Pakistan Claims Combat Gains

Daily News No One Should Care About: Idol Judge Admits Painkiller Addiction

Daily Life Goal: Abolish the Penny

Daily Complaint: Finals

Daily Drink: Coke

Daily Studies: Orogeny

Daily Movie: none