The *&&*(&*( Contract and More

Big news item from EMU is that it looks like we're on the verge of getting a contract, finally. Apparently the union and the university are trying to figure out how to work domestic partner benefits after Michigan voters approved the incredibly _____phobic (insert your prefix: homo, xeno, etc.) defense of marriage act a couple of years ago, but apart from that it's all over but the shouting. We'll get raises (3.5 or so percent/year) for the next four years plus a little cash on top (which I don't get, but whatever) and we'll start paying for health insurance, which we should be doing. Why we all couldn't get to this point last September I'm not sure, but here we are. Hopefully with this behind everyone the university can turn its attention back to, say, running a university.

In other news, my gym friend Mark today reminded us (at 5:20, as we were waiting for the 5:30 opening time) that today is the fourth anniversary of the US military pulling down the statue of Saddam Hussein. Good way to start the day. That, too, has worked out well - so glad that we've achieved victory in Iraq. :-/