The Barometer Online

I have often dreamed of a scenario in which the day before a final, I need only to sleep with my textbook under my pillow so that the concepts, facts and figures will simply seep into my brain. Impossible, you say? I believed it to be impossible, too. That is, until Alaska Governor Sarah Palin came along and opened my eyes and introduced me to the strange and bizarre world of foreign policy by osmosis! I was so happy when I learned that she had the ability to understand Russian affairs because Russia was only separated from Alaska by a narrow maritime border.

I really enjoy those first two weeks of the new college year, but they're definitely an interesting phenomenon. Everyone promises themselves that they'll go to class every day, actually do the readings and will totally start going to Dixon again. Unfortunately, it's the third week of school and the magic of being back at college is starting to wear off.

It's October; the days are shorter and the nights are colder. This is the time of year when energy demands increase dramatically and the economic strain of high gas prices and other energy sources force the poor into making choices they shouldn't have to make.