A conversation with Britt on writing papers:

Britt: i may never get to work on this paper...
Colleen: i may never finish this one
Britt: well, at least you've started
Colleen: started, yes. but that's not really the important part
Britt: well, it's an important and necessary step
Colleen: well, i suppose i could hand the paper in now, but it would be a little short.
Britt: but you'd still get a grade on it... even if it's only a 50 or something, that's far better than never starting and getting a 0
Colleen: i suppose
Colleen: but not much. it's still an F
Britt: but it's halfway to an A+
Colleen: that's twisted logic
Britt: so? i'm twisted.
Colleen: it's also 75% of the way to a C, but you don't see me jumping up and down
Britt: i'm just pointing out that someone who has started but not finished is far better off than someone who has not started.
Colleen: so start. write "makiko's diary" on the page
Britt: ok
Colleen: so have you written "makiko's diary" on the page?
Britt: yes
Colleen: hey, you're halfway there now. you've started
Britt: hehe
Colleen: 50%, here you come!
Colleen: ah, mediocrity

633 words. If this were the last paper, I'd really be halfway there. As it is, I intend to fill the first, oh, three or four pages with stupid background information, so it is sort of like I will then be writing the last paper over again. Note the "then."