Sunday, May 31, 2009
Random English 151 Sentence--Mid-Paragraph
"I like everything from tacos to lasagna which shows how I do not believe in discrimination through race, ethnicity or religion."
Friday, May 29, 2009
Of Whining and Websites
I was able to work all but 1 hour of my shifts this week in the library and in the Tutoring Center. Feels good to be back, but I don't have all my strength back yet. I seem to get tired SO easily! (That's why I am minus one hour in the library--I begged Allan to let me go home a little early on Thursday because I was so tired I was goofy.)
Several times in the past week I have slept well over 12 hours. Last night I slept 13, and though I woke up feeling energized at last, it waned before too long.
I guess I'd forgotten how much being moderately ill really takes it out of you. It's been awhile since I've been really ill, and stupid me tried to fight it off on my own--hence the slow recovery, I'm sure.
Thankfully the antibiotics have been doing their job. I'm feeling MUCH better, and the cough is gone. Once I get my strength back up, I'll be good as new.
Now, to stop whining about myself, I thought I'd share a nifty-cool website with you all. This may be of interest to those of you who are bibliophiles. The website is called LibraryThing, and its address is simple: www.librarything.com. Basically, it is a virtual bookshelf. It doesn't store ebooks or anything like that, but it lets you keep track of books you have read, are reading, or want to read. You can write reviews and read the review of others. You can add friends and comment on other people's profile pages, add your own tags to your books, and more!
Basically, if you love books and have an obsessive-compulsive complex with organization, this website is PERFECT for you!
Several times in the past week I have slept well over 12 hours. Last night I slept 13, and though I woke up feeling energized at last, it waned before too long.
I guess I'd forgotten how much being moderately ill really takes it out of you. It's been awhile since I've been really ill, and stupid me tried to fight it off on my own--hence the slow recovery, I'm sure.
Thankfully the antibiotics have been doing their job. I'm feeling MUCH better, and the cough is gone. Once I get my strength back up, I'll be good as new.
Now, to stop whining about myself, I thought I'd share a nifty-cool website with you all. This may be of interest to those of you who are bibliophiles. The website is called LibraryThing, and its address is simple: www.librarything.com. Basically, it is a virtual bookshelf. It doesn't store ebooks or anything like that, but it lets you keep track of books you have read, are reading, or want to read. You can write reviews and read the review of others. You can add friends and comment on other people's profile pages, add your own tags to your books, and more!
Basically, if you love books and have an obsessive-compulsive complex with organization, this website is PERFECT for you!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Yuck & Blah
I was felt yucky and blah today. I think I figured out why. I didn't have anything to do. That is amazing. I think my body and mind were perplexed and didn't know what to do. It is an odd feeling when I am used to going...and going...and going. A free day made me feel all funny inside. So, in my free moment I blogged.
Blog Jar: I wish I could change....
....the religious tolerance of people living in this area.
....the lack of appreciation for knowledge and intellect in rural areas such as ours.
....piracy laws.
....drug laws.
I realized, at the onset of beginning this blog post, that all of the things I desire to change are BIG issues, issues that will no doubt label me an atheist, an elitist, a pirate, and a druggie.
When I vocalized my concerns to those in the Writing Center with me as I began this post, Dr. Knight said, "Wow. It's amazing that you aim for such big things. Most people would respond to that (blog prompt) with things they'd like to change about themselves."
The thing is, if there are things about myself which I desire to change, I know fully well that I have the power to change them. It is issues like those listed above that require the voices of many to make a difference.
Recently, I became very enveloped in the Southeastern High School graduation debate. A pagan student voiced his concerns regarding Christian prayer being led during the graduation ceremony. He felt that his religious freedoms were being trampled on because he was being forced to partake in a Christian ritual. In the end, Washington groups contacted the school and told them that the student was correct, and that holding a Christian prayer during the ceremony would, indeed, be in violation of the Constitution.
I followed the Gazette as they covered this story, and I found myself arguing with fundamentalists on the paper's web forums, and realizing how very uneducated many of our local residents are. Those who spoke out against the student's debate called him a "spoiled brat" and said that he should be ashamed of himself and that all of the audience at the graduation should turn their back on him when he walks up to obtain his diploma. The fundamentalist Christians who reacted against the board's decision to forego the prayer at the ceremony did so emotionally, without thinking about the issue intelligently. I was both disgusted by the religious hate on the forums and proud of the religion-tolerant people who were willing to support the boy and his efforts to bring equality to the opressed within his school district.
What this story taught me is that we have a lot of educating to do in this area if we expect to change any of the things I've listed above. I know that a lot of "change" is happening as we speak. I'm confident that our new administration is doing a great deal to combat the willful ignorance that has plaqued our country for so long. I'm not saying I'm a fan of what Obama is doing for piracy, however. Appointing one anti-piracy attorney after another to his team of administrators particularly disheartens me.
So, label me what you will based on this post. I'll continue fighting for truth and knowledge, and I'll hold my breath while those who oppose it die off!
....the lack of appreciation for knowledge and intellect in rural areas such as ours.
....piracy laws.
....drug laws.
I realized, at the onset of beginning this blog post, that all of the things I desire to change are BIG issues, issues that will no doubt label me an atheist, an elitist, a pirate, and a druggie.
When I vocalized my concerns to those in the Writing Center with me as I began this post, Dr. Knight said, "Wow. It's amazing that you aim for such big things. Most people would respond to that (blog prompt) with things they'd like to change about themselves."
The thing is, if there are things about myself which I desire to change, I know fully well that I have the power to change them. It is issues like those listed above that require the voices of many to make a difference.
Recently, I became very enveloped in the Southeastern High School graduation debate. A pagan student voiced his concerns regarding Christian prayer being led during the graduation ceremony. He felt that his religious freedoms were being trampled on because he was being forced to partake in a Christian ritual. In the end, Washington groups contacted the school and told them that the student was correct, and that holding a Christian prayer during the ceremony would, indeed, be in violation of the Constitution.
I followed the Gazette as they covered this story, and I found myself arguing with fundamentalists on the paper's web forums, and realizing how very uneducated many of our local residents are. Those who spoke out against the student's debate called him a "spoiled brat" and said that he should be ashamed of himself and that all of the audience at the graduation should turn their back on him when he walks up to obtain his diploma. The fundamentalist Christians who reacted against the board's decision to forego the prayer at the ceremony did so emotionally, without thinking about the issue intelligently. I was both disgusted by the religious hate on the forums and proud of the religion-tolerant people who were willing to support the boy and his efforts to bring equality to the opressed within his school district.
What this story taught me is that we have a lot of educating to do in this area if we expect to change any of the things I've listed above. I know that a lot of "change" is happening as we speak. I'm confident that our new administration is doing a great deal to combat the willful ignorance that has plaqued our country for so long. I'm not saying I'm a fan of what Obama is doing for piracy, however. Appointing one anti-piracy attorney after another to his team of administrators particularly disheartens me.
So, label me what you will based on this post. I'll continue fighting for truth and knowledge, and I'll hold my breath while those who oppose it die off!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Thought I'd Share This Odd Dream With You...
I'm not sure exactly where the dream began, but I know that I was ill and came to the Tutoring Center to be sure that someone had covered my shift for me. Sarah was at a computer but didn't know I needed the shift covered. When I mentioned it, she said, "I'd be happy for those hours," and I replied, "They're still available if you want them." She agreed.
My mind was put at ease at least for that. In the library, there was some construction going on. They were re-doing the break room and back office area. I told Allan that I wouldn't be at work this evening.
Next thing I know, I'm back in the Tutoring Center, still hanging around even though I wasn't supposed to be working. Leona was there, too, and she was going to help Sarah cover my shift.
Suddenly I'm driving on Liberty Hill, and I see a desolate old building nearly overgrown with weeds, and the architectural style looked just like Bennett Hall, except that it wasn't as wide as Bennett Hall. I tried to read the carving above the door, but I couldn't make out the words; I made a point to ask Allan if OU-C used to be in a different location.
Then I'm back in the Tutoring Center. There are some students there being very loud. Substitute teacher mode kicked in, and I scolded them all for being too noisy when we're supposed to make it "an environment condusive to learning." They quieted down, but then got loud again. I got loud again, too ^_^ Second time's the charm, apparently.
Then one of the construction workers from the library came over and asked if we wanted a television installed. Some people heartily agreed; a few other tutors and I said no, that it would be too distracting.
Finally I went home. Sitting in my car in the driveway, I felt something under my right arm. At first it looked like a piece of lint, but when I pulled it out, it was a dead goldfish--all decayed and skeletal. I shuddered and threw it to the ground... then I noticed its gills were still moving faintly. I thought, "There's no way that thing can still be alive... nothing like that should be alive." I was trying to work up the courage to finish it off when it began to rain. The water re-hydrated the fish, and it soon swelled into a plump, healthy-looking fish. I began looking for a bucket so that I could put it back in some water.
----------
At that point I woke up.
Oddness, though... I just found my betta dead upon waking. Spooooooky! (Don't worry, it wasn't under my arm!)
My mind was put at ease at least for that. In the library, there was some construction going on. They were re-doing the break room and back office area. I told Allan that I wouldn't be at work this evening.
Next thing I know, I'm back in the Tutoring Center, still hanging around even though I wasn't supposed to be working. Leona was there, too, and she was going to help Sarah cover my shift.
Suddenly I'm driving on Liberty Hill, and I see a desolate old building nearly overgrown with weeds, and the architectural style looked just like Bennett Hall, except that it wasn't as wide as Bennett Hall. I tried to read the carving above the door, but I couldn't make out the words; I made a point to ask Allan if OU-C used to be in a different location.
Then I'm back in the Tutoring Center. There are some students there being very loud. Substitute teacher mode kicked in, and I scolded them all for being too noisy when we're supposed to make it "an environment condusive to learning." They quieted down, but then got loud again. I got loud again, too ^_^ Second time's the charm, apparently.
Then one of the construction workers from the library came over and asked if we wanted a television installed. Some people heartily agreed; a few other tutors and I said no, that it would be too distracting.
Finally I went home. Sitting in my car in the driveway, I felt something under my right arm. At first it looked like a piece of lint, but when I pulled it out, it was a dead goldfish--all decayed and skeletal. I shuddered and threw it to the ground... then I noticed its gills were still moving faintly. I thought, "There's no way that thing can still be alive... nothing like that should be alive." I was trying to work up the courage to finish it off when it began to rain. The water re-hydrated the fish, and it soon swelled into a plump, healthy-looking fish. I began looking for a bucket so that I could put it back in some water.
----------
At that point I woke up.
Oddness, though... I just found my betta dead upon waking. Spooooooky! (Don't worry, it wasn't under my arm!)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Grr...
I wish students would not bring their sick kids to campus with them. I tutored a student for 45 minutes last week while her sick child hacked all over me. Needless to say, I was sick the next day... AND I'VE BEEN SICK FOR A WEEK SINCE!
*makes throttling motions*
For the sake of the sick kid AND everyone else, leave them at home!
*makes throttling motions*
For the sake of the sick kid AND everyone else, leave them at home!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Comments: The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring (specifically on-line tutoring)
Well, all of my issues have been validated! Wow, does that feel good. There is a section in Chapter 12 that focuses on on-line tutoring. The main point that jumped off the page to me is "Papers with lots of error are best handled in a face-to-face session. Don't hesitate to say that" AND "It's hard to do an error analysis on-line. The tempation will be to edit" (165). So, so true. I think that ENG 150 is not the place to be piloting an on-line tutoring program.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Blog Jar: "My dream job..."
I've had so many different dream jobs---I mean, I've dreamed of them but not actually had them.
When I was about 12, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist.
By 12 1/2, I wanted to be a photographer with National Geographic so that I could travel the world. (I still love photography and I still want to travel the world.)
By 16 I wanted to be a novelist.
By 18, I didn't know what the hell I wanted to be.
I'll be 30 in three months, and while I never accomplished these dream jobs, different aspects of them still are with me. I adore photography and am saving up for a digital SLR, with which I hope to do some psuedo-professional art (I sold my first photograph a little more than a year ago!). Though I've not been overseas, I still have gotten a decent amount of travelling done in this country. I love to write and hope to one day get something published. ...the ocean scares me, though, so I don't know what started that Marine Biologist kick.
I am more than halfway through my master's degree, which will allow me to get a job that I feel will be good for me. This job will allow me to be my own boss, put my OCD organizing skills to use, and to work in an isolated and cold room for hours on end.
This, my friends, is the life of an archivist.
I've been volunteering for OSU and working several hours per week in their archives. I adore it.
So my most recent dream job is something that I'll actually (hopefully) be doing soon.
(And I'll moonlight as a photographer and novelist, of course.)
When I was about 12, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist.
By 12 1/2, I wanted to be a photographer with National Geographic so that I could travel the world. (I still love photography and I still want to travel the world.)
By 16 I wanted to be a novelist.
By 18, I didn't know what the hell I wanted to be.
I'll be 30 in three months, and while I never accomplished these dream jobs, different aspects of them still are with me. I adore photography and am saving up for a digital SLR, with which I hope to do some psuedo-professional art (I sold my first photograph a little more than a year ago!). Though I've not been overseas, I still have gotten a decent amount of travelling done in this country. I love to write and hope to one day get something published. ...the ocean scares me, though, so I don't know what started that Marine Biologist kick.
I am more than halfway through my master's degree, which will allow me to get a job that I feel will be good for me. This job will allow me to be my own boss, put my OCD organizing skills to use, and to work in an isolated and cold room for hours on end.
This, my friends, is the life of an archivist.
I've been volunteering for OSU and working several hours per week in their archives. I adore it.
So my most recent dream job is something that I'll actually (hopefully) be doing soon.
(And I'll moonlight as a photographer and novelist, of course.)
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