Posts
SCORE!!! Okay, sorry about the run about...I got it. It just took me a while to realize I was in the wrong setting, silly me...
We're good.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Photo experiment
I posted some pictures on my Picasa album, and I'm not exactly sure how to do this, but here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/sonshinemakesmehappy/HolidaysBeforeILeave?feat=directlink
Copy and paste, I guess. Hmm...there must be some way... I'll keep trying.
Copy and paste, I guess. Hmm...there must be some way... I'll keep trying.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Less than a month
I can't believe it! In less than a month, I will be on my semester abroad! I'm so excited, I feel like a balloon filled with helium!
I haven't written in a while, and I figured now was as good as anything else. So I have a topic I'd like to put out there:
Courage.
What is courage, and where does it come from? Many of my friends from school and friends from home tell me what courage it must take to embark on such an unusual journey in my college years. I never know what to say in response--Honestly, what can I say? "Oh, yes, I frequently partake in activities or events that further strengthen my courage and bravery!!" Please.
And yet, what is said makes me feel stronger. I wonder whether that's just my ego talking, or if I am being "brave". So then, the question remains: What is courage, and where does it come from?
I am a Wizard of Oz fan. Ever since I was a child, I remember the cowardly Lion singing the "Courage" song before the group entered to see the Wizard. I never understood what he meant about the animals having the courage to make noise, be happy etc. but now I think I see it differently. If humans could be divided down to the simplest, most basic form, then (for the sake of argument) that would be the human essence. Secondly, if an individual recognized this essence as his most basic form, would it influence his ideas, his beliefs, his personality? Or would it be his ideas, beliefs, and personality? How many individuals follow themselves as humans? If in essence we were meant to be something far greater than what we allow ourselves to be, is it cowardice to be less? Perhaps it is this essence that is part of an individual's definition. Perhaps it is courage to be real.
If it is courageous to be free to express oneself as much as it is courageous to move to an entirely different area to learn a language, then this courage must not be a thing one is born with; it must be a conscious decision; the decision to be brave. I think back to September 11th. I'll never know if I would have had the bravery of the resistors of Flight 92. Did each participant say to himself, "I am a brave person, therefore I must act!" I'll never know. All I know is that each of them did act, and in the process saved so many more lives. I, on the other hand, am not a "brave" or "courageous" person at all. However, I know that this trip is essential to my fluency in Spanish, and that I will learn a lot more than just the language. Is that courageous, to pursue knowledge? Or is it that others, when placing themselves in my position, would be inclined to shrink from this challenge? Maybe it is that our challenges present us with the choice to be brave, or otherwise.
Regardless, I feel strengthened to think myself "brave". It rings in my ears and reminds me I'm not so destructible as I may believe. This is comforting. Perhaps this is where I will draw courage. I know God is always with me, and probably telling me I should give myself some credit...
Have a nice day!
I will write soon!
I haven't written in a while, and I figured now was as good as anything else. So I have a topic I'd like to put out there:
Courage.
What is courage, and where does it come from? Many of my friends from school and friends from home tell me what courage it must take to embark on such an unusual journey in my college years. I never know what to say in response--Honestly, what can I say? "Oh, yes, I frequently partake in activities or events that further strengthen my courage and bravery!!" Please.
And yet, what is said makes me feel stronger. I wonder whether that's just my ego talking, or if I am being "brave". So then, the question remains: What is courage, and where does it come from?
I am a Wizard of Oz fan. Ever since I was a child, I remember the cowardly Lion singing the "Courage" song before the group entered to see the Wizard. I never understood what he meant about the animals having the courage to make noise, be happy etc. but now I think I see it differently. If humans could be divided down to the simplest, most basic form, then (for the sake of argument) that would be the human essence. Secondly, if an individual recognized this essence as his most basic form, would it influence his ideas, his beliefs, his personality? Or would it be his ideas, beliefs, and personality? How many individuals follow themselves as humans? If in essence we were meant to be something far greater than what we allow ourselves to be, is it cowardice to be less? Perhaps it is this essence that is part of an individual's definition. Perhaps it is courage to be real.
If it is courageous to be free to express oneself as much as it is courageous to move to an entirely different area to learn a language, then this courage must not be a thing one is born with; it must be a conscious decision; the decision to be brave. I think back to September 11th. I'll never know if I would have had the bravery of the resistors of Flight 92. Did each participant say to himself, "I am a brave person, therefore I must act!" I'll never know. All I know is that each of them did act, and in the process saved so many more lives. I, on the other hand, am not a "brave" or "courageous" person at all. However, I know that this trip is essential to my fluency in Spanish, and that I will learn a lot more than just the language. Is that courageous, to pursue knowledge? Or is it that others, when placing themselves in my position, would be inclined to shrink from this challenge? Maybe it is that our challenges present us with the choice to be brave, or otherwise.
Regardless, I feel strengthened to think myself "brave". It rings in my ears and reminds me I'm not so destructible as I may believe. This is comforting. Perhaps this is where I will draw courage. I know God is always with me, and probably telling me I should give myself some credit...
Have a nice day!
I will write soon!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
September Topic Addressed: Do I really learn in school?
Well, the answer is obvious, and at the same time, not.
In my English class, we were given a handout titled "The Lost Tools of Learning" by Dorothy Sayers. Although written in the 1950s (or somewhere just after WWII), Sayers purports that the students of her time were not stupid, but were not taught the way she was. Her methods (as described in the essay) of teaching can be represented thus: like an artist "plays" with a new brush to get the "feel" of the instrument, so must a student be taught basics in order to understand the bigger intricacy of life. Sayers felt that education should not be a sole excuse to cram young minds with the latest technology, but that a careful study of science as it relates to language and culture as it relates to economy, should provide a student with the necessary platform from which to build his own logic and reasoning. Because many "subjects" are taught separately in today's schools, students are not sure how to connect one idea to the next--a direct result of a shaky logical platform of thought.
Do I learn in school?
I have been blessed with a) a natural common sense, b) an ability to use that common sense, and c) parents who would show me the consequences of ignoring that common sense... Apparently, I am one of few. This saddens me! How can parents not care? It is forgive-able if the parent tries to instill common sense in a child, but unforgivable if they feel that such instruction is "military" or "mean". How then should a child learn if he is given no solid boundaries upon which he can stand?? I remember that my parents always used to say "If you feel uncomfortable about doing ____, you can tell your friends that we'd rather you didn't." This gave me not only a boundary, but an authority. I'll explain: a boundary becomes a line that because of personal conviction, religious conviction, etc., I will choose not to cross. That boundary comes with my parents' blessing attached--I do not answer to my peers, but to my parents--and thus I have the authority to refuse at all costs because I know my parents will back me up.
When in high school, I can be honest--No, I didn't learn much. At all. Yes, I learned an advanced form of mathematics, as well as an amazing appreciation for geologists. The problem is that my math isn't the best to start with, and that Earth/Space science class should have followed a basic chemistry class instead of coming before it. Fascinating material--really, just, there are very few things that I can repeat correctly from those classes. I learned what I needed to, took the tests, and passed the classes.
Now is when I'm learning. Here, at college. I am discovering how to use my God-given mind, and to wrap it around concepts of which I've only ever dreamed. Teachers ask me to consider theories of other students, other philosophers, etc. They ask me to question why and how--why do I believe that evolution from single-celled organisms is improbable? How is my generation more self-centered than the last, and can anything be done? What is our effect on our selves and on the countries around us? What are the motivations of people who are rich vs. those who are poor? Why does the "little guy" rarely get recognition? What makes the "hot topics" of today? What is the nature of culture, and can that nature ultimately be learned?
It is common sense that motivates learning, I think. This and a quest for common knowledge. By learning the basics, I am free to discover the eccentricities and the "or's" of each case and apply them to other concepts which may appear to have no correlation. I believe that knowledge is the key and the curse of the world in which I live: by knowledge we increase our understanding of others and their culture to better serve our interests. Rarely is knowledge of others used to accomplish purely admirable means. Even if a company markets products that are environment-friendly, one must wonder what other tests showed a negative effect before the "good" product. Don't get me wrong, I think humans are stewards of the environment, and that we should treat it well, but the "Green"-kick we're on scares me: is it just a passing fad like the exercise nuts of the '80s? To top it off, it was knowledge that drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden--just a thought.
Perhaps knowledge is like a tongue: it can be used for both good and evil.
See Mom and Dad? I am learning something!
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Keep safe.
In my English class, we were given a handout titled "The Lost Tools of Learning" by Dorothy Sayers. Although written in the 1950s (or somewhere just after WWII), Sayers purports that the students of her time were not stupid, but were not taught the way she was. Her methods (as described in the essay) of teaching can be represented thus: like an artist "plays" with a new brush to get the "feel" of the instrument, so must a student be taught basics in order to understand the bigger intricacy of life. Sayers felt that education should not be a sole excuse to cram young minds with the latest technology, but that a careful study of science as it relates to language and culture as it relates to economy, should provide a student with the necessary platform from which to build his own logic and reasoning. Because many "subjects" are taught separately in today's schools, students are not sure how to connect one idea to the next--a direct result of a shaky logical platform of thought.
Do I learn in school?
I have been blessed with a) a natural common sense, b) an ability to use that common sense, and c) parents who would show me the consequences of ignoring that common sense... Apparently, I am one of few. This saddens me! How can parents not care? It is forgive-able if the parent tries to instill common sense in a child, but unforgivable if they feel that such instruction is "military" or "mean". How then should a child learn if he is given no solid boundaries upon which he can stand?? I remember that my parents always used to say "If you feel uncomfortable about doing ____, you can tell your friends that we'd rather you didn't." This gave me not only a boundary, but an authority. I'll explain: a boundary becomes a line that because of personal conviction, religious conviction, etc., I will choose not to cross. That boundary comes with my parents' blessing attached--I do not answer to my peers, but to my parents--and thus I have the authority to refuse at all costs because I know my parents will back me up.
When in high school, I can be honest--No, I didn't learn much. At all. Yes, I learned an advanced form of mathematics, as well as an amazing appreciation for geologists. The problem is that my math isn't the best to start with, and that Earth/Space science class should have followed a basic chemistry class instead of coming before it. Fascinating material--really, just, there are very few things that I can repeat correctly from those classes. I learned what I needed to, took the tests, and passed the classes.
Now is when I'm learning. Here, at college. I am discovering how to use my God-given mind, and to wrap it around concepts of which I've only ever dreamed. Teachers ask me to consider theories of other students, other philosophers, etc. They ask me to question why and how--why do I believe that evolution from single-celled organisms is improbable? How is my generation more self-centered than the last, and can anything be done? What is our effect on our selves and on the countries around us? What are the motivations of people who are rich vs. those who are poor? Why does the "little guy" rarely get recognition? What makes the "hot topics" of today? What is the nature of culture, and can that nature ultimately be learned?
It is common sense that motivates learning, I think. This and a quest for common knowledge. By learning the basics, I am free to discover the eccentricities and the "or's" of each case and apply them to other concepts which may appear to have no correlation. I believe that knowledge is the key and the curse of the world in which I live: by knowledge we increase our understanding of others and their culture to better serve our interests. Rarely is knowledge of others used to accomplish purely admirable means. Even if a company markets products that are environment-friendly, one must wonder what other tests showed a negative effect before the "good" product. Don't get me wrong, I think humans are stewards of the environment, and that we should treat it well, but the "Green"-kick we're on scares me: is it just a passing fad like the exercise nuts of the '80s? To top it off, it was knowledge that drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden--just a thought.
Perhaps knowledge is like a tongue: it can be used for both good and evil.
See Mom and Dad? I am learning something!
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Keep safe.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Semester Abroad
So for those of you of whom I've been so rude as to withhold this information, I'm going on a semester abroad to Costa Rica!! I'm so excited! I've been asking around, and I've decided to take my iPod touch with me because it's smaller and easier to keep track of than my computer--the main idea being that an entire computer bag will pose a greater temptation than a small iPod in my purse/pocket where it can't be seen as well. Also, I will definitely take my camera to capture my exploits!! I'm so excited!! I can access the internet with my iPod, so I will still upload posts. Just recently, I started a Flickr account where I will try to post photos. Just thought I'd mention it so everyone knows!
Lots of love!
Lots of love!
UPDATE (28 Dec 08): I switched to a Picasa account, and have discovered how to put in links.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Good bye, September
Today is the last day of September. Where has the month gone?? It seems like yesterday I was moving in to my room and hoping my roommate would bring a couch...
So, deep theological question: How have I changed in the past month?
Well, for one thing, I can now sleep through the night without getting too many back pains.
I have connected with last-year's friends on campus.
I have been reading my textbooks more.
I have been avidly attacking my homework when I get the chance.
I have made many new friends, most of them freshmen.
Instead of wondering what on earth I'm going to do this fall, I've gotten a pretty good idea.
I have (most unfortunately) developed a taste for staying up late to watch movies.
I have developed also, the ability to write news stories with more fluidity.
I am learning to listen to myself--how many times I speak in a conversation more than whomever I'm speaking to.
I'm learning to control my desire to be accepted.
I'm learning to listen to others and remember what they say.
I'm learning how to be an effective reporter.
I've taken this break to write. It helps me focus if I take a break or two while doing my homework.
Tomorrow is another Production Night for the Crusader staff, so I'll probably stay up till all hours of the night, but I don't mind because I have no classes on Thursdays.
I've been wondering several things lately, but to save space, I'm going to list them as my top questions for the month of September:
The American Culture--what securities does the Digital Age bring?
The End Times--what is the nature of the society in which we live?
Why do the "good people" die first?
Do I really learn in school?
I will probably devote a post to each question, maybe.
Also, thanks to Dr. Patton, the words I have learned this month are:
1. imperturbable (17 Sept)--adj. not easily disturbed, agitated or disconcerted.
2. derided (17 Sept)--to make contemptuous fun of; mock
3. pontificate (29 Sept)-- to perform ecclesiastical rites or ceremonies as a pontiff 2. to talk in an arrogant or self-important manner.
Hmm. So that looks like everything I can write, I guess. The joy (and pain) of life is that it's so intricate, I couldn't possibly list everything I've learned this month, everything I've been wondering, or even everything I've improved in my life. It amazes me that each person's life meets with others at different points along the way, linking person to person, network to network, creating the fabric of reality and interaction as we know it. Thoughts like this remind me how insignificant I am, but help me understand my place and my role--should I try to fit in to society, or is it better to spread out?
Good bye, September.
Have a wonderful evening, everyone. Keep safe.
So, deep theological question: How have I changed in the past month?
Well, for one thing, I can now sleep through the night without getting too many back pains.
I have connected with last-year's friends on campus.
I have been reading my textbooks more.
I have been avidly attacking my homework when I get the chance.
I have made many new friends, most of them freshmen.
Instead of wondering what on earth I'm going to do this fall, I've gotten a pretty good idea.
I have (most unfortunately) developed a taste for staying up late to watch movies.
I have developed also, the ability to write news stories with more fluidity.
I am learning to listen to myself--how many times I speak in a conversation more than whomever I'm speaking to.
I'm learning to control my desire to be accepted.
I'm learning to listen to others and remember what they say.
I'm learning how to be an effective reporter.
I've taken this break to write. It helps me focus if I take a break or two while doing my homework.
Tomorrow is another Production Night for the Crusader staff, so I'll probably stay up till all hours of the night, but I don't mind because I have no classes on Thursdays.
I've been wondering several things lately, but to save space, I'm going to list them as my top questions for the month of September:
The American Culture--what securities does the Digital Age bring?
The End Times--what is the nature of the society in which we live?
Why do the "good people" die first?
Do I really learn in school?
I will probably devote a post to each question, maybe.
Also, thanks to Dr. Patton, the words I have learned this month are:
1. imperturbable (17 Sept)--adj. not easily disturbed, agitated or disconcerted.
2. derided (17 Sept)--to make contemptuous fun of; mock
3. pontificate (29 Sept)-- to perform ecclesiastical rites or ceremonies as a pontiff 2. to talk in an arrogant or self-important manner.
Hmm. So that looks like everything I can write, I guess. The joy (and pain) of life is that it's so intricate, I couldn't possibly list everything I've learned this month, everything I've been wondering, or even everything I've improved in my life. It amazes me that each person's life meets with others at different points along the way, linking person to person, network to network, creating the fabric of reality and interaction as we know it. Thoughts like this remind me how insignificant I am, but help me understand my place and my role--should I try to fit in to society, or is it better to spread out?
Good bye, September.
Have a wonderful evening, everyone. Keep safe.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Reflections
Today is September 11th, 2008. It is a day of reflection.
Even if you do not know anyone personally who was affected by the tragedy that happened seven years ago, it is nonetheless important to reflect. In an age where instant gratification is the norm, and receiving information from somewhere far away is commonplace, the effects of the world in which we live leave an imprint on us all the same. Many, if not all, of you reading will be able to identify exactly where you were and what you were doing on this day when you heard the news. This is a definite impression.
Televisions and radio footage of an event--any event--can give us the impression that we live in a bubble. While this is true, it results two ways: one, we only pay attention to the bubble in which we live, and two, things that happen outside our bubble may affect us for a little while, but eventually, life will continue its course as though nothing had happened. I'm not saying that we should live in the past; this is unhealthy and unpractical, but it is important to remember such things.
We should remember why we live where we do. I, personally, did not fight in the American Revolution, or help word the Bill of Rights, and yet, I share the benefits of these events. What have I ever done to deserve these benefits? Nothing. I was just born here.
Our troops understand this: there are some things worth fighting for, and others for which you will die. Do your best, and that's all anyone can ask of you.
No one likes war. War is terrible, and comes at the price of human lives. It's awful, but if a war back in the 1700s gave me the ability to express myself freely, then was that war necessary? That depends on whether I would be willing to relinquish that right.
A lot of my generation are opposed to war at all costs. This is very admirable. However, it is not practical or logical. If I seek to be a peaceable person for the rest of my life, that personal decision will not necessarily protect me from the more bellicose. It is essential to realize that people's theory of life is what dictates their actions. If a group of people strongly believe that their deity has called them to annihilate and repress other groups that don't share the same view, we can rely on that first group to act according to their personal theology. As individuals, it is impossible to single-handedly change another individual's philosophy of life. As humans, we tend to collect a collage of different ideas and interpret them in ways that resonate most with, what ends up being, our personal philosophy. The terrorists on those flights seven years ago strongly believed that they were doing what is right in accordance with what they believed. Thus, all of the people on those planes, regardless of whether they were peaceful people or not, they were the victims. This is what deserves our reflection: how war is terrible, but those who believe in war will find ways to bring it about.
I commend heros like Todd Beamer, and other nameless individuals who decided on the difference between reaction and action. Even though they knew the chances of survival were slim, they fought before going down. What bravery!
I pray for our troops in Iraq. I'm sure it's not easy fighting a war, but it is cause for reflection nonetheless.
Even if you do not know anyone personally who was affected by the tragedy that happened seven years ago, it is nonetheless important to reflect. In an age where instant gratification is the norm, and receiving information from somewhere far away is commonplace, the effects of the world in which we live leave an imprint on us all the same. Many, if not all, of you reading will be able to identify exactly where you were and what you were doing on this day when you heard the news. This is a definite impression.
Televisions and radio footage of an event--any event--can give us the impression that we live in a bubble. While this is true, it results two ways: one, we only pay attention to the bubble in which we live, and two, things that happen outside our bubble may affect us for a little while, but eventually, life will continue its course as though nothing had happened. I'm not saying that we should live in the past; this is unhealthy and unpractical, but it is important to remember such things.
We should remember why we live where we do. I, personally, did not fight in the American Revolution, or help word the Bill of Rights, and yet, I share the benefits of these events. What have I ever done to deserve these benefits? Nothing. I was just born here.
Our troops understand this: there are some things worth fighting for, and others for which you will die. Do your best, and that's all anyone can ask of you.
No one likes war. War is terrible, and comes at the price of human lives. It's awful, but if a war back in the 1700s gave me the ability to express myself freely, then was that war necessary? That depends on whether I would be willing to relinquish that right.
A lot of my generation are opposed to war at all costs. This is very admirable. However, it is not practical or logical. If I seek to be a peaceable person for the rest of my life, that personal decision will not necessarily protect me from the more bellicose. It is essential to realize that people's theory of life is what dictates their actions. If a group of people strongly believe that their deity has called them to annihilate and repress other groups that don't share the same view, we can rely on that first group to act according to their personal theology. As individuals, it is impossible to single-handedly change another individual's philosophy of life. As humans, we tend to collect a collage of different ideas and interpret them in ways that resonate most with, what ends up being, our personal philosophy. The terrorists on those flights seven years ago strongly believed that they were doing what is right in accordance with what they believed. Thus, all of the people on those planes, regardless of whether they were peaceful people or not, they were the victims. This is what deserves our reflection: how war is terrible, but those who believe in war will find ways to bring it about.
I commend heros like Todd Beamer, and other nameless individuals who decided on the difference between reaction and action. Even though they knew the chances of survival were slim, they fought before going down. What bravery!
I pray for our troops in Iraq. I'm sure it's not easy fighting a war, but it is cause for reflection nonetheless.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Going with the ebb and flow...
Whew. What a week I've had! What a week!! I know everyone's dying to hear my tale...
So I finally got my computer, and I must be honest, Macs are cooler than any other computer. Hands down. However, I'm still a PC person at heart--some comforts just die hard, I guess.
Not only did I get my computer, but I got all of the four different software I needed to install on it, along with a FREE* printer and a FREE* iPod Touch. In addition, I have my CDs that I kept with me, as well as all the information from my old computer stored on my 2GB flash drive, my digital camera installation CD, and my printer CD. Needless to say, I spent the entire day last Thursday just inserting CDs and CD-ROMs into the Mac to bring it up to speed. I have been trying to get all of my information on the computer ever since, and it's a little slow-going. To top it off, it seems as though my 2GB flash drive isn't Mac-compatible, so I've been emailing myself all of my documents from my dorm's computer lab on the third floor...
It's raining outside now, when it was chilly in the morning, muggy and hot around midday, and now it's cold and wet. I just don't understand MI weather. It messes me up: I think it'll be the typical fall day, so I'll wear my numerous layers. MI weather dictates, however, that unless all four seasons can pass within the space of one day, it's not true MI weather. That said, we'll most likely get snow in the beginning of October. Speaking of absurdities, the ice cream truck has had the audacity to drive down the street just now.
I have been in and out of everything this past week, getting my computer and effects, going to my classes, and trying to find good school materials for the cheapest prices. I'm sharing what books I won't need, but am trying to buy what I can from students, since their prices are generally lower than what I've found online or on the used books in the school bookstore. I stayed up till 3 am this morning trying to get homework done. I didn't get much done over the weekend because I didn't have the books for those classes, and everyone who did went home for the weekend. I will finish buying my books tomorrow, though.
I'm taking a very fascinating class called "An Introduction to Communication Theory." It is more or less of a theory class on how communication has affected societies, and ultimately the world, through the communication technologies. Like I said, fascinating. Dr. Patton really has a way with words, and he generally acts out many of his concepts for class (he's the director of the Drama Dept, so any class with Patton is engaging).
Today we discussed 1960s University of Toronto professor Marshall McLuhan and his theory that significant scientific and social changes of history were not necessarily dictated by science or the society itself, but by communication. The beginning of history and peoples is known (according to McLuhan) as the "Tribal Age" where society and people relied primarily on their sense of hearing to gain information; the "Age of Literacy" where, once the phonetic alphabet was created, the average people learned to read by that phonetic alphabet and retreated to a slightly more individualistic culture because they were able to read for themselves; the "Print Age" during which reading material was mass-produced, resulting (possibly) in an upswing of both nationalism and individualism, as books were printed in one language but many dialects; and the "Electronic Age" which is essentially an era of instant and endless communication, renewing the ancient survival senses of both sound and touch all in one. With all these eras, there is an invention/discovery of some kind that completely revolutionizes history: after the "Tribal Age" it was the invention and collective agreement on the symbols that comprise various phonetic alphabets; after the "Age of Literacy" it was Gutenburg's printing press in 1455 A.D.; and after the "Print Age" it was the telegraph in the 1830s. McLuhan maintained nonetheless that with each brilliant new discovery/invention, something was lost and something was gained. The price tag for the invention of phonetic alphabets was that although people could now read information, they no longer relied on storytellers or advanced forms of memorization because writing could be better preserved. Such "price tags" are similar at the other stages as well.
It's food for thought, I guess.
Well, I'll probably write more later, eventually...
*With the purchase of the computer
So I finally got my computer, and I must be honest, Macs are cooler than any other computer. Hands down. However, I'm still a PC person at heart--some comforts just die hard, I guess.
Not only did I get my computer, but I got all of the four different software I needed to install on it, along with a FREE* printer and a FREE* iPod Touch. In addition, I have my CDs that I kept with me, as well as all the information from my old computer stored on my 2GB flash drive, my digital camera installation CD, and my printer CD. Needless to say, I spent the entire day last Thursday just inserting CDs and CD-ROMs into the Mac to bring it up to speed. I have been trying to get all of my information on the computer ever since, and it's a little slow-going. To top it off, it seems as though my 2GB flash drive isn't Mac-compatible, so I've been emailing myself all of my documents from my dorm's computer lab on the third floor...
It's raining outside now, when it was chilly in the morning, muggy and hot around midday, and now it's cold and wet. I just don't understand MI weather. It messes me up: I think it'll be the typical fall day, so I'll wear my numerous layers. MI weather dictates, however, that unless all four seasons can pass within the space of one day, it's not true MI weather. That said, we'll most likely get snow in the beginning of October. Speaking of absurdities, the ice cream truck has had the audacity to drive down the street just now.
I have been in and out of everything this past week, getting my computer and effects, going to my classes, and trying to find good school materials for the cheapest prices. I'm sharing what books I won't need, but am trying to buy what I can from students, since their prices are generally lower than what I've found online or on the used books in the school bookstore. I stayed up till 3 am this morning trying to get homework done. I didn't get much done over the weekend because I didn't have the books for those classes, and everyone who did went home for the weekend. I will finish buying my books tomorrow, though.
I'm taking a very fascinating class called "An Introduction to Communication Theory." It is more or less of a theory class on how communication has affected societies, and ultimately the world, through the communication technologies. Like I said, fascinating. Dr. Patton really has a way with words, and he generally acts out many of his concepts for class (he's the director of the Drama Dept, so any class with Patton is engaging).
Today we discussed 1960s University of Toronto professor Marshall McLuhan and his theory that significant scientific and social changes of history were not necessarily dictated by science or the society itself, but by communication. The beginning of history and peoples is known (according to McLuhan) as the "Tribal Age" where society and people relied primarily on their sense of hearing to gain information; the "Age of Literacy" where, once the phonetic alphabet was created, the average people learned to read by that phonetic alphabet and retreated to a slightly more individualistic culture because they were able to read for themselves; the "Print Age" during which reading material was mass-produced, resulting (possibly) in an upswing of both nationalism and individualism, as books were printed in one language but many dialects; and the "Electronic Age" which is essentially an era of instant and endless communication, renewing the ancient survival senses of both sound and touch all in one. With all these eras, there is an invention/discovery of some kind that completely revolutionizes history: after the "Tribal Age" it was the invention and collective agreement on the symbols that comprise various phonetic alphabets; after the "Age of Literacy" it was Gutenburg's printing press in 1455 A.D.; and after the "Print Age" it was the telegraph in the 1830s. McLuhan maintained nonetheless that with each brilliant new discovery/invention, something was lost and something was gained. The price tag for the invention of phonetic alphabets was that although people could now read information, they no longer relied on storytellers or advanced forms of memorization because writing could be better preserved. Such "price tags" are similar at the other stages as well.
It's food for thought, I guess.
Well, I'll probably write more later, eventually...
*With the purchase of the computer
Friday, August 29, 2008
Spelling and Grammar
I'm here in the Comm Suite at Spring Arbor and I'm copy editing. Well, at least, I was for a while...
It's amazing to me how you can hear people speak through their written works. I'm sure everyone is somewhat familiar with this: you'll pick up a letter from your grandfather to your grandmother, or see a birthday card from your mom, and when you read what is written, you'll hear the inflection of the voice, the subtle pauses between words, the tone in which they speak, the rhythmic rise and fall of speech as it flows on paper...
It seems it a shame to read through an entire flow on paper, but not to enjoy--to correct.
Obviously, for the paper to become a credible source of information, it's important to keep the writing of said paper to a standard that anyone and everyone can read. Still, I plan on getting a copy of this issue once it's printed so I can enjoy it, but the journalist inside me will never let me read in peace. Once an editor, always an editor, I say.
More and more, I am able to appreciate the vast and sometimes subtle differences between the speech of one and the speech of another. The way people pronounce their "R's" or their "W's" or the "th" sound or the "d" sound. It strikes me that language is nothing more than sounds connected a certain way. The result is words. This is probably really obvious to some, but the fact that just now, I've come to appreciate it, it stands to reason that I've also obviously overlooked this tiny detail. Funny how that happens, isn't it?
But as I say, I'm reading through different stories of staff members, and I can hear the voices of those I know, but for those I don't, I make a guess based on how they speak about their subject. Some people (I'm afraid I'm included in this number) generally have a very pompous manner in which they write. Very formal, very clear, etc. Some are more passive, almost as though they've written the story and are inviting your opinion on what they've written.
I'm striving to keep this blog informal, as though speaking to a friend over lunch, instead of writing to friends over cyberspace. I want this blog to be easy to read, and I want you, the reader, to be able to hear my voice when you read. I think the concept of language is such a profound thing, I want everyone to be able to appreciate it for the miracle that it is.
Have a wonderful day!
It's amazing to me how you can hear people speak through their written works. I'm sure everyone is somewhat familiar with this: you'll pick up a letter from your grandfather to your grandmother, or see a birthday card from your mom, and when you read what is written, you'll hear the inflection of the voice, the subtle pauses between words, the tone in which they speak, the rhythmic rise and fall of speech as it flows on paper...
It seems it a shame to read through an entire flow on paper, but not to enjoy--to correct.
Obviously, for the paper to become a credible source of information, it's important to keep the writing of said paper to a standard that anyone and everyone can read. Still, I plan on getting a copy of this issue once it's printed so I can enjoy it, but the journalist inside me will never let me read in peace. Once an editor, always an editor, I say.
More and more, I am able to appreciate the vast and sometimes subtle differences between the speech of one and the speech of another. The way people pronounce their "R's" or their "W's" or the "th" sound or the "d" sound. It strikes me that language is nothing more than sounds connected a certain way. The result is words. This is probably really obvious to some, but the fact that just now, I've come to appreciate it, it stands to reason that I've also obviously overlooked this tiny detail. Funny how that happens, isn't it?
But as I say, I'm reading through different stories of staff members, and I can hear the voices of those I know, but for those I don't, I make a guess based on how they speak about their subject. Some people (I'm afraid I'm included in this number) generally have a very pompous manner in which they write. Very formal, very clear, etc. Some are more passive, almost as though they've written the story and are inviting your opinion on what they've written.
I'm striving to keep this blog informal, as though speaking to a friend over lunch, instead of writing to friends over cyberspace. I want this blog to be easy to read, and I want you, the reader, to be able to hear my voice when you read. I think the concept of language is such a profound thing, I want everyone to be able to appreciate it for the miracle that it is.
Have a wonderful day!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Rumors and News
So it came to my attention that news (as in newspaper, news media news) starts as rumors.
Huh.
It makes sense, I guess, that "news" isn't written until it is first a rumor that peaks interest. If this is true, it follows that all "news" is just what one person heard from another that somehow made its way down the chain to the editor of the newspaper, who decided it should be further investigated.
The good news is that the rumors aren't the main thing reported (usually). It takes a nosy and slightly cynical reporter to find the nuggets of truth within the stew.
So, I guess that means that "rumors" are heretofore described as being founded in truth, but shrouded in fiction, whereas "news" is described as being founded in truth and bearing witness to that truth. However, when "news" is involved, is it safe to say that the stories tell the Truth? On the finite level of humans, there is an Absolute Truth, and Relevant Truth...I guess Absolute Truth is what cannot be changed, whereas Relevant Truth is that which appears unchangeable at a certain time in history from the vantange point of any given finite human being. Being unchangeable makes something a Truth, but being changeable to one and unchangeable to another makes it Relevant.
Hmm.
More later...
Huh.
It makes sense, I guess, that "news" isn't written until it is first a rumor that peaks interest. If this is true, it follows that all "news" is just what one person heard from another that somehow made its way down the chain to the editor of the newspaper, who decided it should be further investigated.
The good news is that the rumors aren't the main thing reported (usually). It takes a nosy and slightly cynical reporter to find the nuggets of truth within the stew.
So, I guess that means that "rumors" are heretofore described as being founded in truth, but shrouded in fiction, whereas "news" is described as being founded in truth and bearing witness to that truth. However, when "news" is involved, is it safe to say that the stories tell the Truth? On the finite level of humans, there is an Absolute Truth, and Relevant Truth...I guess Absolute Truth is what cannot be changed, whereas Relevant Truth is that which appears unchangeable at a certain time in history from the vantange point of any given finite human being. Being unchangeable makes something a Truth, but being changeable to one and unchangeable to another makes it Relevant.
Hmm.
More later...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Hello!
Well hello, everyone. I've decided to start blogging so I can keep in touch with the many people I know, and hopefully bridge the gap between homes and countries.
I'll probably write more later..
I'll probably write more later..
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