Thursday, October 29, 2009
When "Mom" gets Sick the Animals Lose It
Yesterday I came home from school feeling a tad under the weather. Nothing severe...runny nose, congestion, and achy. I took some Nyquil and went to sleep early in the spare room so as to not get Hubby sick. This morning he told me that Lily discovered kitty poop for the first time, Trudy drank the soda out of my cup that I had left on the coffee table and he found Piper sitting in my lunch bag which was on the counter in the kitchen. What happened to my animals? I am out of commission for one night and they decide its going to be pure, unadulterated anarchy?!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Censorship at the UA
I am taking an anthropology course this semester which I was extremely excited to take. I had thought that we would focus on other cultures and socities from around the world.
I was half right. We have focused almost exclusively on the United States and Latin America. From my perspective this is for two reasons. #1, my professor does her research in Latin America, and therefore believes it is the most interesting place on Earth. #2, my professor is a crazy left-wing radical liberal who has an agenda and plans to implement it.
(Unlike my professor) I have proof to back up my argument. This class requires that we read an assigned book and write a 4 page critical review about said book. In my first critical review I discussed the correlations between the book and current day congresspeople. It is safe to say that my position was rather unkind. I got a 70%. My second critical review blew the book's assertions right out of the water with solid facts about the welfare system. My professor stated that my argument was flawed and gave me an 80%. The third paper I agreed with everything the author said and gave the book a glowing review (not necessarily indicative of my true feelings) and would you believe it, I got a 90%.
I am proud of myself for performing my own little experiment, proving to myself and those around me that as long as you agree with the professor and the garbage books she makes you read, you get a good grade. If you are skeptical or disagree, well...here's your C. Now the true question is posed: do I write what I believe or do I write what she wants to hear, because my grade depends on it?
I want to make clear that I am not disgruntled because the professor doesn't agree with my opinions. I am disgruntled because she acts as if my position has no merit. The fact of the matter is that all discussions have two sides but this class is nothing but a forum for the professor to discuss her (correct) views on issues without ever mentioning the alternatives.
However, what I fear most of all is the indoctrination of the younger generation who are just at the beginning of discovering who they are and what they believe in. I am an old lady, fairly set in my ways, with a good handle of who I am and what I believe is right and wrong. These 18 year olds don't know the first thing about life, but here they have a person in a position of power telling them what they should or should not think.
It is my firm belief that the education system's purpose is to give all the information AND to teach the students to think critically about that information, not to spoon feed them the professor's agenda.
I was half right. We have focused almost exclusively on the United States and Latin America. From my perspective this is for two reasons. #1, my professor does her research in Latin America, and therefore believes it is the most interesting place on Earth. #2, my professor is a crazy left-wing radical liberal who has an agenda and plans to implement it.
(Unlike my professor) I have proof to back up my argument. This class requires that we read an assigned book and write a 4 page critical review about said book. In my first critical review I discussed the correlations between the book and current day congresspeople. It is safe to say that my position was rather unkind. I got a 70%. My second critical review blew the book's assertions right out of the water with solid facts about the welfare system. My professor stated that my argument was flawed and gave me an 80%. The third paper I agreed with everything the author said and gave the book a glowing review (not necessarily indicative of my true feelings) and would you believe it, I got a 90%.
I am proud of myself for performing my own little experiment, proving to myself and those around me that as long as you agree with the professor and the garbage books she makes you read, you get a good grade. If you are skeptical or disagree, well...here's your C. Now the true question is posed: do I write what I believe or do I write what she wants to hear, because my grade depends on it?
I want to make clear that I am not disgruntled because the professor doesn't agree with my opinions. I am disgruntled because she acts as if my position has no merit. The fact of the matter is that all discussions have two sides but this class is nothing but a forum for the professor to discuss her (correct) views on issues without ever mentioning the alternatives.
However, what I fear most of all is the indoctrination of the younger generation who are just at the beginning of discovering who they are and what they believe in. I am an old lady, fairly set in my ways, with a good handle of who I am and what I believe is right and wrong. These 18 year olds don't know the first thing about life, but here they have a person in a position of power telling them what they should or should not think.
It is my firm belief that the education system's purpose is to give all the information AND to teach the students to think critically about that information, not to spoon feed them the professor's agenda.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The End is Coming...
Since I am technically a senior now, I get the opportunity to register for classes before everyone else at the UA. This past Sunday, I registered for spring semester 2010 and what a pleasant surprise! I consulted the ridiculous amounts of paperwork regarding how many classes I have left and it appears I only have a total of 3 semesters left. After Spring 2010 I only need 3 more anthropology classes, 1 more biology class, and 2 sign language classes. That's it! Sometimes I actually feel like it might be over soon...
Next Semester's Schedule:
Cultural Astronomy - Cultural astronomy is an interdisciplinary field bridging anthropology, astronomy, and history. In this course we will focus on the astronomy of various people within their cultural context. We will explore some of the many ways that astronomy arises within cultures in comparison to our own culture. We will consider definitions of science and astronomy, and issues of efficacy, accuracy, and functionality. This course includes mathematics, essay writing, and oral presentations.
Methods in Biological Anthropology - Basic methods utilized in modern Biological Anthropology. Development of research designs, data collection and statistical analysis, computer applications, human skeletal biology, primatology, paleoanthropology and techniques appropriate to living human population; biocultural emphasis. This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Introduction to Archaeological Analysis - Introduction to analysis of major classes of archaeological materials, including chipped and ground stone, ceramics, fauna, flora, and architecture. Uses lectures and hands-on exercises.
Evolutionary Biology - Basic processes and patterns of evolution: natural selection, evolutionary genetics, the analysis of adaptation, the phylogeny of life, the fossil record, molecular evolution, macroevolution.
Next Semester's Schedule:
Cultural Astronomy - Cultural astronomy is an interdisciplinary field bridging anthropology, astronomy, and history. In this course we will focus on the astronomy of various people within their cultural context. We will explore some of the many ways that astronomy arises within cultures in comparison to our own culture. We will consider definitions of science and astronomy, and issues of efficacy, accuracy, and functionality. This course includes mathematics, essay writing, and oral presentations.
Methods in Biological Anthropology - Basic methods utilized in modern Biological Anthropology. Development of research designs, data collection and statistical analysis, computer applications, human skeletal biology, primatology, paleoanthropology and techniques appropriate to living human population; biocultural emphasis. This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Introduction to Archaeological Analysis - Introduction to analysis of major classes of archaeological materials, including chipped and ground stone, ceramics, fauna, flora, and architecture. Uses lectures and hands-on exercises.
Evolutionary Biology - Basic processes and patterns of evolution: natural selection, evolutionary genetics, the analysis of adaptation, the phylogeny of life, the fossil record, molecular evolution, macroevolution.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Have Things Really Gotten This Nuts?
About two weeks ago, during a class discussion in my Cultural Anthropology class, we were told that for the purposes of that class we were no longer allowed to use the term "illegal immigrant" and must use "person without papers". I have been stewing on this for weeks, trying to comprehend where my professor was coming from and why such a requirement has been issued. I have failed to see the logic...
The definition of illegal is:
prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
The definition of immigrant is:
a person who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there
The term illegal immigrant is not only valid, it is also factual. It appears my professor has not only lost her objectivity, she also ceases to have a firm grasp of the English language.
Have our schools gone so nuts that we cannot even use the accurate terms to identify individuals? Has political correctness finally gone too far? Should professors be expected to remain neutral and freely give information from both sides, thus allowing their students to make up their own minds? Yes, Yes, and Yes!
The definition of illegal is:
prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
The definition of immigrant is:
a person who comes to a country where they were not born in order to settle there
The term illegal immigrant is not only valid, it is also factual. It appears my professor has not only lost her objectivity, she also ceases to have a firm grasp of the English language.
Have our schools gone so nuts that we cannot even use the accurate terms to identify individuals? Has political correctness finally gone too far? Should professors be expected to remain neutral and freely give information from both sides, thus allowing their students to make up their own minds? Yes, Yes, and Yes!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Kitten/Insurance Update
The four kittens that were residing at T & T's house have been placed with a foster family associated with the Hermitage No Kill Cat Shelter. It was very sad to see them go, but was for the best since they needed so much attention and round the clock feeding. The foster family was extremely excited to get them as it has been a long time since a whole litter has been rescued. I am relieved that the kittens are safe and healthy, now we just have to deal with getting mama kitty spayed so we don't have this issue again.
Also, I heard from the insurance company and they have sent a formal letter to the reporting agency that Hubby was not at fault for the accident and that they should update their system to show this. It looks like it was a clerical error and not a law suit. What a relief! I should get more information on this in the coming week.
Also, I heard from the insurance company and they have sent a formal letter to the reporting agency that Hubby was not at fault for the accident and that they should update their system to show this. It looks like it was a clerical error and not a law suit. What a relief! I should get more information on this in the coming week.
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