Does the air conditioner get turned up or down? Why is that such a strange question? Theoretically, by turning in "up," you're actually turning the dial "up" (or clockwise) to increase the temperature; however, by turning it down, you are either decreasing the intensity of the cool air, thus increasing the heat, or you're turning the dial "down" (or counterclockwise) to make the air cooler...
Just one of life's little mysteries.
I am lying in bed on a Monday afternoon in late July. Shivering. The air is cool outside and inside our house feels like an ice box. I suppose I'm expected to get used to the chilliness considering I'm moving to Colorado in a week and a half, but not during July... I'll wait until November (or October if I have to). I have no idea why it's so cold in here--I even turned to air "up..." Then again, I have no idea why my alarm clockS didn't go off this morning either. Again, some of life's less wonderful mysteries. I am thankful to say that I am still employed.
7/20/09
7/16/09
Two glasses of wine.
Me after two glasses of wine... chatty, honest, courageous.
Other people after two glasses of wine... drunk? emotional? hostile? hilarious?
Some of the best conversations are had over a glass of wine. It is a neutralizer and comforter; a calming device, if you will. Think about it: two friends sitting on the veranda, split by a bottle of Pinot Grigio. They are inclined ever so slightly toward each other, deeply engaged in conversation, each holding a slightly over-filled glass in one hand. With each sip of the luscious white grape, their shoulders relax, the chill of the wine eases slowly through their body, from the crown of their heads to each limb, fingertips to toes. The taste is more than what hits the palette. It is an indescribable experience. As the alcohol begins to set in, the conversation blooms, filling the minds and hearts of each woman. The volume rises as the two echo each other in a chorus of laughter. And at long last, this is bliss. Two friends, a bottle of wine, and a space filled with love.
Other people after two glasses of wine... drunk? emotional? hostile? hilarious?
Some of the best conversations are had over a glass of wine. It is a neutralizer and comforter; a calming device, if you will. Think about it: two friends sitting on the veranda, split by a bottle of Pinot Grigio. They are inclined ever so slightly toward each other, deeply engaged in conversation, each holding a slightly over-filled glass in one hand. With each sip of the luscious white grape, their shoulders relax, the chill of the wine eases slowly through their body, from the crown of their heads to each limb, fingertips to toes. The taste is more than what hits the palette. It is an indescribable experience. As the alcohol begins to set in, the conversation blooms, filling the minds and hearts of each woman. The volume rises as the two echo each other in a chorus of laughter. And at long last, this is bliss. Two friends, a bottle of wine, and a space filled with love.
7/14/09
Something new.
For quite some time I've been an avid anti-blogger, but I've been inspired by a friend to keep writing (that's you, Miss Baltimore Newlywed!).
I've considered focusing my posts on something specific... but what? See Me Run implies that I'll be discussing my marathon training regimen, so that's an option, but also could be a huge snorer. I could talk about trying to find what I'm going to do (running, if you will.)... but that's cliche, no? So I might just stick to writing whatever pops into my head at any given moment. I like that idea.
I've considered focusing my posts on something specific... but what? See Me Run implies that I'll be discussing my marathon training regimen, so that's an option, but also could be a huge snorer. I could talk about trying to find what I'm going to do (running, if you will.)... but that's cliche, no? So I might just stick to writing whatever pops into my head at any given moment. I like that idea.
3/2/09
wow.
I have a confession and I'm almost embarrassed to admit this. I'm in the union crib and instead of getting out of my booth, walking 100 feet to the front of the union and checking to see if the Information Desk was still open, I logged onto the UNL website and searched Union store hours.
That was way too easy. I'm almost tempted to jog a mile to make up for my laziness.
That was way too easy. I'm almost tempted to jog a mile to make up for my laziness.
Studying, Interrupted.
I had just begun to write a new entry when suddenly the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH popped up onto my computer. My stomach instantly knotted as I thought, "Oh dear God, this can't be happening." According to technological folklore, the elusive blue screen of death can only mean one thing: your computer has gone belly up and you've just lost everything. And by everything, I mean papers, photographs, music, resumes, contacts, and whatever else you have stored on your computer. And in one fell swoop, it can all be gone.
That is the risk of incorporating technology into modern literacy. Yes, it is risky, but having been victim of two hard-drive crashes, I still think it's worth it. As much as we rely on our computers, cell phones, and iPods, it is all replaceable. What I find interesting about literacy materials is that they can be acquired, lost, replaced, and built upon. The question is, do we rely too heavily on our technology to get us through our day? What happened to the days of waking up to the rooster crowing? Every morning I wake up to a lovely little number called "Open Air," which just so happened to be the least annoying option on my cell phone's alarm setting. I'm not a morning person.
But then again, a tiny piece of metal and plastic connected by a few wires is a pretty impressive way to help me begin my day as oppose to poultry.
That is the risk of incorporating technology into modern literacy. Yes, it is risky, but having been victim of two hard-drive crashes, I still think it's worth it. As much as we rely on our computers, cell phones, and iPods, it is all replaceable. What I find interesting about literacy materials is that they can be acquired, lost, replaced, and built upon. The question is, do we rely too heavily on our technology to get us through our day? What happened to the days of waking up to the rooster crowing? Every morning I wake up to a lovely little number called "Open Air," which just so happened to be the least annoying option on my cell phone's alarm setting. I'm not a morning person.
But then again, a tiny piece of metal and plastic connected by a few wires is a pretty impressive way to help me begin my day as oppose to poultry.
Studying + Computers = ...
I changed my observation location tonight. I'm in the back corner of the union crib and from my vantage point I can see seven people. Six out of those seven people are using computers. (Roughly 86%.) Considering most professors post study tools on web applications such as Blackboard and E-Reserves, it is probably necessary for these students to be using computers; however, it is more than likely that most (if not all) of them have several tabs open on their Internet browser, hosting a multitude of applications. Facebook. Email. Ebay. Pandora. Hulu. I feel like having so many distractions at my fingertips lends my studying habits to the rubbish bin. So my question is... how much studying are these other 6 people getting as oppose to the lone computerless guy who has a textbook, a notebook, and a pen. A computer certainly is much more versatile and given the option, I don't know anyone who would turn down a computer to a legal pad... but he may be on to something. Maybe next time I'll try the old-fashioned route. (After printing off all of my notes off Blackboard.)
2/25/09
Good Fortune
We've been talking about "literacy and illiteracy rates"... fact or fiction?... for several weeks in class now and I've surrendered my theory-forming to mere fortune.
I'll refer to the familiar adage to help explain myself: We play with the cards we are dealt. This is our Discourse. From our environment--physical, emotional, mental--we gather information and eventually begin to form our own worldviews. Socially, I have been more fortunate than a streetwalker in the slums of a city, but perhaps we both started out on the same path and each of our decisions subsequently landed us where we are presently (and maybe not). If not, then where is the fallacy? The home? Maybe. The parents? Probably. Education systems? Most likely. Socioeconomic status? Yep. The list really could go on forever. So now where do we start replacing excuses with answers? The trial and error method is a bit annoying, but is the most effective approach we've got for tackling these issues. For example, Trial: No Child Left Behind Act... Error(s): There will always be errors because each person is pre-wired with his or her capacity to gather, maintain and extrapolate information in constantly evolving areas and ways. Answer: there is no one way to teach and learn. Obviously.
Coming back to square one, I'd like to reiterate the idea of each person's own fortune. These are our cards; this is our Discourse. And consequently, how a literate (or illiterate) person develops relies heavily not only on his or her God-given Discourse, but the ways in which he or she uses that (among other things). I found an article on Indigenous Discourse that I think helps to explain these ideas a bit further. It was written by Richard Darville at Carleton University and can be found at this link:
http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/darville/theory.pdf
I'll refer to the familiar adage to help explain myself: We play with the cards we are dealt. This is our Discourse. From our environment--physical, emotional, mental--we gather information and eventually begin to form our own worldviews. Socially, I have been more fortunate than a streetwalker in the slums of a city, but perhaps we both started out on the same path and each of our decisions subsequently landed us where we are presently (and maybe not). If not, then where is the fallacy? The home? Maybe. The parents? Probably. Education systems? Most likely. Socioeconomic status? Yep. The list really could go on forever. So now where do we start replacing excuses with answers? The trial and error method is a bit annoying, but is the most effective approach we've got for tackling these issues. For example, Trial: No Child Left Behind Act... Error(s): There will always be errors because each person is pre-wired with his or her capacity to gather, maintain and extrapolate information in constantly evolving areas and ways. Answer: there is no one way to teach and learn. Obviously.
Coming back to square one, I'd like to reiterate the idea of each person's own fortune. These are our cards; this is our Discourse. And consequently, how a literate (or illiterate) person develops relies heavily not only on his or her God-given Discourse, but the ways in which he or she uses that (among other things). I found an article on Indigenous Discourse that I think helps to explain these ideas a bit further. It was written by Richard Darville at Carleton University and can be found at this link:
http://www.nald.ca/fulltext/darville/theory.pdf
2/23/09
Study Snacks
Why is studying always paired with food, or if you'd rather, I could use the unfortunate term: "study snacks?" I suppose for late nights such as this one, it's used solely as an energizer... an elixir to ward off sleep. But for the most part, I think it's just a good excuse to have a bag of Doritos or Sour Patch Kids and a bottle of Diet Coke at your gut's disposal. When did food start getting paired with studying? And why?
Sitting in the dining room on first floor of my sorority, I can look around and see countless Zesta cracker wrappers, cookie crumbs, trail mixes galore, and bottles and cans ("just clap your hands..."). It's not a bad thing; it's just funny to me how much food has been connected with studying. Popular study spots that I've noticed: the Chi O dining room... coffee/pastry shops... quiet cafes... libraries (with fully stocked vending machines around every corner)... and the latest, Hy-Vee's deli/restaurant area.
I once was told that the salivary glands stimulate brain functioning, so for example, if you study while sucking on lemon drops, your brain activity is heightened and subsequently, you receive and retain more information. I'll have to double-check the legitimacy of that one... anyway, just some thoughts...
Sitting in the dining room on first floor of my sorority, I can look around and see countless Zesta cracker wrappers, cookie crumbs, trail mixes galore, and bottles and cans ("just clap your hands..."). It's not a bad thing; it's just funny to me how much food has been connected with studying. Popular study spots that I've noticed: the Chi O dining room... coffee/pastry shops... quiet cafes... libraries (with fully stocked vending machines around every corner)... and the latest, Hy-Vee's deli/restaurant area.
I once was told that the salivary glands stimulate brain functioning, so for example, if you study while sucking on lemon drops, your brain activity is heightened and subsequently, you receive and retain more information. I'll have to double-check the legitimacy of that one... anyway, just some thoughts...
2/17/09
The Book Dragon
I have several significant memories about becoming literate:
1. Song- and story-time every night with my mom and brother. I still have the words memorized to "Both Sides Now."
2. Sitting at the breakfast bar of my grandparents' cabin with my aunt, who was teaching me how to spell and write my name. I think I was three.
3. Laying under the stars with my family on "the bump," which was the plot of land upon which eventually my parents built our house. I refused to let anyone talk about the constellation "Beetlejuice" because I was terrified that the Michael Keaton "Beetlejuice" would come if his name was beckoned... of course my brothers thought it was hilarious to scare me with that one.
4. My mom took my brother and I to the library on a weekly basis. I was in love with anything written by Beatrix Potter and my mom and I would sit and read through the books, then she would explain them to me.
5. My favorite thing about the library was a giant dragon/castle that we could play on. There were little nooks in which we could find places to curl up and read our treasures and every so often, one of the library employees would sit with us on the dragon and read us stories. Ever since then, the image of the Book Dragon pops into my head when I think about libraries or my journey into becoming literate.
The list could continue on forever with stories from school, home, work, and traveling. The ways in which I became literate are simply a compilation of fond memories (with the exception of piano lessons...) and what makes literacy exciting is that my experiences still continue to form these memories with each passing day.
1. Song- and story-time every night with my mom and brother. I still have the words memorized to "Both Sides Now."
2. Sitting at the breakfast bar of my grandparents' cabin with my aunt, who was teaching me how to spell and write my name. I think I was three.
3. Laying under the stars with my family on "the bump," which was the plot of land upon which eventually my parents built our house. I refused to let anyone talk about the constellation "Beetlejuice" because I was terrified that the Michael Keaton "Beetlejuice" would come if his name was beckoned... of course my brothers thought it was hilarious to scare me with that one.
4. My mom took my brother and I to the library on a weekly basis. I was in love with anything written by Beatrix Potter and my mom and I would sit and read through the books, then she would explain them to me.
5. My favorite thing about the library was a giant dragon/castle that we could play on. There were little nooks in which we could find places to curl up and read our treasures and every so often, one of the library employees would sit with us on the dragon and read us stories. Ever since then, the image of the Book Dragon pops into my head when I think about libraries or my journey into becoming literate.
The list could continue on forever with stories from school, home, work, and traveling. The ways in which I became literate are simply a compilation of fond memories (with the exception of piano lessons...) and what makes literacy exciting is that my experiences still continue to form these memories with each passing day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)