1.23.2008
Remember her?! I must say Creative Writing was one of the most different and kind of a weird intense class I had ever taken.
1.18.2008
I'm irritated about an article I just read on MSN about a new robot called, "The FemiSapien." She's a robot, obviously, but her main functions are dancing for you, blowing kisses and "being affectionate."
Some might say that the leaps and bounds being made in robotics and other technologies are great for furthering knowledge of what we can do (ie, medical technology, etc), but I think this is gross. It irritates me that these fields are so male-dominated that the things they've managed to accomplish include finding yet more ways to be sexist.
Some of you may be thinking, "But Jamie. This is a good way for men to get rid of some of their more sexist inclinations by having a robot to function as an outlet." That's the violent porno excuse if ever I heard one. This shit only encourages the belief that these are primary functions for all things female. Why not create a Data? I love that guy.
I realize that Lauren and I are the only Buffy geeks among us, but the show is really well-written. There's an episode where this nerd boy (who exhibits every trait that Erica had blogged about in her "nice guy" syndrome) creates a "girlfriend" robot. He claims that he was lonely, and her only function was to "love" him. However, we get a shot of things through robotia's eyes later, and it's all sex programming (different, kinky sex positions, lap dances, servitude, etc). The character also goes on to be a woman-hating motherfucker. Obviously, this is just a television show. But it does exhibit something I believe to be true--utilization of technology in a sexist manner only creates more animosity towards the reality of women, and furthers the belief that women have certain functions...and when those functions do not exist in a woman (ie, servitude, sexual slavery, etc), more and more men act like pigs towards them. This grosses me out. I can only imagine how much it cost to design the fucker.
Some might say that the leaps and bounds being made in robotics and other technologies are great for furthering knowledge of what we can do (ie, medical technology, etc), but I think this is gross. It irritates me that these fields are so male-dominated that the things they've managed to accomplish include finding yet more ways to be sexist.
Some of you may be thinking, "But Jamie. This is a good way for men to get rid of some of their more sexist inclinations by having a robot to function as an outlet." That's the violent porno excuse if ever I heard one. This shit only encourages the belief that these are primary functions for all things female. Why not create a Data? I love that guy.
I realize that Lauren and I are the only Buffy geeks among us, but the show is really well-written. There's an episode where this nerd boy (who exhibits every trait that Erica had blogged about in her "nice guy" syndrome) creates a "girlfriend" robot. He claims that he was lonely, and her only function was to "love" him. However, we get a shot of things through robotia's eyes later, and it's all sex programming (different, kinky sex positions, lap dances, servitude, etc). The character also goes on to be a woman-hating motherfucker. Obviously, this is just a television show. But it does exhibit something I believe to be true--utilization of technology in a sexist manner only creates more animosity towards the reality of women, and furthers the belief that women have certain functions...and when those functions do not exist in a woman (ie, servitude, sexual slavery, etc), more and more men act like pigs towards them. This grosses me out. I can only imagine how much it cost to design the fucker.
1.16.2008
Forgive me, because this is going to sound whiny and, I'm sure, politically incorrect...but I have some minor issues with Disability Support Services. Today a student stayed after class to give me a letter from DSS requesting extra time to complete tests and quizzes, requesting permission to use a word processor for all in-class work, and requesting that I recruit a notetaker for the student.
This student, with all of these accommodations, will receive the same degree upon graduation as the students who don't get extra time to do their work, and who don't get to have a personal notetaker. That doesn't seem right to me. To the best of my knowledge, this student's degree will not come with a note from Disability Support Services stapled to the corner. My question is this. If the student can't function under normal conditions in college, how will the student manage life in the workplace? By awarding the degree, it seems that the university is saying this person is competent in his/her field. But IS this person competent if he/she cannot take his/her own notes at meetings, and needs special accommodations and extra time to complete his/her work? What employer will make these concessions? (Or are they legally required to bend the rules for employees with ADD, or dyslexia, or whatever else DSS sends these notes out for?)
Not to mention that, as a teacher, these conditions are super annoying. I will either have to remove pop reading quizzes from my curriculum, something I don't want to do because without the threat of a potential quiz a lot of English 111 students don't read, or let this student take the reading quizzes outside of class at Disability Support Services. The out-of-class quiz option isn't fair to the rest of the class, because the student would be taking the quizzes AFTER the in-class reading discussions, which are always the follow-up to the quizzes. (I can't make the student take the quizzes in advance, since it would mean he/she has less time to complete the reading assignment.) This means that if the student hasn't done the reading, he/she will still have the benefit of the discussion when taking the reading quiz. And let's face it. Even he/she has read, the discussion will help to clarify the reading. (At least, that's the case for about 90% of people.) This whole modified curriculum stuff seems inherently unfair.
And in-class writing assignments, of which there are PLENTY in English 111, raise a whole different set of concerns. Do I let the student take his/her work home to complete it, since I'm sure as hell not going to wait around after class to allot him/her the mandated extra time? That's not fair to everyone else, is it? Half of my curriculum has just been shot all to hell by a stupid letter from stupid DSS. I'm annoyed. I am not paid enough to re-work my curriculum -- either for the whole class, or for this one student.
Grrrrrrr.
This student, with all of these accommodations, will receive the same degree upon graduation as the students who don't get extra time to do their work, and who don't get to have a personal notetaker. That doesn't seem right to me. To the best of my knowledge, this student's degree will not come with a note from Disability Support Services stapled to the corner. My question is this. If the student can't function under normal conditions in college, how will the student manage life in the workplace? By awarding the degree, it seems that the university is saying this person is competent in his/her field. But IS this person competent if he/she cannot take his/her own notes at meetings, and needs special accommodations and extra time to complete his/her work? What employer will make these concessions? (Or are they legally required to bend the rules for employees with ADD, or dyslexia, or whatever else DSS sends these notes out for?)
Not to mention that, as a teacher, these conditions are super annoying. I will either have to remove pop reading quizzes from my curriculum, something I don't want to do because without the threat of a potential quiz a lot of English 111 students don't read, or let this student take the reading quizzes outside of class at Disability Support Services. The out-of-class quiz option isn't fair to the rest of the class, because the student would be taking the quizzes AFTER the in-class reading discussions, which are always the follow-up to the quizzes. (I can't make the student take the quizzes in advance, since it would mean he/she has less time to complete the reading assignment.) This means that if the student hasn't done the reading, he/she will still have the benefit of the discussion when taking the reading quiz. And let's face it. Even he/she has read, the discussion will help to clarify the reading. (At least, that's the case for about 90% of people.) This whole modified curriculum stuff seems inherently unfair.
And in-class writing assignments, of which there are PLENTY in English 111, raise a whole different set of concerns. Do I let the student take his/her work home to complete it, since I'm sure as hell not going to wait around after class to allot him/her the mandated extra time? That's not fair to everyone else, is it? Half of my curriculum has just been shot all to hell by a stupid letter from stupid DSS. I'm annoyed. I am not paid enough to re-work my curriculum -- either for the whole class, or for this one student.
Grrrrrrr.
1.15.2008
A former classmate's sister was murdered by her husband a few days ago. She had two kids. Apparently she served him divorce papers a few days prior, after having dealt with him cheating on her and emotionally abusing her and the kids (not to mention threatening her). It was her birthday and she was going to church (they are Mormon and live in a Mormon community). What an entitled piece of shit. I hate men.
I made the mistake of reading comments to the newspaper article, and of course there were people who were totally defending him... OH THE POOR MENZ!!! HE HAD TO DEAL WITH ALL THE WOMEN-CENTRIC DIVORCE LAWS! SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PACKING HEAT (even though she was shot in the back)!!! DON'T JUDGE HIM ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE HIM!!!
Argh.
I made the mistake of reading comments to the newspaper article, and of course there were people who were totally defending him... OH THE POOR MENZ!!! HE HAD TO DEAL WITH ALL THE WOMEN-CENTRIC DIVORCE LAWS! SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PACKING HEAT (even though she was shot in the back)!!! DON'T JUDGE HIM ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE HIM!!!
Argh.
1.11.2008
1.07.2008
This is an email someone forwarded me. This is pathetic. I hate that this has probably influenced someone somewhere along the forward chain. This is almost ENTIRELY untrue and disgusting - it makes me sick to my stomach!
>Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the
> Trinity Church of Christ. I found this interesting.
> Obama's church: Please read and go to this church's website and read
> what is written there. It is very alarming. Barack Obama is a member
> of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at
> the first page of their website, you will learn that this congregation
> has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is AMERICA even
> mentioned.
> Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to join
> Obama's church... B-L-A-C-K!!!
> Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his
> (former?) Muslim upbringing.
> Are you aware that Obama's middle name is Mohammed? Strip away his
> nice looks, the big smile and smooth talk and what do you get?
> Certainly a racist, as plainly defined by the stated position of his
> church! And possibly a covert worshiper of the Muslim faith, even
> today. This guy desires to rule over America while his loyalty is
> totally vested in a Black Africa!
> I cannot believe this has not been all over the TV and newspapers.
> This is why it is so important to pass this message along to all of
> our family & friends. To think that Obama has even the slightest
> chance in the run for the presidency, is really scary.
>Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the
> Trinity Church of Christ. I found this interesting.
> Obama's church: Please read and go to this church's website and read
> what is written there. It is very alarming. Barack Obama is a member
> of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at
> the first page of their website, you will learn that this congregation
> has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is AMERICA even
> mentioned.
> Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to join
> Obama's church... B-L-A-C-K!!!
> Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his
> (former?) Muslim upbringing.
> Are you aware that Obama's middle name is Mohammed? Strip away his
> nice looks, the big smile and smooth talk and what do you get?
> Certainly a racist, as plainly defined by the stated position of his
> church! And possibly a covert worshiper of the Muslim faith, even
> today. This guy desires to rule over America while his loyalty is
> totally vested in a Black Africa!
> I cannot believe this has not been all over the TV and newspapers.
> This is why it is so important to pass this message along to all of
> our family & friends. To think that Obama has even the slightest
> chance in the run for the presidency, is really scary.
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