Friday 28 May 2004 at 1:56 pm
Most colleges and Universities have a menu or distribution type program for the liberal arts aspect of their education. A student will need 6 credits of science, 4 credits of history, 3 of art, etc etc.
Portland State University just celebrated 10 years of
The University Study Program. Freshman choose a year long inquiry course on a theme of their choice. Last I checked there were 12 themes offered. This are multidisciplinary classes where writing, reading, science, psychology, social sciences are taught. The Sophomore year is where a student takes 3, 4 credit Sophomore Inquiry classes. There are many classes covering various topics. These classes are also 'gateways' into the upper division cluster. The student must choose ONE cluster to take. Out of the entire list of courses offered for the cluster, the student chooses 3. The Senior Capstone is a 6 credit class (again with many options offered) where in a team setting the student takes all they have learned during their educational carers and apply it to a community based project.
The nice thing about such a system is that it is so easy to transfer into. They placed you based solely on the number of credits you have. When I transfered to PSU they took a look at the total number of credits I have earned and said that the Freshman inq and one Sophomore inq requirements have been satisfied. So I only needed 2 sophomore INQ and the standard amount of Junior and Senior requirements.
There is another effect as well. The interdisciplinary approach creates a more interesting and dynamic classroom environment. Topics are looked at and studied with a wholistic approach that gives a sense of fullness. I believe this is how my curiosity is becoming more forceful. Empathy drop kicks apathy out the door and I urn to explore and discover other topics I am interested in.
When Harvard changed its core curriculum back in the 1970s many universities were quick to follow its lead. Just recently Harvard released a report saying it needs to develop a core curriculum which described something almost exactly like the framework of PSU's University Studies. The New York Times reported on this article. Instead of stating how new and mazing this concept was, the Times stated that Harvard will have to follow the path already paved by other schools. PSU seems to be 10 years ahead of Harvard as far as core curriculum is concerned!
Thursday 27 May 2004 at 11:24 pm
Today I participated in the first
Portland State University Undergraduate Research Conference. The theme was the broad "Community Culture and the Urban Environment." I arrived there and ran into Rainbow (yes that is her name) from my Freedom Privacy and Technology class last term, and we chilled for a bit. I was not nervous in any significant way, I suppose my exhaustion kept that at bay, but I was not well prepared either for my presentation in the upcoming panel. I attended the first half of the panel on Sustainable Approaches to Natural Urban Resources. Two of the groups presented very interesting elements for their research papers. "Environmentalists vs. Economists" looked that Environmentalists and their antithesis, the Economists, and attempted to look at how the two can be put into synthesis. Fused into one thing. She used the analogy of a family structure to provide the template for her work. I wish I had a copy of her paper. I then left to prepare for my panel. I ran into Bryan in the hall. He came to see me, I was so happy. Yay! My panel then started.
It felt so odd sitting behind the table. I have attended many panels at OryCon, the Oregon science fiction convention, but never been ON one. The theme of this panel was "Gender Roles." The Universe expressed kindness to me by having Zena there sitting as uncomfortable in her seat as I was. She was in my sexualities class last term; I didn't feel quite as alone. My FPT and Sexualities Professor, Dr. Ross, and my mentor for FPT was also in the audience. Zena presented just a basic overview of her life and her background. I was then next individual to present. Haphazardly I banged my way through a rough outline I alchemized from my paper. Public Speaking Panic™ triggered and separated my mouth from my Id (or is it the Ego?). My severed mind could only hope I wasn't saying something stupid. After an unsettling compromise between an eternity and an instant later I was done with my presentation. Joe was the next speaker. He is a very attractive guy. Boy next door kind of look. A look I am sucker for. To hell with the Acrocromby models. Joe was very attractive. Part of my attractiveness to him was his amazing mastery of the written word. He read two short stories he wrote about powerful women: his dying mother and a kick boxer who kicked his ass. Through his writing I saw, not saw, I experienced his soul. A brilliant flash of the complex web of experiences and culmination of his life. The man he is. After the shockwaves of his presentation altered the universe about me my focus returned to the next presenter partway though her presentation. She was summarizing her research on her Grandmother who raised 10 children alone through the depression, Graduated college when she was 67, and other things that women 'couldn't do'. The final presenters did research on corporate hypocrisy in queer rights. For example, Coors (beer) funds, promotes, and advertise in many queer activities and media while at the same time sponsoring fundamentalist groups who think gays should all get 'treatment.' With thirty minutes to spare questions were asked from the audience to all members of the panel. Was it already over? I was done over 45 minutes ago? I stumbled into the computer lab to chill until lunch.
I went to the Lunch thing where there was a 'celebration' of the 10 Years of University Studies (I'll talk about that later) where the Previous President of PSU gave a talk on the future of higher education. It was a very thought provoking talk but with an information overload. Brilliant public speaker. Now assistant director for Education in the National Science Foundation. Beforehand Dr. Ross and the other professor who was moderating the Gender panel complemented Zena and me (Zena and I were at the same table) on how wonderful the panel was. They said it was much better than the graduate and professional conferences they go to. We smiled, frowned, and laughed. We brought a sense of realness, of thinness, to our discoveries.
80 papers were submitted to INQ, the interdisciplinary Undergraduate Academic Journal. 15 made it and I was not one of them.
I don't feel bad though. After reading my paper for the first time in two weeks I realized how poor it really is.
The last panel I attended was entitled "Online Community Interaction." Joe was there presenting his sad addiction to a Massive Multiplayer Game and how he feels it will undermine the human condition by both internet shorthand (As they quoted from the Book 1984: New Speak) and by the inability of players to separate their game avatar from themselves. The next presenter presented his research on something contradictory, the relative success of internet dating and matchmaking. Joe's writing was once again spectacular. To bad he is straight hehe. As I left that panel one of the dudes in both this audience and the gender audience ran up to me and said "Hey I really liked your presentation and I was wondering if I could interview you for a research project i am doing over this summer about sexual orientation and economics?" I said sure and gave him my email.
I then left the conference realizing something. I am very curious about the world and I think the Universities Studies Program helped facilitate that and allowed it to manifest. I hope for my next years submission I will be doing independent work. Now, without further adieu. In PDF format, my submission to INQ: <a xhref="http://web.pdx.edu/~drr/SPP.pdf" mce_href="http://web.pdx.edu/~drr/SPP.pdf">Evaluation of the Gay Identity</a>.
Wednesday 26 May 2004 at 9:56 pm
Joe and I decided to just be friends. Dusten really really likes me. I threw out my back today taking a bowl of ice cream up the stairs. My brother got Best Percusionist of the Year at his band awards night. Both of our names are now on the award wall. Not the most deep post I have ever made huh?
Wednesday 26 May 2004 at 2:02 pm
As you can see I am now running new software for the web log. The navigation bar and colors will return in good time.
Tuesday 25 May 2004 at 10:05 am
May 25th is
International Towel Day in celibration and in memory of
Douglas Adams Birthday. RIP....
A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitch hiker can have. Partly it has great practical
value - you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapours; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mindboggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you - daft as a bush, but very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.
-- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
1952-2001
Monday 24 May 2004 at 11:54 am
Alas, less and less to talk about. (This took place on the 19th). My class will be at
Outdoor School this week so most of the class was doing things in preparation for it. The class took a test so the teacher can see how the students are doing. I went around helping to
proctor the test, and giving them help where I could. Of course some students didn't care, or got distracted, or tried to tell answers to their friends. Do they think I don't notice? I am the all seeing bad guy!
After this we made another trip to the public library. I actually brought a book along to read and to set an example. The kids at my table kept talking and catting, and I would ask them to get quiet and read like they were suppose to. They started to get an attitude to me and thats when real mean Mr. David kicked in. I said, in a firm tone, that they have crossed the line and if they we not mature enough to follow my directions then I would get the teacher over here to make them. They got quiet after that, I have never disciplined like that with them before.
Monday 24 May 2004 at 10:49 am
So as I may have said here many times I don't want to get serious with anyone because of tour. Well god damn it. Joe likes me alot. Dusten likes me alot. Both are people I would like to get to know more. Joe wants to be exclusive. I agreed but I really don't want to be exclusive. I made yet another mess for myself. I even spent the night at Joe's house (oh man he is fun in bed!) with a mini lan party with the two of us. Except Joe I don't have much physical attraction for. I made a mess......
Monday 24 May 2004 at 10:39 am
I recently rearranged my furniture in my room. Totally new arrangement. This was about two days ago. As of lately I have started feeling anxious, nervous, and a little down. After talking with my Louisiana Boyfriend (I'm going to try and get one in every state!) online it dawned on me why it was. Last night I had a dream about having my own place. I'm subconsciously thinking I'm in my own place, but reality is stating otherwise. I'll get use to this new arrangement soon, but this is proof to me that I am at the point of my life where its time for me to be on my own again. Last time I was just in a university dorm. This time I will truly be on my own. When the time comes.
Monday 24 May 2004 at 10:28 am
From
Willamette Week (May 19th)
Last week, alerted by an Australian "hasher"--meaning someone who runs off the trail--the Portland police sent ATVs deep into Forest Park and found a homeless father and his 12-year-old daughter. Seems they had been living under a lean-to there for four years, but stayed clean and were doing home-schooling. The amazing thing? A pediatrician examined the girl and found not only no signs of abuse, but that she is as smart as a 16-year-old, as mature as an 18-year-old, and has no cavities. To cap off this feel-good story, Sgt. Michael Barkley, who led the squad, found them a place to stay in a motor home owned by a friend.
_____________________
On a somewhat related note it seems that it is becoming a 'cool' thing to be a
homeless youth. They are becoming more common in the core of downtown and I have not been the only one who has noticed. Perhaps it is just perception, kinda like when you buy a car then you suddenly notice that everyone seems to be driving a car just like yours. Perhaps there is an actual increase. In any even I must investigate and see if it would make my PLAN more possible. The psychologist in me is also asking what is the motivation behind going homeless. I hope this summer when I am out of school I'll be able to investigate. Its time to do my own research.
Friday 21 May 2004 at 12:35 pm
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe. Inietrstneg!
Monday 17 May 2004 at 09:45 am
I got this in my email....
Dear David:
Thank you for your recent submission to Inq. We were so impressed by your essay that we would like to invite you to present your work at our conference on Thursday, May 27th! We have currently scheduled you to present with the following panel in the Smith Memorial Union, room 327:
9:30-10:30am: Gender Roles
Panelists: Jessica -- "Maria Alberta McLean"
Joseph -- "Pain Relief"
David -- [me] "Evaluation of the Gay Identity"
Looks like I have a good shot of being published!
Sunday 16 May 2004 at 10:57 am
The other day my cousin told me that her ex boyfriend was addicted to the news. He was impossible to live with because of it. He would always watch it and get upset if he was distracted. My friend's mother is the same way. Every time I go over there she is stuck to CNN. One time we had a radio on, she came home and hounded him over it. The psychologist in me is now asking what causes this? Why are these people this way?
After the terrorist attack on 11 September 2001 there was a major paridime shift in the view of American citizens. The headphone society we were became a bit more aware of the universe around them. My question is were these people like this before the shit or just afterwords? My gut is telling me is that its mostly afterwords as a way to feel more empowered. The problem is that many of these people sit in front of the screen bitching while they don't actually go out and DO something!
Sunday 16 May 2004 at 10:28 am
This may camp was quite fun. Due to several conflicts with many of the students with the state band competition and a parade Saturday morning the hornline and our staff decided to play a game of basket ball Friday night. It took us well over an hour for the other team to make 10 baskets. We lost with eight. Quite sad really. The hornline and our staff then went over to Applebees and we spent a good hour or so. Six of us got three orders of mozzarella sticks. Very yummy, and very very over priced. Places like that are too expensive. We returned to our small gym. There I discovered that my bottle of baby oil was still in my bookbage, and the top had opened up. I now have my masterbation goop all over my bag....
The next morning we were still missing many people, so we had basics for the entire morning block. It went surprisingly fast and for me was quite therapeutic. Nothing was wrong with me, but it was therapeutic none the less. At lunch we chilled around for a good hour waiting for the Skyview kids to show up and we then had music block for the remaining time. We weren't quite as swiss cheeseish. The evening block was half marching and cleaning with the full ensemble and when it became to dark (no lights on the field, I thought my old high school was ghetto!) we did FE inside getting the closer tied together. That evening was much fun. Jamey and I brought twister and had much fun with that. We also introduced the n00bs to Buck-Buck. Buck-Buck is a game involving 2 teams of 5. Team one makes a kind of platform with their bodies and the other team runs and mounts and tries to pile themselves all onto the body platform. I will show a picture once I can get my paws on them. I, being seen as the strongest member of my team, was places it the front. I had to absorb all the force........
Sunday was intense. In the morning we learned several pages of drill in the closer. We only have about 15 lest to learn. The afternoon we did two run troughs of all we know, which is everything about the last minute of the show. Next camp, which is memorial day, we will be videotaped of our full run through and it will be posted onto the internet. I am more excited than... than... than... I dunno but I am!
Friday 14 May 2004 at 11:00 am
There seems to be less and less to report on. IF anything this day was relatively uneventful. The first segment of the class was spent on learning about prefixes. The students struggled with this one as the teacher told the students to read the direction (all these lessons are done using worksheets which are photocopies of the textbook. There is enough textbooks for the class, but this way the students can bring their assignment home, as there is not enough textbooks for both classes). Again I worked one on one with many of the students. One they understood the directions and how to look at each word as a root word and then the prefix they did quite well.
After that assignment we did a small field trip to the public library. There I kept the students who were reading together hushed. I helped boy D out in selecting a book. We found a painting book (the teacher got excited and will find water colors for him) and a book on Einstein (he got interested when I explained how crazy Einstein was. I firmly believe in making historical figures interesting and relevant to themselves. Even if it requires a little exaturation...)
Wednesday 12 May 2004 at 11:53 am
Testing
Wednesday 12 May 2004 at 11:21 am
I fixed most of the problems on the blog. Some colors are a bit off (you should see the administration control.. eesh! I will not be picking colors for my house I can tell you that much!)
POst a comment if you see something look funky!
Monday 10 May 2004 at 12:04 pm
EVERLAST - "What It's Like"
We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He ask the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
Get a job you fuckin' slob's all he replied
[CHORUS]
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues
Then you really might know what it's like [X4]
Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom who said he was in love
He said don't worry about a thing baby doll I'm the man you've been dreamin' of
But three months later he said he won't date her or return her call
And she sweared god damn if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls
And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walkin' through the doors
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner, and they call her a whore
[CHORUS]
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose
Then you really might know what it's like [X4]
I've seen a rich man beg
I've seen a good man sin
I've seen a tough man cry
I've seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie
I've seen the good side of bad
And the down side of up
And everything between
I licked the silver spoon
Drank from the golden cup
Smoked the finest green
I stroked daddies dimes at least a couple of times
Before I broke their heart
You know where it ends
Yo, it usually depends on where you start
I knew this kid named Max
He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late at night
Liked to get shit faced
And keep pace with thugs
Until late one night there was a big gun fight
Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45
Talked some shit
And wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of his pain
You know it crumbles that way
At least that's what they say when you play the game
[CHORUS]
God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Then you really might know what it's like [X4]
To have to lose...
Sunday 09 May 2004 at 12:23 pm
I did some digging and found out that there is infact a 'first' webpage... Here is the first webpage ever: http://www.w3.org/History/19921103-hypertext/hypertext/WWW/News/9201.html
Sunday 09 May 2004 at 11:47 am
Yes I know the individual entry pages are all black. The text is there but because it is on a black background you can't see them. A temporary work around is to highlight all of the text to read it. I'm attempting to try and fix the problem but I am not exactly sure where the problem is. The FTP is also down so I am unable to upload the most recent patch.
Sunday 09 May 2004 at 11:32 am
Yesterday I went on a date with Joe. We met at a max (lightrail) station and went to the Portland Farmers Market. Joes wore shorts and a hoodie. The growing fashion queen in me was kinda irked. I'm troubled by this because in general I've been growing more self conscious about something that shallow.
Anyways for my school project I need to find a food product and find out anything about that as possible. I picked a pear and I'm going to call the farm tomorrow and get some information about it. I'll update you guys about it as I find more out.
After that I went over to Joes place. Clothes came off after a good while and... well we both had a wonderful time. (No sex tho for those who care. But there is much you can do that doesn't require penetration! Joe isn't like model cute/hot, but I find him attractive. He has depth and personality and while I am very hesident to start a committed relationship because of my upcoming tour (I want my mind on the road and the field...) I do enjoy spending time with Joe.
Friday 07 May 2004 at 08:59 am
Today was another hard attack on the studies of verbs adverbs and predicate adjectives. There really wasn't anything new to observe in the class. I have noticed the teacher reinforcing good behavior more, especially with the more disruptive students, especially boy B. As a class we went to the computer lab (linux systems!) to work on their memorable papers.
I worked one on one with boy C to turn his uni sentence paper into something with sentences and hopefully paragraphs. He was quite sure he would be unable to make sentences. I did one for him and talked about what I was doing, what I was looking for. He then did the same and did very well at constructing sentences. We were going to proceed to make paragraphs but another class came in. That teacher misremembered when he signed up for the lab, and our teacher let them have the lab. She made a lesson out of it and telling the kids how gracious they were.
I also introduced the teacher to Mad Libs. Something she never heard of before. She loved the whole concept and I am going to find my other Mad Libs books and try and work them into the curriculum.
Thursday 06 May 2004 at 07:13 am
Testing Updated Blog System
Tuesday 04 May 2004 at 11:30 am
My current plan is to become a middle school science teacher and then at some point work on my phd in psychology and become a school psychologist or just a generic youth psychologist. The problem with being a teacher is once you get in a classroom you get stuck there. In my education class I heard something mentioned, just in passing, about education of children who's parents are homeless.
I want to take this one step further and educate homeless youth those who are on their own. Portland has a high number of street punks. It would be a two part system. Part A will be about practical education like personal finances, how to bargain shop, how to look and get housing both sheltered and 'normal', etc. Part B will be GED preparation and possibly some other education that the youth are interested. If a kid likes snakes I will teach him everything on snakes and cover ecology, biology, animal behaviors. Doing that may help keep them in school.
I hope that if I do go forward with this that I could also provide some food and maybe showers. I do not know if this should be done as a government funded thing, or as a separate non-profit organization running via grant funds. Facilities may be a shelter or an actual school. There is a lot I would have to ask about and research on. I have a lot to think about.
Monday 03 May 2004 at 10:45 am
Last weekend was corps practice. It was mostly cleaning drill and the like. We also have most the music for the closer down, but the last few measures will be rewritten. Next camp we will be learning the rest of the show drill wise.
During this camp one of the major dci officials came out to evaluate us to make sure we will be suitable for the competitions. He told us that we will do just fine this summer. Translation: we have a damn good shot of winning Div III.
Also the guys with the best bodies tend to keep their shirts on during the hot weather. Why? WHY?!
I also got burnt fairly bad. Riley, in all her wonderful joyous fun, drew a smile face in sunscreen on my back. So now I have a white smile face on my pink back.
Monday 03 May 2004 at 09:46 am
My fifth practicum experience happened on Friday, in order to make sure I get my 30 hours for the term in. The kids were a bit active again, but in a more calm way (I don't know if that made any sense at all). Again I worked one on one with girl A on her essay. She did her body paragraphs like I asked, yet she needed one more. She told me the options she came up with, which was write about another topic or break down one of the larger paragraphs. We looked at her paper again, and she was rather lost. I directed her to her rather large introduction and together we found a good body paragraph in there. She was done with her paper. I don't know what a standard 6th grade level paper looks like, but it seemed sufficient according to the expression on the teachers face.
The last half of the period the teacher took the class a few blocks to the local public library. I was quite surprised at this. The school I went to the class couldn't leave the property without an administrator. Despite the obvious herding I needed to do, the kids didn't seem to have any desire to run off. Some of theme had problems walking and talking at the same time. When the mouth goes the feet slow down. At the library they seemed mild mannered, but a bit chatty. They were reading however. I love the idea of taking them off campus and out of the classroom. Its a change of scenery and I find it refreshing. Its similar to when I was in the middle school band and we would have parade practice in the neighborhoods.
Sunday 02 May 2004 at 11:32 am
Today was an intense day. Disciplining the kids was an issues. I worked one on one with girl A for a great deal of the time. We were paragraphing her story on her most memorable moment. Obviously I could tell her what to do, but that would be poor teaching and instruction. I asked a lot of questions on what she wanted and guided her path. She is very stubborn and refuses to 'get it' especially when it came to explaining her what a conclusion is and what it does. In the end I wrote an example conclusion for her paper, but I took it away before she could write it down. It worked enough for her to write her own conclusion.
The kids were very active today, in fact the hole puncher was damaged. The teacher pulled out the can of whoop ass and gave them a strict lecture on behavior. They got in line real quick. While many behavior specialist recommend only the warm and fuzzy treatment, I still believe that sometime more firm tools are needed when anyone steps too far over the line.
