Gender and Science

I am taking a Women's Studies class.

I will wait for the laughter to subside...waiting...waiting...go ahead, get it all out...

...thank you, I will now move on.

I was going to take History of Twentieth Century Science, which really interested me. But not enough people signed up for my section, so they moved it to a time I could not go. So, a week before classes start I was in a desperate search for a class that would satisfy the elective requirements and fit my schedule.

Enter Women's Studies.

I had the first class today. As you would expect, most of the students were female. Those that were male were from the football team. I sat with them. If you ever want a class to go by fast, sit with the football players. They get away with anything and they are really funny.

Also, the professor said she would give the answers to the midterm and final during lecture. That's right, I said give us the answers. "The test will say da de da blank blank de de da." Direct quote.

Given how tough my classes have been heretofore, I will enjoy this change of pace.

P.S.
From the syllabus:
Rule #13 - Encourage others to speak up. Be especially encouraging of people who are working through their prejudices and attempting to grow as feminists.  ¶ 7:39 PM 0 feedback

  Back to Old OSU

Fall term classes started today. I really think I am going to thoroughly enjoy them. Stuff that I could have used on this last stint in industry.

I really feel like a senior. Friends are finding jobs: Boeing, Honda, Warn -- to drop few names. Classes look very useful, I can see where they're applicable. I have started sending out resumes. Graduation worksheet is turned in. All in all, it is looking very much like the end.

I am now wondering what the next stage should be. I have a couple of friends who will pursue grad school, and that is a course that interests me. Maybe I should wait until after the GRE's before getting too excited about this option.

Ideally I would attend grad school online, like at USC. Then I could also be working. And maybe the company I work for would pay tuition.

I also want to pursue a masters level Philosophy/Theology degree. At this stage of my life those two degrees are probably mutually exclusive. I do not think I could do both concurrently, and two masters degrees seems to be a bit excessive.

I guess I will wait and see what my GRE score is and what job I get, then decide what long-term direction I want to take.  ¶ 6:31 PM 0 feedback

  My life is 60% happy

Well, at least according to this test I found on someone elses blog. Trendy tests -- the lazy bloggers dream-come-true.


[x] You have a boyfriend/ girlfriend/ fiancee/ husband/ wife.
[x] You have your own room. (I share with my wife, but that just makes it better).
[x] You own a cell phone.
[x] You have an ipod/ mp3 player.
[x] Your parents are still married.
[ ] You have more than 2 best friends.
[ ] There is a swimming pool in your backyard.

T OT A L: 5

[x] You dress how you want to.
[x] You hang out with friends more than once a week.
[x] There is a computer/ laptop in your room.
[ ] You have never been beaten up.
[x] You never cry more than twice a month.
[x] You are allowed to listen to the music you want to.
[x] Your room is big enough for you.
[x] People don't use you for something you have.
[x] You have been to a concert.

T 0 T A L: 8

[x] You DO NOT have over 50 friends on myspace.
[x] You DO NOT have pictures on myspace.
[x] You DO NOT use myspace.
[ ] You get allowance.
[ ] You collect something normal.
[x] People don't make fun of you to be mean.
[x] You look foward to going to school.
[x] You don't wish you were someone else.
[ ] You play a sport.
[ ] You do something after school.

T 0 T A L: 5

[x] You own a motorcycle.
[x] You usually don't fight with your parents.
[x] You are happy with your appearance.
[ ] You aren't self-conscious at all.
[x] You have never got a failing grade in your life.
[x] You have friends.
[x] You know your parents care and love you.

T 0 T A L: 6

[ ] You know what is going on in the world.
[x] You care about many people.
[x] You are happy with your life.
[ ] You usually aren't sick.
[ ] You know more than one language.
[x] You have a screen name.
[ ] You own a pet.
[x] You know the words to more than 5 songs.
[x] You dont have any enemies.
[x] You are happy you're living.

T O T A L: 6

Now count your numbers and multiply by two.Then title this " MY LIFE IS _%HAPPY  ¶ 12:49 PM 1 feedback

  Worst Album Covers Ever

Warning, these posters are not for the faint of heart, or the faint of butt.
View if you dare.  ¶ 8:58 AM 5 feedback

  The Motorcycle Story

I have always wanted a motorbike. I used to daydream about them as a kid. I rode three-wheelers and quads when I worked on the farm, and my cousins have always had bikes that I could borrow. But never my own.

When I was younger it was a simple matter of money -- I didn't have any. As I got older, I went to college, got married, still no money, but also it didn't seem like a practical mode of transport year-round. We talked about it, decided against it, shelved the idea.

But then a couple of guys that my wife worked with bought bikes to use as commuters year round. And they did just fine. They wore rain gear, they got cold, but the money savings were huge.

We looked into costs: gas, $3.00/gallon, bikes like mine get 50mpg, insurance, ~$180.00/year, the bikes themselves are very inexpensive. Fiscally, a good deal. We could sell one of our cars and end up with more cash on hand to buy a minivan next year.

So we decided to get one. I looked for months, riding this and that, nothing grabbed me. Then I rode the perfect one.

Today I passed the practical DMV exam, so I have a valid motorcycle endorsment. I am now a legitimate motorcycle man.

P.S.
Is there anyone out there who wants to buy a 1996 Honda Accord, 203000 miles, newly stolen stereo?  ¶ 10:41 AM 1 feedback

  Thievery

Well, for the second time in my life, my car stereo was stolen.

I was cleaning out the Honda, getting it ready to sell, on saturday. I must have forgotten to lock it (although I always lock it). Anyway, that night, someone opened the door somehow, laid the driver seat back, turned off the dome light, pried the stereo out, rifled through the glove box/center console and left. All in the crowded parking lot of my apartment complex.

I am not sad about the stereo, it was a cheap Aiwa that didn't play half of my CD's. Street value: 20 bucks, if you find a real patsy.

I am sad about the CD that was in it at the time.

The last time this happened (different car, my BMW, about 6-7 years ago) I had been listening to Supertramps Breakfast in America. I loved that CD.

This time I was listening to Jeremy's new CD. And I hadn't even heard the whole thing yet.

So, to you idiot car thieves out there, take the time to hit eject on the CD player before you jerk it. Most units will allow you to do this without accessory power. Oh, and I hope someone hits you with a truck. Not hard enough to kill you, just enough to make you an invalid so your thieving-for-crack-money days are done.  ¶ 8:03 AM 2 feedback

  Draw Me a Line

There is an article in the September 11, 2006 issue of TIME magazine about corporations and personal privacy.

They share a story of a man who got fired after he called in sick. And his boss checked his story via a software program that located the GPS location of his cell phone. And found that he was driving away from the city.

OK, so lying to your boss is a bad thing to do. But...spying...is...so...dirty.

With the advent of the Blackberrys, cheap broadband internet access, VPN, cell phones, and a global system of suppliers and customers that never sleeps, the line between work time and personal time has been blurred, in some cases removed completely. One is never free from the tether of the office.

If a corporation gets irritated about personal use of the company internet or phones, and they have a policy that results in termination, then I think they cannot expect any after hours support. That is, when the employee is in the building he is free game; after he walks out the door at the end of the work day, he is no longer reachable. No emergencies, no late night conference calls, he is free.

Where I work this is not a problem. The engineers check and respond to their work email while they are on vacation, but in turn they have freedom to take care of personal buisiness during the "work day". The company doesn't set your hours. You work the schedule that is appropriate for your situation. This is an example of a progressive company, which realizes that the boss-to-employee relationship is just that, a relationship. A relationship that involves giving and taking, and compromise.

I am not advocating lying to your boss about being sick. My boss trusts me. Because I am trustworthy. If you are not, your boss will figure it out -- he is not stupid -- and you will get fired. But spying--which, like lying, violates that trust relationship--is not the way to do it.  ¶ 11:13 AM 0 feedback

  OSU-14, Boise State-42

Being a fan can hurt. Like when your team plays terribly.  ¶ 9:54 AM 3 feedback

  Define Me

Whenever I meet someone I want to get an idea about who they are.

So I ask them questions. Like: What do you do for a living? Or, if they are a student, where do you go to school? What is your major?

As you further get to know someone you find out about all the little things about them; the different parts of their identity that make up the whole. This, I believe, is the process of friendship.

This process is fueled by conversations, meaningful conversations. Friendship based on a mutual interest will only be as strong as that interest. The interest is what binds those friends. Friendship based on knowing is much stronger because the binding element is not external. It cannot be removed.

So, who do you know?  ¶ 11:32 AM 0 feedback

  DELETED

This message has been removed by the author, it was offensive and rude. You will never know what it said.  ¶ 10:02 AM 5 feedback