Inside Higher Ed :: Easy Targets
Journalists vs. Academics, especially in the humanities -- I wonder if this is a place where I can bring some clarity as I get further into my humanities academic studies --
29 December 2005
28 December 2005
OKCupid! The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test
Amusing quizziness.
| Kermit the Frog You scored 58% Organization, 50% abstract, and 71% extroverted! |
| This test measured 3 variables.
|
 |
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test written by greencowsgomoo on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
22 December 2005
Entertainment Weekly's EW.com | Feature: Stephen King on his picks for the best books of 2005
Another top 10 of 2005 list --
Of course, I like Stephen King's writing in general and his EW essays almost made me keep paying for a subscription. In any case, I've read two of his recommendations (Rowling and McEwan -- WOW, was Saturday engrossing) and plan to keep an eye out for some of the others....
Of course, I like Stephen King's writing in general and his EW essays almost made me keep paying for a subscription. In any case, I've read two of his recommendations (Rowling and McEwan -- WOW, was Saturday engrossing) and plan to keep an eye out for some of the others....
21 December 2005
20 December 2005
IBM in the Blogosphere - Motley Fool - MSNBC.com
A nice tidbit about how (and why) IBM is using (and encouraging) blogging, wikis, and podcasts.
19 December 2005
Concurring Opinions: What If Copyright Law Were Strongly Enforced in the Blogosphere?
Concurring Opinions: What If Copyright Law Were Strongly Enforced in the Blogosphere?
I got linked to this article from someone -- sorry that I don't remember where I saw it first. Especially since that makes posting it very ironic, given the topic.
We -- all of us bloggers -- do take fair use as far as it can go. As someone who falls both into the camp of a writer who gets paid for writing and a blogger who wants to make my posts understandable and interesting by quoting liberally, I'm on the fence, but interested to see how this issue falls out over the long term.
I got linked to this article from someone -- sorry that I don't remember where I saw it first. Especially since that makes posting it very ironic, given the topic.
We -- all of us bloggers -- do take fair use as far as it can go. As someone who falls both into the camp of a writer who gets paid for writing and a blogger who wants to make my posts understandable and interesting by quoting liberally, I'm on the fence, but interested to see how this issue falls out over the long term.
What Are the Blogs Saying About Me? - New York Times
What Are the Blogs Saying About Me? - New York Times
Yes, it's another NYT article -- sorry.
Anyway, this one is about the interaction between blogs (and bloggers) and authors. What I find interesting is that the author of this article didn't talk as much about how authors USE blogs, such as Neil Gaiman's ongoing discussion.
As for me, blogs weren't quite as big when I first published, but my books were the reason I got into blogging, I think.
Yes, it's another NYT article -- sorry.
Anyway, this one is about the interaction between blogs (and bloggers) and authors. What I find interesting is that the author of this article didn't talk as much about how authors USE blogs, such as Neil Gaiman's ongoing discussion.
As for me, blogs weren't quite as big when I first published, but my books were the reason I got into blogging, I think.
Two Gay Cowboys Hit a Home Run - New York Times
Two Gay Cowboys Hit a Home Run - New York Times Sorry, it's the NYT -- registration required.
This is a review/essay about Brokeback Mountain the "gay cowboy movie" that has had "stunning weekend grosses" in NY, LA, and SF -- highest per-screen average in those cities, of any movies this year. Thank you people. From everything I've read about it, this story tells about the pain for people forced to live a lie, and treats their story in a very plain-spoken, realistic way --
I can't wait to see this movie.
And bless you, Frank Rich (the columnist) for writing such a lovely review essay --
And I am so grateful that I get to read
This is a review/essay about Brokeback Mountain the "gay cowboy movie" that has had "stunning weekend grosses" in NY, LA, and SF -- highest per-screen average in those cities, of any movies this year. Thank you people. From everything I've read about it, this story tells about the pain for people forced to live a lie, and treats their story in a very plain-spoken, realistic way --
I can't wait to see this movie.
And bless you, Frank Rich (the columnist) for writing such a lovely review essay --
And I am so grateful that I get to read
Salon.com Books | Top 10 books of the year
Salon.com Books | Top 10 books of the year
It's that time of year -- the time when anyone who talks about books in the media does a top X books of the year. Here's Salon's list. I haven't read many of their suggestions, although a few of them are in the "to be read" pile next to my bed (the pile that not only took over the nightstand, but actually engulfed an entire small bookshelf!).
I've often thought of doing this kind of list -- I certainly read enough books this year -- but... it's more likely for me to make a "best books I read in 2005" list than a "best books published in 2005" list -- I don't always read what's new when it's new... And my list would have to encompass some off-center books -- I thought, for example, that Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman, was one of the top novels published (and read!) in 2005, either in print or in audio format. But it doesn't fit neatly into most people's categories, does it?
It's that time of year -- the time when anyone who talks about books in the media does a top X books of the year. Here's Salon's list. I haven't read many of their suggestions, although a few of them are in the "to be read" pile next to my bed (the pile that not only took over the nightstand, but actually engulfed an entire small bookshelf!).
I've often thought of doing this kind of list -- I certainly read enough books this year -- but... it's more likely for me to make a "best books I read in 2005" list than a "best books published in 2005" list -- I don't always read what's new when it's new... And my list would have to encompass some off-center books -- I thought, for example, that Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman, was one of the top novels published (and read!) in 2005, either in print or in audio format. But it doesn't fit neatly into most people's categories, does it?
timbl's blog | Decentralized Information Group (DIG) Breadcrumbs
Important to be able to find again -- Sir Tim Berners-Lee and his blog.
via vowe.net
via vowe.net
16 December 2005
Aljazeera.Net - Japan's geeks set to inherit the Earth
Aljazeera.Net - Japan's geeks set to inherit the Earth
I watch an anime every week with the boyfriend and his friends about Otaku and one not-quite-so-Otaku girlfriend who struggles to "get it."
Thought this was interesting in that light. :-) I would never have known the term otherwise, so I guess I'm learning something too.
'Course, I'm not sure how I feel about reading it in al-Jazeera, but...
via http://www.rebeccablood.net/index.html
I watch an anime every week with the boyfriend and his friends about Otaku and one not-quite-so-Otaku girlfriend who struggles to "get it."
Thought this was interesting in that light. :-) I would never have known the term otherwise, so I guess I'm learning something too.
'Course, I'm not sure how I feel about reading it in al-Jazeera, but...
via http://www.rebeccablood.net/index.html
CNN.com - No advances made in adult literacy, study says - Dec 15, 2005
CNN.com - No advances made in adult literacy, study says - Dec 15, 2005
This is CNN's take on the NYTimes story I mentioned below:
"From 1992 to 2003, adults made no progress in their ability to read sentences and paragraphs or understand other printed material such as bus schedules or prescription labels.
"The adult population did make gains in handling tasks that involve math, such as calculating numbers on tax forms or bank statements. But even in that area, the typical adult showed only enough skills to perform simple, daily activities.
"Perhaps most sobering was that adult literacy dropped or was flat across every level of education, from people with graduate degrees to those who dropped out of high school."
This is CNN's take on the NYTimes story I mentioned below:
"From 1992 to 2003, adults made no progress in their ability to read sentences and paragraphs or understand other printed material such as bus schedules or prescription labels.
"The adult population did make gains in handling tasks that involve math, such as calculating numbers on tax forms or bank statements. But even in that area, the typical adult showed only enough skills to perform simple, daily activities.
"Perhaps most sobering was that adult literacy dropped or was flat across every level of education, from people with graduate degrees to those who dropped out of high school."
Literacy Falls for Graduates From College, Testing Finds - New York Times
(Registration required for the link)
This article says that, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy exam -- which was given in 2003 to 19,000 people in the US -- our literacy has declined. Interestingly, the article emphasizes that it is the literacy of college graduates that has declined, but the test was given to "people 16 and older, in homes, college housing and in prisons" which implies to me that many of the people who took the exam were not, in fact, college graduates. Of those reults, though, some show a decline from 40% "proficient" literacy of college graduates in 1992 to 31% in 2003. Proficient is defined as "able to read lengthy, complex English texts and draw complicated inferences" -- in other words, what we as professionals have to do every day to understand and use reports, e-mails, articles, and instructions.
I'm scared.
This article says that, according to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy exam -- which was given in 2003 to 19,000 people in the US -- our literacy has declined. Interestingly, the article emphasizes that it is the literacy of college graduates that has declined, but the test was given to "people 16 and older, in homes, college housing and in prisons" which implies to me that many of the people who took the exam were not, in fact, college graduates. Of those reults, though, some show a decline from 40% "proficient" literacy of college graduates in 1992 to 31% in 2003. Proficient is defined as "able to read lengthy, complex English texts and draw complicated inferences" -- in other words, what we as professionals have to do every day to understand and use reports, e-mails, articles, and instructions.
I'm scared.
13 December 2005
Lotus Geek | You, in 10 words
Lotus Geek | You, in 10 words
Can you describe yourself in 10 words/short phrases? Looking at my heading above, you can see that I tried, but here's the list I posted for Rocky:
1. reader
2. writer
3. friend
4. (grad) student
5. educator
6. yogini
7. family-member (aka, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin)
8. girlfriend
9. curious
10. runner
11. geek
Can you describe yourself in 10 words/short phrases? Looking at my heading above, you can see that I tried, but here's the list I posted for Rocky:
1. reader
2. writer
3. friend
4. (grad) student
5. educator
6. yogini
7. family-member (aka, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin)
8. girlfriend
9. curious
10. runner
11. geek
Yoga Journal : Wisdom : Yoga tradition and philosophy, information on yoga's pioneers, wisdom from spiritual teacher Philip Moffitt, and ways to incor
Yoga Journal : Wisdom : Yoga tradition and philosophy, information on yoga's pioneers, wisdom from spiritual teacher Philip Moffitt, and ways to incorporate the eight-fold path into your daily life.: "Like many of my peers, my spiritual seeking has taken me down foreign paths and into distant countries. This blending of influences has molded me into someone who can believe in a Buddhist cosmology, practice a Hindu meditation technique, and still celebrate Christmas like a good Catholic girl."
This might as well be me -- I have a lot of beliefs that coincide with a buddhist way of looking at life, things, and people, but I do yoga (closer to the hindu), and I'm still the spirit of christmas personified! :-)
This might as well be me -- I have a lot of beliefs that coincide with a buddhist way of looking at life, things, and people, but I do yoga (closer to the hindu), and I'm still the spirit of christmas personified! :-)
12 December 2005
A Fantasy Realm Too Vile for Hobbits - New York Times
A Fantasy Realm Too Vile for Hobbits - New York Times
I read the first 2 of this series avidly and lovingly after they were suggested by my friend Scott. The third started to lose steam for me. After this review/essay, I may have to go back to the start and read them all. I did get a bit overwhelmed, I think, by the painful events. Not quite enough redemption. But, perhaps I was too hasty. I'm always looking for good fantasy, and anything that is as imaginitive and new as these deserve a second chance.
I read the first 2 of this series avidly and lovingly after they were suggested by my friend Scott. The third started to lose steam for me. After this review/essay, I may have to go back to the start and read them all. I did get a bit overwhelmed, I think, by the painful events. Not quite enough redemption. But, perhaps I was too hasty. I'm always looking for good fantasy, and anything that is as imaginitive and new as these deserve a second chance.
Zero Tolerance - New York Times
Zero Tolerance - New York Times
Mom bought me both of Truss's books for Christmas. They're in the "to read" pile, but it is worth considering whether ranting about bad behaviour is bad behaviour in itself? Ms. Manners? Ms. Truss? Your thoughts?
Thanks for your good behaviour here.
Mom bought me both of Truss's books for Christmas. They're in the "to read" pile, but it is worth considering whether ranting about bad behaviour is bad behaviour in itself? Ms. Manners? Ms. Truss? Your thoughts?
Thanks for your good behaviour here.
Main Page - Blogsphere, a Lotus Domino Blog
Main Page - Blogsphere, a Lotus Domino Blog
I'm planning to create a new blog for LotusUserGroup.org using, probably, Blogsphere. Need to save this for more research.
I'm planning to create a new blog for LotusUserGroup.org using, probably, Blogsphere. Need to save this for more research.
Amazon.com Books: Books / Grownup School
Via Neil Gaiman --
So many cool things here; too bad I'm already in grown-up school at Rice!
So many cool things here; too bad I'm already in grown-up school at Rice!
26 April 2005
In Process Review: The Reading Group
Currently reading: The Reading Group, by Elizabeth Noble. It's about a group of women (why are the people in book clubs always women? both in real life and in literature? i've been in three book clubs and none has had a male member... ah well) in a book club. It's set in the UK. I started reading the book, got about a chapter in, and immediately got depressed. Not one of these women is having a very good life right now. Mostly, they're unhappy or dissatisfied with their marriages, although just for a bit of variety, one woman has a happy marriage and is dealing with an uncaring sister and a mother who's dying and one woman is in the beginning of a relationship and it seems to be going fairly well, but her 20-year old daughter is pregnant... by the husband of one of the other women in the reading group.
Oy. It's definitely a bit of a soap opera, but I keep hoping that the resolutions are going to make me feel like the reading is worth it.
Nicole is Ms. Perfect, on the outside. Unfortunately, although she loves her husband, Gavin, passionately, he's been unfaithful regularly since day 1. She gets pregnant and hasn't told him yet.
Harriet, Nicole's best friend, is married to the sweet and wonderful Tim, but she's not in love with him anymore, she says. She tries to have an affair, realizes she's not made for that, and is now suffering quietly.
Polly is a single parent to Cressida, she who turns up pregnant. She gets engaged during the book to Jack.
Polly's close friend is Susan, whose mother is having quite bad memory loss and is quietly and slowly dying.
Susan works with Mary, Clare's mother. Clare is a midwife who can't have a baby. She leaves her husband, Elliot, and finds out a month or so later that he's been having an affaire with Cressida and that she's pregnant.
The book chronicles their relationships with each other and with their families, and doesn't actually spend very much time talking about the books they read, although they form a framework for the story.
I keep hoping that it's going to be worth it when I'm done -- I'll let you know.
Oy. It's definitely a bit of a soap opera, but I keep hoping that the resolutions are going to make me feel like the reading is worth it.
Nicole is Ms. Perfect, on the outside. Unfortunately, although she loves her husband, Gavin, passionately, he's been unfaithful regularly since day 1. She gets pregnant and hasn't told him yet.
Harriet, Nicole's best friend, is married to the sweet and wonderful Tim, but she's not in love with him anymore, she says. She tries to have an affair, realizes she's not made for that, and is now suffering quietly.
Polly is a single parent to Cressida, she who turns up pregnant. She gets engaged during the book to Jack.
Polly's close friend is Susan, whose mother is having quite bad memory loss and is quietly and slowly dying.
Susan works with Mary, Clare's mother. Clare is a midwife who can't have a baby. She leaves her husband, Elliot, and finds out a month or so later that he's been having an affaire with Cressida and that she's pregnant.
The book chronicles their relationships with each other and with their families, and doesn't actually spend very much time talking about the books they read, although they form a framework for the story.
I keep hoping that it's going to be worth it when I'm done -- I'll let you know.
20 April 2005
Book Review (reread): The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
When I get a bit blue, I go through and re-read books. In the last week, I've re-read two David Eddings series: The Belgariad and The Malloreon. Yesterday and today I've been re-reading Robert Heinlein's The Cat Who Walks Through Walls. If you've read any Heinlein, you've probably got an opinion -- it seems that people either love or hate his work.
I'm one of those who loves it.
I recently bought The Moon is a Harsh Mistress on audio tape for my boyfriend, who liked it very much. Since The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is, in some ways, a continuation of that story, I thought it would make fun reading for me. I had forgotten that this is one of those later works of Heinlein's that connects so much of his Future History stories. The characters will be familiar to anyone who has read Number of the Beast or Time Enough for Love or To Sail Beyond the Sunset; people such as Jake and Hilda, Zeb and Deety, Laz and Lor, and of course, Dr. Lafe Hubert himself, arrive to save the day and complicate the life of Dr Richard Ames, formerly known as Colonel Colin Campbell.
Richard thinks he's on a simple date with a lovely woman (Gwendolyn Novak, later revealed to also be Hazel Stone, adopted daughter of Mannie... who was, yes, you guessed it, the "repair tech" who told the tale of Lunar revolution in the Moon is a Harsh Mistress). When an interloper gets killed at their table, they get married before breakfast the next morning, and both become hunted by their "government" by lunchtime, however, it's pretty clear that a simple date it's not.
We follow Richard Colin and Gwen-Hazel through their trials and tribulations on the Moon (if you've read the story of Job, either in the Bible or in Heinlein, you'll start to get the idea of the kinds of persecution they faced). All the while, Richard is trying to digest some fairly improbably stories told to him by his new bride: she was not only one of the signatories of the declaration of lunar independence, making her over two hundred, but she's on a mission from far in the future to save "Adam Selene,"also known as Mike, the computer who staged the Lunar revolution.
When things go even further wrong, however, and the team from the future is forced to rescue them, Richard has to start believing in multiperson solipsism, spaceships with much more space inside than outside, and rejuvenations that make 200 and 2000 year old people feel, look, and act younger than him. Gwen-Hazel and the rest of the Time Corps and the Circle of Ouroboros is fighting to get Richard on their side and signed up as a Time Corps operative. They might even succeed, if Dr. Lafe (aka Lazarus Long) can keep his big, hairy foot out of the mix long enough.
If you've read most of Heinlein's Future History stories, this book is a treat, as it ties them all together with his usual imaginitive story, clean prose, and mind-stretching ideas. It feels like a reward for being "in the know." If you've not read other Heinlein, I'd at least recommend the Moon is a Harsh Mistress first, as it gives you the most important of the backstory. Without the other Future History stories, especially the Lazarus Long books, you'll feel the story coming at you in much the same way Richard does - quickly - but you'll still enjoy it!
I'm one of those who loves it.
I recently bought The Moon is a Harsh Mistress on audio tape for my boyfriend, who liked it very much. Since The Cat Who Walks Through Walls is, in some ways, a continuation of that story, I thought it would make fun reading for me. I had forgotten that this is one of those later works of Heinlein's that connects so much of his Future History stories. The characters will be familiar to anyone who has read Number of the Beast or Time Enough for Love or To Sail Beyond the Sunset; people such as Jake and Hilda, Zeb and Deety, Laz and Lor, and of course, Dr. Lafe Hubert himself, arrive to save the day and complicate the life of Dr Richard Ames, formerly known as Colonel Colin Campbell.
Richard thinks he's on a simple date with a lovely woman (Gwendolyn Novak, later revealed to also be Hazel Stone, adopted daughter of Mannie... who was, yes, you guessed it, the "repair tech" who told the tale of Lunar revolution in the Moon is a Harsh Mistress). When an interloper gets killed at their table, they get married before breakfast the next morning, and both become hunted by their "government" by lunchtime, however, it's pretty clear that a simple date it's not.
We follow Richard Colin and Gwen-Hazel through their trials and tribulations on the Moon (if you've read the story of Job, either in the Bible or in Heinlein, you'll start to get the idea of the kinds of persecution they faced). All the while, Richard is trying to digest some fairly improbably stories told to him by his new bride: she was not only one of the signatories of the declaration of lunar independence, making her over two hundred, but she's on a mission from far in the future to save "Adam Selene,"also known as Mike, the computer who staged the Lunar revolution.
When things go even further wrong, however, and the team from the future is forced to rescue them, Richard has to start believing in multiperson solipsism, spaceships with much more space inside than outside, and rejuvenations that make 200 and 2000 year old people feel, look, and act younger than him. Gwen-Hazel and the rest of the Time Corps and the Circle of Ouroboros is fighting to get Richard on their side and signed up as a Time Corps operative. They might even succeed, if Dr. Lafe (aka Lazarus Long) can keep his big, hairy foot out of the mix long enough.
If you've read most of Heinlein's Future History stories, this book is a treat, as it ties them all together with his usual imaginitive story, clean prose, and mind-stretching ideas. It feels like a reward for being "in the know." If you've not read other Heinlein, I'd at least recommend the Moon is a Harsh Mistress first, as it gives you the most important of the backstory. Without the other Future History stories, especially the Lazarus Long books, you'll feel the story coming at you in much the same way Richard does - quickly - but you'll still enjoy it!
Welcome
(edited)Most of my friends know me on my other site -- Notesgirl.com, but I wanted to try some things out that Blogger offers.
I'm not trying to hide from my other identities; I just want a place to talk about different things. Topics to expect here include book reviews, essay topics, links and tidbits on news stories, opinions, etc.
I'm not trying to hide from my other identities; I just want a place to talk about different things. Topics to expect here include book reviews, essay topics, links and tidbits on news stories, opinions, etc.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)