Monday, November 23, 2009
oh, the pains
i have been ill and out of commission for a couple of days now. it is the same old "pains" that i get and nothing new or dangerous, but this is a serious bout. each time i have gotten the pains in the last few years, it has not been this severe or lasted this long. i don't know why i am being plagued now, but i'm miserable.
in other news, i am excited to be with my family soon, in more ways than one.
in other news, i am excited to be with my family soon, in more ways than one.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
adorable photo of the day #32
Thursday, November 12, 2009
november nor'easter
there's a big storm 'round these parts. stuck in the house due to coastal flooding.
tax cuts
for those making over $200,000 a year, your tax burden will increase in the coming years. but look at the cuts you have enjoyed in recent years. according to the chart, those making more than $545,845 a year benefited above and beyond the rest, getting a quarter of the tax cuts themselves. the chart also points out that it has cost the government $2.34 trillion.
Labels: crime and social justice
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
it's execution day
here in VA. one of the beltway snipers is scheduled to die, unless a pardon from the governor comes in at the last minute.
this is VA (second to TX in executions). no pardons will come.
this is VA (second to TX in executions). no pardons will come.
Labels: crime and social justice
Sunday, November 08, 2009
ASC adventures
back from philly and the crim meetings. we had a great time, both at conference presentations and visiting the city.
one highlight included touring Eastern State Penitentiary. beautiful and historical site.
this guy, Roger Matthews, had the best presentation, revisiting the 'myth of punitiveness.' he called out 'everyone in the building' as wrong. very intriguing.
one highlight included touring Eastern State Penitentiary. beautiful and historical site.
this guy, Roger Matthews, had the best presentation, revisiting the 'myth of punitiveness.' he called out 'everyone in the building' as wrong. very intriguing.
Monday, November 02, 2009
recidivism under scrutiny
news from cleveland: anthony sowell was convicted in 1989 and served 15 years in prison for rape. he was released in 2005. police have now discovered six badly decomposed bodies in his home, presumably raped and strangled to death. there is also some talk of a predatory myspace site that he used to lure women to his house.
i know there will be some sort of media frenzy following this story [very timely considering my dissertation topic researching sex offenders and recidivism]. people will call for reform to parole and/or sex offender registration, as sowell was registered and monitored [though obviously not closely enough; neighbors said the house smelled quite foul]. people are always more outraged by crimes committed by those who have previously served time in prison. popular opinion says that a crime committed by someone who was once incarcerated is then due to a failure on part of the system to protect the public. it will be said that these murders could have been prevented if he was never released from prison. of course, the question is how different he is from all the others who serve time and are then released.
i'm off to ASC in philadelphia so there will be no more posts from me this week.
i know there will be some sort of media frenzy following this story [very timely considering my dissertation topic researching sex offenders and recidivism]. people will call for reform to parole and/or sex offender registration, as sowell was registered and monitored [though obviously not closely enough; neighbors said the house smelled quite foul]. people are always more outraged by crimes committed by those who have previously served time in prison. popular opinion says that a crime committed by someone who was once incarcerated is then due to a failure on part of the system to protect the public. it will be said that these murders could have been prevented if he was never released from prison. of course, the question is how different he is from all the others who serve time and are then released.
i'm off to ASC in philadelphia so there will be no more posts from me this week.
Labels: crime and social justice
Sunday, November 01, 2009
go green bay
folks in green bay changed minnesota avenue to aaron rogers drive. that is great!
also, "The mayor says the city is marking Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field with the rival team by wearing flip-flops to work Friday in honor of the gunslinger's on-again/off-again retirements."
it almost makes me wish i lived in green bay.
also, "The mayor says the city is marking Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field with the rival team by wearing flip-flops to work Friday in honor of the gunslinger's on-again/off-again retirements."
it almost makes me wish i lived in green bay.
post #1751
on this day in 1751: a letter was sent to Robert Charles, working in London, from Isaac Norris in Pennsylvania, asking for the purchase of a "good Bell of about two thousand pounds weight." the Liberty Bell arrived in America in 1752, nearly one year later.
also, today in 79: Pompei was buried by Mt Vesuvius.
i've been awake for about an hour already. i really want to officially start my day- shower, make breakfast, etc. -but it's still too early!
also, today in 79: Pompei was buried by Mt Vesuvius.
i've been awake for about an hour already. i really want to officially start my day- shower, make breakfast, etc. -but it's still too early!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
happy halloween
that is all.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
bystander effect?
i've heard stories like this before, even talk about it in my classes sometimes. but it is still horrifying.
a 15 year old CA girl was gang raped by 4-10 men, for two and half hours, last weekend after leaving her high school homecoming dance. [i say 4-10 because i've read varying reports.] on top of this, as many as 20 people watched, twittering and taking pictures.
i understand that people do not want to get involved, but how hard is it to simply place a call from your cell phone?
a 15 year old CA girl was gang raped by 4-10 men, for two and half hours, last weekend after leaving her high school homecoming dance. [i say 4-10 because i've read varying reports.] on top of this, as many as 20 people watched, twittering and taking pictures.
i understand that people do not want to get involved, but how hard is it to simply place a call from your cell phone?
Labels: crime and social justice
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
disney princesses
it's easy to see what is going on when they make it so blatantly obvious. the original post questioned, "progress?" [via contexts]
Monday, October 26, 2009
in just a few minutes
people will be lining up at ODU for tickets to see Obama tomorrow. he is coming to ODU to endorse democratic nominee for governor Creigh Deeds.
they haven't said what time Obama and Deeds will be speaking tomorrow, but i am going to go to class super early to be sure i get there in time for class.
they haven't said what time Obama and Deeds will be speaking tomorrow, but i am going to go to class super early to be sure i get there in time for class.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
new plants
as the plants outside are dying (the past few very cold nights have really sped this process along), i bought two new plants for inside at the stockley gardens art show this past weekend. they had cacti and succulents; they were so pretty and inexpensive. it was only because i already have so many inside and a lack of space that i bought only two.
i had to do some research, but it seems i now own a euphorbia leuconeura, or madagascar jewel, and a ghost plant. i learned that the euphorbia is an incredibly common type of plant, with thousands of species. the one i bought, however, is not one i have seen before. also, i learned it is a relative of the poinsettia. this surprises me because they do not look similar at all!
i had to do some research, but it seems i now own a euphorbia leuconeura, or madagascar jewel, and a ghost plant. i learned that the euphorbia is an incredibly common type of plant, with thousands of species. the one i bought, however, is not one i have seen before. also, i learned it is a relative of the poinsettia. this surprises me because they do not look similar at all!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
a phd is an expert
"An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field." -- Niels Bohr
Labels: quotes
Monday, October 19, 2009
great hoax of 2009
so this balloon thing was really a hoax. what makes people do it?
that aside, this is not something that is worth six years in prison.
that aside, this is not something that is worth six years in prison.
Labels: crime and social justice
Sunday, October 18, 2009
early halloween fun
we enjoyed a halloween party last night. and football today (stupid eagles). not too bad.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
is it?
"it's easier to build strong children that to repair broken men." - frederick douglass
Labels: quotes
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
you go girl!
a video you may enjoy:
the girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes.
the message is responsibility and sharing.
the girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes.
the message is responsibility and sharing.
i hate if i was this way
i was up early, showered, and ready to go this morning. then begins the long, nerve-wracking process of waking up the child.
this is why my everyday sucks, because it starts on such a sour note.
this is why my everyday sucks, because it starts on such a sour note.
Friday, October 09, 2009
collective action
earlier this week it was announced that the local mall will enact a new policy that anyone under age 18 cannot be in the mall upsupervised after 5pm. the reactions to this about town are flying. an article in yesterday's paper spotlights that several groups of teens are staging a sit-in as a form of protest.
if only young people could come together more often to rally for a common cause.
if only young people could come together more often to rally for a common cause.
Labels: crime and social justice
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
no more kids in the mall
the kid's friends are featured in the paper today. the story is that the mall will be enacting a policy to not allow unsupervised kids. starting later this month, and before the holidays, anyone under 18 cannot be alone in macarthur center after 5 pm.
i get that 12 year olds should not be unsupervised in the mall, after all, the mall is not a babysitter. but what about 16 year olds? what about those kids who work in the mall?
i get that 12 year olds should not be unsupervised in the mall, after all, the mall is not a babysitter. but what about 16 year olds? what about those kids who work in the mall?
Labels: crime and social justice
Monday, October 05, 2009
criminology vs. [admin of] criminal justice
one of the things that i get asked so often is what the difference is between criminology and criminal justice. i ran across this interview with paul leighton, criminologist, and he sums it up nicely.
"There's a frequent misunderstanding is that all we do is train people to be FBI officers and police officers. There's confusion between what a police academy would do and what an academic criminologist would do. An academic criminologist is not just training people to be part of the criminal justice system, but researching fundamental issues about why people commit crime. Criminologists look at the workings of the criminal justice system, including getting more insight into why people are violent, and ask questions about the justice part of criminal justice."
though my program is of criminology and criminal justice, there is much much more of the former than the latter.
"There's a frequent misunderstanding is that all we do is train people to be FBI officers and police officers. There's confusion between what a police academy would do and what an academic criminologist would do. An academic criminologist is not just training people to be part of the criminal justice system, but researching fundamental issues about why people commit crime. Criminologists look at the workings of the criminal justice system, including getting more insight into why people are violent, and ask questions about the justice part of criminal justice."
though my program is of criminology and criminal justice, there is much much more of the former than the latter.
Labels: crime and social justice
Friday, October 02, 2009
bits for the second day in october
pretty neat: oldest human ancestor discovered.
can you believe this Letterman extortion news?
i really can care less with what's happening with kate and jon gosselin.
regarding my dissertation progress, i have spent the last few weeks reading about sex offenders. further, i am wondering if i should stick with the term 'social exclusion' or change to 'concentrated disadvantage.' The Office of the Deputy Prime Minster defines social exclusion as "what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, poor health and family breakdown" (Social Exclusion Unit 2004:2).
can you believe this Letterman extortion news?
i really can care less with what's happening with kate and jon gosselin.
regarding my dissertation progress, i have spent the last few weeks reading about sex offenders. further, i am wondering if i should stick with the term 'social exclusion' or change to 'concentrated disadvantage.' The Office of the Deputy Prime Minster defines social exclusion as "what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, poor health and family breakdown" (Social Exclusion Unit 2004:2).
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
His & Hers Dictionary
Thingy
Hers: Any part under a cars hood.
His: The strap fastener on a woman’s bra.
Vulnerable
Hers: Fully opening up one’s self emotionally to an other.
His: Playing football without a cup.
Communication
Hers: The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one’s partner.
His: Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.
Commitment
Hers: A desire to get married and raise a family.
His: Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one.
Entertainment
Hers: A good movie,concert,play or book.
His: Anything that can be done while drinking beer.
Flatulence
Hers: An embarrassing by-product of indigestion.
His: A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.
Making love
Hers: The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
His: Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.
Remote control
Hers: A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
His: A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes. [via]
Hers: Any part under a cars hood.
His: The strap fastener on a woman’s bra.
Vulnerable
Hers: Fully opening up one’s self emotionally to an other.
His: Playing football without a cup.
Communication
Hers: The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one’s partner.
His: Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.
Commitment
Hers: A desire to get married and raise a family.
His: Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one.
Entertainment
Hers: A good movie,concert,play or book.
His: Anything that can be done while drinking beer.
Flatulence
Hers: An embarrassing by-product of indigestion.
His: A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.
Making love
Hers: The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
His: Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.
Remote control
Hers: A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
His: A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes. [via]
the fight is over
susan atkins died. she was recently denied parole after appealing to die at home [brain cancer] rather than at the expense of the california prison system. i think the 40+ years she served in prison was punishment enough for her role in the Sharon Tate/LaBianca murders.
Labels: crime and social justice
Monday, September 28, 2009
wasn't it just friday
like a minute ago? boy, this weekend was quick. a few things:
i find it baffling that Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland and will be extradited to the US. the man was so good at avoiding US officials for 31 years.
the kid gets braces this week.
the lions win a game! and against the redskins. that's good stuff.
i'm working on a dissertation synopsis to turn in today.
i find it baffling that Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland and will be extradited to the US. the man was so good at avoiding US officials for 31 years.
the kid gets braces this week.
the lions win a game! and against the redskins. that's good stuff.
i'm working on a dissertation synopsis to turn in today.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
mad at the news story, mad at the news outlet
there was a story i heard the tail-end of this morning on the news and vowed when i came home to look it up. before i get to the story, let me repeat a rant from before. i don't know when, but i know i have complained about the news sites, eg., cnn.com, abc.com, regarding the lack of text stories. i wanted to find the aforementioned news story, but all i come across are video clips, eg. from the story on GMA this morning. nearly everyone knows my computer sucks right now and i cannot view video clips, but that doesn't mean i don't want to read the news! ugh!
moving on, here's the story. parents in had their children taken away and their names on the sex offenders registry because of bath-time pictures of their own kids! come on, who doesn't have these kinds of pics of their kids? but in this couple's case, when getting their pics developed, the authorities were informed, and the courts intervened. there may be more we, as the general public, are missing, but this is nonsense from what i can tell.
from the story linked above, the couple is suing walmart (where the pics where developed), which i do not believe in. the retailer notified the appropriate person when something questionable came before them. the worker was being careful, and there is nothing wrong with that. but did the state have to prosecute? nonsense.
moving on, here's the story. parents in had their children taken away and their names on the sex offenders registry because of bath-time pictures of their own kids! come on, who doesn't have these kinds of pics of their kids? but in this couple's case, when getting their pics developed, the authorities were informed, and the courts intervened. there may be more we, as the general public, are missing, but this is nonsense from what i can tell.
from the story linked above, the couple is suing walmart (where the pics where developed), which i do not believe in. the retailer notified the appropriate person when something questionable came before them. the worker was being careful, and there is nothing wrong with that. but did the state have to prosecute? nonsense.
Labels: crime and social justice
Sunday, September 20, 2009
this is cool
Saturday, September 19, 2009
just like old times
i just wrote a letter. a real, handwritten letter to mail to an old friend.
it felt good.
it felt good.
Friday, September 18, 2009
electronic venting
i am getting very little work done with the limited capacity of my computer [i can't read pdfs, visit any webpages that require flash, or write in any program other than notepad - no microsoft office] and it is frustrating.
the radio has not worked in my car for several weeks and the silence is making me crazy.
if only i could spell the sound that i am making at the moment.
the radio has not worked in my car for several weeks and the silence is making me crazy.
if only i could spell the sound that i am making at the moment.
something's going on here
i don't believe this at all: 75 Percent of Oklahoma High School Students Can't Name the First President.
i will not disagree that some portions of our public school system are failing. i see college students all the time who have deficiencies in even the simplest things, writing, in particular. but there has to be something else going on with these results. even small children know many of these basic things, such as who george washington is. perhaps they don't know much, but they know him as the first president!
update: i'm not the only one who feels this way. see this post for possible explanations.
i will not disagree that some portions of our public school system are failing. i see college students all the time who have deficiencies in even the simplest things, writing, in particular. but there has to be something else going on with these results. even small children know many of these basic things, such as who george washington is. perhaps they don't know much, but they know him as the first president!
update: i'm not the only one who feels this way. see this post for possible explanations.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
middle school orientation
went to the thing last night to meet all the teachers. it was nice to meet the teachers, especially those teaching her three courses that are for high school credit (in seventh grade) - algebra, biology, and french. the french class is taking a trip to Quebec in April, during spring break. on one hand, i feel that a 12-year old on a week-long trip is a bad idea. on the other hand, i could use this to motivate her to work very hard in her classes. the jury is still out on this one.
in other news, her algebra teacher was a student of mine.
in other news, her algebra teacher was a student of mine.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
i've always said that when it is your time to die, it is your time to die
this piece is quite the example of that! a man in austria feared for his life while trapped in a elevator. he was so gracious to be rescued, he rushed to church to thank God. there, an ancient 860 lb monument fell on him and he was killed instantly. [via j-walk]
how true it is
"Treat all disasters as if they were trivialities but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster." -- Quentin Crisp
Labels: quotes
Monday, September 14, 2009
it's monday, september 14
my computer is still on the fritz, however, i am still alive and well. just not spending as much time in front of the machine. here are a few bits:
it's after ten, and i am still deciding whether to watch leno.
kanye west is an pig.
rip patrick swayze. i cannot fathom how different my life would have been if not for dirty dancing.
a new FBI report says we are arresting someone for marijuana every 37 seconds. what a waste.
the eagles game was a lot of fun yesterday.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
heteropoda davidbowie
david bowie has had a large, yellow, hairy spider from malaysia named after him.
to reiterate, the spider is not from mars. [via]
to reiterate, the spider is not from mars. [via]
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
been a while since a quiz
Do You See the Glass as Half Full or Half Empty?: You See the Glass as Half Full
No matter what's going on in your life, you can always find something to be thankful for. You try to remain positive and focus on the good. It's not as easy as it seems, but it's always rewarding.
Your optimism and joy inspire the people around you. You make the world a happier place. By seeing the glass as half full, you're sure to have more peace and contentment in your life. You might life longer too!
No matter what's going on in your life, you can always find something to be thankful for. You try to remain positive and focus on the good. It's not as easy as it seems, but it's always rewarding.
Your optimism and joy inspire the people around you. You make the world a happier place. By seeing the glass as half full, you're sure to have more peace and contentment in your life. You might life longer too!
Labels: quiz
college rankings
washington monthly's rankings for colleges and universities are based on "Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country)."
ODU is number 131 out of 258.
ODU is number 131 out of 258.
bits
the computer is now better, although not great. but i'm back online. although without flash and pdf reader, i am limited. [these will not install due to some remaining problems.]
the weekend saw ODU win it's first football game in 69 years. [i hate that headline, it was the first football game in 69 years, and yes, it was a win. a bit misleading.] friday came with the news that braces are in our future. and the zoo was nice yesterday.
today, the kid went happily off to her first day of seventh grade. wow.
today i will go to my second week of classes. it's into the thick of things now.
the weather is not forgiving today. pouring rain. lovely.
the weekend saw ODU win it's first football game in 69 years. [i hate that headline, it was the first football game in 69 years, and yes, it was a win. a bit misleading.] friday came with the news that braces are in our future. and the zoo was nice yesterday.
today, the kid went happily off to her first day of seventh grade. wow.
today i will go to my second week of classes. it's into the thick of things now.
the weather is not forgiving today. pouring rain. lovely.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
who's above the law
there is no story linked to this poll [as there usually is], so i am not sure what inspired it, but today's pilotonline poll is:
Should city employees face fines if caught running red lights in a city vehicle by a camera?
the votes so far [it is still relatively early, so this is only 834 votes]:
No -- 5%
Yes -- 94%
No opinion -- 1%
no matter how one may feel about the validity of red light cameras, i think it unfair that city employees would be exempt from paying the fines incurred. if everyone else gets a ticket, they should get a ticket, too.
update: here's the story. a loophole in the law that says only a vehicle's owner can fined is how this works. the city is not going to fine itself.
Should city employees face fines if caught running red lights in a city vehicle by a camera?
the votes so far [it is still relatively early, so this is only 834 votes]:
No -- 5%
Yes -- 94%
No opinion -- 1%
no matter how one may feel about the validity of red light cameras, i think it unfair that city employees would be exempt from paying the fines incurred. if everyone else gets a ticket, they should get a ticket, too.
update: here's the story. a loophole in the law that says only a vehicle's owner can fined is how this works. the city is not going to fine itself.
Labels: crime and social justice
Monday, August 31, 2009
annual loss of several inches
washing your hair the first few times after a haircut is always a strange event.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
the standards are grossly flawed
but even still, norfolk public schools are losing ground. just a few years ago, the schools in norfolk were touted the best urban school system in the nation. now, "Norfolk will be the only city in South Hampton Roads with schools that aren't fully accredited by the state this year. Five of the division's 49 schools are likely to fall short." of course, these are just five schools, but i can see how this may be alarming.
let us not forget the wonderful things that are being taught in norfolk schools.
let us not forget the wonderful things that are being taught in norfolk schools.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
exams over
i lived through it. just need to wait for news that i passed and then i'm ABD.
in other news, now i need a computer expert friend to get rid of this virus on my computer.
in other news, now i need a computer expert friend to get rid of this virus on my computer.
Monday, August 24, 2009
t minus 37 minutes
i am about to embark on the comps. there have been many moments over the past few weeks that i felt i was ready, prepared, and masterful. these last few moments, however, leave me feeling that the PhD thing was not a good idea at all.
i'm sure all will be okay. just need my computer to hold up!
i'm sure all will be okay. just need my computer to hold up!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
i've been hijacked
"It is recomended to use special antispyware tools to pervent data loss. Windows will now download and install the most up-to-date.." i've been hijacked by something.
it redirects all of my searches to bizarre webpages that are impossible... and disables my spyware software. anyone know what i can do?
the timing is immaculate.
it redirects all of my searches to bizarre webpages that are impossible... and disables my spyware software. anyone know what i can do?
the timing is immaculate.
Friday, August 21, 2009
been gearing up for comps as of late
tonight, like many others, i am all night again. on one hand, i can look at this as a summer's worth of prep for staying up all night during comps. on the other, i was hoping to be well-rested going in for maximum brain power.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
three recycled links
Thursday, August 13, 2009
happy happy birthday
birthday wishes to my mommy! i won't reveal her age here...
viral video
what is a "viral video?" this is one of those buzz words, or phrases i should say, that is taking over in the media. searching for "viral video" results in 2,640,000 hits, but these results do not provide a definition of the terms nor do they explain how a video gets to be viral. above all, where did this term come from? who decides what is funny and/or important enough to become viral?
update: the above is not exactly true. wikipedia offers the answers. and it is just as expected. but i still want to know the origins of the phrase.
update: the above is not exactly true. wikipedia offers the answers. and it is just as expected. but i still want to know the origins of the phrase.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
some good news on the criminal justice front
Washington is rethinking its three-strikes laws, particularly for non-violent offenders. i still believe that if most people understood how these laws were going to be applied, that they would not have voted for them in the first place. [via]
Labels: crime and social justice
Friday, August 07, 2009
fish tale
a 1,062-pound blue marlin was caught off the coast of OC, MD. a new record. the article says it took him more than three hours to reel it in.
it's a good thing this was publicized, because no one would believe this guy! the pic is amazing.
it's a good thing this was publicized, because no one would believe this guy! the pic is amazing.
research methods
so what is the identification problem?
making money
i offered the kid $50 to clean the house. i really thought she would go for it, especially since she has been a bit bored as of late.
no dice.
no dice.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
ODU football
"The Monarchs received requests for 14,859 season tickets for a team that has yet to play a game," while expecting only about 6,600. over one thousand requests were turned down. "Only one Football Championship Subdivision program in the country - Montana - will have a season-ticket base this season larger than ODU. "
this means i won't be able to make it to a game for forever.
this means i won't be able to make it to a game for forever.
you made it down here?
what? you want a reward?
