Tuesday, November 27, 2007
the rise of adjuncts
now account for nearly 70 percent of professors at colleges and universities, both public and private. how very interesting. the article is referring to the fact that tenured faculty and those on a tenure track are a minority on college campuses.
why it matters? "Adjuncts are less likely to have doctoral degrees, educators say. They also have less time to meet with students, and research suggests that students who take many courses with them are somewhat less likely to graduate."
these adjuncts may be great teachers, but most don't have the "support that the tenure-track faculty have, in terms of offices, secretarial help and time. Their teaching loads are higher, and they have less time to focus on students.”
the why is easy: it's cheaper. adjuncts get paid less and no benefits. "Many state university presidents say tight budgets have made it inevitable that they turn to adjuncts to save money." i've done the adjunct thing for five years. there are ups and downs. i mean, yeah, there's all that above, but also no meetings and little administrative stuff. i suppose that's all behind me now.
why it matters? "Adjuncts are less likely to have doctoral degrees, educators say. They also have less time to meet with students, and research suggests that students who take many courses with them are somewhat less likely to graduate."
these adjuncts may be great teachers, but most don't have the "support that the tenure-track faculty have, in terms of offices, secretarial help and time. Their teaching loads are higher, and they have less time to focus on students.”
the why is easy: it's cheaper. adjuncts get paid less and no benefits. "Many state university presidents say tight budgets have made it inevitable that they turn to adjuncts to save money." i've done the adjunct thing for five years. there are ups and downs. i mean, yeah, there's all that above, but also no meetings and little administrative stuff. i suppose that's all behind me now.
hmm, i scored lowest on romanticism
What's your best quality?: Jessica, your best quality shines through in how Intelligent you are.
The fact that you're a smart person who is more able to understand complex concepts than many other people are really draws people to you! But that's not the only thing. Your answers on the test indicate you're a person with a strong will who is typically determined to follow through on difficult demands and meet important goals. You are an independent person who is usually able to handle things in a self-sufficient manner, too.
The fact that you're a smart person who is more able to understand complex concepts than many other people are really draws people to you! But that's not the only thing. Your answers on the test indicate you're a person with a strong will who is typically determined to follow through on difficult demands and meet important goals. You are an independent person who is usually able to handle things in a self-sufficient manner, too.
Labels: quiz
Sunday, November 25, 2007
i'm the teach, i'm giving out the grades
Thursday, November 22, 2007
sex offender law changes in GA
Georgia's top court Georgia's top court overturned a law that banned registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, churches and other areas where children congregate.
"It is apparent that there is no place in Georgia where a registered sex offender can live without being continually at risk of being ejected."
there are similiar problems across the nation. it's good that someone is now doing something about it.
"It is apparent that there is no place in Georgia where a registered sex offender can live without being continually at risk of being ejected."
there are similiar problems across the nation. it's good that someone is now doing something about it.
Labels: crime and social justice
happy thanksgiving
i guess i will just have to face the facts that, in my part of the country at least, thanksgiving is no longer a winter holiday.
good times with family and good food, nevertheless. enjoy.
good times with family and good food, nevertheless. enjoy.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
i like it
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
slapbet is on number four
more HIMYM: i was curious to see what the slapbet countdown displayed now that the original counter had expired. was it a countdown to number four? nope. i was redirected from the link to a youtube video of the 'you just got slapped' song.
by marshall. that's good stuff.
by marshall. that's good stuff.
Labels: tv and movies
Sunday, November 18, 2007
through the days with brand new eyes
i had made some notes of the process after the eye surgery through the days. here's the recap, as was written in large letters, and read with double vision:
day one: day of the procedure
the surgery itself was quick, the whole process took ten minutes. it was a very awkward experience - the propping open of the eyes was strange, the sound of the laser was a bit frightening, and the smell was awful. i will remember that smell... walking out of the doctor's office was BEAUTIFUL. i could see! i am thankful it was a cloudy, rainy day. colors were brighter, and i read bumper stickers and licence plates on the cars around me. hooray.
this lasted until later that evening. once i woke up from a required nap, everything changed. the blasting burning persisted into the next day.
day two: friday
as mentioned, the BURNING! i don't even know what the vision was like this day, really, as i could not seem to have my eyes open. the burning in my eyeballs was terrible, and the sensitivity to light was so bad, i was upset with the doc for requiring a post-op follow-up. the rest of this day was spent in the dark, administering eye drops from the four bottles that are required each hour or so.
day three: saturday
i was scared to open my eyes, as each time i did thus far was accompanied by a tremendous burning, but this had subsided, for the most part, by this day. this day was characterized by the word BLURRY, as you could tell by my attempt at an update in the previous post. the sensitivity to light persisted, so i was still not happy about another doc's visit. [because this meant being in the car, in bright sunshine, for the 30-minute trip to the office. it is here, though, that i learn my vision is now at 20-50, better than the 20-200 before i had the surgery. this, too, should get better as time goes by.]
day four: sunday
much better. there were periods throughout the day where there was some pain, some blurriness, still sensitive to light, but also times where i could see again. i was starting to feel better, normal, when there was a bit of a mishap - i lost a contact lens which i then had to put back in - that caused irritation. but all in all, i can see clear vision in my future.
update tuesday, november 20: much better. i feel as though i have gotten my eyes back. but my eyes are anew; they can see.
day one: day of the procedure
the surgery itself was quick, the whole process took ten minutes. it was a very awkward experience - the propping open of the eyes was strange, the sound of the laser was a bit frightening, and the smell was awful. i will remember that smell... walking out of the doctor's office was BEAUTIFUL. i could see! i am thankful it was a cloudy, rainy day. colors were brighter, and i read bumper stickers and licence plates on the cars around me. hooray.
this lasted until later that evening. once i woke up from a required nap, everything changed. the blasting burning persisted into the next day.
day two: friday
as mentioned, the BURNING! i don't even know what the vision was like this day, really, as i could not seem to have my eyes open. the burning in my eyeballs was terrible, and the sensitivity to light was so bad, i was upset with the doc for requiring a post-op follow-up. the rest of this day was spent in the dark, administering eye drops from the four bottles that are required each hour or so.
day three: saturday
i was scared to open my eyes, as each time i did thus far was accompanied by a tremendous burning, but this had subsided, for the most part, by this day. this day was characterized by the word BLURRY, as you could tell by my attempt at an update in the previous post. the sensitivity to light persisted, so i was still not happy about another doc's visit. [because this meant being in the car, in bright sunshine, for the 30-minute trip to the office. it is here, though, that i learn my vision is now at 20-50, better than the 20-200 before i had the surgery. this, too, should get better as time goes by.]
day four: sunday
much better. there were periods throughout the day where there was some pain, some blurriness, still sensitive to light, but also times where i could see again. i was starting to feel better, normal, when there was a bit of a mishap - i lost a contact lens which i then had to put back in - that caused irritation. but all in all, i can see clear vision in my future.
update tuesday, november 20: much better. i feel as though i have gotten my eyes back. but my eyes are anew; they can see.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
today's the day
for corrective eye surgery. 36 seconds per eye for me. i'm ready, with my $100 in medications to take with me (this includes $73 eye drops).
update 11/17/07 at 8:19 am: i made it. i have not been able to post an update up here since at first, my eyes were burning too much to do anything. then, and now, they are too blurry to see anytthing. i am posting this without seeing very much, so please disregard typos. '-)
update 11/17/07 at 8:19 am: i made it. i have not been able to post an update up here since at first, my eyes were burning too much to do anything. then, and now, they are too blurry to see anytthing. i am posting this without seeing very much, so please disregard typos. '-)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
how i love this show
of course, it's HIMYM. hopefully, we'll see ... the Slap Countdown clock is now at less than one week.
Labels: tv and movies
Monday, November 12, 2007
overweight is in
well, not quite. social standards have not changed overnight, but there is an upside. overweight people [compared to thin or obese] live longer.
federal researchers found that overweight people had the lowest mortality rate of any weight group. Investigating further, they were able to link causes of death to specific weights. Obese people had more deaths from heart disease, they reported last week. And thin people? They had more deaths from everything but cancer and heart disease. But there were 100,000 fewer deaths among the overweight than would have been expected if those people had been of normal weight.i'm starting to feel better about myself. where's that halloween candy?
Labels: crime and social justice
this day in history
Back to the Future lightning strikes Hill Valley's clock tower at 10:04PM.
it really says that in the 'today in history.'
it really says that in the 'today in history.'
Sunday, November 11, 2007
diversity in presidential campaign staff
Giuliani loses.
we can see from this graphic that Clinton has the most Asian staffers and Obama has the most Black staffers, while Giuliani’s staff is 100% white. [via]
this is more interesting when added with the fact that Giuliani’s staff is also mostly male. this is right up pat robertson's ally.
Labels: crime and social justice
Saturday, November 10, 2007
quote of the day
"We want the government to stop putting out stories that perpetuate the myth that all UFOs can be explained away in down-to-earth conventional terms. Investigations need to be re-opened, documents need to be unsealed and the idea of an open dialogue can no longer be shunned."
-- Former Arizona Governor Fife Symington: 'I saw a UFO in the Arizona sky'
i want to believe.
-- Former Arizona Governor Fife Symington: 'I saw a UFO in the Arizona sky'
i want to believe.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
local news roundup
Labels: crime and social justice
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
death by cookie
no, this is not about good chocolate. and not really about death. this is about cookies being used for torture.
two students in Illinois kidnapped, paddled, and burned a young man with freshly baked cookies after a drug deal went bad.
it's funny.
two students in Illinois kidnapped, paddled, and burned a young man with freshly baked cookies after a drug deal went bad.
it's funny.
Monday, November 05, 2007
serial killer portrayed in children's calendar
"In Hanover Germany, children's advent calendars now feature the image of serial killer Fritz Haarmann lurking behind a tree. During his murder spree in the 1920s, the 'Butcher of Hanover' killed at least 24 young men (mostly prostitutes), chopped up their corpses and possibly sold their meat. He was apprehended in 1924 when a number of skeletons washed ashore in the River Leine, which happens to be the very river he's posing next to in the picture, axe in hand. Ananova reports that tourism board head Hans-Christian Nolte, defended the calendars stating 'He is part of our city's history.'"
through the link, you can see the actual picture used in the calendar. it's cute and comical, the way he is portrayed, but still in there. subtle messages to keep children in line, perhaps?
through the link, you can see the actual picture used in the calendar. it's cute and comical, the way he is portrayed, but still in there. subtle messages to keep children in line, perhaps?
Labels: crime and social justice
the role of the US in the spread of HIV
in case you are wondering, is awfully steep.
"scientists reconstructing the genetic evolution of the deadly virus say they have traced its true path -- concluding that the insidious pathogen used Haiti as a steppingstone from Africa to the United States and arrived much earlier than had been thought. It then simmered silently here for more than a decade before it was detected, beginning its global spread along the way.
from Africa, to Haiti, to the world. "The United States probably served as a worldwide hub for this spread."
"scientists reconstructing the genetic evolution of the deadly virus say they have traced its true path -- concluding that the insidious pathogen used Haiti as a steppingstone from Africa to the United States and arrived much earlier than had been thought. It then simmered silently here for more than a decade before it was detected, beginning its global spread along the way.
from Africa, to Haiti, to the world. "The United States probably served as a worldwide hub for this spread."
Labels: crime and social justice
Friday, November 02, 2007
a small step in the right direction: 100-1 out
it's a classic problem. the 100-1 ratio in criminal justice is a clear example of our crime control policies and refers to the unfairness in the punishment crack cocaine vs. the real thing. possessing five grams of crack cocaine will get you a sentence of five years in prison, while it takes possessing 500 grams of powdered cocaine to trigger the same five year sentence. this illustrates stiff penalties, but also, from a conflict perspective, unfairness as it is a certain population that is most likely to be in possession on crack cocaine, and therefore punished harshly. possessing a small amount of cocaine, in contrast, carries a very small, if any, penalty.
but now that is over. the penalties for crack offenses have been dropped by two levels, making possession of crack and cocaine comparable. this applies to new offenders being sentenced. for now, those currently in prison for this refraction will not be reconsidered given the new law:
but now that is over. the penalties for crack offenses have been dropped by two levels, making possession of crack and cocaine comparable. this applies to new offenders being sentenced. for now, those currently in prison for this refraction will not be reconsidered given the new law:
First, the Sentencing Commission must decide whether the reduction will be retroactive and apply to the 19,500 currently serving sentences for crack offenses. Its analysis of the issue ... includes the statistic that of the 19,500 inmates currently serving federal sentences for crack offenses, 86% are black, 8% are hispanic and 6% are white.this reminds me that i went to prison yesterday. perhaps i'll tell more later.
In other words, blacks serve far longer sentences than whites for a comparable offense regarding substances that are chemically identical. With 19,500 inmates still in prison serving these disparate sentences, retroactivity is essential for fairness.
Labels: crime and social justice
silly handwriting
i actually enjoy reading about and taking quizzes on handwriting. this one's a joke, but have at it. What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?:
You are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress.
You are somewhat outgoing, but you're not a natural extrovert. You think first before you act. You tend to be independent, rational, and logical.
You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others.
You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well.
You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart.
You are a good communicator. You work hard to get your ideas across effectively.
You are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress.
You are somewhat outgoing, but you're not a natural extrovert. You think first before you act. You tend to be independent, rational, and logical.
You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others.
You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well.
You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart.
You are a good communicator. You work hard to get your ideas across effectively.
Labels: quiz
remember mulder and scully?
the second X-Files movie will open in theaters on July 25, 2008.
you made it down here?
what? you want a reward?
