A paper I wrote earlier this semester...
Marking Diaspora History of the Sephardic Jewry
The period from about 900 to 1200 brought forth a wealth of influential characters in the Jewish community. During this time, Christian Europe had a dark cloud over it, but civilization was flourishing in places like Muslim Spain. Two influential Jews of Muslim Spain in the 10th and 11th centuries were Hasdai ibn Shaprut and Samuel Ha-Nagid.
A wealthy and learned Jew of Jaen, Spain had a son about the year 915. That son was Hasdai. Even in his youth, he learned Hebrew, Arabic and Latin. He had a strong interest in science and medicine that would lead him to become a physician. While he did not bear the title of vizier, he worked as physician for the calif ‘Abd al-Rahman III and ministered foreign affairs, as well. He was in strong support of the Jewish communities. He sent riches to and corresponded with the heads of the dwindling Babylonian academies. Instrumental in moving Jewish scholarship to his home of Cordova, he established a school and appointed Moses ben Enoch from one of these academies, but now in Cordova, to serve as the school’s director. He was a scholar honored by other scholars of the time. As the study of poetry and grammar become more in vogue for Spanish Jewry during his time, he excelled in them. The date of his death is unclear. He seems to have died perhaps 970 or 990 in Cordova, Spain.
Shortly after Hasdai passed on, 993 Cordova saw the birth of a Jewish man who would later become one of the most influential men of Spain. A native of Merida, Samuel’s father saw to it that his son should receive a thorough education of both rabbinical and secular studies. His rabbinical studies were under Enoch, son of Moses ben Enoch, whom was appointed by Hasdai. Like Hasdai, he excelled in languages and studied Hebrew, Arabic and Latin, for certain. It is said that he wrote a letter in seven different languages at some point in his life. He was to become a grammarian, poet and Arabic calligrapher. It was for these talents that a slave of vizier, Abu al-Kasim ibn al-‘Arif employed him for writing and calligraphy. When the vizier happened upon some of these writings made for the slave, Samuel came to work as this vizier’s secretary. On Abu’s death bed, he informed the king that his Jewish secretary was his “man behind the man.” The king elevated Samuel to hold the title of vizier for himself. In 1037, this king died. Luckily for Samuel the son which succeeded him retained Samuel. In 1055, he died and Joseph ibn naghrela, his son took over his position in Spain.
Hasdai ibn Shaprut and Samuel Ha-Nagid both had fathers who ensured they would be well educated. Both learned Hebrew, Arabic and Latin. Both were grammarians and Poets who either began or concluded their life in Cordova, Spain. Both of these men rose to have a hand in the affairs of a Muslim government. Both of these Jewish men made their mark in Diaspora history of the Sephardic world. Of course, as a calligrapher, Samuel did so both literally and figuratively.
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Analyzing Lego-some case study input
Establish a set of recommendations for managing the innovative efforts, being pursued both internally and through cooperative alliances, to drive the company's future growth and to ensure that they are aligned with the vision and values of the organization.
I think they are doing a good thing by indulging in their adult market, especially since these adults are making super cool items like giant Homer Simpson statues and mocks of NYC neighborhoods. One of the key reasons to bring in adults is that adults decide what to buy for the kids. While this is often a product of kids nagging the adults, there are parents who are very much against many of the trends that are going on in the toy industry. I see in the case that LEGO tried to run a TV show to sell their product and this flopped (C-137) . However, they have the opportunity to be the premier product for another type of parent.
Susan Linn, who teaches at Harvard and many of her colleauges have formed a coalition to end the rampant commercialization of childhood. They believe, and rightly so, in creative play to stimulate a child's brain development and creativity. A toy that is based on "playing well" is so perfect for parents that care. LEGO has to tap into this market.
I also noticed on their website that they do have LEGOs for girls. I actually think they should do more for that. They don't seem to be selling many options of brick sets. All I saw on their website was the "starter" set. They should also sell an "enhancer" set which wouldn't have the stigma of being a starter set. They should try to sell to educational environments like schools and day cares (Duplo). They should run contests for kids to make things with the blocks and potentially win money that would be held for a their college as a future scholarship or they could win the latest LEGOs. Kids who don't have LEGOs would likely have to buy them to build something to enter. They could also do something like the Campbell's soup points to collect for your school.
They have to keep themselves in kids minds. They had commercials in the 1990s, which one can see if they search YouTube for LEGO commercials. However, they peaked in 2002 (C-131). They need to keep running commercials. To the parents, they should be marketing themselves as a toy both educational and fun. They should make a starter set for girls that would have mostly blue and purple blocks so they can market to tomboys whose mothers don't want them playing with boys toys, but they don't want anything too girly. Believe me, there's a market. That was myself and all my female friends when I was a kid.
REFERENCES
Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. Media Education Foundation. 2008. 25
Nov. 2010. Online: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C17EC7C0822AF1E7
The Corporation. Prod. Mark Acbar. Big Picture Media, 2003. 5 Dec. 2010. Online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi63rXnuWbw.
Hidden Persuaders. Adweek Eastern Edition. 5 Jun. 2000, Vol. 41 Issue 23. 44.
Linn, Susan. Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood. New York: The New Press. 2004.
I think they are doing a good thing by indulging in their adult market, especially since these adults are making super cool items like giant Homer Simpson statues and mocks of NYC neighborhoods. One of the key reasons to bring in adults is that adults decide what to buy for the kids. While this is often a product of kids nagging the adults, there are parents who are very much against many of the trends that are going on in the toy industry. I see in the case that LEGO tried to run a TV show to sell their product and this flopped (C-137) . However, they have the opportunity to be the premier product for another type of parent.
Susan Linn, who teaches at Harvard and many of her colleauges have formed a coalition to end the rampant commercialization of childhood. They believe, and rightly so, in creative play to stimulate a child's brain development and creativity. A toy that is based on "playing well" is so perfect for parents that care. LEGO has to tap into this market.
I also noticed on their website that they do have LEGOs for girls. I actually think they should do more for that. They don't seem to be selling many options of brick sets. All I saw on their website was the "starter" set. They should also sell an "enhancer" set which wouldn't have the stigma of being a starter set. They should try to sell to educational environments like schools and day cares (Duplo). They should run contests for kids to make things with the blocks and potentially win money that would be held for a their college as a future scholarship or they could win the latest LEGOs. Kids who don't have LEGOs would likely have to buy them to build something to enter. They could also do something like the Campbell's soup points to collect for your school.
They have to keep themselves in kids minds. They had commercials in the 1990s, which one can see if they search YouTube for LEGO commercials. However, they peaked in 2002 (C-131). They need to keep running commercials. To the parents, they should be marketing themselves as a toy both educational and fun. They should make a starter set for girls that would have mostly blue and purple blocks so they can market to tomboys whose mothers don't want them playing with boys toys, but they don't want anything too girly. Believe me, there's a market. That was myself and all my female friends when I was a kid.
REFERENCES
Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood. Media Education Foundation. 2008. 25
Nov. 2010. Online: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C17EC7C0822AF1E7
The Corporation. Prod. Mark Acbar. Big Picture Media, 2003. 5 Dec. 2010. Online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi63rXnuWbw.
Hidden Persuaders. Adweek Eastern Edition. 5 Jun. 2000, Vol. 41 Issue 23. 44.
Linn, Susan. Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood. New York: The New Press. 2004.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Highlighting group work
As a friend of mine once eloquently put, "group efforts are best left to wolf packs."
In college, the professors like to push for group work. They know that employers don't like the way many of these generation Y kids don't "play well with others." When students complain, professors point out that we WOULD have to be able to work in a group in the work world. There are some problems with this, though.
In the work world, the work is done at work.
In the work world, many people have families (like spouse and kids, not mommy) so co-workers have grown out of the childish "I'll start it at 11pm the night before it's due," crap that college kids pull. (Then they wonnnnder why they have a 2 point something GPA.)
In the work world, someone is in charge. Whereas, at school, even if a team agrees to put you in charge, you have no authority.
The the work world, that is your only focus when you are there. Excessive socializing is usually not tolerated, either. Slackers are found out and the boss remembers. At school, the semester ends and the coattail riders move on to another A student next semester. The professors are also changing.
Finally, if you DO get stuck with all the work, it shouldn't matter since you're there TO WORK. Whereas with school, you manage your time. Doing all the work is actually MORE work, since you have to keep Emailing the other students who still don't approve or deny what you did. Hey, it's 5 days not even 5 hours before the thing is due, why do you have a bug up your @$$?
In college, the professors like to push for group work. They know that employers don't like the way many of these generation Y kids don't "play well with others." When students complain, professors point out that we WOULD have to be able to work in a group in the work world. There are some problems with this, though.
In the work world, the work is done at work.
In the work world, many people have families (like spouse and kids, not mommy) so co-workers have grown out of the childish "I'll start it at 11pm the night before it's due," crap that college kids pull. (Then they wonnnnder why they have a 2 point something GPA.)
In the work world, someone is in charge. Whereas, at school, even if a team agrees to put you in charge, you have no authority.
The the work world, that is your only focus when you are there. Excessive socializing is usually not tolerated, either. Slackers are found out and the boss remembers. At school, the semester ends and the coattail riders move on to another A student next semester. The professors are also changing.
Finally, if you DO get stuck with all the work, it shouldn't matter since you're there TO WORK. Whereas with school, you manage your time. Doing all the work is actually MORE work, since you have to keep Emailing the other students who still don't approve or deny what you did. Hey, it's 5 days not even 5 hours before the thing is due, why do you have a bug up your @$$?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Oh Joy, Jewish class!
You may recall this post. A woman in my class who had already been exchanging looks with another girl from class at the Hillel asked me if I was a convert right in front of my Muslim friend. Well, her friend asked me just now. We had our midterm today and since the classroom was in spitting distance from the building's entrance people were casually gathering in the entry way asking the question about X, do you know what that was? I got a question wrong that the sandhedrin was in Israel/Palestine. I put that it was in Babylon. I couldn't remember. So, anyway, I was walking with some classmates who walked out at the same time, two of them happened to be the two from the Hillel incident, the other one asked me while the others were talking if I had converted.
WTF? I mean, at least she had enough respect not to ask me in front of others, but seriously if people are so curious, get a book of converts' stories. I'm not some sort of Jewish convert oncomouse at your disposal! Oh, yeah, she, of course didn't stop with one or two questions, she kept going until I ducked into the cafeteria, of which we were, at that point, standing in front.
Oh, and she's not the classmate who found my blog. I'm still curious about that one. Send me an Email and tell me who you are, Mr. or Ms. "What a CU Tuesday." I already Emailed and asked anyone I thought it might have been. I'm guessing they found me from the link I put of the three nusach post on the page of a Syrian Jewish female friend that I had a class with last spring semester.
WTF? I mean, at least she had enough respect not to ask me in front of others, but seriously if people are so curious, get a book of converts' stories. I'm not some sort of Jewish convert oncomouse at your disposal! Oh, yeah, she, of course didn't stop with one or two questions, she kept going until I ducked into the cafeteria, of which we were, at that point, standing in front.
Oh, and she's not the classmate who found my blog. I'm still curious about that one. Send me an Email and tell me who you are, Mr. or Ms. "What a CU Tuesday." I already Emailed and asked anyone I thought it might have been. I'm guessing they found me from the link I put of the three nusach post on the page of a Syrian Jewish female friend that I had a class with last spring semester.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Jewish class: Three Nusachim
In my Jewish class, one of the readings assigned to us, discussed the three nusachs. I blogged about an obnoxious lady from my class who insulted me during a study session. Something I didn't discuss (because I was intending this full post on the subject) was when she was telling the Muslim friend of mine about how there's two kinds of Jews Sephardic and Ashkenaz.
While we all think this and say this all the time, it is actually incorrect. Ashkenaz are what we think they are. True Sephardim have meshed with the Ashkenaz and those that we call Sephardic are actually oriental. If you don't believe me, go into godaven.com and punch in a neighborhood like Syrian Brooklyn (that's 11223 zip code). You will see several minyanim listed as nusach "edot hamizrach." The translation for this is, believe it or not, Oriental. I guess it makes sense, if you also pull up a Bukharian shul, you will find they also daven this nusach. Bukhara is in central Asia.
I first became exposed to this whole idea of three nusachs a good long time ago when speaking to a guy that was converting while I was also still in the process. He explained to me that there are two Sefardic nusachs. This was a long time ago so I don't remember how exactly how he put it but it was something like one being nusach Sefard and the other being Sefardic. Back then, I actually went into godaven and saw this edot hamizrach label. I didn't know what it meant, though, until this class... Oriental... huh...
While we all think this and say this all the time, it is actually incorrect. Ashkenaz are what we think they are. True Sephardim have meshed with the Ashkenaz and those that we call Sephardic are actually oriental. If you don't believe me, go into godaven.com and punch in a neighborhood like Syrian Brooklyn (that's 11223 zip code). You will see several minyanim listed as nusach "edot hamizrach." The translation for this is, believe it or not, Oriental. I guess it makes sense, if you also pull up a Bukharian shul, you will find they also daven this nusach. Bukhara is in central Asia.
I first became exposed to this whole idea of three nusachs a good long time ago when speaking to a guy that was converting while I was also still in the process. He explained to me that there are two Sefardic nusachs. This was a long time ago so I don't remember how exactly how he put it but it was something like one being nusach Sefard and the other being Sefardic. Back then, I actually went into godaven and saw this edot hamizrach label. I didn't know what it meant, though, until this class... Oriental... huh...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Ongoing Saga of My Jewish Class
I take a class, it's an upper level "core" or general studies class. We choose two classes to our liking in two different categories with three categories from which to choose. I previously took a class in Paradoxes, now I'm taking this class in the Jewish Diaspora.
Well, there's been little snotty comments and looks from various students in the class. I would say these come from students who are either A) older or B) FFB.
The first incident was with an older lady, in her 50's. She was one of the people I exchanged Emails with within the first couple classes. One day, I'm leaving class. I was on my way to restroom. She calls to me, "Nicole.." I was wondering what in the world this woman wanted with me but I figured it wouldn't be good. What can't wait and be Emailed to me? She wanted me to sit and read the reading to her. Oy, Vey! I told her I had to go to the bathroom. So, I actually recorded it for her and Emailed it to her. I had to read it anyway. She acted all weird about that. Also, I Emailed the group that exchanged Emails including her about it but I didn't give her name. The next class she snapped at me and told me not to give out her Email address-except I had already Emailed out that group, plus, I thought the whole group was on point that we were trying to exchange Emails with people in the class. Walking out of that class together in the hallway she said to me something about me not being Jewish. I said, "No, I am Jewish." I told the story to a certain friend/blogreader who said, "it's called conversion." I wasn't going to throw this woman such a bone. I'm Jewish-end of discussion. Besides which, why COULDN'T I be a BT? Ok, I have an Irish last name, but still.... I could be a product of intermarriage with a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. I could have changed my name. I actually did, but my original last name wasn't any more Jewish. It was English. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
The other older lady was kind enough to start her crap today while studying with myself and a Muslim friend of mine who's in the class. Previously, there was an incident with "looks" in Hillel. I came in to get a burger and I saw she and another classmate begin to speak to each other with looks on their faces wondering what the hell I was doing there or whatever. It was a lot of looking at me and looking at each other. Ok, whatever. Well, today, class was cancelled. However, my friend and I made plans to meet in the classroom to study on the chance that anyone else wanted to meet with us to study. This other older lady came so she studied with us. At one point, she says to me, "you're a convert, aren't you?" I told that to a Sephardic not religious Jewish friend of mine after my other class and her jaw hit the floor that someone was so rude to do such a thing. Oh, please, I deal with this all the time. The woman went on to tell my Muslim friend (I don't think she knows we're friends because we don't sit together since my friend didn't see me on the first day until seats were pretty full then our professor told us to sit in the same seats) that people convert for marriage so no one likes converts and if they converted not for marriage it's worse because then we have no idea why they bothered. I really should have told her that I have Jewish ancestry, but way back. I probably do, but tracing my ancestry, I get stuck with my great grandparents who came from Germany.
Things like this make me wonder why the heck I took the class. I really debated it. I guess in the end I was hoping that the class might even tip my love-hate relationship with Judaism back to the love side of the scale. I really should have known better. Maybe I'll get blog fodder out of the course work at some point. Actually, I have one that I will post when I have time. I will also get to blogging about the FFB eventually.
Well, there's been little snotty comments and looks from various students in the class. I would say these come from students who are either A) older or B) FFB.
The first incident was with an older lady, in her 50's. She was one of the people I exchanged Emails with within the first couple classes. One day, I'm leaving class. I was on my way to restroom. She calls to me, "Nicole.." I was wondering what in the world this woman wanted with me but I figured it wouldn't be good. What can't wait and be Emailed to me? She wanted me to sit and read the reading to her. Oy, Vey! I told her I had to go to the bathroom. So, I actually recorded it for her and Emailed it to her. I had to read it anyway. She acted all weird about that. Also, I Emailed the group that exchanged Emails including her about it but I didn't give her name. The next class she snapped at me and told me not to give out her Email address-except I had already Emailed out that group, plus, I thought the whole group was on point that we were trying to exchange Emails with people in the class. Walking out of that class together in the hallway she said to me something about me not being Jewish. I said, "No, I am Jewish." I told the story to a certain friend/blogreader who said, "it's called conversion." I wasn't going to throw this woman such a bone. I'm Jewish-end of discussion. Besides which, why COULDN'T I be a BT? Ok, I have an Irish last name, but still.... I could be a product of intermarriage with a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. I could have changed my name. I actually did, but my original last name wasn't any more Jewish. It was English. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
The other older lady was kind enough to start her crap today while studying with myself and a Muslim friend of mine who's in the class. Previously, there was an incident with "looks" in Hillel. I came in to get a burger and I saw she and another classmate begin to speak to each other with looks on their faces wondering what the hell I was doing there or whatever. It was a lot of looking at me and looking at each other. Ok, whatever. Well, today, class was cancelled. However, my friend and I made plans to meet in the classroom to study on the chance that anyone else wanted to meet with us to study. This other older lady came so she studied with us. At one point, she says to me, "you're a convert, aren't you?" I told that to a Sephardic not religious Jewish friend of mine after my other class and her jaw hit the floor that someone was so rude to do such a thing. Oh, please, I deal with this all the time. The woman went on to tell my Muslim friend (I don't think she knows we're friends because we don't sit together since my friend didn't see me on the first day until seats were pretty full then our professor told us to sit in the same seats) that people convert for marriage so no one likes converts and if they converted not for marriage it's worse because then we have no idea why they bothered. I really should have told her that I have Jewish ancestry, but way back. I probably do, but tracing my ancestry, I get stuck with my great grandparents who came from Germany.
Things like this make me wonder why the heck I took the class. I really debated it. I guess in the end I was hoping that the class might even tip my love-hate relationship with Judaism back to the love side of the scale. I really should have known better. Maybe I'll get blog fodder out of the course work at some point. Actually, I have one that I will post when I have time. I will also get to blogging about the FFB eventually.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
CUNY's Finest... thank you, NYC public schools
I have blogged before about some of the crazy comments on ratemyprofessor that students at my school make about the professors. It's always the same schtick. They pick on the teacher, but they can't spell and their grammar sucks. I had, at one point, looked through professors who are not business professors in an attempt to find more stupid comments. I actually concluded that non-business majors were smarter, as I couldn't find any doozies like those from business professors.
It seems I was wrong. Yeah, I know, happens once in a blue moon. :-)
Here I am taking English 2 that everyone takes. The professor has us read aloud sometimes. Some of these other students can't read anything with more than two syllables. "Perversity"- too hard, "constitute"-too hard, "voyeur"-too hard and the professor actually defined it in class at one point. Oy, veh!
It seems I was wrong. Yeah, I know, happens once in a blue moon. :-)
Here I am taking English 2 that everyone takes. The professor has us read aloud sometimes. Some of these other students can't read anything with more than two syllables. "Perversity"- too hard, "constitute"-too hard, "voyeur"-too hard and the professor actually defined it in class at one point. Oy, veh!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
iWrite an advertising paper
Remember this post where I asked you all to help me pick out a company for my paper? Well, it's been picked out. I'm writing about the Apple Ipod's iconic silhouette ad campaign. I'll take any imput or memories from my readers. I've been hard core hitting the web and I have been finding stuff, I really have.
However what's missing are personal accounts and memories. Also, I found the magazines where they ran this campaign, but, I didn't find the TV stations. Was MTV one of them? I think it was. I found pictures of the ads taking over stations of the BART (subway? commuter train?) in San Francisco. There seems to have been heavy advertising for this campaign in San Francisco.
The rest of us were not left out, though. I remember I would be doing crunchies on the ball in the commercial breaks and this commercial would come on and I would jump up and dance around the room. Sigh.... nowadays I don't do so much dancing around the room. Mostly, I study....
However what's missing are personal accounts and memories. Also, I found the magazines where they ran this campaign, but, I didn't find the TV stations. Was MTV one of them? I think it was. I found pictures of the ads taking over stations of the BART (subway? commuter train?) in San Francisco. There seems to have been heavy advertising for this campaign in San Francisco.
The rest of us were not left out, though. I remember I would be doing crunchies on the ball in the commercial breaks and this commercial would come on and I would jump up and dance around the room. Sigh.... nowadays I don't do so much dancing around the room. Mostly, I study....
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The rate my prof reviews of a prof I'll be taking later on in the summer....
Now, those of you who read my blog know, I like to have a hay day with the rate my professor comments. I tried looking at comments for not the business major and I didn't find material for the blog. One particular note, is that we have several online classes, which is appealing to me because of my 2 hour commute to college. Next summer session, I'm taking an online class... here are some of the ratemyprofessor.com comments on the professor....
"UNBELIEVABLE IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY! Tests are insanely difficult! How can we do such complicated homework when we arent taught anything? THE MOST HARDEST CLASS WITH THE WORST PROFESSOR EVER! he does not explain anything! Did not respond to any e-mails until everyone began complaining to the head of the dept. one word TERRIBLE!"
Ok, the tests may well be difficult, but, as to the comment, we aren't taught anything... it's an online class. You're supposed to study the material on your own. I swear, they should require a 2.85 minimum GPA for online classes like they do an independant study. It's basically the same thing.
"would not recommend!!..never answered students emails...hard homework, which we were given no help on...waited until week before final to offer to help students...final wasn't that hard, took questions from the quizzes on line..managed to get a B-, but could of got a better grade if professor was more helpful..."
What help is the prof supposed to give? He doesn't teach calculus. It's "could have," maybe even "could've" but definitely not "could of."
In closing, I'll mention, I Emailed my class to see if anyone wanted to form a study group. I got a whole bunch of kickbacks. About four or five of the kickbacks were from the domain of the community college from which many of the students come. Now first off, this is a summer class, so they've been out of there for over a year, they don't think it's time to fix that? Then I'll point out, why are they even using the Email address for a college they aren't going to? Even if they used it when they applied, why would they do that? You know they are going to keep this on file, free Email addresses are in abundance.... I have a hotmail I started just for college-related correspondance. Furthermore, how do they expect to take an online class if they don't even have their account connected to a valid Email address?
"UNBELIEVABLE IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY! Tests are insanely difficult! How can we do such complicated homework when we arent taught anything? THE MOST HARDEST CLASS WITH THE WORST PROFESSOR EVER! he does not explain anything! Did not respond to any e-mails until everyone began complaining to the head of the dept. one word TERRIBLE!"
Ok, the tests may well be difficult, but, as to the comment, we aren't taught anything... it's an online class. You're supposed to study the material on your own. I swear, they should require a 2.85 minimum GPA for online classes like they do an independant study. It's basically the same thing.
"would not recommend!!..never answered students emails...hard homework, which we were given no help on...waited until week before final to offer to help students...final wasn't that hard, took questions from the quizzes on line..managed to get a B-, but could of got a better grade if professor was more helpful..."
What help is the prof supposed to give? He doesn't teach calculus. It's "could have," maybe even "could've" but definitely not "could of."
In closing, I'll mention, I Emailed my class to see if anyone wanted to form a study group. I got a whole bunch of kickbacks. About four or five of the kickbacks were from the domain of the community college from which many of the students come. Now first off, this is a summer class, so they've been out of there for over a year, they don't think it's time to fix that? Then I'll point out, why are they even using the Email address for a college they aren't going to? Even if they used it when they applied, why would they do that? You know they are going to keep this on file, free Email addresses are in abundance.... I have a hotmail I started just for college-related correspondance. Furthermore, how do they expect to take an online class if they don't even have their account connected to a valid Email address?
Monday, May 31, 2010
breaking the mold of boring business majors
Along the lines of a post last semester, there was a nice little friction going on between myself, one of bubbling personality and the rest of the class, those other suckers who are devoid of personality, spark and zest for life. The class where this played out the most, was Corporate Finance.
I'm not your average everyday girl. I would say that either you love me or you hate me. Why? Well, one of the girls in Corporate Finance said to me at the end of the semester, "you have no manners. You're never going to get anywhere in life." I pondered this. Do I have no manners? I looked up manners in the Webster's. Manners, as they define it, has to do with doing things according to the accepted customs in society. Oooops, I guess I don't have any manners.
At one point in the semester, the instructor with his keen insight, said to the class, "she speaks for all of you..." They retorted, "not me." Oh but, this is exactly the truth. See, the way in which I don't have manners is that I say things that others think but, would never dare to say. However, what this girl in class didn't seem to realize, is that I'm fully aware I'm not supposed to say the outrageous things I say.
This is who I am. I'm the class clown and I push the envelope. I'm an artist. They are not artists. I'm proud to be different. The world needs people like me to keep it from being boring. This is something my classmates in Macro understood. In Macro, I kept my classmates laughing, much to the dismay of the professor who, I suspect was a little bothered that I was making funnies as he tried and was not as successful. That, is another reason I think many fall in the "hate me" category, they wish it was their jokes.
I'm not your average everyday girl. I would say that either you love me or you hate me. Why? Well, one of the girls in Corporate Finance said to me at the end of the semester, "you have no manners. You're never going to get anywhere in life." I pondered this. Do I have no manners? I looked up manners in the Webster's. Manners, as they define it, has to do with doing things according to the accepted customs in society. Oooops, I guess I don't have any manners.
At one point in the semester, the instructor with his keen insight, said to the class, "she speaks for all of you..." They retorted, "not me." Oh but, this is exactly the truth. See, the way in which I don't have manners is that I say things that others think but, would never dare to say. However, what this girl in class didn't seem to realize, is that I'm fully aware I'm not supposed to say the outrageous things I say.
This is who I am. I'm the class clown and I push the envelope. I'm an artist. They are not artists. I'm proud to be different. The world needs people like me to keep it from being boring. This is something my classmates in Macro understood. In Macro, I kept my classmates laughing, much to the dismay of the professor who, I suspect was a little bothered that I was making funnies as he tried and was not as successful. That, is another reason I think many fall in the "hate me" category, they wish it was their jokes.
Friday, May 14, 2010
No Child Left Behind Leaves Students Behind
As you all know, I go to Brooklyn College. I’ve posted here some of the arrogant statements from “Rate My Professor dot com” made by various students. There is a prevalent attitude that by students that they want an “A” in every single course and they want it without working very hard. They seem to figure that everyone should pass every class, it’s their right. Furthermore, if you put in effort, you should get an “A” in the class.
Now, my Atheist Nepali from a Buddhist family study partner said to me, “I’m sorry but, Americans are dumb.” I had to explain to him that it was the NYC Public School system. Recently, in my hardest class, the professor mentioned that he has in mind a certain number of A’s and a certain number of B’s that he expects to give out. Well, I agree that it would be odd for a large percentage of the class to deserve good grades. Although, I don’t agree that the professor makes the cutoff between an “A” and “A-“ 95.5%. I think 93% would be more fair of a cutoff. Most professors use 90% (and not give A-s) or they use 92 or 93%. Well, the “A” ship has sailed for me in that class anyway as I got an 88 (B+) on both exams so far. I’m just hoping I do well enough on the final to pull the overall average up to an A- range.
The thing is, is that when I apply to CUNY grad schools, they are going to expect a really high GPA because they will probably know that a really LARGE percentage of Brooklyn College makes the Dean’s list every semester. So, if my GPA is say, only 3.5, they will be thinking I can’t do the work. They won’t be understanding that I got unlucky and I seemed to always get the hardest professors for every class. This Macro professor even admits that he’s the hardest Macro professor. I also got a hard professor for Corporate Finance. Sure, these are hard courses, but, I managed to get the hardest professors for them.
Now, in another class, I have a presentation on Sunday about New Media and Marketing Research. It’s supposed to be ten minutes PER person where we work with a partner. My partner sent me THREE minutes, ok, maybe it would be more with the things she might say that aren’t on the slides. What she sent me contains obvious grammatical errors, is poorly put together and it doesn’t contain congruency with what I’m working on. Incidentally, I was REALLY clear about what I was doing and what she should do. I gave her the easy parts: Intro, the easiest subtopic and conclusion. I told her HOW to write an intro-define Marketing Research and New media in your own words. Then tie them together. At that point, we lead into examples that are the subtopics we’ll be covering. She defined “Marketing Research Surveys.” This is a subtopic of “Marketing Research” itself and my subtopics don’t fall under this. I sent her a text pointing out that this was a third of her grade. She texted me back that she didn’t care. I asked her if she was planning on adding more. I didn’t get a response. She hasn’t met with me once. She agreed to meet with me and then sent me a text that we would coordinate by phone and Email instead. Ok, that iiiiiiiiiiis possible. However she hasn’t really attempted that.
Incidentally, presentations started last Sunday. One whole pair didn’t even show up. Another pair, one half didn’t show. I feel bad for the guy, he begged the professor to do it next week when his partner would be here, but, he had to go anyway. He actually had a decent presentation. I thought his presentation was better than the two girls who went before him. One girl read off the screen for like 2 or 3 minutes. The other played a video of the transition of her company’s logo instead of talking about how new media was really effecting the industry.
Seriously, I hope that the professor gives a 0 for that third of the grade to the ones who didn’t even show up. If you don’t show up to a job, you get fired. Students should know that there are consequences to irresponsibility. This class is actually an easy class. There are no exams, so you don’t have to take notes (though, I have been doing so) just show up to class, write a paper for the midterm and this 10 minute presentation. The nice thing is that you’re given the leeway to really pick what you want to delve into further study of for your presentation.
Now, my Atheist Nepali from a Buddhist family study partner said to me, “I’m sorry but, Americans are dumb.” I had to explain to him that it was the NYC Public School system. Recently, in my hardest class, the professor mentioned that he has in mind a certain number of A’s and a certain number of B’s that he expects to give out. Well, I agree that it would be odd for a large percentage of the class to deserve good grades. Although, I don’t agree that the professor makes the cutoff between an “A” and “A-“ 95.5%. I think 93% would be more fair of a cutoff. Most professors use 90% (and not give A-s) or they use 92 or 93%. Well, the “A” ship has sailed for me in that class anyway as I got an 88 (B+) on both exams so far. I’m just hoping I do well enough on the final to pull the overall average up to an A- range.
The thing is, is that when I apply to CUNY grad schools, they are going to expect a really high GPA because they will probably know that a really LARGE percentage of Brooklyn College makes the Dean’s list every semester. So, if my GPA is say, only 3.5, they will be thinking I can’t do the work. They won’t be understanding that I got unlucky and I seemed to always get the hardest professors for every class. This Macro professor even admits that he’s the hardest Macro professor. I also got a hard professor for Corporate Finance. Sure, these are hard courses, but, I managed to get the hardest professors for them.
Now, in another class, I have a presentation on Sunday about New Media and Marketing Research. It’s supposed to be ten minutes PER person where we work with a partner. My partner sent me THREE minutes, ok, maybe it would be more with the things she might say that aren’t on the slides. What she sent me contains obvious grammatical errors, is poorly put together and it doesn’t contain congruency with what I’m working on. Incidentally, I was REALLY clear about what I was doing and what she should do. I gave her the easy parts: Intro, the easiest subtopic and conclusion. I told her HOW to write an intro-define Marketing Research and New media in your own words. Then tie them together. At that point, we lead into examples that are the subtopics we’ll be covering. She defined “Marketing Research Surveys.” This is a subtopic of “Marketing Research” itself and my subtopics don’t fall under this. I sent her a text pointing out that this was a third of her grade. She texted me back that she didn’t care. I asked her if she was planning on adding more. I didn’t get a response. She hasn’t met with me once. She agreed to meet with me and then sent me a text that we would coordinate by phone and Email instead. Ok, that iiiiiiiiiiis possible. However she hasn’t really attempted that.
Incidentally, presentations started last Sunday. One whole pair didn’t even show up. Another pair, one half didn’t show. I feel bad for the guy, he begged the professor to do it next week when his partner would be here, but, he had to go anyway. He actually had a decent presentation. I thought his presentation was better than the two girls who went before him. One girl read off the screen for like 2 or 3 minutes. The other played a video of the transition of her company’s logo instead of talking about how new media was really effecting the industry.
Seriously, I hope that the professor gives a 0 for that third of the grade to the ones who didn’t even show up. If you don’t show up to a job, you get fired. Students should know that there are consequences to irresponsibility. This class is actually an easy class. There are no exams, so you don’t have to take notes (though, I have been doing so) just show up to class, write a paper for the midterm and this 10 minute presentation. The nice thing is that you’re given the leeway to really pick what you want to delve into further study of for your presentation.
Friday, April 30, 2010
How does Michal find the time to blog?
Earlier this week, I caught up with a blogreader in the cafeteria at Brooklyn College. I was asked where I find the time to blog.
Much of what I blog are things that I have enough of a strong opinion about that the blogs just flow out of my fingers pretty nicely. Rarely do I edit or organize these impromtu posts. When I have no time for even that, or I don't have any opionions, I post pictures I already had on my computer... At one point I posted my drawings that I've drawn by hand. I've also posted pictures drawn in paint. These were drawn before I went back to college and they were sitting around on my old computer. However, that computer just bit the dust by way of virus and so, I've lost my tiny remaining reserve of "emergency blog posts", such as I started a series on my Army days which I didn't get very far on, so I wanted to finish it first. Now, I have to start over with that.
Another thing that a savvy blogreader might notice, is that many of my longer posts are actually papers I've turned in for school to one of my professors. For example, this rather weird diagram was something I turned in last semester for my favorite Brooklyn College professor of all time. Personally, I like my paper for Marketing that I turned in about the super bowl ads. If you pull up the label college, most of it is papers I've written. This accounts for a number of my posts.
Much of what I blog are things that I have enough of a strong opinion about that the blogs just flow out of my fingers pretty nicely. Rarely do I edit or organize these impromtu posts. When I have no time for even that, or I don't have any opionions, I post pictures I already had on my computer... At one point I posted my drawings that I've drawn by hand. I've also posted pictures drawn in paint. These were drawn before I went back to college and they were sitting around on my old computer. However, that computer just bit the dust by way of virus and so, I've lost my tiny remaining reserve of "emergency blog posts", such as I started a series on my Army days which I didn't get very far on, so I wanted to finish it first. Now, I have to start over with that.
Another thing that a savvy blogreader might notice, is that many of my longer posts are actually papers I've turned in for school to one of my professors. For example, this rather weird diagram was something I turned in last semester for my favorite Brooklyn College professor of all time. Personally, I like my paper for Marketing that I turned in about the super bowl ads. If you pull up the label college, most of it is papers I've written. This accounts for a number of my posts.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Instructor Prickle…
I have this class… it’s not so easy for me, but to make matters much worse, the instructor is the biggest prickle. He gives no homework on Monday and he gives MOUNDS and MOUNDS and MOUNDS upon MOUNDS of homework on Wednesday. Then the homework is due on Monday. However, most of my spare time is on TUESDAY. I have been asking him every Monday since the semester began, if I could please have the assignments today instead of Wednesday. Last week, he agreed and said I could come get it in his office hours. However, on Wednesday, he changed the homework, despite the fact that I had started on it based on what he gave.
Today, I asked, as usual, if he could please give me the assignments for the week so I could start on them. So, he said he would give them to me if I went to his office. I had a class right after and I had to utilize the latrine. I got to his office and wouldn’t you know it, the JAP who always wears short skirts with no pantyhose was there. He helped her. I said, “I have a class.” She CLAIMED she did, too. This is the girl who talks all class and never brings her book, even though he explicitly told the class to bring our book to every class. He told me to come back at a later time, during which not only do I have a class with his office-mate but, as I’m typing this it dawned on me that he has a class. My project partner for another class is in that class, so I know this. I told him that I had a class, then. He said that was impossible. I said, “the professor is sitting right there.” I ran to the lou. My back pack strap snapped as I was rushing. When I came back, instructor Prickle and little miss short skirt JAP were gone. I was NOT gone that long AT ALL, three minutes?
Finally, another issue that I’ve been having with this instructor prickle is that he insists on touching me, you know like, tapping me on the shoulder.. arm… and such. This is yet another issue which has been supposedly resolved and yet it continues to crop up. Today, I was putting a problem on the board, and he touch my arm. This is getting pretty outrageous.
Finally... (for real this time....) the first day of class, he basically said that he expects us all to have friends who work on Wall street to do our homework and take home tests for us. However, when I try to ask such friends for help, they say they can't keep doing all this homework and stuff for me. Also, people keep asking, "don't you have free tutoring at your college?" or "Doesn't your instructor have 'help you hours?'" These things are limited and during my other classes.
Today, I asked, as usual, if he could please give me the assignments for the week so I could start on them. So, he said he would give them to me if I went to his office. I had a class right after and I had to utilize the latrine. I got to his office and wouldn’t you know it, the JAP who always wears short skirts with no pantyhose was there. He helped her. I said, “I have a class.” She CLAIMED she did, too. This is the girl who talks all class and never brings her book, even though he explicitly told the class to bring our book to every class. He told me to come back at a later time, during which not only do I have a class with his office-mate but, as I’m typing this it dawned on me that he has a class. My project partner for another class is in that class, so I know this. I told him that I had a class, then. He said that was impossible. I said, “the professor is sitting right there.” I ran to the lou. My back pack strap snapped as I was rushing. When I came back, instructor Prickle and little miss short skirt JAP were gone. I was NOT gone that long AT ALL, three minutes?
Finally, another issue that I’ve been having with this instructor prickle is that he insists on touching me, you know like, tapping me on the shoulder.. arm… and such. This is yet another issue which has been supposedly resolved and yet it continues to crop up. Today, I was putting a problem on the board, and he touch my arm. This is getting pretty outrageous.
Finally... (for real this time....) the first day of class, he basically said that he expects us all to have friends who work on Wall street to do our homework and take home tests for us. However, when I try to ask such friends for help, they say they can't keep doing all this homework and stuff for me. Also, people keep asking, "don't you have free tutoring at your college?" or "Doesn't your instructor have 'help you hours?'" These things are limited and during my other classes.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Who does Michal study with?
I just noticed, it's quite interesting... my main study group's regulars are a muslim, an xtian and myself (a Jew). I like to kid that you say, "a Jew, a muslim and a Xtian walk into a room... and they study." I mean, seriously, doesn't it sound like the beginning line to a joke? Then for my other particularly hard class, I found this Nepali boy with whom to study. What a lifesaver, he is, too! In the homework due next Wednesday, there was this crazy hard problem with some more tricky algebra in it. I never would have gotten it. I would have been balling my eyes out and trying to call people who wouldn't have been available. Paper would have been ripped and thrown around the room in a fit of frustration. This math kills me. I haven't taken an actual math class since 1992. Although, I have done math since then. I took BET (basic electronics training) in the Army and I'm quite sure we had a lot of math in that. We had to make calculations related to Amps and volts and stuff like that. Incidentally, did you know that it's a short which has no resistance and an open which is entirely resistance. When people say, "maybe the wire shorted out..." usually they are talking about an open.
Ok, back to the point, so how come I don't study with other Jews... hmmmmmmmm... maybe because they won't study with me. I have two in my first class. They come in late, grab desks and move them so that they are in the front and they block other people's view, as if they are somehow more important than everyone else. What is it with Jews and their self importance.
As for the Hillel, I've been driven out by a secular Jew.
Ok, back to the point, so how come I don't study with other Jews... hmmmmmmmm... maybe because they won't study with me. I have two in my first class. They come in late, grab desks and move them so that they are in the front and they block other people's view, as if they are somehow more important than everyone else. What is it with Jews and their self importance.
As for the Hillel, I've been driven out by a secular Jew.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New Media, old media
One of the classes that I'm taking is called, "New Media & Business." We talk about various forms of new media and one thing that's constantly being brought up is how fast technology changes and how quickly we adapt to the new technology. Well, I originally started college in 1994, so I ocasionally think about how different my college experience is now from when I was in college before.
Well, a perfect example came up yesterday....
As you can see by this photo, one of my classes was cancelled. Furthermore, he has two sections, ours and the one after ours. Well, remember that girl that I originally didn't like but now we study together? If not, just click here. Anyhow, she's in the 3:40 version of this class and I'm in the 2:15. So, I took this picture with my cell and sent her a text message of the picture.
When I was in college before, cell phones did exist but, I didn't know any students who had one. They most certainly didn't have cameras, not to mention, texting was not out yet. Technology is changing so fast. It's also weird to think about that. We've become so used to the commonplace nature of cell phones.We can't imagine the days before texting and cell cameras, even if we were around for those days.
Some other handy facets of technology that I didn't have available to me when I was in college the first time include: Email on the cell and Youtube. When I can't understand my prof, I try to find a Youtube video of a more lucid professor teaching the same subject. It's been quite helpful. I can watch some videos before I read from the book, thereby making the book much less intimidating.
What do you think?
Well, a perfect example came up yesterday....
As you can see by this photo, one of my classes was cancelled. Furthermore, he has two sections, ours and the one after ours. Well, remember that girl that I originally didn't like but now we study together? If not, just click here. Anyhow, she's in the 3:40 version of this class and I'm in the 2:15. So, I took this picture with my cell and sent her a text message of the picture.
When I was in college before, cell phones did exist but, I didn't know any students who had one. They most certainly didn't have cameras, not to mention, texting was not out yet. Technology is changing so fast. It's also weird to think about that. We've become so used to the commonplace nature of cell phones.We can't imagine the days before texting and cell cameras, even if we were around for those days.
Some other handy facets of technology that I didn't have available to me when I was in college the first time include: Email on the cell and Youtube. When I can't understand my prof, I try to find a Youtube video of a more lucid professor teaching the same subject. It's been quite helpful. I can watch some videos before I read from the book, thereby making the book much less intimidating.
What do you think?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
If I make Crack, should I sue Arm & Hammer?
Hahahah, made you open the link, didn't I? Well, can you believe that someone actually had the nerve to do this?
It's in my business law book. I'm reading along... boring... boring... yep, more boring stuff... then I see someone sued Arm & Hammer and I wondered why. WOOOOOOOW! This guy, George Ward got locked up for distributing this combination. So, he decided to sue. Incidentally, he represented himself.. hmmmm.. don't they say that only a fool represents himself?
I never knew crack was BAKING SODA mixed with coke. It's odd that it should smell so bad. Baking soda is supposed to make things smell fresh... thinking back to 5th grade science... not when you burn it but crack is worse than just burning baking soda. For those who haven't been blessed with squalid poverty that lends itself to your relocation to such a place where you learn this. Crack smells like @$$ crack and burning garbage combined. It's quite a rancid smell.
It's in my business law book. I'm reading along... boring... boring... yep, more boring stuff... then I see someone sued Arm & Hammer and I wondered why. WOOOOOOOW! This guy, George Ward got locked up for distributing this combination. So, he decided to sue. Incidentally, he represented himself.. hmmmm.. don't they say that only a fool represents himself?
I never knew crack was BAKING SODA mixed with coke. It's odd that it should smell so bad. Baking soda is supposed to make things smell fresh... thinking back to 5th grade science... not when you burn it but crack is worse than just burning baking soda. For those who haven't been blessed with squalid poverty that lends itself to your relocation to such a place where you learn this. Crack smells like @$$ crack and burning garbage combined. It's quite a rancid smell.
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