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My first day of school went pretty well. My first two classes are back-to-back and in the same room with the same professor. After the first class, she told me that for the second class, students really supposed to have taken the first class before rather than be enrolled concurrently. She was concerned about whether I'd do well in it. But when she asked the people in the second class how many were also enrolled in the first class, about two-thirds of those present raised their hands. Perhaps their advisers, like mine, told them that concurrent registration was ok.
Since my adviser teaches my third class of the day, I asked her afterward what she thought of the whole thing. She said that for some students, concurrent registration might be too difficult, with too much information to process at once. But for me, it'll be fine. I appreciate the confidence. *grins*
I was also happy to be sitting next to someone who is also enrolled in both classes and who is very enthusiastic about them. He and I are going to be in touch over the weekend to brainstorm topics for the interviewing project that we'll be doing for the class.
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I didn't take my bike to school today 'cause it was raining when I left. Instead, I commuted by car today. Which is too bad, 'cause I had this idea of starting to track how many miles I manage to bike over the school year. And, while dashed out in the middle of the rain last night to close the moonroof I'd left open, it turned out my dad had left the passenger window open, so I got to ride around in a sauna today! Seriously, I got in after class and sat down and my glasses steamed up!
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I got through the last bit of Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" today. It was very worthwhile. I hate to say enjoyable about something that contains so much horror. But I'm glad I read it. When she saw it, Professor Kim asked what class I was reading it for and said that it's a really good book. My first thought on considering the matter was that it's probably too biased a book to be used as a textbook. But then I realized that all history books are, of course, biased. It's just that this one is biased (as the author freely admits) in the other direction from most of them. Looking at the history of the United States in large part as a history of moneyed elite (capitalists, business owners, the military-industrial complex; the 1%) exerting a strong influence over the government and it's policies. Creating a coalition between right and left that keeps either one from stepping too far outside the system as it exists.
I wonder if Zinn would be one of those who argues that it doesn't matter whether you vote Republican or Democrat. I'd be interested in reading more of his writing. For my part, I agree with a great deal of what he expresses as shortcomings in the system, but I'd still rather vote for the lesser of two evils than not at all. Because there really is a difference.
I have a bunch of stuff to read for school, as well as a reading list for my own pleasure. Danae has suggested Noam Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent", and it sounds fascinating. But I'm not sure I'll have time 'till my next school break. We'll see. I also have that history of Islam to read, among many other things sitting on my shelf.
I have to say, I do miss some fiction once in a while. But non-fiction is so interesting!
Since my adviser teaches my third class of the day, I asked her afterward what she thought of the whole thing. She said that for some students, concurrent registration might be too difficult, with too much information to process at once. But for me, it'll be fine. I appreciate the confidence. *grins*
I was also happy to be sitting next to someone who is also enrolled in both classes and who is very enthusiastic about them. He and I are going to be in touch over the weekend to brainstorm topics for the interviewing project that we'll be doing for the class.
---
I didn't take my bike to school today 'cause it was raining when I left. Instead, I commuted by car today. Which is too bad, 'cause I had this idea of starting to track how many miles I manage to bike over the school year. And, while dashed out in the middle of the rain last night to close the moonroof I'd left open, it turned out my dad had left the passenger window open, so I got to ride around in a sauna today! Seriously, I got in after class and sat down and my glasses steamed up!
---
I got through the last bit of Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" today. It was very worthwhile. I hate to say enjoyable about something that contains so much horror. But I'm glad I read it. When she saw it, Professor Kim asked what class I was reading it for and said that it's a really good book. My first thought on considering the matter was that it's probably too biased a book to be used as a textbook. But then I realized that all history books are, of course, biased. It's just that this one is biased (as the author freely admits) in the other direction from most of them. Looking at the history of the United States in large part as a history of moneyed elite (capitalists, business owners, the military-industrial complex; the 1%) exerting a strong influence over the government and it's policies. Creating a coalition between right and left that keeps either one from stepping too far outside the system as it exists.
I wonder if Zinn would be one of those who argues that it doesn't matter whether you vote Republican or Democrat. I'd be interested in reading more of his writing. For my part, I agree with a great deal of what he expresses as shortcomings in the system, but I'd still rather vote for the lesser of two evils than not at all. Because there really is a difference.
I have a bunch of stuff to read for school, as well as a reading list for my own pleasure. Danae has suggested Noam Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent", and it sounds fascinating. But I'm not sure I'll have time 'till my next school break. We'll see. I also have that history of Islam to read, among many other things sitting on my shelf.
I have to say, I do miss some fiction once in a while. But non-fiction is so interesting!