Arete - the best at being you

Democracy is a mix of individual freedom and shared common good. This site linked here defines arete. . .Happiness comes from discovery of who you are. Here's a closely related definition of Self-Efficacy.

Welcome Spring bloggers
Winter bloggers you are welcome. If you are not on the list, email me and I will re-invite.

Life

Why is it that education is one of the few ways of becoming economically sucessful in our lives? This world is filled with people with different talents and abilities, since this is a huge range there must be enough variety of jobs. But are there??? Lately I find myself questioning my life and whether I'm doing what I want in my life and not what I feel I have to do. I know my friends feel the same way as I do so I'm going to assume there are many people who feel like this sometime in their lives. Without a job we cannot survive, but in trying to survive when can we dedicate time into doing things we are most passionate about?

Thank You

I would just like to say that I am so lucky to have been in this class. I learned so many new things and meet so many new people. It was intriguing to be able to share deep thoughts, conversations and ideas with such intelligent people who respect and relate to me as an individual in society. Good luck every one in your life's endeavors.

SEX WORKERS RIGHTS

HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT RIGHTS FOR SEX WORKERS? SEX WORKERS MEANING PROSTITUES, ESCORTS, STRIPPERS, ETC. IN ONE OF MY SOC COURSEs, MY PROF ALLOWED A SEX WORKER TO SPEAK ON WHY SHE FEELS PEOPLE LIKE HER DESERVE RIGHTS. SHE FEELS many sex workers are not forced into prostitution but do the work by choice. SHE HS BOTH A BA AND MA FROM SCHOOLS SUCH AS UCLA UC BERKLEY. SHE FINDS SEX WORK QUITE FUN, AND FINANCIALLY PLEASING. HOWEVER, SHE DOES NOT LIKE GETTING ARRESTED FOR HER WORK. SHE IS CURRENTLY ON TRIAL FOR BEING CAUGHT DOING SEX WORKER, AND THE EVIDENCE AGINST HER ARE CONDOMS, WHICH SHE FINDS EMBARASSING. WHEN SHE FIRST CAME INTO THE CLASROOM, I thought: Is she seriously taking to us about sex workers' rights? BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAD AN NEGATIVE OUTLOOK ON IT. BUT AS SHE STATED HER CLAIM I BECAME MORE UNDERSTNDING. I'LL LEAVE WITH 2 QUOTES FROM HER "Some people are not sexually desired by others, so they have to pay for sex." "I am tired of undercover cops arresting me for my job."

Just Curious

How is the economy affecting you?

My boyfriends hours at work have been cut dramatically he went from working a 45-50 hour work week to a 15- 20 hour work week. I on the other hand am working longer hours so I am exhausted by the end of every week. I'm now constantly stressed out about bills and expenses. To top it off my spending habits have gotten out of control. I keep spending money on items that I don't need and I can't stop. This weekend alone (Friday & Saturday) I spent $360 on concert tickets, entertainment and dinning out. I'm living a lifestyle that I cannot afford. I want to save money just in case the economy gets worse but I can't. My boyfriend never says no, so it's hard for me to stop.

So, I was just curious to know how it's affecting your lives?

Fear is now reality

For my Fear paper I wrote about a lot of different fears I had.  One was the death/loss of a loved one, another was disappointment.  I'm experiencing both right now.  My grandmother passed away earlier this week.  I can't help but feel disappointment in myself because of everything I should have done.  I feel fear because the emotions I'm experiencing are far in few that I catch myself zoning out and keeping more to myself than interacting, which is unlike me.  I feel a little lost, confused, and angry.  I know I just need to separate each emotion and deal with them individually.  It's just so recent that I seem to be bothered with anyone or anything for sometimes no reason at all.  Losing someone is so hard, and what's harder is knowing that this is the first or last loss I'll be going through.  And when the selfishness is gone, I'll be able to accept that I'm not the only one that has gone or will go through anything like this.

I help a little help

I missed last class meeting so I don't know what needs to be turned in for 03/09. Can somebody give me a heads up? Thank you.

Economics

How can one really be true to Itself , when economically we are crippled. Next quarter I am affected, going part time to school. Not being able to give it all I have saddens my heart. The economy will get better- I have hope. If you give up on hope, personally, I think you give up on life. Life is full of changes and that is a blessing. For now, I must acknowledge and be grateful for what I do have. We are blessed.

Classmates in Soc Classes

We are two weeks away from the quarter being officially over and we have only one more class meeting. Sad but at the same time happy to be done with a quarter inching closer to graduation. There are classmates in SOC 301 that I have in other classes and having other classes with them have helped me make networks with classmates. Sometimes we don't understand the assignment or we missed class so we go to another familiar face for help. It creates a helpful network. Has this happened to some of you? Have your school networks changed from the beginning of the quarter to now?

Help on Developed Paper

Do we have to find another article from a journal and include it into our developed paper? What is a "peer reviewed article"?

WHITE PHOSPHORUS

The Los Angeles Times had an article on Israel and their use of white phosphorus. White phosphorus is a munition chemical agent, when ignited can spew noxious smoke that smells like garlic. This munition was manufactured in the United States, and sold to Israel. Israel used this chemical agent against the people in Gaza. Investigators from the United States have found evidence of chemical warfare against Israel. Once launched, this chemical agent has been found buried in the dirt and other areas in Gaza. Once it is discovered and attempts are made to unearth the phosphorus it ignites and explodes, causing further harm and damages. Was this type of warfare necessary? Should Israel be brought up on charges of chemical warfare? What part should the United States play in providing the weapons to Israel?

Additionally, Gaza has a new enemy against their smuggling. For the first time Egypt has cracked down on tunnel owners. These tunnels worm their way from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, slipping in supplies and some say, weapons.

Library Paper

In regards to the Library Paper, how do you reference an article from a journal that is a review of a book? Do I reference the author of the journal or the author of the book or both? Also, which format is used in the example of citations? Any help would be appreciated.

Submit Blog Reports here

^^^^^Blogging is many‐to‐many conversation. The writer (“poster”) gets to express. The reader gets to assess what other people really think – at least for the moment. Blogging is temporary, emotional, reactive, often unsubstantiated, and not “peer reviewed.” It just appears. Some blogs carry weight. Blogs can contribute to major sociological events: to wit, the election of our President. Blogs were and still are a significant part of Obama's on-line presence as we collectively go about the change.
^^^^^ In blogs, anonymous people get to say what they know, how they feel, question—or just rag on for a moment. These qualities are the opposite of scholarly, professional, peer-reviewed presentations of reality. People’s expressions, while transitory, accumulate in hubs to create a new “collective consciousness.” What can we learn from blogs? Typically the decision “to blog or not to blog” is a private one. In this class, we were invited to blog. We experienced the feeling of the form, and we learned about ourselves and our peers. Sometimes, part of learning is how we, as communicators, come across. If the message we intend is not the message heard, blog threads weave in time, so we can 'tweak them.
^^^^^ The flexibility of quick text fits today. My good post was part of what produced great papers on a great movie. The post, the story, the director, the expression of excellence conveyed, and your expressions of excellence in response make the rich story richer. I invite electronic specimins to package for Director Washington & Producer Winfrey. Join me and electronically submit your great “Great Debator’s” papers. Name your .doc file Debaters Your Name.doc. Attach in email with Subject Line: WRI DAY/NIGHT Debaters Your Name
Comment with questions. This post is 300 words.
If you Blog your Blog Report, you must email me
Subject Line: WRI NIGHT/DAY Your Real Name & Screenname

A Quick Question..

I just wanted to know how we were suppose to structure our library paper. Do we have to write an overview of what we read in our articles and interpret it in our words? Or do we write a paper on our own experiences relating to our topics (ie. Youth, Music)? can someone help.

man - women. it feels same

it doesn't matter if you are a man or women. it doesn't matter what you have on or not have on. sexual harassment could happen to anyone, anywhere. i was at work the other day and had a customer comment on one of my body parts. so i think to myself, this idiot, why the hell would he tell me that! but i didn't have anything revealing clothing on, i was in a sweater and slacks. but that just tells you what stupid people there are. people with no manner and will say and do as they please before thinking about it. i went and told my manager and now that customer never allowed back at my work. he get escorted out my security. how bad does that look. he shouldn't have made that perverted comment and he would have been fine.