Friday, July 31

listen - silent

"listen" contains the same letters as "silent"

Thursday, July 30

student loans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/29/lobbying-showdown-over-th_n_247506.html

Wednesday, July 29

someone said at the end that we could use the chat itself as an "observation" paper - well, technically speaking you HAD TO go to the chat, so it is disqualified on those grounds. But it would be interesting to use it as a foundation for the HB social geology paper.
thanks for all your lively participation. Comment here about how we can use our chat. I'm thinking I'll hold a chat tomorrow for the White House Beer moment - we can talk about race and race relations, peace and prosperity. don't forget to send me the secret word if you attended remotely today.

Vegetable trees!

Get yourself more educated than this: http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2009/07/25/sana-cruz-city-council/ Watch the video!

The Four Agreements

Be impeccible with your word: now through Aug 5
Don't take anything personally: Aug 6 through Aug 13
Make no assumptions: Aug 14 through Aug 21
Always do your best: Aug 22 through Aug 29

U.S. House Health Bill

you can read it here. http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf
you SHOULD read it. It gets interesting on page 16. While it is 1000 pages long, the pages are very short. Comment here with other links about health care ideas - any side, either side - just get informed. Here is one http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jul/29/politics-health/ this is one of the three most important issues of your lifetimes.

Tuesday, July 28

Offered through ASI

Book Voucher Program

Need money for books? Looking for alternatives to the high cost of text books? Then A.S.I. has the program for you! The A.S.I. Book Voucher Program might be just what you are looking for! Our Book Voucher Program has helped many Cal State L.A. students achieve their academic goals. Don’t miss out! This is one of the best examples of how your student dollars work for you. A.S.I. provides up to 30 students who qualify for a $175.00 book voucher to purchase text books each quarter. Book vouchers are awarded on a first come first serve basis. There is no limit to how many times you can apply and receive a book voucher.

Must have completed at least three (3) quarters at Cal State L.A.
Must have a cumulative Cal State L.A. G.P.A. of 2.4 or higher. (Submit complete copy of Unofficial Transcripts)
Must be enrolled for at least four (4) units of evening courses at Cal State L.A. for each quarter 2008-2009.
Must be employed at least thirty (30) hours per week and provide employment verification. (A letter from your employer on company letterhead indicating your work hours.)
Please supply a print out of your class schedule from the campus website or from the registrar’s office providing proof of enrollment for the quarter in which you are applying for the Book Voucher. (Landscape format please.)
Verification of your cumulative Cal State L.A. G.P.A. attached. (Listed on Unofficial Transcripts.)
All Full-time Cal State L.A. employees are exempt from participating in the program.

For specific information about how you can take advantage of these great opportunities offered by the Student Service Center, come by our office located in University-Student Union Room 105 or call the Student Service Center at (323) 343-4780.

Internship Opportunities

INTERNSHIP
LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS
Research and Data Entry for Web-Searchable Database of Human Relations Resources

http://www.lahumanrelations.org/jobs/index.htm

1. OBJECTIVE:
To procure a student intern to perform research of Los Angeles-base human relations organizations and database entry of this information for the Commission's searchable website database of human relations resources. Position requires cursory knowledge of human relations resources in the County of Los Angeles, for example, community based organizations that provide assistance in the areas of hate crime victim assistance, human relations curriculum, peer mediation, conflict resolution, and support services serving the many ethnic, cultural and faith communities in the County. Knowledge of data entry systems is also required.

Undergraduate Internship

http://da.co.la.ca.us/hr/internin.htm

As an undergraduate intern with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, students have the opportunity to learn about the criminal justice system firsthand. They work closely with all levels of staff, from deputy district attorneys to investigators to support staff, as well as have contact with other court and law enforcement staff. An undergraduate intern working in one of our branch or area offices, special units or Bureau of Investigation can be expected to assist with any of the following duties:

Collecting and analyzing statistics

Doing research and special studies on issues affecting individual cases

Assembling reports, documents or manuals for distribution

Contacting witnesses -- civilian and law enforcement -- regarding court dates

Assembling case evidence notebooks; sorting evidence

Performing any related clerical work, as required, including answering telephones, photocopying and delivering documents, transporting media equipment and the like

CSU Employees Union

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees appear set to approve more exorbitant pay raises for their top executives while once again hiking student fees at their first meeting of the new school year on Tuesday and Wednesday in Long Beach.

The Trustee plan is to increase pay for the top twenty-eight executives at the University a combined $840,767 for a total of $8,263,268 in salaries. Specifically, the twenty-three campus presidents are set to receive a pay hike on average of 11.7 percent, bringing their average salary to $291,821. The top five executives in the Chancellor’s office, including Chancellor Charles Reed, will receive an average increase of 9.9 percent, making their average salary $310,274. Reed’s salary will increase to an excessive $421,500.

These increases are in addition to receiving a free house or $60,000 a year for housing allowances as well as $1,000 month for automobiles. The Trustees will also consider a resolution to give additional yearly raises for the same 28 executives.

Coincidently, the faculty are scheduled to receive only a 4.7 percent pay increase and the Chancellor has rejected a proposal to give support staff a meager 3.5 percent increase.

somewhat bias, but worth reading

Low Prices At What Cost?

WAL-MART WATCH ANNUAL REPORT 2005

Everyone loves a bargain, and Wal-Mart’s “always low prices” draw millions of Americans to its stores. In fact, 8 in 10 Americans shop at Wal-Mart’s stores. Is Wal-Mart really such a good value, or do consumers pay in other ways?

For the first time, the staff of Wal-Mart Watch answers this important question. Drawing on a wide range of research, the 2005 Wal-Mart Watch Annual Report tells the whole story behind the largest corporation the world has ever seen.

ALWAYS HIGH PRICES

What’s the matter with Wal-Mart? Consider these facts:

Wal-Mart fails to cover 60% of their workers with any health insurance
70% of Wal-Mart merchandise is from China
When Wal-Mart comes to town, for every two jobs it creates three jobs are lost

The way Wal-Mart runs its business has accelerated the outsourcing of U.S. manufacturing jobs overseas, lowered working standards at home and shifted the burden of caring for their employees to U.S. taxpayers. Wal-Mart’s low prices have come at a high cost:

Wal-Mart costs federal taxpayers over $1.5 billion a year in welfare to their employees
Wal-Mart tops the list of companies with employees and their dependents on public assistance in at least 11 states
Wal-Mart has agreed to pay $4.1 million in Clean Water Act violations and $50 million to settle allegations of underpaying employees

BOTTOM LINE: What are the true costs of Wal-Mart’s low prices?
ON THE PUBLIC DOLE: Why should taxpayers subsidize Wal-Mart’s health care bills?
REALITY CHECK: With over $10 billion in profit, why can’t Wal-Mart pay workers more?
STRANGLEHOLD: Wal-Mart’s power over suppliers...at what cost to American jobs?
CHINA’S BEST FRIEND: What happened to Wal-Mart’s “Buy American” program?
GRAND OPENING: What is Wal-Mart’s impact on America’s small businesses?
DOUBLESPEAK: With so many accused violations of environmental laws, how can they call themselves a green company?
CONTROL: How are the Waltons using their $90 billion fortune to change our future?
EXCESSIVE PAY: Wal-Mart’s CEO Lee Scott reported $17,543,739 in income last year. How much is too much?
CORRUPTION: Wal-Mart’s former No. 2 executive is accused of stealing $500,000. Who’s minding the shop?
SEX DISCRIMINATION: Why doesn’t Wal-Mart treat women fairly?
TIME THEFT: Why have so many Wal-Mart store managers kept employees working off-the-clock and unpaid?
THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE: Has Wal-Mart’s anti-worker activity crossed legal and ethical lines?
SWEATSHOP SAVINGS: What is Wal-Mart doing about sweatshops?
CENSORSHIP: How Wal-Mart limits choice and imposes arbitrary standard.

Link to ASI Book Exchange

http://www.asicsula.org/books

Monday, July 27

No Lobbiests?

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/white-house-eases-stimulus-lobbyist-restrictions-2009-07-25.html so read the news there about Lobbiests and the stimulus bill. Now Lobbiests are ok.

Sunday, July 26

GOOD NEWS POSSIBLE

Happy Sunday everyone. There can be some Good News if I get 4 comments on this post before end of day! The good news could be that I will eliminate 1 paper and give you a bit more time for all other writing tasks in the future. We can still WATCH a film, but films can be so "political" that it is hard to keep our politics out to the sidelines. So rather than writing about a film, we can put more focus into your C-for-creative paper. For the "C" paper, you can CHOOSE to write about the film, but you have the other choices as well. Comments? See website page for new (relaxed) due dates.

beyond age!

Sociologists always say Gender, Race, Age. Well, look at this age: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/Story?id=7880954&page=1

Friday, July 24

health insurance

interview by Bill Moyers of 2 women tonight (one Harvard, one CUNY) http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07242009/watch.html not "sided" - neither "democrat" nor "republican".

Thursday, July 23

We glow!

http://news.aol.com/article/humans-glow/584160

Wednesday, July 22

Online Classes?

I don't understand why the university don't over online classes. I know at my community college they had some and I love them. I didn't have to drive to class and I decided when in the week to finish my assignments. The teacher where nice and I learn a lot; too me it was a virtual classroom.

As I am writing this, do we have online classes and I don't know about them? Or well, where to look to sign up for them.

teacherwoman9 says

join twitter. go to http://www.twitter.com/ sign up and click "Find People". Find teacherwoman9. Follow me and I'll follow you.

Confused about "HB" paper.

Just wanted to know if someone can clear this up for me, is the "HB" paper is taking an article we came across in the library research and determine whether or not is related to my interest? This paper is also due on the 27th? I feel ditzy for asking, but I'm sure someone else is int he same boat as I am.

Observation and Social Geology paper possibilities

Here is a new interview from the Bill Moyers show tonight, Friday, July 24

Wednesday @ 5PM the President holds a press conference on health. What is the social geology? this is one "scene" you might use as basis for your "geology" paper. Here are some foci:

The balance of powers
The technology of TV, Twitter, Blogs
The time line (the Sec'y of Health and Human Services said today in answer to why so fast? "Well, we've been talking about this for 50 years.")
The culture of opposition (them v. us-Dems v. Reps-rich v. poor-extremes v. centrists)
The history of health care and the experience in France, England, Canada
current status of press support. NBC MSNBC CNN ABC CBS cover the talk; FOX will not
Big pharmaceuticals and their position LINK to PBS story from yesterday
The specifics of the President
The specifics of the way this will work
The specifics of the way this will not work
The President and big insurance co.s (link to a story)
The population numbers we face (e.g., many senior citizens have lost a large part of their life savings, e.g., 300 million Americans)
If you take this topic, be careful not to be general or ideological. The devil is in the details

Even if you do not choose to write about this, this televised event should be watched - as well as the news and blogosphere response.

here is the "exponential" vid

Monday, July 20

For the M.J lovers

http://soundcloud.com/djora/dj-ora-the-final-curtain-call-a-tribute-to-michael-jackson

HIGHER EDUCATION UPDATE

Hello Class,
If you dont want to drive or take public transportation to this event, there will be transportation provided. There will be a bus at csula in Lot 4 by the Informational Kiosk. All participants should be bording the bus at 8:45 a.m. and the bus will take off at 9 a.m. Use this map to find Lot 4.

Saturday, July 18

HIGHER EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE!

Hello Class,
I wanted to share this very important flyer with you. Please consider attending this event. It is from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. please try to fit in your busy schedules. If you find your self without a way to get there please visit the following site so that you can plan your trip.
http://www.metro.net/index.asp
p.s.
please forward this info.
to anyone who would be of interest.
thanks!

Thursday, July 16

opening a banana can sometimes make you go BANANAS

Abre uma banana como um macaco @ Yahoo! Video

Wednesday, July 15

Movies for us to watch

Red Without Blue - Netflix . . . . . Ma vie en rose
Crips & Bloods . . . . . . . White Light Black Rain
The Great Debaters . . . also see this list on the blog of 100 best Sociology Movies

Tuesday, July 14

please take 5 min for Librarian Christina

here is the link to a survey about the 2 sessions. thx.

The only reason I would buy a game console is...

this game:

http://www.arrogancygames.com/angrybarry.html

Monday, July 13

CRASH The movie

On Embedding code for YouTube

Friday, July 10

battle of the phones

some of my co workers had a argument at work on whose phone is better??? one said my Internet is faster...and one disagreed. one said his phone has tons of memory...and could stream porn!...then i said my phone has an alarm clock so im not late for school or work it receives and makes phone calls and text messages....i dropped it a hundred times and it still works its more than half the price of your phone...with less money on the bill, and wit the money i saved i put gas in my car so i could go places...is that the reason why your tank is empty because you have to pay your phone bill? so i guess the kick ass phone is kicking his ass...does this example apply to anyone regarding the need and want theory?

Thursday, July 9

Budget Cuts

If you find yourself answering yes to the following questions, then you should probably click on the link...
Do you feel in a tight situation to know tuition keeps going up?
Are you concern about classes getting cut?
Are you worried that you wont be able to get into a class that its required for you to graduate?
Are you upset that the budget cuts will affect your expected graduation year?
If you have siblings, children, or loved ones that are trying to get a higher education; Are you upset that 10,000 (maybe more) aaplicants to CSU schools are getting denied because of budget cuts?
If you find yourself answering yes to all these questions or if you want more information regarding the effects of the Budget Cuts to the CSU Systems, please visit the following site. Sign up for the status of the budget cuts, because this will eventually hurt all Californians. http://www.allianceforthecsu.org/

Monday, July 6

...make your self go to the gym without the agony

i think most people go to the gym for the wrong reasons. they wana get buff for the summer, they wana fit a certain size pants, they wana empress someone. then after a month of going you suddenly loose interest. dont get me wrong i realize that it might be for some other reasons like you have to watch your kid or some other important stuff, thats understandable, however for the people that are just too lazy to go or just lost interest try doing it for your self, make it your own personal time where no one can bother you, some kind of stress relief and looking in shape is just a byproduct not the main goal, try it and tell me if it works

Sunday, July 5

Bionic Society

It is not a secret that biological enhancements and medical practices have become a changing force for our evolving society. I was reminded of this because a close friend is undergoing in vitro fertilization this week. This procedure is an enhancement of one of our more natural and sacred processes.. and it does not come cheap. The mismanagement of our health care system only allows the economically wealthy individuals to live longer, be more physically healthy and to have some serious medical advantages. Will this lead to a connection to a socioeconomic class that will be justified as "lower" in biological status? The research conducted by leading scientists are on the cusp of genetically enhancing human beings. Where will our society succeed in this? Where will it fail?

Does color skin really matter?

I was reading Pacman's post and it only made me think about our color skin when he said if the police would have treated them different if they were African American or Latino? It is sad to say but I believe that we still live in a very racist society, where people go by your color skin and decide what treatment you are going to receive. The majority of the time police officers target more African American and Latinos. Being a white person is a privileged and being a person of color is a big disadvantage in this society, where supposedly discrimination and racism does not exist anymore.

Feeling Blue

I was reading Pacmans Blog and I'm glad he or she had a great time this weekend. However it made me realize how blue I am feeling. This weekend was great to soak up the sun and go to the beach and have a cocktail or two. However I couldn't. I was put on meds this weekend by my physician where I could not really have alcohol. It did not ruin my weekend I still had a BBQ at my place and had people over but I couldn't mingle with them. I was the only one not having a drink. There were many people on my block like Pacman & his buddies, many were drinking and just having a great time. I am feeling blue right now and wish I could have been myself this weekend, not only by drinking , but by riding my beach cruiser to the beach and soaking up the sun. I was told by my physican to stay away from activity. Just feeling blue & felt like blogging about it.

Go The Other Way

I was once informed about the term "anti-philosophy." It was in reference to a conversation I had about my father and the way my brother and I were raised. I vowed that I would never raise my children in such a manner. I would do the opposite of what my father had done. My goal is to raise my children without using fear, aggression and guilt. I was told that this "anti-philosophy" would not produce the results that I was hoping for. In fact, it would produce the most undesired outcome. It tells me that setting any goal should not be a goal taken lightly. One's goals must be well thought out and thought out on one's own terms rather than reaction to another.

4th of julk..drunk as hell in public

me and my buddies had a beach set up, we had two huge speakers...bumpin loud music. we also had a bbq grill, but the best thing about the whole trip was we were drinking beer on the beach openly and the cops did not even bother us as a matter of fact they requested us to play the song bad boys!!! the group consisted of mostly white people i wonder if it would have been different if it as a whole bunch of hispanics, or blacks that were drinking openly an playing loud music?

Wednesday, July 1

Paper Samples: W2 and L

W2 paper now due Wednesday 8th rather than Monday.
2 sample papers here to read plus a library paper.
See you in Library today - arrive by11:40; we start on time.
Shout out to Dante, Curry, une deux trois, Spirit, pacman, urbanpeasant (great name). I'm classifying posts I We Me Chg.

We should do more

Our group realized that we did not put "we do" but rather "we should" because what we are currently doing is not enough. Some things we should do are legalize gay marriage, take the budget crisis more serious, and rethink our current education system.