Friday, December 31, 2004
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, to both of my readers! I'm doing the Lotus Buddha Tea House for dinner, and then who knows? Drinks somewhere are sure to follow.
Nashville should not be colder than Waterloo. Still, all in all it was a good trip. See everyone soon!
Nashville should not be colder than Waterloo. Still, all in all it was a good trip. See everyone soon!
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Jon Stewart recognized
Browsing through the shelves at the local Borders bookstore earlier tonight (God bless corporate America), I noted that the Daily Show's very own Jon Stewart has been named Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year for 2004. What more can I say? This man and his institution - though Comedy Cental show it may be - represents a paradigm shift in news reporting. He's able to go where few others go, and in doing so has catapulted his way to fake-news, real-reporting success.
Democrats love Stewart (for obvious, partisan reasons) and many Republicans at least respect him for being on top. Sure, one might counter that the EW "entertainers of the year" list often includes such ... insubstantial? ... pop icons as Britney and Madonna, but Stewart has been honoured by other means as well. He's been honored by Newsweek as the #1 candidate of Who's Next 2004, a spot that this year was awarded to Democratic wunderkind Barack Obama. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the media who respects Stewart for his achievements to date. If only This Hour has 22 Minutes had the capacity for the viewership (and funding) that Stewart enjoys, it would earn similar accolades.
Archived clips from the Daily Show are available on the Comedy Central site. I think it's pretty much the entirery of each broadcast, broken down into bits and missing only the "Moment of Zen." Warning: you have to put up with Ellen Degeneres' 25 second intro for approximately each 4 minute segment of the Daily Show.
Democrats love Stewart (for obvious, partisan reasons) and many Republicans at least respect him for being on top. Sure, one might counter that the EW "entertainers of the year" list often includes such ... insubstantial? ... pop icons as Britney and Madonna, but Stewart has been honoured by other means as well. He's been honored by Newsweek as the #1 candidate of Who's Next 2004, a spot that this year was awarded to Democratic wunderkind Barack Obama. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the media who respects Stewart for his achievements to date. If only This Hour has 22 Minutes had the capacity for the viewership (and funding) that Stewart enjoys, it would earn similar accolades.
Archived clips from the Daily Show are available on the Comedy Central site. I think it's pretty much the entirery of each broadcast, broken down into bits and missing only the "Moment of Zen." Warning: you have to put up with Ellen Degeneres' 25 second intro for approximately each 4 minute segment of the Daily Show.
MIT's first female president starts work
Earlier this month, a new president took the reigns at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following up on the decision announced in August, former Yale provost Susan Hockfield began as the first female president of this internationally-renowned technical institution. One fellow MIT administrator was quoted in The Boston Globe as saying that the selection committee's decision to choose a top female administrator was both "extraordinary and historic."
Though Hockfield's selection apparently received widespread support, the focus on gender was not welcomed by all in the MIT community. The MIT on-line newspaper, The Tech, ran an article about a student-attended "town hall" that happened before the decision was made in August. While some students encouraged others to "think of the message MIT would send" by choosing a female president, others rationally argued that "whoever is best qualified" should get the job.
This brings to mind a discussion we had in my fall 2004 Training and Development class. The professor started on the topic of 'affirmative action' in the workplace, in this case writing into policy extra developmental opportunities for women, based on the under-representedness of their gender in top executive positions in today's major corporations. Not surprisingly (to me, at least - though the professor seemed to be caught off guard) it was many of the females in the class who argued most strongly against such biased opportunities for advancement.
Many of them voiced sentiments similar to that of one undergrad in the Tech article: "It could be a bad thing to have a woman if she feels she’s been put there because she’s a woman." This debate warrants more space than this blog post will allow, I will say this: I'll take qualifcation over identity, thank you.
More importantly, Hockfield's academic background is in neuroscience, representing a shift from the traditional choice of an engineering-educated leader at MIT. The press cited this as the recongized need for a shift towards a more integrative, multi-disciplinary approach at MIT, where the health sciences were touted as being more traditionally multi-disciplinary than enginering. Perhaps this 'edge' helped to make up for the fact that Hockfield had only six years of previous experience in acadmic administrativia - not a very long preparation for a president.
Then, there's the humourous approach. I think that this aspect was best summed up by a post on Slashdot, a premiere on-line site for nerds. Under the heading "Big Deal...", one poster noted that "When MIT announces the first robot president, I'll be listening."
Though Hockfield's selection apparently received widespread support, the focus on gender was not welcomed by all in the MIT community. The MIT on-line newspaper, The Tech, ran an article about a student-attended "town hall" that happened before the decision was made in August. While some students encouraged others to "think of the message MIT would send" by choosing a female president, others rationally argued that "whoever is best qualified" should get the job.
This brings to mind a discussion we had in my fall 2004 Training and Development class. The professor started on the topic of 'affirmative action' in the workplace, in this case writing into policy extra developmental opportunities for women, based on the under-representedness of their gender in top executive positions in today's major corporations. Not surprisingly (to me, at least - though the professor seemed to be caught off guard) it was many of the females in the class who argued most strongly against such biased opportunities for advancement.
Many of them voiced sentiments similar to that of one undergrad in the Tech article: "It could be a bad thing to have a woman if she feels she’s been put there because she’s a woman." This debate warrants more space than this blog post will allow, I will say this: I'll take qualifcation over identity, thank you.
More importantly, Hockfield's academic background is in neuroscience, representing a shift from the traditional choice of an engineering-educated leader at MIT. The press cited this as the recongized need for a shift towards a more integrative, multi-disciplinary approach at MIT, where the health sciences were touted as being more traditionally multi-disciplinary than enginering. Perhaps this 'edge' helped to make up for the fact that Hockfield had only six years of previous experience in acadmic administrativia - not a very long preparation for a president.
Then, there's the humourous approach. I think that this aspect was best summed up by a post on Slashdot, a premiere on-line site for nerds. Under the heading "Big Deal...", one poster noted that "When MIT announces the first robot president, I'll be listening."
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Dreaming of a white Christmas, anyone?
Amidst the Christmas goodies, presents and viewing of many Christmas specials - Muppets' Christmas Carol, Claymation Christmas, Muppet Family Christmas, Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (?) so far - I got some time to take some Christmas photos of the effects of the ice storm on the surrounding Tennessee area. I've posted a small selection of the photos closest to my parents' house here on my blog.
The ice had started to melt in the mid-afternoon sun, making some of the closer shots look as if the ice is in the final stages of melting. However, the sun has set and the temperatures have again dropped below freezing. Much of the ice remains and is expected to last for a few more days (!) yet.
The ice had started to melt in the mid-afternoon sun, making some of the closer shots look as if the ice is in the final stages of melting. However, the sun has set and the temperatures have again dropped below freezing. Much of the ice remains and is expected to last for a few more days (!) yet.
Ice only begins to melt, nearly three days after the storm.
A shot of the icicles above my parents' porch.
Widest shot from the porch.
Frozen trees. Smaller branches would break off as if they themselves were made of ice.
A view from the street across from my parents' house. The Tennessee hills are beautiful in any season - spring, summer, fall or frozen.
Close-up shot.
Moving down the street...
A view of the street near my parents' house. Ice falling from the power lines presented a moderate danger while taking these photos.
A close-up of what it all looks like. Remember - this is some three days after the storm. I've never seen ice from an ice storm last so long.
Life isn't the only thing that has been frozen.
The sun shining through the trees.
Friday, December 24, 2004
The start of something different?
Apparently, Blockbuster may stop charging late fees as early as January 1, 2005. An interesting move by a company that reportedly (by the article) earns 10-19% of their revenue from late fees. Apparently, another company called netflix has been giving them a run for their money. Talk about having to accommodate for shifting market competition!
Of course, there are catches: Blockbuster will give late renters a week's grace period, and after that they have bought the game/movie.
And, this may explain why a recent late return on a Blockbuster video game had the late fees shrugged off so easily.
"Do you know how late this is?" asks the young Blockbuster clerk.
"It should be two days late," says I.
"Oh, just two days?" says she. "Don't worry about it then. I'll just remove the late fees."
What does this have to do with Christmas? My family always watches a movie or three over Christmas. I'm hoping for the extended DVD version of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King this year. Missed bits I hope to see: how the Palantir ended in the water outside of Orthanc, how Sam and Frodo end up in orc's clothes in Mordor.
Disclaimer: the Blockbuster bit is US news, and I am currently in the wrong country to confirm whether or not this will be in effect in Canada. It's not advertised in their website, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. Word of mouth is likely a very effective - and very cheap - means of communication about this new deal. People like not being charged for things.
Of course, there are catches: Blockbuster will give late renters a week's grace period, and after that they have bought the game/movie.
And, this may explain why a recent late return on a Blockbuster video game had the late fees shrugged off so easily.
"Do you know how late this is?" asks the young Blockbuster clerk.
"It should be two days late," says I.
"Oh, just two days?" says she. "Don't worry about it then. I'll just remove the late fees."
What does this have to do with Christmas? My family always watches a movie or three over Christmas. I'm hoping for the extended DVD version of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King this year. Missed bits I hope to see: how the Palantir ended in the water outside of Orthanc, how Sam and Frodo end up in orc's clothes in Mordor.
Disclaimer: the Blockbuster bit is US news, and I am currently in the wrong country to confirm whether or not this will be in effect in Canada. It's not advertised in their website, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. Word of mouth is likely a very effective - and very cheap - means of communication about this new deal. People like not being charged for things.
A slice of Canada
Canada came with me, it seems, all the way to oft-sunny Tennessee. Not only to Tennessee, either - a massive snow and ice storm has shut down much of the American south and midwest. My parents' neighbourhood was without power for some 24 hours, starting at 10pm last night. The roads are slick and icy. The temperature hovers around -10C, though here in Tennessee they say it's about 15 degrees (fahrenheit). My brother is unable to drive through Kentucky with his family (on his way from his home in Michigan), as the state apparently does not even have the proper highway equipment to be able to deal with such situations.
Thankfully, we were able to hide in the parts of civilization still with power. Ocean's 12 is a good movie, methinks, and I made my first-ever visit to TGIFriday's. The power is now on, and life will hopefully soon be settling back to normal.
Just in time for my favourite shopping day of the year - December 24.
Thankfully, we were able to hide in the parts of civilization still with power. Ocean's 12 is a good movie, methinks, and I made my first-ever visit to TGIFriday's. The power is now on, and life will hopefully soon be settling back to normal.
Just in time for my favourite shopping day of the year - December 24.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
My sister is engaged to be married
Thursday, December 23, 2004. It's 12:23 am - at least it is in Nashville, Tennessee - and I have just been told that my little sister Joanna is engaged to be married!!! Her partner Toshia Hullett proposed to her earlier this year and my sister gladly accepted. They are each wearing (matching) diamond engagement rings, simple yet elegant.
I can not wait to see my sister, the queen of the gays, married sometime soon. The ceremony will likely be late this summer (2005) or the next (2006). I hope it is as public and wonderful as her tenure as a Lambda executive has been.
I am very happy for my sister. She is old enough to know who she wants to be with, and if she thinks Toshia is the one she wants, then so be it. Now, I can only hope for open bar at the wedding (as long as there is no Samuel Adams -- eeeech).
I will try to get pictures of my sister, her partner, their rings, etc, etc to this site soon.
Of course, this only puts more pressure on the three of us Diltses who remain single.... who will be next?
I only wish that this happy news could make this disgusting American beer taste better.
I can not wait to see my sister, the queen of the gays, married sometime soon. The ceremony will likely be late this summer (2005) or the next (2006). I hope it is as public and wonderful as her tenure as a Lambda executive has been.
I am very happy for my sister. She is old enough to know who she wants to be with, and if she thinks Toshia is the one she wants, then so be it. Now, I can only hope for open bar at the wedding (as long as there is no Samuel Adams -- eeeech).
I will try to get pictures of my sister, her partner, their rings, etc, etc to this site soon.
Of course, this only puts more pressure on the three of us Diltses who remain single.... who will be next?
I only wish that this happy news could make this disgusting American beer taste better.
Monday, December 20, 2004
As I head into my last exam...
Despite my last post, I haven't seen much of the outside world since the exam period started. Old-and-paranoid-Howard-Hughes-style, I haven't even left my apartment since Saturday. As I head into financial accounting tomorrow morning, I'll recount a Letterman-style top 10 list on what's been interesting for me about this year's exam peiod:
10. Finishing three of my exams before the exam period even began. Nothing like knowing what your term average is likely to be before everyone else even starts stressing.
9. Having one of my two remaining exams on the second-last day of finals. Hello, people! I have a hot tub waiting for me in Nashville!
8. I have a hot tub waiting for me in Nashville.
7. Providing an eleventh-hour letter of recommendation for a peer nominated for UW's co-op student of the year award.
6. Bringing my psych average up by 3% this term alone.
5. The kid who, one minute before the start of my MSci exam, turned to me and asked "Hey, can you summarize [that thing that took two tutorial sections and is worth 20% of our mark]?" This kid had no clue. How people like this survive university if beyond me.
4. Speaking of idiots, some idiot pulled the fire alarm during my MSci exam. To that person: I could just slap you.
3. A girlfriend home from Nova Scotia after 1 1/2 months. Enough said.
2. My MSci prof telling me, when I handed in my completed final exam, that I had the highest mark in the class. (101% heading into the 40% final).
...and the #1 most memorable part of my second-to-last final exam period?
1. Coming home on Saturday night to find two snowmen having sex on my lawn. Ah, the perks of living in the student ghetto...
10. Finishing three of my exams before the exam period even began. Nothing like knowing what your term average is likely to be before everyone else even starts stressing.
9. Having one of my two remaining exams on the second-last day of finals. Hello, people! I have a hot tub waiting for me in Nashville!
8. I have a hot tub waiting for me in Nashville.
7. Providing an eleventh-hour letter of recommendation for a peer nominated for UW's co-op student of the year award.
6. Bringing my psych average up by 3% this term alone.
5. The kid who, one minute before the start of my MSci exam, turned to me and asked "Hey, can you summarize [that thing that took two tutorial sections and is worth 20% of our mark]?" This kid had no clue. How people like this survive university if beyond me.
4. Speaking of idiots, some idiot pulled the fire alarm during my MSci exam. To that person: I could just slap you.
3. A girlfriend home from Nova Scotia after 1 1/2 months. Enough said.
2. My MSci prof telling me, when I handed in my completed final exam, that I had the highest mark in the class. (101% heading into the 40% final).
...and the #1 most memorable part of my second-to-last final exam period?
1. Coming home on Saturday night to find two snowmen having sex on my lawn. Ah, the perks of living in the student ghetto...
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Moving along
Conversing with Aaron Lee-Wudrick earlier tonight about his new blog, we briefly touched on the personal vs. political blog content debate. He's now sleeping, but I've been thinking. I've been thinking it's time for a change.
As I mentioned at its inception, my blog was created to keep track of the random adventures in life that I have a habit of getting myself into. Otherwise, I would simply just forget so many things that happen to me.
Still, many of my adventures take me beyond my own personal life, into areas that deserve equal space on my blog. Plus, I like the traffic on my site, and I can't see how many people could really like to hear about how I like being lazy on those rare occasions when my schedule affords it.
Thus, you can now look forward to seeing more in the way of my thoughts on current issues posted on my blog. Yes, I'll still include the personal stuff - I am human, after all - but I will lean a bit more into the extra-personal as well.
Still, sometimes the personal and the political are thankfully intertwined. For example, I'm currently applying for a job as the communications and fundraising director of Engineers Without Borders. It's a really great organization, for the most part, combining so many of the things that I love: capitalism, youth, development, entrepreneurship, technology, an international scope...
As I mentioned at its inception, my blog was created to keep track of the random adventures in life that I have a habit of getting myself into. Otherwise, I would simply just forget so many things that happen to me.
Still, many of my adventures take me beyond my own personal life, into areas that deserve equal space on my blog. Plus, I like the traffic on my site, and I can't see how many people could really like to hear about how I like being lazy on those rare occasions when my schedule affords it.
Thus, you can now look forward to seeing more in the way of my thoughts on current issues posted on my blog. Yes, I'll still include the personal stuff - I am human, after all - but I will lean a bit more into the extra-personal as well.
Still, sometimes the personal and the political are thankfully intertwined. For example, I'm currently applying for a job as the communications and fundraising director of Engineers Without Borders. It's a really great organization, for the most part, combining so many of the things that I love: capitalism, youth, development, entrepreneurship, technology, an international scope...
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Lazy days
When I get the chance to, I love being lazy. Not too often, mind you, but just enough to let myself ooze fully into a pajama-wearing, video-game-playing, hair's-a-mess-and-I-don't-care kind of life. There's something deeply rewarding about doing nothing rewarding at all.
I can play games like Sega's old-school Sonic the Hedgehog or Yeti Games' Orca Slap. What's cooler than being cool? Driving a penguin into a bullseye as he bounces of an all-too-complying Orca.
Or, I can go shopping. I have almost all of my $100 amazon.com gift certificates left. What should I buy? So far: wireless card for my new laptop.
Likely, I'll continue my love affair with MSN Messenger. I really, really love this little time-wasting device, except it takes all the fun out of trying to plan anything or overcome communication hurdles. From checking on the Imprint e-mail being down to planning a trip to the Brinkman Christmas party (part II) in Kingston next Saturday, I don't even have to try anymore.
Sigh. Too bad I have an exam on the 21st. I'd really be sitting around with NOTHING to do otherwise. Knowing me, I'll probably end up doing something quasi-productive, like learning more HTML.
Maybe I'll practice cooking some more.
I can play games like Sega's old-school Sonic the Hedgehog or Yeti Games' Orca Slap. What's cooler than being cool? Driving a penguin into a bullseye as he bounces of an all-too-complying Orca.
Or, I can go shopping. I have almost all of my $100 amazon.com gift certificates left. What should I buy? So far: wireless card for my new laptop.
Likely, I'll continue my love affair with MSN Messenger. I really, really love this little time-wasting device, except it takes all the fun out of trying to plan anything or overcome communication hurdles. From checking on the Imprint e-mail being down to planning a trip to the Brinkman Christmas party (part II) in Kingston next Saturday, I don't even have to try anymore.
Sigh. Too bad I have an exam on the 21st. I'd really be sitting around with NOTHING to do otherwise. Knowing me, I'll probably end up doing something quasi-productive, like learning more HTML.
Maybe I'll practice cooking some more.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Poker nights?
Anyone up for poker nights at my place next term? This means you, Imprinters! I'd also consider video game nights, but in my experience, gambling is a healthier addiction than gaming... ;)
Thursday, December 09, 2004
The plague of the absentee landlord
I have a landlord who is based out of Toronto. His building is fantastic, the price is reasonable but he has a penchant for completely disobeying the Tenant Protection Act.
First, he neglected to keep our garbage areas, stairways and parking lots clean and clear. He didn't respond for some months to our requests about this. When he did, it was only through a list of charges for his services - $50 for cleaning the garbage area, etc. But, whoops! He forgot to see if that was legal. Guess what? It wasn't.
Then, I bounced my November rent cheque. Not on purpose, mind you - that's illegal - but it happened. I sent a replacement cheque to him, ignoring his request for a $50 administration fee. When he received the cheque, he called me and told me that I would be evicted if I didn't send him a $450.00 cheque within 10 days. It turns out that he broke quite a few rules by that one: no signed notice, improper time for notice, and maximum $20.00 administrative fee for NSF cheques. Turns out that he was completely off base on this one - you can't threaten eviction for NSF charges - only for the rent itself.
So, who cares? Other than me, I mean? Well, Imprint once printed a really good full-page guide to tenancy problems in Waterloo. Maybe I'll do something like this for the first paper of the term... I'm sure that other students could use the information.
First, he neglected to keep our garbage areas, stairways and parking lots clean and clear. He didn't respond for some months to our requests about this. When he did, it was only through a list of charges for his services - $50 for cleaning the garbage area, etc. But, whoops! He forgot to see if that was legal. Guess what? It wasn't.
Then, I bounced my November rent cheque. Not on purpose, mind you - that's illegal - but it happened. I sent a replacement cheque to him, ignoring his request for a $50 administration fee. When he received the cheque, he called me and told me that I would be evicted if I didn't send him a $450.00 cheque within 10 days. It turns out that he broke quite a few rules by that one: no signed notice, improper time for notice, and maximum $20.00 administrative fee for NSF cheques. Turns out that he was completely off base on this one - you can't threaten eviction for NSF charges - only for the rent itself.
So, who cares? Other than me, I mean? Well, Imprint once printed a really good full-page guide to tenancy problems in Waterloo. Maybe I'll do something like this for the first paper of the term... I'm sure that other students could use the information.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Less time for finals? Michael Moore at UW? Dark days for the PAC...
Feds VP Education Jeff Henry mentioned something to me during a break at the Sunday council meeting. Apparently, UW's Senate Undergrad Council wil be considering reducing the time for finals from 3 hrs to 2 1/2 hours. Why? To be able to cram more test-takers into the PAC during the exam period. Why? In order to reduce the number of times students' exams are delayed in other buildings due to the pulling of fire alarms. The change may come as early as the Spring 2005 finals.
Also, word on the street has it that the Feds are trying to bring Michael Moore to campus on February 3. Apparently, Feds is working on a long-term project that would see them team up with WLU and Guelph to bring any number of big name speakers for students in the area to enjoy. But, Michael Moore? Apparently he's coming to Western on February 2 and the Feds will team up with Western's University Students' Council (USC) on Moore's first-class plane fare from NYC. Watch for the throngs of madness appearing at a PAC near you...
Comments, please?
Also, word on the street has it that the Feds are trying to bring Michael Moore to campus on February 3. Apparently, Feds is working on a long-term project that would see them team up with WLU and Guelph to bring any number of big name speakers for students in the area to enjoy. But, Michael Moore? Apparently he's coming to Western on February 2 and the Feds will team up with Western's University Students' Council (USC) on Moore's first-class plane fare from NYC. Watch for the throngs of madness appearing at a PAC near you...
Comments, please?
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Slowing Down + Orientation Changes
Right now, three of my peers are reviewing my final paper of the term, a 30% behemoth for Culture and Psychology. Not much has happened to me since my last posting, except for a bunch of chilling out at:
It's nice to have only two finals left, and be getting 100% in one of them.
I also stopped by the Feds' December council meeting. It turns out that they're trying to add UW orientation fees as part of a first-year student's fee statement. The election procedures for next year's Feds election got passed in "3.5 seconds" - quite different from the six hour discussion during my time on council. The ESA came back to debate at council ... that took a few hours right there.
- the Bomber
- Imprint staff lunch at Ennio's- too crowded!
- the Bomber - post-Imprint lunch, post-EWB meeting drinking
- Starlight Social Club - too shmoozy!
- Morty's - free beer and wings! Thanks for the invite, Meagan!
- Meagan's house - so incredibly relaxing - and finally
- home for some Halo.
It's nice to have only two finals left, and be getting 100% in one of them.
I also stopped by the Feds' December council meeting. It turns out that they're trying to add UW orientation fees as part of a first-year student's fee statement. The election procedures for next year's Feds election got passed in "3.5 seconds" - quite different from the six hour discussion during my time on council. The ESA came back to debate at council ... that took a few hours right there.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
In 20 minutes...
Oh yeah. That felt good. Hopefully coggy goes as well tomorrow morning
I have a big decision to make. Advice?
I have a big decision to make. Advice?
One good turn
Yesterday, I passed around a 'petition' to nominate my professor for a Distinguished Teaching Award from UW. Her name is Elaine Wei Qi Perunovic and she taught Culture and Psychology this term. I later found out that she is only still a student in the last year of her PhD, but I'm sure it's not a problem to modify the nomination a bit.
She is a beautiful teacher. I can not express to her how pleasant her class was. She asked for and implemented results from feedback at the mid-term; she made us laugh with her each and every class; she taught the course material in such a way that many students appreciated (or so I believe). I had no trouble getting an 80% success rate for the petition from our class.
Most importantly, she made herself vulnerable to the class. She talked often about her personal life in a way that was endearing to many. She let us know that she was being genuine by open and honest in each class, avoiding using a 'professional distance' (read: cold manner). Just like many adults can learn from children, I think there are many seasoned professors at UW who could learn from this grad student.
If you have a teacher that is awesome, take the time to nominate them. No, really, do it. It will mean a lot to them and it's not hard to do. Elaine almost started crying when I told her today. I'm just glad she knows we appreciate her.
She is a beautiful teacher. I can not express to her how pleasant her class was. She asked for and implemented results from feedback at the mid-term; she made us laugh with her each and every class; she taught the course material in such a way that many students appreciated (or so I believe). I had no trouble getting an 80% success rate for the petition from our class.
Most importantly, she made herself vulnerable to the class. She talked often about her personal life in a way that was endearing to many. She let us know that she was being genuine by open and honest in each class, avoiding using a 'professional distance' (read: cold manner). Just like many adults can learn from children, I think there are many seasoned professors at UW who could learn from this grad student.
If you have a teacher that is awesome, take the time to nominate them. No, really, do it. It will mean a lot to them and it's not hard to do. Elaine almost started crying when I told her today. I'm just glad she knows we appreciate her.
