Posts from — May 2004

Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Theory and Practice of Online Learning
http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/

A new book entitled Theory and Practice of Online Learning published by Athabasca University is now available for download under an Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommerciallicense. The book is also being sold. Sir John Daniel, Assistant Director-General for Education of UNESCO, had this to say about it: “I am delighted that educators all over the world will be able to enjoy this book at no cost because, in the true academic spirit of an open university, Athabasca has published it as an open source book under a Creative Commons License. UNESCO strongly encourages this form of publication as a way of bridging the digital divide and thereby helping to bring online learning to all the world's people.” This will be added to Education and Distance Learning Resources 2004 Internet MiniGuide. [Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A. Author/Speaker/Consultant]'

Tillman's youngest brother, Rich, wore a rumpled white T-shirt, no jacket, no tie, no collar, and immediately swore into the microphone. He hadn't written anything, he said, and with the starkest honesty, he asked mourners to hold their spiritual bromides.

“Pat isn't with God,'' he said. “He's f — ing dead. He wasn't religious. So thank you for your thoughts, but he's f — ing dead.''

good people die in war, that is the way it works. they don't go to god, they don't go to hell, they die. end of story. believe what you have to believe to be comfortable with yourself, but don't ascribe your belief unto others, especially if it is an article of faith. dead is dead, and everyone dies. no one goes to heaven or hell, you die, that's it. live with it. be courageous enough to accept it, and be willing to sacrifice it like Tillman did.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO GREATER SACRIFICE KNOWING THAT FACT.

'So Much for the Feminization of the Military, eh?'. Kevin Drum’s guest writer today is Debra Dickerson a former military officer and currently a no-holds-barred writer. Strong stuff…. [Discourse.net]

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yes, 'difference' theory based on gender only goes so far…. sociopaths and sadists are categories that cross gender differences. As does the military mindset, and we know also, contrary to the claims of the prison guards that everyone in basic training gets a geneva convention briefing….

Defense Of Marriage.

An interesting side note to the introduction of state sanctioned same sex marriages in Massachusetts is that many companies are going to drop domestic partner benefits, since they were created largely for gay couples. It will be interesting to see if there is any backlash to those moves, as retention of same sex domestic partner benefits would extend the “rights” of gay couples beyond those of heterosexual couples. [Ed: Private insurance is not a civil right so I've quoted the word rights to reflect the muddled usage that is sure to ensue]

In theory. this cut in benefits will lead to an increase in the number of gay couples getting married, if only to retain their benefits. Ironically gay couples who forgo marriage may be worse off, from a benefits perspective, than they are now.

By that measure, the application of the new law by private companies will certainly be a “defense of marriage.”

[Wizbang]

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once again 'capitalism' encourages regressive instead of progressive policies. imagine that…. it really isn't capitalism though, it is corporatism and profiteering which isn't really capitalism in terms of free markets, it is very much like an contra-statist communism, where the communal goods are distributed via corporations.

society problems caused by Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart is one of the few common features of every small town in the States. There are hundreds of them on I-80 alone (having used their immense parking lots to turn around a 17ft Uhaul towing a car last year). Over and over again, i heard locals defend the Wal-Marts as a cheap option for getting access to needed goods. There was often slippage in their arguments, as they would tell me that it's now the only option since the introduction of the Wal-Mart meant the closing of every possible competitor.

Wal-Mart makes billions of dollars every year. But at such an aweful expense. Check out these statistics (thanks Chloe!!).

Here's a sample (but read the full list):

$420,750: Annual cost to U.S. taxpayers of a single 200-employee Wal-Mart store, because of support required for underpaid workers — including subsidized school lunches, food stamps, housing credits, tax credits, energy assistance, and health care

45%: Proportion of her entire annual wage that a single Wal-Mart employee might have to pay out-of-pocket before collecting any benefits from the company-sponsored health plan

[apophenia]

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i'm boycotting them because of their callous disregard for their workers, including underpayment, locking them in, etc. that they were doing earlier this year and probably keep doing. by underpayment, i mean they don't pay the minimum wage.

This is unacceptable activity by any government. it really seems to me that they are attempting to persecute women by removing valuable scientific information that disagrees with their opinions. Which we know they've done before, if you read this blog frequently I've posted on it in the past. However, this is the first time they've virtually attacked the largest demographic group in the U.S. …. I wonder if anyone will care. found this on boingboing.net.

Twenty-five key publications of the Department of Labor are no longer available on the Womenâs Bureau website. Prior to the current Administration, women could find a wide array of information about their rights in the workplace by logging onto the DOL website. With no explanation, the Administration removed 25 fact sheets, denying women and researchers critical information on everything from staffing to pay equity to child care to issues of specific importance to black and Latina women and women business owners.

Italo Calvino Online. A website devoted to Italo Calvino, author of the magical, wonderful, Invisible Cities and many other books to treasure…. [Discourse.net]

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i've always liked Calvino, esp. Cosmicomics and Numbers in the dark.

Tenure and May Day.

Just a placeholder here for a blog that picks up Joseph’s and Naomi’s thoughts about tenure in the context of International Labor Day (and the commemoration of the Haymarket Massacre).

[AKMA’s Random Thoughts]

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both are excellent essays on some of the issues of tenure, the academy, and related topics.

Women in Computing Professions. Open Lecture & Meeting by Invitation Women in Computing Professions: Will the Internet Make a Difference? Date: 17-18 June 2004… [GENDER & COMPUTING]

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will it make a difference? no, to me, or at least it seems to me. the issue isn't a technical one, so much as a socioeconomic one… it really depends on the structuration of computing professions and everything that goes on in that, and well the interent at best will play a factoral role, and not a causal one.

California Bans E-Vote Machines. Secretary of State Kevin Shelley decertifies all touch-screen voting machines and recommends charges against Diebold. By Kim Zetter. [Wired News]

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i hope there are charges… this is a fiaco.