Evaluations

Hey everyone. I really enjoyed the presentations these past few weeks. Nice work. This is just a final reminder, and request, to please complete teacher evaluations. Tomorrow is the last day to do this. It's a fast and straightforward process. All you need to do is:

1. Login to UVLink using your UV ID and pin.
2. Go to the "Student" tab.
3. Go to the "Teacher/Course Evaluations" channel in the upper-left portion of the page.
4. Click on "Complete your Fall 2008 Teacher Evaluations."
5. Click on English 1010.
6. Click on the "Evaluate" link.
7. Answer the survey questions and make comments about the instructor and/or the course.
8. Make sure to click on "Submit Evaluation" at the bottom of the page.

I was in Europe when evaluations began, so we got a bit of a late start, but evaluations are important and helpful to me, and I appreciate your willingness to participate.

Have a fabulous holiday season, and thanks once again for a great semester.
-Daniel

where's winter

For me this has seem like an extremely mild winter so far, exspecially for Utah. In recent years, i has snowed around Halloween and continues until march. This year we got one snow around middle of october and nothing until today. in my P.E. class we have gone outside everyday until last week. the tempature being in the 40's and 50's in November is warm for Utah. Last Thursday was first day that seem liked winter, with the bitter cold. I just hope that it doesn't mean that it snows into June next year.

A Cold Winter

I had no idea (probably because I don't watch the news), but according to article entitled "Bitterly cold air hits much of nation," There have been a number of all time low temperatures across the country. The article says: "Temperatures on Monday crashed to record lows — well below zero — as a huge mass of arctic air blustered southward, keeping people indoors and leading some cities to open shelters. The cold and remnants of the weekend blizzard that accompanied it closed hundreds of schools on the northern Plains." This news has caused me to worry a little bit. I hate the cold and hope that this doesn't mean an extremely cold winter. Fortunately it sounds like this is only a temporary thing; however, if anyone knows or has more insight on the topic, I'd like to know about it.

Where is the love?

This is a comment on Jen's post, but I decided to put it up here on the main wall with hopes that more people will see it. Jen I totally agree with you. People do discriminate pretty heavily. I'd like to touch a little on what you said when you mentioned that people dislike people just because they do drugs, or do something that a opposing party dislikes, or doesn't agree with. The argument I'd like to make is that people get too caught up with people's inadequacies to see what neat people they really are. For example, I have a booger little brother who is 16, who is a really good guy, but does have some drawbacks. He is big for his age at 6'2" and 190lbs. and is not a bad looking guy. As a result he is a bit on the arrogant side. He also likes to drink and smoke when he gets a chance. I don't agree with this for reasons apparent, and neither does my other brother who is 19. My bro that is 19 has a strong dislike for him because of his faults. True it is that they are faults, but that shouldn't interfere with your ability to enjoy people. People are all different, and we should not cut ourselves short by cutting them short.

English 101 includes blogging?

In continuance with my last post, I would like to share a few feelings, and see if anyone else has the same feelings.... I signed up for this English class in order to become a better writer (and to get this gen out of the way!) I had in mind a lot of writing, and a lot of papers. But does blogging help improve our writing skills? Do we as students learn the necessary skills from blogging to survive in the real world? What skills do we acquire? I for one haven't done too swell of a job posting on this bad boy blog. Among a few reasons for this is my belief that blogging is for married couples only. That's right, blogging is for couples to tell about their happy new lives to their families and friends! I've noticed that girls enjoy to blog also. That puts me in a hard place seeing: 1. I'm not a girl and 2. I'm not married.... Ba!

Almost there... but not yet

It's great that the semester is coming to an end and I am looking forward to the break. We are so close, but we are definitely not there yet. The stress is killing me. So many assignments and so many tests. My routine is all messed up, I am spending all my time studying. It feels like there is too much to handel. I have been trying not to leave it to the last minute though and that has taken a little of the stress off. In order to be healthy and happy we need to have balance in our lives. We need a good balance of responsibilities and free time activites. I am unbalanced right now with so much time spent on my responsibilities and it is weighing on me. I haven't been eating right and I have been skipping my workout. Then when I do those things it makes me feel crappy and I feel even less like studying. Well I wish you all luck for your finals and If I had any advice to give it would be to not leave things to the last minute, and to try and make time for yourself and the things that make you happy. Good luck!

Presentations

The presentations so far have been great. It's been fun watching them and seeing what people have done. I have been convinced by them. I really want to go on a cruise, and I have been thinking about how much of the way I live and act is because of genetics. It was very interesting to see what porn could do to relationships as well. I am excited to see the rest on monday and do mine.

The Grinch

I must admit I am getting tired of buying gifts. These days it seems like every time I turn around it is someone elses birthday or some holiday that I have to buy people stuff. Now Christmas is getting here and even though I have always enjoyed Christmas, I am dreading shopping! The malls become like high school halls and it's just overwhelming. I never know what to get people and when you ask them, they just say, "oh you don't have to get me anything." Well I know I don't have to, but i'm going to so why not just tell me something you want so I don't buy something stupid?

We must suck!

With 26 total posts, 27 including this one, on this here blog, and with approx. 25 people in the class, I'm pretty sure things don't add up here. 25 (people)x6(total number of blogs)=150.... So what does this mean? Yes it true, that number doesn't include the comments on posts, but still, take a gander and see how often people really comment on posts... Not too much. Perhaps Daniel will be merciful.... I doubt it, but lets ask him anyways.... Hows about it Daniel, are you gonna have mercy to your worst blogging class?

Discrimintaion

This is just sooooooo wrong. People don't deserve to be discriminated against. The world is just so wrong about that factor. Just because someone is gay or does drugs doesn't mean that they are bad people. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. But they are still good people. You may not like them but that is sure no reason to look down upon them. My research paper is on this topic. I just cant wait to share it with all of you. From the perspective I will be creating you will be able to see why Discrimintion is so pronounce in our world today.

Thursday and Friday

Hi everyone. This is just a reminder that I will be in my office all day on Thursday and Friday to meet with students and answer any questions you may have regarding the Classical Argument paper or the Genre Translation assignment. My flight from England was delayed, and I am just now getting home, so I will be coming in a bit later than I had anticipated tomorrow, but I will still be there all day. I will be in my office from 10:30 AM to 8 PM. (I may be there a little earlier, but I will be there by 10:30 for sure.) On Friday I will be there from 8AM to 8PM.

Oh, and my dissertation defense went really well. Thanks to those of you who wrote me about it.

-Dr. Westover (still sounds a bit weird, but I'll get used to it)

The anti christ?

What are Americans thinking? Barack Obama is being called the anti Christ. What makes him the anti Christ? When Obama was running for presidency he did not have enough experience to be president, but now he has done enough to become the anti Christ. The reasoning behind this is getting ridiculous also. I have heard things like he has never shown anyone his birth certificate--although some may believe that running for president doesn't have any requirements, I can assure everyone there are. There is no way that he is not a citizen, he is your president so give that one up. The event behind he being deemed as not a patriot because he won't put is hand on his heart is also lead from extreme yellow journalism. As everyone knows Obama is a peoples pleaser with his big white smile, the reason he did not have his hand over his heart was because it was not a customary time to have it there. The press just blew it out of proportion when it was not true. The press also blew up the fact that he worked with a Syrian politician in Illionois. Why would Obama discriminate against this man? The man had a bad past just like our lame duck Jr. George W. Bush had his fun with cocain and other drugs. The man changed and for the better no doubt, but why are we still afraid that Obama is going to mendle with terroist? The simple idea of discriminating against his name rhyming with Osama and his name including Hussain like Sadame Hussain's name. This is such a terrible thing other than the fact that these are some of the most popular names in the world not to mention the most popular name in the world is a middle eastern name, Muhammed. I am personally surprised that even with something as wonderful as the United States voting for their first black president individuals still have to discriminate against him for ignorant reasons. When did Americans become crazy enough to fear change? America was created by people wanting change and at that time we were all called traitors to religion and nationalism to the thrown. This is perhaps another great day for America where we have someone changing our ideas on nationalism and religion. Hopefully we will all see soon enough he is far from an anti Christ.