I'm lacking creativity today, but I have the opportunity (read, an internet connection) to blog so I figured I should say something.
* Congratulations, President Obama, on your Nobel Peace Prize. Richly deserved. Woo!
* Apparently the economic crisis has affected the weather budget, and in turn, we've cut Autumn all together. "I'm dreaming of a white Halloween," and "Frosty the Pumpkin," will replace our usual winter carols and be sung two months ahead of schedule.
* I have a second job!...as a host/ID checker at Williams Pub and Peanut Bar. I start Saturday. Yay money!
* LEIF GOT A JOB!... as a valet and cashier at a parking ramp on campus. He starts Saturday. Yay money!
* My aunt Susan and Leif's parents are coming to visit us in November and see Leif's graduate recital. At the moment, I'm only have semi-frequent tremors and involuntary eye twitching. I anticipate these symptoms to progress in the coming weeks, unless my heart gives out completely. It's not Leif's parents - I flipping LOVE his parents. It's not my aunt - I flipping LOVE her, too. It's everybody together. I'm sure everything will be fine, but coming from a one person family, I have zero experience in larger family gatherings. My instinct is to be terrified.
* I cry during Vikings games, now. Why? I'm so happy for them. Why? I don't know. I also cried at the preview commercial for "The Office" wedding episode. And a Kay Jewelers commercial. PMS is laaaaaaaame.
* I'm trying to get my life in order. For reals. More to come.
Love,
Me
Friday, October 09, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
current favorites...
W.W.F.G.B.D?
It's startling to me how I just now feel ready to begin my summer, and here it is -- mere weeks from over. The past few months have been nothing short of chaotic. I am grateful to be done with my formal education (for the time being), and to have finished it with my first 4.0 since homework meant covering your hand in paint to make a turkey.
School never was my forte (and yes, for all my music comrades, pun intended). See, I'm as Taurus as they come and I don't take well to being told what to do. Things have to be on my terms, so to speak. While I've gained a bit of flexibility with age, I'm by no means flexible. I wish I could, while disliking the task, complete it for the greater good. But no -- The Moment and I are long friends, and The Moment says, "I'd rather not." So I don't. She's a bad influence, really. My mother, bless her, wouldn't approve.
In any case, it's over, it's done, and now I'm ready for...
Well, that's just the problem. I don't know.
I wish I could just do everything. I wish I could be an arts journalist, and a musician, and a photographer, and a high school history teacher, AND live in Spain with the love of my life and 12 Samoyed puppies. And I know you're thinking, "So do it all!" I just don't know how! I wish I had a map, or directions, or a simple road sign. I realize this is a lot to ask, but I'm asking anyway.
I have a lot of friends who went to So-and-So University, got a degree in Easily-Applies-to-Real-Life, and now have a solid foot in the door in a career they'll spend the next 25-30 years in and coast to early retirement. Early retirement in Spain with my puppies. And probably purebreds. Bastards.
I just wish I had the much confidence - or at least not as much fear. I'm constantly wondering if this is the right decision. Will this make me happy for the rest of my life? Will this pay enough to make the bills? To buy a house? And 12 puppies?
I realize it sounds painfully over analytical, and try as I may, I can't shut it off. Maybe it's years of watching the women in my family pick a new career every five years, and new men twice as often. My aunt says she thinks I'll try a million things too. But I'd rather not. I just want to pick the right ones. I don't know if that's setting my expectations too high, but the bottom line is I want a real career, and a marriage, and puppies, and enough money to support them through obedience school.
Kids aren't really my thing. At least not yet.
It's a lot to consider, but when push comes to shove, I just ask myself...
"What Would Fern Glass Boyd Do?"
School never was my forte (and yes, for all my music comrades, pun intended). See, I'm as Taurus as they come and I don't take well to being told what to do. Things have to be on my terms, so to speak. While I've gained a bit of flexibility with age, I'm by no means flexible. I wish I could, while disliking the task, complete it for the greater good. But no -- The Moment and I are long friends, and The Moment says, "I'd rather not." So I don't. She's a bad influence, really. My mother, bless her, wouldn't approve.
In any case, it's over, it's done, and now I'm ready for...
Well, that's just the problem. I don't know.
I wish I could just do everything. I wish I could be an arts journalist, and a musician, and a photographer, and a high school history teacher, AND live in Spain with the love of my life and 12 Samoyed puppies. And I know you're thinking, "So do it all!" I just don't know how! I wish I had a map, or directions, or a simple road sign. I realize this is a lot to ask, but I'm asking anyway.
I have a lot of friends who went to So-and-So University, got a degree in Easily-Applies-to-Real-Life, and now have a solid foot in the door in a career they'll spend the next 25-30 years in and coast to early retirement. Early retirement in Spain with my puppies. And probably purebreds. Bastards.
I just wish I had the much confidence - or at least not as much fear. I'm constantly wondering if this is the right decision. Will this make me happy for the rest of my life? Will this pay enough to make the bills? To buy a house? And 12 puppies?
I realize it sounds painfully over analytical, and try as I may, I can't shut it off. Maybe it's years of watching the women in my family pick a new career every five years, and new men twice as often. My aunt says she thinks I'll try a million things too. But I'd rather not. I just want to pick the right ones. I don't know if that's setting my expectations too high, but the bottom line is I want a real career, and a marriage, and puppies, and enough money to support them through obedience school.
Kids aren't really my thing. At least not yet.
It's a lot to consider, but when push comes to shove, I just ask myself...
"What Would Fern Glass Boyd Do?"
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Homework
I wrote an essay on Thomas Friedman's New York Times article, "It's A Flat World, After All." I thought the article was really interesting!
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/magazine/03DOMINANCE.html
As of June 20th, 2009, the population of the world is estimated to be 6,788,131,875 people. While the latest data tells us that only about 25% of the global population have internet access, this number has increased almost 350% since the year 2000. These numbers are a reflection of globalization on a scale previously unimaginable. We now have access to seemingly limitless information and resources with the simple click of a mouse, regardless of our location. With this new found connectivity comes wonderful opportunities, difficult ethical dilemmas, and an emerging importance placed in education and shrinking the digital divide. While the reins of our technological future were once only in the hands of western society, the world now moves boldly forward with countries such as India and China at the lead. In Thomas Friedman's article, "It's A Flat World, After All," one discovers the stark reality of our current state of globalization, and on the level playing field of our flat world, Americans are falling behind.
The world was not always so small. Friedman describes earlier versions of globalization that provided stepping stones for the technological frenzy we find ourselves in today. "Globalization 1.0" (1492-1800) was an era of discovery and conquest for countries globalizing for resources. "Globalization 2.0" (1800-2000) focused a bit smaller, with companies globalizing for markets and labor. Even narrower in focus still is "Globalization 3.0" (2000-Present), which allows the individual to globalize. This most current globalization is an invitation to anyone with determination and an internet connection to compete in the global market.
Friedman tells us of the major events that led to the flattening of the world. First, there was the destruction of the Berlin Wall on November 9th, 1989. As this symbol of the Iron Curtain was brought down, so began a new outlook on borders and our future as a global community. At the same time, Microsoft created and launched a global computer interface, Windows 3.0. Continuing chronologically, the next major event was the public launch of Netscape on August 9th, 1995. No one was more profoundly or positively impacted by this than India. Prior to this, Indians (amongst others) had no choice but to emigrate to America if they wanted a place in the professional technology community. After the development of fiber-optic cables and the American over-investment in this technology, the ability to connect and compete was available to everyone with the brains and ambition, anywhere in the world. To further connect the globe, what Friedman calls a "workflow revolution" began. This third flattener connected applications to applications, as Netscape connected person to person.
Precisely because of this workflow revolution, the path was paved for six other major globalization events. The fourth flattener was the outsourcing phenomena, which is the development that allowed digital work to be split up and sent elsewhere to someone who could do it both more effectively, and more efficiently. Similarly, offshoring became a profitable opportunity to move whole companies overseas. One may wonder if it is ethically sound to send the jobs of American companies overseas. However, it seems that the U.S. can use this new level of competition as the fuel to increase education and decrease our digital divide. Open-sourcing is the sixth flattener and gave programmers the ability to work with each other globally and cheaply to develop new software, while the seventh flattener, insourcing, similarly gave companies the ability to bring in other seemingly unrelated companies to complete any number of tasks. This method of streamlining is worrisome for American job holders, and for good reason. The solution is plainly in front of us now as it had been previously for leading countries in technology; education in this day and age is invaluable to our future, and secures our position in this competition. Supply-chaining, the eighth flattening tool, connects a business to it's suppliers in unprecedented efficiency, and with the aid of Google and Yahoo, the ninth flattener, informing, gives everyone access to a wealth of data and information instantly. The speed of business is faster than ever, but in many ways, it is only the beginning of the race. All of this makes globalization worthy of revolution status, but then Friedman adds what he terms "steroids" into the mix -- our final flattener. The steroids are wireless access and Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), which takes all of the previous flatteners to a new level by allowing people to collaborate with anyone, anywhere, and with any device.
It is no wonder then, how our world became so flat. In fact, as all of the flatteners worked together and built upon one another, magnifying their effects immeasurably, the wonder is really how our world did not become flat sooner. Yet it still comes as a shock to Americans, and even initially to Friedman, how we got to be at the end of this global race. The U.S. is having a deer-in-the-headlights moment -- if we don't move quickly, this digital revolution may just run us over.
So how did America, the most powerful country in the world, get here? Friedman credits three major gaps that we can evaluate. Firstly, there is the ambition gap. It is no secret that the discipline and drive of Chinese and Indian students is unsurpassed, and their hard work is paying off. In a 2007 New York Times article, the results of the American Institutes of Research study of test scores of various countries showed Singapore and other Asian countries significantly outperforming even the most competitive states in America in the areas of math and science. We have become lazy sitting at the top of the world, and given other countries not just the chance to catch up, but to considerably surpass us. Secondly, we are facing a numbers gap that is rapidly increasing. The U.S. is not producing scientists and engineers at the rate our competitors are. Prior to September 11th, we imported what we could not produce here, but the extreme security measures implemented in the wake of that tragedy now keep many of these talented minds at home where they become our greatest competition. In turn, outsourcing becomes an appealing option, but it will be less tempting for people to work for American companies if we are the lowest performers in the market. Thirdly, we are facing a critical education gap. The U.S. needs to act quickly to reform education for our future generations if we wish to maintain a place in the global market. This is possibly the most unforgivable gap, as it is the source for the latter two. We rely on government to protect and provide for our education system, and it has failed us. The choice must be made, and it must be made now, to promote education for a digital future by any means possible, or come in last in global economic market.
Thomas Friedman presents a disturbing reality for the U.S in, "It's a Flat World, After All." Globalization is happening, with or without us. America must face the humbling reality that we may not be the best in the world any longer. However, the United States has the resources and the strength to compete if we hit the ground running. It is not too late, but no more time can be wasted if we wish to secure our future as a nation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/magazine/03DOMINANCE.html
As of June 20th, 2009, the population of the world is estimated to be 6,788,131,875 people. While the latest data tells us that only about 25% of the global population have internet access, this number has increased almost 350% since the year 2000. These numbers are a reflection of globalization on a scale previously unimaginable. We now have access to seemingly limitless information and resources with the simple click of a mouse, regardless of our location. With this new found connectivity comes wonderful opportunities, difficult ethical dilemmas, and an emerging importance placed in education and shrinking the digital divide. While the reins of our technological future were once only in the hands of western society, the world now moves boldly forward with countries such as India and China at the lead. In Thomas Friedman's article, "It's A Flat World, After All," one discovers the stark reality of our current state of globalization, and on the level playing field of our flat world, Americans are falling behind.
The world was not always so small. Friedman describes earlier versions of globalization that provided stepping stones for the technological frenzy we find ourselves in today. "Globalization 1.0" (1492-1800) was an era of discovery and conquest for countries globalizing for resources. "Globalization 2.0" (1800-2000) focused a bit smaller, with companies globalizing for markets and labor. Even narrower in focus still is "Globalization 3.0" (2000-Present), which allows the individual to globalize. This most current globalization is an invitation to anyone with determination and an internet connection to compete in the global market.
Friedman tells us of the major events that led to the flattening of the world. First, there was the destruction of the Berlin Wall on November 9th, 1989. As this symbol of the Iron Curtain was brought down, so began a new outlook on borders and our future as a global community. At the same time, Microsoft created and launched a global computer interface, Windows 3.0. Continuing chronologically, the next major event was the public launch of Netscape on August 9th, 1995. No one was more profoundly or positively impacted by this than India. Prior to this, Indians (amongst others) had no choice but to emigrate to America if they wanted a place in the professional technology community. After the development of fiber-optic cables and the American over-investment in this technology, the ability to connect and compete was available to everyone with the brains and ambition, anywhere in the world. To further connect the globe, what Friedman calls a "workflow revolution" began. This third flattener connected applications to applications, as Netscape connected person to person.
Precisely because of this workflow revolution, the path was paved for six other major globalization events. The fourth flattener was the outsourcing phenomena, which is the development that allowed digital work to be split up and sent elsewhere to someone who could do it both more effectively, and more efficiently. Similarly, offshoring became a profitable opportunity to move whole companies overseas. One may wonder if it is ethically sound to send the jobs of American companies overseas. However, it seems that the U.S. can use this new level of competition as the fuel to increase education and decrease our digital divide. Open-sourcing is the sixth flattener and gave programmers the ability to work with each other globally and cheaply to develop new software, while the seventh flattener, insourcing, similarly gave companies the ability to bring in other seemingly unrelated companies to complete any number of tasks. This method of streamlining is worrisome for American job holders, and for good reason. The solution is plainly in front of us now as it had been previously for leading countries in technology; education in this day and age is invaluable to our future, and secures our position in this competition. Supply-chaining, the eighth flattening tool, connects a business to it's suppliers in unprecedented efficiency, and with the aid of Google and Yahoo, the ninth flattener, informing, gives everyone access to a wealth of data and information instantly. The speed of business is faster than ever, but in many ways, it is only the beginning of the race. All of this makes globalization worthy of revolution status, but then Friedman adds what he terms "steroids" into the mix -- our final flattener. The steroids are wireless access and Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), which takes all of the previous flatteners to a new level by allowing people to collaborate with anyone, anywhere, and with any device.
It is no wonder then, how our world became so flat. In fact, as all of the flatteners worked together and built upon one another, magnifying their effects immeasurably, the wonder is really how our world did not become flat sooner. Yet it still comes as a shock to Americans, and even initially to Friedman, how we got to be at the end of this global race. The U.S. is having a deer-in-the-headlights moment -- if we don't move quickly, this digital revolution may just run us over.
So how did America, the most powerful country in the world, get here? Friedman credits three major gaps that we can evaluate. Firstly, there is the ambition gap. It is no secret that the discipline and drive of Chinese and Indian students is unsurpassed, and their hard work is paying off. In a 2007 New York Times article, the results of the American Institutes of Research study of test scores of various countries showed Singapore and other Asian countries significantly outperforming even the most competitive states in America in the areas of math and science. We have become lazy sitting at the top of the world, and given other countries not just the chance to catch up, but to considerably surpass us. Secondly, we are facing a numbers gap that is rapidly increasing. The U.S. is not producing scientists and engineers at the rate our competitors are. Prior to September 11th, we imported what we could not produce here, but the extreme security measures implemented in the wake of that tragedy now keep many of these talented minds at home where they become our greatest competition. In turn, outsourcing becomes an appealing option, but it will be less tempting for people to work for American companies if we are the lowest performers in the market. Thirdly, we are facing a critical education gap. The U.S. needs to act quickly to reform education for our future generations if we wish to maintain a place in the global market. This is possibly the most unforgivable gap, as it is the source for the latter two. We rely on government to protect and provide for our education system, and it has failed us. The choice must be made, and it must be made now, to promote education for a digital future by any means possible, or come in last in global economic market.
Thomas Friedman presents a disturbing reality for the U.S in, "It's a Flat World, After All." Globalization is happening, with or without us. America must face the humbling reality that we may not be the best in the world any longer. However, the United States has the resources and the strength to compete if we hit the ground running. It is not too late, but no more time can be wasted if we wish to secure our future as a nation.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
*achoo*
Sorry, it's a little dusty over here.
*sniffle*
Pardon my lack of posting. I have been suuuuuuuuuuuper busy.
I'm sure you're all waiting on breath that is bated...
...Or not.
So anyway, I am working my ass off and remembering what it is to lack personal time again. You know, time you get to veg on the couch. Time you have to cook a meal. Time you have to... blog.
School is interesting. It's bizarre being a student again after such a long, er, "break". I'm learning a lot, but am not confident the knowledge will stick. The classes I'm in are 5 week intensive "hold on to your hats!" insanity. My mind is a bit like a bad eating disorder at this point - gorging itself with reading and lectures, only to purge them shortly after.
My internship is going well, I think. I'm not really learning so much as I am climbing around in dusty bookshelves all day. Maybe that's what I'm supposed to learn. Being an orchestra librarian is dusty, dirty, detail oriented work. Most surprisingly, I'm enjoying it. I numbered measures and bowed parts for 2 hours the other afternoon, and was just peachy. Listening to orchestra rehearsal, and knowing I had something to do with it, all while not having to feel bad about myself later. It seems like a fair trade.
And work is... you know. Not even worth blogging over.
I've been working out - oooOOOOoooOOOooo. And dieting. And whatever. So far, I've lost 5 lbs, and gained 2 lbs. Not really the results I had in mind. Leif reminds me, "Muscle weighs more than fat!" I would just really like some solid number results, you know? It's hard not to be discouraged when you don't see that dial move down, let alone up. So I'm still going, just a little disheartened. Hopefully it pays off. If not, lead me out to the pasture with a hot fudge sundae and put me out of my misery.
So overall, life is good, life has purpose, and life is hectic. I think this is how it's supposed to be.
*sniffle*
Pardon my lack of posting. I have been suuuuuuuuuuuper busy.
I'm sure you're all waiting on breath that is bated...
...Or not.
So anyway, I am working my ass off and remembering what it is to lack personal time again. You know, time you get to veg on the couch. Time you have to cook a meal. Time you have to... blog.
School is interesting. It's bizarre being a student again after such a long, er, "break". I'm learning a lot, but am not confident the knowledge will stick. The classes I'm in are 5 week intensive "hold on to your hats!" insanity. My mind is a bit like a bad eating disorder at this point - gorging itself with reading and lectures, only to purge them shortly after.
My internship is going well, I think. I'm not really learning so much as I am climbing around in dusty bookshelves all day. Maybe that's what I'm supposed to learn. Being an orchestra librarian is dusty, dirty, detail oriented work. Most surprisingly, I'm enjoying it. I numbered measures and bowed parts for 2 hours the other afternoon, and was just peachy. Listening to orchestra rehearsal, and knowing I had something to do with it, all while not having to feel bad about myself later. It seems like a fair trade.
And work is... you know. Not even worth blogging over.
I've been working out - oooOOOOoooOOOooo. And dieting. And whatever. So far, I've lost 5 lbs, and gained 2 lbs. Not really the results I had in mind. Leif reminds me, "Muscle weighs more than fat!" I would just really like some solid number results, you know? It's hard not to be discouraged when you don't see that dial move down, let alone up. So I'm still going, just a little disheartened. Hopefully it pays off. If not, lead me out to the pasture with a hot fudge sundae and put me out of my misery.
So overall, life is good, life has purpose, and life is hectic. I think this is how it's supposed to be.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
About time?
For clarification...
It is with a heavy heart I report to you that I will not be coming to Missoula this summer. At least not for the extended 2 months I had originally planned.
You've probably figured this out though, on account of ... I'm not there.
Long story short - I can't afford it. I got an offer for an internship. I'm finishing school here. Blah.
It makes me very sad every time I sit down at the computer to do schoolwork, and feel as if it would be so much easier to figure out S'={1,6,7}T/x? (or whatever the $%$! it is) if I were in a classroom on the UM campus with the support of good friends. I realize, of course, that all those jumbled letters and numbers won't make sense regardless. Just the same, I miss Missoula and I can't help but wish I were there.
I am trying to look on the bright side. I've had a good couple of weeks, socially speaking. I've been trying to spend more time with Karly and John, and also Jon Knutson (from UMontana) and a violinist friend, LaTannia. We went to Lake Superior (unbelievable, the one time I failed with the camera at the most beautiful place) and spent the day hiking and talking.
I discovered I was actually mentally and physically worn out after just a few hours of dialogue. I think I'm socially out of shape. Turns out you need to exercise those skills or you lose them. Like most anything I suppose, only I didn't ever think of this one. Weirdo.
I also hung out with Lily today. Lily is 5.
She wanted to make cookies, and I have mad cookie making skills. She came over with her mom (my co-worker, who we'll discuss at a later date), and we got to work. She says, with her face covered in purple frosting, "Your husband looks sad - I bet he'd like a cookie!"
I said, "Oh dear, he's not my husband, but I bet he would love a cookie!"
Leif just smirked at me and said, "Thanks, wifey..."
Him and Lily played Guitar Hero, and my cute meter about exploded.
I admit, I'm using this blog currently as a method of procrastination from Ethics homework.
Did I mention I got a B in Biology? I did.
<3
It is with a heavy heart I report to you that I will not be coming to Missoula this summer. At least not for the extended 2 months I had originally planned.
You've probably figured this out though, on account of ... I'm not there.
Long story short - I can't afford it. I got an offer for an internship. I'm finishing school here. Blah.
It makes me very sad every time I sit down at the computer to do schoolwork, and feel as if it would be so much easier to figure out S'={1,6,7}T/x? (or whatever the $%$! it is) if I were in a classroom on the UM campus with the support of good friends. I realize, of course, that all those jumbled letters and numbers won't make sense regardless. Just the same, I miss Missoula and I can't help but wish I were there.
I am trying to look on the bright side. I've had a good couple of weeks, socially speaking. I've been trying to spend more time with Karly and John, and also Jon Knutson (from UMontana) and a violinist friend, LaTannia. We went to Lake Superior (unbelievable, the one time I failed with the camera at the most beautiful place) and spent the day hiking and talking.
I discovered I was actually mentally and physically worn out after just a few hours of dialogue. I think I'm socially out of shape. Turns out you need to exercise those skills or you lose them. Like most anything I suppose, only I didn't ever think of this one. Weirdo.
I also hung out with Lily today. Lily is 5.
She wanted to make cookies, and I have mad cookie making skills. She came over with her mom (my co-worker, who we'll discuss at a later date), and we got to work. She says, with her face covered in purple frosting, "Your husband looks sad - I bet he'd like a cookie!"
I said, "Oh dear, he's not my husband, but I bet he would love a cookie!"
Leif just smirked at me and said, "Thanks, wifey..."
Him and Lily played Guitar Hero, and my cute meter about exploded.
I admit, I'm using this blog currently as a method of procrastination from Ethics homework.
Did I mention I got a B in Biology? I did.
<3
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