m2h blogs by Marcia Hansen

Syllabus, English 308, Fall 2003

Jane Austen: Life and Works

English 308, Fall 2003

Dr. George Justice

“There will be no examinations in class. Instead, you will be graded on your maintenance of personal web logs.” This is the first example that I’ve seen of using blogs in place of exams. Cool!

According to the syllabus, students’ blogs should consist of at least 3 “substantial” posts per week to include informal personal responses and formal critical essays and research papers.

The blogs account for 75% of class grade. The instructor’s blog and student blogs are not accessible Internet-wide.

Via Michael Kilian of the Chicago Tribune | The Smithsonian’s new wing: The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened at the National Air and Space Museum. What a phenomenal place to visit; go see: the SR-71 Blackbird, “the fastest aircraft propelled by air-breathing engines;” the space shuttle, Enterprise; the Enola Gay, and lots more. What fascinating exhibits now in Chantilly, Virginia at Dulles International Airport.

My friend Sue just sent me a link to an article in Psychology Today, Right here, write now. The author, Susan K. Perry Ph.D., discusses the health benefits of keeping a journal. Perry sites several studies, including:

“In the Journal of Clinical Psychology, James Pennebaker, Ph.D., and Janet Seagal, Ph.D., of the University of Texas at Austin, report that people who write about personal details are healthier than those who don’t.”

Also included are strategies for overcoming writer’s block.

CNN.com – Bush signs Syria sanctions bill – Dec. 13, 2003

What’s going on? This news item got burried in the hoopla of capturing Saddam.

Ginger melon candles are glowing on my fireplace hearth. I have Friendship Tea to sip. I am writing my paper. All is right with my world.

BLOGGER – Knowledge Base - What is BlogThis!

CNN’s headline proclaims, “A dark era is over,” a quote by GWB. Hmm. I’m on dial-up and can’t load the story. It makes for a good headline, but I’m not sure it’s accurate from a political perspective. Sure, Saddam was an evil dictator and commited countless horrors. And, still, there is much work that remains before many Iraqis can sleep peacefully. I don’t think Saddam’s capture is the defining moment of peace in that region. Well, especially since we’re still occupying Iraq. I’m not even interested in turning on the TV to hear the spin.

NY Time’s headline is “U.S. Forces Capture Saddam Hussein; Bush Says ‘A Hopeful Day Has Arrived’”. Hope. Yes, I can have hope.

I’m sick of ‘forward this or else’ email. This morning in my email I found a miserable email shouting, “You MUST send this on or face dreadfully bad luck.” I know, I know, I should have just deleted it without opening. However, it was sent by a close relative and the subject line suckered me in. Based on these factors, I just didn’t suspect the doom and gloom I received.

RANT

Why can’t people who care about me just write me a simple email that says, “Hi Marcia, I love you and I was thinking about you today?”

[this is a rhetorical question--if you don't know me already, please don't send me more sp*m!]

/RANT

The world is not going to come to an end if you don’t forward an email. And, I’d much prefer a personal note than a forward or else.

This began as an experiment in figuring out the blogger.com tools and posting research notes for a paper I’m writing on blogging and writing. I’d like to try posting more, but I felt constrained by the title of “m2h research.” So, today, I changed the title of my blog from m2h research to just m2h.

We’ll see how posting goes. I’m not too impressed by my beginning. It’s been haphazard and lacking critical thought. What’s been done is little more than just a collection of links to information I wanted to remember and refer to in my paper. But, I’m not quitting.

More to follow.

I’ve added comments functionality. I’m using Haloscan. It was very easy to set-up; a 5 minute process.

Visitors: please try this new functionality.

Thanks!