Comments for Focused Inquiry Spring 2008 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com Virginia Commonwealth University Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:05:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Freedom of Speech? by s2jbgord http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/freedom-of-speech/#comment-35 s2jbgord Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:05:48 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-35 Yes, that is exactly what I did. And nothing came of it at all. I don't think anyone even noticed, which doesn't make it right, but I guess it does show that what you said is correct. They wouldn't be there if they had a problem with the band...sad but true. Yes, that is exactly what I did. And nothing came of it at all. I don’t think anyone even noticed, which doesn’t make it right, but I guess it does show that what you said is correct. They wouldn’t be there if they had a problem with the band…sad but true.

]]> Comment on Freedom of Speech? by Sabrina http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/freedom-of-speech/#comment-34 Sabrina Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:13:12 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-34 That's tough. If people were to get offended would they blame it on the venue or the person who booked them? I feel like if I were to ever be offended by something a band played I would be angry at the band, not people who had no part in writing or playing the song. Most people coming to the show should have some previous knowledge of the band and their political views. If they pay money to come see them they are obviously fans that are not bothered by the lyrics of their most famous song. I also agree with what you were saying about the fine line- what do you censor? You can't censor this without having to censor something else. I would let the band play anyway. This has obviously already happened, so I'm assuming that's what you did? That’s tough. If people were to get offended would they blame it on the venue or the person who booked them? I feel like if I were to ever be offended by something a band played I would be angry at the band, not people who had no part in writing or playing the song. Most people coming to the show should have some previous knowledge of the band and their political views. If they pay money to come see them they are obviously fans that are not bothered by the lyrics of their most famous song. I also agree with what you were saying about the fine line- what do you censor? You can’t censor this without having to censor something else. I would let the band play anyway. This has obviously already happened, so I’m assuming that’s what you did?

]]> Comment on A PREDICAMENT AT 9AM by georgleflumstix http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/a-predicament-at-9am/#comment-30 georgleflumstix Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:18:28 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/?p=18#comment-30 Responding is one of the 10 students who did not read the seventeen page essay. As a short preface none of what I am saying is intended to be an excuse, rather it is an explanation. On the morning of February 1, 2007 I would have preferred to have been shocked awake by my horrible alarm clock. Instead I rose to find that it had not gone off and that it was now 8:27. Furiously I scramble into my roommates room (as he has he printer) to grab my essay and try to clothe myself. I feel as though I might be able to make it. I live about a mile from campus so I need to alot myself 20 minutes for the walk. In a horrible mood I meander down Grove toward class. I did not read the essay. True I could have done it the day before or even the day before that, but I did not. For this there can be no excuse other than sloth. However (and I feel like this is a relatively large however) counting me as not being present seems a bit excessive. I woke up on time when I easily could have hit the snooze and printed off this large essay. Isn't that worth anything? By instituting a policy which allows only 3 absences per semester and then decreasing that number further seems unfair. In the first semester I think I missed somewhere between 4 and 7 classes but I still got an A. Naturally I expect nothing less from myself being that I have already done it once. This has already been made nearly impossible because of this one wasted absence. So in response to the posted question, I would answer yes to the reaction on your part being understandable. While I have not personally ever taught a collegiate course I can certainly apply the idea that when anyone is in a position on power and their expectations are not met consequences follow. In a class like Focused Inquiry students not meeting teacher's criteria is quite a common occurence, as near every freshman must take the course, most against their will. Fair? I would probably argue that it is not for many of the aforementioned reasons. Something needed to happen on Friday morning to let the students of Focused Inquiry 9:00 am know that they need to do their work. There is little argument here. Perhaps the course of extra credit should have been taken or any other for that matter. Maybe not. I have no problem with the absence, it's more the absence in combination with the limit of 3 absences per semester. Responding is one of the 10 students who did not read the seventeen page essay. As a short preface none of what I am saying is intended to be an excuse, rather it is an explanation. On the morning of February 1, 2007 I would have preferred to have been shocked awake by my horrible alarm clock. Instead I rose to find that it had not gone off and that it was now 8:27. Furiously I scramble into my roommates room (as he has he printer) to grab my essay and try to clothe myself. I feel as though I might be able to make it. I live about a mile from campus so I need to alot myself 20 minutes for the walk. In a horrible mood I meander down Grove toward class.
I did not read the essay. True I could have done it the day before or even the day before that, but I did not. For this there can be no excuse other than sloth. However (and I feel like this is a relatively large however) counting me as not being present seems a bit excessive. I woke up on time when I easily could have hit the snooze and printed off this large essay. Isn’t that worth anything? By instituting a policy which allows only 3 absences per semester and then decreasing that number further seems unfair. In the first semester I think I missed somewhere between 4 and 7 classes but I still got an A. Naturally I expect nothing less from myself being that I have already done it once. This has already been made nearly impossible because of this one wasted absence.
So in response to the posted question, I would answer yes to the reaction on your part being understandable. While I have not personally ever taught a collegiate course I can certainly apply the idea that when anyone is in a position on power and their expectations are not met consequences follow. In a class like Focused Inquiry students not meeting teacher’s criteria is quite a common occurence, as near every freshman must take the course, most against their will. Fair? I would probably argue that it is not for many of the aforementioned reasons.
Something needed to happen on Friday morning to let the students of Focused Inquiry 9:00 am know that they need to do their work. There is little argument here. Perhaps the course of extra credit should have been taken or any other for that matter. Maybe not. I have no problem with the absence, it’s more the absence in combination with the limit of 3 absences per semester.

]]> Comment on Congratulate Me by Kyle Harris http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/congratulate-me/#comment-27 Kyle Harris Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:34:10 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/congratulate-me/#comment-27 I agree with you in that resturant work is a very unique experience in itself, one that is irreplaceable Congradulations on turning a profit. Someone without your skill and passion for the work would have drowned in their duties long ago. If you have not yet seen the movie Waiting I suggest you do. You'll be disgusted by the "cockroaches in the pancakes" but it hillarious and eerily familiar. Wish you the best moving foreward in your career with you real job:)...j/k Kyle I agree with you in that resturant work is a very unique experience in itself, one that is irreplaceable Congradulations on turning a profit. Someone without your skill and passion for the work would have drowned in their duties long ago. If you have not yet seen the movie Waiting I suggest you do. You’ll be disgusted by the “cockroaches in the pancakes” but it hillarious and eerily familiar. Wish you the best moving foreward in your career with you real job:)…j/k

Kyle

]]> Comment on Congratulate Me by s2jbgord http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/congratulate-me/#comment-26 s2jbgord Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:52:10 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/congratulate-me/#comment-26 Empire was given to me for free several yeas ago. I was friends with the person who owned the building and a restaurant had closed that has previously occupied that space. The owner just wanted to keep the rent coming in, so he gave it to me. I had been working in and running different places for many, many years. I actually turned it down for many months before I decided it was too lucrative an offer to pass by. Empire was given to me for free several yeas ago. I was friends with the person who owned the building and a restaurant had closed that has previously occupied that space. The owner just wanted to keep the rent coming in, so he gave it to me. I had been working in and running different places for many, many years.

I actually turned it down for many months before I decided it was too lucrative an offer to pass by.

]]> Comment on Congratulate Me by sweeneysc http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/congratulate-me/#comment-25 sweeneysc Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:27:30 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/congratulate-me/#comment-25 Congratulations. If i may ask how did you become owner of the empire? Congratulations. If i may ask how did you become owner of the empire?

]]> Comment on Focused Inquiry 9-9:50 by Robert Hammack http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/focused-inquiry-9-950/#comment-24 Robert Hammack Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:23:22 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/focused-inquiry-9-950/#comment-24 Not much happened to me this week. It was all just a regular week for me with only a couple of things that were worth mentioning. I got sick over the week, which only lasted a day, I went home to take care of some business, and while I was home, I went to check out some of my troop-mates from my old Boy Scout troop who were on a camping trip. It was fun because I got to catch up with everyone who I had known for the past 5 years and who helped me get my Eagle badge. Other than those things, my week has been pretty dull. I hope that this next week will be better and have more surprises. Not much happened to me this week. It was all just a regular week for me with only a couple of things that were worth mentioning. I got sick over the week, which only lasted a day, I went home to take care of some business, and while I was home, I went to check out some of my troop-mates from my old Boy Scout troop who were on a camping trip. It was fun because I got to catch up with everyone who I had known for the past 5 years and who helped me get my Eagle badge.

Other than those things, my week has been pretty dull. I hope that this next week will be better and have more surprises.

]]> Comment on Reading and Yoga: A Likely Combination? by yvonna http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/reading-and-yoga-a-likely-combination/#comment-23 yvonna Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:33:26 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/reading-and-yoga-a-likely-combination/#comment-23 I totally understand where you are coming from Ms. G. It pretty much sucks to be stressed out but that's life I guess. I tried yoga once... that was interesting and yes, VERY intense. I do loved to swim though especially under water. But a lot of times my vision prevents that. I can't wear my glasses under water and although I can wear goggles with my contacts, goggles aren't always reliable neither. Sometimes reading relaxes me, if it is a book of my choice. I stree so much at times that once my mom went to the public library and got me a book on meditation and told me to read it. It worked for a while actually but of course, life got in the way and eventually I didn't have time for it or was just too tired to meditate. I think you should begin yoga again Ms. G. I totally understand where you are coming from Ms. G. It pretty much sucks to be stressed out but that’s life I guess. I tried yoga once… that was interesting and yes, VERY intense. I do loved to swim though especially under water. But a lot of times my vision prevents that. I can’t wear my glasses under water and although I can wear goggles with my contacts, goggles aren’t always reliable neither. Sometimes reading relaxes me, if it is a book of my choice. I stree so much at times that once my mom went to the public library and got me a book on meditation and told me to read it. It worked for a while actually but of course, life got in the way and eventually I didn’t have time for it or was just too tired to meditate. I think you should begin yoga again Ms. G.

]]> Comment on Focused Inquiry 9-9:50 by Robert Hammack http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/focused-inquiry-9-950/#comment-22 Robert Hammack Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:46:46 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/focused-inquiry-9-950/#comment-22 My day did not start off too good. I got sick right before my first class, so I was late to that. I also missed Orchestra and barely got through Pre-Cal ( I only went because there was a quiz today). However, I did get some to to sleep in the time between Music Theory and Pre-Cal, which helped. I also got see one of my friends that I hadn't seen since summer two years ago on my way to the bus stop from lunch. We talked for about 5 minutes and then she had to go to class. So, I guess the day wasn't all bad, apart from me being sick. My day did not start off too good. I got sick right before my first class, so I was late to that. I also missed Orchestra and barely got through Pre-Cal ( I only went because there was a quiz today).

However, I did get some to to sleep in the time between Music Theory and Pre-Cal, which helped. I also got see one of my friends that I hadn’t seen since summer two years ago on my way to the bus stop from lunch. We talked for about 5 minutes and then she had to go to class. So, I guess the day wasn’t all bad, apart from me being sick.

]]> Comment on Reading and Yoga: A Likely Combination? by aeagle04 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/reading-and-yoga-a-likely-combination/#comment-21 aeagle04 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:41:37 +0000 http://focusedinquiry.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/reading-and-yoga-a-likely-combination/#comment-21 My two favorite things are napping and reading. Unfortunately I do more napping. Its probably the best tried and true way of getting rid of the thoughts in your head. Unless you dream about them, which I rarely do. I always dream the things I thought of the day before. It's strange. As for reading, once you really get into a book, especially a novel, it's the only thing in my head and I just need to keep reading all day. It's disappointing when it's 1 in the morning and you really need to go to bed, and so you get mad that you have to choose between sleep and a few more chapters. I just read the book Atonement because I saw the previews for the movie on tv and I wanted to read it first. While I was reading it, it consumed me. During the day while I had time I would be so excited about going back to open it up again and finding where on the page I had left off. I love that feeling because if anything stressed me out at all I knew I could go and think of something better. My two favorite things are napping and reading. Unfortunately I do more napping. Its probably the best tried and true way of getting rid of the thoughts in your head. Unless you dream about them, which I rarely do. I always dream the things I thought of the day before. It’s strange. As for reading, once you really get into a book, especially a novel, it’s the only thing in my head and I just need to keep reading all day. It’s disappointing when it’s 1 in the morning and you really need to go to bed, and so you get mad that you have to choose between sleep and a few more chapters. I just read the book Atonement because I saw the previews for the movie on tv and I wanted to read it first. While I was reading it, it consumed me. During the day while I had time I would be so excited about going back to open it up again and finding where on the page I had left off. I love that feeling because if anything stressed me out at all I knew I could go and think of something better.

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