A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

THIS ENTRY WAS WRITTEN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

There is no wireless connection available on this side of the campus. That's okay in this case for I will be able to see if MS Word actually works on this Gateway. My time spent in Microsoft Office has been decreasing substantially since my time spent in net applications began increasing. That paradigm shift doesn't bold well for the guys in Richmond, does it?

I have corrected all papers, filled in the Excel grading form, and corrected the listening part of the exam. So, now I can type silently while keeping one eye on the group to check for those who need assistance. I still have enough time to write a paragraph to include as tomorrow's blog entry. I've got my camera in my pocket, so I'll also grab a quick shot to create a lasting impression of this event.



At this particular moment, my students are into the third hour of their exam. As I look around the room, I can see they are intensely focused on their tasks. It is simply amazing how much energy can be consumed when working on a written exam. I have been able to produce something that occupies the complete attention of twenty-two students over this extended period of time. I have often thought about how my position as an instructor allows me to grab a commanding mind-slice of the students.

This idea meshes well with a previously-held theory I had. In an attempt to justify the salaries of actors or sports celebrities, I reckoned the substantial amount of money they get is due to the fact they're getting a mind-slice of a majority of the culture. I reasoned that the astronomical pay was related to the sheer number of skulls these people invade when doing 'their thing'. After that, due to the activities of self-serving politicians, I broadened my concept to include power as well as money. The ability to mess-up other people's lives is, perhaps, the truest indication of power.

I may have the near total mind-slice of the group sitting in front of me, but there are a fairly small number of them. (Although I will wish there were fewer when having to correct these exams.) I'd say that although nearly total, I'm only cashing in on the mind-slice of a few. This must be what leads to my less-than-stellar paycheck and lack of tangible power.

Labels: opinions, students

This week will come crashing to a close today after my students complete their final exams at 5:00 pm. At first I must admit being a bit skeptical about teaching the intensive courses. We know that language skills are acquired. As a general rule students need time to accommodate new material. Yet, these students seem to thrive in this stressful situation. Motivation surely is an important factor. Many are immigrants who have a strong desire to get ahead. It is absolutely amazing how much learning can be packed into five weeks of study. My hats off to them!

On a completely different note, I copied a Flashdance DVD. It's an epitome of early 80's movie music. There's a line where a character and his wife are attending the skating try-outs of their daughter. The guy looked at his wife and said, "That was you 20 years ago."



If you remember, the performance turned out to be a bit of a disaster. Still the thing I found amazing is that twenty years ago then meant 1963 but today twenty years ago is well after the movie was produced. Time is funny, if you know what I mean.

Labels: movies

If you followed the news yesterday, you undoubtedly heard about the sinking of a BC ferry. Apparently, no people were lost or seriously injured.



This was taken aboard the ferry that is now gone. We had just left Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. The Queen of the North was heading north towards Prince Rupert. This was back in April of 2003. People from elsewhere have a difficult time picturing the actual size of this province. We were out on a road trip to see a bit of it ourselves.

Read an email with photos which was sent to friends and family upon our return from this trip.

Labels: BC Ferries, British Columbia, driving

Today, half of my class will do oral presentations. I always look forward to hearing what they've come up with. The assignment is to choose a business in the Vancouver area and organize an eight to ten minute presentation. They are to use primary research and choose information that is related to their present or future careers.

As the presentations are progressing they also mark the speeches using these criteria:

Complete Introduction

Level of Self Confidence

Adequate Eye Contact

Logical Flow

Kept My Interest

Loud/Clear Voice

I Learned New Material

Useful Summary

Transparency Quality

Overall Mark.

I am excited today, as there's never been a presentation day where I haven't learned new and useful information.

Labels: BCIT, sharing

I have always been a fan of science fiction although I'm not a certifiable Trekkie. I did watch all the series: the original, New Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, and the short-lived Enterprise. It all began 40 years ago this fall. I find it sad that nothing from the franchise is currently under production. I could have offered suggestions and advice to the writers.

1) Stay away from over reliance on shoot 'em up sequences. Star Trek fans were always more interested in the science than phaser pyrotechnics.

2) Keep each episode a story unto itself. We were never interested in storylines that played out over an entire season.

3) Give us something to think about. We are more intelligent than most television viewers and could handle difficult concepts.

4) Keep it upbeat. We have a strong belief in technology and wanted to see a future that's better because of it.

There's not too much on TV. The only science fiction show that seems to be fulfilling a majority of these requirements is Stargate Atlantis.

Labels: sci-fi, television

I knew that today I'd just paste in a photo taken yesterday.

I had to decide between Granville Street after yesterday's St. Patrick's Parade, the Vancouver Public Library, the 'Q' at Lonsdale Quay, or this ...



Well, you can see that lunch won.

Labels: food, Vancouver

Generally, when I think of global trade, I always picture automobiles, electronics, or even textiles. Yet yesterday's trip to the supermarket proved otherwise. There's always been a demand for imported foodstuff, but I'm sure it used to be comprised mainly of canned goods or manufactured products.

I don't suppose bananas were ever grown in Canada. Yet, now it seems nearly any fruit or vegetable is available year round. The watermelons are from southern Mexico, plums from Argentina, and -- well -- California must cultivate everything. The local market recently had loads of Egyptian oranges. That seems like a long ways to send a fruit. Of course, all this is being written by a boy who'd never seen a mango or kiwi until nearly into adulthood.

Anyway, yesterday's trip to the Canadian Superstore provided me with something to look up on the Internet. This grain, while new to me, is apparently quite ancient. Have you every heard of quinoa (keen-wa)?

Labels: food