Roundtable discussion between Hound Dog and EST

POSTED BY: est120
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 18:12
VIEWED: 12714
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EST120

Monday, March 27, 2006 7:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fathounddawg:
I've seen all the HP movies, but just because they're entertaining, although that Harry kid is getting on my nerves a bit... I haven't read any of the books and don't think I will. That's practically sacriledge in my house. My whole family loves them.

I hope they eventually play Serenity...but I doubt they will. Oh well. Me and my roommate both own a copy, so we can watch it whenever we want anyhow.

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've never read anything by Patricia Cornwell. I've heard good things about her, though. My dad's a big fan, maybe he has that book. I'll check when I go home for Easter Break.

Aaah, the joys of going to a Catholic school.

Those books are such a phenomenon. I cannot figure it out. Perhaps I am missing something.

The movies are entertaining, as you said, but nothing incredibly special in my opinion.

Perhaps you could lean on the people who select the movies to show Serenity.

Nothing like seeing it on the big screen. When I went to see it, I remember not really being all THAT excited until the ship made it's first appearance on the screen. Loved that.

She writes your basic crime drama/mystery books. Similar to James Patterson. They are easy reads and good for the beach or a rainy day.

So how many days off do you get for Easter at your Catholic university?

FATHOUNDDAWG

Monday, March 27, 2006 8:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by est120:
Those books are such a phenomenon. I cannot figure it out. Perhaps I am missing something. The movies are entertaining, as you said, but nothing incredibly special in my opinion.

Perhaps you could lean on the people who select the movies to show Serenity. Nothing like seeing it on the big screen. When I went to see it, I remember not really being all THAT excited until the ship made it's first appearance on the screen. Loved that.

She writes your basic crime drama/mystery books. Similar to James Patterson. They are easy reads and good for the beach or a rainy day.

So how many days off do you get for Easter at your Catholic university?

We must both be missing something as far as Harry Potter goes. My brother is a die-hard fan and he hates most of the movies because they don't stay true to the book. I can understand feeling like that, but...doesn't affect me.

Entertaining, sure, but not enough to make me want to read the books.

That first shot of Serenity is great - I especially love it because she's kind of falling apart.

What a way to introduce the title character! And yet...so fitting.

Let's see...for Easter I believe we get 5 days - Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Last year they combined Spring and Easter breaks into one and there was quite an uproar.

Guess they've learned their lesson now.

After Easter, my semester is essentially over - which is exciting, but terrifying, too, given the amount of work that needs to be (started and) finished before that time. It would be so much easier to get my work done if it wasn't such a beautiful day outside...

--------------------
Zoe: "I don't think she'd harm anyone."
Jayne: "Butcher knife!"
Zoe: "Anyone we can't spare."

EST120

Monday, March 27, 2006 9:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fathounddawg:
That first shot of Serenity is great - I especially love it because she's kind of falling apart. What a way to introduce the title character! And yet...so fitting.

Let's see...for Easter I believe we get 5 days - Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Last year they combined Spring and Easter breaks into one and there was quite an uproar. Guess they've learned their lesson now.

After Easter, my semester is essentially over - which is exciting, but terrifying, too, given the amount of work that needs to be (started and) finished before that time. It would be so much easier to get my work done if it wasn't such a beautiful day outside...

Oh yes, I love that shot. I love the music too during that scene. Just great and of course, Mal is hilarious. I "dragged" my sister to go and see it and she was quite skeptical but she laughed quite a bit at the funny parts and told me afterwards that she really enjoyed the movie. That is the third time that I have insisted upon a particular movie that she has ended up enjoying (the others being The Mummy and Pirates of the Caribbean).

Always nice to introduce someone to something that they THINK they will not enjoy.

Not that she is a fan now, but at least she did not think it was a waste of time.

Yikes. That is quite a break for Easter. Though, in truth, it is the most important holiday for Christians, I would argue even more so that Christmas (though Christmas certainly gets the most publicity).

Wow. After Easter, my year..... just keeps going on and on.

What about final exams and such?

The only semester that I did not dread final exams was the spring semester of my senior year in college because I had almost no finals!

I had a final in a psychology class that I pass/failed so I could have not taken the final and still passed (I took it but certainly did not study for it) and a a bunch of other classes that did not have finals.

Good times. Well, sort of good times. I was nervous about starting graduate school.

FATHOUNDDAWG

Monday, March 27, 2006 11:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by est120:
Oh yes, I love that shot. I love the music too during that scene. Just great and of course, Mal is hilarious. I "dragged" my sister to go and see it and she was quite skeptical but she laughed quite a bit at the funny parts and told me afterwards that she really enjoyed the movie. That is the third time that I have insisted upon a particular movie that she has ended up enjoying (the others being The Mummy and Pirates of the Caribbean). Always nice to introduce someone to something that they THINK they will not enjoy. Not that she is a fan now, but at least she did not think it was a waste of time.

Yikes. That is quite a break for Easter. Though, in truth, it is the most important holiday for Christians, I would argue even more so that Christmas (though Christmas certainly gets the most publicity).

Wow. After Easter, my year..... just keeps going on and on. What about final exams and such? The only semester that I did not dread final exams was the spring semester of my senior year in college because I had almost no finals! I had a final in a psychology class that I pass/failed so I could have not taken the final and still passed (I took it but certainly did not study for it) and a a bunch of other classes that did not have finals. Good times. Well, sort of good times. I was nervous about starting graduate school.

I think it's good to go see and do things you don't think will be any fun, often you find yourself pleasantly surprised. I went swing dancing with a bunch of friends two years ago and figured it would be horrible but it actually turned out to be a lot of fun. I'm having a hell of a time getting anyone to go back with me, though.

Easter and Lent are big deals on campus. I feel a bit like a heathen not participating in it all, but...I keep telling myself the point of the university is not to convert me, but to educate me.

Speaking of things I didn't think I would enjoy, we're required to take at least two theology classes and I loved them both. Open-mindedness is key, I guess.

This is actually my easiest semester yet, finals-wise. I only have 3 finals out of 5 classes (usually I end up having to take finals or at least write papers for all of them). I'm not really worried about them at all, because I did really well on my midterms. My hardest class is one of the ones that doesn't have a final - thank goodness!

I'm starting to wonder about grad school. I mean, I still want to go, but I think I may end up taking a year off before I do. It would definitely be a load off my mind next year and give me time to save up some money and develop a really kick-ass portfolio. Plus, as my advisor told me, taking a year off gives you the chance to get a job you don't like so going back to school seems like a blessing.

--------------------
Zoe: "I don't think she'd harm anyone."
Jayne: "Butcher knife!"
Zoe: "Anyone we can't spare."

EST120

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 3:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fathounddawg:
I think it's good to go see and do things you don't think will be any fun, often you find yourself pleasantly surprised. I went swing dancing with a bunch of friends two years ago and figured it would be horrible but it actually turned out to be a lot of fun. I'm having a hell of a time getting anyone to go back with me, though.

Easter and Lent are big deals on campus. I feel a bit like a heathen not participating in it all, but...I keep telling myself the point of the university is not to convert me, but to educate me. Speaking of things I didn't think I would enjoy, we're required to take at least two theology classes and I loved them both. Open-mindedness is key, I guess.

This is actually my easiest semester yet, finals-wise. I only have 3 finals out of 5 classes (usually I end up having to take finals or at least write papers for all of them). I'm not really worried about them at all, because I did really well on my midterms. My hardest class is one of the ones that doesn't have a final - thank goodness!

I'm starting to wonder about grad school. I mean, I still want to go, but I think I may end up taking a year off before I do. It would definitely be a load off my mind next year and give me time to save up some money and develop a really kick-ass portfolio. Plus, as my advisor told me, taking a year off gives you the chance to get a job you don't like so going back to school seems like a blessing.

I see. So I am guessing that you are not Catholic? It is nice that you are open minded and accepting of other people's opinions. Dave Barry wrote once that people who are willing to tell you about their opinions never want to listen to yours.

I think Lent is a good exercise even for non-Christians. Of course, the theological value is diminished if you are not Christian, but the idea of self control and will power is certainly a lesson a lot of people could use sometimes.

Glad to hear your finals will be a piece of cake.

I think that certainly does take a lot of the stress off from the end of the school year. You can relax a little, enjoy the springtime weather and laugh at your friends as they go off to the exams.

At least, that is what I used to do.

I can understand about wanting to take some time off. You have been in school since you were 6, wanting some time off is not unreasonable and the vast majority of people go into the workforce and do not go to graduate school anyway. Who knows. You may take the year off and decide you are perfectly happy not going back to school because you found a great job.

Life takes its funny twists and turns when we least expect it.

FATHOUNDDAWG

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 3:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by est120:
I see. So I am guessing that you are not Catholic? It is nice that you are open minded and accepting of other people's opinions. Dave Barry wrote once that people who are willing to tell you about their opinions never want to listen to yours.

I think Lent is a good exercise even for non-Christians. Of course, the theological value is diminished if you are not Christian, but the idea of self control and will power is certainly a lesson a lot of people could use sometimes.

Glad to hear your finals will be a piece of cake. I think that certainly does take a lot of the stress off from the end of the school year. You can relax a little, enjoy the springtime weather and laugh at your friends as they go off to the exams. At least, that is what I used to do.

I can understand about wanting to take some time off. You have been in school since you were 6, wanting some time off is not unreasonable and the vast majority of people go into the workforce and do not go to graduate school anyway. Who knows. You may take the year off and decide you are perfectly happy not going back to school because you found a great job. Life takes its funny twists and turns when we least expect it.

No, I'm not Catholic. I guess right now I'm kind of...nothing. I was raised Unitarian, though. There are some things I'm not open-minded about at all, but I do my best in most cases.

It makes for a much better experience for all involved, I find, no matter what you're doing. I don't claim to know everything, there's always learning to be done.

You have a good point about Lent. It's easy to get spoiled and take what you have for granted. I wish more people took it that seriously, instead of just giving up Coke for a few weeks.

I really only have one big assignment between now and finals. Well, I have others, but this is the only one that I'll need to put a lot of time and work into. It's due April 11th and...hm...I haven't even started it yet. It will get done, sure, but probably not until the last minute. That's just my mood lately, counter-productive as it is.

If I end up living at home for the year in between, I guarantee I will jump at the chance to go back to school - for any degree.

I've been having this kind of fantasy lately about renting an apartment from someone with a horse farm - I see a lot of ads looking for people to help take care of the animals for free or reduced rent. That would be great, but who knows? I still have over a year before I even have to make that decision, thank goodness!

--------------------
Zoe: "I don't think she'd harm anyone."
Jayne: "Butcher knife!"
Zoe: "Anyone we can't spare."

EST120

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 12:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fathounddawg:
No, I'm not Catholic. I guess right now I'm kind of...nothing. I was raised Unitarian, though. There are some things I'm not open-minded about at all, but I do my best in most cases. It makes for a much better experience for all involved, I find, no matter what you're doing. I don't claim to know everything, there's always learning to be done.

You have a good point about Lent. It's easy to get spoiled and take what you have for granted. I wish more people took it that seriously, instead of just giving up Coke for a few weeks.

I really only have one big assignment between now and finals. Well, I have others, but this is the only one that I'll need to put a lot of time and work into. It's due April 11th and...hm...I haven't even started it yet. It will get done, sure, but probably not until the last minute. That's just my mood lately, counter-productive as it is.

If I end up living at home for the year in between, I guarantee I will jump at the chance to go back to school - for any degree. I've been having this kind of fantasy lately about renting an apartment from someone with a horse farm - I see a lot of ads looking for people to help take care of the animals for free or reduced rent. That would be great, but who knows? I still have over a year before I even have to make that decision, thank goodness!

Hm. If you do not mind my asking, what drew you to a Catholic university? I would agree with you. Most people have at least a few things they are passionate about. Of course, there are the normal moral standard such as not killing people and not stealing, but everyone probably has something else too like their opinion on capital punishment or things like that. I find that sometimes people (including me!) have trouble just accepting the opinions of others as simply that. Opinions. Human nature seems to be trying to convince someone else that our own point of view is correct. I try to accept other people's beliefs and not express my own too forcefully. Unless the person I am talking to thinks it is okay to steal from people.

True. The spirit of Lent is to understand the suffering that Jesus went through to absolve our sins. Giving up Coke does not really qualify (unless a person is so absolutely dependent on the stuff that they go into convulsions or something without it in which case there are other issues at play).

April 11th? You have plenty of time! Almost 2 weeks.

Actually, I am usually the type to get things done way in advance. Like my taxes. Sometimes I get my return before the April 15th deadline!

I read somewhere once that being early can sometimes be just as bad as being late. :\

That would be interesting, to live on a farm and take care of the horses. Sounds like heaven for you since you love horses so much. Like a kid in a candy store.

Would you really take a job like that? Would you continue writing in your free time too?

Sounds like a nice farm would be full of inspiration.

By the way, did you turn in that story for your assignment this week?

FATHOUNDDAWG

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 2:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by est120:
Hm. If you do not mind my asking, what drew you to a Catholic university? I would agree with you. Most people have at least a few things they are passionate about. Of course, there are the normal moral standard such as not killing people and not stealing, but everyone probably has something else too like their opinion on capital punishment or things like that. I find that sometimes people (including me!) have trouble just accepting the opinions of others as simply that. Opinions. Human nature seems to be trying to convince someone else that our own point of view is correct. I try to accept other people's beliefs and not express my own too forcefully. Unless the person I am talking to thinks it is okay to steal from people.

True. The spirit of Lent is to understand the suffering that Jesus went through to absolve our sins. Giving up Coke does not really qualify (unless a person is so absolutely dependent on the stuff that they go into convulsions or something without it in which case there are other issues at play).

April 11th? You have plenty of time! Almost 2 weeks. Actually, I am usually the type to get things done way in advance. Like my taxes. Sometimes I get my return before the April 15th deadline! I read somewhere once that being early can sometimes be just as bad as being late. :\

That would be interesting, to live on a farm and take care of the horses. Sounds like heaven for you since you love horses so much. Like a kid in a candy store. Would you really take a job like that? Would you continue writing in your free time too? Sounds like a nice farm would be full of inspiration. By the way, did you turn in that story for your assignment this week?

I honestly don't know what made me decide to go to a Catholic university. I mean, I know why I applied here, but I didn't really think about the religious affiliation at the time. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't come here - not because it's Catholic, because I've completely fallen out of love with the school. Then again, towards the end of the year I start to get grumpy and start to hate my school, so I'm not very objective right now.

You make a great point about opinions. It's really hard to distance what you think is true from what actually is True - if you're even able to figure out what that is. I guess that's why it's so hard for people to just...get along.

I was on a roll this weekend and got a lot of stuff done early - but the big paper wasn't one of them. Two weeks seems like no time at all, but I think that's because this paper makes me nervous and I don't want to screw it up.

Guess I better get crackin', huh?

Sometimes I feel like I'm going into horse-withdrawal. I miss being around them so much. My parents would kill me if I graduated from college and went right back to working in a barn for minimum wage, so I doubt I'll take that route. What I'd like to do is live on a farm like I said and then have a "real" job, too. And, yes, definitely keep up the writing the whole time I'm there.

Yup, turned in the story yesterday! Now it's just hurry up and wait - we don't talk about mine until April 19th.

--------------------
Zoe: "I don't think she'd harm anyone."
Jayne: "Butcher knife!"
Zoe: "Anyone we can't spare."

EST120

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 3:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fathounddawg:
I honestly don't know what made me decide to go to a Catholic university. I mean, I know why I applied here, but I didn't really think about the religious affiliation at the time. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't come here - not because it's Catholic, because I've completely fallen out of love with the school. Then again, towards the end of the year I start to get grumpy and start to hate my school, so I'm not very objective right now.

You make a great point about opinions. It's really hard to distance what you think is true from what actually is True - if you're even able to figure out what that is. I guess that's why it's so hard for people to just...get along.

I was on a roll this weekend and got a lot of stuff done early - but the big paper wasn't one of them. Two weeks seems like no time at all, but I think that's because this paper makes me nervous and I don't want to screw it up. Guess I better get crackin', huh?

Sometimes I feel like I'm going into horse-withdrawal. I miss being around them so much. My parents would kill me if I graduated from college and went right back to working in a barn for minimum wage, so I doubt I'll take that route. What I'd like to do is live on a farm like I said and then have a "real" job, too. And, yes, definitely keep up the writing the whole time I'm there.

Yup, turned in the story yesterday! Now it's just hurry up and wait - we don't talk about mine until April 19th.

Well, after having spent about 8 years around a college campus (undergrad and grad school combined), I get the feeling that a lot of students become disenchanted with their schools of choice towards the end of their college careers. I think it is a natural thing. Students may have been at odds with the administration over university policies or had an academic issue with a professor or had a paperwork problem create issues with financial aid or preparation to graduate. Couple that with the fact that many students are probably more than anxious to graduate and start their lives. Unfortunately, when you enter into the workforce, those same problems keep coming up. Issues with administration policy, paperwork being lost or held up, professional and personal issues with co-workers or your boss. It never really ends. Of course, this sounds incredibly depressing and I do not really mean it to sound that way, but it is an unfortunate fact of our society. I was discussing our 4 year department review with my boss the other day and he said he will retire before the next 4 year review so he feels good to think this is the last time for him but we both came to realize that no matter what you do in life, no matter what stage you are at, someone is always evaluating you.

Okay, enough of the depressing life lessons. Not like I am an expert anyway!

People sure do have a hard time getting along with other people. I have yet to figure out the root of a lot of these issues, though I suppose it has something to do with the inherent competitiveness that exists in all people. In my field, competition is a very unfortunate side effect of what we do. It is the one thing about this job that I really dislike.

Two weeks! You have two weeks to finish this paper which means you really have 13 days and 12 hours to wait.

Hahaha. Of course, this coming from Mr. Early Bird so perhaps you should just ignore me.

Hm. I do not know anything about your school but does the university happen to have an agricultural college? When I was in graduate school, the university had a College of Agricultural Sciences and they had some animals and such. I knew some undergraduates who worked for the department with some animal care and such as part of their work-study financial aid program. Perhaps you can get your horse fix through something like that, especially over the summer.

So this "talk" about your story, is this a talk with the professor or does the whole class discuss your story?

FATHOUNDDAWG

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by est120:
Well, after having spent about 8 years around a college campus (undergrad and grad school combined), I get the feeling that a lot of students become disenchanted with their schools of choice towards the end of their college careers. I think it is a natural thing. Students may have been at odds with the administration over university policies or had an academic issue with a professor or had a paperwork problem create issues with financial aid or preparation to graduate. Couple that with the fact that many students are probably more than anxious to graduate and start their lives. Unfortunately, when you enter into the workforce, those same problems keep coming up. Issues with administration policy, paperwork being lost or held up, professional and personal issues with co-workers or your boss. It never really ends. Of course, this sounds incredibly depressing and I do not really mean it to sound that way, but it is an unfortunate fact of our society. I was discussing our 4 year department review with my boss the other day and he said he will retire before the next 4 year review so he feels good to think this is the last time for him but we both came to realize that no matter what you do in life, no matter what stage you are at, someone is always evaluating you.

Okay, enough of the depressing life lessons. Not like I am an expert anyway!

People sure do have a hard time getting along with other people. I have yet to figure out the root of a lot of these issues, though I suppose it has something to do with the inherent competitiveness that exists in all people. In my field, competition is a very unfortunate side effect of what we do. It is the one thing about this job that I really dislike.

Two weeks! You have two weeks to finish this paper which means you really have 13 days and 12 hours to wait. Hahaha. Of course, this coming from Mr. Early Bird so perhaps you should just ignore me.

Hm. I do not know anything about your school but does the university happen to have an agricultural college? When I was in graduate school, the university had a College of Agricultural Sciences and they had some animals and such. I knew some undergraduates who worked for the department with some animal care and such as part of their work-study financial aid program. Perhaps you can get your horse fix through something like that, especially over the summer.

So this "talk" about your story, is this a talk with the professor or does the whole class discuss your story?

Aw, geez...if I wasn't nervous before...

I think people create competition even where it doesn't exist. I'm not a cut-throat kind of person, it's just not in me. I hold myself to a high standard, but I find I get discouraged if I compare myself to other people so I just compete with myself.

Easier said than done, sometimes. It's hard to resist cutting someone else down to make you feel better about yourself. Which is part of the problem - too few people resist the impulse.

Heh...I like that way of figuring it.

Which means I can put it off completely until after the weekend. Sounds good to me! Thanks!

Nope, no agricultural college here. One of the reasons I decided to come here was because we had an equestrian team, but that way VERY expensive and I wasn't able to ride half as much as I would have liked. Then this year they got rid of it entirely. There are barns and things where I could ride, but they're outside the city and since I don't have a car it's not really an option.

My general habit in the summer is to go home and work at a barn (an upside to living in NJ - horses everywhere), just do some physical labor all summer. Gives my mind a chance to rest and keeps me busy. By the time the summer is over, I'm exhausted and ready to head back to school. Not going to happen this summer, sadly, but I do really love my job so I guess it all balances out.

The way the stories work is everyone in the class (about 15 people)

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