Please excuse our many
Absences, for it's that we
Have not enough time.
We all have, you see
much academically, and
Cannot be here now.
In short (and simple)
We do not have enough time
To update our blog.
Sorry.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Maybe they should check their symptoms...
I received an e-mail this morning from the lovely institution that I attend. It was well intentioned I'm sure. But logical...?
The email is a warning about heat stroke, and other heat related problems. There's currently a heat wave here, with the temperature right now above 100. And so, this e-mail. I shall present you with a few excerpts.
"The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by those people sensitive to the heat. 'While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded to take care of themselves [...] when the weather gets hotter,' said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. 'When temperatures are high, prolonged sun exposure may cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.'"
Useful information, it's true. The risks of heat related illness are very real, and it's easy to forget how long you've been out and that you need to drink more water. But wait, there's more:
"If you plan to be outdoors, take precautions to protect yourself from the heat. Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst. Individuals with these symptoms should be moved to a cooler, shaded place and given water or sport drinks. More severe symptoms such as diminished judgment, disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke and requires immediate medical attention."
Scary. But, hold on. Diminished judgement? Really? Ok, I'm not knocking the truth of this, but I would say that diminished judgement has something to do with the following instructions to students.
• During peak heat hours stay in an air-conditioned area. If you don’t have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool.
• Avoid unnecessary exertion, such as vigorous exercise during peak sun hours, if you are outside or in a non-air conditioned building.
• Stay out of the sun if you do not need to be in it. When in the sun, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim, and loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants to protect yourself from sun damage.
Objection 1:
Only three dorms and one class building have reliable air conditioning. The other two buildings and six dorms do not. The other four campuses have a similar situation, with some newer buildings having AC, and most older buildings not. Students will have spotty access to air conditioning at best, and none at worst. Strike one.
Objection 2:
Students are required to exert themselves to get anywhere on campus. The wonderful faculty and staff have access to a wide range of campus-owned golf carts, but students either walk, bike, unicycle, skateboard, or scooter their way to class. And when one has to, for example, get from the middle of the southern most campus up to the north end of the northern most campus in ten minuets, "unnecessary exertion" is the least of their worries. Strike two.
Objection 3:
I'm not sure if I'm reading this right. "Stay out of the sun" it says. Hmm. Well, when that campus wide umbrella is built, this may be possible. In the mean-time, students are, as I mentioned above, out and about going to class and office hours and hanging out in the courtyards and sunbathing conveniently in the path of the shirtless CMS cross country team... In short, not avoiding the sun. While some of those activities are unnecessary (except the sunbathing, clearly), some are unavoidable. Students do still have to walk to class... Strike three.
You're out.
Now, would you like some water, Scripps? You're looking a little disoriented.
The email is a warning about heat stroke, and other heat related problems. There's currently a heat wave here, with the temperature right now above 100. And so, this e-mail. I shall present you with a few excerpts.
"The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by those people sensitive to the heat. 'While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded to take care of themselves [...] when the weather gets hotter,' said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. 'When temperatures are high, prolonged sun exposure may cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.'"
Useful information, it's true. The risks of heat related illness are very real, and it's easy to forget how long you've been out and that you need to drink more water. But wait, there's more:
"If you plan to be outdoors, take precautions to protect yourself from the heat. Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst. Individuals with these symptoms should be moved to a cooler, shaded place and given water or sport drinks. More severe symptoms such as diminished judgment, disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke and requires immediate medical attention."
Scary. But, hold on. Diminished judgement? Really? Ok, I'm not knocking the truth of this, but I would say that diminished judgement has something to do with the following instructions to students.
• During peak heat hours stay in an air-conditioned area. If you don’t have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool.
• Avoid unnecessary exertion, such as vigorous exercise during peak sun hours, if you are outside or in a non-air conditioned building.
• Stay out of the sun if you do not need to be in it. When in the sun, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim, and loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants to protect yourself from sun damage.
Objection 1:
Only three dorms and one class building have reliable air conditioning. The other two buildings and six dorms do not. The other four campuses have a similar situation, with some newer buildings having AC, and most older buildings not. Students will have spotty access to air conditioning at best, and none at worst. Strike one.
Objection 2:
Students are required to exert themselves to get anywhere on campus. The wonderful faculty and staff have access to a wide range of campus-owned golf carts, but students either walk, bike, unicycle, skateboard, or scooter their way to class. And when one has to, for example, get from the middle of the southern most campus up to the north end of the northern most campus in ten minuets, "unnecessary exertion" is the least of their worries. Strike two.
Objection 3:
I'm not sure if I'm reading this right. "Stay out of the sun" it says. Hmm. Well, when that campus wide umbrella is built, this may be possible. In the mean-time, students are, as I mentioned above, out and about going to class and office hours and hanging out in the courtyards and sunbathing conveniently in the path of the shirtless CMS cross country team... In short, not avoiding the sun. While some of those activities are unnecessary (except the sunbathing, clearly), some are unavoidable. Students do still have to walk to class... Strike three.
You're out.
Now, would you like some water, Scripps? You're looking a little disoriented.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tiananmen
I really love this poem- I think it is incredibly powerful.
Tiananmen
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
What happened then
And you can't speak
Of Tiananmen.
You must not speak.
You must not think.
You must not dip
Your brush in ink.
You must not say
What happened then,
What happened there,
In Tiananmen.
The cruel men
Are old and deaf
Ready to kill
But short of breath
And they will die
Like other men
And they'll lie in state
In Tiananmen.
They lie in state.
They lie in style.
Another lie's
Thrown on the pile,
Thrown on the pile
By the cruel men
To cleanse the blood
From Tiananmen.
Truth is a secret.
Keep it dark.
Keep it dark
In your heart of hearts.
Keep it dark
Till you know when
Truth may return
To Tiananmen.
Tiananmen
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
When they'll come again
They'll come again
To Tiananmen.
by James Fenton
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
What happened then
And you can't speak
Of Tiananmen.
You must not speak.
You must not think.
You must not dip
Your brush in ink.
You must not say
What happened then,
What happened there,
In Tiananmen.
The cruel men
Are old and deaf
Ready to kill
But short of breath
And they will die
Like other men
And they'll lie in state
In Tiananmen.
They lie in state.
They lie in style.
Another lie's
Thrown on the pile,
Thrown on the pile
By the cruel men
To cleanse the blood
From Tiananmen.
Truth is a secret.
Keep it dark.
Keep it dark
In your heart of hearts.
Keep it dark
Till you know when
Truth may return
To Tiananmen.
Tiananmen
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
When they'll come again
They'll come again
To Tiananmen.
by James Fenton
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Time Has Come
As it is now late August, a terrible time has come upon us. We may wail, beat our chests, and cry pitiosly, but the march of time cannot be stopped. And so we sadly pack our suitcases and bid a tearful goodbye to summer.
Some of us have already returned to school. Some of us will be back soon. Two of us will be starting college for the first time. And as exciting as it is to be reunited with friends from around the country (or to meet new ones), there is still a certain sadness involved when the time comes to leave home (note: the author has only been home for the last week and is not yet sick and tired of having nothing to do but sit around all day).
But inevitably, go we must. We go to new roommates and new classes, often in old buildings with old professors. We go to clubs, dance teams, afternoon tea and bible study (to each their own). We go with memories of exotic, far away places, exciting adventures, and plenty of new photographs.
And most of all, we go with the knowledge that this year, perhaps, can be just a little better then the year before. We'll try something new, meet someone new, learn something new. With each year, so may new things, and there's no going back.
The time has come.
Some of us have already returned to school. Some of us will be back soon. Two of us will be starting college for the first time. And as exciting as it is to be reunited with friends from around the country (or to meet new ones), there is still a certain sadness involved when the time comes to leave home (note: the author has only been home for the last week and is not yet sick and tired of having nothing to do but sit around all day).
But inevitably, go we must. We go to new roommates and new classes, often in old buildings with old professors. We go to clubs, dance teams, afternoon tea and bible study (to each their own). We go with memories of exotic, far away places, exciting adventures, and plenty of new photographs.
And most of all, we go with the knowledge that this year, perhaps, can be just a little better then the year before. We'll try something new, meet someone new, learn something new. With each year, so may new things, and there's no going back.
The time has come.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Trials (and Errors) of Traveling
Last Friday, I stood in the 100 degree heat. I was waiting for my taxi.
Not a very good beginning, but that's how it started.
I was on the side of Mills Avenue, the street that divides Pitzer and Scripps campuses. I chose this spot because it's the only street address I knew for Pitzer. 1050 N. Mills Ave., aka Pitzer admissions office, Smith Campus Center. I didn't intend to be there long, I had about ten minuets before my taxi was supposed to be there. The time was 2:20. My train left the station in Pomona at 3:10.
A little while later, I checked my watch. 2:40. My taxi was ten minuets late. I called the company, and no-one answered the phone. I started to panic. I dialed 411 on my phone, and was given the number for Claremont Yellow Cab. I called them, and explained that I had called ahead for a cab from another company, and it hadn't shown up. I was catching a train leaving at 3:10. I needed a cab as soon as possible.
"Oh, yeah, we got a cab near you, just wait a little, they'll come get ya."
It was hot out there. I had been saving my water bottle for the train, but I took a few sips in a futile effort to cool off. I was getting nervous. Where was my cab? I looked at my watch again. 2:50. Twenty minuets before my train left. I called the company again.
"Oh, looks like we've got a cab about 20 minuets away, they'll come get you"
I explained again that my train left in 20 minuets, that was too long, I would miss my train. I couldn't miss that train. The response was apathetic at best. I was told that this was they best they could do, so I was stuck.
I started to cry. Then I had an idea. I prayed it would work, that it wasn't too late. I called the 1-800 number for Amtrak. The woman I got on the phone was very understanding. "Oh, don't worry about it hon. Just you try and get yourself to Ontario. Now remember, that train leaves at 3:35. You've got about 45 minuets to catch it. Just you try and get yourself a cab." I thanked her profusely, and waited.
At 3:05 my cab came. I got in and said "Ontario Amtrak station, please."
The driver turned to look at me. "But I'm supposed to take you to Pomona."
I took a deep breath and explained that yes, he was supposed to take me to Pomona, but that train left in five minuets, so now I had to get to the next stop, which is Ontario, and it would be appreciated if we got there quickly.
He still looked puzzled. "But, Ontario's east 'a here. Pomona's west. It's the other way." I gave up, and just asked again that he get me to Ontario.
After a minuet or too, I told him that I was going to pay with credit card. He scowled. "We don't like no credit cards, miss. The company charges us somethin awful for them. It's like eight percent. Do you have an ATM card?" I said yes, it's a debit card. He shook his head. "No, I mean like, we stop at a bank and you go get me some cash."
Honestly, I was stunned. To be fair, I don't think he meant it to be as menacing as it sounded. I think the guy just wanted to be paid in cash, thank you very much. Still, this frightened me slightly. I made the excuse that there probably wasn't enough time. Which was true.
We pulled into the station at 3:20. I handed him my card and waited for him to process it. It seemed to take several minuets, but I'm sure it was maybe one or two. I was just frantic to get on that train, now that I'd made it. I got out of the cab, thanked him, and ran across the street to the platform.
At this point, I discovered another problem. Since I was originally leaving from Pomona, I didn't have an actual ticket. At the Pomona station, they have little ticket dispenser machines, and you key in your confirmation code to get your ticket. This was not the case here. There were no dispensers to be found.
I asked around, and learned that to leave from this station, you had to get your tickets mailed to you.
To put it bluntly, I didn't have a ticket.
The train pulled up. I was trying not to cry again. I just wanted to get on that train. The conductor got out, and started to direct people to the appropriate car for their destination. Mine was down near the end. I got to the door, where there was a gentleman checking tickets and assigning seats. I showed him my paper, with the confirmation code and started to explain- when he cut me off. "Seat 58 is open."
I entered the train and climbed the tiny little staircase. on the second level, there were about a hundred rows of seats. I looked for seat number 58, and found it. I sat down, and relaxed. I'd made it.
The train pulled out from the station.
A young man tapped on my shoulder.
"Excuse me miss, you're sitting in my seat." I looked around. "This is seat 58, isn't it?" "Yes, and it's mine." I got up, and stood in the aisle. Once again, a small catastrophe. Eventually, the man who had told me where to sit came up the steps and down the aisle. I got his attention, and explained. He looked confused, and consulted his chart.
"Oh, well, 56 should be open." he turned around, and looked at the seat in question. There was an elderly woman sitting in it. "Did you move?" he asked her, rather gruffly. She shook her head, and told him smugly that he himself had seated her there. He looked at his chart again, and started moving down the rows of seats. Finally, he found one that was unoccupied on his (somewhat dubious) chart, and in reality. I sat there. It was a window seat, and the seat next to me was empty. I sat for a few minuets and watched the dregs of civilisation float past my window.
The conductor came up, and started collecting tickets. When he got to me, I started to explain that I didn't have a ticket, but I did buy one and that my taxi... and then the other taxi... and I found out that the station... He laughed. "Oh, it's fine," he said, "your credit card is only used to hold the ticket anyway. Say, how much did they quote you for online?" I told him. "Really? Now that's a bit much. Here, you've had a tough day. How bouts I give it to you for 20 less?"
I thanked him profusely, an handed him my card. He gave me a ticket, marked the seat taken and moved on down the aisle.
I had made it.
Not a very good beginning, but that's how it started.
I was on the side of Mills Avenue, the street that divides Pitzer and Scripps campuses. I chose this spot because it's the only street address I knew for Pitzer. 1050 N. Mills Ave., aka Pitzer admissions office, Smith Campus Center. I didn't intend to be there long, I had about ten minuets before my taxi was supposed to be there. The time was 2:20. My train left the station in Pomona at 3:10.
A little while later, I checked my watch. 2:40. My taxi was ten minuets late. I called the company, and no-one answered the phone. I started to panic. I dialed 411 on my phone, and was given the number for Claremont Yellow Cab. I called them, and explained that I had called ahead for a cab from another company, and it hadn't shown up. I was catching a train leaving at 3:10. I needed a cab as soon as possible.
"Oh, yeah, we got a cab near you, just wait a little, they'll come get ya."
It was hot out there. I had been saving my water bottle for the train, but I took a few sips in a futile effort to cool off. I was getting nervous. Where was my cab? I looked at my watch again. 2:50. Twenty minuets before my train left. I called the company again.
"Oh, looks like we've got a cab about 20 minuets away, they'll come get you"
I explained again that my train left in 20 minuets, that was too long, I would miss my train. I couldn't miss that train. The response was apathetic at best. I was told that this was they best they could do, so I was stuck.
I started to cry. Then I had an idea. I prayed it would work, that it wasn't too late. I called the 1-800 number for Amtrak. The woman I got on the phone was very understanding. "Oh, don't worry about it hon. Just you try and get yourself to Ontario. Now remember, that train leaves at 3:35. You've got about 45 minuets to catch it. Just you try and get yourself a cab." I thanked her profusely, and waited.
At 3:05 my cab came. I got in and said "Ontario Amtrak station, please."
The driver turned to look at me. "But I'm supposed to take you to Pomona."
I took a deep breath and explained that yes, he was supposed to take me to Pomona, but that train left in five minuets, so now I had to get to the next stop, which is Ontario, and it would be appreciated if we got there quickly.
He still looked puzzled. "But, Ontario's east 'a here. Pomona's west. It's the other way." I gave up, and just asked again that he get me to Ontario.
After a minuet or too, I told him that I was going to pay with credit card. He scowled. "We don't like no credit cards, miss. The company charges us somethin awful for them. It's like eight percent. Do you have an ATM card?" I said yes, it's a debit card. He shook his head. "No, I mean like, we stop at a bank and you go get me some cash."
Honestly, I was stunned. To be fair, I don't think he meant it to be as menacing as it sounded. I think the guy just wanted to be paid in cash, thank you very much. Still, this frightened me slightly. I made the excuse that there probably wasn't enough time. Which was true.
We pulled into the station at 3:20. I handed him my card and waited for him to process it. It seemed to take several minuets, but I'm sure it was maybe one or two. I was just frantic to get on that train, now that I'd made it. I got out of the cab, thanked him, and ran across the street to the platform.
At this point, I discovered another problem. Since I was originally leaving from Pomona, I didn't have an actual ticket. At the Pomona station, they have little ticket dispenser machines, and you key in your confirmation code to get your ticket. This was not the case here. There were no dispensers to be found.
I asked around, and learned that to leave from this station, you had to get your tickets mailed to you.
To put it bluntly, I didn't have a ticket.
The train pulled up. I was trying not to cry again. I just wanted to get on that train. The conductor got out, and started to direct people to the appropriate car for their destination. Mine was down near the end. I got to the door, where there was a gentleman checking tickets and assigning seats. I showed him my paper, with the confirmation code and started to explain- when he cut me off. "Seat 58 is open."
I entered the train and climbed the tiny little staircase. on the second level, there were about a hundred rows of seats. I looked for seat number 58, and found it. I sat down, and relaxed. I'd made it.
The train pulled out from the station.
A young man tapped on my shoulder.
"Excuse me miss, you're sitting in my seat." I looked around. "This is seat 58, isn't it?" "Yes, and it's mine." I got up, and stood in the aisle. Once again, a small catastrophe. Eventually, the man who had told me where to sit came up the steps and down the aisle. I got his attention, and explained. He looked confused, and consulted his chart.
"Oh, well, 56 should be open." he turned around, and looked at the seat in question. There was an elderly woman sitting in it. "Did you move?" he asked her, rather gruffly. She shook her head, and told him smugly that he himself had seated her there. He looked at his chart again, and started moving down the rows of seats. Finally, he found one that was unoccupied on his (somewhat dubious) chart, and in reality. I sat there. It was a window seat, and the seat next to me was empty. I sat for a few minuets and watched the dregs of civilisation float past my window.
The conductor came up, and started collecting tickets. When he got to me, I started to explain that I didn't have a ticket, but I did buy one and that my taxi... and then the other taxi... and I found out that the station... He laughed. "Oh, it's fine," he said, "your credit card is only used to hold the ticket anyway. Say, how much did they quote you for online?" I told him. "Really? Now that's a bit much. Here, you've had a tough day. How bouts I give it to you for 20 less?"
I thanked him profusely, an handed him my card. He gave me a ticket, marked the seat taken and moved on down the aisle.
I had made it.
Friday, June 12, 2009
An Ode to an Ant (and a hundred more)
Oh ant,
Why do you insist
Upon living in my bathroom?
You may be small
But you are a large nuisance,
Walking across the counter
Outside, I hear,
Is a very nice place to live
Much better then under
A leaky sink
What do you eat,
Oh ant?
For the bathroom does not have
Any food.
One day,
I will enter the bathroom
And you will be gone.
If my maintenance request is filled.
Why do you insist
Upon living in my bathroom?
You may be small
But you are a large nuisance,
Walking across the counter
Outside, I hear,
Is a very nice place to live
Much better then under
A leaky sink
What do you eat,
Oh ant?
For the bathroom does not have
Any food.
One day,
I will enter the bathroom
And you will be gone.
If my maintenance request is filled.
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