- Aug 20, 2000
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This week was originally looking like a tidal wave of pain coming my way. What I'll do is structure the tale of this week in a Challenge/Result format. Yes indeed, that would be best. Warning: I beat my own drum repeatedly in this post!
Challenge: Database Systems II midterm on Tuesday, 11 am
Having just endured the worst weekend I've had in months, I wasn't really in the mood to study for this midterm until I finally worked up the determination to do so the night before. Looking over the previous seven years' worth of midterms, I discovered that a total of nine questions asked overall. Memorized. Slept.
Arrived at the classroom to take the midterm in fifteen minutes before the test time. There are four sections for this class this term, split up into two class periods - one from 10-11 am, the second from 11-12 am (mine). Being insane, the professor did not realize the fallacy in maintaining the regular class schedule for test-taking. So naturally when the test for the first section ended, the students flooded out to inform us, the second group, of the questions asked and their probable answers.
I love easy midterms. I'm expecting an A or better.
Challenge: Software Engineering II presentation on Tuesday, 4 pm
From an original group of five, one member had become completely incommunicado from day one. Another chose to tell us on Monday that he would not be able to make it Tuesday's presentation. He was the other good talker in the group, besides myself. So from 12 pm to 4 pm, I wrote up a fifteen minute presentation and trained my partner, who will never, EVER get through a serious job interview alive, on how to talk like you know what you're talking about (even when you don't).
Presentation time arrived. He went too fast and I was left with about ten minutes to speak within instead of seven-and-a-half. *inward sigh* We were eighth out of nine groups to present, so I used that additional time to talk about points we had just heard and the ones that related to my own group's findings. Then talked about our own findings, and ended up almost going over time. Even had to field a question from the audience and one from the professor. Handled easily.
I love presentations. I'm expecting an B+ or better.
Challenge: Technology & Globalization debate on Wednesday, 9 am
I'm a politics junkie but even so, I wasn't looking forward to this. The topic of the debate was, "It is vital for global security that the United States play an active and forceful role in world affairs." Out of a class of 40, I had 4th pick for a topic and chose to support this one. I figured the reward for arguing such a tough topic would be worth the risk. This was also the first debate scheduled, and I wanted to get it out of the way. Oh...and I occasionally like to pick a fight. Having completed my speaking notes between 8 pm when I got home Monday night and 4 am, I slept for two hours and...it was time to roll.
The debate was set up to square off teams of three against each other on each side of an issue. Each side had 15 minutes to make their arguments, then it was open to the class to pose questions to each group. The class also was required to take notes and also write down who they thought won the debate. Well, as it happened there was a major fire on the TTC subway that day and half the class was late arriving. My group was only made up of two people against their three, and as it happened that partner of mine arrived 25 minutes late, but with time contraints being what they were, I was told by the professor to "improvise". THANKS BUD.
So, me versus three America bashers (they barely stuck to the topic at hand). Actually it was pretty pathetic. You can hardly bring up the ill advised adventures of the USA prior to the end of the Cold War without looking at it in the great lens of the titanic struggle that it was, so I said as much and all arguments based on events prior to 1991 were thrown out as illegitimate. I referenced the end of WW2 and Marshall Plan, tied it back to Afghanistan/Iraq today. Talked about the circumstances where WMD proliferation would be a positive thing and how those circumstances have thus far been too rare to rely upon. Referenced the Universal Human Rights of the UN and how, above all, it was the mandate the Security Council was beholden to carry out in this world, even if national self-interest is a key factor in where the US does step in.
I love debates. I'm expecting an A or better.
That about wraps up this week since I have Thursdays and Fridays off. Now, I'm going to watch my copy of LOTR: The Two Towers Extended Edition I nabbed for $19 CDN and decide how else to waste this day away. Thanks for reading.
Challenge: Database Systems II midterm on Tuesday, 11 am
Having just endured the worst weekend I've had in months, I wasn't really in the mood to study for this midterm until I finally worked up the determination to do so the night before. Looking over the previous seven years' worth of midterms, I discovered that a total of nine questions asked overall. Memorized. Slept.
Arrived at the classroom to take the midterm in fifteen minutes before the test time. There are four sections for this class this term, split up into two class periods - one from 10-11 am, the second from 11-12 am (mine). Being insane, the professor did not realize the fallacy in maintaining the regular class schedule for test-taking. So naturally when the test for the first section ended, the students flooded out to inform us, the second group, of the questions asked and their probable answers.
I love easy midterms. I'm expecting an A or better.
Challenge: Software Engineering II presentation on Tuesday, 4 pm
From an original group of five, one member had become completely incommunicado from day one. Another chose to tell us on Monday that he would not be able to make it Tuesday's presentation. He was the other good talker in the group, besides myself. So from 12 pm to 4 pm, I wrote up a fifteen minute presentation and trained my partner, who will never, EVER get through a serious job interview alive, on how to talk like you know what you're talking about (even when you don't).
Presentation time arrived. He went too fast and I was left with about ten minutes to speak within instead of seven-and-a-half. *inward sigh* We were eighth out of nine groups to present, so I used that additional time to talk about points we had just heard and the ones that related to my own group's findings. Then talked about our own findings, and ended up almost going over time. Even had to field a question from the audience and one from the professor. Handled easily.
I love presentations. I'm expecting an B+ or better.
Challenge: Technology & Globalization debate on Wednesday, 9 am
I'm a politics junkie but even so, I wasn't looking forward to this. The topic of the debate was, "It is vital for global security that the United States play an active and forceful role in world affairs." Out of a class of 40, I had 4th pick for a topic and chose to support this one. I figured the reward for arguing such a tough topic would be worth the risk. This was also the first debate scheduled, and I wanted to get it out of the way. Oh...and I occasionally like to pick a fight. Having completed my speaking notes between 8 pm when I got home Monday night and 4 am, I slept for two hours and...it was time to roll.
The debate was set up to square off teams of three against each other on each side of an issue. Each side had 15 minutes to make their arguments, then it was open to the class to pose questions to each group. The class also was required to take notes and also write down who they thought won the debate. Well, as it happened there was a major fire on the TTC subway that day and half the class was late arriving. My group was only made up of two people against their three, and as it happened that partner of mine arrived 25 minutes late, but with time contraints being what they were, I was told by the professor to "improvise". THANKS BUD.
So, me versus three America bashers (they barely stuck to the topic at hand). Actually it was pretty pathetic. You can hardly bring up the ill advised adventures of the USA prior to the end of the Cold War without looking at it in the great lens of the titanic struggle that it was, so I said as much and all arguments based on events prior to 1991 were thrown out as illegitimate. I referenced the end of WW2 and Marshall Plan, tied it back to Afghanistan/Iraq today. Talked about the circumstances where WMD proliferation would be a positive thing and how those circumstances have thus far been too rare to rely upon. Referenced the Universal Human Rights of the UN and how, above all, it was the mandate the Security Council was beholden to carry out in this world, even if national self-interest is a key factor in where the US does step in.
I love debates. I'm expecting an A or better.
That about wraps up this week since I have Thursdays and Fridays off. Now, I'm going to watch my copy of LOTR: The Two Towers Extended Edition I nabbed for $19 CDN and decide how else to waste this day away. Thanks for reading.
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