I now have a fairly clear idea of how my Fall is shaping up. The final word from the Grad Studies office was that my average is just too low to allow admission without a term of qualifying courses. But the good news is, 3 of those half credits will come from a senior essay which will basically be reading volumes of research related to my thesis, and putting the readings together into a paper at the end. I'll also take two other upper year undergrad ES courses, one on professional and scholarly practice in Human Geography, which again deals with research methods and ends with a proposal. And the last course is very exciting...Resource Management taught by Dr. Brent Doberstein. He has done research related to deforestation in Haiti and resultant flash floods at the Haitian/DR border. When I met with him this morning, he was keen to have me in his class, and he mentioned having employed two people as research assistants who are currently working in Haiti for MCC, Mary Lynn Steckley and her husband.
The really interesting thing is that Mary Lynn has a Masters in Geography, and a lot of experience doing field research under difficult conditions (previously in Indonesia), while her husband has a Masters in Poli Sci. Brent said that her husband often works as her research assistant when they go abroad, since she's the one with a background in the field.
One more plus is that I'll be paid as a full-time Grad RA!
So if I can maintain a term GPA of 80%, I'll be admitted officially and begin a TA in the Winter. In the meantime, I'll have ample time for research and preparing my thesis, and the added benefit of getting to broaden my academic background into sustainable development. Prof. Doberstein and his "international case study" approach to teaching resource management is something I'm really looking forward to.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Hope and Imagination
A lonely person's tools for survival
It's not often that I go into a card shop and leave with the feeling of actually having a new and valuable insight into what it means to be a man in love.
As I browsed through the card rack at Earthwinds yesterday, looking for a distinctive one to add flair to a gift I'd chosen (rather uncreatively) from Tim and Nat's registry, my eyes happened over this: (bold formatting added by me)
It's not often that I go into a card shop and leave with the feeling of actually having a new and valuable insight into what it means to be a man in love.
As I browsed through the card rack at Earthwinds yesterday, looking for a distinctive one to add flair to a gift I'd chosen (rather uncreatively) from Tim and Nat's registry, my eyes happened over this: (bold formatting added by me)
"My Husband is a man of character who understands commitment and does more than his share to make his family comfortable, safe, and secure.
I adore him.
My Partner is a man who is patient, optimistic, caring and wise.
His sense of humor and support hold me up when I can't do it myself.
I'm grateful for him.
My Best Friend is the only man with whom I can share my deepest secrets and know they will be safe."
The stack of cards with this message was sitting there alongside the rest of the Hallmark-esk pastels and creams. But, I liked it, and some part of me said, "I want to be like this," and "I want a partner who will say these things about me."
Something I realized last night, late last night, is that throughout my life, the most important and powerful motivator has been a hope to one day discover that true love which allows people to really develop their full humanity. I know that sounds a bit heavy, but that's OK because I think it's important. I never understood this, but without that underlying hope, the promise of a love worth living for, very little else holds meaning, at least for me at age 25.
Something I realized last night, late last night, is that throughout my life, the most important and powerful motivator has been a hope to one day discover that true love which allows people to really develop their full humanity. I know that sounds a bit heavy, but that's OK because I think it's important. I never understood this, but without that underlying hope, the promise of a love worth living for, very little else holds meaning, at least for me at age 25.
1 Corinthians 13
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Sometimes I find it hard to muster the imagination to look beyond what might have been, and see what could be. I don't have a true love in my life right now, but I still have faith that I will find that love. So I better get out of bed; it's time for church...
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Things we take for granted
These five aspects of a functioning democracy stood out for me in the book I was reading tonight.
autonomous media
an active Parliament
powerful state governments
elected local councils
an independent election commission
...give power to the people over the people who rule over them. cool huh?
autonomous media
an active Parliament
powerful state governments
elected local councils
an independent election commission
...give power to the people over the people who rule over them. cool huh?
Friday, August 31, 2007
Rediscovering the library
Another nice thing about my day, was that after saying goodbyes at ARISE and leaving early to drop off equipment for Rockway's SR101 system, I was able to go back to campus and spend most of the afternoon in DP. Campus really feels like home again, which it hasn't for a while as I've been an academic hanger-on, 9 toes in industry and one at school.After DP closed at 5, I biked to the WPL to see if they had a DVD of Guns Germs and Steel, which wasn't on loan but none of the library staff could find it. I settled for the book version instead, and another DVD called, TOTAL Yoga - Fluidity - Power - Grace. Apparently, it's from something called the Flow Water series. Looks good though.
Unbelievable Improbability
I don't usually think of myself as lucky. I almost never win prizes at raffles (which I think is most people's experience. It should be, or raffles wouldn't make any money, but I digress...)
This week has has left me feeling completely blessed and I just want to take time to write that down and be grateful. An hour ago I was hunched over my computer in the DP library drafting some emails, and I noticed a reminder to go see the registrar about some important thing to do for my grad school app. I quickly packed up my things and scurried over to Needles Hall, and who did I see coming through the doors of the foyer, but my Forecasting prof. from last Fall who I'd emailed for a reference without reply. Not only was I lucky enough to run into her completely at random, but she'd just got back yesterday from Brisbane and was leaving this evening for a week...AND she said she remembered me and was more than happy to give me a good reference! (smiley sigh)
The series of events starting with a 2 hour lunch with Sandra, Derek, (former ARISE guy) Richard, and a RE consultant from Montreal, leading to several productive meetings with my (soon to be official, hopefully :S) supervisor, and culminating yesterday with an agreement from [the aforementioned solar company] to fund a portion of my research, yes, it was very a fortunate series of events. Now to have three good references from two preferred profs and my boss....it's just really fantastic. I am so lucky.... now if only I had some good friends to celebrate with.
This week has has left me feeling completely blessed and I just want to take time to write that down and be grateful. An hour ago I was hunched over my computer in the DP library drafting some emails, and I noticed a reminder to go see the registrar about some important thing to do for my grad school app. I quickly packed up my things and scurried over to Needles Hall, and who did I see coming through the doors of the foyer, but my Forecasting prof. from last Fall who I'd emailed for a reference without reply. Not only was I lucky enough to run into her completely at random, but she'd just got back yesterday from Brisbane and was leaving this evening for a week...AND she said she remembered me and was more than happy to give me a good reference! (smiley sigh)
The series of events starting with a 2 hour lunch with Sandra, Derek, (former ARISE guy) Richard, and a RE consultant from Montreal, leading to several productive meetings with my (soon to be official, hopefully :S) supervisor, and culminating yesterday with an agreement from [the aforementioned solar company] to fund a portion of my research, yes, it was very a fortunate series of events. Now to have three good references from two preferred profs and my boss....it's just really fantastic. I am so lucky.... now if only I had some good friends to celebrate with.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
"People came to borrow your parents' boat"
Just continuing on my last entry...
Something just doesn't seem right when a Canadian citizen doesn't know what a canoe is. I don't know what to make of the fact that Max is choosing an AK47 to protect his family rather than simply living a less overtly materialist lifestyle. I'm sure the choice hasn't been presented to him, which is a failing of those of us who know a 'third way' and for whatever reason miss the chance to share it. He told me about the "way it is in India." Every family needs one boy who's "the bad boy." That's how people know not to mess with your family. Your oldest (boy) takes the family business, your second may excel academically, but one of them needs to be the gangster. Max's sentiment may be a shock response - not surprising - but it's the glib "get 'er done" attitude that worries me. It reminds me of this unfortunate poem.
http://www.bittersweetme.net/RussVaughn_Poetry.htm#p8
"We love our sheep, we Dogs of War." Those of us who drive regularly, eat meat beyond what the earth can sustain, fly unnecessarily, or otherwise use resources that necessitate foreign military intervention, are as much a party to violence as soldiers. To me, an incident like a home invasion would be cause for grief and reflection on something that's clearly broken in the social fabric of our neighbourhood...or MEGAcity, as the appliance salesman, former Mayor of Toronto, and original "Bad Boy", Mel Lastman used to call it. Sheesh...
I guess my point is simply that we can all do more at home to welcome immigrants and new Canadians into the culture and society that makes Canada appealing to those seeking refuge from conflict and violence. We don't want British-style ghettos that kindle terrorism; we don't want American-style income disparity that leaves gates and guns as preferred tools for personal security. (If we were talking about computer science, I think we'd call these brute force solutions.)
Speaking of Comp Sci, today is a very exciting one for me. I discovered that I passed my last course, which means I'll be graduating in October. So very exciting! :)
PS - Check out the new Black Car link in my friendly links... my house mate and I have been looking for a way to decommission the Honda by turning it into art. This looks like a great way to do it, and be part of something bigger at the same time.
Something just doesn't seem right when a Canadian citizen doesn't know what a canoe is. I don't know what to make of the fact that Max is choosing an AK47 to protect his family rather than simply living a less overtly materialist lifestyle. I'm sure the choice hasn't been presented to him, which is a failing of those of us who know a 'third way' and for whatever reason miss the chance to share it. He told me about the "way it is in India." Every family needs one boy who's "the bad boy." That's how people know not to mess with your family. Your oldest (boy) takes the family business, your second may excel academically, but one of them needs to be the gangster. Max's sentiment may be a shock response - not surprising - but it's the glib "get 'er done" attitude that worries me. It reminds me of this unfortunate poem.
http://www.bittersweetme.net/RussVaughn_Poetry.htm#p8
"We love our sheep, we Dogs of War." Those of us who drive regularly, eat meat beyond what the earth can sustain, fly unnecessarily, or otherwise use resources that necessitate foreign military intervention, are as much a party to violence as soldiers. To me, an incident like a home invasion would be cause for grief and reflection on something that's clearly broken in the social fabric of our neighbourhood...or MEGAcity, as the appliance salesman, former Mayor of Toronto, and original "Bad Boy", Mel Lastman used to call it. Sheesh...
I guess my point is simply that we can all do more at home to welcome immigrants and new Canadians into the culture and society that makes Canada appealing to those seeking refuge from conflict and violence. We don't want British-style ghettos that kindle terrorism; we don't want American-style income disparity that leaves gates and guns as preferred tools for personal security. (If we were talking about computer science, I think we'd call these brute force solutions.)
Speaking of Comp Sci, today is a very exciting one for me. I discovered that I passed my last course, which means I'll be graduating in October. So very exciting! :)
PS - Check out the new Black Car link in my friendly links... my house mate and I have been looking for a way to decommission the Honda by turning it into art. This looks like a great way to do it, and be part of something bigger at the same time.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A White Rabbit's Foot in the 'Borough
Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn't breathe a word of rumour about Scarborough's gang-related violence. Rumours perpetuate stereotypes, and cement norms, but... tonight I could hardly believe what my neighbour M'k told me after I walked over to his driveway to comment on how well his flowers looked despite the mid-August heat.
Max's home was invaded twice in June and July by a gang of youths who held his wife at gunpoint demanding money. Details came out so quickly, and surprisingly matter of factly - his glass door was smashed in and H'a his wife tricked the assailants into going to look for money in the garage while she locked doors and called the police. I felt like a thick miasmic fog had dropped over us as we stood there in the night air.
I'd just come down Markham Rd., from Scarborough Town Centre, watching the cars in the parking lot and remembering a decade ago, my sister and brother and I on our way to pick up a few last minute gifts on Christmas Eve Day. I'd driven past the former City Hall, feeling proud of its sweeping white architecture, dedicated by the Queen in 1979. Now the words of my friend Paul Charbonneau echoed in my mind about all the empty city halls in the GTA that came after the megacity formed...after amalgamation. A bit of an overstatement, but true in some ways.
All I could do while Max talked was listen, and offer optimistically that I hoped he would stay with his family in Scarborough because, "Scarborough needs good people, Max. Like you...and my parents." As he went on with his plans for preparedness, I looked down at the garden, and made the odd wilting comment about guns not being the answer, and taxes for social programs. I figured you can't talk to a man whose wife has just been held at gunpoint about the principles and values of restorative justice. At least I couldn't. Max's solution was an AK47. I'm not kidding, and he talked about India and other places, "Canada is worse!" I said, "well, you do have a beautiful garden."
"My garden is beautiful, my house is beautiful." "Your family." "My family is beautiful. But outside is garbage everywhere. India, Russia, it's everywhere...Canada is worse!" Try to picture Max speaking with a kind of glib intensity and an excitement in his voice, standing in his white prayer clothes on the porch step. He sounded like a man with a game plan - somehow intelligent, simple-minded, and business-like. His Lexus SUV was parked behind us on the patio brick driveway.
The final irony is that my parents had left the door open for two days when they flew to Victoria on Sunday to visit my brother's family. I suppose it's a miracle that in our family's 25 years in this neighbourhood, our home has never been broken into, let alone had a home invasion. I don't doubt that the little white, ten year-old Subarus in the driveway are probably a better security feature than Max's flashing anti-theft keypad.
Scarborough is not a comfortable place to be sometimes, but it's closer to the world than any probably any other city.
Max's home was invaded twice in June and July by a gang of youths who held his wife at gunpoint demanding money. Details came out so quickly, and surprisingly matter of factly - his glass door was smashed in and H'a his wife tricked the assailants into going to look for money in the garage while she locked doors and called the police. I felt like a thick miasmic fog had dropped over us as we stood there in the night air.
I'd just come down Markham Rd., from Scarborough Town Centre, watching the cars in the parking lot and remembering a decade ago, my sister and brother and I on our way to pick up a few last minute gifts on Christmas Eve Day. I'd driven past the former City Hall, feeling proud of its sweeping white architecture, dedicated by the Queen in 1979. Now the words of my friend Paul Charbonneau echoed in my mind about all the empty city halls in the GTA that came after the megacity formed...after amalgamation. A bit of an overstatement, but true in some ways.
All I could do while Max talked was listen, and offer optimistically that I hoped he would stay with his family in Scarborough because, "Scarborough needs good people, Max. Like you...and my parents." As he went on with his plans for preparedness, I looked down at the garden, and made the odd wilting comment about guns not being the answer, and taxes for social programs. I figured you can't talk to a man whose wife has just been held at gunpoint about the principles and values of restorative justice. At least I couldn't. Max's solution was an AK47. I'm not kidding, and he talked about India and other places, "Canada is worse!" I said, "well, you do have a beautiful garden."
"My garden is beautiful, my house is beautiful." "Your family." "My family is beautiful. But outside is garbage everywhere. India, Russia, it's everywhere...Canada is worse!" Try to picture Max speaking with a kind of glib intensity and an excitement in his voice, standing in his white prayer clothes on the porch step. He sounded like a man with a game plan - somehow intelligent, simple-minded, and business-like. His Lexus SUV was parked behind us on the patio brick driveway.
The final irony is that my parents had left the door open for two days when they flew to Victoria on Sunday to visit my brother's family. I suppose it's a miracle that in our family's 25 years in this neighbourhood, our home has never been broken into, let alone had a home invasion. I don't doubt that the little white, ten year-old Subarus in the driveway are probably a better security feature than Max's flashing anti-theft keypad.
Scarborough is not a comfortable place to be sometimes, but it's closer to the world than any probably any other city.
Throughout the city of Scarborough, apartment complexes cover the skyline, which have a wide range of prices. Scarborough is a city that is extremely multicultural which allows for great diversity in everything from stores restaurants and entertainment. The city offers a little bit of everything to everybody...it is easy to find a great place to live.
http://www.4torontoinfo.com/community/scarborough.asp
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