Advice for Future Students

If you like doing home works then this class is for you. I had so much fun in this class. The time 6-750pm is a drag. But having Ms Croker in class was great. It was never boring. She is so funny but interesting. I learned a lot in this class. I learned how to blog and the important part is to write effectively. She gives a lot of on line of home works aside from the five essays we had to do. Our finals consist of an essay which she guarantees it is something we can write about. I look forward to it. As long as you do your assignments and essays you should be fine. In class discussions she would lead us in writing our essays. she would give us ideas. She brings essays we can read in class that are examples of the essays she assigns. Before we submit our essays she requires us to do a rough draft of the essays. She takes time to read those or put us in groups so we can share with our classmates and have their inputs. We were also required to read a book about Fast food. It was a nice book and we had to do feedbacks about the book. That was also included in class discussions. It is a class where we had to meet only once a week but Ms Crker is always available through emails if you have any questions about the assignments. Over all this class is great. I enjoyed it a lot. I am sure that future students will enjoy it too.

Semester is almost over

Blogging was quite fun.. The experience was okay. I like the part when I had to figure out how to work the blog. When I finally figured it out, brainstorming ideas was a pain. But it was worth it. Reading my classmates' blog was interesting . They reveal a part of themselves. Sometimes you can relate to their stories. In a way it was fun. Commenting on their blogs was the best part. But as the semester comes to its end, I don't think I will continue the blog. In all I enjoyed it. Not only the blogging but the class as whole. I learned a lot. Even if we had a lot of homework, the class in general was great. Our teacher Ms Croker managed to make the class fun and interesting. I just might enroll in one her classes again. 

Thanksgiving Fun

  I had so much fun last thanksgiving with my best friend Tessie. Me and my two daughters went to her house in the afternoon. She cooked the traditional turkey and stuffing. She also cooked sweet ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and many more. I ate so much that I had a stomach ache. After eating we sang karaoke. I met Tessie while I was serving in the Navy. Ever since we became friends, deployments were never boring. I always have fun when I am with her. During deployments we don't only hang out together but we also got each other backs. She worked in the kitchen, which meant I never had to fall in line for food in the galley. I worked in disbursing which meant that she never had issues or problems with her pay and personnel records. During liberty call we would go bar hopping, dancing, shopping and sightseeing. Whatever that is needed to be done on deployments or homeport we would do together and it was so much fun. We don't do those things anymore. We do more family oriented stuff. When we go out, we are with our kids all the time. But it still is so much fun. This Thanksgiving was not different. Although alcohol was taken out of the equation, we still enjoy each other's company. The only dull moment I have with her is when I am sad and I need a friend to talk to. Even then she makes me laugh. Me and my kids look forward to spending this holidays with her family.

Book Review:Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling numbers from Media, Politicians, and Activist

Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling numbers from Media, Politicians, and Activist is written by Joel Best.This book is not some other mathematics of statistic but instead it is a reflection on how society reports, views and interprets statistics in short the sociology of statistics. That is, to show how statistics are skewed and how these bad statistics generates and spread through our society. The title of this book takes after, the famous cynical phrase from Mark Twain "Lies, Damned Lies and Statistic” which groups statistics with lies.

Mr. Best’s book concentrates more in social values and a proponent use of statistics, as well how to tell bad statistics from a good one. It also focuses on how some advocates uses statistics are use in propaganda and exposes of how some statistical information are overly exaggerated in the name of cause. Some topics that are covered in this book are how statistic is use in dealing with the social issues like prostitution, homelessness, suicides, anorexia and many more. Including how statistic can be used with good intention and how bad statistics can be easily generated and modified as they are used.

            A quick summary of this book topic includes how statistics are used in dealing with social problems. On chapter one “The importance of statistics”, He explains where statistic comes from, how to use them and why they are important. Mr. Best begins his examination of the problem regarding worst social statistic ever. Chapter two “soft facts” discusses the sources of bad statistic and how bad statistic can cause social problems. Mr. Best also explains how “measurement decisions are hidden” and often times that some statistical reports ignores controversies about measurement and even well-established measure can be controversial. Guessing, poor definitions, poor measures, and bad samples are a primary source of bad statistic. On chapter three Mr. Best talks about “mutant statistics”, methods for mangling numbers. He describes the misunderstanding of statistics and its fallacies that occurs during the reporting and interpreting statistics. This misinterpretation leads to what we call “mutant statistics”. Chapter four describes the dangers of inappropriate  which we call "apples to oranges" comparisons. One of the most comparisons are when we compare the prices of items in different times. Since money's value changes over time we cannot compare same items from different times. Chapter five talks about the 'stat wars', which happens when advocates competes or uses these unquestionable numbers to make their cause more important to the public.

            Mr. Best in his concluding chapter talks about the four mindset of towards statistics. He views many people as awestruck or naive towards statistics. He advises us to be skeptics or view statistics critically and not take statistics on its face value. Damned lies and statistics is an informative introduction to social statistics. If you are new to social statistics this book would be a great read for you. On the other hand, if you are already both knowledgeable and skeptical about statistics, you may find this book to be a slow read and very boring for you. One dangers, of this book is that learning about misleading statistic may lead you to cynicism, and learning about the fallacies may lead to overall  rejection of statistics. Mr. Best hopes for the readers to not turn into cynics but instead to be critics.

Thoughts about Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation (FFN) has affected me in more ways than one. I may  not be doing  a major change in my lifestyle but I will be changing some of it. Some of the stories I believe has some truth to it. Schlosser did a lot of research and supported his facts. But some I just find absurd but it does not mean I will not believe what has been written in the book. I like the fact that Schlosser pointed out the shortcoming of the government regarding the fast food and meat processing issue. I also like the fact on how the fast food companies like McDonald's has taken advantage of the consumers and misleading them. He also pointed the fact of illegal labor practices of not only the fast foods but also of meat producing companies. I always thought that safety is everyone's responsibility in the work place and the burden is the biggest on the work supervisors but Schlosser has also discussed the dangers everyone faces when working for these companies. I agree with him when he said that the government is not doing enough for the consumers, for the workers and for the children. Schlosser did a fine job of proving a point. I can say that I will not be eating at  McDonald's for quite some time.

My truth

My truth was when I went to Japan in 2002. I spent six months while deployed with my unit. I love the place. They have beautiful tourist places and it is clean, and quiet. The people are so disciplined and welcoming. I want to go back to travel there in the near future.

Can't Wait 'til School is Out

I have just started school this semester. I have waited for two years before I finally decided to go back to school. I find school to be very difficult but I am glad I am coping. I am taking four classes. I am swamped by homeworks, and exams. I look forward until this semester is over so I can take a break. I plan to go back next semester but I will probably take only two classes.

I went back to school so when I graduate I can get a job or a career I can be happy and proud about. I have a year to finish my Associate's degree but if I only take two classes every semester, it will take me more than that. All my requirements are only majors because I have done all my general ed requirements. So I am torn between taking four classes or  take it slowly because I am having difficulty.

Either way I look forward to graduating and I remain hopeful throughout.