unexpected.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but getting out of class so early today was one of the highlights of my week.  I should really learn to make time before class to eat lunch, that way I can focus better during class.

Anyway.  Class today completely caught me off guard. For starters, I am from the Grand Rapids area and have an aunt that works in a court system there - I wonder if you're working with or near her with this case!   Also, kind of scares me, because I am aware of a murder that recently took place and this just capitalizes on the phrase "small world".  Hope all is going well with the jury duty and if you're in the area and looking for some good mexican food, I would really recommend Little Mexico - it's awesome!
The work for class today seemed simple enough, but not completely meeting for class in a way worries me.  In high school, research papers are what I struggled most with.  I am really hoping that I am able to learn and write a quality paper this semester and fully intend to use my - new learned - resources in doing so.
Some of my initial worries are that although I am so interested in the topic (school bombing, Bath, MI) because it is so old, it will be very hard for me to find articles, especially popular, for the research and I really hope I will not have to change topics.

- miner moments.

how far is too far?

In excitement for spring break, it seems I begin to hear more and more about this "full-body scanner".  It is somewhat new, however people are not catching on like they had hoped.  The scanner is aimed to make security in airports not only faster, but also more safe.  By simply going through the scanner however, security is able to see a persons body - entirely. "Entirely" is the key word and is where people become so uncomfortable with the security check.
If a person is so uncomfortable with it, they are able to opt out of the check and have a good old-fashioned "pat-down".  However, in hopes to raise the amount of people willing to go through the scanner, the "pat-down" is becoming a lot more physical and uncomfortable for people to go through as security is getting a lot more hands on.
In my opinion, although I am not comfortable with people seeing my body like that, I am willing to go a little extra to ensure safety.  With this new technology, I hope people begin to see that so many people travel on a plane, and in the long run, safety far outweighs any slight uncomfortableness that will shortly be forgotten.

- miner moments.

GNO

Girls Night Out!!!!

This weekend was the first weekend of the year - VERY SAD - that all four of my roommates were home (in our dorm).  It is so so so weird but so very exciting.  We each have such different lives and hectic lives that it has never worked out, but this weekend it did!  Two of my roommates (the 2 I'm living with next year) were friends coming into this, so it has been very difficult to get myself into their friendship with all of us always being on opposite schedules, but this was great! I have had my doubts for next year, but this really does give me hope that everything will be good.  They're two awesome girls and it simply takes time to get to know each other - although half way into 2nd semester does seem to be pushing it...

Less than 1 week until spring break!! Sooooooo excited to go down to florida and stay with my grandparents! Something relaxing, cheap and warm.  All of the necessities I need.

:D
- miner moments.

APA, MLA, OMG, WTH.

APA, MLA, oh my goodness. what the heck.

Today in class we had a presentation with the writing center, and class over all just blew my mind.  Works Cited - now called "References" - is something I have always struggled with.  I completely understand the reasoning for having a "references" page, because I for sure would not want to be accused of anything along the lines of plagiarizing, however I am completely confused as to why it is done like it is.  Why can we not simply list the website, or book/magazine/newspaper we found it from? Why must we list the organization it is from, the author, the year, etc.  If we supply the general information, why is it not something that if really interested, the author can look it up?
That pretty much sums up my rant for class.

Class was really informational today though.  I did learn everything that was needed in general with regards to citing in APA format.  It was a huge relief when they told us there were so many rules, there was no way we could memorize them - as I am a horrible memorizer to begin with.

Off to finish up my project two and prepare to turn it in - so excited!

-miner moments.

What reflection?

I have never writen a "reflection" article after writing two informational articles.  This is very new to me.  Reading the new article was a complete mind opener for me as well.  If I had not done this weeks online homework, I would have recieved a much lower grade on my reflection article.  I did not realize the amount of information I would be able to put into a paper based off of a paper I had already done.  For me, it has always been write a paper, and then never see it again, so this is something I think that could be really cool, and hope to succeed at it and get a good grade :) (I suppose not much different than anything else we've been doing).  Although I am not a huge fan of homework - not a big surprise there - I really did enjoy this weeks, as I was able to pull so much out of it and learn from it. 
Due date for the articles I feel like I have been spending so much time with is finally this friday which is approching very fast.  I suppose it's time for me to stop procrastinating the part of the work I like least and finish my articles up so they are ready to turn in by the deadline!

-miner moments.

CHI-town :)

This weekend is the annual PBLI (professional business leadership institute), for the business frat I am a part of, Alpha Kappa Psi.  I am so so so excited for it! It's in Chicago, my favorite city I have ever been to, and it's with some of my favorite people in the group.  I am signed up for the sessions, which are held all day saturday, and are there to teach us about becoming not only a better leader in the business world as well as school, but also becoming a better brother.  To add onto that, the rest of the time is "free-time", which means shopping :) It is so fun to just walk down michigan ave and no only people watch, but also window shop. 
Every summer my grandma, sister and myself take the train to chicago and spend the day just walking around - mostly shopping - but also just taking in all of the different ways people live.  Its so incredible the differences from Lansing, to Chicago and then to my hometown, Holland.  It's for sure an eye opener, but I love it any way and would love to someday work and live in Chicago. 

- miner moments.

editer.

Today in class we spent most of the time editng eachothers second articles.  I was for the most part happy with the class day because I enjoy reading other peoples work.  I think it is important to learn from others writting and is a great way to do both by editing eachothers work.  It is so easy to tell what works and what doesn't work by reading someone else's paper, which then helps to write an even stronger paper.  I enjoyed class today.  I felt it was relaxing and useful.  I was a nice spin off of the previous classes where everything seemed to be almost crazy with all of the group project stuff.  This was something I could do on my own, and hold myself accountable for, just the way I like it.  I have also been revising my draft edited by the highschooler, which I have really enjoyed.  I liked that she gave me a little insight into herself and described how my story helped her.  She explained that she had signed over an agreement not to text and drive which is something I find pretty neat. 
No worries, after this week we will have a new project and I will be done going on my rants (sp?) about texting and driving.

-miner moments.