Wednesday, February 5
Scopes, again?
From the IHT: "Prompted by a complaint from the Liberty Legal Institute, a group of Christian lawyers, the department is investigating whether Michael Dini, an associate professor of biology at Texas Tech University here, discriminated against students on the basis of religion when he posted a demand on his Web site that said students wanting a letter of recommendation for postgraduate studies "truthfully and forthrightly affirm a scientific answer" to the question of how the human species originated." The professor, Dr. Dini, is now being investigated by the Justice Department.
Professor Dini says: "The policy is not meant in any way to be discriminatory toward anyone's beliefs, but instead to ensure that people who I recommend to a medical school or a professional school or a graduate school in the biomedical sciences are scientists," he said. "I think science and religion address very different types of questions, and they shouldn't overlap." Sounds like Professor Dini is conscientious about writing recommendations that he can stand behind.
Listen to a student: "Just because someone believes in creationism doesn't mean he shouldn't give them [sic] a recommendation," said Lindsay Otoski, 20, who is studying nursing. "It's not fair." What? It's not fair? Is the professor required to give recommendations? No. No one has a "right" to a recommendation. It seems reasonable to me that the professor can refuse to write letters for people he doesn't believe will be good biologists/scientists and he's upfront about it, which is why he's probably going to be sued.
Is this about religion? I think it's about science.
Professor Dini says: "The policy is not meant in any way to be discriminatory toward anyone's beliefs, but instead to ensure that people who I recommend to a medical school or a professional school or a graduate school in the biomedical sciences are scientists," he said. "I think science and religion address very different types of questions, and they shouldn't overlap." Sounds like Professor Dini is conscientious about writing recommendations that he can stand behind.
Listen to a student: "Just because someone believes in creationism doesn't mean he shouldn't give them [sic] a recommendation," said Lindsay Otoski, 20, who is studying nursing. "It's not fair." What? It's not fair? Is the professor required to give recommendations? No. No one has a "right" to a recommendation. It seems reasonable to me that the professor can refuse to write letters for people he doesn't believe will be good biologists/scientists and he's upfront about it, which is why he's probably going to be sued.
Is this about religion? I think it's about science.
posted by brown-eyed girl at 10:18 PM
Saturday, January 25
Worse Than My First Year of Teaching
I've always thought my experience teaching--six English classes a day, with all the 8th graders who were repeating English in my last hour class--was hell. Joshua Kaplowitz's story in yesterday's WSJ makes me look silly. After graduating from Yale, Joshua taught at a D.C. elementary school under the Teach for America program. Read why he got sued for $20 million.
posted by brown-eyed girl at 11:42 AM
Wednesday, January 15
More Joys of Software
This morning I called Norton's technical support number, 1-514-335-8000, and spoke to a technician. Please remember that I have been trying to get help from them since Nov. 8, 2002, and they have not responded at all. According to the technician, my choices are: 1) Pay $29.95 for technical support; 2) Receive a disk from the Norton Store if I'm willing to pay for the shipping; or 3) Use web support. I told him I want a refund and he said they they only refund for 60 days. Well, of course, the 60 days has run while we've waited for support. My husband now has NO virus protection and his updates haven't worked since November 8. Duh. Totally useless. This is probably the WORST support I've ever had, except from Microsoft.
posted by brown-eyed girl at 11:56 AM
Tuesday, January 14
The Joys of Software
My husband, who runs Win 2000 Pro, updated his subscription to Norton Anti-Virus in early November 2002. He downloaded the update. Since then, he has been unable to update his virus definitions and a "subscription expired" notice. Of course, his credit card was charged by Norton in November. We have emailed Norton several times they have not responded. None of their faq addresses his problem.
Last night, I looked at the receipt from November and saw that you can re-download software that you have purchased. I tried that. Still wouldn't work. I downloaded it again. This time it told me to uninstall the existing Norton software before proceeding with the installation. I did that. Then I had to reboot. Did that, or at least tried to. Instead of booting, I got an error message that a system file was corrupt or did not exist. This error has to do with the boot.ini file, so it wouldn't boot even in safe mode. So, no virus protection and NO working computer. I called Microsoft for assistance and they wanted to sell me a $295 phone support system. No thanks.
My computer guy came out and got my husband's computer going again, but Norton still isn't working. I called Norton's corporate number, 1-408-517-8000, and was referred to technical support at 1-800-927-3991. Unfortunately, to even speak to a support person you have to give them a credit card number. No way am I doing that, although they don't automatically charge you. I called the first number back and got absolutely no satisfaction on the technical support issue. The person referred me back to web support and told me it takes THREE to SEVEN days to get a response. How timely. I insisted on speaking to the Marketing Department and was connected to the voice mail of the Vice President for Marketing. We'll see if I get a call back.
So, it's been over two months since this problem developed and nothing has been done. What do I want Norton to do? How about some customer service.
Last night, I looked at the receipt from November and saw that you can re-download software that you have purchased. I tried that. Still wouldn't work. I downloaded it again. This time it told me to uninstall the existing Norton software before proceeding with the installation. I did that. Then I had to reboot. Did that, or at least tried to. Instead of booting, I got an error message that a system file was corrupt or did not exist. This error has to do with the boot.ini file, so it wouldn't boot even in safe mode. So, no virus protection and NO working computer. I called Microsoft for assistance and they wanted to sell me a $295 phone support system. No thanks.
My computer guy came out and got my husband's computer going again, but Norton still isn't working. I called Norton's corporate number, 1-408-517-8000, and was referred to technical support at 1-800-927-3991. Unfortunately, to even speak to a support person you have to give them a credit card number. No way am I doing that, although they don't automatically charge you. I called the first number back and got absolutely no satisfaction on the technical support issue. The person referred me back to web support and told me it takes THREE to SEVEN days to get a response. How timely. I insisted on speaking to the Marketing Department and was connected to the voice mail of the Vice President for Marketing. We'll see if I get a call back.
So, it's been over two months since this problem developed and nothing has been done. What do I want Norton to do? How about some customer service.
posted by brown-eyed girl at 3:41 PM
Thursday, January 9
Random News
CNN reports, "A substance taken from bats' saliva contains a powerful clot buster and may be used up to three times longer than the current stroke treatment and without additional risk for brain damage side effects, according to a study on mice in Thursday's issue of Stroke, published by the American Heart Association." What a blessing this would be for folks who have strokes. I wonder if it also could help people having heart attacks?
British Pathe launched a new site. Download low resolution images from their "3500 hour British Pathe Film Archive which covers news, sport, social history and entertainment from 1896 to 1970." You can, of course, purchase hi res images. I loved looking at some of the video samples, although the thumbnails are hard to see. Also, can they ditch the Flash text. It's blurry and too small.
British Pathe launched a new site. Download low resolution images from their "3500 hour British Pathe Film Archive which covers news, sport, social history and entertainment from 1896 to 1970." You can, of course, purchase hi res images. I loved looking at some of the video samples, although the thumbnails are hard to see. Also, can they ditch the Flash text. It's blurry and too small.
posted by brown-eyed girl at 11:03 PM
Tuesday, December 31
Happy New Year
We're having a small party tonight. I can't wait for 2003!
We especially remember our men and women in uniform as we pray for peace and justice in the coming year.
We especially remember our men and women in uniform as we pray for peace and justice in the coming year.
posted by brown-eyed girl at 10:28 AM
Not possible!
Judge Judy Sheindlin just signed a 4-year, $25M syndication contract to continue her daytime TV show. I can't believe she has the BEST ratings in daytime TV. Now do you understand why I rarely watch TV?
posted by brown-eyed girl at 10:25 AM
