tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post3969251451395420183..comments2023-10-16T03:42:56.455-04:00Comments on Wandering Thoughts: Card vs. TolkienJ.R.Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498164179579546593noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post-29470558248670437412008-05-10T22:49:00.000-04:002008-05-10T22:49:00.000-04:00Joe,I had training and years of practice. I worke...Joe,<BR/><BR/>I had training and years of practice. I worked customer care for years, and it really was very good for me. Honestly, I have quite the temper, and using reason and logic is a defense mechanism to keep me from going thermonuclear. Usually, the quieter and more polite I get, the angrier I am. <BR/><BR/>And, I confess, I like people.J.R.Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498164179579546593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post-38963291196590228142008-05-10T18:47:00.000-04:002008-05-10T18:47:00.000-04:00Good for you on both counts. Congratulations on th...Good for you on both counts. Congratulations on the excellent grade. Can I assume you will keep pushing on after the Master's for a Ph.D. or an Ed.D.?<BR/><BR/>Joe<BR/><BR/>P.S. - I think you will make a great teacher if you aren't already one. You and Matt G. have a gift for dealing with people and for keeping your composure in the most trying times. I'd give my right arm to have 1/2 either one of you guys' people skills.<BR/><BR/>Lord knows I've tried. I've taken all kind of classes, counseling, therapy ad nauseaum. I think good people skills and a calm manner is something of a gift you are born with. Some of it you can learn but the folks that are really good at it have it in their blood.<BR/><BR/>Despite my best efforts, it still eludes me.<BR/>:-(Assrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093506505019819353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post-15712381766923562922008-05-09T19:07:00.000-04:002008-05-09T19:07:00.000-04:00I'm working on a Master of Arts in Teaching. I go...I'm working on a Master of Arts in Teaching. I got an A++.J.R.Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498164179579546593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post-66225520168244276472008-05-09T18:51:00.000-04:002008-05-09T18:51:00.000-04:00A fairly decent critique of two excellent pieces o...A fairly decent critique of two excellent pieces of literature. For a 6000 level class I'd give you an A- on this paper. I felt it was very good but could have used a little more detail.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, my Ph.D. is in Electrical Engineering, my Master's is in Computer Engineering so I have no real credentials upon which to critique literary work. We engineering types tend to be what the kids call "tough graders". You really have to go the extra mile to get an A out of me.<BR/><BR/>I have loved reading everything I can get my hands on since I was about 7 years old though and I have a very eclectic library in my house.<BR/><BR/>I prefer science fiction, adventure and history but it really doesn't matter if all I have lying around is the "Assembler Language Programmer's Guide to the IBM 360/370" I will pick that up and read it cover to cover for want of something better to read.<BR/><BR/>Good work J.R. I think you will more than likely get an A or possibly even an A+ out of this from an English Professor.<BR/><BR/>I forget now but I think I read you are working on a doctorate in one of the Liberal Arts?<BR/><BR/>It's my one true weakness in life. I have never been a people person and never been good at anything to do with the Liberal Arts. I mentioned my other degrees earlier but I forgot to mention that I started out in a Community College in Pre-Med. It did not take long for me and my advisors to figure out that a doctor was not a good profession for me. I'm much more comfortable designing, building and talking to machines than people. <BR/><BR/>I don't dislike people. I just have a hard time understanding them and I almost loathe what the human race as a whole has become in the past millenium.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, there I go off on a tangent again. Good luck with your paper. Good luck with what ever degree you are currently working on.<BR/><BR/>Joe<BR/><BR/>P.S. - One piece of advice I offer everyone that is trying to get an education is that no matter how hard it gets and how burned out you get, NEVER give up. You will get through it and you will be glad you did.Assrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093506505019819353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post-73991835164772701782008-05-08T00:16:00.000-04:002008-05-08T00:16:00.000-04:00Well, I'm glad it didn't hurt too much. :-)Well, I'm glad it didn't hurt too much. :-)J.R.Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498164179579546593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404305187176881635.post-46859805374350631262008-05-07T04:00:00.000-04:002008-05-07T04:00:00.000-04:00A much easier read than most Lit papers. Maybe it'...A much easier read than most Lit papers. Maybe it's because it's about two books that I've read and enjoyed, and re-read and enjoyed, repeatedly? <BR/><BR/>And Card is a very bright boy. I don't agree with him on everything (I have been noticing an evolution of his philosophy), but he's very sharp, even as he publishes political commentary on difficult subjects. I needn't reference Tolkien's levels of genius; either y'all know about it, or I shouldn't embarrass you at this point. ;)Matt Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500429239798601210noreply@blogger.com