This blog is new, and I hardly have any readers at all. I'm OK with that, as I plan on building an audience over time. That is IF I manage to build one. I'm not in a hurry to build up, and I'm not concerned too much with who is reading my stuff right now.
Having said all that, I do check my audience stats on Blogger. My ego enjoys seeing where my audience comes from. The last time I checked, Blogger informed me that I've had several page views from Romania. This news doesn't disturb me, but I find it odd. I don't think that I know anyone in Romania. Where is this readership come from?
Here are the best answers that I can come up with thus far.
1) I have a celebrity status in the Transylvanian Alps which has up till now escaped my notice.
2) Someone randomly found my post on Twitter or Facebook.
3) One of my American friends hopped online whilst passing through Romania.
4) There's a darknet server in Romania that one of my more paranoid friends is hiding through.
Anyway, I'm curious. If you think that you're the reason that I have Romania on my audience map, please let me know.
Vă doresc o zi plăcută!
Chris
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
OLLI
In the past, I've had the pleasure to lecture on topics of my choosing at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). OLLI is a organization that provides educational and developmental opportunities to retirement-aged people. They're a nationwide gang, but most members regularly attend a local set. The Fairfax click meets just off the George Mason University campus. Not surprisingly, this group is well educated and well traveled.
When I was working on my Master's, OLLI allowed us to have a presentation series where each week a different student would share his or her philosophical knowledge. I presented three times over two series, because I had to fill in for a student who couldn't make her date. My past presentations were on the topics of Cultural Obligation vs. Assimilation, Mountaintop Removal Mining, and The Affordable Care Act.
Wanting to rekindle old connections, I reached out to one of the Program Associates at OLLI to discuss the possibility of my presenting there in the near future. I was thrilled to get a prompt response welcoming a return on my part, and directions on submitting for upcoming schedules. They still have openings for the Spring, and Summer 2016 is wide open.
The topic in the forefront of my mind is youth development. I don't mean the standard child-rearing or pedagogical approaches. My thoughts are closer to an almost Aristotelian idea of character/ virtue development through career shifting with age. The details are still in the embryonic stage, but the core has to do with "youth careers" forging the necessary characteristic(s) for "advanced careers". For example, a young person serving in the military as a youth career before having an advanced career as a educator. Similarly, someone working as a firefighter before becoming an entrepreneur. Some jobs are simply easier with a youthful body. Likewise, other jobs require life experience. I desire to look into a new American way of doing this.
I'll keep you up to date on the planning of the lecture, as well as the time and place.
Please, let me know your thoughts or ideas on the topic.
Best,
Chris
P.S. I was in no mood for proofreading. So, deal with it.
When I was working on my Master's, OLLI allowed us to have a presentation series where each week a different student would share his or her philosophical knowledge. I presented three times over two series, because I had to fill in for a student who couldn't make her date. My past presentations were on the topics of Cultural Obligation vs. Assimilation, Mountaintop Removal Mining, and The Affordable Care Act.
Wanting to rekindle old connections, I reached out to one of the Program Associates at OLLI to discuss the possibility of my presenting there in the near future. I was thrilled to get a prompt response welcoming a return on my part, and directions on submitting for upcoming schedules. They still have openings for the Spring, and Summer 2016 is wide open.
The topic in the forefront of my mind is youth development. I don't mean the standard child-rearing or pedagogical approaches. My thoughts are closer to an almost Aristotelian idea of character/ virtue development through career shifting with age. The details are still in the embryonic stage, but the core has to do with "youth careers" forging the necessary characteristic(s) for "advanced careers". For example, a young person serving in the military as a youth career before having an advanced career as a educator. Similarly, someone working as a firefighter before becoming an entrepreneur. Some jobs are simply easier with a youthful body. Likewise, other jobs require life experience. I desire to look into a new American way of doing this.
I'll keep you up to date on the planning of the lecture, as well as the time and place.
Please, let me know your thoughts or ideas on the topic.
Best,
Chris
P.S. I was in no mood for proofreading. So, deal with it.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
And, I'm back!
Hello.
Thus far, my good intentions for this blog haven't amounted to much. I'm happy to report that the lack of productivity has everything to do with a busy work schedule, and nothing to do with my own powerful laziness. This news shocks no one more than I.
As it turns out, a professor at NVCC needed to give up a class for some personal reasons. The Assistant Dean was kind enough to give it to me. I appreciated this fortune and generosity, but it was a lot to take on three days before the semester started. With the new class added, I'm working full-time, teaching two classes, and taking two classes. And, let us not forget the girlfriend and the cat.
Needless to say, my spare reading time has dwindled. This is why there haven't been any updates on my reading commentary.
But, I haven't been idle on the philosophy front. I've reached out to the community to discuss a couple of projects. These proposals have been well received. I'll be writing post to discuss them individually. Fear not. My schedule is now under control, and I've allotted myself time to write them. So, there will be a least two post coming out this week.
Until then, be mindful.
Thus far, my good intentions for this blog haven't amounted to much. I'm happy to report that the lack of productivity has everything to do with a busy work schedule, and nothing to do with my own powerful laziness. This news shocks no one more than I.
As it turns out, a professor at NVCC needed to give up a class for some personal reasons. The Assistant Dean was kind enough to give it to me. I appreciated this fortune and generosity, but it was a lot to take on three days before the semester started. With the new class added, I'm working full-time, teaching two classes, and taking two classes. And, let us not forget the girlfriend and the cat.
Needless to say, my spare reading time has dwindled. This is why there haven't been any updates on my reading commentary.
But, I haven't been idle on the philosophy front. I've reached out to the community to discuss a couple of projects. These proposals have been well received. I'll be writing post to discuss them individually. Fear not. My schedule is now under control, and I've allotted myself time to write them. So, there will be a least two post coming out this week.
Until then, be mindful.
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