lundi 31 mai 2004
Long night ahead
I guess from the comments I've received so far, people don't see something wrong with recycling one's one work for more than one purpose. Tricky matter, isn't it?
According to Hexham, this is what he writes:
"Like all plagiarism the essence of self-plagiarism is the author attempts to deceive the reader. This happens when no indication is given that the work is being recycled or when an effort is made to disguise the original text. The issue once again is one of deception. Disguising a text occurs when an author makes cosmetic changes that cause the same article, chapter or book to look different when in reality it actually remains unchanged in its central argument. Changing such things as paragraph breaks, capitalization, or the substitution of technical terms in different languages so that readers to believe they are reading something completely new is self-plagiarism when these are the only changes an author has made to a text."
- Irving Hexham, Academic Plagiarism Defined, University of Calgary, 1999.
The reason I wrote about this was because I ended up having to do another one of those annotated bibliographies for my class (they should be banned). The thing is some of my sources are exactly the same books I've used before, and they were in both professors' recommended bibliographies. I didn't see the point in writing two reviews for the same book. Anyways, long story short, I emailed my professor and left a note for the other, and reworked both so that they are a bit different, with proper citations. I still don't know if that's enough but I don't want to have a guilty conscience. I'd rather go overboard than find out I've done something wrong.
I'm in the middle of my last two papers, so I hope to have them done sometime before dawn. I could have finished them last night but I decided sleep was too precious at that point. My friends have the joy of being finished school while I'm still bound to tons of work on top of work. Oh well, part of the college experience, I suppose!
Libellés : college
dimanche 30 mai 2004
Recycled work
This is a question that I'm curious to hear your take on:
Why is it considered plagiarism if a student reuses original work for more than one course?
I actually know the answer, and I've read a bit about it but it's still one of those things that I think could fit into a grey area. Where is the line drawn, especially if the assignment given is remarkably similar to another that you have already done? Can you quote yourself or would that be self-plagiarism? Should you waste the time to come up with something completely different when you already know it'll be the same? What happens if you are unable to obtain the consent of the first professor to resubmit the work to the second professor?
*Disclaimer: I do my absolute best to be academically honest because as a Christian at a Christian college, that would reflect very poorly on my character if I were to engage in any school misconduct. I'm just asking these questions because I'm sure it's either something students don't think much about or do have an opinion on. I'm curious to hear both. These questions do not reflect anything I have done or will do.
If you would like more information on this topic, here is an excellent site that covers the definition of academic plagiarism. Irving Hexham is a religious studies professor at the University of Calgary.
Libellés : college
vendredi 28 mai 2004
Just a few more papers
I won't be posting anything this weekend because I'll have three major assignments to finish for my spring class. I just want to be done school and actually have a summer!
Here's a snippet of a book I'm reading:
Are We Breaking the Barriers?
For most Christians, the racial barrier is not an intellectual one. The average white evangelical says, "I would accept a black or other minority who attended my church." I believe he means that, but to what degree would he be willing to live in community with minority members? Actually the socioeconomic barrier looms larger than the racial one. Most local churches attract people from a single community that represents a single economic strata. Upper middle class people mix easily, regardless of race, because other common denominators unify them. Sharing community with a person of another race and more meager economic and educational means presents greater problems. However, in more local churches, the opportunity for mixing races and economic stratas remain remote. More relevantly, are we willing to move into different cultures, live among them, and share the Gospel? Are there any unclean ones to whom we will not minister? Are we willing to hear God's voice? The words of Peter stand true today, "Who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
- The Disciple-Making Church by Bill Hull
By the way, I'm a missions major :)
Libellés : books
mercredi 26 mai 2004
Working and working
I've been fairly busy lately with my new job but I'm enjoying every minute of it. Today, a surge protector went off and kept shrilling for a few minutes, causing my ears to ring for the rest of the day. I didn't even notice that an ambulance with lights flashing and sirens blaring was right behind me when I went home... heh, whoops.
Well, I watched a bit of the news today and saw a clip on Canadian hospitality. Click here to watch the news story. I thought that was awesome. You know, it's been said that in July, you can basically get free food everyday if you time everything right and don't mind the long lineups.
I'm going to go watch one of my favourite movies before I need to return it. And try to get around to my spring course stuff. You know you're the worst procrastinator in the world when the professor for one of your courses is moving to the States, and you still have work to submit to them. Maybe that means I'm the best procrastinator there is.
Oh yeah, I found this out today and thought it was hilarious. There are ten people in my major. Nine of them are female. The only male is graduating this year. You would laugh your head off if you knew what major I was in ;)
Libellés : procrastination, work
lundi 24 mai 2004
Metricization
Amen. May this come quickly. Then American kids can learn that "King Harry Danced Backwards Down Calgary Mainstreet". Or maybe not ;)
Libellés : Canada
Happy Victoria Day!
Okay, I guess it's the Lightning that the Flames will be facing. I don't get why the media is saying that everyone is jumping the bandwagon right now. Sure, if you've always been an Oilers fan and you're now supporting the Flames, maybe, but for most people I know, they've been supporting the Flames throughout the season already and now there's something for them to celebrate. Perhaps I'm speaking as a native Calgarian (right Lissa?) :) I'm referring to local news who keep saying Calgarians are jumping on the bandwagon. It's our home team! It makes no sense.
I'm having a blast creating my own radio station on Launchcast Radio (link via Kristen). All you have to do is rate music genres and Yahoo will determine what music's played on your customized station. My favourite feature is the "Never Play Again" rating, which helps narrow down what music will be played. It's hard to dislike a radio station when it's your own!
I'm going to try and finish all my spring course work today. Whenever I think of Victoria Day, I think of my friends in high school who had to write their IB examinations today because the people in Geneva had never heard of this Canadian holiday. I think they are still bitter about that.
Libellés : Canada
samedi 22 mai 2004
Directionally challenged
Well I missed my interview for the film program yesterday, that was fun. It was the last requirement needed before the school would tell me if I got a seat or not and I missed it because I couldn't find the location. After wandering the campus for over half an hour and even after asking for directions, I got nowhere and decided to go home instead. I doubt the school will let me make it up, but it doesn't matter since I'm not going into it this year. It would have been nice to know if I did qualify though.
I just got back from Mike's wedding. I worked with him last summer so it was neat to celebrate today with him and Rach. My other friends are getting married at the same church in a few months, which will be nice since I won't get lost going there again. And yes, it is beginning to feel like everyone is getting married, even though that's not entirely the truth :)
So the Eastern Conference Final wraps up tonight - I'm indifferent to either Philadelphia or Tampa Bay. There are all these polls asking Calgarians who they'd prefer the Flames to play, and I can't decide. All I know is that I want the Flames to get the cup. And once they get it, 17th will be the place to avoid.
*I've changed my mind, I want the Flyers to win.
vendredi 21 mai 2004
Real identity
I was randomly surfing some websites last week when I found out about the HAC hoax. To me, the worst of it is that from what I've read, it's a Christian blog listed on blogs4God. The hoax is that the person behind the blog is actually a man who has been caught comment-spamming top blogs on Blogdex. I don't know much else about this controversy since I never really read her/his blog in the first place but I'm pretty sure it looks bad on the Christian blogging world.
Anyways, not that it was ever a huge secret, I thought I should state that Neely is really a nom de plume I use in case anyone suspects that I don't exist in real life. Al wrote this comment: "You can be anonymous or you can have credibility, you don't get both." I'm not sure if I entirely agree with that, but I can see his point. In any case, I'll explain the nickname. I used my name when I first started my blog but I found that other bloggers had the same name, so I played around with the Blogger Tags and stuck <$BlogOwnerNickname$> in place of the author field. I was thinking of switching it back when people started coming to my blog. Rather than confuse everyone, I left it and it's stuck ever since. Neely is a nickname that I got when I went to Los Angeles and I started using it for my email address the last few years. That's it to the story :)
Libellés : blogging
jeudi 20 mai 2004
Unfinished post
Why has the notion of wanting to be holy like Jesus been so deemphasized? In this case, I am not talking about wanting to be perfect in this life or being holy only for the sake of legalities or pursuit of salvation, but the honest attempts of a Christ-follower to exhibit holiness in all aspects of life. An argument I've heard before is that God isn't just about holiness, He's about love. Yes, that sounds pretty and all, but it's not one or the other with God. He is both - perfect love and perfect holiness. The verse that comes to mind is,
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:15-16
The written text that Peters refers to are these verses in Leviticus.
Leviticus 11 states this: "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy."
True, we are no longer under the law, but this does not change the basic nature of God's holiness. And as a Christian, if I am to be in relationship with a holy God, does that not mean that I must become holy as well? Obviously, I can never be holy on my own strength but through Jesus Christ, this is possible. I am redeemed before the Father because of the Son. However, because I am still part of this fallen world and part of the curse, I will screw up and sin.
But that does not mean that I shouldn't still pursue holiness. The other cliché I hear is that we shouldn't be pursuing _____, we should be pursuing God. I do not mean to put holiness before God at all, I simply mean that one does not necessarily push the other aside. In fact, in pursuing God, could we not also be pursuing to be holy like Him? Just as holiness is ingrained in His character, as redeemed children, shouldn't it become ingrained in ours?
I don't know where I want to go with this, but it seems to be more commonplace in some Christians' lives. It's as if when they've become saved, they've become lukewarm because they feel that they can be and that they don't need to change. They've been saved but do not see sanctification as having any place in their new life.
Libellés : Christian life
mercredi 19 mai 2004
Loss for words
Sorry for the lack of updates. Sigh, it's been a tumultuous day.
Flames won! I was able to be a part of the honking excitement :)
dimanche 16 mai 2004
Leaving for tomorrow
This is my absolute favourite picture from all of the ones taken for yearbook this year. As of Friday, the yearbook was finished (for the second time in the school's history to be done before the month of June) and was sent off. I was hoping that we could get spring delivery this year but things just didn't work out with the computer crashes and all the other fun stuff I had to put up with. So instead we'll get summer delivery, which isn't too bad for the returning students since they don't have to wait until the end of fall. I can't describe it fully enough but this picture captures the essence of what this year meant to me. Strange seeing as how I don't even know the students in this picture huh :) 
samedi 15 mai 2004
The (Missionary's) Beatitudes
Blessed are those who live each day with eternity in view,
For in looking back on life there will be no regrets.
Blessed are those who embrace a vision greater than themselves,
For what they give their lives to will endure forever.
Blessed are those who are passionate about the worship to come,
For assembled will be every tribe, nation, people and language.
Blessed are those who leave houses and land for the 10/40 Window,
For there most of the unfinished task remains, but labourers are few.
Blessed are those who commit to staying for the long-term,
For cross-cultural effectiveness increases with time.
Blessed are those who are committed to prayer and small groups,
For in those contexts lives are forever changed.
Blessed are those who serve with a vibrant, caring, visionary team,
For in the midst of healthy community, results dramatically increase.
Blessed are those who share life and [play a part in the Great Commission],
For in doing so each of these blessings can be personally realized.
- New Cross-Cultural Version by ELIC
I saw this on the back of Discipleship Journal as an ad for the English Language Institute in China. I just changed the last one, but I really like this. I doubt they're adding words to Matthew 5 though, in case you're worried about that.
Libellés : missions
jeudi 13 mai 2004
Enough said
Game 3 has just been a foul game.
mercredi 12 mai 2004
Tis a bit late
Since I'm the queen of procrastination, it shouldn't be a surprise that I've left this till tonight, but I think I've reminded everybody of it enough already that it shouldn't be too bad. I hate to ask more than once but my job interview is tomorrow morning at 11 MST and I would really love some prayer. I'm terrified and I just realized that it's been five years since I've been in an interview for a job. I've been blessed that I have had jobs offered to me these last few years but now I really need to make sure I get this one. If I don't, I'm back to square one and utterly broke for the summer and the coming school year (with rising tuition and other school costs). So any prayer that I not get nervous or have the desire to throw up would be greatly appreciated :) Thank you so much in advance and I'll update you on the job status as soon as I know anything!
I have decided to stick with HaloScan for my blog comments for the following reasons:
1) For non-Blogger users, they would end up being anonymous and to me, that decreases community. Personally, I always thought it led to less accountability as well when there's no name attached to your words.
2) It takes two pages to get to the point where a person can comment as opposed to a popup window. I don't want to waste a reader's time.
3) It looks ridiculous that only recent posts have comments. I don't want to have to go back to all 400+ posts and turn on the additional comment feature so that every post can have a comment.
4) The link in the field for your name goes to your Blogger profile, not to your blog. Nothing wrong with that but again, it's a waste of time to go through two pages to get to a person's blog.
5) The loading time for the comments page can take forever sometimes. At some points, the page would not even load and I would have to refresh a couple of times just to leave a comment. I'll stick with HaloScan, which I've used since I've started my blog.
Libellés : work
Almost caffeine-free
Don't mind me, I'm just having fun playing around with this Hello program that allows you to upload pictures to Blogger for free! I don't have to worry about taking up storage space on Ripway, or go through a bit more work on Buzznet to get things posted.
Seeing as how I don't drink coffee, I feel like I'm in such a minority in this city. I can never really "do coffee" with friends, and my choices are definitely limited whenever I have to go to Starbucks (shudder) or Timmy's. I could be whiny and cry discrimination but I'm used to it now. It just irks me that whenever I go to banquets, the servers always ask if you want coffee, but if you don't drink it, you aren't served a hot beverage unless you ask for tea, and even then you feel weird. It's as if tea or anything else is inferior to the power of coffee in society.
That's why I'm glad Starbucks is doing something about the coffee-challenged, by introducing Summer Frappuccinos without coffee. Finally!!
mardi 11 mai 2004
Experimenting with Hello
Cool, this picture that I took was a featured photo on Buzznet.
Libellés : blogging
Quick synopsis
I'll be pretty busy these next few weeks finishing up my spring course and a directed study course, as well as maybe getting a job. I love to do lists, so I hope I get to cross these out as soon as possible:
- English lit course
- Spring course work
- School yearbook
- Job stuff
That should be it. I hope my sanity stays intact :)
(Oh yeah, I have both Blogger comments and Haloscan comments going to see which one I like better. I'll get rid of one of them sometime soon.)
Libellés : homework
lundi 10 mai 2004
Surprise!
What do you think of the layout change? I've been working on this for the last few hours, playing around with the code and stuff. Now I have to go back to every post I've written and make sure it looks fine in the new template. I hope you like it - it's such a refreshing change for this summer :) The Flames also won Game 1 today, what a game! My mom considered that enough of a Mother's Day present (she's been a huge fan of hockey for ages) but I'm making it a Mother's Day Week for her.. ack I need ideas!
Blog closed for 'tweaking'.
By the way, I think it's stupid that Blogger indicates what zodiac sign you are in your profile if you provide your birthday. Not all of us believe in that silly superstitious crud, you know. Nor do I care what year I'm born in on the Chinese calendar.
Libellés : blogging
samedi 8 mai 2004
The answer my friends
It seems there's something wrong with my page when it loads, at least on my browser. For some reason, the comment script is interfering with the rest of the page, giving me only three posts, without the sidebar even coming up. I don't know if I can do anything at this point, but sorry about whatever it is that's doing it.
As I've alluded to before, I've become increasingly frustrated with youth ministry. It's kind of nice because I've figured out today that if I switch out of it, I won't have to take any more spring classes or have 6 class semesters either. I'll get to graduate on time and my fourth year will be absolutely wonderful. I get to write my thesis next year and look forward to a program I'll enjoy. What a relief! All this time, it wasn't my college that was driving me nuts, it was the major I was in!
I just received one of the best emails I've ever gotten and it was from a girl at college that I've really gotten to know this semester who's at home now. She goes to my church when she's at school and the funny thing is if she were still in town, she'd realize that everything she wrote me was exactly what the sermon was about tonight. God works in such coincidental ways :)
*Theophilus and Mrs. Theophilus just had a baby girl, Katelyn Grace! Isn't she so adorable?
Libellés : youth ministry
mercredi 5 mai 2004
Smatterings of failed attempts
Well, I've been in a strange mood all week, despite the fact that I'm taking one of the best courses that could possibly be offered. The prof for this class is quickly becoming my all-time favourite prof, just because he is one of the few that has actually challenged me, spiritually, academically and personally.
I have an interview next week for the job I applied for, which is glorious news because I don't think I'll be getting this other internship at church. I'm praying that I get the first job because I have felt so alienated from the youth staff and because I no longer have the passion for youth ministry.
In fact, I'm almost 100% certain that I'll be switching out of the youth ministry program at college. As far as leading a small group, I don't know if I want to continue either. This has been my third year and by far, the worst. My kids don't seem to care about it anymore and not only are they disruptive during meeting times, I think they've lost all if any respect they've had for me in the first place. There are a few exceptions in my group but it seems the majority of them don't want to be under my leadership.
I haven't told anybody how I'm a complete failure with my small group since none of the youth staff has talked to me about it in the last few months and because I'm ashamed that my youth won't listen to me or treat me with respect. I still love them no matter what, but if they are rejecting everything I say or do, there's no point of me sticking around. They're in high school now and are fully capable of making their own decisions. If they want to ignore the small group and me, then I can't bend their arms about it.
Why oh why did I think I was called to youth ministry? I'm clearly the wrong person for it. I hate to say this, but I'm doubting whether I would be 'successful' in any ministry.
*On a much happier note, happy birthday Michelle!
Libellés : youth ministry
lundi 3 mai 2004
All at once I've been told
The game, the game! It's been awesome seeing the countless Flames flags on cars today. The school buses even had stickers and signs decorating their windows. I love the energy that's pervading the city right now. Even my class spent some time talking about hockey today with the prof. I wonder what it'll look like when we make the Final Four! Go Flames go!
In great news, I might have a job for this summer! I'll have to apply and wait to see if I get it, but if I do, what an answer to prayer! I'm still going to trust God no matter what, but it's neat that I get to wait and see His faithfulness in action. In the meantime, I need to condense my resume and get my application ready to go. I also heard back for my program today. I have to go for mandatory testing and an interview this month. At this point, I pretty much know that I won't be going into it, so both stages are a waste of time for me, but if I've already made it to part 2, I might as well go through it. I know I am going to fail the current events test since I haven't had time to watch the news in the last few months so if I don't make it through the process due to that, great! Anyways, I have homework I need to be getting to before I watch the big game tonight. I'm sure I'll be having wings for dinner... :)
samedi 1 mai 2004
The five worship songs I skip over in my MP3 player
I don't remember where I found the link to this list of the top five worst worship songs, but it got me thinking about what I've sung over the years. I'm not a music expert or anything, but I know what I like and don't like. And not that I'm getting all picky about the songs I sing to God (I adore both traditional and contemporary styles), it's just that some don't really put me in a worshipful mood. Again, not that I have to be in one to praise God, but I'm a human with tastes and preferences... why I am defending myself on my own blog? :)
So here's my personal list, with songs that are pretty current and mostly well-known. Feel free to add your own.
5. Sing a Song by Third Day
Lance actually posted a little ditty about this song on his blog, which he analyzed a bit more than I will here. My beef is that it seems unnecessary to state that you're singing a song in the lines of a song which you are singing. I hope we don't sing this one in church because I'll be screaming in my head, "I am singing!!" Maybe I won't sing it, but I'll merely think the lyrics over. Then I can say that I do "want to sing a song" without having to sing it but with every intention of doing so.
4. Breathe by Marie Barnett
I'm not a big fan of repetition. It's an okay song, with lots of room for reflection but I sometimes feel sleepy when we sing it. I usually check my watch to see how long the song will carry on and it almost always does for another 5+ minutes, even if there are only six lines to the whole thing. The nice thing is that after you've gone through it three times in a row, you don't have to worry about PowerPoint too much (I did PPT for worship for years so I think I can say that).
3. In The Secret (I Want To Know You) by Andy Park
I always think about women singing to their boyfriends/husbands when I hear this song. Cause you know, I wouldn't mind hearing my boyfriend's voice or seeing his face either. I also get irritated when songs go by two titles, such as "Amazing Love (You Are My King)" or "Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)." It's fine if you have someone doing PPT that knows all the different titles to songs, but if you're in a bind and the person doesn't know what you're referring to, it can be a mess.
2. Every Move I Make by David Ruis
I've heard this song used for kids ministry promotions (thanks Willow Creek) a few too many times. I can't even hear a normal version of this song, sung with adult voices, without picturing the Willow videos in my head. I've also heard country versions of it which make no sense because it's a fairly fast action song. It always comes back to the squeaky voice rendition, reminiscent of the Chipmunks going "La la la la la la, la la la la la la la la" (actual lyrics).
1. Your Love is Extravagant by Darrell Evans
I'll have to agree with Sara on this being the 'worst' but for different reasons. The first time I ever heard this song was in chapel where I honestly thought that it was a fellow student's songwriting attempt for a music class. I'm sorry but I feel extremely uncomfortable singing this to God. Now Darrell has some great worship songs out there but I don't quite know what to make of this. These are the lyrics:
Your love is extravagant
Your friendship mmmm intimate
I find I'm moving to the rhythms of your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant
Spread wide in the arms of Christ
Is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known
You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again
First off, God's love is extravagant, very much so, but I'm not knocking that. Yes, friendship with Him is intimate but 'mmmm'? That makes me think of a good meal, or a noise you make in the middle of a telephone conversation you're not listening to. Ignore the fact that I picked on a word composed of one repeated letter. Next line: Poetic-sounding, but what exactly does it mean? Does grace have rhythm? I'm confused, I'm singing that I'm moving to it but am I? Horrors, what if I'm out of rhythm?! The last line of that verse is something I cannot sing without bursting into a fit of giggles. God's smell intoxicates me in a hidden place? Why would anything of God intoxicate me? God does not cause confusion or take away from the clarity of mind, and if He were to do so with smell, I would be the most befuddled Christian. And when I hear the second verse, Yoda appears in my head. Good old Yoda, speaking in backwards compound sentences :)
Honourable Mention: Meet With Me by Ten Shekel Shirt - just 'cause
I hope I didn't come across as ungodly in writing this. My point is only in that you actually take the time to pick apart what you've just sung to God. I'd rather be slightly too critical than mindless and devoid of brain activity when I'm offering my praises to Him. My mind is a part of the living sacrifice and I want to make sure that what I sing with my mouth won't be something I disagree with in my head.
I like this comment that was left on that page:
"Singing about 'dancing in a river while hugging the creator of the universe that sings over me because I'm so special that Jesus will hug me forever while I imagine that angels' wings are brushing my tears away with a la la hoo yah peaceful easy feeling' seems to me to make a mockery of worship." - gaw
Yeah, that's it, mouth shuts now (fingers stop typing, wind sings, birds glide gracefully, atoms split).
Libellés : songs
It's like looking in a mirror
I can see myself doing this. Or making comments on penmanship, grammatical structure and/or spelling. That's not good, is it (rhetorical question).
