School days...
Aug. 20th, 2005 01:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
urbpanI just selected (not "registered" since registration doesn't begin until monday) a class to take this fall:
Writing about Nature and the Environment
An advanced writing workshop for students with an interest in writing about the environment, the course is also appropriate for students in the field of environmental management who wish to strengthen their writing skills. Some of America's most interesting writing has addressed the issue of our place in nature, from Emerson and Thoreau to Rachel Carson, Edward Abbey, and John McPhee. This course examines a range of writing about nature and the environment, all the time giving class members a chance to write about the subject themselves.
For some reason I'm terrifically nervous about it! When Alexis and I were talking about it yesterday, I said "There must be prereqs--I haven't studied ecology--I'm not qualified--" etc.etc. It's not as if I haven't ever written about nature before. But now I'm holding it up to scrutiny--real scrutiny...school scrutiny...*gasp*...HARVARD scrutiny. I have a stomach ache just thinking about it.
I won't sabotage myself! I may not be able to register on Monday (the website says high traffic may prevent it, and to try on Tuesday), but dammit, I will register. I've already payed the outragious registration fee, so if I don't get in, I have to register for something there.
Introduction to Nutrition at UMASS was so easy to take. This one, I'm nervous just thinking about it.
Writing about Nature and the Environment
An advanced writing workshop for students with an interest in writing about the environment, the course is also appropriate for students in the field of environmental management who wish to strengthen their writing skills. Some of America's most interesting writing has addressed the issue of our place in nature, from Emerson and Thoreau to Rachel Carson, Edward Abbey, and John McPhee. This course examines a range of writing about nature and the environment, all the time giving class members a chance to write about the subject themselves.
For some reason I'm terrifically nervous about it! When Alexis and I were talking about it yesterday, I said "There must be prereqs--I haven't studied ecology--I'm not qualified--" etc.etc. It's not as if I haven't ever written about nature before. But now I'm holding it up to scrutiny--real scrutiny...school scrutiny...*gasp*...HARVARD scrutiny. I have a stomach ache just thinking about it.
I won't sabotage myself! I may not be able to register on Monday (the website says high traffic may prevent it, and to try on Tuesday), but dammit, I will register. I've already payed the outragious registration fee, so if I don't get in, I have to register for something there.
Introduction to Nutrition at UMASS was so easy to take. This one, I'm nervous just thinking about it.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Re: Books, books, books
Date: 2005-08-25 10:23 pm (UTC)Omg, dude. LIGHTEN UP.
I really enjoyed the part of the story where he was talking to/about Richard Parker and beckoning him onto the life boat and then suddenly realizing 'holy shit! there's a tiger on the lifeboat now!'
I got to the part of the theology blathering where he talks about atheists vs. agnostics and how doubt it basically stupid and how people should be able to move forward from that. Imo, it's a sign of strength to admit that you don't/can't/won't know and be okay with that. Why grasp at straws to make yourself more comfortable?
Re: Books, books, books
Date: 2005-08-25 11:03 pm (UTC)Finish the book. Then we'll talk.
As far as the Atheists vs agnostics thing goes, I agree with you. In fact, that was kind of the point that Bill Maher was making (that I was trying to tell you about the other day). I don't think that the author actually agrees with his character on that point--I think he was just developing the character for us.
Why would it be better to pretend to be totally sure of something that you can't possibly be sure of?, is my take on it.
Re: Books, books, books
Date: 2005-08-26 03:18 pm (UTC)