Time Flies...

We had another important EPiC meeting yesterday afternoon. Beforehand, Meggan told me to prepare some materials so that I could update the rest of the Committee on the status of my projects. I can’t believe it’s the middle of July already! My internship seems to just be flying by. One of the things we discussed at our meeting, actually, was how it was almost time to put up the rest of the exhibits. Scary thought! I know my 1860 Election exhibit is just about ready, but I can’t help but feel that there’s so much more research I can do and so much more fine-tuning. It’s probably the perfectionist in me talking. [excerpt

Government-Assisted Housing and Electoral Participation in New York City, 2000-2001

For a representative democracy to function optimally, citizens from all walks of life should have equal chances to express their preferences through the electoral process. In practice, we know that the actual rate of electoral participation varies greatly depending on individual circumstances and social settings. Better off, better educated, non-Hispanic white citizens are more likely to vote; poor, less educated, and minority individuals are much less likely to do so. Gaining a better understanding of why and how this might be so is crucial for moving toward a more democratic polity

How to Interpret History to the Sci-Fi Fan: My Favorite Civil War Novel

I often struggled to find an answer to the comment often leveled by visitors that, they were so backward back then, or that, we know so much more now. Getting across the fact to visitors that much of science, especially the basics of Newtonian physics and electromagnetic, has been understood at their elemental level for generations is sometimes a tough order of business. I found myself at times trying to explain Alessandro Volta\u27s invention of the Voltaic battery in 1800 or the use of the Turtle during the American Revolution. Still, compared to the explosions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the 19th century seems backwards and quaint. Their dreams seem limited in scope. They appear, in short, backwards. [excerpt

Cognitive Learning Strategies of Non-english Department Students on Noun Structure

Learning English for non-English department students is not as easy as it seems. Besides, as much as it is necessary to know how successful learners learn, not less important is to know how less successful learners learn. Using think aloud method, this study aims at finding out the cognitive strategies used by the engineering department students in answering incorrectly problems on TOEFL noun structure-the grammar point in which students made the most errors. Findings uncover the students' strategies and reasoning upon which pedagogical implications can be put forth so that more effective and fruitful instruction can be tailored

We The People\u27s Executive

Perhaps to no one’s surprise, a recent survey found that most Americans know far more about television hits than they know about the United States Constitution. For instance, 52% of Americans surveyed could name at least two characters from The Simpsons, and 41% could name at least two judges from American Idol. Meanwhile, a mere 28% could identify more than one of the rights protected by the First Amendment. Surveys such as this help clear up one of the apparent mysteries of the last five years: How did we change so quickly from a nation in which the rule of law seemed deeply entrenched to a nation that has seen an astonishingly successful executive power grab? The answer, is that many Americans—including those who serve in Congress—neither know nor care very much about our constitutional system. Although the subject of constitutional checks and balances is a matter of endless interest to most of the people who populate America’s law schools, the rule of law and the protection of constitutional rights turn out to be matters of extreme indifference to quite a few of our fellow citizens

There\u27s a Little Spark of Love Still Burning

[Verse 1] There was a fire burning in my heart, Burning for years and for years Your love and kisses gave that flame a start, I put it out with my tears; You don’t remember, I can’t forget, That old affection lives with me yet, I keep on longing, to my regret, I know I can’t forget. [Chorus] There’s a little spark of love still burning, And yearning in my heart for you, There’s a longing there for your returning, I want you! I do! So come, come to my heart again, Come, come, set that love a flame, For there’s a little spark of love still burning, and yearning for you. [Verse 2] I left you laughing I said goodbye, Laughing but nobody knew How much relief I found when I could cry, I cried my heart out for you; I’ve loved you more than you’ll ever know, Tho’ years have passed I’ve wanted you so, Bring back the old love, let new love grow, come back and whisper low. [Chorus

Palindrome Palindromes

Palindroming is such an unnatural occupation that it is extremely hard to make an intelligible pal of length, or even a short one involving diphthongs, especially if H is involved. (No, no, the letter, not the drug. But I imagine heroin would make it totally impossible, if not uninteresting.) Hence most pals require and ideally requite explanation, as few make easy reading, unlike anagrams which are much easier. With that excuse, I present some more or less identical palls that include and define the word palindrome itself in a new way, so far as I know

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated August 19, 1944

[Transcription begins] WAC Det. IRTC Camp Wheeler, Ga 19 August 1944 Dear Folks, It is my Sat PM to work, but there is very little to do. I have the current filing all up-to-date as of this minute and it is too late to start any back jobs. Nothing much since I wrote Thursday night. I wrote four letters and darned all my stockings Thursday night while I was waiting for all the girls to get in so I could go to bed. I didn’t get so very much sleep, as the last one came in at 2.00 AM and the cooks were noisy when they went to work at 4.30, but the bed was comfortable and I really accomplished quite a lot of work by having to stay in. Last night we had G.I. details instead of class. Mine was to trim the mops. After much, much effort I finally got a single edged razor blade to cut them with, but even then it was rather difficult. An easy detail compared to some of the others, though dirty. We have a new boss here in the Adjutant’s Section. A Major Tuttle. He is the Adjutant and has moved down in this building instead of using the office the previous adjutant, Major Sheridan had used. Captain Poslik is still here in the office but he is only Personnel Officer instead of being Assistant Adjutant. This will probably make some changes as this man is more interested in having a file system up-to-date than Capt Poslik has been. The latest rumor is that he will combine the 201 files and the decimal file and I’ll be responsible for both. I don’t know whether that will be so or not. In some ways it would be better as it would give me more to do and the files could be made more complete if they were in one unit. On the other hand, there would be personnel problems as the boy who is sergeant in charge of the 201 files is absolutely no good and yet is very jealous of my rating. He and I just wouldn’t work together well I’m sure. I’m not worrying until I know more definitely what is going to happen. Tonight Marjorie and I are going to a movie on the post I think instead of going in town. I have KP all day tomorrow so I’ll be busy this week-end without spending too much money! It doesn’t seem possible that August is two-thirds gone already. The weeks go by so fast. Fall will be here very shortly now. It has been two months since I was home but it seems a long time ago. Only four months before another I hope. I don’t plan much about my next furlough as I can’t have it until December and so much may happen between now and then that there is no sense in thinking too far ahead. If I stay here, I expect to have mine over Christmas. Four months seems a long time but at the rate the weeks go by it really will creep up awfully fast. Maybe at the rate the boys seem to be going, the war will be over in the not too far distant future, anyway. Here’s hoping. Love Kay Mon A.M. Thought this was mailed Sat! Had a quiet day yesterday, read a book during my morning & afternoon breaks. Went to see “Take it or Leave it” – Phil Baker – at the movies last night. –Showed a lot of scenes from old movies that were good. Hastily Kay [Transcription ends

Letter Written by Katherine Trickey to Her Folks Dated February 14, 1944

[Transcription begins] Monday Feb. 14 WAC Det IRTC Camp Wheeler, Georgia Dear Folks, Got your letter of Feb 10 Saturday P.M. (You see mail comes very quickly,) also the papers. I am enclosing the signed Registration Blank – The more I think about going to Camp for vacation, the more it seems as if that might not be the best thing to do. I should of course want to see Aunt Grace & Beverly & also Aunt Ruth & Uncle Walter and I’ll have only 7 days at home at the most. Perhaps it would be better to go to Bangor just for a couple of days and stay overnight at the Y or something, just Mother & I maybe or something, or perhaps I could get gas enough so we could drive over. I may be able to get extra gas for my furlough I don’t know. Anyway don’t try to plan very much because everything is so uncertain as to when I can come and I’ll not know for a while anyway. I don’t want you to have to work so hard getting ready for me to come that you’ll not enjoy my being there. (second page) I went to Macon Sat. evening and shopped for little things. Didn’t stay very late. Yesterday I took the day off & stayed in bed & read until 4 o’clock In the afternoon. We had bought rolls & cookies in town so I didn’t even go to dinner. Last night we went to a piano concert at the Service Club & then I went to bed early again. That’s all the news since I wrote before. I’ll write again soon. Love Kay [Transcription ends