The Ol' Fart Is Gettin' His Edumacation At The University of Phoenix

I continue on at the University of Phoenix. We just finished up PSY/211. Like they say it is all "pissalogical". I am not much of a fan of therapy, psychoanalysis and trying to figure out why I am the way I am. Like Popeye says: I ams whos I ams". In my opinion Freud was a nut case fixated on sexual deviations. I bet the guy did it with his clothes on and called out for his mama when he got excited. Well that is my opinion but I am stickin' to it.

What I went away with from this class was increased knowledge of how to create power point presentations. I am gettin' pretty tricky with this medium. My power points now include animation, transitions, audio and soon to include video. Hey you say big deal. Well when you are 61 and have never been exposed to the creation of a power point it is a big deal. Besides my degree is in Internet Information, Multi Media and Visual Communications. So there. I don't know what the hell I going to do with my degree perhaps I will teach other ol' farts how to make power point presentations.

I and what is left of my classmates all got through the class. I am sure that I will continue with my 3.87 GPA average. This group of folk have been dwindling down. I think that we have lost four pupils here this last week for various reasons. With the University of Phoenix and their system you can only miss one class in a five week period.  If you miss more than that you are automatically dropped. I mean it is twenty hours out of a month so unless you are on your deathbed there are not to many valid excuses.

I have in past posts talked about my learning team. Learning Team E. The team was (the key word is was) comprised of four individuals. The team had to give one member the "boot" this last class. It was unfortunate but when the team depends on each other for a grade then all peoples must communicate and participate unless the rest of the team is notified so we can make adjustments. So that was a stressful situation but it had to be done. I will say that the team handled it in a very professional manner.

This class was enjoyable with a informed, engaging instructor. Ms. Lebens, is just a wisp of gal, from Scandahovian heritage, and a Minny Sota accent. Yah Hey. Kinda cute too. But at 61 (me not her) they all are kinda cute in their own way. 

I move on to a composition class where the final is going to be an essay. I think I might just give the teach a link to this blog and say "there ya go sweetie" (yes another female instructor). I don't call them sweetie in class.

Thanks for reading my rambliings........Solidarity to those workers in Wisconsin

Until We Meet Again

Happy Trails

Duane

The Ol' Farts Gettin' His Edumacation The Learning Team Experience Part 2

Well some of you have surmised that at 61 years of age I went back to college. I say went back or I should say started college because I never went to college in the first place. By the time that I had graduated from Coquille High (Coquille, Oregon) in 1967 I was a licensed journeyman meat cutter. Having entered into the Meat Cutters Union when I was a junior and completed the two year apprentice shortly after I had graduated. Back in 1967, in our country, you could leave high school and go to work making a fairly decent wage. If I remember correctly gasoline was 25 cents a gallon, a loaf of bread was 30 cents or less (can you believe how much bread costs today) and ground beef was 39 cents a pound. Things have certainly changed, and not necessarily for the better, in our country today. So I had no intention to go to college which in today's economy it may have not made much of a difference anyway. There are college graduates with Masters Degrees that are unemployed today.

So with that being said I am now enrolled at the University of Phoenix here in Albuquerque. If you are unaware of the UoP's format we attend class once a week for four hours and each course is for five weeks. Students at the UoP go all year round with a two week break during the holidays. With that format you can obtain your bachelor's degree in 3 1/2 years instead of the normal four years at a regular University. This requires you to do most all of your assignments and homework on-line. You are also assigned a "team" that you do team assignments with. The UoP is trying to get future corporate workers to be able to assimilate into the work force and the corporate team concept. At 61 years of age I really buy into that program.....not. This takes me to my team. Learning Team "E".

Learning Team E (the E is supposed to stand for Excellence) is comprised of an unemployed bank manager,  an Iraqi Vet struggling with severe PTSD,  a widowed mother of two grade school kids and me a crusty ol' fart that demands excellence. So three guys and a gal. All learning teams at the UoP are required to submit a team charter. Team E's charter is comprehensive including language that identifies the responsibilities of each member of the team to the other members. The UoP is attempting, here again, to assimilate future corporate employees into the realm of the corporate world by requiring them to come up with a charter. Well charters are all well and good but at this level of our academic careers as bought as worthless as "tits on a boar hog". You can encourage excellence, you can demand responsibility, and you can describe consequences if there is not compliance but if a team member does not want to follow the guidelines of the charter there really are not a lot of avenues to take to resolve any issues.

So with that being said I take you to last week (Jan. 26th - Feb 1st). The team was to make a team power point presentation on Tuesday evening on Feb. 1st. I guess I should tell you that the class is psychology/211. the presentation is to be based on Adult Social Development which I find interesting because of the events that transpired. My initial duties were to find an article in the UoP library (no books everything is PDF files on line) related to the subject that we were to present. The article I found was basically about the reciprocity of negative affects between parent and child and how that can affect the child's early adulthood (yawn). It is my opinion that Psychologists like to pin labels on individuals particularly children. We are extroverts, introverts, interpersonal, intrapersonal, popular, rejected......and all of the rest of the clinical terms that the so called experts like to pin on us. I guess it is a good thing otherwise the unemployment numbers would be higher. The team was going to use that information but illustrate how bad people can be raised in good families and how bad family situations can produce successful people. Everything is going well except that one team member has decided to go A.W.O.L. on us. There has been limited communication and input from this member and you must keep in mind that this is a "team effort" and graded accordingly. The class is on Tuesday evening and we finally get a email that the member in question will have her portion of the power point with her when she gets to class that evening. Just a little to late. So through an act of God we get a pass. The weather front that strangled a major portion of the United States hit New Mexico as well. In Albuquerque 3-4 inches of snow and some cold weather pretty much shuts the whole damn town down. So the Tuesday evening class was canceled and we did not have to make our presentation because of an act of God.

So I fast forward to Saturday February 5th, 2010 where we had a make-up class. Pretty cool of the University of Phoenix where those that did not attend the makeup class get the same credit as those that did. I wonder what brainyack thought that one up? In order to do this the proper way the three participating members of the team had a private conversation with our instructor. At this point, with the team, we are all pretty much done with this non-participating member. It is to bad that the situation had to come to this but there did not seem to be much choice in the matter.

So another saga in the on-going "Edumacation" of the ol' fart at the University of Phoenix. If there are any other "Phoenixers" out there that read this let me know what your experience's have been.

Until We Meet Again

Happy Trails

What Was Goin' On In New Mexico In The 1970's

Or
 "Put Your Clothes Back On Ethel"

As many of you know I sell "stuff" on eBay. Well sometimes you run across some pretty unusual stuff. Before I go any further I must warn you that the pictures are of naked women. This is not pornography but pictures of a nude contest put on by, at that time, a local nudist club. So if you find such material offensive ya better turn away now.

I normally don't sell this type of merchandise but when I came across it I couldn't resist the social and historical value of the history of what was going on in the early 1970's. some of you may remember 'Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll". I vaguely remember...parts of it....and after looking at these "nekked girls" I remember some of those parts also...I still have my memories.

Any way a little background of the event that was held in Corrales, New Mexico. Corrales is a town just north of Albuquerque. Gathering from some brochures and souvenir programs that I acquired this contest was sponsored by the Yucca Naturist Club who claimed that "nudists were everyday people". sure they are they just don't have any clothes on. The organization also promoted that the contest was the "only nude beauty pageant in New Mexico". 

According to a brochure that was part of this collection the Yucca Naturist Club had their own camp ground located at Lava Lakes which was located near Algodones, New Mexico which is about 15 minuted north of Albuquerque. There is no lake at Lava Lakes but the camp was a former commercial trout farm and had several canals for the members to enjoy. This organization was a member of the "American Health Alliance and promoted a family atmosphere. I found interesting when reading the brochure was that the camp was rudimentary with few facilities but had space for travel trailers and camping. Short order meals were available and most importantly "cold showers" I am sure that like many nudists clubs throughout the U.S that the Yucca Naturists Club was a fine organization. I tried to research the club but was unsuccessful  and am unaware if they still exist today. Well enough with this babbling and on with the show.......

Miss Sunbather '71 Contest Official Souvenir Program

My cheap little camera does not the natural beauty of the flora and fawna of New Mexico very well but you get the idea. All of the photos are black and white. The young ladies on stage are all displaying their "assets" for the sake of the good. If you think about it I am sure that today that the ladies are all still very attractive but are more than likely Grandma's. Unless they have discovered the miracles of modern cosmetic surgery things have probably gotten a little less firm and some parts are probably not where they use to be. Damn gravity anyway.

This lovely specimen of gods handiwork (note the big hair popular in the '70's) is Heidemarie Rathke who was the 1970 beauty pageant winner. I did a little research on Heidemarie and discovered that she was a semi-finalist in the 1969 Miss World-USA contest. The information provided in the program also states that Heidemarie was a contestant in The Miss Nude Cosmos pageant held in San Bernardino, California in 1971. so ol" Heidiemarie liked to strut her stuff all over the place.

Calenders, Photos, Souvenir Programs

I acquired these items from an estate. The estate was from the gentleman was a professional photographer and a member of the naturists club. I was able to acquire several copies of the programs, several calendars promoting the pageant and several proof photos of some of the individual contestants. You can go into my eBay store AnuDirection and find listings of these items under category Collectibles Nude Photos

You must be 18 years old to view or have the permission of a parent to view these items. If you are not 18 or you are taking viagra or have a heart condition complications may "arise" from viewing these photos. I am not responsible for any undo slobbering, smacking of lips, or repeating the phrase "will you look at that". consult your medical physician or take a cold shower what ever is the least expensive.

I will have more photos to share with you in a future post. I have on of the adult film star Candy Samples that will "peak" your interest.

Thanks for reading my post and go into my eBay store and buy something.

Remember Valentines Day is jut around the corner and I have a bunch of nice gifts available for you Valentine at very reasonable prices.

Until We Meet Again

Happy Trails