To the respected poster who sent me a PM and the box was full--now it's not. Please resend. Thanks. J.
My memory tells me that the magic number is 30 (combined sent/received). My solution? Reply immediately and then delete once you've replied. Jack
Ah! So that's my problem! I was treating my PM box as if it were supposed to be some sort of permanent historical record.
Just wondering... What does it say about this place that a thread entitled "PM cleaned out" could generate 8... no, now 9... replies; ten or more, if anyone replies to this. I didn't put a question mark at the end of the above because it's really a statement... ...that anyone's free to answer (or ignore), of course.
Re: Just wondering... OK, I'll hazard a reply. What I think this says about this place is that it is a kind of reflection of our culture. Lots and lots of technology designed to help people to communicate but, at least in some cases, all it does is create distance. So people take the opportunities that present themselves and they talk about anything that presents itself. I started a thread on the weather not long ago. (By the way, is anyone else in this country just reallreally HOT? Isn't this just the greenhouse effect? George Bush says "no" but then he's just about the money, on this issue at least). If I could take a shot at driving this thread completely off-topic, here's a list of things that I'd like to discuss: 1) Can Curt Schilling really be an effective closer or should we just get him back into the starting rotation? 2) The NHL is back! Does anyone care? (I couldn't care less) 3) Can someone help me stay abreast of the current work in genetic engineering? 4) The Supreme Court nominations: who, what when, where, how? (I know, I know, it's in the Politics forum) 5) How can I buy a wrecked motorcycle from an insurance auction? (or other similar source) 6) Is the Education Direct course on motorcycle repair worth the money? 7) Is the lack of knowledge regarding Chinese (DL) higher education a matter of the lack of technology infrastructure or the ongoing political/cultural insulation of the country from the rest of the world? 8) What is the most effective fencing system for a multi-species farm? (and how can I get it free) 9) Will reality TV ever end? Please? 10) Will AJ Burnett solve the Sox's pitching problem? Whatever. Jack
Yes. Probably. And a myriad of others. The latter. Nor do I. Yes, but can I do it wearing blue genes? There's more than one? Find someone with a dealer's license and pay 'em a flat $100 to take you to the auction, which money he earns even if you don't end-up buying anything; and promise him another $100 if you do. I've bought four cars that way and saved many times what I paid the guy over what it would have cost me either from a used-car dealer or an individual. And, by the way, I wouldn't buy a wrecked motorcycle unless I could be damned certain that its frame (and front fork) was dead-on, microscopically straight... which is virtually impossible to do once it's been sprung. Yes. The latter. A concrete wall. Either steal it or marry a redi-mix heiress. No. No. No.
While I like the idea about the motorcycle I think I'll decline the idea about the concrete fence. In any case I appreciate your response. Jack
Just out of curiosity, how does one know if one's PM box is full? You crack me up Uncle! Abner P.S. Just funnin Ted.
That's okay. I was just kidding. (Bwahahahahahahah!!!) (Inside joke, everyone. Don't worry about it.)
Question that assumption.... In Higher Education Through Open and Distance Learning, there's a chapter by Dr. Ding Xingfu on distance learning in China. When I read it I remembered thinking that their distance education system seemed rather sophisticated, and that was written in 1999. -=Steve=-
Re: Question that assumption.... Technologically, perhaps. But no system of distance education that engages in censorship can possibly be sophisticated in any way other than mechanically. Chinese ISPs routinely block web sites from outside of China that could even remotely be considered potentially damaging to that country's party line; and the owners of such web sites originating from within China are jailed... or worse. Education isn't education unless all that's out there -- even that which some find objectionable -- is available to everyone, always, no matter what. Without that, it's just propaganda and indoctrination... or worse. That's why I responded to Jack's question with "the latter"... because it is.
Gregg, I definitely take your point, but I think it depends a bit on what subject you're trying to study in a censored environment. As two real life examples, my cousin-in-law is in Cuba studying Geology, and a friend is about to go to Lanzhou, China to study -- I am not making this up -- Journalism. When my cousin is done with his program, he hopes to work for an oil company in Trinidad or Venezuela. I'm very sure he'll be perfectly well prepared for it. When our friend is done... well, I suppose we'll see how good at real journalism she is. I suppose if nothing else she'll be able to translate and interpret between English and Mandarin (and whatever dialect they speak in Lanzhou). Hmm, on the other hand, perhaps in this era of CNN and Fox News, the best preparation for going into the media is through a program that emphasizes compliance and cheerleading. -=Steve=-
