FreeWrite, probably the last post

This week I have a free topic. This is the last required post that I have for English 304. I have no clue what to write about. I have no clue about a lot of things in life. How in the world will I ever manage to wake up for 8 o'clock classes everyday next semester? I have trouble waking up for 10:10 classes. What will I do after graduation? I want to do many things and go many places, but where does God want me to go? Should I go to New Orleans and work at a camp? Should I go to Uganda? Should I go to discipleship training school in Ghana? Should I try to go to China, I would love to go there one day, or should I try to go to a Spanish speaking country. Or should I work with an organization that will travel to several countries between the 10 and 40 degree latitudes? These are all places I want to go, plus South Africa for the next World Cup in 2010. Where should I go first and how long should I go. I want to go for at least 3 months or the travel cost is too high for the time I would spend there. These are some things that I will be trying to figure out during the break. It will take more prayer and more listening. God has already shut one door it seems, will he shut more?

Personalities, employers

Sounds smart and expensive to hold all these interview processes. However, in the end the effort put into the process probably pays off. Happier employees work better. If turnover is lower there is less training costs and more continuity short-term costs could be higher but long-term costs look to be lower.

dual coding

Well I'm not sure I completely understand this theory, but I do know that many advertisements use this technique very effectively. Blue squares make us think of Nationwide insurance. Bobble hula girls that go on the dashboard of your car make me think of Hardee's commercials. The Postal Service songs remind me of UPS. Some of these ads are very effective and some are not. Some of the dual coding comes off obnoxious and annoying. This can accomplish the opposite of what the commercial is meant to do.

Working with a group

What have I learned about working with a group so far this semester? Well, this is not the first group I have worked with before. I have worked with many groups. Some work well, some do not. This group project was unique and challenging. We were dealing with a topic that none of us were familiar with. We did a great job communicating and being flexible. We each used unique talents. I would like to see us getting more work done during group projects instead of just assigning things to be done between meetings. We did most of our work like this and during our last meeting.

I am incapable

I am unable to do anything. Everything I strive for goes wrong. I am helpless, useless and utterly full of shame. The things I want to do I do not do and the things I do not want to do I do. Lucky for me there is one who came to save me. He saves me from my inadequacies. In him, I can accomplish anything no matter the impossibility. He has made me who I am today. He has challenge me nurtured me and taught me all I know. He protects me and guides me. It is when I obey him that life goes right and when I disobey and turn my back on him that I fall on my face.
Despite all he does for me I spit in his face and break his heart daily. I disappoint him and sometimes make him angry. But he forgives me every time as soon as I ask. His name is Yahweh.

An interesting interview

This was my first face to face interview. I have had several interviews over the phone but never face to face, at least none that I can remember. It was very different being in the same room as the interviewer. I had to be conscious of my actions. I have a habit of fidgeting, so I had to make sure that I did not distract my interviewer. I also had to make sure of eye contact. I didn't want to be a psycho billy ninja and have a death stare but I wanted to show confidence, trust, attentiveness and interest. I feel that I did a good job with both these things. I think that this was a great learning experience that will prepare me for future interviews.

Presentations

I thought the presentations a couple weeks ago were very good. I definitely learned some interesting things. I particularly enjoyed the one on Water polo and the one on Rock Climbing. I really liked the presentation on Water polo because I know some of the players on the team. I thought Nathan did a good job of using the ball to demonstrate techniques. I have a much better understanding now of a sport that I get to talk to Nathan about quite often.
I thought the Rock Climbing Presentation was interesting because I have done some recreational climbing. I learned a lot more details about the sport and I also thought the video was very cool. I also liked that I got a lolly pop at the end for answering a question correctly. The candy made it a very memorable presentation for me.

Sports Obsession

The sports industry is one of the largest in the world. There are multiple channels devoted to sports. There are entire channels devoted to just one league of a sport. Millions of men waste hours a day reading articles and posting comments. There are politics even in sports. People have their entire days and weeks ruined because their team lost.
Why are we so obsessed with sports? Obviously we enjoy playing the games, but why do we obsess with watching them and cheering for "our team?" Does it help us escape from reality? Perhaps. But why do we want to escape from reality? Is it because our reality is so depressing and boring? If the answer is yes, then perhaps we should change our reality instead of complaining about how the coach isn't any good or the top player chokes under pressure.
A game should not ruin our day, week, month, year, or even life. This happens to some people. Are we forgetting that it is just a game? It is meant for enjoyment and to help our bodies stay fit.
I say we reevaluate our devotions to our sports teams.

Articles on Resumes and Cover Letters

The first article I read was the one on CVs for applying to jobs abroad. The article speaks of different preferences in different regions. Most foreign countries prefer a very simple and straight forward Curriculum Vitae. One thing I really like was where it said refer to team accomplishments as if you were part of a team instead of boasting only about what you did by yourself.
I also looked at the article called "Six Tips for Writing A Winning Cover Letter." I liked the idea of addressing the letter to a specific person. This seemed like a good idea that will help someone remember you. It is a good use of ethos.

I read the article about body language. Most of it I knew. However, it did remind me not to fidget at an interview. However, the article says that fidgeting is a sign of nervousness. I disagree, sometimes fidgeting helps me concentrating. However, an interviewee must make sure not to distract or annoy the interviewer.
There was also a comment about eye contact. It said to look at the eyes mouth and shoulders. I can agree with the eyes and mouth, but I hate it when people don't look at my face when they are talking to me. I have a friend that always looks at your ear or shoulder when she talks to you and it is very annoying. I would mostly look at their eyes. glance at there hands and at the environment every once in awhile but mostly at their eyes. One does have to make sure they don't freak out the interviewer.

Ten years? I have no clue.

Ten years is a long time to plan in advance. I do not know where I will be next year, so trying to write about where I will be in ten years is very hard. I would like to be a missionary to a foreign country, so here goes a bit of abstract thinking. In ten years I will be in either rural China or the bush of Africa. I will have planted several churches and be fluent in the local language. I will finally have a wife with a son of 2 years and a girl on the way. We will be working to educate local children on efficient farming techniques. There will be one other family a day's journey away. They have a baby girl. We meet every weekend to have fellowship and practice English. We switch towns each week. The food is always great and worth the hour of walking. It is a little hard with babies and one on the way. We have been here for 10 months and last month we finished our new church building. The church outgrew our house after 6 months and we had to meet outside for a few months. Thankfully this was during the dry season and we met at night. Currently we meet on Tuesdays and Thursday nights after dinner. We are praying that we can train a pastor from the local church and leave by the time our daughter is walking. The plan is then for us to move to a new village approximately 50 miles away and start the process anew. However, in order to do that we must travel home to America and raise more money. it doesn't make much sense, plane tickets cost as much money as we use in an entire year. But, the churches supporting us want us to speak to their congregation and come to benefit dinners. It is good to return home to visit our parents and old friends from school; plus the doctors and bankers. We are praying hard for our safety when we do return from America. The tribe has been known to be hostile towards white people. Because of this, my friend and I will go to the village first and hope to be received. We may die, but all for the glory of God.

This is just speculative, but I think it would be really fun. Of course I could be working at a church here in America.

We are not a machine, are we?

One thing that caught my attention when watching the video was when "we" were called a "machine." The video said we will "teach the Machine." What makes us, humanity, a machine? Do we not think for ourselves? Has the web made us organisms focused on consuming and digesting information without thinking about what it is?
The web has reached a new level, 2.0. Anyone is easily capable of adding information, videos, text, and pictures. People are slowly learning that they must guard themselves from those on the web that want to steal personal information. People can easily contact with each other with a few clicks and a bit of typing. Ideas are easily shared. News travels more quickly than ever.
People entering the workforce probably know how to use the web very well. It is a rarity in our world that someone would not. These people must make sure that they have self-control on the web. There are many ways to get in trouble in the workplace using the web: pornography, online gaming and other unethical or time wasting activities. People already in the workplace must make sure that they continue learn and adapt to the ever changing web. The can use the new web in powerful ways to gain a competitive advantage.
I hope we don't become mindless information collectors and that we always think about what we are using the web for.

Introduction

My name is Stowe. I am a senior in the Management Department at Clemson University. I am also studying for a minor in Religion. I am hoping to graduate in May, but I have to complete 36 hours in order to do so.
I am from Greenville, SC. I have lived there my entire life. I went to Greenville High School, and played football for the school starting in 7th grade. 6 years. I am a member of 1st Presbyterian Church in Greenville, and here at Clemson I got to Crosspoint Church when I'm in town.
I am on the Clemson Ultimate Team, the Joint Chiefs of Waft (JCOW). I am currently the president of the club. What did I get myself into?
This summer I spent 9 weeks in Reynosa, Mexico. I was a volunteer with the organization Faith Ministry. I built Cement Houses 5 days a week, and it is one of my favorite things to do. I hope to return someday but I do not know if that is God's plan for me.
After I graduate, I hope to do mission work. I have no clue where. I would like to go to another country but I still need to get permission from the boss-man.