what have i learned this quarter?

Today is the last day of Spring quarter (and hopefully my last day EVER in a spring quarter) of school. While the day isn’t quite over (1 more final to go) I am ecstatic to publicly post the things that I have learned this last quarter. Like the old saying goes “success is not measured not by what one brings, but by what one leaves.” and in this case, success can be measured by what notes my brain has left for my memory to dance to. or something like that.

they say that we can own our homework... but we know that homework really owns us.

so…. what have i learned this quarter?

• business students are incapable of understanding the failure of neo-liberal idealism in today’s globalized society (ie. chris)
• last minute study sesh’s are not the best way to study before a final, but… still work
• study groups will save your life! anytime other students comply to give you their study notes is like being handed 20 bucks
• the spaghetti factory celebrated its 40th anniversary this year for 10 weeks every tuesday (we often celebrated with them)
• a sunny day = a day with no school work always, sometimes its just too nice outside to be in class
• interdisciplinary arts classes are 200% easier than urban studies classes
• 20 credits is cake when you have professor’s like detray
• one of my professors this quarter has actually delivered baby’s in the bush
• same professor feels that the only thing people want in life is to know the future of their children is in good hands (learned this from too much LSD)

 

The Fading Future of the ILO: A Look at the Child Labor Issue in India

The Fading Future of the ILO: A look at the Child Labor Issue in India

 Note: I spent all day today writing this paper for my Labor and Human Rights class at the University of Washington. Once again, I am humbled by the information I have learned and the stories that I have read. I hope that this essay touches your heart in a way that you are never the same. 

          The International Labor Organization (ILO) was established in 1919, in the rouse of World War I, as a response to worldwide labor standards. In 1969, the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize for its work and efforts to standardize labor conditions across the globe. While the ILO’s past possesses an honorable reputation that speaks for itself, critiques suggest the ILO’s future looks less than promising. In particular, Guy Standing’s critique describes the ILO as relatively ineffective in progressing a meaningful labor rights framework under current global conditions. This paper will prove Standing’s analysis as an accurate assessment drawing from evidence of the ILO’s lack of success in advancing labor rights in India.

          The ILO, beginning as and continuing as a mainly European organization, stands as a model for national welfare capitalism. A bottom line support for tripartism, the organizing of collective bargaining at national and sector levels, gave the ILO a stigma of leading power for many years conducting the forward march of the working class. Karl Polanyi describes the ILO as a critical phase in the Great Transformation, which refers to the ongoing Global transformation in the creation of international markets. In this context, the ILO is tool by which national labor markets are shaped and regulated.

Blog Lately

This post is a compilation of the most interesting blogs I have read lately. The blogs and links posted here are not necessarily synonymous with my personal beliefs or opinions and in some cases, actually challenge my perspective. But I have learned that anything that can broaden my perspective is beneficial for my own understanding. My hope with this post is that your understanding might be enriched and your perspective challenged. Some of these blogs I subscribe to, some are friends’ and some I have accidentally (or divinely) stumbled upon (some are articles assigned for school work). I have personally experienced a sense of encouragement to my faith as a Christian and as a human in reading these blogs, some more than others. Some of these blogs have left me laughing, some thinking, some believing, and some inspired. Whatever they may be to you, I hope you will consider the purpose and ideals behind the words to be valuable to your own life.

Obama’s Deleted Notre Dame Remarks Posted by In the Agora- an interactive online journal focused on current events, culture, faith, science and more.

It May Never Be Easy But It Can Always Be Good, A Lesson From Jo By Charles Lee- Pastor of New Hope South Bay Church in the greater Los Angeles area; Co-Founder and Vice-President of JustOne; a cultural catalyst and advocate for social justice

Is God Going Out Of Style? By Bishop T.D. Jakes- Pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas; best-selling author of over 30 books; a quintessential leader in the church and global community

Get Over It Conservatives: Same-Sex Marriage Will Be Legal in All 50 States By Michael Abernethy… who I actually know nothing about. (Note: I obviously disagree with Abernethy’s opinion in this one, but his points are, nonetheless, valid. Understanding my opposer’s perspective is, in my personal opinion, a key in making your own argument effective)

Facebook: Connecting Us in Life and Death By Vicki Santillano- a San Franciscan writer for DivineCaroline.com, a site dedicated to women with daily articles written by women

5 MUST see places before i am 50.

This blog idea really came on whim. I have not thought about it long so forgive me if the rest of this seems rather whacky, or crazy. But i promise, i am not losing my mind. 

The 5 places I MUST see before i am 50 
(which i have a ways to go, thank God!)

Venice, Italy. I always imagined that I would go to Venice on my honeymoon. Recently, I looked up plane tickets to Venice… out of curiosity. $2,000 round trip from Seattle. So Venice may be in the future, just not the honeymoon future. (and Im not even engaged…) and if I ever go to Venice, I’ll also go to Rome. Since Rome was the pitiful city that never became what it should have been (school has taught me so much).

Uganda. Its not just about Invisible Children. The need in Uganda is great and has touched my heart. Living for Christ means reaching his people. It means countering poverty and advocating for peace. Uganda is deeply entrenched in war, poverty, and injustice. My life, as a life for Jesus, fights these things. and of course, I want to make some Ugandian friends.

Australia. I want to see some kangaroos and koalas and ancient sea turtles. I want to see an opera at the Sydney Opera House and see the promise land of Nemo and Marlin. I want to experience the outback and the real meaning of shrimp on the barbie. I want to worship at Hillsong and understand why Australia is one of the most charitable countries in the world. I do not, however, want to be bit or poisoned by any crazy insects or small crawling creatures.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Cabo is my idea of a real vacation. Tropical, beautiful, relaxing. Cabo can be my new honeymoon destination.

and finally… alaska. not because i really hope to see alaska. but because i think that maybe i should. but i dont want to visit the eskimo, ice castle, need fur on every part of my body alaska… ill go to like anchorage or something. or maybe a cruise… i think ill go on an alaskan cruise and see the icebergs and the sea lions. my grandma went on one of these and she said it was awesome!

Ok, so this last may not be incredibly strong. and there are many more places I want to see and visit and stamp in my passport. Truthfully, I want to see all of Africa. and Paris. and Holland. and the Swiss Alps. and the Statue of Liberty. and Wall Street…. and the list goes on…

random cinco de mayo facts

Are you a cinco de mayo fan? May 5th has become the mexican version of st. patrick’s day… cinco de mayo lovers bring out the chips and salsa, sombreros, and maybe even a pinata. but what is cinco de mayo even a celebration of? Here are some random cinco de mayo facts I bet you didnt know…

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the US than in Mexico

Cinco de mayo is not a Mexican federal holiday. In the 1950s and 1960s, cinco de mayo gained much popularity in the US partly due to the Good Neighbor Policy (the US’s effort to reach out to neighboring countries). Mexican-Americans counted the holiday as a celebration of their own heritage and even non-mexican americans pretend to be mexican for the day.

Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexican Independence Day

The Mexican Independence Day is actually celebrated on September 16th. “Grito de Dolores” (Cry of/from Dolores) commemorates the catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla from the town of Dolores who declared war against the Spaniards in 1810. Costilla preached revolt and ordered the church bells be rung. The Independence Day is now celebrated with a parade and the ringing of church bells and fiestas. Cinco de mayo, pretty much, has nothing to do with Mexico’s independence. 

Chandler, Arizona celebrates Cinco de Mayo with chihuahua racing

In Chandler, Arizona, cinco de mayo is celebrated with a traditional chihuahua race. Why? When the Mexican army attacked the French, they accidentally stampeded a pack of chihuahuas. and although the pups don’t have much to do with the holiday, the races always go on… and they even crown a queen and king at the end.