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Feb. 19th, 2007 09:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
labellementeuseWent and got my student ID today - they've actually wised up and put a proper expiry date on the thing this year, hooray! Also picked up a couple of text books - only two of the three I need this term, because I just couldn't handle repurchasing Calculus: Early Transcendentals for $140 again. (I needed it first year, and lost it just before finals.) Unfortunately it looks like it's a new edition this year, so buying it second hand is impractical. If I can borrow an early edition off a mate I might, but I probably should own the damn thing.
Not that the ones I bought were much less expensive, but at least I wasn't forking out for them a second time. (Linear Algebra, D Poole, and Social Ethics: Morality and Social Policy, Mappes & Zembaty)
The Poole looks pretty dull, but I actually already started reading Social Ethics, I think I'm going to like this course. OTOH I find it a little off-putting that the text is so American; the chapter on the death penalty begins with an extensive discussion on the constitutionality of capital punishment, and refers to death penalty adherents as "retentionists" and those who oppose it as "abolitionists" - terms obviously idiotic for any country, like New Zealand, which does not currently give the death penalty. :-/ Oh well, it's still quite interesting.
Not that the ones I bought were much less expensive, but at least I wasn't forking out for them a second time. (Linear Algebra, D Poole, and Social Ethics: Morality and Social Policy, Mappes & Zembaty)
The Poole looks pretty dull, but I actually already started reading Social Ethics, I think I'm going to like this course. OTOH I find it a little off-putting that the text is so American; the chapter on the death penalty begins with an extensive discussion on the constitutionality of capital punishment, and refers to death penalty adherents as "retentionists" and those who oppose it as "abolitionists" - terms obviously idiotic for any country, like New Zealand, which does not currently give the death penalty. :-/ Oh well, it's still quite interesting.
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Date: 2007-02-24 07:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-24 11:08 pm (UTC)Anton sounds like the guy who does my linear algebra textbook though. Once upon a three weeks ago I considered doing a math minor and then I took linear algebra which is simutaneously the easiest and most frustrating math class I have ever taken. This includes twelfth grade Calculus when my teacher said "Mary, you're smart enough to learn this on your own, so I am going to fling you into a seperate room with two other top students in the class, and I am going to expect you to teach yourself everything in this book and do so faster than the regular class!" And. . . of course we didn't, though being exempt from quizzes was nice.
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Date: 2007-02-25 01:07 am (UTC)my book is absolutely hideous, I have to say, I really don't like it, although the profs do so I guess it's really complete and stuff? dunno, I just think its explanations are for shit.
I firmly believe that the stupidest thing possible to do with bright students in secondary school is to fling them into a room and say, here, learn things while I go pay attention to everyone else! Just because you're more able doesn't mean you're harder working or better motivated. Sigh.
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Date: 2007-02-25 05:45 pm (UTC)Oh, we weren't better motivated, not at all. . . we'd show up at friday classes and be like ". . . We don't want to work, so. . . let's leave early and hit the coffee shop!" and stuff. . . Because it was the last class of the day too. Somehow though, we all managed to scrape out the usual marks. . .