have new technologies left crusty academic standards obsolete?

One of the first things that struck me during my first year at McMaster were the suffocating, overlapping layers of bureaucratic BS that guide life and politics at the university. In contrast with the teachers at Mohawk College, who seemed very down to earth, Mac prof's seemed, well, very self-important. This slide show makes some good points about how the independent accumulation of knowledge, (citizen journalism, independent research) is not valid in a scholarly way. I've always been of the opinion that you don't need a university degree to be an expert; I myself am an expert in several fields, and everyone has their specialties. The problem with Universities is that actual knowledge and experience is not deemed valid until you've been through the University system: they declare you ignorant until they've had a chance to "enlighten" you. Indeed, the atmosphere in University is not really conductive to actual learning, but more to short-term memorization and the following of assignment protocol. In short, learning to do what you are told, a life skill necessary to those who find themselves trapped in ivory towers and marble halls. Is a person more likely to retain knowledge about World War II by editing or creating a Wikipedia article, reading and blogging about history books, and having a candid, casual discussion with their class and TA, or would they be better served by writing a paper on the subject followed by an essay question on an exam a few months later, never again giving a damn about what they supposedly "learned?" One style cultivates an interest in the subject, the other makes it a chore.

I am of the opinion that academics oppose new technology on the grounds that it will over the long term, make them increasingly obsolete as a profession. Online collaborative efforts like Wikipedia are threats to their long held, special position as "professional experts" who are the final, authoritative word on any topic. It also poses a threat to the publication of overpriced (and usually unnecessary) textbooks and jargon-filled, unfriendly academic journals (also costly.)

In short, the internet is going to help break up the racket that is higher education. The academics are afraid of this and will do anything they can, even if serves not the true interests of their students (who grew up in and will live in the digital age.) Certainly there can be a compromise, but the best case scenario is that the internet brings learning more and more into daily life, bringing a university "memorizeducation" down from the artificial social pedestal our parents generation elevated it to.

Purdue Tlt 09 Robbins

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said the joker to the thief

Way, way back in the distant days of the early 1990s (I'm not certain of the year) my father had the car radio playing a Tears For Fears song, the chorus of which ascertained that everybody wants to rule the world. Back then, everything on the radio sounded like gospel, and I actually remember the first time I heard some of these classic songs I find myself idly humming today. To my young and tender mind, these musicians had arrived at a fundamental truth about human nature. Intrigued, I asked my dad what it meant, to rule the world.

"Well," said my old man after some reflection, "it means you get to tell everyone, everywhere, to do whatever you want, all the time."

By his account, I kicked back in my seat, gazed longingly to the ceiling. After a minute I announced with all the optimism of a little kid...

"I could handle that."

Over two decades past, things like that are still fresh in my mind. They are what define us. That right there set the tone for everything in my life that was to come: when many of the friends I have now were travelling miles through dark winter nights to play hockey, I studied history, entranced by the drama that had played out in its pages. I read voraciously. I learned big words. I took to crazy ideas.  I was definitely not a typical kid, and I like to think I'm not quite a typical dude as well.

Is it possible to be happy in this world, as it slides ever more into the realm of the dystopian and surreal?? I know that ignorance is bliss, awareness is damnation. People typically like to dream big, if they dream at all. Aiming for the top, no matter how outlandish, and working towards those goals, is the only way to maintain purpose in life. It is the only way to live in fulfillment.

When you are handed things, you take them for granted. If you work for something, you treasure it. This applies to everything from money to relationships to material possessions. You have to always be working towards the top. In the words of musical theater, "it's a struggle, it's a war, and theres nothing that anyone's giving."

So, with this worldview forming from an early age, I got it in my mind from such a young age to aim for the top: world domination. It made a certain amount of sense at the time, and still did. Many have tried, after all. And you can't succeed unless you try.

If you bear with me through this blogging endeavor, maybe you'll get a grasp of how I think. Maybe you'll be entertained. Maybe offended. Maybe you'll be amazed. Maybe you'll start to think. Maybe there will be new content every day, maybe there won't. Above all this will be a dialogue with the world, through the eyes of a fish out of water in a world he never made, with a curious style, cynically optimistic in all respects.

Everybody's got to start somewhere. As a non-practising journalist, I really ought to keep my typing fingers warm and my brain buzzing. Theres a lot of things that need to be challenged.

Follow me as I survive the city of steel.

"There must be SOME kind of way out of here..."

I'm going to use this, I swear

It'll be up and kicking in no time, to be linked in content and approach with http://collymolotov.tumblr.com/.