The Real Life Felix Felicis

Felix Felicis is a potion from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The drinker becomes lucky for a period of time. Everything attempted becomes successful. The potion is also called "Liquid Luck." The drinker must not take Felix Felicis in excess which causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence.

I share three real Felix Felicis. The first is a moment. The second is a partial Felix Felicis in a calendar year. The third is a complete Felix Felicis in a calendar year. Good luck was excellent. Life flowed my way. I could do anything successfully. Good fortunes came to me.

The Felix Felicis moment happened Apr 2-6, 2017. I admitted myself to the emergency room at O'Connor Hospital for severe stomach pains. I was diagnosed with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. I required two surgeries which were successful. The first surgery was Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography which removed gallstones. The second surgery was Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy which removed my gallbladder. The five days at O'Connor went smoothly. The emergency room was quiet. All tests, checkups, and follow-ups went as schedule. The only delay was waiting for the doctors to discharge me. My floor where I stayed was quiet except my last night. The victims of a major car accident stayed around my room. One of them shared my double occupancy room. They were quiet and problem free. One may say I'm still paying back the Felix Felicis Apr 2017 today.

The Felix Felicis partial calendar year happened in 2010. I attended De Anza College to earn an A.A. degree in Accounting. I earned A's in all my classes. I rented a DVD movie from the library once a week. The two anime conventions I attended were perfect. I went to a Paul McCartney concert. I played StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. The San Francisco Giants Won the 2010 World Series which was their first in San Francisco franchise history. I rode the San Francisco cable car for the first time.

Felix Felicis didn't work for my Beginning Singing class in Winter Quarter 2010 and my Cost Accounting class in Spring Quarter 2010. I should have dropped both classes. The Beginning Singing class didn't meet my expectations. It was a waste of time. The instructor for the Cost Accounting was ineffective. I should have taken the class at a future quarter with a different instructor.

The Felix Felicis complete calendar year happened in 2005. I visited Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, Canada for the first time. I purchased my first laptop which was a Dell Inspiron 8600 on sale. I created my Innovating Common Knowledge blog.

Side note: 2009 can be the Felix Felicis complete calendar year instead 2005. I graded 2009 and 2005 an A+ from Grading My Past Years blog on Aug 13, 2018. The difference is 2009 went downhill in Dec.

Throwback Blog: Picture Time

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled Picture Time on Aug 3, 2011. I'm posting picture blogs one day ahead of the month of May. May is the month I blog pictures I took on my smart phone. The ten pics I posted were a decade ago between Jan 23, 2010 and May 22, 2010. A gas station sold gas at $2.99. Gas is cheaper today because of the economic slowdown due to COVID-19. I still play board games. Beyond Balderdash is my top ten favorite. There are more LED street lights. The last time I visited Japantown-San Francisco was 2014. I was a full-time student a decade ago earning an AA degree in Accounting. The store I purchased milk after classes closed; moreover, I stopped drinking milk in Mar 2017. How many Japanese stories specializing in anime close during the present economic slowdown? There are more LED lights in households. Nabisco bring back the Arrowroot Biscuits. The last pic I looked at the DVD/TV combo instead of the Dyson fan.

I forgot the last time I posted a picture blog. I have many pictures I took with my old cell phone. Posting pictures on my blog has been on the back of my mind. I take a break writing blogs by posting picture blogs. Enjoy!

Throwback Blog: De Anza Week May 31, 2010

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled De Anza Week May 31, 2010 in Jun 2010. I blogged my days I went back to college after I lost my job during The Great Recession. My experiences at De Anza College should have been experienced the first time I went to college at San Jose State University. I arrived late for classes for which my tardiness happened after Memorial Day weekend. I scored high test scores even though I studied half-ass. I crammed upcoming tests. I discovered something new which was eat Milky Way bars cold. I took advantage of being a student again which was completed satisfactory.

Mon May 31, 2010

No school. Memorial Day weekend.

Tue June 1, 2010

We got our second mid-term scores. I arrived late. I entered the door and the instructor called my name to get my mid-term. Good timing, lol. The instructor was not happy. She was more angry than the first mid-term in Acct 1B. One person almost got a perfect. There were three students who scored above 88%. I was one of the three. I got a 90%.

Note to self: eat Milky Way candy bars cold.

I forgot to mention the second mid-term for Bus 18 the instructor added four points for the curve. There were two announcements. The first announcement was class on Thur June 10 is not cancelled. The second announcement is the third mid-term is delayed from Thur June 3 to Tue June 8. This weekend I'm cramming.

I got a 105% for the Acct 66 mid-term. The extra credit increased my score above 100%. The adjustments for studying the class paid off. Unbelievable! One question was difficult I actually answered most of it correctly.

Thur June 3, 2010

The last quiz for Acct 1C was taken. I got an 8 out of 10. Not too bad for me not reading chapter 24 and not doing the homework. The chapter is almost completed.

This weekend I'm cramming four chapters for Tue's mid-term in Bus 18. I have a homework assignment to help me study.

After Bus 18 I went home because I forgot to put the defrosted chicken in the refrigerator. I stopped at McDonalds for a 10 piece chicken mcnugget combo dinner. Throughout the day I have been eating out: breakfast, lunch, snacks. All the food I ate I purchased.

I arrived 15 minutes late for Acct 66C. The instructor jokingly asked "Why I was late?" I got caught off guard I had no response. I sarcastically sprinted to my seat. The class was boring again. I focused on the lecture and copying the homework from the projector.

This weekend is catch up on all schoolwork.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

Throwback Blog: My All De Anza Review Blog

Blogger’s Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled My All De Anza Review Blog in Dec 2012. I blogged a self Q&A discussing my experiences at De Anza College. I reread my review blog. There was one answer I questioned today. One of the reasons I started taking Accounting classes was companies not hiring during the great recession. I know two people who found jobs in 2009. Time will tell whether my two years at De Anza pays off which currently has not.

Blogger's note: I wanted to blog my all De Anza review when I found a job. Unfortunately, I haven't found a job. The timing is appropriate to post my review. I use a Q&A interview format pretending 60 Minutes' correspondent Steve Kroft is interviewing me. My favorite articles were the financial crisis and real estate bubble.

The blog entry is unedited for grammar and content. 60 Minutes is represented by "60M" and I'm represented by "RM".

Introduction

60M: It's been 18 months since Raymond Mar attended De Anza College. Mr. Mar earned an AA degree in Accounting. His contract job at a telecommunications company was terminated in 2008. The financial crisis and real estate bubble bursted at that time. "I knew family and friends who lost their jobs," said Mar. He chose to go back to school rather than look for a job in a bleak job market.

We sit down and ask whether going back to De Anza was worth his time from Mar. 2009 to June 2011.

Interview

60M: What inspired you to go back to school?

RM: Actually, my first classes were ballroom dancing, strength training, and beginning Japanese. I dropped Japanese because the instructor, the sensei, taught too fast. I asked my friends who took Japanese at other colleges. All of them agreed I must drop Japanese. I saw a classmate in another class the next quarter. She said half of the class dropped before finals.

60M: What about ballroom dancing and strength training?

RM: My sister encouraged me to take ballroom dancing. She competed in amateur ballroom dancing competitions. She also went to school, and she didn't have time to teach me. As for strength training, I wanted to take a class to learn how to lift weights properly.

Ballroom dancing was fun. I met lots of people and made lots of friends. I met my girlfriend, too.

60M: In Fall '09, you choose to take an accounting class.

RM: Accounting was one of my majors I wanted to change after quitting majoring in Mathematics at San Jose State. I choose Economics. I thought I take the first accounting class and see what happens. If I liked it, I continue and work my way to earn an AA degree. After all, nobody was hiring during the financial meltdown. I had lots of free time.

As it turned out, I liked accounting and continued taking accounting classes, as well as taking ballroom dancing.

60M: You were a little careless taking your accounting classes.

RM: I admit I was a little careless. I took a couple of classes I didn't need to take. It turned out those couple of classes were taught by terrible instructors. One class was a complete waste of time. I should have dropped it when that class had too many students. That Spring '10 quarter I took that overcrowded class was the busiest quarter in terms of homework and studying.

Yeah, I should have planned out what classes to take. On the other hand, I wanted to take that overcrowded class when the first opportunity came to me because I never know when the next time the class was offered considering budget cuts.

60M: What were the biggest mistakes you made?

RM: I start with two mistakes I corrected. The first mistake was taking Japanese. Fortunately, I dropped the class. The second mistake was taking Advanced Accounting, a class I didn't need to take.

60M: It sounds like Advanced Accounting was required.

RM: It wasn't. I took the class out of self interest after I earned my AA degree. The professor was the worse professor ever, and that includes San Jose State. He couldn't lecture and couldn't explain the concepts just to save his life. We played games.

60M: Games?

RM: Yeah, games. Once a week, he brought these buzzers. All the students were divided in teams. The professor asked questions and the students answered them correctly to earn extra credit. You don't need extra credit because his grading was easier than high school exams.

Another game was the professor show an image he took in campus. Located and identify the image and you earned extra credit. Likewise for movies. The professor showed a clip from a movie related to accounting. Identify the movie and you earned extra credit.

Anyways, the third mistake that I failed to correct was taking a singing class. I took singing after playing Beatles Rock Band. I was inspired to learn how to sing better because I was the singer in the video game. There was nothing wrong with the instructor. It was just that the class didn't meet my expectations and I wasted gas and time driving to campus for just one evening.

The lesson was sometimes its okay to quit. There were more important priorities and better uses for my time.

60M: What were the lessons you learned? Of course you learned accounting.

RM: The lessons were everyone is human, go with the flow, timing is everything, and use it or lose it.

60M: Those four are life lessons.

RM: Yup, life lessons. Going back to De Anza was a second chance in my life. It was my mulligan card. I wanted to correct my mistakes or don't repeat my mistakes I did at San Jose State. I wanted to experience life as a college student again. I wanted to be a college student the right way.

60M: What was the right way?

RM: I wanted to meet new people and make new friends. (Thank you Facebook.) I wanted to experience new experiences and seek new adventures. For example, there was ballroom dancing I mentioned earlier. Others included hiking, visiting the Charles Schulz museum, playing Starcraft 2, visiting Monterey and Carmel, and much more. I didn't want to take college seriously like I did at San Jose State. Have fun, relax. Complete homework and projects last minute. Don't study too hard. Open myself up to something new from the simple try new foods to the first time moments riding a San Francisco cable car, and dating.

60M: Fall '10 was your best quarter. Why?

RM: That quarter I met the most people and made the most friends. One class everyone worked in teams for in-class work and for group presentation. I was lucky my group was the best in teamwork and presentation. The rest of the other groups experienced problems. The downside was the instructor was a bitch.

60M: Lol

RM: The downside of Fall '10 was I had to attend classes four days a week instead of two days for all of the other quarters.

Another best was the movie of the week checking out a DVD from the library. All of the DVDs I checked out must be from the American Film Institute Top 100 list in 1997, not 2007. *looking at the list* Some of the movies I watched were Midnight Cowboy, Citizen Kane, On The Waterfront, Singin' In The Rain, Some Like It Hot, Chinatown, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Philadelphia Story, Vertigo, The French Connection, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. I also watched Rosemary's Baby.

60M: Some people say you should not have gone back to school. Instead you either find another job despite the bad economy or take a class on a specialty skill such as a software program. Further, even though you have an AA degree in Accounting and a BS in Economics from San Jose State, you're having problems finding a job now since many jobs want relevant and/or recent job experience. How do you respond?

RM: If I went back in time to Mar 2009, I still go back to De Anza, or at least Sept 2009 when I took my first accounting class. The experiences, the people, the memories, the lessons on life, everything from Mar 2009 to June 2011 made me a better person who I am today. I mentioned earlier about the mulligan. Everyone deserves a mulligan. I used my mulligan on going back to school.

Going back to De Anza was like a time out in my life, a long time out. Going back to De Anza was a life refresher, to rediscover who I am, to find who I wasn't. Slow down, relax, don't repeat my past mistakes again. It was a time to be a grown up, a mature person. Everything, everything I experienced I apply for all my present and future relationships, my careers, and my daily living life.

I'm optimistic I find a job. I was interviewed seven times this year. I received calls from recruiters and hiring managers. It's a matter of when I find a job and start my life after college part 2. I need a little luck and timing in my favor.

60M: What was your worse quarter?

RM: I say Winter '11, technically my last quarter. I got sick and missed a week. The instructor for my Intro to Business was boring. Oh, BTW, I still remember the videos we watched and that opening theme song.

Spring '10 came in second. Listening to Beatles, classical music, classic jazz, and Vocaloid music helped me study well.

60M: You choose to continue taking an accounting class in Spring '11, the quarter after you graduated. Why?

RM: I enrolled in Auditing and Advanced Accounting. I dropped Advanced Accounting as mentioned earlier. Auditing was a hard class. I actually learned a few things I apply when I hear business news about disclaimers, security breaches, fraud, and embezzlement. It wasn't a waste of time. I was in survival mode for most of Spring '11, yet I didn't take the class too seriously such that I spent hours and hours studying. I had a life.

Auditing was a class to complete the full circle of all the accounting classes I took.

60M: In the Auditing class, you met a classmate who graduated at a CSU school with a business degree. Tell me what information she gave you.

RM: That recent graduate was smart and a quick learner. I remember one class meeting she arrived late. We had an in-class assignment. She opened the chapter, read a few pages, and then answered the questions correctly. She never took auditing as an undergraduate.

The information she told me was clarifying graduating with a BA in accounting. There was no such thing as an accounting degree, at least at the CSU schools. Business majors graduated with a business degree with an emphasis in accounting, or finance, or marketing. We went to the library, went online to compare an AA degree in Accounting and a BA in Business-Accounting. There was little difference. Most of the classes for an AA degree were the same classes for a BA. The major difference was two or three classes not taught at junior college. Further, if I were to transfer, I had to retake at least my two quarters of Intermediate Accounting because those credits were non-transferrable.

The bottom line was I could have a BA in Business-Accounting should I count my GE classes at San Jose State. It's those two or three classes that made the difference between an AA and a BA. How about that. Something to think about. I bet most BA or BS majors don't know just a couple of classes makes the difference between another BA or BS and an AA degree.

60M: How were the instructors overall?

RM: Overall, the instructors were good. Most of the part time instructors were good. Some of them really cared and some took time to share life experiences. The full time instructors were so-so. Having said that, students going to community colleges, I suggest you favor part timers.

60M: Timing was in your favor. You got all your classes at favorable times, with the exception of Fall '10 when you attended school four days a week. The friends who still attend De Anza said it's worse now.

RM: It's one of my life lessons I learned. Timing is everything. All my friends told me overcrowding is at the worse and classes are harder to get. They're seeing older age people unemployed going back to school.

60M: Share some little tid bits.

RM: I remember World Cup '10 was huge. The cafeteria had big screen projectors. I remember a group of card gamers moving all the tables together and playing card games. They're a perfect example of geek gamers. Do I want to meet them? No.

The cooks who worked the grill gave lots and lots of fries when people ordered the burger combos. Even their breakfast menu was decent. Prices were all reasonable. No refills on fountain drinks.

The only time I cut class was when I was sick. I never cut class just for the heck of it. To be honest, there was no reason to cut just for the heck of it.

There were three rooms I attended classes two or more times. Two of the three rooms I earned A grades all the time. Moreover, all my classes took place in two buildings and the computer lab, with the exception of the singing and ballroom dancing.

I ate lunch outside De Anza two times, and they were all on the first day of school for the two quarters.

60M: Compare the students at De Anza to when you were a student attending San Jose State.

RM: De Anza students had cell phones and smart phones. San Jose State students a few had cell phones, and you needed either a land line or pager to communicate. Email was spreading slowly. De Anza students could buy books on the web or at the bookstore, or buy a cheaper .pdf copy. San Jose State students bought at the bookstores only. The short answer was technology and communicating.

De Anza students could take tests and submit homework online. San Jose State students all work were done in class. And De Anza students had portable mp3 players for music. San Jose State students had walkmans.

De Anza students registered online. San Jose State students register by phone using a class scheduled printed hardcopy.

60M: Raymond Mar continues to think about De Anza occasionally, much more than San Jose State. He believes college students today have an easier time than when he attended San Jose State. Students today use technology to help with their assignments, keep in touch with friends and instructors, register for classes, and get their final grades. On the other hand, he fears that the technology today can make more people being alone and too independent.

The biggest mistake when he attended San Jose State was meeting very little people. That should be life lesson number #5: always meet new people.

Mar has experienced recruiters and hiring managers not considering him because of his lack of recent job experience and going back to school. What you do being unemployed can be just as important as what you did at your recent job. Right now is the best time to hire Mr. Mar because he's a better person who's more professional and more mature than ever.

Email: feedbackininblog@innovateinfinitely.com

My All De Anza Review Blog

Blogger's note: I wanted to blog my all De Anza review when I found a job. Unfortunately, I haven't found a job. The timing is appropriate to post my review. I use a Q&A interview format pretending 60 Minutes' correspondent Steve Kroft is interviewing me. My favorite articles were the financial crisis and real estate bubble.

The blog entry is unedited for grammar and content. 60 Minutes is represented by "60M" and I'm represented by "RM".

Introduction

60M: It's been 18 months since Raymond Mar attended De Anza College. Mr. Mar earned an AA degree in Accounting. His contract job at a telecommunications company was terminated in 2008. The financial crisis and real estate bubble bursted at that time. "I knew family and friends who lost their jobs," said Mar. He chose to go back to school rather than look for a job in a bleak job market.

We sit down and ask whether going back to De Anza was worth his time from Mar. 2009 to June 2011.

Interview

60M: What inspired you to go back to school?

RM: Actually, my first classes were ballroom dancing, strength training, and beginning Japanese. I dropped Japanese because the instructor, the sensei, taught too fast. I asked my friends who took Japanese at other colleges. All of them agreed I must drop Japanese. I saw a classmate in another class the next quarter. She said half of the class dropped before finals.

60M: What about ballroom dancing and strength training?

RM: My sister encouraged me to take ballroom dancing. She competed in amateur ballroom dancing competitions. She also went to school, and she didn't have time to teach me. As for strength training, I wanted to take a class to learn how to lift weights properly.

Ballroom dancing was fun. I met lots of people and made lots of friends. I met my girlfriend, too.

60M: In Fall '09, you choose to take an accounting class.

RM: Accounting was one of my majors I wanted to change after quitting majoring in Mathematics at San Jose State. I choose Economics. I thought I take the first accounting class and see what happens. If I liked it, I continue and work my way to earn an AA degree. After all, nobody was hiring during the financial meltdown. I had lots of free time.

As it turned out, I liked accounting and continued taking accounting classes, as well as taking ballroom dancing.

60M: You were a little careless taking your accounting classes.

RM: I admit I was a little careless. I took a couple of classes I didn't need to take. It turned out those couple of classes were taught by terrible instructors. One class was a complete waste of time. I should have dropped it when that class had too many students. That Spring '10 quarter I took that overcrowded class was the busiest quarter in terms of homework and studying.

Yeah, I should have planned out what classes to take. On the other hand, I wanted to take that overcrowded class when the first opportunity came to me because I never know when the next time the class was offered considering budget cuts.

60M: What were the biggest mistakes you made?

RM: I start with two mistakes I corrected. The first mistake was taking Japanese. Fortunately, I dropped the class. The second mistake was taking Advanced Accounting, a class I didn't need to take.

60M: It sounds like Advanced Accounting was required.

RM: It wasn't. I took the class out of self interest after I earned my AA degree. The professor was the worse professor ever, and that includes San Jose State. He couldn't lecture and couldn't explain the concepts just to save his life. We played games.

60M: Games?

RM: Yeah, games. Once a week, he brought these buzzers. All the students were divided in teams. The professor asked questions and the students answered them correctly to earn extra credit. You don't need extra credit because his grading was easier than high school exams.

Another game was the professor show an image he took in campus. Located and identify the image and you earned extra credit. Likewise for movies. The professor showed a clip from a movie related to accounting. Identify the movie and you earned extra credit.

Anyways, the third mistake that I failed to correct was taking a singing class. I took singing after playing Beatles Rock Band. I was inspired to learn how to sing better because I was the singer in the video game. There was nothing wrong with the instructor. It was just that the class didn't meet my expectations and I wasted gas and time driving to campus for just one evening.

The lesson was sometimes its okay to quit. There were more important priorities and better uses for my time.

60M: What were the lessons you learned? Of course you learned accounting.

RM: The lessons were everyone is human, go with the flow, timing is everything, and use it or lose it.

60M: Those four are life lessons.

RM: Yup, life lessons. Going back to De Anza was a second chance in my life. It was my mulligan card. I wanted to correct my mistakes or don't repeat my mistakes I did at San Jose State. I wanted to experience life as a college student again. I wanted to be a college student the right way.

60M: What was the right way?

RM: I wanted to meet new people and make new friends. (Thank you Facebook.) I wanted to experience new experiences and seek new adventures. For example, there was ballroom dancing I mentioned earlier. Others included hiking, visiting the Charles Schulz museum, playing Starcraft 2, visiting Monterey and Carmel, and much more. I didn't want to take college seriously like I did at San Jose State. Have fun, relax. Complete homework and projects last minute. Don't study too hard. Open myself up to something new from the simple try new foods to the first time moments riding a San Francisco cable car, and dating.

60M: Fall '10 was your best quarter. Why?

RM: That quarter I met the most people and made the most friends. One class everyone worked in teams for in-class work and for group presentation. I was lucky my group was the best in teamwork and presentation. The rest of the other groups experienced problems. The downside was the instructor was a bitch.

60M: Lol

RM: The downside of Fall '10 was I had to attend classes four days a week instead of two days for all of the other quarters.

Another best was the movie of the week checking out a DVD from the library. All of the DVDs I checked out must be from the American Film Institute Top 100 list in 1997, not 2007. *looking at the list* Some of the movies I watched were Midnight Cowboy, Citizen Kane, On The Waterfront, Singin' In The Rain, Some Like It Hot, Chinatown, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Philadelphia Story, Vertigo, The French Connection, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. I also watched Rosemary's Baby.

60M: Some people say you should not have gone back to school. Instead you either find another job despite the bad economy or take a class on a specialty skill such as a software program. Further, even though you have an AA degree in Accounting and a BS in Economics from San Jose State, you're having problems finding a job now since many jobs want relevant and/or recent job experience. How do you respond?

RM: If I went back in time to Mar 2009, I still go back to De Anza, or at least Sept 2009 when I took my first accounting class. The experiences, the people, the memories, the lessons on life, everything from Mar 2009 to June 2011 made me a better person who I am today. I mentioned earlier about the mulligan. Everyone deserves a mulligan. I used my mulligan on going back to school.

Going back to De Anza was like a time out in my life, a long time out. Going back to De Anza was a life refresher, to rediscover who I am, to find who I wasn't. Slow down, relax, don't repeat my past mistakes again. It was a time to be a grown up, a mature person. Everything, everything I experienced I apply for all my present and future relationships, my careers, and my daily living life.

I'm optimistic I find a job. I was interviewed seven times this year. I received calls from recruiters and hiring managers. It's a matter of when I find a job and start my life after college part 2. I need a little luck and timing in my favor.

60M: What was your worse quarter?

RM: I say Winter '11, technically my last quarter. I got sick and missed a week. The instructor for my Intro to Business was boring. Oh, BTW, I still remember the videos we watched and that opening theme song.

Spring '10 came in second. Listening to Beatles, classical music, classic jazz, and Vocaloid music helped me study well.

60M: You choose to continue taking an accounting class in Spring '11, the quarter after you graduated. Why?

RM: I enrolled in Auditing and Advanced Accounting. I dropped Advanced Accounting as mentioned earlier. Auditing was a hard class. I actually learned a few things I apply when I hear business news about disclaimers, security breaches, fraud, and embezzlement. It wasn't a waste of time. I was in survival mode for most of Spring '11, yet I didn't take the class too seriously such that I spent hours and hours studying. I had a life.

Auditing was a class to complete the full circle of all the accounting classes I took.

60M: In the Auditing class, you met a classmate who graduated at a CSU school with a business degree. Tell me what information she gave you.

RM: That recent graduate was smart and a quick learner. I remember one class meeting she arrived late. We had an in-class assignment. She opened the chapter, read a few pages, and then answered the questions correctly. She never took auditing as an undergraduate.

The information she told me was clarifying graduating with a BA in accounting. There was no such thing as an accounting degree, at least at the CSU schools. Business majors graduated with a business degree with an emphasis in accounting, or finance, or marketing. We went to the library, went online to compare an AA degree in Accounting and a BA in Business-Accounting. There was little difference. Most of the classes for an AA degree were the same classes for a BA. The major difference was two or three classes not taught at junior college. Further, if I were to transfer, I had to retake at least my two quarters of Intermediate Accounting because those credits were non-transferrable.

The bottom line was I could have a BA in Business-Accounting should I count my GE classes at San Jose State. It's those two or three classes that made the difference between an AA and a BA. How about that. Something to think about. I bet most BA or BS majors don't know just a couple of classes makes the difference between another BA or BS and an AA degree.

60M: How were the instructors overall?

RM: Overall, the instructors were good. Most of the part time instructors were good. Some of them really cared and some took time to share life experiences. The full time instructors were so-so. Having said that, students going to community colleges, I suggest you favor part timers.

60M: Timing was in your favor. You got all your classes at favorable times, with the exception of Fall '10 when you attended school four days a week. The friends who still attend De Anza said it's worse now.

RM: It's one of my life lessons I learned. Timing is everything. All my friends told me overcrowding is at the worse and classes are harder to get. They're seeing older age people unemployed going back to school.

60M: Share some little tid bits.

RM: I remember World Cup '10 was huge. The cafeteria had big screen projectors. I remember a group of card gamers moving all the tables together and playing card games. They're a perfect example of geek gamers. Do I want to meet them? No.

The cooks who worked the grill gave lots and lots of fries when people ordered the burger combos. Even their breakfast menu was decent. Prices were all reasonable. No refills on fountain drinks.

The only time I cut class was when I was sick. I never cut class just for the heck of it. To be honest, there was no reason to cut just for the heck of it.

There were three rooms I attended classes two or more times. Two of the three rooms I earned A grades all the time. Moreover, all my classes took place in two buildings and the computer lab, with the exception of the singing and ballroom dancing.

I ate lunch outside De Anza two times, and they were all on the first day of school for the two quarters.

60M: Compare the students at De Anza to when you were a student attending San Jose State.

RM: De Anza students had cell phones and smart phones. San Jose State students a few had cell phones, and you needed either a land line or pager to communicate. Email was spreading slowly. De Anza students could buy books on the web or at the bookstore, or buy a cheaper .pdf copy. San Jose State students bought at the bookstores only. The short answer was technology and communicating.

De Anza students could take tests and submit homework online. San Jose State students all work were done in class. And De Anza students had portable mp3 players for music. San Jose State students had walkmans.

De Anza students registered online. San Jose State students register by phone using a class scheduled printed hardcopy.

60M: Raymond Mar continues to think about De Anza occasionally, much more than San Jose State. He believes college students today have an easier time than when he attended San Jose State. Students today use technology to help with their assignments, keep in touch with friends and instructors, register for classes, and get their final grades. On the other hand, he fears that the technology today can make more people being alone and too independent.

The biggest mistake when he attended San Jose State was meeting very little people. That should be life lesson number #5: always meet new people.

Mar has experienced recruiters and hiring managers not considering him because of his lack of recent job experience and going back to school. What you do being unemployed can be just as important as what you did at your recent job. Right now is the best time to hire Mr. Mar because he's a better person who's more professional and more mature than ever.

501

I forgot to say thank you when I posted “500” blog. Thank you to the people who read my blogs, and the numbers are very few `__^ I hope my blogs help you become a better person. There is always time to change, to improve, and to innovate. The examples include trying something new, forgiving yourself, making the tough choices, and taking risks. Life is taking action, not sitting on the couch waiting for someone to give you life on a sliver platter.

I want to mention the three lessons I learned attending De Anza. It’s good timing to review the lessons. Here are the lessons:

Fall ’09: We are all human. Everyone is human. We make mistakes and we learn from them. We’re happy, sad, depressed, cheerful, frustrated, optimistic, loved, scared, angry, forgetful, and not perfect. The emotions, the pains you feel are part of being human.

Winter ’10: Go with the flow. We have good days and bad days. Don’t fight it. There’s always tomorrow.

Spring ’10: Timing is everything. Sometimes I’m at the right place at the right time. Sometimes I’m at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes I get lots of green lights. Sometimes I get lots of red lights. It’s all timing.

The Personal Side Of Me Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week June 21, 2010

Mon June 21, 2010

Taking the Mon night class instead of the Wed night class was the best choice in Spring '10 quarter. I had lots of fun. The negative was the men having problems learning basics of the basics. The class stayed past 9:15 for the final. We learned another move for the Hustle. Then we reviewed all the dances we learned: Nite Club Two Step, Tango, East Coast Swing, and the Rumba. Five dances. Great class. It's unfortunate almost all of the couples were frustrated and had trouble learning. The key is rotating partners. On the other hand, most of the men having problems I don't blame the women not wanting to rotate.

The class was not full. I'm guessing some students dropped and some students didn't show up for the final. I heard one student had an excuse.

Tue June 22, 2010

The first day of finals. My first final is Acct 66 Cost Accounting. The last day of class the instructor told us what to expect for the final. We got the chapters, the questions asked, the questions guaranteed on the final, and the bonus problem which was the last chapter we didn't finish. Student should score high on the final when we do the homework for the problem section and read the chapter for the multiple choice. I studied the same way I prepared for the second mid-term. The final is the chapters after the second mid-term. It's not cumulative.

The students got the final. What the fuck! One of the multiple choice questions was from the second mid-term; fortunately it was easy. One of the problems was on the last chapter. The students protested. The instructor didn't remember saying the last chapter is the bonus question. I wrote the bonus question topic for the last chapter in my notes, and I studied it. Also, one of the multiple choice questions was from the last chapter. I'm lucky I knew the answer. I was wrong regarding the instructor who said he wrote the final weeks before finals. He did write the final because it contained questions from the last chapter. He must have a grudge against something and taking it out us students. And he's lazy he didn't change the final. He must have played the ignorance card.

The solution was the last chapter became a bonus question. That question was beyond what I studied. He adjusted the points to the five multiple choice questions and the two problems. How well did I do? I froze. It proves I'm human and I'm not perfect. I got all the multiple choice questions. One of the problems the numbers didn't add up. I'm confident I applied the formulas correctly. He said there is no answer with zero. I got two answers with zero. Oh, well. The grade doesn't count when I transfer to a four year college.

I don't remember a San Jose State professor giving a final that contained material the professor never lectured and not assigned as homework.

I learned a lesson today. Eat well on exam day. Today I failed to eat well. I ate a good breakfast. I ate a poor lunch. I should have been more active regarding lunch in the house. There were leftovers for lunch. I didn't like what my mom cooked last night. I ate a McDonalds. Bad move. My poor lunch was a factor for the Acct 66 final. My Acct 1C final is in the morning. A good breakfast take cares for Acct 1C. My Bus 18 is at 4pm. I take an active role to make sure I have a good lunch at home for the Bus 18 final.

Thur June 24, 2010

I talked to a friend who knew somebody who took Acct 1A with my Acct 66 instructor. She said he was terrible. If I took my Acct 66 instructor for my Acct 1A, I might have lost interested in getting an AA in accounting.

Today was my Acct 1C Managerial Accounting final. The final was 50% cumulative and 50% chapter 26. 50% of the final was multiple choice and true/false and 50% was problems. I didn't know the answers to two multiple choice and three true/false. I confident I got the problems. I know I got a passing grade. I got 100% on my Excel project. It looks great I'm getting an A.

I went out to lunch with a friend. We went to Potsticker King restaurant which is about 5 min drive from De Anza. The potstickers are huge. He was nice and treated me to lunch.

The last final is Bus 18. I spend time today and tomorrow studying. The final is at 4pm.

Fri June 25, 2010

My last final is Bus 18 Business Law. The final is actually mid-term #4. She starts the class with a 20 minute Q&A, a 5 minute break, and then the mid-term. I studied earlier today resulting in me arriving at 4:15pm. I missed the Q&A which was not a problem.

The final was easy in one way and hard in another way. It was easy because some questions the answers were obvious. It was also hard because there were lots of questions that required thinking. I know I earned a passing grade.

I went to the bookstore to sell my Bus 18 and Acct 66 textbooks. The De Anza bookstore and Premier bookstore were closed at 5pm. A friend told me to sell at Premier because they pay higher. I visit Premier tomorrow.

Highlights

Spring '10 was the fastest quarter for me. The spring vacation helped me relax from a crazy Winter '10 quarter. Everyone was eager to start Spring '10 in contrast to Winter '10 when nobody wanted to attend class on the first day. Spring '10 started to get too routine after the Memorial Day weekend. The month of June went really fast! I wanted the quarter to end because I was getting bored.

The lesson I learned was timing is everything. Timing was in my favor and timing was not in my favor. Each quarter I have learned a life lesson or I reinforced a life lesson I learned in the past. I failed to learn these lessons at San Jose State.

I may be taking a summer class. The class is Excel. I'm currently wait listed. If I get Excel, then it's one less class to take in Fall '10. The self paced Excel class is easy. I'm unemployed and I have the time. The timing is perfect.

I hope Fall '10 I have no breaks. One of my pet peeves attending college is breaks between class. Spring '10 I had a 45 minute break between Bus 18 and Acct 66. That was okay because I didn't need to bring my laptop to pass the time. Winter '10 was worse.

The quarter is over. It's time to catch up and time to write Innovating Common Knowledge blogs.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week June 14, 2010

Mon June 14, 2010

Ballroom dancing is hard. Most of the students taking ballroom dancing thought it was an easy physical ed class. Wrong. Basketball is easier IMO. Bad timing my class has boys, I mean men, who have trouble. I write down what I learned after class at home. I reviewed my notes for Nite Club Two Step, Rumba, and Tango before class. My review took time. There are lots to learn and remember to be a good dancer. Ballroom dancing is hard. Anyone can dance. To dance well, you need time and practice.

We reviewed the Nite Club Two Step including the procedures how to enter and exit the stage. Then we danced the Rumba. The last 25 minutes we learned the Hustle. The Hustle is a faster dance. I remember the patterns from Fall '09. I know the patterns. My footwork needs improvement.

Last weekend and before dancing, I'm catching up on my classes. I read two chapters and completed the homework for Bus 18. I read one chapter and completed the homework for Acct 1C. I started studying three of the six chapters for the Acct 66 final. The Acct 66 final worries me. As of now, nobody knows what's going to be on the final. There are lots to know including the material.

Tue June 15, 2010

I didn't have an appetite for food. Eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner were boring. I'm happy Thur is the last day of lecture classes for me. I'm tired of the usual routine. I felt like eating fries. I ordered a burger combo at the cafeteria. I ate the fries and I was reminded why I don't eat food at the cafeteria anymore. I ate half of my fries. I'm tired eating Japanese food for my late lunch.

I felt a little confidence in Acct 66 after studying three chapters for the final. The last chapter in the green sheet is skipped. I'm tired yet upbeat for finals next week. The last mid-term is Acct 1C on Thur. Tonight I study Acct 1C and review the three chapters in Acct 66. Tomorrow, I study in full Acct 1C, study a new chapter in Acct 66, and start studying for Bus 18.

I helped a few students for the Excel project in Acct 1C. The project is due Thur. I finished the project last weekend. It was a huge relief to complete ahead of the due date. My group project for Acct 1B we finished minutes before class started.

Thur June 17, 2010

I rushed to school because my last mid-term was today. The Acct 1C mid-term was straightforward and I finished ten minutes early. There were two multiple choice questions I had no idea. I changed two multiple choice answers, and one of changes was the correct change. Common knowledge is never change multiple choice answers. I'm an exception.

The students turned in the Excel project after the mid-term and after class. Some students didn't finish the project because they didn’t know how to print the formulas. I say 33% of the class knows basic Excel. That's sad for business students. The instructor said printing the formulas were required.

I looked at my third mid-term for Bus 18. I got a 90% which is good because I crammed in two days. The questions I missed I had no idea the answers. One of my multiple choice answers I changed was the correct change. The second change I was wrong and I was wrong initially. The end of the class the instructor told everyone a brief bio how she became a lawyer and how she choose to teach. Her childhood was not a happy one. She worked her way through college, and she dropped twice. Her first job she worked in a bank.

I walked to the campus center after Bus 18 thinking what I want to eat for lunch. I choose to eat Chinese just outside the cafeteria. I didn't want to eat at the cafeteria. I didn't feel like driving to a restaurant. The campus center showed a movie in Spanish with English subtitles. It better not be a documentary. On Tues, there was a documentary about a gang in Central America that has over 5,000 members. The movie was about how Mexico smuggled drugs to the USA.

In Acct 66, we finished chapter 16. Time was going so fast the instructor had little time to review the chapter 17 homework. The class urged the instructor to exclude chapter 17 from the final. The bonus question is from chapter 17. The last ten minutes the instructor told the students what's on the final. The chapters included are 12, 13, 14, and 16. My observation told me the instructor was not happy today because he said, "I already written the final." I don't think he did.

I may be taking summer school. I talked to a classmate who's taking an Excel class over the summer. Excel is a required class for my AA degree. The class is waitlisted. I try to add on the first day. Excel is an easy class. Taking the class over the summer is perfect because I have one less class to worry about for Fall '10.

I was happy at 8pm lecture classes are over for me. The routine became too routine. This weekend is studying for finals.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week June 7, 2010

Mon June 7, 2010

The leaders are boys. Leaders are men, not boys. I'm disappointed most of the men in my dance class are slow learners. Bad timing. In Winter '10, most of the ladies had trouble learning. We reviewed the Nite Club Two Step. The next dance we learned was the Rumba. It was the first time I learned Rumba.

There were couples that didn't want to switch partners. I respect that. They must stay on the sides. Most don't stay on the sides. I might have never mentioned the following before: My class always had trouble forming dance lines. Unbelievable.

Tue June 8, 2010

If I wanted to skip a day of classes, today was the day. I was tired throughout the day. I had a headache. I didn't focus in Acct 1C. I thought my body automatically shut off my brain to conserve my brain power for the Bus 18 mid-term. I'm not the only one throughout campus tired and unfocused. Most students I observed were like me.

I successfully concentrated and focused taking the Bus 18 mid-term. I know I didn't get an A. I'm confident I passed. Bus 18 and Acct 66 are the classes I have the final to study. I have one more mid-term which is Acct 1C. Tomorrow, I start catching up with Acct 1C and start studying for the Acct 66 final. If I have time, I read the next chapter for Bus 18. And I continue working on the Acct 1C Excel project.

There was no lecture after the Bus 18 mid-term. I shopped at Target for after shave lotion and a Tide To Go stain remover. The prices at Target are much lower than drug stores. I shop at drug stores for sales; otherwise, I shop at Target for bare necessities. On second thought, I should shop at Target for most of my bare necessities. I shop at Costco if it carries my brands. I ate my late lunch at Baja Fresh. I ordered the Dos Monios burrito not on the menu. I must mention when I order the Dos Monios.

Acct 66 was another boring class. I have homework due on Thur.

Thur June 10, 2010

Yesterday started catching up with school work. Yesterday was also the day I catch up with my body. I started working on Acct 66 chapter 15 and then I felt sleepy. I slept throughout the afternoon. It was refreshing. I finished most of the homework and I read chapter 24 for Acct 1C. It was a good catch up. It could have been better if I slept less and started studying for Acct 66 final.

One of my classmates interviewed for an internship earlier in the week. He got it. Congrats! He gave me a copy of weight lifting workout videos. I share him my workout schedules.

I got a 90% on the third mid-term for Bus 18. I'm happy with the score because I crammed five chapters in two days. The final is three chapters. I printed the powerpoint lecture slides for the rest of the class meetings to assist in preparing for the final more efficiently. I write key points the instructor mentioned on the printouts.

Talk about making babies. I chatted with two of my classmates in my Acct 66 in the campus center. I ate my left over burrito from Tues. One of the classmates told us her teenage son is going to be a father. I told her I know people young and old who are going to have a baby.

It was another boring class in Acct 66. Fortunately, the time went by faster than Tuesday. It's possible we're not going to cover the last chapter for the final. I hope so. This weekend is major school catch up in all my classes.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 31, 2010

Mon May 31, 2010

No school. Memorial Day weekend.

Tue June 1, 2010

We got our second mid-term scores. I arrived late. I entered the door and the instructor called my name to get my mid-term. Good timing, lol. The instructor was not happy. She was more angry than the first mid-term in Acct 1B. One person almost got a perfect. There were three students who scored above 88%. I was one of the three. I got a 90%.

Note to self: eat Milky Way candy bars cold.

I forgot to mention the second mid-term for Bus 18 the instructor added four points for the curve. There were two announcements. The first announcement was class on Thur June 10 is not cancelled. The second announcement is the third mid-term is delayed from Thur June 3 to Tue June 8. This weekend I'm cramming.

I got a 105% for the Acct 66 mid-term. The extra credit increased my score above 100%. The adjustments for studying the class paid off. Unbelievable! One question was difficult I actually answered most of it correctly.

Thur June 3, 2010

The last quiz for Acct 1C was taken. I got an 8 out of 10. Not too bad for me not reading chapter 24 and not doing the homework. The chapter is almost completed.

This weekend I'm cramming four chapters for Tue's mid-term in Bus 18. I have a homework assignment to help me study.

After Bus 18 I went home because I forgot to put the defrosted chicken in the refrigerator. I stopped at McDonalds for a 10 piece chicken mcnugget combo dinner. Throughout the day I have been eating out: breakfast, lunch, snacks. All the food I ate I purchased.

I arrived 15 minutes late for Acct 66C. The instructor jokingly asked "Why I was late?" I got caught off guard I had no response. I sarcastically sprinted to my seat. The class was boring again. I focused on the lecture and copying the homework from the projector.

This weekend is catch up on all schoolwork.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 24, 2010

Mon May 24, 2010

I arrive five minutes early for class and the class starts 20 minutes late. The assistant and most of the students arrived late. I chatted with my classmates while we waited. Less couples attended tonight's class. The couple that argued last week attended class and they continued fighting.

The first dance we reviewed and improved the Nite Club Two Step. I received one-on-one correction on my Two Step. Place my foot down more further away from me than I think for the basic. The tip worked. The next dance was the East Coast Swing. Some students hated the dance. I like it. East Coast is better than the West Coast in my opinion. The next dance we learned the Rumba. The Rumba is a first for me.

I chatted after class talking random stuff.

Tue May 25, 2010

Two mid-terms today. The first mid-term was Acct 1C. The multiple choice and true/false were straightforward. I can't believe there were two questions on the cost-volume-profit graphs. I hope I got the questions correct. The problems were tricky. I had to ask the instructor twice for clarification. The clarification helped. One of the problems was not from the homework. That's interesting because all of her mid-terms I took in the past were straight from the homework.

The second mid-term was Acct 66. I hope he curves the mid-term because one of the questions was not from the homework. The concept was from the homework. I found that problem hard to apply the concept. The rest of the problems were from the homework. One of the five multiple choice was from the first mid-term. What the hell. I hope I answered correctly. The mid-term was difficult.

Tonight and Wed I work on Bus 18.

Thur May 27, 2010

I forgot to mention after the second mid-term in Acct 1C the instructor told us the Excel class project. The project is five problems in Chap 23. My first impression is the project takes time to complete.

Another assignment in Acct 1C is the Student Learning Objective online quiz. We get two bonus points for completing the 30 minute online quiz. The quiz is assigned on Wed June 2.

I looked at my Bus 18 second mid-term. I misread two questions I should have answered correctly. The questions were straightforward. Everytime I proofread my multiple choice answers I found any error, correct it, and get the answer correct. I never proofread when I attended San Jose State. New rule: check your multiple choice answers. The probability is high I find an error, correct it, and earned the points.

Throughout the day everyone is thinking about the Memorial Day weekend. The instructors did a good job keeping the class going without slowing down. I'm thinking about Fanime Con the positives and any negatives I want to avoid or to minimize. I have no class on Mon May 31 because of Memorial Day.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 17, 2010

Mon May 17, 2010

I spent the entire afternoon reading the latest chapter and doing the homework for Acct 66. The material is hard. I didn't finish the homework because I needed to eat dinner and attend dance class. It's hard to focus when you eat a crappy lunch—especially eating lunch at 6pm.

The turnout was great. We had enough students for five rows of dance partners on stage. The problem continues some students can't form a dancing row. We improved the Nite Club Two Step and learned more patterns for the East Coast Swing. We had a good class!

My observations were plenty. There were some older females who had trouble dancing. They got dizzy and had to step aside. I stand by my belief on dancing. Anyone can dance. It can be hard to some. If you're out of shape, you're going to have trouble. You can learn. It's just it's going to be hard.

Another observation was about ten students were frustrated learning the East Coast Swing. They went to the sidelines observing the rest of the awesome student dancing and trying to learn. Some of them went home early. The couples who didn't rotate partners also went home early. Rotating partners helps students learn. There was one couple who stayed throughout the class was arguing and fighting.

Finally, for the second night in a row, the air conditioning was off. We opened the side doors to get air circulation. I was sweating.

I talked to a couple of students after class about their jobs. One of them told me everyone at work are in survival mode. They want to keep their jobs. They hunker down in the cubicles and work to keep their jobs.

Tue May 18, 2010

I eat oatmeal for breakfast on days I have a mid-term. I have a mid-term for Bus 18 today. The mid-term went well. There was no lecture after the mid-term. The extra time I went to the library to finish homework for Acct 66.

Acct 66 was boring. The teacher knows the material. He couldn't teach. We reviewed homework most of class time. The quizzes are take home homework assignments. The class chose mid-term #2 on Tue May 25 instead of Thur. I made adjustments on how I prepare for the second mid-term.

I have a quiz for Acct 1C on Thur. Tomorrow I cram the chapter and do the homework problems.

Thur May 20, 2010

Yesterday I crammed and completed all the homework for Acct 1C quiz. Wednesday must have been one of the most boring days in my life. I read and studied. Then I took a break in between including eating lunch and taking a nap. Yup, I took a nap. I lost my concentration and became sleepy. My guess why I took a nap was I ate boring leftovers for lunch. The entire week my family and I ate boring meals. Why were the meals boring? It's a long story. I completed all the homework later in the evening.

I think I mentioned the following regarding college actually learning real life events, moments, situations in a past blog entry. The lesson was rushing, last minute, and cramming. This morning I forgot to complete the extra credit assignment. I ate a bowl of cereal only. I didn't eat fruit, bread, and nuts. I shaved a fast as I could. Then I started the extra credit at 11:30am and finished at 12:10pm. I arrived to my class at 12:40pm, ten minutes late. Prepare to experience rushing, last minute, and cramming in real life.

I was hungry in Acct 1C I ate a Snickers candy bar. I got a stomach ache. It's either eating a Snickers candy bar in an empty stomach or last night's boring dinner. Also, my two Hostess apple pies were smashed inside my bag. I threw them away. The class took the quiz. I got a 9 out of 10. Not too bad.

I went to the express store to purchase saltine crackers to settle my stomach ache. The crackers helped. I ate some before Bus 18. I found out I got a 92% on the second mid-term. We started Chap 9 and Chap 10. Chap 9 was an introduction to contracts. Chapter 10 was agreements. Generally speaking, price quotes are not an offer. There is no obligation to sell at the quoted price. There are exceptions. We also learned of a case involving a Hooters waitress who was promised a Toyota for selling the most beer. She got a toy Yoda. See pic below. Here's an update to the case: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/05/09/toy-yoda.htm


Readers, insert your jokes here.

Finally, the instructor showed her iPad. She protected her iPad putting inside three bags: her carrying bag, small backpack, and the pouch that came with her iPad. She shared a small story about her past. She had a difficult childhood. She worked her way through college and law school. She even dropped out of college twice.

Acct 66 was better than Tue. The main reason was everyone wanted to know what's on the second mid-term. We reviewed the material for ten minutes. Gee, ten minutes for five chapters. I made adjustments how I prepare for the second mid-term after seeing how the instructor writes his tests. He finished the class lecturing the next chapter. I followed his lectures from the textbook. Most of the material is self explanatory.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 10, 2010

Mon May 10, 2010

Smaller class turnout tonight. The instructor focused on key points for the Nite Club Two Step. I was corrected. I realized I stepped on my heals instead of my toes. I keep an eye on my toes next class meeting.

The instructor started teaching East Coast Swing. No Tango. Some of the students were bored with East Coast a few went home early. One student I danced was bored I lead with some East Coast Swing moves. I messed up one move. East Coast Swing is a hard dance. There was another student I danced her legs were sore. I know I'm not dancing 100% correctly.

I talked to my sister about students having difficulty learning even basics. She told me some students might have taken the class for PE credit hoping it's an easy class. It's not easy. Very few students return for another quarter.

The instructor announced there is no intermediate dance class for Fall '10 quarter because of budget cuts. She was unhappy. I'm concerned because I plan to sign up for intermediate next quarter. Moreover, if I have a Monday and Wednesday night class starting at 6pm, I can't take a dance class.

Tue May 11, 2010

I had morning errands before classes. First, my ortho appointment to check on my retainer. My next appointment is in November. Second, I visited my family dentist to request emailing my x-rays to my ortho. Third, I went to Rite-Aid.

I earned another A for quiz #4 for Acct 1C. I fulfilled the required four out of six quizzes. The instructor drops the two lowest scores. In Bus 18, we started the next chapter which is crime. And in Acct 66, we finished Chapter 9 and started Chapter 10. Today's classes were the usual lectures.

Thur May 13, 2010

All my classes are behind. All my classes delayed the second mid-terms. The instructor delayed the Acct 1C mid-term #2 from Thur May 20 to Tue May 25. The instructor briefly discussed the Excel project. One of the students told the teacher she doesn't know Excel. Unacceptable. She's a business major and doesn't know Excel. She must learn it.

The following are the rules how I live my life daily. These are my daily life rules:

1. Don't criticize, condemn, and complain, and don't compare with others.
2. Don't act like a jerk or bitch.
3. Always speak calmly and be calm.
4. Don't daydream when driving.
5. Keep your head up high . . . look at the cute face when talking.

I thought of rule #6 in my daily life rules during Acct 1C lecture. Rule #6 is "Breath with your nose and stand up straight." I have been getting chapped lips. It can be the dry air and/or breathing with my mouth caused by wearing my retainer. I have been doing a good job improving my posture. I focus on my back straight and shoulder blades back. Rule #6 is a physical rule. Here are the new daily life rules:

1. Don't criticize, condemn, and complain, and don't compare with others.
2. Don't act like a jerk or bitch.
3. Always speak calmly and be calm.
4. Don't daydream when driving.
5. Keep your head up high . . . look at the cute face when talking.
6. Breath with your nose and stand up straight.

"With all due respect, I do not consent." The class in Bus 18 learned how to deal with police when we're stopped for a possible traffic violation. First, never admit what traffic violation you might have committed. If the officer asks why you're pulled, tell the officer you don't know and ask him for clarification. Second, be cool. Don't anger the officer. The instructor said "Sugar is better than vinegar." If the officer asks to search your vehicle, you don't have to give consent. You may say, "With all due respect, I do not consent." There are some situations where the officer can search your vehicle without your consent. However, if the officer asks, you don't have to consent.

The instructor shared a personal story. She committed a traffic violation. Her son was in the back seat and wore a baseball cap backwards like a gangster. The instructor told her son to give the best smile ever in his life and wear the baseball cap properly.

Today was the first time ever I wore shorts to lecture classes. The exception is gym classes. I never wore shorts when I attended San Jose State. That's weird. One student complained she was cold in Acct 66. It was not cold. The weather was mild and we got a great breeze. The student closed the front door in anger.

The first day of class we had 65 students. Today, we have 48 students. The first day in Acct 66 was packed. I reminded myself towards the end of the class to stop holding back. Let it all out. I'm doing good. No more all rights.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week May 3, 2010

Mon May 3, 2010

We continued to learn the Tango after reviewing the Nite Club Two Step. Physical fitness is important in dancing. There are some men and women who can't do a basic Tango. I hope they learn it next class meeting. I lost my focused towards the end. My left arm was not in the "T" frame. I also forgot to extend my upper left arm forward for shorter girls to keep the "T" frame. And I forgot to keep my feet pointing straight.

The students have a good idea who to dance. The guys walk straight to the good dancing girls leaving the bad dancing girls without a partner when we start to pair up.

Tue May 4, 2010

The Acct 1C instructor said 15 students from my Tue/Thur class took the first mid-term on the Mon/Wed class. The results for all Tue/Thur students were 37% got an A. I got an A. The mid-term was easy, and the easiest and most straightforward mid-term I have taken that includes all of her Acct 1B mid-terms. The lecture we reached the 1,000th page. I don't recall having a textbook that has 1,000 pages. The textbook is used in Acct 1A, 1B, and 1C.

I purchased a bag of chips at the express store during my Bus 18 break. I had to eat the chips during the second half of the class. Bad mistake. I ate the chips quietly. No more chips. I must eat something quiet such as cookies or candy. The prices in the express store are retail. I'm going to buy snacks at supermarkets and take advantage of the sales.

We ended Bus 18 talking about torts. We ended with false imprisonment. The instructor shared a true story. A couple was arguing in a car. The girlfriend wanted to get out. She couldn't because the boyfriend used the child-proof locks to prevent opening the door. (Do child-proof locks work on the passenger front door? Maybe she was in the back seat.) The boyfriend wanted his girlfriend to listen to him. The girlfriend continued to demand the boyfriend to let her out of the car. That's false imprisonment. There was a police officer who was there and arrested the boyfriend.

33% of the class got A's in Acct 66. I got a B. I misread one multiple choice question and did some problems incorrectly. The mid-term was straightforward. I'm going to make adjustments on how I complete the homework and study for the second mid-term since I have an idea how the instructor tests his students.

Thur May 6, 2010

Lesson learned yesterday. Don't eat really old leftovers on gym days. I had a stomach ache. I couldn't go workout and I even couldn't study. I went to bed early.

I forgot my eraser at home. All my pencils the eraser was used up. I had to cross out my errors when the class reviewed problems. The next Acct 1C quiz was delayed to Tue May 11. I was ready for the quiz because the material in Chapter 22 is the same material I learned in Acct 66 Chapter 3. Timing was in my favor.

I declare the lesson for Spring '10 is "timing is everything." The Fall '09 lesson was "everybody is human; let it all out" and the Winter '10 lesson was "go with the flow."

The postponements continued in Bus 18. The instructor delayed the second mid-term from Thur May 13 to Tue May 18. Some people remember the McDonalds lawsuit where an 80 year old woman sued McDonalds for spilling coffee. There's more to the story than what the media reported. The instructor met the lawyer representing the woman. The woman spilled coffee between her legs causing burns on her upper legs, thighs, and groin. The coffee was hotter than normal because McDonalds wanted to keep the coffee hot when the typical customer arrived at work. McDonalds found a way to keep the coffee hot longer to compete with Starbucks. The woman just wanted McDonalds to pay for the medical bills. McDonalds refused. The woman filed a lawsuit and won. For full detail facts visit the website http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm.

In Acct 66, the instructor reviewed the extra homework for Chap 6 and then started lecturing Chap 9. The instructor knows the concepts in cost accounting. The problem is he can't teach. Almost nobody wrote lecture notes. I tried to follow from the textbook. I couldn’t do it. I take a look at Chap 9 tomorrow. I figured out why 33% of the class got A's on the first mid-term. The first mid-term was material from Acct 1C. Nothing new was introduced for students who took Acct 1C.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 26, 2010

Mon Apr 26, 2010

Ballroom dancing requires some physical fitness and non-everyday movement with arms and legs. Dancing can be hard to many people out of shape. I was embarrassed I forgot a few moves in the Nite Club Two Step chorography. I wrote the pattern when I returned home. After Two Step, we learned the Tango. The Tango is a physical demanding dance such as bending your knees. The women have the harder parts because they're dancing backwards. Regardless, men and women who can't bend their knees, hold their frame, and dance gracefully are going to have a hard time learning. Mentally, they understand what's taught. It's executing the dance physically a challenge to some.

The dance class was another night of fun. Everyone had a good time. I saw two familiar faces visiting the class. There were a few Wed night students attending Mon night. There were a few couples who don't rotate partners. They were the ones falling behind in the lessons. The point of rotating is to mix newbies and veterans for the veterans to assist in teaching the patterns.

I danced both Two Step and Tango without holding back. I let it all out. I danced not as a newbie. I danced as a student who took dance class before. I didn't hold back. Holding back has been a bad habit; however, I feel a few situations it's appropriate to hold back.

Tue Apr 27, 2010

There was no lunch from home to bring to De Anza. I purchased lunch at a Japanese supermarket. No more eating at the De Anza cafeteria. No more fries and chicken nuggets.

I have a quiz for Acct 1C and mid-terms for Bus 18 and Acct 66. I scored a 100% for the quiz. It was amazing because I read Chapter 21 and didn't fully understand. I had to focus hard during the lecture to get a better understanding. Earning a 100% assured me I'm ready for the mid-term on Thur. I study tonight and all day tomorrow. Yes, I'm cramming.

An embarrassing moment happened at the end. I confused one student with another with a weird comment. The two students were female, Indian, same height, very similar voices, wore nose ring, and even looked the same from my point of view. I thought she did her hair differently, remove her nose ring, and wore makeup. I was wrong. It was a different person. Why the heck did the new person sit in a different spot and confused me?

The instructor proctored the Bus 18 mid-term as if it was a law school class. The instructor has three mid-term versions and everyone had to spread out. The first 20 minutes was a Q&A session. That's a great idea. Next, the instructor passed out the mid-terms faced down. The class had 65 minutes to complete. Everyone was to flip over the mid-terms together. The instructor posted the time the mid-term ended and even displayed the Windows "Date and Time Properties" window to show the clock on the overhead projector. The mid-term was straightforward and I'm confident I did well.

I had extra time between Bus 18 and Acct 66. I went to the library to study Acct 66. I was unconfident I knew all the material. The instructor teaches the class fast. Unfortunately, the extra studying helped little. It seemed I knew everything for the mid-term. I went to the campus center to eat my Japanese lunch. I purchased too much food. I was full. Perhaps, the oatmeal breakfast and the mid-term adrenaline hindered my appetite.

The Acct 66 mid-term was proctored weird. There were four versions. And the rows were aligned weird. Row one the students faced the front, row two the students faced the back, row three the students faced the front, row four the students faced the back, etc. The instructor passed out the attendance sign up sheet. What's the point? He could have used the mid-terms as attendance checks.

I struggled with the mid-term. I had to guess two out of five multiple choice questions. I struggled with one of the three problems. I score high if my guesses were correct and I correctly solved the struggled problem. I checked my homework at home. I misunderstood the concept on the struggled problem; however, I answered correctly solving the problem differently. I could lose points from calculations errors. I'm confident I used the formulas correctly. The instructor said on the first time he grades on a curve.

I studied my mid-terms when I attended San Jose State a minimum of two weeks. The Bus 18 and Acct 66 I started studying last Thur. I studied for three days. I excluded the activities I did outside studying. I'm studying Acct 1C for a day and a half. I'm learning the concepts faster and retaining the material quicker. I comprehend the information at a faster rate. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm in junior college and junior college is easier than state universities? Perhaps cramming is my new way of studying and telling me I'm ready for stressful jobs such as sales presentations, lol. Or maybe its good timing my classes are easy. Timing? There's another entry talking about "timing is everything." I mentioned "timing is everything" a possible Spring '10 life lesson. I'm still thinking to declare Spring '10 lesson "timing is everything."

Thur Apr 29, 2010

The attendance for Acct 1C was less than 50% of the registered enrollment. The reason was the instructor gave the option for students to take the mid-term on Mon instead of today. My closest classmates and I choose to take the mid-term today. We reasoned to get it over with and we remember what we learned on Tues. The mid-term was straightforward and I know I did well. The material was easy to understand. I'm glad I remembered almost all of the material.

I got a 100% for my Bus 18 mid-term. At least 50% of the mid-term was high school government. Students who know little about government and foreign born students have difficulty learning business law. I have a better understanding why the class is hard for some students. We're all human.

I want the campus center to show something on the TV. I watched a soccer game when I ate my lunch. I purchased food from a Japanese supermarket. I think about eating Japanese food for lunch during my break.

Acct 66 was interesting. The instructor reviews the first mid-term on Tues. Chapter 5 homework was due. I didn't do it. I read half of the chapter. The instructor said the second mid-term contains half of chapter 5 material. Lucky! And good timing I didn't collect the homework. I mentioned timing again. "Timing is everything." One reason was the instructor didn't understand and never applied the material in real life.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 19, 2010

Mon Apr 19, 2010

I successfully drop Wed night dance class and added Mon night dance class. The Mon night dance class we learned the Nite Club Two Step. I needed a crash course on the chorography. I found a student I knew from a prior dance class. She showed me the chorography. Minutes later, a group of students watched us and they asked me questions. I'm flattered.

We finished the chorography. It was easier than Fall '09 Nite Club Two Step. The class seemed to pick it up well for the third week. I saw a few struggles. That's nothing compared to Wed night dance class. Mon night the atmosphere was friendlier and more fun than Wed night class. I made the correct move switching classes.

I made a promise to the dance instructor assistant to attend Wed night class. The next class is a substitute teaching salsa. I really didn't want to go. She said attend. If I don't like it, I can leave no problem. I agreed.

Tue Apr 20, 2010

I parked at Stelling Parking Garage for the first time in Spring '10. The garage was almost full. I anticipate more parking spaces available around 12:15pm next week because this week is the last week to drop a class without a record on a student's transcript.

In Acct 1C, we took the second quiz. I got a 9 out of 10. The first question was in Chapter 19. Tricky. Most of the questions were straightforward. The question I missed was confusing. The students in my seating area are getting closer. Time flies by in classes where you get along well with classmates. One of the student commented Acct 1C easier than 1B is a lie.

The mid-terms for Bus 18 and Acct 66 are next week. I start preparing tomorrow. My Bus 18 instructor has taught for two years. She's doing a good job so far, and she teaches the class as if she's a law professor. The student taking Acct 66 with the instructor for the first time learned he was in an accident two months ago. A car hit him while he shopped at Target. He didn't file a lawsuit. Target gave him a $500 gift card so he doesn't sue.

The Acct 66 Chapter 4 homework I got one problem wrong during the discussion. It appears Chapter 4 is harder than I thought. I concentrate more time when I study Acct 66. Chapters 1-3 were straightforward.

Wed Apr 21, 2010

My last Wed night dance class for the quarter. The instructor was out of town. The first half of the class the dancing assistant taught. We reviewed the Cha Cha Cha. She taught the cross body lead. She did okay teaching. Some of the students were frustrated. The Wed night class is bad luck we have many men who are slow learners.

The second half of the class the substitute dance instructor arrived to teach Salsa. We had him in past classes. He knows Salsa well. He can't teach. The last time he taught us Salsa the dancing instructor had to take over the lesson. Some of my classmates think he's a better teacher in small groups. There were some students, mostly men, who were frustrated learning Salsa they quit. Been there, done that. I hope they continue learning if they have the desire to learn. And a few students walked out of the class.

I stayed throughout the class.

Thur Apr 22, 2010

I listened to Blackbird from The Beatles on my way to school. I thought Blackbird was a Paul McCartney song, not a Beatles.

The class was half full in Acct 1C. We started Chap 21. It's a difficult chapter. The instructor announced the third quiz and first mid-term were delayed. Unfortunately, no delay. Two students protested because they have conflicting schedules for the new dates. I'm not happy. I could have used the extra days to study. I wonder what is the college policy regarding a teacher delaying an announced mid-term day?

I purchased chicken nuggets and fries at the cafeteria. I had no lunch to bring from home. I'm not going to eat at the cafeteria for the rest of the quarter. I'm tried eating their food. If I need lunch, I buy my lunch at a Japanese store.

I watched Bowling for Columbine while eating my greasy food. The movie was shown on the TV inside the campus center. It was pretty good.

We did group work for the first time in Acct 66. In my group, there was one student who finished Acct 1C and another student taking Acct 1C concurrent with Acct 66 like me. Acct 1C and Acct 66 both deal with cost accounting.

Three mid-terms next week. This weekend is studying. I find time in between to relax and have fun. I'm not making the mistake when I attended San Jose State. Almost all of my time went to studying and reading.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar

De Anza Week Apr 12, 2010

Tue Apr 13, 2010

I earned a 100% on the first quiz for Acct 1C. It was my first 100% on Venka's quizzes. I didn't score a 100% on her Acct 1B quizzes. I submitted my extra credit. She changed the extra credit policy. Students earn two extra credit points by writing the summary and vocabulary.

I forgot to eat my banana during the break. I was tired at the second half of the class meeting. I was sleepy and my concentration was weak.

In Bus 18, I asked the teacher during the break I didn't find the first homework assignment on her webpage. She directed me to the website and it was there. Weird. I complete the homework tonight. And I forgot to mention from last week's blog the class is held in a small lecture room. It's not a typical classroom. The lecture room reminded me of my first class at San Jose State. The class was History 15A US History and Political Science.

I arrived 15 minutes early for Acct 66. The instructor and a few students were in the classroom. We were watching YouTube videos. It appeared a few students dropped because the class was not overcrowded. The instructor rushed Chap 1 and Chap 2 to catch up from the cancelled class last Thur. He delayed the first mid-term to Tue Apr 27 from Thur Apr 22. I have two mid-terms on Tue Apr 27.

Tonight I complete the homework for Bus 18 and start reading Chap 3 for Acct 66.

Wed Apr 14, 2010

First, I review the lessons I learned in Fall '09 and Winter '10. The Fall '09 lesson was everyone is human. I'm human. You're human. The people next to you are human. We have feelings. We have desires. We have strengths and weaknesses. We have people to support us. Don't hold back—let it all out. The Winter '10 lesson was go with the flow. There were times I had so much homework I was behind in other activities. Go with the flow. My workout schedules were inconsistent. Go with the flow. In good times and in bad times, go with the flow.

I believe Spring '10 lesson happened in dance class. The newest lesson is timing is everything. Tonight was our second class meeting. The men stank. We were awful. There were men who didn't learn the basic cha cha cha. My past classes everyone learned the basic Cha Cha Cha in the middle of the second class meeting. Winter '10 the women were awful; however, they improved towards the end of the quarter. I predict the same situation happens for the men in Spring '10. Group dance lessons the men rotate most of the time to dance with different partners. The men were garbage. There were three couples who didn't want to rotate partners. I don't blame them. There was one couple who didn't participate. They just watched. I'm guessing they were frustrated.

Its bad timing Wed night class had lots of men who have trouble learning. There was no mix of good and bad men. My past classes we learned quicker, got along well with each other, and the atmosphere was happy and great. I believe Wed night class has none of the above. Moreover, Wed Apr 21 class there is a substitute teaching salsa. Most of the students forget what we learned on Wed Apr 28.

Action must be taken. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice like singing class in Winter '10. I'm switching classes from the Wed night to the Mon night. I talked to students I know. They said the Mon class is going well. I take a chance. Monday's class can't get worse than Wed. The Mon class is learning the Nite Club Two Step. I got the outline and I start practicing.

I'm going to wait a few weeks before declaring officially the Spring '10 lesson is timing is everything.

Thur Apr 15, 2010

I'm struggling with Chapter 20 in Acct 1C class. The quiz is Tue Apr 20. I need extra time to learn the material. In Bus 18, we finished Chapter 3. I completed the homework and emailed to the instructor. The questions were straight from the lecture. The breaks between the two classes I purchased snacks at the bookstore and the cafeteria. There were no bananas at home.

No YouTube videos before Acct 66. The instructor arrived just in time for class. He didn't eat breakfast or lunch. We're caught up after he cancelled last Thur's class. Speaking of my lesson on timing, we talked about timing in class. Boston Market was thriving in the late '90s. The fast food restaurant went from 700 stores to at least 1,200 stores in the early 2000s. Bad luck and bad timing. The economy went into a recession after the dot com bust. Boston Market dropped from at least 1,200 stores to around 500 stores.

The movie theatre across the street shows $3.50 movies. I consider that for cheap entertainment. Tonight, work on Acct 1C homework.

I'm A Good Guy Growing Up Finding Raymond Mar