Linear Algebra class starts tomorrow morning; Public Speaking update

Starting tomorrow morning, I’m taking a Linear Algebra course at DeAnza College. It’s a six week summer session, and the classes are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 9:40 AM. I expect the commute to Cupertino will take nearly an hour, so I’ll have to get up around 5:45 AM. I’m not a morning person, so this will be quite a challenge. At least it’s only for six weeks; I don’t think I could handle that for an eighteen week semester.

There’s one week left in my Public Speaking class. Tomorrow evening I have to present my persuassive speach, the topic of which is that President George W. Bush should be impeached. I’ve just spent a few hours updating my outline, researching and citing additional references in support of my arguments. This is by far the most difficult of the assignments, and I need to practice delivering it a lot today and tomorrow. I’ll probably have to cut some material to keep it within the seven minute limit.

Beyond that, there’s one more speech then the final exam. The last speech is a brief Public Service Announcement. A friend suggested as a topic that I recommend that girls and young women (up to age 26) get vaccinated for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV causes half of all cervical cancers; cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, which causes 3,700 deaths per year. The new vaccine is almost 100% effective at preventing HPV infection.

After Public Speaking is over, I’ll have a six week course in American Government. I hope that one is as interesting and fun as Public Speaking has been.