Online Learning, Free Classes and MOOCs

MOOCs

  • Coursera offers free online courses and certificate courses you pay a fee to get
  • Distance Ed Archive Collection curated by George Brett
    Topics related to distance eLearning in academia and other organizations.
  • EdX
    EdX offers interactive online classes and MOOCs from the world’s best universities. Online courses from MITx, HarvardX, BerkeleyX, UTx and many other universities. EdX is a non-profit online initiative created by founding partners Harvard and MIT.
  • Harvard offers a variety of free online courses.
  • MIT OpenCourseware. Basically, MIT gives you last year’s course lectures totally for free. If you want this year’s courses and access to professors, you need to attend the school.
  • Udemy has a variety of free and low cost courses. Offers change so check in once in a while to see if you can catch what you want at a good price or for free.
  • read more

    A beautiful Diwali Festival greeting

    I received the most amazing and beautiful Diwali greeting from a member of a Facebook group I help moderate Caribbean Entrepreneurs Association Online. The group’s founder, Guru Dan, says this about the Hindu festival:

    To those of you in this group who are not famaliar with the Divali (Diwali) festival of lights…today Hindus all over the world pay tribute to and honour the mother of mothers, Mahalakshmi, or Lakshmi Mata (Mother Lakshmi)…she is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), fortune, and the embodiment of beauty. The festivals of Diwali and Kojagiri Purnima are celebrated in her honour. To simplify it I think of the festival as a tribute and honour to mothers all around the globe…:) read more

    Immigrant children stolen & families shattered

    DREAMERS display sign, "We Are America".

    DREAMERS display sign, "We Are America".There are so many forms of racism and social oppression being carried out in America, it just boggles the mind. This morning, I posted on Facebook a link to an article that details sad facts about a practice I first learned about from a Nightline TV news show report “Stolen Babies”, a court-sanctioned family destruction that has been going on for way too many years. I linked to a Colorlines story on families being shattered when immigration officials detain or deport parents who work hard and abide laws, except that they lack legal United States residency status – a holy grail that is impossible for so many immigrants to obtain. Colorlines tells us, read more

    Extension on registrations, inspections & licenses for NJ drivers

    MVC Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez issued Administrative Order 2012-03 authorizing a 30-day extension for all driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations and inspections due to expire on Oct. 31. Martinez also authorized Administrative Order 2012-04, which waives International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) requirements during a state of emergency declared by the Governor of New Jersey. This temporary waiver will aid commercial motor carriers in delivering essential services and emergency relief supplies in a timely matter to areas that may be affected by Hurricane Sandy. read more

    2012 fixed voter machines and intimidation

    All hell has broken loose in conservative political camps this week. The stronger President Obama’s position has become, the more determined GOP extremists have become to defeat him at all costs – including the sacrifice of a favoured son, and just about all of whatever formerly passed for these people’s morality. God save them. At some Pennsylvania polls, voters were being told they had to have IDs and were turned away if they didn’t

    Tuesday, Nov. 6, 12:10 p.m. EST: Report: Pennsylvania voters illegally turned away: Civil rights group the Advancement Project tells The Root that it’s investigating and addressing what seems to be a pattern in Pennsylvania of poll workers turning away voters if they don’t have voter ID, which violates a recent court order stipulating that voters do not need ID for this election. “It’s not surprising, because despite the judge’s ruling, the state continued to run ads telling voters to get ID,” an Advancement Project representative says. read more

    Election 2012 voting FAQ

    FAQ: Questions about election/voting procedures

    • Q: I didn’t get my Voter ID card after registering to vote. Can I still vote?
      A: Yes. If you’re a registered voter who appears on the voter rolls (see below for how to check if you’re registered), you can vote. If you submitted a registration form but don’t appear on the voter’s roster at your polling place, you have two options:

      Q: How can I find out if I’m registered to vote? A: Visit canivote.org To check if you’re registered to vote and to find your polling place Q: Can I vote electronically, by email or fax? A: Yes! New Jersey voters that are, “displaced voters” can cast ballots by fax or email. What’s more, I learned at 6:10pm from the Assistant Bergen County Clerk that due to overwhelming demand, Governor Christie has just authorized the County Clerk’s offices around New Jersey to continue processing ballot requests through Friday Nov 9 for Vote By Mail applications that were received electronically by the submission deadline of 5pm on Election Day, Nov 6.. The Clerks’ staff need this extra time to finish checking and entering Vote By Mail applications received, and to generate and send out ballots by fax or email in accordance with the preference each voter has indicated). Although thousands of ballots have been processed in Bergen County, many still remain. The vote of each and every registered voter who returns an electronic ballot by Friday will be counted for the 2012 General Election :).

      The deadline for submitting a request for an electronic ballot ended at 5pm Tuesday, Nov 6, 2012. No new procedure was established to make this process possible for New Jersey voters displaced by Hurricane Sandy; the procedure already existed for military personnel and United States residents living abroad. Permission to vote by electronic means expires at the end of the 2012 general election. These are the instructions that were provided.

      You will need to fax or email a Vote By Mail application to your County Clerk by 5pm on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov 6 2012. They will send you back a form you must sign waiving your right to having your vote be anonymous (because entering your vote will see it), and a ballot. After filling out the ballot, you return it by fax or email as indicated on the ballot.

    • Q: How does a provisional ballot work?
      A: You can vote provisionally from any polling location or by visiting your county’s (see list) Board of Elections or County Clerks Offices – they’ll steer you to the right location. When the provisional ballot is reviewed, they Board of Elections should approve it based on what are a common entry errors (Street vs. Avenue, etc.).
    • Q: Why didn’t I get a sample ballot?
      Sample ballots came out very late. Some people received them on Nov 5 and some people did not receive them at all.
    • Q: What do I need to bring with me to vote at the polls?
      A: Here’s a list of what’s required in each state. In New Jersey, people who have already voted don’t need to bring any form of ID, but first time voters may be asked for identification.

    Información en Español

    Visite Ya Es Hora – ¡Ve y Vota! ó llamar al 888-839-3682 (888-VE-Y-VOTA) read more

    Resources for Newark residents

    Newark County Committeeperson Douglas Freeman called in to say, Newark’s South Ward Residents need food, baby food, diapers; warming and charging stations. Residents basically just want something that says, “We care. we’re not just leaving you here and you’re fending for yourselves with no one caring what’s happening to you. I was in the dark along with everyone and we had electrical wires hooked up between houses and all of that – if we could do that, I know the city can do something … Just show people that you care, that’s all.” read more

    Report on voter woes in Bergen County NJ

    Hundreds wait to vote in person at Bergen County Clerk Nov 4 2012

    Here are details of the report I sent in about voting issues here in Bergen County, NJ to Our Vote Live, set up by Craig Newmark (of Craig’s List) and other civic rights advocates to protect voter’s rights and make sure the conservatives don’t get away with suppressing people’s voting rights in this pivotal election. If you become aware of any voting issues, please make your own report.

    Hundreds wait to vote in person at Bergen County Clerk Nov 4 2012
    Hundreds wait to vote in person at Bergen County Clerk Nov 4 2012
    The Bergen County Clerk this afternoon remarked that State issued a new and confusing Directive just yesterday (Saturday). Apparently, County Clerks all over the state asked all week for a Directive to be issued. read more

    Sandy recovery – get & give help

    General government-based assistance

    • Legal hotline for NJ residents needing legal assistance after #Sandy.
      1-888-541-1900 or probono_public_service/ls_pb_hurricane_sandy_fema_new_jersey.authcheckdam.pdf
    • A special Federal Government website is set up to process Sandy requests http://www.disasterassistance.gov. It consolidates the application process across several Federal agencies, including FEMA and the Small Business Administration and reduces the number of forms applicants will need to fill out and you can check the progress of your applications online. You can also apply at
      • 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) or fema.gov
      • via smartphone at m.fema.gov
      • Speech disability or hearing loss
        TTY 1-800-462-7585
        711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) 1-800-621-3362

      Financial assistance and grants

      Look into applying for a Lion Clubs International direct grant or see what your local club has to offer. FEMA assistance and how to apply

      5. Operation Hope
      Financial dignity nonprofit Operation HOPE offers financial triage, financial recovery and free consultation services for individuals and small business owners impacted by Hurricane Sandy. More information here

    • 6. Disaster SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Information (aka Foodstamps)
      SNAP Handbook Guide
      b. D-SNAP Toolkit: SNAP Guidance Toolkit.pdf

    Health issues

    The New Jersey Department of Health has public health experts available through the state’s 2-1-1 system to answer questions about food and water safety and mold removal. To reach public health experts, call 211 or 1-866-234-0964, or visit them online at nj211.org. Experts are available 8am-8pm weekdays and 10am-5pm weekends. More than 800 New Jersey residents have called the Department of Health hotline seeking help with food and drinking water safety, mold removal and prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning. The 211 number is open for general enquiries 24/7. read more

    Funny phrases

    Things people say can be really funny – because sometimes we garble our intended message completely. Here are some turns of phrase I’ve found amusing.

    • “I don’t have to stay at home and cowtail to some ninny”
      This lady meant to say, kowtow (bow down) – instead of cowtail

    Special New Jersey voting options for 2012 election

    This will be updated as new information becomes available. Please also see Election 2012 Voter FAQ
    Nov 2, 2012 New Jersey State has changed some of the voting rules to help people cast their votes in this election. They include: you can vote early at county clerk offices; you can vote by email or fax; a messenger can bring any number of ballots into the Board of Election. See the State Directive below or visit the League of Women Voters website – they’ve got the best information I’ve seen. read more

    New Jersey County Clerks

    A more extensive list containing both County Clerk and Board of Election contact information, including fax numbers, is available here.

    Atlantic County Clerk
    5901 Main Street
    CN 2005
    Mays Landing, NJ 08330
    609-641-7867
    Bergen County Clerk
    One Bergen County Plaza
    Hackensack, NJ 07601
    201-336-7000
    Burlington County Clerk
    49 Rancocas Road
    Mount Holly, NJ 08060
    609-265-5122
    Camden County Clerk
    2015 The Mall at Voorhees Town Center, 2nd Floor
    Voorhees, NJ 08043
    856-566-2920
    Cape May County Clerk
    7 North Main Street
    DN 109
    Cape May Court House, NJ 08210-3096
    609-465-1010
    Cumberland County Clerk
    Court House Building
    60 West Broad Street
    Bridgeton, NJ 08302
    856-453-4860
    Essex County Clerk
    Hall of Records
    465 Martin Luther King Blvd.
    Newark, NJ 07102
    973-621-4920
    Gloucester County Clerk
    Court House
    P.O. Box 129
    Woodbury, NJ 08096
    856-853-3237
    Hudson County Clerk
    257 Cornelison Avenue
    Jersey City, NJ 07302
    201-369-3470
    Hunterdon County Clerk
    Hall of Records
    71 Main Street
    Flemington, NJ 08822
    908-788-1221
    Mercer County Clerk
    100 Court House Annex
    209 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 8068
    Trenton, NJ 08650
    609-989-6477
    Middlesex County Clerk
    P.O. Box 1110
    New Brunswick, NJ08903-1110
    732-745-3827
    Monmouth County Clerk
    33 Mechanic Street
    Freehold, NJ 07728
    732-431-7324
    Morris County Clerk
    Administration & Records Building
    P.O. Box 315
    Morristown, NJ 07963-0315
    973-285-6125
    Ocean County Clerk
    P.O. Box 2191
    Toms River, NJ 08754
    732-929-2110
    Passaic County Clerk
    401 Grand Street, Room 130
    Paterson, NJ 07505
    973-225-3632
    Salem County Clerk
    P.O. Box 18
    92 Market Street
    Salem, NJ 08079
    856-935-7510
    Somerset County Clerk
    P.O. Box 3000
    20 Grove Street
    Somerville, NJ 08876
    908-231-7006
    Sussex County Clerk
    Sussex County Clerk’s Office
    83 Spring Street, Suite 304
    Newton, NJ 07860
    973-579-0900
    Union County Clerk
    2 Broad Street
    Elizabeth, NJ 07207
    908-527-4787
    Warren County Clerk
    413 Second Street
    Belvidere, NJ 07823
    908-475-6211

    Peggy McIntosh’s extraordinary essay on what it means to possess White Privilege

    I can go shopping without being harassed

    I hope you enjoy this extraordinary essay by gifted writer, thinker and egalitarian, Peggy McIntosh as much as I do. For your downloading pleasure, here’s a condensed list of 50 ways white privilege is experienced in America (thanks for the link Helen Tinsley!).

    White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
    by Peggy McIntosh

    I can go shopping without being harassedThrough work to bring materials from women’s studies into the rest of the curriculum, I have often noticed men’s unwillingness to grant that they are overprivileged, even though they may grant that women are disadvantaged. They may say they will work to women’s status, in the society, the university, or the curriculum, but they can’t or won’t support the idea of lessening men’s. Denials that amount to taboos surround the subject of advantages that men gain from women’s disadvantages. These denials protect male privilege from being fully acknowledged, lessened, or ended. read more

    Most inspiring message on Why Vote!

    I am honored by the opportunity to display this message on my website. Rev. Dr. William Barber II shares the historical time line of Black and ethnic minority acquisition of the rights to vote, to have equality in housing and economic opportunities and reminds us, “If there was ever a time to vote that time is NOW.”