It’s over.

It’s over.

42 miles each way, three classes, five papers, three commencements, two days, two weeks, nine hours and one trustee meeting.

It is finished. Summer has begun!

One thing I’ve learned after seventeen years in academia is that there are a few days out of the year that feel dramatically different. The Friday afternoon after the final Spring commencement service is one of those days. As I left the Gym after striking the sound system, I marveled at how empty the campus had suddenly become. The bustling of the crowd just a few minutes before had given way to an almost deafening silence as if people had finally decided to move on to the next stage in their lives.

Invariably, the next two weeks following commencement are a bit of a lead into Summer; almost like a warm up. No summer classes per se, but lots of Mini term classes that provide a good way to walk off the Spring term. It’s also the week I teach my film class, so a majority of the time in the evenings is spent watching films. Very fun.

On a more reflective note I can honestly say that this semester has been one of the more difficult of my life. I got nine hours knocked out, but I lost a few friends along the way. Amy W. (a friend of mine) passed away suddenly, and some other friends of mine had their lives irretrievably changed because of work issues. I will miss all of them. All this and teaching while working almost full time was a challenge that I could not have met had Amy (my wife) not been there for me. You are my wife and I love you. You were the encouragement I needed, the kick in the pants I deserved, and the shoulder to cry on when things got hard.

This Summer is for us. Amy and I are heading down South to celebrate our 5th (whooda thought?), and I’ve got plenty of projects to work on this Summer with which to relax, reflect, and purge my system for Fall, when I finish out my final nine hours of my residency.

Here’s hoping.

-D

A Good Thing

Hey folks, I hope things are going well for you. Paper 1 is done and papers 2-4 are working.

Dr. Jim Denison is Pastor of Teaching at Park Cities Baptist Church. In my line of work I've had the privelege of hearing him preach on numerous occasions and he grabs me like few others have. He is genuine, he is intelligent, and he is extraordinarily down to earth. I am also honored to say that he is friend of mine.

He has a broacast on KRLD 1080 AM called God Issues that runs mornings at 7:50 am. He also has a companion web site that follows the broadcasts and is well worth checking out.

He's currently doing a series on The DaVinci Code.

-D

I'm not dead yet . . .

But three major papers in three weeks is gonna put me in my place, ergo I may not post again until Mid May.

Here's hoping . . .
-D

A word from the wise

Steve is a good friend of mine who I've known around 20 years. It's not often he issues some advice like this, but when he does I take it to heart since he's one of my go-to people when my computer problems start getting serious.

Spyware is a serious problem, and just this morning I was fighting it trying to get some stuff done. Here's an email he sent out today that I really liked.

Give me a day or two and I'll try and link everything up. For now you can Google these titles and find them.
===========================================

I can't tell you how many people I've had to help with their spyware infested computers at home. This problem eclipses all other problems. In the course of helping these folks I've built up a check list that seems to work and doesn't cost anything. I thought I'd share it...

1. Use Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Use Internet Explorer only when necessary. The latest version of Firefox works on 99% of sites and is much much less prone to Spyware. Firefox is also a fantastic browser when you spruce it up with Extensions. Extensions is a whole other list that I won't get into here but trust me, you can turn Firefox into something that makes Internet Explorer look pathetic. P.S. Firefox won PC Magazine's product of the year for 2005.

2. Use Mozilla Thunderbird instead of Outlook Express for your email needs. Thunderbird protects you from ActiveX attacks that happen in Outlook Express and you can block images by default and handle junk mail. Thunderbird does everything that Outlook Express does and more.

3. Patch your Windows to the latest patch level. Most problems with Spyware are related to Internet Explorer, but not all. Patching is always a good idea.

4. Use antivirus software that also blocks Spyware. Two products that are free are AVAST and AVG. Avast is my favorite.

5. Scan your PC with several free anti-spyware tools (don't use just one). I use Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareBlaster and Windows Defender (beta product from Microsoft). Here are some details on the products:
a) Ad-Aware - the personal version is free. It's great for cleaning up spyware but it doesn't protect you from getting them.
b) Spybot Search & Destroy - free for personal use. This cleans spyware and also protects you if you use "Immunizations" (which protect you from some websites).
c) SpywareBlaster - the free version requires you to download updates manually but it helps with spyware removal and protects you actively.
d) Windows Defender (beta) - This Microsoft product will be part of the upcoming Windows Vista. It's purpose is to scan for and actively protect you from spyware.

6. Hide your Internet Explorer and Outlook Express icons so you (or anyone else) are tempted to click on them (after replacing them with Firefox and Thunderbird).

7. Teach your whole family (and anyone else using your computer) to "just so no" when they get prompted on various websites to install any software. Kids love to visit sites like "Playstation codes and cheats" that are riddled with spyware. This is especially true with boys. I thank God I had a daughter. :)

8. Make friends with a good computer geek and buy him/her lunch. I personally like Herrera's, Empress Cafe and Ton's Mongolian Grill. :)

Hope this helps. I also hope that the next version of Windows is a lot less vulnerable to spyware.

It's Raining It's Pouring . . .

I cannot believe the amount of rain that has fallen in the last 24 hours. I love rainy mornings, especially ones that I can sleep a little late on, but this has got to be some kind of record. Spring Break is slowly slipping away and I look at my to do list realizing that my plans and reality didn't quite jibe, once again.

So the post isn't a total loss, and to recall drier times, here is a picture of Spooky, one of our cats. She was a stray that followed my wife home one day and stayed. She's fun, a jumper, and has a stuffed frog fixation that we haven't quite figured out yet.
-D

It's done

Amy's funeral was today. I got through it without losing it, but when setting up for the event yesterday, it felt wrong. I've done hundreds of these events in my 16 years of working there, but this is the first time that it felt completely wrong, like a bad dream.

Last week things were fine. I was getting ready for (and looking forward to) Spring Break. Last Thursday I was prepping for class. Today I was mourning a friend who hadn't even turned 30. Last Thursday I was business as usual. Today I was trying recall the last time I'd seen her. What was the last thing I said to her? Amy was such a normal part of life around there that when she left us, it was as if the sun wasn't going to come up ever again. When working on my class today I still had to fight the urge to pick up the phone and call her for some help.

I know that with time all wounds will heal, but this one may take awhile. Tonight my wife and I sat out on the deck while I cooked burgers on the grill and we talked. Life was slowly returning to normal. I'm lucky to have my wife. She knows me better than I know myself most times, and she's good therapy. She's also one of a kind.

To quote one of my favorite comedians:

I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again!

I realize that someone may have said it before Jerry Lewis, but I'll let the attribution and the sentiment stand. Amy, you were one of a kind, and I'm a better person for having known you.

And to my wife, thanks for getting me through this. You were there when I needed you, and I'm lucky to have you in my life. I love you
-D

Amy Walker: I’ll miss you

I realize this is an odd post, since I've been out for the last month, but I felt the need to do something constructive tonight.

I found out a few hours ago that a close friend of mine passed away suddenly. The actual cause of death is still to be determined, but I’ll miss her nonetheless. She died way too young, and had a lot ahead of her.

I'd appreciate it if all of you would keep her family in your prayers.

-D

I got tagged

Not sure if I"m doing this correctly, and if I'm not expect this to disappear pretty quickly. My close friend edieray tagged me and I thought I'd give this modern version of a slambook a try (remember those?).

Here goes!

Four jobs I've had:

1. AV Tech at a local college
2. Adjunct Prof at the same local college
3. Mailroom Worker for the Women's Missionary Union
4. Warehouse worker at the now defunct Best Products (it's where I got to know Ensign Eddie)

Four places I've lived:

1. Dallas
2. Duncanville
3. DeSoto
4. Arlington

Four websites I visit daily:

1. Internet Movie Database
2. CNN
3. FoxNews
4. The Smoking Gun

Four television shows I love to watch:

1. Good Eats
2. Iron Chef
3. MASH
4. MythBusters

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Mexican Cokes
2. Sauteed Onions
3. Steak
4. Meatloaf

Four albums I can't live without (at least for the moment):

1. Genesis - We Can't Dance
2. The Producers -OST
3. Linus and Lucy - The Music of Vince Guaraldi
4. Blue Collar Comedy Tour

Four DVD's I can't live without:

1. From the Earth to the Moon
2. Love Actually
3. Jackass
4. Blackadder

Four places I'd rather be:

1. Disney World
2. Disney Cruise
3. On my deck
4. Clarksville, TX

Four people I am tagging to do this meme are:

• Gotta work on this since everyone I know has already done this.

later

=D

Checking in . . .

Okay, I took off the week following Christmas and haven't really had much to say since then. I still won't forget the song, or the timing of it: one of those magical moments where God kinda says Hey, I'm here! Remember me?

I hope that your 2006 will be a darn sight better than 2k5 was. Mine has started off with me tacking my residency at UNT which involves two semesters of 9 hours each. It'll be busy, but I'll learn a lot.

Whoever you are, I wish you well.

MTC
-D

Christmas Eve, 7am

I started snoring around 6am this morning, so my better half lets me know via her own version of morse code (which is actually her own series of nudges, pokes, and kicks). I decided that getting up and starting my day might be a wise use of my time, so at 6:30 I'm headed towards Tom Thumb to pick up some sweet potatoes and other items. On the way home, I came across a song I hadn't heard in quite awhile.

Let There Be Peace On Earth
Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me. Let There Be Peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be! With God as our Father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now. With ev'ry breath I take, let this be my solemn vow; To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally! Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!
Written by Sy Miller and Bill Jackson

Merry Christmas to us all!

MTC

-D

Just a quick note . . .

I had a pretty good update I started hacking out in MS Word at the beginning of the week; it had the makings of a first class rant (my ranting does get raves, I'm told). Anyhow, I got twisted up in my logic and ended up losing the head of steam I had carefully built up. It's saved, and will make an appearance at some point. Unfortunately it won't be the stream of consciousness work that I was hoping for.

Kudos to edieraye for reminding me of a wonderful memory from a few years back.

Take care, and if I don't post before we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
MTC
-D

Some Sound Advice

If you come to work on Monday, and your emailed word of the day is Eviscerate: turn around and go home. Things will only get worse.

MTC
-D

It's done!

I had my last class of the semester last night and submitted what is easily the most difficult paper I've ever written. It was 20 page body, 5 pages of references, and two appendices. I realize many of you out there have done more, but throw in a theoretical perspective that I wasn't completely familiar with, only two interviews (when I would have preferred 10-15) and the need to get as close to 20 pages as possible, it was a task. I had a ten pager that was submitted earlier for another class, but that one did seem a bit easy by comparison. I did learn a few things this time around:

Literature Reviews are a wonderful way to occupy space without having to resort to blatant padding, and

APA Style Helper, although is a little twitchy, makes handing your references a breeze.

Anyway, I can't completely relax until I get my grades, but I can say that I gave this one a good shot.

Now it's back to watching Good Eats reruns.

MTC
-D

Hope for the Holidays

Got through Thanksgiving with my dignity intact and no trips by me or my family to the drug store or emergency room.  I discovered a few things along the way, however:

• Gas stoves put out a LOT of heat.


• It’s a little scary making something that you normally wouldn’t eat yourself.


• A grill makes a fine heat source for warming something.


• An electric blanket is wonderful for making bread rise in a timely fashion.


• There really is no line between breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Thanksgiving.


• I can make a WONDERFUL caramel apple pie.


• I wish I had two stomachs. I hate cooking all this and not being able to try all of it.

Thanksgiving is still an underrated holiday in my book, with Halloween following a close second.

MTC
-D

Things that I think are cool:

Free software that’s actually good enough to pay for: Picasa, CutePDF, Tsunami Mpeg Encoder are some that come to mind.

Cast Iron Skillets

Halloween

Bugs Bunny and Road Runner cartoons

Triathlons and the fact that my wife runs in them

My wife. She’s attractive, smart, and can think like a guy – the triple threat.

Cornbread

Dad’s cornbread dressing

Mom’s chocolate sheet cake

Walt Disney World in general, especially the Gertie the Dinosaur Ice Cream stand at Disney MGM











MTC
-D

A Short Self Interview

So what is this blog for, and why the name?

Until I think of something cooler, I'll stick with this. Lots of good connotations with it. I had another idea but it was a little too weird.

This blog is set up for a few reasons:

To let me play with the interface so I can see how adaptable it is to areas of interest to me.

To let me vent about things that are on my mind and to get them out in the open – ergo the name.


Just who am I?

I’m late 30’s (I’m being vague so I don’t have to update this part that often), married, no kids. I’m head of the AV department at a local university, and am a Ph.D. student at another university in the area. Areas of research interest are: online education, assistive/adaptive technologies, and communication theory. Areas of interest are movies, naps, cooking, and bright shiny things.


Who are your heroes?

John Glenn, Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Moe Howard, Buster Keaton, Walt Disney, and Alton Brown.
Read in to this whatver you like. It's a free country.
MTC
-D

Hurrican Rita over Houston

Found this on the web and was playing around with Picasa. Very cool piece of software.
More to come!
-D