Traineo

Following another lead from Solution Watch, I have signed up for an account on Traineo. While I have been being better about my exercise and diet since the semester began about a month ago, I still need more motivation to do well, since I think I’ve only taken off about 10 pounds. Traineo keeps track of workout routines, nutritional consumption, and weight — graphing it all so I can see how well or poorly I’m doing. Perhaps since the world can see my progress, I might be more motivated to do better.

I know the British folks (who else calls chips “crisps” and fries “chips”?) who put Traineo together are smart. From their article “8 Tips to Get in Shape”:

As much as you may have heard about the infamous Atkins diet, carbohydrates are NOT the enemy. We need carbohydrates for energy whether for short burts or long-sustained energy sources. Without carbohydrates our bodies may find it hard to adjust to this inherent energy deficit. You may have heard of the glycemic index. Without going into too much detail, the GI is a ranking of foods based on their immediate effect on blood sugar levels. Higher GI foods (i.e. more sugary) are required after exercise to replenish drained sources and lower GI foods for the rest of the time. As a rule of thumb, stick to complex carbohydrates which take a long time to digest and have a more prolonged release of energy. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates include vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

As I said: smart.

New Stuff

I have been as busy as a busy thing lately, and my blog has suffered for it. I know that nobody really reads this thing, so this is just a personal admonition. I truly believe that writing is something that needs to be used, or it will evanesce quicker than a Hummer burns gas. Anyway, I’ve been working on a couple of important projects lately that have been taking all of my waking life. However, I do try to browse, and apropos to that, Google Reader has made some significant updates. More options are a good thing, including a feature to share certain news items on a specialized page with its own feed. Nice. So, now those people who don’t read my site have something else to ignore, too. Don’t you just love the Internet?

Since my reader is all new, I have been reading a bit more. I’ve discovered a couple of sites worthy of mention.

The first is Solution Watch, a site that “surveys the new generation of the web, reviewing and providing in-depth walkthroughs of today’s best products and services.” Great idea. A current entry addresses educational solutions for tech-savvy educators and students. Many of these I knew about (and some I use), but I am happy to see that inroads are being made into an online grade book, something I’ve been wanting for a while, not just for my own use, but as a place where students can view their progress at any time.

Chalksite looks like an excellent solution, with one huge drawback: apparently the creators do not understand that teachers (including most professors) make next to nothing, so making us pay for this service seems a bit ridiculous. Teacher! looks like it has potential, but is still apparently in the beta phase, and they are not presently taking new accounts. I might try Engrade.

Also linked off of Solution Watch’s report is Emurse, the web-based résumé creator with an unfortunate name. I got an account so I can post my vita. I mean, who knows when having an online vita might come in handy? Emurse allowed me to create a cv from scratch, and when I’m finished, I’ll be able to post it online. It even allows me to password protect it, if necessary. I’m right in the middle of porting my cv, but so far Emurse is working well. I may even pay the few bucks to get more templates.

It seems like Emurse would be great for teaching professional or technical communication, too.

I have been as busy as a busy thing lately, and my blog has suffered for it. I know that nobody really reads this thing, so this is just a personal admonition. I truly believe that writing is something that needs to be used, or it will evanesce quicker than a Hummer burns gas. Anyway, I’ve been working on a couple of important projects lately that have been taking all of my waking life. However, I do try to browse, and apropos to that, Google Reader has made some significant updates. More options are a good thing, including a feature to share certain news items on a specialized page with its own feed. Nice. So, now those people who don’t read my site have something else to ignore, too. Don’t you just love the Internet?

Since my reader is all new, I have been reading a bit more. I’ve discovered a couple of sites worthy of mention.

The first is Solution Watch, a site that “surveys the new generation of the web, reviewing and providing in-depth walkthroughs of today’s best products and services.” Great idea. A current entry addresses educational solutions for tech-savvy educators and students. Many of these I knew about (and some I use), but I am happy to see that inroads are being made into an online grade book, something I’ve been wanting for a while, not just for my own use, but as a place where students can view their progress at any time.

Chalksite looks like an excellent solution, with one huge drawback: apparently the creators do not understand that teachers (including most professors) make next to nothing, so making us pay for this service seems a bit ridiculous. Teacher! looks like it has potential, but is still apparently in the beta phase, and they are not presently taking new accounts. I might try Engrade.

Also linked off of Solution Watch’s report is Emurse, the web-based résumé creator with an unfortunate name. I got an account so I can post my vita. I mean, who knows when having an online vita might come in handy? Emurse allowed me to create a cv from scratch, and when I’m finished, I’ll be able to post it online. It even allows me to password protect it, if necessary. I’m right in the middle of porting my cv, but so far Emurse is working well. I may even pay the few bucks to get more templates.

It seems like Emurse would be great for teaching professional or technical communication, too.

Traineo for Weight Loss & Fitness

Following another lead from Solution Watch, I have signed up for an account on Traineo. While I have been being better about my exercise and diet since the semester began about a month ago, I still need more motivation to do well, since I think I’ve only taken off about 10 pounds. Traineo keeps track of workout routines, nutritional consumption, and weight — graphing it all so I can see how well or poorly I’m doing. Perhaps since the world can see my progress, I might be more motivated to do better.

I know the British folks (who else calls chips “crisps” and fries “chips”?) who put Traineo together are smart. From their article “8 Tips to Get in Shape”:

As much as you may have heard about the infamous Atkins diet, carbohydrates are NOT the enemy. We need carbohydrates for energy whether for short burts or long-sustained energy sources. Without carbohydrates our bodies may find it hard to adjust to this inherent energy deficit. You may have heard of the glycemic index. Without going into too much detail, the GI is a ranking of foods based on their immediate effect on blood sugar levels. Higher GI foods (i.e. more sugary) are required after exercise to replenish drained sources and lower GI foods for the rest of the time. As a rule of thumb, stick to complex carbohydrates which take a long time to digest and have a more prolonged release of energy. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates include vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

As I said: smart.

Traineo for Weight Loss & Fitness

New Stuff

I have been as busy as a busy thing lately, and my blog has suffered for it. I know that nobody really reads this thing, so this is just a personal admonition. I truly believe that writing is something that needs to be used, or it will evanesce quicker than a Hummer burns gas. Anyway, I’ve been working on a couple of important projects lately that have been taking all of my waking life. However, I do try to browse, and apropos to that, Google Reader has made some significant updates. More options are a good thing, including a feature to share certain news items on a specialized page with its own feed. Nice. So, now those people who don’t read my site have something else to ignore, too. Don’t you just love the Internet?

Since my reader is all new, I have been reading a bit more. I’ve discovered a couple of sites worthy of mention.

The first is Solution Watch, a site that “surveys the new generation of the web, reviewing and providing in-depth walkthroughs of today’s best products and services.” Great idea. A current entry addresses educational solutions for tech-savvy educators and students. Many of these I knew about (and some I use), but I am happy to see that inroads are being made into an online grade book, something I’ve been wanting for a while, not just for my own use, but as a place where students can view their progress at any time.

Chalksite looks like an excellent solution, with one huge drawback: apparently the creators do not understand that teachers (including most professors) make next to nothing, so making us pay for this service seems a bit ridiculous. Teacher! looks like it has potential, but is still apparently in the beta phase, and they are not presently taking new accounts. I might try Engrade.

Also linked off of Solution Watch’s report is Emurse, the web-based résumé creator with an unfortunate name. I got an account so I can post my vita. I mean, who knows when having an online vita might come in handy? Emurse allowed me to create a cv from scratch, and when I’m finished, I’ll be able to post it online. It even allows me to password protect it, if necessary. I’m right in the middle of porting my cv, but so far Emurse is working well. I may even pay the few bucks to get more templates.

It seems like Emurse would be great for teaching professional or technical communication, too.

Last Month

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-5531086492741256766&hl=en&fs=true

A little video I forgot I took at the Steely Dan concert in Atlanta. My wife’s birthday present to me were two tickets. They played only their classic tunes — nothing from the last couple of years. It was the best show I’ve seen in a while, despite the oppressive heat. Thanks, again, A; I would do it again in a minute.

Oh, if you listen closely, you can hear us sing along. No, we weren’t drunk. It was too hot to drink.

A little video I forgot I took at the Steely Dan concert in Atlanta. My wife’s birthday present to me were two tickets. They played only their classic tunes — nothing from the last couple of years. It was the best show I’ve seen in a while, despite the oppressive heat. Thanks, again, A; I would do it again in a minute.

Oh, if you listen closely, you can hear us sing along. No, we weren’t drunk. It was too hot to drink.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

One of the clearest memories that I have from childhood was a night at the fairgrounds.

It was early in my seventh-grade year, and I had decided I wanted to be in the band. I had also decided on the clarinet for my axe. I’m not sure why, but it probably reminded me of a spaceship that I imagined out of one of the science fiction books I was reading at the time. To my young mind, that was a good enough reason to pick an instrument.

Dad dutifully bought me a clarinet, but asked me if I’d ever considered a trumpet? I probably wasn’t even sure what a trumpet was, having only been introduced to the cornet. They were similar? No, it was the clarinet for me. Dad was supportive, but said that I should keep my schedule open for Sunday night.

He and I probably picked up the requisite Happy Meal on the way to Robart’s Arena in Sarasota on Sunday evening. We arrived early and made our way to the front row, stage right. The risers and the drum kit were being assembled, and we occasionally heard the instruments warming up back stage. Once or twice, the growing audience quieted upon hearing a singular trumpet rise above the others, both in volume and octave. I remember feeling my eyes widen and my mouth drop. Dad just smiled knowingly.

The concert that followed was probably a good three hours, at least. Maynard Ferguson and his band of young athletes ran the musical equivalent of a marathon for us that evening. The man himself played trumpet and valve trombone with superhuman intensity on every song, from “Gonna Fly Now” to “MacArthur Park.” It was as if Gabriel himself had descended on Sarasota that evening to give us all a little sound of Heaven. When he wasn’t playing, he jiggled around stage waving his arms at the band and laughing. In the front row, the energy was palpable: I’m betting my hair was standing a little higher by the end.

Maynard Ferguson was inspiring; Dad knew he would be. I dropped that clarinet faster than tempo of “Birdland.” I was playing my first trumpet soon after, following my father who was also a trumpeter as a young man. While I only played the trumpet through my first year in college – about seven years total – Maynard and Dad instilled a respect for great musicians in this young boy. And I was pretty good at times, too. Maynard taught me to aim high. I knew while I stood in front of the band at football games, Dad was smiling at me like he smiled that night at Robart’s. Thanks, Dad. My best experiences through high school were through the mouthpiece of my horn.

Maynard Ferguson died on Saturday. He was 78. Somehow, I know he’s still flying high, probably giving Gabriel a run for his money.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Science Fiction (A Definition)

Yesterday, in my current sf course, we discussed and attempted to define what we mean when we talk about “science fiction.” We read several introductions to the topic, considered a couple of illustrative texts, and decided that any definition of science fiction must be locally situated: i.e., there is unlikely anything we can call “SF” as in an absolute, immutable genre, but we must content ourselves with the local and contingent “sf.” We decided we like the “sf” more than “sci-fi,” since the former also includes “speculative fiction,” and seems to be the choice of those who do the deepest thinking about science fiction. As one student said yesterday, “sci-fi” is a TV station, suggesting that this is the popular side of science fiction. Both are valid, but our study will stick with “sf.”

Yesterday, in my current sf course, we discussed and attempted to define what we mean when we talk about “science fiction.” We read several introductions to the topic, considered a couple of illustrative texts, and decided that any definition of science fiction must be locally situated: i.e., there is unlikely anything we can call “SF” as in an absolute, immutable genre, but we must content ourselves with the local and contingent “sf.” We decided we like the “sf” more than “sci-fi,” since the former also includes “speculative fiction,” and seems to be the choice of those who do the deepest thinking about science fiction. As one student said yesterday, “sci-fi” is a TV station, suggesting that this is the popular side of science fiction. Both are valid, but our study will stick with “sf.”