Well, I started my third Masters course at U/Saint Thomas last night: SEIS620 – Systems Analysis and Design Tools – 14 evening sessions, a bit more than 3 hours per session. So far, the instructor is a hoot and based on the first night, he should make this topic quite interesting. There are almost twenty of us, this time about 2/3s male and 1/3 female – unlike last semester where it leaned … [Read more...]
“The Butler” – thoughts about racism, etc.
August 20, 2013 By
A serious topic today – coming from my blog/website. Kelsey and I went to see “The Butler” last night at MOA. I had heard some good stuff about it and knew what it was going to be about, but didn’t know who was going to be staring in it, and did NOT read any reviews before seeing it. Having seen “The Great Debaters” (2007), and “The Help” (2009), I knew this was going to be another … [Read more...]
True Story: Embarrassing moment at work!
August 20, 2013 By
So, I get into work, at my normal time this morning, carrying my briefcase on my shoulder, I get to my cube, and try unloading the briefcase off my shoulder, and it seems to be caught on something – but I can’t see what its caught on. I’m struggling to get it off since it’s a bit heavy with the amount of crap I carry in it, and it’s in an awkward position, and I’m trying to see what it’s caught … [Read more...]
Camera Technology: Rapid pace of change – last 20 years
July 22, 2013 By
I first became interested in Photography sometime in high school. This led me to ask for a specific 35 mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera as a High School graduation present. One of the parental units apparently felt they should “consult” with a colleague who they apparently perceived as a "Photography Expert". The colleague’s recommendation: "Buy Brian a Sears brand “110” … [Read more...]
Lailah – one year old – what a year it’s been!
July 18, 2013 By
Someday, I'm going to have to write about my previous lack of desire to have kids attitude, and how my life has changed with the birth of Lailah. And, what I missed out on the first 30 years of my adult life. Although she is not related to me, I absolutely adore her. She is now my Universe. What fun she is. Who would have thought. … [Read more...]
Movie review – Superman
July 9, 2013 By
Well, as some of you may know, I’m an avid reader. I started “early” in life, biking down a couple of times a week to the local drug (& beer) store on Harper near Frazho (i.e., downtown SCS - what was the name of that place – Leonards??), to buy the latest comic books while in elementary school. My favorite comics were Batman and Superman – I just couldn’t get enough of them. I don’t … [Read more...]
Toast Masters 2nd speech results/feedback
June 27, 2013 By
My 2nd ToastMasters speech was today. Overall, I did a pretty good job, but still "read" too much of the speech, instead of just "speaking" to the audience, but this "speaking" will (hopefully) come with more practice. People commented on how passionate I was with the topic, as well as how i provided vivid descriptions for them to visualize what i was trying to convey. I also spoke about 90 … [Read more...]
2nd Toast Master’s speech tomorrow! [on Model Railroading]
June 26, 2013 By
Tomorrow is the Big Day! I'm giving my second Toast Master's speech at noontime. The speech assignment is "Organize your speech". The "topic" is "Building new worlds". Building New Worlds! 1. Opening/Intro 1A. Capturing the audience’s attention: If you are a creative person like myself, and are looking for something fun to do that doesn’t involve a mouse or screen, you’ve come to … [Read more...]
Bicycles…and bicycling
June 17, 2013 By
So, I bought myself a new Bike over the weekend. The Companion had taken their's to the local bike shop for a so-called beginning of the season "tune-up", and I was "elected" to pick the bike up after the shop called, saying it was ready... Sorry - let's backtrack a few steps and give you some background of my bicycling history: My first bike was a Schwinn "Sting Ray", you know, one of … [Read more...]
Thoughts about Introverts
May 28, 2013 By
I ran across a posting by my former co-worker Terry Olson on FB about the following. I then searched for the original posting and I think I found it here: 10 Myths About Introverts I wrote this list in late-2008. Around that time, I was lucky enough to discover a book called, The Introvert Advantage (How To Thrive in an Extrovert World), by Marti Laney, Psy.D. It felt like someone had … [Read more...]
Final Grade: SEIS 610 Software Engineering Spring 2013
May 28, 2013 By
So, I went onto the Saint Thomas website today, looking for my final grade - I did this last week but apparently may have been looking in the wrong place, since Dr. Lai doesn't use the "Black Board" tool where grades were posted in our Technical communications class last Fall. Anyway, I found my grade and I was pleasantly pleased to see it was a "B+". One of my project group members received … [Read more...]
Teaching kids computer science (AKA programming) [Pioneer Press article]
May 6, 2013 By
Front page article from last Sunday's (4/27) Pioneer Press by Christopher Magan: Headline: Computer-coding classes teach students skills they're not getting in school. Obi Abulu loves computers. "He learned to click a mouse before he learned to write," says Attracta Abulu, the Woodbury seventh-grader's mother. But when it came to learning more about how the software and technology … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – Fall registration, etc.
May 5, 2013 By
Second to last class session today. Working with classmates on group project tomorrow afternoon, and again next weekend each time for a few hours. Then, 5/18 is final class, 30 min presentation for group project, 2 homework assignments due AND the final exam. Group project is 25% of final grade and I think final exam is 35%. Registered for two classes in the fall, and will make final decision in … [Read more...]
MM Orchestra lockout fiasco
May 5, 2013 By
Ok, I seldom read the star tribune these days, but I saw the recent article that the music director/conductor of the MN Orchestra has sent a letter to the Orchestra mgmt board threatening to resign, unless the lockout ends "soon". Good for him, and I wish he had written it sooner. However, I was VERY disappointed to hear the board's idiotic response (paraphrasing): "You sent it to the wrong group, … [Read more...]
Pseudo Stepson Ryan – Antics
April 26, 2013 By
Gold Trail - went door to door, raising money supposedly for DARE - cops drop by. Dover - stole bicycle, cops came to the door. Dover - stole golf cart, lied for 7-8 months saying his friend gave it to him, neighbor on next street over complains he's riding it on people's front lawns, cops eventually see it in the backyard, take it away (not charged??). Dover - his first job at sports … [Read more...]
ToastMasters First Speech Revisited (Final Version)
April 26, 2013 By
I gave my first ToastMasters Speech yesterday. Here is the text of the speech - clocked at a few seconds under five minutes. Mr. Toastmaster, Fellow Toasties/Toasters: I spent my first 5 yrs out of high school, going to college, with the end result being NOT a college degree, but rather flunking or withdrawing from half of the classes I had taken. That’s right, for every two classes I … [Read more...]
Recent events of pseudo-stepson Ryan
April 16, 2013 By
You may remember: The companion's oldest (26 in Aug) son finally moved out of the house about a yr and a half ago, moving out-of-state, to Colorado, with a friend, "to work" (since he wasn't able to find/get a job here for more than 2-1/2 years while living with us). At the time, we thought it would be good for him, to finally be on his own, but it's not worked out as everyone had … [Read more...]
RE: Boston Bombings on April 16, 2013
April 16, 2013 By
I am agnostic, I was brought up Baptist from age 4-5 to age 18-20. I still do not know whether God exists or not. HOWEVER, ever since 9/11 (and maybe before that event), I have strongly believed for many, many years, there is true EVIL in this world AND that there is a Satan. If there is God, I hope the people responsible for these bombings today in Boston will learn that Good will always triumph … [Read more...]
Tall Tales
April 11, 2013 By
Ok, here are some “tall tales” from the life of BSW – one didn’t really happen to me, but the other three did. Story #1: It’s my birthday when I was a youngster, and someone close to me gets me two shirts, one blue, one red. The next day, I put on the blue shirt to wear and “come downstairs”, and the persons says (wait for it): “What’s wrong, didn’t you like the other one?” Story #2: … [Read more...]
Toast Masters First Speech (first rough draft)
March 28, 2013 By
So, I joined ToastMasters here at USPS a few weeks ago and I have to give a four to six minute "Ice Breaker" speech to my fellow Toast Masters in a few weeks time, telling them who I am, etc. Here is what I plan on saying, I'm sure I'll be editing it a bit. [believe it not, it looks long winded, but its ~5 mins long]. My first five years of college (yes, that’s right, 5), right out of high … [Read more...]
