Check out this webpage of mine - I've just updated it with a list of duplicate MRR books that I'm trying to "get rid of" - either by sharing with my fellow MRR's, selling on e-bay or donating to the Kalmbach Library (NMRA). Contact me if you have any interest in owning one or more of these vintage MRR books. Includes Famed authors such as Edward Beal and Louis Hertz. … [Read more...]
MN Orchestra Lock-Out Fiasco – Part 2
October 20, 2013 By
I'm taking a break to yell "#%^?!%" at the MN Orchestra mgmt board! What the %^<#% were you thinking? You have now cost us our world renown conductor, and two very prestigious concerts at Carnegie Hall, and you are screwing us again, your paying audience, out of a second yr of listening to our orchestra - this was our orchestra, not yours! I am so very angry, and very embarrassed to … [Read more...]
Class #3 at Saint Thomas: Systems Analysis & Design Tools
September 11, 2013 By
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Software Engineering class
March 16, 2013 By
FSM (finite state machine), DFD (data flow diagram), PND (petri-net diagram), lions, tigers, bears, oh my. My head is swimming. Actually, I am getting most of this, and have been using some of these methods during my career (partially or otherwise), but, NOT consistently. Need to work on that! My class team of four met after class - 3 of us understand the term project, and are making good … [Read more...]
Computer Programmer vs. Software Engineer
March 4, 2013 By
Last week, I posted a short entry on my blog about “computer programmers”, “software developers”, and “software engineers”. One of my friends (and, myself, many years ago), thought “aren’t they the same thing?” [If you don’t like to read long winded articles, please skip this one]. Here is a quick generalization, with which you should take with a grain of salt, since the lines do blur, and … [Read more...]
Life at USPS
March 1, 2013 By
A colleague created an enhancement, and it was put in UAT (User Acceptance Testing) Environment yesterday, and he then left for vacation for a week - oh, and it's scheduled to go into production this Sunday. He asked me to "test" it since the end users didn't really know "how" to test it according to him. Anyway, I tested it this morning, and the enhancement causes an email notification to be … [Read more...]
2nd class at Saint Thomas: Software Engineering
March 1, 2013 By
First session of SEIS 610 Software Engineering was 2 weeks ago. I was immedaitely impressed by our instructor (C. Lai). He put up easy to read slides, and spoke toward them, not reading them word for word. He spoke for the entire 6-1/2 hour class, giving us instruction on the term's group project, and the first 2 assignments, as well as enlightening the class about a "new" (read: different) … [Read more...]
USPS and Lobby Photo Selection Committee
July 25, 2012 By
On a monthly basis, the office here at USPS displays photos taken by the employees, in the elevator lobby area - about a dozen photos, and they also then select a "photographer of the month" and displays 5-6 of their photos in an area near the cafeteria. A month ago, the "photo selection committee" sent out an email to the Eagan employees, indicating they had a couple of selection committee … [Read more...]
TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever – 2007
January 21, 2011 By
30) Strangers with Candy (1999-2000) 29) Absolutely Fabulous (1994-2003) 28) Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007) 27) H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971) 26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1975-1978) 25) Firefly (2002-2003) Watched in 2010/2011. 24) Twin Peaks (1990-1991) - tried but couldn't get into it 23) Dark Shadows (1966-1971) - loved it when I was a kid. 22) Doctor Who (1963-present) 21) Freaks and … [Read more...]
