UB's Going Green!!!

Hey Everyone,

Hope you had a great weekend. I spent my weekend relaxing and watching the tributes to Michael Jackson that was on the news and the BET Awards. I'd like to encourage everyone to share their thoughts and feelings to those closest to them rather than waiting till it's too late.

With that said... for those of you who haven't been on campus lately or those of you who have but are always in a rush to notice, we've now got Recycling bins located on the Gordon Plaza, Outside the Student Center, and I'm sure there are maany more that have been strategically placed throughout campus.

I would like to commend the University for this move and hope to see more green initiatives come to life on this campus.

What do you think of the new Recycle Bins? Will they be useful or not? Would you use them or are you too stuck on your old ways?

The case of the Tuesdays

Even though it is Tuesday, I think I might be suffering from the case of the Monday's. Do you ever just get to that point where you feel like you are just not being heard? I feel like that today. Certain people today seem to be unappreciative for what I do. I can't say any particular names but let's just say I don't want to be pulled into an office and asked what is on my mind. To be honest I can't wait to be done school so I can move on with my life and do what it is I want to do. No matter how much devotion, time, and hard work I have put into this one thing I feel left out, held back, and looked at as if I am not capable of certain things. I know deep down inside it really is not personal but has anyone ever felt so eager to move forward but you cant because where you are now is what's responsible? Does that make sense? I am definitely thankful for my fellow blogger's and University of Baltimore for allowing me my Tuesday's to vent about my world. I like to find quote's and become inspired to change certain thing's. So I will end this Blog with a positive message.



“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”



I plan on starting a new ending today, that's for sure!

Changes in the Family

Over the past month, two major changes have been announced to the University System of Maryland (USM), the body of which the University of Baltimore is a part. The first is that the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) will be broken up and its components placed at other USM schools. While closely affiliated with the University of Maryland, College Park, UMBI is an independent institution, like UB. USM plans to improve synergy among research groups by placing them closer to related working groups.

But in other news, Towson University (also a part of USM) is close to merging with Baltimore Hebrew University, a small school focusing on Jewish culture programs. The programs, including a Hebrew language program, will be continued by Towson, which will also absorb the 80000-volume library.

Neither change directly affects UB or its students, but since UB students are able to take classes at any school within USM, it is well worth noting!

"Music and Me"

Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson.

You just can't ignore what a moment this is. End of an era. What's pop music with it's proverbial King?

And it's no contest...Iran or MJ? North Korea step aside.


Right.

In all truth--my tomorrow will be as it would have been. Or will it? When the news broke, my shock quickly morphed into cynicism--a kind of cursory humbling rationale that kept me functional by reminding me that my life had all of about nothing do with a certain Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson (1958-2009).

But it's just not true. A quick rolodex of my life reminds me that a good friend of mine can do a mean moonwalk. My brother and I, for that matter, used to study the dance moves in "Thriller" for hours...and don't even get me started on what "doesn't matter if you're black of white" means for biracial families. And yet it's really more. It's why we all balled our eyes out to "Heal the World" when Willy could not be set free--it's about art. Expressing divine talents. Emotions. Life.

Mr. Jackson garnered so much criticism in his last few years--so much so he felt he had to leave the country. Was it all in his head? Who knows? Was he or wasn't he a "smooth criminal"? I don't know. But I do know why he was so beloved and later so trivialized--he lived.

Something about his individual style of music and his personality drew us to him. It was like fresh air. He didn't just sing...and he wasn't larger than life...he was life. Go Youtube any of his videos. There is a reason no one else has ever been deemed "the next Michael." It's not that other performers aren't talented. Indeed, my 30 gig iTunes playlist would disagree. It's just that he put himself out there which such shocking honesty that people could barely know what to do their feelings. Better to be loved or hated? To quote Machiavelli, "love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose." And so it was.

But, more to the point--how it is. Life is short. Do you think St. Peter cares about multi-platinum status? Pardon me real quick, but...hell no.

Today, I am challenging myself and asking others to think about how we can be a little more Jacksonian (Michael not Andrew) in our daily lives. Perhaps we could just start with the arts?

Here at UB, how would you rank our exposure and commitments to the arts? Does "Knowledge that Works" also have room for a musical vocabulary and self-expression? As I mentioned last week, I feel that our university is blessed by its location in/around Baltimore's historic culture center: Mount Vernon. Starting from the Peabody and Walter's, then moving to BSA and MICA, and lastly finishing with the Meyerhoff, Charles Theatre, and Lyric. We certainly have opportunities for artistic exposure. But are we doing enough internally? Where are the student venues? Student artwork? I'm sure some of this is going on, so maybe I'm just out of the loop. I know we are a commuter school (at least for the time being), but something tells me that everyone still plays music in their cars and likes pretty pictures.

Maybe we could at least put a piano in the student center? Someone has to know the notes to Billie Jean...

Group Studying and Understanding the Material

Studying in groups can be a way for students to connect and perform better in a class. A lot of students in a class struggle with the material and sometimes receive poor grades simply because, even in a small classroom, the teacher doesn't always have time to adapt to the unique needs of a student. This isn't always the fault of the student, especially in larger classrooms where the professor only has time and room to follow a strict schedule and hope that the students "catch on."

A beneficial solution for many students can be a study group. If necessary, find one or more who can be the leader of the study group; who can schedule meetings and decide what material to discuss and how. This can be difficult with varying schedules, but many times students have gaps in their schedules; 1-2 hour long periods in between that doesn't give enough time to go home, but also is too long to simply "eat lunch" or some such thing. These periods provide an ideal time to review class material and, for example, debate/clarify just what the professor wants in a specific assignment; however, sometimes asking in an email or otherwise is all that is necessary, as long as the question you ask is not too vague.

Such groups are also a great way to connect with classmates and get to know them in both a personal and professional setting. If you're assigned to work with one of these people in a group later in your class, you'll know them better and thus, be able to work together in a more clear and efficient manner. Connecting in this way is also a form of networking if used properly and can help you create valuable contacts in the "business" world, giving you more opportunities and sources when you leave college.

The next time you're struggling with the material in a class or simply want a way to connect with others and boost your understanding of a subject, consider a group; it may prove invaluable.

Trying to Keep Up

I was outside Wed evening trying to catch up on watering the gardens and various planters around my house. This is the first time in the past few years when I actually managed to do some respectable gardening before the hot weather hit. During all this watering, I started thinking about how many things, like the landscaping, have slipped by me since I came back to school.

There was a time when I always had flowers in the garden by the first of June and the weeds didn't threaten to overtake my yard; when my house was always clean and the laundry wasn't piled up so high. But for the past few years, between working, going to school, and trying to stay sane with two teenage boys, I've become very unorganized. (If it wasn't for my husband, who's a big help and very supportive, I'd probably completely fall apart.)

Determined to break the cycle, every semester I swear that once I'm on break, I'll catch up on the spring cleaning and reorganize all the closets and cabinets. The problem is that by the end of the semester, I'm so mentally exhausted, it takes me weeks to find the energy. And then, it's time to go back and start all over again. It can be discouraging until I take a moment to remember why I'm doing this, and I decide that a few weeds won't carry my family away; the house won't fall down from the weight of a few dust balls; and the laundry will eventually get done even if it means the jeans get washed with the delicates.

What is better a Macintosh or a PC?

While I was at Educomm last week, I had an awesome opportunity to talk to the CEO and several high-level employees at Sonic Foundry. Sonic Foundry is known for creating the best lecture capture system in the world. I had stated a concern about how the administration software for Mediasite only works using the Internet Explorer browser. Therefore, the administration software will not work on a Macintosh. The CEO wasn’t aware of this and was quite empathetic to the issue.

There was another high-level employee very eloquent in his delivery and started the great debate – Mac vs. PC. Since most of my co-workers give me the arguments for how great a PC is, I was pretty prepared. But his points did make me think – why are Macs better than a PC? As I was installing software for a Macintosh for the Associate Dean, I did think the answer should be - we need both! It is nice to have a PC that is compatible with network printers, runs specialized software and uses the most popular Internet browser.

However, it is also nice not to having to worry about viruses and security holes. I also like how the software runs smoothly with the hardware and how overtime the Mac doesn’t slow down from a hard drive full of spyware. But as some of the recent commercials have stated - Macs are expensive. I also think Apple needs to work more with other companies and stop trying to just sell their own software. Working in a silo is not a successful business plan.

When I need to create something I use my Mac and when I need to conduct daily business I use the PC. So which is the better computer a Macintosh or a PC? I will leave that decision up to you ………

Not lost, at the moment

Hello folks.

I write this, as promised, from Banner Elk, the most charming of many great little towns in the North Carolina mountains. At the moment I'm sitting in my hotel room, dog cashed on the floor not far away, with the door open facing the awesome view. There is a cluster of goldfinches and swallows that congregates on the utility wires that run outside, so I am staring at them and they are staring at me.

Earlier today I spent a while (with dog and S.O.) climbing a waterfall. This is interesting partly because it was me, climbing, but mostly because it happened in the course of making a couple of HUGE connections and understanding new things about the main character of the project on which I am currently working. So far the research adventure has been full of surprises like the waterfall and the old Mission one climbs past to get there.

It has also been full of things like Dinosaur Kingdom (SEE THE KINGS OF EGYPT!! SEE THE MIGHTY TYRANNASAUR!!! STUDY MOSES & THE TEN COMMANDMENTS!!!), Foamhenge (OH, MIGHTY MERLIN, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME BUILD THIS TRIBUTE IN MY FIELD!!), and getting lost on the Blue Ridge Parkway (or, more accurately, between a real road and the Blue Ridge Parkway -- THAT was fun).

So. I hope you are all well. I definitely am. Assuming I can be dragged out of Banner Elk (I am something of a planning wonk, and this is the best planned downtown -- such as it is -- I've seen in a long time), I'll see you in the Fall.

Next week: Chickamauga!

Beach Fun

So my vacation was great. Spending time with family can be a great medicine considering all the school work I have had to do for this summer. Even though at times my family can be a total drama fest I was still aloud to relax and watch the beach late at night with my soon to be hubby. I have a sister that likes to cause the most drama and I like to think I got through to her maybe a little bit. My words of wisdom can't help everyone but I like to always just hope and wish for the best in everything. The wedding was beautiful and the weather was perfect for a beach wedding. My little niece during the wedding liked to talk out loud and think that she was not at an event that required total silence from the viewers but we got through the whole thing, thank god!

I had some of the best oysters, and snow crab legs ever at this place in North Carolina called Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar. My fiance and I went there almost every day to get some quiet alone time together and have a couple of drinks. If you ever pay a visit and you like seafood you have to visit this spot. Besides that I guess its back to reality. School work, cleaning dishes, paying bills, waking up for work at 7am everyday and taking the dog outside every couple of hours. I like to think that without these everyday norms though life just would not be life. I mean I do get to fit in the other realities such as spending time with good friends and spending the night out on the town. Without these type of norms in my life I think I just might go crazy!

Class Friends

There is a strange phenomenon which exists within college classrooms. Every semester, students are enrolled in classes and make friends with the other students in the class. They come into class meetings and chit-chat with their new friends about this and that. Day after day until the class ends. But then….the strangest thing happens. Everyone walks out those doors, gets out their cell phones, walks to their car…and they go back to their life as usual until the next class is in session, when they see their “class friends” again.


Has anyone else recognized this phenomenon? I don’t think we mean to do it, but I think we all do at first. UB is a very diverse community and every class I’ve had has been a mix of many races, ages and cultures. So, perhaps we wouldn’t necessarily find ourselves “hangin” in a social circle that diverse on an every day basis. But, to me, that is beauty of college. You are submerged into a community unlike any other and then challenged to produce intelligent ideas and rhetoric. It stretches not only your mental muscles, but your social skills too.

Am I alone on this one, or has anyone else had “class friends” like this?

Barcamp Baltimore

As I blogged a few weeks ago, the University of Baltimore hosted "Barcamp Baltimore" last weekend. I only got to stay for the first few hours, but I have a few things to report.

The sessions are designed with a meet and greet at the start where participants can write down any topic they want to see discussed on a sheet of paper. There were many people from both the journalism and technology communities there and both were heavy foci of topics. Then after a round of straw polls, a schedule was made up of the most popular topics. Topics included the future of journalism, creating lean startups, cloud computing, and social media. For a full list, please see the event page, which was updated in real time.

The most interesting part of the event is the interactive nature of it. While the attendees set the agenda, a Twitter backchannel developed allowing individuals to talk to each other in the seminar and across simultaneous sessions. This gave participants the ability to provide live feedback, share with each other, and with those unable to attend. (Another backchannel appeared on IRC, but that just lead to shenanigans.)

Not many problems were conclusively solved, but a lot of neat ideas were brought forward and discussed in a great and open environment.

Dream Summer

Hey Everyone, I hope you had as great a weekend as I did... I celebrated my 24th Birthday and it was definitely fun times. I was disappointed at the fact that I had spent 2 weeks monitoring the weather with the hopes of having a BBQ on Saturday, only for the weather channel to say it will Thunderstorm that day as of Noon that day still. Well I ended up cancelling my BBQ and the weather ended up being perfect throughout with no sign of rain. The weather's been pretty intense with the rain storms around the country and it only leaves me wondering when the summer will really start.

So... every year the summer comes and goes. We find those jobs or take summer classes so we're either making some extra change or advancing towards the completion of our degree. If all being well what would your perfect summer be like and what would you spend it doing?

lab hours are????

ok... so summer lab hours are not helping me at all. not sure how many of you guys work forty hours a week, what type of commute you have, what you have to do at home, and then how much homework you have to do... but lab hours during the summer... well, they suck big time! there is hardly enough time as it is after work to concentrate on homework, let alone trying to adjust your schedule and rush to get to the lab to do it... the major thing that bothers me is that they are not open AT ALL on Friday and Saturday... two major time frames where full time workers would be able to come in... and the hours on Sunday, guess i can forget about part of church service if i want to be in there to entire time to work on anything? yes, i understand the lab workers don't want to be there on the weekend, all understandable and fine and dandy... but it is difficult and teachers don't seem to sympathize with those who cannot get in there as much as others can... i don't have the time to drive down to ub, find parking, walk to the lab, doing in, work on my stuff, etc, etc, etc... i have other things to do and more time would be nice... or just don't expect spectacular work (not that i would ever say that any of it is lol, my design skills are still developing lol)... but you get what I'm saying??? it just gets frustrating ya know? oh well... things wont change, so no point in getting flustered, right?

The Cost of Clutter

I've been subscribing to this e-newsletter for a while called "Living on a Dime." After all, isn't that what all students have to try to do? Anyway, this free newsletter is just chock full of interesting, valuable, and helpful advice. I was especially intrigued by the title article, "The Cost of Clutter."

The author, Jill Cooper, raises some though-provoking points. Although her readership is composed mostly of working moms, there's plenty of useful advice that applies to any over-busy person, including single students. Think about just a few of the ideas she posits:

Being unorganized can be a contributing factor to overspending and debt.
Have you ever bought something you knew you already had, just because you couldn't find it at home? This can be anything from tape and scissors to new clothes because everything you have is dirty and you don't have time to do the laundry. Seriously, I know a woman who used to frequently buy new underwear for her family for that reason -- and I SWEAR it wasn't me!

What about eating out? Surely I am not the only person in the entire UB community who has ever decided to eat out because the kitchen was messy and I didn't feel like dealing with it. Jill says one person can save $5,000 a year by not eating out. You have to admit, that's a nice chunk of change! She also makes a valid point that frequent eating out can also lead to weight gain.

Have you ever had to pay a late fee on a bill because you misplaced it or couldn't find your checkbook? Those things add up. And heaven forbid you should bounce a couple of checks due to lack of organization -- just one episode like that can cost you $100 easily!

Well, I don't want to re-write the entire article here, but if any of this sounds a little too familiar to you, take a look at what Jill has to say. http://www.livingonadime.com/articles/cost-of-clutter.html It won't cost you anything but a few minutes of time and who knows, it could end up saving you some big bucks if you make big changes.

Mount Vernon -- Send Me Your Pics

Even though UB is not technically in Mount Vernon (the city has it from Franklin St to Eager St), it is in my head. So I am going to extrapolate on that and just assume the same goes for everyone else. Belvedere/Midtown/Mount Vernon/Mount Royal whatever, it's all along my running route.

Send me pictures! For real...I think we could do a lot to rep the neighborhood. UB is ridiculously lucky to be in this area (and residents lucky to have UB as well).

Over the next few posts I am going to also be including facts and photos about this area and would like to showcase student/resident photos.

Email photos or thoughts to: jason.ubblog@gmail.com

If you are just learning about Mount Vernon or want an inside-view at some of the history and/or offerings, take a look at these resources:

http://www.mvcd.org/ <-- Mount Vernon Cultural District

http://www.mvba.org/ <-- Mount Vernon Belvedere Association

http://baltimore.org/visitors/tour-baltimore/guided-tours/mount-vernon-cultural-walk/ <--Mount Vernon Cultural Walk (free guided walking tours of Mount Vernon by the city)

I had to...one more on printing.

So, I think that I have sufficiently tired everyone out from all my talk about printing. But stay with me people...one more thing. I wanted to thank Paul and all the other commentors for sharing their thoughts on improving the computer experience here at UB.

I was at another academic institution this week and actually had the ability to experience an idea that was brought up in my first post. It was said that OTS was looking into "adding a PIN keypad to the printers for authentication of print jobs," with the purpose of reducing waste and unclaimed jobs. I can't say I love the idea. It does fulfill both of those purposes--but creates its own problems, I think. The first trouble is a potential bottleneck at both the pin machine--and again at the printer itself sorting through papers. It adds a step. And the step requires you to stand with other people. It also means I can't print something big and do something else for a few minutes while it is printing. I guess this isn't huge, but what about my flow?? My print swagger is important. I'm just saying...

Again, I love the job our OTS staff and students are doing in creating a sweet comp lab.

Personality Tests, Human Nature, and the Classroom Environment

The last time I posted, the subject was essentially teaching styles, learning styles, and how the students and teachers are affected by this relationship.

Now I'd like to go into a bit more depth on the subject, or at least another aspect: personality. No matter how you look at, everyone has a personality that defines who they are, how they act, etc. And if you look at personality as being static or if you see it as being more surface-based and flexible (adaptable, in short), the fact is that some people are going to be vastly different than others. This effects learning style: how people study, absorb information, etc.

For instance, if you go by Jung's Theory of Psychological Types, you can see that "Sensors" are more likely to focus details and "observable facts." On the other hand, "Intuitives" are more likely focus on the big picture, on connection; synthesizing and the like.

The point, in part, is about intelligence. Someone who naturally notices details is more likely to have a good memory for detail and someone who naturally notices "connections" may have a better memory for general concepts or ideas. However, these things are not necessarily indicative of intelligence. It all comes back to the idea of playing your strengths; if one of your strengths happens to be a good memory for detail, you may be better at compiling various sources and forming a solid argument, so find ways to use this in the classroom or in choosing a career that suits your strengths. If your strength is more in the area of ideas, you may be better at brainstorming or synthesizing many ideas into one, general voice.

I'm sure that those in graduate classes have heard much of this before, in various forms, but there's always room for personal growth. Sometimes it's important to reflect; you may find that you missed something before.

Degrees for Sale

GET YOUR DIPLOMA TODAY! If you are looking for a fast and cheap way to get a diploma, this is the best way for you. Choose the desired field and degree and call us. Bachelors, Masters or even Doctorates.

Do you ever get these e-mails offering "cheap and easy ways" to earn your degree? Are you ever tempted to check them out? Of course, one click and you're more likely to get a computer virus then a degree, or become the victim of a "diploma mill" (institutions offering fraudulent and/or worthless degrees for a fee). But it is tempting to think there are ways you can bypass all the usual college malarkey and earn any degree you want with very little effort.

Then again, do we really want to earn our degrees in the fastest and easiest way possible? One mistake I made as a high school graduating senior was not being willing to spend FOUR MORE years in school. Instead, I went to a trade school for a "quick" medical secretary certificate. The experience was worthwhile - any education is - but what I discovered was how little this abbreviated training prepared me for working in the real world. The lessons just didn't dig deep enough. In the end, the certificate meant nothing; the real education came from on-the-job training.

If there is one thing the experience taught me was that anything worthwhile takes time and hard work. So, when I finally do get my degree ... I'll know it's the result of a time well spent.

Our Path to Quicker Technology

Hello everyone.

As most (or even all?) of you know, the online version of our student bookstore has a "technology" link that you can follow to the journeyed.com store, where you can buy cool stuff (software, computers, flash drives, etc) with varying degrees of student (and faculty!) discount. This is very helpful, and a nice resource...except...

Except that in order to get this discount, you have to provide proof that you are in fact a student/faculty member/staff member at the school. In theory, this shouldn't be such a big deal. There are three ways to verify yourself with the e-store folk, and if you have a lot of lead time, they should all work fine.

One of them is an Email Verification. In order to get verified this way, you go get your Academic Verification from the school, turn it into a PDF, and email it to the JourneyEd people.

The second way is a Fax Verification, which is just like the Email way, except (duh) you fax the verfication to them instead of emailing it.

Like I said, if you have plenty of time to go do all of these things, they ought to work just fine.

But what if you don't? What if you are a Communications Design grad student and you need the InDesign suite RIGHT NOW? Well. Then you have a problem.

In order to get the Express Verify Me Now method, you go to a list of participating schools, click the right one, and send your name, SSN, etc. to the JourneyEd people. They look you up in that school's database, and bam! You're good to go.

Alas, the University of Baltimore is not, as far as I can tell, on the magic list. Many other Balto institutions of higher learning are (all the various Hopkins parts, UMB, Coppin State, etc etc) but not us.

We should be on the list, because sometimes we need faster access, or we need to place an order in the middle of the night while we're actually thinking of it. The other methods are acceptable, barely, but they don't offer the convenience that we often need. UB needs to participate.

(A minor programming note: Next week's post will come to you from Banner Elk, North Carolina. Woo hoo!)

The Fear of Public Speaking

Today. I will be giving my 10th presentation of the year at the EDUCOMM conference in Orlando, Florida. Even though I have been giving a lot of presentations, I still have that nervous feeling that goes along with giving a speech.

Getting up in front of the podium is not an easy thing for me. I look across the sea of people and wonder what are all of these people thinking? I also hear the silence in the room while my voice is throwing out information. And I am sure many of you feel the same when giving presentations.

Several years ago, I had a fellow classmate save my public speaking career. See what I use to do is write everything down and read it. Yes, it was boring but that was the only way I could get through it. My classmate said you are not going to go up there at the podium and read your presentation to us - are you? I said yes this is how I give presentations. And she said if you go up there and read your presentation, I am going to embarrass you up there. She said just speak from your heart on what you know and it will be fine. I was frightened and now even more scared because I was going to have to do something I had never done before. Trust the fact that I know the information and not read it.

Well that was the best advice I was ever given by a classmate. Thanks to her now I know even though I get scared when I present, I go up there giving a solid presentation without reading it.

To continue to combat my fears of public speaking, I started attending a few Toastmasters meetings in College Park. Toastmasters is a great organization that helps people overcome their fears of public speaking and I fully recommend it. So you never know when you are in a classroom with your fellow classmates what a profound effect you can or might have on someone else's life.

Mount Royal Masters Toastmasters Club

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Main Bldg.

Room 110
Contact Name: Betty Enselein

Phone: 410-225-2363

Contact E-mail: benselei@ubalt.edu

My Blurbs about B-More

So I think I have a little bit of writers block. So I will try my best to come up with something interesting for my readers. I have been so busy with life in general I don't think I have even had a moment to think to myself this past week. Between my two summer classes, and trying to pack for a trip to NC for a family wedding I am surprised I have still managed to fit in my blog. Its amazing how we can at times manage life.

There is something I did realize and that is Baltimore drivers at times can be so amazing. What I cant stand is the fact that everyone drives with a phone to their ear. I am not going to lie at times I am guilty of this but I do find myself putting the phone down when necessary. Most people in Baltimore seem to amaze me when they are on 695 cruising to reach there destination oblivious that they are actually crossing the yellow line about to ram right into me! Or how about the fact that I work for a college and every student that comes in to register, get a transcript or anything else they must use my pen all the time. I always think don't you go to college, shouldn't you have a pen or come better prepared. What else is interesting is when you go to a grocery store and your waiting and waiting for another register to open as your standing in line behind some woman who has bought the whole store and finally that register opens. Your next in line, and the woman at the end of the line seems to think she is next. Baltimore can be a wonderful place at times but sometimes people are just so rude and selfish.

I think I am ready for vacation, what do you think?

Hope For the Future

Last week in my Writing Class, we had an interesting discussion about race. My teacher brought in a Baltimore magazine with a by-line stating that it was targeted at a “polyethnic” audience. She asked us first, “what does it meant to be polyethnic?” Most of the class understood the term to refer to a person of mixed race. Then she asked if we thought that this magazine would have existed ten years ago. There was silence in the classroom as we pondered this question. Then one student responded, “Probably not, because Barack Obama wasn’t our President ten years ago. And besides, not long from now, we will ALL be of mixed race.”

This response kept replaying in my mind all weekend. I thought about how many families I know who have multi-racial parents and children. I wondered: If we continue to have children who are multi-racial, won’t we evolve into a society where our color lines are finally no longer visible? If so, we will no longer be able to label each other by race and racism will cease to exist.
This idea made me feel hopeful and excited. It’s not often we stop and take a moment to reflect on the future of our generation. I hope, if nothing else, this post makes you think. Consider living in a city, state and country with no color lines and what that would mean to you.

Open Thread

I find myself at a loss for words...that is, I have nothing useful to say, today. So I am creating an open thread for brief comments on UB.

18's the new 21?

No better way than to start by congratulating the Los Angeles Lakers and any Lakers fans here at UB.

I was sitting down this weekend and reflecting on certain things... and a random question came to mind, and I would like your opinions and thoughts on this.

As we all know the legal drinking age is 21. Do you think it should be lowered to 20 or even possibly 18? I ask this because there is a large number of 'under-aged drinkers' and I wonder how effective this law is. Please share your thoughts.

The Eternal Search for the Perfect Bag

Okay, I don't consider myself a shopaholic, but when it comes to a bag for school, I've been shopping for just the right one for... well, years. A lot of years. See, I spent about 20 years getting my associate degree. Not consecutive, of course -- I took courses here and there, as time and money permitted, without a real plan or major until near the end, but I had a great time doing it that way.

But back to the point. It feels like I've spent just as much time and money trying to find the perfect backback or shoulder bag or rolling bag or something that would be big enough to hold everything I want to carry, but easy to handle, and at least sort of stylish looking. Every time I buy a new bag, I think I've found "the one" but sooner or later some reason crops up that sets me back on the shopping path.

I've seen some backpacks that look like they'd do the trick, but I really don't like carrying backbacks very much because they're too bulky and heavy. I've tried a couple of the rolling bags -- the one that was big enough to hold all my textbooks and the typical kinds of things women carry in a purse was just too big. So much so, that one classmate actually asked me if I stay in the city during the week and just go home on weekends. So, I ditched that one pretty much just out of embarrassment.

I tried a smaller rolling bag, but it turned out to be too small. Last semester, I found a great sling-style shoulder bag at the UB bookstore that holds lots of stuff, but isn't big enough for textbooks. If it were, I probably wouldn't want to carry that much weight on one shoulder anyway.

My most recent bag is another roller type. It's kind of "squat" with several compartments for file folders, laptop, etc., and I really like it. Problem is, it's still kind of on the big side -- enough so that I sometimes get weird looks or comments about it.

I don't know. Am I the only student who likes to take my textbook and a notebook to every class? Maybe I'm being too picky. Or too sensitive about what other people think. Anyone found a good system or bag that works well? I'd love to hear about it.

A Look at Teaching Styles - What Really Gives You the "Easy A"?

As students go from class to class something very drastic changes: teaching style. Of course, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. If every teacher taught the same way, things would likely be very dull. However, this also means that students have to adapt to the style of each class. A class can be discussion-based, lecture-based, group-based, filled with memorization, etc. The possibilities and room for subtleties from teacher to teacher are virtually endless.

But the question here is not about your ability to adapt to a specific style, so much as "what style suits you best." For me, the more individuality and independence is required for the work, the easier it is on me; I was homeschooled all my life and I'm shy and introverted to say the least. Needless to say, I don't function well in classes that are based mainly on discussion or group work.

So the point is essentially this (and it can apply to anyone learning): What are your basic strengths? Your weaknesses? What method works best for you? It may seem basic, but assessing these things can help you to understand what you need to do to get the grades you want - or simply to learn what you want. If you're struggling in one area, it may help you understand why and if you're doing well in another, it may give you the knowledge necessary to make sure you continue to do so.

Life's changes

Last weekend, I gave a retirement party for my husband. Jim worked 30 years for GM, and with the way things are going, this seemed the perfect time to retire. He won't be sitting around the house, however. Instead, he's trading one career for another: he'll soon be a licensed home improvement specialist.


All this has me thinking about my own life path; a path that has taken many turns over the years. When I think back, I would never have imagined that I would spend my 20s working in a hospital; or that my 30s would see me as a mother of two boys and a day care provider; or that in my 40s, I would clean houses and work for my sister's growing management/consulting firm. But what I really never imagined was that as I approached my 50s, I'd be an undergrad English major with aspirations of going all the way through a master's program (where and which one?... only time will tell).

I really don't know where all this will take me, but I'm not worried. Why? Because I already know that life is full of surprises. That while you may plan to go down one path, unexpected opportunities often take you in an entirely different direction. I came back to college not just to earn a degree, but to open my mind, and to explore the creative part of me. And I picked UB because I knew there'd be people like me. People who want to step beyond what they already know and challenge themselves in new ways. To go down paths that were once unimaginable.

It's taken me a long time to get where I am, and I still have a long road to travel. At the rate I'm going (as a part-time student), I'll be 51 when I receive my BA, somewhere around 55 for a master's. But I can't stop now. After all, who knows what my 60s have in store for me?

How about you? Are you going in a direction you never thought you'd go?

A Catalyst to Flash

Good or bad news! I will leave that up to you all to determine whether or not the new beta software from Adobe - Flash Catalyst is a beneficial tool. In the same theme about making learning interactive, I think this software will make designers lives easier.

So what is Flash Catalyst and how is it easier to build interactivity? Flash Catalyst is software that allows you to take your artwork from Photoshop or Illustrator and build applications without knowing any type of code. For the designers and UB community that struggles with programming code, this software will build the bridge for creating cool interactive applications (demo).

Now if you are a developer, you are probably thinking how is this software going to help me and is Flash Catalyst going to kill my livelihood? In my opinion, the answer would be no. This software was created to allow the designer to create and focus on the user interface while the developer’s time is spent working on the back-end of how the data is placed and routed. Once the user interface is created in Flash Catalyst, the developer will take the FXP file and loaded it in Flash Builder (formerly know as Flex).

So if you thinking creating a portfolio, making an interactive website or building an employee directory – check out Flash Catalyst. I think you will find it is a catalyst to flash.


Resources

Adobe Labs
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashcatalyst/

Flash Catalyst Beta Preview at Lynda.com
http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=778

Ryan Stewart – Rich Internet Mountaineer
http://blog.digitalbackcountry.com/2009/01/getting-started-with-flash-catalyst-tutorial/

Demonoid – Flash Catalyst
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1949817/?show_files=1&page=1&ref=1244273595

to pee or not to pee - a call for empathy

Hello everyone. So far this summer I have really enjoyed reading the posts of my fellow UBloggers. Lots of new ideas, new information, new voices... A couple of posts in particular got me thinking about an issue on which I think UB may have missed a tremendous opportunity. Carolb, Sarahb, and Jason have each mentioned the excellence of the fitness center, the gleaming new construction, the extremely pleasant student center, or some combination of the above. I agree -- these facilities are all huge assets for UB, and I am happy knowing that some portion of the money UB takes in fees goes to creating and maintaining these spaces.

Except for the bathrooms.

In general, the bathrooms at UB are fine. They're VERY shiny, in the new buildings, and large, and that's all good. Most of them appear to be accessible to everyone, which is especially good.

But imagine that you are a transgender person. I am using the term "transgender" rather loosely, for the broadest possible interpretation -- I don't want to get into all the definitions and terminology here -- but generally I mean anyone who identifies as, or expresses themselves as, something not exactly identical to the gender marker on their birth certificate.

Anyway. Imagine that you are in the early stages of a gender transition, and you're on campus at UB, and you really need to deal with having had a quart of coffee before class. Most people just walk up to the bathroom door and glance at the sign to make sure they're in the right one.

For a trans person, it's not so easy. Transitioning is terrifying in any number of ways, whether one goes all the way from M to F (or the other direction) or stays in the middle of the spectrum somewhere. You may lose family and friends, question your faith, and go through any number of dramatic (and traumatic) physical changes. You have to learn all over again how to navigate the world. Some people are better at all of this than others.

So imagine that you're that transgender person. After spending your whole life feeling as if you are trapped inside the wrong body, you have finally accepted the reality of who you are, and started making changes to authenticate yourself. You have only recently begun your hormone therapy, you still feel like you look weird in your clothes, you're convinced everyone's staring at you all the time, your voice is a mess...and you REALLY have to use the bathroom. So you stand there in front of the M door, and then you stand in front of the F door... And you don't know what to do. Either way, there will likely be staring, possibly yelling, perhaps physical violence. Either way, you're scared.

I've noticed that people often seem to think that if trans folk can use their bathroom of choice, the world's bathrooms will be overrun by men in dresses, women in pants, etc. Oh, the horror.

But think, just for a minute, what it would be like to be afraid to use a public restroom.

In the current economic climate it is probably too much to ask that this be retroactively addressed in the extant bathrooms -- but in the Fitzgerald building, now under construction, it should not be too late to create a couple of single-use, gender neutral bathrooms. UB is a diverse and welcoming school, and this is a chance to add another facet to that welcome. In the meantime, should you find yourself sharing the restroom with a trans person, please show some empathy and understanding.

Such is Life

Don't we all remember being kids and not having a thing to worry about. No responsibilities, and not a care in the world except for whats next on the list of activities mom or dad has for you. Growing up is a very hard thing to do if you think about it. We all go through many moments in life that one way or another is what has molded us to be who we are today. In life we tend to track back to our youngest years where we try and remember the many things we did not have to do as a child. Being an adult and especially being in college is a challenge. A Challenge that helps us continue to grow and be who we aspire to be. College life can be challenging but fun and help us find who we are as a person and what our purpose is in life.

I am a huge believer in getting what you want. I feel like if you really want something you must work hard to get it. Coming from a family of five and being that middle child forced me to be independent. All that I have ever done is work my hardest to get the things I want out of life. So far, I am very satisfied with many things life has brought me such as my fiance, and friends. I have learned that while my journeys through college will challenge me, my life will also grow at the same time. One of my favorite quotes is by Anne Wilson Schaef. She says "Life is a process. We are a process. The universe is a process."

In lifes processes we each handle things differently, and may look at lifes challenges as an inconvienence. These processes of life is what makes us and molds us into who we are today. Because life has brought me these challenges is why I continue to do well in my school work and grow as a person. My lifes processes prepares me for college and what life will bring me once I am through with college. If you are about to graduate and you dont feel like you are ready for what this world has to offer you remember "such is life" an acceptance of the unpredictable fortunes and that one way or another life will bring you good as long as you believe in yourself.

What's In Your Wallet?

Hello again, UB students! Hopefully you are enjoying your summer so far. This week I have been personally obsessed with finances. After spending hours balancing checkbooks and forecasting loan fees for the next semester, the sad truth is now evident: I am a poor college student. I know that many of you are in the same boat. It’s not cheap to get a college education. There are the daily expenses of transportation, parking, food, maybe materials for class…before you know it, you’re down to your last dollar and counting the days until your next paycheck.

That is why, my fellow penny-pinchers, I decided to Blog this week about money. Your money and how it’s being spent. It’s odd that we pay thousands of dollars per semester to UB but rarely stop to consider where that money is going. So, I did a little research to find out what all those fees we pay every semester are about. Here’s a list of the fees you will likely find on your tuition statement and what they mean:

Student Center Fee: If you have never set foot in the Student Center, make a point to check it out. It’s a beautifully designed and well-maintained building. Within the building are different study areas for students. Some are “quiet” and behind closed doors, others more open with comfy chairs and a view of the street. The Bookstore, Theatre, Cafeteria and Convenience Store are also all located in the Student Center. Not to mention, the Rec Area on the bottom floor with pool tables, foosball and TVs. Our fees each semester(~$347 for full time students) support the operation and upkeep of the Student Center.

Student Services Fee: Our fee for student services covers a range of programs. A few worth mentioning are the Health Center, Counseling Services & Wellness Center. Healthcare and counseling are available to all students at UB and comparatively affordable. A~$110 fee for full time students per semester is a deal when you consider what you might pay for a counseling session and/or visit to the clinic without insurance in the real world.

Auxiliary Construction Fee: If you’ve taken a recent walk down N. Charles St, you will certainly notice that UB has been busy with construction. The new Yale Gordon Liberal Arts Building just had its Grand Opening in April and the new classrooms, offices, and labs inside are beautiful. Still in the works are a new center for the School of Law and Schaefar Center for Public Policy. The Fitzgerald (http://www.fitzgeraldbaltimore.com/) is another development already well on its way as well. All these projects are supported by our ~$98 per semester as full time students.

Auxiliary Operating Fee: This fee pays for Shuttle Services and Food Services Operations. Need I say more? One shuttle ride to your car when it’s raining or a much-needed sandwich before an evening class will make your ~$211 per semester totally worth it.

Student Government Association Fee: For ~$25 per semester we have the privilege of supporting our fellow students in Student Government while they plan, organize and create events and outreach. If anyone attended our Block Party last semester, you can thank your $25 contribution and the sweat of our Student Gov. Reps for making the event possible.

So there you have it. Hopefully this information has better informed you of where your tuition money goes and has made feel more secure that UB does not squander your dollars recklessly. As for me, though I may not have much in my wallet today, I’m investing in an education at UB today that I know will put some back in it in the future.

Sustaining UB

Last month, the University of Baltimore announced the MBA program would add a new specialization in sustainability management. This is important as the world continues to look for methods for dealing with what we in the MPA side of the house call "externalities" of business:

• Environmental damage,
• Social consequences, and
• Harm to unrelated parties.

The world is looking to make business more sustainable along the spectrum from halting greenhouse gas emissions to favoring locally produced agriculture. UB's new program will help train emerging business leaders in these practices, and hopefully give Maryland a prominent place in sustainability. For more information, please see the UB/Towson MBA website.

Mint

Hey Everyone,

I hope everyone had a great weekend as I did. I spent my weekend in NY, I decided to get away from my busy life and schedule which ended up being worthwhile.

UB Housing Update: Our SLA's (Student Living Assistants) have been selected, I hope to share their names next week once they have all been notified. I encourage anyone interested in housing to sign up for the housing tours, the next one is scheduled for July 11 from 10a.m - 3p.m. If you can't make this date, feel free to call the office of Student Affairs and we'll take care of you.

Today I figured I'd share on something that might change the course on how the UB Community manage their funds and also spend the little they have. MINT... yes MINT!!!

Mint is fresh, intelligent online money management. Not only is Mint free, it saves you money. While existing personal finance software packages require hours to set up, a passion for accounting (is that possible?) and hours of weekly maintenance, Mint is virtually effortless.

With Mint, you can achieve better online financial management in less than five minutes. After that, revolutionary, patent–pending Mint money management software does the rest, with virtually no more work required. It automatically pulls together your bank, credit union and credit card data, and provides up–to–date and amazingly accurate views of your financial—life from the big picture to specific details, in a friendly and intuitive way.

In addition, Mint goes beyond visibility and analysis providing personalized money–saving and money–making suggestions. Mint provides users an average of $1,000 in savings opportunities during their first session. Plus, Mint is proactive—alerting you when you are exceeding your personal budget, have a low balance, need to pay a bill, and more.

Key Benefits

• Easy to use: You’re up and running in less than five minutes. And Mint does virtually all the rest.
• Comprehensive: Mint provides visibility into virtually all your financial relationships with a single, secure login.
• Visual and Analytical: Mint gives you powerful insights into your personal finances making–it easier to practice smart financial management.
• Constantly working to find you savings: Mint typically finds users $1,000 in savings opportunities in their first session—minutes after registering. And Mint keeps looking for new ways for you to save every day—continuously comparing your needs to product, service and bank offerings most relevant to you.
• Secure: Mint provides bank–level data security and industry–leading identity protection. Its security and privacy have been validated by VeriSign and TRUSTe.
• Always On: You’re automatically notified of upcoming bills, low balances, and any unusual activity in any of your accounts through one (m)interface.
• Anywhere/anytime access: You can get to Mint anywhere, anytime over the Web.
• And it’s Free!

So please check it out and let me know what you think. Have a great week!

Minors at UB

You have all probably received the same email from the University that I did, seeking comments on proposed changes in some academic policies, one of which is making minors available to UB undergrads. This is so way overdue. I make no secret of the fact that I love UB and that it was the only institution I applied to after earning my associate degree at community college. But the lack of an option for a minor or double major was definitely a negative. I would have loved the opportunity to minor in creative writing.

Reviewing the suggested policy change, though, it looks like minors will be required to be pretty closely related to majors, and I'm not sure that creative writing would be considered very closely related to government and public policy. I'm wondering what other students think about the minor option and, if given the option for a minor, how likely they would be to prefer something very different from their major. I guess what I'm really wondering is if there are many other students like myself, whose interests vary widely. Personally, while I'm committed to pursuing a career related to law, government, and politics, I also have a very creative side. Along with writing fiction and poetry, I enjoy making jewelry and artwork from recycled, reused, repurposed materials. So, if I were able to choose a minor, the option would be most attractive to me if I could learn something more related to my creativity.

If my choices for a minor in writing were limited to, say, legal or technical writing, or business writing, I wouldn't be nearly as likely to pursue the option. I expect to graduate in December, so I won't have the opportunity to take advantage of the minor option, but I hope that for those who do, they will be allowed to explore a range of interests outside the area of their majors.

Rant & Rave: More Printing & More Sweating

Last week, I think I established my impassioned concern for printing here at UB. This week is no exception. Oh yes... here comes my next rant (but soon matched by a rave).


I would like the ability to add printer pages to my UB account online.


Please say it can be so! So yeah, while I didn't lose that much sleep over this issue, I did lose study time. Monday, I walked to the Academic Center to print out about 40 pages of readings. Suddenly, after launching five separate print jobs, I realized that the room was quiet. Too quiet. Aside from the hum of the fluorescent bulbs, there was no mechanical murmuring from the printers. My account had run dry. And what was I to do??! It was about 9pm. Without an option to increase my printing allocation, I could either read the scanned-in articles on the screen as PDFs or just scrap the studying plans until I could show up in-person at OTS and add more pages. I chose the latter idea. It spoke to my heart.

Well, I digress. I really do bow down before the tech staff here at UB. It's a thankless job to keep all our data efficient and virus-free. And it's also pretty sweet that each of us can have our own account for data storage. That's a unique benefit here at UB. So techies...I'm at your mercy!

CarolB actually beat me to the meat of my rave this week: UB's fitness center. I just think they've done an excellent job with the fact that it's tucked away on top of classrooms and uncomfortably partitioned into four sections around a basketball court (not to mention that the only access is through the slave-quarters stairs and a cold-war-inspired elevator shaft). The fitness center is just cool.

First, the fitness staff is friendly. Second, they seem to constantly be cleaning something--much appreciated maintenance given that it can get stuffy up there with only a few windows. Moreover, there is a high water fountains to students ratio. I'm convinced that this last plus will one day be a factor in US News rankings.

And if you're just now about to board the Good Ship Fitness at UB these days, you'll be able to take advantage of some pretty amazing new gym equipment. I've rarely seen a gym replace old fitness benches and workout mats to the extent that happened this May. It really speaks to the dedication of campus health going on the third floor!

One last thing: there is golf in the mornings and I think a Nintendo Wii in the evening too. Golf. Next to a foosball table. Seriously.

Adventures of a UB Student - Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Diagram

It happened in my last semester that I had a writing class and in this class I had an assignment called a "Literature Review." This assignment, unlike its seemingly descriptive name, did not consist of reading a book and then giving "thumbs up" or "thumbs down." No, it was much more like a research paper, except for a few defining differences: pick a topic, find sources, and, instead of using said sources to back my own argument, the task was to compile the general arguments of said sources. In short, compare/contrast, but in as academic a way as possible.

There were two drafts that we (the class) had to turn in so that the professor could check our progress. You might think that this gave me plenty of time to do it and so I finished it in a timely manner. Right? Wrong. As any good college student does, I procrastinated.

And so it happened that I needed to turn in the second draft soon and that meant I needed to dig through a bunch of sources, find connected information, and form it all into a cohesive structure that portrayed the issue I had chosen (in this case "black abolitionism").

So there I was; sitting at a table with a notebook in front of me and a pen in hand. I had to write something. I felt I needed to understand the issue. I needed to understand all the facets to truly compile it. So I wrote. At first I didn't come up with much. Just phrases; things I already had in mind. But then, out of the vaguest idea, I began to draw circles and put these phrases inside them. Phrases like, "Push for change in law" and "AASS and other such organizations." When I had covered as many facets of the topic as I could come up with, I began to connect the circles; I had the circle "black abolitionism" in the center, which everything connected to, and then other circles would only be connected to each other if there was a direct correlation between facets. When I was finished, I found that the issue was now much more clear. I still needed to find the information within my sources, but now I had a deeper understanding of all the complexities and it helped me to write a more complete essay.

Moral of the story? If your teachers tell you that diagrams have strengths, they may be on the right track.

Going to the Gym at UB

Last week, I went off campus and visited The Walters Art Museum. This week, I'm back on campus to talk about one of the best perks of being part of the UB community: Campus Recreation Services

If you haven't been there or checked out what it has to offer, you're missing out on a great benefit. Something I discovered this past spring when finally, mid-way through my 4th semester here, I hiked up Stairway #1 of the Academic Center (okay, I took the elevator), and walked into CRS. I was amazed at what I found. There's a cardio room, weight room, Nautilus room, aerobic studio, spinning room, mat room and Plyometric room. There's even a basketball court right in the middle of it all with a golf cage at one end (yes, you can take golf lessons!). It didn't take me long to decide that I needed to take advantage of the opportunity to work out for free. I also learned the center offers a variety of group exercise classes (also free) including aerobics, step, kick boxing, body sculpt, Aikido, and much more. Check the group class schedule.

Another benefit, just introduced this past spring, is Personal Training. After seeing this mentioned a few times in the Daily Digest, my curiosity finally got the better of me, and last Friday I met with Katie Cox, coordinator of the Fitness and Wellness program. Katie, relatively new to UB, was hired to expand the program, and from what I can see, she's doing a great job. The Personal Training program includes an initial consultation, health assessment, body fat assessment, and one-on-one training to help you maximum your workouts. You can purchase 3, 5, or 10 sessions for a very reasonable price. If you're interested, the introductory prices will be in effect until July 1. My health assessment is Friday morning, and I start my one-on-one sessions next week. I'll let you know how they go!

There's so much more to tell you about CRS (did you know, for example, that UB offers Intramural Sports?) , but I'll let you discover it for yourself. Remember, all UB students, staff and faculty are automatically members of the Rec Center. Can't beat that!

what I have learned from my adventures so far

Hello readers. As you know, one of my topics this summer will be my adventures On the Road as I seek out research opportunities and battlefield perspectives for my project. Also I may attempt to come up with a title for said project, as just now it is still called That Thing I am Supposed to be Writing, or A Queer-er Retelling of Virginia Woolf's Orlando, Only in the Civil War. Neither of which, it must be said, is much of a title. So next week I will likely be posting about a Serious UB Topic (the upcoming new bookstore, the innumerable ways in which UB parking continues to make my brain hurt, how much I love the MFA program, gender-neutral bathrooms, etc.), but this week... This week I am going to tell you about Fredericksburg VA.

Some Civil War battlefields, like Sharpsburg, are remote enough from civilization (except the tacky people who refuse to move from their 70s vintage house & above ground pool, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BATTLEFIELD!!!) that you can stand there and listen to the birds and have quite a sense of the scope of things. Also, there are a lot of very helpful plaques and memorials and things to show one where everything happened. At Gettysburg, you can stand by the tree line at the bottom of the hill and look up and see what Lee and Longstreet would have seen (and you can wonder why in the name of God anyone would have thought sending Pickett up the hill was a good idea...).

But at Fredericksburg... At Fredericksburg there is development gone wild. And this, dear readers, is really the point of this post. Not so much that I am cheerfully driving hither and yon to do my research (although I am deliriously happy that I will be spending the last third of June in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee), but that one of the failings of Those who Came Before Us was that they didn't preserve things. In Fredericksburg, the main in-town battlefield is covered in houses, so you look down from the ridge where the 35th North Carolina Infantry (the regiment to which my character is attached) would have stood, and instead of seeing 600 yards of empty ground, and imagining the Union troops pouring across it and the resultant awful carnage, and the small city and the frozen Rappahannock beyond, all you see is a bunch of houses.

At the Wilderness, also part of the Fredericksburg cluster of protected battlefields, they are about to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter right at the edge of the battlefield. I suspect this may impinge somewhat on authenticity. Also, there are already TEN Wal-Marts in the Fredericksburg metro area, such as it is.

As a Civil War scholar of sorts, I find this utterly appalling and unacceptable. But as a person who cares about history -- mine, yours, the city's, the country's, whatever -- I find it heartbreaking.

Here in Baltimore we have a lot of the same problem going on. The Maritime Museum downtown, which includes the Coast Guard cutter, and the Lighthouse, and the submarine, and a few other exhibits, is likely to fail soon, because even before the Recession their revenues were so bad, and the City government doesn't do much for them. The Edgar Allan Poe House is hard to find, and not all that well maintained. We're about to lose the Preakness. The crabs and oysters are dying, and with them, the skipjacks and their captains are going to die out. Baltimore's Arabbers (the produce pony people) are vanishing, even though we are the only city who still has them at all. There are dozens of other examples.

One of the amazing things about going to school here in Baltimore is that you are surrounded by history. And yet, all of these places and people and things will GO AWAY if you don't make a point of fighting for the parts you love. Surprisingly few of Baltimore's historic buildings have landmark status. The produce ponies have no home.

I implore you, as one scholar to another: Find something in Baltimore that you think is completely, utterly special, something that defines the city for you, or that you know you won't find anyplace else, and help it succeed. Join it, donate to it, volunteer for it, write about it... Do something. Please.

Virtual Worlds

Usually about three minutes into a lecture, I determine whether or not the information is vital before thinking about other things. I feel it is imperative especially in education that there is a variety of delivery methods of learning in a classroom experience. 

In my first semester at UB, my instructor has already used several methods to make learning interactive and interesting. Since we had a lively discussion about Second Life, I thought this would be a great subject to discuss further.  Second Life is software developed by IBM to create communities in a virtual world. Virtual worlds promote learning and transfer from the classroom to real-world settings. There are several types of software running virtual worlds like Active Worlds, Croquet but Second Life at this time seems to be the most popular. 

Second Life software is free so if you are interested in investigating virtual worlds - check it out!  You start by using an avatar which moves by your mouse control and keyboard. The avatar can be personalized to the appearance of your choice. Also, you can communicate by chat or audio via microphone. The economy in Second Life is Linden$$ so you could make a living by creating three dimensional objects. Therefore, you can rent and buy land, develop your social skills and participate in live events (lectures, rock concerts, religious ceremonies or mental health activities). 

Second Life is currently being used at UB in the Simulation and Digital Entertainment course study.  For more information, please feel free to check out the Fall 2008 Alumni Magazine.

Second Life is more than just a game. It is an opportunity to bring interaction to a new level.  When you attend a lecture, listen to a podcast or read a book, your learning is passive.  However, when you are doing something like moving your mouse or clicking on something you are actively participating.  So the learning experience is different.  Each person learns differently.  I learn more from doing something, making a mistake, and learning from it.  However, this approach does give your parents a lot of gray hair. 

Each learning approach whether active or passive plays an integral part in education.  What is unique to Second Life is a place where you can simulate real world experiences in a safe environment.  Currently, I spend a lot of time in Second Life implementing our virtual dental school to our faculty and students at the UMB Dental School.  The UMB Dental School is utilizing Second Life by educating dental hygiene students on infection control, having virtual lectures in the virtual lecture hall, learning how to interact with patients via role playing and educating children and parents in the pediatric field of dentistry. Feel free to check out a video(5 min. 36 sec.) of our virtual dental school and how Second Life is being used.

Virtual worlds come with a lot of excitement, tremendous amount of possibilities and skepticism as to how this tool can be utilized in education.  I think time will only tell as to how long virtual worlds will exist and be an integral part of the educational experience.    

Blackberry Curve

Okay so I have the Blackberry Curve which is awesome! I don't know what I would do if I did not have the nifty little guy. He helps me keep my busy life in order. What is even better about it is that it has this setting to where I can see my upcoming events right on my screen. So things such as my reading assignments, homework, and daily life activities are available right on my homescreen. In addition just in case, I do have the good old planner. With the way technology can be at times we all know that we cant always depend on our nifty devices.

Besides my wonderful peice of technology, so far this summer classes have required so much reading. I understand with it being an online class and fast paced but sometimes I am a little shocked with the amount of reading that is required in so little of a time frame. I have also experienced this with regular semesters. But I sure do learn a lot in each class with all the reading that is required.

You see usually when I get home I have to walk my dog, clean the dishes, make dinner, clean dishes again and then by the time I am settled to actually do something it is close to 9:00 pm. Three chapters are due to be read by that Tuesday and before I know it I am falling behind on my reading. What I always seem to do is suprise myself by finishing my assignments on time and doing well. Without my balckberry I just might not have known a certain assignment was due or my sisters birthday is the following week. Thank God for my nifty little guy I like to call my lifesaver!

U can B an Alumni

By now, those of us taking summer classes are looking to the future. The future which includes us walking across a stage and getting a diploma with our name on it. That diploma is a symbol of all the hours of studying, parties missed and headaches suffered which we endured to obtain it. It may seem that “keeping our eye on the prize” is all we can think of right now…but what happens after graduation? No, I’m not going to lecture about goals and jobs; I’m talking about becoming a UB Alumni.

We are fortunate to have a great program for our Alumni at UB. After graduation, students are given the option to join a special club with special perks. I’m sure, if you are like me, you know little about what is offered to an Alumnus. So here are just a few: On campus, you are granted membership to the Athletic Club at a 30% discount, 10% off at Barnes and Noble, and lifetime access to Langsdale Library. Off campus, there are discounts and perks for Alumni who use partner services such as Geico or Tmobile. Another hugely valuable resource available is the Alumni Business Directory; which contains contact and reference information for other Alumnus in different fields of business. Using these references can help open many doors to aspiring businesspeople and entrepreneurs.

UB’s Alumni magazine is a great publication that helps graduates keep a pulse on what is happening on campus in different departments. The last issue contained features like Second-ary Education: Simulation and Digital Entertainment Students Study in Second Life and What’s It Like To… (http://www.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=2870) If these aren’t enough reasons to take advantage of your Alumni status… how about a Crab Feast? On Saturday, June 6th from 1pm-5pm UB will host its annual Alumni Reunion Crab Feast & BBQ! There will be plenty of festivities and food. More info can be found at: http://www.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=2512

Hopefully, these tasty tidbits of info will help us so-to-be Alumni get excited about taking advantage of future opportunities and help us look toward our bright futures!

BarCamp at the University of Baltimore

The Baltimore Sun reported last week on the BarCamp program at the University of Baltimore. On June 20th, the Thumel Business Center will host the session where speakers are given five minutes to present any topic they want and the event speakers are chosen by the attendees.

The event is sure to be a blast with networking opportunities intermingled with presentations throughout the day. The BarCamp format was developed on the West Coast and has slowly spread with presentations following around the nation. The event is open and free to attendees, registration is not required. For more information, please see the event's page on Facebook or the event's Twitter feed.

Cheap Gas!?!?!

Hi Readers,

Today is a lot of firsts for me and I am excited about the great opportunities ahead of me. I encourage you all really embrace this journey that you will be embarking on with me throughout the summer.

Without wasting any time I figured it would be best if I gave you an insight to my life, my background, and some of my experiences - so as you read from me every Monday, I will include one or two interesting or fun things about me with every post.

Today is my first day on my new job - I am the new Graduate Assistant in the Student Affairs office and will be working on the development of UB's Housing Program alongside Dean Kathy Anderson. I am more than excited about this opportunity, and look forward to great things coming to the UB Community. So from time to time, I may blog about something to do with the progress being made with UB Housing.

So I was reading the business news over the weekend, and decided to share with you some of my findings. As yo uall may know, at this time of the year gas prices starts 'growing' (maybe it has something to do with the great hot weather), and as projected - regardless of the financial crisis, the recession (or depression) and no jobs, prices are expected to rise this summer. I decided to share a tip on filling up your tank at a more affordable price - Gas Price Shopping!

You can’t actually buy gas online, but Web resources can help you find the cheapest fill-up in town. Among them, GasPriceWatch.com and GasWatch.info help people track pump prices. But the most comprehensive of the bunch is GasBuddy.com, which includes a network of 174 local sites, complete with maps and message boards that tally gas price by ZIP code. I've personally been a regualr at GasBuddy and it gets the job done!

But for those of you who have limited funds a.k.a. BOB's (Ballers On a Budget) - I suggest you put the debit cards away when you get to the pump because both you and I know that if you've got about $100.00 in the bank, and your cell phone bill ($65) is due in 3 days, and you're trying to fill your truck up... chances are you don't know exactly how much it will cost you, so you'd rather just pay for a specific amount of gas and save yourself and bank overdraft charges!

Well that's all for now folks, and hope you have a great week!