Jim's+Journal+for+Summer+2011

June 30, 2011

I looked in the rear view mirror as we traversed the coastal range toward McMinnville. It was my son's 11th birthday and we had our mind set on spending the day at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum. My youngest was glued to the DVD player blaring Chris Rock's voice as Marty the zebra. My oldest was passing time scrolling through her music selection she had just dumped onto my new iPad. The two middle progeny, each possessing an iPhone from my wife and me, were taking notes on how to best beat the next level of Angry Birds Rio. All four of them had immediate access to mobile technology, albeit some more "primitive" than others. It was really at that moment, as the car was quiet, save the dialogue between Marty the zebra and Alex the lion, that their world was going to be significantly different than mine. Their work and life technology as adults would make my iPad feel like pong. I'm not sure how I felt about that. Indeed, the world was tumbling in that direction, and they would need the faculties to access such a rich highway. Yet, the more technology was involved, the more layers existed between the actual human experience. Is it possible that all of this technology is eroding away our human interactions and relationships? Is it possible that people are moving further away from the relational experience that draws us closer to God and to each other? Could technology make both richer experiences? I'm not sure how to answer that yet. I do know, that the 3 minutes of peace I enjoyed in the car erupted into laughter as my youngest passed gas and declared, "Oh yeah, baby!" It was then I decided that even technology can't keep us away from the most important things in life.

July 3, 2011

I really do wish Apple and Adobe would put their grudge match aside. There were a couple sites I visited today that required Flash and it wasn't happening on my iPad. There are some options for making the iPad Flash compatible, but those I've found require jail breaking the device and draining the battery with an app that has little reliability. I refuse, however, to be deterred. There are enough techno geeks out there and some blog in cyberland will have a solution. There was some hope, however, in my dismay regarding Office products on my iPad. I can still cloud compute using GoogleDocs for simple word processing projects. I actually sat down and did a book review using GoogleDocs and will figure out how to upload it to FoxTale. I still would like to figure out how to easily import pictures and video from my iPad to social sites. I found it interesting that I can upload a picture or video from my iPad to my FB using the app but couldn't through a regular Web page (needed Flash). Oh the pains of learning new technology. My next chore will be trying to figure out how to put video on my Wiki as to prepare for part of my final project. (UPDATE) So far, I've only been able to push the video to YouTube and then paste a link on my journal page. I know there must be an app to make this easier, but I'm reluctant to add apps willy nilly. I have not yet met the desire of our Wiki to upload a file from my iPad. Somehow, I must make all things web based before and uploading can be done. My other observation is about viewing my Wiki page with links, picture or video files. Viewing it normally, everything appears as it would to an outsider. As soon as I go to edit, everything turns into text as if I were writing program commands for the page. I can't change the format of my new link via my iPad either (whether it is "normal" or a certain heading size). I added my Wordpress link to my page and found it somewhat refreshing to read what I've written. I have about six pieces in the hopper and three that I've published to my page; one of them still needs some work, but I still enjoy the development of the pieces.

July 6, 2011

The attempt at tranisitioning has been far less successful than I thought. After doing some preliminary research on the transition (one website dedicated to such a journey), it appears that many of the apps used are unpredictable and full of bugs. Moreover, any attempt to install some programs requires a jail breaking of the iPad itself. Then I thought, "Hey, I could just use google docs as a platform to do note taking basic word processing." That was well wishing and almost worked with two glitches. Somehow, just before it finishes loading my documents on the full version of docs, it tells me there's an incompatibility issue. Not the case for the mobile version of google docs, but that's where the other snafu occurs. When trying to move to a different location in the document, the cursor jumps all over. Typing works with the exception of inserting text within previous writing. The same could be said working on my Wikipage. There's no issue with compatability issues, but the cursor takes on a mind of its own from time to time. These are minor issues, but I want to be thorough in my documentation of all my successes and trials.

July 11, 2011

First video journal for the term. Despite it's capacity to record and play with ease, uploading the video to my Wiki requires me using YouTube. The one thing I haven't checked is to see if Wiki makes an app. Enjoy the video. ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhB9pRpzi6c

Update: Apple does NOT have a Wiki app. . . grrrr. ..

July 13, 2011 Visited and commented on Brian's site. I also visited Deb's site.

July 13, 2011

I was very excited about my ability to post a video journal, and actually had the courage to watch it from my solitude in Weesner this evening. Lo and behold, I can't watch the thing on my laptop (where I'm currently working) because of some flea bitten protocol issue. I'm wondering if this is one of those examples of how Apple and PC's don't play nice together. It's quite frustrating as an end user. Maybe I will become a Luddite. UPDATE: I went into Quick Time and made an adjustment, reloaded the video and IT WORKS. If you dare watch it, don't me offended by the large head and lack of eye contact. I think the permanent cephalitis has some interesting side effects. On an unrelated note, time away from my family allows me to sit at a desk and explore all kinds of interesting and cool things. I had no clue I could establish my laptop as an ad hoc wifi spot until last night (or was it early this morning). Imagine the joy I felt as I could play on my iPad (mind you it doesn't have 3G and the wifi connection in Weesner is for the birds) from the comfort of my lovely plastic lined 36"x78" bunk bed mattress. It's all keeping a healthy perspective. I am going to reattempt a video journal within the next day or two from my laptop until I can figure out how to change the format of the video pushed from my iPad. I'm determined to make it work. There are also a couple other thoughts in the nether regions of my mind as I close out this journal. I have a wonderful cohort, but notice the lack of continuity as a result of the scattering that occurs at the end of the day. I'm not a person who will ever complain about solitude but being the lone campus inhabitant in the evening (out of 15) makes me think we are missing some of the community experience. The hectic pace of life doesn't slow down for some. I know, personally, that the 900 I spend over the three weeks here is worth every penny. I can't imagine commuting to the coast daily. Enough of my lament. I included a link to a wonderful video one of my cohort members shared today. It's certainly worth the 12 minutes of your life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&feature=player_detailpage

July 15, 2011 Visited Teri's page. I really appreciated her concerns and frustrations. This work can be so humbling at times. I also visited Irene's page. I certainly miss seeing her this summer.

July 17, 2011 Visited Irene's and Amanda's websites and posted comments to both.

July 17, 2011 I think it more than serendipitous that I'm taking this class and ethics at the same time. I often feel trapped in my own thinking about things and either limited or arrogant (are they different). The readings we've done in ethics and the last two chapters we read by Schultze have knocked my socks off. I forget how little I am in this world but how special God has made me. It presents itself as an interesting conundrum from time to time. I am more interested to read the remainder of Shultze's book. If it was part of his craft to irritate people in the beginning so he could gently and methodically make his pastoral point, I will tip my hat. Even though I still don't wholeheartedly agree (as an agent of free will :)), I am appreciating his healthy perspective.

July 18, 2011 It was nice to leave Ethics class today with a new or different understanding based on my reading of Schultze and Borgmann. Amidst reading Volf's book, The End of Memory, I discovered that our ability to forgive but keep the memory of being slighted is a matter of contingency. We categorize incidences based on our current constructs and fail to get the most important component of being; living in presence. It is another construct, but one we can't spend much time refuting but one that divides the theological and scientific world. Through all of this, Ben Stein's movie, Expelled, embodies this current conflict. The scientific world has duped us into believing in an explanation to everything. The reality is much different; when we recognize God's presence as a contingency, we don't have to rationalize the situation. We can honestly and genuinely spend more time enjoying the awe and wonder of God's creation.

July 21, 2011 We enjoyed a long lunch today with professors from Chongqing University in China. In three separate conversations, I heard about the work they do, the pressure they're under to publish, and how they marvel at how much space we have in our country. Immediately, a man named Joseph (he laughed as he said it knowing I probably wouldn't be able to pronounce his name) asked immediately how university are credited for publications. In China, only the primary author received any credit for publishing. The only way to get any commendation or tenure is to publish for oneself. I thought that unique, considering the joint ventures many people take to publish work in the United States. I taught him the word "cohort" and shared how our doctoral program was structured. He continued to look at me perplexed even though he understood everything I was saying. He said, "You guys actually work together to help each other out? That is something very foreign in China. We are very competitive". I noticed they all got along very well and didn't quite see the competition. "We aren't in the same field" he replied. "If there were more people in the Business program, like me, things may look very different. Chances are we would be cordial but not be overly friendly." Indeed, that's one man's personal perspective, but I felt educated none the less.

The last conversation I had was equally interesting. A young lady began talking feverishly with tears in her eyes about how hard she works trying to teach English to her Chinese students. She had primarily freshmen and sophomores and couldn't figure out how to motivate them to work harder. She saw 400 students a week and was exasperated by trying to meet their individual needs while hoping they meet their assessments (a reflection on her). The half-wit in me almost asked about pedagogy and curriculum. The full-wit prevailed and I just sat and listened. I guess the reminder for me in this wonderful lunch was toward the end when she asked me how many children I had. I told her I had four, and she began to well up with tears. "My baby is going to graduate this year, and I don't know if her test scores will get her into a prestigious university. I wish the government would allow us to have more children because I would do things differently with more children." She noticed a few of her colleagues look at her, so she quieted. I told her that her daughter would do great things in life and she should be proud of herself for being a good mother. Although I knew she wouldn't accept it that well, I felt I needed to say it.

I came home and thought about my good fortune. What a blessing it is to live in a free country.

July 24, 2011 I sent my lovely family home not too long ago. It was nice to have them here for the weekend. It was even nicer, in a sick way, to hear that the coast was socked in and it was only in the 60's. I wonder if the kids are happy to be away from "all this heat" now. After they left, I sat down and figured out how I would want my project to proceed. Indeed, I've been trying to nail down as many concerns and successes I can muster through the use of this journal. However, I find myself nonplussed about how to best present this. At first, I thought I'd run at a Google site and found it to be cumbersome. I think I will take my turn at a Wiki, including pertinent portions of this, throughout the pages. There are some interesting forums out there, but many fall off into mindless drivel about this or that. A forum is something else I had considered. Not knowing how to proceed, I'll keep investigating and develop something rudimentary based on my experiences and interactions with classmates and websites.

July 30, 2011 I visited Deb's and Brian's site. I'm working on a webpage to demonstrate what I think are the biggest challenges for iPad users as they transition. There are a million forums committed out there to such things. Unfortunately, I'm a novice at doing such things and lost over half the content I had generated. As I again rebuild it, I'm trying to scale back and figure out what things I was challenged with in transitioning to an iPad. I realize I'm about 80% of what my PC can handle now that I have a printer that will connect to my iPad via wireless connection.

August 3, 2011 I have reconstructed the majority of my webpage. Since I'm new at webpage design and iPad use, I find the learning curve high, but exciting. I have learned even more about interesting observation tools available for administrators and teachers to use. I'm coming to the end of my project with two more tabs; one I have to reconstruct and one I hadn't completed. One of my cohort colleagues got an iPad today so I sent her to my rudimentary webpage for feedback on my site. I actually took the time to join Second Life today so I could have a virtual beer or coffee with Scot. I hope he's buying.

August 5, 2011 I just submitted my last posting to FoxTale. After taking 8 credits this summer, I'm excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are a couple things I need to finish up on my website. I've enjoyed trying to keep my website simple and full of interactive links and tutorials. I'm sure I built it the way I learn best. If I'm shown how to do something, the chances of it sticking increase exponentially. I've found that many written instructions, especially in designing the website itself, makes my head swim. The project has allowed me the opportunity to discover helpful suggestions and tips to share with everyone.

I visited Brian's site to view the Disney video and thought it was fantastic. I also went and revisited Amanda's book club project. What creative people.

I found a fantastic (long) video of Quentin Schultze (affectionately known as SCHULTZEEEEEE forEVER [I wonder how many will get the Sandlot reference]). I put a number of YouTube videos and article links in my website. I hope it isn't overwhelming. Like I said, I enjoy the hands on approach and opportunity to see and hear things.

I have finally (re)completed my web page. I'm quite satisfied where the journey has taken me and I cannot wait to add thoughts, delete or move sections, and add my own forum. Maybe I'll quit my day job and become an iPad guru (insert raucous laughter). I already like what I'm doing too much. I'll just figure out how to make it more and more a part of my work and personal life.