Next Step: MCITP
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Yet another one down
Well the certification exam train moves on. Today I received email confirmation of my Linux+ certification status from CompTia.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
What Next?
This is going to be a very short blog post. Because this is a public forum I can't say much about what is going on right now, and the health and safety of people are at stake.
Our family is deeply involved in this intensely personal issue and for the sake of decorum, and legal protection, I can't say anymore.
I haven't forgot about the blog.
Our family is deeply involved in this intensely personal issue and for the sake of decorum, and legal protection, I can't say anymore.
I haven't forgot about the blog.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Network + is next
This week I'm in the big middle of a long distance class delivered by the internet. Its the Network+ study course. My wife is out of town, so I'm all by myself. Not much time to write stuff.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Status update
Well its official, I'm now A+ certified.
I've been studying off an on for these exams for several years, but because of financial reasons, Ive never been able to afford to take them. Well, I took them, and passed them. So now I get to wear the logo you see here. Not a big deal really, many more of these to come by the end of the program.
After this semester, I'm exactly half way through my Masters program. What a ride!
I've been studying off an on for these exams for several years, but because of financial reasons, Ive never been able to afford to take them. Well, I took them, and passed them. So now I get to wear the logo you see here. Not a big deal really, many more of these to come by the end of the program.
After this semester, I'm exactly half way through my Masters program. What a ride!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Recovery and Grief
Its been a tough few weeks for the Hall household.
First Dr. C's death (the subject of a separate blog post) and then my father-in-laws death a few weeks ago.
The family loaded into the car and drove from Nebraska to New York for the funeral.
Then a few days later we had to load back up in the car and come back.
Never mind the fact that my wife is grieving the loss of her father.
School started again, and so by Monday 3/22 I'll be a student and professor again.
Both schools had their spring breaks in consecutive weeks so I was going to have two whole weeks to catch up on what I was behind around the house, but with dads funeral, I used most of that time going and coming from New York.
Ah well. Such is Life.
First Dr. C's death (the subject of a separate blog post) and then my father-in-laws death a few weeks ago.
The family loaded into the car and drove from Nebraska to New York for the funeral.
Then a few days later we had to load back up in the car and come back.
Never mind the fact that my wife is grieving the loss of her father.
School started again, and so by Monday 3/22 I'll be a student and professor again.
Both schools had their spring breaks in consecutive weeks so I was going to have two whole weeks to catch up on what I was behind around the house, but with dads funeral, I used most of that time going and coming from New York.
Ah well. Such is Life.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The quiet power of teachers
Dr. Michael Paul Crosslin 1940-2010
Dr. Mike Crosslin was my High School History teacher. I can't say that learned alot of history from him, but I did learn something important. Dr. Crosslin was an amazing musician. One day in High School I casually mentioned that there was a Jazz concert at Oklahoma State University that I wanted to attend but had no way to get there. Dr. Crosslin said that he had won two tickets to that very concert and offered to take me. My father was his boss back then and we made the arrangements. I have been a quietly passionate classical and jazz lover ever since. Thanks Doc. You will be missed.
Dr. Mike Crosslin was my High School History teacher. I can't say that learned alot of history from him, but I did learn something important. Dr. Crosslin was an amazing musician. One day in High School I casually mentioned that there was a Jazz concert at Oklahoma State University that I wanted to attend but had no way to get there. Dr. Crosslin said that he had won two tickets to that very concert and offered to take me. My father was his boss back then and we made the arrangements. I have been a quietly passionate classical and jazz lover ever since. Thanks Doc. You will be missed.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The 9 principles
I'm copying this from the web site of the 912 project at www.the912project.org
Thought it was worth sharing:
Thought it was worth sharing:
| 1. | America Is Good. |
| 2. | I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life. |
| God “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” from George Washington’s first Inaugural address. | |
| 3. | I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday. |
| Honesty “I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington | |
| 4. | The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority,not the government. |
| Marriage/Family “It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known. By a law of our nature, we cannot be happy without the endearing connections of a family.” Thomas Jefferson | |
| 5. | If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it. |
| Justice “I deem one of the essential principles of our government…equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion,religious or political.” Thomas Jefferson | |
| 6. | I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results. |
| Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Happiness “Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence.” Thomas Jefferson | |
| 7. | I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable. |
| Charity “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.” George Washington | |
| 8. | It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion. |
| On your right to disagree “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington | |
| 9. | The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me. |
| Who works for whom? “I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson |
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Cooking and Life
My wife tried a new recipe for dinner tonight. Its amazing how the heat of an oven can blend flavors that don't seem to have anything in common.
The meal was chicken but the marinade it was cooked in was interesting. A blend of cranberry sauce (with whole cranberries), Catalina salad dressing, and onion soup mix.
Before baking my wife let me taste the sauce, and I wasn't sure what to think. After the oven did its trick I was surprised. It was really good.
How does this relate to life? Sometimes God mixes things that don't seem to go together and then the heat or pressure of some problem, or struggle blends these things and the result is better than we imagined.
Is God doing that for you? He seems to be doing that for me.
The meal was chicken but the marinade it was cooked in was interesting. A blend of cranberry sauce (with whole cranberries), Catalina salad dressing, and onion soup mix.
Before baking my wife let me taste the sauce, and I wasn't sure what to think. After the oven did its trick I was surprised. It was really good.
How does this relate to life? Sometimes God mixes things that don't seem to go together and then the heat or pressure of some problem, or struggle blends these things and the result is better than we imagined.
Is God doing that for you? He seems to be doing that for me.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
On high winds and their effects
Today we have a National Weather Service high wind warning. While walking my dogs I was knocked around pretty good. I found that I couldn't always move the direction I wanted. My dogs weren't happy with the weather either but they seemed less effected by the wind than I was. Could it be because they were closer to the ground than I was? The other problem I experienced was the snow blowing in the wind. With wind blowing that fast the falling snow wasn't really falling, it was blinding. I couldn't see that well and I just had to trust that I knew where I was and what was around me. That wasn't too hard since I've walked my dogs around that block almost daily.
While walking the dogs in the blinding wind, tossed to and fro I had an epiphany of sorts.
Ephesians 4 7-16 NIV:
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The wind in the spiritual sense in this case is capable of blinding us, and blowing us to an fro away from the truth. The only way we are able to withstand this wind is to know who we are in Christ so that when the wind does come, and we can't see, we really don't need to see. Since we know where we are and what is around us. We do this through the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit.
Yet not us, but Christ in us.
While walking the dogs in the blinding wind, tossed to and fro I had an epiphany of sorts.
Ephesians 4 7-16 NIV:
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The wind in the spiritual sense in this case is capable of blinding us, and blowing us to an fro away from the truth. The only way we are able to withstand this wind is to know who we are in Christ so that when the wind does come, and we can't see, we really don't need to see. Since we know where we are and what is around us. We do this through the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit.
Yet not us, but Christ in us.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Additional work without the additional pay
I'm sure everyone with a job can relate to this, so I thought I'd post it.
The school where I teach is moving to an all electronic system. Over Christmas break the online registration system went live and now students register for their own classes. Our drop/add schedule change process is still paper.
They just added a student notification system. This is a way for the computer to send early warning letters to students who are in academic trouble. I honestly don't mind, but the process is an amazing pain. Its clear that they didn't involve a professor when they designed the system.
So now I have to do this on top of my other duties and of course no extra pay was awarded for the extra work.
Oh well, I can't complain too much, I could be unemployed after all.
The school where I teach is moving to an all electronic system. Over Christmas break the online registration system went live and now students register for their own classes. Our drop/add schedule change process is still paper.
They just added a student notification system. This is a way for the computer to send early warning letters to students who are in academic trouble. I honestly don't mind, but the process is an amazing pain. Its clear that they didn't involve a professor when they designed the system.
So now I have to do this on top of my other duties and of course no extra pay was awarded for the extra work.
Oh well, I can't complain too much, I could be unemployed after all.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Should employers buy all the work supplies needed for the job?
We all know teachers who spend their own money to buy things for the classroom because the school doesn't have a budget for the items. Yea you can deduct some of this expense on your taxes but that's not really payback.
As I write this entry, I'm waiting for a computer hard drive to format because my wife is taking our computer to her work because the one on her desk is so terrible that she can't get any work done, and it takes thirty minutes for the thing to even start up. It was built for Windows 98 and is running Windows XP SP3. The word suck does not adequately describe how bad it is.
So anyway, I wonder if I send her boss a bill for the lease of my computer equipment if he'll pay for it?
Not likely, but it sounded good.
As I write this entry, I'm waiting for a computer hard drive to format because my wife is taking our computer to her work because the one on her desk is so terrible that she can't get any work done, and it takes thirty minutes for the thing to even start up. It was built for Windows 98 and is running Windows XP SP3. The word suck does not adequately describe how bad it is.
So anyway, I wonder if I send her boss a bill for the lease of my computer equipment if he'll pay for it?
Not likely, but it sounded good.
Monday, January 18, 2010
On facebook and high school graduating classmates
I have to say from the outset that I didn't like high school very much. As an adult I found a very good reason for this. After I was diagnosed with diabetes I was later diagnosed with something called diabetic depression. It seems that for some people diabetes can aggravate a mild undiagnosed clinical depression and I found myself sleeping all the time and generally I was very hard to live with. I didn't even like myself very much.
A few days ago someone I knew from school looked me up and send me a friend request.
As a matter of context, I never considered that any of the folks I went to school with were my friends simply because we weren't that close. Some of that lack of closeness was me being mildly depressed and awkward, but the rest, I assume, stemmed from the fact that my father was an assistant superintendent of public schools at the school where I went. Who among us wants to rouse rabble and cause trouble in front of witnesses that can not be trusted to keep their mouth shut? (ie: me)
Anyway one of my classmates looked me up on facebook and asked me if I was the Rance that he went to high school with. I said I was. Then the facebook friend suggestion process runs wild suggesting to all of his friends that they might know me, and imagine that, some of them do. I've already been in contact with three members of my high school class in as many days.
Given the fact that I graduated with just over 100 in my class, these three people and myself make up about 4% of the high school class.
A few days ago someone I knew from school looked me up and send me a friend request.
As a matter of context, I never considered that any of the folks I went to school with were my friends simply because we weren't that close. Some of that lack of closeness was me being mildly depressed and awkward, but the rest, I assume, stemmed from the fact that my father was an assistant superintendent of public schools at the school where I went. Who among us wants to rouse rabble and cause trouble in front of witnesses that can not be trusted to keep their mouth shut? (ie: me)
Anyway one of my classmates looked me up on facebook and asked me if I was the Rance that he went to high school with. I said I was. Then the facebook friend suggestion process runs wild suggesting to all of his friends that they might know me, and imagine that, some of them do. I've already been in contact with three members of my high school class in as many days.
Given the fact that I graduated with just over 100 in my class, these three people and myself make up about 4% of the high school class.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Grading for grammar
All graduate level homework is graded for content spelling and grammar. I have a new professor this semester that I have never had before. He's docked me for what he called minor grammar mistakes that didn't impact the flow of the paper I wrote.
In all my graduate work so far, none of my professors (except this one) have even noticed a grammar mistake on my part. I couldn't decide if this new prof was a better grammarian than the rest, or if I somehow mysteriously wrote worse than normal just for this prof.
I think I've decided that this prof is actually just a little more picky. Which is fine, it gives me something to strive for.
In all my graduate work so far, none of my professors (except this one) have even noticed a grammar mistake on my part. I couldn't decide if this new prof was a better grammarian than the rest, or if I somehow mysteriously wrote worse than normal just for this prof.
I think I've decided that this prof is actually just a little more picky. Which is fine, it gives me something to strive for.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wow, what a day!!!
Yesterday (1/11/10) was the first day of school at CCC where I teach. It was a tough first day.
Ten minutes into my lecture I got a knock on the door and found out that my classroom had been assigned incorrectly. We had to move to a new room.
The lab that I teach has 8 waitlisted students and so in order to fit them all, I had to move the room that that class meets in as well.
Oh the joys of the first day of school.
Glad that's over.
Ten minutes into my lecture I got a knock on the door and found out that my classroom had been assigned incorrectly. We had to move to a new room.
The lab that I teach has 8 waitlisted students and so in order to fit them all, I had to move the room that that class meets in as well.
Oh the joys of the first day of school.
Glad that's over.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Making early decisions without all the data
This morning I got an email from my boss asking me if I wanted to let my class run or have it cancelled.
There were 9 students enrolled in my class then, and that is less than the number required to run the class.
I knew that the two self-paced Math labs we teach had long waiting lists and if I canceled my lecture class these 9 students wouldn't have a place to go and would be behind a semester getting their courses completed.
I sent my boss a return email telling her to run the class. Running a class with less than the minimum number of students enrolled has a negative impact on my pay check. The good news is that by the end of the day the class made 10 and I get a full pay check.
There were 9 students enrolled in my class then, and that is less than the number required to run the class.
I knew that the two self-paced Math labs we teach had long waiting lists and if I canceled my lecture class these 9 students wouldn't have a place to go and would be behind a semester getting their courses completed.
I sent my boss a return email telling her to run the class. Running a class with less than the minimum number of students enrolled has a negative impact on my pay check. The good news is that by the end of the day the class made 10 and I get a full pay check.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
It's late, or is it early?
Its about 12:30 AM Friday, January 8, 2010
I can't sleep.
Today was an interesting day, I found out just how crazy owning a home can be. I hate mortgage lenders. The mortgage itself isn't so bad. What's more I don't know anyone who can buy a house and pay cash for it. But the lenders are tough.
I'm almost finished getting ready for the semester to start on Monday the 11th. I'm excited about the semester. I have some of the same students again. It's helpful to have some idea of what to expect. I'm trying very hard to understand Math anxiety and help my students get over it.
If anyone has hints, I'm all ears.
I can't sleep.
Today was an interesting day, I found out just how crazy owning a home can be. I hate mortgage lenders. The mortgage itself isn't so bad. What's more I don't know anyone who can buy a house and pay cash for it. But the lenders are tough.
I'm almost finished getting ready for the semester to start on Monday the 11th. I'm excited about the semester. I have some of the same students again. It's helpful to have some idea of what to expect. I'm trying very hard to understand Math anxiety and help my students get over it.
If anyone has hints, I'm all ears.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Belleview University started today 4 Jan., 2010
My graduate work continues as Bellevue University has started up from its Christmas break today. Since most online classes actually run with a Tuesday to Monday week, or even a Wednesday to Tuesday week, nothing much happened today.
My enrollment for my class at CCC is up to 7. We have to have 10 to run a class. But the enrollment was only 6 before the Christmas break, so its good news that enrollment is up. Only 3 more to run the class. Classes don't start till the 11th so I have a little less than a week to find out if the class is going to run.
CCC got new carpet in many of the rooms over the break. The common hallways and most of the offices got new carpet, CCC's offices opened today, and I couldnt resist a quick peek at the new floor. It looks very nice.
CCC-Kearney really needs a new campus. The old bowling alley that we are in is simply too small to have enough classrooms to offer all the classes that CCC has the student demand for. I have no idea where a bigger building would be available, but I'm hopeful that CCC can figure something out soon.
If CCC makes a building commitment in short order, they will finish the new place about the time I finish my Masters degree. Would be nice if I got to stay on and just switch departments.
Happy new year everyone!
My enrollment for my class at CCC is up to 7. We have to have 10 to run a class. But the enrollment was only 6 before the Christmas break, so its good news that enrollment is up. Only 3 more to run the class. Classes don't start till the 11th so I have a little less than a week to find out if the class is going to run.
CCC got new carpet in many of the rooms over the break. The common hallways and most of the offices got new carpet, CCC's offices opened today, and I couldnt resist a quick peek at the new floor. It looks very nice.
CCC-Kearney really needs a new campus. The old bowling alley that we are in is simply too small to have enough classrooms to offer all the classes that CCC has the student demand for. I have no idea where a bigger building would be available, but I'm hopeful that CCC can figure something out soon.
If CCC makes a building commitment in short order, they will finish the new place about the time I finish my Masters degree. Would be nice if I got to stay on and just switch departments.
Happy new year everyone!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Almost there
Its 2:16 PM on Jan 2, and I only have one more paper to write and I'll be caught up just in time for school to start again. I love school, but its a means to an end. I want to teach professionally at the college/university level. In order to do that, I need a PhD. But the Masters I'm working on now will likely get me a job so I can finish the PhD.
I didn't mention it in my last blog, but I'm a disabled veteran of the US Army. I'm going back to school with the help of the VA's VocRehab program. Thanks to them I can afford to keep my house, work part time, and go to school.
I didn't mention it in my last blog, but I'm a disabled veteran of the US Army. I'm going back to school with the help of the VA's VocRehab program. Thanks to them I can afford to keep my house, work part time, and go to school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)