From the Big Chair

OK, so maybe my tweet wasn’t as clear as it could have been.

The blogs linked at the right are students in my fall semester reporting class. Throughout the semester they will be posting a variety of writing assignments. The writing process only works — and isn’t complete — until someone reads the words, decodes the information and provides feedback.

Commit now to reading their work and showing them you appreciate their hard work.

Rylie invented this game. It’s called “I bet you can’t take this out of  my mouth.” It’s a little like keep away, but there’s a lot more teasing. She pokes me with her nose until I try to grab whatever she has, then she jerks it away.

She has the most fun when the object — dry leaves work best — fits completely in her mouth. She pushes a little piece of it out of her mouth, then begins to poke. When I grab for the leaf, she hides it in her mouth. She usually wins.

Tags: dogs, games

From my perspective, as an Iowan, heat is a necessity. Cool is a luxury.

I didn’t grow up with air conditioning. Not in our house. Not in the cars we had. The first car my parents bought with air conditioning was a 1978 Dodge Diplomat. In 1978 I was a junior in high school.

Not having that history with AC is probably why it’s not a critical luxury for me now. (Yes, I said luxury.) We probably run it less than a month out of every year. We have it on in the house now, but yesterday when I got in the car, the first thing I did was roll the window down. Once you get used to the noise it’s not that big a deal.

College students know what to expect on Day One: Here’s your syllabus. Here’s what I [the prof] expect. Do this for next class. See you then.

I hope I disappointed.

Day One of Intro (Comm 101) meant discussing the relevance of the mass media–content AND technology. The media have a huge impact on all of us, so having a mass comm class is more than just relevant, and it definitely should not simply be an EPV credit they can cross off their progress charts. I’m looking forward to our discussions, class.

Day One of Fundamentals meant a frothing monologue about the importance of writing and of the media, a little bit of profanity and George Carlin, and the students’ introduction to Hawkwind.

Again, I’m looking forward to the semester and the discovery — or at least recognition — that writing can still have impact, and can still change people’s perceptions.

Buckle up, ya’ll. It’s going to be a good semester!