Sometimes i am a little anxious, or up tight about how i feel living, and attending OCC. This academic journey has been very challenging. I don't think i would ever thought that i would go through the things i went through. It is interesting that Erik Erickson has this final stage in his concept of life-span development called integrity vs. despair. A stage that most 60+ year old people will embrace. It is a time where one will either look back at their wisdom, decision-making, and choices, and either be happy, or unhappy. They will more than likely be filled with some regret, but the maturity comes from excepting the life they chose, and continuing to live life enjoying the future they still have with their kids, their friends they still have, and the people they are currently investing and caring for. I know a) i'm not 60; b) i have lost that many friends to death, adn c) there are more people investing in me than those who i invest in. But i have enjoyed this journey at this institution, and am glad that i put faith into a collegiate choice, that has taken me down this path. When i graduated i had this verse written all over the place, although some might find it to be a cliche, i find it to be comforting, and encourgaing.
Jeremiah 29:11-14, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Amen!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Everything At Our Fingertips
You might want convience, however, it might cost you over $40,000. In an article in The Independence, a national newspaper from london, provided information about this new remote control that could...
"A remote-control system for your home allows you central control over lighting and blinds, climate and most electronic devices including television and music equipment.
It is possible to control all your essential home systems from the comfort of your armchair, your bed and even from the bathroom (by means of a waterproof handset).
Some systems can be accessed from outside, via your mobile phone. With the right technology at your fingertips, you could switch on the lights and music, draw the curtains and start cooking supper before you've even stepped off the train. Intelligent lighting control system can be used to set programmed "scenes" http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20061025/ai_n16802304/.
Wow, how crazy this world is advancing. I remember the coffee table in my living room when i was in high school, was always decked out with 5-6 remotes for all the different pieces of equipment just for comfort in the living room. It was a very annoying hassle looking for each remote, just to enjoy the write program. I had to find the remote for the volume of the tv, and the remote for the satelittle, maybe if i wanted to record a movie, i needed the remote for the VCR. However, my remote controls did not include the kitchen, or the bathroom.
"A remote-control system for your home allows you central control over lighting and blinds, climate and most electronic devices including television and music equipment.
It is possible to control all your essential home systems from the comfort of your armchair, your bed and even from the bathroom (by means of a waterproof handset).
Some systems can be accessed from outside, via your mobile phone. With the right technology at your fingertips, you could switch on the lights and music, draw the curtains and start cooking supper before you've even stepped off the train. Intelligent lighting control system can be used to set programmed "scenes" http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20061025/ai_n16802304/.
Wow, how crazy this world is advancing. I remember the coffee table in my living room when i was in high school, was always decked out with 5-6 remotes for all the different pieces of equipment just for comfort in the living room. It was a very annoying hassle looking for each remote, just to enjoy the write program. I had to find the remote for the volume of the tv, and the remote for the satelittle, maybe if i wanted to record a movie, i needed the remote for the VCR. However, my remote controls did not include the kitchen, or the bathroom.
But with maybe a huge amount of cash, i wouldn't have to worry.
However this does make me laugh.
How funny we have become.
Check out what happens when everything is within the inch of your surrounding...
Friday, April 17, 2009
A Righty in a Lefty's World
After reading my last entry I'm sure it's fairly easy to recognize the fact that I'm right-brained. Very right-brained. Getting myself motivated to read hundreds of pages and write multiple papers has been quite the challenge this year. I've enjoyed it though. It's been rough, but, it's been good. Before I came to Ozark I never would have picked up 1/2 of the books I've read this year--ever. And they're all really good. I've learned so much from th
em.
Surrounding myself with primarily left-brained intellectuals has been interesting, too. I've never been one to just go and research something for hours just because I enjoy it or always arrive at my destination 5 minutes early. However, that's the people I've been around for the past 8 months. This, also, has been a challenge--especially at first. I really struggled with relating to people at the beginning of the year. But as the year has progressed I've found myself slowly conforming to the left-brainer's way of thinking. I want to research things. I enjoy debating topics thoroughly. It's weird. I don't quite know what to do with myself.
Now that I'm beginning to relate to all these crazy intellectuals (whom I dearly love), I get to go join the art department at Harding University next fall. So I'll be back to my roots with art freaks (I use that term as a compliment) who don't like to read unless there are pictures on the pag
e. --This isn't exactly that big of an exaggeration. While in her art class, my sister's professor was talking about the reading they were assigned and went over all the pages that didn't have pictures because none of the students had read them.--
I'll love being back with them. I know I will--that's where I belong. However I will miss stressing over papers and debating the Sermon on the Mount. I will miss reading books with no pictures and I will miss my Bible classes so much. I'll have to take one Bible class a semester at Harding, however they will be nothing like Ozark.
I'm glad I got one year of Bible college in before art school. It's been good for me. Hopefully though when I go to Harding I'll be more balanced on both sides of my brain instead of being on one extreme.
em.Surrounding myself with primarily left-brained intellectuals has been interesting, too. I've never been one to just go and research something for hours just because I enjoy it or always arrive at my destination 5 minutes early. However, that's the people I've been around for the past 8 months. This, also, has been a challenge--especially at first. I really struggled with relating to people at the beginning of the year. But as the year has progressed I've found myself slowly conforming to the left-brainer's way of thinking. I want to research things. I enjoy debating topics thoroughly. It's weird. I don't quite know what to do with myself.
Now that I'm beginning to relate to all these crazy intellectuals (whom I dearly love), I get to go join the art department at Harding University next fall. So I'll be back to my roots with art freaks (I use that term as a compliment) who don't like to read unless there are pictures on the pag
e. --This isn't exactly that big of an exaggeration. While in her art class, my sister's professor was talking about the reading they were assigned and went over all the pages that didn't have pictures because none of the students had read them.--I'll love being back with them. I know I will--that's where I belong. However I will miss stressing over papers and debating the Sermon on the Mount. I will miss reading books with no pictures and I will miss my Bible classes so much. I'll have to take one Bible class a semester at Harding, however they will be nothing like Ozark.
I'm glad I got one year of Bible college in before art school. It's been good for me. Hopefully though when I go to Harding I'll be more balanced on both sides of my brain instead of being on one extreme.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Guerilla Art Kit
A couple months ago I spent an entire afternoon at one of my favorite places--Barnes and Noble. I've always loved going there, getting a tall white mocha, and sittin
g on the floor by the shelves, poring over books about life, love, and art. On this particular afternoon I scouted out the "crafts" section to peruse through the books for some inspiration for a current project. About half an hour into my browsing I came across a book entitled "Wreck This Journal" by author/illustrator Keri Smith. The whole point of the book was to destroy the book. Hm. Intriguing. On each page there's usually just one line of instructions on how to destroy that specific page. Example A: "Tie a string around this book and drag it behind you."
It was sweet. However, I didn't buy it. But I did look it up on amazon. I found other books of hers there. My favorite was called The Guerilla Art Kit.
I had never heard of guerilla art until I came across this book. In case you haven't heard of it, Keri Smith describes it as any anonymous work (including but not limited to graffiti, signage, performance, additions, and decoration) installed, performed, or attached in public spaces, with the distinct purpose of affecting the world in a creative or thought-provoking way. This is in contrast to the typical view of the guerilla artist as someone who makes extremist work and who is constantly on the run from the law.
I immediately fell in love with not only this book, but this concept; this concept of taking something ordinary and simple, and placing it in a public place to communicate a message to a large number of people. Brilliant! Of course I wouldn't personally see the results, however I have seen others' reactions to others' guerilla art. For a majority of the time, people love it. They love seeing graffiti on trains, messages on the sidewalks, random notes left in books and pockets of clothing at the department store. Who wouldn't love finding a jar on the sidewalk labeled "For You" and finding a message of hope and encouragement? It's brilliant.
If Christians were to take hold of this technique and use it for the cause of Christ just think of how many people we could reach. Of course it wouldn't be the same as meeting one on one and discussing the evidence of the Resurrection and such, but you could plant seeds into the hearts of so many different people.
g on the floor by the shelves, poring over books about life, love, and art. On this particular afternoon I scouted out the "crafts" section to peruse through the books for some inspiration for a current project. About half an hour into my browsing I came across a book entitled "Wreck This Journal" by author/illustrator Keri Smith. The whole point of the book was to destroy the book. Hm. Intriguing. On each page there's usually just one line of instructions on how to destroy that specific page. Example A: "Tie a string around this book and drag it behind you."It was sweet. However, I didn't buy it. But I did look it up on amazon. I found other books of hers there. My favorite was called The Guerilla Art Kit.
I had never heard of guerilla art until I came across this book. In case you haven't heard of it, Keri Smith describes it as any anonymous work (including but not limited to graffiti, signage, performance, additions, and decoration) installed, performed, or attached in public spaces, with the distinct purpose of affecting the world in a creative or thought-provoking way. This is in contrast to the typical view of the guerilla artist as someone who makes extremist work and who is constantly on the run from the law.
I immediately fell in love with not only this book, but this concept; this concept of taking something ordinary and simple, and placing it in a public place to communicate a message to a large number of people. Brilliant! Of course I wouldn't personally see the results, however I have seen others' reactions to others' guerilla art. For a majority of the time, people love it. They love seeing graffiti on trains, messages on the sidewalks, random notes left in books and pockets of clothing at the department store. Who wouldn't love finding a jar on the sidewalk labeled "For You" and finding a message of hope and encouragement? It's brilliant.
If Christians were to take hold of this technique and use it for the cause of Christ just think of how many people we could reach. Of course it wouldn't be the same as meeting one on one and discussing the evidence of the Resurrection and such, but you could plant seeds into the hearts of so many different people.
Friday, February 6, 2009
SemEdTech Number 9
This entry bears the same title as the blog itself, and will be the repository for a course blog for Seminar in Educational Technology, a 1 credit hour weekend seminar at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO.
Students will make at least four original posts during the Spring 2009 semester, commenting on posts by the other participants as well.
I will be a casual observer, sometimes a lurker, sometimes a commenter.
It will be their (referring primarily to Lydia and Aaron) course blog site.
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