Sunday, Sunday
07.30.2006It's amazing how busy I've become lately. I'm still wrapping up my dissertation (but oh, so close). It's hard to find, in between wedding planning (which is now mostly done), helping K8 pack, and getting ready for the next semester.
I've set up my course Blackboard pages. Which, if you didn't know, is at least 100% better than the crappy WebCT. So far, I'm very impressed w/ Dickinson's IT department. Their whole web structure is integrated, so I could just log into all the faculty areas, request my courses be added to Blackboard, then start editing them, and even place readings on course reserve. It's just seamless.
Besides that, I've also gotten about three full weeks of lecture notes ready, and I'll probably stop there for now. No sense getting to far ahead of myself. But I think I'm ready to hit the ground running soon after I arrive. Classes start in less than a month, 28 August.
I've also been stealing a few moments to work on my Bolivian politics wiki project. Just a work in progress, but one that I hope will grow in the next year (MABB, Eduardo, et al, I might call on your help down the line).
Also I've been engaged in a Wikipedia edit war over the Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada entry. Some anonymous, unregistered editor(s) kept deleting other peoples' edits, and replacing it w/ unsubstantiated rumors, etc. I cleaned it up over a few days (replacing the new vandalism, etc) and then decided to actually add content. The entry was only about the October 2003 gas war; now it includes information from his political career since 1985. I think I wrote it w/ a neutral POV (point of view), but you're free to check me. It's stuff like this that made me want to start my own Bolivian politics wiki project.
Well, today is Sunday. And I finally got my first paycheck. So I can take K8 out for lunch, buy her a nice birthday present, and maybe even buy myself a watch (I've needed one for some time). This evening we meet her parents for Mozart in the park.
Posted by Miguel at 12:48 PM
Comments
It's amazing how busy I've become lately ---> welcome to my world =D...
we have to use to it :D
kisses!! :D
Posted by: joup at August 1, 2006 10:55 AM
I contribute as best that I can. The wiki will be one helluva reference tool, congrats on the project.
Posted by: eduardo at August 1, 2006 09:26 PM
U of Cincinnati has Blackboard, too. Could be quite helpful, such as uploading take-home exams (instead of email, which must be annoying for professors when there are many students), accessing the syllabus, class notes/slides on Powerpoint, etc.
There's nothing worse than a forced messageboard when the class is not motivated, though.
Posted by: brian ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.centellas.org/miguel/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 3, 2006 01:19 PM
Count on me pal!
I've used Blackboard back in school (AU 1999 and 2000) I was impressed, but now they have gotten even better, it seems.
Posted by: miguel (mabb) at August 4, 2006 06:46 PM
you are soooo busy and yet seem to be enjoying life. I trust everything is working out with that dissertation and all the things you need to do to get ready for teaching. See you soon!
Posted by: mom at August 6, 2006 02:18 PM
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