Originally posted at GrapeVine online - GVonline.net
I don't think anyone reading this blog will argue with the fact that technology is fast becoming a major part of the music realm. Besides just music creation, technology is fast becoming an integral part of the marketing of music. From sites like Facebook and MySpace that allow you to connect to your listeners to blogs, emails, and podcasts many artists are overwhelmed, thinking that you need a computer science degree just to make an album, play a concert, and go on tour.
Well, I do have a computer science degree. I'm also an IT analyst, a musician, a podcaster, a Catholic and I'm here to help. My passion has always been to help people use technology to solve their daily problems. My job doesn't always allow me to do this, so I'm offering my talents to artists here through GrapeVine. I'm not saying I have all the technology answers, but I hope that I have enough skill and enough know how to find the answers that need to be found.
If you want to pick my brain about anything technology, feel free. Want to know what the difference between PHP and Python is? Just ask. Looking to buy a new computer? I'll do my best to tell you what to look for.
Start by emailing your questions to techqa@gvonline.net. I'll keep all inquiries anonymous so no one feels that they're asking a "dumb" question. The truth is that for every question you think is trivial - many people are probably asking the same thing.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Another end to the semester...
Last night marked the end of my semester. For those of you who don’t know, I teach a course every semester at the University of the Incarnate Word here in San Antonio. This semester’s topic was Linux/UNIX.
This was a tough semester for me. I’m getting married in September, trying to buy a house and was traveling a lot for work. I definitely understand that I wasn’t able to put the amount of prep time into this class that I wanted to, but again I was fairly disappointed with the effort extended by the students.
I think that I just have to be a jerk in the future. I mean, these are all suppose to be highly motivated students, private college, students looking to go the extra mile. Instead they’re just students!!!! Ok, maybe I have high expectations, and I know that I could be a bit lazy, but I still don’t remember pulling half the stuff that these students pull. I knew better than to try and turn something in 3 weeks late and expect full credit.
I’ve noticed that the students are quite bold. More than willing to tell me when I’m wrong and mocking me if I made a mistake – that was the part that really hacked me off. So I gave a review, and I had a mistake in it. On the test, they (All the students) parroted back the mistake on a multiple choice question that was from the review. On the test, they had to write some code. They got the code sections right! They parroted the multiple choice answer that was wrong and yet could answer the questions.
I'm obviously not the only having issues with students feeling entitled - I like the entry below from a law professor
http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/2006/10/disciplining_th.html
Maybe its just a case of students will be students, but I again had another frustrating semester. Maybe teaching is too much for me right now in my life.
I teach management of technology next semester. I want it to be a really good course. I’m thinking of really using group work and articles. I want them to prove that they are ready to graduate. We’ll see.
This was a tough semester for me. I’m getting married in September, trying to buy a house and was traveling a lot for work. I definitely understand that I wasn’t able to put the amount of prep time into this class that I wanted to, but again I was fairly disappointed with the effort extended by the students.
I think that I just have to be a jerk in the future. I mean, these are all suppose to be highly motivated students, private college, students looking to go the extra mile. Instead they’re just students!!!! Ok, maybe I have high expectations, and I know that I could be a bit lazy, but I still don’t remember pulling half the stuff that these students pull. I knew better than to try and turn something in 3 weeks late and expect full credit.
I’ve noticed that the students are quite bold. More than willing to tell me when I’m wrong and mocking me if I made a mistake – that was the part that really hacked me off. So I gave a review, and I had a mistake in it. On the test, they (All the students) parroted back the mistake on a multiple choice question that was from the review. On the test, they had to write some code. They got the code sections right! They parroted the multiple choice answer that was wrong and yet could answer the questions.
I'm obviously not the only having issues with students feeling entitled - I like the entry below from a law professor
http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/2006/10/disciplining_th.html
Maybe its just a case of students will be students, but I again had another frustrating semester. Maybe teaching is too much for me right now in my life.
I teach management of technology next semester. I want it to be a really good course. I’m thinking of really using group work and articles. I want them to prove that they are ready to graduate. We’ll see.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Slowing Down
I've been reading a number of articles about slowing down my life lately. I'm a driven person, no doubt about that, but the constant drive since I left my undergrad has burned me out and I keep seeing myself spiral further into anxiety and high stress and all the issues associated with it.
I'm not going to go on a blamestorming session at the moment, but I'll just say that I don't let the past go very well. Sure I handle things well: layoffs, grad school abuse, etc. But those items just stick with me making it hard to move on.
I really like the following sites:
http://www.slowdownnow.org - humorous, but illustrates the concept of slowing down well and
http://www.slowmovement.com
Now, the Slow Movement site is a bit liberal for my tastes and every time I read that site I get this "Margaritaville" image in my head, but then again, what's wrong with that? Shoot, I wish I could sit on a beach all day sipping margharitas!!!! Also, if you read up on Slow Food, which encourages people to cook and enjoy their company rather that scarf down a BigMac, that is a realistic action people can take.
I know this is not going to be easy for me. I consider myself an achiever. As a reflect on my past, I realize that I used to be a much more relaxed person. Maybe if I didn't always appear that way, I know that I was. I could take a few hours and read. I would put on the headphones and just listen and daydream. I would simply close the door to my room and play guitar. And yet I still managed to get good grades in school and work.
I know there was stress in my world before. I also know that it was just that, stressful times, not the entirety of the time - which is what my current life reflects.
I'm not going to go on a blamestorming session at the moment, but I'll just say that I don't let the past go very well. Sure I handle things well: layoffs, grad school abuse, etc. But those items just stick with me making it hard to move on.
I really like the following sites:
http://www.slowdownnow.org - humorous, but illustrates the concept of slowing down well and
http://www.slowmovement.com
Now, the Slow Movement site is a bit liberal for my tastes and every time I read that site I get this "Margaritaville" image in my head, but then again, what's wrong with that? Shoot, I wish I could sit on a beach all day sipping margharitas!!!! Also, if you read up on Slow Food, which encourages people to cook and enjoy their company rather that scarf down a BigMac, that is a realistic action people can take.
I know this is not going to be easy for me. I consider myself an achiever. As a reflect on my past, I realize that I used to be a much more relaxed person. Maybe if I didn't always appear that way, I know that I was. I could take a few hours and read. I would put on the headphones and just listen and daydream. I would simply close the door to my room and play guitar. And yet I still managed to get good grades in school and work.
I know there was stress in my world before. I also know that it was just that, stressful times, not the entirety of the time - which is what my current life reflects.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Reflections on a Course
I taught Management of Technology for the first time ever this semester. Management of Technology is suppose to be a capstone course, a course that puts all things together. Its suppose to be that final course that talks about what it means to be an IT manager today and more importantly what students should expect out of a job.
I didn't feel that this course went so well for me. In the end I did get a number of students compliment me on the course, but overall I felt there was a massive disconnect between my goals and expectations for the class and the students themselves.
First off, the vast majority of these students can't write. I know they're IT majors. Some of them can't string two thoughts together coherently to save their lives. Some of them have terrible grammar and many of them don't turn their spell checker on (or don't bother with the results). And I'm complaining from a "who taught these kids?" perspective and I know my writing wasn't perfect, but this is pretty ridiculous. As an IT person, and hopefully an eventual manager students have to realize that writing is critical for their position. IT involves LOTS of documentation - comments in code, requirements, emails to executives, etc. Without a solid foundation of writing skills, an IT person will not make it up the ladder.
Second, I found the entitlement attitude to be very true amongst this group. Not all mind you, but there were just many students who failed to turn in assignments throughout the semester and then wanted reprieve at the end. When my manager tell me that something is due for a client on Friday, its due Friday, the expectation is that I will give it on Friday. I had assignments which I gave extra notices that they were due and sent reminders and still did not have them turned in.
This was extremely frustrating. I understand these are young and eager IT majors who want nothing more than to start configuring routers. Life is not all about configuring routers. I went through a very traditional CS program where life was all programming and when I hit the workforce I was woefully unprepared for the management crap that I was subject to. I just want to portray the importance of writing and management and timeliness to these students before they get into the workforce, but no, a number of the same students who turned projects in late are upset because they didn't get an A or B in the course.
In the end, I learned a few things:
1) Even though it was hard, I stuck to my guns and felt ok about it.
2) I need to do a better done of explaining the purpose of the course in the beginning.
3) My own preparation and documentation needs to improve.
About three weeks ago, I really had felt that I had hit the wall and wasn't sure that I would continue past the next semester. Now that I've had a little time to regroup, I'm going to keep marching forward positively into the Linux course and just work to make it as prepared as possible.
I didn't feel that this course went so well for me. In the end I did get a number of students compliment me on the course, but overall I felt there was a massive disconnect between my goals and expectations for the class and the students themselves.
First off, the vast majority of these students can't write. I know they're IT majors. Some of them can't string two thoughts together coherently to save their lives. Some of them have terrible grammar and many of them don't turn their spell checker on (or don't bother with the results). And I'm complaining from a "who taught these kids?" perspective and I know my writing wasn't perfect, but this is pretty ridiculous. As an IT person, and hopefully an eventual manager students have to realize that writing is critical for their position. IT involves LOTS of documentation - comments in code, requirements, emails to executives, etc. Without a solid foundation of writing skills, an IT person will not make it up the ladder.
Second, I found the entitlement attitude to be very true amongst this group. Not all mind you, but there were just many students who failed to turn in assignments throughout the semester and then wanted reprieve at the end. When my manager tell me that something is due for a client on Friday, its due Friday, the expectation is that I will give it on Friday. I had assignments which I gave extra notices that they were due and sent reminders and still did not have them turned in.
This was extremely frustrating. I understand these are young and eager IT majors who want nothing more than to start configuring routers. Life is not all about configuring routers. I went through a very traditional CS program where life was all programming and when I hit the workforce I was woefully unprepared for the management crap that I was subject to. I just want to portray the importance of writing and management and timeliness to these students before they get into the workforce, but no, a number of the same students who turned projects in late are upset because they didn't get an A or B in the course.
In the end, I learned a few things:
1) Even though it was hard, I stuck to my guns and felt ok about it.
2) I need to do a better done of explaining the purpose of the course in the beginning.
3) My own preparation and documentation needs to improve.
About three weeks ago, I really had felt that I had hit the wall and wasn't sure that I would continue past the next semester. Now that I've had a little time to regroup, I'm going to keep marching forward positively into the Linux course and just work to make it as prepared as possible.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
PhDs and such
Its no surprise I've been thinking a lot about academia. I'm not unhappy in my current job, I just think that teaching is what I really want to do. Then I struggle with the PhD part of it, I'm not about to drop out of life for 4-7 years to get a PhD. I just can't. I've heard all the reasons:
1. Once you get out, you'll more than make it up.
2. Its not really that bad.
3. Its better in the long run.
Rob's take on the reasons:
1. Yeah right. Let's just say that with my current salary, taking a 70% paycut (which is what I would get) for 4-6 years and then teaching at roughly 25% higher than I make now, not counting the increases I would get in the 4-6 years, just doesn't equal up.
2. HA!! I saw firsthand the hours and hours and hours put in by PhD students. Acting as slaves for their professors, expected to be there at their beck and call. Covering classes for them. And then to see the PhDs who didn't make tenure track slaving away at the bottom of the totem pole.
3. Ok, so there is some long run opportunities that having that PhD do get you. The starting salaries at the colleges are higher and you do have a better chance getting in as a Doc than not.
There's just been a lot of feasibility issues for me.
1. I'm 31, almost 32. 4-6 Years of my life is quite a large chunk of a very productive part of my life. Now I fully realize there are plenty of older students that go back, but I'm not sure that its for me.
2. I am about to convert my girlfriend into my wife. This of course implies certain new responsibilities. Also, my girlfriend would like to get a Masters.
3. The more I read articles like this:
http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2005/0511/0511pro2.cfm
The more that I would rather teach at a private college or even a community college. I continue to think about online teaching or somehow converting my existing skills and reputation into a teaching job. Then, if need be, go for the PhD.
Basically, I've been looking back and have allowed myself to be too strongly influenced by my previous graduate experience. That school was trying to sell me a PhD, its what they sell. In many ways I guess I can't blame them. Its like my own business, Frost & Sullivan isn't for everyone. However, I can't keep going around feeling bad for not choosing to get a PhD and I can't feel bad because I don't want to pay the price required by many institutions for a PhD. I don't see the need right now.
I may eventually go back for a PhD, but where and what medium (online possibly) has yet to be seen.
1. Once you get out, you'll more than make it up.
2. Its not really that bad.
3. Its better in the long run.
Rob's take on the reasons:
1. Yeah right. Let's just say that with my current salary, taking a 70% paycut (which is what I would get) for 4-6 years and then teaching at roughly 25% higher than I make now, not counting the increases I would get in the 4-6 years, just doesn't equal up.
2. HA!! I saw firsthand the hours and hours and hours put in by PhD students. Acting as slaves for their professors, expected to be there at their beck and call. Covering classes for them. And then to see the PhDs who didn't make tenure track slaving away at the bottom of the totem pole.
3. Ok, so there is some long run opportunities that having that PhD do get you. The starting salaries at the colleges are higher and you do have a better chance getting in as a Doc than not.
There's just been a lot of feasibility issues for me.
1. I'm 31, almost 32. 4-6 Years of my life is quite a large chunk of a very productive part of my life. Now I fully realize there are plenty of older students that go back, but I'm not sure that its for me.
2. I am about to convert my girlfriend into my wife. This of course implies certain new responsibilities. Also, my girlfriend would like to get a Masters.
3. The more I read articles like this:
http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2005/0511/0511pro2.cfm
The more that I would rather teach at a private college or even a community college. I continue to think about online teaching or somehow converting my existing skills and reputation into a teaching job. Then, if need be, go for the PhD.
Basically, I've been looking back and have allowed myself to be too strongly influenced by my previous graduate experience. That school was trying to sell me a PhD, its what they sell. In many ways I guess I can't blame them. Its like my own business, Frost & Sullivan isn't for everyone. However, I can't keep going around feeling bad for not choosing to get a PhD and I can't feel bad because I don't want to pay the price required by many institutions for a PhD. I don't see the need right now.
I may eventually go back for a PhD, but where and what medium (online possibly) has yet to be seen.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Email Woes...
For my class:
What a better way to start the semester than with a real-world case study?!
Ready below and answer the following.
1) How would this email make you feel as a user? Do you think it could have been written in a way to make people feel better?
2) What do you think should have been in place to prevent this?
3) How would you present this situation to upper management (who were also affected by this outage)?
Greetings all:
As many of you know, last Friday night the North American MIS team needed to bring down our mail server due to a hard drive failure that occurred on Wednesday of last week. Unfortunately, the work with our vendor (Dell) did not go well and the mail server and all of it's data was lost. Additionally, due to that hard drive failure last Wednesday, we were onlyable to do back ups until Tuesday at midnight.As a result, for those of you who use desktops to access our Notes mailserver directly (i.e. no local copy), we regret that your mail data from Wednesday to Friday was irretrievably lost.
We recommend that for important documents you check to see if others with laptops were cc'd - sothat you can try to retrieve them. Rest assured that we are already taking steps and planned expenditures toensure that this does not happen again. As it is, a few highly unlikely,sequential events all had to occur for this to happen. So, the risk going forward is still low. For those of you who use laptops, this should nothave affected you (unless you've had a problem replicating your local mailfiles with our server files).
If you have any issues or questions, please enter a help desk or contactany of the San Antonio MIS staff.
Your understanding during this unfortunate incident is greatly appreciated.
What a better way to start the semester than with a real-world case study?!
Ready below and answer the following.
1) How would this email make you feel as a user? Do you think it could have been written in a way to make people feel better?
2) What do you think should have been in place to prevent this?
3) How would you present this situation to upper management (who were also affected by this outage)?
Greetings all:
As many of you know, last Friday night the North American MIS team needed to bring down our mail server due to a hard drive failure that occurred on Wednesday of last week. Unfortunately, the work with our vendor (Dell) did not go well and the mail server and all of it's data was lost. Additionally, due to that hard drive failure last Wednesday, we were onlyable to do back ups until Tuesday at midnight.As a result, for those of you who use desktops to access our Notes mailserver directly (i.e. no local copy), we regret that your mail data from Wednesday to Friday was irretrievably lost.
We recommend that for important documents you check to see if others with laptops were cc'd - sothat you can try to retrieve them. Rest assured that we are already taking steps and planned expenditures toensure that this does not happen again. As it is, a few highly unlikely,sequential events all had to occur for this to happen. So, the risk going forward is still low. For those of you who use laptops, this should nothave affected you (unless you've had a problem replicating your local mailfiles with our server files).
If you have any issues or questions, please enter a help desk or contactany of the San Antonio MIS staff.
Your understanding during this unfortunate incident is greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
I saw this and had to laugh
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2007/tc20070424_967747.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_top+story
I, and I think that most other folks who lived through the dot-com bust and the telco crash have a hard time NOT laughing at articles like this. There's not enough students? You're damn right there's not enough students. When companies are going to bleed jobs the minute things take a downturn and when everything that resembles engineering is being sent overseas, you're damn right that students are looking at other careers. I hardly recommend Computer Science as a degree to anyone. I tell IT majors that the best jobs are project management of workers overseas.
Now India is turning out to be not quite the deal everyone expected. Managing remote teams that operate 10 hours ahead causes work slippage and there's QC problems so now companies are making noise about the lack of skilled labor. TIME TO PAY UP YOU CORPORATE CHEAPSCAPES!!!!!!!!
I'll take requests to go back to software development. Let's start with a pay increase and good benefits...
I, and I think that most other folks who lived through the dot-com bust and the telco crash have a hard time NOT laughing at articles like this. There's not enough students? You're damn right there's not enough students. When companies are going to bleed jobs the minute things take a downturn and when everything that resembles engineering is being sent overseas, you're damn right that students are looking at other careers. I hardly recommend Computer Science as a degree to anyone. I tell IT majors that the best jobs are project management of workers overseas.
Now India is turning out to be not quite the deal everyone expected. Managing remote teams that operate 10 hours ahead causes work slippage and there's QC problems so now companies are making noise about the lack of skilled labor. TIME TO PAY UP YOU CORPORATE CHEAPSCAPES!!!!!!!!
I'll take requests to go back to software development. Let's start with a pay increase and good benefits...
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