Wow! It is 2011 already? Let's stop some of the hate

Time flies as someone once said. I turned 58 last month. It is snowing and classes will begin soon.
Before you know it, I will be back in the classroom with plenty to talk about. I'm teaching, among other things, mass media ethics this semester.
Some in the federal government are talking about a law that would make it illegal to say bad things about federal officials. Many have already opposed it, citing First Amendment issues.
I am going to have to take the side of the First Amendment defenders. But I also agree that those of us who call this planet home, need to find a way to dial down the rhetoric. People are angry for many reasons, the economy perhaps the most, and words that are said in haste only adds fuel to the fire.
We need a little common sense and respect for one another in our discussions. I have friends who are Democrats, friends who are Republicans and friends who are probably something else.
We can discuss issues without pulling guns or resulting to physical violence.
My profession has undergone much change in recent years and probably will continue to do so in the years to come. That's because any of us with a computer or smart phone can post whatever we want, whenever we want, on the Internet.
I even have a smart phone now and am texting. Two months ago I would have told you that would never happen. I did not get an iPhone though I am an Apple fan. I am waiting until my current provider can offer me one. It is an Android phone.
Back to the point.
Twitter, Facebook and all such sites are where most of us get "news" today. And some of what you will read is little more than pure hate.
We need good journalists more than ever today.
Topix is a good example of what I am talking about. The idea to communicate with each other through Topix is appealing and, in theory, a great idea. But Topix is full of so much trash and libel that it is, in my opinion, worthless.
Many organizations that preach hate had almost disappeared until the Internet allowed haters from the far corners of the world to easily unite.
Do we ban all communication because there are a few nuts out there?
No, but we do need to consider consequences of our actions.
We all need to think about what we say and what we post. Though the Internet we can all communicate quickly. That's good. But anything that is inaccurate or hurtful is as permanent as the worthwhile stuff.
We need to remember that.

Where does the time go revisited

I had hoped to write more. It hasn't happened. Life has just been too busy lately.
Next Saturday, Oct. 23, is the annual Homecoming Car Show at Campbellsville University. I literally began planning for it almost a year ago after the 2009 version was over.
All of the awards are in place, all of the promotion has been done and I am now hoping for good weather, though we really do need some rain.
I am amazed at how quickly October has arrived, especially since I still have a few odds and ends to do in preparation for the car show.
I've also had the flu or something close to it. I got a flu shot in anticipation of not getting sick this flu season. I got the shot on a Tuesday morning, not quite two weeks ago, and by afternoon I was sick with chills, leg aches and the works.
My doctor told me to NEVER get a flu shot again.
I feel better, but not 100 percent. I am congested and at times still feel kind of miserable. I must shake it, though, because there's too much to do for classes, at home and the upcoming show.

Where does the time go?

Years ago I wrote a weekly column and loved it. In fact when I left the newspaper business and became a full-time professor, part of me still wanted to write columns.

Blogging seemed to be a good way to voice my opinions and satisfy that part of me that wanted to write and be heard. Somehow, though, I have gotten out of he habit of writing on a regular basis.

There always seems to be something else to do.

I now have and iPad and love it. I use it each and every day, up for four hours at a time. Yes, I am addicted.

My search for the perfect iPad case has been interesting. I finally have a case made by Waterfield Designs in California (Sfbags.com) that seems to work fairly well. It is great for carrying the iPad and accessories. I still need a case, though, for the iPad itself.

The Apple case works fine, but the materials feel funny to me and it gets dirty quickly.

I have much to say but little time at the moment to write.

School is back in session. Paperwork is due. I am reading textbooks, refreshing myself on various aspects of my courses and doing my best to keep students interested.

The Mass Communication program at Campbellsville University is also undergoing some changes.

Life is busy. I plan to write more and soon.

Let's see if that really happens.

I'm getting too old for this

This blog is called ravings from a media madman for a reason, I suppose. It's a place for me to complain about technology and other things that bother me. Perhaps I am just getting to old to understand all of these gadgets most people take for granted.
I have been using a Flip Video Camera for the last few days. Officially I am getting to know the ins and outs of the camera so once my students begin using them I can answer questions they might have.
Unofficially, I am having a blast playing with the camera.
The software, though, is becoming a bit of a pain. Just figuring out how to save a video in the proper spot was a bit of a challenge. Uploading videos to YouTube and e-mailing them are relatively easy.
Posting the videos on my Web site is another matter. I have chatted with tech people until I am almost blue in the face and my videos still do not show up the way they are supposed to when I add content to my site. In fact, they don't show up at all.
I am settled for posting links to YouTube where they work just fine.
The videos are in the proper format. They work just fine everywhere except my Web site. I can't figure it out. I really can't.
So, for now, it is back to playing with the camera before I turn it over to my students. Maybe they can show me why the videos won't post on my site.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Actually, the hair was gone yesterday.
Yes, I am now bald. My head itches and I don't recognize the man in the mirror. It was all for a good cause, though, as several donors sponsored me to have my head shaved with all the money going to St. Baldrick's and to find a cure for childhood cancer.
You can still donate. Just go to Stbaldricks.org and search for an event. Type in either Campbellsville, Campbellsville University or 42718 and you will soon find the proper event.
There is also a video on YouTube showing me losing my hair as well as several others.
You can go to my wife's Web site, joanmckinneyphotography.com, and under photographs find links to two different videos.
They were both taken with a new Flip video camera my students will soon be using to post to the Web. Things have certainly changed since I was in college.
Anyway, I'm bald, I'm older and I am glad it is spring break.

I have pre-ordered an ipad

OK. I did it. I pre-ordered an iPad. I went with the 3G model and the largest amount of memory available.
I also ordered a keyboard docking station and an Apple case. Of course, an extended warranty, an Apple Care plan, was necessary.
Let's just say that my last notebook computer didn't cost much more.
I just got a notice from Apple that my order for the protection plan has been canceled because my home state (Kentucky) has as of yet not approved its sale.
I assume that will change as a delivery date approaches.
Since I do not have an iPhone or a fancy cell phone with a data plan, I decided to pass on the wi fi version of the iPad that will be released on April 3. That means waiting a while to play with this new device, but the 3G will permit me to cruise the web anywhere I wish using a relatively cheap data plan.
I can hardly wait to cruise the web while in the middle of nowhere. (Yes, I really need to be able to do that. Read sarcasm).
Yes, I am a gadget freak. Today at my office I received five new Flip Video cameras. I was like a kid at Christmas though they are intended for student use. I will have to play with them, only to learn how they work so I can assist students. Right? The camera is simple to use and easily imports video to a computer through a built in USB port.
So far I am impressed.
I only hope the iPad will please me as much. It doesn't have a USB port, though, so I will have to get a bit creative to mate the Flip Camera and the iPad.
I've got about six weeks to figure out how to do that. It's going to be like Christmas in late April
I can hardly wait.

I'm going to be taking it all off

Before anyone gets greatly concerned, I'm not planning to do anything obscene. On Saturday, March 13, I will be getting an ultimate haircut just like the one I had a year earlier.
Seriously, I am a shavee in the St. Baldrick's fund raising event set for Campbellsville University.
How do you raise money by having your head shaved? That's a question someone asked me just a couple of days ago.
You raise money by securing donors.
Let me be the first to admit that I am a terrible fundraiser. I just don't like asking people for money. That may have something to do with the fact that I was a practicing journalist for many years.
So far my fund raising total isn't exactly breaking any records. As of Thursday, March 4, my donations totaled $10. Please, won' t someone donate to the cause?
The cause, in case you didn't know, is a good one. The money goes toward research to find a cure for childhood cancer. Any cancer cure will be a blessing. I am also hopeful that if we can cure one form, cures for others will soon follow.
My mother died a little more than three years ago from cancer. The hurt of her death is still with me each and every day.
Last year I had my head shaved for the first time to raise money for cancer. I did that in my mother's honor. I am doing it again this year in her honor and memory. I plan to keep doing it, as long as I have hair that can be cut, until I die or a cure for cancer is found.
I remember taking my mother to the Brown Cancer Center in Louisville for radiation treatments. There were so many people of all ages there being treated for cancer. I often wonder what happened to all of those people. Did they win their battles or did they lose their fights with cancer?
As we all know, cancer treatments can cause patients to lose their hair. The idea behind St. Baldrick's is to shave our heads with pride and in honor of those who lose their hair because of cancer treatments.
Some of my students last year were a bit shocked to see me without hair. This year I have encouraged a couple of them to also have their heads shaved.
I just wish we could raise more money.
Please give if you possibly can. Donations may be made on line at stbaldrick's.org or may be given to any participant. Donations may also be made at the event which will be most of the day in the gym on campus.
Let's all take it off and help make cancer a thing of the past.