Awake again?

It's 3:13 a.m. Friday, March 18 and I am wide awake.
I did yard work most of the day, cleaning up piles and piles of leaves. I actually hired someone to do the work last October and am still waiting for them to show up.
I also finally got the nets off my koi pond, just in time for spring. My body aches something awful. A great way to enjoy spring break, right?
I even took a sleeping pill and cannot sleep. If there are many typos in this, please excuse them. I am hoping that trying to write will make me tired enough to sleep. So far, that hasn't worked.
Spring break is almost over and I haven't accomplished much that I had planned. I do finally have my tax information compiled so I can file. I am hoping I won't have to pay either the state or federal government.
I am all for a simplified tax system.
I was once told about a new system under consideration by the government. There would be one question and one line of instruction.
The question? How much money did you make last year?
The instruction? Send it in.
That really isn't funny, but at now 3:20 a.m., what could you expect?

Lady Gaga? Take me back to the 1980s

My daughter phoned us just a few minutes ago. Seems she is in Louisville at a Lady Gaga concert.
I know nothing about Lady Gaga other than the fact her taste in fashion is unique to say the least.
It's interesting, though, that while daughter Calen called, I was watching TV (no big news there) and listening to a promotion of a Time-Life collection of music from the 1980s.
I remember almost all of the songs and was able to sing along. It's good you couldn't hear that. I wouldn't last two seconds on American Idol.
My wife says my memory isn't what it once was. That may be true, but man could I still remember some of those songs!! I also remember what I was doing when listening to some of those tunes for the first time!
(I promise you, it really wasn't that bad).
The songs, though, did bring back many memories. And I can see myself cruising down the highway while listening to those songs.
I can't imagine under what conditions I would be listening to Lady Gaga while driving.

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.