Samford


25
Apr 14

Playing surfaces need spring cleaning too

Here’s something you don’t see every day. They are rolling up the field at Seibert Stadium on the Samford campus.

field

They have FieldTurf and, the story goes, it was installed in 2005. This is the first time it has been replaced since then. The company says they should last for 10 years, so that’s pretty close. The football team practices there. For two years we’ve had two football teams practicing there as Tulane stayed on campus hiding from hurricanes. Also there is a great deal of intramural activity on that field. So it has certainly gotten its share of wear and tear.

It took them about two days to roll it all up.

So my day was spent at the tire center at Sam’s Club. I needed to finally replace the last, oldest of my car’s four tires. And I picked the day that there was a new guy working. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Someone unfamiliar with tires charged me for the wrong tire. (I thought that was expensive.) So we had to go to customer service. Got a cash refund. I had to buy another tire, with the cash refund. We swiped pretty much every card in my wallet. This all went on far longer than it should have and I may now be an unwitting money launderer for Sam’s Club.

But on the way back to campus I received this email: “Congratulations on being honored by one of Samford’s graduating seniors! This year’s senior giving campaign was focused on the faculty and staff who have invested into the lives of students.”

So what was a “Meh” afternoon became a gratifying experience all the way around.

Things to read … because reading is always gratifying.

US and Saudi Arabia: Friends Drift Apart

Scary-Smart is increasingly the wrong term. Inside the Science That Delivers Your Scary-Smart Facebook and Twitter Feeds

As digital ad sales grow, news outlets get a smaller share

The Ghosts of Rana Plaza

Why stocks may be sniffing out inflation

Let’s see if we can predict the future. Government: “Insurance is more expensive because of insurance companies!” Insurance companies: “Insurance is more expensive because of government!” Government, and insurance companies to one another: “We got ’em now!” Aetna: Late Obamacare changes account for half of 2015 premium increases

Oh man. University of Hawaii (Hilo): Our students are easily intimidated, need to be protected from people handing out literature

Drones being used again for University of Missouri classes

Google Glass Explorers Share Experiences at Colleges Across America

‘I Think Google’s Pretty Dangerous and Thuggish. I’ve Always Said That.’

Milo’s Tea expands into 20 more states

We’ll get more bad weather next week, so: Helmets, car seats, other lessons from April 27 on surviving a tornado


23
Apr 14

Spring finally sprung, and it’ll last for at least several days

Walking from here to there on the Samford campus. Specifically from my office to the pool, which is inside this building. It looks a bit like autumn in this shot, doesn’t it? It still has had that slight coolness in the air, too.

SUcampus

It has felt cook like that for some time, at least until this week, which is a late arrival here. It finally feels as if spring has arrived. And that’ll just be a brief pause before summer weather, I’m sure.

Anyway, swam 2,000 yards this evening, which is 1.14 miles. I’m a bit pleased with how the swimming has come along. I’m still not going to go anywhere fast, but I’m becoming perhaps a slightly more technical proficient swimmer and my cardio is improving.

I do not know what is happening.

Things to read … because some things you do need to know about in life.

The American Middle Class Is No Longer the World’s Richest

Mobile Continues to Steal Share of US Adults’ Daily Time Spent with Media

NIH expert to address Alabama’s rising infant mortality rate in lecture at Alabama State University

Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital’s secret list

NATO jets scrambled after Russian planes fly into airspace: Reports

AP: Spell out names of states in stories

Gus Malzahn talking smack at a bingo event. I’m starting to like this.

His post-bingo interview is very coach-like, of course. Sounds like he was coming off the practice field.


21
Apr 14

Just a quick note

A Samford JMC student, hard at work shooting video of the University Center. I was in the cafeteria looking down when I saw him put his tripod up. Never knew I was there. I’m sneaky:

camera

Swam 1,600 yards today on the long course, just under a mile. The long course may be the end of my swimming career.

But then I saw this happy note:

That’s a mom and daughter, both injured at the last Boston Marathon, finishing their race on their terms with another daughter this time around. Two losers can’t stop people intent on winning, people who seek out the things within them to overcome, will never yield. We’d all like to think we’re all this tough and brave. Truth is, those are remarkable ladies.


17
Apr 14

I told you …

… This tree never disappoints.

I just happened to walk outside the office this morning as the sun hit it just right. The little errand I was running was minor, in the scheme of things, but it worked out nicely, don’t you agree?

FloweringDogwood

FloweringDogwood

Had a five mile run this evening. I find it interesting how this is sometimes easier than others. I am bemused when I am not sure which is which.

I do not know what is happening.

Things to read … and the headlines should do the trick.

Story of the day: Katorie Bell becomes an inspiration at Jeff Davis after bout with cancer

Dozens of Widows Dropped from Health Care Due to Obamacare in Alabama

53 killed in Alabama fires for January through March; among highest death toll in nation

AL.com seeks ruling from judge on constitutional rights of anonymous commenter

Murder, rape suspects wore GPS ankle bracelets during crime spree — the story says the suspects could get the death penatly, but there’s nothing there about what is apparently gross negligence by law enforcement.

The future: Rapid Construction, China Style: 10 Houses in 24 Hours

Texting Driver Who Slammed Cyclist: I, Like, ‘Just Don’t Care’

Ad of the day: Powerade Tells Nico Calabria’s Amazing Story in Best World Cup Spot So Far


16
Apr 14

Just a few more pics

Basically I’ve seen my office, the pool, a few colleagues and students this week. It was raining and overcast on Monday. And we had a nice bit of sunshine yesterday. I was inside all day. And, so, I present two of the most beautiful things I’ve seen this week.

This flowering dogwood is on Samford’s campus, not far from my office. It never disappoints in the spring:

FloweringDogwood

And, beautiful in a different way, french fries from Milo’s. There’s one just down the street from campus. And so, occasionally, I indulge.

Milos

Milo got his start as a cook in the Army during World War II. He came home, opened a restaurant and started working on his burgers. It is a love it or hate it think, everyone agrees. Now they’re starting to expand outside of the state, at least their tea business. This has never made sense to me. The tea is fine, but it is tea. At some point tea is tea. And there is better tea. But now that’s what Milo’s is known for.

A lot of Milo’s doesn’t make sense, granted, but it works.

Today? We had class. And then I made recruiting phone calls. And we critiqued the newspaper. And then I made more phone calls. And then more grading.

So you see why fries were important.