things to read


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


24
Apr 14

A Thursday hodgepodge

The very definition of incongruity: a pink Yellow Cab.

cab

I’ve been wondering about this since the last breast cancer awareness month. Is there a more successful awareness campaign in the western world? You’d be hard pressed to find one that has enjoyed greater reach or more significant corporate partnerships in the last few years.

Things to read … because reading always brings about successful partnerships.

Feeding nine billion means growing crops faster, smarter, and in new places. Do we need to find more land?

Fact: We now use the web more than TV

Probe: DHS watchdog cozy with officials, altered reports as he sought top job

Russian social media CEO quits post, flees country

Google Street View lets users travel back in time

T-Mobile to hire more than 100 for its Birmingham call center

Ten words to cut from your writing

One day you wake up and find yourself playing soccer with a robot:

That robot is hoping on one foot. Keepie uppie isn’t too far behind. And then we will all welcome our World Cup overlords.

Dare I say this is the funniest bit on Family Feud in years:

The family is from Tuscaloosa.

Dee Ford is about to make a big splash in the NFL Draft. He’s fast, hits hard, spins like Peterson and breaks Kaepernick’s legs. It’s science:

He’s also a cool piano player. Renaissance man, Dee Ford.


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.


22
Apr 14

I saw bling

Caught a rare mid-week baseball game. Auburn hosted and defeated South Alabama 6-1.

That reminded me I haven’t shared these pictures yet. Last weekend they gave championship rings to the 2013 team. A guy we now in the stands at baseball works as an equipment manager (I think) for the football team, so he got a ring too. He showed it off:

ring

ring

ring

Pretty nice, right?

Things to read … because reading is always nice.

Facebook Page Reach Plummets to 1%: What Marketers Need to Know

The state of cybersecurity: Attacks are on the rise in the cloud and threats are more diverse

Egypt: the world watches as journalism goes on trial

Thousands die of thirst and poor care in NHS

4 Alabama counties have more active, registered voters than adult population

The Buzzfeed headline … we don’t need it. Which federal agency pays an average of $167,146? The answer will surprise you

From the You Made Your Bed Dept: Man on Trial for Murder Worried “MURDER” Tattoo Might Hurt His Case


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