Here's my final schedule (tentative at this point) for the spring semester:
1. GY536--Advanced GIS-->T 6:00-8:30 (4 Credit Hours)
2. GY598--Non-Thesis Research (3 Credit Hours)
3. GY506--Directed Research in Human Geography (1 Credit Hour)
So basically that means one class a week, do/finish two 20-25 page papers, and read some articles and discuss them with a professor and/or do a write up on them.
Seems easy enough. Let's hope so!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
*snort*
It MUST be something in the Tennessee River if now Smokey is getting as nasty as the human UT fans.
Dog bites man
Dog bites man
Monday, October 23, 2006
Me in GY Dept. Newsletter
My write up on my trip to Ghana is featured in the 2006 Geography Dept. Newsletter.
http://www.as.ua.edu/geography/newsletter06.pdf
Page 9, right before the Memoriam.
I'm famous!
http://www.as.ua.edu/geography/newsletter06.pdf
Page 9, right before the Memoriam.
I'm famous!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Welcome to America, where you can sell anything
Just a few minutes after the Razorbacks of Arkansas felled the hated Tigers of "Moo U", I saw someone walking around campus selling something taunting Auburn. It was a picture (he had several desk sized versions, as well as a poster sized one) of a skeleton sitting in a lawn chair with an Auburn jersey on, and a pennant in one hand, and in his other hand a cardboard sign that said "Still Waiting on National Championship". Supposedly it's floating around on the internet somewhere, but I have yet to find it.
To sum Satruday up:
Auburn loses (AT HOME!) to Arkansas.
Alabama wins (at home) against Duke (though I had my doubts after the first half when our defense looked like Georgia's 4th quarter defense where they gave up 27(!) to the Home Dep...I mean...Tennessee Volunteers)
The Yankees (who perpetually have 100 win seasons) were felled by the Detroit Tigers who, prior to this season, had perpetually had 100 LOSS seasons. The Tigers took the series 3-1 and play the Oakland Athletics for the ALCS.
The day's only offical downside was Georgia losing to Tennessee. Can't have it all I don't suppose.
To sum Satruday up:
Auburn loses (AT HOME!) to Arkansas.
Alabama wins (at home) against Duke (though I had my doubts after the first half when our defense looked like Georgia's 4th quarter defense where they gave up 27(!) to the Home Dep...I mean...Tennessee Volunteers)
The Yankees (who perpetually have 100 win seasons) were felled by the Detroit Tigers who, prior to this season, had perpetually had 100 LOSS seasons. The Tigers took the series 3-1 and play the Oakland Athletics for the ALCS.
The day's only offical downside was Georgia losing to Tennessee. Can't have it all I don't suppose.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Friday
Today was a good Friday. The best Friday I've had in quite a while (honestly!). The weather was exceptionally nice. We still have an Indian Summer to look forward to, but this gave a taste of what was to come. Work went great. Craig was out of the office and while he's not an overbearing manager by any stretch of the imagination, it was a light hearted day the whole day regardless, while still getting work done (no goofing off), everyone was in a good mood.
I met with one of my professors today to talk about the paper in his class, and he liked my idea and gave me some direction that I could go on it (riverfront redevelopment in general, then a specific case study in Montgomery) and he suggested "dovetailing" it with a non-thesis paper to, in his words, "minimize work while, at the same time, maximizing output".
I also met with another professor yesterday (Dr. Weber) and he liked my idea for a project in his class about accessibility of fire stations in Montgomery. I actually wanted to do Prattville, but he suggested Montgomery because he and I both thought a larger data set would be better. He also gave me some early guidance on a non-thesis paper. I got asked to write a letter of recommendation for a professor who is up for tenure this semester, which I will do. This is for Dr. Weber, my program advisor. He's always very helpful in papers and projects, and was great in easing my tattered nerves about comprehensive exams. He's met the publication requirements, and I'm certain he won't have problem getting it, but it was humbling to write one for him.
Luke Henderson passed the bar exam. I was almost jumping up and down in the mall when I called him and he told me the good news. The fact that the state of Alabama has said that he can practice law is rather scary (I say that tongue in cheek, of course)...he's earned it.
One of my friends from Riverwood is moving to Birmingham tomorrow. While that isn't the fun part, the going away stuff was fun. About 5 guys and four girls (including this guy's girlfriend) went out to Nick's in the Sticks way out past Stillman along Culver Road/US11/43. Met a girl from Richmond (Kelly, she claims her parents go to Third Pres.), AND a girl from Montgomery.
And to top it off, it's Suzanna's 2nd Birthday.
This is exceedingly better than two Fridays ago (dinner w/ Dave & Amelia Nolen that night salvaged that day).
Today was just what the doctor ordered.
I met with one of my professors today to talk about the paper in his class, and he liked my idea and gave me some direction that I could go on it (riverfront redevelopment in general, then a specific case study in Montgomery) and he suggested "dovetailing" it with a non-thesis paper to, in his words, "minimize work while, at the same time, maximizing output".
I also met with another professor yesterday (Dr. Weber) and he liked my idea for a project in his class about accessibility of fire stations in Montgomery. I actually wanted to do Prattville, but he suggested Montgomery because he and I both thought a larger data set would be better. He also gave me some early guidance on a non-thesis paper. I got asked to write a letter of recommendation for a professor who is up for tenure this semester, which I will do. This is for Dr. Weber, my program advisor. He's always very helpful in papers and projects, and was great in easing my tattered nerves about comprehensive exams. He's met the publication requirements, and I'm certain he won't have problem getting it, but it was humbling to write one for him.
Luke Henderson passed the bar exam. I was almost jumping up and down in the mall when I called him and he told me the good news. The fact that the state of Alabama has said that he can practice law is rather scary (I say that tongue in cheek, of course)...he's earned it.
One of my friends from Riverwood is moving to Birmingham tomorrow. While that isn't the fun part, the going away stuff was fun. About 5 guys and four girls (including this guy's girlfriend) went out to Nick's in the Sticks way out past Stillman along Culver Road/US11/43. Met a girl from Richmond (Kelly, she claims her parents go to Third Pres.), AND a girl from Montgomery.
And to top it off, it's Suzanna's 2nd Birthday.
This is exceedingly better than two Fridays ago (dinner w/ Dave & Amelia Nolen that night salvaged that day).
Today was just what the doctor ordered.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
Celebration Day
Again--further evidence of me being a music nerd, and in keeping in tune with titles having song titles based on the subject matter of the post, I present to you a song off Led Zeppelin III (their acoustic, folksy album from 1970).
Comps are over. I passed. I'd write more right now, but my brain is fried. Just thought I'd put it out there.
Later!
Comps are over. I passed. I'd write more right now, but my brain is fried. Just thought I'd put it out there.
Later!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Under Pressure
In again trying to attach song titles to blog entries, I have chosen Queen's "Under Pressure" featuring David Bowie. (John Deacon's opening bass line Vanilla Ice...um..."borrowed" during the early 90s for his reprehensible song "Ice, Ice Baby"). I'm a music nerd, I know.
Anyway, so the pressure of about twelve to thirteen people having taken and passed comps in a row comes to me. I see no reason I'll break the streak. There are two approaches I could take to this: (1) Statistical--the more people who continue to pass it, the more likely it is the next person will fail, and (2) Perpetual Motion--an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. I'm trying to keep the perpetual motion idea in my head while I study, and ultimately once Friday comes up.
I feel fairly confident on most of the stuff right now. I think I have Dr. Weber's stuff down, I think I have the lion's share of Dr. Seth's stuff down, and I'm feeling better daily on Dr. Richetto's stuff. Mind you, there is still stuff for each I'm weak on, but that's reality. I don't expect to know or be able to answer everything they ask me off hand, but I certainly hope I can, with a little leading (there is precedence, Dr. Richetto once got me started on an answer on a test after everyone else had left) on that stuff, be able to convince them I DO know what I'm talking about, and know enough about Geography for them to feel confident in giving me a degree.
I'm just sick of studying, and looking over all this stuff again and again. It'll be over Friday though, then I just get to the normal rigors of school.
Anyway, so the pressure of about twelve to thirteen people having taken and passed comps in a row comes to me. I see no reason I'll break the streak. There are two approaches I could take to this: (1) Statistical--the more people who continue to pass it, the more likely it is the next person will fail, and (2) Perpetual Motion--an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. I'm trying to keep the perpetual motion idea in my head while I study, and ultimately once Friday comes up.
I feel fairly confident on most of the stuff right now. I think I have Dr. Weber's stuff down, I think I have the lion's share of Dr. Seth's stuff down, and I'm feeling better daily on Dr. Richetto's stuff. Mind you, there is still stuff for each I'm weak on, but that's reality. I don't expect to know or be able to answer everything they ask me off hand, but I certainly hope I can, with a little leading (there is precedence, Dr. Richetto once got me started on an answer on a test after everyone else had left) on that stuff, be able to convince them I DO know what I'm talking about, and know enough about Geography for them to feel confident in giving me a degree.
I'm just sick of studying, and looking over all this stuff again and again. It'll be over Friday though, then I just get to the normal rigors of school.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Comps
I have an offical date for comps. I saw the schedule as it is posted in the Geography Dept. office this morning:
Friday, September 15
1pm
I'm the third one to go.
Two weeks to study. Hopefully I can have some time to eat and sleep during it.
Friday, September 15
1pm
I'm the third one to go.
Two weeks to study. Hopefully I can have some time to eat and sleep during it.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Comps/Loan
So I heard a tentative date for my comprehensive exams. This isn't confirmed, but I heard it from another grad student who I have my MWF class with (and whose session will be right after mine). He said he saw me down for Friday, September 15th at 1pm. That gives me a time frame with which to work. About two and a half weeks. It works great because I get to have a feel as to the professors' general mood, while not having to dread it for too long. Plus now I have a finite timeframe with which to study and can guide my studies much better. That will be life between now and then.
Oh, and I got my loan check in the mail today. I won't go on blurting out how much it was for all to see (if you want to know, and know how to get in touch with me off the blog...just let me know). I fought getting the loan--to a fault, but when the University can't seem to figure how to pay it's graduate students for a month--long story, it was something I needed to go ahead and suck up. It was odd getting a check for that much in the mail, and it was particularly odd getting a check for that much with just a Pittney-Bowles type 37 cent stamp on it (apparently the actual cost to ship was 37 cents, not the standard 39...but whatever).
So I can get that in the bank tomorrow (I'll split it between checking and a fairly liquid investment fund) and can finally begin paying back those to whom I owe money before they break my legs as collateral (folks like my credit card companies, and mom).
Oh, and I got my loan check in the mail today. I won't go on blurting out how much it was for all to see (if you want to know, and know how to get in touch with me off the blog...just let me know). I fought getting the loan--to a fault, but when the University can't seem to figure how to pay it's graduate students for a month--long story, it was something I needed to go ahead and suck up. It was odd getting a check for that much in the mail, and it was particularly odd getting a check for that much with just a Pittney-Bowles type 37 cent stamp on it (apparently the actual cost to ship was 37 cents, not the standard 39...but whatever).
So I can get that in the bank tomorrow (I'll split it between checking and a fairly liquid investment fund) and can finally begin paying back those to whom I owe money before they break my legs as collateral (folks like my credit card companies, and mom).
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Comps/First Day of class
Well, I talked with one of the professors who is on my board this afternoon about it (not my program advisor, mind you, I meet with him on Friday). Dr. Richetto answered some of my pressing questions about exam structure and such. Basically what he told me is that Dr. Weber (my program advisor and presumably my review board chairman) will sort of get me to talk about myself. Things like why I like Geography, why I chose to study it at Alabama, and some career goals. This, I suppose is to loosen me up a bit. Then each professor including Dr. Seth (Appiah-Opoku) will get a twenty minute session to ask me basically anything from any classes I've had with them, or any broad topics I should know as a geographer, specifically a second year master's student. For instance, Dr. Weber will ask me about GIS and Transport Geography, Dr. Seth about Africa, Environmental Management, and broad planning ideas, Dr. Richetto about some more specific (but still fairly broad) planning concepts on the public and private sectors, some broad human geography ideas (which will probably be encompassed in other planning sections), and since Dr. Jerry Webster isn't on my board, he will ask me some broad questions from GY500 (history, traditions, etc.). From that point, they each get a ten minute session with me to follow up on any questions they answered in their first round, or to get clarifications on what I meant, etc. Then I'll leave the room while they talk with eachother to get a concensus on whether or not I pass. This takes about ten minutes, at which point they'll call me back in and give me the 411 (pass/fail) and perhaps reasons why I failed (assuming such). I'm still nervous and apprehensive, to be sure, but now that I have some specific structure on what to expect I'm a little less worried (I've moved from a 10/10 to a 9/10 on the apprehension scale you might say).
I meet with Dr. Weber on Friday afternoon to discuss what I should study specifically for his section, then a more broad idea of what to expect on the exams, and how I should prepare. Things as serious as what to say if I don't know the answer to a question, to nominal such as what I should do in terms of dress for the day (the girl I work with who took it January was dressed up a bit more than usual the day she took them).
I should have a date by this time next week. Then my apprehension shoots back up to about 55/10.
On a related note, my first day of class this year went fine. Typical first day, to be sure. This class has only grad students. Except for GY500, this has been the only class that has had only grad students in it. GY540 had one undergrad, that was as close to no undergrads. I guess Dr. Richetto expects more from the class as a whole in this one.
I meet with Dr. Weber on Friday afternoon to discuss what I should study specifically for his section, then a more broad idea of what to expect on the exams, and how I should prepare. Things as serious as what to say if I don't know the answer to a question, to nominal such as what I should do in terms of dress for the day (the girl I work with who took it January was dressed up a bit more than usual the day she took them).
I should have a date by this time next week. Then my apprehension shoots back up to about 55/10.
On a related note, my first day of class this year went fine. Typical first day, to be sure. This class has only grad students. Except for GY500, this has been the only class that has had only grad students in it. GY540 had one undergrad, that was as close to no undergrads. I guess Dr. Richetto expects more from the class as a whole in this one.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
websites
All my journal entries are now up. I have left a space for an epilogue of sorts in the future, but I'll tackle that at a later date. I may also attach a picture or to from the picture page to the journal entries in the future as well just for some visual aide.
http://www.krgilbert.net/ghana/
Also, Alabama Maps is pretty much back up and running again. I believe we've managed to recover all of our nearly 14,000 or so maps online and about 99.2% of our 5500 or so air photos. That 0.8% was the last few we did before the crash and hadn't had a chance to be backed up in any way, shape, or form. I'm thinking those will just be scrapped.
http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/
http://www.krgilbert.net/ghana/
Also, Alabama Maps is pretty much back up and running again. I believe we've managed to recover all of our nearly 14,000 or so maps online and about 99.2% of our 5500 or so air photos. That 0.8% was the last few we did before the crash and hadn't had a chance to be backed up in any way, shape, or form. I'm thinking those will just be scrapped.
http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/
Monday, July 24, 2006
Yay
Just saw on the news (well, about thirty minutes ago, but whatever), that Kristen Trotter boarded a cruise ship over the weekend and is now out of Lebanon (presumably in Cyprus for now, eventually back in Alabama). So that's good news.
Also, I've gotten all my May journal entries up on my Ghana web page. I'll work on the June ones in the coming days. Enjoy!
http://www.krgilbert.net/ghana
(for the journal, click the "Journal" link at top).
Also, I've gotten all my May journal entries up on my Ghana web page. I'll work on the June ones in the coming days. Enjoy!
http://www.krgilbert.net/ghana
(for the journal, click the "Journal" link at top).
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Strange liquid
There's a strange liquid falling out of the sky right now. Someone, quick, remind me what it is. Is it this "rain" they've been saying we're so short on? I'm so dumbfounded!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Ghana Page
I'm working on getting some changes done to my Ghana page. Among the changes:
1. Journal entries (I finally got it back). These will take a while, but I've gotten about six of them done thus far--through May 25. I hope to have the rest done by month's end.
2. Picture descriptions. This is partially for my own memory. Again, I hope to have this done by month's end.
3. Spiffy new front page image. Simply an outline of Alabama with the Ghanaian flag contained in its boundaries. (Photoshop is a great thing!). I'll work on this some to make it fancier eventually, but I thought it looked good on the front page.
http://www.krgilbert.net/ghana/
So see some photo descriptions, read journal entries, marvel at the front page image, and enjoy the page! (And keep checking back every couple of days for changes and updates).
1. Journal entries (I finally got it back). These will take a while, but I've gotten about six of them done thus far--through May 25. I hope to have the rest done by month's end.
2. Picture descriptions. This is partially for my own memory. Again, I hope to have this done by month's end.
3. Spiffy new front page image. Simply an outline of Alabama with the Ghanaian flag contained in its boundaries. (Photoshop is a great thing!). I'll work on this some to make it fancier eventually, but I thought it looked good on the front page.
http://www.krgilbert.net/ghana/
So see some photo descriptions, read journal entries, marvel at the front page image, and enjoy the page! (And keep checking back every couple of days for changes and updates).
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Apparently I know someone in Beirut, Lebanon right now. (If you happen to have seen it on the news, it's Senior UA Journalism Major Kristen Trotter). Apparently she's interning with Beirut's main newspaper. She's an RUFer, attends Riverwood, etc. I'm reasonably close to her, so as you can imagine I'm a bit concerned. I just thought I'd share that.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Almost Back
Well, it looks like Alabama Maps will be back up and running soon. Most of the historic maps are back up, but the aerial photographic collection is still down and may well be fore a while, but this is better than we were two weeks ago, indeed better than we were as of 11:45 on Friday morning (the point at which the new server came online and the new linking method was discovered).
It's not as glum as we thought previously. Yay! Please patronize us!
http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/
It's not as glum as we thought previously. Yay! Please patronize us!
http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/
Monday, July 10, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
even still...Go Black Stars
Well, "my" Black Stars couldn't pull off the impossible in beating Brazil today. The final was 3-0.
However, said Brazil's coach: "It wasn't easy and we knew it wasn't going to be easy, 3-0 seems easy, but it wasn't."
Said Ghana's coach: "[Ghana] faced a great team, the world champions, they are the best in competition, defending champions. It is not a shame to lose to Brazil."
However, said Brazil's coach: "It wasn't easy and we knew it wasn't going to be easy, 3-0 seems easy, but it wasn't."
Said Ghana's coach: "[Ghana] faced a great team, the world champions, they are the best in competition, defending champions. It is not a shame to lose to Brazil."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)