“Online learning has definite advantages over face-to-face instruction when it comes to teaching and learning, according to a new meta-analysis released Friday by the U.S. Department of Education.”
“Elluminate Bridges provide single-click access to the interactive virtual classroom from within an academic institution’s existing and familiar LMS/CMS environment and enable instructors to add synchronous distance learning and collaboration to course work.”
“People often get confused regarding the actual functions of a CMS and an LMS. The source of this confusion lies in the similarities of the two systems.”
“As the modern workforce continues to evolve and globalize, more companies are evaluating a telecommuting strategy to save costs and lower carbon emissions as well as to retain top talent.”
“Employees save expenses by working at home, but so do employers. Want to know how much you can save by hiring a telecommuter as opposed to hiring a traditional employee?”
Every year around this time I go out hunting for Morel Mushrooms. I’ve been doing it for the better part of 30 years or more. It’s a spring tradition I learned from my Mom’s side of the family and I intend to continue it with my daughters.
I’ve been out once this year. I walked all day and found maybe 50. Although one tree yielded 20, the rest were scattered and sparse. After a long day of roaming in the damp brush I was beaten and down. I don’t get nearly enough time needed to ensure a decent harvest these days. So I count on having some luck. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much luck that day.
Then yesterday I was out doing a little yard work and discovered one growing not 10 feet from my front door! After showing Jenna and Lucy, I took the picture above. I picked it and wondered if it was some sort of sign.
This year opening weekend was fantastic. We caught many fish - Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Perch, Bowfin, even a Musky that I managed to hand-land (below). We played spades one night. Dan and I played a couple rounds of golf. It’s tough to return to the big city after a few short days in the north woods. I’ve spent the last 24 hours daydreaming about the great times I had.
I can’t say enough about the guys. Playing golf with Dan is always fun and made even better not having to rush home or try to squeeze a round in after work. We also enjoyed some post-spawn action on the water. I left the camera behind one afternoon and Dan was able to take the pics below with his cell phone while landing his own fish!
I also fished with Todd one night. His walleye (below) was an aggressive beast that sprang out of the water like a bass when it hit the bait. It was a night I won’t forget. So many walleye. So little time. Of course we let most of our fish go but kept a few to eat.
Although I plan to go again to some local lakes, it just won’t compare to the last few days. I had some much needed laughs watching the guys do their thing.
“The DNR says that because spring has been slow to come to northern Wisconsin, it’s likely that walleye and northern pike will still be spawning and be in more shallow waters during the opener.”
“Walleyes and northern pike, for the most part, have spawned and are now resting and recovering from their spawning rigors. Walleyes and saugers will go on a good bite and be active in the next few weeks if we continue to have normal — and stable — weather. When the water temperatures soon climb into the low to mid 50s, crappies and smallmouth bass will get active and provide some great angling.”
“Lake Delton isn’t out of trouble yet. Fishing won’t be spectacular – most of the fish will need years of growth before anglers can keep them legally – and the sagging economy might keep potential visitors at home.”
The folks over at Wolf River Cam have set up a Sturgeon Cam! I’ve never caught one of these monster fish but they look like fun.
Update: The sturgeon have been running like crazy today. There are some true behemoths. It’s hard to tell just how big they are but I’d bet there are some serious trophies. Bring on the caviar!
If you were working last week and wanted to catch the Masters coverage, you probably missed much of the action Thursday and Friday unless you watched it live on the tournament website where you could see holes 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16.
Aside from being thrilled that I could watch actual play as opposed to highlights at night after work, I was amazed at the quality of this internet broadcast. It is rare that this kind of content is delivered well.
The size of the picture (somewhere around 980 x 560) and clear sound made for a fantastic viewing experience. It would be nice to see two minor changes made to what the internet patron sees - get rid of the crawl at the bottom of the screen and continue with the tradition of avoiding obtrusive advertising by removing the constant presence of sponsor’s logos. Perhaps they could be intermittent?
It was a great tournament this year with a fantastic finish and even better knowing that the folks at the PGA and Augusta National didn’t forget about those of us stuck at the office. See you next spring.
A few of my fishing buddies turned me on to the Wolf River Cam. Although it can be like watching paint dry, it’s entertaining for the folks who like to fish. I’ve heard reports of many spottings but I have only seen one so far.
Update: I saw quite a few walleye since I first posted this including the one below which I sent to the folks at Wolf River Cam. I also saw quite a few carp and some crazy looking bowfin. At least, that’s what I think they were.
I’m looking forward to watching some of the Masters. I enjoy this tournament because of the history and extended airtime without commercial interruption. Hopefully this tradition will continue for many years to come.
Ever since their days with the Revolution, Wendy & Lisa have continued to write great music. As a guitar player, I was inspired by Wendy’s rhythm and lead playing. Some of my favorites are Possessed from Prince & the Revolution: Live (1985) and Are You My Baby? There are also a ton of “unreleased” songs from their collaborations with Prince that feature their playing and composition.
In addition to songs, the duo have also written scores for several films and television shows including NBC’s Heroes and the movie Something New.
Their latest album White Flags of Winter Chimneys, is yet another record in a line of work that continues to grow. I’m sure there is much more to come.
“A few weeks back, someone pointed me to a Twitter message where one Twitter user was (jokingly) accusing another of copyright infringement for repeating a message. While the situation was amusing, you knew it was only a matter of time until the question became more serious.”
“Google on Monday launched free downloads of licensed songs in China, while sharing advertising revenue with major music labels in a market rife with online piracy.”
“Despite a consensus that the use of health information technology should lead to more efficient, safer, and higher-quality care, there are no reliable estimates of the prevalence of adoption of electronic health records in U.S. hospitals.”
“For those still hung over from the madness of South by Southwest, this week’s edition of Free Music Friday thumps into sonic territory with a more moody feel.”
Tiger Woods won his 66th PGA tournament in dramatic fashion yesterday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Although I continued to watch golf in his absence, its nice to see him out there again.
With the Masters fast approaching, one can’t help wonder if we’ll witness more moments like these.
The default Wordpress theme I’ve been using came with a header image that is pretty generic. So I started thinking about how to replace it with something else. The photo I settled on was taken by Don Guss. Replacing it was a bit tedious. I chose to merge the new image with the old one in Photoshop to maintain the rounded corners and border.
The image itself doesn’t say much about me, or music, or technology. Yet it does communicate a sense of place, stillness, and peace - all things I wish I had more of these days.
I still need to tweak the header a bit but it will do as is for now. Thanks again Don.
It’s been far too long since I’ve gone fishing. Every year I always complain about wanting to do it more than once a year.
Perhaps this spring and summer will be different. After that, we’ll have to see…
Opening weekend is less than two months away and I must say that I can barley take the anticipation. It will be great to see everyone again and catch some walleye, perch, crappie, northern pike, or smallmouth bass. Who knows what we’ll catch. Bowfin anyone?
In these crazy times, I feel fortunate to be able to get away and enjoy some time on the water. Hopefully the guys will bring their clubs so we can also play Timber Ridge. It’s always fun to come off the water, get some food and then hit the links. After yet another brutal winter, this year’s trip will be a welcome escape from the cold routines of the passing season.
I have been experimenting with Twitter. Although nobody cares that I’m eating breakfast or cleaning the basement, I think it has potential for more.
The first time I tried Twitter was a few months ago but wasn’t able to integrate it with my blog in a way that satisfied me. I don’t want to go to the Twitter website just to post a tweet.
With my current setup, I can post a tweet from my blog and then have it appear in the sidebar. I’m using Alex King’s Twitter Tools and one of Twitter’s standard widgets for the sidebar.
Like I say, I’m not sure where this will go but I do like the idea of posting without always using the main area in Wordpress.
The past few years have been some of the most challenging of my life - new house, new job, new family. All of which have been very rewarding and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. On top of all of this, I’ve been trying to finish grad school.
It has taken a while to get through these last few steps. Today I completed the oral defense of the Doctoral Qualifying Exam. Although this isn’t the end, I feel that a weight has been lifted and I’m happy to have this behind me. The dissertation lies ahead and beyond that, deciding what to do with it all.
Nevertheless, I am relieved to be moving forward and want to thank those close to me for their support and encouragement over the years.
It’s been far too long since I’ve gone fishing. Every year I always complain about wanting to do it more than once a year. 
