Almost Done!

We just turned in our digital videos today in Tech PETE and I'm pretty surprised how mine turned out. Since that is completed and turned in, all we have left to do is the two excel projects and that's it. Of course we have the test but all the major work is almost done. I've learned a lot in this but it also took up a lot of time that I could've been doing something else. I'm just glad we're nearing the end of all the projects.

Pocket PC's

So, working with the pocket pc's in class was the coolest thing I've done in a while with technology. I've always wanted to get one and have never gotten the chance to play and work with one until now. You can do so many things with them it's not even funny. I could've used one this weekend too, it would've come in real handy. I still want to get one but I'm still doing research on which make and model to choose. Anyway, the pocket pc's was the coolest lesson we've done thus far in Tech PETE. AWESOME!

E-Folio

It's about time! I'm so glad the e-folio project is finally done. It was such a pain. It wasn't because it was hard or anything but it was really time consuming. I know i worked on it from 9-12:30 one morning and barely put a dent in it. Frontpage also takes forever to insert pictures and shrink them. Other than the time involved in the project it wasn't bad. I'm just so glad it's done.

Digital Video Editing

I went home this weekend and was working on my E- Folio an Digital Video. I got a lot of work done on the E-Folio and finished the digital video. WOW, did that take a long time. I worked on my video from 6pm-11pm. It was very time consuming and had to do a lot of playing around to figure things out. However, after it as done I played it back and it turned out really good with the intro and credits added and it flows much better than it did before. Takes a lot of time but when you're done with it, it's worth the effort you put into editing it.

Movement Ed Class

Today in our movement education class we played with the parachute. I haven't done this since I was in about first grade. However, it was the most amazing thing ever. We did lots of different activities that I would never had thought of and the entire class was loving it. We were launching balls into the ceiling, let the parachute go and see if it could float to the ceiling. It was all pretty fun. The cool thing is that something that little and simple can excite a class of college kids. I hope we get to use it again soon.

E-Folio

I've looked over the rubric and am starting the e-folio and I'm very nervous. I don't have half the stuff that is required for the project and it kind of scares me because I don't want to do bad on it. This is only second semester at Slippery Rock and I was in a totally different major before coming here. I don't have the work related experience ,because i just worked to pay for school, I have little volunteer experience and the worst part is that I have very little if any of the artifacts for the domains. I don't know what I am going to do and I'm stressing out like crazy. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

A-Rod and the Florida Marlins

Yesterday it was reported on ESPN that Alex Rodriguez will make more money this year with the Yankees than the entire Marlins team including their disabled list. A-Rod is due to make around $28 million and the Marlin's 33 man roster is scheduled to make $21.8 million combined. Is there a need for all that moeny to go to one person? There are so many areas that could use that money, such as colleges and students to pay for college. Don't get me wrong, if I was a professional athlete and made that much I wouldn't be complaining. However, sitting here and trying to pay for college I think it's wrong that one person makes that much in one year and more than an entire team. What really gets me is that A-Rod will make more this year than I will ever make in my lifetime.

Wii and Bomb Difussing Robot

Just today I was reading an article on yahoo's website. It was really interesting because a new bomb diffusing robot is being controlled by a Wiimote. The Xbox controller was one of the first gaming controllers to be used with robots with police and military. The decision to go with the Wiimote with the newest robot is because this particular motion sensitive remote allows the operators hand movements to directly relate to the movements of the robot. They also plan to modify the remote to vibrate when the robot detects something and also modify the iphone to stream video from the robot to eliminate the need for soldiers to carry a laptop.

Summer Job at theYMCA

I applied for a job at a YMCA in Columbus, OH about a week ago. Recently I've been in contact with the director of the youth sports camps for the summer and we've been emailing each other. I just recieved an email back today saying he wants to meet with me for an interview. I'm really excited about this because it will be a great addition to my resume. Ever since high school I've been doing landscaping as a summer job. Working as a sports camp counselor will be a good thing as a health and physical education major. I have my interview April 19th, so I hope I will hear back from him soon after that to see whether or not i get the job.

PDA vs. Smartphone

I've been wanting to get a pocket PC or PDA for some time know and the more I look the more I can't find them. I would be more comfortable with one of those devices but find them hard to find because they are being pushed out by the smartphones. Each device basically does the same thing except for the smartphone that is abviously a phone as well. I hope I can still find a PDA or pocket PC in the near future because I couldn't see myself using a smartphone for more than it's PDA capabilities and it would also be awkward to hold as a phone. I guess I'll just have to keep doing my research.

Perfomance Enhancing Drugs

How bad are performance enhancing drugs and steroids getting, I'll tell you. This morning I read in the USA Today that German pool player (billiards) was banned from playing pool for a year after testing positive for EPO. How ridiculous is that? That's not all. Earlier this year I read that they are going to start testing for performance enhancing drugs in on the PGA Tour for golfers. Oh yeah, it is said they are going to start testing in the PBR and it's not testing for the bull riders; they're going to test the bulls. If we are so worried about steroids that we have to test billiard players, golfers, and bulls then we might as well start testing horse racing and little leaguers.

Terelle Pryor

Terelle Pryor is said to be down to his top two college choices and will decide by the end of the week. Pryor has led his Jeanette to both the football and basketball state titles. He didn't want to make a decision before basketball ended to avoid distracting him and his teamates. However, now that the season is over he has narrowed his choices to two. He did not say which two colleges he has narrowed it to, but a recruiting analyst that had talked with him believes it is down to Ohio State and Michigan. The analyst believes that Pryor will choose Ohio State after talking with him and I sure hope he dooes. However, we will have to wait until at least the end of this week to see where one of the best athletes to come out of this area will continue is athletic and collegiate career.

New Computer?

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop, because I want one to type notes on and the other to use in my room. It may seem a little pointless but I think it's a good idea. I reall like the idea of getting a tablet PC but those are kind of out of my price range. However, it seems like that would make the most sense because I can write faster than I type yet my handwriting is pretty bad. I don't know what I want to do yet, but soon I hope to get a new laptop. My biggest decision is to what brand of computer I want.

Bummer!

My high school basketball team finally lost in the Western Finals to the Jeanette Jayhawks. North East had a great team this year going 29-2 with their only losses coming to AAAA McDowell and Jeanette most recently in the playoff. They played a great game and were ranked fifth in the state and lost to the number three ranked team in the state who has the number one football recruit and the number twenty basketball reruit in Terelle Pryor. He's an amazing athlete and Jeanette played a great game and they also have a great shot at doing what General McLane did last year by doubling up state titles in basketball and football.

Final Project

So, I'm really excited for break. However, we have our Assessment Strategies final project due when we come back and I think it is going to take a while. Most likely I will have to do it over break. I guess the best way to do it is little by little so I can still relax on break instead of killing myself over this project. Once that is done, my break is all open and Assessment Strategies class will be done. I can't wait, this last week or so has been so stressful.

Newsletter and Brochure

I finished my webpage and all the other work that is due before break. I felt so relieved, but then I realized I had other stuff that was due when we got back and I didn't want to do it over break. I decided to complete the newsletter and the brochure so it would all be done for when I came back. It feels like I've had no life this past week because all I did was school work to keep up and get ahead, but I think it was all worth it.

Assessment Strategies Assignments

So I just got out of my Assessment Strategies class and we just got a bnch of work thrown at us that's all due before break. First we have to create a test, read a chapter in the book and do a notecard on it. Then we have to create an authentic type of assessment, read chapter's two more chapters and do notecards for them. After all that, we have a final project that's due the class after we return from break. Is it just me or does everyone feel a little overwhelmed with the workload that we seem to have before break. I'm going to go nuts!

NFL Scouting Combine

I've been watching the combine and there are some pretty impressive performances. One of the running backs ran 4.24 in the 40 yard dash. Another imprssive performance was that Jake Long of Michigan and Vernon Gholston of Ohio State tied for the combine lead with 37 reps with 225 pounds on the bench press. There were also some impressive performances in the broad jump with one athlete jumping 11'4'' from a standing position. By far the most frightening sight to see was linemmen over 300 pounds running 4.9 in the 40 yard dash. There is still two more days of workouts so there's bound to be some more great marks put up.

Digital Camera Photography

I'm sure most people love their digital camera, but I think I'm a little more obsessed with. I got it about two years ago and use it like it's my job. Besides mountain biking, photography is my other hobby that I just love. When I'm bored I will just go for walks and take pictures because I enjoy it so much. My favorite themes of photography are nature and taking action shots during sporting events. I've gotten really good at timing the shutter and flash to take great action shots that some athletes actually ask me to take their picture. I would have to say that nature is by far the best subject area. I love taking pictures of animals and diferent types of fungus the best. My camera's resolution surprises me as well. I've developed many 8 x 10's and they come out so crisp and clear. Right now I am pleased with the camera I have now, an Olympus Stylus 7.1 megapixel. Eventually I am definitely going to get a Cannon or Nikon Digital SLR and continue taking pictures of anything and everything.

High School Basketball

I went to watch a few high school basketball games these past couple weekends. Usually I'm not a huge fan of high school sports, but there was one team that was pretty amazing. North East High School is awesome. The game I went to they won 93-47, they have no starters over six feet tall. They are ranked first in class AA in District 10 and fourth in the state of PA. From what I have seen, I think they have a pretty good chance at taking the stae title. They are fast, they constantly pass, and they are very unselfish. Seeing high school athletes do no look, behind the back, and through the leg passes like it's routine for them is something to see. I hope the team goes far into the playoffs and possibly win the state title.

Parents and Computers

Is it just me, or are most parents dead to the world when it comes to computers? I recently had to help my parents look for a new computer because they have no idea what to look for. The only thing they know how to do is type and use the internet. Other than that, my parents don't really understand the other things the computer can do. I even have to help my dad turn the computer off sometimes. My mom is a little better, but niether of them know how to look at or download attachments sent through email. If all they need to do is type then they should just still use a type writer. I had to explain to my parents what to look for and why some things are better than others, and then I had to print out a breakdown of all the features and tech specs that the computer would come with. Hopefully they get to know more about computers becasue I won' be around forever.

Assessment Strategies Lesson

Today I had to teach a lesson to the class in Assessment Strategies. I'm always nervous before I teacha lesson but it always turns out very well. My lesson was on locomotor movements and then I capped it off with a game of Ultimate Frisbee to incorporate all the skills. The class really seem to love the game of Ultimate Frisbee. After the lesson was complete I got feedback from Dr. Nichols and all it was all pretty good, he was pleased with how the lesson went. It's tough to get the lesson going but once it starts I feel a whole lot better and everything just seems to flow.

Are young throwing athletes making a mistake?

I'm sure many athletes have heard of Tommy John Surgery. This surgery is done for those who have had a major elbow injury mainly caused from the overhead throwing motion. The claim is that those that have had the surgery come back htrowing stronger. The problem is that young pitchers and any other young athletes that use the overhead throwing motion a lot in their sports are getting this surgery for no reason. They are taking a perfectly good ligament from their arm and replacing it with one usually taken from the leg just because some athletes say they come back from surgery stronger. What are these athletes and there parents thinking going through with this surgery that is only done for major elbow injuries when their elbow is in great condition as it is? I think this will eventually hurt these athletes down the road in their respective sports. Also, do doctors actually think that they are helping an athlete doing this surgery when it is not needed? At this point parents, doctors, and the athletes themselves really need to think about what they are doing with their health and how it might affect them later in life.

PDA's and Pocket PC's

I'd love to get a PDA or pocket PC, but I don't know which model or brand to choose. I've been doing a little research on my own through PC MAgazine and online and have came across a few that are said to be pretty near the top of the list. The one I always hear about is the Palm TX which I am kind of leaning towards. However, the other two that I also have heard good things about are the HP pocket PC's and the Dell Axim's. I've seen and looked at many different HP ones but only a few are available from their website. The Dell which I have also looked at doesn't seem to be available at all on their website the last few times I've looked. I've heard good things about all of them, but if anyone knows more than me or which brand/model is the best then please comment back.

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)

I'm sure most of us have heard of the $100 laptops that were produced and that they were meant to be sent to Africa and other poor nations to use as some form of education. However, this idea just hit a road block the other day. Politics and Nigeria's education minister has stated that there is no need for the laptops when developing countries do not even have desk to learn at or clothes to go to school in to begin with. They would rather start with a firm foundation than to start of with a laptop. In my opinion this is ridiculous! I think that any form of technology that could help developing countries in any way is great. Right now most of these countries have nothing; they might as well start with something. Those who developed the $100 laptop have created a great thing for a great purpose and the OLPC project needs to be taking place.

Mac Book Air

Have you seen it! The new Mac Book Air is amazing. From only 0.16 to 0.76 inches thick and at a mere 3 pounds, it is the lightest thinest notebook PC on the market. The battery is also lighter and smaller yet it doesn't sacrifice any battery time with the maximum being 5 hours of battery life. It has an LED lit screen and backlit keypad which makes it ideal to work on planes or in any other dim area. The most interesting thing about this PC is that you can do so much with just the thouchpad mouse. You can pinch, swipe, or even rotate on the pad to zoom in on text or adjust an image. Most of all, the specs for this thin PC are equal to if not better than any other on the market.

All About Me

My name is Chad Lander and I graduated from North East High School. I love the outdoors and nature. I am a huge fan of Christian music and could just sit and listen to it for hours. Iam a transfer student from Wheeling Jesuit University where I was taking up theology. However, since begining the PE program here at Slippery Rock, I couldn't be more happy that I transfered. I feel that this is what I was meant to do. I love sports and watching people grasp concepts that are taught to them. I hope the rest of my years here are just as great.