thinkPhD

Well, it’s been snowing since about midnight and we now have about 5″ on the ground.
Here’s a snow pic for you…

I worked about 4 hours yesterday on an assignment in RSH9103QNB and am still not finished. Right now, I am taking a blogging break, then will fill up my trusty coffee cup and get started once more. I use my Saturdays to get some work done – especially in the mornings when it is very quiet. Husband and our two dogs are still in bed and I don’t have to use the ear plugs to keep myself focused on my school work. This week I teach a COM/285 class at the University of Phoenix, Richmond. My plans today are to work on the assignment mentioned above and post the syllabus for COM/285.

I have been writing this morning and just published an article on Associated Content:

Send Local Severe Weather Reports to the National Weather Service via Twitter

Be sure to read the article and tweet about your severe weather, too!

“Gemma” is a compelling story by author/actor Meg Tilly, who herself suffered abuse at the hands of adults she trusted. I found the story almost intoxicating and difficult to put down. At the same time I was sickened by the cruelty and descriptions of abuse, I was inspired by the small voice of a very brave girl who suffered, yet never lost her hope for a life in which someone would care.

Read the full review here.

   I just published a book review of By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer. You can read my review on Associated Content here.  Or my quick review here on Goodreads.

Even though I am knee-deep (neck-deep?) in papers and research preparing for my dissertation, I do take off time to read non-academic things. Student readers – you should, too! I think that we get so stressed with reading and writing and working under a deadline all the time, we forget to read just for the fun of reading.

Reading novels is also a great exercise in learning how to develop a story, and weave ideas and events in an orderly fashion so that they make sense. Well – isn’t that a little like a dissertation?! Literature keeps the reader reading and looking for resolution. So if you are a little rusty with plot development in your dissertation or school assignment, consider reading some pure fiction to get your mind thinking about logical development.

I have a Kindle 2 and downloaded the book for free from Amazon. I enjoyed the book because it is a thriller and while reading I DID NOT THINK ABOUT SCHOOLWORK!

Now…back to work on RSH9102B Assignment 12!

Does FreeRice really make a difference? Rice donated through the quizzes on FreeRice is distributed by the WFP. FreeRice rice fed 750,000 Mynamar citizens after the cyclone, 13,500 pregnant and nursing women in Cambodia for two months, 66,000 schoolchildren in Uganda for a week, and 108,000 Bhutanese refuges in Nepal for three days. It takes about 19,200 grains of rice to equal 400 grams, which is enough for two meals per day per person.

See more at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1684958/freerice_make_a_difference_in_the_fight.html

I get many requests asking about different types of online degrees. This is an article I wrote for Associated Content that you may find relevant to your own search.  

If you have ever considered becoming a teacher, an online education degree may be right for you…

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1648060/should_i_get_an_education_degree_online.html

President Barack Obama will not receive an honorary degree when he delivers the commencement address from
ArizonaStateUniversityon May 13, according to ASU President Michael Crow. This highly controversial decision has refueled the debate about honorary degrees and who should receive them. Instead of an honorary degree, a scholarship program for students with financial need has been named for the president.

Spokesperson Sharon Keeler stated that honorary degrees from ASU are conferred on individuals with a body of work, and President Obama did not yet have a body of work because his presidency has just begun. Many have claimed that President Obama already has already made a significant contribution to society and is deserving of the honor. ASU President Michael Crow indicated that the university did not award honorary degrees to sitting politicians. Previous honorary doctorates have been awarded to scientists, humanitarians, and public servants. However, donors and business leaders are also on the list. According to the Arizona State University website, author Erma Bombeck, astronaut Frank Borman, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, journalist Walter Cronkite, and film director Blake Edwards among many others have received honorary degrees from Arizona State University.

There are two sides to the controversy of awarding honorary degrees…

Read the rest of the article:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1643590/asu_chooses_not_to_award_honorary_doctorate.html

April is National Poetry Month and to join the fun, I wrote a haiku in celebration of John Denver and his music. John Denver’s music spoke to me as a teenager, and still does even today. His clear and honest voice reminds me of the beauty of our world and relationships to our loved ones. John Denver was once called the “Poet for the Planet.” Here is my haiku for you to enjoy:

John Denver

Rocky Mountain High:
Soaring eagles, endless sky;
Colorado home.

The poem is published over on Associated Content, here’s the link: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1638238/john_denver.html

Click the poster and learn more about National Poetry Month:

After a long winter, spring flowers in my yard remind me of warm days to come. I take a garden walk and discover that even the bumble bees are smitten with flower-love.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/15016/spring_flowers_herald_the_season_.html

My goal was simply to replace the 17” monitor with a widescreen. I had a tight budget but elected to move up to the $279.99 Samsung P2370 after looking at the monitors on display. I took it home, set it up and proceeded to get blown away…

See more at…

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1604058/nontechie_review_samsung_p2370_23_widescreen.html

One of the keys to personal and community success is creating a learning environment. Everyone around you benefits when you choose to increase your knowledge and skill sets. Although formal education is important, a lifelong learner is one who is always on the lookout to learn something.

Read more at:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1584631/become_a_lifelong_learner_its_easier.html