themelvinator Blog

Today I finished 3 out of 4 exams for the week. Is it just me, or is it that all the exams fall the week before spring break. I don’t understand why instructors do this. I have a mental image of my 4 instructors standing around the water cooler in the teachers lounge all putting together this plot, of getting students brain freezes right before their spring breaks. Just one more exam to go, which is scheduled for Thursday morning.

Nothing much is going on, just school (a typical college student response). I am reading an especially intriguing book about the history of capitalism… in case your interested.

Speaking about spring break, I am going to Boulder, Colorado next week. We have a group from my church going to share the Gospel to students on the University of Colorado, Boulder. I am excited, first of all because it COLORADO and second is that I haven’t been on a spring break outreach for a few years (OK, scratch out few and substitute about 5, or is it 6, I don’t remember). I haven’t been to Colorado in ages; I think the last time was when Steve went to math camp, which was in Golden, Colorado (yes, home of the Coors bottling company) so many years ago.

Another mention, my latest computer game that I am playing is called Industry Giant 2, and it is totally addicting. I am one who likes to play video games, growing up with consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super NES. I like all sorts of genre of games, but most interested in strategy, RPG (role playing games), and some first person shooters. I still am playing Dragon Quest VIII off and on, hopefully going to beat the game someday. We didn’t have a computer until when I got to high school, around about 1994-95. Our first family computer was the Apple Power Macintosh 6100, which had a whopping 66MHz PowerPC processor and like 256 MB of RAM. It was killer in those days…

Anyway, I’m just wasting time now, I have a few errands to run.

Until next time…

Well, I am done for the week. I have tomorrow off, but I haven’t decided what to do for my day off. Should I see a movie? Rent some movies? Speaking about renting movies, Tim (by referral by Other Brother, Steve) discovered RedBox at our local Wal-mart. RedBox, if you don’t know already, is a jukebox like machine that dispenses movies that you want to rent for $1.00 per day, per movie. It has quite a selection for it being as large as a standard Coke machine. I think it’s a great concept, and they are currently expanding it to more towns across the U.S.

I’m thinking that I might just bum around the house. I have some books that I would like to get to. (I know, your probably saying, “Boring” or [yawning] right about now). Although, an idea just popped into my head. Since the Tucson weather is getting more favorable (it’s like 80 degrees outside), I might just go for a swim!

Back to the subject at hand, I have two exams to study for next week, both on Wednesday and both ironically is in the subject of history. I’m not too worried about either of them, just thought I would share.

Well, I don’t have anymore ideas at the moment.

Until next time…

I don’t have any ideas about a subject, so I will share one of my iPod playlists. Many people ask me, “Melvin, how do you study so effectively?”. Well, I’ll tell you. One of the ways I have found is to listen to certain music that you can concentrate with (notice that I say with, not on), that keeps you focused at the task at hand. For some, it could be classical, it could be jazz, or for others it could also be garage grunge. I don’t really know if this is by anyway “scientific”, but it works for me.

Here is a specific playlist that I listen to when I study, or when I read textbooks. I also listen to this when I take a nap or just like to listen to quiet music. My playlist is entitled “Quiet Orchestral”…

1.) Gustav Holst “The Planets, Op. 32: II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace”

2.) Anton Dvorak “Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”: II. Largo”

3.) Aaron Copland “Quiet City”

4.) Aram Khachaturian “Selections from “Spartacus”: Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia”

5.) Ottorino Respighi “Feste Romane: II. Giubileo” [Roman Festivals: II. Giubileo]

6.) Ottorino Respighi “Fontane Di Roma: IV. La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto” [Fountains of Rome: IV. The Villa Medici Fountain at Sunset]

7.) Ottorino Respighi “Pini Di Roma: II. Pini presso uma catacomba” [Pines of Rome: II. The Pines Near a Catacomb]

8.) Aaron Copland “Appalachian Spring”

9.) Aaron Copland “Rodeo: II. Corral Nocturne”

10.) Gustav Mahler “Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan”: I. Langsam. Schleppend”

11.) Gustav Mahler “Symphony No. 4 in G Major: III. Ruheoll (Poco Adagio)”

12.) Gustav Mahler “Symphony No. 4 in G Major: IV. Sehr behaglich”

13.) Gustav Mahler “Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor: IV. Adagietto. Sehr Langsam”

14.) Gustav Mahler “Symphony No. 7 in E Minor: IV. Nachtmusik II: Andante amoroso”

This whole playlist takes about 3 hours to play through. I encourage anybody that is interested to listen to some of these pieces, all are like I mentioned quiet pieces. All of these pieces are accessible in iTunes as well. (A tip, if you want any of the Mahler symphonies, try and listen to the ones conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Orchestra. These are excellent, in my opinion). Also, I encourage anybody to test this theory out, to compile a playlist of your own and see if it works for you.

Until next time…

Before this semester, I had been remiss on history as a particularly engaging subject. Recently, I have been reading about certain icons in American history. Normally I read a good dose of books, ranging from the Bible, computer textbooks, periodicals, numerious blogs and such. I knocked out 4 books within a weeks time, which is a lot for me, probably averaging about 150-200+ pages per day. This is on top of the stuff I normally read on a daily basis. It’s actually kind of scary!

I am starting to have a new respect for the past, whether it’s about the early origins of American popular music, early American economic history and the railroad industry and other events and individuals and had an impact. I encourage anyone to start reading about events in history. It doesn’t have to center around a college history textbook, either. I have been using things that interested me currently:

1.) I’m taking an American history class, so I have been reading books about certain parts of American history that peaked my interests, in this case early American economic theory and the major players.

2.) I love to listen to jazz, so I have been researching on certain jazz figures, like Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington and other greats.

3.) I have an interest on computer technology and where it is going, so I have been reading books about how past computer technologies and computer business has formed into what it is today. This includes reading about characters like Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple, NeXT Computers, Pixar), Linus Torvalds (started the development of Linux), Pierre Omidyar (founder of eBay) and other “movers and shakers”. Currently, I am reading about Steve Jobs; his early history at Apple, when he got fired from Apple and his move on creating a powerful computer with NeXT, buying the company The Graphics Group, which got renamed Pixar, and his return to Apple and so on.

Well, I suppose it’s time to go. I have a music exam this afternoon and I am ready for it. I say, “Bring it on!”.

Until next time…

Just decided to take a quick break between studying. So far I have taken 2 of my exams this week, with 1 tomorrow and 1 on Wednesday. I felt confident in the last two, am a little worried about tomorrow’s and ready as I could every be for Wednesday’s. Just a few more hours to study (History); I don’t believe in all nighters anymore. I remember studying for the final in chemistry one semester when I was up for about 36 hours straight. My exam was like at 8 a.m. and I remember looking out of my window, my eyes puffy and red, looking at the sunrise that morning. I was so unprepared. I took the exam and actually fell asleep for like 30 minutes during the exam; I ended up with a C for the semester…ahh, those were the days!

A little quiet here at the cave (a.k.a. my apartment) with Tim gone home for a few days. I think he will be back in town on Wednesday, just about when all the craziness of school has subsided.

Anyway, I better get back to studying.

Until next time…

Decided to take a little break from reading. I didn’t realize just how much reading and knowledge retention it takes for history. I decided to use 3×5 cards for the bulk of my memorization. I also have an essay due tomorrow. I almost have it written out. It’s funny, I haven’t been in school for about 6 years and I am definitely taking a whole new approach to studying. I used to get assignments and I wouldn’t start them until they just before they were due. Now, I am effectively staying ahead of assignments and readings. Anyway, I do enjoy all my classes this semester. I am taking 12 units now, but I may add 3 more units later in the semester (by way of late-start classes). After tomorrow’s classes, Tim and I are going to see “Rambo” in the theater.

Here is a little background about my family. Tim is my little brother and also my roommate. We have been roommates for about 5 years now, since he moved down here to Tucson out of high school. I also have another brother, Steve. He has been down a little longer than Tim; he got his degree at the U of A and now works with the College of Medicine as a web developer.

Anyway, I better finish that essay if I want to see “Rambo” tomorrow. I will write a review about it tomorrow.

Until next time…

So far, I am enjoying my college experience. I have one instructor that is a laid-back, down to earth Linux fanatic. I have another instructor that is a jazz musician. My history instructor although is hard to understand (there is always a professor/teacher/lab instructor every semester) is very engaging and is knowledgeable. I haven’t bought my textbooks yet, and was hoping I didn’t really have to (some classes are like that), but I must get those today. I just hope I can re-sell these at the end of the semester.

I am also pro actively practicing my trumpet. I have been playing since the sixth grade. I played in high school (marching band, concert band and jazz) and in my first 2 years in college at the U of A (Pride of Arizona marching band). I also play in my church music group. I have 2 trumpets: one a Bb Bach Strad LR-180 with a reverse leadpipe and the other a C Stomvi Elite. I have been setting aside at least an hour a day (sometimes 2) to practice. I mainly use the Arban Complete Conservatory Method and the Schlossberg: Daily Drills and Technical Studies. So far, I enjoy putting in the time to practice and have been noticing a change in my playing.

Well, I better start my homework for next week.

Until next time…

I am officially back in the saddle again. After being dormant for 5 months (to the day, I may add), I am posting another rant to the blog-o-sphere. Also, I am starting college classes today as well. It’s kind of weird. I haven’t been in school for 3 years. I guess it is time to finally get that degree! I am working for a Bachelor in Business Administration, and perhaps a minor in Computer Science (or Computer Engineering); I haven’t decided yet.

As some of you may know already, I no longer work at Jason’s Deli. I left back in September and haven’t looked back since. I have been with the company for many, many years (about 10 years); first as an employee, then into management. I enjoyed working for the company, learned a lot of lessons about responsibility, accountability, aspects of running a growing business and how to manage people. I have gained a lot of mentors and friendships over the years there and I am truly grateful for that, and I will cherish that for the rest of my life.

For the past few months, I have been brushing up on my web design muscles. Before Jason’s Deli, I was a web developer for the Department of Hydrology, at the University of Arizona. A lot has changed in 10 years. I remember using notepad (or vi in UNIX) to create and modify code. JavaScript, Perl, CGI, CSS and other technologies was in it’s infancy. Now there is so much more technologies to learn, so many more options.

Anyway, I have to go to class now.

Until next time…