Where can you surf for free if you want to get off campus? This online map has a useful list, and also serves as a nice rundown of some of the more interesting coffee shops in town. If you've not been there, check out Blackwater, Kickstand, Cutter's Point on Pacific, and Commencement Bay. And Firehouse just off campus is a wonderful addition to our neighborhood.
http://wwwb.thenewstribune.com/gmaps/wifi/
Sunday, July 30, 2006
DIY
A few things today that deal with business:
Thinking about starting your own business? There's a piece in the Wall Street Journal about becoming an entrepreneur when you're under 30; even if you've no such plans, the general advice on how to manage your career and finances is useful. The article here;
What does good commercial design look like? This website has the news and ideas behind what is leading the way in commercial design: http://www.springwise.com/
Do CEO's blog? Should they? The New York Times considers this question here.
Thinking about starting your own business? There's a piece in the Wall Street Journal about becoming an entrepreneur when you're under 30; even if you've no such plans, the general advice on how to manage your career and finances is useful. The article here;
What does good commercial design look like? This website has the news and ideas behind what is leading the way in commercial design: http://www.springwise.com/
Do CEO's blog? Should they? The New York Times considers this question here.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Global Youth Partnership for Africa
I received this picture from student Adam Davis, taken at a camp for internally displaced persons in Northern Uganda. Adam spent two weeks in Uganda this summer as part of the Global Youth Partnership for Africa. Find out more about the particular program Adam participated in and see more pictures here.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Young Professionals International Network
I just received this invite from the folks at The Internationalist magazine up in Seattle, and I'd thought I'd pass it along. Just tell them at the door that you're my close personal friend and they'll let you past the velvet ropes.
...ok, so I don't have that kind of pull, and in fact everyone is welcome. Students and recent grads in the area, this sounds like a great event--go!
Here's more about the Young Professionals International Network.
I think this is the point at which I say something like "Students, I wish when I was your age I had had resources like this, but instead I spent all my time doing homework by lamplight and walking to school uphill both ways."
Host: YPIN Seattle
Location: Porta by the Market
113 Virginia Street, Seattle, WA
When: Thursday, August 17, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
YPIN and Internationalist Magazine invite you to join us on Thursday, August 17th for a fun and engaging Happy Hour/ Networking Night.
This summer’s two YPIN Happy Hours have been outstanding!!! Both have attracted over 50 attendees, and everyone has had a great time sharing travel stories, talking trade or international politics, or just meeting cool people with broad worldviews. This month YPIN is partnering with the Internationalist, a locally-based magazine distributed on colleges nation-wide, whose goal is to encourage discussion of international issues among today’s young thinkers. Sound familiar? They’re really fun and doing great work.
On Thursday, August 17th we have reserved the entire restaurant of Porta by the Market from 5:00-8:00pm. There will be a fantastic Greek buffet, cheap drinks for everyone, and only $3 a person to get in! This is a perfect time to meet new people, learn more about the Council and the Internationalist, and introduce your globally savvy friends to both organizations. Over 100 young professionals who are curious about the world will be there. Come build your network of internationally-minded people and have fun at this enjoyable YPIN/Internationalist event.
Time: 5:00-8:00pm
Location: Porta by the Market (113 Virginia Street—between 1st & 2nd Ave—Seattle 98101). We have the whole restaurant reserved!!!
Cost: $3 for everyone, includes Greek buffet & happy hour priced drinks ($2 beers, $4 wells).
ABOUT YPIN
The Young Professionals International Network (YPIN) is a program of the World Affairs Council that provides people in their 20s and 30s with professional and social opportunities to discuss and learn more about critical world issues. Whether you are a seasoned global citizen or would like to become one, YPIN offers you a community engaged in substantive programs that broaden international awareness in our region and beyond. Please contact us at ypin_seattle@yahoo.com if you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas.
...ok, so I don't have that kind of pull, and in fact everyone is welcome. Students and recent grads in the area, this sounds like a great event--go!
Here's more about the Young Professionals International Network.
I think this is the point at which I say something like "Students, I wish when I was your age I had had resources like this, but instead I spent all my time doing homework by lamplight and walking to school uphill both ways."
Host: YPIN Seattle
Location: Porta by the Market
113 Virginia Street, Seattle, WA
When: Thursday, August 17, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
YPIN and Internationalist Magazine invite you to join us on Thursday, August 17th for a fun and engaging Happy Hour/ Networking Night.
This summer’s two YPIN Happy Hours have been outstanding!!! Both have attracted over 50 attendees, and everyone has had a great time sharing travel stories, talking trade or international politics, or just meeting cool people with broad worldviews. This month YPIN is partnering with the Internationalist, a locally-based magazine distributed on colleges nation-wide, whose goal is to encourage discussion of international issues among today’s young thinkers. Sound familiar? They’re really fun and doing great work.
On Thursday, August 17th we have reserved the entire restaurant of Porta by the Market from 5:00-8:00pm. There will be a fantastic Greek buffet, cheap drinks for everyone, and only $3 a person to get in! This is a perfect time to meet new people, learn more about the Council and the Internationalist, and introduce your globally savvy friends to both organizations. Over 100 young professionals who are curious about the world will be there. Come build your network of internationally-minded people and have fun at this enjoyable YPIN/Internationalist event.
Time: 5:00-8:00pm
Location: Porta by the Market (113 Virginia Street—between 1st & 2nd Ave—Seattle 98101). We have the whole restaurant reserved!!!
Cost: $3 for everyone, includes Greek buffet & happy hour priced drinks ($2 beers, $4 wells).
ABOUT YPIN
The Young Professionals International Network (YPIN) is a program of the World Affairs Council that provides people in their 20s and 30s with professional and social opportunities to discuss and learn more about critical world issues. Whether you are a seasoned global citizen or would like to become one, YPIN offers you a community engaged in substantive programs that broaden international awareness in our region and beyond. Please contact us at ypin_seattle@yahoo.com if you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas.
Where in the World?
You'll notice at the bottom of the right hand column there's now a "cluster map" which lists where all of our blog traffic comes from. It is updated once a day, and doesn't record past traffic, but even with one day of visits you can see the range of locations our readers come from. This information is otherwise pretty general--though I might know that someone read the blog from Romania, I have no idea who that person might be. It's fascinating to know where our alums or students might be, but also frustrating in that I want to know more about who they are and what they are up to. So check out the map from time to time and you, too, can visualize our Puget Sound diaspora.
In terms of sheer numbers, we've had over 3,000 visits since starting, averaging about 1300-1400 a month. Once school starts I suspect those numbers will go up.
In terms of sheer numbers, we've had over 3,000 visits since starting, averaging about 1300-1400 a month. Once school starts I suspect those numbers will go up.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Wiki Woes
In keeping with our earlier post on the limitations of Wikipedia, a great piece in The New Yorker on how it came about, those (often compulsive) people who add to it, and its limitations in knowledge and readability. The article is here.
Update: Seth Doherty sends along this appropriate addition to the discussion--a somewhat different stylistic take on the issue compared to the article above. Thanks, Seth.
Update: Seth Doherty sends along this appropriate addition to the discussion--a somewhat different stylistic take on the issue compared to the article above. Thanks, Seth.
In Memoriam: Chris Pate '99
Chris Pate '99, a graduate of the University of Puget Sound with a degree in Business, was killed in Anbar, Iraq, where he had been serving with the Marines. He is, to the best of my knowledge, the first UPS grad killed in that conflict. Our thoughts go out to his family.
An article about Chris in The Oregonian.
Son wore many hats, but 'hero' may fit best
Killed in Iraq - Capt. Christopher Pate grew up in Oregon; loved ones recall him as a man of the world
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
DAVID R. ANDERSON
The Oregonian
Student of Eastern religions. Mountain climber. Triathlete. Polyglot. Marine. Renaissance man.
Those are among the words family and friends use to describe U.S. Marine Capt. Christopher T. Pate, who died Friday in the Anbar province of Iraq after an improvised explosive device ripped through his patrol.
Now they add "hero."
Marine officers are telling Pate's parents, Jerry and Kathy Pate, that their 29-year-old son used his dying words to radio for help. Two sergeants training Iraqi soldiers with Pate lost legs in the attack. Pate's call might have saved their lives, Jerry Pate said.
He cried Tuesday as he said his only child might win the Bronze Star for heroism.
Chris Pate, who was raised in Beaverton and graduated from Oregon Episcopal School in Raleigh Hills, was a man of the world. He paddled the Amazon River while learning Spanish. He studied for a year in Germany, not knowing the language before attending the University of Freiberg. And he was studying Arabic in Iraq.
As a student at Oregon Episcopal, he spent Winterim, the extracurricular week before spring break, at a Buddhist monastery in Washington. And then he went fishing in Alaska with his dad.
"He liked to think of himself as a renaissance man," Jerry Pate said from his home in central Florida.
Alex Sutton and Jon Reali on Tuesday remembered their boyhood friend as someone who loved to beat competitors in triathlons. He still had the Isuzu Rodeo he bought as a high school junior. And if he said he would be at your house at 5 a.m. to go fishing, he was there at 5 a.m. -- with coffee.
Pate wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle, not because he had one, but because he might need to know someday. Going to Powell's Books with Pate turned into an esoteric journey through Eastern religions, Norse mythology and other surprises.
"Things you wouldn't expect from the average Marine," Sutton said.
"He didn't fit any mold," Reali said. "He chose his own path."
Sutton's favorite memory of his friend was from when they were 14. Sutton was going on a rare camping trip without his friend. Pate hid two bricks in Sutton's backpack, along with a note.
"Hey, Alex, I just wanted to let you know how important physical fitness is and you're looking a little flabby." The note ended with a caution that the bricks belonged to Sutton's mom and she wanted them back.
But the mischievous boy became a man. Reali will always remember Pate, the stoic bald-headed Marine, getting emotional while offering a toast at Sutton's wedding in September. Pate didn't like public speaking, but he brought down the house.
"It broke him up to say those things," Reali said. "But that was the one point I can say I was most proud."
Pate was born in Orlando, Fla. His family moved to Beaverton in 1984, and Pate attended Elmonica Elementary, Five Oaks Middle and Aloha High schools before transferring to Oregon Episcopal as a junior.
Pate had been in talented-and-gifted programs, but went to the private school for an added academic challenge, Jerry Pate said.
His son was a rock climber, scuba diver, skier and white-water kayaker. In school, he played football, lacrosse and soccer.
"He was a natural Northwest boy," his father said.
Pate graduated from Oregon Episcopal in 1995. He received an academic scholarship to the University of Puget Sound and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a specialty in international business. During college, he rowed in crew and spent a year in Germany. After graduation, he went to South America to learn Spanish.
Pate joined the Marines in December 1999.
"It was an organization he saw as being a special group that was committed to American values," Jerry Pate said.
Chris Pate reached the rank of captain in July 2004. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and assigned to the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
His service took him to Okinawa, Korea, Thailand, South America and Yemen. Then Pate volunteered for two tours in Iraq, his father said. His parents wouldn't have chosen a war zone.
"As parents, of course, we just want some safe harbor for our child," Jerry Pate said.
At one point, he could have stayed home.
"He said, 'Dad, I trained those people, and I have the obligation to look after them,' " Jerry Pate said.
His tour in Iraq was scheduled to end in November.
The family is planning a private memorial ceremony. Pate will be interred in the Portland area, his father said.
Pate was engaged to marry Margaret A. Stearns, whom he met as a classmate at Oregon Episcopal. They had bought the rings and were making arrangements.
The couple were thinking about moving to Washington, D.C., Jerry Pate said. Chris wasn't sure what to do after the Marines, but with his background -- business degree, military accolades and foreign languages -- the sky was the limit. Maybe medical school. His friends wouldn't have been surprised if his future was in intelligence.
"Nothing I'm sure he could ever tell us about," Reali said.
Four days before he died, Pate sent his parents an e-mail. He had just sold some investment property and was looking forward to his wedding.
"It was the happiest he'd ever been in his life," his father said.
An article about Chris in The Oregonian.
Son wore many hats, but 'hero' may fit best
Killed in Iraq - Capt. Christopher Pate grew up in Oregon; loved ones recall him as a man of the world
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
DAVID R. ANDERSON
The Oregonian
Student of Eastern religions. Mountain climber. Triathlete. Polyglot. Marine. Renaissance man.
Those are among the words family and friends use to describe U.S. Marine Capt. Christopher T. Pate, who died Friday in the Anbar province of Iraq after an improvised explosive device ripped through his patrol.
Now they add "hero."
Marine officers are telling Pate's parents, Jerry and Kathy Pate, that their 29-year-old son used his dying words to radio for help. Two sergeants training Iraqi soldiers with Pate lost legs in the attack. Pate's call might have saved their lives, Jerry Pate said.
He cried Tuesday as he said his only child might win the Bronze Star for heroism.
Chris Pate, who was raised in Beaverton and graduated from Oregon Episcopal School in Raleigh Hills, was a man of the world. He paddled the Amazon River while learning Spanish. He studied for a year in Germany, not knowing the language before attending the University of Freiberg. And he was studying Arabic in Iraq.
As a student at Oregon Episcopal, he spent Winterim, the extracurricular week before spring break, at a Buddhist monastery in Washington. And then he went fishing in Alaska with his dad.
"He liked to think of himself as a renaissance man," Jerry Pate said from his home in central Florida.
Alex Sutton and Jon Reali on Tuesday remembered their boyhood friend as someone who loved to beat competitors in triathlons. He still had the Isuzu Rodeo he bought as a high school junior. And if he said he would be at your house at 5 a.m. to go fishing, he was there at 5 a.m. -- with coffee.
Pate wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle, not because he had one, but because he might need to know someday. Going to Powell's Books with Pate turned into an esoteric journey through Eastern religions, Norse mythology and other surprises.
"Things you wouldn't expect from the average Marine," Sutton said.
"He didn't fit any mold," Reali said. "He chose his own path."
Sutton's favorite memory of his friend was from when they were 14. Sutton was going on a rare camping trip without his friend. Pate hid two bricks in Sutton's backpack, along with a note.
"Hey, Alex, I just wanted to let you know how important physical fitness is and you're looking a little flabby." The note ended with a caution that the bricks belonged to Sutton's mom and she wanted them back.
But the mischievous boy became a man. Reali will always remember Pate, the stoic bald-headed Marine, getting emotional while offering a toast at Sutton's wedding in September. Pate didn't like public speaking, but he brought down the house.
"It broke him up to say those things," Reali said. "But that was the one point I can say I was most proud."
Pate was born in Orlando, Fla. His family moved to Beaverton in 1984, and Pate attended Elmonica Elementary, Five Oaks Middle and Aloha High schools before transferring to Oregon Episcopal as a junior.
Pate had been in talented-and-gifted programs, but went to the private school for an added academic challenge, Jerry Pate said.
His son was a rock climber, scuba diver, skier and white-water kayaker. In school, he played football, lacrosse and soccer.
"He was a natural Northwest boy," his father said.
Pate graduated from Oregon Episcopal in 1995. He received an academic scholarship to the University of Puget Sound and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a specialty in international business. During college, he rowed in crew and spent a year in Germany. After graduation, he went to South America to learn Spanish.
Pate joined the Marines in December 1999.
"It was an organization he saw as being a special group that was committed to American values," Jerry Pate said.
Chris Pate reached the rank of captain in July 2004. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and assigned to the 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
His service took him to Okinawa, Korea, Thailand, South America and Yemen. Then Pate volunteered for two tours in Iraq, his father said. His parents wouldn't have chosen a war zone.
"As parents, of course, we just want some safe harbor for our child," Jerry Pate said.
At one point, he could have stayed home.
"He said, 'Dad, I trained those people, and I have the obligation to look after them,' " Jerry Pate said.
His tour in Iraq was scheduled to end in November.
The family is planning a private memorial ceremony. Pate will be interred in the Portland area, his father said.
Pate was engaged to marry Margaret A. Stearns, whom he met as a classmate at Oregon Episcopal. They had bought the rings and were making arrangements.
The couple were thinking about moving to Washington, D.C., Jerry Pate said. Chris wasn't sure what to do after the Marines, but with his background -- business degree, military accolades and foreign languages -- the sky was the limit. Maybe medical school. His friends wouldn't have been surprised if his future was in intelligence.
"Nothing I'm sure he could ever tell us about," Reali said.
Four days before he died, Pate sent his parents an e-mail. He had just sold some investment property and was looking forward to his wedding.
"It was the happiest he'd ever been in his life," his father said.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Korby Parnell '94
by way of email:
"I graduated in '94. Direct application of my major (P&G) was a bit slow in coming. I volunteered on John Kerry's Senate campaign in '96 and Howard Dean's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2004. Closer to home, I regularly contribute to congressional and local campaigns and I have been a Planning Commissioner in the City of Redmond for a little over 2 years; my labor of love. I now live in Redmond (obviously) and work at Microsoft as a Product Manager on the Microsoft.com Communities and Collaboration team, a role in which I collect customer feedback for, design, and market sites for customer communities of practice.
I look forward to helping out in any way you see fit (just ask). For more information about me, you can read my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/korbyp. Oh yeah, blogs.msdn.com is one of my babies. ;-)"
I enjoyed looking at Korby's blog, though I understood almost nothing of what he was talking about...
"I graduated in '94. Direct application of my major (P&G) was a bit slow in coming. I volunteered on John Kerry's Senate campaign in '96 and Howard Dean's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2004. Closer to home, I regularly contribute to congressional and local campaigns and I have been a Planning Commissioner in the City of Redmond for a little over 2 years; my labor of love. I now live in Redmond (obviously) and work at Microsoft as a Product Manager on the Microsoft.com Communities and Collaboration team, a role in which I collect customer feedback for, design, and market sites for customer communities of practice.
I look forward to helping out in any way you see fit (just ask). For more information about me, you can read my blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/korbyp. Oh yeah, blogs.msdn.com is one of my babies. ;-)"
I enjoyed looking at Korby's blog, though I understood almost nothing of what he was talking about...
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Business Coursework
Here's an open question to alums. Several of you have mentioned that in retrospect you wish you had taken a few more (or any) business courses while an undergrad. If you had to recommend two, what would they be? I'd appreciate any comments as a way to guide majors who might ask.
Blogs and Jobs
I've posted in past about the potential dangers of information "overshare," where personal information or opinions put online are subject to scrutiny. In the Chronicle of Higher Education there's a series of short pieces on academic bloggers and what impact, if any, it might have on their job and job security. Worth reading; you can find it here.
Pickin and Grinnin
You may not be aware of it, but Professor Share is a well-known bluegrass musician, which provides the department with endless opportunities to tease him. And here's your chance to sample his talents:
Summer greetings from the DownTown Mountain Boys!
We hope you will join us at the Adventure Bluegrass Festival this weekend (July 28-30). This wonderful festival takes place in a spectacular setting: the Skamania County Fairgrounds at Stevenson, WA, in the heart of the Columbia Gorge, and on the banks of the Columbia River. We'll give a free concert at the nearby Skamania Lodge at 3 p.m. (Saturday, July 29), and will perform again at the festival at 8 p.m. that evening, right before the weekend headliners and bluegrass legends, The Seldom Scene. For more information (including ticket prices and directions) see: http://www.acousticsound.org/!ab_home.htm
We'd also like to encourage you to attend the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshops in Sorrento, British Columbia. We'll be teaching and performing there during the first week of that camp. For more information, see http://www.musicworkshops.ca/Bluegrasshomepage/Bluegrass_home.htm
For more information on the band (including some new sound clips) visit
http://www.downtownmountainboys.com
We wish all of you a summer of warm weather and hot picking!
The Boys:
Paul Elliott
Terry Enyeart
Dave Keenan
Tom Moran
Don Share
Summer greetings from the DownTown Mountain Boys!
We hope you will join us at the Adventure Bluegrass Festival this weekend (July 28-30). This wonderful festival takes place in a spectacular setting: the Skamania County Fairgrounds at Stevenson, WA, in the heart of the Columbia Gorge, and on the banks of the Columbia River. We'll give a free concert at the nearby Skamania Lodge at 3 p.m. (Saturday, July 29), and will perform again at the festival at 8 p.m. that evening, right before the weekend headliners and bluegrass legends, The Seldom Scene. For more information (including ticket prices and directions) see: http://www.acousticsound.org/!ab_home.htm
We'd also like to encourage you to attend the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshops in Sorrento, British Columbia. We'll be teaching and performing there during the first week of that camp. For more information, see http://www.musicworkshops.ca/Bluegrasshomepage/Bluegrass_home.htm
For more information on the band (including some new sound clips) visit
http://www.downtownmountainboys.com
We wish all of you a summer of warm weather and hot picking!
The Boys:
Paul Elliott
Terry Enyeart
Dave Keenan
Tom Moran
Don Share
Monday, July 24, 2006
Gaming
For many years faculty have used a variety of games (loosely speaking) as a way to teach their subject. In political science simulations have been common, for example.
Sunday's New York Times discussed the development of several recent video games with a political edge:
Peacemaker, which focuses on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (check out the video overview here)
And A Force More Powerful, which deals with non-violent political protest.
Whatever the limitations of these games (in technology, design or content), they are intriguing.
Sunday's New York Times discussed the development of several recent video games with a political edge:
Peacemaker, which focuses on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (check out the video overview here)
And A Force More Powerful, which deals with non-violent political protest.
Whatever the limitations of these games (in technology, design or content), they are intriguing.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Intern Experiences
There's a piece in the Wall Street Journal that recounts a law student's internship for the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. Read it here.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Tacoma's Public Spaces
In a few recent posts (here, here and here) I've noted some ongoing discussions inside and outside of Tacoma regarding urban development and public spaces. Two interesting developments have been Tacoma and Bremerton's waterfront development as a model for Seattle, and the unveiling of the Project for Public Spaces report on making our downtown more public-friendly. PPS is a New York based organization that recently did a workshop in town to provide guidance on how to get more people back into the urban core.
My main source of information on all of this is Katie Rose '05. Originally from Portland, since graduation Katie has stayed in town as a political consultant, and has become tightly connected to what's going on. One of the things I mention to students interested in local politics and civic affairs is that if you want to stay in Tacoma, it's small enough that you can become very connected very quickly. Anyway, here are some notes from Katie:
"The Executive Council took an afternoon trip to look at Bremerton's accomplishments in their waterfront revitalization. I did wind up going to the Town Hall meeting in Seattle, so I knew (sort of) what was coming. In short, the Tacoma people were blown away. We had 16 people go, nine of which were Executive Council members. The Bremerton people kept saying what a great job Tacoma has done and how they were basing their five year plan off of us...the concept of a "mayoral exchange" program was discussed.
We had about an hour of presentations, from Mayor Bozeman, their Redevelopment Agency executive, the Director of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and one of the commissioners from the Port of Bremerton. After that, the city's Economic Development Director took us on a walking tour of the waterfront development currently under construction...There was a lot of talk about what Tacoma should do now (including from the City Manager), so now it's a matter of keeping that going..."
It's been a few years since I've been to Bremerton. Some of you may have been there to see the USS Turner Joy, remembered in part for its role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Looks like it's worth taking a trip up there to see what's going on.
And from the Business Improvement Area blog, here's the PPS report and summary of its main points for improving downtown.
My main source of information on all of this is Katie Rose '05. Originally from Portland, since graduation Katie has stayed in town as a political consultant, and has become tightly connected to what's going on. One of the things I mention to students interested in local politics and civic affairs is that if you want to stay in Tacoma, it's small enough that you can become very connected very quickly. Anyway, here are some notes from Katie:
"The Executive Council took an afternoon trip to look at Bremerton's accomplishments in their waterfront revitalization. I did wind up going to the Town Hall meeting in Seattle, so I knew (sort of) what was coming. In short, the Tacoma people were blown away. We had 16 people go, nine of which were Executive Council members. The Bremerton people kept saying what a great job Tacoma has done and how they were basing their five year plan off of us...the concept of a "mayoral exchange" program was discussed.
We had about an hour of presentations, from Mayor Bozeman, their Redevelopment Agency executive, the Director of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and one of the commissioners from the Port of Bremerton. After that, the city's Economic Development Director took us on a walking tour of the waterfront development currently under construction...There was a lot of talk about what Tacoma should do now (including from the City Manager), so now it's a matter of keeping that going..."
It's been a few years since I've been to Bremerton. Some of you may have been there to see the USS Turner Joy, remembered in part for its role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Looks like it's worth taking a trip up there to see what's going on.
And from the Business Improvement Area blog, here's the PPS report and summary of its main points for improving downtown.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Show us the sights
We're still on the prowl for visual sightings of alums and students in action. Send along a photo--it can be of you or some place you are or have been, and provide a caption. I'll put them up on the Flickr site and post them to the blog. Now's your chance for fame, if not fortune.
And here's another local picture:
Old City Hall downtown, which is slated for conversion into pricey condos. One will actually go part way up the belltower (and cost over a half-million dollars).
And here's another local picture:
Old City Hall downtown, which is slated for conversion into pricey condos. One will actually go part way up the belltower (and cost over a half-million dollars).
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Typing is so last century
There's an article in today's New York Times on the latest version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, voice recognition software for your PC. Microsoft also promises similar features in their next version of Windows, whenever that happens. Last summer I took a tumble and had my wrist and hand in a cast for some time, which made it nearly impossible to type. I used the voice recognition software in Windows XP and, while not perfect, it worked well enough for me. I know that Professor Sousa has also dabbled with this stuff in the past as well. Sounds like something I might give a spin this fall--sans injury, I hope.
People, Prosperity, and the Planet Student Design Competition
Michael Brown '86 also passed along word about this competition through the EPA. Students, are you interested in putting together a team of PG and science majors to develop a project? Let me know and we'll help. Check out some of the past projects here.
People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability
EPA and its partners launched the P3 Award in 2003 to promote innovative thinking for moving the world toward sustainability. Through this national student design competition, college students gain new skills and knowledge as they research, develop, design, and implement scientific and technical solutions to environmental challenges.
WHAT IS P3? P3 is the next step beyond P2 -- pollution prevention -- and focuses on the three components of sustainability: People, Prosperity and the Planet.
WHAT IS THE P3 AWARD COMPETITION? The competition has two phases. Initially, student teams compete for $10,000 grants. Recipients use the money to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. Then, in the following spring, all P3 grant recipients are invited to Washington, D.C. to compete for the P3 Award. The National Academies, advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, convene a panel to evaluate and recommend the award winners. The final award decisions are made by EPA.
WHAT IS THE P3 AWARD? The P3 Award is given to the highest-rated student designs. The award includes additional funding up to $75,000 that gives the students an opportunity to further develop their designs for sustainability, implement their projects in the field, and move them to the marketplace.
WHAT CATEGORIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE P3 AWARD? EPA considers challenges from a wide range of categories, including agriculture, built environment, ecosystems, materials and chemicals, energy, information resources, and water. Challenges related to population growth and medical care, while important, are not included in this competition, other than the delivery or distribution systems of knowledge, goods, and supplies.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Institutions of higher education located in the U.S. are eligible to apply as the recipients of grants to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Collaboration and partnerships with colleges and universities outside the United States are permitted, but only U.S. institutions are eligible to apply.
HOW TO APPLY: Application procedures and materials can be found at: www.epa.gov/P3. Information about awards can also be found at this Web site.
APPLICATION REVIEW: A peer review panel evaluates all P3 applications based on problem definition; innovation and technical merit; connections to sustainability in terms of P3; measurable results, evaluation method, implementation strategy; and integration of the P3 Award competition as an educational tool. Final funding decisions are made by EPA.
People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability
EPA and its partners launched the P3 Award in 2003 to promote innovative thinking for moving the world toward sustainability. Through this national student design competition, college students gain new skills and knowledge as they research, develop, design, and implement scientific and technical solutions to environmental challenges.
WHAT IS P3? P3 is the next step beyond P2 -- pollution prevention -- and focuses on the three components of sustainability: People, Prosperity and the Planet.
WHAT IS THE P3 AWARD COMPETITION? The competition has two phases. Initially, student teams compete for $10,000 grants. Recipients use the money to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. Then, in the following spring, all P3 grant recipients are invited to Washington, D.C. to compete for the P3 Award. The National Academies, advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, convene a panel to evaluate and recommend the award winners. The final award decisions are made by EPA.
WHAT IS THE P3 AWARD? The P3 Award is given to the highest-rated student designs. The award includes additional funding up to $75,000 that gives the students an opportunity to further develop their designs for sustainability, implement their projects in the field, and move them to the marketplace.
WHAT CATEGORIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE P3 AWARD? EPA considers challenges from a wide range of categories, including agriculture, built environment, ecosystems, materials and chemicals, energy, information resources, and water. Challenges related to population growth and medical care, while important, are not included in this competition, other than the delivery or distribution systems of knowledge, goods, and supplies.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Institutions of higher education located in the U.S. are eligible to apply as the recipients of grants to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Collaboration and partnerships with colleges and universities outside the United States are permitted, but only U.S. institutions are eligible to apply.
HOW TO APPLY: Application procedures and materials can be found at: www.epa.gov/P3. Information about awards can also be found at this Web site.
APPLICATION REVIEW: A peer review panel evaluates all P3 applications based on problem definition; innovation and technical merit; connections to sustainability in terms of P3; measurable results, evaluation method, implementation strategy; and integration of the P3 Award competition as an educational tool. Final funding decisions are made by EPA.
Michael Brown '86
This morning I had a long talk with Michael Brown '86. He is EPA’s Associate Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, and has a long history in DC politics, starting from the time he graduated from UPS and took an internship in the White House during the Reagan Administration. From there he worked on the George Bush Sr. campaign and joined his press office when Bush was elected. During the Clinton Administration he took a position with Fleishman-Hillard, and helped set up their Seattle office. He returned to DC to take his current position in the EPA. You can find more about him on the EPA's website here.
Michael described his current position as one which is focused on helping to translate scientific knowledge to relevant audiences, such as Congress or the public. He describes his current job as one of the most "fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging" jobs he's ever held.
What advice did Michael have for our majors? If you are interested in politics, come out to DC and do an internship--see what it is like and if it is for you. He commented that the internal culture of the beltway is far different from what outsiders might discern from the media. His own career began not in science, but in student politics on campus, so you never know where your interests and energy can take you.
To that end, we talked about paid internships at the EPA in DC. Interested in going out to DC, getting some hands-on experience, working with an alum, and getting paid in the process? Let me know.
We hope to have Michael out to speak to our students, perhaps as soon as this fall. I'll keep you posted. Thanks so much to him for taking the time to talk to me and offer to share his experiences with our department.
Finally, I'd like to put together a gathering of DC-area department alums and students sometime this fall. So if you are or will be in the DC area and we haven't already talked, do drop me an email.
Michael described his current position as one which is focused on helping to translate scientific knowledge to relevant audiences, such as Congress or the public. He describes his current job as one of the most "fulfilling, rewarding, and challenging" jobs he's ever held.
What advice did Michael have for our majors? If you are interested in politics, come out to DC and do an internship--see what it is like and if it is for you. He commented that the internal culture of the beltway is far different from what outsiders might discern from the media. His own career began not in science, but in student politics on campus, so you never know where your interests and energy can take you.
To that end, we talked about paid internships at the EPA in DC. Interested in going out to DC, getting some hands-on experience, working with an alum, and getting paid in the process? Let me know.
We hope to have Michael out to speak to our students, perhaps as soon as this fall. I'll keep you posted. Thanks so much to him for taking the time to talk to me and offer to share his experiences with our department.
Finally, I'd like to put together a gathering of DC-area department alums and students sometime this fall. So if you are or will be in the DC area and we haven't already talked, do drop me an email.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Challenge
A couple of posts back we noted that Kathleen Perez '08 is the leader for the UPS team in this year's AIDS walk in Tacoma. Kathleen is looking for donations, and we've put out the call, but let us faculty put our money where our mouth is, no?
The Politics and Government Department will match each and every donation up to a total of $100.00. So if you all can gather up a hundred bucks, we'll put in that amount as well, once I finish shaking down all the department members.
Make a donation; send us an email or leave a post below and let us know you how much you chipped in, and we'll do our part.
The Politics and Government Department will match each and every donation up to a total of $100.00. So if you all can gather up a hundred bucks, we'll put in that amount as well, once I finish shaking down all the department members.
Make a donation; send us an email or leave a post below and let us know you how much you chipped in, and we'll do our part.
Kari Manlove '06
Kari sends along this note:
"I have moved to Seattle, at least until September, and have working a pt-time internship with the non-profit Global Partnerships. I'm working on their website for the Initiative for Global Development, at www.igdleaders.org. The non-profit supports microfinance institutions in Central America to help alleviate poverty. Yesterday I worked on country profiles, so the course on Central America's political economy (taught by Professor Share--ed.) came in pretty handy. I'm in the communications/marketing department, but I'm still happy about what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with."
Sounds like a great first job. Congrats, Kari.
"I have moved to Seattle, at least until September, and have working a pt-time internship with the non-profit Global Partnerships. I'm working on their website for the Initiative for Global Development, at www.igdleaders.org. The non-profit supports microfinance institutions in Central America to help alleviate poverty. Yesterday I worked on country profiles, so the course on Central America's political economy (taught by Professor Share--ed.) came in pretty handy. I'm in the communications/marketing department, but I'm still happy about what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with."
Sounds like a great first job. Congrats, Kari.
Some Resources
The American Political Science Association has put together some resources primarily related to graduate school, including professional and masters degrees. Take a look here.
One thing I noticed was the upcoming student policy conference sponsored by the Roosevelt Institution in DC in August. Recall that RI is connected to the Internationalist Magazine in Seattle, which is published by UPS alums. Interested students and alums might think about presenting at this event next year, as it is open to professionals, undergraduates and graduates alike.
One thing I noticed was the upcoming student policy conference sponsored by the Roosevelt Institution in DC in August. Recall that RI is connected to the Internationalist Magazine in Seattle, which is published by UPS alums. Interested students and alums might think about presenting at this event next year, as it is open to professionals, undergraduates and graduates alike.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Grads and Finances
A short piece on Vanguard's website about how recent graduates can work toward financial security. Read it here.
Historic Tacoma
Like many cities, Tacoma has gone through periods of growth and decline, during which there have been various attempts to tear down much of the historic fabric of the city. When times are tough, demolition is touted as a way to revitalize an area, leading to such mistakes as the parking garages on Pacific Avenue, which were hoped to keep shoppers and businesses in the downtown after Tacoma Mall opened. Numerous historic buildings were raised to construct these garages, which created pedestrian "dead zones" that the city is trying to rehabilitate--or tear down in turn.
When times are good, old buildings often stand in the way of major projects, and developers want to see older structures levelled in order to gain access to the land.
Fortunately, Tacoma has been able to preserve a good chunk of its historical buildings, and has experienced a real transformation of formerly derelict stock. UW Tacoma is forged from a number of previously abandoned industrial structures downtown, the old Union Station is now a federal courthouse, Albers Mill next to the Museum of Glass are apartments.
And now Historic Tacoma has come into being--a citizen organization dedicated to preserving the city's architecture. This is a positive development, as it means the city's Landmark Preservation Commission (which I served on for four years) will have a civic partner.
If you're interested in historic preservation or what's up with these issues in Tacoma, check out their site.
When times are good, old buildings often stand in the way of major projects, and developers want to see older structures levelled in order to gain access to the land.
Fortunately, Tacoma has been able to preserve a good chunk of its historical buildings, and has experienced a real transformation of formerly derelict stock. UW Tacoma is forged from a number of previously abandoned industrial structures downtown, the old Union Station is now a federal courthouse, Albers Mill next to the Museum of Glass are apartments.
And now Historic Tacoma has come into being--a citizen organization dedicated to preserving the city's architecture. This is a positive development, as it means the city's Landmark Preservation Commission (which I served on for four years) will have a civic partner.
If you're interested in historic preservation or what's up with these issues in Tacoma, check out their site.
Welcome, Professor Ross; Bon Voyage, Professor Bonura
This fall we welcome into our department Professor Andrew Ross, who will join us for one year as a visiting assistant professor. Professor Ross is trained in the fields of international relations and political theory, with his degrees from the University of Victoria, Warwick (UK) and Johns Hopkins. In addition to the introductory course in international relations, this fall Professor Ross will offer two upper division courses: War, Peace, and the Mass Media, and Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict. If you are interested in knowing more you can find the course descriptions here. Prior to joining us Professor Ross was teaching at the University of Oregon.
Professor Ross will be filling in for Professor Carlo Bonura, who will be away this year on sabbatical. And by "away" we mean really away. Professor Bonura will spend most of his time in Thailand, where he'll be continuing his research and writing on Islamic education in Southern Thailand. He'll also spend some time in Vietnam as part of a program UPS had this year with Vietnam National University in Hanoi that was funded by ACLS and the Asia Network. One of their professors, Nguyen Quy Thanh, spent several weeks on our campus learning about our teaching methods, and Professor Bonura will spend a month on their campus in return.
Professor Bonura promises updates and pictures from his sojourn, or I carry out my threat to turn his office into a departmental cigar lounge while he's away.
Professor Ross will be filling in for Professor Carlo Bonura, who will be away this year on sabbatical. And by "away" we mean really away. Professor Bonura will spend most of his time in Thailand, where he'll be continuing his research and writing on Islamic education in Southern Thailand. He'll also spend some time in Vietnam as part of a program UPS had this year with Vietnam National University in Hanoi that was funded by ACLS and the Asia Network. One of their professors, Nguyen Quy Thanh, spent several weeks on our campus learning about our teaching methods, and Professor Bonura will spend a month on their campus in return.
Professor Bonura promises updates and pictures from his sojourn, or I carry out my threat to turn his office into a departmental cigar lounge while he's away.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
AIDS Walk
This email comes from Kathleen Perez '08:
Hello all University of Puget Sound Politics and Government associates!
The Pierce County AIDS Walk is fast approaching (Saturday, September 9). As captain of the UPS team, I need your help!
If you follow this link, you can donate to the AIDS Foundation through me by clicking here.
Of, if you would like to JOIN THE UPS TEAM, we would love to have you! Click here.
Pierce County is facing the fastest rate of new HIV infections in Washington state. The Foundation is dedicated to preventing the spread of the virus, as well as assisting those living with HIV/AIDS financially and emotionally, while also offering their expertise in obtaining affordable and appropriate healthcare. Every dollar and every walker counts. We need your enthusiastic participation in this fight against AIDS. Unfortunately, the University of Puget Sound has not been as involved with the Walk in recent years as in the past; let's change that this year with the help of the P&G department!
Please seriously consider the above and forward this to all of your contacts,
Kathleen Perez
UPS Team Captain
PG Minor, class of 2008
Hello all University of Puget Sound Politics and Government associates!
The Pierce County AIDS Walk is fast approaching (Saturday, September 9). As captain of the UPS team, I need your help!
If you follow this link, you can donate to the AIDS Foundation through me by clicking here.
Of, if you would like to JOIN THE UPS TEAM, we would love to have you! Click here.
Pierce County is facing the fastest rate of new HIV infections in Washington state. The Foundation is dedicated to preventing the spread of the virus, as well as assisting those living with HIV/AIDS financially and emotionally, while also offering their expertise in obtaining affordable and appropriate healthcare. Every dollar and every walker counts. We need your enthusiastic participation in this fight against AIDS. Unfortunately, the University of Puget Sound has not been as involved with the Walk in recent years as in the past; let's change that this year with the help of the P&G department!
Please seriously consider the above and forward this to all of your contacts,
Kathleen Perez
UPS Team Captain
PG Minor, class of 2008
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Externalities
Someone at the Wall Street Journal is thinking what I'm thinking...
"Getting the Scoop On a Future Boss"
I'd love to see the creation of a social network for educators that allowed us each to have a space for publications, class material, blogs, links and the rest, all networked to other instructors so that we could see what others are doing and share our work and experiences. I wonder if in future we'll see these kinds of social networks built around professions or other primary identities, which could have multiple overlapping "tags," depending on how we define ourselves, with certain areas of the space visible only to some networks and not others. The problem as it stands now is that it is difficult to have multiple personae online--you are expected to have one delicious site, one blog, one webpage. But in reality the private and the public require very different fora. It will be interesting to see if this can all get aggregated and yet segmented at the same time.
"Getting the Scoop On a Future Boss"
I'd love to see the creation of a social network for educators that allowed us each to have a space for publications, class material, blogs, links and the rest, all networked to other instructors so that we could see what others are doing and share our work and experiences. I wonder if in future we'll see these kinds of social networks built around professions or other primary identities, which could have multiple overlapping "tags," depending on how we define ourselves, with certain areas of the space visible only to some networks and not others. The problem as it stands now is that it is difficult to have multiple personae online--you are expected to have one delicious site, one blog, one webpage. But in reality the private and the public require very different fora. It will be interesting to see if this can all get aggregated and yet segmented at the same time.
Design Good
Darrel Frost '04 passes along this interesting site:
http://design-altruism-project.org/
Design in the service of civic causes. There's an interesting post about designing posters for the 2000 election in Rwanda.
http://design-altruism-project.org/
Design in the service of civic causes. There's an interesting post about designing posters for the 2000 election in Rwanda.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Tag, You're It
I have installed tagging software so that I can organize the blog posts and link them out to our delicious site. It will take me a while to go back and tag earlier stuff (there's already over a hundred posts), but I'll slowly get it integrated.
And here's a good collection of education-related news.
And here's a good collection of education-related news.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Seattle Notes
A few days back I posted a note about a talk in Seattle on revitalizing their waterfront drawing on the experiences of Tacoma and Bremerton. The Seattle PI has a couple of pieces that build on that discussion; thanks to Derek at Exit133 for pointing them out--he's got them linked here.
ASK what you can do for Puget Sound
Yes, you knew it was coming. The whole point of this blog was to soften up the alums for the inevitable sales pitch. So here it is:
Would you join UPS' Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Network? (Sorry, I left the link off earlier)
ASK is an online database of UPS alums willing to share their wisdom and experiences with students and other alums. It's a great way for people to search by major or career interest and find others who can be of help. It would take just a few minutes for you to set up a profile.
If you've already done one, thank you, and would you check to update the material if necessary?
The signup process requires a login and password to get into the site:
login: career
password: goodluck (one word)
Thanks so much.
Would you join UPS' Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK) Network? (Sorry, I left the link off earlier)
ASK is an online database of UPS alums willing to share their wisdom and experiences with students and other alums. It's a great way for people to search by major or career interest and find others who can be of help. It would take just a few minutes for you to set up a profile.
If you've already done one, thank you, and would you check to update the material if necessary?
The signup process requires a login and password to get into the site:
login: career
password: goodluck (one word)
Thanks so much.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Pen Hack
Why not turn your cheap pen into a Mont Blanc without paying the MB pricetag? Modify an MB refill and put it in your Pilot G2. It's so crazy, it just might work...
Podcast my Degree
A piece in the Boston Globe about podcasting class lectures and whether this is will be an obstacle to learning.
Of course, there's another issue, which is whether it's a gimmick that will fade away. Reading this discussion reminds me of how people got excited about the ways in which they believed phonographs, film, radio, VCRs and the web would transform if not eliminate the very idea of the classroom.
The problem often seems to be that technological changes are jammed into old structures and narratives since that's what we know. Dramatic change can happen, but is more likely to emerge in ways and contexts we don't expect.
I would also note that it's much easier for a newspaper to write a story about a professor making mp3s than it is to write about something like tagging. The way the traditional media are set up doesn't really make it easy to talk about developments that are highly decentralized, open source, and ubiquitous. What's the story? Who's the protagonist?
Of course, there's another issue, which is whether it's a gimmick that will fade away. Reading this discussion reminds me of how people got excited about the ways in which they believed phonographs, film, radio, VCRs and the web would transform if not eliminate the very idea of the classroom.
The problem often seems to be that technological changes are jammed into old structures and narratives since that's what we know. Dramatic change can happen, but is more likely to emerge in ways and contexts we don't expect.
I would also note that it's much easier for a newspaper to write a story about a professor making mp3s than it is to write about something like tagging. The way the traditional media are set up doesn't really make it easy to talk about developments that are highly decentralized, open source, and ubiquitous. What's the story? Who's the protagonist?
Alum Profile: Andrea Tull '02
Note: Thanks to Andrea for the pictures--especially the first one (see below). Most alums would have deleted this image from their computer long ago, never mind sharing it online!
When did you graduate from UPS?
Graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors of Arts in Politics and Government, Cum Laude, and with Honors in Politics and Government.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Immediately after graduation in spring of 2002, I went to work as a field representative for U.S. Congressman Adam Smith's re-election campaign. Rep. Adam Smith, a moderate Democrat, represents the 9th District of Washington, which is encompasses South King County, including SeaTac (and the airport), Federal Way, parts of Pierce County like NE Tacoma, Puyallup, and Fife, and also North Thurston County with parts of Olympia and Lacey. Anyway, I worked as what I like to call a "grunt" campaign worker doing various Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) activities, including doorbelling, phone banking, volunteer recruitment, and assisting with fundraising events.
When Rep. Smith was re-elected I was promoted as Finance Director and did that for the 2004 election cycle (essentially the years 2003 and 2004). As Finance Director, I was responsible for all political fundraising for the Congressman, which included planning and traveling to events in California, New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. I also managed the operating budget and did all of the financial bookkeeping and filed the FEC reports. After the 2004 election, I was offered a job in the Congressman's DC office as a Legislative Assistant (LA) handling a portfolio of policy issues including healthcare, labor, job training, Social Security, pensions, higher education, campaign finance reform, and women's health and reproductive issues. I moved out to DC in December 2005 and that is what I am currently doing. My responsibilities include tracking and researching legislation, facilitating meetings with constituents, lobbyists, and organizations, briefing the Congressman on upcoming votes, and developing legislative initiatives.
Aside from my "official" job, I have found time to take pleasure in extra curricular activities. I volunteer an hour every week reading to a 1st grader at a nearby low-income and under-served elementary school and I love it! Giving back to your community, through time or money, is a great thing and as a result, I feel more of a connection to my community here in DC. I have also taken up the game of tennis. I play in 2 two different tennis leagues - one in Northern Virginia and one in DC. During the spring and summer when the weather is nice, I play as many as 5 days a week. It is a great way for me to get exercise and meet some people outside of work.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
I had always thought I wanted to attend law school and become a prosecutor or some sort of public attorney. However, I interned in Congressman Adam Smith's District Office in Tacoma during my junior year at UPS and really enjoyed being involved with public policy. I then went to DC and did a summer internship on Capitol Hill for the Congressman and realized that instead of going to law school right after college, I wanted a chance to work in the "real world" and put my degree to work. In some regards I feel that I lucked out with the right opportunities by meeting the "right" people at the "right" time. When I interned in Rep. Smith's DC office, his chief of staff was a UPS alum (class of '96) and we immediately had a bond. I credit this bond to my initial job working on the Congressman's campaign.
Funny thing is that since I have started working for the Congressman over 4 years ago, we have had a handful of UPS interns in both the District and DC offices and we currently employ UPS alumni (our current political director in Tacoma and our Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent in DC both graduated from UPS in 2004!)
I don't regret the decisions I have made in choosing my career path. Law school will always be there if I get bored or if I decide to fulfill my childhood dream of being a prosecutor. But in the meantime, my current job is exciting and I am learning a lot. I think that sometimes life has a way of changing course, by accident, and you realize that it is for the better.
For instance, I have grown to love healthcare policy and I am actually considering returning to school to get my Masters in Public Health and remaining in the healthcare field. I would have never thought that 4 years ago when I graduated college, but here I am and I cannot imagine my life any other way.
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
Absolutely. I feel that my P&G courses at UPS definitely prepared me for my current job. It is my job to essentially read very complex papers and research policies and laws that are confusing and then consolidate that information into a concise and "reader-friendly" memo for my boss. I think back to all of my P&G courses when I cringed at the sheer volume of assigned reading and the 2-5 page papers that I thought were such a waste of time, but in the end...the pace of things in DC moves so fast that I have realized that if to be an effective policy analyst, you need to be able to express your opinion or argument in 1-2 pages or in a well-organized and thoughtfull 1-2 minute speech. It is funny because I joke sometimes that I get paid to do what I once did in school - read and write! Bottom line...the analytical reading and writing skills I developed at UPS through my P&G courses has made me successful in my current position.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
I would recommend for current students not to choose their current course load based on what they think they want to do later in life. Certainly, some of your courses will be affected by that, but having a broad base and diversity of interests and skills are important in differentiating yourself in the workplace. So if you are majoring in P&G, but want to take a psychology course, do it and don't be concerned about it fitting into your "overall master plan" or how it will fit. Being fluent in one or more languages, having a double major, or even a minor can give you the competitive advantage. Studying abroad is a big regret of mine and I feel that I missed out on great learning opportunities by not traveling and studying in another country, so I would recommend all students to take at least a semester to do that.
I would also say never to underestimate the power of internships. I think often times students get turned away by them because many are unpaid, but those can be VERY valuable learning experiences and also GREAT networking opportunities. Make time to do an internship, even if it is part-time and only a few hours a week, during your summer or even during the school year. Internships are a great way to explore your interests and test out certain career paths.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
Most importantly, follow your interests because working full-time can sometimes be a drag, especially if you are in a field of work that doesn't interest you. Doing something that you ENJOY will actually make working fun! I would also say not to be afraid to try something new - whether it is a class, an internship, or even a job. I thought I was going to go straight to law school and I took an internship and it has led to a very rewarding career path that I cannot possibly have imagined while I was in college.
Keep in mind that you don't have to STAY in the same career field your entire life. Heck! I still have interests of attending law school, but I also have a strong interest in becoming an elementary school teacher. Two very completely different career paths, but who says you can't try both?
Any other words of wisdom, or important questions I haven’t asked?
When I was a student, I benefited from talking with UPS alumni about their career paths, how they got to where they are, etc. I met a handful of UPS alumni and set up informational interviews and it really helped and it was a great opportunity to learn of internships and jobs. Don't underestimate the power of networking...it could lead to your next job or internship! I would be happy to be a resource to current students if they have interests in working on a political campaign or working in public policy. I can be reached via email at: andreatull[at]hotmail.com
I have attached two pictures.
One is with Senator John Kerry, Presidential Candidate in 2004. I was dressed in a peanut costume and this is one of the more humiliating campaign experiences.
The other is me when I went on a ride-along with the SeaTac Firefighters.
Since I handle labor issues, I do outreach to the labor community, which means I got to get suited up and ride along with some firefighters.
When did you graduate from UPS?
Graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors of Arts in Politics and Government, Cum Laude, and with Honors in Politics and Government.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Immediately after graduation in spring of 2002, I went to work as a field representative for U.S. Congressman Adam Smith's re-election campaign. Rep. Adam Smith, a moderate Democrat, represents the 9th District of Washington, which is encompasses South King County, including SeaTac (and the airport), Federal Way, parts of Pierce County like NE Tacoma, Puyallup, and Fife, and also North Thurston County with parts of Olympia and Lacey. Anyway, I worked as what I like to call a "grunt" campaign worker doing various Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) activities, including doorbelling, phone banking, volunteer recruitment, and assisting with fundraising events.
When Rep. Smith was re-elected I was promoted as Finance Director and did that for the 2004 election cycle (essentially the years 2003 and 2004). As Finance Director, I was responsible for all political fundraising for the Congressman, which included planning and traveling to events in California, New York, Boston, and Washington, DC. I also managed the operating budget and did all of the financial bookkeeping and filed the FEC reports. After the 2004 election, I was offered a job in the Congressman's DC office as a Legislative Assistant (LA) handling a portfolio of policy issues including healthcare, labor, job training, Social Security, pensions, higher education, campaign finance reform, and women's health and reproductive issues. I moved out to DC in December 2005 and that is what I am currently doing. My responsibilities include tracking and researching legislation, facilitating meetings with constituents, lobbyists, and organizations, briefing the Congressman on upcoming votes, and developing legislative initiatives.
Aside from my "official" job, I have found time to take pleasure in extra curricular activities. I volunteer an hour every week reading to a 1st grader at a nearby low-income and under-served elementary school and I love it! Giving back to your community, through time or money, is a great thing and as a result, I feel more of a connection to my community here in DC. I have also taken up the game of tennis. I play in 2 two different tennis leagues - one in Northern Virginia and one in DC. During the spring and summer when the weather is nice, I play as many as 5 days a week. It is a great way for me to get exercise and meet some people outside of work.
Why and how did you decide to take the career path you did?
I had always thought I wanted to attend law school and become a prosecutor or some sort of public attorney. However, I interned in Congressman Adam Smith's District Office in Tacoma during my junior year at UPS and really enjoyed being involved with public policy. I then went to DC and did a summer internship on Capitol Hill for the Congressman and realized that instead of going to law school right after college, I wanted a chance to work in the "real world" and put my degree to work. In some regards I feel that I lucked out with the right opportunities by meeting the "right" people at the "right" time. When I interned in Rep. Smith's DC office, his chief of staff was a UPS alum (class of '96) and we immediately had a bond. I credit this bond to my initial job working on the Congressman's campaign.
Funny thing is that since I have started working for the Congressman over 4 years ago, we have had a handful of UPS interns in both the District and DC offices and we currently employ UPS alumni (our current political director in Tacoma and our Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent in DC both graduated from UPS in 2004!)
I don't regret the decisions I have made in choosing my career path. Law school will always be there if I get bored or if I decide to fulfill my childhood dream of being a prosecutor. But in the meantime, my current job is exciting and I am learning a lot. I think that sometimes life has a way of changing course, by accident, and you realize that it is for the better.
For instance, I have grown to love healthcare policy and I am actually considering returning to school to get my Masters in Public Health and remaining in the healthcare field. I would have never thought that 4 years ago when I graduated college, but here I am and I cannot imagine my life any other way.
Are there any aspects of the Politics and Government major or your UPS education in general that have served you particularly well?
Absolutely. I feel that my P&G courses at UPS definitely prepared me for my current job. It is my job to essentially read very complex papers and research policies and laws that are confusing and then consolidate that information into a concise and "reader-friendly" memo for my boss. I think back to all of my P&G courses when I cringed at the sheer volume of assigned reading and the 2-5 page papers that I thought were such a waste of time, but in the end...the pace of things in DC moves so fast that I have realized that if to be an effective policy analyst, you need to be able to express your opinion or argument in 1-2 pages or in a well-organized and thoughtfull 1-2 minute speech. It is funny because I joke sometimes that I get paid to do what I once did in school - read and write! Bottom line...the analytical reading and writing skills I developed at UPS through my P&G courses has made me successful in my current position.
Do you have any advice about what our students should make certain they do (or don’t do!) while still in school?
I would recommend for current students not to choose their current course load based on what they think they want to do later in life. Certainly, some of your courses will be affected by that, but having a broad base and diversity of interests and skills are important in differentiating yourself in the workplace. So if you are majoring in P&G, but want to take a psychology course, do it and don't be concerned about it fitting into your "overall master plan" or how it will fit. Being fluent in one or more languages, having a double major, or even a minor can give you the competitive advantage. Studying abroad is a big regret of mine and I feel that I missed out on great learning opportunities by not traveling and studying in another country, so I would recommend all students to take at least a semester to do that.
I would also say never to underestimate the power of internships. I think often times students get turned away by them because many are unpaid, but those can be VERY valuable learning experiences and also GREAT networking opportunities. Make time to do an internship, even if it is part-time and only a few hours a week, during your summer or even during the school year. Internships are a great way to explore your interests and test out certain career paths.
Do you have any advice about what our students should be thinking about as they consider their careers or further education?
Most importantly, follow your interests because working full-time can sometimes be a drag, especially if you are in a field of work that doesn't interest you. Doing something that you ENJOY will actually make working fun! I would also say not to be afraid to try something new - whether it is a class, an internship, or even a job. I thought I was going to go straight to law school and I took an internship and it has led to a very rewarding career path that I cannot possibly have imagined while I was in college.
Keep in mind that you don't have to STAY in the same career field your entire life. Heck! I still have interests of attending law school, but I also have a strong interest in becoming an elementary school teacher. Two very completely different career paths, but who says you can't try both?
Any other words of wisdom, or important questions I haven’t asked?
When I was a student, I benefited from talking with UPS alumni about their career paths, how they got to where they are, etc. I met a handful of UPS alumni and set up informational interviews and it really helped and it was a great opportunity to learn of internships and jobs. Don't underestimate the power of networking...it could lead to your next job or internship! I would be happy to be a resource to current students if they have interests in working on a political campaign or working in public policy. I can be reached via email at: andreatull[at]hotmail.com
I have attached two pictures.
One is with Senator John Kerry, Presidential Candidate in 2004. I was dressed in a peanut costume and this is one of the more humiliating campaign experiences.
The other is me when I went on a ride-along with the SeaTac Firefighters.
Since I handle labor issues, I do outreach to the labor community, which means I got to get suited up and ride along with some firefighters.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Virtual Home
I was having a conversation with one of our main tech people on campus and we were talking about the way in which media, information and software are becoming increasingly disaggregated. Rather than having software on your machine and files stored in subdirectories, more and more stuff is moving online and being sorted by tags.
Ironically, the one hold-out has been the traditional homepage, where people learned to use HTML or set up their own sites at a site for free or charge. A decade ago faculty building their own homepages was cutting edge. Now they are a burden to maintain, and you find fewer people willing to maintain them.
At the same time you have the counter-example of something like Myspace, which gives people a place to upload material, build links and connect to one another, but seems unsuitable for more professional use.
One potential solution is Google Pages or Microsoft's Office Live.
This might work well, allowing one to build a stripped-down and easy to maintain home page which they can then link out to a blog, photo and data storage site, Delicious links, and any other online presence one might have.
If you have tried these (or use an alternative solution), let me know.
Ironically, the one hold-out has been the traditional homepage, where people learned to use HTML or set up their own sites at a site for free or charge. A decade ago faculty building their own homepages was cutting edge. Now they are a burden to maintain, and you find fewer people willing to maintain them.
At the same time you have the counter-example of something like Myspace, which gives people a place to upload material, build links and connect to one another, but seems unsuitable for more professional use.
One potential solution is Google Pages or Microsoft's Office Live.
This might work well, allowing one to build a stripped-down and easy to maintain home page which they can then link out to a blog, photo and data storage site, Delicious links, and any other online presence one might have.
If you have tried these (or use an alternative solution), let me know.
From Arches
Some pieces in Arches to point out:
First, some time back I posted a picture I took at Jonee Winnick's recent wedding on campus. There's an article about her and her husband, Wayne, who was recently redeployed to Iraq. The piece is here.
Second, a letter by Candy Tingstad ’79 about Harry P. Cain, former mayor of Tacoma who publicly opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War Two. In an earlier post we mentioned the Cain Scholarship on campus that bares his name, which is open to students who intend to pursue a career in public service. Thanks to Mark Smith '61 for calling the letter to my attention, and to Candy Tingstad, daughter of Mayor Cain, for reminding us of this piece of local history and its connnection to our campus.
Third, a nice profile of T'wina Franklin; I had a chance to meet her husband and T'wina's wonderful mother at our department graduation function; here's a picture of T'wina and her mother, along with Professor Melissa Bass and myself.
Finally, I missed this piece on Cameron Dolcourt '04 in the last issue. Sorry, Cameron!
First, some time back I posted a picture I took at Jonee Winnick's recent wedding on campus. There's an article about her and her husband, Wayne, who was recently redeployed to Iraq. The piece is here.
Second, a letter by Candy Tingstad ’79 about Harry P. Cain, former mayor of Tacoma who publicly opposed the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War Two. In an earlier post we mentioned the Cain Scholarship on campus that bares his name, which is open to students who intend to pursue a career in public service. Thanks to Mark Smith '61 for calling the letter to my attention, and to Candy Tingstad, daughter of Mayor Cain, for reminding us of this piece of local history and its connnection to our campus.
Third, a nice profile of T'wina Franklin; I had a chance to meet her husband and T'wina's wonderful mother at our department graduation function; here's a picture of T'wina and her mother, along with Professor Melissa Bass and myself.
Finally, I missed this piece on Cameron Dolcourt '04 in the last issue. Sorry, Cameron!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Smackdown
We've temporarily lost contact with Ali Wade '96, who up until recently was working for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. However, Professor Sousa did uncover this disturbing clue.
Debra Dahlin '85
An email:
"For any of you who wondered what happened to me, Debra Dahlin, '85...
I just finished my second year teaching at the college level as an Instructor and loved every minute of it!
In addition, my husband, who is a professor of International Relations, travelled to Ukraine in August 2004 and adopted our most precious children, Max and Beau, now 6 and 4.5. They are the best job I ever had.
In between, I've done the typical, atypical liberal arts career (slightly stunted by the sexism in the South) working first the the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and literally running into my mentor, Dave Balaam on the street (you are the greatest) as well, and Dr. Veseth on the metro. It amounted to a graduate degree in and of itself.
Then on to graduate school thinking I was headed into the Foreign Service and beefing up on my Public Administration skills. Thanks to Dr. Share for giving me the best foundation in comparative politics I could have asked for. Huntington is still relevant.
I then worked as a Public Affairs Director for a TV station and finally started teaching at the college level, first Warren Wilson College, then Winthrop University, and now around the kid's schedules.
That's all the news that's fit to print, I guess."
There's a piece on Debra's overseas adoption in their school paper--you can find it here.
"For any of you who wondered what happened to me, Debra Dahlin, '85...
I just finished my second year teaching at the college level as an Instructor and loved every minute of it!
In addition, my husband, who is a professor of International Relations, travelled to Ukraine in August 2004 and adopted our most precious children, Max and Beau, now 6 and 4.5. They are the best job I ever had.
In between, I've done the typical, atypical liberal arts career (slightly stunted by the sexism in the South) working first the the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and literally running into my mentor, Dave Balaam on the street (you are the greatest) as well, and Dr. Veseth on the metro. It amounted to a graduate degree in and of itself.
Then on to graduate school thinking I was headed into the Foreign Service and beefing up on my Public Administration skills. Thanks to Dr. Share for giving me the best foundation in comparative politics I could have asked for. Huntington is still relevant.
I then worked as a Public Affairs Director for a TV station and finally started teaching at the college level, first Warren Wilson College, then Winthrop University, and now around the kid's schedules.
That's all the news that's fit to print, I guess."
There's a piece on Debra's overseas adoption in their school paper--you can find it here.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Feed your Tacomaness
So if you want to know about Tacoma, where do you go?
Well, we have already mentioned Exit133, run by Derek Young '96. Derek said his site traffic is growing about 20% a week (do I remember that right, Derek?) and in my opinion has become the go-to source for Tacoma comings and goings, especially urban development.
But Derek has company. Some other interesting Tacoma blogs:
KevinFreitas.Net: Kevin has excellent pictures of our lovely town
Tacomaness written by a student at UWT in the Urban Studies program
Thrice All American--a reference to Neko Case's ode to Tacoma
Personally, I find it hard to keep track of these sites, so fortunately Feed Tacoma does that for us. Visit that site and you'll find the main articles from several Tacoma blogs nicely indexed. A great resource.
P.S. An article in Monday's Tacoma Daily Index on Exit133.
Well, we have already mentioned Exit133, run by Derek Young '96. Derek said his site traffic is growing about 20% a week (do I remember that right, Derek?) and in my opinion has become the go-to source for Tacoma comings and goings, especially urban development.
But Derek has company. Some other interesting Tacoma blogs:
KevinFreitas.Net: Kevin has excellent pictures of our lovely town
Tacomaness written by a student at UWT in the Urban Studies program
Thrice All American--a reference to Neko Case's ode to Tacoma
Personally, I find it hard to keep track of these sites, so fortunately Feed Tacoma does that for us. Visit that site and you'll find the main articles from several Tacoma blogs nicely indexed. A great resource.
P.S. An article in Monday's Tacoma Daily Index on Exit133.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Mind the Gap
Speaking of gaps...
Some time back I wrote about Edward Tufte's quest to present quantitative data in a striking visual format. Gapminder takes his call to heart. Look in particular at the presentation "Has the World Become a Better Place?"
And if that's not enough, there's a great video of the founder of Gapminder, Professor Hans Rosling, speaking at the February 2006 Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference. He gets so amped up over what he's presenting that at one point the audience breaks out in spontaneous applause. The video's also pretty funny at the start where he pokes fun at the general level of knowledge about global heath. I'd suggest you watch the video first, then take a look at Gapminder itself.
"The problem is not ignorance, it's preconceived ideas..." Hans Rosling
Some time back I wrote about Edward Tufte's quest to present quantitative data in a striking visual format. Gapminder takes his call to heart. Look in particular at the presentation "Has the World Become a Better Place?"
And if that's not enough, there's a great video of the founder of Gapminder, Professor Hans Rosling, speaking at the February 2006 Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference. He gets so amped up over what he's presenting that at one point the audience breaks out in spontaneous applause. The video's also pretty funny at the start where he pokes fun at the general level of knowledge about global heath. I'd suggest you watch the video first, then take a look at Gapminder itself.
"The problem is not ignorance, it's preconceived ideas..." Hans Rosling
The Gender Gap
A piece in today's New York Times on the growing gap between women and men in terms of college graduation rates and grades. The article is here.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Seattle, Take Note
Katie Rose '05 forwarded the following. It's about time Seattle started learning from us!
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: July 5, 2006
Contact: Brad Kahn - 206-669-6422
Waterfronts for All
Learning from Bremerton and Tacoma
WHAT:
Seattle likes to think of itself as the vanguard: Coffee, philanthropy, microbrews, mixed-use development. Yet around Puget Sound, other communities have taken the lead in redeveloping marginal waterfronts into great public spaces. What can Seattle learn from Tacoma and Bremerton's efforts to convert their blighted waterfronts into vibrant public spaces?
WHO:
Cary Bozeman, Mayor of Bremerton
Su Dowie, Director of Planning and Operations, Foss Waterway Development Authority
Richard Conlin, Councilmember, City of Seattle
Hubert Locke, Former dean of the University of Washington's Evans School of Public Affairs
John Rahaim, Director, Seattle Department of Planning and Development
Sally Bagshaw, Chair, Allied Arts Waterfront Committee
WHEN: Wednesday, July 12, 5-7:30pm
WHERE: Town Hall (8th and Seneca)
Mayor Bozeman and Su Dowie are available for media interviews on July 12.
BACKGROUND: Mayor Cary Bozeman was re-elected to a second four-year term starting January 1, 2006. As Mayor of Bremerton, he oversaw redevelopment of the city's waterfront. He has also served on the Bellevue City Council from 1976 to 1993 where he was elected to serve as Mayor for three terms.
Su Dowie has been with the Foss Waterway Development Authority since its inception in 1998. As Director of Planning & Operations she is responsible for key planning activities, including financial forecasting, use of public spaces, and land use, permitting and regulatory issues. Her passion is the successful redevelopment of Tacoma's waterfront.
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release: July 5, 2006
Contact: Brad Kahn - 206-669-6422
Waterfronts for All
Learning from Bremerton and Tacoma
WHAT:
Seattle likes to think of itself as the vanguard: Coffee, philanthropy, microbrews, mixed-use development. Yet around Puget Sound, other communities have taken the lead in redeveloping marginal waterfronts into great public spaces. What can Seattle learn from Tacoma and Bremerton's efforts to convert their blighted waterfronts into vibrant public spaces?
WHO:
Cary Bozeman, Mayor of Bremerton
Su Dowie, Director of Planning and Operations, Foss Waterway Development Authority
Richard Conlin, Councilmember, City of Seattle
Hubert Locke, Former dean of the University of Washington's Evans School of Public Affairs
John Rahaim, Director, Seattle Department of Planning and Development
Sally Bagshaw, Chair, Allied Arts Waterfront Committee
WHEN: Wednesday, July 12, 5-7:30pm
WHERE: Town Hall (8th and Seneca)
Mayor Bozeman and Su Dowie are available for media interviews on July 12.
BACKGROUND: Mayor Cary Bozeman was re-elected to a second four-year term starting January 1, 2006. As Mayor of Bremerton, he oversaw redevelopment of the city's waterfront. He has also served on the Bellevue City Council from 1976 to 1993 where he was elected to serve as Mayor for three terms.
Su Dowie has been with the Foss Waterway Development Authority since its inception in 1998. As Director of Planning & Operations she is responsible for key planning activities, including financial forecasting, use of public spaces, and land use, permitting and regulatory issues. Her passion is the successful redevelopment of Tacoma's waterfront.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
BS
I received an update from Todd Anthony '90. He's had a busy decade and a half since graduation, which included a move to Prague where he worked in sales and advertising for several years in the early nineties (in fact, he was there the same time I was doing my field research next door in Hungary). Later on he worked for several agencies creating ads for a range of clients, and now works for Yahoo and lives in San Francisco.
Todd has his own blog where he writes about "politics, advertising, Hollywood and..."
Well, you'll figure it out yourself. The link is here. And I like this.
Todd has his own blog where he writes about "politics, advertising, Hollywood and..."
Well, you'll figure it out yourself. The link is here. And I like this.
Shopping for Schools
A piece in the New York Times on how students are shopping for a college by visiting them through online video or customized DVDs first. Read the article here; it's rather funny. Though they are not mentioned by name, there are enough references to determine that the one school that takes a drubbing in the article is Beloit. I'm sure they're not crazy about that.
More generally, this relates back to the realization that the look and feel of a university's website is very important to students looking at colleges. This explains the ongoing revision and refinement of our own campus pages--an aesthetic arms race.
P.S. I received an email from the NYT journalist who wrote the piece: "How did you know we're headed to Tacoma next? Seriously, thanks for advancing the discussion. Is there any topic that's on more minds these days than the college selection and application process?"
More generally, this relates back to the realization that the look and feel of a university's website is very important to students looking at colleges. This explains the ongoing revision and refinement of our own campus pages--an aesthetic arms race.
P.S. I received an email from the NYT journalist who wrote the piece: "How did you know we're headed to Tacoma next? Seriously, thanks for advancing the discussion. Is there any topic that's on more minds these days than the college selection and application process?"
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Two New Tags
I've created two new tags on our Delicious site.
The first is an alum tag. Here I've just been making links to any web presence our alums might have. Are you online? Share the URL with us and we'll add it to the list.
The second is a faculty publication tag. Clay Loges '68 asked a while back who everyone was in the department these days. On our new website you'll find descriptions of each of us, but the faculty publication tag also refers you to anything we've written in the past. Again, this is just something I put together very quickly, so expect more.
Remember that with Delicious you can resort all the links by clicking on the tags at right.
The first is an alum tag. Here I've just been making links to any web presence our alums might have. Are you online? Share the URL with us and we'll add it to the list.
The second is a faculty publication tag. Clay Loges '68 asked a while back who everyone was in the department these days. On our new website you'll find descriptions of each of us, but the faculty publication tag also refers you to anything we've written in the past. Again, this is just something I put together very quickly, so expect more.
Remember that with Delicious you can resort all the links by clicking on the tags at right.
Boot Camp and Coming Home
Clay Fleener '96 sent along this very interesting article about a "boot camp" for liberal arts majors who want to get a quick immersion in business education. The program, called Bridge to Business, is four weeks in Toronto.
Clay writes "I wish I had taken more business classes and almost think they should be part of the core curriculum, but that’s just my opinion. I just received my MBA from Seattle U and have recently accepted a position with Boeing in supply chain management on the 787 program. It’s great international experience dealing with all of our overseas suppliers but a huge challenge just getting everyone on the same page. I hope to be down there for homecoming this year since it’s been 10 years already!"
Clay is happy to chat with anyone looking to business school or Boeing. Drop me a line if you want to get in touch with him.
And that raises the question of Homecoming. Will you be here? I'd love to host an informal gathering of PG alums, whether on campus or off. Drop me a note if you plan on coming and I'll try to set up a time if there are several of you with overlapping schedules. Otherwise, I'd be happy to get together with anyone for a meal or a drink.
Clay writes "I wish I had taken more business classes and almost think they should be part of the core curriculum, but that’s just my opinion. I just received my MBA from Seattle U and have recently accepted a position with Boeing in supply chain management on the 787 program. It’s great international experience dealing with all of our overseas suppliers but a huge challenge just getting everyone on the same page. I hope to be down there for homecoming this year since it’s been 10 years already!"
Clay is happy to chat with anyone looking to business school or Boeing. Drop me a line if you want to get in touch with him.
And that raises the question of Homecoming. Will you be here? I'd love to host an informal gathering of PG alums, whether on campus or off. Drop me a note if you plan on coming and I'll try to set up a time if there are several of you with overlapping schedules. Otherwise, I'd be happy to get together with anyone for a meal or a drink.
Website Revamp
We have done an extreme makeover of our department website. Please take a look at it when you have a chance and if you've got any thoughts let us know.
Trivia: The first picture at the top of our home page, showing the Supreme Court, is a stock image, but the other three I took over the past few years: Protestant paramilitary mural, Belfast; EU flag, Belgian Senate, Brussels; Israel-Lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra, Israel.
Trivia: The first picture at the top of our home page, showing the Supreme Court, is a stock image, but the other three I took over the past few years: Protestant paramilitary mural, Belfast; EU flag, Belgian Senate, Brussels; Israel-Lebanon border, Rosh Hanikra, Israel.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Faculty Work and Online Storage
Professor Haltom emailed me a copy of a paper he recently co-authored for the 2006 Law and Society Association Conference. I was not certain the best way to share this, however. In past we've uploaded such things to our website, but managing files that way gets awkward and cluttered.
So I have looked around at some different online storage systems. I've used Streamload in past, but didn't care much for the interface, and so I'm experimenting with box.net. I like the tagging function among other things. Right now we are using a free version, but if it proves useful we may opt for the full menu.
Anyone out there with personal preferences for online storage systems?
So, with that out of the way...
Michael McCann and William Haltom, "Not Something to Believe In:
Cause Lawyers in Contemporary Movies".
P.S. Professor Haltom submits the paper in part as proof that faculty do in fact work during the summer.
So I have looked around at some different online storage systems. I've used Streamload in past, but didn't care much for the interface, and so I'm experimenting with box.net. I like the tagging function among other things. Right now we are using a free version, but if it proves useful we may opt for the full menu.
Anyone out there with personal preferences for online storage systems?
So, with that out of the way...
Michael McCann and William Haltom, "Not Something to Believe In:
Cause Lawyers in Contemporary Movies".
P.S. Professor Haltom submits the paper in part as proof that faculty do in fact work during the summer.
Monday, July 03, 2006
The Fourth
Happy Independence Day to all readers of our blog, and current and former students wherever you may be. If you've not been in Tacoma over a July Fourth, it's pretty crazy, with one of the biggest shows in the country. Combined with all the fireworks bought on the Puyallup reservation and set off all over town, it makes for a colorful and noisy evening. Watch those fingers.
Tool of the Future?
There is an intriguing piece in Sunday's New York Times about digital pens, that allow you transmit written notes to electronic format, either as an image (like PDF) or as text using character recognition software. This kind of thing has been around for a while, but in past the method was to have people write directly into their PDAs and tablet PCs.
Digital pens eliminate that by allowing you to rely on pen and paper, and then upload your notes later. There are some bugs to be worked out, but it sounds promising, and something that could be quite user-friendly and affordable in future. Perhaps digital pens will become as commonplace as calculators and digital cameras, and could reduce the need to take a laptop with you everywhere.
I wonder about the use of laptops, combined with wifi, in the classroom. While I know that students don't always pay attention in class, and can just as easily be doodling as opposed to taking notes, laptops seem to create a kind of half-wall that directs the student away from the class. And with wifi, it's all too tempting to simply check email or chat online than listen and contribute. I know that laptop use is much more prevalent in law school and business school; maybe some of you out there have your own observations from experience.
Some argue that laptops in the classroom make for a much more productive class. This assumes that the laptops, however, are being directly integrated into the lesson plan, rather than simply servicing as a note-taking device for students.
The NYT article can be found here; more on the Logitech pen at Amazon.
Digital pens eliminate that by allowing you to rely on pen and paper, and then upload your notes later. There are some bugs to be worked out, but it sounds promising, and something that could be quite user-friendly and affordable in future. Perhaps digital pens will become as commonplace as calculators and digital cameras, and could reduce the need to take a laptop with you everywhere.
I wonder about the use of laptops, combined with wifi, in the classroom. While I know that students don't always pay attention in class, and can just as easily be doodling as opposed to taking notes, laptops seem to create a kind of half-wall that directs the student away from the class. And with wifi, it's all too tempting to simply check email or chat online than listen and contribute. I know that laptop use is much more prevalent in law school and business school; maybe some of you out there have your own observations from experience.
Some argue that laptops in the classroom make for a much more productive class. This assumes that the laptops, however, are being directly integrated into the lesson plan, rather than simply servicing as a note-taking device for students.
The NYT article can be found here; more on the Logitech pen at Amazon.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Boom
Video courtesy Kevin Freitas, another great local blog.
Just in time for the Fourth, this morning the Port of Tacoma blew up a 500 foot smokestack to make way for new development. Exit 133 has a nice picture of the detonator--the Port had a contest where the the winner got the push down the plunger (though in reality it was just a prop). More pics here and here.
It was loud--we could hear it from our house when it came down.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Looking for a Lost Alum
...lost to us, anyway. Zach Tyler '00, we have lost your email address. Last we heard you were working in Iraq (thanks for the postcards!) If you are reading this, or if another alum has a contact for him, would you please drop us a note? We'd like to say hi.
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