May 29, 2013
September 10, 2010
end of the line
When I started this blog in November of 2004 I only expected to post a few entries as a demo for a class project. To my surprise, I ended up posting 620 entries over 6 years, and rising into the 20s on the list of blogs with the most entries (I'm now down to #34). Since discovering facebook in 2007, however, my blog postings have decreased, and they really declined this year. So, I think I'm at the end of the line for "Planet Walt." It's been fun, but other social media are now more engaging. Thanks for reading; follow me on Twitter, or find me on facebook!
September 7, 2010
first day of classes
As I've noted before, I usually love the first day of classes of the fall semester. Today, though, is not as exciting, as (a) it is cold and overcast, and (b) I'm not teaching this semester so I don't have my own class to look forward to. Next year will get back on track....
September 3, 2010
stadium viewing party
The first game of the University of Minnesota's 2010 football season was an away game, but there was a viewing party at TCF Bank Stadium. I watched the first half of the game on TV, then went over to "The Bank" for the second half. It was a fun experience!
August 31, 2010
Welcome Week 2010
The University of Minnesota's Welcome Week doesn't officially start until tomorrow, but there are already a number of first year students on campus for other events (such as the Multicultural Kickoff). The new academic year is almost here!
August 29, 2010
residency times
From mid-August 1979 to mid-June 1986 I lived in a house in southwest Atlanta, GA. For 2 or 3 summers, though, I stayed with my grandparents in St. Louis, MO. So real time in that house was either 6 years 1 month, or 6 years 4 months (I'm 90% sure that my brother and I spent 3 summers in St. Louis, so it's the former). I've been in my current house for 6 years and 4 months, so I've either tied the record for real time lived in one house, or have exceeded it. They'll be no question about it at this time next month! Also, at the end of the academic year (mid May 2011) I would have lived in my current Minneapolis home for 7 years 1 month, which will exceed the total time (excluding summer breaks) of 6 years 10 months in the "Belfrey Place" house (as I term it in my memoir). My current home, them, is close to being the house in which I've lived the longest. Nice!
August 14, 2010
visit to a planetarium
On August 12 I visited the Morehead Planetarium. It was the first time I'd been to a planetarium since I was a teenager. It was fun seeing two modern digital shows, but I also wanted to see an old-fashioned star show. Morehead only offers that once a week, and I had a conflict for that time, so I'll have to go back on my next trip to Chapel Hill....
July 20, 2010
July 15, 2010
identifying music
When I first watched The Lake House I loved a piece of music that started 31 minutes in to the movie. Unfortunately, though, this song did not appear to be on the soundtrack. Today I loaded up the movie and went to the music credits at the end, and looked up songs on the list. Success: the song I wanted is called "When it Rains." Interestingly, immediately afterwards I remembered that I have an iPhone app that might have been of use: Shazam "listens" to songs and identifies them. So I grabbed the phone and put it to the test, and it worked! I'll have to remember this earlier next time....
July 12, 2010
New AA&AS website
The website for the Department of African American & African Sudies has been updated. Check out the new site: http://aaas.umn.edu/
