Digital Note Taking

I've resisted taking notes on a computer for years. Through college, I stuck to my trusty five subject notebooks, which I would usually fill double sided in each section by the end of a semester. I like the feel of taking notes by hand. It keeps my penmanship up a bit, is an active way of embedding the content being talked about in my mind, and allowed me to stare at a computer a few less hours each day. Oh, and, if I really must admit it, I liked being able to doodle in the margins too.

But, all good things must come to pass. Last fall, I was in a small group at Covenant and learned that Microsoft Word:mac has an exclusive to Mac “notebook” mode which records audio as you type your notes. What is really amazing is that every time you press return to move to the next line, Word denotes the time on the audio recording and keys that line to the audio timeline. After you finish taking notes, you can click on any line in the document, hit play, and hear the audio from that point. This is so incredibly useful that I have become a convert to typing my notes.

I say all this because people are use to me complaining about Microsoft. When the folks in Redmond get something right to the extent that they did this feature, they deserve some major kudos! If you find yourself in a class or meeting that goes well with note taking, and you own a Mac, you really should check this out.

I Believe Change Can Happen in the Future...

Hat tip: Credit goes to none other than the man who ties half his brains behind his back just to make it fair, the lovable, harmless, fuzz-ball, the all seeing, all knowing, all feeling Maha Rushie. Yes, El Rushbo himself. That's a clip that has been playing on the Rush Limbaugh Show before EIB Obscene Profit Center breaks. And yes, using all that EIB jargon has just made me admit I listen to America's Anchorman a bit too much… but, don't fear, I am not a Rush 24/7 subscriber, and I do not listen to the Weapon of Mass Instruction every day. And, no, I do not go to Rush for my political opinions. If I did, I wouldn't support Huckabee and I would never vote for McCain.

Writing, Writing, Writing

Over the span of five days, starting today (Thursday), I have five papers or sermons of varying sizes due. I've been facing writers block of a sort again lately, so it was with much joy that tonight I was able to start writing fairly quickly again. I filled in (at least in rough form) four of the six sub points in my sermon project and even came up with one illustration.

I just hope God will keep me cruising through the pages tomorrow. If I can keep up at the same rate, I could have rough drafts of my two largest projects fairly complete tomorrow. That would given me a little wiggle room to edit and rewrite as needed.

An Open Letter to KMOX and CBS Radio

I sent the following letter to KMOX's general manager, Dave Ervin, as well as CBS Radio's Dan Mason and Greg Strassell, after learning KMOX canned host Paul Harris in an effort to cut costs. Taking one of their best personalities off the air because AM radio's audience is shrinking and hence ad rates are dropping seems like a sure fire way not to improve revenue but to accelerate audience losses. Mr. Ervin's e-mail is publicly available, so I linked to it above. I encourage anyone reading this blog who is a KMOX listener online or on the radio to send him a note telling him this was a bad idea.

From: Timothy R. Butler
To: Dave Ervin
Cc: Dan Mason, Greg Strassell, Paul Harris
Subject: Paul Harris and KMOX's Future

Dear Mr. Ervin,

I have been a loyal KMOX listener for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to Charles Brennan and Kevin Horrigan on “the Morning Meeting” when possible, and often went to sleep listening to “the Big Bumper,” Jim White. I am part of the younger demographic (I am 24) that is always said to be desirable to radio stations. To me, KMOX holds a mystique that places it with key St. Louis institutions such as the Gateway Arch and Ted Drews — KMOX is part of what makes the City of St. Louis great.

What makes KMOX itself great is its personalities, and the station suffered a lot over the last decade or so, especially after the launch of the station now known as KTRS and its initial draw of many favorite KMOX personalities over to its airwaves in 1996. Just a short time ago I was discussing with my family how it seemed that KMOX had finally returned to its former greatness by filling the entire lineup from the morning drive time through the evening with personalities truly of the caliber that the Mighty MOX was built on. One of the personalities that has been so important to this is Paul Harris, and I am incredibly dismayed to hear that he has been taken off the air. Frankly, the lure of satellite radio, online news and other media options like podcasts makes listening to AM radio less and less of an attractive option; it has been people like Paul Harris that keep me turning my dial to 1120 AM. During the day, I happily start my day with TI-AM and the Charlie Brennan Show, I enjoy Rush Limbaugh, and on the way home it has been a delight to hear Harris's unique, thoughtful spin on things as well. I do not agree with any of them all of the time, but I appreciate the quality and diversity of opinion that characterizes the KMOX lineup. This quality lineup has allowed me to turn on KMOX without the need to contemplate first whether something good was on — I knew there was something good on.

I realize that money is tight and that sometimes it is necessary to cut costs. But, Mr. Ervin, the way KMOX makes its money is through its listeners, and the reason we listen is not because KMOX is the only choice, but because it has been the BEST choice, precisely due to people like Mr. Harris. Without “the Paul Harris Show,” more than likely, I will not tune into KMOX in the afternoon. If Mr. Harris goes on another station, I will — for the first time — become a regular listener to a different local news/talk station. If he does not, I would rather find something good on my XM Radio than tune into “the Mark Reardon Show.” I have nothing against Mr. Reardon, but Paul Harris is in a different league. I presume that is why Harris was the one to go to the cutting block. But, if, in trying to cut costs, you lose more of your audience and thus your ad dollars, will this not make the balance book even worse off than before?

I realize it would be a difficult and unusual move to reverse a decision such as the one to fire Mr. Harris. However, I urge you to do just that. Prove to people like me, the listeners that make KMOX possible, that KMOX and CBS Radio actually care about their audience by bringing back “the Paul Harris Show.” KMOX as a St. Louis institution deserves to be preserved, and the only way it can be is to insist on the excellence that made it great. Excellence will keep your audience tuned in and patronizing your
sponsors into the future.

Best Regards,
Timothy R. Butler

Go Huckabee!

Mike Huckabee has already taken Kansas today. If you are in a state voting this weekend, consider voting for the best and last conservative standing for the 2008 Presidential nomination. Huckabee is the only true outsider, the only one with innovative plans to reform government and is the only candidate to survive as a major player despite the mass media constantly trying to show him as an also ran. Send a message to the nation that this race isn't over yet!

Also, consider helping me reach my $100 for Huckabee goal by donating through this link to MikeHuckabee.com.

Let's tell American we like Mike!

Barth Study

One of the classes I am taking this semester is an independent study on Karl Barth's alleged universalism. For a mere one credit hour this class is going to be a lot of work, but so far I can tell it is going to certainly be worth it. While I have spent enough time fooling around with Barth on my own, and I try to bring in his work when relevant to other projects, I am really enjoying focusing solely on Barth in a class. Given his significance, it just seems right.

Not for this particular class, but I'd still like to spend some time researching interactions between Barth and modernist poetry from the likes of T.S. Eliot and Archibald MacLeish. I see a lot of synergies between some of my favorite poets and my favorite theologian. All of them have their styles crystalized by World War I too. The question is if there can be any useful connections drawn out of the trio, other than just mere time.

Deluged

This semester has really started out with a bang. I'll need to have three papers and a 25-minute sermon turned in within the next two weeks. So far I've already finished one book and am knee deep into a volume of Herman Bavinck. I'm hoping the semester slows down a bit sometime soon.

Be Back Tomorrow

Sorry — I haven't had time to read comments or write anything. Today after class I was tied up with reading and (I'll admit it) frequent breaks to check in on CNN to see live election results. Exciting stuff. A bit disappointing that Gov. Huckabee didn't take Missouri (and missed it by a very narrow margin), but exciting that he pretty much stole the second place spot from Gov. Romney. Now, I'm off to bed. But, tomorrow, tomorrow…

Reminder: Super Tuesday

This is just a reminder to go vote (for Huckabee) today. You know you want to vote (for Huckabee). Go check out Huckabee's site if you are still undecided.

Also, if you live in St. Charles County (District 16), consider Mark Parkinson for state representative. I actually had the chance to meet Mr. Parkinson as he campaigned door-to-door and was really impressed with his thoughtful answers.

Question

Why do we talk about “thunder and lightning” when lightning comes before thunder? Shouldn't we instead talk of “lightning and thunder”? We don't want to put the cart before the horse, after all.