Posted by Lydia on Mar 5, 2010 in
General Waiting for my manuscript to be reviewed, I’ve actually got some free time. So I overhauled my long-neglected stock portfolio. Sold some barking dogs and bought new stuff. Purchases include Berkshire Hathaway (B shares -my books don’t earn enough to buy A shares), Walmart (from whence all good things come), Microsoft and Apple (Bill, Steve, don’t let me down), and GE. Am debating buying some Google -someone please talk me out of this.
Posted by Lydia on Mar 1, 2010 in
General So I’ve been reading about the open source textbook and open source content movement in general. While I think its proponents are admirably passionate, I personally don’t see open source texts taking off. Here’s a typical example of the thinking:
http://www.statepress.com/2010/02/25/open-source-alternatives-bring-flexibility-to-textbooks/
From the article:
“The professors can get instant feedback,” Croucher said. “If the student doesn’t understand something, they can e-mail their professor, who can alter it and better explain it.” ”
The textbook will be altered because one student didn’t understand it? What happens when the next student doesn’t understand the alteration? How many times will this textbook be altered?
Here’s a hint: None. I think the desire of professors to re-write textbooks is grossly overstated. I’ve been teaching college for 20 years and my observation is the opposite -instructors want a class-in-a-box, with text and supplements ready to go. Very few will spend their spare time rewriting books and developing content to toss on the web for everyone else to use, for free, yet. Why should they, anyhow? This whole “textbook prices keep students from attending college” is garbage. Textbook prices don’t keep students from attending college, tuition and living expenses do.
Oh, and there will never be a textbook that all students will perfectly understand, anyhow.
The oft-stated reason that open texts will solve the problem of having to pay for a book that isn’t used doesn’t make sense to me, either. That’s a professor, not a textbook issue. If the book isn’t needed, don’t require it! If you only need one chapter, then write your own! Oh, you don’t have time? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Posted by Lydia on Mar 1, 2010 in
General My husband came home with a latte for me. Which was nice. He also replaced my trusty old phone with a newfangled Blackberry. Not so nice. E-idiot that I am, I want a phone where I can just PRESS BUTTONS and call someone. Not one where I have to read a 30-page book to figure out how to do that. Don’t I have enough to do?
Posted by Lydia on Feb 22, 2010 in
General Well, I did it. I joined FaceBook. I always said I had no use for this stuff, and still am not sure I do, but I was tired of feeling like the Last One Out.
I already met up with an old high school friend! Have to say, that was fun.
I also renewed my membership to Classmates while I was at it. What the heck, they sent me an email for a $9.95 special for a year. I wouldn’t pay $30/year, but I’ll spring for $9.95.
So if you’re on FB or Classmates, holla!
Posted by Lydia on Feb 15, 2010 in
General Mmm, chocolate strawberry. My college kid made a bunch of these for us today.
Posted by Lydia on Feb 14, 2010 in
General …an existing textbook, that is. I think it could use a little competition. So I’ve spent the past couple of days hammering out a proposal and table of contents. We’ll see if the PTB agree.
Posted by Lydia on Feb 10, 2010 in
General 15 lbs of goodness off to Prentice Hall today.
Posted by Lydia on Jan 24, 2010 in
General Funny, I’m not yet done with my Presentation Drafting for Interior Designers textbook (though I can see the end from here), but an idea for another textbook has been percolating. It kept intruding while I worked on the Color Board chapter. Unfortunately, I can’t multi-task with books. I’ve been scribbling down ideas, sketched a couple of pictures, but that’s the extent of it. When this book is done I’ll do a proposal and then find a home for it.
The person who once told me that writing textbooks is addictive was right.
Posted by Lydia on Jan 17, 2010 in
General I love today’s technology. My high school daughter is a Lady Gaga fan. So what better than to scan a photo of her and spray it on a cake?
Posted by Lydia on Jan 9, 2010 in
General My family recently took a road trip to New Mexico. You know what one of my favorite things about road trips is? Truck stop lattes. Seems like they all have dispensers for them now. Hot chocolate, coffee, mocha lattes, French vanilla …what fun to fill up a big cup at a small town gas station at 11 pm, and drink it while driving down the cold, dark road.
And they’re cheap, too! Just over a buck for a cup this size.
Posted by Lydia on Jan 8, 2010 in
General
I’m simultaneously working on my Color Board and Models chapters, the last two of the book. I can see the end of the road from here! So many people have helped me with beautiful drawings, boards and models. I am so grateful.
Posted by Lydia on Dec 30, 2009 in
General For the New Year. For my New Resolutions. Yes, I mean it!
Posted by Lydia on Dec 26, 2009 in
General Don’t you love Dec. 26? So much goodness for $57!
Posted by Lydia on Dec 9, 2009 in
General Ahh, nothing hits the spot like a Big Mac.
I recently received an avalance of gorgeous drawings from two interior designers. Beautiful sketches, renderings and color boards. I’ve been working through lunch to assimilate them into chapters I had closed out, so no time for anything but fast food. When this book is done I’ll hit the gym. I mean it.
