Happy New Year!”

By Terrence Cain

If you're a Pagan you know October 31^st as a day of celebration of a bountiful harvest of the crops and a celebration of a new year beginning. This day for us is called Samhain, pronounced Sau-in. It's a Gaelic-Celtic holiday that has been celebrated for centuries. Many believe October 31^st to be the true end of summer and November 1^st to be the start of a new year. If you're not a Pagan then you only know October 31^st as Halloween, a holiday for dressing up in scary costumes, or some ridiculous non-threatening outfit, that you will undoubtedly parade around in either at a party or with friends or family to go trick-or-treating door to door in while yelling; “Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to it! If you do, I'll be good to you, but if you don't I'll come back and play a trick on you!” Yes, I was bad kid growing up. I used to smash pumpkins, teepee houses, and egg cars if I wasn't given candy on Halloween night, but enough about my criminal past. Happy Halloween to all. Be safe, don't be indulging in any criminal mischief, and have a good time. Now on to more pressing matters.

This week was pretty interesting. I had an exam in my Criminology class, passed it just as I did the last time. In my U.S. Government Class we're getting heavily into the many facets of the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s; showing how the black's civil rights led to the women's, the Indian's, the disabled, and now homosexual civil rights. In my Horticulture class we planted seeds and talked about the various ways farmers speed up the process for bountiful harvests. Horticulture has become one of my favorite classes and I really enjoy Prof. Berry's class. Well that's pretty much it for now. Hopefully the Rangers will win the final game since they fudged their chances last night. Have a great weekend and a very happy Halloween! This is Howard College's blogging machine, over and out!

“Mid-Terms”

By Terrence Cain

It doesn’t feel like it, but yes, we are in mid-terms right now. It feels like it was only yesterday when the fall semester started. It seems like this year is going by fast for some reason, and I’m not the only one who feels this way. I’ve heard others on campus expressing this feeling, including the professors.  And it begs the question; where did the time go? I guess that’s a question for the ages, now isn’t it?

In Monday’s Criminology class we finished up with the statistical discussions on crime and how some of it is most likely inaccurate do to the fact that not all crimes are reported. In my Horticulture class on Tuesday when we went to lab we used the green house to start an experiment of sorts. We all had to find two different plants, cut stems at forty-five degree angles and repot them using a root hormone with fungicide in it called Rootone-F. This particular chemical will cause stems to sprout roots. It’s amazing what chemicals can do, especially to plant life. We learned about plant grafting and how scientists have been able to take plants of different kinds, but from the same family, and make them grow multiple fruits. One tree we talked about was one that could grow several different kinds of citrus fruits. It boggles my mind how they’ve been able to get lemons and oranges to grow from one tree.

Now in my U.S. Government class we finished up with the bill of rights on Tuesday before we took our test on Thursday. My heart tells me I pass all but maybe one question because my mind went blank on it as usual. In Algebra I’m working on graphs, so I won’t bore you with all of that. It is going to be a busy weekend again for me because I will be studying for my Criminology test on Monday. I’m just glad the temperatures are going to be really nice this weekend. Until next week; this is the Howard College blogging machine, over and out!

“The Beat Of My Drum”

By Terrence Cain

There has been so much going on in the world lately that it makes what I’m doing look like a minuscule drop in the ocean. Even if what I’m doing is just a tiny speck in the universe’s vast ocean I will just keep pressing on anyway because I’m not giving up for any person or thing. Even when I get frustrated and end up hating one of my subjects, let’s say Algebra for instance, I still know that I’m never giving up on finishing college. I can’t give up, I just can’t. “Terrence Cain admits defeat?” No, you’re never going to hear that headline or read that anywhere at any time or place. Maybe it’s the Irish blood in me. Maybe it’s the fact my parents raised me to never give up, to never accept “loser” as a title for myself. Or maybe it’s because I’ve gone through way too much in my life to get to this point and say that others have won in their fight to keep me down.

I don’t mean to get on my soap box and start preaching; but this week has been a long and rough one for me. I hope that this week’s post will inspire others to do as I am doing and fight to keep banging that drum for personal success and happiness. Life is never easy, but you as a person can do so by just keeping your head up and your thoughts focused and sharp.

I had tests in both Horticulture and Algebra this week and I’ve never been very good at tests. On test days I feel like Adam West in the 1966 Batman movie where Batman is running all over the pier trying to get rid of a bomb with that feeling inside me always saying; “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!” I know that sounds a bit exaggerated, and maybe so, but that’s just how I feel on test days when I know I’ve done everything I can to study and yet my brain goes blank the very minute I read the first question presented to me on the test.

This seems to mostly happen with Algebra. I was told earlier this week by someone, and I’ve heard this before, that numbers and letters are virtually the same. I disagree. They’re total opposites. With words you can somewhat mess with them and come up with new words and meanings for them. Numbers are straight forward; sometimes even complex or confusing, and no matter what they will never allow you to do anything outside the rules. And for most people that’s why they have a much easier time with numbers than they do with letters. For me, however, it’s in complete reverse.

Numbers make me wince and letters make me swoon. That’s why I’m here in college. Journalism has always been an interest of mine and I’ve always done well in school with words, but those pesky numbers get me every time. Maybe it’s because there are almost no rules in language, except for the one that tells you to not sound like a fool of course. The only time you have rules in language is when you have to turn those words and ideas into a printed group of words on paper, then you have all kinds of rules, but even if you throw all those rules out you can still understand what someone is trying to convey because of how easy language is to manipulate and arrange. You really can’t manipulate numbers; and if you don’t pay close enough attention you can really screw things up in a formula. Someone with ADD, such as myself, that makes it even harder because the focus is never one-hundred percent clear.

Still, though, I’m not giving up. College courses are indeed hard, but they should be because it’s the hard things that will make you smarter. It’s the complex ideas and formulations that will show you the pathway to a new idea that was never thought of before. Like me, you’ll get frustrated and angry. You’ll probably even cry and say to yourself; “I quit! I’ve had it! No more, this is too hard!” But hopefully you’ll be too bullheaded like me and fight off those negative feelings and keep pressing on and try to make your frustrations work for you instead of against you.

You all have a whole life ahead of you. Know that college is not forever. From everything I’m doing I should be done by 2014, that’s not that far away. And I know for a lot of you it’s not that far either. It gets easier once you get into your field of study because college prepares you for almost everything you will encounter in your line of work. Just keep on truckin’ because you’ve got nothing to lose by succeeding. Thanks for reading this week’s post. This is the Howard College blogging machine, over and out!

“Beautiful Creator”

By Terrence Cain

On October 5^th co-creator of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs, passed away after an eight year battle with pancreatic cancer. They gave him three to six months to live, but for a time they thought he had won the battle. Sadly his cancer came out of remission and took his life. The Apple Corporation has been an integral part of mine and millions of other’s education for the past twenty-two years or more.

I remember as a child when I was attending Burleson Elementary in my hometown of Odessa, Texas that we had a computer lab that we would visit regularly to learn how to type, spell, and do math on an Apple computer. We would play education games like Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego? and Where’s Waldo? A lot of my early introduction to technology was from products built by Steve Jobs, or at best based off ideas he originally came up with.

As an adult I’ve used many of his creations. I’ve used Mac computers and laptops, I’ve used many different iPods, and I know a vast majority of people today use the Apple iPhone. It was indeed a total shock to my system on Wednesday night as I was watching CNN and the Breaking News banner came up to announce his passing. Steve Jobs gave me and so many others so much joy in knowing what technology can do for us and what great things can come from a beautiful creator such as Steve Jobs was. Steve had so much more to do. A life cut too short at fifty-six. I don’t think I’ll ever look at my iPod or laptop in quite the same way ever again.

I don’t mean to get all philosophical on you. I just felt I needed to share that because the truth is that Apple didn’t just touch people at home or at work, but in the educational world as well. Every classroom I see in Howard College’s Big Spring campus has an Apple computer in it. Even my editor, Cindy Smith, uses an Apple computer in her office. The innovations will always be there, but sadly his new ideas and what Steve Jobs would have done in the future will forever be gone. Thank you Steve Jobs, you made my life better with your beautiful and wonderful creations. You made everyone’s life better because of your ideas.

In this week’s classes I had some good and interesting discussions in both my Criminology and U.S. Government classes. In Criminology we talked about what is considered to be illegal in one place may not necessarily be in another; such as indecency laws and traffic laws. In my U.S. Government class we discussed mainly the first amendment, freedom of speech. We talked a lot about it and how it has at times been abused by those in power. We talked about the second, third, fourth, and fifth amendments as well but not to the degree we talked about with the first amendment.

Not much I can really say about my Algebra class. I’m just happy my grade is still up in the As. In my Horticulture class we talked mostly about soil and what is the perfect soil for most plants and crops. We also got to see samples of different soils and talked about them and their textures as well. Well that’s all I have to say for now. I’ve got a busy weekend for myself, so take it easy and have a great weekend. This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

“Celebration”

By Terrence Cain

Today was a beautiful day my ears. A guy named Eric, last name unknown; who’s major is computer science came into the lounge area where everyone breaks for lunch and studies. He sat down at the piano and began to play this thirty minute somber, dark, movie soundtrack-esque song on the piano. It was awe-inspiring to hear him. After he finished his song I found out that he, like me, cannot read music and was self-taught. Eric played beautifully and you could really feel what he was bringing out of his soul in his playing. I was in there today at lunch time studying for my U.S. Government test that I had at one. In case you don’t remember, or are reading this blog for the very first time, I am a HUGE music fan, so whenever I hear a talented person pouring their heart and soul out in an artistically expressed way, especially through a musical instrument, I find myself in another world. Eric is very talented for sure and I really appreciate his song keeping me focused on my studies for my test. If his computer science major doesn’t work out for him he should go and make music for movie soundtracks because he’s got the talent for it for sure.

 This week has been one long haul for me. I had tests in both criminology and U.S. Government, I had quite a bit of homework in horticulture, and algebra as usual gave my brain a pretty good kicking around. I’m doing well, I have an A average in the class right now, but math is just one of those subjects that just frustrates me to no end. Well I don’t want to harsh too much on what gets to me, so I will leave you on a good note. I passed my criminology test on Tuesday. I’m not going to say what I made exactly, but I did pass it with a pretty high score.

This weekend will be great too. I went down yesterday to The Fun Shop on Moss Creek Rd. here in Big Spring. It’s one of the last few relics of the old movie rental stores that still rents out VHS tapes. The owner, Jason, also sells snow cones, Halloween gifts, and rents DVDs. Go check it out if you got the time. He’s right off exit 184 on I-20. You’re probably thinking I’m some really old guy now. No, I’m just a nostalgic person. I grew up in the 80s and early 90s in the days of vinyl records and video tape rentals from the local movie rental store. Great times growing up back then. Much more simpler and peaceful time I think. I’m probably part of the last generation to do so too. I believe they’ve coined us the Cold War babies because I, and many others, were born near the end of the Cold War. Well I off to watch some great movies, do some algebra, and get some much needed rest before next week’s classes. If you get a chance this Friday go to the 65^th anniversary celebration of Howard College. I’m proud to be a part of Howard College, so if I get the chance I know I’ll be there. At the end of this blog are the schedule and the events that will take place for tomorrow’s celebration, have a great weekend! This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

Schedule Of Events

* 10:00 AM - Stan & Sue Partee Residential Complex Building Dedication, Stallings St.

* 10:45 AM - Charles O. Warren Center for Community Service Building Dedication, Thomas St.

* 1:00 PM - Old Main / P.W. Malone Plaza 1001 Birdwell Ln. - Celebration

Refreshments & Tours Will Follow

“Fall On Me”

By Terrence Cain

Today is the beginning of the Autumn Equinox, a pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and God during the winter months. Now why am I telling you this? Because I’m in a Horticulture class and one of the main topics this week was about the Farmer’s Almanac. The Farmer’s Almanac is an almanac that predicts weather patterns, gives astrological predictions, and assists farmers by telling them what time is best to plant their crops. Since the fall season officially begins today I thought it would be kind of cool to tell you all about what the autumn season truly means. Hope you enjoyed that little fun fact there. That’s part of the reason for the title of this week’s blog. The other part is that the title is also my tribute to R.E.M. who broke up this week after thirty-one years together. ‘Fall On Me’ is one of my favorite songs by them so this week’s blog is dedicated to R.E.M.

Okay, this week has been pretty cool. In my Criminology class with Prof. Calvio we watched an episode of the History Channel’s Gangland about two black mobsters who were notorious for heinous crimes in Harlem, New York in the 1970s. The point was to see what triggered the actions of these individuals who became the notorious drug peddlers in Harlem. Both stories were tragic, but I didn’t feel sorry for them when they were sent to prison because they could have taken the tragedies they went through in their youths and made something positive of them as adults and they chose instead to use fear and greed in the most negative of ways.

In my Horticulture class we had a couple of tests and spent our lab time in the green house getting rid of dead plants, cleaning up the place, and repotting plants with new soil. Horticulture is a difficult class when it comes to the tests, but it’s also a fun class because I’m learning a lot more than I knew about plants in my early education.

In my U.S Government we talked a lot about amendments and the early stages of the U.S. and State Constitutions. I really dig Prof. Hamby’s class because he, like Prof. Tune, allows you to discuss things in his class and doesn’t try to make you feel intimidated or like you’ll be in trouble with the Dean of Students if you speak out on a subject in his class like some professors I had last semester did.

Not much to say about my Algebra class with Prof. Buske. Just did the usual work and that’s really it. Well that’s it for now. I’ve got a lot of studying to do this weekend because I have tests in Criminology and U.S. Government next week. A word of advice to all the students attending a Howard College, keep pressing on and don’t give up. College can be hard, but it is very rewarding in the end when you get that degree you worked so hard for. This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!

“Now That The Dust Has Cleared”

By Terrence Cain

The last few weeks have been totally crazy for me. I wound up getting sick last Friday. It was gnarly for a few days. I wound up missing classes on Monday unfortunately, as well as Dominique Dawes’ appearance at the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum on Howard’s campus here in Big Spring. I’ve been a fan of hers since I first saw her in the Summer Olympics back in the nineties. I had even planned to make an attempt to interview her after the event, but because I’ve been sick I stayed home.

Well, even though I’m not 100% out of the clear, I was able to return to my classes on Tuesday. On Wednesday, however, my absence from one class showed because I did miserably in my algebra class this week due to being too ill to study, let alone attend my classes on Monday. I’m not going to blab about my grades, but I will say I didn’t pass my algebra test this week, so now I have homework to do to bring my grade up. That’s right; this semester’s algebra classes are different. First you work with tutorials, practicing and studying, then you take a pre-test. If you fail the pre-test you have to do homework to bring your grade up. Then there is the post-test that you have to pass as well. It’s all very complex but it seems to work out for us in the end.

Getting back to Tuesday, that day was quite awesome for me. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my horticulture and U.S. Government classes. On Tuesday my horticulture class with Prof. Berry was assigned groups to find a total of fifty different plant lives. We were split into groups of three or four and given strict instructions on what to look for and how to assemble the book we will be putting together towards the end of the semester. My part will be to find, photograph, and label twelve different trees. It’s not due for a few months, but I plan to get started today on the project while it’s cool outside. I’m learning a lot about plant life, some I already knew from science classes I had in elementary and junior high school, and some things that are new to me. Prof. Berry is a great professor and I highly recommend him if you are attending Howard here in Big Spring.

I’m also enjoying my U.S. Government classes with Prof. Hamby. A man that truly believes in compromise, and like a lot of us, feels that the government has made that word out to be something derogatory in the English language. I’ve been learning a lot in his class and I’m very happy that I chose him this semester. Another professor at Howard I recommend if you’re attending the one here in Big Spring.

On Wednesday, besides my algebra class with Prof. Buske, I had criminology with Prof. Calvio. I had him my first semester with his sociology class, so I figured another semester with him would benefit me, not only as a person but as a writer as well. The class is coming along nicely and the class has started off with some of the same basic sociological perspectives as his other class, but in the coming weeks we’ll be getting more into the actual minds of criminals so stay tuned for that. Well, that’s all I have to share for now. Don’t forget to support the college sports teams as well as the theatrical and musical activities coming up. This is Howard College’s blogging machine, over and out!