Learning Korean

My latest hobby/fascination is writing using Hangul, the alphabet invented by Koreans for Koreans. (This is much more productive and less depressing than my previous hobby/fascination.)

Why Korean?
1. I know several folks from Korea or with ancestry in Korea, and I like every single one of them.
2. I like the fact that Korean is not tonal. No offense to Chinese, but the difference between má and mà are tough for my ear and tongue to navigate.
3. Korean is written phonetically. If you can pronounce it, and you can follow the rules of building the letter blocks, you can write in Korean.
4. There's a chance I'll get to visit Korea (as in South Korea) soon, and I don't want to be hopelessly lost.

Here are the names of my family members. (I'm sticking with proper nouns so far, because I don't need to actually SPEAK Korean to say someone's name.)

더스티 존스	Dusty Jones
제니퍼	Jennifer*
이라이자	Elijah
로사리	Rosalie
루시	Lucy

* Actually, Korean has no 'f' sound, so this is Jenniper. But really it's Jennipeh.

Special thanks go out to Paul for getting me interested and providing helpful support, and to Google Translate for the virtual keyboard.

For a Mentor

Here's a poem I wrote for my high school theater teacher, James K. Shepherd, in honor of his 80th birthday.

One's time on Earth,
Measured from birth,
John Napier could have reckoned
In years or moons
Or coffeespoons
And easily to the second.

But O, to count
The vast amount
Of lives you have inspired:
The awesome might
Of transfinite
From Cantor is required.

Summer Reading

I made a New Year's resolution to read a book a month. This summer, I have done very well. Here's a bit about it.

Something Old How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method

George Polya's famous work from 1945 highlights a four-step heuristic (method) for solving problems, mathematical and otherwise. I have read this book 15 years ago, so this was actually a re-read/skim done partly in preparation for a Skype conversation with 5th and 6th graders at math contest camp in Missouri.
"The first rule of teaching is to know what you are supposed to teach. The second rule of teaching is to know a little more than what you are supposed to teach." (p. 173)

Something New Worldview Conversations: How to Share Your Faith & Keep Your Friends

My friend Stan Ward (aka Bushwacker, the guy who gave the homily at our wedding) published a book this year. Thanks to Jennifer's Kindle, I got to read it. Stan's main point is that we (as people, as Christians) need to listen more to what others are saying and not try to argue them out of what they believe. The benefits of a worldview conversation (as opposed to a worldview conversion) is that no one wins or loses, relationships are maintained, and there are opportunities for multiple discussions.
"Remember: the Holy Spirit leads us all into truth (John 16:13), and the Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:8), not you. Either Christianity is, or is not, true. No matter how well or poorly you make your point, you won't change the validity of the Christian faith. ... No matter what your friend believes, he is your friend. Your job is to understand both yourself and your friend. Leave 'conviction' to the Holy Spirit." (Chapter 5, about 56% of the way through the book)

Something Borrowed Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality

My friend Patrick loaned me this book after I'd heard him and Pastor Ken talking about it. Internet Monk Michael Spencer's book, published after his death in 2010, is intended for those who have left the church or are thinking about it. This doesn't describe me, but Spencer did give me insight into the epidemic of people leaving church. Part of the problem: Christians who don't act like Christ. (Take, for example, the way my church youth group acted in restaurants.) The bottom line for me was that I need to learn more about Jesus so I can do what he did, rather than living in a bubble and excluding others.

Something Blue Now That You're a Deacon (the cover is actually navy)

In June, I was elected to be a deacon in my church. The title of Howard B. Foshee's book (from 1975) seemed appropriate, given my new position. This was a helpful, encouraging book for the most part, although some of the author's statements seem pertinent to all Christ-followers.
• "Now that you are a deacon, there is great work for you to do." (p. 9, p. 55, p. 121)
• "Now that you are a deacon, you will want to grow as a Christian steward." (p. 100)
• "Now that you are a deacon, Christ should be preeminent in your home." (p. 114)
I believe that I should not just be starting these things now. Hopefully they were evident in my life prior to my election. My favorite part of this book was a quote from Garland Hendricks:
"Of myself I am neither wise, good, nor strong enough to be a deacon. But I am not alone in this work. Christ is my companion, and through his wisdom, mercy and power I am able to serve." (p. 132)

Something Fictional, Addictive, and Part of a Trilogy The Hunger Games

My thanks go out to Jennifer (Thanks!) for sharing this Suzanne Collins book with me. According to Amazon.com, it is written for teens. I liked this book, even though it is set in a future North American society where a ruthless government maintains order by requiring its citizens to watch a reality-television show where children are killed or starve to death each year. (Doesn't that make you want to read it?!) The author has a great knack for storytelling. I'm working on the second book of the trilogy now.

Question: What are you reading? Leave a comment.

Open Letter to Blackboard

Dear Blackboard,

You have been such a great help, and I've enjoyed getting to know you. It's hard to believe that we've been together seven years!

Would you please combine the three sections of MATH 5388 in the Fall 2011 semester into one course? I would appreciate it. The numbers you may recognize are MATH538801811, MATH538802811, and MATH538803811. You and your love of large numbers!

I'm not seeing you on campus as much lately. Some other learning management system named "SHSU On Line" is moving in on your turf. There's even a rumor that you're leaving me next fall. (S.O.L. said that on YouTube!)

If there's anything I can do to change your mind, I will do it. Don't let the sun go down on me.

Dusty Jones
Mathematics & Statistics

Jimmy & Rick Playhouse

Here's a website that Eli created last month. It features the Fun Kidz characters Jimmy & Rick. You will be sure to hear a lot about them if you talk to Eli. They will be very famous in the 2020s and beyond!

I'm sticking to it

Last month I had the pleasure of reading a book by Max Lucado. He is a great storyteller, so I usually don't mind reading his books. But this one was different. The purpose of the book was to understand myself, as in the Dusty that God created me to be.

If you are a fan of Jennifer's blogs (which, of course, you are), you probably remember that she recommended the book to me while  she  re-read it. Here's a quote from her post in which she "quotes" Lucado explaining the S.T.O.R.Y. acronym.

---

S – what are your STRENGTHS?
T – what is your TOPIC? (What gets you passionate?)
O- what are your OPTIMAL CONDITIONS?
R- what about RELATIONSHIPS? How do you best relate with people?
Y- YES!  When do you feel God’s pleasure?

---

After a couple of weeks of thought, prayer, and chillin', here are my thoughts about who I am.

Strengths: analytical thinking, close attention to detail, good at memorization, speaking in front of a crowd, quick wit, able to teach (disregarding a few recent negative evaluations)

Topic: mathematics and statistics, particularly the teaching and learning of these subjects; Jesus' life and message

Optimal conditions: extended periods of time; quiet & calm; easy access to books, paper & pen; culminating in a presentation to an audience

Relationships: I enjoy working alone - this is Dusty the introvert. But Dusty the extrovert enjoys sharing my thoughts with others, particularly the (captive) audience found in a classroom setting. This is where I perform.

Yes! I've felt God's pleasure when I've figured out a tough mathematics problem, seen multiple ways why it works the way it does, and figured out two or three ways to help others see it. I have also felt it when teaching a classroom full of people who claim to hate math, but are enjoying (and understanding) the tasks I prepared for them.

The good news--I believe that I have my dream job as a mathematics education professor. Hooray!

June Resolution Update

The blog posts have been few and far between lately. I realize that. May came with finals week (writing tests and grading tests-BOO) and a FABULOUS trip to Walt Disney World (HOORAY!). June rolled in along with two summer courses, including a graduate course that I haven't taught before. Whenever I am this busy with work or fun, I feel a bit guilty taking a half-hour to peck out a post. That's why this one is coming to you at 6:25 in the a.m.

Speaking of feeling guilty for not working, I found a blog for a hilarious, Christ-following, high school math teacher. (Sound like anyone you know?) If you want to laugh, check out Tyler Tarver. Or the guy who introduced me to him, Tyler Stanton, who I met through Tripp & Tyler.

Resolution update already.
Pull-ups: still going strong, although not during the vacation. It still takes willpower to get up on the bar.
Enjoying children more: check. Yelling at them less- ?? They are crazy fun to be with, and whenever I discipline them properly I hear God telling me the same thing (e.g., people are more important than things, you are not in charge)
Wear a tie to every class: I did this for about half of the class days in April and May. I gave this one up for the summer. In fact, I've worn a t-shirt and jeans to each class this week. (My department chair is out of town.)
Read a book every month: I borrowed Michael Spencer's Mere Churchianity from a friend (thanks, Patrick!) and read it in May. Jennifer suggested Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado for June, and I'm glad she did. I finished it two days ago, which gives me a head start on July's pick. I'll post my thoughts on these books later.