Category: misc

The death of Ernie Pyle

The AP recently uncovered a photograph of WWII journalist Ernie Pyle. Pyle covered WWII for many papers and wrote “The death of Capt. Waskow.”
The Belton Journal (my former employer) has run the piece from the World War II correspondent numerous times in the past about Belton’s own Capt. Henry T. Waskow.
The piece was originally run on the front pages of newspapers across the country and The Washington Daily News devoted its entire first page to the column — not even a headline, just solid text.
The paper was completely sold out that day.
Until today I overlooked the interesting connection between Waxahachie and Belton for Capt. Waskow.
Belton Journal Associate Editor Berneta Peeples writes:

There is another war now, and have been others since, and The Belton Journal continues to reprint the Waskow piece once in a while, as a tribute to Belton men and boys who have been killed in wars of this century, ranging from privates to generals.
Actually, Ernie Pyle wondered about this piece; he thought maybe he was “losing his touch.”
Henry Waskow was a 1935 graduate of Belton High School, attended grade school at Hay Branch and Wiltonville.
He attended Trinity University in Waxhachie, paying his way with his “Guard Money.”
He highwayed it back to Belton every Tuesday to make the guard drill.
Guardsmen were paid $3 for every drill they attended.
Waskow taught school two years before Co. I was mobilized in November 1940.
Belton’s Waskow High School bears his name as well as Henry T. Waskow V.F.W. #4008 Hall located at 2311 S. Pearl.

See the picture/cutline on Ernie Pyle or via Wikipedia
Read “The death of Capt. Waskow”

Excel/ Access hack

This is probably a simple hack many have already thought of, but it came in super handy for me today.
I had to search an Access database for college courses that are no longer offered in our district. Apparently a number of colleges still show them as active at their college though so I wanted to be sure they were all set to “de-active” or “no” in our database.
After several minutes I was getting cross-eyed trying to check the appropriate line.
To remedy the solution I simply posted a post-it note above the bottom line. Every time I did a search for no in the appropriate column, that row appeared right below my post-it note and kept me focused on the line I needed to make changes to.

In other solutions/ideas to help keep you focused on what you’re working on?

hack.jpg

Facebook Friends Wheel


Facebook Friends Wheel
Originally uploaded by Jonathan D. Blundell.

Thomas gave me a heads-up (as usual) on this Facebook app that makes a cool visual representation of how you and all your Facebook friends are connected. It looks like most of my connections are still through UMHB but more and more connections are being made through encounter.

How does your wheel shape up?

Oh and don’t see your name listed? Well you better get added as one of my friends on Facebook!

Take your keys with you

white rock

From Frontburner:

Crime around White Rock Lake fell 3 percent last year, but police note that car thefts would decrease if folks realized they shouldn’t leave their keys in the car just because they don’t want to carry them while they jog. Not making that up.

The Bible and a gallon of bleach

Just found Jen Nathan via Twitter. She’s an indy public radio producer in Portland. Her latest story is “The Bible and a gallon of bleach.” It’s a great story and a great topic. Reminds me of the charity stores the Salvation Army has around the world.

Peter Donatelli is an ordained Catholic priest. He also runs his family’s laundromat in Portland, Maine. Through his passionate beliefs and awkward sense of humor, Father Peter has created a public space where people actually talk about religion and politics. Some customers love it. Others hate it. But everyone agrees that it’s good for the community.

listen online