The Professor's Notes

Ah, well, I won’t be answering that question here.  I will simply post a survey for now.  I will share my thoughts a bit later.

This conversation started over at Twitter (follow me– @SCMProfessor) as an outgrowth of reading and thinking about a survey conducted at Penn State as part of their Rock Ethics Institute.  Students at one of the Penn State campuses were asked several questions.  Each question presented a situation, and they were asked if that situation was “cheating” or “not cheating.”

As I said, we have had some good discussions over on Twitter (in 140 characters or less!).  Let’s see what others think.

I will share the results in a coming post.

Thanks!

I am always interested in the setups people use when recording their podcasts.  Of course, there are several different approaches and each will require twists or changes to the setups.  For instance, if I am doing a face-to-face, or solo podcast, I will obviously not be using Skype.  That said, I asked on Twitter for people to share their set ups.  So far, this is what I have learned.

Aaron Aiken replied:

@aaronaiken: sweet. Macbook 13″ (4gig mem) with GarageBand ’08 and the Blue Snowball (USB) microphone

He then sent the link for a photo of his setup.

Next, a friend of Aaron’s from Scotland I believe sent his:

@stewartcutler:  MacBook, Audacity. That’s it. Sometimes use sony minidisc recorder with sony ECM-MS907 mic and use audacity to edit.

Alas, I don’t have a photo of his setup.

Then my brother, the keeper of Targuman.org shared his set up:

@Targuman:  M-Audio MobilePre USB with 2xM-Audio mics into MacPro or MacBook Pro; usually recorded in GarageBand or Skype w/Call Recorder

Hopefully he too will send a photo of his set up.

Here is his setup:

Finally, my set up:

@SCMProfessor:  my podcast setup: Vista, running Adobe Audition. AudioTechnica AT2020 Mic. Alesis Firewire8 mixer. Skype. and Prayers

and my photo:

Anyone else want to share their set up with me?  Would love to hear/read/see it!

I continue to find it amazing that the media, and President Elect Obama insist that this is the worst economy since the Great Depression.  As I wrote previously, we are no where near the economy that Carter handed over to Reagan.  But lest my words didn’t convince, check out this great cartoon:

found at: http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Political-Cartoons/Carter--Who-s-the-Worst-.htm

I would love to have you share YOUR best and worst service stories here.  I hope to use them with my course in Service Operations, and will certainly give attribution! Especially for the “Best Service” stories!

So-go to the comments, and let us know your story!

I gave a presentation last month to the Advisory Board here on campus for our Business School.  I thought I would share the presentation and also the talk as recorded that morning.

I welcome any thoughts you might have on how we can better use technology in business education, and specifically how we can better prepare students to use technology in the “real world” when they graduate.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I have been putting together a document specifically to aid my students in their research, and more importantly in their collaboration. I have pulled as many sites together as possible with hints on how they can use these during classes (not just my own) and I thought I would share the document with you.

To read, just visit my published document on Google Docs.

I welcome any and all additions to this document, and I certainly will give credit to the finder!

Tell me what tools or tutorials you have found!

What will they think of next?

I of course, love the line (roughyl quoting) “I will buy anything from Apple that’s shiny.”

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

I was listening to our local public radio station this morning, and they were discussing the reduction in revenues to fix PA highways and bridges because (as they said)  the price of gasoline is so low.  Of course, they correctly pointed out that the real reason for lower revenues was the reduction in consumption that was driven by a poor economy and high gas prices over the summer.

Many callers talked about how we need to raise the gas taxes, not only to provide funds to repair the highways, but to get people to learn to conserve, and to support alternative fuels. In fact several callers felt we needed a tax “floor” implemented immediately.  A “tax floor” would mean that if the price of gas dropped below a threshold (most said $3/gallon) then the price would stay at $3, and the government would scarf up the difference.  In that way, the government would reap the “windfall profits” of low prices (instead of the consumer).  (see my past discussions regarding windfall profits here.)

Interestingly, if the price rises and falls in part due to fluctuations in demand (and demand changes relative to price) would the price charged ever get much below three, if the gas stations knew they would have to just “give” that to the government?

So I want to know, what is YOUR opinion about gas taxes?  Are you in favor of a higher gas tax?

Look forward to your answers.