Adjunct College Professor: Keeping Students Amused One Semester At A Time!

One of my chief loves in life is teaching. As such I am a faculty adjunct professor teaching at the undergraduate level at a local community college.

Usually teaching in the criminal justice administration and political science departments I found myself confronting kids during the day classes and a mix between young and adult learners in the evening classes.

Inevitably after the introductions the student body wants to know as much about their instructors as possible. They want to evaluate if you are going to be too hard on them or if you are a "softy" and they can wrangle out a good grade for little work and participation. The bolder of the student body will often just come out and bluntly ask what your predilection is.

To balance the two my syllabi's always require a paper to be completed using American Psychological Association (APA) format to cite sources from. During a particular semester a student would constantly giggle and writhe when I would query the class about their collective progress with the required paper and if anyone was having problems with the required format for citation.

At long last this particular student came to me in private and whispered to me (as if to shield me from embarrassment) if I knew that I was in a criminal justice and not a psychology class.

I didn't know how to respond to her until moments had passed and it struck me that she thought that I had been improperly placed by the college and was in the wrong class; in short she thought that I was a psychology professor teaching criminal justice.

I had to laugh out loud and then excused myself and told her that it was "ok" and then uncovered the source of her confusion as being the adherence to the APA format. I explained that the APA format was one commonly used in the social sciences. The student then hinted that others in the class thought it was funny that they thought that I did not know I was teaching in the wrong class. I told her that I was glad that I amused them.

During the next class I made a public announcement and reassured the students that I was teaching criminal justice and that the APA requirement was a standard for the paper only.

It was then that I realized that I would never rise to the coolness level of Harrison Ford's character of archaeology professor Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. So it goes ...

Grout & Tile Problem? No Problem!

May 2007: So there I was, owning one franchise when I decided to compound my workday by purchasing another. The result? The birth of "The Grout Medic (of the Lehigh Valley, PA)."

Bringing another unknown brand into a new territory and building it up from the bottom! The Grout Medic is the leader in the "after care" market of grout and tile repair.

The products and equipment used are the latest in technology to bring your grout and tile back to life. Before you have your tile removed and replaced, let the Grout Medic show you what options are available for you.

Through The Grout Medic my goal is to exceed your expectations by providing quality, professional work usually completed in one day. The work is completed for a fraction of replacement costs and far less aggravation than renovation while achieving the same results!

So there you are. If you have a grout and tile problem in the Lehigh Valley call me first. I will provide you with a free estimate for repair and address all of your grout and tile repair needs.

Visit The Grout Medic at: www.thegroutmedic.com. Please telephone 610-260-2000 and leave your name and telephone number and the best time you can be reached to schedule an estimate.

Why Pre-Shave Oils?

Lately I have been reading about the need for shave and pre-shave oils for men. In my metrosexual leanings I have tried several brands with mixed results. Often I have found that I simply did not need them for growth of one day. The need for a pre-shave oil is based on skin irritability, sensitivity, lack of preparation time (and others). Generally a small dab of pre-shave oil is applied to the beard and face area and then regular shaving cream is then applied. Usually I shave after I shower to soften my beard with the hot water and soap. Usually this is enough to tackle my beard. If I can't shower first I will use the pre-shave oil to replicate the effects of the hot shower.

The oils that I've used offered the best results when my beard was more than one day old. Out of many on the market I like the "Truefitt and Hill Ultimate Comfort Pre-Shave Oil" the best. I found mine at Nordstrom. The only drawback is the price: $24.00 for two ounces.

The oil was thin and non-viscous and left a nice citrus scent. My skin always feels very smooth after the shave. I have read articles in the past about using a quality extra virgin olive oil in the same manner to reduce the irritation and razor burn from shaving or as a substitute for the shaving cream itself.

In a test conducted by me, myself, and ire ... ok, just me , I compared the two. Strange as it seems the olive oil faired very well and conditioned my beard and skin nicely. The olive oil was a little thicker than the Truefitt and Hill but it did not clog my razor. In the final analysis if you can afford it, the commercial oil is a nice treat for your skin. The extra virgin olive oil is comparable and it did not leave me smelling like a salad. Just FYI.

Foundation Crack & Concrete Repair. Is It Necessary? (Important Public Service Advertisement)

Recently I celebrated two years of self-employment. As an entrepreneur I took the risk and brought unknown branding and a little known home services niche into a large territory by purchasing a franchise, "The Crack Team (Foundation Repair Specialists)." I have not been disappointed with my choice.

Although based out of the Lehigh Valley area I service a large area of eastern Pennsylvania. Through my research I found that most of the residential home foundations in this area are constructed of poured concrete. However, many are concrete block (cmu) and stone in construct as well. The Crack Team has provided me with the training and materials to effect a myriad of waterproofing and concrete repair solutions for both residential and commercial needs.

Concrete consists of cement, sand, gravel and water. As the water evaporates, the other ingredients cure into a hard slab. This curing process causes the concrete to shrink, which results in cracks. Most basement cracks are caused by this normal curing process, or by natural settling of the foundation, or compression or load bearing of the home itself and don't often indicate a structural concern.

With regard to cracks, well, they happen. Whether in a basement or garage, patio or sidewalk, cracks are a fact of concrete, and can alarm even the most savvy of homeowners. However, most concrete cracks pose no structural concern, and can be repaired, easily, quickly, and affordably.

It has been my experience that The Crack Team's methods of repairing cracked and leaking foundations are designed to be cost-effective and reliable. And though some waterproofing companies may propose extensive repairs, all of The Crack Team's work is done inside the home. The repair processes are quick, simple, and clean.

The Crack Team simply offers the finest solutions for:

• Concrete foundation cracks.
  
• Leaks in your stone or block foundation.
• Unsightly cracks in your patio or sidewalk.
• Blocking out foundation moisture.
• Sealing and concealing defects that allow water penetration.
  

For more information locally telephone 610-928-3222. Visit The Crack Team's website at : www.thecrackteam.com.

Thank you for your consideration. Remember that Mr. Happy Crack Says ... "A Dry Crack Is A Happy Crack!"

Nintendo DS Lite Delight! A Customer Service Experience.

A warning to all parents and other prospective buyers. The hinge area of the Nintendo DS Lite handheld video game player is vulnerable to breaking. My two eldest sons, through normal wear and tear albeit one month apart, experienced breaking at the right hinge area connecting the upper and lower screens on their respective units. That's right. Two separate units breaking at the exact same location within one year.

I telephoned Nintendo's customer service at 1-800-422-4281 and spoke to a well-spoken and knowledgeable professional named "Benjamin." He listened to my complaint and offered to service the units at no cost. I was very thankful. My experience with Nintendo was painless and "DS Liteful!" Please note that Benjamin was careful to stress that Nintendo will not service units that have been damaged as a result of misuse, dropping, etc.

However, I was very pleased with my customer service experience. Again, thank you Nintendo.