Life as Edward Jensen

Yes, yes, I know: when you’re reading this, the world slowly is marching into 2010.  That doesn’t take away from the spirit of this post, which is looking forward and offering my hopes and dreams for this place that we all call home.

Let’s get to it…

First, I hope that Phoenix (and even the metro area) start realizing that there is enough infrastructure here into which we need to grow.  We don’t need to keep sprawling out as we have.  Let’s fix that which is already here.  There are some true gems that we don’t need to go and unsustainably expand.  Let’s also diversify how we build and not put all our economic eggs in one basket.  Arizona was one of the hardest hit states in this recession because we put all our energy into growth.  Nothing else.

For the light rail, I have three wishes. First, let’s get rid of the one-car trains.  They look silly.  How much more does it cost to operate a two-car train?  Second, let’s take a look at frequency.  Sundays operate at three trains per hour.  The riders are there: let’s say that the minimum frequency is four trains per hour (or, 15 minutes between trains).  Third, let’s not eliminate the Friday/Saturday late night service (to 3am).

For Arizona, I hope that our state legislature realizes that it cannot cut our way out of this budget crisis.  We need to find new, reliable ways to gain revenue and invest in things that will keep the people here.  Because, given how you’re disenfranchising those who call this place home by cutting monies to public education, parks, protection, etc., people are going to evaluate if they want to stay here.  As for me, I’m on the fence.

And lastly, for me: this time come next year, and provided that everything goes as planned, I’ll have my Bachelor of Sciences degree in Urban & Metropolitan Studies.  I’ll have written and defended a thesis on social network analysis and how Web 2.0 has affected that.  I’m sure I’ll meet some fantastic people along the way.  And maybe someone special, too.

So Happy New Year 2010. May this year be peaceful, engaging, and productive.

Peace!

-Edward Jensen

Well, we’re at that point of the year wherein everyone is taking a look back at the year that will be ending tomorrow.

To commemorate the year, here’s a look back at the major themes of posts I’ve written.  Links will open in a new window.

January (see all posts)
Happy New Year 2009! The new Valley METRO light rail system began revenue operations after five free-ride days and ASU Downtown Phoenix campus students were figuring out how to leverage the system in their transportation arsenal.  There were two “miracles“: the Miracle on the Hudson and the Miracle at University of Phoenix Stadium sending the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl.  Obama was sworn into office (twice!) to become this nation’s first African-American president.  The Spring 2009 semester started sending me to the sea of humanity that is the ASU Tempe campus (meh…).

February (see all posts)
There was the Barrett Honors College Light Rail Party on the 6th, and I’d like to think it was the first major non-METRO-sponsored event to occur on the then five-week-old system.  Our patience was rewarded as Janet Echelman revealed the name of the public art piece suspended above the then soon-to-open Civic Space Park: “Her Secret is Patience.”  And we learned that installation of Ms. Echelman’s work would begin on 9th March, though it didn’t quite take the first time.  I moved this blog from Blogger to Wordpress and haven’t looked back.  Constructive arguments win, and this post demonstrated how. Then, upon learning that Glendale wanted to route its share of the light rail mainly through Phoenix (viz. I-10 and the Loop 101) to Westgate, I proposed using Grand Avenue as an alternative.

March (see all posts)
I went on a writing terror in March, penning 43 posts.  I evaluated a thoughtful sustainability curriculum in response to two sustainability classes I was taking at the time, and then evaluated (the lack of) academic integrity demonstrated by a student. Her Secret is Patience, the artwork at the Civic Space was set to be installed during the spring recess, then was delayed because of fabrication errors, then installed, then taken down.  The great Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach was fêted in JS Bach Week with six unique pieces leading up to the 324th anniversary of his birth.  Keeping with the music theme, I shamelessly promoted Cantemus’s performances of The Salzburg Mozart, with me playing tympani in the orchestra.

April (see all posts)
Janet Echelman’s Her Secret is Patience was finally corrected and reinstalled on a rainy Saturday morning.  And the Civic Space Park opened on the 16th!  SNL’s parody of Barack Obama found that ASU was better than the University of Arizona.  I thought (and still think) that the DASH Downtown Loop was made redundant by the light rail and proposed a free-ride zone that should save the City some money.  The Phoenix Symphony performed Carmina Burana on the 23rd and I reviewed it.

May (see all posts)
Final examinations and writer’s block were not my friends in May.  The Class of 2009 graduated and President Obama spoke.  The posts were of a light-hearted nature to make people not think of exams.

June (see all posts)
With ASU’s semester finished, Valley METRO light rail started running silly-looking one-car trains on the line, even during rush hours, causing the line’s many fans to wonder what was going on.  ASU Parking & Transit announced that the free U-Pass program would be going away leaving students to pay $40 each semester.  A new series on ASU Downtown Phoenix campus adventures was born…and quickly died. But in good news: Segways are allowed on the light rail!

July (see all posts)
The world was still lamenting the death of Michael Jackson and at Trinity Church on Wall Street, the most appropriate tribute was performed.  Answers were attempted at questions concerning the ASU on Facebook application, but even to this day, nobody really knows what’s going on with it. Walter Cronkite died.  Pi Approximation Day was celebrated on the 22nd with an approximation of success.

August (see all posts)
Most of the month was spent answering the question, “Is Phoenix a place that is suitable to raise – and sustain – a family?” in the Policy, Family, Future four-part series. The Camerata Singers performed and made my summer one of the best I’ve had.  ASU relaunched its Facebook application.  The College of Public Programs reevaluated why it’s using social media.  Twitter robots failed Turing tests.  Edward Kennedy passed away.

September (see all posts)
ASU’s Online Applications service was evaluated and given a thumbs-up, and the University’s student-run newspaper gave a cursory look to online learning.   Google Docs was demystified.  A new “Did You Know” video surfaced causing heads to turn (again).  The Phoenix Symphony performed Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony meriting a review from me and also the Maestro himself, Michael Christie, chimed in (see the comments).  And the Symphony’s College Club Card lets students see the Symphony for cheap.  We said farewell to the Mountain Bell Building, imploded on the 27th.  We also said farewell to reasons why Downtown Phoenix isn’t scary.

October (see all posts)
Phoenix-area policymakers forecast growth for the area calling for 400 miles of new freeways to be built, making me wonder if Phoenix still doesn’t get it.   I wanted METRO light rail tchotchkes but nobody was selling them.  Phoenix selected David Cavazos as its new city manager, replacing the retiring Frank Fairbanks.  ASU’s Elinor Ostrom became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics.  Finally, and sadly, the composer Paul Manz died, leaving a void in contemporary sacred music.

November (see all posts)
With Frank Fairbanks and all his amassed experience gone, from where will the next generation of public servants come?  The New York Yankees won the World Series and Carl Kasell (of NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!) had a great quip worth posting.  Mayor Phil Gordon gave his State of Downtown Phoenix address and it went over like a lead balloon.  This set off a debate on how to fix Downtown Phoenix.  And the Muppets gave the world the best rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

December (see all posts)
The Fall 2009 semester ended.  Same-sex marriage was again a hot topic, this time in New York.  METRO light rail celebrated its first birthday, even though the celebrations were a week early.  Mike Rowe celebrated the spirit of dirty jobs.  And then it was Christmas.

So…from here, where do we go?  That’s for tomorrow.

-Edward Jensen

Merry Christmas to all!

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” [Isaiah 9:6 NRSV]

O come let us adore him!

Today Christ is born: Alleluia.
Today the Savior comes: Alleluia.
Today the angels sing on earth: Alleluia. Glory to God in the highest.

Merry Christmas!

-Edward Jensen

Mike Rowe talks about his experiences on the Discovery Channel’s series Dirty Jobs and how his experiences have challenge his thoughts on work.  His language and descriptions are a bit colorful but his observations are absolutely amazing.

The video is about 20 minutes long.

if you can’t see the video, click here

What were those two Greek words that Mr. Rowe kept using through his speech? They’re perepiteia and anagnorisis.

-Edward Jensen

[source: METRO light rail/17 December 2009] Take a trip on light rail this Saturday for your chance to receive a “golden” transit pass, discover new and interesting retailers offering discounts to transit riders and be generally rewarded for your support of METRO in its first year.  Here’s the inside scoop:

GOLDEN PASS PROMOTION

Ala Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, METRO will specially mark “golden” transit passes in station fare vending machines along the line.  With more than 100 machines, METRO wants to help increase your odds.  Visit any or all of the following stations and their on-platform fare vending machines for your pass purchase and chance to win.

• Montebello/19^th Avenue
• Central Avenue/Camelback
• Roosevelt/Central Avenue
• Van Buren/Central Avenue and Van Buren/1^st Avenue
• Mill Avenue/3^rd Street
• Veterans Way/College Avenue
• Price-101 Freeway/Apache Boulevard
• Sycamore/Main Street

The 50 “golden” transit pass recipients will be entered into a raffle to receive one of 30 pairs of US Airways Center event tickets – either to a regular season Phoenix Suns home game or a family-friendly event, Disney on Ice or Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus – or one of two “Grand Golden VIP Experiences” that include:

• Four lower-level tickets to a Phoenix Suns home game
• Seats on the Suns bench during pre-game warm-ups
• Suns locker room tour
• Suns autographed memorabilia

For additional information, including rules, regulations and eligibility details, visit www.metrolightrail.org.   Platinum Pass and U-Pass cardholders have also been integrated into this program.

RIDER APPRECIATION DISCOUNTS

To sweeten the anniversary celebration, more than 45 gracious retailers along the line will offer special discounts or deals to anyone who presents a valid transit pass on December 19.  Riders will enjoy substantial savings such as two-for-one deals or as much as 30% off at these one-of-a-kind businesses.

The Suns are also offering a great deal extended through the holiday season. Present a valid transit pass at the US Airways Center ticket office between December 19 – 31 and receive $20 off lower level tickets or $10 off upper level tickets for any January 2010 game.  Great seats are still available.  Give a gift that will make your favorite Suns fan cheer!  The offer may be redeemed at the US Airways Center ticket office during normal business hours while supplies last.

For a complete list of businesses and their discounts, visit www.metrolightrail.org.

About METRO

METRO is celebrating it first year of operation having served more than 10.3 million riders through November 2009.  With the community’s support, METRO’s weekday ridership is 34 percent greater than projected, with Saturdays and Sundays fairing even better.  METRO will continue to look for ways to refine its 20-mile operation and level of customer service, while also planning for 37 miles of future extensions. Go to the www.metrolightrail.org site and click on Metro Turns One.  At Events to Enjoy there are lists of activities in the areas around Metro stations.

Whew. That semester is finished.  In addition to the one requisite in-class final, it also had quite the writing project, too. I took a graduate-level program evaluation class and the personal culmination was a 15-page paper on evaluation methods.  Woot.

Seven (semesters) down, two to go. Yay!

Now to celebrate, join me on Facebook: fb.edwardjensen.net.

-Edward Jensen

[source: Jacqueline Smith, ASU Office of University Initiatives] ASU’s College of Public Programs will host a community forum to discuss job creation in the metropolitan Phoenix area from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at the A.E. England Building at Civic Space Park, 424 N. Central Ave.

The forum is a response to President Barack Obama’s recent call for public debate concerning job creation in communities across the nation. Information discussed at the forum will be compiled into a report and sent to the White House for review.

The forum will begin with brief presentations about existing community building efforts in the service and design sectors and the relationship between entrepreneurship and job creation.

Panelists include:

• Dennis Hoffman, ASU Professor of Economics; Director, L. William Seidman Research Institute; and Director, Office of the University Economist
• Debra Friedman, University Vice President and Dean, ASU College of Public Programs: How the College of Public Program’s Spirit of Service Scholars initiative will strengthen the service sector
• Russ Perry, Owner, Keane Creative: How the collaboration within our local design community supports the retention of highly qualified graduates and has the potential to attract new industry-based investment
• Audrey Iffert, University Innovation Fellow, Office of University Initiatives: The connection between entrepreneurship, social capital/networking, and job creation
• Sean Coleman, Orange Slyce, ASU student entrepreneur: How internships enhance human capital and support job creation

Following the panel, participants will break into small groups to discuss:

• What can the university do to better support and prepare our future workforce?
• What are Arizona’s strengths?  How can we leverage these strengths to create new jobs in our region?  How do we build strong communities to support job creation?
• How can we foster industry-specific collaboration to attract investment to our region?
• What are the current obstacles we face to spark job creation? How do we overcome these obstacles?

Discussion leaders include:

• Sherry Ahrentzen, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research, Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family
• Mary E. Dawes, Ph.D., Director of Academic & Career Exploration, ASU University College
• Russ Maloney, Partner, Keane Creative
• Kitty McGrath, Executive Director, Career Services, ASU
• Bruce Mosby, C-Level Management Consulting, Mosby and Company, Inc.
• Roselyn O’Connell, Owner, My Campaign Advisor

Anticipated forum participants include leaders from the business and design communities, elected leaders, current and aspiring entrepreneurs, and ASU faculty and staff.

Also, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council will host an Arizona forum on jobs and economic growth from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Biodesign Institute at ASU in Tempe.  In addition to the Council, participants include members of the AZ Technology Council, Science Foundation Arizona, labor leaders and nonprofit leaders.  The focus is to listen to these leaders about what they believe the White House and Congress should do to help create jobs and restart Arizona’s economy.

ASU’s College of Public Programs offers educational and research programs spanning the fields of social work, public affairs, criminology and criminal justice, and community resources and development. The College has over 3,000 students in more than 35 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree and certificate programs. Its graduates are leaders in government, nonprofit organizations, and criminal justice and human service agencies. For information, visit http://copp.asu.edu/

Presented without comment.

-Edward Jensen

This post is mainly written for the fine IT staff at the College of Public Programs, but if you’re an ASU student and need access to ASU’s AFS servers (more commonly referred to as My Docs), here’s what you do:

In a terminal running as root (you may need to type sudo su and enter the root password):

apt-get install openafs-client openafs-modules-dkms openafs-krb5 krb5-config krb5-user

In the installation process, when you’re presented with the “AFS cell this workstation belongs to” dialog, type in

asu.edu

The next dialog asks about the local AFS cache on your workstation.  The default is 50,000KB.  I normally accept this proposal.

OpenAFS and Kerberos are now installing themselves on your computer.  The process takes about 5-10 minutes depending on your hardware.  Quick note, however: the install will look like it’s hung.  It hasn’t; it’s just OpenAFS installing its kernel modules into DKMS.

Find krb5.conf at /etc/krb5.conf. Copy krb5.conf from another ASU machine, click here to download it, or modify it manually to contain:

[libdefaults]
default_realm = ASU.EDU
dns_lookup_kdc = true
default_tkt_enctypes = des3-hmac-sha1 des-cbc-crc
default_tgs_enctypes = des3-hmac-sha1 des-cbc-crc

[realms]

ASU.EDU = {
kdc = krb1.asu.edu:88
kdc = krb2.asu.edu:88
kdc = krb3.asu.edu:88
admin_server = krb1.asu.edu:749
default_domain = asu.edu
}

[domain_realm]
.asu.edu = ASU.EDU
asu.edu = ASU.EDU

[logging]
kdc = CONSOLE

Restart OpenAFS Client service

/etc/init.d/openafs-client restart

Now the tedious part.  Making sure you’re not root, each time you want to authenticate into AFS, in a terminal, run:

kinit asurite -l 1d

being sure to replace “asurite” with your actual ASURite ID.  You’ll be prompted to enter your password – it’s the same password you use to authenticate to other ASU services. Then:

aklog

And now you’re in!  If you have problems, then run (as root):

/etc/init.d/openafs-client restart

and if that fails, then check your network connectivity by going to a website like asu.edu.

Now, where are my files?  Each ASU student gets 4 GB of storage space that can be used for anything, really, but it’s most commonly used with My Apps.  If your ASURite id is “asurite”, then your space is accessed at /afs/asu.edu/users/a/s/u/asurite (note the three one-letter folders that correspond to the first three letters of your ASURite id.

And that’s it! Whenever a new kernel is released, DKMS will automatically rebuild the OpenAFS kernel modules into that new kernel.  It sure saves the hassle of having to rebuild the kernel modules by hand.

-Edward Jensen