Day Three Hundred Eleven...

Whatever...most of you know that, deep down I am just a sophomoric juvenile, and I admit I still sometimes snicker when someone says 'wood'. Whatever... So, is it any surprise that I had to circle back and take a picture of this street sign this morning when I was on my way to class at the JJ 'Jake' Pickle Research Facility in Austin? Of course not, what are you thinking? Okay, here is what I found out about Dr. Boner:

Born: 1900, Nocona, Texas
Entered University of Texas 1916
BA Physics, 1920 (UT)
MA Physics, 1922 (UT)
Whiting Fellow, Harvard University, 1927-1928
PhD Physics, 1929 (UT)

Dr. boner accomplished the rare feat of serving at every position in the University organization, from Freshman through PhD, from Instructor to full Professor, Department Chairman, Dean and Vice President of the University.

In 1923, he spent one year in commercial radio. During this time, he developed an intense interest in sound and electroacoustics.

During the 1920’s, he worked under Professor S. L. Brown of the Physics Department. He helped build and operate the first KUT radio station, and built the first large scale public address system for Memorial Stadium. At the time, it was one of the most powerful in the United States. Sound was broadcast through 3 groups of megaphones, each measuring 10’ x 10’. Each such horn was fed by 4 loudspeakers, with 120 Watts of power. Total cost of this early system was $3,000.

During the 1930’s he served as Professor of Physics at UT, including appointment as Chairman of the Department in the late ‘30’s. During this time, he conducted extensive research on various phases of acoustics, especially in regard to the physics of organ pipes, valve construction of pipe organs, broadcast studios, architectural acoustics, and electroacoustics. He helped pioneer the design of broadcast studios and music rooms employing sound diffusing structures. The design of WFAA-KGKO Studios atop the Santa Fe Building in Fort Worth was the first such constructed in the United States (1941).

Appointed by the Federal Trade Commission to help settle disputes relating to sounds of electronic organs as compared to those of pipe organs, he devised instrumentation analyzing tonal characteristics, resulting in settlement of a major truth in advertising dispute.

The biography goes on-and-on... Whatever...

So, the reason I was at the JJ 'Jake' Pickle Research Facility (a University of Texas Facility) was to take part in the Austin Energy 'Green by Design' class. It is a first class facility to say the least, and the program was good, and I was able to pick up some information that I will be able to use in my GREEN classes next week and in the future. It was relatively painless, and it proved to be very interesting for the most part. One of the presenters was more interesting and had a better delivery style than the others, but that is always the way it is. AND, they have done this enough that they were RIGHT ON SCHEDULE the whole time. NO QUESTIONS, hold them all till the Q&A period! They stayed on schedule too, and did not deviate from the script!

So that is what I did on my Saturday, when it was a beautiful day in Austin, and there was a home UT game...I think the score was UT 35, and some team in Florida was 3. I don't know what the spread was, but probably not enough.

Tomorrow I have a few goals; feed the cattle, move a bale of hay into the pasture with them, take a look at the fences in the back pasture, go to Dairy Queen for a spoiler with Jody, and review for my classes next week. I should be able to accomplish all that, and still have time to take a nap or watch a movie. 'Slumdog Millionaire' came from NetFlix, so that sounds like something to watch tomorrow.

Kindness, Actions, Deeds, Changes, Fun!