Wednesday June 26, 2013

I have not received any requests for scholarship applications.  I ran this June 5 and am running it again.

TAMUSA Accounting Students

 

I have the application forms, see me if you are interested in applying.

Dennis Elam

PASSA Scholarship Program

The Petroleum Accountants' Society of San Antonio (PASSA) will offer up to five $1,000.00 scholarships for
the 2013-2014 academic year.

 

The Mission of the PASSA Scholarship Program is to help those students seeking a career in accounting
obtain their goals through higher education.

 

Applicants are judged on financial need, community service, evidence of leadership and citizenship and
academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA).

 

Each scholarship winner will be eligible to receive $1,000 and funds must be used for college tuition, books,
fees or room and board.

 

Rules and guidelines:

 

1. Applicant must be enrolled full time in a 4-year accredited college or university.

 

2. Applicant must have completed their freshman year of college (24 hours) with a 3.0 GPA (or B average)
and be in good standing.

 

3. Applicant must be entering or currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting.

 

4. Each scholarship recipient will be chosen by the Scholarship Committee made up of members of PASSA.

 

5. The following criteria will be considered in selecting scholarship recipients: student’s academic standing,
essay, personal circumstances, participation in school/community activities, two written recommendations
by a professor, counselor, and /or community/club leaders. Student will submit a detailed application.
Neatness and ability to follow instructions are very important and will also be considered by the selection

committee. References and transcript are to be sealed and included in a packet with the application as
indicated in #10.

 

6. Each scholarship recipient and the scholarship recipient’s counselor will be notified by a PASSA
scholarship committee member by telephone and by written correspondence through regular mail.

 

7. Each scholarship will be paid directly to the College or University.

 

8. Each scholarship recipient and parent(s) will be invited as guests of PASSA to a future regularly scheduled
monthly meeting at the Petroleum Club to be officially introduced to the membership.

 

9. College transcript is to be sealed and included in the packet with application and sealed references to the
address provided.

 

10. Student applicant understands that the scholarship is to be used for college tuition and fees, books, and/or
college living expenses. According to the IRS, contacted April 2, 2001, and according to 1099 Section,
page 24 (Miscellaneous); PASSA does not have to submit a 1099 to the student as long as it is for regular
studies. A 1099 needs to be submitted only if the scholarship is given to be used as wages, such as studies,
preparation of papers, or specific project, etc.

 

11. The scholarships are not renewable.

 

To apply, complete the attached application form, along with your essay, certified college transcript, and two
reference letters from qualified persons no later than August 15, 2013. Any applications received after the due date
and any incomplete applications will not be considered – NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

 

PASSA Scholarship Committee

c/o Will Kothmann

100 NE Loop 410

Suite 1100

San Antonio, TX 78216

Weekend June 23, 2013

We are in a transition period a to what constitutes academic research.'  Movies have moved to digital effects. Now HD video is available inexpensively for most anyone wanting to create their own video. Other mediums offer themselves with enhanced still photography via Power Point. Digital Audio offering podcasts is yet another medium. 

but no matter what medium one chooses, the story is key. I have been watching the original Twilight Zone series on Netflix. These are now available sans commercials. Each segment complete with Creator Rod Serling's intro and conclusion narrative are a mere 25 minutes long This leaves about 22 minutes to set the scene, develop the story, and then conclude with the usual paranormal question. 

If you read the wikipedia link above, you will learn that Serling was frustrated writing about real events which got sliced and diced on television for various reasons. He turned to science fiction as a way to distance himself from other wise real events. In that regard he was way ahead of Stephen King who would eventually follow in the same genre. In fact I have to wonder if King did not get the inspiration for his novel Needfull Things from one of the first Twilight Zone storie, What You Need #12.  In it an elderly man provides just what a person needs. 

At any rate the stories, like I Love Lucy, are incredibly well written. Whether you are doing video, or stills, or audio, or voice over for other scenes, can you 

• set up a scene
• develop the characters and the plot challenge in the next few minutes
• demonstrate the dilemma of the central character
• wrap it up for the viewer to thing about in the last few minutes

Well Serling could and did. The series is also remarkable in featuring seasoned actors like Burgess Meredith as well as a host of newcomers from Robert Redford to James Franciscuss to Rod Taylor. 

We learn to be better writers by reading great literature. We can learn about multi-media by studying some of the best. Decades later, these stories stand the test of time. They are well written and well acted. The fact that they are in black and white adds I think to the starkness of the dilemmas. 

Give a few  whirl, I think you will enjoy what you find. 

 

 

friday June 21, 2013

Hollywood will bring a new version of The Lone Ranger complete with a war painted Johnny Depp as Tonto (don't we have any North Americans Native actors?)  But Professor Elam  as per usual is out front of the crowd on
this one too. Several years back we submitted this parody  to Lew Rockwell, it is still up.

Read and enjoy.