Lecture 10.30.07

2.30 A bit of a late start here. Troxel has been setting up for a couple of minutes. Lights dim. Heart rate accelerates. He flies through the title slide so quickly that I can't keep up with the speed of my emotions
2.31 Jumping into Isaiah 6.1-13 Wow! look at that yellow slide. It looks like how i visualize the adjective "majesty"
2.34 The first red-bolded text of the day
2.35 Wow. we're still talking about this (Isaiah 6). From last lecture. The Trox must really be into stumps.
2.37 Troxelnater is really digging on these yellow backgrounds today. When he stands in front of the slide, there is a slight golden grow which seems to radiate from him, into my soul.
2.39 HE'S PULLING OUT THE IPOD!!!!
2.40 Asks the audience how to spell "Tupac" He's looking for the song "changes"
2.41 HE can't find the song. I yell "sing it!" He laughs. I just made him laughs.
2.42 I can't believe this. I have to concentrate to not wet myseld. He's talking about "P Diddy" and " Notorious Mister BIG" Also refers to :one of my sons" Who apparently has over 1000 songs in his iTunes library.
2.43 TA Steve brings an iPod up and saves the day. YAH STEVE! "Changes" begins to play. After a moment, Trox drops the volume and begins to talk over it. Nate begins to clap along with the music. Hearing Troxel's voice blend with 'pac's is like listening to The Beatles for the first time. "Tupac is an editor whether he knows it or not...He's a redactor..."
2.44 We're back to Isaiah. Incredible.
2.47 I'm still sweating. My vision is becoming less and less blurry, finally working of the intoxicating effects of Troxel's A-game.
2.49 Marc is clearly counting something on the screen. Probably the number of times a word is used. Out Marcy is thinking like a scholar. I blush with pride.
2.52 The time is flying by. We are into Micah. You don't here that name much anymore, do you? A quick Wikipedia search shows that the only prevelant extraBiblical Micah is the character Micah Sanders from Heroes. And he's a lame Hero, anyways. "Look at me, I touch machines and do things to them. I'm little." Lame. Doesn't even count as a Micah.
2.54 Micah was dark.
2.55 Recreating reaction while hearing Troxel say "Tupac" (see picture)
2.59 Busting out some Hebrew. Apparently Micah distances himself from "prophets out for profit" in a unique way.
3.03 Compositional History of Micah.
3.04 Beginning to hope he didn't peak too soon in this lecture. Tripping over a word here and there. He's talking about "hungering after figs", though. I think that sounds pretty funny.
3.08 I think Micah was like the Fonzie of prophets. He played by no one's rules but his own. I think he'd be my friend, though.
3.10 According to Trox, Micah was not a foretelling rebel. Just the normal social-political kind.
3.13 "Does this make sense? PLease say yes, or please say no, or... (switches to mock-angry voice) Say Something!" I laugh. Probably a bit too loudly.
3.14 WINDMILL TRANSITION!
3.15 Nahum. We're flying through at the speed of awesome.
3.16 Wow! Email for a free photographic print from the UW Athletic store! What a deal!
3.17 troxel calls Nahum 2.4, 6-7 "A CNN-like report"
3.18 Internet cutting in and out...
3.19 "Full of booty..." "Holocaust Literature"-Man, Nahum is crazy dark.
3.22 Dabbling into the book of Ninevah.
3.23 Troxel's example Acrostic poem: "Always...Before...Continually...etc" The man should be am actual poet.
3.25 LOLCats are awesome.
3.26 Book of Zephaniah. Wow. This is getting ridiculous.
3.28 Quick quip about "....the latest fashions from Paris."
3.29 Wikipedia confirms no prominent extraBiblical Zephaniahs.
3.30 Crowd participation! "...Now Janus is the namesake of one of the months of our calender? What is it?" I'm pretty sure that in his head, he asks that question and pumps his fist in the air while a resounding yell of "January!" echoes throughout the room.
3.34 Man, we are covering some dark freaking prophets today. Trox must be feeling sinister.
3.35 In my haste at the beginning of lecture, I never even described Trox today. He's wearing a pumpkin colored plaid shirt with khakis. He looks well rested and content.
3.39 The words on the screen that are highlighted are "darkness", "gloom", and "destruction." I'm not kidding about this dark theme today. Do you think he tried to coordinate this lecture with Halloween?
3.41 Some are beginning to pack their things up.
3.42 Wrapping up a bit early to avoid my computer dying, what a lecture. In what shall forever be known as "The Tupac Incident" Dr. Ronald Troxel has forever shaped the course of Biblical scholarship and rap music.

10.25.07 Lecture

2.27 A late start today as Troxel has just entered the room. Questions abound: His khaki collared shirt and white undershirt is a classic, but are the olive pants a little too bold? Is his hair parted to the other side? Finally, is his beard a little darker than in the past? We'll investigate these issues as the day goes on.
2.28 Things are fully normal, the late start seems to have not effected his ability, he now is a machine of effieciency. He turns the laptop on, he moves the sliding chalkboards into their position, in doing so I am convinced his biceps are not those of a regular man, he is some sort of Hercules. Interesting: Troxel's desktop background is back to his son, it was different on Tuesday.
2.31 WE HAVE NOT STARTED LECTURE YET! WE ARE BEHIND SCHEDULE! Take note that he seems to be a little rushed as he knows that the clock is ticking.
2.32 Troxel's podium is in its regular place, no need to drag it into place today.
2.33 The TAs are handing out a flier advertising for a FREE PUBLIC LECTURE (by a personal friend of Troxel). See picture. We learn that the other TA's name is Steve. We were not aware of his name good to know.
2.34 We are rolling now and examining the book of Hosea. The only prophet from the North.
2.38 My, and everyone's, fascination with Troxel's personal life continues. What does he do in his spare time? Golf? Raquetball? Hip hop dance?
2.40 The word whoredom is being thrown around like candy at a parade. Its symbolic. Troxel assures us that its usage makes sense and its not a mere tale of "poor Hosea's troubled family life." A chart showing the structure of the book of Hosea helps explain.
2.42 Lets gather some statistics.
2.44 Troxel made 31 hand motions in the 60 seconds from 2.43-2.44. ALL OF THEM with his right hand. Most quite small but some of them were big, sweeping, inspiring movements. Occasionally, he would even be motioning with the hand while looking at the screen or his notes. He beckons us to come in and pay attention to his every move, he invites us in to a stunning and captivating history of a people and a nation.
2.45 Troxel just said booty.
2.46 Troxel tells a joke, that apparently only I thought was funny. Suggests the names of Hosea's children do not stem from a "list of baby names popular in the 8th century." Very clever.
2.48 The screen shows us text overlayed with two boxes that each have shadows behind them, however all the text and boxes are in one color. Its an unfortunately boring image fails to inspire any sort of emotion in the audience.
2.49 Just noting that Troxel has done an excellent job with some very difficult looking Hebrew words, but perhaps he just makes it up as he goes and hopes no one calls him out on it. How could I say that!? Troxel's integrity surpasses that of even the proud sea lions. Comment withdrawn.
2.50 Some blue lines (not a color he often uses) and arrows, these things help me feel at home.
2.52 Were talking bout "raisin cakes" These are not snack food, but rather a part of fertility religion, its about offering raisin cakes to Baal rather than honoring the Lord. This makes me wonder about other type of cake, apricot, prune, date, dried food has a strange texture.
2.54 One of my favorite Troxelisms: "He could be accused of throwing the baby out with the bathwater."
2.55 I search the room for Dave Vandenfendenberg. Is he even here?
2.56 The crowd seems very aware its late in the day on a Thursday. Not seeing much by way of attentive students, some are sleeping, a fair number of seats remain empty. In all seriousness, this is actually kind of an interesting topic and an interesting book.
2.57 Troxel refers to the temple being turned into the "red light district" and talks about the "provacative" language.
2.59 Troxel tells us that Hosea is like a "shock jock" using provacative language to get us to think. From my understanding of "shock jocks" I dont think their goal is to get us to think. I feel I could make a pretty strong case its exactly the opposite. However, maybe I just don't get the deep satire found within making fun of midget eskimo strippers.
3.02 Troxel asks "Is this clear?" Right on time. Everyone in the room knew it was coming, but then he follows it up by probing again "Is it?" Were not sure what to think, he's going off script, finally another surprise as he states: "Usually when you talk about sex and religion people pay attention." Now who's using provacative languange?
3.03 Troxel describes driving as "motoring about".
3.04 Troxel just accused his son of carousing. Obviously not the soccer player, he can do no wrong and if you want to challenge me on that I'll just point to his 27 saves . . . IN ONE GAME!
3.06 We now turn to the book of Isaiah, but don't worry just the first 39 chapters. A yellow tinted preview slide puts us into eager anticipation to find out what treasures lie within. I just hope we won't be to tempted to jump ahead.
3.10 An examination of our file photo of Dr. troxel refutes our earlier claim about hair parting. As we can best know he's always been parting to the right. However, the picture shows no full beard, so its accuracy is in doubt.
3.14 Challenge from the audience, a question is asked. Troxel says thats exactly what he's about to explain. Lets press forward. Mike is now writing on a piece of paper on my leg.
3.16 A giant scroll unrolls on the screen and Troxel is also on a roll (pun intended). I see seven arrows and two sets of brackets. The only thing missing is color, come on Professor make my day! Do it!
3.17 Chance of color is getting bleak . . .
3.18 Still no color, actually there's less color he made a light yellow fade to a biege. Heartbreak.
3.23 Troxel just got a little political on us, making a Colin Powell in front of the United Nations reference. New topic, what does Colin Powell do for fun? I bet its even more fascinating than what Troxel does.
3.27 I've been pulled away from Colin Powell's Wikipedia page to check out an image on the screen. It shows two creatures holding up another creature who Troxel calls a "sky god".
3.29 Troxel has a minor slip up saying Jerimiah instead of Isaiah, and doesn't even notice his mistake.
3.30 I was doing a pretty good job of paying attention until that Colin Powell comment, the man is fascinating.
3.35 SHoT
3.38 Crisis: Troxel pages through four slides quickly and asks aloud: "What am I doing here? Oh, hit the wrong thing." Were back on track now, of course.
3.40 We are back to the slides that have tinted yellow in the corners. It seems about 1/3 of them are of this style whie the rest are just regular backgrounds. How does he decide which ones get tinted?
3.44 Almost done. Mike has drawn a picture of someone in a bear suit or something like it on his notes. The title of the photo reads "If Troxel was an evil teddy bear" Its brilliant. Thoughts of a Halloween theme dance in my mind.
3.45 We had been told there would be only 3 themes of Isaiah now we are being shown a fourth. Troxel tells us "you all get a bonus one . . . no extra charge" I feel honored, cared for, and informed.
3.46 Uh oh, class still going. The man is out of control. He's on a mission. He will get through this material.
3.47 Its over. What a ride. You ever rode the roller coaster at Camp Snoopy, because this is pretty much the opposite of that. Camp Snoopy roller coaster sucks. Troxel is thrilling. Camp Snoopy makes me want to gouge out my own eyes, Troxel makes me want to stare deeply, forevermore.

Lecture 10.23.07

2.26 He enters. I think he's wearing the same shirt as he did on Thursday. Looks a little sleepy.
2.28 He means buisness. He's moving around the wooden podium. He's like a prop comedian! We're waiting for the first row to be passed out plastic tarps so that he can start smashing some watermelon. (see picture)
2.30 Laptop up on overhead screen. Back to the aeriel shot of Van Hise for his desktop image. Lecture begins. finishing up our talk on 1 and 2 kings.
2.32 Two minutes in and nothing too exciting going on, Wiley seems pretty intrigued. He is feverishly taking notes. He brought his 'old school laptop' to class today. I feel like he's been overdoing that joke lately. (His "old school laptop" is the overhead projector carried around in a bag roughly the size of a small duffel bag. He jokes that it is not a overhead projector, but a outdated laptop. Trust me, the joke is funnier the third or fourth time you've heard it.) Yet at the same time, I am frightened by the similarities in our sense of humor.
2.33 A sigh of relief comes up from the crowd as the familiar yellow highlighted text comes over some 2 Kings texts. It makes me feel safe.
2.34 Safety defiled. "The computer is jumping around on me, I'm not too sure what's going on" Panic erupts in our minds, but a quick "split" transition brings our turbulent hearts to a rest ans puts us back on the fast track to some serious scholarship.
2.38 Colorful Square graphics summing up the Deuteronomistic history. That's right. The whole thing. Some may ask how he does it. I reply: "It's Ron Troxel."
2.39 The graphics continue to weave a vivid storyline of a chronological compositional history of the DH.
2.40 Troxel utters "sex" in a Freudian slip. Yes. I am that immature.
2.41 Summing up the graphic table.
2.42 "Well, Let's move to a very different topic then..." YES! What will it be? Powerpoint tutorial? How to properlly groom a beard and moustache? Is is son going to teach us how to goaltend? No! It's better than we could possibly imagine! My heart skips a beat, my hair stands on edge, the class is equally excited. We're talking about the later prophets!
2.44 I'm becoming increasing convinced that he's controlling this powerpoint show with his mind.
2.46 He calls prophets "movers and shakers."
2.47 Someone had there computer speakers and/or speaker phone on, after a few seconds of awkwardness, disaster was averted.
2.48 Stumbles over the word "say" --"shuh....say."
2.49 A colored map with an expanding yellow sun outline around the city of Mari! It's here! It's vibrant! It's beautiful! Just as we grow attached, he...
2.50 "fades out" into the next slide.
2.52 Is he awake? Is he sleeping? I don't know. (see picture) He drops the book. Definitely sleeping.
2.54 He makes a joke. I'm going to be honest. I've already forgotten what it was. He seems indifferent after stumbling over the word "inhabitant" What is happening? I'm pretty sure those are signs of the apocalypse.
2.57 The man is back. All it takes is a little bit of red italics to change everything.
3.01 Google helps us unearth some more of Troxel's magesty. Check this out: http://imp.lss.wisc.edu/~rltroxel/TroxelVita01.html
3.02 God bless you, Google images. http://www.news.wisc.edu/wisweek/14-Apr-2004/images/Troxel_Ron_hs04_1616s.jpg
3.03 This image also came up. NOthing relevant. Just plain terrifying. http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t301/troxelandwait/DSCN0645.jpg Troxel is still truckin' with analyising some Jeremiah.
3.04 He's showing us the Hebrew for "madman" (meshugga')
3.05 I don't think Wiley has moved at all in the past fifteen minutes. At all. He might be dead. Someone should make sure he's okay.
3.06 Bold, caps lock'd, underlined text sweeps the screen, interrupting monotomy and begging our attention. My pulse accelerates.
3.07 This whole slide's text is red! With arrow bullet points! I'm hyperventalating!
3.08 "Zoom In" to a blue page with yellow text.
3.09 Wiley moves. Marc stops chanting the Hail Mary.
3.10 Trox cites "the latest research I've seen..." with some vivid hand motions
3.14 I learn Ronnie Brown is out for the year. I've finaly gotten out of the fetal position. But I can't stop weeping.
3.17 Some more coor! Green text enters tha dance.
3.19 He manages to squeeze the term "ball of wax" in somehow
3.22 "What woman wants to be called a cow?" Hillarious. What a man.
3.23 Troxel does what can best be described as an Oscar the Grouch voice while saying "Bring me a beer" Time stops for a moment and we are encapsulated in this moment for eternity, like an insect in amber. Hilarious amber.
3.29 Some blue text, some red text. Lots of long words.
3.31 I'm going to be honest. It's been slow. Dave Vandenlangenbergenhogen is reding the "rodeo" entry on wikipedia.
3.33 There's only so many red italics that one man can takes before he loses it.
3.40 Still going through Amos. Still losing it.
3.43 Graphic reading "Edom already under Judah's rule" A la Mythbuster's "busted." Nice try Amos, but it looks like you're busted.
3.45 "...Next time we'll turn to Hosea..."
Well, not his best. I realizing this is like comparing one diamond to another, but we must be honest, it was a long one.

Post-Edition: 10.18.07

Shanti Mathew came to class. As she was enjoying our blog (how could she not); the room cleared out.
She and Troxel made small talk from across the room.
But not your typical "saying hi awkwardly to your professor" small talk.
It was warm. Heart-felt. Real conversation. Amazing. Pulled at my emotions. Tears in my eyes, song on my heart.
Turns out his son has his last ever high school soccer game tonight. It takes him an hour to get to the game! What a committed and wonderful father!
What a man. What a scholar. What a father. What a hero.

10.18.07 Lecture

2.22 Troxel enters, dressed in a red plaid button up shirt, top button undone, khaki pants. Nice hair.

2.25 Some music begins to play. Sources say its "Big Girls Don't cry" by Rehanna.

2.28 A student approaches the podium and asks Troxel a question, presumably about Hittites or something, and Troxel leans puppy dog eyes, chin in his hands, and smiles. Hughes wonders how she did not melt right before our eyes. From here Troxel moves to the seating area and leans in to field another question, charming.

2.29 Rather than a traditional start to lecture, Troxel relates to the young folk by eplaining that we share common musical interest. We enjoy the musical stylings of "House odf the Rising Sun" from his day, while he crosses over and gets down to his fav jam "Big Girls Don't Cry". Troxel is also a noted Shaggy fan.

2.34 Right when you think Troxel has hit his academic stride, out comes the personal touch (he's on fire today). A train whistle blows and our dear Professor states "I've never heard the train so close, I wonder if its still on the tracks." (light laughter)

2.35 Disappointing development: TA Jonathan Wylie is sitting behind us today, this means it will be very difficult to track his movements. Further, it also means he very well may be looking at this screen noting that I am not taking notes.

2.36 We have Hebrew script on the screen and Troxel is daring to suggests a re-translation of the NRSV. He states the original language and the context have been misread. Bold.

2.39 Very little animation in the powerpoint thus far today. I used to have a theory that Troxel spent most of his time updating and enhancing his Powerpoint slides, I've instead come to learn most of his time is spent on Z104 and high school soccer.

2.40 We are barely ten minutes in and Dave Vandenlangenberg is already asleep. Weak.

2.45 We've moved on to an examination of 1 and 2 Kings, started off with Troxel's standard intrduction slide making us aware that his lecture is indeed "Copyrighted".

2.46 Dave Vandenlangerbergersmith wakes up and doesn't even try to pretend he's wasn't just asleep. He's now eating a giant Kit-Kat or something like that.

2.48 David (the king) has been adduced. Good to know.

2.54 The phrase "rump-state" is being tossed around like nobaody's business. No explanation has been given as to want a "rump-state" is, was, or will be.

2.55 Wikipedia informs us that a rump state is the remnant of a once larger nation or government. Just when you think Troxel has gone all potty mouth, turns out he's still a genius.

2.58 Jeroboam is David's anti-type both in his actions and in the way that others follow his pattern. I wonder who Troxel's anti-type is . . . Stalin?

3.01 We have a text heading at the top of the screen, then blank until the bottom third where the text appears. I can't wait so see what he will use to fill in the gap, here it comes. . . . (waiting for the significance) . . . . (still waiting) . . . . .

3.03 So we have a lot of words on the screen. Something about Deuteronmy, I'm feeling a little let down to be honest.

3.04 Dave Vandenjohnsonjoneenberg has ditched out. We miss him already.

3.05 We have colors. A left to right chart of colored boxes representing the first 11 books of the Hebrew Bible the colors range from a light yellow to a deep violet. And now they're gone, lots of words again.

3.07 Troxel is using the phrase Uriah the Hittite (who in Troxel's words was involved in "that whole Bathsheba thing"), which is pretty fun to say (or looks like it would be) but we're going to take a break to grab some pics of the people behind us.

3.08 Development: Troxel leans in elbows on the podium to explain the fish-i-ness by which Saul's role as the first king is being ignored.

3.10 We're talking about "anatomically mixed" beasts.

3.11 Troxel forgot the word "tablets." Pauses and eggs himself on with some hand motions, then asks the class "Somebody help me out?" He got a little flustered there. Now, of course, fully recovered and back on track.

3.12 Leaning in again, interlocked fingers, really getting into this.

3.13 We have a picture of Wylie, but its not pretty, just a little tiny portion of his head. Plus, the people behind us saw me take a picture of them and now are pretty freaked out. However, we do learn from the small visible portion of Wylie's head that he appears to be fully alert today. Good work.

3.14 Shout out to Jon Tong!

3.15 Repeated pointing at the screen. Troxel could be making a rousing political speech, beckoning troops to war, inspiring the trailing team in a Super Bowl locker room, there are no limits on his inspirational abilities. I feel warm inside just witnessing this. Now was have a wide stanced hand reaching out toward the audience.

3.17 The Northern Kingdom was nothing but a bunch of "ne'er-do-wells". A strong Southern bias. Blogger is worried about his grade since he has no idea what any of this means . . . (eh)

3.18 Scary flashback to a past lecture. Troxel highlights the word "high places", we spent about 45 minutes on this concept one lecture and everyone was left clueless as to their significance.

3.21 Hezekiah has been officially declared as "the best ruler ever" by Troxel. High praise. Problem: Josiah is also totally like the best king ever. Who's the best best?

3.25 Not only has a question dared to be asked. But the phrase "I don't think that's a convincing argument" was trown down. We have a direct challenge people. Visions of Jon Highness dance through the heads of all.

3.27 Words are coming out of Troxel's mouth at a fascinating rate. He speaks from the perspective of someone from the Southern kingdom and even sounds a little bit like he genuinely impassioned himself. Is he pissed off at the Northern Kingdom still?

3.28 Oh my! Troxel finishes his explanation and she has not found satisfaction in his respose. WHOA! He's been off track for so long now that the PowerPoint switched off and in the absense of that image we get a view of the camera labeled "WolfVision." I love wolves.

3:29 Troxel responds to the challenge but upon finishing refuses to ask the questioner again "if this is clear." Instead, he moves on and asks for other questions. I feel like he got a little overwhelmed there, especially when the WolfVision came on.

3.31 He has returned to a calm composed stance. In fact, he is now casually sitting on a tab le in the front of the room, feet dangling. Friendly, explanatory hand motions. Really, quite approachable. You could just climb right up onto his lap.

3.32 Back to the PowerPoint.

3.36 Shanti Mathew has just entered the room! She's not even in the class! Plus, as she came in she got to hear a classic Troxelism: "Is this clear?"

3.39 Its getting late in the hour and Troxe's vocal cords may be getting tired. Perhaps his nerves also, as he addressed the crowd asking for "people's concentrated attention." His concern is that other people may be distracted.

3.40 Speaking of distractions, the girls two rows in front of me is wearing a shirt that says "SARS" on the back. Is this some sort of nickname? Really? I mean, it probably is not a reference to the airborne disease, but what if it is??

3.41 Mike gets really, really excited that the passage mentioned wizards. He probably wants me to write something all about it. Here's what I'll write. Mike is a nerd. Josiah never played Quiddich. Nor did Ahab.

3.43 Were closing out here, lots of text being turned through very quickly. The word "moreover" is being used repeateadly. And at least we have the appearance of the text as highlighting itself. Does Troxel have telepathic powers? Maybe Troxel is a wizard? Do you think he knows Dumbledore? Mike hopes so.

3.45 Manasseh is the Jeroboam of the North. What a jerk.

10.16.07 Leture

2.26: We enter. Troxel is rocking a black polo shirt and khakis. Looks like a good audience.
2.28: Projector is on. Image of his son, who is currently a senior in high school, saving a kick (he is a goal keeper) at a recent soccer game. Pr. must be proud.
2.29: Powerpoint loads. It's on.
2.31: First slide enters with a "zoom in" effect. Troxel uses term "edumbrating" Introduces theories of Israel's occupation of the land.
2.34: We've got a map, people. Late Bronze Age.
2.35: Holy Crap. The map stays the same, but the icons shift and the title changes to "Iron Age." The man is a wizard.
2.36: He's going back and forth between the maps. NOw he's just showing off. We have our first table: A Bar graph of settlements. Wow: He's bringing his A-game. A 3-D TOPOGRAPHY MAP OF MANASSEH which is changing.
2.37: The map is still morphing as more Israelites enter the land. It's like watching a magician perform. What a master of his craft.
2.38: Back to original map. He's tying it all together. Conclusive evidence that the Israelites took the hill country.
2.40: Infiltration model summed up. Moving on to the peasant revolt model. Marxism reference!
2.41: He just called Marxists romantics. Disregards theory. Moves on to theory four: Gradual emergence.
2.43: Mispronounces "Jerubbaal". Twice. MAkes fun of himself. No laughs from the audience. Nails pronounciation of "Ishbaal" and "Meribbaal."
2.45: Map Two. Animation of Philisine being circled. Now we're talkin' 'bout the Sea Peoples, baby.
2.47: Ancient Philistinian image of the Sea Peoples. There's a sea monster! Trox points out the headdress. Powerpoint circles one of the headdresses in the image.
2.48: Now we are looking at some Bichrome Pottery. We are in the presence of a man who knows how to take full advantgae of powerpoint's capacities.
2.49: Animated map of Mediteranian trade routes. So many maps in so little time that I'm overwhelmed.
2.50: Judges passages begin to fly in over map of ANE.
2.51: "So Samson meets this woman and says... TROXEL GRABS IPOD, PUSHES BUTTON AND LINE "HEY THERE DELILAH" PLAYS. HE CONTINUES SPEAKING WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A PAUSE. SEEMLESS. PERFECT. INCREDIBLE. The audience is stunned. We sit, mouths open, wondering if we have actually experienced what he just unleashed on us. The grin on his face lets us know he realizes how good he is.
2.53: Entering second subject: 1 &2 Samuel. I've begun sweating.
2.54: Animated scroll graphics.
2.55: Nate Sweet dares to ask a question. Another girl follows suit. Trox answers both questions thourally, throws in a quip "...Well they didn't throw in a editors note..." and seemlessly transitions back to the slide.
2.56: "Other questions?" So sassy.
2.58: Windowed map over text. Animated arrows on map. Map changes. Animated circle.
3.00: We're breakin' down 1 Samuel 3 with multiple text colors.
3.01: Red. Grey. Black. Yellow. Green. Highligted. Text colors. Italics. It's like the fourth of July.
3.03: Try to take a picture with camera in computer. Looks at me as if he wonders why I'm pointing my laptiop at him. I quckly turn computer away. Image is blurry.
3.08: We're talkin' redactation
3.09: TA John Wylie's getting a bit tired. Leaning his head against the wall.
3.11: Trox leans over the podium, letting us know that he is relaxed and relateable. I am comforted.
3.12: Wylie covers a yawn. Ac ouple girls a few rows up appear to have fallen asleep.
3.15: Multicolored text table. He's really outdoing himself today,
3.21: Trox gets a little passionate while analysing 1 Sam 11.1-15. Really getting into it with the hand motions.
3.23: Mic pops a bit. Is it dying? False alarm.
3.24: Wylie's head jerks. Did he just wake up? We're still on the text table. It's nice. Color cordinated . Animated arrows. Windowed passages are constantly popping up in front of it (usually with "zoom in" or "zoom out" effects)
3.26: Many random colored squares on a otherwise white screen. As He describes narratives and how they here compiled, they change positionand group in the center, constructing a storyline.
3.27: Positive and negative signs appear in the squares, reflecting how they present Saul. A simple but effective graphic. The man knows what he's doing.
3.28: Stops class. Has us turn to each other to see if what he is discussing is clear.
3.29: We're back. It's Q&A time.
3.30 He's out from behind the podium. Big arm motions while answering questions. He's everywhere. Arms out. crossed arms. Pointing at the powerpoint. What a rhetor.
3.31: Female TA asks a question. He's coming to my side of the room. In front of the podium, leaning back on it. He looks like Sinatra.
3.32: Some crowd chatter during Q&A.
3.33: Back to leture. I make a wish: that this lecture would continue forever. "Ripple out" transition.
3.35: Calls Sam 19.18-24 "Bizare." Not so fast, Bible lovers. He explains why it isn't bizare in context.
3.37: A little dry humor, anyone?
3.39: Relating David's rise to Saul's rise.
3.43: Class is getting tired. Myself included. Fighting to focus.
3.44: Leaning on podium again. He's really throwing down while summing this up.
3.45 "...This Clear?...That's where we'll pick up the sotry on Tuesday [sic]"
Not a bad lecture. it did drag a little near the end, but as always, it was made up for by amazing visual effects and personality.