Texas A&M University-Commerce

Sharon Feldt, our books commentator from Sulphur Springs, reflects on "The Signature of All Things," a novel by "Eat, Pray, Love" novelist Elizabeth Gilbert.  Sharon says her interpretation of the underlying theme of the book is that, despite whatever professional success each person may have, personal relationships are the essence of life.

On today's Blacklands Cafe, outtakes with three of our regulars, Hunt County Historical Commission chairman Carol Taylor, discussing the somewhat mixed reaction to the entry of the U.S. into World War I, 100 years ago; Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor and interim dean of business Dr. Dale Funderburk, commenting on the importance of transportation to the ranking of Texas as the no.1 state for business by CEO magazine; and A&M-Commerce associate professor of counseling Dr.

Jeremy Gamez, our personal technology commentator and business technical analyst for the Texas A&M-Commerce provost's office, reflects on an article "Death of the Smart Phone and the Birth of the Next Big Thing."  The author of the ZD Net article says the smart phone has peaked in terms of sales and profits, and so technology companies are looking for the "next big thing."  He thinks that will be some type of "smart glasses," despite the fact that Google Glass fizzled.

Jim Anderson, Texas A&M-Commerce theater professor, will direct "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming," at 8 p.m. Tuesday night (April 25) through 3 p.m. Sunday, April 30 in the University Playhouse.  It's set in the period immediately after World War II and features many gospel songs.  Cumby singer-songwriter Lou Ann Price plays a major role.

Scott Cason, chief marketing officer of Texas A&M University-Commerce, relates plans for the "Our Century as Lions" observance that takes place today (Friday, March 10) on the campus.  It observes the day in 1917 when East Texas Normal College became a state institution.  A telegram sent to President and founder Dr. William Mayo arrived 20 minutes after Dr. Mayo had died of a heart attack.   The event begins at 8:30 with a reception on the lawn of the Heritage House, the home of president Dr. Ray Keck and his wife Patricia.

Friday, March 10th, 2017, will mark nearly one hundred years since a telegram arrived in Commerce indicating that the Texas legislature had voted to purchase the town's college from it's founder, William L. Mayo. (The date was March 14, 1917.)

Texas A&M University-Commerce music student Malik Heard will be performing tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Finney Concert Hall on campus. Heard received national attention as a finalist on the television program "The Voice."

Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams says citizen groups that have recently been brainstorming ideas for the city of Commerce, Commerce ISD and Texas A&M-Commerce will make reports  at 6 p.m., Tuesday, February 7 in the Rayburn Student Center at A&M-Commerce.  Also, the mayor discusses the activation of the new pedestrian stop lights on Highway 24 and Culver Street, allowing A&M-Commerce students to cross more safely.

Jeremy Gamez, business technical analyst for the Texas A&M University-Commerce provost's office, and our personal technology commentator, comments on a New York Times article, "Tech Resolutions for 2017."  To help you keep up with your many passwords, there are some apps, LastPass and 1Password.  It's recommended that if you haven't upgraded your wi-fi router in three years, it's probably time to do so.

Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams says the state of Texas is installing stop lights at the Highway 24 and Culver Street student crossings.  Students will be able to push a button, and a light will turn red, stopping traffic while the student crosses.  The mayor also discusses recent planning meetings involving the Commerce ISD, Texas A&M University-Commerce and the city, and progress on the proposed faculty housing development in the neighborhood south of the campus.

Jeremy Gamez, business technical analyst for the Texas A&M University-Commerce provost's office and our technology commentator, reflects on the use of IBM's Watson artificial intelligence technology as an instructor in a Georgia Tech classroom.  Students did not realize one of their instructors in an online class was, in fact, Watson.

Sarah Hobbs is living her dream. From humble beginnings in Jefferson, to attending college at Texas A&M University-Commerce, she's now making a name for herself as a strong voiced, independent Texas singer and songwriter.

Jeremy Gamez, business technical analyst with the Texas A&M University-Commerce provost's office, will be our commentator on new technology for the Blacklands Cafe.  In this program, we discuss the emergence of robots as a substitute for humans in the workforce.  One report says robots will take up six percent of the jobs in the U.S. by 2021.

Hunt County Historical Commission Chairman Carol Taylor relates the story of Etta Booth Mayo, the wife of Texas A&M University-Commerce founder Professor William L. Mayo, who in 1916 led her two daughters and a group of Boy Scouts on a hike from Commerce to Greenville, then Wylie, and on to Dallas and back.

State officials have approved a plan to upgrade crosswalks in Commerce, less than a month after a truck hit and seriously injured a student.

Texas A&M University-Commerce head football coach Colby Carthel spoke with KETR in advance of this week's big game against Midwestern State University.

Dr. Jeremy Adelman is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History and the director of the Global History Lab at Princeton University, and on October 3rd, he visited the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus to give a presentation to students and other attendees on the subject of photography and humanitarianism. In the presentation, Adelman argues that throughout the history of the camera, photography has played a vital role both in society's understanding of the world at home and far away, and in its reaction to global humanitarian crises as they arise.

Charlie Alderman, the superintendent of the Commerce ISD, says the school board has hired a new assistant superintendent, Dr. Patricia Tremmel.  She is a Commerce native, and has served as a principal in Garland and Richardson.  Alderman says Texas A&M University-Commerce president Dr. Ray Keck recently met with the school board and offered the University's resources in support of various CISD academic programs.