Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Katrina via a school yard blog

a school yard blog: Katrina: " a school yard blog? Saturday Math | Main | Wednesday ?
Katrina
Here is an interesting public radio piece on New Orleans and hurricanes. It puts what Katrina might bring into some perspective."

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Songs from the year you graduated high school

via New Kid on the Hallway: My bad taste in music meme


1. Physical, Olivia Newton-John (highlight: 80s workout wear)
2. Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor (one of my boyfriend's favorite songs - heard it at least 10 times on each date)
3. I Love Rock N' Roll, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts (Joan is my hero - what can I say!)
4. Ebony And Ivory, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder (an odd combination)
5. Centerfold, J. Geils Band (just shows that life is full of surprises)
6. Don't You Want M, Human League (didn't ever understand this one)
7. Jack And Diane, John Cougar (A Midwestern anthem)
8. Hurts So Good, John Cougar (isn't that teenage life?)
9. Abracadabra, Steve Miller Band (if we just had that power)
10. Hard To Say I'm Sorry, Chicago (yes .. . . but we mostly think that out someone else and not ourselves)
11. Tainted Love, Soft Cell (we only hoped we would someday find out what that was)
12. Chariots Of Fire, Vangelis (just plain stupid)
13. Harden My Heart, Quarterflash (I kept hoping to do this but I was too boy crazy)
14. Rosanna, Toto (I can still "picture" it being on all of the 3 FM radio stations we could listen to at one time in my dad's old road car - a blue 1976 Oldsmobile with "push buttons" for channel selectors that were not "programmable)
15. I Can't Go For That, Daryl Hall and John Oates (again, something I hoped I could say sometimes)
16. 867-5309 (Jenny), Tommy Tutone (what would really happen when we called that number)
17. Key Largo, Bertie Higgins (I should know that but can't think of that tune)
18. You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Melissa Manchester (what most women only hoped to do publicly but privately were staying with/going back to him)
19. Waiting For A Girl Like You, Foreigner (I remember memorizing every word by constantly rewinding my portable red cassette player. One short-term "boyfriend" used to play songs on the radio through the Slimline phone)
20. Don't Talk To Strangers, Rick Springfield (my high school crush thought he was Rick Springfield and I did, too)
21. The Sweetest Thing, Juice Newton (an odd ballad)
22. Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson (i wasn't aware of it then but later one of my favorite songs would be his duet with Toby Keith (duh man) Whiskey for My Men, Beer for my Horses)
23. Shake It Up, Cars (and we did)
24. Let It Whip, Dazz Band (and we did this, too)
25. We Got The Beat, Go-Go's (and we tried to get this)
26. The Other Woman, Ray Parker Jr. (don't remember it but I should . . )
27. Turn Your Love Around, George Benson (again, something we hoped for)
28. Sweet Dreams, Air Supply (classic 80s)
29. Only The Lonely, Motels (more angst, but good angst)
30. Who Can It Be Now?, Men At Work (not sure what this meant)
31. Hold Me, Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac, need we say any more? Were's the renaissance for them like there currently is for Abba?)
32. Eye In The Sky, Alan Parsons Project (again, missed the reference but song was okay)
33. Let's Groove, Earth, Wind and Fire (we kept hoping)
34. Open Arms, Journey (more angst and longing)
35. Leader Of The Band, Dan Fogelberg (don't remember but I should)
36. Leather And Lace, Stevie Nicks and Don Henley (unique duet before they were "out")
37. Even The Nights Are Better, Air Supply (yep, they were)
38. I've Never Been To Me, Charlene (should remember that one, too)
39. '65 Love Affair, Paul Davis (good song but it was a year or two behind when most of us were an a gleam in our daddy's eyes)
40. Heat Of The Moment, Asia (yep, we were starting to learn about that)
41. Take It Easy On Me, Little River Band (please do until I tell you otherwise)
42. Pac-man Fever, Buckner and Garcia (the same boyfriend as Eye of the Tiger gave me that one)
43. That Girl, Stevie Wonder (that still refers to an old sitcom)
44. Private Eyes, Daryl Hall and John Oates (good song but what did it mean?)
45. Trouble, Lindsey Buckingham (hoping to get into short-term trouble but not the 9-month kind)
46. Making Love, Roberta Flack (don't remember)
47. Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me, Juice Newton (big time anthem)
48. Young Turks, Rod Stewart (don't know what it was about; pre-Rachel)
49. Freeze-frame, J. Geils Band (great video on MTV when you could watch it for hours at a Friday or Saturday night party)
50. Keep The Fire Burnin', REO Speedwagon (we wondered what that meant)
51. Do You Believe In Love, Huey Lewis and The News (loved Huey and yes we did)
52. Cool Night, Paul Davis (some hidden meaning here)
53. Caught Up In You, 38 Special (my favorite group from this time and yes I can picture the guy I was caught up in and still has a "piece of my heart")
54. Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Diana Ross (we're still wondering that)
55. Love In The First Degree, Alabama (the first inkling of the super group to me and more of a revelation fo my future country heart)
56. Hooked On Classics, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (sounded good)
57. Wasted On The Way, Crosby, Stills and Nash (?)
58. Think I'm In Love, Eddie Money (Eddie was quite the rebel and great to sing to and this was a good out if you weren't sure)
59. Love Is In Control, Donna Summer (disco queen is all that comes to mind)
60. Personally, Karla Bonoff (we hoped)
61. One Hundred Ways, Quincy Jones (should remember this one but Quincy wasn't quite as known then either)
62. Blue Eyes, Elton John (he's gone off the deep end so don't like his work as much. Like I said a few years back with the Dixie Chicks - I don't pay George Bush to sing)
63. Our Lips Are Sealed, Go-Go's (now we know they were far from that!!! (lots of hidden and not so hidden meanings here)
64. You Could Have Been Wih Me, Sheena Easton (you sure could have)
65. You Can Do Magic, America (yep)
66. Did It In A Minute, Daryl Hall and John Oates (and the point is?)
67. I Ran, A Flock Of Seagulls (upbeat song but didn't get the point)
68. Somebody's Baby, Jackson Browne (we hoped)
69. Oh No, Commodores (good rhythm but I will admit I'm running out of steam at #59)
70. Take It Away, Paul McCartney (old Beatle)
71. It's Gonna Take A Miracle, Deneice Williams (?)
72. Love Will Turn You Around, Kenny Rogers (yep - along with Diane Lane and the pre-NASCAR movie)
73. Don't Stop Bellevin', Journey (we still know this is true)
74. Comin' In And Out Of Your Life, Barbra Streisand (and now she's in Jim Brolin's life - we never would have guessed this one oh so many years ago)
75. Gloria, Laura Branigan (disco again)
76. Empty Garden, Elton John (see above)
77. Yesterday's Songs, Neil Diamond (and we thought he was singing them)
78. Crimson And Clover, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts (what can I say, Joan rocks)
79. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Police (he in my case)
80. Here I Am, Air Supply (we hoped)
81. I Keep Forgettin', Michael Mcdonald (still going strong and he doesn't seem to forget)
82. Get Down On It, Kool and The Gang (yep, easy to rock)
83. Any Day Now, Ronnie Milsap (again, more country sneaking in . . . and we could hope)
84. Make A Move On Me, Olivia Newton-John (a little surprising coming from Sandy)
85. Take My Heart, Kool and The Gang (?)
86. Mirror Mirror, Diana Ross (odd song but, then again, we didn't know that her friend Michael Jackson would no longer be the same later on)
87. Vacation, Go-Go's (and they were on one constantly)
88. (Oh) Pretty Woman, Van Halen (one of them was married to Valerie Bertinelli . . . )
89. Should I Do It, Pointer Sisters (nope, probably not)
90. Hot In The City, Billy Idol (oddball)
91. Kids In America, Kim Wilde (scream song)
92. Man On Your Mind, Little River Band (hmmmm, too many times I was faced with woman on their mind . . . )
93. What's Forever For, Michael Murphy (still asking that question . . . )
94. Waiting On A Friend, Rolling Stones (still pushing your point at 60+ is pushing it more than a bit)
95. Do I Do, Stevie Wonder (I should remember this one)
96. Working For The Weekend, Loverboy (yep - and they should stay in the past based on their recent reality show appearance)
97. Goin' Down, Greg Guidry (?)
98. Arthur's Theme, Christopher Cross (and that was just on TV - great life mantra)
99. Through The Years, Kenny Rogers (too long term for most teens to understand)
100. Edge Of Seventeen, Stevie Nicks (yep that fits with this year)

Sunday, August 28, 2005

I'm a . . . .

Pure Nerd
82 % Nerd, 39% Geek, 43% Dork
For The Record:



A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.



You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.



The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally
smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up
all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer.
Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more
so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be
replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.



Congratulations!





Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you're interested in either of the following:



Buffy the Vampire Slayer




Professional Wrestling






Love & Sexuality





Thanks Again! -- THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST



My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 94% on nerdiness
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 53% on geekosity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 72% on dork points
Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by donathos on Ok Cupid

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Wonder how the train jumped off the tracks . .. .

The Joplin Globe - Online Edition: "Truck derails train
Collision triggers diesel spill; no injuries reported

Melissa DeLoach
Globe Staff Writer
8/25/05
Print this story

NEOSHO, Mo. - An 18-wheeler wrapped around the engine of a northbound Kansas City Southern train Wednesday afternoon south of Neosho, triggering a derailment, fire and diesel spill.

The mangled truck and its load of logs were scattered over 1,000 feet of track."

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Comics and Editorial Cartoons: Shoe on Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/20050823/cx_tmsho_uc/tmsho20050823

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Martha Stewart Living

Martha Stewart Living

Yes, Martha Stewart is still living! Just watched the end of a special in which she had several celebrities helping with cooking and crafts. How can you beat Rosie and decoupage. Martha commented that Marie Antoinette cut up priceless paintings to do her decoupage.

Martha does seem a bit humbler - which is a good thing. In the past, she was so focused on the perfect activity that she sometimes forgot about enjoying her guests - and what the audience might enjoy most. Of course, that is something that I have learned over the last few years - some of the details are less important to the people than actually taking care of them and/or responding to them and their individual and/or group needs.

Way to go, Martha!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Northwest strike

hmmmm. . . briefly heard reports today of four tires blowing out and some other "mechnical difficulty" on planes flying today . . . .. hmmmm. . . is there a possible connection . . . .???? Anyone who is willing to sacrifice another person's safety for their $38 an hour job . . . . .???? It will be interesting to see how this turns out. We just flew NWA few days ago. . ..

Latest Reports - The Detroit News Online: "Northwest Airlines jets roared into the sky over the heads of striking mechanics Saturday as the nation's fourth-largest carrier turned over its maintenance to replacement workers on Day 1 of the industry's first major walkout in seven years.

The union mechanics walked out rather than take pay cuts and layoffs that would reduce their ranks almost by half. They said they don't believe the replacements will be able to maintain the fleet, the oldest among domestic airlines."

People and Wild Animals

This young girl was having her senior pictures taken with a tiger. It's a tragic situation but it sounds like the tiger was only acting like it would to protect itself in the wild in response to the girl panicking (something trainers know not to do). There have apparently been moves to "introduce" wild non-native animals like tigers to the area. There is still a big difference between domesticated and wild animals . . . This same tiger has been inside grade schools for visits but I doubt that will happen anymore in this school district. Just because they look cute doesn't mean they don't act like they do in the wild. So sad.

The Joplin Globe - Online Edition: "Fouts gave the following account of what happened:

Doug Billingsly was holding a chain hooked to the tiger's collar and Hilderbrand was straddling the tiger near the end of the photo shoot when the tiger licked her foot, startling the girl.

Hilderbrand jumped and yanked her foot away and either squealed or screamed, startling the tiger which stood up and knocked Hilderbrand to the ground. The tiger then turned and hit Hilderbrand's head with its paw, possibly breaking her neck."

Friday, August 19, 2005

Perfect anti-anti-blogging comment

Planned Obsolescence: "Tuesday, 16 August 2005
Hear, Hear!

Via meg, a new response to the Ivan Tribble column, “Bloggers Need Not Apply,', this one published as a letter to the editor in this week’s Chronicle of Higher Education. Writes David R. Sewell, the Editorial and Technical Manager of the University of Virginia Press’s electronic imprint:

It may be unwise, as the pseudonymous Ivan Tribble suggests, for an academic job seeker to permit too much self-disclosure in a blog that members of hiring committees may read, whether or not the job seeker invites them to do so. And revealing too much on a blog may even be unprofessional.

But at least it is not loathsome. That is an adjective I would reserve for the behavior of a humanities professor hiding behind a pseudonym who assigns mocking epithets to unsuccessful applicants and describes their online publishing activity in sufficient detail that any of them who chance to read “Bloggers Need Not Apply” (Careers, July 8) will surely recognize themselves as the object of the professor’s pitiless scorn.

"

10 consecutive life terms for 'BTK' - Yahoo! News

10 consecutive life terms for 'BTK' - Yahoo! News: "10 consecutive life terms for 'BTK'

By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY Fri Aug 19, 7:18 AM ET

Dennis Rader, who terrorized this city for three decades as the faceless 'BTK' serial killer, was sentenced Thursday to 10 consecutive life terms in prison, one for each of his victims."

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Academic Splat! - Gender and Professorial Authority

Academic Splat!: "Generally, it seems to me, it's harder to embody professorial authority as a woman. I'm lucky-- as a white man I start with an advantage. I'm already the embodiment of the image of establishment authority. It doesn't take much for me to assert enough authority in the classroom to squash many a potential rebel and troublemaker. This is no guarantee that I will teach well or with sensitivity --like Jesse, who walks on water-- but my symbolic power makes my life easier. As for Jane, it's hard to see her deal with the crap she has to deal with"

I have also experienced this same dilemma - being a doormat or a witch. One female student even apologized to me as she was graduating for helping an older male student (with his own problems) gang up on me . . . I guess the best you can do is be yourself and hope for the best. It's more important that supervisors that evaluate you understand this . . . . . I dare say that's a harder nut to crack.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Playing School, Irreverently: Where I was then ...

Playing School, Irreverently: Where I was then ...

This via profgrrrrl:

Where I was then . . .

10 years ago: Begining the tenure-track back in the Midwest and not dating flyboys . . .

5 years ago: Tenured associate professor with teacher workshop consulting on the horizon

1 year ago: Finishing first TAH grant and beginning another; writing 2 others; working on promotion to full professor . . . .

1 week ago: Catching up around the house and gearing up for "back to school"

Yesterday: Celebrating a family wedding in Virginia and seeing the Chesapeake Bay

Today: Flights home (uneventful is always good) and getting ready for the return to campus later this week; still catching up around the house . . . guess I can no longer call it spring cleaning :-)

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Dress for Female or Male Professors

Chronicle Careers: 08/10/2005: "Female professors are supposed to know how to dress; it's part of the gender performance on which we're evaluated. Failing to dress well suggests an incompetence that might undermine a woman's authority in other areas. If she doesn't even know how to dress, the student thinks, how could she possibly know that this paper deserves a C?

Male professors aren't expected to have any fashion sense, so relying on that old standard, 'guy casual,' can't hurt them. Professor Lang goes so far as to say, 'I wear the clothes my wife buys for me,' suggesting that there's no need for him to think about his wardrobe at all, unless he chooses to."

Boy, is this true! A female colleague advised me to wear high heels (in which I would fall flat on my face) and my hair in a bun (which would make the kids snicker) - and this was in the 90s. . . . I can't count the number of male colleagues who wear jeans that do not fit well at all and yet are viewed as "hip". I tend to dress up more than many of my colleagues (the main exception being when it is very cold or wet outside) but had no idea some students intrepreted this as being too authoritarian . . . . I guess it all points to being yourself.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Inside Higher Ed :: University as Author?

Inside Higher Ed :: University as Author?: "Aug. 8
University as Author?
The Kansas Supreme Court will soon decide whether the Kansas Board of Regents has to negotiate its intellectual property policy in the future, or whether it can simply hand down a decree ? even one that asserts ownership of all faculty work."

I find it interesting that a blog is how I find out about this???

Friday, August 05, 2005

Anonymous Lawyer

Anonymous Lawyer: "One of my associates was in early also. I saw the light on in his office as I was coming down the hall and I stopped in to see what he was working on. He said he got engaged over the weekend. His first engagement. That's cute. He said he fears she's marrying him for his money. Only knowing what I know, I can't say I disagree. She's not marrying him for his legal skills, I know that for sure. Or if she is, she's in for a terrible disappointment the first time she gives him an assignment."

This is why I love blogging - peering into other worlds we wouldn't otherwise see . . .

Measuring the Blogosphere - New York Times

Measuring the Blogosphere - New York Times: "It's natural enough to think of the growth of the blogosphere as a merely technical phenomenon. But it's also a profoundly human phenomenon, a way of expanding and, in some sense, reifying the ephemeral daily conversation that humans engage in. Every day the blogosphere captures a little more of the strange immediacy of the life that is passing before us. Think of it as the global thought bubble of a single voluble species."

The traditional media keeps noticing new media . . .

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Chronicle Careers: 08/03/2005

Chronicle Careers: 08/03/2005: "As the first of four campus visitors, Jason had a bit of a wait. For nearly a month, since it was the only prospect we had, the job was the topic of many a dinner conversation. Was this really the right move for Jason? Would there be a job for me? Would it be better to wait another year and try our luck again? And how would this all work with the yearlong research fellowship that Jason had recently been awarded?"

I'm beginning to agree with others in the blogosphere - do these CHE columns simply point to how insecure and indecisive most of us in this profession are? Is the glass always half empty no matter what great offer sits before us? Thoughts??

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

What Kind of Funny Are You?

the Ham
(13% dark, 56% spontaneous, 22% vulgar)
your humor style:
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT




Your style's mostly goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties
and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with
corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for
your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and
popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly
good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart in
this sarcastic world.


PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith



My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on dark
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on spontaneous
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 99% on vulgar
Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jas

Monday, August 01, 2005

Confessions of a Community College Dean: From Faculty to Administration, Part 2

Confessions of a Community College Dean: From Faculty to Administration, Part 2: "Simply put, the administrative job market is much friendlier than the faculty job market (outside of the really hot fields, like nursing). This will become increasingly true with retirements, since the usual pipeline for new administrators has been neglected for a generation. While you may have to put up with some attitude from the tenured ranks, you’ll also have the chance to make sure that some important decisions are made in rational, ethical ways. Put differently, if you don’t move into management, someone else will, and their decisions will affect you. The pointy-haired manager in Dilbert may be exaggerated, but he’s recognizable; if you’re saner than that, better you than him."

I'm Japan ?????



You're Japan!

You tried to beat everyone around you physically, and when that
didn't work, you turned to mental arts.  Not only is this more acceptable to
those people, but you're really good at mental arts.  Somehow you're able to
fit a great deal of industry into small spaces, and this has generated a lot of income
for you.  Now if you could just stop eating whale meat, you'd be making real
progress.

Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid


CLASSICS etc.: The Seven Dwarves

CLASSICS etc.: The Seven Dwarves: " The Seven Dwarves
'Being a graduate student is like becoming all of the Seven Dwarves. In the beginning you're Dopey and Bashful. In the middle, you are usually sick (Sneezy), tired (Sleepy), and irritable (Grumpy). But at the end, they call you Doc, and then you're Happy.'"

(a)musings of a grad student - another statement on CHE article

(a)musings of a grad student: "Tribble’s nicknames for the job candidates he discusses—“Professor Turbo Geek, Professor Shrill, and Professor Bagged Cat”—were tasteless and needlessly cruel. Turbo Geek’s only sin was to have a blog that expressed an interest and expertise in technology that was separate, oh shock and horror, from his academic interests. Good grief. Job seekers, according to Tribble, regardless of whether or not they are bloggers, should be quiet and completely predictable so that they may break into the same hallowed halls he treads daily. (As an aside to the Chronicle: having pseudonymous columns can allow forthright discussion of problems in higher education—from the vagaries of the job market to the struggles of adjunct faculty. But it should never, ever be used to poke fun at people, even anonymously. This Tribble column was beyond the pale in that respect and the Chronicle editors should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to pass muster.)

"

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