Comments on: Saturday round-up: happy holidays & happy trails! edition

By: Historiann

Historiann — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:44:12 +0000

Hi all–arrived safely and we didn’t have to dodge too much snow. Thanks so much for being such great regular readers and commenters–and thanks, KoshemBos for revealing your secret identity as an engineer!

And now for the “Peace! Love!” and of course, the “Motherfucking Jameson!”

By: Rad Readr

Rad Readr — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:17:57 +0000

Interested in the last point on grades in relation to the size of classes. I had a writing seminar with 18 students this fall, and a good number of them did A work. I wondered if I was being too nice as I submitted the grades, but then I realized I worked with them individually — read their drafts, allowed them to rewrite papers, did a Powerpoint featuring some of their arguments…no wonder a lot of them got As. Now if only I could motivate and connect like that in a class with 60 or 80!!!

By: Perpetua

Perpetua — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:35:37 +0000

Happy holidays! I hope our east coast blizzard won’t impact your traveling. We managed to move ahead of the snow, and are now tucked in at our final destination surrounded by 20″ of snow. I know that’s not that impressive by CO standards, but here it’s the snowfall of the decade.

Squadrato’s post was fascinating – she was spot on, too. I would have defriended that person as well. I know a couple of people with permanent siege mentality – the types who always think that a) everything is about them and b) everything is against them. It could very well be a coincidence, but everybody I happen to know who falls in that category is also quite conservative, which makes a certain kind of sense if one takes a look at the paranoia that is now entrenched in the far right.

And we all know of course that the economic crisis is only going to push enrollments up, up, up. The profs in my department have a super cushy gig and I think they’re in for a real shock when they finally have to absorb some of these big changes a-comin’.

By: truffula

truffula — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:34:15 +0000

I’m furloughed for the holidays. Well, except of course that I must prepare for next term’s classes. So it’s more of a pay cut.

Much of our campus is closed and we’ve been discouraged from trying to work in our offices, which will be unheated. It’s bad for us but I expect it’s worse for employees at near-campus shops.

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:01:21 +0000

I don’t know what’s in the box, but we always said, if it’s heavy and it rattles, at least it’s not a shirt! The Delaware Valley is getting a blockbuster winter wonderland event all today and tonight, very rare for hereabouts, especially December. I’m stuck indoors in a grading blizzard, and so far from bourbon, all I’ve got is two sixers of Woodchuck Draft Pear Cider to last until whenever. Please send a St. Bernard with a barrel of hot buttered rum!

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:47:19 +0000

I’m sitting still and trying to catch up. But a visitor from Gay Paree may bring chocolate. Scotch on hand. Gotta get our priorities straight.
After New Years I take on strategic planning… more scotch, please.

By: Comrade PhysioProf

Comrade PhysioProf — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:00:16 +0000

Peace! Love! Motherfucking Jameson!

By: KoshemBos

KoshemBos — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:45:52 +0000

I am on sabbatical with full pay due to extra credits. PhD students still have to be advised, papers to be written and proposals put together to beg NSF for money. Our classes are getting smaller, private and expensive school, and we HIRE!

Still, I about had it with the infighting, the mediocrity, the non-responsive dean, etc.

Otherwise, good students are a delight and we’ll celebrate Monday as a group with good cheers and excellent wishes.

It’s a joy for an engineer to listen to smart and interesting historians. Happy Holidays everyone.

By: susurro

susurro — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:34:19 +0000

Have a happy holiday(s)!

One needs only hear the sound of crickets that came from my blog this past term to see the impact of econ decline at pov u. I’m looking forward to some holiday time myself.

By: Another Damned Medievalist

Another Damned Medievalist — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:39:13 +0000

left a comment at GayProf’s and wrote to a colleague to ask what zie thought …