Postcards from Nathan

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Day one of my mini-vacation was cool. I got to spend some excellent quality time with the family. We went to the Cincinnati Nature Center (see pics here – http://mytopia.org/?page_id=1228 or see slideshow below). I remarked to Kim that I have taken Ohio for granted for far too long in terms of the inherent beauty that surrounds us.

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I don’t normally post jokes, but one of my profs sent this. It made both Kim and me laugh out loud:

Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new economic stimulus package….

• The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
• The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
• The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
• Ophthalmologist considered the idea shortsighted.
• Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while the Pediatricians said, ‘Oh, Grow up!’
• The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.
• Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
• The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, “This puts a whole new face on the
  matter.”The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
• In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.

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1. Well, we finally got new doors and painted them black, to which Simone promptly announced they didn’t match.
2. Then there are the updates to Leo and Simone camping, at the zoo, and at the beach.
3. I also added a couple of photos from the college graduation and experimented with some effects in Picasa. I am such an amateur

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I added summaries for chapters 1 and 2 of Goodwin’s book “Team of Rivals”. This is such a good read. So far, I am just amazed both at her writing talent and all that I didn’t know about Lincoln.If you’re interested, take a look by clicking here.

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Let me be clear: I am not suggesting people are perfect and cannot make mistakes in their personal or professional lives. Yes, there are consequences, but I am not one to jump on the bandwagon and call for heads when a politician engages in personally questionable behavior. Being human includes both having faults and learning to navigate those faults and temptations in life. Sometimes we’re successful, many times we’re not.

This quote from the L.A. Times said it best:

In general, however, Republicans have been far more active in reaching out to religious voters, not just through conservative positions on abortion, school prayer, and lately same-sex marriage, but also by promoting an image of greater virtue and more godliness. That makes it all the more damaging when prominent figures in the party — especially those espousing Christian values, like Sanford and Sen. John Ensign of Nevada — are caught transgressing.

If my evangelical friends can help me understand all of this, I would be grateful.

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Well, we are in the dark…again. And, it appears Duke Energy will not likely get around to restoring power until later tonight or early tomorrow. I liked it better when we lived downtown on a more reliable grid. Annoying.

Oh well, off to work at Starbucks and time to get my arse in gear on grading papers!

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This made me smile. When you hear the arguments made in this fashion,the anti-health care reform group sounds, well, a bit off-key, shall we say. The commentators used in their mini-clips also make you wonder…

For more, visit HAARM’S website.

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Well, I am wrong. Again.

I was having a conversation with a faculty colleague a week or so ago about the flailing economy. In spewing my own words of so-called wisdom, I repeated the standard refrain of most college administrators I know: when the economy goes south, education looks up. People flock to colleges and universities to refresh skills, become more marketable, et cetera.

While in most cases this is true, the severity of this recession is proving that my parroting of conventional wisdom is not only misguided; it’s wrong.

Perhaps there is no better evidence than today’s Chronicle headlines, which simply build on a common theme they have been talking about over the last few days. For example:

• In Hard Times, Colleges Search for Ways to Trim the Faculty
• Sharing the Pain: Cutting Faculty Salaries Across the Board
• Considering Layoffs? Tips for Avoiding Legal Problems
• Making the Cuts: Warnings for Faculty Members and Campus Leaders
• Scholarly Presses Discuss What It Takes to Survive
• The Bad Old Days
• Salary Reversals
• U. of California Faculty and Staff Members Could Face 8% Pay Cut

While my institution is not representative of these pains, I began to realize after perusing JUST this morning’s headlines that the economic downturn is truly not in line with past truisms about education and the economy. For the sake of our country, let us hope that our public and private institutions of higher learning find ways to emerge from this without falling into oblivion.

What next steps are going to be necessary for survival of postsecondary institutions?

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My doubts about the Neti Pot have been put aside. It’s repulsive, disgusting, revolting yet incredibly effective…who knew? It saved me this week ensuring that I could read all the graduates’ names on Friday with ease. I highly recommend this for anyone suffering from allergies or sinus issues (not the stuff the guy uses in the video, but the Neti Pot).

Funny Video on the Neti Pot

Legitimate Instructional Neti Pot Video

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