The view from the Ivory Tower

un: slantback: The history of the town itself is of a failed...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:28:00 -0800

slantback:

The history of the town itself is of a failed Californian utopia—in fact, incredibly, if completed, it was intended to rival Los Angeles. (via BLDGBLOG: California City)

I want this pattern on a blanket.

I drive past California City all the time when heading up to the Owen’s River Valley (places like Bishop and Mammoth). What makes it more surreal is that it’s close to Mojave, CA, home of a huge airplane mothaballing facility.

You can see all the planes lined up from the road and it’s a little spooky. You can tell the status of the airline industry by how many planes are there. In the years after 9/11 there were more than I had ever seen.

I'm going into work today

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:20:21 -0800

I shouldn’t, but I am. If you haven’t heard, because of the budget crunch here in CA we are being forced to take ‘furlough days’, i.e., unpaid days off. Basically they needed to cut our salary, but they gave us days off in exchange.

“Days off” for academics is a stupid idea. I work 7 days a week. I try and limit my lecture prep to during the week, but even on the weekend I’m answering emails from students, grading papers, posting things on course websites, etc.

Today was a day my department said we should take as one of our “furlough days”, so technically I won’t be getting paid for today. But Wednesdays are also the day for my office hours. Sure, not a lot of students may show up, maybe even none, but I think not showing up for them would be cruel and unusual. Finals are less than two weeks away. They are already having to pay more for less here, so why should I withhold teaching them.

Bleak Mount St. Helens provides movie backdrop

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:36:20 -0800

Bleak Mount St. Helens provides movie backdrop:

One of the many things that made me feel old recently is the realization that my students have no idea what Mt. St. Helens is. This was such a large part of my childhood. In grade school every science report was about the eruption.

Also, this movie better be good.

suicideblonde: neonsugar:(via surrenderyourheart) I use that...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:28:49 -0800

suicideblonde:

neonsugar:(via surrenderyourheart)

I use that exact picture in my anatomy lab manual.

doctornecessiter: “I want more booze, fucker!” (from...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:54:12 -0800

doctornecessiter:

“I want more booze, fucker!”

(from Kindertrauma’s “Yet Another Alternative Ending to Blade Runner”)

Why have I never known that it is the same actor?!

Constitutional Chicanery

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:26:07 -0800

Constitutional Chicanery:

If you’ve never read FiveThirtyEight.com before this is a great place to start.

un: Def Leppard “Photograph” (The volume was lame on the...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:57:00 -0800

un:

Def Leppard “Photograph”

(The volume was lame on the youtube version, but the start of this one pauses a little long.)

The switch from the jangley funky 70’s started with young bands Like Def Leppard playing melodic guitar chord ballads. Yes plenty of cowbell.

And yes people went NUTZ over this stuff. It was like crack.

Def Leppard was my favorite band in my early teens. Pyromania was the first album that I asked for by name for Christmas. My uncle got it for me. I wore a Def Leppard painters cap that I won at a fair all through junior high. Needless to say ~~I never had a date during that time~~.I got lots of chicks with it.

and hello miocyon

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:55:40 -0800

and hello miocyon:

un:

Speaking of teachers, where is Miss Mullin? (Don’t tell me she got a life?) Prolly hav’n a beer with Jack Black and listening to Stevie Nicks - OHHHHH!

Word to your mother, un, word to your mother.

“The party of the first part…” Also “You...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:08:00 -0800

“The party of the first part…”

Also

“You can’t fool me, there’s no Sanity Claus”

(volley to you wellthatsjustgreat)

legoexpress: nachomedina: LEGO Matrix “Trinity Help” So neat...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:04:21 -0800

legoexpress:

nachomedina: LEGO Matrix “Trinity Help”

So neat that I it needs no comment.

wellthatsjustgreat: The Marx Brothers Throwdown continues,...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:03:50 -0800

wellthatsjustgreat:

The Marx Brothers Throwdown continues, miocyon!

Most folks have seen the second half of this scene (or at least five seconds of it in a montage), but I love how the first half sets it up. Groucho’s timing is impeccable, Harpo’s unconsciousness bit is amazing, and Chico supports everything wonderfully.

Worth it for the Dante reference, and all the pretty ladies (especially the one looking for her Aunt Minnie).

merlin: Chico and the Man Theme This makes me think of my dad...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:33:25 -0800

merlin:

Chico and the Man Theme

This makes me think of my dad for some reason. I think I may have watched this with him when I was a kid, or I just remember him listening to Jose Feliciano, or the combination of Jose F. and Freddie Prinze remind me of him.

I wish he was still here so I could ask him.

Cup of coffee and a bag of Sun Chips. Dinner is served!!!

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:19:18 -0800

Cup of coffee and a bag of Sun Chips. Dinner is served!!!

readysetmachine: the muppets - “bohemian rhapsody” this is...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:18:49 -0800

readysetmachine:

the muppets - “bohemian rhapsody”

this is amazing.

I started laughing right away as I realized that the lights would come up to reveal Gonzo and some chickens.

Fine, wellthatsjustgreat, I’ll put up a musical bit, and...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:47:37 -0800

Fine, wellthatsjustgreat, I’ll put up a musical bit, and the best one of all time at that.

I only wish this clip didn’t cut it off, but it’s the best I could find quickly, and right now, I must be going (to work)…

wellthatsjustgreat: Whenever I think I have a favorite Marx...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:42:12 -0800

wellthatsjustgreat:

Whenever I think I have a favorite Marx Brother, I see another clip and it changes. Harpo is so amazing and endearing in this.

Your play, miocyon! Ag

It would seem that great minds think alike….

Time to find something new…

Pea-NAAAHTs! More Chico and Harpo craziness awesomeness, in...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:31:35 -0800

Pea-NAAAHTs!

More Chico and Harpo ~~craziness~~ awesomeness, in honor of the latter’s birthday yesterday.

Dear Congress: Fuck You.

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:25:04 -0800

misseffieb:

I lost my job 9 months ago. Nine. Months. Of actively searching for a job. You will never know what this feels like.

For health insurance, I was offered COBRA, which, through government subsidies (for which I am very thankful), was lowered from a monthly price of $497.46 to $172.46. That might sound good, but I pay rent in New York City, I have loans and credit cards, and I’m living off unemployment benefits (for which I am also very thankful). $172.46 is still too much, but I gladly deferred some of my loans and other bills to make it fit.

At the end of this month, the COBRA subsidy runs out. I was one of the first to start receiving it, so I’ll be one of the first to lose it. I have one week (which includes a national holiday) to either cancel my health insurance or start ponying up $497.46 every month. There’s legislation pending to extend it, but y’all are kinda busy right now making sure insurance companies can continue to get rich from my money (yes, the unemployed still pay income taxes, even though our income IS taxes).

To recap: I and many people who lost their jobs in January and February of this year are quite likely about to lose our health care next week. And there will be more people every month. You could patch this hole, but in reality, there are millions of holes in this ship. For every one you patch, another weak spot will give way.

This is what happens when you’re on a fucking shitty boat.

(there’s more but it’s even more boring)

Read More

What she said…

National Lab Day

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:56:35 -0800

National Lab Day:

Here’s where all you science tumblogger nerds can sign up to help with the nationwide push for science education that Obama just announced!

Obama kicks off massive science education effort!

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:49:52 -0800

Obama kicks off massive science education effort!:

If this is real and not just politics it’s frakking awesome…