Conference RBOC

• I'm at a non-disciplinary conference in a city I love but have no time to enjoy it or see my friends.
  
  
• Went to a session this morning that makes me want to try something extremely politically risky on my campus. Why not? - I have tenure. To quote one of my favorite pinball machines: Big risk, big reward.
  
  
• About 10% of the faculty attendees were texting or answering e-mail on their laptops at one point or another during the morning plenary. The irony is that it was a plenary where students were doing the talking.^*
  
  
• One of my fellow attendees had too much wine and claimed that we were both smarter that 90% of the people here at the conference. I asked what he thought of the part of the evening plenary where the speaker mentioned that we academics are often arrogant and think we are better than everyone else.
  
  
• I know it is a discipline thing, and the speaker was from a discipline that does this, but I really, really, could do without being read to. How do people in these fields pay attention when the tone isn't conversational?
  
  

^*To be fair, the sound system was not ideal and I found the panel a little too scripted and the faculty facilitators a little too self-congratulatory.

The kids weigh in

Dalton: I don't want another baby in the house.

Me: Uh, OK, why?

Dalton: I don't want there to be a baby in the house.

Me: We aren't planning on having another baby. Is someone at school getting a new brother or sister?

Dalton: OK. If someone tells you to have another baby, don't listen to them.

Dr. H: OK.

Me:, Dalton, is someone at school getting a new brother or sister?

Dalton: If someone tells you not to have another baby, listen to them.

Dr. H: OK.

Curie: But what if you don't know?

Dr. H: Well we would know.

Curie: But what if you didn't?

Me: Mommies usually know.

Curie: But what if it is a surprise?

Random Kindergarten Notes

1. The kids are counting out 100 trail mix food items for the 100th day of school. I was wondering why the raisins were so hard until I looked at the red box. "Best before 040107" As tossing the hard work in full view is likely to result in a revolt, magically the raisins will become soft and juicy by morning.

2. The school is celebrating Chinese New Year with a parade. Lovely idea, but the Kindergarten students are supposed to bring in flip flops and a bathrobe. You know, to simulate the traditional Kimono. We are thinking of sending the kids in their Judo Gis, as long as Japanese dress is considered close enough.