Dear George,
Are you mad? I'm really just wondering. Of course, who knows what went on between you and Joe Torre, but what I do know is that he's not with the New York Yankees this year. He is with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they are in the playoffs...well, they just won the NLDS. In sweeping fashion, no less! The Yankees didn't even make the playoffs. Yes, I know. Here is where you insert the typical response to any issues where the value of a coach is measured... coaches (or in this sport, managers) don't play the game. Players do. I totally agree with that. And no, I'm not a Yankee hater. Derek Jeter is absolutely too cool. But you gotta admit, Joe Torre must have some kind of magic and he took it with him when he left New York for sunny SoCal. All the better for the National League is what I say. If Joe Torre can manage to end the streak of American League World Series Champions it'll be even more perfect. GO DODGERS!!!!
Sorry...but I just couldn't help myself....
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Jazz, The Iliad, and 8-hour Work Days
Yes, I know, it's an unusual grab bag of items. Oh where to begin? Jazz...jazz...jazz. Well, I went to my first live music experience here in Pullman. The School of Music is doing a Faculty Music Series and tonight's feature--Jazz Northwest. Six very talented members of the music faculty performed some great jazz. I must say that my expectations were totally exceeded. They were fantastic. Though I also have to say that I have to wonder what people who major in music go on to do professionally in life. I suppose there is teaching, but what else? But back to my point -- if you see that this little ensemble is playing again go and run don't walk, especially when your student ID gets you in for free!
So, I finished reading The Iliad this week. I gotta say that even though I knew the story, I had no idea how much fun of a read it really is. It's no wonder that it's been required reading for hundreds of years.
SIDEBAR: Game 2 of the ALDS is on and Boston just went up 2 runs in the top of the 9th over Anaheim. Seriously? I was counting on the Angels to oust those irritating Red Sox but it could be that they're about to go down 0-2 in this series and dash all those hopes.
And now back to The Iliad. There's war, seduction, rage, divine intervention, heroes and people in general behaving badly and valiantly. What more could you want? That is, what more could you want other than valuing women as something other than "prizes" to be confiscated and returned at a moment's notice.
Finally, last but not least, a few words on the 8-hour work day. In the spring I was talking with a graduate student who was taking their qualifying exams. Their plan was to try to work a full 8-hour day, Monday-Friday and see where that got them as far as completing their exam and maintaining their sanity. So a couple of weeks ago this conversation popped into my mind for whatever reason and I said to myself "Self: We will work 8 hours a day and that should solve this issue of not getting enough work done each day." Well, myself and I kept a meticulous rendering of exactly how much time was spent actually working (teaching, going to class, reading for class, preparing for class, writing, etc.) and for the first four days I made this attempt at an 8-hour work day, I repeatedly fell short. It wasn't until the 5th day of this little experiment thatI worked for at least 8 hours. I suppose it all makes sense now why I'm always so far behind. Must work harder...
So, I finished reading The Iliad this week. I gotta say that even though I knew the story, I had no idea how much fun of a read it really is. It's no wonder that it's been required reading for hundreds of years.
SIDEBAR: Game 2 of the ALDS is on and Boston just went up 2 runs in the top of the 9th over Anaheim. Seriously? I was counting on the Angels to oust those irritating Red Sox but it could be that they're about to go down 0-2 in this series and dash all those hopes.
And now back to The Iliad. There's war, seduction, rage, divine intervention, heroes and people in general behaving badly and valiantly. What more could you want? That is, what more could you want other than valuing women as something other than "prizes" to be confiscated and returned at a moment's notice.
Finally, last but not least, a few words on the 8-hour work day. In the spring I was talking with a graduate student who was taking their qualifying exams. Their plan was to try to work a full 8-hour day, Monday-Friday and see where that got them as far as completing their exam and maintaining their sanity. So a couple of weeks ago this conversation popped into my mind for whatever reason and I said to myself "Self: We will work 8 hours a day and that should solve this issue of not getting enough work done each day." Well, myself and I kept a meticulous rendering of exactly how much time was spent actually working (teaching, going to class, reading for class, preparing for class, writing, etc.) and for the first four days I made this attempt at an 8-hour work day, I repeatedly fell short. It wasn't until the 5th day of this little experiment thatI worked for at least 8 hours. I suppose it all makes sense now why I'm always so far behind. Must work harder...
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