from a student homework assignment

They were asked to do an observation connected to Deborah Tannen's work on male and female conversational rituals. One student wryly wrote in a footnote about students who sit behind her in class:

"...they spent five minutes debating whether or not 'linguistical' is a word. They all agreed that it sounded like it should be a word, but they couldn't figure out why it wasn't in their computer's dictionary. They concluded that they were just smarter than the computer because they knew a word that it didn't know. My opinion might differ slightly from theirs."

Ahhh, Russia

Starting to work on next summer's study abroad program and I get this tip from the group leader based on past experience.

"I also think this year we need to leave some money for bribes when we purchase group train tickets. Maybe around 50-60$? It is mafia who operates train ticket sales. They sell only 4 tickets at a time, so last year I had to stay in several lines. This time maybe we can bribe someone there and they will sell us the necessary amount of tickets."

Now, how to square this with our university accounting rules....

End of the long weekend

Feeling lethargic and weirdly pathetic. Today was a gorgeous day but I have been fighting off a nascent cold and so ended up sleeping/dozing all day. Finally roused myself because of the **bloody*** marking that just hasn't gotten itself done. Am trying the timer method-- ten minute bursts with the red pencil. There are only two more weeks of term so the end is in sight but I feel like I actually quit the race and forgot to let anyone know... On Thanksgiving day I ran a 5k and there was this tempting moment when the course was looping around and the unscrupulous could have cut down a side street and shaved a mile off the whole thing. I didn't do it, but am looking for the academic equivalent this week.

Craig flew off to Reno this morning for a few days of tax court. He has already texted me two pictures, one of his toilet and one of the view from his hotel room window. Not sure which he is more excited about.