Useless Conversation

[Khaldun]

We lost power earlier for about 14 hours or so, but we have neighbors who only just got it back.

I managed to escape being tarred and feathered. I had to introduce a very controversial right-wing speaker at the college who was in a dialogue with a left-wing friend and colleague. (They were talking about whether it's possible to build respectful discussion even when you really hate what the other guy says.) Small group of students were very, very, very angry about the event and we weren't sure what they might do about it. In the end, the whole thing went off without a hitch. I suspect I'll hear about it from colleagues and students over the next few weeks but I'm just glad I didn't have to figure out what to do if a group of students tried to shout the whole thing down.

[Hawkbit]

My 8yr old daughter just said "Bad news, dad.  Your polls are way down."  In context. 

It's really difficult to punish when laughing so hard. I can't believe she pulled that one out of her hat.

[Samwise]

[WayAbvPar]

 

[Yegolev]

I managed to escape being tarred and feathered. I had to introduce a very controversial right-wing speaker at the college who was in a dialogue with a left-wing friend and colleague. (They were talking about whether it's possible to build respectful discussion even when you really hate what the other guy says.) Small group of students were very, very, very angry about the event and we weren't sure what they might do about it.

That's a relief.  I thought you meant something actually bad was happening.

Hopefully the event was successful in that some people learned about respectful discussion, since I think there isn't enough of that going around.

[Ironwood]

Quite.

[Lantyssa]

There's plenty.  Piss off.

[Sky]

There's plenty.  Piss off.

I'm offended and demand recompense.

[Yegolev]

[Khaldun]

The scary part for me was that I was the guy who had to decide what to do if a group tried to stop the event.

But judging from the back chatter, I have students and colleagues who are going to slow-motion tar-and-feather me for the next few weeks or months. But that's pretty much business as usual in academia, so I can take that.

[ghost]

What are they "tar and feathering" you for?  Making them think?  That's your job.

[Yegolev]

I know some people that work in academia and I wasn't going to bother to ask. 

[Khaldun]

Famous quote, often misattributed to Henry Kissinger (there's at least two people who said it before him): "In academia, the fights are so vicious because the stakes are so low."

[Signe]

More weather tonight.  Only this is better because it will be a Nor'easter.  Lotsa snow, ice, high winds and flying stuff.  Just got the power back on Saturday after four days and some people around here still don't have any.  Verizon hasn't come to fix the poles and we still have their wires on the ground.  The electric company (Peco) got the poles standing but they can't make it permanent so it's likely the wind will tip them over again.     I keep trying to blame someone so I've decided to blame the weatherman who looks like Curious George. 

Frozen squirrel in the yard this morning.  My sister made me look at it.  I hadn't even had coffee yet.  Sometimes I hate my family.

[Khaldun]

I am nearly certain we're going to lose power in this one. Some projections have us with a foot and a half of snow layered with ice and freezing rain by tomorrow night, starting some time tonight. That almost always paralyzes shit, especially w/the winds that come on a nor'easter and the fact that the snow is that heavy wet shit. The only good thing is that the pine trees and sick trees already lost some limbs in the last few storms so maybe the things that might come down most easily are already down.

In between two colds, snow days, federal holidays and an in-service day, my daughter hasn't had a complete week of middle school since the semester started on Jan. 2. She, of course, thinks this is pretty fucking awesome. Though everybody is starting to get just wee bit cabin-feverish.

[Phildo]

One of my bosses is pretty sure that we're looking at a four-day weekend with the incoming snowstorm.  I am skeptical.

[Signe]

Damn.  I'm gonna kick that weatherman's ass.  (later)

[Yegolev]

My son is currently getting a seven day weekend.  Today is the second day and he's already being obnoxious.

We are stocked up except that I thought we had lamp oil but it is citronella.

Wife had me set up the generator* but I'm not 100% sure what we will use it for.  I have gasoline for 90 hours of something.

The LP delivery came yesterday, so we won't freeze even if the power fails for an extended period.  I'd like to wait for an appropriate time to point out that we have a electric cooktop, but with the generator I think it won't arrive.

My wife asked me today if it is bad for the wiper fluid to freeze, and if it does freeze.  Also why the water in cars doesn't freeze.

Later, she completely denied saying that she told me to never buy/cook butternut squash ever again.  I might end up on the news before Monday.


* semi-funny story, remind me to convey it when we are all snowed in

[ghost]

Let us know if we need to bail you out.  You know....if something happens.

[Yegolev]

You'll be the first one I call.

Unrelated, I have looked around casually and I don't see any reason to upgrade from any Office 2010 product to 2013, even for free since I am talking about my company machine.  Collaboration is for assholes.

[Sky]

The fiancee sent me the winter weather advisory and asked if we should cancel Friday night's plans - I sent her back the NWS graph report for this city that says a 70% of 1" of snow, bracketed by 30% of 1" on either side. Worst case 3"? That's not even worth mentioning.

On the other hand, a nice night in with a crackling fire is always good.

[Yegolev]

Son was attacked by the cat for no reason* and there was some drama there.  On Day Two.


*

[Reg]

The cat probably provoked the boy into annoying it by just lying there having a nap. Cats can be evil that way.

[Paelos]

Son was attacked by the cat for no reason* and there was some drama there.  On Day Two.


*

I'm already going nuts and I'm here by myself. Nevermind it's tax season so the boss is still sending emails to check on us working remote. 

[Merusk]

My wife asked me today if it is bad for the wiper fluid to freeze, and if it does freeze.  Also why the water in cars doesn't freeze.

Southerners.     

[Selby]

At least she didn't just run straight water in the car because "it never freezes out here!"

[Yegolev]

She isn't the sort of girl that would lift the hood of a car.  Never mind what she might say.

Outside was very pretty this morning.  It's already melting quite a lot.  I can't wait for the 70F weekend.

[Signe]

Another foot of snow on top of the ten inches we got last week.  Now it's there's sleep and frozen rain and then we're getting more snow.  It's not nice snow either.  It's wet and heavy, not the dry fluffy stuff that makes me yearn for my old  Rossignols and the ambition and fitness to actually use them.   I wish I were 22 again!.  We didn't lose power yet, although the wind is now starting to kick up. I haven't seen a post from Khaldun so far.  I hope he's not dead.   

[Khaldun]

Still alive!

But yeah, we got buried. Power is still on but we'll see what happens tonight when we get 5 more inches on the backside of the storm and the wind kicks up.

Was a serious pain to shovel the driveway--this is heavy heavy shit, and it was about ten inches of it.

Right now it's just a bit of rain, which of course is making it all even heavier.

[Sky]

That's what snow throwers are for!

[Chimpy]

We had a storm 2 years ago that was 1/2" sleet and ice, 6 inches of wet snow, 1/4" of sleet, 10 more inches of heavy wet snow.

And I lived on what was an unofficial emergency route as it was the only direct shot from the fire station to the campus so it got plowed right away. Worst shoveling ever.

[Signe]

Still alive!

But yeah, we got buried. Power is still on but we'll see what happens tonight when we get 5 more inches on the backside of the storm and the wind kicks up.

Was a serious pain to shovel the driveway--this is heavy heavy shit, and it was about ten inches of it.

Right now it's just a bit of rain, which of course is making it all even heavier.

As the night goes on, that bit of rain will probably be turning into another 6-10 inches of snow.  Or slush.  Or some combination of those.    
'

[Tale]

Someone's take on Valentines Day.

[Abagadro]

Heh, Mythbusters tonight is actually going to test whether you can put 10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound bag. For some reason that really amuses me.

[Abagadro]

Having my first drink of hooch in 42 days. Ooooh, sweet brown liquid, how I have missed you. Get in my belly.