In other cat news, [link]

That cat looks so pitiful. More sympathy due to the whole look of utter betrayal and hopelessness, rather than the normal cat reaction of trying to shred his owner.

Hec--we LOVED the Liberace Museum [link] and I think you guys will, too.

we ran into your friend the wine guy

Awesome! I felt bad missing Spidra's thing, but I'm not good about going out on weeknights. I crashed out relatively early and I'm taking today off! Yay! I'm going to walk the dog, and file, and sort clothes for charity, and all sorts of other useful things.

How was Spidra's show?

YAY SHRIFT on your last day! I'm so pleased!

Hmmmmm. I hope this sort of thing doesn't happen nationally this fall.

If Bush's approval numbers carry over to the congressional candidates, the housecleaning should be like unto the French Revolution. According to CBS News 1/3 of voters polled think of the upcoming elections as a chance to vote against Bush. [link]

Things are looking up in the academic job market as the boomers start to retire.

There is indeed this phenomenon, but also, if what I've read is to be believed, a continuation of the trend to hire more part time, non tenure track and adjuncts to replace outgoing tenured professors... in order to keep costs down and have greater adminstrative control...so perhaps that would 'splain kat's problems with pinning down adjuncts. They are all in demand now!

They are all in demand now!

They are. It is a total seller's market. We hire a lot of current practitioners to teach in our program and they get offers not only from other universities running alt. cert. programs but also from the school districts. Districts are doing so much more PD than they did in the past. And this PD requires experienced teachers with graduate degrees. And usually pays more, with money that feeds into your retirement fund because you are still working for the district, and so on and so on.

If Bush's approval numbers carry over to the congressional candidates, the housecleaning should be like unto the French Revolution.

I'm gonna hug and cuddle this idea like a teddybear.

Cheap/free Stuff to do in Vegas:

If you go to the Sirens of Treasure Island, get there early, because it attracts quite a crowd. There are some mini-bleachers out there, so if I had it to do again, I'd grab some bottled water, go ridicously early, and sit on the bleachers to people-watch until showtime.

I found just walking through the Excalibur to be entertainingly terrifying. If you like terrible, creaky, unfunny vaudville routines with occasional toplessness, I recommend "Bottoms Up" at the Flamingo. The Flamingo also has penguins. Who are also topless. I strongly recommend going to the Paris at least once for pastries. And check out the touristy magazines in your hotel room, because there are usually some good deals in there.

if what I've read is to be believed, a continuation of the trend to hire more part time, non tenure track and adjuncts to replace outgoing tenured professors... in order to keep costs down and have greater adminstrative control...

What you've read is true. It's a major shift in how higher education gets done. In the short run it works out great for everyone: adminsitrators get a less expensive and less powerful workforce; part time faculty get to take a job where they live rather than moving where the job is, and they get flexibility in combining the job with child rearing or other real-life considerations; tenure track faculty are offered the chance to teach less, so they will keep quiet. But in the long run it puts all of the power in the hands of the adminstrators.

Super fun at the Paris: Saying everything with a faux-French accent, which they totally encourage with their signs for things like "Le Registration." Hohn hohn hohn!