Boss talks to me about leveraging me for a permanent position (he's very pro it), mentions it may involve a pay cut, mentions his concerns about my health. Gack.

Argh! Hope it works out for the best.

ION, This is really interesting:

Climate denial activists’ parallel to anti-relativity movement of 1920s

“Anti-relativists… built up networks to act against Einstein’s theory in concert. This led to some success. For instance, the clamor about the theory in Germany contributed to the Nobel Committee’s delay in awarding its 1921 prize to Einstein and to the particular choice of subject for which he finally did receive it: his account of the photo-electric effect, instead of the controversial theory of relativity.”

Huh. I did not know that.

“Anti-relativists were convinced that their opinions were being suppressed. Indeed, many believed that conspiracies were at work that thwarted the promotion of their ideas. The fact that for them relativity was obviously wrong, yet still so very successful, strengthened the contention that a plot was at play.”

“Conspiracies theories tend to do well in uncertain times: they create order in chaos….Just as there is no real point in debating conspiracy theorists, there was no point in explaining relativity to anti-relativists… Their strong opposition was not due to a lack of understanding, but rather the reaction to a perceived threat… Anti-relativists were convinced of their own ideas, and were really only interested in pushing through their own theories: any explanation of relativity would not likely have changed their minds.”

And about climate change:

“Polls about climate science get treated like the results of some contest between two ideological interest groups. It becomes a horserace story –”Democrats/environmentalists are losing” — rather than a story about danger to public health. It’s about environmentalists’ failure to persuade rather than the anti-scientific obscurantism that’s completely overtaken the Republican party, with financial support from large corporate interests….If I can’t convince a guy standing in a downpour that it’s raining, seems to me the dumb ass in the rain is the story, not my poor messaging.”

I hope that Emmett has plans to actually buy his next roll of duct tape? I don't want to sound like a bitch, but probably am anyway: I don't think it's great that he's stealing from anyone.

Well, it's more like walking off with school supplies. But don't worry, now that he's capitalized he can buy his own tape. Or possibly I'll give him a case of duct tape for his birthday.

I wonder at my own lack of moral outrage on the issue, though it probably has to do with my extreme annoyance with this particular teacher. Somebody who can't be assed to update any of the grades or assignments online (as all the other teachers do) and who has made it abundantly clear that he's merely showing up for the last several years of his tenure to cash out his retirement.

But then my moral compass on property rights might not be entirely defensible. (He said, moving recent downloads into his music folder.)

I'm hoping it won't be so much of a pay cut that the twenty paid days off a year wouldn't make up for it. Hell, I could be hospitalised for two weeks and still have vacation! Yay, my life.

So, to make myself feel better I just dropped $300 on this. I won't get it until July, but it's something.

But, honestly, him angling for me to have a permanent gig here is a good thing. I don't like the contract thing. Not in this environment, not after my last jobless period. It was all sorts of misery. I need to focus on that, and do what it takes. And also, take fewer sick days and have fewer doctor's appointments.

eta:

it's more like walking off with school supplies

From what I hear from teachers here, that's not exactly good.

Well, it's more like walking off with school supplies.

Yeah, when you do that at work it's called stealing, and can get you fired. (Realistically, probably not over a roll of tape, but still.)

Somebody who can't be assed to update any of the grades or assignments online (as all the other teachers do) and who has made it abundantly clear that he's merely showing up for the last several years of his tenure to cash out his retirement.

So two wrongs make a right? Good to know.

Goodness!

So two wrongs make a right? Good to know.

I didn't try to justify it. Merely mused over my own reaction.

I should confess straight up that I've taken pens and pads from work myself.

When DH worked at Taco Bell in college, they always stuck him doing inventory on weekends after he requested the day off. He got tired of them doing that so he would always come home with a stolen piece of property. A nice kitchen knife, a stainless steel cook pot or a bag of ground beef.

Pilfered, yes. But my Alignment skews Neutral.

Anyway, glad he's planning on buying his next roll (or getting some for his birthday!). It's cool that he learned to make the wallets by himself and is doing well. It's just not okay to take things that aren't yours, sucky teacher or not.

So, I joked to two other people prior to the demo today that we should start a rumor that we're getting let out early.

Lo and behold, a few hours later, word comes down from on high we can leave at three.

If Friday is Tino's day, then IN YOUR FACE, Tino!!!

So, to make myself feel better I just dropped $300 on this.

So cool! I can't imagine what happen if we had a sword. Sara loves to swing things when she's in superhero mode.