I mark papers on the computer using highlighting and comment boxes (no strike-through as I want my students to make the actual changes on the essay). But I can easily understand why someone wouldn't want to mark papers in red if students react badly to it. At least for me, the primary message I want my student to hear is not "this is why your paper sucked" it's "here's the way you can do this better next time."

There's a cupcake truck near my office today. So I got three: 1 for me and 1 each for the admin staff.

My tiramisu cupcake is staring at me. I think I need to finish digesting lunch, and then get a cup of tea, first.

I have birthday cake!

I'm a bitch and not in the business of educating minds, but I think it's as important for students to get over a phobia of red pens as it is to learn what mistakes they made on their paper. Real life is going to kick their asses, if red pens "dispirit".

I didn't know there was a this, and coolness that Alan Cumming (and Paul Fitzgerald, who I didn't know anything about before) are standing up in support.

Someone brought in teacakes today. [link] It was the perfect thing to eat while listening to more of this webinar on Diversity Hiring.

Amy, I just use the saline nasal spray you get OTC, small enough to keep the bottle in my purse. That way I can use a couple squirts a day. Colds have been rarer since I started doing it.

Trying to understand the mj doctor protestors. Would i be outside with a picket sign for some joss issue? No. I saw one in a veil like she was in mourning all this time. Also, jurors are making friends with each other. I am a master of the unapproachable face. I hope.

Also they tried to confiscate my lip gloss.

What?

Your lipgloss?

Also - cool but probably impractical way to travel.

I got something called Ayr - it's a plastic bottle, comes with packets to mix up with warm water. You squeeze the bottle fairly strongly and it forces the mixture up into your sinuses. I could never figure out how a neti pot could work but this works well for me.