ION I agree with this Onion article.

I took a minute to imagine what the reaction of the Republican party would be if the Democrats had held the government hostage over a law that had passed Congress, been signed, and survived a Supreme Court challenge.

I envisioned lots of old white guys and a few younger white women standing around, turning purple while yelling about the sanctity of the Constitution.

I envisioned lots of old white guys and a few younger white women standing around, turning purple while yelling about the sanctity of the Constitution.

Just another Tuesday, then?

Argh.

Randomly, speaking of white guys, Saturday Night Live hired five of them to add to the cast this season?? Come on, now. (Also one white woman.)

Thanks for all the advice! OK, I will ask for more, and if they can't give it to me, I will see what else they can do for me.

But also have alternatives: More vacation time, etc., that they can give you without actually spending $$

Do most schools give vacation time in addition to summers off/winter break? I have been assuming they wouldn't.

Another thing you could ask for is a shorter review period? Like, could you get a review in 6 months with the stated aim of bumping you up to the higher number?

Technically this is just a one-year contract position (through the end of next May), so I'm not sure that would work. There is a good chance that I'd have my contract renewed next spring, but not a guarantee.

I have read that men almost always negotiate, while women generally don't.

And I have heard that it can do a bit of damage for a woman to negotiate. I don't know how much this goes across the board in all lines of work. [link]

For those not on FB, I cut my hair! 2 inches and then I got BANGS!

[link]

Cute!

ION, memory is weird. At chorus last night, the director played us bits of several recordings of Messiah, to hear some of the different choices conductors make. I was 90% sure that one of them was the one my parents had on vinyl, and a little googling just now suggests I was right. That was after listening to the first 30 seconds of three of the choruses. They all just sounded right. Imprinting!

They all just sounded right. Imprinting!

It's amazing how the first time you hear and love something because the "right" version. I heard a recording of Tosca and said to myself, all affronted, "That section is *far* too slow." Because of course I know better than the Met's conductor. Though later research showed that some sections had to be tweaked due to the tenor's illness and subsequent vocal weakness. Live music, it's a changing thing, who'd have thought? Celibidache would agree.

Kate,

always negotiate for more salary on GP. But also take into account the retirement package and health benefits. Depending, you might come out further ahead if the benefits are really good.