Don't let the space bugs bite!

Kaylee ,'Objects In Space'


Natter 78: I might need to watch some Buffy for inspiration

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Hil R. - Feb 20, 2025 11:07:08 am PST #5618 of 5681
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l

The garage where I usually park when I go see touring Broadway shows has a few spaces reserved for Teslas, next to the chargers. I'm pretty sure that it's always the same two cars there every time I've looked. One of them has one of the "I bought it before we knew about him" or whatever stickers.

We had a department meeting this morning, in which we didn't really learn much new. The university is still trying to figure out what the "Dear Colleagues" letter means. In particular, there are a bunch of scholarships specifically for minority students that aren't technically awarded by the university -- they're awarded by a foundation connected to the university -- and the lawyers are trying to figure out what rules apply to those. We also don't have good estimates for how many students there will be in the fall, since scholarships and visas are all on the line, which means we can only guess at how many courses to schedule, and which ones. And then the same visa issue applies to hiring new faculty, and all the questions about money means there's no definite answer on whether or not hiring new faculty is even possible.

Also, the university decided that the math department had too many people doing administrative duties, and they downsized the person who's been doing her job there for twenty years and knows all the processes and all the people and can basically get anything done, so she can't handle the visa issues like she usually would, and no one else in the department has any experience with that. Also, the copier is broken, seemingly beyond repair, and so the remaining department admin people are trying to figure out how to get a new copier, since stuff like that was always the job of the person who got downsized.


Beverly - Feb 20, 2025 11:09:41 am PST #5619 of 5681
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.

Happy Birthday, Jon B!

I hope the Kia turns out to be your dream car, Laura.

Thanks, all, for the happy birthday wishes. You're the bestest!


Hil R. - Feb 20, 2025 11:18:32 am PST #5620 of 5681
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l

Oh, and the state senate just passed a bill saying that university faculty aren't allowed to strike.


-t - Feb 20, 2025 11:29:08 am PST #5621 of 5681
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Oh, no, Hil, that is a whole lot of bad!


JenP - Feb 20, 2025 11:32:06 am PST #5622 of 5681

Good grief, Hil.


brenda m - Feb 20, 2025 1:06:13 pm PST #5623 of 5681
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

Ugh. This fucking world.

And I'm sorry to do this to you all, but I saw something yesterday that I can't get out of my skull and now you get to suffer too. Jillifonting for the timorous (though no Jillifonts are involved.)

I was on a Teams call and one person was in our Atlanta office, and the onscreen data showed that he was sitting in a "collabocus" room.

There's no other way to view that than a crime against society and the English language. It may have pushed me fully over to team Giant Asteroid (+ now with bonus newly discovered/desecrated Egyptian tomb!).


shrift - Feb 20, 2025 1:16:38 pm PST #5624 of 5681
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty

Happy belated birthday, Beverly!

There's no other way to view that than a crime against society and the English language.

I thought I was prepared for the Jillifont as a corporate American, but my face went on a journey of slow dawning horror.


meara - Feb 20, 2025 1:17:10 pm PST #5625 of 5681

I don’t even understand what that word is supposed to mean?? I am team “maybe it’s a typo”?

Hil that sounds like a shitshow nightmare. Of COURSE just when you need her most they get rid of the lady with institutional knowledge


JenP - Feb 20, 2025 1:23:38 pm PST #5626 of 5681

Like meara, I can't even tell what they're trying to morph there!

Oh, god, no, I just got it. Collaborate and focus? My eyes are @@ down the hall and out the door. Good god.


-t - Feb 20, 2025 1:54:38 pm PST #5627 of 5681
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Only okay if they are using an abacus