**yo, summer!**

Where are you, for Pete's sake? I am no hot weather fan, but we have yet to hit more than 82 degrees here this summer. I love the cool temps, but it has been coupled with an AMAZING amount of rain. I am watching it come down steadily as a write. It is reminiscent of living in Central America. All this cool weather gave us a bumper crop of snap peas and a long lettuce season, but the squash plants are barely growing, we pulled all the tomatoes and potatoes (thank you late blight). Everything green is growing like crazy (think jungle), but there is not enough sunshine to produce fruit.

I have kayaked three times this summer, the two most recent this past week on the two sunny days we have had in a long time. We have sunny weather predicted for Saturday, so a long bike ride is in order. Taking Monday off work to kayak again. School begins sooner than ever this year. The summer (the one I was supposed to have off, but didn't really have off) is almost over.

The upside of the rainy weather is that I managed to read a book. No small feat given the hectic summer. It was an interesting waltz through a Title IX lawsuit at a small liberal arts college. Being familiar with Title IX and some of the players in this story; it made for interesting reading. Now I am diving into the Accidental Time Machine - pure brain candy. Having only read a few other nonfiction books (plus a weekly dose of Newsweek, monthly dose of Outside, and more Internet new sites than I care to reveal) this year, I am laying claim to the most poorly read person I know. Must find a way to put up that "Good Reads" feature on the blog - maybe that will get me reading.....

**Ahhh, Duh....**

Way ahead of the curve on this one. I keep them in my office to help students stay healthy during the school year. Don't want spinal injuries keeping them out of class....

From the UK Telegraph...

Blue M&Ms 'mend spinal injuries'

**Incident at Oglala**

Today could be a very good day. Leonard Peltier goes (again) before the parole board. Time to stop the madness and let that man go free.

**Because I Still Love Where I Used to Live, I Beg You.... **

Please Don't Californicate Oregon!

**As We Prepare for the Next Round of Academic Hirings**

I have found this letter to be a great template for responding to those pesky job rejections. It has floated around the Internet for several years at least, but I highly recommend it as a template easily customized to any institution. Microsoft Word can even set up a macro that will drop in all the names of search committee chairs, making the job search paperwork process just that much easier.




_________________, Chair - Search Committee
0001 Old Hall,
No Name University
Some town you didn't want to live in anyway, IA

Dear Professor ________,

Thank you for your letter regarding my application for the tenure track opening. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me an assistant professor position in your department.


This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals. Despite No Name University's outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time.

Therefore, I will assume the position of assistant professor in your department this August. I look forward to seeing you then.

Best of luck in rejecting future applicants.

Sincerely,

Your name here

** Guess Who Wrote This Line in Today's WP..."

We are ripe for economic growth and energy independence if we responsibly tap the resources that God created right underfoot on American soil.


Hint: (Can she please just go away now?)

**Four years studying engineering, $180K, and...**

I couldn't be more proud of the guy in the tall while furry hat and the trumpet:

**An Old Favorite**

Great example of sound design:

** And He Is Still Amazing Today**

**Introducing the Junior Senator from Minnesota**

And still looking for his Weekend Edition news segments on SNL when Franken was a self-contained mobile satellite uplink correspondent....