Slip of the Tongue

Guest Anecdote

I received this email earlier this week from an alumnus, thought it well worth sharing:

I was teaching approximately 30 students and we were working in a computer lab.  At the end of the session, I reminded them to log off the computer so that another learner could use the machine.  Unfortunately, 'learner' and 'use' sort of blended together in my mouth and I ended up telling the class to log off so that another group of 'losers' could use the machines!!  Now, I must say that I don't remember this sort of moment being covered in my B.Ed program as to how to handle such things gracefully?!?  Fortunately the class had a good sense of humour and thought it was hilarious - I was mortified but managed to recover and laugh about it - and I'm sure that they'll remember that particular class!!
 

I hope that you're both well and enjoying the start of a new semester!

Theresa Bell

College Instructor

(Reprinted with permission)

English Usage

Interesting essay on language usage by David Foster Wallace, "Democracy, English and the Wars Over Usage" originally published in Harper's Magazine, 2001 (sent to me by Thomas Phinney ealier this week).

More Flowers

Mary is (a) sick, and (b) struggling to finish the final draft of her dissertation for Friday, so I once again felt she deserved some flowers, so back to Fraches for another 'ice cream'!

Leaving Earth

Okay, this is pretty cool: a movie of MESSENGER spacecraft leaving Earth put together from 24 hours worth of still shots. (from Boing Boing via Cold Ground).

I don't know why it never occured to me (or 20,000 hollywood & TV SF directors) before that Earth and or other planets would appear as a crescent from space, rather than a complete sphere.

I want one!

Found this mobile phoneaccessory mentioned on Cold Ground