The Fora: A Higher Education Community

Has anyone ever used a measuring app? I decided to try one when measuring my countertop today.  I used my measuring tape first and then used the Measure app that has apparently been on my iPhone this whole time.  I think I am sold on the app! Very easy to use (at least for a rectangular space, and I only did line by line).  I saw something like this on the home selling site that a friend was using.  You can virtually measure items or areas of the house.  I thought that was so neat but never considered that there could be such a thing available for phones, let alone already on the phone.  I am probably more excited about the ability to measure anything anywhere than I should be.  Being a spatially challenged person, though, this could be very helpful.

My partner got a job at my rinkydink institution today. This is good news! Except that we're now both at RinkdinkU's mercy, of course.

Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 26, 2023, 02:47:18 PMMy partner got a job at my rinkydink institution today. This is good news! Except that we're now both at RinkdinkU's mercy, of course.

Yay!!! And Hmmm...

However you feel, I feel that way for you!

Today I choose to believe in horoscopes, because mine says to take a mental health day and relax.

Hokule'a moored here overnight, so we got to see it cast off in the morning. That was fun.

Well, my share of the moving is done (since I'm out of time) and my mum is almost entirely moved out. Whew!

I also managed to grade one set of exams today. So I have three days to do one more, and two classes' worth of essays.

As a matter of fact, no, I don't miss the old work place.  Why?  Where to start?  The very abridged answer is pay and respect would have gone a long way to soothing my dissatisfaction.  So you monkeys keep doing you, and I'll pay my respects in my rearview mirror.

Good for you, Antiphon! Enjoy your new place!

I didn't want to resurrect the Covid thread, so here's the information on the uptick in Covid cases. Last week I was surprised to see that most of the employees at the MET were wearing masks. The website also strongly recommended that visitors be masked as well.

In the NYT a week ago, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/22/nyregion/covid-nyc-explainer.html?searchResultPosition=1

QuoteWhat to Know About the Latest Covid Wave in New York City
Is the city in another Covid wave? Where can you get a test? Should you be wearing a mask? And what if you end up sick?

QuoteThis summer has seen a rise in cases, but it has not been as bad as the previous two summers.

New coronavirus cases have been steadily rising since July, according to data from the New York City Health Department. The seven-day average of total cases, which includes confirmed and probable cases, was 672 on Aug. 14, compared to 289 on May 16.

Hospitalizations in the city have remained relatively low, however. About 40 people on average were hospitalized with Covid each day in mid-August, and more than 400 people were in the hospital with Covid at that point. Deaths have also remained relatively low, at about one a day, on average.

In today's NYT, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/28/us/covid-cases-hospitalizations.html

QuoteNot Over Yet: Late-Summer Covid Wave Brings Warning of More to Come
Hospitalizations are still low but are on the rise in recent weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Well, that's depressing. I think Covid is with us forever. In other, and not completely unrelated, news, I have retired.

There's a blue super moon tonight! The peak will be at 9:36pm Eastern time (East Coast U.S.).

I already have 4 students out sick:  one with Influenza B (per the lab report she sent me, despite my requests not to send them); one with strep; one with Covid; and one in the hospital with pneumonia.

Expect extra company if you're heading out for the Labor Day weekend:
https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2023/08/travelers-hoping-to-enjoy-one-last-summer-fling-over-labor-day-weekend-should-expect-lots-of-company/
Posted on WTOP online 8/31/23

Just came home from a faculty bazar for new grad students choosing rotations to hear short talks from labs across all the life science departments. Bless all my colleagues who I'm sure are talented scientists, but boy oh boy do cell and molecular biology and biochemistry seem to select for folks who would much rather look at stuff on their lab bench than talk to other humans. Apparently I hadn't quite realized how much psychology selects for people who are interested in people ;-)

Quote from: AmLitHist on August 27, 2023, 05:56:07 AMGood for you, Antiphon! Enjoy your new place!

Thanks!  This change was the best (if a bit impetuous) decision I've made in a while.  And involves a significant raise.  Score.