7.25.2006
Just a little summer blog romance
I surprised this thing is still going and has survived Star Trek, photoshopped cats, and bad dim sum puns. I don't think it can handle Monty Python or Spinal Tap references, however. That would be it's Death Nell, but I could be wrong and I suspect Hannsmann will be the one to push that envelope. We'll have to see what happens when the Boardwalk starts closing for the season and we have to start shopping for new Star Wars binder-folders and lunch boxes.
Come what may, it's been fun sharing time and space in the blogosphere.
Come what may, it's been fun sharing time and space in the blogosphere.
# posted by Tim @ 12:06 PM 
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Well, I'll try my best to wreck this thing, but I thought we started this to expose political agendas? I already feel so informed that I could never vote for anyone who thought they were a pirate, or can do the antler dance, or who has problems spelling Hansmann. I think Anderson Cooper will be reporting on these factoids tonight on CNN.
Additionally, this whole square pizza invention thing is just WHACK! I don't think I can even stomach another slice after the startling revelations brought forth in this forum.
In retrospect, I am pretty happy that so many have comtributed to this blog and they have not felt the need to be witty, smarmy, or funny. The open, warm attitudes here that lack any sort of needlin...
Wait a minute. What blog is this?
Additionally, this whole square pizza invention thing is just WHACK! I don't think I can even stomach another slice after the startling revelations brought forth in this forum.
In retrospect, I am pretty happy that so many have comtributed to this blog and they have not felt the need to be witty, smarmy, or funny. The open, warm attitudes here that lack any sort of needlin...
Wait a minute. What blog is this?
Yeah, hon, you're on the Brady Bunch Blog or something. Smarmy is our middle name.
But, I agree with Tim that it's been nice. I disagree that it couldn't withstand other certain references, though. You know why? Because We're Not Dead Yet and we're very, very dobly.
But, I agree with Tim that it's been nice. I disagree that it couldn't withstand other certain references, though. You know why? Because We're Not Dead Yet and we're very, very dobly.
Actually, I referred to Squatney, England ealier in this blog and it survived, so i guess the Spinal Tap allusions are OK
Squatney, England????
I thought Squatney was out past Clymer, near Arcadia, Commodore and Cherry Tree. Not as far as Mentcle or Dixonville, but out that way.
I thought Squatney was out past Clymer, near Arcadia, Commodore and Cherry Tree. Not as far as Mentcle or Dixonville, but out that way.
I'm headed in the general direction of Squatney and Clymer in a couple of weeks--heard the sun rises earlier in those parts. So--if Tim is trying to gently break up with us (next thing you know he'll say one of those it's-not-you-it's me lines)--it'll be interesting to see if the blog's still going when I return from a blogfree zone. Anyway, I've enjoyed hearing about--and seeing the well-blocked tableaus of--Tabapalooza II.
Of course the Celtic hard rock song in Tap wherein the 12 inch Stonehenge is "in danger of being trod upon by a fucking dwarf" is, I believe, a mockery of Jethro Tull. So rather than end my relationship with the blog, I'll try to drive the rest of you away by posting a Tull link, thereby defining the thin line between stupid and pointlessly stupid.
Well, you won't drive me away with Tull. There are other groups that will do it, though.
The guitar player in our band is a hard drinking, sarcastic, cynical person, and once during a gig, someone came up to him in the middle of a song and handed him a note. He looked at the note and then threw it on my keyboard, rolling his eyes. After the song, I looked at the note and it said, "play something by Abba!!!" I laughed so hard I almost died. Tull: yes. Abba: no.
The guitar player in our band is a hard drinking, sarcastic, cynical person, and once during a gig, someone came up to him in the middle of a song and handed him a note. He looked at the note and then threw it on my keyboard, rolling his eyes. After the song, I looked at the note and it said, "play something by Abba!!!" I laughed so hard I almost died. Tull: yes. Abba: no.
Hey new best friend - it sounds like I'll be in Indiana same time as you - the fools at IUP have are having me do a workshop over the Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Think you'll have time for some square pizza and a bottle of sparkling grape juice? I'm sure Nail and J9 could be coaxed out of their cozy homes. Maybe man-of-leasure DRT will be in town. Tim can come up and pick up Dr. Scott, Ginger and Ian on the way. Kim can bring Liza, I'll pick up Jeff and Jennie at the airport, Geoff can drive Anne and pick up Kurt on the way.....
Haven't you noticed? I'm always ready to travel around to meet up with the old gang. I can be there. (How was parents' weekend?)
Parent's Weekend was charming. Every parent thinks their kid is the next Audra McDonald/Michael Jetter/Jules Fisher/John Lee Beaty/Ann Roth (that's
actress/actor/lighting/set/costume for those not up on Broadway theater - notice no one wants to be a sound designer) and that their little darling will be one of the 2% of this bunch CMU will accept. We're instructed to be very guarded about giving the impression that their child will be admitted to CMU, while at the same time being encouraging about their successes here. Thus lots of the faculty avoid Parent's Weekend like the plague. There has actually been litigation by parents who were "told" their child was doing excellent work in Precollege only to be turned away at admissions. Unbelievable how much lawyering goes on in higher education - I suspect Professor Malpractice-type Insurance is only a few years away. And that's not a joke.
As you might imagine it's very hard for me as the first thing lined up to come out of my mouth isn't usually the politic thing to say. Fortunately one of the two sets of parents who cornered me have a daughter we will take in a second, and so will every other school she applies to. The other student, well... how do you tell a parent that their child should consider an alternative school, much less career? Especially when you can see in their eyes they are already set on having the kids come to CMU?
And in an odd twist, invariably the parents how pull you aside to ask "Should little Britney be doing something else? Will she ever get a job at this? Should we be pushing her to get a Business degree instead?" are the parents of the kids who are the most talented and ultimately most successful.
word verification: okokybbq
answer: because it tastes better and keeps the kitchen from getting hot in the summer
actress/actor/lighting/set/costume for those not up on Broadway theater - notice no one wants to be a sound designer) and that their little darling will be one of the 2% of this bunch CMU will accept. We're instructed to be very guarded about giving the impression that their child will be admitted to CMU, while at the same time being encouraging about their successes here. Thus lots of the faculty avoid Parent's Weekend like the plague. There has actually been litigation by parents who were "told" their child was doing excellent work in Precollege only to be turned away at admissions. Unbelievable how much lawyering goes on in higher education - I suspect Professor Malpractice-type Insurance is only a few years away. And that's not a joke.
As you might imagine it's very hard for me as the first thing lined up to come out of my mouth isn't usually the politic thing to say. Fortunately one of the two sets of parents who cornered me have a daughter we will take in a second, and so will every other school she applies to. The other student, well... how do you tell a parent that their child should consider an alternative school, much less career? Especially when you can see in their eyes they are already set on having the kids come to CMU?
And in an odd twist, invariably the parents how pull you aside to ask "Should little Britney be doing something else? Will she ever get a job at this? Should we be pushing her to get a Business degree instead?" are the parents of the kids who are the most talented and ultimately most successful.
word verification: okokybbq
answer: because it tastes better and keeps the kitchen from getting hot in the summer
Joe, thanks for the info on Parent's Week-end. We start looking into schools this year and it's always nice to know what the nation's educators are thinking!
YES! To whatever kind of pizza we can get our hands on. That's great. I'm already planning on spending a day at Nail's pool. I'm really happy you'll be around. I have gobs of family to visit, but I'll be there a few days, so we should have ample time.
YES! To whatever kind of pizza we can get our hands on. That's great. I'm already planning on spending a day at Nail's pool. I'm really happy you'll be around. I have gobs of family to visit, but I'll be there a few days, so we should have ample time.
Advice to parents looking at schools -
1. There is always money for students to go to school - you just have to look harder than we did.
2. Visit the schools when they are in session, i.e. students and faculty are around. Other than the esthetics of the architecture, you won't find out much if there's no one around to talk to. It's a pain because you are free over holidays, which is when nothing is happening in schools and everyone clears out. If you have to come over a break, email/call and see if there can be people available. We often come in on Sundays and over breaks to talk to perspective students, but we have to know they are coming. And we will try to find students who are around to come in and meet with prospectives. Again we have to know.
3. If there is someone you want to talk to when visiting, email them ahead of time so they can be available. Nothing more disappointing than to find out someone was looking for you when you were sitting outside eating your lunch.
4. Take the tour of the campus - the students that lead them know not only what the University tells them to say but what's really going on, so you can ask them questions. But also realize their experiences are probably lacking in certain areas, so don't expect a Music major to have much insight into the Engineering department.
5. Realize that Admissions and Department X are two different things - don't ask Admissions "questions about Department X": they will give you a wrong answer.
- don't ask Department X "Admissions questions"; they will give you an answer that is 5 years out of date.
6. Your kids should contact Departments/Professors with questions prior to sending
admission materials/$. Any department worth its salt will field questions and point people in the right direction prior to Parents spending any money. If they don't, that's probably how they'll treat your kids when they are actually students too.
7. Colleges love the internet. Read everything on the College's Website. 95% of all your questions will be answered and everything you need can be downloaded. That will load you up for the questions you really need to ask, like teacher/student ratio in core course classes.
8. Email is the best way to reach college faculty. 99% of all university communications is via email, so everyone should be reading it daily.
Jeff, jump in anytime you want...
1. There is always money for students to go to school - you just have to look harder than we did.
2. Visit the schools when they are in session, i.e. students and faculty are around. Other than the esthetics of the architecture, you won't find out much if there's no one around to talk to. It's a pain because you are free over holidays, which is when nothing is happening in schools and everyone clears out. If you have to come over a break, email/call and see if there can be people available. We often come in on Sundays and over breaks to talk to perspective students, but we have to know they are coming. And we will try to find students who are around to come in and meet with prospectives. Again we have to know.
3. If there is someone you want to talk to when visiting, email them ahead of time so they can be available. Nothing more disappointing than to find out someone was looking for you when you were sitting outside eating your lunch.
4. Take the tour of the campus - the students that lead them know not only what the University tells them to say but what's really going on, so you can ask them questions. But also realize their experiences are probably lacking in certain areas, so don't expect a Music major to have much insight into the Engineering department.
5. Realize that Admissions and Department X are two different things - don't ask Admissions "questions about Department X": they will give you a wrong answer.
- don't ask Department X "Admissions questions"; they will give you an answer that is 5 years out of date.
6. Your kids should contact Departments/Professors with questions prior to sending
admission materials/$. Any department worth its salt will field questions and point people in the right direction prior to Parents spending any money. If they don't, that's probably how they'll treat your kids when they are actually students too.
7. Colleges love the internet. Read everything on the College's Website. 95% of all your questions will be answered and everything you need can be downloaded. That will load you up for the questions you really need to ask, like teacher/student ratio in core course classes.
8. Email is the best way to reach college faculty. 99% of all university communications is via email, so everyone should be reading it daily.
Jeff, jump in anytime you want...
Well, this has gone around an odd turn.
As an Admissions Counselor with West Virginia University, I can also answer many college questions. Joe did a great job with his summary but every college or university is different. I'm supposed to be a walking encyclopedia (much to Dr Weiner's chagrin) on WVU academics. When talking with parents and students, I start in on the basics when asked about certain programs then I usually offer a contact point and encourge them to reach out to discover more.
As the flag ship university of the Mountain State, we offer two tours a day, six days a week - except for those pesky home football game days and holidays. I always tell families that there is a wide spectrum of institutions out there all offering dozens of programs. Visits are key. Contacts are key.
After living here since 1985, I've come to regard WVU pretty well. Nearly 5000 students enter the ranks each year, with many going out there to make their mark as engineers, writers, teachers, doctors, businesspeople, etc. And at $20,500 per year for tuition, room, board and fees....it is a pretty good deal.
I'm happy to answer more. My contact points and mug shot are at the bottom of this page. I'm most happy to help.
http://www.arc.wvu.edu/NSS/AdmissionsCounselors/
As an Admissions Counselor with West Virginia University, I can also answer many college questions. Joe did a great job with his summary but every college or university is different. I'm supposed to be a walking encyclopedia (much to Dr Weiner's chagrin) on WVU academics. When talking with parents and students, I start in on the basics when asked about certain programs then I usually offer a contact point and encourge them to reach out to discover more.
As the flag ship university of the Mountain State, we offer two tours a day, six days a week - except for those pesky home football game days and holidays. I always tell families that there is a wide spectrum of institutions out there all offering dozens of programs. Visits are key. Contacts are key.
After living here since 1985, I've come to regard WVU pretty well. Nearly 5000 students enter the ranks each year, with many going out there to make their mark as engineers, writers, teachers, doctors, businesspeople, etc. And at $20,500 per year for tuition, room, board and fees....it is a pretty good deal.
I'm happy to answer more. My contact points and mug shot are at the bottom of this page. I'm most happy to help.
http://www.arc.wvu.edu/NSS/AdmissionsCounselors/
I don't have any time to comment in depth but to say thank you , thank you, thank you both for the invaluable pointers. We, too, start the serious college search this year. Difficult at this point because Emily has no clue (truly) what she wants to do with her life. (Quite unlike her mother, scary.) Any other advice from any other academic always welcome. You guys rock!
I try to gently advise parents to not push their child into a career choise too early. College is where your kids will find themselves. My folks pushed me towards science and it did not bode well. My GPA for those years was horrid. Once I knew I couldn't finish to get the degree I changes to something I was interested in and nearly made the dean's list. That success gave me the skills and confidence to tackle anything. In 1985 I moved to Morgantown and opened a record store. This went pretty well for 13 years. Do you know how many business courses I had in college? Zip - None - Nada. But I learned in college how to read people and listen. Then form a plan and execute. It's what I fall back upon the most with each new challenge every six months or so.
Many kids I meet can't wait to get out and establish themselves, and I don't mean on a barstool. I've met many that came here after meeting with me and they have learned and grown so much. I almost feel like a dad to a few of 'em.
Let the kids find their own way. Offer support and encouragement but don't press your agenda.
Many kids I meet can't wait to get out and establish themselves, and I don't mean on a barstool. I've met many that came here after meeting with me and they have learned and grown so much. I almost feel like a dad to a few of 'em.
Let the kids find their own way. Offer support and encouragement but don't press your agenda.
Eric, I swear Don told me the exact same thing tonight at dinner. Hearing it twice really makes it hit home. Thanks.
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