Author Archives: jbj

The zoo!

Posted on July 6, 2009 by jbj

Yesterday we went to the Bronx Zoo for the first time.  A good time was had by all–as you can see here, we got a pretty up-close visit from a polar bear, plus close encounters with red pandas, baboons, giraffes, … Continue reading →

Posted in connecticut, family | Comments Off on The zoo!

The first science project

Posted on June 8, 2009 by jbj

Last week, the 6-yr-old’s school–the Holmes School for Science & Technology–had its first science fair. (I know, right?  What were they waiting for?)  Anyway, the boy was *super* excited about it, as you can see in this photoset on Flickr,  … Continue reading →

Posted in connecticut, education, family, public schools | 4 Comments

Land of the Lost: in which I suffer for the sake of knowledge

Posted on June 6, 2009 by jbj

This weekend at GeekDad I have a “10 things parents should know” post up about Land of the Lost, which was almost no fun at all.  That said, there’s always a silver lining: 10.  Well, is there at least a … Continue reading →

Posted in elsewhere, family, movies, self-promotion, silliness, things that should stop | Comments Off on Land of the Lost: in which I suffer for the sake of knowledge

Juxtaposed without comment: Retirement & the 2-career academic couple

Posted on June 5, 2009 by jbj

It’s been a hard month, but I think the worm will turn, schedule-wise over the next week or two, and so I can become a bit more human.  In the interval, a couple of interesting links: When people complain about … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Playlist for a 6-yr-old

Posted on May 17, 2009 by jbj

This is the year-in-review playlist for the boy, who turned 6 this week.  (See this post at GeekDad for background.) 1. “Constructive Summer,” The Hold Steady 2. “3 Dimes Down,” Drive-By Truckers 3. “Livin’ in the Future,” Bruce Springsteen 4. … Continue reading →

Posted in family | 1 Comment

On not noticing

Posted on May 10, 2009 by jbj

Thinking about the infinite distractions of contemporary affluent life, Laura Miller glosses Winifred Gallagher’s Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life, thus: Your very self, “stored in your memory,” is the product of what you pay attention to, since you can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in productivity | Comments Off on On not noticing

Here’s a funny thing (actually, 2)

Posted on April 29, 2009 by jbj

Two announcements: I’m mostly pleased to say that, as of this afternoon, I’m the president-elect (effective virtually immediately) of the CCSU AAUP chapter.  On our campus, that’s a union position, representing full-time *and* part-time faculty, librarians, and coaches.  I say … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, CCSU, self-promotion, things I love | 2 Comments

For my CT readers: Merlin Mann is @ CCSU next week!

Posted on April 20, 2009 by jbj

On Tuesday, April 28, Merlin Mann (of 43folders.com, You Look Nice Today: A Journal of Emotional Hygiene, 5ives, 30 Seconds With That Phone Guy, Kung Fu Grippe, and too many awesome things to mention) will be at CCSU.  Mann will … Continue reading →

Posted in CCSU, connecticut, things I love | 1 Comment

Maybe the “Online Comments Are Basically Worthless” People Have a Point

Posted on April 19, 2009 by jbj

The New Britain Herald has a story up about a high-achieving local student who is mulling over several Ivy League acceptances.  It’s a perfectly heartwarming story . . . until the commenters start in. The first poster is innocuous enough, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Graff & curricular mixed messages in English depts

Posted on April 13, 2009 by jbj

Mark Bauerlein posted over the weekend about Gerald Graff’s presidential address (some scrolling required) to the MLA.  The argument will be familiar to anyone who’s read Graff’s Clueless in Academe: The default attitude of many professors is a kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in academe, English major, higher education, teaching | 2 Comments