Not that we would have gone anywhere...

...since our plow guy is only now doing the first pass of our driveway (I can hear him as I type this), but it would have been nice for the university to decide to close last night. Instead, they robocalled us at about 5:30 a.m. (just as my alarm was about to go off).

From what I can tell, there are a cluster of late-calling institutions of higher learning in the area. This vision of all of their presidents, sitting in a large, wood-paneled room with a roaring fireplace, drinking brandy and wondering how late they can wait without stranding their faculty and students on the roadways...

We've got about 8" since the storm started last night, but the snow appears to have sped up now. A couple of area colleges have delayed openings (B.C. is on a 3-hour delay; Mass. Maritime is delayed 4 hours.), but Tufts University -- which had originally announced a 1.5 hour delay -- apparently changed its mind in the night and just closed outright.

Right now, nearly all of the major colleges and universities in the area (about 40 or so) are closed, save Harvard and MIT. Which is typical.

But it's warm in here, I'm drinking hot tea (without caffeine, since I'll start the coffee when Mike wakes up), and it's very, very quiet in the world.

Hope you're also warm, safe, and not trying to get to the office across snow-covered streets.

Not that we would have gone anywhere...

...since our plow guy is only now doing the first pass of our driveway (I can hear him as I type this), but it would have been nice for the university to decide to close last night. Instead, they robocalled us at about 5:30 a.m. (just as my alarm was about to go off).

From what I can tell, there are a cluster of late-calling institutions of higher learning in the area. This vision of all of their presidents, sitting in a large, wood-paneled room with a roaring fireplace, drinking brandy and wondering how late they can wait without stranding their faculty and students on the roadways...

We've got about 8" since the storm started last night, but the snow appears to have sped up now. A couple of area colleges have delayed openings (B.C. is on a 3-hour delay; Mass. Maritime is delayed 4 hours.), but Tufts University -- which had originally announced a 1.5 hour delay -- apparently changed its mind in the night and just closed outright.

Right now, nearly all of the major colleges and universities in the area (about 40 or so) are closed, save Harvard and MIT. Which is typical.

But it's warm in here, I'm drinking hot tea (without caffeine, since I'll start the coffee when Mike wakes up), and it's very, very quiet in the world.

Hope you're also warm, safe, and not trying to get to the office across snow-covered streets.

I hate for people to lose their jobs in this economy...

...but I can't cry big crocodile tears over hearing that RIAA is in financial straits.

The Recording Industry Association of America is firing scores of workers, a "bloodbath" as some have described it.

The recession, and its announced pullback of its 5-year-old litigation campaign, are among the reasons.

Hypebot.com reports dozens of RIAA workers are being let go. The "RIAA as you know it is probably history by Tuesday of next week," the site says. The site predicts the group is likely to merge with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries, the RIAA's European counterpart which is part of the ongoing trial against The Pirate Bay in Sweden.

I hate for people to lose their jobs in this economy...

...but I can't cry big crocodile tears over hearing that RIAA is in financial straits.

The Recording Industry Association of America is firing scores of workers, a "bloodbath" as some have described it.

The recession, and its announced pullback of its 5-year-old litigation campaign, are among the reasons.

Hypebot.com reports dozens of RIAA workers are being let go. The "RIAA as you know it is probably history by Tuesday of next week," the site says. The site predicts the group is likely to merge with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries, the RIAA's European counterpart which is part of the ongoing trial against The Pirate Bay in Sweden.

What's in a name, anyway?

Today, a post by someone on my friends list led me to a controversy that has been making people fairly hot and bothered. At the heart of the controversy are postings by folks wearing pseudonyms -- LiveJournal IDs where they actively avoid anyone knowing their real names. So, what do you think about the use of pseudonyms?

---------------------

[Poll #1358325]

What's in a name, anyway?

Today, a post by someone on my friends list led me to a controversy that has been making people fairly hot and bothered. At the heart of the controversy are postings by folks wearing pseudonyms -- LiveJournal IDs where they actively avoid anyone knowing their real names. So, what do you think about the use of pseudonyms?

---------------------

[Poll #1358325]

Oh, great. Just great.

Take me out and shoot me now. MSNBC reports on new evidence linking migraines with a couple of other little ailments.

Recent studies show those who suffer from something called migraine with aura have double, or perhaps triple, the risk of stroke or heart attack, compared with people who don’t get migraines at all.

In these people [...] the headache is preceded by a range of symptoms: slurred speech, forgetfulness, feeling hot or cold, and ghostly lights blinking across the field of vision. That last one is the aura. A third of those who experience migraines have these symptoms; generally, this sub-group also has more frequent, and more excruciating, migraines.

"I don’t think migraine is seen as a serious disorder. That's a mistake," says migraine researcher David Dodick, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. "Headache is just one manifestation of migraine. It's a systemic illness."

Some 10% of the U.S. population get migraines, but the research studied only those who get migraines with aura.

Oh, great. Just great.

Take me out and shoot me now. MSNBC reports on new evidence linking migraines with a couple of other little ailments.

Recent studies show those who suffer from something called migraine with aura have double, or perhaps triple, the risk of stroke or heart attack, compared with people who don’t get migraines at all.

In these people [...] the headache is preceded by a range of symptoms: slurred speech, forgetfulness, feeling hot or cold, and ghostly lights blinking across the field of vision. That last one is the aura. A third of those who experience migraines have these symptoms; generally, this sub-group also has more frequent, and more excruciating, migraines.

"I don’t think migraine is seen as a serious disorder. That's a mistake," says migraine researcher David Dodick, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. "Headache is just one manifestation of migraine. It's a systemic illness."

Some 10% of the U.S. population get migraines, but the research studied only those who get migraines with aura.

Putting it in perspective

Comedian Louis CK talks about the taken-for-granteds on the Conan O'Brien show.

Putting it in perspective

Comedian Louis CK talks about the taken-for-granteds on the Conan O'Brien show.

Good news...followed by better news...

When the university cancelled today, that was good news. I've been drugged since Friday with what turned out to be a nasty sinus/ear infection combo (rather than the cold or flu I'd thought it was), and the extra day to heal up was appreciated.

The better news? Well, that's on the order of "stupid college professor tricks." For reasons that completely escape me, I thought our Fall Semester advising started *today*. So if the university had not closed, I would have struggled through snow and ick and traffic and scary Massachusetts drivers...only to discover that it was all for naught.

Advising starts a week from today. Yippee. That means I'll actually have time this week to grade the mid-terms and papers I've got coming in. And by the time they come in, the infection will be under control.

There is a guardian angel who looks after the absent-minded. I forget his/her name.

Good news...followed by better news...

When the university cancelled today, that was good news. I've been drugged since Friday with what turned out to be a nasty sinus/ear infection combo (rather than the cold or flu I'd thought it was), and the extra day to heal up was appreciated.

The better news? Well, that's on the order of "stupid college professor tricks." For reasons that completely escape me, I thought our Fall Semester advising started *today*. So if the university had not closed, I would have struggled through snow and ick and traffic and scary Massachusetts drivers...only to discover that it was all for naught.

Advising starts a week from today. Yippee. That means I'll actually have time this week to grade the mid-terms and papers I've got coming in. And by the time they come in, the infection will be under control.

There is a guardian angel who looks after the absent-minded. I forget his/her name.

Calling the Army's bluff

When the Army tried to recall one soldier four years after her honorable discharge, she pled hardship. When they turned her down, she turned up at Fort Benning...with her two toddlers in tow. Not surprisingly, they're giving her the complete discharge, now.

Calling the Army's bluff

When the Army tried to recall one soldier four years after her honorable discharge, she pled hardship. When they turned her down, she turned up at Fort Benning...with her two toddlers in tow. Not surprisingly, they're giving her the complete discharge, now.

News squibs: a roundup

Several interesting bits at MSNBC just now:

Scientists in the UK believe they know what causes grey hair.

Justice releases a 2001 Bush memo that said the US military could search and seize terror suspects in the US without a warrant.

No shock: a Blago publicist says he's inked a book deal with Phoenix Books for six figures.

News squibs: a roundup

Several interesting bits at MSNBC just now:

Scientists in the UK believe they know what causes grey hair.

Justice releases a 2001 Bush memo that said the US military could search and seize terror suspects in the US without a warrant.

No shock: a Blago publicist says he's inked a book deal with Phoenix Books for six figures.