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Friday, May 23rd, 2025 09:17 pm
I didn't get much sleep and that cough medicine really knocked me for a loop (or something did. I was dizzy all day) I dropped something on my toe and cut it open in less than 5 minutes of being awake which set the tone of the day.
That said it was good. I didn't hang out much in the vendors room and breakfast was me and another local Pittsburgh guy (he teaches at the host school U of Pitt) talking up all the cool things to do. The two talks I got to go to today were good especially the latter one (I did skip the long business meeting today I just wasn't up to it) The latter was about diversity and inclusivity but on a different wavelength than the talks usually go. It was more about the faculty setting the tone (and from what she was saying I've been doing a lot of things right) You know that old chestnut of look to your left, look to your right, two of them won't be here at the end of this class. She talked about how things like that reenforce negative self thought, especially in at risk students.
My syllabus for example states right in it that yes this is hard but instead of talking failure rates etc I say here are some tools to help. I have some quote or two in there but she was talking about Einstein and I was reminded of these two statements by him Failure is success in progress and A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. and might put them in there somewhere. Even on an exam where a student has failed but wrote me a little note as to why, I write them back with encouragement. I've been the student who was told I'd never amount to anything (9th grade lit teacher) or that I didn't belong there (4-6th grade science teacher) That is never going to be me and how I handle class. Now I'm more determined to be fair
I did cut out a little early and walked across to the Fort Pitt museum and toured it. Never been there or to the block house next to it, the only part of the original fort from the 1700s left. I did not know that William Penn (for whom PA is name) was a Quaker (that part I knew) and thought it was part of his religion to live in peace with the indigenous people and share with them. Too bad the Quakers didn't hold out better.
Nor did I know some of the last vestiges of the local tribes lost their land near the PA/NY border to build the kinzua dam, that their homes were burned to the ground when the kids were in school and their parents at work, some 600 displaced families. TWO years before I was born. TWO! Jesus.
If nothing else i know how the seeds of two stories, though I did have one story published along the lines of the new idea, what if the Quakers held power. Imagine it, a group that believed in sharing, peaceful cohabitiation and in my sabbatical research it was almost always a Quaker supporting the women doctors because they believe in equality in education (though not, I think it true equality but certainly heads and shoulders above others in that time)
I also won plushie spinal column today at the raffle and today's door dash was siam thai, pad kee mow that was delicious (but late, ah Pittsburgh traffic especially on a game night)
I have friday's fannish recs here for fannish 50 (and then off to bed because OMG I have to be on the bus by 7 AM. Shoot me) Speaking of which I really need to get the name/email of the young prof from TN who knew the steam company I got my dress from and stopped me today when she saw my Huskerdust charm so we could coo about them and Helluva Boss (and she likes witchcore)
No Excuse Torchwood
Nary a Cause for Tears "Mr Rowl" - D. K. Broster
To: 61A Charrington Gardens Dial M for Murder
Initial Diagnosis Harry Potter
Toxic Torchwood
Just So The Murderbot Diaries
What the Bones Remember NCIS
I mean that's probably progress, right? The Murderbot Diaries
And Then You Kissed Me Real Steel
Loverboy The Murderbot Diaries
A Long Awaited Prize Stargate Atlantis
Remarkably, Irreversibly, and Cosmically Intertwined Hazbin Hotel
The Consultant 镇魂 | Guardian
Showtime Teen Wolf
Unexpected Renovations Stargate SG-1
The Offer 镇魂 | Guardian
For As Long As He Would Let Him Hazbin Hotel
A Brilliant Mind Torchwood
Turning a Page on the Calendar 911
More than a Birthday Celebration Stargate Atlantis
Your Turn Now Hazbin Hotel
Living in Interesting Times Teen Wolf
That said it was good. I didn't hang out much in the vendors room and breakfast was me and another local Pittsburgh guy (he teaches at the host school U of Pitt) talking up all the cool things to do. The two talks I got to go to today were good especially the latter one (I did skip the long business meeting today I just wasn't up to it) The latter was about diversity and inclusivity but on a different wavelength than the talks usually go. It was more about the faculty setting the tone (and from what she was saying I've been doing a lot of things right) You know that old chestnut of look to your left, look to your right, two of them won't be here at the end of this class. She talked about how things like that reenforce negative self thought, especially in at risk students.
My syllabus for example states right in it that yes this is hard but instead of talking failure rates etc I say here are some tools to help. I have some quote or two in there but she was talking about Einstein and I was reminded of these two statements by him Failure is success in progress and A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. and might put them in there somewhere. Even on an exam where a student has failed but wrote me a little note as to why, I write them back with encouragement. I've been the student who was told I'd never amount to anything (9th grade lit teacher) or that I didn't belong there (4-6th grade science teacher) That is never going to be me and how I handle class. Now I'm more determined to be fair
I did cut out a little early and walked across to the Fort Pitt museum and toured it. Never been there or to the block house next to it, the only part of the original fort from the 1700s left. I did not know that William Penn (for whom PA is name) was a Quaker (that part I knew) and thought it was part of his religion to live in peace with the indigenous people and share with them. Too bad the Quakers didn't hold out better.
Nor did I know some of the last vestiges of the local tribes lost their land near the PA/NY border to build the kinzua dam, that their homes were burned to the ground when the kids were in school and their parents at work, some 600 displaced families. TWO years before I was born. TWO! Jesus.
If nothing else i know how the seeds of two stories, though I did have one story published along the lines of the new idea, what if the Quakers held power. Imagine it, a group that believed in sharing, peaceful cohabitiation and in my sabbatical research it was almost always a Quaker supporting the women doctors because they believe in equality in education (though not, I think it true equality but certainly heads and shoulders above others in that time)
I also won plushie spinal column today at the raffle and today's door dash was siam thai, pad kee mow that was delicious (but late, ah Pittsburgh traffic especially on a game night)
I have friday's fannish recs here for fannish 50 (and then off to bed because OMG I have to be on the bus by 7 AM. Shoot me) Speaking of which I really need to get the name/email of the young prof from TN who knew the steam company I got my dress from and stopped me today when she saw my Huskerdust charm so we could coo about them and Helluva Boss (and she likes witchcore)
No Excuse Torchwood
Nary a Cause for Tears "Mr Rowl" - D. K. Broster
To: 61A Charrington Gardens Dial M for Murder
Initial Diagnosis Harry Potter
Toxic Torchwood
Just So The Murderbot Diaries
What the Bones Remember NCIS
I mean that's probably progress, right? The Murderbot Diaries
And Then You Kissed Me Real Steel
Loverboy The Murderbot Diaries
A Long Awaited Prize Stargate Atlantis
Remarkably, Irreversibly, and Cosmically Intertwined Hazbin Hotel
The Consultant 镇魂 | Guardian
Showtime Teen Wolf
Unexpected Renovations Stargate SG-1
The Offer 镇魂 | Guardian
For As Long As He Would Let Him Hazbin Hotel
A Brilliant Mind Torchwood
Turning a Page on the Calendar 911
More than a Birthday Celebration Stargate Atlantis
Your Turn Now Hazbin Hotel
Living in Interesting Times Teen Wolf
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