DB Polo Coat & Suit Monday. . .

Almost head to toe vintage -- really just nicer way of saying 'old' -- attire today, after a long Thanksgiving Weekend. The hat, shoes, and mask are more recent purchases, but everything else is at least 20 years old or more.

There is nothing like a wool flannel suit for comfort on a cold day. It's like a nice, toasty warm set of pajamas. But better looking. Assuming one does not have a problem with double-breasted suits, which some do. But, ah well.

Variety is the spice of life, and sometimes its nice to vary the diet a little from the more typically seen single-breasted navy blazers and tweed jackets. And a double-breasted polo coat rivals any blanket in terms of warmth.

On a different note, hear that? The semester is almost over.

A surprising number of students back on campus this morning after the break. For some, admittedly, the four days of Thanksgiving weekend somehow morphs into 10 days off campus, relative inactivity, and lack of forward movement just at the point in the term when things get really busy for everyone, and it's foolish to put up one's feet prematurely. Well, they have to learn sometime I suppose.

Just two weeks left of classes before finals week when I'll calculate final course grades although our learning management system online basically does that for us. The only challenge is that we've got to open a second database through the registrar's website to enter course grades once everything has been tallied up, toggling back and forth between the two until everything has been entered and submitted.

There must be an easier way, and probably is, but our particular LMS is clunky in the extreme. Still, it will be nice to have a calm few weeks of relatively unstructured time, so I am keeping that metaphoric carrot at the end of the stick in sight.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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J. Press Goodness. . .

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Job Talk #3. . .

C andidate #3 is, for my money, the person for the job. Considerable experience, broad perspective, well-connected throughout the college and university due to an array of collaborative pursuits of one kind or another, coherent and detailed vision laid out for the next three years and beyond. Yes. I am not on the committee that makes the recommendation to the dean, who will make the final decision and send the letter, but, were it up to yours truly, this is the guy. And he wore an actual suit (mid-gray), dress shoes, white shirt, and necktie as an added plus. 20 years or so my junior, but someone gets it. -- Heinz-Ulrich

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