Classic Style

  A t home today (Thursday) recording and producing another episode of my course podcast (Episode #104 thank you very much!) to help the students populating my courses navigate their work more effectively.  So, I'm clad today in the usual corduroy jeans and a Rugby pullover.   But yesterday's campus attire was a bit more interesting in the classic style sense.  Many of the usual suspects as I like to call 'em.  Warm, very comfortable, and, while many in 2023 would consider it somehow overdressed nevertheless. very presentable.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  A pleasant combination of items for today although the shot of the 6/2 blazer does illustrate why a bristled clothes brush (Yes, I have one.), a lint roller, or a lint brush is sometimes necessary.  Grrrr.  It's what I get for trying to dress quietly in the early morning darkness of the bedroom without waking the Grand Duchess. -- Heinz-Ulrich

O k, a little matchy-matchy perhaps, but overall not an unpleasant combination of a few more of the usual suspects.  A gray plaid wool scarf, charcoal overcoat, and gray fedora -- The real thing.  NOT a trilby, which is often called a fedora by people who know no better. -- topped off the ensemble.  Must've done OK though because not one but TWO students paid their compliments as I entered the library this morning and made my way to the cafe.  It has once again become my main space to wade through email, work, think, plan, meet with colleagues, and occasionally watch the world go by between tasks. -- Heinz-Ulrich  

A number of the usual suspects made up today's attire.  Another not entirely unpleasant, yet extremely warm and comfortable, combination.  A trench coat (with liner zipped in, wool scarf, and Borsalino fedora completed the ensemble on this blustery February day.  -- Heinz-Ulrich

  I made the sojourn into campus this morning to have some coffee and talk shop with a colleague.  We had an enjoyable discussion for an hour in the recently opened library branch of the global abomination that is Starbuck's .  Can someone explain to me. . .  Why on earth do cities like Vienna and Rome even need them? I am of two minds here.  Starbuck's is handy in a lot of instances.  The coffee isn't bad.  Somewhat better than what is sold in the competing, campus owned and run Sparty's .  And the space in the library, occupied by a branch of Sparty's until early last May, is redesigned, bright, airy, and clean with plenty of new tables, chairs, and outlets for  laptop computers, tablets, and recharging phones.  All very convenient.   Yet it is locally owned, non-corporate cafes that have the character and quirkiness that makes them interesting places in which to kill time, work, and people watch.  Why the campus town a...