Adventures in computing. And furniture

Last weekend, kestrell and I went to the housewarming party at my folks' new place. They were getting rid of a bunch of stuff that they either no longer wanted, or no longer had room for. One of these items was a really nice computer desk. Kes has been wanting a real computer station for a while now, so we put dibs on it. Just one problem -- had to get it back to Dorchester...
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Adventures in computing. And furniture

Last weekend, kestrell and I went to the housewarming party at my folks' new place. They were getting rid of a bunch of stuff that they either no longer wanted, or no longer had room for. One of these items was a really nice computer desk. Kes has been wanting a real computer station for a while now, so we put dibs on it. Just one problem -- had to get it back to Dorchester...
( Read more... )

Academic politics

A while ago, I was helping kestrell look through the packet of fliers advertising student activities that gets sent to incoming MIT students. It was notable that a majority of activities on campus had at least two separate clubs. There were relatively few 'singletons', and a few with three or more. I infer from this that a majority of MIT student activities have gone through at least one political shcism.

I have heard it said that the reason politics in academia are so vicious is that the actual power at stake is so low. I guess that this inverse relationship continues below the faculty level as well.

Academic politics

A while ago, I was helping kestrell look through the packet of fliers advertising student activities that gets sent to incoming MIT students. It was notable that a majority of activities on campus had at least two separate clubs. There were relatively few 'singletons', and a few with three or more. I infer from this that a majority of MIT student activities have gone through at least one political shcism.

I have heard it said that the reason politics in academia are so vicious is that the actual power at stake is so low. I guess that this inverse relationship continues below the faculty level as well.