Miley Cyrus says she’s “not trying to be slutty.” Interesting placement of “not”. She could have said she was “trying not to be slutty” or even that she was “trying to be not-slutty”. (Conservatives would bristle at the latter, but linguists ignore arbitrary rules and study what people actually say — like, “I can’t not [...]
Archive for June, 2010
Thinking with Both Sides of the Brain(?)
June 15, 2010Before I left my home state, I was stuck in a traffic jam, right near a sign for Southfield. With time on my hands, I wondered idly how many Southfields existed in the world. Probably a lot, I figured. Then, without meaning to, I thought “USA.Michigan.Southfield.” Java syntax. And last night I’m pretty sure my [...]
Tim Pawlenty, Education Czar?
June 14, 2010I just caught Jon Stewart’s Daily Show interview with Tim Pawlenty. It’s a good thing I was working out with my heavy weights because if they’d been any lighter I think I would have thrown them at the screen. Outlining his plan to make government smaller and less more effective, Pawlenty claimed that we should [...]
Colorado’s Tenure Decision and the Prime Directive
June 13, 2010So, Colorado has decided to link its teachers’ futures to student performance. This is just stupid. I say this, by the way, as someone who thinks tenure is a flawed idea. But I’ve also seen what lack of security does to people, and it’s not pretty. Most importantly, I’ve been there. If you haven’t, I’d [...]
O Fortuna: BP’s Fortuna Defense
June 6, 2010Worst Prof Ever thinks Tony Hayward needs to rethink his reliance on the Fortuna defense.
Village Voice Asks: Is Debrahlee Lorenzana Too Hot To Work at a Bank?
June 5, 2010Worst Professor Ever feels for Debrahlee Lorenzana’s plight, and thinks it’s true that you’re not allowed to be smart and attractive.
We Must Not Allow a PhD Gap, Mr. President!
June 3, 2010Do we have a PhD gap with other countries? Worst Prof Ever thinks not.
Homer, Colbert, and Me: Teaching as Oral Culture
June 2, 2010Worst Professor Ever wonders if we shouldn’t give up on assigned reading and treat teaching as the oral culture it’s become.