that which goes unrecognized

Using another computer for reviewing research proposals, there were several features of the hardware and software that did not come automatically. On my own computers, I can unthinkingly change text size, call up search features, and check the spelling. But on an unfamiliar device, it took me a couple of minutes to even figure out how to open it. I do like the stubby red button in the middle of the keyboard that allows me to steer the cursor all around the screen. On the other hand, there was a trackpad and a mouse that made the joystick more than redundant aside from its novelty.

One automated featured I take as a given on my own computers are the custom dictionaries. Of course my own last name is unquestioned on familiar word processors but raises hackles on the foreign computer. What is most intriguing is that the following words are identifed as improper on the foundation's unusual reviewing software. Most notable were these "errors" that arose repeatedly because they are central aspects of the stated mission:

• underrepresented
• transformative
• mentoring
• generalizability

What might this mean? Is underrepresentation by certain populations, in reality, unimportant? Is transformative not an actual goal? Mentoring: not recognized and hence not valued? And, at the end of the day, perhaps the lack of much that is generalizable should come as no surprise.

PEBCAC postscript

Supposedly tech support people are challenged to identify the source of difficulties reported by customers. When the user is the cause then PEBCAC (or PEBKAC) summarizes the issue. Translation: Problem Exists Between Computer (or Keyboard) and Chair. Despite a previous posting about the delights of having gadgets that create few problems because of their familiarity, other issues persist that deserve the same label.

When the coffeemaker beeped signaling me (pure Pavlov!) to retrieve my first cup of the morning, I glanced at the pot before I began the pour. Apparently there can also be a PEBCAC that refers to the problem between the coffeemaker and the cup. Seems I forgot to spoon in the grounds so I ran 6 cups of water through a paper filter.

Rebooting.

alt coffee maker

enough with the stuff

While not opposed to gadgets, I have realized I am approaching a certain comfort level with my amount of stuff. That might be an admirable realization except that it arises out of concern that things won't last. In a little over one hundred miles, my trusty Element will have accumulated 100,000 miles. I took it into a local shop for a careful going over. The few hundred dollars they charged to replace parts that were flabby, wrinkled or cracked was a great investment. And with their recommendation, I had 4 new tires added at another joint -- all for less than $1K in total.

It isn't that I don't like new stuff. A box of equipment from CampMor arrived earlier this week. There was Christmas-like exhilaration as I pulled each item from the box, even though I had been quite deliberative in selecting in which before ordering them online. I now own a mismatched rainsuit (blue top, black bottom, both discounted!), an equally unstylish broad-brimmed hat, a frightfully sharp knife, a too-cute set of eating ware, a bottle of nature friendly camp soap, and a vial of pest-unfriendly bug juice. Oh the joy this stuff brings me!

But I may have believed that one day I will no longer be bothered by needing to master a new gadget. For example, in my favorite mug I can reheat coffee to the perfect temperature by setting the microwave to power up for 2:22. The coffeemaker, in turn, produces perfectly strong brew with 6 heaping scoops from a wooden spoon and with the device set to slow brew (the 1-4 cup feature). Unfortunately, the plastic lid on the coffee mill is acting up. When I press it down to activate the grinding mechanism, the lid snaps as if it has a crack in it. True, this was a castoff appliance from my mother-in-law a few years ago when she realized she did not need to grind spices. But if the lid fails, the rest of the device is rendered useless. This, in turn, destroys a vital link in the coffee production process that has worked so well for me.

Maybe this is a companion to the sense of needing a makeover. Certainly there are times when things need to be upgraded. But for very basic life functions, which includes coffee brewing and basic transportation, I would be perfectly content to allow objects and actions to continue operating as they have up until now. No, I don't want to learn how to make a new printer do its thing. Yes, I was actually quite content with the previous version of MS Office because it did all the statistics the new version has eliminated. No, I do not enjoying trying to make the new module play nicely with Excel -- it is only a simple ANOVA: why can't you do the calculations in your microprocessor that I once did with a calculator back in grad school?! No, I don't think this all sounds cranky and stodgy -- everything was going just fine until some idiot thought they could make some improvements. Bah! But wait. This looks cool. All I need to do is a Händler suchen and then this could be mine. I think I have an app for that.

turning philosophical

A colleague asked advice about whether it would be appropriate to write something like, “What kind of jackass would continue to teach in selfish ways after hearing about the sources of inequity among students?” The uncertainty was whether jackass was too strong (we concluded it was) but the point being made was that at some point, individuals ought to take a stand. Injustices cannot be waved off as if problems are someone else’s responsibility.

This issue reminded me about the question about the kind of legacy we might like to leave. I suppose this an issue many people face at turning points in their lives and careers. There are even organizations such as Encore that assist professionals to find post-retirement ways to contributed to society. Their use of a semi-colon is pure marketing brilliance.

My colleague endeavors to use her influence and access to push others to change their beliefs and associated actions. Ideally, after reading her essay, the jackass would see the errors in his ways and turn his life, and his legacy, around. Others might be convinced to consider the long-term implications for their work through humor. The following scenario is a good reminder for me:

Three friends are killed in a car accident and meet up at an orientation session in Heaven. The celestial facilitator asks them what they would most like to hear said about them as friends and relatives walked past their casket.

The first man says, “I hope people will say I was a wonderful doctor and a good family man.”

The second man says, “I would like to hear people say that as a schoolteacher I made a big difference in the lives of children.”

The third may says, “I’d like to hear someone say: ‘Hey look! He’s moving!’”

The source of this joke is a chapter about existentialism within a broader effort to teach about philosophy via humor. At a very basic level, the jokes are really good and I may use this venue to share more of those in the future. In addition, the book really works. I believe that philosophy can help us make sense of our world(s). Or at least learn to laugh about it all.

nice weather out here

The meteorologists claimed there was a good chance of thunderstorms today. Multicolored swirls marched across our tiny state on the interwebs all day long. Warm, humid but not a lick of precipitation — until 7:30 this evening. I saw the indications on Wunderground before I heard the splattering raindrops on the roof outside my office window. To get closer to the rain without getting wet myself, I made my way to our wrap-around porch.

We are fortuante to have a couple of very large maples bracketing our house. They provide a playground for squirrels, offer substantial shade during summer, and produce interesting rain shadows. Once again, the pavement in front was damp while the circles directly under the trees' canopies were dry. As I stood there waiting for the water to find its way through the leaves, I glanced up as a sedan drove by. I'm beginning to realize I should always tote my camera with me in Willimantic. Here is what I witnessed.

Atop the car was a mattress. I'm guessing it wasn't tied down because the passenger was sitting through his open window holding the mattress down. He had a crew-cut and wore one of those shirts my nephew calls "wife beaters " — a white, thin tank top. I don't believe this endeavor was being conducted by academics. The driver was presumably trying to maintain the right speed: not so slow the mattress got rained on too much but not so fast that the wind separated the furniture from the automobile. I also have the hunch he was steering with one hand and holding onto his edge of the mattress with the other. Just past our house, the holder of the mattress leaned down and reported to the driver, in a somewhat pleasant tone, "It's fucking nice out here." Apparently I wasn't the only one appreciating the cool drizzle and the refreshing breeze. Hope they all have a good night's sleep.