and throw away the keys

Today we visited a real estate open house (one of my favorite forms of free recreation) at the former jail in the next town. The main building was constructed perhaps in the 1830s, of massive granite blocks. The developers have carved new window openings (oddly placed in the units, generally) out of the walls and the floor-to-floor height is very large, so that smallish rooms have tall ceilings, like 12-15 feet tall.

The challenge must have been (hello, capitalism!) to maximize the number of 2-BR units. It's cleverly done in a developer sense, but not so clever in terms of the feel of the spaces. I am pretty sure that the people who laid out the units have no sense of the spatial quality of the rooms thus created. It was a plan-puzzle exercise rather than a 3D spatial exercise. But it must be very costly to gut the interior and build these units so I can't say I blame them for trying to maximize return-on-investment.

Some of the building was still open to studs (their insurance co must have been unaware of the open house) and I have to say that the construction sequencing was puzzling. They are at sheetrock and skim-coat in many places where they still haven't sandblasted the exposed brick walls. Shouldn't they have done all that prep work first??

But anyways, an interesting afternoon, and Mom came with us and found it interesting too, so a good day all around.

heart of empire

We've been back from London (spring break tour with about 85 people from our respective institutions) for about a week, and London already just seems forever ago.

If I had to sum up my impressions of the week, it would be in this: "Empire abides." My point of view is a bit slanted, sure - but in all the museums and sights, the sense of trade and growth and more trade and global connections was just so strong. Of course it's a major narrative point of the museums and the economy - and has long been, but I wonder if the average Londoner feels that too?

Back at the day job, we are at the point in the semester when all the problem-people finally come out of hiding and begin to negotiate for their fate. Should someone be allowed to continue in the course when they haven't attended since early February? So many students seem to think that personal tragedy ENTITLES them to special consideration. I don't mean to be harsh - but I really don't buy it. If you just do the readings and the assignments and tests and never come to class, is that an acceptable substitute for contributing to the classroom community?

In my grading schemes, about 25% of the final grade is based on doing the in-class work and on class participation. I suppose that even if I allow these tragic souls (their stories are the stuff of Lifetime movies) to carry on, they are unlikely to pass - which represents a cruelty of a different sort on my part - better to cut their losses while they can, in my opinion. They never see it - youth is so optimistic.

news part 2

The more cheery part of what all happened last week, is that I GOT MY FULLBRIGHT GRANT!!!

Nach Berlin, baby! I will be there from June 9-19 and longer if/when B and I can arrange the schedule. I will be in seminar (classes?) for about a week and then hopefully can arrange to do some traveling/researching in support of my book project.

So much to arrange! But so exciting! I have a sheaf of A4 paper (their size is different than 8.5x11) on my desk with all the forms and whatnot that I have to sign - UPS'ed to me from Germany!