Archives for The Education of Oronte Churm

“I have a dream speech”

Not only is this one of the most important speeches ever given, it is also a model in presentation. Every student of public speaking should study this speech.

Matt Eventoff, at 8:50 am EST on January 15, 2007

English majors in action:

At the end of the century just passed, I was a junior/senior executive at Aetna, in the financial division. As fate would have it, I was sent to Europe for research. I sent my itinerary to the travel folks and it came back with the requirement, due to recent Basque terrorism threats, that I had to stay in Madrid at The Ritz, for security. Right beside The Prado. I spent considerable time looking for the Ritz bar, to see where Hemingway hung out and to sit in his chair. I looked everywhere with no luck. I asked. Ritz bar is the lobby lounge. You don’t see the bottles and bartender. So, I sat there and thought of bullfighting and trout fishing and simple-looking prose.

ws, at 9:53 am EST on January 16, 2007

When I was twelve years old, I traveled to Russia as part of a partnership between an American mining company and a Russian smelting company. We went to St. Petersburg and to a town called Monchegorsk which operates a smelting plant. Basically I was part of a mutual PR campaign—"See? We’ve TOTALLY forgotten about that silly cold war! The children! Democracy! Alloys!” I still have a t shirt that reads “Severonikl” in cyrillic. Since then I’ve bounced from one free ride to another, always waiting for the day when I am expoed as a benign, vaguely intellectual con.

Drew Johnson, Children’s Shoe Salesman at Nordstrom, at 1:00 pm EST on January 18, 2007

It means ‘really simple syndication’. Welcome to the syndicate.

Keep up the good blogging.

Trent, at 7:20 pm EST on January 18, 2007

Paging through a book on designing kid-friendly spaces, I couldn’t help but notice that several sections talked about the need for lots of shelf space to help kids handle their collections. Really, that’s just enabling the little ones — but I’m one to talk.

My discipline and my reading habits lead to lots of print-saving — books, magazines, clippings, comics — and when you add to that Lego and computer games, there’s a lot to organize. The Lego’s mostly organized — by piece type — but the move to clutter’s been vicious with comprehensive examinations. Now I can start to reassert order over the clutter. First step: finding the Library of Congress filing system for computer games...

5th_Business, Wealthy Ontario, at 10:20 pm EST on January 19, 2007

Stuff

Since you’ve put so much effort into exaggerating my past obsessions with “stuff” I assume you’re going to stop boring me with your constant references to the “authentic” masks on your wall. Or to your “Library.” And believe me — I hear that rediculous capital “L” whenever you say that word.

Can’t you come up with interesting things from your own life instead of constantly taking and twisting things from mine?

Let the radio silence begin...

The character “Chazj”, at 9:00 pm EST on January 21, 2007

Boys will be boys

All I can say about this entry is that I like the spirit from which it originates. It seems a bit stuffy to treat children like miniature adults at all times, part of the joy of being young is being foolish and ignorant of the proper way to do things. It seems that the world has become so insufferably pretentious as to actually think that the constant stifling of natural and biological processes is the proper way to do things. My own childhood was spent largley in the pursuit of empty soda and beer cans that could then be the subjects of my endless target practice with my BB gun. Perhaps things are just that much different from when I was a kid.

JDavid, at 11:25 am EST on January 25, 2007

where are the Children?

In one of many experiences as an educator: I am on the step-master at our local gym trying to deeeeeeestress...When along comes Mrs. X..you know the ones that make their husbands regret growing old-well...she gets on her side and looks at me-I know you! I want you to test my daughter, she is gifted! and I want her in an accelerated program! huff..huff..huff..flick blond hair back...push-out-inflated ego,breats, and butt which Dr. Cash created-as Jon’ Jon’ passes by...Reality...you are disturbing my deeeestress time (in my head): Question Mrs.X how old is you daughter...why she’s three... What happened to the children???Children become what they learn....I should have been a broker.

Alexandria deJesus, at 6:05 pm EST on February 1, 2007

So you aren’t taking resumes?

I had already started revising my resume, highlighting my restaurant management experience and carefully crafting my objective to emphasize my respectful adoration and willingness to become a student of Churm....... Then, I finished the post.... heart broken once again. “I’m putting together a panel...” but it is too late for this year. “I’m starting a wonderful new venture...” but it is only imaginary. Why, Oronte? Why? Why do you tug at my heart strings? Why do I find myself considering the life of an adjunct faculty member (allbeit in economics or marketing, I’m no word-smith.)? Why do I wax on, with rhetoric questions secretly hoping for answers? Why? Indeed.

Christopher, Inquistor, at 7:01 pm EST on January 29, 2007

“Getting yours”

Soon. I still need a Mortgage Broker, a Dentist and a Call-Girl. Then it will all be set.

(criss cross...criss cross)

Chaz, at 9:55 am EST on January 31, 2007

I’m not sure how it is for such venerable institutions of higher education such as these, but when I worked for an employment agency, it was very clear that we were to make sure the applicant understood that the sex/ethnicity portion was entirely optional. Most (all that I observed, anyway) completed it besides, because people like telling computers about themselves. But I looked into it after that job had come to an end and in my state at least, it’s illegal to require anyone to provide this information. I didn’t dig so far as to find out what ramifications awaited they who broke this law, but the wording on the state article describing it seemed very stern.

Robert, at 10:05 pm EST on January 31, 2007

As a minority in both gender and race I was also taken-a-back by the EEO form. I found, having had applied to so many institutions that I am now a qualified unemployed quota filler per se. Several years ago this bogus form gave these institutions (if required to audit) the out-to show they are not excluding minority groups (although in faculty representation they are quite short). Soooooooo what do you do? It’s a coin toss as one faculty member who did not agree with the bogus requirement told me. One HR representative also shared that getting an interview is not about how “qualified, scholary or dedicated you are", however, it’s about Who you know. Well, if you are dedicated, hardworking, and genuinely interested in your students, you are shit-ou-of-luck. Soooo, how do you get-in...Beats me........Don’t lose your spirit though, history is all about hypocrisy, just remain true to you!

Alexandria deJesus, Meeting the racial Quota, at 10:20 am EST on February 1, 2007

Shucks.

I spent my junior year of college (ten years ago) in St Andrews, and wish the Fresh Talent Scheme had been around; I badly wanted to get back there, but didn’t know how to make it happen. As is, I’ve had to settle for resolving to retire to the Kingdom of Fife. St A’s being fairly chi-chi, I might settle for Anstruther or neighbors like Pittenweem, Crail, or Ely, lovely little towns with fish and chips exactly as glorious as they claim.

Tim, at 11:35 am EST on February 2, 2007

Unemployment and life

Scotland’s unemployment is mostly restricted to the rural areas and the ever-poor ‘burbs. Where people do get employment, though, salaries are good and lifestyle even better. Come over some time, and experience it for yourself.

Ewan McIntosh, LTS, at 7:35 am EST on February 6, 2007

Not for nothin’, Churm, but as a faithful resident of Des Moines, I can tell you that not only are our rest stops perfectly clean at helpful, but the world’s *largest* rest stop is just outside the city, not the smallest.

Chase, at 3:05 pm EST on February 5, 2007