Thanks for Nothin'

Well, I suppose that blogging about another Chicago teacher tossing his career out the window was bad karma. I lost my job, too. I was one of 1,100 Chicago teachers not renewed for the fall. I still get to work until June, though. Hooray. Please send Chicago-area teaching job postings or job search advice!

I don't know a whole lot about blogging, but I do know it's in poor form to blog about your workplace. Someone should have mentioned this to a certain Fenger High School teacher. Interestingly enough, my mom was a teacher at Fenger a hundred years ago. (Sorry, mom, it's just a colloquialism). Even his principal admits that some of the comments in this teacher's blog were valid, but, really, didn't he know that this would definitely be the end of his career at Fenger and probably the end of his teaching career? If one desires to criticize one's boss or employer, it might be best to do complain to a tight-lipped bartender instead of griping to anyone who wants to read it on the internet. Shheeesh!

My image

Those of you who have been with me from the beginning of this blog may know that for a brief time I posted a photo of myself, taken in Australia. A friend and fellow blogger advised me to take that down & instead find an innocuous image that could substitute, for security reasons. I couldn't argue with her logic. So, I removed that photo, but it has taken me until now to find an image suitable to represent my online persona, "Math and a Half." (Please note in the image that there are mathematical symbols flying out of the magic pencil.) I don't wear glasses, and I hope I don't look quite this goofy, but it fits, sort of. Should I find a better image later I can change it, but for now, it'll do. I am willing to look at any suggestions you might have.

Who's the audience?

Just another random wondering...
Who is the intended audience for lingerie like that pictured? Of course, this is not intended for wearing to work underneath your best interview suit. In fact, it is not intended to wear UNDER anything. It's not technically UNDERwear anymore.
Is Victoria's Secret, or any similar company, trying to get women to buy their product, or men? I think I'd like to see the market analysis numbers on who purchases stuff like this.

Rude

What's the most rude you've ever been?

What's the most rude act you've ever witnessed?

I take a class (well, sometimes more than one) at the University of Chicago. Tonight, as has become customary, several of my classmates came to the class tardy. Several left early, some right in the middle of the lecture. Some brought young (school-age) children, who sat down and did their homework. Cell phones rang repeatedly. Some students found "other work" to do during the lecture. Then, there's the old standby: talking while the teacher is talking.

Admittedly, this may bother me more than it would most people because I teach to a somewhat disinterested audience of seventh graders daily. Truly, though, do these classmates of mine get their manners out of Cracker Jack box?

A poll was released recently about cell phone manners. Lots of folks recognize rude behavior but don't admit that they sometimes exhibit it. If you feel like confessing some bad manners yourself, please use the comments section to proclaim to the world your shortcomings. Then you can go forth without guilt to try to do better next time. Consider it the online version of Catholic confession.

Whoa, was that blasphemy? I didn't mean anyone any harm.