Big difference between scholarly conferences and professional conferences in higher ed. The former have a book room, the latter have a vendor room. Book rooms are more fun to browse, vendor rooms often have more branded free things (key chains, water bottles, notebooks, etc).

Working the other part of my brain at the IR conference and learning about scenario modeling in PowerBI. Already thinking about how to use and apply the concepts (but it will likely take me beating my head against the tech wall for awhile to get workshop idea to work for real. I’m not v technical.)

Meanwhile, Ragtime and Mexodus, while structurally and musically very different, have similar povs about the power of music, story, and the complicated history of US. I loved them both, and glad I could put them in conversation w each other.

As I hang out at the gate awaiting my 6am (blah) flight to DC, I’ll say this about Lost Boys: first musical I’ve seen w the equivalent of a post-credits scene. (They went full popcorn with some heart, and it mostly works.)

Getting ready to leave NYC; tomorrow headed to DC for an institutional research conference, which will be fun in its own way.

And tonight’s performance:

This afternoon’s performance:

Tonight’s performance

Curious how this reads on a smaller stage. (Saw it on Bway at insistence of, and with, my brother-in-law; not my favorite show, but we’ll see).

Tonight’s performance:

“This is an incredibly painful moment for the Hampshire community, and we are doing everything to support our students in completing their studies and assist our faculty and staff in navigating what comes next.“ — President Jennifer Chrisler www.hampshire.edu/closure-info...

Sad, but being in higher ed I’m not surprised: Hampshire College is closing. It was a great UG experience for me. I’m sorry that other students won’t have the chance for that. My heart goes out to the faculty and staff as they help to transition students while also having to take care of themselves.

Great #pcaaca conference! My small but might Folklore area had great, first time presenters and awesome audience feedback.

Tonight’s performance, Shakespeare Tavern, Atlanta,Georgia.

At an event last night, seated w some students set to graduate in May, and I asked what they’d miss about college. And one said: “ this is kind weird, but I’ll miss the certainty. I know how to student, I’m not sure how to do what’s next.” I think she’ll do great, whatever she does next.

Just had flurries, hail, and now back to flurries this morning.

I’m not really into actual play podcasts (no disrespect to folks who create or listen to them, just not a podcast genre that typically grabs me). However, I’ve been really enjoying the @missiontozyxx.bsky.social side-quest into the form.

On the red line on the MTBA earlier today, and overheard the following: person 1 “the green line is too flirty, and the orange line is too creepy”. Person 2 “no, it’s the opposite.” Apparently no opinions regarding the red line.

Today’s performance. Loved this when I saw it in NYC.

FYI, Academia.edu has changed its terms of service to give an irrevocable worldwide license for anything uploaded to its site to be used for generative AI. I do not consent to this and have pulled all my papers.

Just looked outside to see what the snowstorm looks like, and it looks terrible and terrifying out there! (And very glad that my institution is giving us a snow day, not a “work remote day”).

Tonight’s performance ( more Boston folks should frequent Lyric Stage, they do great work!)

Not sure why it took me this long to discover the podcast Valley Heat, but glad I’m onto it now.

I only watch the Olympics for the sport of curling. I don’t know why I love watching it, and I only watch it when the Winter Olympics exist, but when those stones go cruising down the ice, I’m glued to the screen.

Watching the 1981 adaptation of The Seven Dials after having watched the recent adaptation. The differences/parallels are fascinating.

Jeez, I neglect to lurk on this app for *one* day and miss seeing my favorite internet duck’s bus story unfold in real time.

Snowing in Maine and we have that hushed quiet outside.

Tonight’s performance: Wonder at ART, Cambridge.

Been at the NECHE annual meeting this week; pretty much everyone was at various levels of burn-out. And yet, as is tradition, the member’s meeting concluded w a bespoke, sung, year-end wrap up. And that was oddly comforting.

Tonight’s performance:

Flying out of Denver this am. They’ve got those fancier luggage scanners where laptops stay in the carry on bag; hard to break years of practiced laptop removal.

On the Green line, and there’s a very tall dude dressed as Jesus (w crown of thorns), another person dressed as a mushroom, and another person in a fuzzy blue onesie w a wizard hat. Halloween party weekend-lag.

Tonight’s performance:

Voted via absentee ballot on 2 state-wide citizens’ initiatives and a number of local town offices (water board, etc). Ironically, one of the initiatives proposes putting more limits on absentee (and early) voting.

No kings signage in the balcony “ prevent truth decay”.

Today’s performance

Tonight’s performance. So very curious about this one.

Been listening to old radio shows via RadioGarden app. Discovered that The Third Man had a post film radio prequel series, The Lives of Harry Lime. Starred Orson Welles and a *lot* of zither music; however much zither you are imagining, it’s too little.

Intermission at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

At the kick off event for this early literacy program (developed by Curry College) at our local Boys and Girls Club.

Academia.edu is changing its Terms and Conditions, and they're so outrageous (AI training; signing over ownership to them etc) I closed my account today. A thread with some practical tips if you want to delete your account (5 steps):

Show #2 at the Huntington.

It’s a 2-show day in Boston. First up, at the Lyric (a venue that I love):

Proud that Curry is hosting this event, excited that we’re one of the grantees.

At BMV to get my RealID; I have a passport but using it for internal flights is a pain. The waiting area is packed. But people are patient and polite to the folks at the window, and helping new people as they come in (“don’t forget to check in”, etc). Basic kindness, humor, and patience. It exists.

thank you to our librarians and archivists for doing the lord's work today: retrieving books with funny names so we can share them with the Internet

OUT NOW! 🌈 🌟 😴 JOSEPH & HIS DREAMS You might know the story from The Book of Genesis, or from school, or from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical… but you’ve never heard it like this… With @peterwicks.com as Joseph and an extraordinary sound design by @alexanderdanner.bsky.social Happy listening!

Tonight’s performance, at the Ogunquit Playhouse. It’s a bit of an odd show, but great dancing and cast, including Andrew Durand (Dead Outlaw).

*HERD

Just discovered that the comedy fiction podcast Wooden Overcoats is live-streaming a new episode in September. Bought that livestream ticket w/ lightning speed.