Nano Cheating

In more whimsical moments I've proposed that while each new technological innovation might have had noble goals, in the end they are always subsumed by the need to provide porn more quickly and elegantly.  This is, sadly, probably true whether you're talking about the printing press or radio or TV or the Internet or smart phones.  Following hard on the heels of porn, however, is the endless ways that technology allows students to cheat.  Here is a classic example, a Nano wristwatch that was confiscated from one of the students at Zayed University when I taught there.  Essentially, it's a class Powerpoint called up on the device.  If only the students devoted as much time and dedication and innovation to studying as they do to trying to find ways to get around studying.

Russian Memories

Just a brief post inspired by my excellent friend Kerry sending along a picture from the time I led a team of Champlain professors to Moscow as part of the now sadly-deceased Global Modules program.  Home visits - and meals - are always the best parts of overseas trips.

Yemen Stories

Following up on an earlier post - I've gone ahead and set up a new blog devoted to providing a more balanced view of everyday life in Yemen.  I've called it Yemen Stories and I'm in the process of looking for pictures and related stories from Yemenis or folks who have a lot of experience within the country.  Do I think I can change the world?  Hardly.  Even my ego isn't that big (although, as my friends are wont to point out, my plans never stay small for very long).  Mainly I'm trying to present a more balanced view of a mysterious and sadly demonized country.  Essentially I want to take advantage of the power of story-telling.  One of the things that blew me away about the Museum of Broken Relationships (discussed in an earlier posting under Croatia) was how a simple picture tied to a few explanatory sentences could tell a story and create an entire world (and break your heart).  I'd really like to take a similar approach with this blog.  

Red Colobus Monkeys

Just a reflection on the blissful tranquility of Zanzibar on a cold Vermont day.  Here are a few shots of Red Colobus Monkeys, which are native to Zanzibar - and sadly endangered.

Dreaming of Yemen

I'm settling in quite nicely into my much more sedentary existence here in Vermont, although I guess a hint of wanderlust still haunts my dreams.  This summer, for a number of reasons, I turned down an amazing job offer at Hong Kong University.  It was really a tough call, but in the end I think it was the right decision.  However, once you've been bitten by the foreign travel bug you never really get over it.  I've really been thinking a lot about Yemen lately, as I have ever since too short but eventful trip there a year and a half ago. In between reading books on Yemen and constantly following blogs and tweets from Yemeni writers the plight of this amazing place is on my mind.  As in my wont I'm putting together a proposal for a website devoted to life in Yemen as a mechanism for changing perceptions, and am forging a letter to some folks that I follow on Twitter to see if I can put something together.  Don't know where it will lead, but I'm jazzed about it - and there was a time when the Global Modules were just an odd little concept that was seemingly just my crazy little scheme.  Beyond the fact that Yemen is such a fascinating place I don't know why it has so completely captured my imagination.  Maybe it's because it is about as far removed from life in Vermont as I can imagine, and this is just my means of dealing with my slower-paced life and more limited universe.

The sun setting in Sana'a.

The Gift

Today in my Dar al-Islam class we were discussing Sufi mystic poetry, specifically Hafiz.  The students all have to read the collection The Gift, and write a paper analyzing a chapter and then present their favorite individual poem to the class and discuss its relationship to Islam or Sufism or perceptions of the divine.  It's a nice counter-point to all of our readings from the Quran and Nasr's The Heart of Islam.  The discussion always starts off slowly but then gets going as the students get more comfortable getting metaphysical.  After our first day's discussion (and the students always think it will last one day and it will end up stretching out to a week and a half, at least) I turned to find the following words written on the board.  My excellent friend Steve Wehmeyer proposed that it was "so Scudder," and I suspect any student I ever had would agree. It also reminded me of how much I love teaching and what a gift it is.

It all made sense at the time.

Getting Caught in the Draft

Today is a day that will live in infamy, as we rev up for our inaugural Champlain fantasy football draft.  At the last minute we had to switch from one fantasy football website to another because the first one would only allow us to have a live computer draft - which sounded too chaotic/stressful for a bunch of newbies.  The one we chose is going to allow us to carry out our draft offline (and then, much as with my fantasy baseball team) I'll add the players in later.  It should make for a more relaxed and fun-filled evening.  With the exception of a couple (quiet) ringers none of us know what we're doing so there should be much foolishness.  My hope is that my team, the Springfield Buffalo, avoids complete humiliation - especially in their Week 1 death match with Cyndi Brandenburg's Mojo Nixons.

The selection of draft order was carried out in the most official and solemn way I can imagine - drawing slips of paper out of an Omani hat.

Our excellent team log, designed by Bob Mayer's excellent wife Cindy.  It's an homage to one of my favorite Buffalo Springfield songs, "Down to the Wire."  If you look closely in the buffalo's fur you can see images of the original band members.  Brilliant.