Blogistan Polytechnic Institute is blessed to have a diverse group of guest lecturers, most of whom are now tenured satellite faculty members. Their backgrounds and expertise cover a vast range, and their contributions should not be overlooked. If our shared journey here at BPI were like hiking the Appalachian Trail, they help carry the luggage.
Oh wait. That means something different now.
Fortunately your Kossascope this week is not fraught with hidden meaning. Unfortunately, it's exactly what it seems.
More below the fold....
Whew, What a Spring, Part II (Plus Kossascopes)
This week Morning Feature pauses to look back at what we've covered over past four months. Yesterday we reviewed the topics offered by the resident faculty. Today we'll review the work of our satellite faculty. So if tomorrow should bring some common end-of-semester activity fraught with stress and often disappointment - like a formal dance or something - we'll be ready. Time to dig out that low-cut slide rule that shows most of Cleaveland.
January
Professor of Neuroholdemology Caractacus got us started with his Things We Learned This Week series, inviting us to get emotional. Then Professor of Ursacyclicammology KVoimakas offered a stirring tribute to Huey Long, and Professor of Juronursinfosystology FarWestGirl got us riled up to push back at the right-wing noise machine.
After such an emotional start, Professor Caractacus asked us to think, emotionally, with Part I of his series on Drew Westen's The Political Brain. Guest lecturer SusanL143 took the BPI lectern next with a fascinating talk on raising turkeys. Guest lecturer Pinecone debuted the next day to discuss dysfunctional teams.
The next week, Professor Caractacus concluded his series on Drew Westen's research on the importance of emotionally compelling political messaging. Then Professor of Topofclassclownistics JanF snuck out of the HEMMED lab to discuss a quiet change of the Obama adminstration: federal appointees who are actually, gasp, competent.
Professor Caractacus next shared insights from Howard Zinn, Harold Kushner, and other podcasts and books (and a video game) with which he stays busy during his daily commute. Professor of Mediamaternity theKgirls then hosted a first-year birthday party for Morning Feature that still makes me emotional. So apparently Professor Caractacus' idea for the month worked.
February
The Things We Learned This Week series opened February by returning to BPI's roots with a review of the week's news. And Professor JanF sneaked out of the HEMMED lab again to ask for some reality in her tea and discuss the deception in a certain movement-that-isn't.
Professor Caractacus then critiqued contemporary education's fetish for testing gone wild and the privilege-based roots of early IQ testing. Then Professor of Hamptolocopolism LI Mike discussed going solar, which to our astonishment had nothing to do with astrology and everything to do with converting his house to solar power.
Ol'Crackpot next asked us to consider our news sources and discussed the different reasons one can play chess. This naturally segued into Professor of Transborderpeerism senilebiker's lecture on crime, punishment, and pink panties as seen from afar.
March
March roared in like an eight-legged ethicist with Professor Caractacus' talk on moral wisdom. Guest lecturer JimW then explained how to identify Fred, our archetypal median voter, using Hershey's Kisses. (Note: don't eat Fred once you identify him. Mrs. Fred won't like that.)
The Things We Learned This Week series continued with a focus on happiness, followed by unhappiness with Harold Ford and Liz Cheney. Lest we not be unhappy enough, the next day addisnana crept out of the HEMMED lab - we really should check the lock on that door - to offer a chillingly plausible scenario of life after government drowned in a bathtub.
Professor Caractacus returned the following week with an inside look at the bell-weather town of Canton, Ohio. Professor FarWestGirl returned to the BPI lectern the next day to argue progressive policies are not socialist, just neighborly. Professor LI Mike also made another appearance, this time to discuss how hospital administrators will respond to the 2010 Health Care Act. Then Ol'Crackpot stepped into the breach on a Non-Cynical Saturday with more insights on the newly-passed health care law.
Our weekly cracked pottery continued with a discussion of Uruk and Fred, who it turns out is older than we thought, judging by carvings on cracked pottery. March then roared out like a loud lamb (metaphorical lambs do roar) with soon-to-be Professor of Commuhealthmemiofieldrogueology TheFatLadySings' stunning debut lecture on Chuck Grassley, "Medicaid Fraud," and the IRS.
April
April showered us with the Caractacan eye (think lots of little lenses, out on stalks) turned to money spent on gifted education programs. Professor TheFatLadySings then made us glad she's on our side, with memoirs of a rogue organizer.
The Things We Learned This Week series continued, amidst coughs and sneezes, with things we learned this week. And once again Professor JanF showed a flaw in the HEMMED lab security, walking right out as if there were no door - there isn't? well that explains a lot! - to discuss banking regulation and political compromise.
Professor Caractacus recovered from his cold to offer reflections on protests nonviolent and otherwise. Professor FarWestGirl then gave a delicious rant on how Democrats became the only adults left in politics, and guest lecturer mdmslle made her BPI debut with a call to action on local politics.
We wrung out April as it had sloshed in, with Professor Caractacus discussing how Someone Addisnana Rebels At Hearing, Please Avoid Linking In News (don't type the acronym!) cashed in on her political career, and Professor TheFatLadySings regaling us with another misadventure in rogue organizing, this time in recycling.
And thus spring semester's satellite series concluded. If only the NBA and NHL playoffs were as brief.
+++++
Speaking of playoffs, the Janitor Professor of Astrology tried a best-of-seven format for the Kossascopes and you still got these:
Taurus - The things you learned this week may help this weekend. Or not.
Gemini - Think of this weekend as your research for a future rant.
Cancer - Your problems first appeared in ancient Uruk. You should have solved them by now.
Leo - Your plans for going solar should include sunscreen. Tan lines optional.
Virgo - Your neighbors think you're a socialist. They're not very neighborly.
Libra - Don't swat eight-legged ethicists with a rolled up newspaper. It's immoral.
Scorpio - Try not to be so emotional about your dysfunctional team. It's a long season.
Sagittarius - You personify happiness. Or bathtubs. We're not sure which.
Capricorn - Your political brain has a headache from that ringing weather bell.
Aquarius - Here, have a pencil. Now you're gifted.
Pisces - Don't recycle baseball fields in New Mexico this weekend. She'll notice.
Aries - Please return the HEMMED lab door. And the Hershey's Kisses too.
+++++
Happy Friday!