Mountebank Blog

This week’s Chronicle reports on 2-year colleges working to recruit international students (the link probably only works if you’re a Chronicle subscriber). But a sidebar with statistics reveals that BMCC, where I work, has absolutely no need for that. Without any extra recruiting at all, we’re already number 6 in the whole nation in terms of total number of international students. And if you look at proportions, we’re number 3! (Behind only our sister CUNY school, Queensborough Community College, and Santa Monica College). 10.6% of our enrollment is international students.

Of course, that’s no surprise whatsoever to those of us who teach at BMCC. I hear different estimates all the time of the number of languages spoken at BMCC. Sometimes it’s 17, sometimes 45. Basically, the number doesn’t matter much. We’re an incredibly diverse, international college. That fact brings some challenges, but it also makes the place incredibly rich, and incredibly rewarding, for teaching and learning.

Sad news today of the death (at age 100) of Ernst Mayr. His must-read What Evolution Is will always have a vital place in my library. It’s one of the major classics of biology–or science writing in general.

As an ornithologist, Mayr classified many birds, most notably risking the hostile terrain of New Guinea to catalogue the region’s birds of paradise. But he will arguably be best remembered for formulating the concept of species that students still use today.

It was Mayr who defined a species as a group of individuals that are capable of breeding with one another, but not with others outside the group. This led to the idea that new species can arise when an existing species becomes separated into two populations that gradually become too distinct to interbreed; it was an answer to a biological conundrum that had eluded Charles Darwin.

[snip]

We may never again see someone so influential, in this era of large research groups and even larger databases, [Walter] Bock [Columbia University evolutionary biologist] adds. “Things have changed,” he says. “You can’t look at single people any more.”

Well, it finally happened. I know that many at Global Affairs have been waiting, watching, anticipating, hoping for me to give them some excuse to ban me, and today they found it. I don’t find their reasons to be fair (of course), and they certainly don’t fit the rules in the site FAQ, but enough is enough. If I’m unwelcome enough there that they have to ban me, they win. I’m gone.

Global Affairs was never really a perfect place for me. The overall political lean of the place was far too right-wing (although they constantly congratulated themselves on how “centrist” they were). People on the right were allowed far more freedom in vitriol and personal attacks than anyone on the left. And worst of all, a small group of moderators and administrators (not all of them) carried out some of the ugliest personal attacks of all, and the rules were enforced inconsistently.

But there were some very strong advantages. Many of the people there (the majority, I think) are reasonable, intelligent, and interesting. They have a range of knowledge and experience in many different areas, and they were willing to open themselves enough to make it seem like a real community, with real caring.

I enjoyed being a part of that very much, and I will miss it, I’m sure. It’s a shame that this small group is so intolerant, ugly, and afraid, that they don’t see what makes the site work so well (I’m torn, here, because I don’t think it would be right to name them–but I don’t want any of the others who might read this to think I’m including them). I’m not the first they’ve banned or driven out of the forum. I don’t know if I’ll be the last.

So I’m in the market for a new, fairer, online, adult discussion community. It has to be small enough that posts come in at a manageable rate, but big enough that they don’t languish unremarked forever. It should have room for technical, political, social, and cultural discussion.

I’ll keep looking.

Four cats is really too many for any household, especially one that also contains two gerbils and a rotund, hairy, dog. But since I have a soft-hearted wife, who can’t resist a cold and hungry stray, we now have added the lovely white kitty Kokonut to the household. She’s a beauty, and very affectionate, if a bit sleepy.

Great decision by a judge in the Cobb County, Georgia “stickers” case–the school board has to remove the stickers, can’t use them, and has to pay all the court costs of the plaintiffs in the case. Colin Purrington, who made the brilliant parody stickers I blogged about before, had a new one–clearly expressing the real loss in this “victory.” I’m hoping the school board members who voted for the stickers will resign, if they have any professional responsibility and common decency, or will be voted out, if (as I suspect) they don’t.

Yes, I am the King–it’s good to get a little recognition, for something! (And I didn’t even have to cheat!)

Back to blogging soon–returned from California, some delayed chores accomplished (but still more to go!), and ready to start a more blogful New Year.

If I happen to win the lottery (hard to do when you never play) or somehow find $350 lying around, here’s item #1 on my wishlist. It’s life-size, makes the real sounds and lights, and it’s made of heavy-duty metal, leatherette and plastic, the moire pattern spins. Basically, it’s a real tricorder. Well, a “prop reproduction.” But in a limited edition, collector’s model, with display stand, shipping in February. And oh, man, do I want one! If a good fairy happens to read this…it’s available at MasterReplicas.com :smile:.