even more quiddities and agonies of the ruling class - a new rolling new york times thread

well i've only seen the movie, but mowgli was def a satirical character imo

There was some speculation that Mrs. X in the Nanny Diaries was based on Lisa Birnbach.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/your-money/bespoke-luxury-travel-from-100000-and-up.html

It is often the less-expensive features, like not staying in only the best hotels in India, that make these trips special for someone who wants to get a feel for the country.

“You’re trying to understand someone and help them find the things that are the fit for their sensibility and not just their pocketbook,” Mr. Scott, the travel consultant, said. “Otherwise you’re going to get the run-of-the-mill high end with no sense of authenticity or true luxury.”

Mr. Barber said he became interested in bespoke trips more than a decade ago. “I got tired of being stuck on the bus and waiting for someone else,” he said. But he still plans simpler vacations to places he knows. He and his wife are soon headed to Hawaii for his 45th and her 47th visit to the island. “It’s my favorite place and we stay at the hotel where we always stay,” he said.

that first sentence is a beaut

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/opinion/sunday/is-an-ugly-house-grounds-to-sue.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0&referrer

In her appeal, she complained not only that the house was too modern for the area’s historical character, but also that the impact of its completion posed a threat to the community. Testifying to the Raleigh City Council, Ms. Wiesner argued that past attempts to engage in similar stylistic treachery had been made by architects who had been “churned out from a very modernist school,” and like to “show off their abilities.”

oh man

maybe not ruling-classy enough but oh man

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/realestate/upstairs-downstairs-in-new-york-city.html

the topic: ok to befriend your super?

“With him,” she [ Ms. Knapp ] said, “it’s more like ‘Welcome home,’ rather than ‘Let me open the door for you and then I’m going to close it.’ ”

Jerome Miller, a marketing manager turned high school chemistry teacher, said that when something in the apartment is broken, it might get fixed more quickly thanks to his relationship with the superintendent, Mr. Muñoz. “If he’s visiting, I’ll say: ‘Will you take a look at this?’ ” he said. But, Mr. Miller hastily added, “that isn’t the basis of the relationship. Carlos is my friend. We have similar values. I understand a lot of his challenges and he understands my challenges. There’s nothing we don’t talk about.”

These ties “make my job easier,” Mr. Muñoz said. “I think if I have an emergency and can’t do something or can’t be around, people will be more understanding.”

But even the most egalitarian residents are hesitant to push things beyond a certain point. When the Millers’ previous super invited the family to the Poconos, “we never went, so maybe that was where the boundary was,” Ms. Miller said. And when Ms. Knapp is having a dinner party during her favorite doorman’s shift, “I think: ‘Should I invite him up when he’s on his break?’ ” she said. “But I think there’s a line. There is a line. This is his job and this is my home.”

Depends on your super! A couple of my supers were not entirely trustworthy fellas. One of them kept hitting on our nanny. (Talk about your quids and ags.)

it would be fun to work for one of those super high end travel agencies! well except for dealing with the customers.

Quiddities and agonies of college administration: www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/cruising

The link seems not to redirect correctly, so: http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/cruising#sthash.CtbFcc7O.dpbs

god, managers

stabby

sat next to one of these churls at lunch today detailing to his cohort the drama of stephanie and suzy and other assistants around a weeknight "event" and "revenue potential" not "realized" even though of course "education" is "important" stabby stab stab

why is disgust with yourself not factored into the determination that something is 'cost neutral'

SSRIs are already paid for by the bennies

Wait, she could have a party or they could drop $5k+ on a family cruise?

originally thought the link was going to be about secret provost gay cruising. disappointed.

for real

you know it's a thing

just came here to post that article. fucking amazing.

since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision

There was even one outstanding chocolate dessert which always resonates well with me

I'm sorry, sir, this is Inside Higher Ed. Yelp is down the hall.

resonates

lol eephus

ty for amazing link

this guy is incredible

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/smart-phones-and-not-so-smart-users#sthash.T6bdzv5A.frMHEy6w.dpbs

I have indicated on numerous occasions that I am a car person. I read car magazines for relaxation, I go to automobile shows, and of course I appreciate the economic impact of the automobile industry. I am also a person who has driven/owned/leased great cars and also some that were very mediocre. More often than not, the least impressive cars that I have driven over the years have been American cars. And, unfortunately at the top of my least impressive list is the Chevrolet Vega

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/gm#sthash.5SCein7f.dpbs

Dr. Berliner's areas of specialty include the economics of higher education. As of 2009, he is a TIAA/CREF Fellow,[4] and he has served as an associate editor of The American Economist. He is also known for his large collection of over 300 dreidels [5] that have been displayed in museum exhibitions.[1]

how hard can it be to get 300 dreidels

he just _belongs_ as an nyt columnist. it would be amazing!

there are 2,294 dreidels on ebay right now, why is this guy wasting his money on car magazines

a provost examines the world, what fucking editor didn't bother to say that out loud

this is also a thread xp with people who write their own wikipedia pages

a rare moment when the word Babbitt just jumps to mind.

http://news.hofstra.edu/2014/05/12/provosts-blog-tony-questions/

I’m a great believer in having as much transparency in situations like this as possible. What determines which shows are nominated and which are not? If there is the ability to nominate more shows, as there was this year, why didn’t that happen? I just don’t know the answers to these questions and in the meantime, I have developed doubts and questions about what happened and why it happened. In reality, how political is this process and how much is it truly merit based?

Nothing that has happened this year will deter my watching the Tony Awards broadcast next month.

in his defense he is like 200 years old

wish they could have this guy do music reviews

Last Thursday, I went to see Aladdin on Broadway which is a great Disney production. My wife and kids had seen the production previously, so I just went by myself.

he did not have to volunteer this sad story just to complain about smart phones

My younger daughter was fine in England. We loved being there. The accent was strange to her but people were talking English and she had no trouble communicating. Communicating was not a problem for me either and I was also smart enough not to drive a car and adjust to driving on the "wrong" side of the street.

this blog is the best thing

http://news.hofstra.edu/2013/10/14/the-provosts-blog-ice-breaker/

Once the person has played with the dog or you have talked about the dog, it is the perfect opening to a more substantive conversation. For example one dog-initiated conversation quickly turned to the topic of responsible testing and the conversation was certainly worthwhile.

sounds like a great dinner companion, a real cut-up

The initial rerouting had us staying in Portland from late Friday until Tuesday. I followed up with the airline on the phone (an 8 hour experience from start to finish) and we were given an alternative where we would arrive in Philadelphia on Sunday evening. The alternative involved flying from Portland to Minneapolis and subsequently flying from Minneapolis to Philadelphia, at which point I would rent a car to drive back to New York. We made it almost on time to Minneapolis and prepared to embark on the flight to Philadelphia.

http://news.hofstra.edu/2014/01/27/the-provosts-blog-because-of-the-bad-weather-just-after-new-years-day/

Someone should introduce him to Marilyn Hagerty, the food critic.

his talents are clearly wasted as a mere provost

The initial rerouting had us staying in Portland from late Friday until Tuesday. I followed up with the airline on the phone (an 8 hour experience from start to finish) and we were given an alternative where we would arrive in Philadelphia on Sunday evening. The alternative involved flying from Portland to Minneapolis and subsequently flying from Minneapolis to Philadelphia, at which point I would rent a car to drive back to New York. We made it almost on time to Minneapolis and prepared to embark on the flight to Philadelphia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTVDOx35FNg

He did a music review!

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/one-direction#sthash.tCIJF9pK.dpbs

I was appreciative as well. First, for the time with my daughter. Second, for her taste in music. And third, that I still have an open enough mind to experience and enjoy what I never thought I would appreciate. I’m glad to still be going in more than one direction.

lol at making sure the last line refers back to the title, good job.

Also his daughters really seem to dislike having birthday parties.

stole your babbit crack on facebook, sterl. this being about academics i figured i should cite it somewhere (but not there obviously, need to build up my cv).

Not NYT, but some good Q/A here (via Digby):

http://online.wsj.com/articles/technical-glitch-clogs-up-u-s-visa-system-1406763970

In Washington, D.C., Mira Edmonds said her au pair's arrival from France, which was scheduled for last Sunday, has been indefinitely delayed. Ms. Edmonds, who is a lawyer, and her husband work full-time and depend on child care for their two children, ages 3 and 6. "I don't know how we're going to cope if she isn't here soon," Ms. Edmonds said.

Why even have kids at that point

Nobody wants to have to leave their millions to charity when they die.