Klimas.caitlin

Sleepy Hollow is very possibly the most ludicrous show that has even been on TV. It’s about the Headless Horseman being one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Ichabod Crane getting sent to the present by his wife (who’s a witch) to stop the apocalypse… for starters. This is completely absurd, and yet Sleepy Hollow is also one of the most entertaining shows on TV right now. Here’s the rules Sleepy Hollow and ridiculous shows are following to defeat your common sense.

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Animator Shuyi Chiou and the folks at CreatureCast give an adorable introduction to the central limit theorem – an important concept in probability theory that can reveal normal distributions (i.e. bell curves) across data that does not appear to fit a normal distribution curve.

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“They attend classes but make no effort to learn anything.” -Alvarus Pelagius

College students often get a lot of flack these days — with seemingly everyone and their grandma saying that this generation of students is lazy, entitled, and disrespectful. Yet, such criticism has in truth been leveled at young scholars pretty much since the dawn of higher education. The quote above? It comes from a French critic…from the 14th century.

Yet if there is not a difference in kind, there is one in degree, and it is true that the culture of college is quite different than it was even a half century ago, as is students’ attitude about their education. As historian Robert F. Pace documents, while students of all periods have been prone to flippancy and rebelliousness, most still saw college not only as vital preparation for careers, but as necessary for their “transition into adulthood” and “success, both in life and as an honorable gentleman.” Poor academic performance and hijinks that exceeded the level of boyish mischief would sully the honor of a gentleman scholar, garner public humiliation, and bring shame to his family.

Today, with the democratization of higher ed, a college education is sometimes seen as just another consumer good. And because the consumer is always right, students feel freer to act however they please — they’re paying for it, after all.

While I certainly won’t advocate wearing a tailcoat and monocle to class, I think there are very good reasons for adopting some of the manners of the gentleman scholars who have come before you, while adding to them new rules of decorum that deal with our modern advancements, like laptops and smartphones. First, classroom etiquette facilitates a positive and constructive learning environment for everyone — you, your classmates, and your professor. Second, practicing good manners in the classroom is a good way of practicing the manners and social skills necessary to thrive as an adult and as a professional in the working world. In short, good etiquette in college can help you make the most out of your education.

The suggestions below are based on my own time as a student, Kate’s experience as a community college professor, and input from my friend Daniel Brown — a current college professor. Dan is a Graduate Assistant of Middle East Political Science at the University of Oklahoma. Now without further ado, here are some basic suggestions on becoming the consummate gentleman scholar:

Above all else: You’re an adult; act like one. If you’re in college, you’re likely at least 18 years old — the age at which you’re legally considered an adult. You may not feel like a responsible, grown man yet, but your professors will (or should be able to) assume that you are. So act likewise. The specific advice that follows basically tries to answer the question, “How should a mature, well-adjusted, courteous adult act?” Before you say or do anything in the classroom, ask yourself that question. I promise that doing so will save you from embarrassment and engender the respect of your classmates and professors.

Dress appropriately. Your clothes should suit the occasion. You wear a t-shirt and gym shorts to work out because you’re going to be sweating, you wear a tux to a fancy wedding because you’re going to be adding to the special atmosphere, and you wear pajama pants to class because you’re going to be…sleeping? Dressing up for class used to be de rigueur because the learning process was thought to have a solemn, almost sacred quality. Dressing sharp shows your respect for the power of education. It also shows respect for your professor, who will be more likely to reciprocate.

Dressing appropriately doesn’t have to mean wearing a 3-piece suit to class — it’s as simple as ditching the sweatpants and making a few easy upgrades to your wardrobe.

Arrive on time. When you arrive late to class, it can create a big distraction for the professor and for your classmates. So practice the manly art of punctuality by arriving a few minutes early. Use that time before class to get your laptop ready (and make sure the volume is on mute) and to review your reading and notes from the previous lecture. If you’re going to be more than ten minutes late, it’s better not to come at all (especially in a small class). The professor has likely gotten into a groove with his lecture, and your barging in will create an unwelcome interruption. If you absolutely must attend the class, try to slip in as quietly as possible, rather than entering the room with Kramer-esque panache.

Address the instructor appropriately. If your professor has their PhD, the appropriate way to address him or her is “Dr. ____.” They probably spent a decade of their life buried in books and living below the poverty line to obtain that degree. Show some respect by addressing them by their earned title.

If your professor doesn’t have his PhD, the appropriate way to address him is “Professor.”

If you’re not sure if the instructor has earned his doctorate or not, then stick with “Professor.”

Unless/until he grants you permission to do so, don’t call your professor by his first name, his last name (“Yo, McKay!”), or “Bro.” “It’s Dr. Bro to you, son.”

Come to class prepared. Besides helping you get the most out of class, coming to a lecture prepared is a matter of showing respect. The professor has likely spent a lot of time preparing to teach, so reciprocate by coming prepared to learn. Do the reading and have your assignments finished before class.

Turn off the smartphone and put it away. By texting, tweeting, and engaging in all other forms of smartphone fondling, you’re basically telling the professor that seeing how many likes your Facebook pic of breakfast (“Check it! IHOP has a pancake with a smiley face on it!”) has gotten is more important than what he has to say.

And don’t think you’re fooling the professor whenever you hold your phone in your lap and under the desk. Staring at your crotch and smiling isn’t normal behavior.

If you need to have your phone on for an emergency (wife’s giving birth, parent’s on deathbed), let the professor know in advance and set your phone to vibrate. Leave the classroom before taking the call.

Take part in the discussion. Many of your classes will rely heavily on discussion. In fact, a part of your grade may depend on your “classroom participation.” Besides helping your grade, taking part in classroom discussion is just good manners. As someone who has been in the role of teacher, nothing is more demoralizing than spending hours preparing thoughtful discussion questions only to face the sound of chirping crickets and blank stares. Do your part to help the professor’s lesson plan along by actively participating in discussion.

And don’t be afraid to disagree with the professor. He’s not God. Besides, he or she will likely want some dissent in the classroom. It’s what makes learning interesting and engaging. Just remember to:

Be respectful during heated discussions. In some of your classes (philosophy, political science, law, history, etc.) controversial topics will come up. Do your best to remain calm, level-headed, and a bit detached during such discussions. This stance serves two purposes. First, it’s a matter of basic civility. There’s no excuse for yelling or resorting to ad hominem attacks during a classroom discussion (or anywhere else for that matter). Second, it makes you a better student. Come term paper or exam time, your professor will expect you to thoroughly analyze controversial issues. This will require you to look at both the strengths and weaknesses of a particular argument. If you’re cemented in your opinion about a topic, you risk not being able to engage all the pertinent issues as thoroughly as your professor expects, and as a consequence, your grade may suffer.

Don’t dominate the discussion or question asking. While you should take part in classroom discussion, don’t dominate it. First, you’re denying your classmates an opportunity to participate. Second, by raising your hand and offering a soliloquy after every question your professor asks, you’ll come off as “gunner,” “know-it-all,” or “teacher’s pet” (or all of the above). No one likes that guy.

The same goes with asking questions. You certainly shouldn’t be afraid to speak up if you don’t understand something, but don’t be the guy who’s constantly raising his hand with question after question. Your professor likely has a schedule of topics he needs to hit during the lecture. By asking an inordinate amount of questions, you’re throwing a wrench in that plan. Also, excessive question asking can get on the nerves of your fellow classmates. If you have a lot of questions, respect your professor’s and classmates’ time by taking them up with your prof after class or during his office hours.

Finally, don’t ask questions that are designed less to get an insight from the professor and more to show off your own knowledge of the topic. We know you gleaned a lot of info from the History Channel (before it became the Pawn Stars network), but you don’t need to share it.

If you’re using your laptop to take notes, don’t use it to surf the internet. First, by not paying attention to the professor, you’re showing him disrespect. Second, surfing the web during class can also distract your classmates sitting behind you. It’s hard to pay attention to a lecture about ancient Babylonian kings when the guy in front of you is scrolling through more enticing headlines on Buzzfeed (“10 Kittens That Look Like Hammurabi!”). And for the love of Pete, don’t ever look at porn while in class. A student actually did that when I was in law school. Needless to say, he got suspended. And if those reasons aren’t enough to get you to quit surfing during class, you’ll be a better student for it by focusing only on what’s going on during the lecture.

Things to never say or ask a professor:

• “I need to get an ‘A’ in this class!” – “This is your responsibility, not mine,” says my buddy Dan. “I am more than willing to help you learn, because it’s my job and I don’t hold office hours for fun. But you have to work for it. This is not gym class — you don’t get an A for being a warm body. There is not necessarily a correlation between how much time you spent writing a paper and the grade you receive on it. In other words, just because you spent six hours writing a paper does not necessarily mean it’s an ‘A’ paper. If I’d said these things to my dissertation supervisor, he’d have spit out his coffee laughing and then flayed me alive. You get an A by doing the work, showing up to class, contributing to your learning environment and others’, and by exceeding my expectations.”
• “Can I have extra credit?” “Whenever you ask for extra credit, you’re sending a subtle signal to your professor that the syllabus is flexible and that your grade is negotiable,” says Dan. “If there’s extra credit, it will be offered by the instructor. Don’t ask for it.”
• “Did I miss anything important yesterday?” First, this isn’t a polite question…professors don’t hold some classes just for the heck of it. Every class is important. Second, don’t ask your professor for notes on what you missed. It’s not his responsibility that you couldn’t make it to the lecture. Instead, ask your classmates for their notes. It’s not their responsibility either, but asking your classmates for missed notes actually has some hidden benefits according to Dan. “First, it forces you to access the information from someone else who has probably already translated it from my lecture to their own words and understanding. Second, it forces you to interact with each other — often your greatest study resource. As you talk about the concepts with your classmates, you’ll better be able to synthesize the information.”
• “Will you grade on a ‘curve?’” This question subtly hints that you’re trying to figure out how hard you’ll need to work in the class. As Dan says: “Spend the time you’d be worrying about this studying instead.”

When in doubt, check the syllabus. Before asking any of the above questions, and any other questions about the class that might come up, check the syllabus first. Most professors carefully craft them. Not only do they map out a schedule for the entire semester, but they also try to include answers to every conceivable question a student might have. It’s like your Bible for the class. Also be sure to take notes in your syllabus. It’s rare that it will go unchanged for the entire semester. It’s your responsibility to remember any changes that get announced regarding the schedule and assignments. You won’t be getting any sympathy if you go crying to your professor that you forgot.

No chatting and snickering during class.  College isn’t high school study hall. Don’t chat or snicker during class. It’s disrespectful to the professor and to your classmates who are actually trying to pay attention. Besides, grown men don’t giggle.

Don’t work on other classwork during class. If you’re in Business Calculus, don’t work on Chemistry 101. If you need to get other classwork done, just skip class to work on it.

Practice good email etiquette. Don’t begin your emails with “Hey.” Spell your professor’s name correctly. Use detailed subject lines. Use spellcheck and check your email for grammatical errors. Try to keep your emails short. You see yourself as just one person with one question, but remember that your prof may have hundreds of others students, all of whom see themselves just as you do. Reading through tons of novel-length emails and coming up with an answer for them is time-consuming and draining. So if you have lots of questions, visit your professor during his office hours instead of asking them all in an email. Answering several, complicated questions is much easier in person than through email. Civil communication ideally requires the same investment of time from each party.

Check your email. Apparently, students not checking email has become a big problem these days. (Which may explain why our laboriously researched and written post about managing your inbox fell completely flat with our largely college-aged audience. Sigh. Forever Alone.). However, your professor will likely communicate class changes or cancellations via email. So make sure to check it regularly. Also, if you emailed him with a question, make sure to check for a response and give a quick “thanks” for his trouble. You wouldn’t believe how far a simple acknowledgment and a little gratitude will get you with someone.

Respect your professor’s time. Professors will often linger after class a bit for students to ask questions. If you have a question, feel free to approach your professor, but don’t monopolize his time. This isn’t the place to ask him about his complete thoughts on Plato’s dialogues. He likely has other things he needs to be doing, and there might be other students who’d like to talk to him as well. If you feel like you need to continue the conversation with your professor, visit him during his office hours.

When you do visit your professor during his or her office hours, respect their time by coming prepared with a list of specific questions. Don’t just show up and say, “I need help,” thus forcing the professor to spend 30 minutes figuring out what exactly you need help with. Also be sure to respect your time slot. If you have a 30-minute window, don’t ask another complex question 29 minutes in.

Finally, as just mentioned, don’t email him with tons of questions. And don’t get upset if he doesn’t answer you right away. You’re not the only student who has questions and your professor does have a life outside of class. Answering your desperate 11PM email plea will deprive him of time to sit by the fire smoking a pipe, reading a giant book, gently brushing his tweed jacket, and stroking his goatee. That’s what all professors do at night, right?

Before recording a professor, ask for permission first. This is for two reasons. First, in some states, a classroom lecture could be considered a private conversation. Thus, everyone who would be recorded would need to consent — that includes your professor and your classmates. Second, classroom lectures are often considered intellectual property of the professor. By recording it without the professor’s consent, you are in effect violating his copyright on the lecture. So ask before hitting the record button.

Take care of “business” before class, but if nature calls during the lecture, just get up and go. You’re a grown man. You should be able to plan out your bodily functions ahead of time by visiting the john before class (but if you had Taco Bell for lunch, all bets are off). In the event that you do need to relieve yourself mid-lecture, just get up and go. No need to ask for permission — simply leave the classroom with as little fanfare as possible.

It seems like freshmen feel it’s necessary to ask permission before heading to the loo because the necessity of doing so has been so ingrained in them from their years in elementary and high school. But professors prefer not to be asked because it’s just awkward to grant another adult permission to exercise their bodily functions.

Don’t put your stuff away until class is actually over. No matter how long your class is scheduled for – whether 60 minutes or 90 minutes – that’s how long your class is. Not 55 minutes. Not 85 minutes. So don’t start packing away your stuff five minutes before class. This has become a bit of a plague in classrooms today. It’s a distraction to your classmates and just rude to your professor. Wait until the professor says “see you tomorrow” or “class dismissed” or “klasse entlassen” (German 101, natch).

If you need to leave early, let the instructor know in advance. No explanation here. Just common courtesy.

Don’t let your parents intercede on your behalf. Seems nuts to have to mention this, but it really happened to Kate a few times. Moms would email to say their son was sick and ask about what they missed or inquire about extra credit to boost their daughter’s grade. College is the time to cut the cord and transition into adulthood; it’s a process that can’t happen without your taking full personal responsibility for your work and your life.

Try hard not to fall asleep. No professor wants to look out and see rows of comatose students. Honestly, when it’s right after lunch and the classroom is warm, it can feel like someone shot you in the neck with a tranquilizer-dipped blow dart; keeping your eyelids open can seem nigh near impossible. Just do your best.

Skipping class once or twice a semester is okay, but don’t let it become a habit. We’ve mentioned a couple situations already where skipping a class may be necessary – you’re way behind in another class, you’ve overslept by 20 minutes, you’re sick with flu, etc. All of those are fine; life happens. In some cases (the flu), it’s actually much better to not go than to try to be a tough guy. In the midst of late night partying and playing Grand Theft Auto V with your bros, however, skipping class can become a nasty habit. Yes, it’s disrespectful to the professor, but you’re really hurting yourself, and your wallet. Don’t waste thousands of dollars on your education so you can sit in your dorm and play video games. You’re only short-changing yourself and your future.

Having a drink with you is okay (not alcohol – yes, I’ve seen it happen), but avoid food in the classroom. If you have a drink, be extra careful about where you place it. Too many notes have been ruined by spilled beverages in class. As for food, just don’t do it. It will not only stink up the room, but you’re almost guaranteed to make a mess. It will also distract you from paying proper attention to the lecture. If your timing is tight between classes, you’ll just have to plan ahead and get in a quick bite on a bench outside the hall.

What happens if the professor doesn’t have good etiquette? Some of this advice certainly relies on the professor having good etiquette and being respectful themselves. While the majority of professors that I’ve encountered are great, there may be some that don’t adhere to these courtesies. In that event, be the bigger man and follow these tips anyway. You can approach the professor with your concerns, or perhaps your advisor if your issue with them moves beyond the merely annoying into something that’s significantly impacting your comfort-level and performance in the class.

Any other tips on good classroom etiquette? Share them with us in the comments!

“Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls”
~ Bob Weir, Grateful Dead

Details

Why Play Streets?

Long before cars arrived on the roads of New Orleans, our streets were places to meet and come together. Communities grew up around thoroughfares. They were easy streets to enjoy.  We just think it’s time to reclaim the streets, just once in a while, to bring neighbors together. Let’s make the streets of New Orleans the place to be, not something to travel over at high speeds. It’s a project designed to bring the community together, walk and talk, get moving and feel good — all free of cars and exhaust.

Activities

We’ll have activities for people of all ages from 1 to 100. It’s the perfect place to walk around, meet your neighbors, watch a cooking demonstration, eat some food, even dance in the streets as Martha and the Vandellas recommended so many years ago.

Yes, we’re taking back the streets, but in a way that could only happen in New Orleans. So join us on Saturday, October 26 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. Or better yet, join us early and be a part of bringing smiles to thousands of faces across this great city.

We are currently looking for program partners to lead, organize and create wellness activities, and also educate the participants of Play Streets. Our goal is to have over 50 program partners for the day of the event, especially if you are willing to help make the inaugural program a huge success and lead the way for subsequent future events across the city.

Application to be a partner – early applicants get the best locations on the route

Proposed Route (pending NOPD approval)

View Ciclovia Vendor Grid

Jamie Wine describes CICLOVIA in New Orleans this way, “With an activity every 100-200 feet – juggling, dancing, cooking demos, etc. It’s about getting active, fit, meeting others in the community and being healthier.”

Click on any image in the slider to learn more.

“Let’s start the day with a warm-up.”

“Does anyone have questions about the homework?”

“Please discuss this problem with your partner.”

“In your communism journals, describe the suffering of the proletariat at the indifferent hands of blood-loving capitalists.”

“On the back of the quiz, denounce your parents for perpetuating the fat complacency of the bourgeoisie.”

“Tattoo your neighbor’s forearm with a hammer and sickle. Please use pen, not pencil.”

“Good. Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about parabolas.”

Gladys Willis, an 80-year-old resident of the Freret neighborhood who lost her legs to infection from the floodwaters after Hurricane Katrina, has a new roof following a fundraiser to keep her in her home last week at The Other Bar on Freret Street, according to a report by Bill Capo of our partners at WWL-TV.

Turn your hipster-street-cred up to 11 with Pure Fix Glow Bikes ($400). These deceptively-minimalist, fixed-gear road bikes have a surprisingly attention-getting feature — at night their solar-activated paint glows bright,...

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The Department of Mathematical Sciences contributes significantly to the mission of the University through scholarly endeavors, engagement of students and outreach to the community and the profession. The department, which has 50 full-time faculty members, offers courses in mathematics, mathematics education and statistics, and has undergraduate programs in mathematics as well as a Master of Science program with concentrations in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Computational Science. The department features an energetic faculty with an active colloquia and seminar series, including a Distinguished Lecture Series. In addition, many faculty members are active in professional organizations, some serving in leadership positions at the regional and national levels. Reporting to the department chair, the Assistant Professor of Mathematics positions require teaching, research, and service responsibilities and a terminal degree. The positions center on strengthening the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs and includes teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supervising master’s degree candidates, producing quality scholarship, writing grant proposals, and performing institutional and professional service. Each position is a 9-month tenure-track appointment, and the salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Required Qualifications: • Earned doctorate in mathematics or a closely related field by August 1, 2014. • Evidence of a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education with demonstrated effectiveness in instruction. • Demonstrated commitment to a strong, sustained research program with strong potential for securing external research funding. • Good command of written and spoken English.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences contributes significantly to the mission of the University through scholarly endeavors, engagement of students and outreach to the community and the profession. The department, which has 50 full-time faculty members, offers courses in mathematics, mathematics education and statistics, and has undergraduate programs in mathematics as well as a Master of Science program with concentrations in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Computational Science. The department features an energetic faculty with an active colloquia and seminar series, including a Distinguished Lecture Series. In addition, many faculty members are active in professional organizations, some serving in leadership positions at the regional and national levels. Position Description. Reporting to the department chair, the Associate/Assistant Professor of Mathematics position requires teaching, research, and service responsibilities and a terminal degree. The position centers on strengthening the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs and includes teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supervising master’s degree candidates, producing quality scholarship, writing grant proposals, and performing institutional and professional service. The position is a 9-month tenure-track appointment, and the salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Required Qualifications: • Earned doctorate in mathematics or a closely related field by August 1, 2014. • Evidence of a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education with demonstrated effectiveness in instruction. • Demonstrated commitment to a strong, sustained research program with strong potential for securing external research funding. • Good command of written and spoken English. • Minimum of 4 years full-time college/university teaching experience at the assistant professor level is required for the rank of associate professor along with a strong record of research and service with publications and presentations in professional venues. Preferred Qualifications: Outstanding applicants in all areas will be considered but preference will be given to applicants with research interests in Computational Science. A strong record of grants or the potential for obtaining grants is also preferred.

I don't know if it was God or Satan or some other cosmic entity, but someone finally heard my prayers because High roller USA is finally, finally bringing back the joy of Big Wheels to those who can appreciate it most — adults.

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Peaches and Honey Crostini with Blue Cheese. Such an easy crowd-pleasing appetizer.

(Want more? See Tasteologie and NOTCOT.com)

This week the Happy Thursday Ride is a Sharpie Art Ride!

For our 3rd Thursday of the month we will be touring the CBD/FQ. Our starting spot is on the back porch of Manning's Restaurant (http://goo.gl/maps/TpLAr) - if you are running late be sure to call your food order in ahead of time! Also be sure to ask for the specials, as riders get 1/2 price appetizers and 2 for 1 drinks! After hanging out and grubbing down, we will head out at 7:45 to bring some Happy Thursday cheer to the CBD/FQ!

This ride will be ending at Warehouse Grill (869 Magazine St -http://goo.gl/maps/HZfpe) around 10PM. They have generously offered us $3 dollars "pick your poison" on awesome draft beer selection, $8.00 shrimp and and andouille pasta and also $2.00 off appetizers. What more can you ask for at the end of a night.

Theme: Sharpie Art...wait what? Well tattoo yourself with those significant others names, draw in an awesome handlebar mustache, decorate some white t-shirts or your bare-naked extremities...it doesn't matter to us what you do but show your creative side. Or your bike: http://blog.sharpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/sharpie-bike2.jpg

ALSO IN ALL SERIOUSNESS WE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM ANY OF THE VENUES THAT HAVE GRACIOUSLY INVITED TO STOP BY THAT THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS WERE VANDALIZED/TAGGED DURING OUR VISIT. SO KEEP YOUR INNER URBAN TAGGER HIDDEN FOR ONE NIGHT. 

REMINDER: Our goal is always to create a safe environment for all riders. We cannot control, nor do we desire to control, every rider' behavior. Every rider is individually responsible for taking care of themselves and for the safe operation of their bicycles. Every person that joins the ride is accepting the risks which are inherent in riding a bicycle with a large group of other people riding bicycles. Please be courteous to other each other as well as other traffic on the roadways, be safe and always be sure to leave no trace!

Please share this event and use the "invite friends" button to invite others to join! The more the merrier, and the best way to get more people out is by word of mouth! For your friends that aren't on Facebook, just send them to NolaSocialRide.org for info.

Always check for the "NOLA Social Ride Certified" label on your event invites and groups, and we'll see you at Manning's!

Facebook Event Invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/161781784013872/

Ah, the good old days, when bicycle helmets were optional and bicycle bells made that classic "ding-ding" sound. Adorn your bike with this Vintage Bike Bell ($14) for that old-fashioned...
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The cryptic flash-forwards in the second season of Breaking Bad were among the most controversial moments for the show. Oblique, mysterious, leading toward an entirely unexpected ending for the season, and they still stand out, stylistically, as one of the strangest narrative decisions on the show. The glimpses into the future at the beginning of the fifth season, and at the start of tonight’s midseason premiere “Blood Money,” convey a different effect.

It’s still mysterious, but far more assured. We know Walt reaches 52, that he comes back to Albuquerque, that he’s armed to the teeth, and his cancer is back. His story is public, his house is boarded up, vandalized and used by skaters for the empty pool in the backyard, but why he’s out wandering Albuquerque alone and breaking into his family’s house to reclaim the ricin vial remains unclear.

Bryan Cranston directed the second and third season premieres (“Seven-Thirty-Seven” and “No Mas”), but “Blood Money” is his final turn as a director for the series, and it’s the most skillfully crafted. From that cold open, as a broken mirror clearly reflects the shattered Walt, this is the most hands-on Cranston has been in crafting a final portrait of the character that will define his career.

John Slattery has turned in a handful of expertly handled episodes of Mad Men (and certainly seems more well-suited to directing than Jon Hamm), but Cranston’s season premieres form a triptych of episodes, littered with standout moments.

Flashing back to when Hank finds Gale Boetticher’s handwriting in the bathroom copy of Leaves Of Grass, the slow track in on the bathroom door before Hank walks out lasts for an eternity, drawing the tension out long as possible. Hank’s disoriented, in a state of disbelief, overhearing the rest of his family talk around the pool. Marie even chillingly jokes to Walt, “You are the devil.” Hank’s world has just been turned upside-down, and he’s so thoroughly focused on the monster hiding right in plain sight in front of his face that it causes another panic attack while he drives home with Marie.

Walt and Skyler go about their business none the wiser, talking about reorganizing the air fresheners and expanding their car wash franchise to further mask the massive amount of money laundering left to do. Meanwhile, Jesse can’t adjust to life with all the guilt he’s carrying. Skinny Pete and Badger talking the intricacies of Star Trek leaves him bored, and the “blood money” he received, for his end of the partnership, still burns a hole in his conscience. But going to Saul and trying to give away his money, risking exposure, is a surefire way to invite others to offer helpful advice to the contrary.

Aaron Paul has shifted from a loudmouth punk to a depressed man, hiding an ocean of sadness underneath a hardened veneer. His performance makes it harder and harder to remember that, while he isn’t a monster, he’s still a criminal. But the way he can’t seem to cope with his demons makes Jesse sympathetic as he rides the edge.

Of the tragedies within Breaking Bad—and it’s sometimes a mess trying to keep all the various spirals in order—the most affecting to me is the increasingly meticulous emotional manipulation Walt perpetrates upon Jesse. The amount he’s warped that poor boy’s mind makes my skin crawl, from pushing him to expand business into rival territory, to pulling him back from the brink after Jane’s death, to Gale, to “helping” Jesse find the ricin pill and planting a seed of doubt in his mind about his relationship with Andrea and Brock. After Saul tells Walt about Jesse’s attempt to give away his money, the episode shifts to small, staged scenes with only a few characters interacting.

It starts with another confrontation between Jesse and Walt, this time relatively muted, but no less troubling. After all that emotional torture, Jesse might just be able to see through Walt’s bullshit. He pushes Walt about Mike’s whereabouts, and though Walt feigns hope and vociferously assures Jesse that Mike is safe out there somewhere, something about Jesse’s acquiescence without meeting Walt’s gaze signaled to me that he doesn’t believe a word out of his former partner’s mouth. It’s unclear what Jesse wants, or what he’s willing to do in order to manage his guilt (or if he even wants to deal with that pain), but he’s not just a pawn anymore.

Back at the White home, Walt excuses himself from a college discussion over dinner to vomit in the bathroom. He’s going back to chemo, hasn’t told the rest of the family, and in another moment where the results forgive the inexplicable cause, discovers that Leaves Of Grass is missing from the bathroom, then thinks to check his car for a tracking device. Suddenly, Hank’s recent sickness starts to seems far more disconcerting.

But the final scene is a pinnacle that Breaking Bad has built to for 55 episodes. I never thought for a moment that the show would put Walt and Hank in a room together with the truth between them. It’s shocking and cathartic, following Hank delivering a well-earned punch to Walt’s face. Now that Hank has the evidence—the security video of Walt and Jesse stealing a barrel of methylamine from all the back in the early seasons, the drawing that now unmistakably shows Walt in Heisenberg mode—the cards are Hank’s to play however he sees fit.

Hank knows. Walt knows he knows. But what’s particularly telling about that confrontation in the Schrader garage is what Hank first lists as Walt’s crimes: swerving into traffic to keep Hank from Gus Fring’s Laundromat, blowing up a nursing home, executing an intricate multi-prison murder spree to eliminate 10 witnesses. He doesn’t have the full web, or most importantly, how Walt’s descent into the meth trade helped cause the Cousins’ attack on Hank back in “One Minute.” He doesn’t recall the fact that offering to take Walt on a ride-along helped initiate this spiral. “I’m a dying man who runs a car wash. My right hand to god that is all that I am. What’s the point?” That may be outward appearance at the moment—and Lydia’s surprise visit to the car wash suggests that Walt isn’t as far out of the game as he wants to be—but with Hank making more connections as time wears on, the distance between this and Walt’s 52nd birthday doesn’t bode well for the appearance of domestic bliss.

The list of terrible events, emanating from Walt’s bloody rise to internationally-known meth-chemist extraordinaire, isn’t complete in police records. The tables have turned in the Walt/Hank relationship to the point where Walt warns Hank to exercise caution–the final line of the episode. But credit Vince Gilligan and company with yet another bold sidestep, out of a corner they'd built for themselves. Now that the cat’s out of the bag (or the bag’s in the river, so to speak), Breaking Bad isn’t pushing away from its flash-forward with delay tactics; it’s hurtling toward convergence.

Now we get the aftermath of the crash.

Extra Crystals

I’d be curious to find out more about how Cranston went about directing that scene between him and Dean Norris in the garage. My instinct is that they stuck to the script almost to the letter, but I’m curious whether Norris had some leeway about the list of accusations thrown back at Walt.

“Who washes a rental car?”

“Hello Carol.” Nice little Francis Ford Coppola touch with the groceries spilling out of the bag she drops.

It's summertime! Go outside and read a comic! Or stay inside and read a comic. Personally, I like to read comics inside door jams -- it splits the difference and is the safest place to be during an earthquake! These are the sorts of quality comics reading tips you can expect from your friends at the Boing Boing Comics Rack.

Drawn to New York
By Peter Kuper
PM Press

This book is, frankly, just too large to attempt to read on a crowded downtown “6” train on a Saturday night -- the guy leaning off the pole next to you will keeping bumping into you as he sways slowly, back and forth. And all the sudden you’re the asshole, because you’re trying to read some beautiful, hardcover graphic novel and a too hot and sticky early night in June. And then maybe a fight will break out in the next car over, between two women. You can’t hear a word of it, but it’s a sort of delicate dance of hand signals and bobbing heads still visible through pollution frosted windows. And then a man will apologize to car before telling the sad story of the family he’s trying to support on an income of change and crumpled dollar bills, and some break dancing teens will flips to Michael Jackson songs, their flying sneakers repeatedly coming far too close to your downward-facing head for comfort.

I don’t know it that was the best way to enjoy such a thing. Peter Kuper packs a million shapes and colors and emotions into a page, and if you look up for a moment at the two young women have a loud conversation about their sex lives, you’ll probably miss a solid 100 thousand. But it’s a book that can be taken in pieces, a wide ranging collection of comics, sketches and commissioned illustrations lacking in an over-arching narrative arc (if that’s what you’re in the market for, I’d nudge you toward the largely autobiographical Stop Forgetting to Remember). It’s fractured and chaotic, and for those looking in from the outside, the grime may well have all the tourist appeal of Penn Station.

Unlike the stylistically similar Diario De Oaxaca, Kuper doesn’t offer the added context of an visitor to the strange land -- and, really, the New York City tourist board isn’t likely to adopt this text any time soon. But who knows, maybe by the time you reach the first stop in Brooklyn, you’ll find a thing or two that will put you back on the right side of your perpetual love/hate relationship with this city.

Aesthetics: A Memoir
By Ivan Brunetti
Yale Press

I started collecting Brunetti’s clever bits of wisdom, but gave up early -- there’s an off-handed bit of brilliance on every page. Though, to be fair, “off-handed” is a term that should probably never be applied to the artist’s work, everything he does is painfully deliberate -- and, more often that not, speaks to some painful truth, whether internal or reflective on the world as a whole. Funny as well, of course, but never not painful.

I’ll cop to being a bit disappointed on discovering that Aesthetics wasn’t a new work. Disappointed, but not surprised. Brunetti’s fairly notorious for his glacial approach toward cartooning, as as such, this book is “a retrospective,” despite his having, “very little retro to spect.” Though any Brunetti is good Brunetti, and odds are there’s plenty in here you’ve never seen, be it strips pulled from anthologies like Kramer’s Ergot, New Yorker covers, paper mache models or early the Disney portraits by the artist as a young boy. Each are supplemented by captions that offer insight into the artist’s process and, not surprisingly, his psyche. Also not surprising is the current lack of a happy ending to the story, with Brunetti nearly entirely disconnected from the world of drawing, thanks a full-time teach gig and an ever-worsening problem with his eyes. Again, any Brunetti is good Brunetti.

Lost Cat
By Jason
Fantagraphics

Oh man, what a delight it is to come off a two week work trip to find a copy of the new Jason book waiting for me at home. As ever, I consumed this one way, way, too fast -- a side effect, really, of his minimalist approach to art and storytelling. And while I’ve got to admit it doesn’t rank amongst his best, pretty much everything the cartoonist has ever done is worth the purchase. Lost Cat stay true to Jason’s beloved of blurring genres, though here the payoff takes a good deal of time to register, buried in a surrealist detective story that seemingly owes a fair amount to Haruki Murakami or Paul Auster, unfolding slowly through an absurdist series of events.

And while the standard twist is an interesting one, it doesn't have the quick of Jason's strongest works. Start with The Left Bank Gang, I Killed Adolf Hitler and You Can’t There From Here. If you’re hooked, as you’ll no doubt be, you’ll make it to Lost Cat.

D.I.Y. Magic
By Anthony Alvarado
Floating World Comics

I’m cheating a bit with this once, but I picked it up at my favorite comic shop in San Francisco, and it was published by my favorite comic shop in Portland. There are also plenty of illustrations by a diverse selection of cartoonists, including Farel Dalrymple, Ron Rege Jr. and Austin English -- some of which correspond to the text more directly than others. At the end of the day, however, this probably doesn’t fit in a comics column -- but it’s really wonderful, so screw it.

I picked this one up based entirely on name, a method that has served me just fine in the past, assuming I'd either be conjuring demons or pulling rabbits from hats on the plane ride home. A pretty big win either way. But Alvarado's magic is an entirely different thing altogether. The author describes it as, "the fine and subtle art of driving yourself insane." I'd say it's more along the lines of hacking one's perception -- going on reality trips (mostly) within the confines of the law. Apparently Salvador Dali would nod off with a spoon in a hand that would fall into a bucket below, waking him up immediately with its clamor. That blurred line between sleep and waking is said to have informed the master of surreality.

Abstinence, beard growing and projecting questions onto birds are also acceptable forms of magic.

Kudos to artist Jack Hunter, who came up with this idea, submitted an image to a Tumblr last year and now finds it gracing the new cover of The New Yorker, celebrating the overturn of DOMA.

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In today's Tweet Beat, Kristen Bell needs to find herself a sloth minister, the rest of Twitter celebrates DOMA and Prop 8 getting overturned, and Anthony Bourdain tweets some meat.

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Roasted Strawberry and Pretzel Icebox Pie

(Want more? See Tasteologie and NOTCOT.com)

BOOKS

Neil Gaiman's novels are covers between which mythical creatures and beleaguered protagonists live and interact amid supernatural plots often dealing with youth and struggle. The fairy tale-esque character of his modern adult fantasies lightly masks "the intelligible message that can be derived from it," writes Laura Miller.

Gaiman’s first novel for adults in eight years, “The Ocean at the End of the Lane,” would seem to follow this pattern; most of the action, recounted in the first person, describes the experiences of a nameless 7-year-old boy. But “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” does feel different, and not only because of its framing device. The novel begins and ends with the narrator, now an adult, returning to the English village where he grew up, for a family funeral. (The deceased is never identified, but there are hints it is the man’s father.) We learn that he’s been married and separated, that he is a working artist, that he has grown children. When he looks back on the strange events of his childhood, it is through the mellowed and slightly melancholy lens of middle-age. What the story sacrifices of the sweet, glassy purity of a child’s view, it compensates for with the complex sepia of maturity; it’s the difference between a bright young white wine and a well-aged burgundy.

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Time to get magical: The superest Supermoon of the year is this weekend.

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The Disney Channel has decided to give Girl Meets World, the sequel to the beloved '90s sitcom Boy Meets World, a full season order. And thusly a whole new generation is treated to at least a season's worth of backyard pep talks, sage advice from elderly professors and threats from 30-year-old high school bullies.

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Yabba Shomer Shabbos by Randy Coffey

Dude, this is a league game! Mark that frame a zero and then wear this awesome Yabba Shomer Shabbos tee by Randy Coffey. Otherwise, you're entering a world of Yabba dabba pain. Visit Randy's website then head on over to his NeatoShop page to buy: Link.

Your purchase helps support indie artists like Randy, as well as this blog.

Ironing Man	Master Trooper Storm Chief	Doctor Spock	The Ungrammatical Yoda

View more designs by Randy Coffey | More Funny T-shirts

Are you a professional illustrator or T-shirt designer? Let's chat! Sell your designs on the NeatoShop, earn generous royalties, and get featured in front of tons of potential new fans on Neatorama!

Last week, striking Walmart workers and supporters of OUR Walmart converged on the company’s shareholder meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, calling for higher wages and better working conditions. Walmart employee Janet Sparks delivered a shareholder resolution that would have required senior executives to hold a large portion of their company shares until reaching retirement age, which would more closely align executives’ interests with shareholders. She told the crowd that the last bonus associates at her Baton Rouge, Louisana store received was for just $26.17 and that Walmart CEO Mike Duke made more than 1,000 times what the average Walmart worker did last year.

Low wages and insufficient benefits for Walmart workers don’t just affect workers and their families. Low-wage workers often need to rely on public benefits for healthcare, food, and other necessities for themselves and their families. A recent report by Congressional Democrats calculated that one Wisconsin Walmart supercenter likely costs taxpayers $900,000 a year when public assistance costs for the store’s employees and their families are added up.

When Elizabeth Grossman wrote last week about the Equitable Food Initiative, which combines respect for farm workers with food safety, one of our readers commented that EFI leading participant Costco has other initiatives to improve the food supply and pays employees well (including good benefits). A recent BloombergBusinessweek piece on Costco explores Costco’s treatment of employees, which is in stark contrast to Walmart’s. Brad Stone writes:

Despite the sagging economy and challenges to the industry, Costco pays its hourly workers an average of $20.89 an hour, not including overtime (vs. the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour). By comparison, Walmart said its average wage for full-time employees in the U.S. is $12.67 an hour, according to a letter it sent in April to activist Ralph Nader. Eighty-eight percent of Costco employees have company-sponsored health insurance; Walmart says that “more than half” of its do. Costco workers with coverage pay premiums that amount to less than 10 percent of the overall cost of their plans. It treats its employees well in the belief that a happier work environment will result in a more profitable company. “I just think people need to make a living wage with health benefits,” says [Costco CEO Craig] Jelinek. “It also puts more money back into the economy and creates a healthier country. It’s really that simple.”

In February, Jelinek set Costco’s convictions in ink, writing a public letter at the behest of Nader, urging Congress to increase the federal minimum wage for the first time since 2009. “We know it’s a lot more profitable in the long term to minimize employee turnover and maximize employee productivity, commitment and loyalty,” he wrote.

… Costco’s constitutional thrift makes its generous pay and health packages all the more remarkable. About 4 percent of its workers, including those who give away samples and sell mobile phones, are part-time and employed by contractors, though Costco says it seeks to ensure they have above-industry-average pay. And while Walmart, Amazon, and others actively avoid unionization, Costco, while not exactly embracing it, is comfortable that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents about 15 percent of its U.S. employees. “They are philosophically much better than anyone else I have worked with,” says Rome Aloise, a Teamsters vice president.

…Many conscientious companies such as Costco are performing well financially. Over the last few years, Nordstrom (JWN), the Container Store, Sephora, REI, and Whole Foods Market (WFM), all of which are known for treating employees well, have outpaced rivals. “This is the lesson Costco teaches,” says Doug Stephens, founder of the consulting firm Retail Prophet and author of the forthcoming The Retail Revival. “You don’t have to be Nordstrom selling $1,200 suits in order to pay people a living wage. That is what Walmart has lost sight of. A lot of people working at Walmart go home and live below the poverty line. You expect that person to come in and develop a rapport with customers who may be spending more than that person is making in a week? You expect them to be civil and happy about that?”

So far, Costco and other retailers that invest in employees seem to be performing well because customers are willing to seek out a high-value experience. For those of us who have lots of options for where to shop, it’s worth remembering that Costco and Walmart may both be big-box stores, but they treat employees differently.

For those who found Lake Bell's nerdy bumbling hot girl to be the absolutely best part of No Strings Attached and who also happens to be fascinated with voice over actors, look no further than the trailer for Bell's new movie In A World, which she wrote, directed and stars in.

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Lorde (really Ella Yelich-O'Connor), a 16-year-old from New Zealand with great hair and compelling thoughts on materialism, has infiltrated my brain.

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There's nothing like the convenience and ease of biking to work — you save on gas, avoid traffic, and it helps you stay in shape. But, there's nothing worse than...

Visit Uncrate for the full post.

Here's the trailer for Netflix's first female-led series, Orange Is The New Black. It was created by Jenji Kohan, (who created and won Emmys for Weeds) and is based on a memoir by Piper Kerman.

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Let the comparisons to Bambi begin!

“We were unpacking the car from a trip when this fawn stumbled across our yard and into Maya’s arms. The fawn had a good sense about Maya and followed her every step. They were inseparable. Maya knew it needed its mother, who we believe was off eating and recuperating from the birthing, so she led it back to the woods. We have not seen the fawn since.”

-Cuteporter Brad H., whose daughter Maya obviously has a bright future working with animals.

The Deer Whisperer from Brad Herring on Vimeo.

Music: “Yes I Know” – The Black Lillies.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Oh Deer!

Chicken thighs with a sauce of fresh blueberries, white wine, balsamic vinegar and rosemary [This post is sponsored by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.] Fifteen years ago today, I was eating blueberries. How do I know? Because 15 years ago today I was eight weeks pregnant with my older son, and all I craved during my first trimester were blueberries. I ate at least two pints of