Archive for December 5th, 2004

Pondering the Paucity of Postings

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glasscastle - December 5, 2004 @ 11:40 pm · Blogging

The two academic weeks between the end of Thanksgiving vacation and the end of the fall semester are the busiest part of the busiest semester of the year. Between teaching classes, inventing exams, grading term papers, evaluating projects, writing evaluations, filing attendant paperwork, attending meetings and preparing presentations we have little time or energy to blog. More’s the shame, for the stories are good.

The saving grace of the academic cloister, the light at the end of the tunnel, is the 4 or 5 week vacation we get three times a year, between semesters, the latest iteration of which starts this Friday. At the end of the Fall semester we always need to spend a few days in a quiet, darkened room regenerating our nerves before we are ready to join the Holiday throngs.

But we look forward to blogging with renewed vision and vigor as soon as we get rid of those pesky students and the time-consuming responsibilities of our “real life,” such as it is.

Hot Square Pants Disappear

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glasscastle - December 5, 2004 @ 11:18 pm · Wacky News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Dozens
of 9-foot-tall SpongeBob Squarepants balloons have been stolen from the
roofs of Burger Kings from Florida to Utah since the release of the famous
cartoon character’s hit movie, authorities said.

The balloons started appearing at fast-food restaurants in a promotional tie-in
with his movie Nov. 11. A Burger King near Palatka, south of Jacksonville, is
among the latest to report the theft of the $500 balloon.

"We don’t have any theories. SpongeBob SquarePants is kind of a fad. It
could be a childhood prank or an adult trying to get a fad item for Christmas," Sheriff’s
Lt. Steve Rose said Wednesday. "If any leads come across, we will follow
up in hopes of making an arrest."

As part of the promotion, hundreds of inflatable SpongeBobs weighing 50 pounds
were ordered for restaurants nationwide. The animated movie and TV star is featured
on Burger King children’s meals, watches and toys. The company is offering a
reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible – a month’s
supply of free Whoppers!

Isn’t this something like stealing the Mona Lisa? Anyone
you show it to could be the person who turns you in….

from AP News