It just so happens that today is the day I have an appointment to talk with my division chair about my future plans, after 26 years at my university. Today is also April First. I have an opportunity for a cruel joke.
Nah, that’s too mean. I’m still planning to retire.
My late brother used to send me “Pearls Before Swine” comics — I think it was his favorite strip. I know he would have sent me this one.
Mano’s a big fan. (Don’t worry, you won’t catch physicist cooties. X-D )
I love the cartoons by Pastis. Even the non-Pearl ones (Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made). The cynical character Rat is my favourite.
The Swedish lefty blogger Aardvarchaeology also likes puns, so I try to pass on links.
BTW If I had known, I would have bombarded PZ with the albums (for further use by his students, or the local library).
Almost 10 years ago, my immediate boss came into my office, closed the door and offered me a choice. Take a voluntary retirement or be laid off. This after 49 years of service.
I started working there at age 18 as an apprentice silversmith. I went to college (with financial help from the original owner of the company – a very generous, self made man), graduated and worked my way into a senior management position by the time I was 45 years old. But none of that mattered. Why? The man I worked for and considered a father figure died in 2013 and his idiot son took control. He took every penny he could from a previously profitable company and, when there was nothing left to take, sold it to a Canadian investment firm that promptly cut staff by more than 50%. I didn’t fit into their future plans. Just as well, they moved what was left of the company to a smaller building 30 miles away with no public transportation options. A commute I would not have liked to make anyway. Last I heard, they’ve lost a significant share of their major business accounts and several top people who decided they didn’t want to work there anymore.