Friday Varia and Quick Hits

It’s the time of year when weekends go from being filled with reading and writing to being filled with course preparation and grading for the upcoming week. Fortunately, I’m moderately excited about the classes I’m teaching this fall, so this won’t be too much of a sacrifice (although I’ll likely sneak in some research when no one is looking). 

The weather is getting cooler here on the northern plains with temps dropping into the upper-40s at night. The first frost is likely just around the corner. Fall has arrived and I’m looking forward to chili, football, and the arrival of fall colors!

This weekend also sees the Formula 1 guys at Spa (probably my favorite track in the current F1 calendar), the NASCARlers at Michigan (typically a yawnfest, but maybe moderately intriguing with the new aero package), and Australia will toil away in their one-day series in Sri Lanka. So there’s plenty of time for distraction.

Speaking of distraction, please do enjoy this list of quick hits and varia:

• Following the text with the TopoText app.

• Athens in Austerity.

• Cyprus and the Levant.

• Through the eyes on an archaeologist.

• Making connections.

• Oldest living thing.

• Where to eat on Cyprus.

• Andy Cullen went to Cannonball River protest camp and took some great photos.

• Privies and the past.

• It’s hard to make money on discarded RVs in the Bakken.

• Why don’t students read?

• Writing for the public.

• Japanese houses.

• McMansion Hell.

• I really liked Vesper.

• What I’m reading: C. Concannon and L. Mazurka, Across the Corrupting Sea: Post-Braudelian Approaches to the Ancient Eastern Mediterranean. Ashgate 2016.

• What I’m listening to: Hiss Golden Messenger, Haw; —, Bad Debt.

• OH, and WATCH THIS NOW.