Calm before the storm...Google crazy

For the past few days, I've been aware of a pending deadline: 101 portfolios will start coming in tomorrow. That means I'll be busy grading 101 papers until the end of the semester. You would think that in the meantime, this lovely calm non-grading time would be spent doing countless pointless things in anticipation of the stressful time to come. Instead, I'm reading books for future semesters (hardly pointless).

I'm in the middle of The Awakening by Kate Chopin for the LC in the Fall. I've read this one a couple of times before, so this is just a much needed refresher. The big difference is I was never really able to relate to Edna before. I kind of kept thinking, "Sheesh. What's her problem?" I still don't entirely relate, but now that I'm married with children I can see how life creates these cookie cutter kinds of roles for us that we're supposed to fit and when we don't fit into them it creates (for lack of a better word) ennui. I know that's a strange word, but it's the one I mean and if you don't know it, you can look it up on www.dictionary.com.

I'm also reading The Google Story. This is in preparation for my summer 102 class. I never thought reading about Google could be enjoyable. From what I've read so far, I really like the creators of Google and the things they do. Also in preparation for this course, I checked out a photoessay about Google in Time magazine. I can't believe the amenities Google offers its employees. No wonder it's the top ranked employer in the U.S.! I wonder what it would take to get SWIC to install a one person swimming pool so employees could swim laps while at work? Seems really far-fetched to me, but I can see how this kind of thing would keep pasty computer people happy. (Ever notice how many computer geeks are super pale? It's because they work so many hours they never get to go outside while it's still light outside. This is changing somewhat now that some of the work may be done on laptops, but still...)

I can't tell if people are getting sick of me advocating Google or if they still find it helpful. I can't help it. I love things that are immensely practical and also free. Seriously, how many things fit into both categories??? There are probably people out there who think Google is out to rule the whole world (I know there are. I checked out one of their blogs yesterday and read The Onion's article about Google yesterday too)...well, even if they are (which I don't think they are), at least they're not making us pay for the service or inconveniencing us on their bid for world domination.

Too many students have been having problems with Microsoft Word 2007 and with the Comment program we use that comes packaged with the St. Martin's Handbook (for a handsome fee no less). And why oh why is it that just when I get used to one form of Blackboard or WebCT, they have to change or merge or whatever? (merged successfully to create a better product this time, but still!) Google seems to get things right the first time. And it just seems to make sense to novices and experts alike.

So perhaps I have gone a little Google crazy. I should probably stop googling Google to find new articles and the like. I'll definitely stop by the time papers roll in to be graded tomorrow.

I'm also going Harry Potter crazy, though to a lesser extent. It has suddenly dawned on me that I'd really like to reread some of the books before the seventh one comes out, which means I've got to get cracking if I want to do that before July and I'm going to have to track down library copies soon before everyone else gets the same idea. Or borrow them from friends. I already have one friend who has said she'll lend me the seventh book when she's finished reading it. I think this is incredibly kind and sacrificial and also a little bit self-serving. I think she'll really want to talk about the book with someone as soon as she's finished reading it, so while I don't have a HP deadline, I kind of do. That's a much better deadline than the one I'm facing tomorrow.