Targuman » Travel

On the road

Chris Brady — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:42:23 +0000

I am in Washington DC for the next two and a bit days for the National Collegiate Honors Council conference. It is a surprisingly large conference and one of the best things that they do is bring in students who do presentations and poster sessions. (With scholarships being given for the best work.)

DC is my home town, more or less. I grew up in Maryland, just down 270, and when you are from this area you are from DC. Still, the area has changed tremendously since I went to college. At the exit for my parent’s house 270 is now 10 lanes! It was 2 when I was growing up. All over the region corn fields are now overgrown with townhouses that just two years ago were selling for north of $600k. It makes me a bit sad, but at least Jimmie Cone is still there.

While I am looking forward to seeing my colleagues, especially those from the Big 10 (so big there are 11 schools!), I hope to get some reading and writing done while I am here. My SBL paper still needs attention and I have a few drafts on Genesis 2 that I want to share with you all. And then there is the podcast for the SHC to put up. All in all, I think it will be a productive couple of days. And then it is a race back home to see the kids trick or treat! Izzy has a great costume idea.

Traveling to Purdue

Chris Brady — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:11:35 +0000

Headed to Purdue for 4 days. Off to a rough start, the zipper on my suitcase broke. Oh well. It is amazing how many “nights” can fit into an overnight bag.

At the beach (and playing with the iPhone)

Chris Brady — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:52:47 +0000

We are on a bit of a vac at the beach. I have a bit of time to play with my new iPhone 3Gs. It really is a treat (I am even writing this on the phone now in the WordPress app that didn’t work so well, had to come back to the MacBook to edit it). I will offer my full review and thoughts later. In the meantime, please feel free to offer tips and especially app suggestions. (Can I customize key shortcuts without another app? E.g., “ty” auto-expanding to “thank you.” I know there is tapit4me and other such apps but I read a comment that implied I could change it in the phone. I can’t find any such setting.)

And a quick shot from the phone. (Video later!)

Welcome to Boston

Chris Brady — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:21:57 +0000

After a bumpy landing in DC on my way from Louisville I made it safe and sound in Boston. (The flight from Reagan to Logan was actually very smooth.) It was nice to see the banners welcoming us to the city…but I couldn’t help but wonder if our dues are paying for all of that. Could it be the tourism board? Next time the SBL board considers a cost increase I hope they will cut here first.

Grumpiness aside, it is good to be back in Bean Town! I have already bumped into my old friend Daniel Falk (see his new co-edited volume published by SBL on penitential prayer), Martin Goodman, Ziony Zevit, and Allan Cooper! We are off to a good start.

SBL Bound – Sunday dinner?

Chris Brady — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:59:36 +0000

I am packing up this morning and headed to the Louisville airport. I should arrive in Boston about 3 pm (barring any delays in Reagan National, always a possibility). This morning John Hobbins reminded us all of Michael Halcomb’s invitation for dinner on Sunday night. I somehow managed not to get my name on the list but John is encouraging us all to meet at the main entrance leading to the book displays on Sunday Nov 23, at 7:00 pm.

Sounds like a plan! See you all soon and safe travels everyone.

“Portable Electronic Devices”

Chris Brady — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:10:44 +0000

I have spent the majority of this day flying. It is currently 8:40 pm and I still have a 2:47 minute flight ahead of me. As the last flight was preparing for landing I had a George Carlin moment. The flight attendant came on the speaker and spoke the usual words, telling us that we must turn off all “portable electronic devices.” As opposed to what?

“Sir, please turn off that electronic device.”

“But it is not portable. See, this MRI is bolted to the floor of the aircraft. Besides, as you can plainly see, this woman’s test is not yet complete.”

“Sir, the aircraft is itself moving therefore the MRI is portable since it is being transported from Philly to Chicago.”

“Ah, then why specify ‘portable’ electronic device? Furthermore, why specify ‘electronic’ device? What other sorts of devices can one turn on and off?”

“Sir, pardon me.” Attendant takes nearby fire extinguisher and begins beating me about the head before dismantling the MRI.

In DC

Chris Brady — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:46:53 +0000

I have been in DC since Sunday night with our class visiting the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We had an amazing day yesterday and I was able to top it off with a cold beverage and chatting with Ed Cook. Good times. Then, after a lovely meal, I headed back to my hotel:

There and back again.

Chris Brady — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:11:02 +0000

I may it back from Las Vegas safe and sound. I did not play any games but did get to drive a very nice car (an $82k Cadillac XLR) with the top down in 106º weather. As we left our final dinner we drove down the strip and I tried to snap a few shots. I was using a little Sony point-and-shoot so the quality is not the best, but I think this shot of Caesar is quite nice in its own way.

Vegas baby!

Chris Brady — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:27:10 +0000

I am in Las Vegas for the next day (which really means 3 days since I left at 8 am today, Tuesday, and will not arrive back in State College until 8 pm on Friday) for meetings with a college board member. It is really one of the freakiest places on earth. When you get off the plane in McCarran the first thing you are faced with is slot machines. It really does seem like a hedonist wonderland and yet it is all so clean! Nothing like the Chick tracts at all. (Which is not to be confused with CHIC tracks which seem to take quite a different view to Mr. Chick. Oh boy. Follow those links at your peril Dr. West.)

I have not gotten around much, after all it is 100 degrees here today, and the few pictures I took of the slots in the airport will not be going up anytime soon due to my card reader not working. I have added a pic from pbo31 on flickr to give you a sense of the place. (His photos are really impressive.

So tonight and tomorrow I will be enjoying a different side of Vegas than that usually seen by visitors. I have managed to get some work done. I spent an hour or more on the plane working on an article (finally!) and should have that all done but the footnotes by the time this trip is over. Either that or I will end up blogging and not getting any work done. If so, you will hear it hear first.

Club Quarters NYC

Chris Brady — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:34:49 +0000

Since Jim W likes to post pics of his accommodations I thought I would do the same. I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Club Quarters, but they are “euro-style” hotels, meaning small rooms and very few staff. By and large the accommodations are very comfortable, but cramped. My room is perhaps 20×15.

This picture had to be taken from the hallway.

Note that the door to the bathroom is half-width, a cubit by my measure.

The bathroom is compact as well.