I am posting my first Hili Dialogue as Professor Ceiling Cat, Emeritus. All I can say is that I feel the same as yesterday, except that I have a warm feeling from all the kind readers who wrote in to congratulate me and say “thanks.” And now business will resume as usual. One note: posting may be virtually nonexistent tomorrow as I am giving the biology convocation lecture at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. It will be Everything About Evolution (why it’s important, the evidence, misconceptions about it, why people resist it, and its importance, both practically and for one’s worldview)—all crammed into half an hour! But I’ve managed to do it. Now if I can also manage to tolerate a coat and tie (required for such a formal occasion), I’ll survive; and I’m promised a tour of the beautiful city of Torun and a big traditional Polish lunch afterwards. I will of course take photos. Meanwhile in Dobrzyn, it’s overcast today, and Andrzej is messing with a famished Hili. Their dialogue even has a title:
THE PANTRY
Hili: So this is where you keep the cans!
A: Shall I open some beans for you?
Hili: No stupid jokes, please.
SPIŻARNIAHili: To tu są wszystkie puszki!
Ja: Otworzyć ci fasolę?
Hili: Bez głupich żartów, proszę.
Congratulations on your retirement Jerry. You deserve it. I enjoy your blog, one of the best there is, and am glad to hear you will continue. Keep up the good work and enjoy a little more leisure time. All the best.
Sincere condolences for having to wear coat and tie…and best wishes for your first emeritus talk!
In this light, Hili has lovely green eyes.
“Lovers, make moan:
Her eyes were green as leeks.”
Green eyes – no better colour for them! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_with_Green_Eyes
It’s in black and white. I’d want it colorized. At least the eyes, if that’s not too much to ask.
Jerry Coyne, PhD, PCCE
Retired and you still have to wear the monkey suit (on occasion). That’s annoying. One of my nicest daydreams about retirement is not having to wear suits ever again (excepting stuff like weddings and funerals.
You should deal with tights and high heels.
I haven’t the slightest clue how all y’all can even stand upright in those things.
b&
I’ve sworn them off since I need to walk a lot during the day. Someone I work with broke her leg because of high heels!! She threw them all out after that.
If she only broke her leg, she got off lucky…I’m sure I’d split my skull wide open….
b&
That’s what I thought too, before I retired. The reality has turned out to be rather different.
During my career as a software geek my standard work attire was jeans, tee-shirts or flannel shirts, sneakers or sandals. Jacket and tie were worn only under duress.
Now, as an arts trustee, I routinely wear suits and ties to performances, galas, board meetings, and fundraisers. It turns out it’s no big deal. A well-cut suit can be just as comfortable (if not more so) as a pair of cheap off-the-rack jeans.
From time to time I even get bored with my wardrobe and find myself motivated to voluntarily go out shopping for new evening wear.
And there’s no question that dressing well boosts my confidence and sense of legitimacy as a representative of my organization. It may be a monkey suit, but the alpha monkeys wear it for a reason.
Over 270 posts on yesterday’s announcement. Maybe that’s a record.
Must be the Hili effect…
Free will posts usually garner 200+ and sometimes over 500. Despite what some philosophers say Jerry is an unquestionable world leader in understanding determinism and the muddiness of compatibilism.
Yeah, but the free will posts usually have half the comments coming from just a small handful of people. I bet a count of distinct people commenting on yesterday’s post would be a record.
b&
You made me laff, Hili!
Not on purpose; her tail’s down. That means she’s in “serious business” mode.
Aside from a penguin suit for concerts, I don’t remember the last time I wore a tie. Years, multiple. My sincerest condolences for having to start your post-post-post-doc career wearing one!
b&
Hili looks mid meow!
“Everything About Evolution (why it’s important, the evidence, misconceptions about it, why people resist it, and its importance, both practically and for one’s worldview)—all crammed into half an hour!”
Eight thumbs up! ::::)
The end of this month I have to discuss how mental illness affects creativity, in the space of four minutes – Oy!
George-from-Baltimore
Now that was funny Hili!
What a great expression on Hili’s face!
“It will be Everything About Evolution (why it’s important, the evidence, misconceptions about it, why people resist it, and its importance, both practically and for one’s worldview)—all crammed into half an hour!”
They had better be going to tape this and post it!
Don’t cough, you’d have to omit something important.