Dr. Neil Hair

I got some of the best news ever today at 11am. My wife, who has been working on her PhD for a few years now, passed her viva exam and can now use the title! Her thesis explored psychological contracts in a virtual team. That means there are now Drs Hair in the house and I am one very very proud husband!! Rose, youre the best and I knew you'd walk it Nx.

So, having recently estolled the special relationship England has in my mind with Canada I came across an article from the BBC reflecting on Prime Minister Brown's position on UK foreign policy (the BBC is by far my favourite news site DESPITE the recent decision to pursue advertising as a means of generating revenue). I wanted to share because it reinforced a comment I make to most of my students at some stage when we discuss international marketing and the UK-US bond. When we 'say' we have a 'special relationship' what does that 'really' mean? Does this ever go beyond the 'Ive been to America - because Ive been shopping in New York' or the 'Ive been to England because Ive been shopping in London' crowd? For those doubters out there the following extract may well solidify the conviction - it certainly shocks most of my students when they hear it for the first time:

"When considering the relationship a British prime minister must have with the United States, it must never be forgotten that there is a not-so-secret tie binding the US and UK together. It is the agreement, renewed only in the past year, under which the United States and Britain swap information on nuclear weapons and Britain buys US missiles for its nuclear submarines. No British prime minister can afford to distance his or her country from the US to such an extent that the trust involved in such an arrangement is dissipated. After all, the US has given the UK the ability to destroy much of the American homeland, an act of trust with no parallel in history."

A few other facts that Ive learned over the years that have helped me understand the relationship:

1. Eating faggots is not considered the done thing in America.
2. Placing ticks in boxes in the US is likely to offend the tick.
3. Lever said in the US is - when translated into English - a kind of coat made from cows hide.
4. Lever said in the UK is - when translated into the US - a way of departing from a once loved female.
5. Herb in the US is a popular shortened name for Herbert when translated into English.
6. Aluminium in the UK translates to the US as a latin form of to iluminate.
7. A retainer in the US holds teeth, a retainer in the UK also holds teeth but only if you pay him or her to do so.
8. Swimmies in the US help provide bouyancy in water, swimmies in the UK are a form of trunk to be worn when swimming.
9. A trunk in the US is the back end of a car. In the UK a trunk is something you wear when swimming.
10. A boot in the UK is the back end of a car. The bootie in the US is a backend of a person.
11. A hood in the US is the front end of a car. A hood in the UK is the front end of a coat.
12. Bacon in the UK is a delicious form of pork - as succulent as it is tasty. Bacon in the US is a dried substance that is good for striking matches.
13. Pants in the US are worn outside of undergarments. Pants in the UK are always worn inside of ones trousers (unless you are Madonna or Cameo).
14. A basement in the UK is a place for storing coal. A basement in the US is a place for storing Canadians.
15. Ice cream in the US is actually made of cream. Ice cream in the UK is actually made out of corrigated cardboard.
16. In the UK a sandwich is a single slice of meat layered in bread. In the US it is the entire animal with the bread on the side.
17. In the UK a motor race involves turning corners. In the US this also means turning corners but usually only one way (left).
18. Over 95% of cars in the UK are manuals. Over 95% of cars in America are automatics.
19. Most distressed tourists in England are Americans attempting to drive manual cars on the wrong side of the road. Most distressed tourists in America are English attempting to eat sandwiches without understanding the concept of 'the box'.
20. The English drive on the left so they can hold a sword in their right hands as they pass attacking oncomers. Americans drive on the left because they wanted to annoy the invading English (true).

I have many many more to share - and over time I will. Thats it for now.

Happy thanksgiving everyone, I miss Rochesher as much as I miss England when Im away from it.

As a proud Brit this time of year always depresses me a little - no bonfire night or fireworks on the 5th (technically I could probably make my own but the fireworks bit would get me a arrested in the state of New York) and no poppies adorning the lapels of most of the country. Let me explain for the Americans. Every year it is seen to be the 'done thing' to purchase a paper poppy (red in colour with a ludicrous green plastic stem) and to wear that up to and beyond remembrance Sunday. Its a kind of national bonding where we remember what we owe and to whom. All the presenters on TV wear them, politicians, entertainers - the lot. And out here I kind of feel left out of this because its well past poppy season and I dont have many options. So, enter Rose and her mother-in-law. Rose + Mum want to go to Buffalo's Galleria (a lot better than the yarn shop I can tell you). Neil gets to drive (lucky me). Neil enters mall having noticed that just about ALL of the cars in the car park are Canadian. Neil sees lots of Canadians wearing red poppies (fabric ones interestingly, not paper) - Neil misses England but has a smile on his face knowing that the Canadians really are just like us back home. So, point of the story - shared culture, shared history. Other interesting things you probably dont know about the shared issues: both nations are addicted to Coranation Street, both eat apple pie with cheddar cheese, both love flat caps and Barbour jackets (if what I saw in the mall yesterday is representative), both proudly fly the Union Jack (despite independence), both claim to have special relationships with each other and my new home - America.

Rose and I recently spent a weekend in a lovely bed and breakfast in the Adirondack mountains. The Saranak Club and Inn is a wonderful boutique bed and breakfast off of Lake Saranac. I cannot recommend this place highly enough to you - with only 6 rooms though you should book well in advance. I was very pleasantly surprised by the customer service I was offered. The owners weren’t around (having scampered off to New York city) and we were taken care of by a Macedonian couple that were as charming as they were conspicuous by their absence (the best kind of hosts in these situations). A few little tales of service for you: I enquired about the in room fireplace - next thing I know it's ready to be lit. I ask about decent restaurants in the area - next thing I know, Nick is on the phone and I have reservations. They even had wifi for me so I could watch England get a thrashing by South Africa in the Rugy world cup on my trusty UK Slingbox (alas, we did what we English do so very well - we lost - gracefully of course). The trip was also memorable by the drive to and from the location - just 5 hours from Rochester, through some very quaint villages and of course the mountain range itself. Such a shame that New York is thought of primarily by its City and not its beauty upstate. I would though recommend it highly to you.

The first ten are always the most challenging… I am of course referring to my students. I always find myself spending over half an hour on each paper reading, analyzing, and reflecting on how I can help someone improve. That was the start of my day, working hard. Reading, analyzing and writing. So, after five hours I decided that was enough - Ive done enough with ten students to go on home and spend a little time watching the Rugby World Cup. England - my team - my glorious team - world cup winners of the last tournament - against the French - THE FRENCH - AS IN IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO WE PLAY OR WHETHER WE BEAT OR NOT SO LONG AS WE BEAT THE FRENCH - especially on French Soil… we won. We won. We are in the final. And it has me thinking, why aren't the Americans in longing for this game? You would LOVE this game you really would… so you play with pads… we forgive you… you try to play with your worst players… we forgive you… you want to go to the video screen within 3 seconds - WE FORGIVE YOU… but just imagine, beating the French on French soil - IN PARIS… this we cannot forgive, nor wish upon anyone… to feel it you have to play America… England. England beat France. England beat France. We are in the final. Don't expect much from me next weekend. Sorry Rose… Dont expect much this week - England beat France… we beat France.

What a way to start the weekend - England thumping Australia (our favourite past time) in the Rugby World Cup. Courtesy of my slingbox at home I got to watch the entire match from work and yelped along with 60 other million Brits as we moved aside one of the favourites of the tournament. What I love about beating Australia is the furore of the media leading up to and then after such an encounter. The comments were particularly vicious this year and aimed squarely at the English. It seems the entire rugby world love to hate us. Which is just fine - especially when we win. Only my father predicted the outcome (in his usual unreservedly positive manner). Then, lo and behold as if things couldn't get any better - the French do it to NZ. That means a semi final between the old foes the French and the English in due course. Next Saturday will be a wonderful match. I cant wait!

Students knocking on my old door worry not! Neil Hair has not left the building, in fact he has not even left the floor. I am now settled into a new office space that has the much lauded window. A golden opportunity to grow my much loved and prized orchids! The only down side to this move is leaving behind wonderful 1950's steel desks and adequate space for my bottled water collection. I will learn to live with such emotionally trying circumstances as I catch the occasional glimpse of Bambie in the woodlands or the ferrel cats that live in the same space.

I learnt today of the death of a former student that I taught from the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2001 whilst at RIT. Salmi Campillo died of a heart attack following a tug of war game at Lancaster University in the UK July 3rd 2006 whilst sitting a masters in finance course. Salmi was a wonderful student, had a great sense of humor and produced first class work throughout my class. She also refused to call me anything other than 'teacher' - even after she graduated. Rest in peace Salmi. You're missed.

I read with concern a recent decision by the UK immigration services to deny entry and citizenship to one of our own foreign legion 'Gurkhas' who'd won the Victoria Cross in world war two for his valor on the field in Burma. In fact I feel so strongly about it I wanted to blog about it. For those of you that dont know, the UK government decided back in the 1800's to enlist the support of a group of insurgents who fought viciously against the East India Company (British owned) for many years. In fact the British military establishment considered the 'Gorkhas' the fiercest combatants they had ever faced (the sort that openly laugh at the SAS and marines these days for eating their cornflakes out of bowls and dressing wounds). They continue to this day to serve the country - for instance in Iraq until recently they guarded the coalition provisional authority compound in Baghdad. These guys - in militaristic terms - really are the best out there. Dedicated, honest, loyal and above all else fierce. The 84 year old veteran wants to move to the UK for health reasons and I for one (who paid British taxes to support the national health service for many years) say simply - let him in. Not because he's earned the right, but because we owe it to him. I for one want this sort of a person living in the UK. It adds greatly to our national spirit the same way America supports the entrance of those who want to be part of American society. The difference in this case though, is that Gurkha Pun has proved his worth on the field. Time to prove our own off of it. Follow his cause here: http://www.vchero.co.uk/

Finally it's over. I can relax - grades in, courses finished, graduation over, ready for some much needed RnR. The two day celebration has been one of the best, I avoided major sun damage on Friday's outdoor ceremony, I saw Stan Hoi recieve his Eisenhart award, Tom Prey in his last before retiring, and most importantly my friend Milagros cross the stage getting her MBA!! Way to go Milly!! On the down side the college looses a number of great students - too many - most of them in the Marketing field. This year is particularly bad for it. Good luck Dan, Inga, Kaz, Greg, Heidi, Nik, David, Tamira, Akira, Steve, Ryan, Lazo, Ram, Isha, Nuno, and the list goes on - stay in touch and out of trouble. You'll be missed. Like I said last year around this sort of time, it's the only downside to the job.