Dr. Neil Hair

My favourite local beer (yes I'll admit it – its up there with the best of British beer in my humble opinion) won the third annual Final Pour competition held by someone I dont know in a house Im not aware of. The competition was an altered form of March Madness (I am told something to do with putting balls into nets? – strange custom but there you go) where guests bring a different variety of beers that they think their fellow guests will enjoy. You sample, you vote, and before long you have a final four. You get the picture. As I am currently in the midst of closing on a house, marking mid-term papers and dealing with a number of family issues here and back in the homeland – I occasionally allow myself to imagine R&R (thats rest and relaxation – not revise and resubmit) events. A wonderful idea if you ask me and I very much look forward to throwing my own final pour contest in the summer. I expect Honey Brown to do well once again.

Last night I attempted my first out of this world lecture on 'implementation' in Second Life. Its that time of the quarter where the facts of life – namely the importance of getting things done with our marketing/advertising plans – need to be addressed. Sue (my co-instructor) and I decided to try this as a one off to see how things went. So, from 7-8pm EST I presented a number of slides using an overhead projection system developed by guru and student Matthew Anthony. I (Neilio Negulesco) presented use of an exact replica of one of Saunders classrooms to a room of around 15 avatars (including Newsie Blessed, Sue's SL avatar). I was shocked by just how effective potentially this medium can be. Students arrived and naturally gravitated towards sitting in chairs to listen (thank you Colin for deciding to sit with your head half way through the podium desk). I took virtual questions as we progressed and used the sound system in SL to literally speak my mind through the slide transitions (jpeg versions of in class powerpoint slides). I thought it was an interesting variation in the virtual format that class was also meeting in the first life – without me – as we progressed. I consider myself a bit of a veteran in the delivery of online learning systems and for me this use of SL was different in a positive way. I could see students interacting with me and the environment – one would occasionally break into a dance for instance, and another would get up and sit in another place. What was interesting was that students in class were also interacting with each other. The result of that culminated in a feeling at the end of the lecture that something special and interesting had just ocured. I'm still mulling over the implications of this but I think they are potentially significant. I'm looking forward to getting students responses to this event and even more so – going 100% virtual in our forthcoming debrief in week 11. All of us will meet virtually in SL for conversations about our experiences online. For those of you who were part of this experience – thanks guys, I really enjoyed it.

So, after a few months of running around looking like a newbie I forked out $10 and went shopping. First thing that caught my eye was a Nehru suit – black of course. Next stop Shoes – leather and etched steel – just what the doctor ordered. Then I decided that my skin was bothering me and that my hair just wasnt hanging the way I wanted it. So I bought a face job and a new style (complete with 'blood' colouring). The whole process was very simple – probably too easy (since I had Matthew Anthony on hand to help I cant say it was difficult at all). I can see how people become addicted to the way in which they look (Ive heard some saying they own more SL clothing than they do in their real life). Next stop – a white Nehru suit to lecture in. And why not – its not as if its real!

Happy new year everyone! Several personal technological reflections for 07 that made a difference to my life this past year. The first was my new Intel Core Duo, my last big update was in 2003 – video processing on this new machine is ridiculously fast (almost realtime), my craving for Battle Field Two was fuel injected with the new graphics card (this is in fact a vast understatement) and my productivity dived (see last comment). I discovered the power of Facebook for research purposes and productivity sored, started using Second Life for commercial purposes (teaching) and gazed in awe at the coverage of google earth (to the point where sat with my father we could see his boat on the river Dart in Devonshire). Other than that however Ive remained wanting a little. No foldable screens, electronic paper, always on free wifi, GPS watches or Freddie Mercury 3D holographic concerts from the 1980's. I do though live in hope. I hope 2008 will bring the following for me in particular, a decent compact prosumer HD video camera, decent HD video processing software to go with it, decent HD DVD media to store it on (here's hoping) and my very own little island in Second Life to call home (complete with 60ft yatch) donated by some large organization.

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!