MathFest
So, which of these would give you the most stress:
1) Every couple of years, I team-teach what the Mathematical Association of America calls a "minicourse," two 2-hour sessions on a topic designed so the "students" can use these things in their own courses. My team-mate is Bill Dunham, one of the two people who won the MAA's national teaching award the very first year they had one. There's me, on stage for four hours with one of the best teachers in the world. Enough stress for you?
2) I'm in Knoxville. Tomorrow I supposedly fly back to Connecticut. Orange Alert !!! Arrive two hours early for a 7:30 flight. Start an hour from the airport ($35 cab fare). No water bottles. Horror stories abound, lost luggage, confiscated gel-soles, huge delays. Any stress in that?
3) Besides the minicourse, I gave a half-hour "ballroom" talk, not the "big enchillada" full-hour ballroom talk, but at least a "large taco." I've just started and the lens falls out of my glasses. I can't see to read my transparencies. Worse, I can't see my audience. For me, this is a disaster, because I always watch my audience closely for clues to their reactions, and I can't read their faces.
Which one stresses me the most? Not Bill Dunham. After the minicourse, he makes a point of saying how exciting it is for him to teach with me. His wife, separately, says how much he's been looking forward to doing this with me again because it is so exciting. My head swells right back to its usual size. No stress there.
Orange alert? I resent it. I think that it is irrational over-vigilance driven by authorities who think they need to be seen to be doing something and spending money. Big Stupid, but I'll get home eventually.
No glasses? There's the stress. I couldn't read my slides, and I can't see my audience.
Which one would stress you?
1) Every couple of years, I team-teach what the Mathematical Association of America calls a "minicourse," two 2-hour sessions on a topic designed so the "students" can use these things in their own courses. My team-mate is Bill Dunham, one of the two people who won the MAA's national teaching award the very first year they had one. There's me, on stage for four hours with one of the best teachers in the world. Enough stress for you?
2) I'm in Knoxville. Tomorrow I supposedly fly back to Connecticut. Orange Alert !!! Arrive two hours early for a 7:30 flight. Start an hour from the airport ($35 cab fare). No water bottles. Horror stories abound, lost luggage, confiscated gel-soles, huge delays. Any stress in that?
3) Besides the minicourse, I gave a half-hour "ballroom" talk, not the "big enchillada" full-hour ballroom talk, but at least a "large taco." I've just started and the lens falls out of my glasses. I can't see to read my transparencies. Worse, I can't see my audience. For me, this is a disaster, because I always watch my audience closely for clues to their reactions, and I can't read their faces.
Which one stresses me the most? Not Bill Dunham. After the minicourse, he makes a point of saying how exciting it is for him to teach with me. His wife, separately, says how much he's been looking forward to doing this with me again because it is so exciting. My head swells right back to its usual size. No stress there.
Orange alert? I resent it. I think that it is irrational over-vigilance driven by authorities who think they need to be seen to be doing something and spending money. Big Stupid, but I'll get home eventually.
No glasses? There's the stress. I couldn't read my slides, and I can't see my audience.
Which one would stress you?