Brighter Planet, a Middkid alumni project, is running a special One Day Carbon Free campaign.

First five people to click below will get a free day carbon free!

UPDATE: Try this link if you aren’t one of the lucky five clicking above…

Even as the movement to make course and teacher evaluations public wanes in the face of final exams, it is important to note that Evaluations matter. Non-tenured tenure-track teachers depend on good evaluations to boost their chances for tenure. Prof. Laurie Essig can tell you a tale about that. And while tenured professors don’t care as much, they do care about merit-pay and their self-esteem.

And on a more basic level, do your teachers and furture students a service in penning thoughtful evaluations with constructive ways to improve the class. It’s way too easy to want to leave class early and submit a blank sheet — but that does not one any good. Take the time, help a future Middkid.

Shameless plug:

My quick (and non-scientific) calculation finds that the cost of a Middlebury education ($49,210) represents 98% of the median annual income ($50,233 in 2007) for an American family.

Read about how College May Soon Become Unaffordable for Most Americans (NYTimes.com).

…published college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007, adjusted for inflation, while median family income rose 147 percent.

(via Wesleying)

First of what I’m sure will be several Sight&Sound II videos! Take a peek, well worth it…

Ever since I’ve come to Middlebury, I’ve been keeping a running tab of all of the things that are different about Middlebury and home (small-town Louisiana, for those interested).  However, the one thing that gets to me the most is that people at Middlebury generally don’t like to say hi.  Have you ever noticed that?  I’m sure you have every time you’ve walked on the sidewalk.

The general consensus I hear on why people don’t say hi while walking on the sidewalk is because they think of it as “creepy” or “pointless.”  But this is really interesting to me because back home, it’s only natural to acknowledge someone walking near you with a greeting.  I’m unsure if it’s just a courtesy or culture–maybe it’s both.  Whatever the reason, though, you can’t deny how warm it makes you feel–and possibly the other person–to say a simple hello when you see someone.  It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; a simple smile would even suffice.

It’s almost winter… Let’s spread the warmth a bit more.  And while we’re at it, feel free to share your opinions on this.

Like MI:6 but lowercase…

Friday December 5th, @51 Main
Workshop/Lecture 5pm-6pm; Concert 8:30pm-10:30pm

The mi3 is a jazz trio featuring Pandelis Karyorgis on Fender Rhodes,  Nate McBride on bass, and Curt Newton on drums, has been described by Michael Anton Parker of the Downtown Music Gallery as “a trio with an elite post-jazz keyboardist smearing a Fender Rhodes electric piano over a snap-crackle-pop free jazz rhythm section.”   At 5pm, in an open rehearsal format, the trio will play and discuss aspects of their music-making process including approaches to improvisation, arranging and group interplay. They will also discuss their experience using the Fender Rhodes instead of the piano and how that has affected their recent work. The audience will be welcome to ask questions and partake in the conversation. Beginning at 8:30pm,  the trio plays a concert featuring creative interpretations of Theolonious Monk, Sun Ra, and Eric Dolphy, as well as original compositions. Both the workshop and the concert are free and open to the public. For more on the mi3, please visit: http://karayorgis.com/mi3.html

(from Lucas)

MiDDialogue wants to know: If you could change one thing about how you live your life, what would you change?

This is in lead-up to the “last lecture” series that is being planned for J-term. Don’t know what a “last lecture” is? Check Canegie Mellon’s Randy Pausch.

Check it:

Ever wonder who reads MiddBlog? According to the Typealyzer analysis, y’all are “Doers”:

The Doers

The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

Is it true?

(via EverythingRandom)