I met some really fascinating people today, folks. I met a union organizer who, in this election, managed, together with her comrades, to turn an entire county in Texas completely blue. The sheriff, the mayor, two judges. Took them 15 years, but they did it.

I met an undergraduate student whom his professor brought to give his very first scholarly talk. He is such a curious young man, with such a complex intellectual life at such a young age that it’s a joy to see him.

I met a colleague who, at almost 60, has the intellectual agility of a very brilliant 25-year-old.

We had great conversations, and I feel very hopeful and happy right now. Trump, schmump, and a broken sump, whatever. For as long as we have people working, figuring things out, reading good books, talking, and living the life of the intellect, we’ll be fine.

So how do you, folks, feel about the petition for the electoral college to vote for Hillary because she won the popular vote?

I very much understand the sentiment, and I don’t judge the people who are doing it, but I have my baggage, and it makes me terrified of any subversion of the democratic process no matter how noble the goal. Trump won according to the existing rules, that’s it for me. Plus, imagine the backlash if all his voters are thwarted in their legitimate win. No, I can’t support.

I met one of the readers of this blog in person for the first time, and within 2 minutes I knew from the way she talked and comported herself that she was American aristocracy. And I was right.

I’m good. Maybe I should become a citizen if I get this kind of thing.

This is what is scaring people away from Democrats:

Some DNC staffers started to boo and some told him to sit down. Brazile began to answer, but Zach had more to say.

“You are part of the problem,” he continued, blaming Brazile for clearing the path for Trump’s victory by siding with Clinton early on. “You and your friends will die of old age and I’m going to die from climate change. You and your friends let this happen, which is going to cut 40 years off my life expectancy.”

If it’s not corrupt older people, it’s self-involved young hysterics. Who wants to be associated with this freak show? So people just sit it out.

I was just told I can apply for citizenship, by the way. I hope Democrats stop putting on such a ridiculous show by the time I get it. They need to know how off-putting they look.

I’ve just seen the most beautiful woman ever. Judging by the hands, she is about 70. It is incredible to have the kind of skin and hair that she has at her age. 

I’m like the fellow in that old joke about a Soviet engineer who says, “I tell my wife I’m with the mistress. I tell the mistress I’m with the wife. And in the meanwhile, I hide in a corner and work, work, work.”

All I’ve done in Houston is hide in dark corners to work on my book. Loving Houston so far.

Hey, folks, I just heard about this right now and I don’t know if it’s true. Is it true that questions from the CNN debate were passed to Hillary’s campaign in advance?? Or is it a clumsy?

Because if it’s true, that’s the kind of thing that would make me stay home on election day (if I were a voter.?

Conservatives are acting embarrassingly, too. When they don’t lash out in inexplicable rage, they whine and moan that they need safe spaces and that their fee-fees are hurt by somebody else not organizing celebrations for them.

There is so much anger and pouting going on among Trump supporters that you’d think their candidate lost. It’s weird when people whose side lost go to pieces but when those who won do it, that’s just bizarre.

Will we spend the next 8 years hearing conservatives flip out and ask for safe spaces?

A fantastic article on academic publishing. If you are thinking of going into academia, look at the list as a test. If the list doesn’t excite and energize you, you won’t be happy in academia.

Read the comments as a kind of test, too. These whiny, pouty, self-pitying folks will be your colleagues. Is your excitement about the list big enough to carry you through the horror of their company?