One of the best things about working at a top-notch academic institution is that you’re always around people who have interesting ideas and a profound ability to communicate them. I’m an information sponge, so I’m grateful to reside among those who willingly satisfy my desire to absorb.

Peter Holms of Swarthmore’s own War News Radio filed a report on the Maine National Guard’s “Flat Soldier” program to help children feel the presence of parents who are deployed in Iraq.

Political Scientist James Kurth published an article “America’s Democratization Projects Abroad” in the October edition of the conservative American Spectator. (The Spectator!) It’s a excellent primer on a century of U.S. attempts to promote liberal democracy around the globe. It sounds to me like the E.U. may be better poised to play that role today. I guess that keeps us stuck playing the role of the World’s Cops.

Meanwhile, my blogging colleague Tim Burke is publicly hashing out the syllabi for two courses I’d love to take. (In that alternate universe where I currently have the time to take advantage of the benefit that allows me to take free courses.) The courses are “The Production of History” and “The History of Reading.” Tim gets assists from his colleagues at other institutions in the comments. It’s neat to watch a course taking shape in the public web.

That’s it for a few days. Now, the pie.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. And thanks to all who give.