#universityofkansas — Public Fediverse posts

NBA draft prospect Caleb Wilson says Kobe Bryant is someone he studies https://www.rawchili.com/nba/736413/ #Basketball #BenWallace #BrighamYoungUniversity #CalebWilson #CameronBoozer #DarrynPeterson #DukeUniversity #KobeBryant #NBA #NBADraft #NBARadio #UniversityOfKansas #UniversityOfNorthCarolina

Featured news and headlines | KU News

LAWRENCE — The academic conference, where scholars meet to present research, exchange ideas and build professional networks, are…
#Environment #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #UniversityofKansas
https://www.europesays.com/2986593/

Featured news and headlines | KU News https://www.byteseu.com/2016223/ #environment #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #UniversityOfKansas

Most Big 12 Schools Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Line https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/885461/ #BaylorUniversity #Big12 #centerpiece #CollegeSports #ColoradoBuffaloes #Football #HoustonCougars #IowaState #NCAA #NCAAFootball #RedBirdCapital #tcu #TexasTechUniversity #UniversityOfCentralFlorida #UniversityOfCincinnati #UniversityOfKansas #UniversityOfUtah #WestVirginiaUniversity

Most Big 12 Schools Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Line https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/885461/ #BaylorUniversity #Big12 #centerpiece #CollegeSports #ColoradoBuffaloes #Football #HoustonCougars #IowaState #NCAA #NCAAFootball #RedBirdCapital #tcu #TexasTechUniversity #UniversityOfCentralFlorida #UniversityOfCincinnati #UniversityOfKansas #UniversityOfUtah #WestVirginiaUniversity

Most Big 12 Schools Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Line https://www.rawchili.com/4994988/ #BaylorUniversity #Big12 #centerpiece #CollegeSports #ColoradoBuffaloes #Football #HoustonCougars #IowaState #ncaa #NcaaFootball #NCAAF #RedBirdCapital #TCU #TexasTechUniversity #UniversityOfCentralFlorida #UniversityOfCincinnati #UniversityOfKansas #UniversityOfUtah #WestVirginiaUniversity

Most Big 12 Schools Turning Down $30M RedBird Credit Line https://www.rawchili.com/4994988/ #BaylorUniversity #Big12 #centerpiece #CollegeSports #ColoradoBuffaloes #Football #HoustonCougars #IowaState #ncaa #NcaaFootball #NCAAF #RedBirdCapital #TCU #TexasTechUniversity #UniversityOfCentralFlorida #UniversityOfCincinnati #UniversityOfKansas #UniversityOfUtah #WestVirginiaUniversity

Ex-Jayhawk and NBA veteran Greg Ostertag elected mayor in east Texas https://www.rawchili.com/nba/727861/ #Basketball #GregOstertag #IndianaPacers #Jazz #KarlMalone #NBA #NCAAMidwestRegional #SacramentoKings #TheJayhawks #UniversityOfKansas #Utah #UtahJazz #UtahJazz

Likely 2027 No. 1 NBA draft pick Tyran Stokes makes his college decision https://www.rawchili.com/nba/724575/ #2026RecruitingClass #Basketball #BillSelf #NBA #NBADraft #RainierBeachHighSchool #TyranStokes #UniversityOfKansas #USABasketball

https://www.europesays.com/africa/196466/ Featured news and headlines | KU News #Africa #Jayhawks #kansas #ku #lawrence #UniversityOfKansas

Today in Boston Celtics history: White draft Cousy NBA-record 19 assists; Abdul-Aziz born

Today in Boston Celtics history, The Boston Celtics selected Hall of Fame point guard Jo Jo White with…
#NewsBeep #News #NBA #AU #Australia #BostonCeltics #Brooklyn #CincinnatiRoyals #GoldenStateWarriors #HoustonRockets #JoJoWhite #lakers #LosAngeles #MilwaukeeBucks #NBAchampionships #OklahomaCityThunder #sports #UniversityofKansas #ZaidAbdul-Aziz
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/591182/

Today in Boston Celtics history: White draft Cousy NBA-record 19 assists; Abdul-Aziz born

Today in Boston Celtics history, The Boston Celtics selected Hall of Fame point guard Jo Jo White with…
#NewsBeep #News #NBA #AU #Australia #BostonCeltics #Brooklyn #CincinnatiRoyals #GoldenStateWarriors #HoustonRockets #JoJoWhite #lakers #LosAngeles #MilwaukeeBucks #NBAchampionships #OklahomaCityThunder #sports #UniversityofKansas #ZaidAbdul-Aziz
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/591182/

Today in Boston Celtics history: White draft Cousy NBA-record 19 assists; Abdul-Aziz born https://www.rawchili.com/nba/703063/ #Basketball #Boston #BostonCeltics #BostonCeltics #Brooklyn #Celtics #CincinnatiRoyals #GoldenStateWarriors #HoustonRockets #JoJoWhite #Lakers #LosAngeles #MilwaukeeBucks #NBA #NBAChampionships #OklahomaCityThunder #UniversityOfKansas #ZaidAbdulAziz

Featured news and headlines | KU News

LAWRENCE — Joshua Newman, associate dean for research and Sara Lavinia de Keni Endowed Professor at Florida State…
#UnitedStates #US #USA #america #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #science #technology #unitedstatesofamerica #UniversityofKansas
https://www.europesays.com/2866574/

https://www.europesays.com/ie/364049/ Featured news and headlines | KU News #Éire #IE #Ireland #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #Science #UniversityOfKansas

https://www.europesays.com/africa/93744/ Lawrence, Rock Chalk Park to host Algerian men’s soccer team for World Cup #2026 #2026WorldCup #Algeria #basecamp #kansas #KansasCity #KUJayhawks #lawrence #RockChalkPark #summer #TeamAlgeria #UniversityOfKansas #wibw #WibwSports

The University Daily Kansan: More than a century of KU student newspapers now available online. “The University of Kansas Libraries has published a new online collection of historical campus newspapers dating back to 1878…. The digital collection includes the University Daily Kansan, which has been publishing since 1912, but it also includes seven other previous campus papers.”

The University Daily Kansan: More than a century of KU student newspapers now available online. “The University of Kansas Libraries has published a new online collection of historical campus newspapers dating back to 1878…. The digital collection includes the University Daily Kansan, which has been publishing since 1912, but it also includes seven other previous campus papers.”

The University Daily Kansan: More than a century of KU student newspapers now available online. “The University of Kansas Libraries has published a new online collection of historical campus newspapers dating back to 1878…. The digital collection includes the University Daily Kansan, which has been publishing since 1912, but it also includes seven other previous campus papers.”

The University Daily Kansan: More than a century of KU student newspapers now available online. “The University of Kansas Libraries has published a new online collection of historical campus newspapers dating back to 1878…. The digital collection includes the University Daily Kansan, which has been publishing since 1912, but it also includes seven other previous campus papers.”

https://www.fogolf.com/1148396/featured-news-and-headlines-ku-news/ Featured news and headlines | KU News #Golf #GolfNews #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #UniversityOfKansas

https://www.fogolf.com/1148396/featured-news-and-headlines-ku-news/ Featured news and headlines | KU News #Golf #GolfNews #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #UniversityOfKansas

Kansas football quarterback Jalon Daniels declares for 2026 NFL Draft

Kansas football coach Lance Leipold explai…
#nfl #nfldraft #NFLDraft #American #AmericanFootball #Audience #CCJ #CCJAudience #College #CollegeSports #Content #Football #Jayhawks #Kansas #KansasJayhawks #KansasJayhawksFootball #KS #KSContentSharing-Sports #National #NationalSports #news #NFL #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Positive #Sharing #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityofKansas
https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/609007/

Kansas football quarterback Jalon Daniels declares for 2026 NFL Draft

Kansas football coach Lance Leipold explai…
#nfl #nfldraft #NFLDraft #American #AmericanFootball #Audience #CCJ #CCJAudience #College #CollegeSports #Content #Football #Jayhawks #Kansas #KansasJayhawks #KansasJayhawksFootball #KS #KSContentSharing-Sports #National #NationalSports #news #NFL #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Positive #Sharing #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityofKansas
https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/609007/

Kansas football quarterback Jalon Daniels declares for 2026 NFL Draft https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/609007/ #American #AmericanFootball #Audience #CCJ #CCJAudience #College #CollegeSports #Content #Football #Jayhawks #Kansas #KansasJayhawks #KansasJayhawksFootball #KS #KSContentSharingSports #National #NationalSports #news #NFL #NflDraft #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Positive #Sharing #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityOfKansas

Kansas football quarterback Jalon Daniels declares for 2026 NFL Draft https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/609007/ #American #AmericanFootball #Audience #CCJ #CCJAudience #College #CollegeSports #Content #Football #Jayhawks #Kansas #KansasJayhawks #KansasJayhawksFootball #KS #KSContentSharingSports #National #NationalSports #news #NFL #NflDraft #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Positive #Sharing #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityOfKansas

KU’s Jalon Daniels declares for NFL Draft

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The star signal caller for the University of Kansas football team is taking his…
#nfl #nfldraft #NFLDraft #CollegeFootball #espn #Football #JalonDaniels #JalonDanielsenteringNFLdraft #Jayhawkfootball #kake #KansasCityStar #ksn #kufootball #kwch #LawrenceJournalWorld #NFL #UniversityofKansas #WichitaEagle
https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/608626/

KU’s Jalon Daniels declares for NFL Draft

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The star signal caller for the University of Kansas football team is taking his…
#nfl #nfldraft #NFLDraft #CollegeFootball #espn #Football #JalonDaniels #JalonDanielsenteringNFLdraft #Jayhawkfootball #kake #KansasCityStar #ksn #kufootball #kwch #LawrenceJournalWorld #NFL #UniversityofKansas #WichitaEagle
https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/608626/

KU’s Jalon Daniels declares for NFL Draft https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/608626/ #CollegeFootball #espn #Football #JalonDaniels #JalonDanielsEnteringNFLDraft #JayhawkFootball #kake #KansasCityStar #ksn #KuFootball #kwch #LawrenceJournalWorld #NFL #NflDraft #UniversityOfKansas #WichitaEagle

KU’s Jalon Daniels declares for NFL Draft https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/608626/ #CollegeFootball #espn #Football #JalonDaniels #JalonDanielsEnteringNFLDraft #JayhawkFootball #kake #KansasCityStar #ksn #KuFootball #kwch #LawrenceJournalWorld #NFL #NflDraft #UniversityOfKansas #WichitaEagle

Featured news and headlines | KU News https://www.byteseu.com/1479030/ #Croatia #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #UniversityOfKansas

Featured news and headlines | KU News

LAWRENCE — In 2024, the Japanese government successfully petitioned UNESCO to declare the venerable process of sake brewing an “intangible cultural heritage.” But the history of sake itself is largely unknown to most people outside of Japan.  “Like sushi, it’s one of the touchstones …
#Japan #JP #JapanNews #Japanese #Japanesenews #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #news #UniversityofKansas
https://www.alojapan.com/1392703/featured-news-and-headlines-ku-news-4/

Featured news and headlines | KU News

LAWRENCE — In 2024, the Japanese government successfully petitioned UNESCO to declare the venerable process of sake brewing an “intangible cultural heritage.” But the history of sake itself is largely unknown to most people outside of Japan.  “Like sushi, it’s one of the touchstones …
#Japan #JP #JapanNews #Japanese #Japanesenews #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #news #UniversityofKansas
https://www.alojapan.com/1392703/featured-news-and-headlines-ku-news-4/

Featured news and headlines | KU News https://www.byteseu.com/1402484/ #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Jayhawks #Kansas #KU #Lawrence #UniversityOfKansas

Annual book festival highlights voices from across Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Washburn University library hosted the 14th annual Kansas Book Festival, Satu…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Books #14th #1966 #Basketball #BillCurtis #Book #Entertainment #Festival #FIERCE:MyFightForNothingLess #ForGod’ssake #Kansas #ku #library #MarianWashington #takecover #Tornado #university #universityofkansas #Washburn #Whirlwind #Women's
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/172751/

Annual book festival highlights voices from across Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Washburn University library hosted the 14th annual Kansas Book Festival, Satu…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Books #14th #1966 #Basketball #BillCurtis #Book #Entertainment #Festival #FIERCE:MyFightForNothingLess #ForGod’ssake #Kansas #ku #library #MarianWashington #takecover #Tornado #university #universityofkansas #Washburn #Whirlwind #Women's
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/172751/

On Cosm(et)ology

Every now and then I clean out my spam folder, usually finding a number of junk conference invitations. Most of them are tedious but sometimes I get a funny one that I post on here. The latest batch included this one.

I suppose the confusion between cosmology and cosmetology was to be expected at some point. I am of course something of an expert on ageing (sic), having managed to age quite considerably over the last 60-odd years. I also have a strong interest in the make-up of the Universe, especially through the foundations of physics. I’d even be tempted to attend the meeting were I not teaching on the dates concerned. I might reply suggesting they invite a colleague of mine here in Ireland, Dermot O’Logy.

Anyway, this gives me an excuse to post the following rehash of one of my old posts, this I one that dates from 2008..

–o–

When asked what I do for a living, I’ve always avoided describing myself as an astronomer, because most people seem to think that involves star signs and horoscopes. Anyone can tell I’m not an astrologer anyway, because I’m not rich. Astrophysicist sounds more impressive, but perhaps a little scary. That’s why I usually settle on “Cosmologist”. Grandiose, but at the same time somehow cuddly.

I had an inkling that this choice was going to be a mistake at the start of my first ever visit to the United States, which was to attend a conference in memory of the great physicist Yacov Borisovich Zel’dovich, who died in 1989. The meeting was held in Lawrence, Kansas, home of the University of Kansas, in May 1990. This event was notable for many reasons, including the fact that the effective ban on Russian physicists visiting the USA had been lifted after the arrival of glasnost to the Soviet Union. Many prominent scientists from there were going to be attending. I had also been invited to give a talk, the only connection with Zel’dovich that I could figure out was that the very first paper I wrote was cited in the very last paper to be written by the great man.

I think I flew in to Detroit from London and had to clear customs there in order to transfer to an internal flight to Kansas. On arriving at the customs area in the airport, the guy at the desk peered at my passport and asked me what was the purpose of my visit. I said “I’m attending a Conference”. He eyed me suspiciously and asked me my line of work. “Cosmologist,” I proudly announced. He frowned and asked me to open my bags. He looked in my suitcase, and his frown deepened. He looked at me accusingly and said “Where are your samples?”

I thought about pointing out that there was indeed a sample of the Universe in my bag but that it was way too small to be regarded as representative. Fortunately, I thought better of it. Eventually I realised he thought cosmologist was something to do with cosmetics, and was expecting me to be carrying little bottles of shampoo or make-up to a sales conference or something like that. I explained that I was a scientist, and showed him the poster for the conference I was going to attend. He seemed satisfied. As I gathered up my possessions thinking the formalities were over, he carried on looking through my passport. As I moved off he suddenly spoke again. “Is this your first visit to the States, son?”. My passport had no other entry stamps to the USA in it. “Yes,” I said. He was incredulous. “And you’re going to Kansas?”

This little confrontation turned out to be a forerunner of a more dramatic incident involving the same lexicographical confusion. One evening during the Zel’dovich meeting there was a reception held by the University of Kansas, to which the conference participants, local celebrities (including the famous writer William Burroughs, who lived nearby) and various (small) TV companies were invited. Clearly this meeting was big news for Lawrence. It was all organized by the University of Kansas and there was a charming lady called Eunice who was largely running the show. I got talking to her near the end of the party. As we chatted, the proceedings were clearly winding down and she suggested we go into Kansas City to go dancing. I’ve always been up for a boogie, Lawrence didn’t seem to be offering much in the way of nightlife, and my attempts to talk to William Burroughs were repelled by the bevy of handsome young men who formed his entourage, so off we went in her car.

Before I go on I’ll just point out that Eunice – full name Eunice H. Stallworth – passed away suddenly in 2009. I spent quite a lot of time with her during this and other trips to Lawrence, including a memorable day out at a pow wow at Haskell Indian Nations University where there was some amazing dancing.

Anyway, back to the story. It takes over an hour to drive into Kansas City from Lawrence but we got there safely enough. We went to several fun places and had a good time until well after midnight. We were about to drive back when Eunice suddenly remembered there was another nightclub she had heard of that had just opened. However, she didn’t really know where it was and we spent quite a while looking for it. We ended up on the State Line, a freeway that separates Kansas City Kansas from Kansas City Missouri, the main downtown area of Kansas City actually being for some reason in the state of Missouri. After only a few moments on the freeway a police car appeared behind us with its lights blazing and siren screeching, and ushered us off the road into a kind of parking lot.

Eunice stopped the car and we waited while a young cop got out of his car and approached us. I was surprised to see he was on his own. I always thought the police always went around in pairs, like low comedians. He asked for Eunice’s driver’s license, which she gave him. He then asked for mine. I don’t drive and don’t have a driver’s license, and explained this to the policeman. He found it difficult to comprehend. I then realised I hadn’t brought my passport along, so I had no ID at all.

I forgot to mention that Eunice was black and that her car had Alabama license plates.

I don’t know what particular thing caused this young cop to panic, but he dashed back to his car and got onto his radio to call for backup. Soon, another squad car arrived, drove part way into the entrance of the parking lot and stopped there, presumably so as to block any attempted escape. The doors of the second car opened and two policemen got out, kneeled down and and aimed pump-action shotguns at us as they hid behind the car doors which partly shielded them from view and presumably from gunfire. The rookie who had stopped us did the same thing from his car, but he only had a handgun.

“Put your hands on your heads. Get out of the car. Slowly. No sudden movements.” This was just like the movies.

We did as we were told. Eventually we both ended up with our hands on the roof of Eunice’s car being frisked by a large cop sporting an impressive walrus moustache. He reminded me of one of the Village People, although his uniform was not made of leather. I thought it unwise to point out the resemblance to him. Declaring us “clean”, he signalled to the other policemen to put their guns away. They had been covering him as he searched us.

I suddenly realised how terrified I was. It’s not nice having guns pointed at you.

Mr Walrus had found a packet of French cigarettes (Gauloises) in my coat pocket. I clearly looked scared so he handed them to me and suggested I have a smoke. I lit up, and offered him one (which he declined). Meanwhile the first cop was running the details of Eunice’s car through the vehicle check system, clearly thinking it must have been stolen. As he did this, the moustachioed policeman, who was by now very relaxed about the situation, started a conversation which I’ll never forget.

Policeman: “You’re not from around these parts, are you?” (Honestly, that’s exactly what he said.)

Me: “No, I’m from England.”

Policeman: “I see. What are you doing in Kansas?”

Me: “I’m attending a conference, in Lawrence..”

Policeman: “Oh yes? What kind of Conference?”

Me: “It’s about cosmology”

At this point, Mr Walrus nodded and walked slowly to the first car where the much younger cop was still fiddling with the computer.

“Son,” he said, “there’s no need to call for backup when all you got to deal with is a Limey hairdresser…”.

#Ageing #Cosmetology #Cosmology #Kansas #LawrenceKansas #UniversityOfKansas

On Cosm(et)ology

Every now and then I clean out my spam folder, usually finding a number of junk conference invitations. Most of them are tedious but sometimes I get a funny one that I post on here. The latest batch included this one.

I suppose the confusion between cosmology and cosmetology was to be expected at some point. I am of course something of an expert on ageing (sic), having managed to age quite considerably over the last 60-odd years. I also have a strong interest in the make-up of the Universe, especially through the foundations of physics. I’d even be tempted to attend the meeting were I not teaching on the dates concerned. I might reply suggesting they invite a colleague of mine here in Ireland, Dermot O’Logy.

Anyway, this gives me an excuse to post the following rehash of one of my old posts, this I one that dates from 2008..

–o–

When asked what I do for a living, I’ve always avoided describing myself as an astronomer, because most people seem to think that involves star signs and horoscopes. Anyone can tell I’m not an astrologer anyway, because I’m not rich. Astrophysicist sounds more impressive, but perhaps a little scary. That’s why I usually settle on “Cosmologist”. Grandiose, but at the same time somehow cuddly.

I had an inkling that this choice was going to be a mistake at the start of my first ever visit to the United States, which was to attend a conference in memory of the great physicist Yacov Borisovich Zel’dovich, who died in 1989. The meeting was held in Lawrence, Kansas, home of the University of Kansas, in May 1990. This event was notable for many reasons, including the fact that the effective ban on Russian physicists visiting the USA had been lifted after the arrival of glasnost to the Soviet Union. Many prominent scientists from there were going to be attending. I had also been invited to give a talk, the only connection with Zel’dovich that I could figure out was that the very first paper I wrote was cited in the very last paper to be written by the great man.

I think I flew in to Detroit from London and had to clear customs there in order to transfer to an internal flight to Kansas. On arriving at the customs area in the airport, the guy at the desk peered at my passport and asked me what was the purpose of my visit. I said “I’m attending a Conference”. He eyed me suspiciously and asked me my line of work. “Cosmologist,” I proudly announced. He frowned and asked me to open my bags. He looked in my suitcase, and his frown deepened. He looked at me accusingly and said “Where are your samples?”

I thought about pointing out that there was indeed a sample of the Universe in my bag but that it was way too small to be regarded as representative. Fortunately, I thought better of it. Eventually I realised he thought cosmologist was something to do with cosmetics, and was expecting me to be carrying little bottles of shampoo or make-up to a sales conference or something like that. I explained that I was a scientist, and showed him the poster for the conference I was going to attend. He seemed satisfied. As I gathered up my possessions thinking the formalities were over, he carried on looking through my passport. As I moved off he suddenly spoke again. “Is this your first visit to the States, son?”. My passport had no other entry stamps to the USA in it. “Yes,” I said. He was incredulous. “And you’re going to Kansas?”

This little confrontation turned out to be a forerunner of a more dramatic incident involving the same lexicographical confusion. One evening during the Zel’dovich meeting there was a reception held by the University of Kansas, to which the conference participants, local celebrities (including the famous writer William Burroughs, who lived nearby) and various (small) TV companies were invited. Clearly this meeting was big news for Lawrence. It was all organized by the University of Kansas and there was a charming lady called Eunice who was largely running the show. I got talking to her near the end of the party. As we chatted, the proceedings were clearly winding down and she suggested we go into Kansas City to go dancing. I’ve always been up for a boogie, Lawrence didn’t seem to be offering much in the way of nightlife, and my attempts to talk to William Burroughs were repelled by the bevy of handsome young men who formed his entourage, so off we went in her car.

Before I go on I’ll just point out that Eunice – full name Eunice H. Stallworth – passed away suddenly in 2009. I spent quite a lot of time with her during this and other trips to Lawrence, including a memorable day out at a pow wow at Haskell Indian Nations University where there was some amazing dancing.

Anyway, back to the story. It takes over an hour to drive into Kansas City from Lawrence but we got there safely enough. We went to several fun places and had a good time until well after midnight. We were about to drive back when Eunice suddenly remembered there was another nightclub she had heard of that had just opened. However, she didn’t really know where it was and we spent quite a while looking for it. We ended up on the State Line, a freeway that separates Kansas City Kansas from Kansas City Missouri, the main downtown area of Kansas City actually being for some reason in the state of Missouri. After only a few moments on the freeway a police car appeared behind us with its lights blazing and siren screeching, and ushered us off the road into a kind of parking lot.

Eunice stopped the car and we waited while a young cop got out of his car and approached us. I was surprised to see he was on his own. I always thought the police always went around in pairs, like low comedians. He asked for Eunice’s driver’s license, which she gave him. He then asked for mine. I don’t drive and don’t have a driver’s license, and explained this to the policeman. He found it difficult to comprehend. I then realised I hadn’t brought my passport along, so I had no ID at all.

I forgot to mention that Eunice was black and that her car had Alabama license plates.

I don’t know what particular thing caused this young cop to panic, but he dashed back to his car and got onto his radio to call for backup. Soon, another squad car arrived, drove part way into the entrance of the parking lot and stopped there, presumably so as to block any attempted escape. The doors of the second car opened and two policemen got out, kneeled down and and aimed pump-action shotguns at us as they hid behind the car doors which partly shielded them from view and presumably from gunfire. The rookie who had stopped us did the same thing from his car, but he only had a handgun.

“Put your hands on your heads. Get out of the car. Slowly. No sudden movements.” This was just like the movies.

We did as we were told. Eventually we both ended up with our hands on the roof of Eunice’s car being frisked by a large cop sporting an impressive walrus moustache. He reminded me of one of the Village People, although his uniform was not made of leather. I thought it unwise to point out the resemblance to him. Declaring us “clean”, he signalled to the other policemen to put their guns away. They had been covering him as he searched us.

I suddenly realised how terrified I was. It’s not nice having guns pointed at you.

Mr Walrus had found a packet of French cigarettes (Gauloises) in my coat pocket. I clearly looked scared so he handed them to me and suggested I have a smoke. I lit up, and offered him one (which he declined). Meanwhile the first cop was running the details of Eunice’s car through the vehicle check system, clearly thinking it must have been stolen. As he did this, the moustachioed policeman, who was by now very relaxed about the situation, started a conversation which I’ll never forget.

Policeman: “You’re not from around these parts, are you?” (Honestly, that’s exactly what he said.)

Me: “No, I’m from England.”

Policeman: “I see. What are you doing in Kansas?”

Me: “I’m attending a conference, in Lawrence..”

Policeman: “Oh yes? What kind of Conference?”

Me: “It’s about cosmology”

At this point, Mr Walrus nodded and walked slowly to the first car where the much younger cop was still fiddling with the computer.

“Son,” he said, “there’s no need to call for backup when all you got to deal with is a Limey hairdresser…”.

#Ageing #Cosmetology #Cosmology #Kansas #LawrenceKansas #UniversityOfKansas

KU football dismantles Wagner in Week 1 https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/328089/ #Big12 #CamPickett #CollegeFootball #DanielHishaw #DavidBoothKansasMemorialStadium #DeshawnHanika #EmmanuelHenderson #Football #friday #HeadCoach #JalonDaniels #Jayhawks #Kansas #KuFootball #LanceLeipold #NCAA #NCAAFootball #quarterback #RunningBack #Seahawks #TightEnd #UniversityOfKansas #wagner #WeekOne #wibw #WibwSports #WideReceiver

KU football dismantles Wagner in Week 1 https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/328089/ #Big12 #CamPickett #CollegeFootball #DanielHishaw #DavidBoothKansasMemorialStadium #DeshawnHanika #EmmanuelHenderson #Football #friday #HeadCoach #JalonDaniels #Jayhawks #Kansas #KuFootball #LanceLeipold #NCAA #NCAAFootball #quarterback #RunningBack #Seahawks #TightEnd #UniversityOfKansas #wagner #WeekOne #wibw #WibwSports #WideReceiver

Jalon Daniels was PFF’s highest rated QB of week 0, with a 90.1

The terminology “week zero” will always seem strange to me. Every year, week zero comes and goes, and…
#nfl #nfldraft #NFLDraft #American #AmericanFootball #College #CollegeSports #Football #Jayhawks #Kansas #KansasJayhawks #KansasJayhawksFootball #National #NationalSports #news #NFL #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Positive #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityofKansas
https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/320526/

Jalon Daniels was PFF’s highest rated QB of week 0, with a 90.1

The terminology “week zero” will always seem strange to me. Every year, week zero comes and goes, and…
#nfl #nfldraft #NFLDraft #American #AmericanFootball #College #CollegeSports #Football #Jayhawks #Kansas #KansasJayhawks #KansasJayhawksFootball #National #NationalSports #news #NFL #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Positive #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityofKansas
https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/320526/

Panthers announce CB change in roster move on Friday https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/237057/ #12 #American #AmericanFootball #Big #Carolina #CarolinaPanthers #CarolinaPanthers #Conference #Devonshire #Football #Hub #Kansas #Las #LasVegasRaiders #MJ #MJDevonshire #National #NationalSports #NCAA #NCAABig12Conference #news #NFL #NFLHub #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Panthers #Positive #Raiders #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityOfKansas #Vegas

Panthers announce CB change in roster move on Friday https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/237057/ #12 #American #AmericanFootball #Big #Carolina #CarolinaPanthers #CarolinaPanthers #Conference #Devonshire #Football #Hub #Kansas #Las #LasVegasRaiders #MJ #MJDevonshire #National #NationalSports #NCAA #NCAABig12Conference #news #NFL #NFLHub #of #Overall #OverallPositive #Panthers #Positive #Raiders #Sports #SportsNews #University #UniversityOfKansas #Vegas

#OTD in 1892 a #Presbyterian minister named #JamesNaismith published his rules for the game of "Basket Ball", which developed as an indoor recreational activity at the #Springfield #YMCA during long Massachusetts winters. Naismith was hired as a chaplain at The #UniversityofKansas soon after, and part of his duties included teaching phys ed which eventually evolved into being the obvious choice as the school's #basketball coach. Despite supposedly "inventing" the game in 1898, somehow during his tutelage, he became the only #CollegeBasketball #Coach with an overall losing team record in the entire history of the #KansasJayhawks. Here is a rare WOR #RadioInterview recording that was uncovered in the 21st century where Naismith describes inventing #theGame

https://youtu.be/5yxk6pb64F8

Locations around the globe are experiencing #ClimateDisasters on a regular basis.

Some of the most #marginalized populations experience disasters so often it has come to be normalized.

A #NewStudy from #UniversityOfKansas found residents of a #Seoul #SouthKorea, neighborhood have grown so accustomed to living through extreme #climate events they've developed a “disaster subculture” that challenges views of reality & how social agencies can help.

https://www.preventionweb.net/news/marginalized-communities-develop-disaster-subculture-when-living-through-extreme-climate

#AsianMastodon

started a #wikipedia article on US physician, birth control advocate, Louise de Schweinitz Darrow (1897-1997): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_de_Schweinitz_Darrow @wikiwomeninred #smithcollege #pediatrics #UniversityofKansas

#Missouri #woman #sues #UniversityofKansas #hospital that #denied her an #emergency #abortion.

#MylissaFarmer was ‘#heartbroken, in #pain and #terrified’ after two #emergency #departments refused to #treat her while experiencing a #miscarriage in 2022

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #WomensRights #Pregnancy #Conservatives #Extremism #Fascism #Religion #Hategroups #RepublicanParty #Hate #Bigotry #Discrimination #Misogyny #ThePartyOfHate #EmptyThePews

https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/31/missouri-woman-sues-university-of-kansas-hospital-emergency-abortion/

Really happy to see that the unionizing efforts at my workplace have come to bear fruit!

Graduate Teaching Assistants were already unionized (to much benefit) and now this is for faculty and academic staff!

Here is the press release:
https://unitedacademicsku.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/uaku-press-release.pdf

And here is where to request your card:
https://uaku.org/

#KU #UniversityOfKansas #LFK #Union #UnionStrong #KSpol #KSpoli #Kansas

started a #wikipedia article on Russian-language educator and Romance literature scholar, Ludmilla Buketoff Turkevich (1909-1995), first woman lecturer at Princeton University, chair of Russian department at Douglass College of Rutgers University: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludmilla_Buketoff_Turkevich @wikiwomeninred #NYU #UniversityofKansas @rutgersu @princetonuniversity #Cervantes