The theme of this pubski seems to be truth and lies (and cold). In addition I just read this story posted by scrimetime about a huge liar - a well-known reporter who made up stuff and published them in magazines and then got caught. (Example: a story about a convention of Monica Lewinsky memorabilia.)

Along with the theme, here's what happened in my world:

My students were giving a presentation today on "Building Trust" as a necessary component of effective team work. We were in our secondary room (a large, long room) found for us by the university when they bump us from our fancy more desirable room. When I arrived at the room at 8:30 this morning, the students who were presenting had moved all the desks to the edges of the room and stacked other desks on top of them. All that was left was a circle of 60 chairs.

At noon the next class started to arrive, so we cleared out pretty quickly. As I was leaving, the next teacher, looking quite disgusted started commanding her students to put the desks and chairs back in rows. She said to me, "Was the room like this when you got here?"

"Yes," I quickly answered and slipped out as she mumbled about how inconsiderate everyone at this university can be, etc. etc.

For a moment, I felt guilty. I lied. My class had altered the room.

My students were waiting to meet me. I told them that I had lied and there was a ring of Hell reserved for liars. And mid-story -- I stopped. "Wait a minute." I said, "I didn't lie. The room was like that when I got there. I was responding honestly to the question." I felt better knowing that I hadn't lied outright.

(I think the default for desks should be some round or semi-circular configuation -- if you can even find a room these days with movable desks -- however, no one much agrees with me.)