Otto's Random Thoughts

I don't have a lot to add that I haven't written before here. So below is a list of links to previous articles dealing with the 1943...

Finally, I have gotten through the semester. Which is good. Because I am supposed to be resting.

Today I had to come to campus to pick up my final exams from the printer for tomorrow. But, it gave me a chance to check my email since the ...

Finally, I now have a two day break before final exams begin. I had hoped to get done with everything else by Thursday. But, I had to work a...

Today is the final day of classes. Exactly zero students showed up to my 8:00 am class. I have three more classes to teach today. I have can...

It turns out that today is not the last day of classes. Evidently I have to teach a full day Sunday as well. I am not sure what is the point...

Today is the penultimate day of classes. The final day of lectures is Thursday. After that there is a reading week during which I am going t...

There are only two days of teaching left, then reading week, and then final exams. Next semester I will have fewer classes to teach and I am...

Today I slept in until 7 am and then went to the bank. Afterward I took a cab to work and took care of some email correspondence. I then put...

The smart phone is one of those things like tattoos or driver's licenses that I have never owned and will never own. I am convinced that...

To any American readers I might have, Happy Thanksgiving. I had to work a full day today. But, I do get Friday off. On Saturday I have to do...

I just survived a 7.3 earthquake with an epicenter near Halabja about 32 kilometers away. I had just come home from dinner and was laying on...

Today I took a taxi to work at about 10:15 am. I had to man the Social Science exhibition table in the cafeteria from 11:00 am to 11:30 this...

Today I took the 7:30 am bus to work, grabbed a cup of tea, and proceeded to cover the history of the world from 1919-1939 for my first clas...

Today is the first day of November. I don't teach classes on Mondays and Wednesdays so I can do other stuff. I got up early this morning...

Last night I had sheep's stomach stuffed with rice. The rice was seasoned with raisins and almonds. I also had sheep's feet in soup....

My article, "Kurds in the USSR, 1917-1956" is now out in the latest issue of Kurdish Studies.  

Last night I had the best meal I have ever eaten in Kurdistan. I ate boiled sheep's head including the brain and tongue. It came in a so...

The last couple of days have been quite calm here in Sulaimani. I have largely been preoccupied with teaching four classes with three preps....

The semester is now half way done. Today I had four classes and a never ending stream of students during my office hours. AUIS still remains...