Manifesto, Again

I really, really understand that academic work is work. I have never doubted it and never not said it. I have been defending my broader field as work since freshman year, and my narrower field as work since graduate school. I have had to prove that what I do is work in more ways than … More Manifesto, Again

My Grading Innovation

What did you teach today? This semester I am teaching: Spanish 2 (30 students) Spanish 3 (50 students) Portuguese Reading and Composition: for seniors in Linguistics, and graduate students preparing for the reading examination (5 students) Latin American Film: one of those hybrid senior/graduate courses, a highly diverse group (15 students). I am also Secretary … More My Grading Innovation

Ain’t It Hard

The pictures in that video would have looked exotic to me at one time but they no longer do, as such scenes can still be seen. Someone else says: I’m tired of the confidence, the guys who act as if the wind is at their backs, all of which cloaks the true effort involved. Let’s … More Ain’t It Hard

Further Anti-Advice to New Faculty, and an Advising Question, Revised

 Addendum, Part A: I regularly get people into good PhD programs in my field and many of them, as well as those whose dissertations I directed or was on, now hold good jobs and high ranks. My advising question, below and now in red, has to do with the social sciences. I am still soliciting … More Further Anti-Advice to New Faculty, and an Advising Question, Revised

Vitriol, Part x(n)

The other reason I resent all the advisors who preach about how you should do a poor job teaching is that well known professors gave very responsible courses, that I took as an undergraduate, at one of the premier research institutions in the world. They had good materials, they prepared interesting essay questions, they did … More Vitriol, Part x(n)

Little Krishna

I last saw my cat, an important personage, exactly six months ago. I had named him Krishna. Earlier he had been called Melody, then Mel when he turned out to be a boy. I do not know what his name is now. Axé.

Rough Underbelly

“Police issued arrest warrants for the two for their roles in a bar fight Aug. 19 at Shady’s bar. BRPD contacted LSU Coach Les Miles and the players’ attorney, Nathan Fisher, to request the players turn themselves in, which they did at 10:15 a.m. at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.” Various people were quoted talking … More Rough Underbelly