On Sunday Mexico is having elections and they will be narco-elections. I am sure interesting courses are given nationwide on the drug economy and the narco culture. I would like to develop one as well (or, actually, take one.) I wish I were an economist. I wish I fully understood the ways in which the … More Armed Men, or, ¡Ay, Sinaloa! and ¡Ay, Tamaulipas!
Someone with a PhD about two weeks old, and not from the most prestigious institution at that, and a publication or two said to me, “I know you think you have caught a big fish by hiring me, so I am going to take the role of center forward here.” It was not the right … More What Not to Say At Work
I have seen reference made to the perils that afflict so many graduate students: anxiety, self-doubt, fear, paralysis, and shame. I have suffered from these things only since becoming a professor, and it has been due to harassment — and also, I see darkly, due to having ministered too kindly to people suffering from the … More A Question on Graduate School
Google the title of this post if you do not know what I am talking about. It is an interesting story, but I have another. One day long ago I was sitting at a large table in the LSU Student Union, because my office was too small for this work and the then new hangout, … More Dominique Homberger
It was about my late article, and it has been sent. I am very happy about that and much relieved. It went through four drafts in this space. Self flagellation was progressively removed from it. My problem is that the politics at work have had me emotionally exhausted for so long. I keep hoping I … More And Now: The Actually Important Memo
Perhaps my versions of a memo yesterday were unsatisfactory because they were too restrained, and thus sounded too formal (and as I said, either too worried, or too challenging, or both). I wrote a more informal, less careful version that Sue liked better and Human liked less. I am erasing all rejected versions so I … More I Want to Speak
My vote after considering this matter is not to speak, even though I was irritated then and have some concerns now. Reasons to speak are that it is important to stand for truth, claim dignity and hold ground. Reasons not to speak are to avoid raising spectres and to show strength by rising above. A … More To Speak or Not to Speak
Summer has arrived here. I can tell because spring clothing has stopped being functional. I do not really like air conditioning, but I use it. Following on a comment by Hattie I had a thought: is the meaning of the sentence “Do not focus on your work, take care of yourself” actually “Do not focus … More A Chilling Translation
“Dedicated, innovative teacher,” said my annual evaluation. This is perfectly true but teaching is really something I can take or leave. I do not dislike it, and I know how. I think it should be done well, and I do not mind. But really I am a very old fashioned research-1, teaching-2, service-3 person (despite … More Academic Mondays: On Not Liking to Teach
One wonders what is culturally “white” and what we used to mean when we would say, “That is so white” or “Ze is so white.” After having some realizations I think two key elements in whiteness are envy and competitiveness. I am not suggesting these elements do not also exist outside whiteness; I suggest only … More White Characteristics
coldhearted scientist وداد 