How many funerals of colleagues have you attended in the past six months? I have attended three, the most recent one having been this week. All of these people were old-style professors in different fields of literature. I can tell I am in the 21st century with so many gone. These are people who got … More On funerals
The answer to this question is easy. If they say research is not part of your job description it is not too bad. You can do research as your hobby and even keep a lot of it off the version of your vita you give them. If they say research is part of your job … More How do academics get alienated from their work?
Pace the dolce far niente and Paul Lafargue (who, as I have just learned, was born in wealth on a coffee plantation in Santiago de Cuba) we will ask the question: do you think anyone has the right to desire or to aspire to inspiring work? Or, should people simply be grateful for “the opportunity to … More And another public opinion poll
Here is a bronze statue of one of my ancestors. I could visit it in Vicksburg. That is one of those places where, when I go through, I can hardly believe I am there. It serves espresso now but Mark Twain would recognize it. Like Natchez it stands on bluffs above the Mississippi, on U.S. … More Vicksburg Blues
These are the Dansko Harper in oiled black. I bought them this afternoon, so I am grateful. They are amazingly comfortable and they make me feel competent. This semester I have acquired more shoes at once than ever before, because due to this foot problem I developed all my former shoes had to go. I … More Merci
GOOD: The Emeritus Professor, back then. In elementary school when I wrote my first research paper he explained how to plan a project. How much time do you have, weeks to deadline? How long must the paper be, and how short can it be? How much time per day do you have to devote to … More On good and bad mentors
At Dame Eleanor Hull work is being done on two sets of questions. One set is on mentoring: Do you feel you were well-mentored, ill-mentored, or just not mentored? What was the best piece of advice you got from a mentor? Where did one of yours go spectacularly wrong? How are you/would you like to … More Meta-research
As we know, I am in a writing group and committed to do research and ideally, writing daily. I always have a few minutes for this, no matter what, but I want to spend more time than that. I need to, if I am to get anything truly significant accomplished. I also deserve to because … More Public Opinion Poll
1. I am not a full professor so I do not say so in my signature line. Some of the instructors, however, the ones with the M.A.s, sign like this: Rex Prince Professor of English Vichy State University This is why the students obey them more easily, and believe they supervise the assistant and associate … More Coda to understanding everything.
I am not interested in this, but I need to be. I would be more interested if we did not have a cumbersome textbook and website package to navigate, and if we had a/v that really worked. I am getting more interested because I am getting a part-time TA to whom I need to be … More How can I become more interested than I am in teaching basic Spanish courses, to the language requirement?
coldhearted scientist وداد 