It appears that many people have more flexible schedules than I do, so I am going to leave it to them to protest on the steps of their respective state capitol buildings to point out that what we do is work. One of the reasons I have a less flexible schedule than some of you … More Transgressive Talent
Perhaps the reason the girls who envy the “golden boys” do so because they thought they would be in those kinds of positions one day. I never did, so I do not experience the same kind of resentment. I do envy the girls who are in the kinds of jobs where “golden boys” even exist, … More My Most Wicked Thoughts, Written Out
When was the idea that research was so hard for people with Ph.D.s invented? (I do note that in the mythology, it appears that research is only hard after you get the degree — before that, it is expected. This is symptomatic of the mythical nature of the idea that research is hard, I think.) … More An Idea
What do professors mean when they talk about their flexible work schedules? I understand when they say it about graduate school, although I point out that anyone who didn’t then make their own schedule and stick to it, did not make progress to degree and ultimately dropped out or was dropped from the program. I … More Another Iconoclastic Question
Scene: Christmas party. Person: So what are you doing for Christmas, Z? Graduate Student Zero: The main event is, go to the MLA. Professor for whom I am a Research Assistant [overhearing]: That is a bad idea. You have not filed your dissertation. You will have no interviews. Graduate Student Zero: I have seven. Do … More Further Examples of Poor Advice
I would say you have to commit to whatever you do, from mowing to centering clay to swimming to shore or rowing to the end of the lake; people know this. Committing to do your best – not the best, but your present best – is, in my experience, also the most expedient way of … More On Commitment
I decided it was time to renovate my curriculum vitae, so I have been doing it. This is for updating, refreshing, pruning, and reediting, but it is also so as to have a .txt ready to use to learn LaTex or at least Lyx with. Both programs have curriculum vitae templates and I have looked … More Vita Fetish
I saw this van in the parking lot of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Its front license plate says “Texas Turn-On.” I am multiplying it by five to create an art installation right here. At the state welcome center on the Sabine River I had seen a granite megalith erected in 1962 by … More Period Piece(s)
This is St. John’s Day and I’d like to have been in Recife seeing the quadrilles and dancing forró, or at a bonfire far enough north to see the northern lights. Next year I should actually go to a beach on St. John’s Eve and have the Danish celebration. I am glad Clarissa reminded me … More San Juan
“‘Wait for better times.’ That’s what the slaves always hear. ‘This is only temporary….‘” Part of the problem does seem to be that Gloria Steinem and others got as moderate as they needed to to still be seen as “reasonable,” and ended up saying nothing. “Wait for better times” is also precisely what my most … More A Good Point
coldhearted scientist وداد 