I have studied my procrastination habits and seen three things: a) as we know, if one does not take “down time” deliberately, one ends up taking it anyway by fiddling around, such that resting up takes longer. b) I do not procrastinate research, but I do end up doing procrastination activities on days when I … More On “procrastination”
I went to our university’s football game. Furthermore, I liked it. It was very relaxing, actually, and I might have become a fan. I find this hard to believe. It reminded me most of live theatre. But it also resembles Mardi Gras. It brings the community together with elements of fear, pity, and catharsis. It … More Uncharacteristic
If you are not from the US you may not realize that people in the US hate unions nowadays, but now they do. Hate unions. You know, those organizations that brought you child labor laws, the 8 hours day, the minimum wage, the weekend, and more? They hate them. They see union members as time … More Why do people hate unions?
I have a committee-type role that ends in summer and that I am fairly sure I will be asked to renew. Remind me to say no despite how interesting the committee is and how educational. There are other interesting and educational activities. I also want to be reminded not to plan the language courses I … More Otro recordatorio
“They do not have your back the way a normal administrator would.” This is the problem, yes. Unlike my interlocutor I am not surprised at this, but I will say that the feeling of instability one has living under caudillos in addition to the fact thereof is truly detrimental to progress. Look at any history … More Quotation of the day
…as a character in this weblog. But now da whiteman is always external, because we have consolidated our resistance identities once more. On m’a dit: the structure of the town is opposed to progress; it is not our fault; it is important not to internalize things, and to remember that they and not we are … More Return of da whiteman
I never thought I could justify having post traumatic stress disorder but now from the outside, after more than twenty years, I can see how it had to be this and how like a war or similar set of disasters the roots of it really were. I had it long before arriving where I live … More Other states, or, an example of why education and research are good for people personally and not just as career training and certification.
I can already tell what my report will be, I did nothing all week but grade furiously, work for courses that bring memories I would rather not have. I did figure out how, for the first time ever, to give a seminar next fall that will both fit departmental needs AND student interests AND my … More That Writing Group, Again
The other post would be a description of a workplace dominated by lower classmen terrified and resentful about the language requirement, new assistant professors concerned about research and teaching evaluations, and serious about the language program and worried about tenure, and instructors and adjuncts resentful that there were any assistant professors at all and who … More Et encore
I should have a flyer placed surreptitiously under everyone’s door saying “Don’t fret — organize,” but I will have a sticker made to put on student compositions and it will say: DON’T TRANSLATE, COMPOSE! Axé.
