1 A friend says her problem is not only the lack of resources, conditions, and funding for research, it is the lack of a research culture. She says she needs a research culture, and she clearly does not consider this need to be a personal failing. She believes it is normal. As we know, I … More Academic Mondays: Research Culture II
…Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea… I can do outdoor painting with no trouble, but the oily sealant I finally found to put on the porch caused an allergic reaction costing $111 and a few bad days, as we know. Then, in a moment of madness, I started painting the kitchen, … More Distress Alert
I am now asked not to try to change peoples’ ways of communicating and I wonder what this directive means or to what event it refers. Last year that Blackguard informed me that one of our colleagues was too old and ugly to be raped, but that I was not yet. I said, I beg … More Blackguard: “She Does What Her Cunt Hairs Dictate”
I spent $111 on eye treatment after having an allergic reaction to paint and sealant. It worked and I felt better and better, and even dreamed. And it is the weekend, so we should be at a fish restaurant in Lima listening to live criollo music, because that is what one does on weekends. Axé.
This is Friday, Oxalá’s day. The sun makes the cobblestones shine like silver, and everyone is wearing white. Axé.
Blackguard (PhD 2008): You have been working here all these years and you are clearly incompetent, because there are flaws in this program. Professor Zero (mildly): Yes, there are flaws. There were once even more flaws. (Aside:) If you only knew how much competence was required to create the PhD level position that resulted in … More Long Suffering
Not being clean the place smelled ripe. The proprietors attempted to mask this by putting the air conditioning on cold and the fan on high. Those of us familiar with frozen lands already knew how a cold breeze draws attention to grime. Axé.
This radio show is about a book I really want to read. Before modern 24-7 life and constant streetlight, humanity was terrified and transfixed by the mystery of the pure, dark, night. The time after sunset was given over to criminals and demons, night terrors and moonstruck lunatics — the night was a menacing world … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: The Secret History of Night
Here is the traditional commercial neighborhood of La Victoria in Lima, Peru, as it is today. This video is actually rather flattering and it is fun because of the soundtrack — this is how people really talk. Here is the same district as it was between 1908 and 1945, with a scratchy soundtrack by the … More La Victoria
I do not enjoy painting or carpentry. I had dinner with a friend who discussed the lack of research culture here, the poor holdings at the library, the fact that so many faculty do not appear to come from a research culture themselves, and the lack of funding for research. She is attempting to adjust … More Academic Mondays: Research Culture I
coldhearted scientist وداد 