Ivete Sangalo, Carlinhos Brown
19/12/2009
It is the weekend in Bahia, the last weekend of spring. People are trying out their fireworks for New Year’s Eve already. We must sing. Axé.
About Facebook
19/12/2009
I originally got onto Facebook so I could communicate with the students. Facebook is usually up and the university computers are usually down, so Facebook is where we live. I have Facebook groups for some courses, and Blogspot or WordPress blogs for others. As I say, I would be glad to use Blackboard, WebCT, Moodle, … More About Facebook
Notes from Zero International
18/12/2009
It being the weekend, I bought German-Brazilian beer and put it in the freezer to chill. Each can cost $1. Prices now for most things here are more or less like U.S. prices, from what I can divine so far, although I think groceries are very slightly cheaper. A tank of butane costs almost $23 … More Notes from Zero International
Quotation of the Day
17/12/2009
“It is very hard to find people interested in literature — even in departments of literature!” Axé.
Calling All Brazilianists, and Anthropologists
15/12/2009
Can anyone explain to me the Bahian elites’ fascination with broken appliances? Another friend has noticed the same thing. Right now I have a broken refrigerator, a broken toilet, a broken television, broken VCR and DVD players, a broken lamp, and broken lighting in three rooms. All of this is considered normal. These items might … More Calling All Brazilianists, and Anthropologists
Flashlight
15/12/2009
1. Never travel without a flashlight. These are good for walking at night and opening exterior doors on uneven, unlit streets; in blackouts; and importantly, when the electrical wiring fails on your house. 2. I did not cook lunch, I bought it. I was rice, beans, manioc flour, fish stew with palm oil and hot … More Flashlight
On College Teaching, and on Paulo Freire
15/12/2009
People say professors lecture from ancient, yellowing notes, but mine lectured from drafts of their newest book manuscripts and invited their famous friends from other institutions to do the same. This is why, when I became a professor, the institutions I worked for seemed to me to be behind the times in terms of research … More On College Teaching, and on Paulo Freire
Peep!
14/12/2009
The advice to “just write, keep on writing,” does apply sometimes. But I think we, who have experience in such matters, know those times when we see them. We also need a place to write — the proverbial money and a room of one’s own. I might own this Brazilian house, for now, in a … More Peep!
Academic Mondays: Conversion to Tenure
14/12/2009
Dr. Crazy has made an excellent argument for tenure based upon its benefit to institutions and to students. Meanwhile, the AAUP is calling for the conversion of non tenure lines to tenure lines, and I agree. They say in part: By far the best stabilization practices are those that include the rigorous professional peer scrutiny … More Academic Mondays: Conversion to Tenure
What Does It Mean to Be a Revolutionary Today?
13/12/2009
Our comrade Slavoj, courtesy of Jennifer. I am in Brazil, where the wavelets lap. It is another planet and very relaxing in its third world, ascetic way. I think I fit in in South America a lot better than I do in the U.S. I should possibly move. Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 