Warning: Grad school-type bitching to follow.
The homework assignment for my geography class wasn't posted this morning, so instead I get to update. Lucky folks out there.
This week, the big news is that my colleagues annoy the piss out of me. Don't get me wrong: I love them to death. They're great people; fun, smart, and really sweet. But damn...
This week, our Director...
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The homework assignment for my geography class wasn't posted this morning, so instead I get to update. Lucky folks out there.
This week, the big news is that my colleagues annoy the piss out of me. Don't get me wrong: I love them to death. They're great people; fun, smart, and really sweet. But damn...
This week, our Director...
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VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
This weekend we did the big "there and back again" extravaganza. On Friday, we rented a car and trucked down to Champaign, since my wife was taking her big PCAT on Saturday. In terms of the PCAT? Well, she won't get the score for about a month - but my wife says she felt really good about it. So, there you go. Fingers crossed and...
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bredoteau:
Thanks, man. I'm bascially planning on knocking myself out.
Imagine this though: last year, me on a the flight out to Europe, within reaching distance of about 3 screaming babies. I think I watched the second Matrix movie 5 times. Everything else on there was even worse. Oh my.
Imagine this though: last year, me on a the flight out to Europe, within reaching distance of about 3 screaming babies. I think I watched the second Matrix movie 5 times. Everything else on there was even worse. Oh my.
pumpkineater:
pcat makes me violently ill just t think about. excuse me while i go throw up.
Because I'm a fool and a sadist [as galvagin pointed out, that should say *masochist.* but i think i'll leave it sadist, just to deflate my own ego by reminding me that i have a terrible vocabulary], I've joined a Foucault reading group. I mean, seriously, maybe some day I'll learn to say "no" to more commitments?
Despite my apparent lack of sense, I *am*...
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Despite my apparent lack of sense, I *am*...
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bredoteau:
I think the question of a Foucauldian categorical imperative is a good one, no matter how nervous it makes people (Marx actually refers to having his own c.i. at some point!). Obviously we have to be somewhat loose with it, but the point is, what is that Foucault wants to do? Smart 20th century thinkers know the problems with grand social projects, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to be done, even if it is humbler and simpler. I mean, come on, Arendt, Camus, the Frankfurt School--clearly these guys have aims.
After that brief line above about everything being dangerous, Foucault talks about critique as "always [giving] us something to do." And, well, I think we have to accept that at some point, while Foucault had an affinity towards the Frankfurt School, he really isn't a Marcuse (thinking of Eros and Civilization in particular here).
But, you really, really, really need to look at Foucault's very brief statement on human rights from 1984. In fact, I'm scanning it to .pdf for you today at work.
You guys really have to add Rabinow's The Foucault Reader and The Essential Foucault to your list. I was nowhere near understanding Foucault (if I am now) before I came across these books. And I think in here a lot of your concerns are addressed. Great short essays and interviews abound.
After that brief line above about everything being dangerous, Foucault talks about critique as "always [giving] us something to do." And, well, I think we have to accept that at some point, while Foucault had an affinity towards the Frankfurt School, he really isn't a Marcuse (thinking of Eros and Civilization in particular here).
But, you really, really, really need to look at Foucault's very brief statement on human rights from 1984. In fact, I'm scanning it to .pdf for you today at work.
You guys really have to add Rabinow's The Foucault Reader and The Essential Foucault to your list. I was nowhere near understanding Foucault (if I am now) before I came across these books. And I think in here a lot of your concerns are addressed. Great short essays and interviews abound.
ojaeflo:
I might bless you with holy status for that last inquiry, my good man. He's up top in my personal JLA pantheon as far as I'm concerned, so there you go...
Join us for the Nov. 4th Meet'n Greet, DOOD!!!
Join us for the Nov. 4th Meet'n Greet, DOOD!!!
Food Poisoning: It's even less fun than it sounds like.
(<-- not an exaggeration)
daversion:
i bet.
i can't say that i've ever had food poisoning with any certainty, but i *have* have nights (or wee early mornings* where i would forced awake by very stronger stomach pains, and then have to rush to the bathroom. sometimes i would just sleep next to the toilet with my head on the tub. luckily that hasn't happened in several years, but yeah...
anyway, i hope you get over this bout of
and will soon be ready for

i can't say that i've ever had food poisoning with any certainty, but i *have* have nights (or wee early mornings* where i would forced awake by very stronger stomach pains, and then have to rush to the bathroom. sometimes i would just sleep next to the toilet with my head on the tub. luckily that hasn't happened in several years, but yeah...
anyway, i hope you get over this bout of

And stuff.
So, all the philosophy types who read this, get ready to kick me in the head:
Jurgen (the Habermas) was here on Monday and I decided to not go see him speak. Even better: he wasn't giving a talk, he was *workshopping* a paper. This was once in a lifetime shit.
What can I say? I have about a milliion things to do...
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So, all the philosophy types who read this, get ready to kick me in the head:
Jurgen (the Habermas) was here on Monday and I decided to not go see him speak. Even better: he wasn't giving a talk, he was *workshopping* a paper. This was once in a lifetime shit.
What can I say? I have about a milliion things to do...
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obd:
haber-who? all right, I'm not one of those philosohy types...
galvagin:
Y'know, once upon a time I used to be really down on folks in my department who would skip talks and such. I would go to every single one, whether it was up my alley or not.
But then, I got old, and I got involved in my dissertation (and a bit burned out, to be honest), and I started to understand. You can't beat yourself up for being too busy and not enough interested. Your friend may have been helped by your feedback, Dr. H. probably wouldn't have started a deep friendship with you just because you went to his workshop.
But then, I got old, and I got involved in my dissertation (and a bit burned out, to be honest), and I started to understand. You can't beat yourself up for being too busy and not enough interested. Your friend may have been helped by your feedback, Dr. H. probably wouldn't have started a deep friendship with you just because you went to his workshop.
Here's the update...
I'm busy. Not quite in that "crazy, harried" way. But in a, "I have plenty to do, and I'm knocking htem down one by one" sort of way. It's all right.
Saw Serenity this weekend. The true, blue geek in me was pleased, despite the various agonies the movie brings on. The shitty thing about quality entertainment? Sometimes it has to hurt...
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I'm busy. Not quite in that "crazy, harried" way. But in a, "I have plenty to do, and I'm knocking htem down one by one" sort of way. It's all right.
Saw Serenity this weekend. The true, blue geek in me was pleased, despite the various agonies the movie brings on. The shitty thing about quality entertainment? Sometimes it has to hurt...
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galvagin:
Hey, congrats on finishing your comps! Now the easy part is over...
Speaking of, I'm reading a book on political science research methodology and dissertation writing, and it's blowing my mind. I wish I'd read something like this before writing my own diss... you guys really have your heads on straight.
And, if you want to move beyond kids' movies... ah, it's not worth it. But if you do, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of Our Brand Is Crisis. I think I ranted about it in my LJ already (actually, it's probably not out on DVD yet).
Speaking of, I'm reading a book on political science research methodology and dissertation writing, and it's blowing my mind. I wish I'd read something like this before writing my own diss... you guys really have your heads on straight.
And, if you want to move beyond kids' movies... ah, it's not worth it. But if you do, beg, borrow, or steal a copy of Our Brand Is Crisis. I think I ranted about it in my LJ already (actually, it's probably not out on DVD yet).
pumpkineater:
protests...you are quite right...i could spout off on some long diatribe about how i feel about this...but i think you probably already know what i'm going to say and you are feelin' it too...so i'll just sum it up with: BLAH.
It's Friday. Thank God. Don't get me wrong; this week was in no way a bad week. It was just a *crazy* week: all running around filling out forms and buying books and other crap and buying party supplies. It's nice to have the worst of that over.
Things look good for the quarter. My Maximum Likelihood class is going to be hell on wheels,...
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Things look good for the quarter. My Maximum Likelihood class is going to be hell on wheels,...
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pumpkineater:
you sound happy and excited, and thats a good thing.
you know, i had a college roommate who majred in geography at the u of c. i couldnt believe they 1. have that as a major and 2. some of the unusual (but seemingly cool) classes she had and 3. there were two others her year that were also geography majors. what cracked me up is, at the end of the year i guess they give out 3 awards...and i assumed it would be nice if they just gave each award to each of the three people...but nooooo, my roomate won all three, incurring the jealousy and hatred of the others. ha.
you know, i had a college roommate who majred in geography at the u of c. i couldnt believe they 1. have that as a major and 2. some of the unusual (but seemingly cool) classes she had and 3. there were two others her year that were also geography majors. what cracked me up is, at the end of the year i guess they give out 3 awards...and i assumed it would be nice if they just gave each award to each of the three people...but nooooo, my roomate won all three, incurring the jealousy and hatred of the others. ha.
pumpkineater:
the "new" profile pic is actually pretty old. but it is THE ONLY digital picture of me that exists in this universe.
I guess it's only wrong for the *other party* to play the blame game?
In case you had not heard, Michael Brown (professional fuck-up and former head of FEMA) now claims that all the problems in the Gulf Coast, post-Hurricane Katrina, were really the fault of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin. Sweet. Brown's only mistakes were, evidently, (and I paraphrase) failing to recognize the ineptitude...
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In case you had not heard, Michael Brown (professional fuck-up and former head of FEMA) now claims that all the problems in the Gulf Coast, post-Hurricane Katrina, were really the fault of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin. Sweet. Brown's only mistakes were, evidently, (and I paraphrase) failing to recognize the ineptitude...
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Classes begin tomorrow.
For the first time in a while, I don't really feel like going back to school. I just need to get back into the thick of it, and get my "schedule" set up for this quarter. Then I'll feel a bit better. I need to get my groove. Or something. Mostly, I think, it's about just taking the exam and feeling overwhelmed...
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For the first time in a while, I don't really feel like going back to school. I just need to get back into the thick of it, and get my "schedule" set up for this quarter. Then I'll feel a bit better. I need to get my groove. Or something. Mostly, I think, it's about just taking the exam and feeling overwhelmed...
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bredoteau:
Oh yeah, and the two party thing. I voted for Nader in the past 2 presidential elections, and in the first, I was definitely agreeing with him on the lack of a meaningful distinction between the two parties. However, that should be pretty damned clear now. I'll admit that I was wrong and that so was he, but how could anyone have seen 9/11 and its capitalization on and the political plague embodied in the administration--as orchestrated by that fuck, Karl Rove? I guess some foresaw the latter part, but damn.
bredoteau:
Oh yeah, my degree does nothing but confuse employers. I don't regret; it made me who I am.
I am trying to be proactive. And I really hope that luck goes my way this time.
I am trying to be proactive. And I really hope that luck goes my way this time.
The exam is over, and I generally survived it. In a lot of ways, yesterday was the worst day. When the questions came, I was LEAST certain about which one to tackle. At the end, after I turned it in, I felt really BAD. It was not so much that my answers over the past three days had been terrible.... It was a more sense...
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smithers_jones:
That's why you gotta sniff it.

sorry...