Why didn’t I think of this for grad school?

Posted on September 30, 2003

Given recent discussions about law school, passing the bar, and so forth around these parts, this item at The Smoking Gun seemed somewhat apropos. Who could imagine a résumé as creative and wacky as that getting negative feedback from law firms? I mean, I’d hire a guy who was proactive enough as to assure me of the following in his cover letter: “If a piece of evidence was accidentally dropped into the garbage, I would have no problem going to the local dump and spending days covered knee-deep in the worst foul-smelling sludge imaginable to search for the evidence.” After all, what law firm wouldn’t want a guy who’s just serious enough to dig through trash if necessary, but not quite serious enough to file a legitimate résumé and cover letter? Is there an “eye-rolling” emoticon out there?

Meanwhile, teedz already linked to this at his weblog yesterday, but it’s just too good not to pass along: ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Home Despot. That reminds me–I really should fire up Tropico again now that my days of studying for comps are behind me.

Short Circuit 3?

Posted on September 29, 2003

Paging Dr. Robot
Doctor in robot’s body tested at Johns Hopkins

I, for one, welcome our new robotic health-care-providing overlords.

My favorite time of year

Posted on September 28, 2003

I got up this morning to take Milo and Dexter outside and was surprised to discover that autumn had suddenly arrived in Georgia (or at least the Georgia equivalent of autumn). Crisp air, a bit of a breeze, the smell of fallen leaves–absolutely perfect. Now, I get to spend my Sunday afternoon engaged in one of my favorite autumn rituals: watching football on television while grading essays for my class.

No, seriously.

Whew

Posted on September 27, 2003

I finished my comprehensive exams yesterday! w00t! For the first time in about a month, my stomach isn’t churning from stress. When it was all said and done, I ended up writing 36 typed pages for my comparative politics exam in just under seven hours–all closed-book. Of course, it will be a couple of weeks before I know if I passed or not, but I’m cautiously optimistic.

+5 Cable Modem of Downloading

Posted on September 23, 2003

I received a message from my broadband provider, Charter Communications, earlier today via Western Union. Here’s what it had to say…

Charter Communications wants to thank you for being a customer by giving you the best High Speed Internet experience yet–at no additional cost to you! Our company has been undergoing significant technological changes as we have upgraded our broadband networks. We understand that your service level may have been affected during this time. I am happy to report that we are now ready to move full speed ahead and we want to take you along by providing the fastest Charter Pipeline service ever! As a gesture of our appreciation for your business, we have increased the maximum download speed of your Charter Pipeline service to 2Mb/sec [from 400Kb/sec] at no additional cost to you. You don’t have to do anything to get this higher speed. Simply enjoy your enhanced Charter Pipeline the next time you go online. This increase in your download speed will remain in effect until March 2004.

The change has already gone into effect, and I have to say that 2Mb/sec is a quite an improvement over 400Kb/sec (now, if only I had something huge that I really needed to download). Of course, I don’t expect anyone to find this at all interesting. I’m really just posting it to tick off teedz.

The graduate ethic and the spirit of poverty

Posted on September 23, 2003

One comprehensive exam down (international relations), one to go (comparative politics). I spent most of today reacquainting myself with the works of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber–arguably the founding fathers of modern social theory. While pondering weak and weary, over a quaint and curious volume of forgotten Weberian lore, I stumbled across the following passage:

In the United States, the academic career usually begins in quite a different manner, namely, by employment as an ‘assistant’…. For it is extremely hazardous for a young scholar without funds to expose himself to the conditions of the academic career. He must be able to endure this condition for at least a number of years without knowing whether he will have the opportunity to move into a position which pays well enough for maintenance. In the United States, where the bureaucratic system exits, the young academic man is paid from the very beginning. To be sure, his salary is modest; usually it is hardly as much as the wages of a semi-skilled laborer. Yet he begins with a seemingly secure position, for he draws a fixed salary.

That’s an excerpt from a speech Weber delivered in 1918. You can say what you will about the guy, but one thing is certain: he was a keen observer of the graduate student condition.

Springtime for Castro

Posted on September 19, 2003

Castro musical in the works?
Costner linked to rumored film project

I guess Hollywood is finally paying attention to what Joe Moviegoer actually wants to see. Maybe I spoke too soon when I said that Kevin Costner should stick to Westerns and movies about baseball. Then again, I guess there’s plenty of room for baseball in a Castro musical.

On the other hand, when Ain’t It Cool News–proud disseminator of misinformation that it usually is–actually questions the veracity of such a rumor, I guess it’s wise to take it with a grain of salt.

How to fix Enterprise

Posted on September 18, 2003

I’ve been a fan of Enterprise ever since it debuted a couple of years back, but it looks like the series has a tough road ahead. Low ratings led the producers to overhaul the series this season, giving the ship a dangerous new mission into an uncharted region of space, adding a platoon of space marines to the crew, upping the sexual tension, and giving the characters–most notably Captain Jonathan Archer and Chief Engineer Trip Tucker–a somewhat harder edge to their personalities. It’s now two episodes into the new season, however, and things still just aren’t quite clicking. Then, while watching last night’s episode, it hit me. I know how to fix Enterprise. Captain Archer needs a catchphrase.

Just imagine an alien vessel bearing down on the Enterprise, phaser cannons firing away. Archer orders evasive maneuvers, bringing the ship around to return fire on the enemy. Now, just before he orders a full spread of photon torpedoes, he turns to the camera with a look of determination on his face and says, “When you mess with an Archer, you get the arrow. Fire, Mr. Reed!”

Boom. Instant ratings.

Athens 0wn3d j00, Melos

Posted on September 16, 2003

I’ve spent most of the day knee-deep in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, and I’ve come to the conclusion that my general distaste for Athens extends beyond my current surroundings to encompass the Athenian Empire–or, if you prefer, Delian League–of the fifth century BC.

In related news, I really need to stop studying so much.

The world is a vampire, sent to drain

Posted on September 15, 2003

Zwan Call it Quits
Corgan announces dissolution of second band in three years

Oh, well–it was fun while it lasted. I guess this means that I’ll just have to step up efforts in my ongoing search for new music.

Speaking of Homestar Runner…

Posted on September 15, 2003

Assuming I survive comprehensive exams, I’m considering rewarding myself with a stylish Homestar Runner t-shirt. I’m having a bit of trouble deciding which one I want, though. I’m currently torn between Trogdor Lite (with Majesty), the Homestar Classic, Homestar Running, and the Star Shirt. In classic weblog style, I implore you to help me make a decision on the day-to-day minutiae of my life.

I think it’s hella tight… and you guys need boyfriends.

Posted on September 15, 2003

The latest installment of the always-funny Teen Girl Squad is up at Homestar Runner. Let’s get ready to look SO GOOD!

Meanwhile, since this is a blog and blogs apparently require the occasional link to a personality quiz (I believe it’s in the End User License Agreement for the software), here’s the “Which member of Teen Girl Squad are you?” quiz. Apparently, I’m “So and So.” Or something.

Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don’t know.

Posted on September 13, 2003

It’s now less than a week until my comprehensive exams begin. A couple of days ago, my committee chair told me that I should try to enjoy these next couple of weeks as much as possible since I will never know as much about such a wide range of topics in the field again at any other time in my career. I still haven’t decided whether that prospect falls into the category of encouraging or disheartening.

Oh, and big ups to Bertrand Russell for the quotation in the subject line.

More silly pop culture stuff

Posted on September 11, 2003

The full theatrical trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill has finally hit the Web, and I’d say that it improves on the earlier teaser in just about every way imaginable. Jackie Brown didn’t quite “click” with me, but this one seems to be shaping up rather nicely.

Meanwhile, various sources confirm that Christian Bale is the new Batman. I’m not familiar with his work, but I’m looking forward to the prospect of what sounds like a “Year One” approach to the Batman mythos featuring a villain that hasn’t been done to death already.

Throw me the idol, I throw you the whip

Posted on September 11, 2003

B-Movie Feel For Indy IV
Adventure sequel opts for retro look

Well, that’s at least one fear I had about Indiana Jones 4 put to rest. Please, O Great and Powerful Gods of Responsible Film-Making, don’t let this project head down the same road as the recent revival of that other Lucasfilm property.

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