While cruising my normal popular culture websites, I ran into a disturbing article: the lovely dolts at Fox have given Drive the ax after what amounts to four episodes. Let me repeat that: four episodes. Another halfway smart and engaging television series thrown on the scrap heap before it can gain any momentum. What is wrong with people? How is it that crap like American Idol and Dancing with the Has Beens can pull in the ratings and anything that's remotely interesting can't? Seriously, I'm not that out of touch with the rest of our culture, but I just can't figure out the viewing tastes, or lack thereof, of the US American audience. I think I'll quit trying to watch shows on a first run basis and do everything via Netflix. It's not even worth my time to try and support anything new on the major networks.
UPDATE: Found the following while perusing the Talk Back at Ain't it Cool News. Read 'em. Memorize 'em. chromedome speaks nothing but the truth.
1) Fox doesn't care about you
2) Fox will screw you over every chance they get
3) Never EVER pay attention to a new Fox show until it is well into its second season
4) Watch other networks at every opportunity
5) Support Sponsors of Shows that are given a fair shot (these will NOT be on Fox)
6) Post your concerns on Message Boards, sign petitions for your own venting, but see rule 1 above
7) Minear should read these rules. ANYONE ELSE BUT FOX, TIM!!*
*Minear, the man behind Drive, was also involved with Angel and Wonderfalls. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I've enjoyed all his projects. Sorry, Tim.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Freeze Meister
A student emailed and asked for an extension on a paper. A friend from high school died and the student was rather shocked to hear the news. No travel to a funeral or anything, but not able to do any work. I rejected the request for an extension. Am I being cold and callous or are there times in our lives when we need to deal with tragedy and continue on with our day to day affairs?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Thoughts of Death
Infected with the plague that incapacitated my family a few days earlier, I spent Monday night tossing, turning, trying to sleep. Sweating, yet wracked with the chills, I spent a good two hours half listening to the Coast to Coast AM discussion of the Virginia Tech tragedy. As if that wasn't enough death for one day, STK and I had watched the concluding episode of Six Feet Under just a few hours earlier. Somewhere in the intersecting chaos of my thoughts regarding Virginia Tech, Six Feet Under, and death in general, inspiration struck. This kind of thing happens to me from time to time, particularly in terms of academics. I'm in that state where I'm not really asleep, but not totally awake. I'm tossing/turning/making myself hold still/breathing deeply, not really aware of exactly what's going on except for the fact that I can't sleep, and the idea/solution pops into my head. 12 years ago I solved a major case of writer's block on my MA thesis. Three years ago I fixed an an organizational problem with a dissertation chapter. A few nights back, I think I stumbled on a book worthy idea.
The idea revolves around the way we conceptualize, and engage in public discourse (not the rhetoric focus), about death. According to a number of philosophers/theorists (Derrida, Levinas, Heidegger, etc.), our beliefs regarding death influence our subjectivity significantly. In other words, the way we interpret/constitute notions of death will significantly influence the way we live; the way we live will significantly influence our beliefs regarding death. I'm not doing the concept of subjectivity, or death, justice with my current musings but I'll get it down in time. So, the theory part of the book would concentrate on unpacking various theorists (Starhawk and The Pagan Book of Living and Dying will make an appearance somewhere along the line) and their thoughts on the relationship between death and subjectivity. My role as a theorist/academic becomes prominent when I take these philosophical musings and illuminate the implications for the way we communicate subjectivity in various and sundry ways. If my work continues its current direction, I'll likely pursue a discussion of how our public discourses regarding death implicate a communicative ethic.
Having put forth the basic theory, the subsequent chapters would explore several case studies of public discussions of death. One chapter might focus on the constitution of death/dying/life in television shows, another might focus on the refusal on the part of the Bush administration to allow photographs of soldiers' coffins. One of the chapters would definitely focus on public discourse surrounding major tragedy (Virginia Tech or Columbine).
Inspiration strikes, maybe? Once the semester is finished--only fourteen days of class remain--I'll seek out the advice of a mentor or two and see what happens.
In the mean time, my department chair is encouraging me to submit one of my present research projects as a potential presentation for a campus wide lecture series. The series revolves around the question: "What is a text?" Typically, lectures in this series revolve around literary works, classic and contemporary. My work suggests a need to redefine text, or at least consider why some texts are designated "legitimate" while others or not. I'm sure some of the English folks on our campus would roll their eyes at the idea of my work being included in the series, which is why I'll probably submit a proposal. I'll write something up this week and see what happens.
The idea revolves around the way we conceptualize, and engage in public discourse (not the rhetoric focus), about death. According to a number of philosophers/theorists (Derrida, Levinas, Heidegger, etc.), our beliefs regarding death influence our subjectivity significantly. In other words, the way we interpret/constitute notions of death will significantly influence the way we live; the way we live will significantly influence our beliefs regarding death. I'm not doing the concept of subjectivity, or death, justice with my current musings but I'll get it down in time. So, the theory part of the book would concentrate on unpacking various theorists (Starhawk and The Pagan Book of Living and Dying will make an appearance somewhere along the line) and their thoughts on the relationship between death and subjectivity. My role as a theorist/academic becomes prominent when I take these philosophical musings and illuminate the implications for the way we communicate subjectivity in various and sundry ways. If my work continues its current direction, I'll likely pursue a discussion of how our public discourses regarding death implicate a communicative ethic.
Having put forth the basic theory, the subsequent chapters would explore several case studies of public discussions of death. One chapter might focus on the constitution of death/dying/life in television shows, another might focus on the refusal on the part of the Bush administration to allow photographs of soldiers' coffins. One of the chapters would definitely focus on public discourse surrounding major tragedy (Virginia Tech or Columbine).
Inspiration strikes, maybe? Once the semester is finished--only fourteen days of class remain--I'll seek out the advice of a mentor or two and see what happens.
In the mean time, my department chair is encouraging me to submit one of my present research projects as a potential presentation for a campus wide lecture series. The series revolves around the question: "What is a text?" Typically, lectures in this series revolve around literary works, classic and contemporary. My work suggests a need to redefine text, or at least consider why some texts are designated "legitimate" while others or not. I'm sure some of the English folks on our campus would roll their eyes at the idea of my work being included in the series, which is why I'll probably submit a proposal. I'll write something up this week and see what happens.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Are You Kidding Me?
So, I'm reading through a draft of a major research project for one of my students who's doing some work on contemporary spectacular subcultures. I finish the introduction and think to myself, "That's an excellent thesis and preview paragraph. Very well written. And oddly familiar. Wait a minute, that's my thesis and preview! That's the preview for my journal article!"
This student used all my signposts "First," "In the second section," etc., as well as the basic sentence structure, and inserted their own research topics in place of my own. I'm always telling students to look at journal articles as a template for their own writing. This is taking it a bit too far. At least have the sense to pilfer someone else's work, for Pete's sake.
::bangs head on desk::
This student used all my signposts "First," "In the second section," etc., as well as the basic sentence structure, and inserted their own research topics in place of my own. I'm always telling students to look at journal articles as a template for their own writing. This is taking it a bit too far. At least have the sense to pilfer someone else's work, for Pete's sake.
::bangs head on desk::
Monday, April 16, 2007
What Weekend?
Saturday and Sunday flew by in a blur. Friday started the weekend out on a crazy note with the dreaded phone call from daycare: "TLO isn't feeling well and is running a fever of 102.5 degrees." Commence scramble to figure out how to: A) Get him home and offer comfort; and B) Juggle schedules so that STK and I honor our responsibilities as both parents and educators. I went home until 1 PM and STK covered from that point forward. Yes, we both missed a half day of work which is normally a good thing, but isn't so great when every minute of the half day "off" is spent ministering to an obviously sick child. What really sucks is that a 22 month old can only express that he hurts ("ouch, dada" & "owie, mama"), but can't yet pinpoint the exact nature of the hurt. We're pretty sure he had a headache and sore throat. STK confirmed our diagnosis as she contracted the same illness and the symptoms really revved up to speed on Saturday night. So, we spent much of the weekend in self-imposed quarantine. And that means tons of DVDs!
Superman: The Animated Series. TLO's latest obsession is "Supey." He loves his "Supey" action figure, "Supey" Thank You card (received just after Christmas and still considered a prized possession), and the animated series. We watched a couple episodes each day--I'd forgotten how much I like this version of Superman. Definitely my favorite of all the mediated incarnations. I love this version of Supergirl, too. Damn glad I invested in the series on DVD.
Six Feet Under. For the last few months, we've been making our way through this series. This weekend, we watched the six episodes leading up to the series finale (which we should receive in the mail tomorrow--yay, Netflix!). For the most part, I like the balance of dark humor and drama permeating the series. This last season, though, is short on humor and long on drama. Even though I managed to predict most of the major plot turns, much to STK's continued amazement, I still wasn't prepared for the collective descent into negativity by most of the characters. I don't know that I've ever said this about a series I've enjoyed so much--this series is right up there with my favorites--but I'm glad only one episode remains. I just can't take watching any more pain and misery for characters with whom I relate so much.
Drive. This one obviously isn't out on DVD yet as it just premiered a few hours ago. With Nathan Fillon in the starring role, we had to check out Captain Mal in an earthbound series. The series centers around a motley collection of characters who get sucked into a cross country road race. The twist is that they have no idea how long the race is in either time or distance. They receive a clue via cell phone indicating the next destination, race to that spot, and wait for the next clue. The other twist is that each of the "teams" has a different motivation for being in the race; some of those motivations are known to the viewers and some aren't. Fillon's character, for example, gets forced into the race as he searches for his missing wife. All he knows is that the organizers of the race have his wife. That's it. Some involved in the race are there for the $30 million dollar payoff. Fearless prediction: Fillon's character is hiding a secret. He's a former government agent, maybe a criminal informant in a witness protection program, or something. He's definitely not a garden variety landscaper. We'll be watching episode three Monday night. It's fun, dramatic, and has just enough quirkiness to keep us interested. Did I mention that Tim Minear of X-files, Angel, and Wonderfalls is one of the creators? That's a draw, too.
Superman: The Animated Series. TLO's latest obsession is "Supey." He loves his "Supey" action figure, "Supey" Thank You card (received just after Christmas and still considered a prized possession), and the animated series. We watched a couple episodes each day--I'd forgotten how much I like this version of Superman. Definitely my favorite of all the mediated incarnations. I love this version of Supergirl, too. Damn glad I invested in the series on DVD.
Six Feet Under. For the last few months, we've been making our way through this series. This weekend, we watched the six episodes leading up to the series finale (which we should receive in the mail tomorrow--yay, Netflix!). For the most part, I like the balance of dark humor and drama permeating the series. This last season, though, is short on humor and long on drama. Even though I managed to predict most of the major plot turns, much to STK's continued amazement, I still wasn't prepared for the collective descent into negativity by most of the characters. I don't know that I've ever said this about a series I've enjoyed so much--this series is right up there with my favorites--but I'm glad only one episode remains. I just can't take watching any more pain and misery for characters with whom I relate so much.
Drive. This one obviously isn't out on DVD yet as it just premiered a few hours ago. With Nathan Fillon in the starring role, we had to check out Captain Mal in an earthbound series. The series centers around a motley collection of characters who get sucked into a cross country road race. The twist is that they have no idea how long the race is in either time or distance. They receive a clue via cell phone indicating the next destination, race to that spot, and wait for the next clue. The other twist is that each of the "teams" has a different motivation for being in the race; some of those motivations are known to the viewers and some aren't. Fillon's character, for example, gets forced into the race as he searches for his missing wife. All he knows is that the organizers of the race have his wife. That's it. Some involved in the race are there for the $30 million dollar payoff. Fearless prediction: Fillon's character is hiding a secret. He's a former government agent, maybe a criminal informant in a witness protection program, or something. He's definitely not a garden variety landscaper. We'll be watching episode three Monday night. It's fun, dramatic, and has just enough quirkiness to keep us interested. Did I mention that Tim Minear of X-files, Angel, and Wonderfalls is one of the creators? That's a draw, too.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Textbooks? Already?
The Fall semester doesn't start for nearly five months and I received the dreaded "Order Your Textbooks for Fall or Else" paperwork from the campus bookstore. Pikcing texts isn't a problem for two of my classes. I'm really struggling with a text for my Rhetorical Theory course, though. The choices stand at three: Rhetoric and Human Consciousness, Rhetorical Theory: An Introduction or The Rhetoric of Western Thought. None of the texts strike me as particularly remarkable. Rhetoric and Human Consciousness and The Rhetoric of Western Thought--both move forward in a chronological order--offer extremely detailed discussions of various approaches the rhetoric and the theorists related to that approach. The problem is that both texts read like an encyclopedia moving from one theorist to the next without linking the theorists together in a broader sense. Rhetorical Theory: An Introduction works from the opposite direction: lots of broad discussion of approaches to rhetoric and passing references to theorists (bonus points for taking a non-chronological approach, too).
All things considered, the Rhetorical Theory text makes more sense for the class; I'm teaching topics rather than history, per se. The problem is that the text is $73, a ridiculous amount for a 328 page undergraduate textbook. Add this text with two other books for the course--The Rhetoric of Rhetoric and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance--and the $100 threshold is a thing of the past. Ouch. That's a lot of cash for one class, even an upper division theory course. The first two texts I mentioned sell for $40-50.
Do I go for a cheaper, $40-50 text that doesn't work as well with the course but could do the trick or, cost be damned, go for broke? I know the money isn't an issue for a lot of the students at my school but there are some who struggle to make ends meet. I would have blown a gasket at $100 for a single course back in the day. Multiple, and reliable, used bookstores across the internets carry all three texts I'd like to use; the savvy student could procure all three for $50-70.
All things considered, the Rhetorical Theory text makes more sense for the class; I'm teaching topics rather than history, per se. The problem is that the text is $73, a ridiculous amount for a 328 page undergraduate textbook. Add this text with two other books for the course--The Rhetoric of Rhetoric and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance--and the $100 threshold is a thing of the past. Ouch. That's a lot of cash for one class, even an upper division theory course. The first two texts I mentioned sell for $40-50.
Do I go for a cheaper, $40-50 text that doesn't work as well with the course but could do the trick or, cost be damned, go for broke? I know the money isn't an issue for a lot of the students at my school but there are some who struggle to make ends meet. I would have blown a gasket at $100 for a single course back in the day. Multiple, and reliable, used bookstores across the internets carry all three texts I'd like to use; the savvy student could procure all three for $50-70.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Imus in Deep Yogurt: Here Comes Oprah!
As if Imus' problems weren't bad enough, Oprah is preparing to kick his ass. I've been debating Imus' comments on another forum I frequent. Some of the posters, a handful really, seem to think Imus isn't all that out of line. The sentiment among these folks is that Imus does this stuff all the time, it was just a joke, people are too sensitive, etc. One poster even argues we should be able to say anything we want to anyone. That's freedom of speech, dammit! That is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech, however, does not guarantee freedom from consequences. Oh, the institutionalized powers-that-be can't come crashing down on you, but the rest of those who comprise a culture can certainly offer their critique of your free speech. The real trick with freedom of speech is that everyone else gets to take advantage of that same right. Imus is learning that lesson the hard way.
My thoughts on the matter: Imus was out of line and should pay whatever price his employer decides to impose. He may be suspended, he may lose his job. If I made the same comments, I'd be out the door. And rightfully so. Any way you slice it, his comments were insensitive, sexist, and racist. When did it become okay to call a woman a "ho"? And don't blame that on hip hop music. While not innocent of all charges, the use of "ho" in hip hop has a particular context. Hip hop did not force mainstream America to make the word part of our everyday vernacular--that's a choice made by individuals. It's a choice that trivializes women, by the way, and that's part of the reason why Imus is in hot water. The "nappy-headed" comment brings race into the mix, obviously. I'd also suggest there's a whiff of classism wafting from Imus comments, too. Sexism, racism, classism: Imus hit the trifecta! WTF are people thinking when they make comments like this? And don't tell me they're "not thinking," because at some level they have to believe these kinds of comments are appropriate. Comedy or no, how did it ever become okay to make jokes at the expense of others?*
You can bet Imus is going to take some lumps during Oprah's conversation with the Rutger's basketball team. I need to see if I can catch this episode. Go Oprah!
*For the record, I am opposed to blond jokes. If any of my faithful readers, all five of you, ever decide to send out a "Best of Blond Jokes" email please omit me from that mass mailing. Blond jokes diminish women. Period. Blond jokes, which might seem innocuous at first glance, contribute to a culture of oppression that seems to take pleasure in stereotyping women as stupid.
My thoughts on the matter: Imus was out of line and should pay whatever price his employer decides to impose. He may be suspended, he may lose his job. If I made the same comments, I'd be out the door. And rightfully so. Any way you slice it, his comments were insensitive, sexist, and racist. When did it become okay to call a woman a "ho"? And don't blame that on hip hop music. While not innocent of all charges, the use of "ho" in hip hop has a particular context. Hip hop did not force mainstream America to make the word part of our everyday vernacular--that's a choice made by individuals. It's a choice that trivializes women, by the way, and that's part of the reason why Imus is in hot water. The "nappy-headed" comment brings race into the mix, obviously. I'd also suggest there's a whiff of classism wafting from Imus comments, too. Sexism, racism, classism: Imus hit the trifecta! WTF are people thinking when they make comments like this? And don't tell me they're "not thinking," because at some level they have to believe these kinds of comments are appropriate. Comedy or no, how did it ever become okay to make jokes at the expense of others?*
You can bet Imus is going to take some lumps during Oprah's conversation with the Rutger's basketball team. I need to see if I can catch this episode. Go Oprah!
*For the record, I am opposed to blond jokes. If any of my faithful readers, all five of you, ever decide to send out a "Best of Blond Jokes" email please omit me from that mass mailing. Blond jokes diminish women. Period. Blond jokes, which might seem innocuous at first glance, contribute to a culture of oppression that seems to take pleasure in stereotyping women as stupid.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Weekly Reader: Easter Island, Energy Efficiency, and Easter Eggs
Easter Island. I've always loved the mystery of Easter Island. I think I first heard of the place on an old episode of In Search Of . . . with Leonard Nimoy.
Energy Efficiency. STK and I have been talking about ways to increase our energy efficiency. With gas prices on the rise, the Civic Hybrid is looking more and more like a good investment. We're also thinking about getting an electric lawn mower. We have an old gas one that could be used a couple times a year when the mowing gets really tough. The rest of the time, though, an electric or even a reel mower would probably do the trick. We even talked for a few minutes about exploring the possibility of solar panels sometime in the future. Every little bit helps, right?
Easter Eggs. Our tax dollars hard at work. Geez. I'm all about tradition and everything, but do we really need designer Easter eggs? As an Iowa native, I'm embarrassed to be associated with that egg. Talk about hideous.
Energy Efficiency. STK and I have been talking about ways to increase our energy efficiency. With gas prices on the rise, the Civic Hybrid is looking more and more like a good investment. We're also thinking about getting an electric lawn mower. We have an old gas one that could be used a couple times a year when the mowing gets really tough. The rest of the time, though, an electric or even a reel mower would probably do the trick. We even talked for a few minutes about exploring the possibility of solar panels sometime in the future. Every little bit helps, right?
Easter Eggs. Our tax dollars hard at work. Geez. I'm all about tradition and everything, but do we really need designer Easter eggs? As an Iowa native, I'm embarrassed to be associated with that egg. Talk about hideous.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Feastolicious
Friday's Feast #138
Appetizer--When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?
Plane, please. Air travel is by far the easiest way to get around.
Soup--Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?
Well, we weren't blogging when we met but we did meet each other via the Intertubes. I've known T from Chickeny Goodness since the days of vTrek on the MSN Network. I met the entire Chickeny Goodness clan at Star Wars Celebration I. I've known Michael at All Now Mysterious for over 25 years. So, I met him long before we started blogging.
Salad--When was the last time you were really, really tired?
Yesterday (Thursday). TLO had a horrible night of sleep and that means we had a horrible night of sleep, too. Funny how that works.
Main Course--If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?
Obi-Wan Kenobi. Everything he went through, all the mistakes he made, and he still continued down the path of the Jedi. I think I could learn a great deal over lunch.
Dessert--Fill in the blank: One day, I hope to see _______________.
a high quality Star Wars live action series.
Appetizer--When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?
Plane, please. Air travel is by far the easiest way to get around.
Soup--Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?
Well, we weren't blogging when we met but we did meet each other via the Intertubes. I've known T from Chickeny Goodness since the days of vTrek on the MSN Network. I met the entire Chickeny Goodness clan at Star Wars Celebration I. I've known Michael at All Now Mysterious for over 25 years. So, I met him long before we started blogging.
Salad--When was the last time you were really, really tired?
Yesterday (Thursday). TLO had a horrible night of sleep and that means we had a horrible night of sleep, too. Funny how that works.
Main Course--If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?
Obi-Wan Kenobi. Everything he went through, all the mistakes he made, and he still continued down the path of the Jedi. I think I could learn a great deal over lunch.
Dessert--Fill in the blank: One day, I hope to see _______________.
a high quality Star Wars live action series.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Conversational Realities: The Dark Side
Me ::imitating Darth Vader:: You don't know the power of the dark side!
TLO: I like Bobo*
*Months ago, TLO discovered one of my Star Wars books with an image of Boba Fett on the cover. I informed him that the helmeted figure was Boba Fett. Being the little one that he his, he pronounced "Boba" as "Bobo." Recently, he became obsessed with Darth Vader. Alas, anyone with a helmet is now "bobo." Lord Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has been demoted to "Bobo." Give me time, I'll get him straightened out. The good news is that he's already fixated on Star Wars. Brings a tear to my eye ::sniff::
TLO: I like Bobo*
*Months ago, TLO discovered one of my Star Wars books with an image of Boba Fett on the cover. I informed him that the helmeted figure was Boba Fett. Being the little one that he his, he pronounced "Boba" as "Bobo." Recently, he became obsessed with Darth Vader. Alas, anyone with a helmet is now "bobo." Lord Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has been demoted to "Bobo." Give me time, I'll get him straightened out. The good news is that he's already fixated on Star Wars. Brings a tear to my eye ::sniff::
Weekly Reader: Hexagons, History, and Honeybees
Hexagon Weather Formation on Saturn? You know, our solar system is a really cool place. How long before someone suggests an advanced civilization is behind the odd shape?
300 Heroes. I've yet to see the film but I found this review, one that compares the theatrical adaptation to the actual historical events, particularly interesting. Can you imagine agreeing to be part of a delaying action in the face of tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands, of armed invaders? I'd pee my leather thong, for sure.
Honeybees in Significant Decline. I've been following this story for a couple of months. I heard a couple bee specialists on NPR two weeks back and the situation sounds dire indeed. What the heck could cause entire colonies to just up and disappear? I realize the agricultural implications but my reason for concern is more selfish in nature: I love honey. Not just a little, but a lot. A raw honey and peanut butter sandwich is my lunch of choice almost every other day. Save the bees! A man's gotta eat.
300 Heroes. I've yet to see the film but I found this review, one that compares the theatrical adaptation to the actual historical events, particularly interesting. Can you imagine agreeing to be part of a delaying action in the face of tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands, of armed invaders? I'd pee my leather thong, for sure.
Honeybees in Significant Decline. I've been following this story for a couple of months. I heard a couple bee specialists on NPR two weeks back and the situation sounds dire indeed. What the heck could cause entire colonies to just up and disappear? I realize the agricultural implications but my reason for concern is more selfish in nature: I love honey. Not just a little, but a lot. A raw honey and peanut butter sandwich is my lunch of choice almost every other day. Save the bees! A man's gotta eat.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Hope Springs Eternal
This is the year the Cubs win it all, I just know it. Go Cubbies!
UPDATE: Cubs lose their opening game with the Reds, 5-1. The bubble is burst. Cub fans drift back to earth. Wait 'til next year!
UPDATE: Cubs lose their opening game with the Reds, 5-1. The bubble is burst. Cub fans drift back to earth. Wait 'til next year!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Harry Potter and the Hallowed Halls
CFP: Harry Potter (4/30/07; MPCA/MACA, 10/12/07-10/14/07)
The Harry Potter area of the Midwest Popular Culture and Midwest American Culture Association is now accepting proposals for its upcoming conference. The MPCA/MACA conference will be held Friday-Sunday, October 12-14, 2007 at the Radisson Hotel & Suites Kansas City-City Center, Kansas City, MO.
Please send proposals on any aspect of Harry Potter Studies to the area chair via email or mail.
So, I've been looking for another regional conference to attend on a regular basis. I have some travel money as a faculty member and I generally don't use a $500 chunk of that change. I've also been looking to branch out beyond the Communication Studies conferences; might as well see what the popular culture folks are up to, wot?
Now the trick is coming up with an interesting proposal regarding Harry Potter. Rather than going the traditional route and analyzing the specific characters, narratives, etc. I'm thinking I ought to do try and pull together a proposal on something unique. What about examining the intersection of the Muggle/Magickal world? Does the break between The Muggle World and The Wizarding World represent anything in particular? Given the phenomenon that is Harry Potter, it strikes me that this might be another example of the way in which significant numbers of people in our culture are clamouring for the extraordinary. With the Enlightenment shift toward the scientific method and human reason, the magickal, mystical, and mysterious have become prized commodities. The Wizarding World, with it's complexity, diversity, and novelty, particularly when contrasted with the simplicity and mundanity of the Muggle World, offers a critique of contemporary urban life. Having lost the inability to experience magick and mystery, we've become Muggles: stupid, boring, and glum. I'll have to come up with some witty theory to apply but that shouldn't be much of a problem.
The Harry Potter area of the Midwest Popular Culture and Midwest American Culture Association is now accepting proposals for its upcoming conference. The MPCA/MACA conference will be held Friday-Sunday, October 12-14, 2007 at the Radisson Hotel & Suites Kansas City-City Center, Kansas City, MO.
Please send proposals on any aspect of Harry Potter Studies to the area chair via email or mail.
So, I've been looking for another regional conference to attend on a regular basis. I have some travel money as a faculty member and I generally don't use a $500 chunk of that change. I've also been looking to branch out beyond the Communication Studies conferences; might as well see what the popular culture folks are up to, wot?
Now the trick is coming up with an interesting proposal regarding Harry Potter. Rather than going the traditional route and analyzing the specific characters, narratives, etc. I'm thinking I ought to do try and pull together a proposal on something unique. What about examining the intersection of the Muggle/Magickal world? Does the break between The Muggle World and The Wizarding World represent anything in particular? Given the phenomenon that is Harry Potter, it strikes me that this might be another example of the way in which significant numbers of people in our culture are clamouring for the extraordinary. With the Enlightenment shift toward the scientific method and human reason, the magickal, mystical, and mysterious have become prized commodities. The Wizarding World, with it's complexity, diversity, and novelty, particularly when contrasted with the simplicity and mundanity of the Muggle World, offers a critique of contemporary urban life. Having lost the inability to experience magick and mystery, we've become Muggles: stupid, boring, and glum. I'll have to come up with some witty theory to apply but that shouldn't be much of a problem.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Weekly Reader: Bongs, Burrows, and Badmouthers
Bong Hits 4 Jesus. I know a lot of people find this sign offensive, but can you really ban a kid from a bit of tomfoolery? Read the transcript carefully: he wasn't even on school property at the time. Even if you're not interested in the case, you should read the account of the exchange. The Supreme Court judges were in rare form. Very amusing.
Burrowing Dinosaurs. 39 years old and I'm still fascinated by dinosaurs.
Online Anonymity = Badmouthing Brouhaha. Is this really a surprise to anyone? As I've said frequently: everyone's brave on the internet. The flip side of this is that it's really easy to ignore the idiots online. That's not always so easy in face to face situations.
Burrowing Dinosaurs. 39 years old and I'm still fascinated by dinosaurs.
Online Anonymity = Badmouthing Brouhaha. Is this really a surprise to anyone? As I've said frequently: everyone's brave on the internet. The flip side of this is that it's really easy to ignore the idiots online. That's not always so easy in face to face situations.
Drawing Shots
Schultz also insisted Wednesday that Starbucks will not back down from its growth plan, which calls for eventually having 40,000 stores worldwide, up from around 14,000 today.
And not a single one in our little neck of the Midwest. We have a locally owned coffee house where the goods are above average, as are the prices, but the service is exceptionally slow. Part of the problem is their equipment--they can't draw several shots of espresso at the same time.
What the owners really need to do is invest in some new equipment and send all staff off to a formal Barista seminar. I'd love to attend one of these weekend sessions. I know a bit about coffee but it's all self taught. A little formal training would put me in that special category of connoisseur, right? Can you imagine sipping and sniffing coffee drinks all weekend? Pure heaven.
And not a single one in our little neck of the Midwest. We have a locally owned coffee house where the goods are above average, as are the prices, but the service is exceptionally slow. Part of the problem is their equipment--they can't draw several shots of espresso at the same time.
What the owners really need to do is invest in some new equipment and send all staff off to a formal Barista seminar. I'd love to attend one of these weekend sessions. I know a bit about coffee but it's all self taught. A little formal training would put me in that special category of connoisseur, right? Can you imagine sipping and sniffing coffee drinks all weekend? Pure heaven.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Life Update
It's been some time since I actually did any kind of life update post. If you're not into that kind of thing, move along. If so, read on.
*I spent all of last week spring breaking. I used to spend spring break down at Hohokam park watching the Cubs in spring training. This spring break consisted of hanging with TLO and spending a couple hours each day in my office. Not quite as exciting ("exciting" translates to: shitfaced for a week), but much more relaxing. Most of my office time consisted of working on the much discussed Battlestar Galactica article. The piece got rejected--AGAIN--as part of an edited collection. Maybe I'm not articulating the basic argument well enough? Regardless, I've decided to write the whole damn piece and start the journal process. While I don't have the time for a marathon writing session, I'm trying to spend an hour a day putting all relevant ideas/quotes into outline form. Once the extensive outline is complete, I'll find some time to crank out the formal piece. The last week of May looks promising. Tentative deadline: June 1.
*STK and I took a few minutes out of our monthly shopping spree to gaze longingly at the 2007 Honda Civic. My old Civic has almost 170,000 miles on it; sooner or later, we'll need a new commuter car for STK. She puts 100 miles a day on the car and we want something that's comfortable, safe, and fuel conscious. The new Civic is all of those things. We glanced at a couple used models but decided that saving a couple thousand bucks over the life of a loan isn't worth the risk (not knowing the maintenance schedule of the vehicle, the already piling up mileage, etc.). We'd love to go with the hybrid but can't justify the additional $8000. Maybe the next time we're in the market for new wheels. We're targeting late this summer as the "buy" date.
*STK and I both received significant raises for next year (that's in addition to our usual step advancement for each year), hence the new car talk. Hard work does pay off. Eventually, it does pay off. Graduate degrees certainly don't hurt the situation either.
*I'm running outdoors, with the permission of my physical therapist, in the gorgeous 70 degree weather. Can't get enough of this beautiful weather. We opened all the windows in the house this morning and gave the place the first good airing out of the spring.
*The ankle continues to hurt. Not as bad as way back when, but it's still an annoyance. After a brief consult with PT, I'm going to continue increasing mileage/time over the next few weeks and see what happens. I'm up to 30 minutes every other day. If the pain continues, custom orthotics and acupuncture are on the horizon. If those treatments--coupled with my "there is no pain" mind over matter meditations--fail, surgery is next.
*We had dinner tonight with a young couple here in town who just had a baby. This is significant for two reasons. First, we don't hang with that many people who have infants and careers. It’s nice to have a place that’s TLO friendly. Second, since moving to SMC we haven’t really made any friends and we miss that part of our lives in Colorado. Dr. OneDink and J are awesome--we spent time with them on Saturday--but we have no idea if they’ll be here beyond the 2007-2008 school year. So, cool kid friendly dinner with a main course of newborn baby stories and a side dish of school talk.
*STK faces her busiest week of the school year. Between conferences, a special art program, and art show, she’ll be getting home late three nights this week. TLO and I on our own! Bring on the ice cream and chocolate for dinner!
We now return to our periodic posting.
*I spent all of last week spring breaking. I used to spend spring break down at Hohokam park watching the Cubs in spring training. This spring break consisted of hanging with TLO and spending a couple hours each day in my office. Not quite as exciting ("exciting" translates to: shitfaced for a week), but much more relaxing. Most of my office time consisted of working on the much discussed Battlestar Galactica article. The piece got rejected--AGAIN--as part of an edited collection. Maybe I'm not articulating the basic argument well enough? Regardless, I've decided to write the whole damn piece and start the journal process. While I don't have the time for a marathon writing session, I'm trying to spend an hour a day putting all relevant ideas/quotes into outline form. Once the extensive outline is complete, I'll find some time to crank out the formal piece. The last week of May looks promising. Tentative deadline: June 1.
*STK and I took a few minutes out of our monthly shopping spree to gaze longingly at the 2007 Honda Civic. My old Civic has almost 170,000 miles on it; sooner or later, we'll need a new commuter car for STK. She puts 100 miles a day on the car and we want something that's comfortable, safe, and fuel conscious. The new Civic is all of those things. We glanced at a couple used models but decided that saving a couple thousand bucks over the life of a loan isn't worth the risk (not knowing the maintenance schedule of the vehicle, the already piling up mileage, etc.). We'd love to go with the hybrid but can't justify the additional $8000. Maybe the next time we're in the market for new wheels. We're targeting late this summer as the "buy" date.
*STK and I both received significant raises for next year (that's in addition to our usual step advancement for each year), hence the new car talk. Hard work does pay off. Eventually, it does pay off. Graduate degrees certainly don't hurt the situation either.
*I'm running outdoors, with the permission of my physical therapist, in the gorgeous 70 degree weather. Can't get enough of this beautiful weather. We opened all the windows in the house this morning and gave the place the first good airing out of the spring.
*The ankle continues to hurt. Not as bad as way back when, but it's still an annoyance. After a brief consult with PT, I'm going to continue increasing mileage/time over the next few weeks and see what happens. I'm up to 30 minutes every other day. If the pain continues, custom orthotics and acupuncture are on the horizon. If those treatments--coupled with my "there is no pain" mind over matter meditations--fail, surgery is next.
*We had dinner tonight with a young couple here in town who just had a baby. This is significant for two reasons. First, we don't hang with that many people who have infants and careers. It’s nice to have a place that’s TLO friendly. Second, since moving to SMC we haven’t really made any friends and we miss that part of our lives in Colorado. Dr. OneDink and J are awesome--we spent time with them on Saturday--but we have no idea if they’ll be here beyond the 2007-2008 school year. So, cool kid friendly dinner with a main course of newborn baby stories and a side dish of school talk.
*STK faces her busiest week of the school year. Between conferences, a special art program, and art show, she’ll be getting home late three nights this week. TLO and I on our own! Bring on the ice cream and chocolate for dinner!
We now return to our periodic posting.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Friday's Feast
Friday's Feast, One Hundred & Thirty Six
Appetizer--Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?
Stephen Colbert, hands down.
Soup--Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
Kaladi Coffee, Boca Burgers, Edamame
Salad--If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
Capadieu, a nod to the recent passing of Steve Rogers.
Main Course--What will most likely be the next book you read?
I have a whole list of books on my "To Read" list. One of the following three will be the next book I tackle.
1. John Quincy Adams' Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory. This is the book I'm reading presently. I'll hit the second volume sometime in the next couple weeks.
2. Binding Words
3. Star Wars: Exile
Dessert--What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
I'd have to say an alternative appearance (dyed hair, tattoos, piercings, etc.). When I first saw STK, the thing that caught my attention was the platinum blonde hair contrasted with her black apparel.
Appetizer--Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?
Stephen Colbert, hands down.
Soup--Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
Kaladi Coffee, Boca Burgers, Edamame
Salad--If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
Capadieu, a nod to the recent passing of Steve Rogers.
Main Course--What will most likely be the next book you read?
I have a whole list of books on my "To Read" list. One of the following three will be the next book I tackle.
1. John Quincy Adams' Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory. This is the book I'm reading presently. I'll hit the second volume sometime in the next couple weeks.
2. Binding Words
3. Star Wars: Exile
Dessert--What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
I'd have to say an alternative appearance (dyed hair, tattoos, piercings, etc.). When I first saw STK, the thing that caught my attention was the platinum blonde hair contrasted with her black apparel.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Instant Irony
Anyone who spends even a bit of time with me will soon realize that I love camouflage . . . as a fashion print. I'm a peace activist so I don't have much use for the military or sport applications of the pattern. I just like the way it looks. I have a traditional camouflage jacket ($10 army surplus), several pairs of camouflage pants (urban, ultraviolet, blue tiger), and a couple camouflage bandannas. When I tuck my camouflage BDUs in my doc martens, which is not an uncommon look for me when I'm away from school, I'd like to think I'm making some kind of statement against military action. There's a bit of irony in a pacifist sporting military fashion, don't you think?
Anyway, I'd love to see the Camouflage exhibit showing at the Imperial War Museum, London. I think I need a pair of those camouflage Doc Martens. I wonder if they come in steel toe?
Is it weird that I'm fascinated by the history of modern warfare? I could watch documentaries on WWI & WWII all day. I'm particularly interested in WWII, the last conflict for which I think I could make a reasonable case for military action. Although I should add that I believe WWII could have been avoided had Hitler encountered fierce diplomatic resistance.
Anyway, I'd love to see the Camouflage exhibit showing at the Imperial War Museum, London. I think I need a pair of those camouflage Doc Martens. I wonder if they come in steel toe?
Is it weird that I'm fascinated by the history of modern warfare? I could watch documentaries on WWI & WWII all day. I'm particularly interested in WWII, the last conflict for which I think I could make a reasonable case for military action. Although I should add that I believe WWII could have been avoided had Hitler encountered fierce diplomatic resistance.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Weekly Reader: Coins, Cap, and Cassini
Scrap the Greenback. Why haven't folks here in the US taken to $1 coins? I think I'll buy some of these and start using them. While I rarely carry cash--I'm a debit card junky--I can certainly do my part and buy the odd cup of java with a golden John Adams. Check out how "In God we Trust" and the year are stamped on the edge of the coin. Cool.
RIP Captain America. I've been ranting about this move by Marvel for a couple weeks now. I like this author's take, though. In essence, he argues that the symbol of Captain America no longer accurately represents the ideals of our nation. Steve Rogers represents truth and justice, two values that are in short supply when it comes to US American politics. There might be a convention paper in this argument.
Surf's Up . . . On Titan! Have I ever mentioned how much I love to read about space exploration? The probability of methane/ethane lakes on Titan increases with some of the latest radar imagery. What the heck would a methane/ethane lake look like or feel like? It's mind boggling that we can discover this kind of stuff from a distance of 800,000,000 miles.
RIP Captain America. I've been ranting about this move by Marvel for a couple weeks now. I like this author's take, though. In essence, he argues that the symbol of Captain America no longer accurately represents the ideals of our nation. Steve Rogers represents truth and justice, two values that are in short supply when it comes to US American politics. There might be a convention paper in this argument.
Surf's Up . . . On Titan! Have I ever mentioned how much I love to read about space exploration? The probability of methane/ethane lakes on Titan increases with some of the latest radar imagery. What the heck would a methane/ethane lake look like or feel like? It's mind boggling that we can discover this kind of stuff from a distance of 800,000,000 miles.
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