Well I could complain about the weather.. cold enough to make you think twice abt walking the dog, snowy enough to make you think about driving anywhere. But I have a big coat and a car with AWD that makes mincemeat of the 'hill of skidding death' outside our house
I could complain about a $188 Wholefoods bill - but then we got lots of nice stuff, munched our way around the store and (at this moment in time) aren't really short of cash for groceries (though we know how quickly THAT can change)
I could complain that Slumdog Millionaire still isn't showing in Ann Arbor - but them we have two art cinemas within walking distance, a dollar cinema in the mall and a decent multiplex less than 10 mins away.
I could complain that my camera isn't the latest, greatest or really the best for what it s I'm starting to enjoy doing. But then I've spent much of the day looking at replacements and deciding against all but three possibles (Canon 50d, Nikon D90, Pentax K20 / K2000)
So I'll not complain at all.
Until tomorrow anyway
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Friday, December 05, 2008
ALF
I pretty much hate academia.
Or rather what it does to the people who pursue it as a career path.
This of course is a bit of an issue when your partner is cruising down the academic highway toward Leather-Elbow-PatchVille.
But as far as I'm concerned it's fucking Scientology.
First they strip perfectly capable people of their confidence.
They constantly undermine. They criticize. They set up different rules.
They allow you to grope in the dark.
Then they introduce a mentor who can lead the way.
But only so far. he's there to get your trust then spin you again.
There are barriers and onstacles to overcome.
Each is seemingly arbitrary. But each is the key to the next level.
And you won't quit - because you've already put in so much time and effort.
So you go from proposal to outline to thesis to the quest for publication to job search to quest for more publication to possible tenure based on publication - and each stage opens you up to criticism from the anonymous; to rounds and rounds of changes; to stages of limbo.
It's just fucking soul destroying.
The brightest, most capable, fabulous people I know have been turned into shells of self doubt by this system. Unable to see their intelligence, their wit or worse - their purpose - in the murky sea of things that need to be done.
Worse though are the kids that have only ever been in academia. Because they believe that it's all that matters. That it's the ivory tower from which all wisdom is thrown down to a mob desperate for scraps. They have a genuine belief in their own superiority that lives alongside a desperate inferiority complex - am I good enough at this? what if I'm wrong and there is life outside of the ivy covered walls.
These kids are aggressive, condesending, shallow and utterly without charisma. And they shouldn't be. It will take tenure - and then some to mellow them out and allow them to become the smart, funny, secure adults that they should always have been. They're stunted.
Oh and don't get me started on the politics of getting a job. Offers go out to number 2 choices in the belief that the number 1 choice will take so long to reject an offer that the number 2 will no longer be available. People are allowed to try to impose their own superiority by attacking those interviewing for a position, in public and without real motivation other than malice.
It's fucked up and I hate it. The people that I like the most (and some that I really don't) spend too much of their time miserable in pursuit of a goal that was never really their original objective - forced down a path of discontent by a process that need meat for the grinder.
Well enough the Academic Liberation Front is now in session. Let's save as many of these people as we can. Let's deprogram them. Let's show them that impact doesn't only come from articles in a journals. That they can have a direct impact on the world, rather than a citation in another paper that will be read only to be cited. Let's show them that there are paths that aren't relentless. That there are careers that don't routinely undermine. That they are sufficient as people.
And then let's introduce them to REALLY dirty sex
Or rather what it does to the people who pursue it as a career path.
This of course is a bit of an issue when your partner is cruising down the academic highway toward Leather-Elbow-PatchVille.
But as far as I'm concerned it's fucking Scientology.
First they strip perfectly capable people of their confidence.
They constantly undermine. They criticize. They set up different rules.
They allow you to grope in the dark.
Then they introduce a mentor who can lead the way.
But only so far. he's there to get your trust then spin you again.
There are barriers and onstacles to overcome.
Each is seemingly arbitrary. But each is the key to the next level.
And you won't quit - because you've already put in so much time and effort.
So you go from proposal to outline to thesis to the quest for publication to job search to quest for more publication to possible tenure based on publication - and each stage opens you up to criticism from the anonymous; to rounds and rounds of changes; to stages of limbo.
It's just fucking soul destroying.
The brightest, most capable, fabulous people I know have been turned into shells of self doubt by this system. Unable to see their intelligence, their wit or worse - their purpose - in the murky sea of things that need to be done.
Worse though are the kids that have only ever been in academia. Because they believe that it's all that matters. That it's the ivory tower from which all wisdom is thrown down to a mob desperate for scraps. They have a genuine belief in their own superiority that lives alongside a desperate inferiority complex - am I good enough at this? what if I'm wrong and there is life outside of the ivy covered walls.
These kids are aggressive, condesending, shallow and utterly without charisma. And they shouldn't be. It will take tenure - and then some to mellow them out and allow them to become the smart, funny, secure adults that they should always have been. They're stunted.
Oh and don't get me started on the politics of getting a job. Offers go out to number 2 choices in the belief that the number 1 choice will take so long to reject an offer that the number 2 will no longer be available. People are allowed to try to impose their own superiority by attacking those interviewing for a position, in public and without real motivation other than malice.
It's fucked up and I hate it. The people that I like the most (and some that I really don't) spend too much of their time miserable in pursuit of a goal that was never really their original objective - forced down a path of discontent by a process that need meat for the grinder.
Well enough the Academic Liberation Front is now in session. Let's save as many of these people as we can. Let's deprogram them. Let's show them that impact doesn't only come from articles in a journals. That they can have a direct impact on the world, rather than a citation in another paper that will be read only to be cited. Let's show them that there are paths that aren't relentless. That there are careers that don't routinely undermine. That they are sufficient as people.
And then let's introduce them to REALLY dirty sex
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Time for less
I'm thinking about really stepping up my photo taking. It's something that I really enjoy but also something that's actually quite difficult to do when you don't live in a major city and you don't have the credibility of that Nikon printed shoulder strap.
So I'm feeling a little 'chicken and egg' at the moment. What comes first - a burst of activity during which I find models and really go to town with my wee Panasonic ultra zoom or a shiny new camera that's good in low light and begs me to find subjects worthy of its expensive lens?
I'm not sure whether there is a correct answer to that - but today will see me checking out photo clubs in the area.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Time for a new car?
The 2010 Mustang was just launched at the LA Autoshow and even though new engines are only a year away and the economy is in the toilet I have have to say that I may be prepared to pay the 'nerd tax' to get one and put up with 'only' 315 bhp for a while.
My 2009 Mustang has been pretty good. Almost exactly 20,000 miles to date and while the interior has sounded flimsy there haven't been many problems and their have been lots and lots of big grins.
It would be the perfect car for California (esp with a glass roof) where I'd not have to ditch it in the winter and take Jude's AWD Snow Shoe instead. That said I've driven the little Suzuki the last two days (taking it through 2,000 miles) and it's as sound a car as I've driven.
This is all very car-y isn't it?
I'm sorry - just saw the new Mustang in Gold at a gas station yesterday and thought "I could get me one of those"
My 2009 Mustang has been pretty good. Almost exactly 20,000 miles to date and while the interior has sounded flimsy there haven't been many problems and their have been lots and lots of big grins.
It would be the perfect car for California (esp with a glass roof) where I'd not have to ditch it in the winter and take Jude's AWD Snow Shoe instead. That said I've driven the little Suzuki the last two days (taking it through 2,000 miles) and it's as sound a car as I've driven.
This is all very car-y isn't it?
I'm sorry - just saw the new Mustang in Gold at a gas station yesterday and thought "I could get me one of those"
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Half cocked
You know there are some things about working where I do that I love. The people are bright and resilient. The opportunity is huge. And the task may one day reveal itself to have been historic.
But within that there's an institutionalized love of the familiar.
For example tomorrow I'm running an ideas session.
I asked for 2000 sq ft. Out of the building. Somewhere large, bright and open with big windows, space to spread yourself and lots and lots of character.
I got 250 sq feet, in the building, with no windows, a corporate table and all the character of a lobotomized accountant.
The problem is that nobody sees the value of stimulus.
And that bugs the hell out of me.
Today will not be pretty.
Monday, December 01, 2008
So Singapore was weird
In that while it looks the same - the atmosphere is very different.
There's a real move to foster creativity. To support the arts. To experiment some. Singapore suddenly has looser limbs, less restrictions and less of the feeling that somebody, somewhere, is watching you at all times.
I liked it a lot. Which of course opens up a whole other can of worms.
The job that Judith went for may not come through (it might, but you can't count on that). The job that I'm looking at is a little 'junior' for me.
But the sun shines there. And the people are nice. And there's always opportunity. So what do we do if Jude's job doesn't come through (it's about a 10-1 shot) and if my job doesn't really pay? Do we say 'Screw it!' and go anyway - or do we look at other options?
Throw into the mix the fact that there may be offers here in the US and the water starts to look very muddy indeed.
My instinct is always to make an immediate decision and then live with the consequences. That's also my problem in general. So instead I'm gonna sit tight and wait some.... but man is it gonna be hard.
There's a real move to foster creativity. To support the arts. To experiment some. Singapore suddenly has looser limbs, less restrictions and less of the feeling that somebody, somewhere, is watching you at all times.
I liked it a lot. Which of course opens up a whole other can of worms.
The job that Judith went for may not come through (it might, but you can't count on that). The job that I'm looking at is a little 'junior' for me.
But the sun shines there. And the people are nice. And there's always opportunity. So what do we do if Jude's job doesn't come through (it's about a 10-1 shot) and if my job doesn't really pay? Do we say 'Screw it!' and go anyway - or do we look at other options?
Throw into the mix the fact that there may be offers here in the US and the water starts to look very muddy indeed.
My instinct is always to make an immediate decision and then live with the consequences. That's also my problem in general. So instead I'm gonna sit tight and wait some.... but man is it gonna be hard.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Back from Singapore
Where I pretty much ate, drank and gained weight.
Trip was good though - kinda convinced me that I'd like to be there whilst reminding me that getting there won't be as easy as we'd thought.
So it's fingers crossed and wait and see I guess.
Short blog entry this one - jetlag and Jude still in bed so aware of noise of the keys.
Topline summary : We don't know when our current apartment will be sold from under us, we haven't found a short term replacement, we have no idea where Jude's job will take us next, nor do we know when we'll know --- oh and my company is moving out of the UK meaning that my visa might be revoked.
Trip was good though - kinda convinced me that I'd like to be there whilst reminding me that getting there won't be as easy as we'd thought.
So it's fingers crossed and wait and see I guess.
Short blog entry this one - jetlag and Jude still in bed so aware of noise of the keys.
Topline summary : We don't know when our current apartment will be sold from under us, we haven't found a short term replacement, we have no idea where Jude's job will take us next, nor do we know when we'll know --- oh and my company is moving out of the UK meaning that my visa might be revoked.
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