Filed under: social inequality
At least according to a new facebook application where:
The life of a New York City bum is tough and grim – the streets offer no mercy and take no prisoners. To make it to the top of the heap, you’ll need to take advantage of every break life throws your way. And if anybody dares to get in your way… POW – right in the kisser!
I’ve noticed quite a few applications that celebrate stereotypes. Mafia Wars, Sorority Life… I’m sure there are many more.
Really, that’s all I got for you on this one. I didn’t join, so I can’t tell you about all the fun and horrible things you do as a “bum.” But, then again, I just didn’t want to give it support.
Filed under: teaching
I am so glad I am not teaching an inequality class next school year. Group dynamics and research methods. The reason for this celebration? Honestly… cause teaching all of this inequality starts to get damn depressing. Staying constantly updated on everything, dealing with students who tell me that I’m “playing the race card” and knowing they feel pleased cause they remember a term I taught them (and them failing to realize that they just proved the entire point of the semester)… it wears on me. And, yes, I realize that my ability to feel this way (predicated on some idea that I get some sort of escape from all of this) is a reflection of my many privileges (white, heterosexual, ambiguously religious…). But, I still feel that way. And, to drive it home, a great news story from Rachel Maddow:
This constant awareness about how much the world sucks… I doubt I can shut it off. I know I’ll still read, write, and discuss issues related to race, class, gender, and sexual inequalities. I can’t help but be happy that it won’t be my job to do so, at least for two semesters.
Filed under: Random
A while ago (probably about a year), I told you about the wonderful book Name of the Wind by Pat Rothfuss. At the time, he was running a fundraiser for Heifer International. If you didn’t get on board last year, you have another chance.
First, read the book (really, it’s really really good).
Second, you can get your name in the next book of the trilogy (Wise Man’s Fear). By going here and following the instructions. (Actually, you’d need to do this first cause time is running out … but, you can help out Heifer, which is good anyway).
Good fiction and a great cause. What more can you ask for (besides tenure)?
Also, while you are at it, you can read this blog post by Pat which talks about hating his job (to write fabulous books) sometimes. Sound familiar?
And, while we are on this track, there was this post on Chronicle Higher Ed about a new professor. I found the comments hard to read. Everyone was basically saying that she/he was a crap teacher because she/he was struggling with liking what she/he was doing. To me, all of his/her worries indicates she/he IS a strong teacher… I guess I’m sensitive about that, because lately I hate my job … but I still think I’m good at it. Part of the reason we hate is because, ultimately, we care so much.
Filed under: The Academy
Art work clearly indicates who is saved and who is doomed. Because of the insights from John McNaughton, we have reliable evidence that supreme court judges, the liberal media, politicians, and the college professor are all off to hell. And, from the descriptions (yes, interactive scrolling!) it appears that the Professor is the worst of them all! I’m glad I saw this before my God-complex had the chance to fully form.
But, in good news, I enjoy the label of “educational elite.” That has a nice ring to it. (Ring to it… Ring to it… anyone?). There is an alternate version here.
Oh, Fox News. h/t Blue
Blue shared this with me:*
What I find fascinating is what is “feared.” Boys fear physical contact with another male. But the fear for females is not the same. Instead of showing women kissing other women, they show “masculine” females. Of course, women having sexual contact with other women has become, in a way, normalized — as long as it is done for male consumption.** It reminds me of this coverage of gays in commercials by Bryan Safi.
“I kissed a girl and I liked it… because I am a Lesbian.”
I originally found this from Soc Images. If you watch the video they have up, I have one question — Can you IMAGINE what Glenn Beck would do with this? “The Liberal Media is trying to turn us ALL GAY!”
*I wrote this during my scheduled email/reader time for the day.
**I am aware that the Onion is a satire of news. Yet, humor often reveals underlying assumptions, norms, etc (in fact, I do a whole class on humor, culture & norms in introductory level courses). Just thought I should say that before I get comments from people who search for “Lesbians Hot” and decide to let me know that the Onion isn’t for reals.
I’m drowning. I really am. I find myself wondering if I worked all those long years just to get a job that I don’t even like. I constantly tell myself that it will get better, that everyone has a hard first year, that when all of my classes aren’t new prep things will calm down and I’ll be able to return to what I really love — research. (As a note, I do really like my department. At least I’m not dealing with issues there as I go through all of this).
Question the first:
What are your first year experiences? Is it fairly normal not to like the job? I spoke recently to a friend of mine that went through the same PhD program. He is also in his first year and absolutely LOVES it. He has 4 classes (two online), but thinks it’s great fun. This diverges from my own experiences.
Question the second:
What organizational schemes allowed you to do everything you had to for teaching, meetings, committee work AND still research (not to mention sleep and relax)?
Question the third:
How long was it (after starting your first academic appointment) when you felt settled in and could come to a reliable conclusion as to what you thought about it?
I’ll have more teaching specific questions later, but I thought I’d start off with these.
Filed under: Random
…or threat to call out people who lie. Check out the White House blog that directly challenges Beck’s claims about the Olympics here. (h/t Blue)
Then check out the “Truth-O-Meter” (pointed out in the White House blog) here.
