I am an advisor. I have advisees. More than one even. I met with them for the first time, ostensibly to offer some advice on the first year of grad school. I blathered about a positive attitude, attending all talks in the department, volunteering to work on research projects to get their feet wet, and [...]
Archive for October, 2008
Encouraging Graduate Students to Support One Another
Posted in mentors on October 23, 2008 | 6 Comments »
Homophily in Politics
Posted in politics on October 21, 2008 | 8 Comments »
As the presidential election gets nastier, I’ve been reflecting a bit on homophily. I suspect that we academics must rank fairly highly on this (though tell me if I am wrong). I DO think it’s a problem but it certainly makes life a heck of a lot easier.
I’ve gotten into a bit of trouble lately [...]
Blog Action Day: Children of Incarcerated Parents
Posted in Uncategorized on October 15, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Blog Action Day on poverty, round II.
Almost 2 1/2 million children have a parent currently incarcerated. Their needs are variable but they commonly live in poverty. Children of incarcerated parents suffer all of the consequences of poverty and the loss of a parent but endure an added stigma. The children I know with a parent [...]
Blog Action Day: Inequality Starts Early and Gets Worse Fast
Posted in Uncategorized on October 15, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Today is blog action day, a day when bloggers unite to write about one topic — this year it is poverty. Kristina B is sending homeless kids trick or treating, the General Crime Folks are compiling a list of resources on poverty and crime. Happily (or not), the topic of the day fits in nicely [...]
Voting and Values at Dennys
Posted in Uncategorized on October 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Overheard (at a Denny’s Restaurant!):
I read something the other day that said a distinguishing characteristic of the American working and middle class was its tendency to vote against its own economic interests.
Well, isn’t that nice that people put aside their own economic interests to vote in favor of their larger values?
[Long Pause in Conversation] …I [...]
Selected Scenes from Autism World.
Posted in adventures with child on October 11, 2008 | 4 Comments »
A snapshot of our past few weeks in autism world with Junior.
1. Humor: Final question of intake interview with program providing at-home play-based intervention for Junior:
Program Coordinator: Are there any cultural issues we should be aware of about your family?
[Parents look at each other, bewildered about what coordinator is asking. Parents fumble for more time [...]
I do not understand the current financial crisis.
Posted in Uncategorized on October 8, 2008 | 4 Comments »
I hereby admit publicly that my knowledge of the financial crisis is limited, inept, and probably wrong. I am slightly in favor of the bailout but I cannot tell you why.
I was talking with a scary smart friend the other day about the financial crisis and we agreed that neither of us understand it in [...]
Sarah Palin, Post-Debate
Posted in politics on October 3, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I’ve been going back and forth on what I think about Palin. At a basic level, the choice of her as the VP candidate offends me as an American and as a woman. I’m offended that she is allowed to avoid the press and offended that we as a country are so stupid that we [...]
I think I am a Blackberry person but I wish I were an iPhone person…
Posted in Uncategorized on October 1, 2008 | 7 Comments »
I’m slowly making my way back to normal life after a long and busy break. I still expect blogging to be slow but am hoping to make more regular posts. My blog stats make me smile as many of you still appear to be checking in… In any case, I return with a mundane question [...]
