I had a job interview this week. While people were encouraging me to do well, I realized humans haven’t really figured out certain conversational norms. We don’t know what to say when some tragedy occurs (except a frowny face and…
I read this today: What matters is to be right, not nuanced. Again, sometimes the right position is nuanced, but there’s no reason to assume that from the get-go. And I fully agree. But it inspired me to develop a…
So I was going to post a link, but didn’t want to do it on Facebook or Twitter and then I thought: “*sigh* I wish I had a blog or something.” But then I realized: I do! What?? Okay, let’s…
My god, this is the future. I wish this blog were more useful for past versions of myself that happened to make their way to the future somehow. Get back to my 2010 weight and muscle mass. Finish my dissertation.…
Things I have accomplished this year: Get into shape, damn it. But like, a pretty bad ass shape. Fail. I blame the girlfriend. And the job market. And anybody who isn’t me. But really, it’s my own fault. I stopped…
Last post, I wrote what I perceive to be my major flaws. Given the advice to ‘think positive’ and ‘write positive things about myself,’ I’ve recently received, I’m going to try the opposite today. Maybe I can learn something in…
I remember when @narfna and I were applying to graduate school (years and years ago). And I remember thinking that it was pretty horrible. “It’s like putting all of your flaws on paper and asking a stranger to love you…
The aim of this game is to grade your life. A perfect 10 is being in the best condition you ever have or will be. A 0 means that you’re at rock bottom for your life. My own grades are…
Five years ago, I wrote a post and made an illustration for it. I was fairly proud of that illustration, even though it was purposefully made to look like a Crazy 8s knock off game from the 1980s. Well, jump…
Yay! I had a surprise birthday cake! Also, I am at the beach! And then my girlfriend flew out from LA and drove five hours to get here! And she got me sooo many tequilas and mezcals! Yay life!
Wikipedia classifies Hoobastank, Panic! At the Disco, Lonely Island, and the Gorillaz as One-Hit Wonders. Obviously whatever formula they are using is wrong. Here is my proposed reclassification scheme: 1. Artist has to have one song that is responsible for…
If you could have one type of food not count for you, what type of food would it be? By ‘count,’ I mean in terms of calories, nutrition, hunger, or anything but taste.
Because if so, that is sad. For most of us, the two serve very different purposes. I actually think I thrive differently in different media. I love the pseudo-anonymity associated with blogging. What killed blogging for me was becoming a…
Last week, I interviewed a bunch of high school seniors for a very prestigious scholarship. About 50% will get it, which includes about $250,000 worth of funding. The other 50% will have to content themselves with going to Harvard.1 My…
I’ve mentioned Super Friend Bash before, but now it’s really becoming a thing. This year is the fourth annual adventure and we’re having it in Hawaii. A few people have bought their tickets already, so it’s going to happen again…
Some resolutions for 2013: Get into shape, damn it. But like, a pretty bad ass shape. Finish two dissertation chapters. Apply for academic jobs. Not injure any more bones Keep a list of alcoholic beverages consumed. For… posterity?
I do these every year. It keeps me honest. So how did I do this year? Be in better shape than I am now Fail. But not by much. Pass my departmental prelim Success! And… Success!! Contact friends and family…
It occurred to me this vacation that it was incredibly hard to talk about politics with people. It shouldn’t make any sense that politics would be a touchy issue. Most of us can’t really affect the situation around us. When…