dissertation commonality

No matter what your discipline, at at least one point in the process, everyone else's research will look: more relevant / easier / smarter / more exciting / more likely to lead to a job / just plain better  than your own.

They're thinking the same thing about your research. Not that that helps much.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 18:48 | link | comments (2) |
dissertation

could be excellent advice, could be just a headache

So, next time you want to negotiate for something (a car, a house, a craigslist item), do yourself a favor and go get a nice hangover--it might just improve your negotiating juju. Here's why:

"The unpleasant physical effects following the heavy use of alcohol actually work to your advantage during a tough negotiation. Seemingly uninterested you will be slouched in your chair, responding slowly and talking softly and looking generally unhappy with whatever the other party proposes." 

Hilarious.

You know, I got a masters in conflict resolution, and I never saw this strategy referenced anywhere. I'll be checking back with lifehack  to see if anyone's had success with this method.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 20:41 | link | comments |

lesson learned

When one hits "enter" twice in rapid succession, the text in one's Dr@gonPad dictation box disappears, never to be seen again. Damnit. Save early and often - it's a learned behavior that you'll never regret.

What was lost was merely a warm up discussion about why I don't like narrative mysteries like "Lost" or "Law and Order" solve the murder-type shows. I suppose I'd rather lose this than really important dissertation text, but still, it's irritating.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 07:02 | link | comments (1) |
ugh

two things

1. Oh, how I love Miranda July. The mere idea of her new book  (nay, even the title: No one belongs here more than you) makes me feel completely delighted and pleased.

2. 30Boxes played a little game with me when I entered the information about when Miranda July is coming to my town. I clicked on the appropriate date and entered in her name and the venue, but when I saved the information I was looking at an entry that merely said "Miranda Abbreviated_Venue_Information!!!" on July 1. I have a feeling this is just the kind of thing that would fit perfectly in one of her stories.

posted by: schoolsmelt at 16:33 | link | comments |

schedule

Ok. Counting the days to the defense didn't really help me as much as I'd thought. Plus, it was almost laughably inaccurate. About some things, I'm apparently quite the optimist--not to mention in the dark about key information - such as the several weeks when my chair and/or various committee members will be out of the country.

So, after conferring for a very organized meeting with my chair, my new defense date is on the full moon of October. Would've been even cooler if it were going to be the blue moon, but it's close enough. A quick check shows that we'll have a blue moon on June 30, which happens to be an 'ending in zero' birthday of a pair of twins I know, which must mean exponentially good luck for the coming year.*

In any case, I've got a plan, I've sent it out to my committee, and while I'm waiting for them to respond, I've also got a list of things to write. So, I'm officially back on the saddle.

*this is the type of extracurricular activity I'm going to want to curtail if I'm to finish when I want to finish!

posted by: schoolsmelt at 16:50 | link | comments |