From Buffalo with Love

Sarah Haskins rocks my socks (Beauty Contraptions edition)

2009-10-16T07:53:00.000-04:00

(If you are having trouble with the above video, click here.)

No more bookstoring after October

2009-10-14T20:43:00.001-04:00

The decision has been made. It has been in the making for quite some time now. It was a tough one to make, but I think it is the right one. Yesterday, I gave my two-weeks' notice at the bookstore.

Yes, I have only been working there once a week since the beginning of this semester. But that means that I've been away from my school work for nine hours one day a week. And after I'm done working, I'm too exhausted to do anything else. Nine hours is a lot of time when one is working on her PhD. In nine hours, I can read and write a lot of pages. I hate the feeling of being behind. And I have been slowly falling behind. And the semester is about to get even crazier.

After a long discussion, David and I both came to the conclusion that if my bookstoring is preventing me from being the best student I can be, it defeats the whole purpose of me being in school. And this is what it basically boils down to. So, yes. I will work two more Tuesdays, and then I will be fully devoted to my studying and teaching.

I'm both sad and happy about this (I think most of the difficult decisions in life make one feel this way). And I'm glad that everyone at the bookstore was understanding of my decision, though also sad to see me go. But, who knows. I might be back. Life works in funny ways sometimes.

Weekend update

2009-10-12T07:24:00.000-04:00

Again, nothing too exciting. Spent all Friday at school--teaching in the morning and then attending the Composition works-in-progress symposium in the afternoon (David was one of the presenters). We had tickets for A.S. Byatt on Friday night. But since we were both too tired and behind with work, we stayed in. I finally got some much needed sleep.

The majority of Saturday was spent reading Raymond Williams. I also graded a few of my students' papers. In the evening, our friends Sarah and John had us over for a delicious dinner. And we finally got to see their new house--it's gorgeous.

Yesterday was pretty much the same as Saturday, except that I spent the whole morning writing and grading. I took a short break in the afternoon to go to Target, the only store that doesn't give me shopping anxiety. I got a few tops and scored a pair of jeans that were on sale. The best part of it was that I only grabbed one pair to try, and they fit perfectly (I don't think that's ever happened before). I also got a nice, black jacket. It was back to work after that, dinner, more reading....

I don't teach this week, but I'll be having individual conferences with my students instead. It's helpful for them, I think, but even more tiring than teaching for me. There's also more reading to do (as always), and there are a mid-term and a draft of a final paper waiting to be written.

I guess I should also mention that the weather has gotten much cooler, and there is possible snow in the forecast for next weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Hope all of y'all had a nice weekend, and that this week is off to a good start.

Gotta love Rachel Maddow (The Nobel Prize & Obama Derangement Syndrome edition)

2009-10-11T09:32:00.001-04:00

Well said, as always.

The Danger of a Single Story

2009-10-10T09:59:00.001-04:00

Some weekend food for thought.
(Via Camille.)

Congratulations, Mr. President!

2009-10-09T07:52:00.000-04:00

In a stunning surprise, the Nobel Committee announced Friday that it had awarded its annual peace prize to President Obama “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” less than nine months after he took office.

(Read the rest of the article here.)

Jay Smooth does it again.

2009-10-07T13:00:00.001-04:00

I love this guy!

Weekend update

2009-10-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

In short, nothing spectacular. The only regret: not catching up with sleep and not reading enough of Tocqueville.

Friday:
After teaching, an hour-long meeting with the Director of Composition Department about the second-half of my syllabus for this semester and about this and that. I like her. I wish this wouldn't be her last year. Alex Reid is taking over next year. Don't know much about him, but am thinking of taking his Digital Pedagogy/Research class next semester. I guess I will know more after he visits our Practicum this coming Thursday.

On my way home from campus, I stopped at the post office to mail something that can potentially turn into a big thing (I'm not saying anything more.).

Took a short nap and spent the rest of the afternoon reading and commenting on my students' drafts....

....During which my left ear started to feel stuffed. It was a weird feeling.

David took me out to dinner for surviving my first month of PhD studies. We tried this place. My lentil soup was delicious, but the vegetable lasagna, well, could use some more veggies in it. In other words, an okay, but not excellent meal.

We finished watching the third season of Dexter.

Saturday:
Woke up to the ringing in my left ear. (It finally stopped last night.) Still trying to figure out what this was all about.

Worked at the bookstore for four hours. They desperately needed someone this weekend, and I just couldn't say no. They've always been so accommodating when it comes to my schedule, so, yes, I just had to return a favor.

After work, reading and commenting on more of my students' drafts, and then finally getting to read Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams for class tomorrow.

Sunday:
Students' drafts, more reading, doing laundry, prepping for tomorrow's class. and spending way too much time on writing a reading response (I'm really frustrated about the fact that it takes me so long to write something fairly short and simple. Argh!). Again, Tocqueville will have to wait. But only till tomorrow.

What did you do this weekend?

Sarah Haskins rocks my socks (How to Get Hot Chicks edition)

2009-10-02T07:49:00.001-04:00

(If you are having trouble with the above video, click here.)

Art does not excuse rape

2009-10-01T08:03:00.002-04:00

In response to the petition advocating the release of Roman Polanski, who was arrested in Switzerland after fleeing US justice for over 30 years despite pleading guilty in court to the rape of a thirteen-year-old girl in 1978, we, the undersigned, express our:

- support for the authorities involved in efforts to make Polanski finally face justice for this crime in the United States of America,

- condemnation of the "Petition for Roman Polanski" and its signatories, who have sought to use the admiration they receive from fans around the world to somehow minimize a crime of rape,

- belief that all lives be valued and that crimes against a child not be ignored because the perpetrator of those crimes is an admittedly significant artist,

- frustration with those in the public eye who have questioned whether "no means no" and whether "rape is rape" in regard to this or any rape case,

- sincere apologies to the victim of Polanski's crime for any part this petition has in prolonging her suffering because of his actions.

You can sign the petition here.

The Polanski affair

2009-09-29T08:50:00.003-04:00

Everybody has probably heard by now that Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland this past weekend. Instead of this piece of news being accepted in a sort of celebratory fashion (the accused and convicted rapist of the 13-year-old might finally be brought to justice), what do we get? We get articles portraying Polanski as a victim. We get articles that are saying that this arrest is boo-hoo unfair; that Mr. Polanski has suffered enough. I am fucking tired of living in a rape culture. I am tired of the media (just look at this article from today's New York Times, for example) covering this event as some sort of unfair treatment of Polanski, without even seriously acknowledging the nature of Polanski's crime. Makes my blood boil. That's why I was happy to see this article on broadsheet yesterday. Kate Harding entitles it "Reminder: Roman Polanski raped a child," and she goes on like this:

Roman Polanski raped a child. Let's just start right there, because that's the detail that tends to get neglected when we start discussing whether it was fair for the bail-jumping director to be arrested at age 76, after 32 years in "exile" (which in this case means owning multiple homes in Europe, continuing to work as a director, marrying and fathering two children, even winning an Oscar, but never -- poor baby -- being able to return to the U.S.). Let's keep in mind that Roman Polanski gave a 13-year-old girl a Quaalude and champagne, then raped her, before we start discussing whether the victim looked older than her 13 years, or that she now says she'd rather not see him prosecuted because she can't stand the media attention. Before we discuss how awesome his movies are or what the now-deceased judge did wrong at his trial, let's take a moment to recall that according to the victim's grand jury testimony, Roman Polanski instructed her to get into a jacuzzi naked, refused to take her home when she begged to go, began kissing her even though she said no and asked him to stop; performed cunnilingus on her as she said no and asked him to stop; put his penis in her vagina as she said no and asked him to stop; asked if he could penetrate her anally, to which she replied, "No," then went ahead and did it anyway, until he had an orgasm.

Can we do that? Can we take a moment to think about all that, and about the fact that Polanski pled guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, before we start talking about what a victim he is? Because that would be great, and not nearly enough people seem to be doing it.

Amen and thank you, Kate Harding.
(You can read the rest of the article here.)

Weekend update

2009-09-27T19:30:00.000-04:00

Another weekend is almost over. We had plans for Friday, but then David got sick. So, the rest of the weekend I was playing a nurse, grading, reading, writing, thinking (usually doing more than one of these at the same time). And that's pretty much it. The weather turned wet. The days are getting shorter. Fall is really here.

Anything new or exciting happened in your neck of the woods this weekend?

Change is good, no?

2009-09-25T19:30:00.000-04:00

From Mythologies

2009-09-24T19:53:00.000-04:00

Just finished reading Mythologies, by Roland Barthes. What a gem. I think I've mentioned before that I can't believe that I haven't read this book in its entirety before.

One of my favorite essays in it is the one on "Novels and Children." Barthes muses on how the weekly magazine Elle introduces a female writer as "a remarkable zoological species," as "she brings forth, pell-mell, novels and children." In Elle, women writers are not only describes as such, but their identity must always be twofold (as they can never forget their domestic roles). By deconstructing this myth of traditional womanhood, Barthes asks (and answers):

What does it mean? This: to write is glorious but bold activity; the writer is an 'artist,' one recognizes he is entitled to bohemianism. As he is in general entrusted--at least in the France of Elle--with giving society reasons for its clear conscience, he must, after all, be paid for his services: one tacitly grants him the right to some individuality. But make no mistake: let no woman believe that they can take advantage of this pact without having first submitted to the eternal statue of womanhood. Women are on earth to give children to men; let them write as much as they like, let them decorate their condition, but above all, let them not depart from it: let their Biblical fate not be disturbed by the promotion that is conceded to them, and let them pay immediately by the tribute of their motherhood, for this bohemianism which has a natural link with a writer's life.

Women, be therefore courageous, free; play at being men, write like them; but never get far from them; live under their gaze, compensate for your books by your children; enjoy a free rein for a while, but quickly come back to your condition. One novel, one child, a little feminism, a little connubiality. Let us tie the adventure of art to the strong pillars of the home: both will profit a great deal from this combination: where myths are concerned, mutual help is always fruitful.

Love it!

Queer Buffalo

2009-09-23T18:26:00.000-04:00

Of all the thousand and one towns I saw in America, I think Buffalo is the queerest looking; it is not quite so wild as Lockport, but all the buildings have the appearance of having been run up in a hurry, though every thing has an air of great pretension; there are porticos, columns, domes, and colonnades, but all in wood. Every body tells you there, as in all their other new-born towns, and every body believes, that their improvement, and their progression, are more rapid, more wonderful, than the earth ever before witnessed; while to me, the only wonder is, how so many thousands, nay millions of persons, can be found, in the nineteenth century, who can be content so to live. Surely this country may be said to spread rather than to rise.
--Fanny Trollope, Domestic Manners of the Americans

Guess who's in town?

2009-09-22T08:12:00.001-04:00

The (in)famous Slovenian philosopher (and one of the world's most renowned psychoanalysts) Slavoj Žižek is the guest of UB's Center for the study of Psychoanalysis and Culture this week. He'll be giving a lecture entitled "Is it possible to be a Hegelian today?" on campus this afternoon. I requested a half-shift at work, so I can go. He's like a rock star around here, so I hope I will actually get to see him (we'll only be able to get to campus an hour or so before the event). Fingers crossed.

Weekend update

2009-09-20T20:39:00.004-04:00

Whew, I survived another school week. Luckily, this weekend was not as busy as the previous one, so I got to recharge my batteries. Which is nice. I could afford to slack off a little because two out of my three seminars have been canceled for this upcoming week. There's always work to do, of course, but....

On Friday I actually managed to take a nap and do some reading (I've been reading Roland Barthes's Mythologies and cannot believe I haven't read this book before. It's blowing my mind.), while waiting around for the cable guy to come exchange our modem. And then on Friday evening we did something that we haven't been able to do in weeks--just relaxed and watched some DVDs that have been lying around in their untouched Netflix envelopes. We started the third season of Dexter and are about halfway through the first season of In Treatment. Love them both.

On Saturday I did some grocery shopping, some more reading, and we also attended the second annual reading of John Ashbery's The Tennis Court Oath (the reading took place on an actual tennis court, behind Steve McCaffery's house). After not so successful dinner (I tried to make crispy, sesame kale for the first time, and it was just so-so; I did manage to transform it into a tasty soup for lunch today, though.), some more reading and two more episodes of Dexter.

Sunday started with David's yummy buckwheat pancakes. Then we both did some house cleaning and laundry. Then more reading. Then Kara & CeCe and Carrie came over for some much needed hanging out. We drank tea, ate fig cookies, and caught up with our lives. And CeCe was adorable as usual. I just finished prepping for class I'm teaching tomorrow and will do some more reading. And then it all starts anew.

Have a great week, everyone.

Sarah Haskins rocks my socks (Back 2 School edition)

2009-09-18T07:53:00.000-04:00

(If you are having trouble with the above video, click here.)

R.I.P., Patrick Swayze

2009-09-15T08:13:00.000-04:00

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner."

Dirty Dancing
by QTIP1

"Mistake"

2009-09-14T16:24:00.002-04:00

Below is the video for Moby's new single (being released tomorrow).

On a related note, Moby is playing in Toronto in two weeks. I have the ticket, but I won't be going. Why? Because at the same time he'll be getting ready to come on stage, I'll be sitting in one of my graduate seminars, discussing Roland Barthes's Mythologies and Louis Althusser's "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses."

Am I sorry that I will have to miss this concert? Yes and no.

Yes, because I've traveled many miles several times before to see Moby live; now, that he's playing in such proximity, I won't be able to go.

No, because I am happy to be back in school; I am happy to have this sacrifice to make.

Discovering James Joyce Closing Celebration

2009-09-13T13:21:00.001-04:00

It was a big night for me last night, as I got to participate at the closing celebration for the "Discovering James Joyce: The University of Buffalo Collection" exhibit. Not only did I get to be a part of the James Joyce roundtable, I also (finally!) got to see the exhibit. It was amazing! Below are some photos.

Second House Reading (Andrea Strudensky/Michael Kelleher)

2009-09-12T12:22:00.001-04:00

Last night, another successful reading happened at our house. Here are some photos.

Busy weekend

2009-09-11T13:16:00.001-04:00

Ah, the life of a PhD student.... The things I need to do this weekend:

--host the House Reading #2 at our house tonight
--read, read, read for my graduate seminars
--write reading responses for said seminars
--read and comment on 24 of my students' drafts
--prepare for and participate at the round table at the closing ceremony for the James Joyce exhibit tomorrow evening
--prepare for teaching next week
--did I mention all the reading I have to do?

What are you up to this weekend? Hope there are some fun things on all of y'all's agenda.

President Obama, I'll be watching your speech tonight.

2009-09-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

Please do the right thing.

We Can't Afford to Wait

2009-09-08T20:18:00.001-04:00