Don’t fall for the Foucault trap

You find this interesting? You think this is the kind of stuff you’ll discuss in grad school? One of my professors ranted incoherently about bio-power *rolling my eyes*. Another professor told me that “if you read Foucault you’ll end up living in a basement apartment with alot of cats.”
Finally during my [...]

Tales of the Graduate Teaching Assistant: Or The Bodhisattva of LSD (Part II)

Abstract: This is part two of a recounting of my earliest experience teaching. As a graduate student, my friend Felix and I, were recruited to T.A. for Dr. Samsara. After taking us to lunch we were driven head in to the deep end.
“Hey mother-fu$ker,” Felix screamed waving his arms and chasing the van down the [...]

Fun Grad-Educated Facts: Or how do you say reality in Dutch?

The average age of a PhD student in the Netherlands is 29, an overwhelming majority are women – and 40% are foreigners, according to new research by careers magazine Intermediair (IM).
The survey indicates that at 13.7%, the unemployment rate among PhD graduates is seven times higher than that of university graduates as a whole. And [...]

The Bodhisattva of LSD: Part I

The Bodhisattva of LSD: Part I
Abstract: In this article, the topic of LSD, Buddhist enlightenment, and the American fruit-picking industry are discussed vis-à-vis attention to social dynamics of graduate teaching assistants and supervising professors. Special attention is paid to acid-flash backs as well as the contingent nature of “truth” claims.
I’m sitting so close to him [...]

Dinner at Professor Z’s house: Tales of Grad School

Abstract: (Like all academics I will summarize my articles into a paragraph so you can skim the abstract and impress the department chair and/or the Dean with the 25 cent version of the tale) This article applies the theory of lowest common denominator and testicular-fondle theory to the phenomena of grad student success and failure. [...]

Hey There Wasted Life!

All you hungry tired grad students out there waiting for that big break… I’m here my babies. I hear your bitter moans and your dreams of tenure, professional careers… I hear your call to arms to make the world a better place, to make a difference.
I’m here. I’m here to tell you this is the [...]