Saturday, February 10, 2007

The Well-Prepared Sociologist's Calendar

http://www.localendar.com/public/SociologyIsSexy

This can be added to and edited by anybody...same login info as the login info for this blog.

Blind Item

Which local sociologist was seen rocking out to opening act Dawn Landis at the Somerville Theather?? The academic who will make a much-anticipated radio appearance on Sunday appeared to vehemently enjoy Landis' set, especially the song "Body Guard."

The Best Sociologist In The Universe...




This guy rocks...because he is a sociologist named HARRY POTTER.

Sociology Cartoons



Will You Make a Good Research Team?? A Cosmo-Soc Quiz

you can probably learn much of what you need to know about a potential collaborator by (1) reading something they've written; and, (2) sharing a meal. i'll leave the analysis of written work to your own judgment, but this restaurant behavior quiz might offer some insights into criterion number two. i've written the quiz for male collaborators, but you can change the he to she or s/he as needed.

1. did he treat the server decently? this could be signaling that he treats others with mutual trust and respect. if he sends back written instructions to the chef about the proper preparation of a cheeseburger, in contrast, he might try to micromanage your contributions to the project.

_ rude as hell and a little scary -- like when animals attack: 0 points
_ decently, i guess, i didn't really notice: 1 point
_ very understanding, he must've worked in a restaurant: 2 points

2. did he stick you (or, worse, his students) with the check or stiff the server with a tiny tip? this wouldn't portend generosity in my book. it might also mean that he thinks you owe him something just for hanging out with you. you don't want a collaborator who would minimize your contributions to the project. he should be quick to point out that "my partner really did the heavy lifting here" and, when needed, "I've gotta shoulder the blame for screwing up on that one."

_ he took a call and took off before the check came: 0 points
_ split it down the middle and tipped 20 percent: 1 point
_ he paid this one and i'll get the next one: 2 points
_ i took this one and he'll grab the next one: 2 points
_ he stuck a fork through my hand when i reached for the check: -3 points

3. did he complain about being chronically overworked? if so, it could indicate incompatible work styles and ethic or inadequate time to pick up a new project. choose a collaborator who has shown some positive energy (e.g., by bringing several other projects home) and/or the proper incentive (e.g., job market, tenure) to finish the project.

_ he has not slept since 1979: 0 points [yes, this will knock down my score]
_ he yawned once but apologized for it, blaming travel fatigue: 1 point
_ he seemed really excited about getting going on the project: 2 points

4. did he rain furious anger down upon colleagues, teachers, and students as soon as they were out of earshot? uh-oh. this person may not have the patience or compassion you'll need to get over a rough patch. sometimes life interrupts the most careful plans. you'll feel better working with those willing to forgive your excesses and understand your other (over)commitments.

_ apparently, he has always been surrounded by idiots and cretins: 0 points
_ he really didn't say much about his colleagues or students: 1 point
_ you can see he loves his mentors, colleagues, and students: 2 points

5. did you laugh? you don't have to launch a lifelong friendship, but it is nice to work with people whose company you genuinely enjoy. the best collaborators take the work seriously but are comfortable laughing at themselves. social scientists require ego sufficient to get on with our audacious work, but not so much ego that we can't take a step without tripping over it.

_ he struck me/made me weep/wouldn't let me go to the bathroom: 0 points
_ yeah, i think we could probably work together: 1 point
_ i wanna party with you, cowboy: +/- 2 points (sign is up to you)

__ total points for questions 1 to 5

0 to 3 points: run. he might make you famous, but notorious is far more likely.
4 to 7 points: try email conversation over a few weeks and see how it goes.
8 to 10 points: yeah! like jagger and richards, this could be fun.

Headlines From The World of Sociology

The KKK is on the rise!
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0209/p02s02-ussc.html

Judges lock up families!
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3015/families_behind_bars/

"Global Warming" is a taboo term at the WH!
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0130-10.htm

Barack Obama is a smoker!
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2855994&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Would You Pledge Your Virginity To Your Father?
http://www.glamour.com/news/articles/2007/01/purityballs07feb?currentPage=1

The Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries: Where did your favorite theorist land??
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=7591

Sociology Jeopardy!!!!

This is utterly brilliant. Match your sociological knowledge to the daunting Jeopardy Board!

http://www.wadsworthmedia.com/sociology/intro_soc/sociology_game_show/introsoc_home.html

The lies we tell ourselves....

The Top Ten Lies Told by Graduate Students

10. It doesn't bother me at all that my college roommate is making $80,000 a year on Wall Street.

9. I'd be delighted to proofread your book/chapter/article.

8. My work has a lot of practical importance.

7. I would never date an undergraduate.

6. Your latest article was so inspiring.

5. I turned down a lot of other offers to come here.

4. I just have one more book to read and then I'll start writing.

3. The department is giving me so much support.

2. My job prospects look really good.

1. No really, I'll be out of here in only two more years.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Top Five Lies Told by Teaching Assistants:

5. I'm not going to grant any extensions.

4. Call me any time. I'm always available.

3. It doesn't matter what I think; write what you believe.

2. Think of the midterm as a diagnostic tool.

1. My other section is much better prepared than you guys.

You Might Be A Sociology Grad Student If......

- You can analyze the social/cultural significance of appliances you cannot operate.

- Your small, shared office is better decorated than your apartment.

- You have ever, as a folklore project, attempted to track the progress of your own joke across the Internet.

- You are startled to meet people who neither need nor want to read.

- You have ever brought a journal article to a bar.

- You rate coffee shops by the availability of outlets for your laptop.

- Everything reminds you of something in sociology (even the fucking Blue Man Group!).

- You have ever discussed academic matters at a sporting event.

- You have ever spent more than $50 on photocopying while researching a single paper.

- You can tell the time of day by looking at the traffic flow at the library.

- You look forward to summers because you're more productive without the distraction of classes.

- You regard caffeine as a vitamin.

- You consider all papers to be works in progress.

- Professors don't really care when you turn in work anymore.

- You find the bibliographies of books more interesting than the actual text.

- You have given up trying to keep your books organized and are now just trying to keep them all in the same general area.

- You have accepted guilt as an inherent feature of relaxation.

- You find yourself explaining to children that you are in "20th grade".

- You start refering to stories like "Snow White et al."

- You frequently wonder how long you can live on ramen without getting scurvy

- You look forward to taking some time off to do laundry

- You wonder if ASA style allows you to cite talking to yourself as "personal communication"