December 16, 2005
I just got some "GET A DEGREE BASED ON LIFE EXPERIENCE!" spam in my inbox. Not such a big deal normally. While it’s true that I’m honoured that Clarence has been trying to get in touch with me; sadly, he doesn’t say who I am. He doesn’t even say what University he’s from. Usually, it’s some cool sounding place.
However, while I am interested in getting a PhD in as little as two weeks, I’m not so sure that I want to get one from an organization that misspells their "their"s. Yikes.
P.S.: A personal note to Clarence: you’ll make your fake-University seem more real if you don’t say the "administration" is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. You have to project some kind of bureaucratic aura of in-accessibility. That’s the way that real Universities do it.
You have been referred to us: (Referral ID: R8204)
Based on your present knowledge and past life experiences our University administration office has been trying to contact you. We feel you may qualify for one of our Univsersity degrees in your area of expertise. We have been qualifying people based on thier experiences in past and present jobs and are offering qualified degrees with transcripts for those that qualify.
If you call our offices now we can confirm our information and send you either a Bachelors’, Masters’, or Doctorate within 2 weeks.
Administration Office Number: 1-XXX-XXX-1674
Administration Hours: 24 hours, 7 Days a week, including Sundays and Holidays University Administration
Clarence Moore Client Identification: CL6563
December 2, 2005
Will be downloading and listening, without a doubt.
Link: Guardian: Ricky Gervais
Update: I’m in the process of listening to the last two of these… they’re as funny as I expected…
December 2, 2005
Seems like Microsoft has gone and created some pretty interesting software (that, not suprisingly, plugs into a pre-existing piece of MS software) that will rank emails in your in-box not on time of arrival but on SNARF’s perceived importance (i.e. someone who is in your address book, someone you’ve replied to often). I don’t suffer in-box drowning, but know many people who do (my supervisor, for example). Might be a solution. Only problem? Hafta use MS outlook.
Link: SNARF from Microsoft Research
December 1, 2005
Just had an email pop in my inbox with the following message:
Congratulations! We are happy to inform you that your abstracts have been accepted for the Trash Animals anthology project.
Which is fantastic news, all ’round. I proposed to write about Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) in Toronto. Here is a snippit of my abstract:
I’ve chosen to write about my local experiences with ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) for two reasons. The first is because for most Torontonians, the species of bird known as the ring-billed gull does not exist. Rather, when most urban humans interact with this bird, a gull or seagull is seen: a homogenized mis-understanding that hides the possibility of meaningful engagement. The second is because they are seen as being, quite literally, garbage birds. Ring-bills are seen as a scavenger that will steal food from you while you are picnicking and, if you’re especially unlucky, will defecate on you.
Part of the game of academia is getting published, so if all goes well, this will be added to my C.V. Exciting for a newbie like me.
