REMEMBRANCE DAY -- Lest We Forget

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the immortal words of Wilfrid Owen,

  

 

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; 

      Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

      And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

 

Sadly we never learn.  Not long after the war to end all wars, we had WW2.  And then Korea.  Vietnam.  Afghanistan.  Iraq.  Not to mention all the other conflicts that have maimed and killed untold millions.  And as we step part ways now into the 21st Century, are we soon witnessing "In the nightmare of the dark, all the dogs of XXX bark"?

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Well, folks, looks like winter is on its way.  It's just below freezing now, though today's high is going to a balmy 6 degrees Celcius.  Not bad for mid November.  People say this will be a horrible winter.  I hope not.  After the mild winter we had last year, I'm just not prepared for a typical brutal Ottawa winter season.  I must say though that I have enough winter coats to withstand the cold.  But I don't want to have to.

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Decolonization is a favourite word these days.  Hear it all the time.  It's like one of those really popular things, you know, like Taco, Pizza, and Sex.  Well, maybe not the last one.  But unlike them, these populist terms have a shelf life that's significantly shorter.  Wait and see.  Not that I have any issue with the idea of decolonization.  I agree with it, actually.  Like toxic masculinity, another one of those things.  I agree that it's bad.  But I guess I've lived long enough to not jump on bandwagons.  I mean, seriously?  We talk about decolonization in Canada all the time, to the point where some actually say we should not celebrate Canada Day, before the country is built on colonization etc etc.

Fuck you!

People should put their money where their mouth is.  If one thinks Canada is so bad, that it's a shame that the country was formed the way it was, then one should give up one's citizenship and move to a place where it's all la-la land.  Like China, maybe?  Or Russia?  Or Iran?  You can't have the cake and eat it, too.  Travel the world using the passport of a country you despise?  What a fucking hypocrite!

And then there are those who lament capitalism.  You know, I think unbridled capitalism is bad as well.  Look at the wealth gap in some of these places!  But I don't see a better alternative, do you?  Really?  You want communism?  Remember how many people Stalin killed?  Remember how many Mao starved to death?  And if communism is so good, maybe you should move to fucking China.  But more on my point about hypocrisy.  These same people have no trouble drinking their SBUX while commenting on capitalism, or texting on their iphones, or dressed in the latest torn jeans, etc etc.  Again, go fuck yourself.

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Oh wow, Chunski, you sound so pissed off.  Why?  I'm not, not really.  I just didn't sleep very well last night and have been up since 3.  Haha, though some of you might remember that once upon a time, a long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, I used to get up at three EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY to go to that college in PA.  What wonderful days!

So I will leave you with this thought:  MORE COFFEE PLEASE!  

 

 

 

 

A Story Worth Repeating, AND an inane marketing message

I believe I told some of you via Facebook about this.  But anyway, it's worth repeating.  If you were a former student of mine, you know how much attention I pay to punctuation marks.  Well, a man in Australia was sued for defamation (and will likely lose) for exactly that -- for want of an apostrophe, the guy could be $180,000 poorer.

Here's the story: https://globalhappenings.com/technology/22954.html

The difference in question was the word employees versus employee's.  Sometimes, it really pays to be careful.

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Today I received a marketing email from a certain credit card company.  Great, just the kind of shit I need.  As a former marketing prof, I LOVE getting marketing junk so I can criticize other people's stupidity.  Here's one from good old A#*&$, of all people.

They told me that I now "QUALIFY TO APPLY FOR THE  XYZ CARD!"

Wait, what?  I fucking QUALIFY to apply?  How does one qualify (or not) to apply for something?  You either approve it (because I qualify for the card) or not (because I don't qualify for it).  What the fuck is this qualifying to apply?  Anyone can apply for anything.  I can fucking apply to be an astronaut for NASA.  Not that they will let me be, but I can apply.

This is the kind of shit that give marketers a bad name.  Fucking morons can't write to save their lives.  Reminds me of Alpha Hall. 

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The US is opening its land border with Canada on November 8.  You just need to be double dosed vaccinated and cross.  No more tests needed.  But to get back to Canada, you need a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.  That hasn't changed.  And I'd rather it didn't.  Better safe than sorry is my motto.  But at least things are looking better now...till the next Covid wave, I guess.

Continuing Saga of the Research Design class and the MA

You may recall I put in a request to have the research design class waived.  Well, finally today I spoke (via Zoom) with the program director who agreed to waive this one class, but I'd have to take another class in its place.

That's fine by me, although the way things are, I am not entirely sure I will even bother taking any of the other research classes even though they are mandatory.  First, the program is flexible as to timing, so I do NOT need to have it completed in three semesters.  Second, since I am doing it for fun, maybe there is NO point taking any class I am not really interested in.  After all, it's not like I need an MA, and the whole reason for being in the program, for me at least, is just to learn more about sociology.  Not to learn about doing research.  I mean, really, I think I have done enough of that in my previous life anyway.  There is no intention on my part to do more research to publish etc.

Also, another update.  I have now been accepted into both the undergrad social science program AND the certificate in law program for next fall.  I have until April 1 to decide, but I think I am likely not to do a degree but to do the certificate instead.  The Faculty of Law confirmed to me that being in that program still allows me to take non-law classes, just not to fulfill the certificate requirements.  I'm cool with that.

So that's the latest as far as school goes.

Signs are that the fourth wave is waning in Ontario.  Lately in Ottawa, population 1 million, we average 40-50 new cases a day, which is not too bad (unless you're one of the 40-50).  It helps, I guess, that about 85% of Ottawa people have received both doses, and here masking laws are in place and enforced.  Let's hope things continue to calm down.  Maybe there is hope for Christmas yet.

Meanwhile, please take care of yourselves.  Stay healthy.  And thanks for reading!

Life After the MA?

Now that the semester got underway, my mind turns to what I'll do after this.  Assuming I finish it and pass, that is (more on that below).  Application starts now for next fall, so I've been considering what my options are.  Basically I have two, since I want to stay at uOttawa.

First, I can apply to do another undergrad, this time a Bach of Social Sciences, with two minors.

Second, I can opt to apply to do a Certificate in Law (non-degree).

Here are some more details.

The Faculty of Social Sciences has a degree option that does not entail a major or honours ( too restrictive, so I don't want to do them.  E.g.  A major requires 20 courses in the discipline, and an Honours degree requires 24.  Plus, there are numerous required courses etc.  Too much structure).  One of the minors must be in social science.  Since hopefully I will have an MA in sociology, I can't very well apply to do a minor in sociology.  Haha.  So I can do a minor in psychology, or perhaps one in Political Science.  The other doesn't have to be in Social Science, and will either be History (I just need 4 more, for a total of 10 for a minor), or in Law (for which I need 8 more).  Alternatively, I can opt for a BSS without any minor, but it's a shorter degree.

For the Certificate in Law, well, it's not a degree program, so you end up with a certificate.  Nothing wrong with that, since I need another degree like I need another hole in the head.  For that I need a total of 10 (same as a minor) but since I already have 2, I just need 8 more.  All must be in law though, so there's less variety.  I THINK I can still take other things, for the heck of it.  Not sure.  Anyhow, I can do this one PT though, so I can actually stretch it out.  And not have to worry about taking too many undergrad courses with a bunch of 18 year olds.

If you have any ideas or suggestions, I'd like to hear them.  Please share them with me!  Both sound quite interesting to me.

So that's the latest!  Now back to doing sociology... getting a bit too left wing for my taste :)

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I said earlier, assuming I finish it and pass.  What did I mean by that?

As far as stuff specific to sociology goes, I'm fine with it, even if sometimes things get a bit strangely "out-of-this-world" left.  Learning a different perspective is not a bad thing.

But there are also some REQUIRED courses that I am not interested in.  They are research courses.  Ok, well, yeah it's been a while, but I did do research courses.  So a lot of this stuff is repetitive for me, and I don't think I am learning much that's new to me.  I think I am going to approach the academic administration people to see if there's some way these can be waived.  If not, I am one unhappy camper... hence my comment on finishing it.  Plus, haha, the prof I have now on research design REALLY SUCKS!

BTW I just emailed the School.  Will let you know how things go.

How to make a name for oneself in academe

Not that I am revealing anything new, but thought you might get a kick out of this.

We all know that a lot of people, especially "scholars," tend to have an ego the size of Quebec (sorry, Texas, you're not big enough as a measure of size).  It gets to you, though, doesn't it, when some of them acquire a god complex.  But what irritates me most is how often people take every chance they have to aggrandize themselves.

For one of my papers, I am reading a crap ton of research articles on ethnicity.  As I was reading this one review article (i.e. an article that provides an overview of the "state of the art" if you will on a particular subject, in this case ethnicity.  It would look at numerous important articles in extant literature, and tell the reader where things are on the leading edge.  That sort of thing), I saw some very familiar high-powered names, as I would expect.

So big deal researchers like Alba get cited twice.  Berry, three times.  Rosenthal four times.  Glazer, surprisingly, only got one mention.  Tajfel got three.  If you don't know these people, it's ok.  Take my word for it, they are like the ethnicity research Hall of Famers.  So, no surprises there.  But wait.  The author of the review article itself (I will not say her name here) got cited FIVE times!!!!!  Yup.  This is what it looks like, right?  I am reviewing the state of the art, and I am the one most often cited as being state of the art.  Look at me, mom, I am SO fucking great!

Yeah yeah, I know that academics do often cite themselves.  But this is just blatant and crass.  And you know, I read some of the person's work, and they seem to be a constant regurgitation of her own previous work.  The same shit all over again.

So rude.

Hello Gym!

Today was the first time I went back to the gym in a year and a half (or did I go in between lockdowns, who cares).  Luck had it that I was the only one there as well (had to make appointment for one hour slots).  Well, I didn't last the whole hour.  No surprises there!  After all of 45 minutes I was drenched in sweat and about to die.

Made another appointment for tomorrow.  We'll see if I stay lucky and have the gym to myself!

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Walked through campus again today, and all the first year students doing their orientation and welcome activities.  Man, I was young once!  It's really quite a treat to see all the people having a good time and being excited about a new chapter in their lives.  No doubt all that enthusiasm will vanish in a matter of weeks.  Once assignments come due.  It ain't no high school no more.  And UOttawa academics is serious shit.  Felt like wanting to walk over and tell them that.  But why dampen their mood?  Haha.

Had my first class today.  Everyone else in the class (all 7 of us) was on the thesis stream, except for me who is doing the coursework option.  Felt a bit overmatched, since they all seemed to have been sociology majors or something like that.  Oh well, unlike the undergrad degree, this time around my goal is just to do enough to graduate.  No more shooting for A+ and such.  So hopefully things will work out.  

Am I still rather unmotivated?  Yes and no.  The idea of learning new things is exciting.  But after having the summer off, and having gone through all that online learning shit, the idea of yet more online courses (all my classes are online this term, more on that below) is not overly appealing.

Why are my classes all online?  Not that I don't have a choice.  But I had to pick my classes, and many of the 7000 level (MA level) classes have this "gender and" thing in front of them.  Like Gender and Race Relations.  Gender and Aging.  Fuck.  I can't deal with all that gender stuff.  Nothing against it, but my experience has been that anything that is Gender and this and that ends up being summarized thus:  "Men are bad.  All men are bad.  Men are just bad.  And repeat."  I don't think I can sit through that shit.  So, I am left with only so many courses to choose.  And the ones I picked are all online. So...

While on the subject of school, I am really not impressed with how the graduate program in sociology is run.  Let me elaborate.  Last Thursday I received an email saying that there was an Orientation and Information session on FRIDAY!  Fuck.  Seriously.  They do this every single fucking year, no?  You go and tell people on a Thursday to attend a virtual meeting on Friday of Labour Day Long weekend?  WTF?  What planets are they from? I was on the road, but I could have stayed in the hotel for that session.  But you can guess what I did.  I declined the meeting.  OF FUCKING COURSE!  Morons!

And now, two of my classes will meet this Thursday and Friday.  As of this moment, there is nothing on Brightspace (the online portal we use) as to syllabus, zoom links, reading list, nothing.  Nada.  That's crazy.  For those of you who had me as a prof, you will remember that I sent out my fucking syllabus three months before classes began.  No three hours!

So you can see how much I hold these people in disdain.  Not a way to start a new semester, surely.

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We're having a general election in Canada.  The campaign lasts about a month.  I can do advance polling starting this Friday, though official voting date is Sep 20.  Think I will go and vote on Friday or Saturday.  I don't understand why they called an election.  The governing party did not need to call one for another two years.  And polls do not suggest they will win a majority.  So what's the point?  I don't want them to lose, but then I also think they should pay for their hubris.  Oh well, I will do my part, and we'll see how the chips fall.

A New School Year, A New Chapter

Folks,

After a long hiatus, school starts again.  This new school year marks a new chapter in my post-retirement adventure, now a graduate one.  As you know, I finished my undergraduate, and will now embark on an MA in sociology.  Wish me luck.

I have been rather ambivalent about this new phase.  Unaccountably I've been quite unmotivated.  Indeed till today I had harboured the idea of not even going through with it.  What changed?

I went on campus today (more on procedures for that later), and it's "welcome week" with all its companion activities.  The energy, the excitement, and the community feeling of the place cut through my mental haze.  The short sojourn through campus brought back a modicum of enthusiasm in me, and when I got home I started putting together my notebooks etc.  Interesting how quickly things changed.

Earlier I mentioned something about the procedures to get on campus.  You have to upload your vaccine records, and then EVERYDAY you have to fill in a screening app thing.  A bit tedious, yes, but in reality it only takes 2 minutes.  But unless there is some form of enforcement, what exactly is the point?  I am pragmatic by nature, so I often question the efficacy of any measure unless it is enforced.  Anyway, just thought I'd share that.

Today I went to my health club, with the view to empty my locker and give up the membership.  Then I chatted with the club manager, and instead of cancelling, I actually renewed it!  Talk about a change of heart.  We'll see if I end up regretting this.

Anyhow, classes start on Tuesday, right after Labour Day.  As it turns out, ALL my classes are online (unless they change it) even though the majority of the university's classes are in-person.  We'll see how that goes.  Not a fan of online stuff, as you well know.

I'm not sure if ANYONE even reads the blog anymore, especially since the email update is no longer available.  So, if you DO read it, or even just happen upon it, would you mind leaving a comment or emailing me to tell me so?  If no one is actually reading my blog, then I might simply abandon it.  So, please help!  Thanks :)

So much for now.  More once classes start up.  We'll see how my ever-switching mood evolves.

Ta-da!