It's late and I should be in bed
For those who are familiar with the workings of Wikipedia and perhaps political prattling, the following xkcd comic from last year might be enjoyable. I wonder if anyone has ever done this during an actual politician’s speech…
Also, I get a kick out of random document generators like this. I only wish I studied philosophy so that I could know why I shouldn’t understand what I’m reading.
And on a completely different note, I have some good news! I'm moving to Urbana in a few weeks to start a job as a quasi school psychologist. Rural Champaign County is willing to hire non-certified folks like me to fill in some holes around the county, and so I'm very happy and grateful to oblige. I recently found a place to live and everything. It's a nice duplex with a garage and such, rented by a fellow who works at UIUC, and who, from my online snooping research, appears to be an established expert on computer security and cyberterrorism. Neato.
I'm really looking forward to this job, but I must say that it's kind of silly that I need to stumble upon a situation like this only by crazy luck. (Oh, wait, I feel a rant coming on.) The thing is, after six years of grad school, a gigantic written comprehensive examination, original research, and a 12-month internship, I can't get certified even though someone with two years of grad school, a 9-month internship, and no comprehensive exam can. Absolutely nothing against those who didn't get their Ph.D.; I just can't wrap my head around this convoluted system that refuses to recognize qualifications that should be recognized. Why punish someone for wanting to get this degree? Why force doctoral candidates to remain outside of their field of expertise -- to have to stretch themselves so thin to make ends meet so that they have neither sufficient time nor resources to devote to the completion of a dissertation? Some programs offer a Masters degree en route to a Ph.D., which would help to solve the problem, but alas mine does not. Or rather, they didn't at the time of my entrance. They do offer a Masters now, but for reasons not really understood by me, they refuse to fold the earlier students into the new policy. Not that I'm bitter or anything.
Wow, no...actually, it appears that I am indeed a little bitter. I'll blame the chai latte that I had tonight. That stuff always goes straight to my head.
Okay, rant complete. That was relatively tame, I suppose. Now I go to bed.
Also, I get a kick out of random document generators like this. I only wish I studied philosophy so that I could know why I shouldn’t understand what I’m reading.
And on a completely different note, I have some good news! I'm moving to Urbana in a few weeks to start a job as a quasi school psychologist. Rural Champaign County is willing to hire non-certified folks like me to fill in some holes around the county, and so I'm very happy and grateful to oblige. I recently found a place to live and everything. It's a nice duplex with a garage and such, rented by a fellow who works at UIUC, and who, from my online snooping research, appears to be an established expert on computer security and cyberterrorism. Neato.
I'm really looking forward to this job, but I must say that it's kind of silly that I need to stumble upon a situation like this only by crazy luck. (Oh, wait, I feel a rant coming on.) The thing is, after six years of grad school, a gigantic written comprehensive examination, original research, and a 12-month internship, I can't get certified even though someone with two years of grad school, a 9-month internship, and no comprehensive exam can. Absolutely nothing against those who didn't get their Ph.D.; I just can't wrap my head around this convoluted system that refuses to recognize qualifications that should be recognized. Why punish someone for wanting to get this degree? Why force doctoral candidates to remain outside of their field of expertise -- to have to stretch themselves so thin to make ends meet so that they have neither sufficient time nor resources to devote to the completion of a dissertation? Some programs offer a Masters degree en route to a Ph.D., which would help to solve the problem, but alas mine does not. Or rather, they didn't at the time of my entrance. They do offer a Masters now, but for reasons not really understood by me, they refuse to fold the earlier students into the new policy. Not that I'm bitter or anything.
Wow, no...actually, it appears that I am indeed a little bitter. I'll blame the chai latte that I had tonight. That stuff always goes straight to my head.
Okay, rant complete. That was relatively tame, I suppose. Now I go to bed.
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kisseskisseskisses
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You should put a hyphen between "quasi" and "school". "Quasi-school psychologist." Ah. Much better.
hugshugshugs
snugglessnugglessnuggles
Oh, and I forgot to mention: those losers who quit after their MA degree will never get to be called "Doctor." Which is totally worth the extra years of scholastic turmoil, in my opinion. After you graduate, I will refer to you as "Dr. Dowling" only. Well, maybe the occasional "Tim Dowling, PhD." Hmm. "Dr. Dowling" still sounds better, though.
And when a stranger (like a maître' d or a bellhop) ignorantly calls you "Mr. Dowling," you can look very snooty and haughtily correct him with a "DOCTOR Dowling, if you please." Then stare him down until he quivers in shame and quietly apologizes. "Yes, yes, of course. DOCTOR Dowling. Terribly sorry, Doctor." And THEN you can glower and mutter, "Quite all right. Make sure it never happens again."
But you should probably give him a decent tip, to ensure that he'll suck up to you the next time you come in.
I actually sat in a conflicted state for a few minutes trying to decide whether I should put a hyphen in there. But then I thought it would sound like I got a job as a psychologist in a quasi-school. That would be weird and confusing.
ALWAYS ASSUME THAT MY PUNCTUATION IS INTENTIONAL. I'm almost a Ph.D., you know. Ph.D.s don't make mistakes.