It's Still Dark

Today marked the day that I first noticed my 8 a.m. class starting while it was still dark outside. I sat in the classroom waiting for the professor to arrive and I found myself looking out the window wondering why I was sitting here when the outside world still looks like I should be in bed.

I knew that it was inevitable that this would happen, but there is just something depressing about starting your day before the sun even comes up fully.

At least I only have one more week of waking up at this horrible hour.

Is It The Right Choice?

For those who are unaware, the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts are currently on a great winning streak. Their current record is 11-0. Many have predicted, including former Miami Dolphins’ coaching great Don Shula, that the Colts have the potential to go 16-0.

But after what I just read, I don’t think that will happen; at least not if Colts’ coach Tony Dungy has anything to say about it.

Dungy has stated that his ultimate goal is to achieve home field advantage in the playoffs. After that, I guess he believes that there is nothing left to prove in the regular season. He has said that he would sit out his starters to save them for the playoffs.

Smart move, or some sort of cop-out?

While I think it would be fun to be in Indiana if the Colts make it to the Super Bowl, or even win it, I just don’t know if they should do it in this way. Something just doesn’t seem right about winning it in this way. Isn’t competition supposed to be where you prove you are the best over everyone else, not just the best and coast your way through when it doesn’t really count in the standings?

And I wonder how some of the top Colts players (like Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James) would feel about such a move by Dungy.

I can see the logic that Dungy is following, but is it really a way to show that your team is the best of the best in the NFL?

Here's Another One

It is currently November sweeps, and as more programs underperform more cancellations are made. Here's another:


FOX's Reunion

At Least They Waited Until After the Holiday to Do It

Yet another cancellation to report.

ABC's Hot Properties

Where Did the Time Go?

My Thanksgiving break from school is now officially over. I did not get nearly as many projects and papers completed (or even worked on) as I hoped I would.

I guess I'll be using my winter break to take on many of the larger projects. I hope that I can be more productive then than I was over the past few days.

At least there are only two more weeks left in the semester.

What Does the Future Have In Store?

I have been considering quite a bit lately what my future has in store. I have one more semester of coursework left to be followed by my qualifying exams. Next academic year I will be working on my dissertation; I already have an idea of what I would like to do, but I’m not exactly sure yet how I’ll pull it off.

But on top of all that starting next fall I’ll start looking for my first job as an assistant professor. The entire process is starting to tie my insides up in knots. I don’t know what to expect, and I really am nervous about the entire process.

I’m not sure that I’m good enough for some of the better schools out there. My friends keep telling me that I should have no problem and that I have built my vitae for these good jobs, but I just don’t know. Maybe I have some sort of inferiority complex, but I just don’t think I’m at the caliber of some of the people at those schools. I did recently have a friend of mine tell me that they would take offense if I didn’t try to get a job at one of the better programs (given that they have a job available next year). I will apply, but I’m not sure how will I do.

And then top that off with the fact that I’m in a relationship that ties the other person to Indiana, and I really don’t know how I’m going to get through next fall without developing an ulcer.

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving, You're Out of a Job

Here are two more cancellations to announce for the 2005-2006 TV season:





CBS' Threshold









And, after five seasons, ABC's Alias will end this May.

Break? Yea Right!

Today marks the first day of Thanksgiving Break here at Indiana University.

Why is it that when there is a break in classes I feel at my busiest? I have papers to revise, classwork that needs to be completed, and a ton of other little things that need to be done.

When will I actually have the time to rest?

At least I had last weekend in Boston. While I did give a research presentation at the annual NCA convention, it was more like a vacation than anything else. Boston is a great city, and my traveling partner, fellow IU grad student Brian Wilson, made my time there fun.

Heading to Beantown

Tomorrow morning I'll be flying away from the tornado prone areas of Indiana and heading to a conference on the east coast. I will be attending the annual conference of the National Communication Association, which this year is being held in Boston.

As is always (or at least it seems) the case, this trip can't come at a worse time. I'm in the middle of a variety of project, I'm grading exams, and I'm taking classes. Yet I have to drop everything, prepare a presentation, and then head out of town.

I have to admit, though, that I'm kind of excited about this trip. It's my first time going to an NCA conference. It will be interesting to see who goes to this conference, and possibly make some valuable connections. I also think it's going to be a lot of fun. I only have the one presentation on Saturday afternoon, yet I have all Thursday afternoon and all day Friday to attend the conference and possibly explore the city (though me and my travel partner, fellow IU grad student Brian Wilson, have been asked to recruit an upcoming PhD student to our program at some point in the weekend).

And while this trip is coming at a busy time, it is also coming at a very good time. I've been going for 12 straight weeks of the semester with very little opportunity for a break. It will be good to decompress a bit, and have that bleed into the upcoming Thanksgiving break.

More Cancellations to Report

There have been more cancellations in the 2005-2006 TV season. The shows new to this season that were cancelled are:






ABC's Night Stalker










After it completes airing the currently taped 13 episodes, FOX's Kitchen Confidential












Once the current season is finished, NBC's The Apprentice: Martha Stewart











And the following series, which were not new to this season, have also been cancelled.






FOX's Arrested Development, after the airing of its 13th episode this season, has been cancelled. It is in its 3rd season.









And the WB's 7th Heaven will be ending after this season, its 10th season on TV.

88 Days and Counting

Only 88 days until the Opening Ceremonies for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.

I actually can't wait. I love watching the Olympic Games, and the United States appears to have the best team they've ever had that they are sending to a Winter Games. It should be a ton of fun to watch, and I'm currently wondering who will be the "big story" of the Games, much like Michael Phelps was for the 2004 Games in Athens or Apolo Anton Ohno for the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

2008 Mascots

Officials for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China recently announced the event's official mascots to mark the 1,000 days until the Games begin. Unlike the typical number of one or two mascots, the Beijing Games will feature five official mascots. Each mascot represents each of the five rings on the Olympic flag. The mascots are known as the five friendlies and when their names are run together it is the Chinese phrase for "Beijing welcomes you." As pictured above, the mascots are:

Beibei the blue fish
Jingjing the black (and white) panda
Huanhuan the red Olympic flame
Nini the green swallow
Yingying the yellow Tibetan antelope

I imagine that stuffed animal versions of all five of the Friendlies will be flying of the shelves (at least in China) as we get closer and closer to the 2008 Games.

Nice to Hear

This semester marked my return to being an Associate Instructer (AI), and my first foray into leading discussion sections of my own. I was very nervous at first, particularly since the course that I was an AI for (T206) is outside my primary area of study, and was unsure how the semester was going to proceed.

Today marked the last day that my discussion sections meet. As I noted at the beginning of the semester, each of the three sections had their own distinct personalities. Even knowing that, each one was absolutely fabulous to be in.

I came away today with some validation that what I did in those classes was worthwhile. I had one student tell me that I was "the best AI." Another told me that out of all the discussions she's had at Indiana University, this one was the best she ever had.

While I know full well that teaching isn't the main focus in the job for professors (research is) it is a great feeling to know that you impacted your students lives positively and that they enjoyed themselves in the process.

A Slump?

Do you ever get into a mood where you just don't want to do any work?

Every since last week's deadline for submissions to the annual conference of the International Communication Association I haven't really felt like doing anything. I've just been a big bum doing not much of anything. I'm starting to feel a bit useless.

I guess it'll be back to work this weekend. I've got a homework assignment to do, two papers that need revision, and I have to prepare a presentation for next week's National Communication Association conference in Boston. I can't help but get back into my work.

What a Costume

For those who don't know, I dressed as a hippie for this year's Halloween party. Everyone seemed to love my costume, particularly my afro.

Imagine my surprise when Professor Paul MacArthur also came to the Halloween party dressed in the same outfit! I never imagined that there would be two of us in the same costume.

My thanks to fellow graduate student Yu-Yun for the picture.

Random Thought

Why are 8am classes so much more difficult to get through during week 10 of the semester as compared to week 1?

I'm just not sure how I'll make it through the final 5-6 weeks.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today I turn 32.

Damn I'm getting old!