Thursday, December 21, 2006

What ideally happens to your laptop...

This latest PhD comic resonated with me. I wonder if we have all done it before?
It makes me giggle, but I know from personal experience that when I bring my laptop and tonnes of reading on a trip with me, it's because I really, truly, think that I'll get stuff done.
And what IF I hit a lull during the trip, where I -could have- gotten so much done but didn't bring anything? I'd really regret it then, wouldn't I?
Or would I?

Grad school is a haven for masochists like myself who possess an overdeveloped sense of responsibility/guilt. I attribute it to my "Triple C"(tm) upbringing -- Confucianism, Catholic-schooled father, and Confusion. But perhaps you almost need that ability to self-flagellate in order to get long term, big goals accomplished in what is a really isolating, self-directed experience much of the time.

At the very least, the ethnographer in me ends up compulsively documenting everything in the strange land I'm visiting at that point--reflections, ruminations, revelry. The latest example of this is the trip I just did to Harrison Hot Springs (BC's little spa town) where I started snapping photos because of a deep-seated need to 'document' it. Four shots in, Spouse Tom actually said to me, "You don't need to document everything. Just relax and enjoy it."
That just seems so.... unproductive.
What a concept.

Technorati Tags: Laptop, PhD, comics, goals, Confucianism, Catholics, flagellation, ethnography, documentation.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

When gaming and passion collide, you have...

...a Free Dating, Social Networking, and Chat site for video game lovers... or for people who love video game lovers (or another such permutation). Thanks to Ryan S. for sending this my way!

From http://www.gamingpassions.com/

A 100% FREE online dating and social networking site specifically for video game lovers. Are you obsessed with XBox? XBox 360? Are you a Playstation fanatic? Playstation II? Playstation III? Or maybe you are a Nintendo fan? Looking for someone else addicted to WOW? Gaming Passions allows you to meet other video game lovers who 'get it'. Whether you are only interested in console games, or you also like PC Games, this is the site for you. Discuss strategy in the video game chatroom. Arrange for online competitions. Make new friends! Sign up now to enjoy free video gaming chat, message boards & email.

Interesting. Not sure if I'll be doing participant observation on this any time soon though!
Of course, this does -not- have to do with the fact that I often game with my spouse....

Technorati Tags: gaming, passions, dating, chat, online

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Oh, the pile of work is frightful...

I'm sniffly, and in pre-holiday deadline hibernation with hella work on threat of pwnage.
I'm also starting to experience a little McLuhan-esque reversal in the number of RSS feeds I have and am only caring about a few of them now.
But I thought I should pop my head out of the pile of papers and say hi. You know, in case any of you missed me amidst your own deadline pressures and brain farts.

I do look forward to the holidays. Mostly because email lists are quieter, people in general are quieter, and it's as guilt-free self time as it gets. For me, anyway. I'm a total believer in resting the mind in order to be more productive too. Probably sneaking in some comp reading here and there by the roaring fire(place video on channel 4).
You wish I was kidding. ;)

Technorati Tags: pwnage