I generally don't blog about school too often because it's really not much different from one semester to the next. Reading, writing, doing dull teaching assistant stuff like putting attendance sheets into spreadsheets and trying to find ways I can supplement my income. So to give a peek into what I am up to, here's my reading list for this week:
Simmel, Georg (1964). "The Web of Group Affiliations" in Conflict and the Web of Group Affiliations. p 125-195
Durkheim, Emile (1897) 1997. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. 416 pages.
Cohen, March and Olsen (1972). A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. Administrative Science Quarterly 17(1)1:25.
Kingdon, John. 1997. Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Chapters 4-8.
Rogers, Everett. (2003) Diffusion of Innovation. 512 pages.
And for my TA-ship
“Quetelet on the Study of Man,” in Population and Development Review
DuBois, W.E.B. 1898. “The Study of Negro Problems,” Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
Drake, St. Clair. 1987. Black Folk Here and There. Chap. 1
Graves, Jr., Joseph L. 2001. The Emperors New Clothes: Biological Theories of Race at the Millennium. Chapters 1-2.
Next week will be a new list of similar length....
I'm also working a big fellowship application that would double my stipend if I get it and would allow me to do some really cutting-edge healthcare research. Wish me luck - fingers crossed!
And I'm involved in a program at the business school's Center for the Business of Life Sciences to develop a commercialization plan for a new drug. Definitely interesting stuff, and a great opportunity to do some group work (so rare in the social sciences!).
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Christmas in Phoenix 2010
We once again went to Phoenix for Christmas, only this time we went for a couple of weeks. I turned in my last final paper on a Friday morning, and in the early afternoon we were on our way to Phoenix. We spent the first week or so just relaxing - finally able to destress a bit and not think about school and work. This last semester was really intense for me, and I apologize to all my friends who I didn't see or communicate with during that time. This semester should be better.
One of the highlights was going to Rustler's Rooste, a Western steakhouse. Outside the front door is Horney the Bull, who was not the best smelling creature.
Here we all are with out tasty steaks and fixins. I should mention that this is the kind of place that has sawdust on the floor and a live country band.
At the end of the meal is cotton candy, which was enjoyed by all
And of course, with the Santa display
Paul's dad took us to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum about an hour's drive east of Phoenix. It had been built by a mining mogul who decided to build a fancy house out there and fill the yard with exotic trees and plants from all over the world. They had a particularly large Australian section with a bunch of these gigantic trees
The house is still there up on the rocks. They used to have an elevator which brought you down to the valley and the river that goes through there. The building is used for administrative offices now so it's nothing to tour. Still, it is neat to see it perched up on the hill like that with a huge retaining wall holding it up that reminded me of the old castles we saw in Southern France on our honeymoon.
While Anne and I spent some quality time shopping around Phoenix (seriously, the shopping is amazing, especially where you live in the middle of southern Indiana!), the boys took a trip out to Tucson and parts south of there. I'm not sure what all these pictures are of, but thought I'd share.
Here's a place where Paul got some sort of fried hot dogs, something on the idea of giant pigs in a blanket. Not sure I'd order them, but he sure looks excited about them!
They also went to some place to look at rockets and other manly things that required the use of a hard hat.
...and went on some nice hikes
...and to a ghost town.
It was so nice to see the family and to have some time to take a break and relax. There is a rumor that next year the grandparents from Poland might be visiting for Christmas - we'll see what happens. It'd be great to see them too!
One of the highlights was going to Rustler's Rooste, a Western steakhouse. Outside the front door is Horney the Bull, who was not the best smelling creature.
Here we all are with out tasty steaks and fixins. I should mention that this is the kind of place that has sawdust on the floor and a live country band.
At the end of the meal is cotton candy, which was enjoyed by all
And of course, with the Santa display
Paul's dad took us to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum about an hour's drive east of Phoenix. It had been built by a mining mogul who decided to build a fancy house out there and fill the yard with exotic trees and plants from all over the world. They had a particularly large Australian section with a bunch of these gigantic trees
The house is still there up on the rocks. They used to have an elevator which brought you down to the valley and the river that goes through there. The building is used for administrative offices now so it's nothing to tour. Still, it is neat to see it perched up on the hill like that with a huge retaining wall holding it up that reminded me of the old castles we saw in Southern France on our honeymoon.
While Anne and I spent some quality time shopping around Phoenix (seriously, the shopping is amazing, especially where you live in the middle of southern Indiana!), the boys took a trip out to Tucson and parts south of there. I'm not sure what all these pictures are of, but thought I'd share.
Here's a place where Paul got some sort of fried hot dogs, something on the idea of giant pigs in a blanket. Not sure I'd order them, but he sure looks excited about them!
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| From PHX Winter 2010 |
They also went to some place to look at rockets and other manly things that required the use of a hard hat.
...and went on some nice hikes
...and to a ghost town.
It was so nice to see the family and to have some time to take a break and relax. There is a rumor that next year the grandparents from Poland might be visiting for Christmas - we'll see what happens. It'd be great to see them too!