The Three "R's"

The three "R's" ... Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rwhat?

A colleague of mine asked why my blog doesn't contain more of my theoretical writings on Foucault, Althusser, Butler, and Brown on topics in the law, race, power, and violence. In fact, he casually, though in a backhanded way, suggested my posts were a collection of "aimless meanderings." My "word choice" oscillated between the banal and the vulgar. It was a nice professional chat; nothing abrasive but as academic writing goes -- good ones anyway -- there's a thinly veiled and subtle critique about me.

Well here's my damn response. This blog is personal. It's not solely academic but it covers a range of interests, ideas, occurrences, and whatever else is on my mind. I write simply and plainly because it's easy and I enjoy being irresponsible with my grammar and word choice. I rarely write about the latest theory or detail my latest argument. I already spend enough time writing and theorizing at countless cafes or my office and for the explicit purpose of submitting to a journal or a conference. Furthermore, I do not get credit for publishing on a personal blog. It doesn't count. Besides, who am I trying to impress out here?

I have many colleagues who have blogs and they write about this and that theory and their take on it. They are a dime a dozen and that's absolutely fine. It's the internet after all and ultimately it's a choice.

I recall something Edward Said said when he gave a public lecture about his memoir, Out of Place, at Midnight Special Bookstore. He was chuckling at the severe criticism leveled by his usual detractors for what they believe are historical inaccuracies in Said's life. Go figure that nonsense. Someone else is disputing what really occurred in your own life. Said responded plainly and simply, "It's my memoir. If you don't like it go write your own."

Face to Face

I can officially add "photographer" to my resume of professional activities. I was contacted by the National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian) to see if they could use one of my photos for their blog. I was really grateful that they even considered it and of course I said "Yes!" The blog is titled Face to Face and it was recently "released" to the public featuring a shot of the glass canopy of the Kogod Courtyard as a banner. Someday I have to go back to take a wide angle shot but it's an impressive structure that forms what looks to be several waves. The afternoon/evening sunlight accentuates this flowing form and if the light is right it can be quite dramatic. The original shot (here) is used as a banner on their website and it will change every so often. But I'm quite flattered that my photo is a part of their inaugural release.

Stuff White People Like

I came across this new blog appropriately entitled, Stuff White People Like. Listed as #91 on "stuff white people like" is my hometown of San Francisco:

San Francisco is one of the top US destinations for white people in terms of both travel and living. It is universally agreeable and is a safe discussion topic for any situation.

The city is considered one of the world’s premiere locations for white person research.

White people like to vacation in San Francisco because it has beautiful architecture, fantastic food, and it is near the water. They like to live in San Francisco because of its abundance of Non Profit Organizations, Expensive Sandwiches, Wine, political outlook, and most importantly its diversity.

But more importantly as SWPL continues,

The City of San Francisco has a very multicultural population that ranges from white to gay to Asian. Within white culture this [is] known as “ideal diversity” for its provision of exotic restaurants while simultaneously preserving property values. The presence of gays and Asians is imperative as it two provides two of the key resources most necessary for white success and happiness.

However, it is important to be aware of the fact that regions outside of San Francisco feature many people who are not white, gay or Asian. They are greatly appreciated during the census, but white people are generally very happy that they stay in places like Oakland and Richmond. This enables white people to feel good about living near people of diverse backgrounds without having to directly deal with troublesome issues like income gaps or schooling.

Now that is some seriously funny social and racial commentary. I'm liking this blog.

T.V. Carpio

I'm a Beatles fan for as long as I can remember and this rendition totally rocks!

HOLY SHIT!!!

I was formally contacted by the Dean's office and he officially offered me the position at Grinnell.

HOLY SHIT!!! I'm going to get a job!!!

UPDATE: I gave my counter-offer and I was able to increase my base salary and relocation expenses. "It's a deal!" as the saying goes. I contacted the department and informed them of my decision and everyone's happy. I chatted with my chair and talked about my course schedule, books, contracts, residence, and syllabi. It's going to be a busy year!

Quotables

There's no present. There's only the immediate future and the recent past.
-- George Carlin

Post-Grinnell

I had a pounding headache after I returned from Grinnell. There was no way I could actually work even though I have a ton of things to do like scheduling my defense, finish my revisions, and of course switch gears back to teaching at GMU; something about Marxism and democracy. That reminds me, I have to grade their midterm exams. *grumbles*

Oh hell.

Grinnell Day 3

Wrapped up the remaining interviews with faculty from Sociology and American Studies. I was so tired that I can't even remember their questions, let alone if my answers were coherent. I just remember ending it well and leaving Grinnell with more sights of wild turkeys, soaring hawks and eagles, and an Amish colony. I had no trouble with my flights in and out of Chicago. When I arrived at Reagan National I bumped into a former student who was working there. We chatted and he asked about where I went. I told him I was interviewing at Grinnell. "You're leaving us?" he asked. "If I get it I'm going," I said. He looked dejected and said I was his best professor ever, and then started a colorful tirade against GMU. "Gawd damn that school!" he ended. I told him that nothing has been confirmed and that I'll still be around. We laughed, shook hands, and parted ways.

I called "J" to pick me up. When I saw her drive up, I knew I was home. I got into the car, turned to her and said, "I got class issues."

"So what else is new?"

Exactly I thought.

At Grinnell Day 2

I am absolutely exhausted, exhilarated, and overwhelmed with my second day of interviews. I talked with more faculty members from the department from 8:45am to 8:00pm. It was a seriously full day of great advice, solid exchanges, and some no-nonsense talk that I really appreciated. My lecture demonstration went well in the morning and my job talk seemed pretty solid in the afternoon. And above all, I got to meet with some of the Sociology majors and they gave me a really good insight about student culture and what it means to be at Grinnell. Teaching is probably the most valued practice and principle that constitutes the identity of this college and students are highly invested in their educational experience, one that I haven't seen this intense in any college or university anywhere in my career.

My meetings with the faculty really gave me a solid idea of what it means to be a colleague. And the nicest thing the chair of the department said to me was that my value to the department is my very personhood.

And I saw Manning Marable today at dinner who gave a public lecture at Grinnell.

"Wow" is what I kept saying all day.

At Grinnell

I'm here in Grinnell!!! I started on what will be 3 days of interviewing.

My interview started with a wonderful dinner with some of the faculty members in the department and the Special Assistant to the President on Diversity Affairs. They gave me the lowdown on what's been happening and how timely and important my talk will be for them. But more importantly, I had forgotten what it was like to have colleagues. The people who I have met thus far are simply amazing and I know that's going to be a very common theme with everyone else so I hope I can show them my best. It's been really positive. I have to get ready for tomorrow because it's going to be a very full day from morning till night. I have a serious schedule meeting faculty from the Sociology and American Studies departments as well as various administrators. On top of all that, I have a lecture demonstration and my full talk in the afternoon and somewhere in-between I have to find time to eat. It's going to be one long intense day.

Holy Shit!

I got the call from Grinnell College and I made it to the next phase of the interview!!!

I'm off to Iowa next week!!!

Another Revision Done

About an hour ago, I finished my third revision of chapter 2 titled "Governmentalizing Risk: The Discursive Construction of Sexual Orientation in the Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990."

That's right.

Yeah.