So the $700 billion bail out plan failed yesterday, world markets plunged dramatically, Wall Street today is fighting back, McCain didn't have the knock-out debate, the vice-presidential debates are coming up, and I got to tell ya' ... I'm loving Tina Fey's performance as Governor Sarah Palin on SNL.
A clip from the David Letterman Show where McCain who was scheduled to appear canceled at the last minute to fly back to Washington, DC, to address the economic fallout. Letterman then finds out that McCain didn't quite exactly do what he said and instead showed up at an interview with Katie Couric at the same time of Letterman's show. You just have to love how Letterman handles the whole thing.
My advisor sent me a link to an online poll conducted by PBS that asked if Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President of the United States. Without hesitation, I checked my response, which was a "NO" in case you're wondering, and the results popped up. I was flabbergasted. At the time of my vote, 51% said she was qualified, and 47% said she wasn't.
WTH???
Ronnie 2¢ is an ingenius photo essay about two people living thousands of miles apart but doing very similar things. His artistry is his ability to blend two different shots as one. But more importantly, it's his commentary about place and space that's so appealing.
http://ourtwosense.aminus3.com/
Faon's photography is superb! His/her stop-motion captures on water droplets are the most creative that I've seen in a long time. It's definitely a must see.
http://purewater.aminus3.com/
A really funny post about the evolution of the cylon in Battlestar Galactica. The follow-up discussion about bias and rights was just too funny.
I came across this vid by way of Angry Asian Man and apparently an Asian student social club at University of British Columbia is in trouble for a recruitment ad video between a no accent Asian female student with a heavy accented "Hong Kong" boy. It's a parody of the popular Mac/PC commercials, which are funny, but the humor here and the intent of promoting "diversity" just doesn't work for me. In fact, it really does conjure up a lot of the old "ABC" v. "FOB" nonsense.
UPDATE: Apparently, CVC took down the video recently.
OK, I have to admit that this is actually very cool. =D
http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/sociology/faculty/leung/
So I got my diploma today.
I opened the package which included my official transcripts, a description of the alumni association, a thank you memo, and of course my diploma.
My name is in big bold letters and underneath it reads, "awarded the Doctorate of Philosophy in Cultural Studies."
*sarcasm hat on*
Wow. I am soooooooo excited at my accomplishment.
Wow. Three extra letters after my name.
Wow. Over ten years of heartache for a friggin' piece of paper.
Wow. Student loans up the ying yang that I will have to start paying off soon.
*sarcasm hat off*
I did have the best dissertation committee that anyone could ever ask for.
I have met a number of colleagues and friends who are very supportive.
I do have a job at a great college with the most wonderful students.
I am making the most of what I got.
So it's all good in the end. ^.^
Not a day goes by when I am truly amazed and in awe of my students. They are simply the best students that I have ever worked with and it's only the second week.
Two of my students in my Contemporary Asian American class identified themselves as student leaders in two Asian American student organizations. We're going to meet again and talk about their plans for the year and how I can best contribute. One of them, a biology major, said that she had arranged her entire class schedule around my course so that she can take it. She even said that she'll do whatever she can to take my course next semester as well. Another student, a senior, told me that he's been waiting three years to take a course like mine and he's loving everything about it. I can't remember the last time anyone was this genuine and sincere about the class and how engaged they are with social justice in a long long time. They're passion is infectious! And I am truly humbled by them.
But it made me sad to think about how many students who wanted to enroll this semester but could not. Then I thought about how many years of APA students graduated from the college without ever having just the choice to take a course in Asian American history, politics, and culture. It was even sadder to think that when I leave, this course may not be offered again until who knows when.
