tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69565744638895747162024-02-20T01:20:21.999+00:00PhD in the Big Wide WorldGot Bachelors, Got Masters, Got PhD... Now What?Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-48914704401137143332009-03-19T22:14:00.005+00:002009-03-20T21:13:47.617+00:00When on Google Earth #15<div>Since I guessed right with <a href="http://ancientworldbloggers.blogspot.com/2009/03/when-on-google-earth-no-14.html">#14</a>, I get to host the next one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYK-166g3-2E1Oc8VDRt-nGxU2ZNpXgFdNNxjs_DI_S9UyjF4dHqK8eQUNdSlAfT52UKDBL0y5nSrc69xWBrWCM_NpgDjVhW5X6s7upnhTUEqJ-qFCxyyBCKmLVwbkfufJMD5VBlwTott/s1600-h/whenongoogleearth15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315026405549091618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYK-166g3-2E1Oc8VDRt-nGxU2ZNpXgFdNNxjs_DI_S9UyjF4dHqK8eQUNdSlAfT52UKDBL0y5nSrc69xWBrWCM_NpgDjVhW5X6s7upnhTUEqJ-qFCxyyBCKmLVwbkfufJMD5VBlwTott/s400/whenongoogleearth15.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Q: What is When on Google Earth?</div></div><div><div>A: It’s a game for archaeologists.</div><div></div><div>Q: How do you play it?</div><div>A: Simple, you try to identify the site in the picture.</div><div><br />Q: Who wins?</div><div>A: The first person to correctly identify the site, including its major period of occupation, wins the game.</div><div><br />Q: What does the winner get?</div><div>A: The winner gets bragging rights and the chance to host the next When on Google Earth on his/her own blog! Tag it with "WhenonGE".</div><div><br />Edited 20.3.09... since no one is even hazarding a guess.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315380152052727090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzFuqU78_XyM0b-aWUq_3XADejufM-wrjTcrsjdZno57nP0M9PjM_F6h2cFq8NM63I2RecfceOhBXXpAZ-2zwPs2K21mQj08HSIwnKQ8XZFODKMMcFAvfSKjWPu1VG1Pl8hLQU070eJtm/s400/whenongoogleearth15.2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315380158284286114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 183px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0NjEqL1jomgfIVyyBoAJdcfAeHCL1BZQWupLH0oJ6pIiBLo-fA4bHskovdfMxgMyYEtTNzS-Ip3zjKtqBV22QNbK5NuDCzyrr9kgCGH_sFM3fsdJaH8DjO9onGYsabJDSbkvGpQDAyjm/s400/whenongoogleearth15.3.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><br />And as a extra hint, the place is known in mythology for all its women killing the men (although this myth is not related to the site).Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-55654775655227238812009-01-05T21:17:00.001+00:002009-01-05T21:18:50.287+00:00New year... another one?<div>Hard to believe another year is over, 2008 was good. Now we just have to see what 2009 will bring.</div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-91375498574760610172008-12-08T15:14:00.009+00:002008-12-08T21:18:24.767+00:00Knitting<p>I recently rediscovered knitting and am probably driving people* crazy with clicky-clacky needle noises all the time. [*<em>The hamster is also being driven crazy as she cannot stand the noise of the knitting needles clicking together</em>] </p><p>It was due to the fact that a friend of mine mentioned some yarn made from Bamboo which made me curious. And me being me, I decided to go and have a look at it. Amazingly it is incredibly soft and I decided to get some and knit up a new scarf for myself.... and one for J...<br /><br />I got mine finished quite quickly and started J's straight after... He wanted his to be much wider and chunkier - which caused some complications.<br /><br />- First cast on... kept dropping stitches </p><p>- Second cast on... more dropped </p><p>- Third time... got it started properly this time, but pattern wasn't working </p><p>- Fourth & Fifth... more dropped again </p><p>- The Sixth attempt actually worked... but then I realised I need more wool because of the width, which I managed to get. Now all I need to deal with is the regular cries of 'Is it ready yet?'<br /><br />While all this was going on, my Mum came up for graduation and oh, look more wool as she wants a scarf too.<br /><br />The upshot of this is that I've found something to keep me occupied when I'm not working and which is also productive. So I figured I'd see if I could get a book of patterns to use.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOy55euuo0tqusm_lY4DHUJjNZT2iLbihQ76PV7jbaHoR0BAqy4OcelD-CWvR7OehBS9HjF-9n1W-lKr2-6qnBWcasrVGre0w-9fjLpeQlwGFGfFhwVzGTLxapMsRuHbhBPGagI9O4LgG/s1600-h/hamster_jake_w273h390.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277442463228569218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOy55euuo0tqusm_lY4DHUJjNZT2iLbihQ76PV7jbaHoR0BAqy4OcelD-CWvR7OehBS9HjF-9n1W-lKr2-6qnBWcasrVGre0w-9fjLpeQlwGFGfFhwVzGTLxapMsRuHbhBPGagI9O4LgG/s320/hamster_jake_w273h390.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />After some searching (you have no idea how many naff patterns there are out there) I found a book which had a range of projects, not all of them are nice (applique flowers anyone?) but there are a number which have potential. Whilst looking for patterns, I came across a book which had knitting patterns for pets. Curiousity got the better of me, I looked in the contents just to see if there was anything for hamsters. I imagined the book would have a lot of dog coats in, that sort of thing. Even the pattern book I ended up buying had a dog coat in, charmingly called 'Doggy Doodle'... which was immediately rechristened by my Mum as 'Doggy DooDoo'..<br /><br />Alarmingly there was a hamster-related knitting pattern. You too can knit a hamster house... the only question is why?</p><div align="left"></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOy55euuo0tqusm_lY4DHUJjNZT2iLbihQ76PV7jbaHoR0BAqy4OcelD-CWvR7OehBS9HjF-9n1W-lKr2-6qnBWcasrVGre0w-9fjLpeQlwGFGfFhwVzGTLxapMsRuHbhBPGagI9O4LgG/s1600-h/hamster_jake_w273h390.jpg"></a></p><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-59827668350241602092008-12-08T15:10:00.003+00:002008-12-08T15:14:01.717+00:00Big News<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG6wnXAmupaD5NL6Pkb2E8ktCiz5bg8-pz7JtcNZrB-DLh0gGoPtrvs2_SocsSEGmC4mVFMQlSuDWCuXARHgV9PJFfPD2cRxo1-qGXu500AMUzB1gRnMABfaPJTHtTDUHdH553JQf3JxS/s1600-h/DSCF8653.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277437648238835634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG6wnXAmupaD5NL6Pkb2E8ktCiz5bg8-pz7JtcNZrB-DLh0gGoPtrvs2_SocsSEGmC4mVFMQlSuDWCuXARHgV9PJFfPD2cRxo1-qGXu500AMUzB1gRnMABfaPJTHtTDUHdH553JQf3JxS/s400/DSCF8653.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I graduated...</div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-76569237402593620002008-12-08T15:08:00.002+00:002008-12-08T15:09:08.987+00:00Better late than never...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfc14cAmx7yXAgtK6Ky-cPN-D-YydiOHXx2dlfpUCiFVCiltp9PqS6bCJ4mNBqbrRStn3ckHp-229LI7-h1u8iUPNIHmYv3ftswSsEDr2Gz9aoQD6uY-EBklixOYU0vGYBT3WNGMQZIqRZ/s1600-h/blue+sheep.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277436440495662818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfc14cAmx7yXAgtK6Ky-cPN-D-YydiOHXx2dlfpUCiFVCiltp9PqS6bCJ4mNBqbrRStn3ckHp-229LI7-h1u8iUPNIHmYv3ftswSsEDr2Gz9aoQD6uY-EBklixOYU0vGYBT3WNGMQZIqRZ/s400/blue+sheep.jpg" border="0" /></a>We now have blue sheep... these were dyed for St Andrews Day.<br /><div></div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-42402604384304228472008-11-23T21:28:00.000+00:002008-11-23T21:29:26.438+00:00Gotta love RYSThis <a href="http://rateyourstudents.blogspot.com/2008/11/return-of-job-finder.html">job ad</a> just appealed.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-12659147934448490172008-11-23T21:06:00.003+00:002008-11-23T21:22:24.427+00:00I never was good at remembering...Especially when it comes to updating this thing. <br /><br />There are a few things happening. Semester is nearly over, and while I don't have any work lined up in the department for next semester. Hopefully though my courses at the adult education centre will be running.<br /><br />I've completed one batch of first year essays - usual mix of lack of spell-checking and proofreading, plus a large number who failed to actually answer what the question was asking, and a very small number who didn't answer the question at all. What really irritated me was the fact that in the first group who I returned the essays to, had divided themselves (no idea how) so all the people who had reasonable grades were together and those who did not were all together. They were not happy. They actually said I had graded too hard out loud in front of everyone else. All of our grading is checked before being returned by the course convenor so there was not question over being overly harsh. Then I heard the comment as they talked to one another - 'oh I didn't think we needed all of that sort of thing, I assumed you would know it'. The number of times I've heard Undergrads use that excuse is ridiculous - it actually seems like they do not realise the purpose of setting essays - to test their knowledge, not ours. The rest of the classes went fine, the other groups just seem to be a little bit better at taking things on board.<br /><br />So thats 40-odd essays done, now I have another dozen or so for the second year class, plus another 40-odd second first year essays in a week or so, and some other coursework for the second level. Oh joy.<br /><br />I've started reading a new column in the Independent, 'Diary of a Fresher'. This has been quite entertaining... especially the transition to what University expects and how you fit in. I'll post the links at the bottom of this post as they're worth a read.<br /><br />Even better... I graduate next week.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">-------------</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Diary of a Fresher</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">9 Oct, </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/diary-of-a-fresher-i-get-one-chance-to-be-an-undergrad-so-i-dont-want-to-mess-up-955010.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">'I get one chance to be an undergrad, so I don't want to mess up'</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">23 Oct, </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/diary-of-a-fresher-we-eat-together-and-discuss-the-evils-of-investment-banking-969096.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">'We eat together and discuss the evils of investment banking'</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">30 Oct, </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/diary-of-a-fresher-the-handout-reads-like-a-mistranslated-computer-manual-977891.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">'The handout reads like a mistranslated computer manual'</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">20 Nov, </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/diary-of-a-fresher-ive-an-eclectic-bunch-of-friends--ndash-and-all-my-lecturers-are-dotty-1025410.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">'I've an eclectic bunch of friends – and all my lecturers are dotty'</span></a>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-70530140097461515022008-10-20T18:02:00.003+01:002008-10-20T18:10:16.112+01:00SheepI thought I was seeing things a while ago on the M8.<br /><br /><br />There is a Pyramids Business Park, with (you've guessed) a row of pyramids parallel with the road. I wasn't driving and suddenly saw a load of red sheep. I wondered if I had imagined them, but no, on the way back, the existence of red sheep was confirmed.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259282935323137202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQITC6-3pPX02h6uQNXpli0oq1X6C3EFRH0T3MC7JhrlZWzp4u0aw3PDS82ZP0eTRsUnayJIX3Sbpgh_cBn0L2VKpzU9LjwDQj9qbxg7tZaZ9adMo0IQVfFe3lpXiqEEZ-fB0tq3g4acXe/s400/red+sheep.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>Funky, aren't they?</p><p>Apparently it was all done for a bit of a laugh. You can find the full story <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6521149.stm">here</a>. </p><p>Now the same business park has 'set free' a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7679766.stm">giant red stag </a>in the same location... but apparently that statue has a history of changing location, or as quote in the BBC story puts it, "<em>He's a bit of a wanderer so I'm not sure how long he'll stay at the Pyramids for and I wouldn't be surprised if he popped up somewhere else in the near future</em>."</p>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-82961144114763523972008-10-19T20:42:00.004+01:002008-10-19T21:00:01.119+01:00A 'How to...' GuideI've been keeping an eye on the series <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/series/howtobeastudent">'How to be a Student' </a>on the Guardian's Education pages, partly because some of the columns are useful but mostly because of the humour contained within them (and of course, its partly due to the disbelief that some people will indeed need a 'how to..' guide in order to cope). I was re-reading them this evening and was struck at how obvious some of the advice is, yet after seeing many of the first years around the university they do seem to need it, as they fail to understand how to use pavements (those are not areas to stop and chat, especially when they're only a metre wide to start with) or queue in the library to get access to the manned help-desk (there is a sign saying 'queue here' for a reason you know).<br /><br />Many tend to deal with more superficial elements (how to get money out of your parents, how to make friends, how to get rid of friends) but others, especially those about dealing with lecturers and tutors, essay writing, note taking, what to do in lectures, etc. are actually quite useful. Part of me wonders if these columns are actually worth hanging on to and giving to new students in order to give them an idea on what is expected.<br /><br />The best one that appeared recently discussed the transition from school to university, which is a jump not many students actually realise exists. This was drummed into me in many of my first year tutorials, when they were asking questions about their first essay - which is due tomorrow (oh joy). The questions they wanted to know the answers to often depended heavily on the premise that I would tell them what to do. Alarmingly this also involved one asking since one of the essays was on one ancient text, could their bibliography consist of that and nothing else. They did seem surprised at the idea that they would have to research ideas presented in other publications. Perhaps I was lucky during my school education to have opportunities for independent research, working with materials other than the designated course books - but I would have expected that first year students should be aware of the fact that 1-book bibliographies are not acceptable.<br /><br />On the other hand, the difficulty that appears to stress most of the students over the first essay, which relates to gender is whether immortal gods can be used as examples of male/female, e.g. Hermes is male, therefore he can be used as an example of a male character and what does he do for the content or plot? This seems to be panicking them a lot, given the number of alarmed messages being put on the course discussion site - surely they should have a idea of who is male or female? Shouldn't they?Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-47989329076632728002008-10-19T20:09:00.002+01:002008-10-19T20:27:50.191+01:00WorkI'm finally getting back into the swing of things. Although I still need to finish the revisions to my article (which I really need just to get done).<br /><br />On the plus side, my internal examiner has signed off my PhD which means I can sign up for Winter Graduation (I hope) this coming week. It was actually really touching to see that email, I think that little things like that help make the reality set in. <br /><br />In other news I've started on a new project on ancient religion which is going to involve a large literary search. So I've spent the last couple of weeks putting together a complete bibliography of all ancient authors and texts, preferably those which are extant. It has been a real eyeopener. I realised that there were rather a lot, but there are so many which I've never heard of, and some of the texts sound fascinating. I'm expecting that I'm going to get distracted by some interesting little texts that no-one has ever heard of. I like these little side paths which pop up unexpectedly. <br /><br />On the other hand, I have not been able to locate any 'complete ancient text' lists already in existence. So I'm using a combination of online sites, series of translated texts (like Loeb, Oxford World's Classics, etc.), OCD and some of the big catalogue volumes of ancient writers. I realise that I might not have looked properly for a complete list already published, but the compilation via my normal lets-chase-all-those-footnotes approach is actually making me think and pay attention more to the actual names and titles that are turning up. If I'm just copying, it easy to just switch off. <br /><br />I found some good online sites of the Latin corpus, namely the <a href="http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/index.html">Corpus Scriptorum Latinorum</a> but I've yet to find an equivalent for the Greek and those that do exist have some major omissions, forgetting Artemidoros seems to be a speciality and I know that there is a translation of his <em>Oneirocritica</em> in existence. <br /><br />The problem is that now all I want to do is work on that, rather than do other stuff that I actually need to do.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-21967894389457811192008-10-07T16:16:00.002+01:002008-10-07T16:26:39.263+01:00How to keep yourself entertained...I'm going to have to try this with my other first year classes this week.<br /><br />I arrived at my first of my weekly tutorial sessions for the new intake, and the room was in use. I was pleased to see so many people waiting, and sat listening in to the conversations around me... mostly along the lines of 'are these every week?', 'do you have seminars in your other courses?' and 'ooh, pretty hat!' No one gave me a second glance.<br /><br />Classroom became free and everyone ambled in, I dumped my bags by the desk I like to sit on and heap papers on and started rummaging around in all the bags trying to find the text we were reading in that class. Again not very different to the rest of the room.<br /><br />At this point, the dept secretary arrived to turn off the equipment from the previous class (bless but the academics aren't allowed to touch things anymore, especially expensive shiny technology... too many breakages)*** As she was doing this, we started chatting. Job done, she wandered off.<br /><br />It was at this point I realised that the room had gone quite quiet, and then the mature student suddenly asked 'are you the tutor?' with a stunned expression on his face, rest of the group were also expressing surprise (or maybe hangovers... its difficult to tell sometimes). 'Yup' I answered, at which point the surprise levels seemed to rise..., 'not what you expected?' 'Um no...' came the answer. <br /><br />I like startling people, it makes for entertaining tutorials.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*** The academics vs. technology seems to be quite common to the depts I've been in, my undergraduate dept got through several coffee machines before the secretary realised the problem... no one ever put water in it.</span>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-34786617063443666452008-10-06T19:46:00.002+01:002008-10-06T19:48:48.790+01:00Are people really this dumb?J pointed out today that that the live basil plant I'd brought home from the supermarket had a label informing purchasers not to refrigerate, and asked the question why does it even need that? The only answer I could come up with was that some people just aren't plant people.. or they really are that dumb.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-53302673593092909312008-10-03T09:39:00.004+01:002008-10-03T09:51:35.642+01:00Snowflakes in OctoberThe undergrads are back, ah the joys of the new semester...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252845566624191186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTQSJG7mWlOLKtFYG30p92LLYKAGNXsSyrpQlrnUjKFtnMmHVIhkU_kutofYyYLJGcAQGxHfDnkbafeiA7kHDlj5y-J2x0XnRUQTLwdXxa7eA4MueX4_-CZywCE21E5cG5lp7kexAJ2qE/s400/coot.gif" border="0" /><br /><p><strong>To all those who don't understand pavements...</strong>Why is it that so many undergrads (and people generally) fail to understand that people are trying to walk along these things? Not wait patiently while you mill around or chat with all your closest 50 friends. And when I eventually get sick of asking 'excuse me' and push my way through, don't huff and act like I'm being <em>that </em>rude.</p><p><strong>To the random guy wandering around the photocopying room...</strong>The instructions are on the wall. Given that you looked at the instructions, the change machine, the photocopying card dispenser and <em>every</em> photocopying machine in the room (including those that were being used by people) you would think you get the concept. But no, you just kept wandering (with your books)... until you wandered out of the room.</p><p><strong>And finally, to the precious, precious snowflake in the bookshop yesterday...</strong>So your 'basic' history introduction course is full of stuff you didn't know? Shame, I thought all university lecturers realised that they needed to keep their courses limited to exactly what you have been taught at high school. What I don't understand is why you're bitching about this to the poor guy in the book shop. He didn't set the course and he sure as hell doesn't want to hear about it. And bless him, he was trying to help, going through your reading list... only for you to whine that you were never going to be able to read all that in a week. My only hope is that he was purposefully putting the most expensive books he could find into your arms...</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252845707638910114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagEtZ3_u9j6m9byRdJ67yT_4sVm5zjbRKyK1tOm8BM09IAiI9c4XCzYysIUkxhYO7HbPnzgsAlEwS-aRQLmmUitZDFygtsLE271FXa1tfBwYHYBDuOMY479z930dwFm9JL3o6XfaAZkci/s400/phd091908s.gif" border="0" /></p>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-16271579043217314412008-09-26T11:28:00.003+01:002008-09-26T11:36:16.984+01:00Now there is a book title I never thought I'd see...So today I was searching for a out of print volume from 1955 on <em>Kykeon</em>, the beverage of choice in the Eleusinian mysteries. Unfortunately, this book is a little tricky to find. I did eventually track one copy down in a city that I can at least get to easily. <div><div></div><br /><div>The volume in question, Armand Delatte's <em>Le Cyceon, breuvage rituel des mystes d'Eleusis </em>offers Google and other book-search sites the opportunity for word chaos.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5nG6KQLpFwEyWHvnbrlCn6usunE3uEVebsAV4dF1G4xKPRaTZTYBwLOJD894ACrrWkvN_7lIbSuUdmAH_vzKPkFlk8H76fvmjSbtyw43zW1nR27aNiXfXfcGbCosMrrO2cepT0nJ74xk/s1600-h/walrus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250276906420418962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5nG6KQLpFwEyWHvnbrlCn6usunE3uEVebsAV4dF1G4xKPRaTZTYBwLOJD894ACrrWkvN_7lIbSuUdmAH_vzKPkFlk8H76fvmjSbtyw43zW1nR27aNiXfXfcGbCosMrrO2cepT0nJ74xk/s200/walrus.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Rather than just admitting the the word <em>kykeon</em> or <em>cyceon</em> cannot be found during their searches, they offer nearest equivalents... which is how <em>cyceon</em> turned into <em>cushion</em>. And that available to buy right now is the the fabulously titled <strong><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/My-Life-As-A-Walrus-Whoopee-Cushion/Bill-Myers/e/9780849940255/?itm=4">My life as a walrus whoopee cushion</a></strong>. Yep, that book exists. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a class="underline" onclick="openAndMoveWindow('/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9780849940255');return(false);" href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9780849940255" target="_blank"></a></div></div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-48329160142664032302008-09-17T15:14:00.007+01:002008-09-17T15:25:13.136+01:00Introducing Houdini, the ever-escaping hamster<div>Well we worked out how she is getting out of the ball, the wee thing has chewed the lid so much that if she pushes in the right way it just pops out. </div><div></div><br /><div>Now normally when she fell out the ball before, she just sat there looking stunned. But now? Oh no, now she starts scampering away in the direction of whatever seems interesting. </div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIoK5grFEBzyfJBa3sescdm4Dypbi6yRbQkwDVmhNopSpIVQshkne0iq5LJPspon7wXE2m9qRKZfKbEuEUgovP1JIpmGWzO4sGVQGx3SEzl5_Zru9hEDTtP7N13stsfa2wk3Humb6YB4e/s1600-h/DSCN4414.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246995834053000274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIoK5grFEBzyfJBa3sescdm4Dypbi6yRbQkwDVmhNopSpIVQshkne0iq5LJPspon7wXE2m9qRKZfKbEuEUgovP1JIpmGWzO4sGVQGx3SEzl5_Zru9hEDTtP7N13stsfa2wk3Humb6YB4e/s400/DSCN4414.JPG" border="0" /></a> All I can say is thank god for electrical tape... it keeps her in there. We don't have to put in on both ends yet (the ball has two access hatchs), but I can only imagine its a matter of time.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-15999373835001658172008-09-17T15:14:00.003+01:002008-09-17T15:18:54.969+01:00Ok, when I say normal service.... ah you know what I meanSo the normal service thing was a bit of a grand claim, but I am back (although I can never tell for how long). <br /><br />The conference last week was really good. Kind of daunting at times as it was the first 'big' conference I've been too. By which I mean it wasn't a postgrad gig, nope, this one had lots of big-wigs. I got introduced as a token postgrad, a couple of the others speakers did too, which did nothing to help my nerves. As it happened, I'm glad I decided to draft an article-like presentation and read that, rather than just ad-lib as I usually do. No one ad-libbed, making that idea a sensible one.<br /><br />But the paper seems to go down well, and the feedback was positive so I think there is hope for this one getting published once its revised into a proper article. <br /><br /><strong>PhD News</strong><br />This is the other big thing, the corrections have all been approved - just need to sort out the grammar and then that is done and can be printed and submitted. <br /><br />It is going to be strange not having it around any more.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-41175055088421469592008-09-02T22:31:00.002+01:002008-09-02T22:34:39.227+01:00Cute, seriously<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekaI_ErzH0trankJl31fmSIZutNHeeDDBAPImmuUERTPH8xuYQp2AAi6XEEhLSeFWSEbj0z7NTqVCILUYd9VKcrSvaLQjqZgy9n5MPnQ6d4UhaWojLFsdhCde2SHvRhsZt7b7xWGxaIRG/s1600-h/IMG_5433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241540472548722034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekaI_ErzH0trankJl31fmSIZutNHeeDDBAPImmuUERTPH8xuYQp2AAi6XEEhLSeFWSEbj0z7NTqVCILUYd9VKcrSvaLQjqZgy9n5MPnQ6d4UhaWojLFsdhCde2SHvRhsZt7b7xWGxaIRG/s400/IMG_5433.JPG" border="0" /></a> If slighly hellbent on getting out of the cage.<br /><div></div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-4517353787330503772008-09-02T18:03:00.004+01:002008-09-02T22:31:30.822+01:00Normal Service is ResumedOk, so the blog has been silent for quite some time. But what do you do when you reach the end of something that you have been working towards since you started your education.<br /><br />I had a meeting with my internal examiner today to check over the last of the minor corrections brought up at the Viva. One of the topics that was touched on briefly was the slump that follows the acquisition of the PhD. After being assured that 'yes, that is completely normal... and expected', its still difficult to get back into the proper way of working. My got up and go has basically got up and gone.<br /><br />However, with the start of the new term, I realise that this is not an individual problem. Looking at many of the academic blogs I read, I'm now convinced that everyone slumps at this time of year.<br /><br />Another part of me is wondering if writing again on the blog will help me get things sorted again in my head, or even if it does not solve stuff, it will at least get me actively working again.<br /><br />At the same time, it makes sense to recap what it has happened since the last post...<br /><br /><strong>Shoes!</strong><br />I not only like the first pair... I loved them - so much so that I now have another pair.<br /><br /><strong>Work!</strong><br />Going better than perhaps I give credit for. I have conference papers to give, articles to develop from them, teaching and tutoring lined up for the next academic year, and proposals in waiting for feedback or approval.<br /><br /><strong>Small furry things!</strong><br />We got a pet, a small, very fluffy hamster who appears willing to do almost anything for food. And as alarmingly demonstrated last night, is rather intelligent. The little minx managed to open her exercise ball from the inside... we have no idea how she did it but we're not planning on encouraging her to demonstrate the technique in future. Although we are now worried about cage security, so as a preventative we have paper-clipped her cage doors shut.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-47924059400984488612008-05-03T23:26:00.002+01:002008-05-03T23:29:54.703+01:00Splurge...... I succumbed, I now own MBT shoes... the ones I muttered about before but in brown. I adore them, they seem so strange to walk in... like walking on a pair of rocking chair rockers. <br /><br />The rocking is the wierd thing, everytime I stand still and allow myself to roll onto my heels, I have to waggle my arms to stay upright. On the plus side, if I stand still and hold onto the other half's arm, he can rock me back and forth.Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-35756700864422603182008-05-01T21:41:00.003+01:002008-05-01T21:49:31.139+01:00Masai and MusingsAfter suffering pain in both knees, one as the result of a temporarily dislocated (it popped back in straight away) kneecap and an unfortunate slide down a wee hill, I'm wondering whether to invest in a pair of <a href="http://www.swissmasai.co.uk/">these</a>.<br /><div></div><br /><div>They are ruinously expensive, especially on my low income (read practically non-existent)... but they are meant to help.</div><div></div><br /><div>There is a shop nearby which fits and sells them, and I'm wondering whether to just bite the bullet and go and try them. Even better, they have a cuter style which I rather like (though you can guarantee they won't have my size)... </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195514172835845794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="330" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20NpCxhp6Zew-H-gfKsXYgzVZK9YJMDpLtvsI2tSw9zTYgqJEU8NdO0DaEAnvRPNWghB2Kwc0EuY4Y3eH5L7OpLuAm3uUkHPuLbhYrFOKOkz-WPo_w0hZal8k8CYCeNU0w0Ivrhv1RXoT/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="379" border="0" /></div><br /><p> </p><p>Now I just have to decide... (and I haven't bought shoes for ages...)</p>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-90891074564384553482008-04-27T22:09:00.007+01:002008-04-27T22:24:30.192+01:00Normal Service will be Resumed Shortly...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOy-6nmNQ_e657KOcpnOkACcO06WvQ7cG6WlU3PEywNBjNTGsEUif8fefRbOaUrXwJjaJNfW-SHPtf0C9Cm0jtlI-hqklTKqW2Sret-iNlTgf4q7drv0uq02NreaGBKj5deY0iADRWUF2/s1600-h/phd090707s.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194035531559949970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOy-6nmNQ_e657KOcpnOkACcO06WvQ7cG6WlU3PEywNBjNTGsEUif8fefRbOaUrXwJjaJNfW-SHPtf0C9Cm0jtlI-hqklTKqW2Sret-iNlTgf4q7drv0uq02NreaGBKj5deY0iADRWUF2/s400/phd090707s.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Whilst I'm not a computer science grad... I can sympathise with the cartoon...</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />It is strange being in the scenario where I'm in a position to to apply for stuff, knowing that I can fulfill the criteria. The next thing to work out is how to get them to reply to me. But these things take time.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />To be honest, I had expected life post-PhD (Viva, whenever it may be, excepted) to be a little calmer. I didn't think I would be that busy. The sheer amount of marking (which is larger given events happening with the other TAs on the course), so that is eating up a lot of time. And I haven't even started on the worksheets from the last stage of the course... urgh. But it pays and money is always welcome.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />The better news is that the April conference went well. They want the paper for an article in the proceedings (to be published next year), and the proceedings from last year are nearly published.. the cover looks really slick and I'm looking forward to seeing it in print. The article from that one went down really well with the editors, so that cheered me up.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />Once I get that darn marking and the article out of the way, things will calm down. Plus I get to be in Athens for a while which will be great, plus the other half will be there with me for the first time - which I will really enjoy. After that the next commitment is a dig in June, I was there last year and had fun, so it will be good to be back.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-50455683129188717712008-04-18T21:43:00.001+01:002008-04-18T21:44:43.042+01:00Silence... part 2I'm not sure why but I just don't have the urge to blog at the moment... it seems strange but I'm in a strange state of mind and have been since I submitted... I'm sure it will pass but until then... ssh!Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-36841278626482928512008-04-05T11:43:00.004+01:002008-04-05T11:50:30.140+01:00Silence...<div><div>So I haven't been posting much lately, I don't know why, I think its all part of finishing up. My brain has shut down on so many levels, which is not necessarily a good thing, it just needs a rest. The trick now is getting it started up again...</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, I saw this recent cartoon from PhD Comics and realised that my University fits in very well with one of the categories, as did my Undergraduate institution: </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185711134924634738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKL780WLiFoVhfZ65r4wNCLbbJt8xXco3KRv-lopbcJuWYH8U_ftNUE25pj8ZuNHZfUL4p_25lGMIoVo6AuBz9KVQmDMOtG6wAm7BjYoTakablMA4Tj6SeMefYFK-CFQIFt0NmXawUnHbq/s400/phd040408s%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>My Undergraduate University was a red brick, the current one is more along the lines of Gothic (for the main building at least)... unfortunately the section of the University I'm in is more Neo-Penal... on the plus side they removed the asbestos a couple of years ago...</p>Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-80241382616869867092008-04-01T00:01:00.002+01:002008-04-01T00:05:15.732+01:00What do you do?What is it that you do when you've submitted? I handed in last tuesday and have spent a week in what can only be described as a daze... meandering around not really doing anything. I have been out and about, down to the seaside to a proper old-fashioned sweet shop and a trip to a nearby castle. And I've been somewhat more domestic, the freezer is restocked (all home-made) and the bathroom scrubbed from top-to-bottom. But the wierd thing is not actively working on academic stuff.<br /><br />Thankfully, (or maybe not) I have marking to do and a conference paper/article to prepare which I'm actually looking forward too... who'd have thought it... I want to keep working...Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6956574463889574716.post-15590557305132175882008-03-25T21:12:00.001+00:002008-03-25T21:13:56.485+00:00Done!Its done, my PhD thesis is in, just got the viva to go and I'm one graduation away from getting my doctorate...Aphaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397815415921316458noreply@blogger.com0