I Graded My Last Green Book

Following a hectic weekend of graduation celebration and tortuous moving (an activity I despise more than any other), I just graded my last green book for quite a while. This particular batch of finals was particularly poor. I think it was the worst group of tests I have graded since I've been at UO, even though it was largely upper division (must have been an acutely severe case of senioritis and warm weather laziness). In any case, it feels very good to be truly done, but I'm still having to clean the office (KFR, Matto, and E left massive piles of tests in cabinets, shelves, and boxes - things that should have been forced back on the Prof's to store last year). After sending a pick-up load of stuff from my apartment this last weekend, I have to reduce the remainder of my possessions down to what I can fit in 1 car load when I leave Eugene on June 26 (I might try to make it back down when KFR comes up in July - we'll see). Graduation festivities went very well this weekend and my family thought all my friends and Prof's were great people. I hope everyone is doing well and having a great summer!

The End of Western Civilization is Near

I'm amazed I'm going to blog on this, it is disgusting by nature. It is a sign of the dysfunctional nature of our present justice system that the Paris Hilton circus has devolved into utter chaos. What started out as a farce has actually developed into a real story involving the exposure of the hollow, corrupt , and subjective nature of our justice system. The administrative laws and bureaucracies are so convoluted that the system is starting to devour itself. Historical perspective on the consequences of excessive bureaucratic legal complexity for society can be found in the hallowed primary sources of antiquity:

"And now bills were passed, not only for national objects but for individual cases, and laws were most numerous when the commonwealth was most corrupt." - Tacitus

The more laws and regulations that are imposed upon society allows for the legal system to be increasingly tailored to individual circumstances, which increases the arbitrary power of corrupt bureaucracies motivated in self-preservation that causes stasis in society. The manipulation of the legal system for specific individual cases is a symptom of immense corruption. Strangely enough, this is the most significant and substantial moment in this shallow twits (Paris Hilton) life - it might actually cause increased reflection on the system as a whole. Surprisingly, this fiasco has done as much to highlight the problems of wealth, race, and the subjective application of the law in terms of the justice system as anything else in recent memory - this is scary in it's own way given the ridiculous nature of the personalities involved. I will take solace in the fact that as the system becomes more and more dysfunctional, the social structure will be made more susceptible to my future horde of anarchists and the impending revolutionary struggle to cleanse the system of it's filth. Eventually, a new order must be imposed upon this decaying empire. I'm embarrassed to have felt compelled to blog on this.

Thesis Approved!

The Grad School formatting police just sent word that my thesis has been approved as no corrections were needed. Naturally, somebody just published an article in a prominent journal this week that reinforced an important yet obscure aspect of my thesis (the most original part I had). Oh well, it feels very good to be done with this portion of my academic career. I might even change the course of my study quite a bit over the next two years. I could emphasize more Classical Archaeology and Egyptology in order to set myself apart in the future job market. It will also get me on a funding track to explore Mediterranean digsites. Good day all - Drink and Be Merry!

I Need to Clear my Head for a Bit

Sorry for the hiatus, but my brain has been thrown into coasting speed as I do mindless formatting revisions for my Thesis. I am none to thrilled to be dealing with another bureaucracy like the Grad school editing division. I've already had to deal with too many bureaucratic nightmares from my injury days. E and C provided a good respite last night with E fashioning a good pizza and chilled wine (Thanks E, it was good!) At least, I've been going out most nights to celebrate the end of my time here with what few drinks I can afford on the piddly income this school provides. I think I will turn in my final revisions to the Grad school tomorrow, and that will feel really great! Hopefully, more celebration will ensue. Hope everyone is doing well - I think I'll go work out and try to undo some of the damage done to my body by days of thesis writing.

Victory is Mine!

I emerged from my defense victorious. After suffering the mental challenges posed to me by the tribunal of academic inquisitors, I embarked on an extensive night of celebration with too wide a variety of spirits. (Thanks E, M, and C!) Despite feeling the ill effects, I managed to properly represent at the department History Conference consistent with the tradition of KFR, Matto, and El Machetito from last year. The evening was topped off with a wonderful dinner at E's new pad, courtesy of Morgan and E, accompanied by considerable vino and a viewing of KFR's montage of favorite music videos. Great Stuff!!! I will try to savor my victory for a few days before delving back into the murky quagmire that is Latin and Greek for the remainder of the summer.

I Endure the Defense Tomorrow

Here is how I envision my Friday afternoon engaged in my MA Thesis defense. Hopefully, it will be slightly more enjoyable than this, but I don't want to set my expectations too high. Have a nice day, and I will report the outcome of this trial by ordeal in the next couple of days.

A Thesis is an Irrelevant Exercise in Torture

Please forgive my lack of blog productivity lately. I will not be updating again until after I turn in my Thesis to my readers next Friday. I am vehemently opposed to the modern concept of an MA Thesis. They are too long to publish and too short to be a comprehensive study of anything. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem likely I will get any significant credit for it at UCLA. I have come to the conclusion it is simply a torture from the ninth plane of hell (the one occupied by tyrannical bureaucrats with esteem issues) inflicted upon grad students as punishment for having a fake life. In any case, I hope everyone is doing well, and I will be out of contact for the next week battling the thesis demons of the underworld. Cheers!