Several of my graduate students finished in the last few weeks. Each is going on to bigger and better things including a PhD program (Dave), an exciting job at Electronic Arts (Paul), a doctoral program in remote Japan (Dan) but it's still quite sad in a way, since each was an exciting person to work with. In addition, a promising doctoral student is also taking a leave of absence. All in all, it makes for a very bittersweet month.
In terms of "stress scales" finishing a degree, especially a graduate degree, is a known stressor. Even good things can cause significant stress due to the changes they imply. Of course, finishing a graduate degree is typically stressful for both the student, the supervisor and their loved ones since there is typically a major flurry of work that has to be completed, re-edited or presented in various ways.
2006
2006
One of my father's former colleages, who lives in Germany, has been pursuing a project to translate some of my father's poetry into German. Bernhard Beutler was tireless both in editing and pursuing the translation of the poetry book, as well as in pursuing the various avenues needed to get the book funded and published. With the help of the Quebec government (which has a great cultural policy), the project has come to fruition and the bilingual (German/English) book
Louis Dudek: For you, you - Fur Dich, Dir
was being launched in Berlin. The launch took place at the Bureau du Quebec in Pariser Platz with a bi- or tri-lingual address by the chief of the bureau, M. Trudelle and by Bernhard.
The French press release here .
It can be found here, on Amazon.de. You can also find it at the on-line bookstore buecher.de.
I had hoped to attend, but the costs of trans-oceanic travel are such that I couldn't go. We did have a little private book launching ceremony of our own with my Dad's former publisher Sonja Scarstead and with Geoff Isherwood (as well as Krys and myself, of course).
2006
My university, McGill, has instituted a campus wide wireless access policy for students. I think this is a good idea and quite consistent with what is happening in many schools, universities and even cities (for example San Francisco is going to have free ubiquitous wireless in the entire downtown).
The bizarre part of the plan is that the wireless access is not free for faculty or staff of the university. I think this is frankly ridicululous. Presumably the wireless service helps with productivity, convenience or has other benefits. (more below)
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There's more. Read the whole story on "University Wireless Policy"
