Well, tis the season in Scotland to celebrate the Bard (no, no, the other one; Scotland remember?) and that "Great chieftain o' the pudding-race" the haggis! Ron's been asked to give the Toast to the Lassies and is a bit concerned. He's had me researching what exactly it entails. Of course, he didn't think to ask me till this morning and so he'll only have about half an hour to ponder my results and come up with something.
I had a bit of a preview Burns Night over at Janet's house, or the girl's night version thereof. We had home made chicken soup for starters followed by haggis and tatties (no neeps though since Janet doesn't like them). And we watched the second half of Wives and Daughters which I highly recommend to any fans of period drama or romance. Lovely and girly. We had great fun.
Also in theme, about a week ago I dragged Ron along to the scifi club's ceilidh dance. Io (the scifi club) had issued a general invitation to the LARP group and the RPG group (the latter being how we came to know of it). For a bunch of geeks we made a good showing of it! I managed to drag Ron through the Gay Gordon's which was the only one they didn't teach first. It was no more than a hazy memory for me, but it's a simple enough dance and one I quite like and we managed fine. The rest of the evening went even better (since they taught us the steps as we went). A small fire elsewhere in the building caused some excitement and we all had to tromp outside in the cold. The clubbing downstairs emptied a vast number of skimpily clad people into the cold as well since they couldn't exactly stop by the coat claim on the way out! We geeks claimed the upper ground; the stairs up to the Modern Languages building forms a bit of a walled platform. These lookouts gave reports to those of us below. The fire department came and dealt with the small fire (we did see smoke so it wasn't a totally false alarm) and then departed to cheering. Then we all went back in for more dancing--us to country dancing and them to cheesy pop.
Friday 25 January 2008
Saturday 12 January 2008
Independent Researcher
The world is not set up for independent researchers. First of all, without academic affiliation, it is immediately harder just to get into a library. Thankfully, Glasgow Uni graciously let me in. Some, like Emory will let guests in all the time. I wouldn't like my chances of getting into, say, the Bodlian in my current circumstances.
But, you say, this is the twenty first century; you can do most of your research online! Wrong. Not without a log in to full text articles or even to searchable databases to figure out which articles you need to look at. And no, Google Scholar is no replacement. Believe me, I have, in my desperation, tried.
I'm trying to brush up a paper I wrote a few years ago, then revised into a suedo-conference paper, into an article. To do this I need to find out if anything else has been written on the topic since I first did the research for it (and, in theory, my research skills have improved since then, so it would be good to make sure there wasn't anything earlier that I missed). So far I've found exactly one more article. How? I remembered the name of the author of one of the original articles I used (in itself an extraordinary occurrence, but I could have looked it up in my bibliography if I hadn't remembered his name, but he's sort of a hero of mine since he mostly works on elves). It took me a few tries to spell his name right, but eventually I pulled up his home page through Google. Then, following the link to his article, the page stopped at an add of sorts for the journal it was published in...which listed the table of contents of their most recent edition...which included another article on a similar topic. So, yay!, one more.
Since then, I've done more table of contents skimming but with no further joy. The problem is, I don't so much need an article or two; I need to know that I've addressed everything relevant and there is no way this method is going to be exhaustive. I do, however, have an appointment with a subject library who will help me search some of those exclusive databases though.
I've tried to find some place where an independent researcher can pay for membership to a library/organization etc to get access to such subscriptions, but I haven't found anything yet. My next tactic will be to ask if the UC alum library card comes with access, but I seem to remember the answer being "no". So like I said, it's hard being an independent researcher these days.
But, you say, this is the twenty first century; you can do most of your research online! Wrong. Not without a log in to full text articles or even to searchable databases to figure out which articles you need to look at. And no, Google Scholar is no replacement. Believe me, I have, in my desperation, tried.
I'm trying to brush up a paper I wrote a few years ago, then revised into a suedo-conference paper, into an article. To do this I need to find out if anything else has been written on the topic since I first did the research for it (and, in theory, my research skills have improved since then, so it would be good to make sure there wasn't anything earlier that I missed). So far I've found exactly one more article. How? I remembered the name of the author of one of the original articles I used (in itself an extraordinary occurrence, but I could have looked it up in my bibliography if I hadn't remembered his name, but he's sort of a hero of mine since he mostly works on elves). It took me a few tries to spell his name right, but eventually I pulled up his home page through Google. Then, following the link to his article, the page stopped at an add of sorts for the journal it was published in...which listed the table of contents of their most recent edition...which included another article on a similar topic. So, yay!, one more.
Since then, I've done more table of contents skimming but with no further joy. The problem is, I don't so much need an article or two; I need to know that I've addressed everything relevant and there is no way this method is going to be exhaustive. I do, however, have an appointment with a subject library who will help me search some of those exclusive databases though.
I've tried to find some place where an independent researcher can pay for membership to a library/organization etc to get access to such subscriptions, but I haven't found anything yet. My next tactic will be to ask if the UC alum library card comes with access, but I seem to remember the answer being "no". So like I said, it's hard being an independent researcher these days.
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Puss in Boots
Of Boots:
I have new boots. They are green leather. They are fuzzy inside, all soft and warm. And best of all, they don't have holes in the soles so when I walk through puddles, my feet remain dry! This kitten will therefore be less of a Soaked Kitten then usual. Huzzah for Christmas money! Huzzah for after Christmas sales! Huzzah for dry feet!!!
Of Books:
Ron got me "book one" to three different series for Christmas, having failed to find any of the (admittedly semi-obscure or newly released) books on my wish list. I have not managed to read book one of the Dragonlance Chronicles through yet. I find I have to be in the right mood. It is very funny, fulfilling all the D&D cliches. But all the cliche gets old quickly, so I can only take it in small doses.
I therefore moved on to The Black Magician Trilogy and have now read all three. They were very addictive and quite good. This too falls into some classic fantasy genre cliches (do all fantasy cities have to have a highly organized Thieve's Guild?! And I do sometimes tire of magic being something only the special few can do; it can be more interesting when it is something anyone can put in the hard work to learn) but after Dragonlance it felt quite fresh and original. The trilogy seems to hover on the brink of being young adult yet has the heft of adult fantasy novels. I could rant about one aspect of the ending, but that would be a spoiler so I'll refrain. If you're curious feel free to email me about it.
Ranting:
Yesterday GUGS started back up after the winter break. It was going to be our first game in several weeks, and since we'd left at a cliff-hanger I'd been looking forward to it. Unfortunately, my GM got turned away at the door. Though clearly at least mid-twenties, he was refused entry because he didn't have sufficient proof that he was over 18. He had multiple people from the club willing to sign him in, but to no avail. If he'd come an hour earlier there would have been no restriction, but though it was still several hours before people would start showing up for the drinking and dancing, and although he was clearly being signed in to go to the gaming society, not to Revolution, they wouldn't budge. Sigh. It's always a grab bag of who's at the desk when people show up; they all interpret the rules differently. Someone else was turned away and simply came back a half hour later when the shift had changed and then got in! Sigh. So, no game for me this week.
I have new boots. They are green leather. They are fuzzy inside, all soft and warm. And best of all, they don't have holes in the soles so when I walk through puddles, my feet remain dry! This kitten will therefore be less of a Soaked Kitten then usual. Huzzah for Christmas money! Huzzah for after Christmas sales! Huzzah for dry feet!!!
Of Books:
Ron got me "book one" to three different series for Christmas, having failed to find any of the (admittedly semi-obscure or newly released) books on my wish list. I have not managed to read book one of the Dragonlance Chronicles through yet. I find I have to be in the right mood. It is very funny, fulfilling all the D&D cliches. But all the cliche gets old quickly, so I can only take it in small doses.
I therefore moved on to The Black Magician Trilogy and have now read all three. They were very addictive and quite good. This too falls into some classic fantasy genre cliches (do all fantasy cities have to have a highly organized Thieve's Guild?! And I do sometimes tire of magic being something only the special few can do; it can be more interesting when it is something anyone can put in the hard work to learn) but after Dragonlance it felt quite fresh and original. The trilogy seems to hover on the brink of being young adult yet has the heft of adult fantasy novels. I could rant about one aspect of the ending, but that would be a spoiler so I'll refrain. If you're curious feel free to email me about it.
Ranting:
Yesterday GUGS started back up after the winter break. It was going to be our first game in several weeks, and since we'd left at a cliff-hanger I'd been looking forward to it. Unfortunately, my GM got turned away at the door. Though clearly at least mid-twenties, he was refused entry because he didn't have sufficient proof that he was over 18. He had multiple people from the club willing to sign him in, but to no avail. If he'd come an hour earlier there would have been no restriction, but though it was still several hours before people would start showing up for the drinking and dancing, and although he was clearly being signed in to go to the gaming society, not to Revolution, they wouldn't budge. Sigh. It's always a grab bag of who's at the desk when people show up; they all interpret the rules differently. Someone else was turned away and simply came back a half hour later when the shift had changed and then got in! Sigh. So, no game for me this week.
Monday 7 January 2008
Frogs and Catapults
Since Ron had to work when Janet and I went to the museum, I thought it only right to bring him back a souvenir. We picked out a pencil sharpener. He does like to draw after all...ok, so it happens to also be a working catapult! Wee! Ron clearly appreciated his gift and set about launching all sorts of things across our tiny flat: cats (plastic), frogs (rubber) dice (ok, those would have hurt). The frog took ages to find again so that put a stop to it for now.
Speaking of frogs, did you hear they (the mysterious "they") have named this the year of the frog? Apparently some sort of fungus (I think) is killing all sorts of frogs; it goes right across the lines of different species. So they're trying to draw attention to the problem to get funding both to research a cure/fix and also to make isolated habitats for as many kinds as possible so they can be released again once it's safe. Poor frogs. We have so many species endangered due to human activity; they've got a raw deal to have yet another source of threat bearing down on them. Ron's very fond of colorful poisonous tree frogs (luckily not in the keep-as-pets sense), so hence the availability of a bright blue rubber frog to be catapult fodder.
Life plans update: I have extended my stay in the UK to 26 February. This is still a couple weeks shy of my 6 month limit, but I thought it best to have a cushion in case of emergency. My choir here is performing the day before my visa runs out, so it was very tempting to push it to the very last day, but for once prudence has won out. I'm not doing anything to endanger my ability to come and go. Hopefully by then we'll at least have heard back on a date for Ron's immigration interview. Ron says he's hoping it might happen by the end of February, but I've got my bets on a March/April date. Whenever the interview happens, it sounds like there's not more than a couple weeks between that and a visa being granted (assuming it's approved, but I don't see why they wouldn't. It's a relatively straightforward if very time consuming process. He is my husband after all).
Speaking of frogs, did you hear they (the mysterious "they") have named this the year of the frog? Apparently some sort of fungus (I think) is killing all sorts of frogs; it goes right across the lines of different species. So they're trying to draw attention to the problem to get funding both to research a cure/fix and also to make isolated habitats for as many kinds as possible so they can be released again once it's safe. Poor frogs. We have so many species endangered due to human activity; they've got a raw deal to have yet another source of threat bearing down on them. Ron's very fond of colorful poisonous tree frogs (luckily not in the keep-as-pets sense), so hence the availability of a bright blue rubber frog to be catapult fodder.
Life plans update: I have extended my stay in the UK to 26 February. This is still a couple weeks shy of my 6 month limit, but I thought it best to have a cushion in case of emergency. My choir here is performing the day before my visa runs out, so it was very tempting to push it to the very last day, but for once prudence has won out. I'm not doing anything to endanger my ability to come and go. Hopefully by then we'll at least have heard back on a date for Ron's immigration interview. Ron says he's hoping it might happen by the end of February, but I've got my bets on a March/April date. Whenever the interview happens, it sounds like there's not more than a couple weeks between that and a visa being granted (assuming it's approved, but I don't see why they wouldn't. It's a relatively straightforward if very time consuming process. He is my husband after all).
Friday 4 January 2008
Snow!
Yesterday I, at long last, made an expedition to the Burrell Collection here in Glasgow. First I had to meet up with Janet. I headed out the door...and it was snowing! I seemed to be the only person grinning like a little kid at this development; most everyone else was scowling. Well, after some minor delays and hangups (which involved trying out a new internet cafe "Sip n' Surf" which, incidentally, is where I am now) I eventually took the underground to Janet's stop. Immediately it was less cold and there was some blue sky remaining. I called up to say I was there and it turned out she was helping someone start her car. I decided not to say "at least it's not snowing here" and settled in to wait. Despite refraining from tempting fate, however, it soon began to snow there too!
Well, the Burrell was quite cool, and Janet was definitely the one to go with. We set ourselves into giggle-fits over any mention of "ritual purposes" of ancient objects. We postulated Egyptian-Pictish trade by evidence of a Z-rod on an Egyptian pot. And Janet was sent into a rant by amphorae, while ornate salt-cellers had a similar effect on me. Oh my, and you should have seen it when I found such beautiful evidence that the English, like the French, used the cloth of honor thingies...albeit a bit too late period to have helped me on my paper a few years back.
Jokes aside, I think the highlights of the collection are the tapestries and stained glass. And there was a fascinating woman's coat (of the dublet-esque variety) and cap from c.1600-20. The fitted doublet/coat was fastened up the front with hook-and-eyes, surprisingly modern looking ones. The cap had a "point" of cloth lying flat on top. The plaque said the purpose was unknown but these were said to be worn in particular during sickness. Well, the angle was bad, but it looked like if you folded it down in front of the face there would be an opening to make it hang open in front of the eyes and then have a built in nose and mouth cover. Perhaps the early 17th century version of those little nose & mouth covers they use in hospitals?
It snowed more that night, but none of it has "stuck" for today.
Well, the Burrell was quite cool, and Janet was definitely the one to go with. We set ourselves into giggle-fits over any mention of "ritual purposes" of ancient objects. We postulated Egyptian-Pictish trade by evidence of a Z-rod on an Egyptian pot. And Janet was sent into a rant by amphorae, while ornate salt-cellers had a similar effect on me. Oh my, and you should have seen it when I found such beautiful evidence that the English, like the French, used the cloth of honor thingies...albeit a bit too late period to have helped me on my paper a few years back.
Jokes aside, I think the highlights of the collection are the tapestries and stained glass. And there was a fascinating woman's coat (of the dublet-esque variety) and cap from c.1600-20. The fitted doublet/coat was fastened up the front with hook-and-eyes, surprisingly modern looking ones. The cap had a "point" of cloth lying flat on top. The plaque said the purpose was unknown but these were said to be worn in particular during sickness. Well, the angle was bad, but it looked like if you folded it down in front of the face there would be an opening to make it hang open in front of the eyes and then have a built in nose and mouth cover. Perhaps the early 17th century version of those little nose & mouth covers they use in hospitals?
It snowed more that night, but none of it has "stuck" for today.
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