Author Archives: Timothy Burke

Process Comes First

Posted on August 24, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Erin O’Connor discusses protests against research on primates at UCLA and asks for academic bloggers to support the rights of researchers against the attacks of protesters. I think that’s a fair request, and that you can express that support regardless … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Politics | 16 Comments

Getting the Cool Job

Posted on August 23, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Right around September, a lot of last year’s graduates from liberal arts colleges are discovering that they appear to be qualified for approximately none of the jobs that they might actually want to have. There are exceptions: students who have … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Miscellany | 15 Comments

Four Short Notes From My Media Morning

Posted on August 22, 2006 by Timothy Burke

1. In daily reading of the Internet, you can forget just how many breathtakingly wonderful various small acts of creative generosity it offers. Most of them are also fragile and ephemeral: you have to be there. I was reading one … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellany, Popular Culture | 5 Comments

Good Quote, Bad Quote

Posted on August 22, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Here’s a very lucid, clear description of repeated antagonism between intellectuals who identify as critical theorists and those who see their work in scientistic or positivistic terms. Raymond Geuss, The Idea of a Critical Theory: Habermas and the Frankfurt School, … Continue reading →

Posted in Good Quote, Bad Quote | Comments Off

The Disciplinary Pie

Posted on August 21, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Inside Higher Education has a story about a new book on the history of disciplines within the 20th Century university. The main argument, according to the IHE summary, is that the rise of the social sciences is the primary reason … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia | Comments Off

Who Wants to Be a Superhero Update

Posted on August 18, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I was enjoying this show, but last night’s episode was pretty bad. Since the whole show is strongly scripted, more than many other “reality programs”, it’s pretty inexcusable to eliminate a character because she once threw a shampoo bottle in … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture | 4 Comments

The Shape of the Gordian Knot: Assessment

Posted on August 16, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I’m going to try and break down the coming Spellings Commision report in detail when the official final version is out, but by way of preparation, I’m interested in thinking creatively about the problem of assessment. I agree that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia | 7 Comments

Calling the LazyWeb

Posted on August 15, 2006 by Timothy Burke

I’m looking for a good book or two (or even an article) on a somewhat complicated topic. What I’m curious about is the intellectual history of specifically British contemplations of constitutionalism or common law in the 19th and 20th Century. … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellany | 11 Comments

Dangerously Beautiful Days

Posted on August 13, 2006 by Timothy Burke

Weekends are weird once you have a house. A secondary labor regime takes over: there are weeds to kill, stumps to remove, bathtubs to re-caulk, closets to clean, bookshelves to make and so on. A beautiful day like today is … Continue reading →

Posted in Domestic Life | 5 Comments

Major Victory or Fat Momma?

Posted on August 11, 2006 by Timothy Burke

No, this isn’t about Lieberman. I see Major Victory and Fat Momma in the final of Who Wants to Be a Superhero?. How about you? Just as long as it’s not Lemuria or Feedback.

Posted in Popular Culture | Comments Off