6.21.2006
the american league is awesome
This morning's MLB scoreboard said it all. In another week of interleague play, it was undeniable. Indians over Cubs, Boston over Washington, Tampa over Arizona, White Sox over Cardinals, Royals over Pirates, not to mention Seattle over Dodgers, Twins over Astros, Detroit over Milwaukee, Blue Jays over Braves and even Yankees over Phillies. So out of 14 interleague games last night, ten of them were won by the American League.
Derek and I were talking today over lunch about our favorite Daily Show personalities. Straw poll: Samantha Bee - thumbs down. Dave Gorman - split (I say up, he says down). Jason Jones - down. John Hodgman - up. Just thought I'd share. Hodgman certainly is growing on me. Originally, I found him kind of a pain in the neck. Now, I just find him uproariously funny.
Dodged a bullet again without even knowing it. Five years ago, when I turned in my thesis at Princeton, I missed binding chapter 2. This is a story that doesn't really get old. Most of my friends don't tire of hearing it. It's a funny story. It also showcases my endearingly incompetent side. Well, I figured that the trajectory had continued this year when I gave myself a minor concussion while cycling to turn in my thesis. As it turns out, I was only half right. I met with my professor this morning to go over my marks, and as it turns out, 10 pages was missing from one copy of my thesis. WHAT?!? Seriously. 10 pages didn't make it into one of the copies of my thesis. The reader, confused, emailed Prof. Parker (chairman of the board of examiners for Ancient History), who got worried. A case where, as he put it, he did not want to act suspicious, but would have had to in order to maintain the integrity of the grading system. Thankfully, the other copy I turned in had the missing pages, and they were very easily photocopied and sent over. If they hadn't been there, then the committee would have had to rule on whether the pages could be graded at all, since they were not part of the package I turned in at the time of the submission. I can't believe I came so close to pulling that kind of stunt again. I'm an idiot. But doesn't my incompetence also endear me? :)
Going to Italy tomorrow for a recording and concert tour. Check out Magdala for a profile of our latest recordings. Actually, it's not really our latest effort. We're on the companion CD to the amazingly popular Michelangelo exhibit at the British Museum. But because the disc is being released by the British Museum, we can't advertise it on our website. I just recorded part of a plainchant disc yesterday, and we'll be performing and recording a set of 10 pieces from a musical tribute from the city of Florence to King Henry VIII of England while we're in Florence.
I'm getting ready to wrap up this blog. I wonder whether I should keep it. It's nice to be able to spew my thoughts down every now and again, and certainly I know that some people *used* to read it. However, since I slowed down in my posting schedule, I think that what few regular readers I had stopped visiting. It certainly has been put to good use. It allowed me to keep in touch with my friends in the US and at the P. school, as well as my friends and family from college. It has allowed me to vent, and certainly in looking back at my posts from last year, I am reminded of how much I have grown in my two years at Oxford. I look back at my old essays and am amazed that some of that passed as academic writing. It's been difficult, it's been tumultuous, and it's been hard. It has also been rewarding, fantastic, and fun. More later, for now, I'm just going to enjoy remembering.
Derek and I were talking today over lunch about our favorite Daily Show personalities. Straw poll: Samantha Bee - thumbs down. Dave Gorman - split (I say up, he says down). Jason Jones - down. John Hodgman - up. Just thought I'd share. Hodgman certainly is growing on me. Originally, I found him kind of a pain in the neck. Now, I just find him uproariously funny.
Dodged a bullet again without even knowing it. Five years ago, when I turned in my thesis at Princeton, I missed binding chapter 2. This is a story that doesn't really get old. Most of my friends don't tire of hearing it. It's a funny story. It also showcases my endearingly incompetent side. Well, I figured that the trajectory had continued this year when I gave myself a minor concussion while cycling to turn in my thesis. As it turns out, I was only half right. I met with my professor this morning to go over my marks, and as it turns out, 10 pages was missing from one copy of my thesis. WHAT?!? Seriously. 10 pages didn't make it into one of the copies of my thesis. The reader, confused, emailed Prof. Parker (chairman of the board of examiners for Ancient History), who got worried. A case where, as he put it, he did not want to act suspicious, but would have had to in order to maintain the integrity of the grading system. Thankfully, the other copy I turned in had the missing pages, and they were very easily photocopied and sent over. If they hadn't been there, then the committee would have had to rule on whether the pages could be graded at all, since they were not part of the package I turned in at the time of the submission. I can't believe I came so close to pulling that kind of stunt again. I'm an idiot. But doesn't my incompetence also endear me? :)
Going to Italy tomorrow for a recording and concert tour. Check out Magdala for a profile of our latest recordings. Actually, it's not really our latest effort. We're on the companion CD to the amazingly popular Michelangelo exhibit at the British Museum. But because the disc is being released by the British Museum, we can't advertise it on our website. I just recorded part of a plainchant disc yesterday, and we'll be performing and recording a set of 10 pieces from a musical tribute from the city of Florence to King Henry VIII of England while we're in Florence.
I'm getting ready to wrap up this blog. I wonder whether I should keep it. It's nice to be able to spew my thoughts down every now and again, and certainly I know that some people *used* to read it. However, since I slowed down in my posting schedule, I think that what few regular readers I had stopped visiting. It certainly has been put to good use. It allowed me to keep in touch with my friends in the US and at the P. school, as well as my friends and family from college. It has allowed me to vent, and certainly in looking back at my posts from last year, I am reminded of how much I have grown in my two years at Oxford. I look back at my old essays and am amazed that some of that passed as academic writing. It's been difficult, it's been tumultuous, and it's been hard. It has also been rewarding, fantastic, and fun. More later, for now, I'm just going to enjoy remembering.
i am a master of philosophy
So after two years, it's come to this: whether my name is tacked to a board outside the Examination Schools on the High Street. If your name is on, you've passed. If your name isn't, thanks for playing - go home, you get no consolation prize.
I passed. I may now call myself a Master of Philosophy. Joseph Wang, AB (Princ.), MPhil (Oxon.) certainly has a nice ring to it. Actually, it's phenomenally pretentious.
My brother Matthew came down for the afternoon. It really was wonderful to see him, and I am so proud of him for all of his many accomplishments. He's an inspiration to me. Really.
I'm really tired, but I wanted to blog this before I forgot. Gotta go back to sleep now.
I passed. I may now call myself a Master of Philosophy. Joseph Wang, AB (Princ.), MPhil (Oxon.) certainly has a nice ring to it. Actually, it's phenomenally pretentious.
My brother Matthew came down for the afternoon. It really was wonderful to see him, and I am so proud of him for all of his many accomplishments. He's an inspiration to me. Really.
I'm really tired, but I wanted to blog this before I forgot. Gotta go back to sleep now.
6.06.2006
hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
Today is 06/06/06. People who think bad things will come today are stupid.
And superstitious. But mostly stupid.
My allergies are killing me. I have so much Greek to study it's crushing me. And I'm really really tired.
blah...
And superstitious. But mostly stupid.
My allergies are killing me. I have so much Greek to study it's crushing me. And I'm really really tired.
blah...
6.01.2006
ow!
In the last four nights, I have gotten a total of 10 hours of sleep. I have been eating Sainsbury's sandwiches for dinner. I have been eating ramen for dinner. One dinner consisted solely of chips and salsa. In short, I've been working on my thesis.
I've been drinking about 8 gallons of water per day, because it's the only way to keep myself awake. That is, make sure I have to get up and use the bathroom every fifteen minutes.
And what do I have to show for it?
Hmm. Diana thinks I'm a big dork for counting it all up. But here it is.
Thesis
Introduction - 1157 words
Chapter 1 - 4720 words
Chapter 2 - 7197 words
Chapter 3 - 6365 words
Chapter 4 - 5562 words
Conclusion - 3154 words
Total: 28,155. Word limit: 25,000. I am over by 12.62%. My supervisor, however, is the chairman of the board of examiners. He tells me I shouldn't worry. So I'm not worried.
How about the papers? Each word limit is 5,000 words.
Course option: Thucydides and Greek History
All Politics is Local - 7316 words (over the limit by 46.32%)
Constitutional Amendments - 6038 words (over the limit by 20.76%)
Course option: Athenian Democracy in the Classical Age
Ostracism and the Democracy - 7331 words (over the limit by 46.62%)
Power to the People - 4863 words (under the limit by 2.74%)
Course option: Greek Religion
Gods Represented in the Democracy - 5643 words (over the limit by 12.86%)
Retreat from Rationality? - 7138 words (over the limit by 27.81%)
Yes, I'm a huge dork. But it's interesting to see how things shake out. I'm glad that the rather short essay is balanced out by the extremely long one. Also, these word counts include footnotes, but that's not always accurate b/c I have to quote the Greek in the body of the essay and the footnote is where the translation (if any) goes. In any case, I'm done with that part of my Oxford experience.
Funny story too. So I'm biking out to my department to use the printer so I can dash off to the Examination Schools and turn in the stuff. Biking along and suddenly a dude sprints out like he's trying to cross the street. I crash into him and end up smacking my head on the ground. And while they're trying to make sure I'm not dead, I'm muttering "I need to turn in my thesis..." Finally get the stuff to the exam schools - due date: today at noon. They time stamp my submissions. Dead on the money: 12:00 PM. Of course, I don't get out of there until 12:20 with all of the paperwork I have to fill out, and by this point, my head is throbbing. I get checked out by a couple of friends who are med students though, and they tell me that while it's a pretty bad bump, that's all it is. Not really a huge deal, maybe a minor concussion, but they can't see any real evidence of it. So there it is. I did want to submit the stuff in person. My departmental secretary asked me if I was OK and offered to take my essays over, but I figured I wanted to do it myself. I'd gotten this far: I wanted to finish strong.
Ugh. I want to go out and have a celebratory drink or two. But with my head in this state, I think it might be best to wait.
I've been drinking about 8 gallons of water per day, because it's the only way to keep myself awake. That is, make sure I have to get up and use the bathroom every fifteen minutes.
And what do I have to show for it?
Hmm. Diana thinks I'm a big dork for counting it all up. But here it is.
Thesis
Introduction - 1157 words
Chapter 1 - 4720 words
Chapter 2 - 7197 words
Chapter 3 - 6365 words
Chapter 4 - 5562 words
Conclusion - 3154 words
Total: 28,155. Word limit: 25,000. I am over by 12.62%. My supervisor, however, is the chairman of the board of examiners. He tells me I shouldn't worry. So I'm not worried.
How about the papers? Each word limit is 5,000 words.
Course option: Thucydides and Greek History
All Politics is Local - 7316 words (over the limit by 46.32%)
Constitutional Amendments - 6038 words (over the limit by 20.76%)
Course option: Athenian Democracy in the Classical Age
Ostracism and the Democracy - 7331 words (over the limit by 46.62%)
Power to the People - 4863 words (under the limit by 2.74%)
Course option: Greek Religion
Gods Represented in the Democracy - 5643 words (over the limit by 12.86%)
Retreat from Rationality? - 7138 words (over the limit by 27.81%)
Yes, I'm a huge dork. But it's interesting to see how things shake out. I'm glad that the rather short essay is balanced out by the extremely long one. Also, these word counts include footnotes, but that's not always accurate b/c I have to quote the Greek in the body of the essay and the footnote is where the translation (if any) goes. In any case, I'm done with that part of my Oxford experience.
Funny story too. So I'm biking out to my department to use the printer so I can dash off to the Examination Schools and turn in the stuff. Biking along and suddenly a dude sprints out like he's trying to cross the street. I crash into him and end up smacking my head on the ground. And while they're trying to make sure I'm not dead, I'm muttering "I need to turn in my thesis..." Finally get the stuff to the exam schools - due date: today at noon. They time stamp my submissions. Dead on the money: 12:00 PM. Of course, I don't get out of there until 12:20 with all of the paperwork I have to fill out, and by this point, my head is throbbing. I get checked out by a couple of friends who are med students though, and they tell me that while it's a pretty bad bump, that's all it is. Not really a huge deal, maybe a minor concussion, but they can't see any real evidence of it. So there it is. I did want to submit the stuff in person. My departmental secretary asked me if I was OK and offered to take my essays over, but I figured I wanted to do it myself. I'd gotten this far: I wanted to finish strong.
Ugh. I want to go out and have a celebratory drink or two. But with my head in this state, I think it might be best to wait.
