According to this article, heavy social-networking use doesn't affect academic performance. Can this possibly be true?

I take a plane home tomorrow.

I'm probably going to pull an all-nighter tonight so that I'll pass out on the plane.

A little bit ago I finished my thesis defense. When the back and forth ended and my thesis director gave me my grade, I started laughing kind of crazily while melting in my chair. I didn't realize how relieved I would be to finish ( Read more... )

I love the NY times website. How do they expect to sell any papers when the website is so far superior. (answer: apparently they don't)

I read this yesterday and I'm suddenly so geeky excited about the future. IBM made a computer called Watson that can play jeopardy. Basically, it can understand natural language and answer correctly, like the ( Read more... )

I just have to give my thesis defense on Tuesday. Then I'll be free. It's 66 pages long, one and a half spaced. Never thought I'd actually be able to write so much in French.

Birthday thoughts ( Read more... )

I have no idea how I did on my final test, except I know I didn't do great. I'm reeeally hoping I squeaked by with a 10, but I think it's pretty obvious that I don't know anything about phenomenology. It's always been a pet peeve of mine when students say they "BS a paper" or "BS a test". Either they think lowly of their field, or they're providing ( Read more... )

It is fun here. Now I don't know whether I want to learn German next or Spanish. I have to run!

I just came back from a philosophy conference in Nantes. During one of the breaks, a professor from the University of Nottingham told me that there's a polemic over the purpose of philosophy. He said that right now, in England, there's a big debate about whether philosophy is worthwhile in any way. Every couple of years, each department in British ( Read more... )

I was pushed and shoved in the metro the other day. By a complete stranger. That might sound random and confusing, but let me explain: it was random and confusing. Just before the incident, I was leaning against the window staring into space, like you do in public transportation. The train came to a stop and I heard the doors open behind me. A ( Read more... )