why i <3 the Pacific Sociology Association

48) Sociological Perspectives on the Culture & History of Surfing organizer: Michael Roberts, SDSU
Kristin Lawler, College of Mount Saint Vincent: The American Surfer: Capitalism & the Countercultural Image
Jess Ponting, SDSU: Nirvanification: The Social Construction of a Surfer’s Shangri-La
Patrick Moser, Drury Univ.: Ho’okupu: Origins of the Paddle-Out Ceremony

NIH news

via my institutional funding newsletter tonight:
Submitting NIH proposals via text messaging
NIH has announced that starting April 1, in a collaboration with Twitter, it will begin accepting proposals by text message. To submit a proposal, faculty should
1. Create a screen name on http://www.twitter.com
2. Invite [...]

sometimes i <3 new jersey

this story starts way back after world war I, when the navy had a whole bunch of munitions of 4 inch diameter they didn’t need anymore. what to do, what to do?
aha, let’s dump them in the ocean off the new jersey shore.
fast forward 90 years or so to that same shore, where locals & [...]

census

I followed, a little, the funding fights around the Census. but I had no idea that until today that it’s a function of the Commerce Department. On the one hand – that’s totally bizarre. On the other – it makes so much sense.
update: i didn’t know about the census discussion at scatterplot when i posted [...]

class trip

this. is. awesome.

transcribing

does anyone have any books to recommend on transcribing best practices? either methods books, or practical advice (like the dissertation writing self-help books).

time suck

i’m not sure how i missed seeing these earlier, but i’m also sure it’s terrible for my work that i know about them now.
“Favorite” conversations with students
“favorite” student emails
excerpt:
Dear Professor Zenprof,
You don’t know me, but I am registered for your [advanced undergrad] course. But my family will still be on vacation for the first two [...]

practical question: fieldnotes

does anyone have practical advice about how to keep fieldnotes in this electronic age?

asa submissions

if past history is any guide, the submission process to asa this year will not go smoothly.  a couple brief observations, having organized a session for the first time last year and doing so again this year:
- papers go to 1st choice panel first, until feb 22nd, and then are forwarded to 2nd choice. at [...]

convenient

the AP reports that texas schools might stop their $6B steroid testing scheme, because they’re getting such low numbers of positives.
the sponsor of the bill says the whole point was to deter use, and therefore it’s been a success.
anyone ever heard that old racist joke about X-ethnicity person taking a thermos to work with hot [...]