======= Date Modified 09 Dec 2009 13:15:26 =======
I got into modern art after the Sensation exhibition (like everyone else!), but my interest waned when it became all about huge price tags and publicity stunts rather than art. Hirst admitted not so long ago that the money and art were 'easy'.

I never liked Emin's messy bed either (except when the performance artists jumped on it and Emin was mortified).

Basically, if I need to read some blurb or watch a documentary on an artist's life to gain any appreciation or meaningful interpretation of the work, then for me it's 'bad' art. Some modern art is visually stunting though, but I'm not going to appreciate pile of bricks or an old TV in an otherwise empty room.

I'm not quite as bad as this (yet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkunQmpvkh0

Thank you Eska. :-)

Your point about finding the right contact person seems to be crucial. I was intending to just approach HoDs, but cc'ing to another senior faculty member may prove fruitful.

There ya go... and it didn't cost me ten quid.

Although it is biology-based, it provides a nice structure for most disciplines.

======= Date Modified 06 Dec 2009 23:49:44 =======

I've somewhat phrased my post wrong (long day). I'm after some ideas of what to write in speculative academic job enquiries (in contrast to specific posts).

Eg. Is there a specific etiquette to follow? Do you keep it short? Write something equivalent to a cover letter for a specific job post? An example would help me ascertain answers to these questions.

I have no intention of copying it word for word (that would be bloody stupid) - but thanks for the patronising comment.

Hi guys,

Has anyone got a good example (or can point me in the direction of a good template) of a cover letter/email for applying for academic jobs on a speculative basis? (aka the email begging for work).

Thanks!

Let's just say it won't get you a job in JP Morgan.

OOoo, what shall she wear?

I have X Factor on in the background, but never actually pay much attention to it, apart from when the drunken 'stars' do performances. Whitney tops my list of being completely out of it.

======= Date Modified 06 Dec 2009 06:28:02 =======
Yes, I used it for a Canadian dissertation (which wasn't very good..).

I remember I got the document delivered by snail mail (similarly they didn't have a PDF delivery option). The document arrived loose-leaf (they didn't even put it in a folder). I also had problem placing and tracking my order, and I wasn't entirely sure who was dealing with it. I think it arrived within about two weeks; on the basis that I cannot remember chasing it up.

Just to add: I checked my emails to see if I had a receipt archived from Proquest but didn't, so don't be surprised if you have no confirmation email.

Maria, don't stress about your drunken incident - you won't be the first or the last. Bear in mind, it was an informal event and I'm sure everyone else had a few too many. I managed to pour wine down myself at one formal dinner event, but that pales into insignificance compared to a fellow student who end up falling asleep, face down in her pudding. At another dinner, a conference participant ended up serenading fellow attendees (his day job is very formal). People are allowed to let their hair down.

If you were a drunk faculty member, leching over students or behaving badly, then you might have been remembered for your actions, but as a student whose drunk a little too much during the festive period it will be forgotten and only the most priggish of individuals will hold it against you.

....or terribly misguided. My personal favourite was your assumption that working for a missile producer was doing one's bit for the British troops.

Hasn't a major bug just been discovered with it? Some sort of 'black screen' issue.

======= Date Modified 05 Dec 2009 03:00:20 =======
I often see 'work-in-progress' on CVs/resumes, which is a great phrase to cover research that hasn't even been submitted for publication.

'Forthcoming' is used a lot in my discipline, and is understood to be anything that's accepted for publication. 'Forthcoming' wouldn't be interpreted as something you've just sent off.

Edit: Another one I see a lot is 'awaiting publication'.

Could be Copernic.

Just to say, I do like Onenote, just not for my thesis. But it's great for smaller projects eg. writing an article. Especially importing webpages etc. and making spider diagrams.

======= Date Modified 02 Dec 2009 16:00:28 =======
Emaa, try to write a skeleton structure of chapters for your PhD, and simply add the relevant notes within that structure. When it comes to law, you can easily overload yourself with literature, and it starts to become impossible to sift through it all. Once you have a general idea of you thesis, start writing it, and add the notes directly into it. You may end up with 200/300,000 words, but then it's all there, and you can delete/edit it down. DON'T make separate notes on articles, because if you return to them one/two years later, you'll have no idea what you're going on about, and will end up reading the original article again. I have loads of typed notes from articles, and I haven't used any of them when writing-up, I always refer to the original article (basically I've wasted months and months from reading and note-taking).

I organise my articles according to subject (eg I have piles of articles/filed articles for different headings and these all cross-reference into a long bibliography). I then work through a pile of articles as I write my chapter. If an article cross-overs with another topic, I make a note or make another copy and stick it in the relevant file.

I've tried Excel and Onenote, and I just end up wasting time. The old-fashioned way seems to be best for law (in my experience anyway).