Happy Days, Sour Days, and Dissertations
October 25th marks the birthday of Marion Ross (of Happy Days fame) and, somewhat ironically, it’s also Sourest Day. As a dissertation student, how do you view your days?… The dissertation process is unquestionably fraught with pitfalls and setbacks. Committee members often can’t agree with each other. How are you going to get them to […]
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Baloney and Dissertations
October 24th is National Bologna Day, or, as we say here in the South, Baloney. And, let me tell ya, there’s a lot of baloney that dissertation students need to know… When I was growing up, if someone heard of questionable veracity, you might hear them declare, “That’s a bunch of baloney!” There were other […]
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Weird Al Yankovic and Dissertations
October 23rd is Weird Al Yankovic’s birthday. Here are some words of wisdom from Weird Al for dissertation students everywhere… My personal taste doesn’t enter into it a lot when I make my decisions as to what to parody. — Weird Al Yankovic And, personal taste shouldn’t enter into your decisions as to what to write […]
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Jeff Goldblum and Dissertations
October 22nd is my lit’lest girl’s birthday, but she doesn’t really know anything about dissertations…yet. It’s Jeff Goldblum’s birthday, too, so here are some words of wisdom from him for dissertation students everywhere… I’m getting tired of everything I write being read in the can. — Micheal Gold, The Big Chill Don’t worry, no one’s […]
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Princess Leia and Dissertations
October 21st is Carrie Fisher (aka Princess Leia)’s birthday. Here are some words of wisdom from Princess Leia for dissertation students everywhere… Looks like you’ve managed to cut off our only escape route. — Princess Leia Make sure that you plan the end of your dissertation before you even begin. This is not the way […]
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Tom Petty and Dissertations
October 20th is Tom Petty’s birthday. Here are some words of wisdom from Tom Petty’s lyrics for dissertation students everywhere… Running down a dream… working on a mystery… going wherever it leads… Maintain a sense of professional detachment pertaining to your dissertation project. If you choose a topic that you’re passionate about (as is the […]
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Psychics and Dissertations
October 19th is John Edward’s birthday. The self-proclaimed psychic and host of the syndicated TV show, Crossing Over, Edward would relay messages from the beyond to loved ones in the audience. What messages does the beyond have for your dissertation?… I’m getting a message from the beyond. It’s from someone whose first name begins with D. […]
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The Jungle Book and Dissertations
On October 18, 1967 Disney released the children’s film, The Jungle Book. One of the characters was a python who hypnotizes his prey. How does the dissertation process have you hypnotized?… When it comes to your dissertation, you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s not a dig, and you shouldn’t feel insulted. It’s just a fact. […]
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Mulligans and Dissertations
October 17th is National Mulligan Day. In golf, a mulligan is a do-over, a re-do, a second chance. Have you ever wanted a dissertation mulligan?… Did you pick a particularly difficult topic? Would you like a mulligan? Did your dissertation chair leave the university? Need a mulligan? Have you been having trouble with the writing-your-dissertation […]
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Oscar Wilde and Dissertations
October 16th is Oscar Wilde’s birthday. Here are a few words of wisdom from Oscar Wilde for dissertation students… Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result. — Oscar Wilde Doctoral students enjoy only a 50% success rate. After so many years of course work, why are so many doctoral […]
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