April 11th is National Barbershop Quartet Day! Do you think you can sing?… then, you can! Do you think you can get your dissertation done?… The barbershop quartet style of singing without musical accompaniment was very popular in the 1900s but had become obscure by the 1930s. On April 11, 1938 a group called the Society for the Preservation and […]
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June 11th is National Corn on the Cob Day! One of the best things about corn is that it’s so simple to prepare. So, is your dissertation corny enough?… Corn is a staple food. You can eat it so many ways…popcorn, grits, cornbread, creamed corn, cornflakes. But, corn on the cob is possibly the most delicious, […]
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June 10, 2003, the Spirit Rover was launched, beginning NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover mission. Spirit outlasted all expectations. How can you ensure that your Spirit outlasts your dissertation committee’s resistance?… Spirit’s mission, as originally planned, was to span 90 sols (Martian days). Instead, Spirit surveyed the surface of Mars for more than 1900 cols before […]
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June 9th is Dick Vitale’s birthday. Here’s how to be a PTP-er on your dissertation!… “This is awesome baby!” Happy birthday, Dickie V! Let’s grab hold the words of the world’s most enthusiastic sportscaster with both hands and use them to turn you into a dissertation PTP-er! “My perfect day is to wake up with […]
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June 6th is National Yo-Yo Day. Does your dissertation have you on a yo-yo? Do you feel like your work is up and down? Here’s how to avoid having an erratic dissertation experience… Do you yo? Can you rock the cradle? Walk the dog? Shoot the moon? Go around the world? More importantly though, does your […]
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June 7th is Paul Gauguin’s birthday. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll remember Gatorade’s “Be Like Mike” ads. Well, dissertation students certainly don’t want to Be Like Paul!.. Paul Gauguin was a French post-Impressionist artist who would have never finished his dissertation. Why not? For starters, he wasn’t interested in doing what needed to […]
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June 8th is Name Your Poison Day. If your dissertation is dying a slow death, it’s time to name your poison, and eliminate it!… “Name your poison!” is a common refrain among bartenders. In general, folks use this expression, or “pick your poison,” as I’ve always heard it said, to refer to choosing the vices […]
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June 16th is Katharine Graham’s birthday. As the publisher who oversaw The Washington Post as it broke the Watergate story, Ms. Graham has some unique insights on mistakes and overcoming them. Do you feel like you’ve made any mistakes on your dissertation journey?… Katharine Graham was the longstanding publisher of The Washington Post who presided over the paper […]
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June 4th is Tailors Day. Ready-to-wear, off-the-rack clothes have become so commonplace that you can hardly find a tailor if you need one. But, make no mistake, a good tailor is exactly what’s required to get your dissertation done!… Dissertation students often lament whenever they receive feedback from their committee members. Gone are the days […]
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On June 3, 1965 , Gemini 4 was launched. Astronaut Ed White completed the first American space walk during this mission. And then, he went on to get his doctorate!… Gemini 4 was NASA’s first multi-day space flight. Ed White became the first American to “walk” in space. He was among the first astronauts to be […]
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