Less Dumb & More Dumber

[Jonathan Loesberg]

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Cliff:

At least you let them go after only about six.

That did seem to be a light sentence.

I did say "or so." Still, yes, history departments are notorious for keeping their doctoral students around for a long time. And the market for them is equally lousy if not even worse. Only Philosophy has a worse market than either, or did a little while back. It's gotten so bad that Philosophy Ph.Ds have actually taken to hanging out shingles as ethical and ontological therapists.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:

originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

originally posted by VLM:
Since we're whipping it out, I had Foucault, Knoll, Conterno, Chave, Mugneret, and Raveneau (and Dauvissat) in the wine cave when I was in graduate school. But I didn't study Chemistry.

Sounds like a cool scholarship.

He wanted to major in English, but couldn't get in.

What's the probability of that?

Ph.D programs in English, at least good ones, are incredibly hard to get into. I probably wouldn't make the grade today. It turns out there are hordes--hordes, I tell you--of students who want the chance of eing exploited TAs for six years or so for the chance of becoming permanently exploited untenured, term faculty, just so that they may study literature and dream of life in the bourgeoisie as tenure-line faculty. The labor market just doesn't work the way J.S. Mill and David Ricardo promised us it would.

I was just trying for a low-level word play based on Nathan's profession. But it's an interesting situation you describe. A friend of mine about 25 years ago outlined similar prospects facing aspiring history scholars - with her PhD, she was working as a contract admin assistant at an upcountry US consulate in Thailand.

 

[Ian Fitzsimmons]

originally posted by BJ:

originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:

originally posted by BJ:
Fevre is oaky crap, at least at higher end. I do enjoy however the Champs Royeaux, though even that is a bit spoofed at times.

Recent vintages? I understood oak use was dialed way back when Henriot acquired the domaine, back in - I think - the late 90s. I've had GCs and 1ers from 02 to 04 that have been fine and pure, without discernable oak smells or flavors.

Do you want to rumble, laddie? Didn't you learn the lesson from above? Questioning my visceral experience, are you, laddie?

Aye laddie, when are you coming out? If you take me down, we'll broach my double magnum of Foillard.

 

[Cliff]

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Cliff:

At least you let them go after only about six.

That did seem to be a light sentence.

I did say "or so." Still, yes, history departments are notorious for keeping their doctoral students around for a long time. And the market for them is equally lousy if not even worse. Only Philosophy has a worse market than either, or did a little while back. It's gotten so bad that Philosophy Ph.Ds have actually taken to hanging out shingles as ethical and ontological therapists.

History Ph.Ds take longer because of the infernal conceit of finding reading material others have not read. I'm off to Algeria for the new year to continue the quest.

The job market varies by sub-field. My sense is that the market in most fields is better these days in history than in literature, but it's grim all around. Of course, the ivory tower is hardly unique in this. Southeast Asian history, for what it's worth, is doing better than most fields, from the seller's point of view.

Prospects in philosophy are truly dire. (Though ontological therapists can do surprisingly well.) I think my colleagues got 400 applicants for a single spot a couple of years ago.

 

[Marc D]

originally posted by Tom Glasgow:
It's changed most places, although Philly is a great beer town in pubs, etc. (still by the case at retail for the most part).

Buying beer is almost prehistoric in PA.

Although my buddy took me to an amazing grocery store in Malvern where you could buy beer from a fabulous selection and not have to go to the distributor places.
The name of it escapes me at the moment, but I guess it is a one of kind place.

I think they have a restaurant/cafe inside the grocery store that allows them to sell beer and circumvent the crazy state beer laws.