text:
(covers information from several alternate timelines)
Icheb was a young Brunali male and former Borg drone who lived during the 24th century. He was discovered by USS Voyager along with four other immature drones in 2376. He eventually applied to Starfleet Academy while on board Voyager and returned with the crew back to the Alpha Quadrant. (VOY: "Collective", "Ashes to Ashes", "Child's Play", "Imperfection", "Q2", "Endgame")
Early life Edit
Icheb was Brunali – an agrarian society with limited technological resources. Their homeworld was located at the mouth of a Borg transwarp conduit in the Delta Quadrant. Frequent attacks by the Borg had left Icheb's homeworld, which once used to be home to a technologically advanced space-faring civilization, in devastation and ruins. In order to prevent further Borg attacks, the few enclaves that had remained scattered along the northern continent had adapted to an agricultural lifestyle with little technological resources, as they believed their lack of advanced technology would stop attracting more Borg cubes. (VOY: "Child's Play")
However, Icheb's people had developed sophisticated techniques in genetics so they could create crops that would grow in even the most unsuitable of climates. His parents subsequently used their knowledge of genetics as a tool to stand up to the Borg. They genetically engineered Icheb to be born with a deadly pathogen that was destructive to the Borg and sent him in a small ship towards the transwarp conduit. A passing Borg vessel discovered him and he was assimilated. Being too young, Icheb spent several months in a Borg maturation chamber before he was prematurely released, due to the virus he had carried with him and which had resulted in all the adult drones aboard the cube dying. Icheb found out only after he was re-united with his family again what the true purpose of his existence was and what his parents had done to him. (VOY: "Collective", "Child's Play")
Icheb was named after his father, whose middle name was Icheb. (VOY: "Collective") Poma, a Brunali delicacy, was Icheb's favorite food as a child. His father told him that he also used to be quite an athlete. (VOY: "Child's Play")
Life as a Borg drone Edit
As a Borg drone, he was given the designation of "Second", as he could not control the other drones, even though he had emerged first from the maturation chamber. When Seven of Nine first encountered him on the Borg vessel, Icheb did not have much of a memory of his past and his family, even though he could remember selected information about them, such as his mother's hair color. Even though Icheb was "Second" in command, he eventually asserted himself against the "First" who had established a hierarchy on board the vessel, controlling everyone and even going so far as to attempt to capture USS Voyager.
After these attempts failed, four of the five adolescent drones were adopted by the crew of Voyager. The Doctor was able to remove most of their implants and the four adolescents began a period of re-integration while on board Voyager. Seven, who initially questioned whether they could be transformed into individuals, took it upon herself to help them on their journey. She began tutoring Icheb and the others, trying to help them adjust to life outside the Collective. (VOY: "Collective")
Life on Voyager Edit
Icheb was especially intelligent and innovative: he once sculpted a 26-sided polyhedron comprised of hexagons, octagons and squares. He also had a strong interest and prodigious ability in astrophysics and hoped to work alongside Seven in Astrometrics. At the same time, however, he was also shy and very reserved. (VOY: "Ashes to Ashes")
When Seven took charge of the children, including Icheb, she was not always able to control them as she wished. Icheb and the others often rebelled and showed signs of insubordination and, as children are, they became increasingly harder to control by the kind of rigid methods Seven employed. Her regimented control of them filled with activities schedules, punishment protocols, orders and threats of reprimand for every little act of insubordination not only made them feel more like drones back on the Borg cube rather than individuals, but it also resulted in a lot of friction between her and the children. Icheb was especially infuriated by Seven's controlling behavior; even though he had a rather gentle and non-confrontational nature, he once became so frustrated with her ordering them around, that when she punished him by asking him to adhere to "punishment protocol Nine-Alpha", he asserted himself by refusing, yelling at her for never letting them do what they wanted, and walking out. This gave Seven a chance to rethink her attitude and approach and she began giving the children some leeway and finally started treating them as the individuals they had become. (VOY: "Ashes to Ashes")
Icheb once demonstrated his genius-level aptitude for astrophysics to Captain Janeway, Seven of Nine, and B'Elanna Torres by designing a gravimetric sensor array that was capable of being used in conjunction with Voyager's sensors to detect wormholes. (VOY: "Child's Play") However, when his parents and their homeworld were located in 2376, that promising service aboard the ship was apparently terminated. He was returned to them, despite serious objections by Seven. Back on his home planet, he tried to find his roots and adjust to his new life in the culture of farmers without access to much technology and starships. After Voyager left, he finally learned the truth about his initial disappearance and the circumstances surrounding his assimilation, as his parents again put him aboard a small transport vessel headed towards the transwarp conduit in order to finish what they had started. Fortunately, Seven's suspicion about Icheb's parents and constant questioning of his safety led her to expose their plan to sacrifice Icheb, and Voyager returned, rescuing him from re-assimilation. With no home to return to, Icheb rejoined the ship on its journey back to the Alpha Quadrant. (VOY: "Child's Play")
After contemplation upon his return, he decided to expand his expertise to include genetics as a way of reconnecting with and honoring his people's way of life. Even though Seven was upset at what his parents had planned to do with him, Icheb had a little bit more understanding for them, stating that they only wanted to protect their species. Seven reminded him that what they did was wrong and that Icheb had to find his own way and realize that as an individual he had a right to determine his own destiny. (VOY: "Collective", "Child's Play")
When in 2377 Voyager was finally able to locate the homeworld of two of the children, Azan and Rebi, Icheb – unlike Mezoti – decided to remain aboard Voyager and not join them. Shortly after the children left, Seven's cortical node started malfunctioning. Experienced in Borg technology, Icheb realized that only a node from a living drone would save her. (VOY: "Imperfection")
Possessing a strong aptitude for astrophysics, Icheb also finally attained the post in the astrometrics lab and eventually expressed his desire to apply to Starfleet Academy to earn his commission, now that Voyager had established a regular data-stream communication with Earth. It was suggested that Icheb prepare for the entrance exams by working on the core courses with Tuvok – who had extensive Academy teaching experience – while reviewing warp mechanics with B'Elanna Torres, quantum theory with Harry Kim, and astrometrics with Seven, even though Icheb's knowledge in the former field surpassed that of nearly every Starfleet officer onboard. Because he was a non-Federation citizen, Captain Janeway agreed to support Icheb by writing him the required letter of recommendation. (VOY: "Imperfection", "Human Error")
His facility in repairing ship systems and diagnosing problems during a maintenance overhaul of the entire vessel impressed the Captain so much that he was assigned to engineering. Lieutenant Torres was especially impressed by Icheb's brilliance and abilities and to show him her appreciation for his hard work, she invited him to the holodeck for rock-climbing. Not well-versed with Human interaction and the nature of romantic relationships, Icheb mistook Torres' friendliness for flirtation, believing that she was romantically interested in and was coming on to him. He sought advice from The Doctor, which only confirmed his suspicions even more and he became especially nervous when he ran into Tom Paris who kidded him about all the time he was spending with his wife. When Paris then asked him to join him on the holodeck for a race-car program he planned to run, Icheb thought Paris was challenging him to a typical Klingon ritual competition because of B'Elanna. Confused and overwhelmed, Icheb eventually confronted Torres, telling her that they could no longer "see each other", especially given that she was a married woman. Shocked at what she was hearing, but also realizing that there was no way to convince him that he was just misreading her friendliness, Torres agreed to his proposal. (VOY: "Nightingale")
Icheb was also the one who discovered Lieutenant Torres' pregnancy: when he scanned her, he believed that she had been invaded by a parasite lodged in her stomach. After checking the tricorder readings however, Seven explained to him that the lieutenant was not infected with a parasite but in fact pregnant with a child. Before the expectant parents could decide to keep the news private for the time being, Icheb had already informed many of the crew. Later on, Paris, who felt disturbed by The Doctor's 'assessment' that the fetus needed genetic alterations, brought the results to Icheb for a second opinion, due to his expertise on genetics. Icheb agreed that there was an error in The Doctor's assessment, much unlike his usual work. Seven then concluded that his program had been altered. (VOY: "Lineage")
For his "Early Starfleet History" exam, which he passed, he wrote a thirty-five chapter report on Captain James T. Kirk and his accomplishments. Q junior mocked his work in front of Janeway, saying that Icheb's report made Kirk sound as exciting "as a Vulcan funeral dirge." (VOY: "Q2")
But Icheb was an agreeable and helpful young man and immediately befriended Q junior, who was staying on Voyager, sent by his father, Q, to "learn about Humanity" so he could inspire peace and compassion in the Q Continuum. During his time on the ship, Q junior, who first called Icheb "drone boy", later made up the nickname "Itchy" for him, who in turn called the young Q "Q-Ball" (although Icheb asked him not to call him "Itchy" in front of the senior staff). As part of his lesson plan, Captain Janeway prepared a curriculum for Q junior so he learned respect and responsibility. Instead of doing his own school work, however, Q junior had Icheb write an essay on the Q continuum for him, which he then presented to Captain Janeway as his own work. He regretted it as Janeway immediately recognized Icheb's writing style and called Q Jr. on his blatant deception. Icheb tried not to take Q junior's actions and insults too personally, and the two young men, after taking a piloting lesson together, became actual friends.
Things didn't seem to work out for Q Jr. quite as well as he thought. Angry at his father, who felt that he did not live up to what was expected of him, he stole the Delta Flyer II and took Icheb with him. During his stunt, Icheb was seriously injured during an attack by an alien ship. The Doctor was unable to treat him without knowing more about the weapon that caused his injuries. This left Q Jr with the only option left: he returned to the aliens, apologized and took responsibility for what had happened. In the end, it turned out that the whole incident was a set-up by Q to test his son's character. Being satisfied with the results, Icheb was returned to perfect health. (VOY: "Q2")
Once partial communication was established with Starfleet Command, Icheb passed the Starfleet Academy entrance exam.
Relationship with Seven of Nine Edit
Even though in the beginning Icheb was irritated with Seven's rigid treatment of him and the children, he in essence had an especially close relationship with her, as she was not only a former drone whom he could relate to, but because she had become a nurturing mother figure in his life. Seven was instrumental in helping him integrate to life on board Voyager as an individual and it was her protectiveness that resulted in him being saved from the Borg a second time. (VOY: "Collective", "Ashes to Ashes", "Child's Play")
However, even though Seven cared for Icheb, she sometimes had a hard time showing it, such as the time her cortical node shut down and the frustration she developed that lead to her pushing Icheb away. Icheb was confused and did not understand why Seven was acting this way, until The Doctor explained to him that her anger was not specifically directed at Icheb but was more a common reaction to serious illness. Icheb, caring for Seven, refused to give up. After doing some research, he realized that given his short assimilation period and young age, he could adapt to life without a node, especially if The Doctor employed the genetic-resequencing procedure he had developed.
Icheb's proposal was considered too dangerous by Seven and it was quickly dismissed. Desperate to save Seven, Icheb went ahead and disengaged the node himself, thus forcing The Doctor to give it to Seven. She refused, but Icheb reminded her that she needed to learn to rely on others for once, especially on her friends. This convinced Seven to accept the node, which ultimately saved her life. Luckily, The Doctor was able to perform the genetic-resequencing procedure that Icheb had devised in order to be able to survive without the node. Seven was also the one who initially spoke with Captain Janeway about Icheb's desire to join Starfleet Academy and take the Entrance Exam. (VOY: "Imperfection")
Alternate timeline Edit
In an alternate timeline set in 2394, an adult Icheb (who had attained a commission of Lieutenant Commander) helped Janeway and Chakotay restore Voyager to the correct space and time-line after it was hit by a chronokinetic surge that altered the ship. He did this by using advanced instruments that he and Naomi Wildman developed in the astrometrics lab. Chakotay noted his unparalleled mastery of temporal mechanics. (VOY: "Shattered")
Interests and hobbies Edit
Even though between his work and his studies he did not have much time for recreation and fun, he did tell B'Elanna Torres once that he did have an interest in geology. He also had began taking piloting lessons from Lieutenant Paris. (VOY: "Nightingale", "Q2")
Through his studies, Icheb had developed an appreciation and admiration for Captain James T. Kirk's life and accomplishments, in particular his diplomacy and tactics. (VOY: "Q2")
He also proved to have quite a talent for the Vulcan game of kal-toh and shortly before Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant, he defeated Tuvok, stating, however, that it was mere "beginner's luck." (VOY: "Endgame")
Memorable quotes Edit
"Then why does my stomach feel so strange?"
"You've got butterflies in there."
"I never assimilated… butterflies."
- - Icheb and The Doctor (VOY: "Child's Play")
"What can I do for you, Q-Ball?"
"If you don't stop asking questions, I'm going to put all of you in a cargo container and transport you all back to the Borg!"
Appendices Edit
Appearances Edit
- "Collective"
- "Ashes to Ashes"
- "Child's Play"
- "The Haunting of Deck Twelve"
- "Imperfection"
- "Nightingale"
- "Shattered"
- "Lineage"
- "Human Error"
- "Endgame"
Background information Edit
Icheb was played by Manu Intiraymi, while Icheb as an adult was played by Mark Bennington.
Icheb was the only Voyager inhabitant native to the Delta Quadrant who remained with the ship when it returned to the Alpha Quadrant. All others (Neelix, Kes, Azan, Rebi, and Mezoti) either returned to their own people, or a neighboring species.
Apocrypha Edit
In the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Star Trek Online, Lieutenant Commander Icheb can been seen serving aboard Deep Space K-7.
In the Voyager novel Unworthy, sometime after 2382, Chakotay sought Icheb's assistance to undertake a vision quest to help a very sick Seven of Nine. In The Eternal Tide, faced with the discovery that he may have to sacrifice himself to save the universe, Q junior visits Icheb to talk about his decision, noting that Icheb is the closest friend he has, noting the burden they faced as their parents 'arranged' for their births to end war (Although Q's parents cared for him rather than Icheb's dismissing him). Icheb returns to the Alpha Quadrant in later novels, but after his vital role in assisting the Voyager crew in dealing with a crisis caused by an illegal attempt to tamper with the catoms left after the 'destruction' of the Borg Collective (Atonement), Admiral Leonard James Akaar decides to allow Icheb to graduate Starfleet Academy ahead of schedule, noting that his methods resemble James T. Kirk's inability to play by the rules and still achieve great things, Akaar noting that Icheb will either rise to command or burn out and fail.
External links Edit
- Icheb at StarTrek.com, the official Star Trek website
- Icheb at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works


text:
Is there any circumstance in which it's appropriate to give your job talk on the paper you gave as a writing sample? I work in a somewhat technical and obscure area, and am interviewing for an open job. And I sent my most accessible paper as a writing sample. And while I'm pretty good at explaining my technical stuff to a non-tech audience, I know the writing sample talk goes down a storm with varied audiences. But I'm a few years post-doc, and I don't want them to think I only have one paper!
In which issues concerning the profession of philosophy are
bitched griped about
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Flap your wings
78 comments:
good advice re: snacks
also, keep a bottle of water and mints in your briefcase. all that talking can dry one's mouth out. being well hydrated will provide you with energy too, and bad breath is a no-no when making a first impression.
- January 12, 2012 at 7:35 AM
Thanks for starting the fly-out discussion. As a first-time interviewee prepping for fly-outs, I'm particularly interested in people's stories of successes and failures.
Teaching demos feel especially heinous and hard to prepare for. It makes sense why departments would want them, but most models that I have seen appear to create an environment where it is almost impossible to achieve the desired results (e.g., establish rapport with students and make them feel comfortable in discussion while they are being watched by every philosophy professor they've ever had simultaneously). Is there a teaching demo model that actually works to display one's teaching skills?
- January 12, 2012 at 7:56 AM
Absolutely refrain from gossiping about students, members of the profession, etc.
- January 12, 2012 at 7:56 AM
I am leaning toward using my writing sample for my job talk, because most of my other (polished) work has been published. As Zombie suggests, I don't want to present a new paper for the first time as a job talk. Is the fact that I have published likely to assuage concerns on the part of the hiring department that I am reusing the writing sample? My (naive?) assumption is that it is less risky to present one's writing sample if there is good evidence that one has been productive in other cases (e.g., by publishing several papers in good journals over the past two years).
- January 12, 2012 at 8:08 AM
Make absolutely no self-deprecating comments. No matter how charming you think they are.
- January 12, 2012 at 8:17 AM
So, I have both a comment and a question. First, to people wanting to use your writing sample for a job talk, don't do it. Our placement officer said someone didn't get a job because of that from a lieteriffic school (he's from one not me). It suggests narrow interests and it probably bores the SC.
Now my question: I'm giving a job talk at a slac and am told that people from other departments will be there and that the paper should show not only that I am a good scholar in my field but also an interesting colleague to be around. What does that mean? What do they expect? How sexy a talk should it be? I have some ideas but would like to know what others think.
- January 12, 2012 at 8:31 AM
8:17: Why? Why is self-deprecation always bad?
- January 12, 2012 at 8:39 AM
"Make absolutely no self-deprecating comments. No matter how charming you think they are."
WTF? Please explain.
- January 12, 2012 at 8:43 AM
On teaching demos: I've done four of these. (1) was taking a day of phil 101 that happened during my visit (hence, they chose topic), (2) was a section of a non-intro course in my AOS (I chose topic), (3) was a fake class given to faculty acting as students (I chose topic), (4) was a different kind of thing altogether, and I believe sui generis. I got offers in (1) and (2), not (3).
My advice:
For types (1) and (2), do not worry about how much you cover. Quality is more important. More important still is engaging the students. For case (1) I went a little off-syllabus to bring in a contemporary take on a problem addressed in modern; that formulation resonated a little more with students. I also left gaping holes in my explanation in order to get them to ask questions. They asked, and it went well.
For case (2) I divided class into small groups, giving them handouts (photocopied before leaving home) with problems, and having them explain their groups' conclusions, and then trying to tie the thing together with some philosophical structure.
In both cases, I only covered a bit, but in some depth and with students participating.
Also, if you can, ask their names when they participate, and use their names when you repeat/reformulate the question back to the class (you do that, right?). Both places (1) and (2) really liked this. I think it's basic courtesy/respect for the students, so kind of natural.
For type (3) cases, where faculty pretend to be students, choose a topic you know really well. They will ask you job-talk style questions. They cannot mimic student behavior, even if they try. I went in with a topic I like to do in Intro, but which I'm ill-equipped to address beyond really basic stuff. I got clobbered, and the whole interview went downhill as a result. (For SCs: avoid this model!).
Other advice: spot-on regarding snacks, water, mints/gum. Do not be afraid to ask to get coffee during the day.
More advice: choose a salad at lunch. Do not let yourself get sleepy b/c of heavy food. It will happen if you order the lasagna, or even a sandwich. If your stomach growls later, you have snacks.
Further advice: everything is always awesome. Always. Too much talking? When they express sympathy late in the day, do not agree that you've smiled too much (and smile at everyone you meet) or met too many people. Say, "it's a lot of chatting compared to writing my dissertation, but I'm really having fun." Nowhere to eat the night before (e.g., if they have you make your way to hotel night before w/o greeting you)? Order a pizza or pop for a cab to get to grocery store. Do not complain. Don't come across as negative. (That's not to say that you shouldn't ask for things you need: coffee, vegetarian option, a moment to sit, an umbrella.)
Flip side: comment on what you like about the place to everyone: students, faculty, staff, provost, cab driver. They all want to know you want to be there, they cannot assume it, and they won't necessarily convey your positive comments to each other. Don't lie, of course. But if you are psyched about the fact that it's a warm climate, say so. If you are looking forward to teaching X, say so.
I'm on a SC now (external member of a different field). It is shocking how many candidates don't give any indication that this is even a remotely desirable place to be, or job to have. (And it really is both!)
Final advice: enjoy the visits for their own sake. They are stressful, and you may not get the job. BUT, you spend the time with people who are disposed to like you (remember, they're investing time and money to bring you in) talking about your work/passion, and who are trying to show you a good time. It combines some of the coolest parts of being a scholar; if you can internalize that, you'll have a better time and come across as a good colleague.
Good luck!
- January 12, 2012 at 9:03 AM
It's obvious what 8:17 means. People believe what you tell them about yourself. This is especially important for women to keep in mind.
- January 12, 2012 at 9:29 AM
Wear comfortable shoes! Every on-campus I had involved a lot of walking around.
- January 12, 2012 at 9:34 AM
- Mr. Zero said...
Re: self-deprecation. When you're in an interview, you're in a best-foot-forward situation. You should not deprecate yourself for any reason, even if it's funny. Every remark you make about yourself should be positive.
- January 12, 2012 at 9:34 AM
"Make absolutely no self-deprecating comments. No matter how charming you think they are."
WTF? Please explain.
I say this as someone who is naturally self-deprecating. (Proof: I am employed but I continue to read academic job blogs and wikis because I found the whole academic job search process so traumatizing and life changing...and I suceeded. I now gravitate towards philosophy blogs (I work in another field!) because the ultra-nagative tone maintained by philosophers is more comforting to me somehow.) Hmm. This reminds me a little of Fight Club all of sudden.
Anyway, I think others have already more or less answered why self deprecation is bad on an interview, but let me just add that I was suspicious of this advice too when I first heard it from my mentor. I followed it religiously though, and received several offers. Note: not being self-deprecating does not equal being an arrogant shmuck.
- January 12, 2012 at 10:06 AM
"First, to people wanting to use your writing sample for a job talk, don't do it."
It's a tricky matter, but I'm inclined to partly disagree.
The general advice is to do your absolute best, most practiced stuff.
If you've truly (!) mastered material outside of your job paper, you may want to avoid the risk of boredom and not repeat.
But if you, like many early career candidates, know your other material less well than your job paper, I believe the risk of SC/Dept. boredom is outweighed by the risk of getting clobbered on material you've not mastered. (Sadly -- and to predictable effect -- the chief intellectual virtue for many philosophers is not making a mistake.)
I think the risk of boredom can be combated by presenting your job paper in a fresh way -- most obviously, by not reading it. If you read the paper you sent, you do risk boredom (yours and theirs!).
However you present, remember that you are giving a *performance* -- and that means success requires practice. I'd do my job talk, full dress, out loud, at least ten times, and hopefully a couple of more to friends. Unfortunately, the job talk has hugely exaggerated salience, in part because in many instances, that's all much of the hiring department will know of you, philosophically (yes, this does suggest that boredom is often not a grave concern).
FWIW, I only gave work outside of my job paper once as a junior candidate (since the department asked me to do so). I did not get the job, and later heard that my job talk was thought to be "underdeveloped." I'm now inclined to think this was a bit of a set up; Jamie's advice on another thread to ask what they want is good advice, but I'd try to ask in such a way that the result is a request to do your best work.
- January 12, 2012 at 10:14 AM
I'm the one who originally asked for this thread, and about the job talk - and I'd like to say a big thank you to all those who suggested contacting the search committee about it. I can honestly say that it hadn't occurred to me, which is crazy - when I'm invited to give someone's departmental colloquium in normal circumstances, I ask them what they want to hear. That said, if anyone has been on a search committee and thinks asking is a bad idea, do let me know!
But I also thought I'd second the advice not to give anything too new, and add to it some advice not to try to be something you're not. I ruined a great shot at a Leiterrific school by trying to come up with new work to better fit the AOS - it lead to my giving a paper that I'd only worked on properly for 6 weeks. The job was in an AOS that wasn't really mine (although I'd popped it on my cv for that application, and it's not implausible), and shortly after they invited me to interview they asked about my work in the AOS. I thought the only way I'd have a shot at the job was by showing them that I really did work in the AOS, and produced a last minute talk, which got attacked in roughly the way you'd expect a last-minute talk at a top school to get attacked. And, of course, it turned out that they would have been perfectly happy with a talk in my real AOS - after all, they knew who I was and had met me...
The morals there (obvious in retrospect):
1. Never give a talk on anything you don't know inside out.
2. Be yourself - by this stage the sc has a good idea who you are, and are interested. And anyway, you can't fake a 2 day dawn till dusk interview with smart people.
- January 12, 2012 at 10:18 AM
- zombie said...
Reposting two questions re: fly-outs posted to the previous thread:
I second 4:12's request for a fly-out thread. Like her or him, I am wondering what makes for an appropriate and successful job talk. How, if at all, does a job talk differ from a conference paper? Must the talk be squarely within the advertised AoS, or may it be on the borderline (e.g., by including content that fits within one of the AoCs)? What are the pros and cons of PowerPoint in this context? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
I would be curious to hear from experienced smokers about how to approach giving a job talk at an R1 vs. how to approach giving a job talk at a SLAC at which you would be the sole person in your AOS.
- January 12, 2012 at 11:06 AM
- Christopher Hitchcock said...
If in any doubt, you should ask someone (e.g. the chair of the search committee) which kind of talk you should give. This includes not just whether it should be different from your writing sample, but also where it should lie on the broad & accessible vs. technical & detailed spectrum. This may be determined in part by the dynamics of the search process at a particular school. (E.g. at Caltech, all the philosophers read lots of written work and ask the candidate about it in a small interview-like session. The job talk is mainly for others in the humanities group. In this setting, there is nothing wrong with the talk duplicating a writing sample. But other places will work differently.)
Remember that you will be judged on the Q & A as much as on the talk itself. That is why it is important to give a talk on material that you have really thought through thoroughly. Don't forget to say things like "That's a great question!" or "Thanks for the helpful suggestion!"
- January 12, 2012 at 11:22 AM
to people wanting to use your writing sample for a job talk
Did the SC read your writing sample closely and ask detailed questions during the first-round interview? If not, then that's one reason in favor of using your writing sample.
- January 12, 2012 at 11:57 AM
If it is a research job DO NOT give your writing sample as a talk. Give something else. They want to see evidence of a research program.
- January 12, 2012 at 1:27 PM
I see no problem with giving a job talk based on the writing sample. In fact, I appreciate it. The writing sample generally is the applicant's best work. If we've invited you to campus, we are interested in your work. Which means we very likely want to talk to you about it (which we will do during the Q+A), and want you to talk about it with the rest of the department, who may not have read the writing sample.
Yes, we want to see evidence of a research program, but anything we don't see in the application (the cover letter and letters of recommendation should have covered this already), we will be sure to ask about, if we haven't already at the earlier interview.
Put your best foot forward.
- January 12, 2012 at 2:24 PM
I teach at a decent SLAC (2/3 load, nice region) and have served on SCs. So I'm speaking only to how I would recommend a candidate conduct him- or herself at my institution.
Pitch your talk to advanced, bright undergraduates. The SC wants to see as much evidence as possible that you are a great teacher, whether they realize it or not. Your talk can be a piece of scholarship and still be aimed at the level of bright undergraduates.
Moreover, I would "teach" your talk rather than read it. If that requires memorizing every single last word of a paper you've written, then do it. You will stand out.
Definitely ask the chair of the search committee if they have a preference about what to present. (But don't ask if you don't have anything but your writing sample to present.)
The advice not to be self-deprecating is good advice. A self-deprecating manner can be very appealing when you among people who already know and like you. But in a situation where you are trying to make a good first impression, people will believe what you say about yourself. If you play down your acumen, then your audience will believe that you are not that bright. There's no need to be arrogant (as someone pointed out above), but there's NO need to be unnecessarily modest (or modest at all).
The advice to be positive about everything was great (9:03), as was the same poster's advice about expressing excitement and enthusiasm about the institution and area, even if you think it goes without saying. No need to lay it on too thick, but make sure you communicate it clearly.
Finally, everything you read here could turn out to be inapplicable at the institution you visit. Unfortunately, a department's idiosyncrasies can swamp good advice.
- January 12, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Would it be possible to have a thread on adjuncting?
Here are some things I'd like to know:
How easy is it to obtain an adjuncting job? How easy is it to obtain an adjuncting job that's something like fulltime? With health insurance? How easy is it to obtain an adjuncting job in one's home town? How does one get such a job? I sort of have the idea that you just email the department chair at a particular institution, but maybe that's wrong.
I know some smokers know something about adjuncting that would be helpful to those of us who know very little, and may need to do adjuncting work in the very near future. Maybe a thread on it would be helpful to some of us.
- January 12, 2012 at 4:18 PM
I guess I'm the exception. I gave a job talk on new material that I scrambled to put together right after the APA for a job talk in mid January. I wrote the accompanying chapter in that time too. I did it to show breadth of scholarship. My writing sample was on a very applied topic; I wanted to show that I had mastery of a more theoretical aspect of my project. This was essential to make me clearly centered in the AOS. (I got the job btw).
(Also, shouldn't most of us have something in the pipeline for a job talk given that we all have more than one chapter in our diss? I mean, even if you haven't completely written this chapter, it should be something you've done some thinking on and are not coming to cold. I would expect this of a candidate if I were on an SC.)
I nailed the talk (did it twice). The risk was worth it. In short, I don't think there is one solution to this issue; it depends on what strengths you need to convey to the search committee. Don't take blanket advice on this. But do practice your talk in front of philosophers at your department. Do polish your powerpoint skills, if you use them. Do practice your talk out loud until you're doing it in your sleep. And of course, do think through every possible objection and be quick on your feet in answering them.
Second best part: I had another chapter done.
- January 12, 2012 at 5:10 PM
9:31 and others interested in giving job talks at SLACs:
You are right to expect that giving a job talk at a SLAC is a different kind of animal. Your audience will likely consist of undergrads, a handful of philosophers with specialties that lie outside your AOS, and professors from different departments. You indeed will be judged on more than just the quality of your argument, although do not for an instant think that the quality of your argument isn't important and that they are not looking for a top notch scholar. They will also be looking at your ability to communicate and explain your argument to non-specialists. You will need to find a way to make the talk interesting and accessible while also treating the audience as the smart group of intellectuals that they are. Keep in mind that this may also be the only opportunity the department has to gauge how you will do in the classroom. Make sure you call on students during the Q&A, and do your best to engage with the students. This is all hard to pull off, but if you can, chances are you will be a good fit for the college.
- January 12, 2012 at 5:56 PM
A friend of mine got a job at a teaching school (a 3/3 at a regional state college). Before he got the job, he had a couple of fly-outs at teaching schools, where he gave job talks based on his research. He had a nice paper to present, but it was technical. He didn't get anywhere with it at the teaching schools. After this experience, he decided to give one of his standard course lectures instead as his job talk at teaching schools. He always taught a well-known paper on X in his class on X. He felt he had developed a clear presentation of it and was good at getting students to understand it and talk about it with him. Using this as his job talk, he said, got him a couple of offers.
I think this will work for some schools. For one of my fly-outs, I was asked to give a talk that was appropriate for an educated but non-expert audience. Sort of a job talk/teaching demo in one. My friend's strategy would work in a situation like this. It might work at some SLAC's, but obviously won't at research U's.
- January 12, 2012 at 7:01 PM
NEVER give the same paper which you sent as a sample. Of course, if they really want to hire you, it does not matter; if they really don't want to hire you, then it doesn't matter either. But if they are unsure between you and another candidate, you just gave them something they can use as to convince themselves that you are not the better candidate. I've seen this happen.
I did this twice, and did not get an offer in either case. In one of them, I was actually told that I did not get the job because the talk was the same as the sample writing. Of course, it was probably just an excuse; but that's precisely my point.
- January 12, 2012 at 8:13 PM
About water: be very careful about how much you drink. Sips only. I leave it to the reader to figure out why. I made the mistake of drinking way too much water once during a talk. Never again.
ps: it would be good to also address how the hell to give a talk when it is one addressed both to students and faculty. I had to do this and it was hell. Teaching demos are also no fun. See if you can get a choice about topic from the SC. I did and got it.
- January 13, 2012 at 2:26 AM
I am at a Leiter top ten school. I gave my writing sample paper as my job talk. I got the job. Deciding whether to give your writing sample as your job talk depends, to some extent, on what your writing sample is like.
If your writing sample develops a fairly substantive idea and (or?) is the centerpiece of your dissertation, then giving it as a job talk is fine, even maybe a good idea. As anon 2:24 said, the department as a whole will want the chance to hear you present your main idea and talk it over with you.
If the writing sample is thinner, say, more of a criticism of some figure in the field or not something that people can get their teeth into, etc., *and you have something else that is equally good*, then you might want to give that other paper for your job talk.
If you give your writing sample as your job talk, then as Doris said, don't read it, and reformat it a little. Change the presentational details, add a few points, and maybe adjust an example or two. Chances are, some of the members of the department won't even notice that the talk is the same as the writing sample.
- January 13, 2012 at 4:37 AM
On the SLAC question, you really need to guage the environment carefully. Not all SLAC's are the same and you could be faced with almost anything. But, at my SLAC it would be close to death in most departments (perhaps sciences excluded) for a candidate to present their research as they would at a professional conference. Faculty in other departments should be able to understand why the research is important and interesting, students (in the department) should be able to grasp the presentation and form a view of the content. All of this while still impressing the philosophers! It's a very difficult line to walk neither dumbing down the content nor talking to the one or two people in the room who have a background in your field. I have seen candidates fail in both directions.
It's probably obvious but, I would suggest to a candidate that they aim to convey their excitement and try infect the audience with your interest in your subject matter while increasing their understanding.
But, as I say, there are many different types of SLACs.
- January 13, 2012 at 5:29 AM
I was on a committee interviewing candidates a few years back, and one person who started off looking good ended up ruining his chances by by overly desperate. He had family in the area, and really wanted the job. It is good to let us know that you would take the job if offered, that you are interested in it. But he basically ended up begging us to give it to him, asking us where he stood compared to the other candidates, who they were and where they were from, and we began to think that he might not have been emotionally stable. So even if you are interviewing for your dream job, be sure to keep your enthusiasm in check. We know you really want the job, as do the other people we flew out. But we want to hire someone who can act professionally.
- January 13, 2012 at 10:16 AM
I'm at a regional state university. We expect a serious paper as a job talk, and a different paper from the writing sample.
Maybe the candidate should just ask what the protocol is at the school in question.
- January 13, 2012 at 11:17 AM
I'm curious: how do you conduct your first round interviews as far as balance between research and teaching? I've had several interviews with regional state schools, and all of them were almost entirely about teaching (one or two cursory questions about research thrown in for good measure). Didn't get a campus visit with any of them, but I would have been surprised to have heard from them that they wanted a serious-paper-job-talk.
- January 13, 2012 at 12:59 PM
In anyone's experience, does the order in which the candidate visits/talks are scheduled indicate anything about the (possible) prior preferences of a department or search committee?
- January 13, 2012 at 1:05 PM
1:05 - In my experience the order means absolutely nothing. Our SCs try to make it convenient for everyone to come, so if someone is flexible and someone else is not, we give the non-flexible person first choice. Basically, the chair of the SC emails everyone, and the first to respond gets the first choice.
- January 13, 2012 at 1:29 PM
To 1:05:
No, not for us. The order doesn't matter. I found that scheduling three (or even four) on-campus interviews within a two week period is hard enough even when you have no preferences about who visits earlier or later. I'm sure the order does, in certain specific cases, reflect department preferences to some degree or another. But I doubt that general patterns have emerged. There is no point is second-guessing.
- January 13, 2012 at 1:30 PM
does the order in which the candidate visits/talks are scheduled indicate anything about the (possible) prior preferences of a department or search committee?
If there's no ranking of the finalists to begin with, then it's unlikely that the order matters.
However, if (1) there is a preferred candidate and (2) the SC takes seriously the possibility that the preferred candidate might get an offer elsewhere, then wouldn't it make sense to schedule the preferred candidate first?
- January 13, 2012 at 2:47 PM
11:17 here.
We spend a few minutes talking about teaching--say, 15. The rest of the interview is about the writing sample (about 40 minutes) and about 5 minutes about the department.
This means a hell of a lot of prep for the interviews. But you get what you pay for in these matters, I think. Plus, it lets the candidates know that we're really serious about philosophy, in spite of the fact that we landed at regional state U. (I mean, it worked with me. When I was interviewed, I walked away thinking that I'd *really* like to have these people as philosophical colleagues.)
- January 13, 2012 at 4:10 PM
When we invite candidates to campus, order is entirely a function of convenience for the candidates. Same goes with the order with which we schedule APA interviews.
- January 13, 2012 at 4:12 PM
The order only matters in religious schools or when your AOS is logic.
- January 13, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Another reason not to worry about whether order matters is that you can't know the order. Or is there a way to figure out the order? If so, I wanna know about it!
- January 13, 2012 at 4:38 PM
The varied experiences reported here suggest to me that the claim that one should *never* give one's WS for a job talk is false, and perhaps badly false.
But that there are (very) strong convictions on both sides indicates the importance of "feeling out" the hiring department, to see what they prefer. You might consult with an "official" like the chair or SC head, but it is sometimes possible to identify a "friend" such as a person in your area, or someone you "clicked" with during an interview, who might give you a straighter scoop. Be careful, though: I was "set up" with bad advice from an "enemy" when I was on the market. Perhaps best to triangulate, and ask a few people, if it's not too awkward.
If you're feeling cheeky, you might have a couple of talks ready, and ask the audience which they want to hear. I stole this idea from somebody else, and it went over well when I did it (they asked for my WS, btw).
Good luck, and try to have fun.
- January 14, 2012 at 5:20 AM
Two pieces of advice, one of which hasn't been mentioned above:
1. Be willing to ask what to do. At one of my interviews this year they told me to present my WS as my talk. I asked: Really? They said: Yes. At another I am on the border of their AOS, and they told me they want me to demonstrate that I can cover what they need. I asked: So you want me to come up with a new paper if necessary? They said: Yes. In neither case would I have known if I hadn't just asked.
2. Be ready for brutal treatment of yourself and your ideas. Philosophers can be extremely combative, and can see colloquia and other public discussions as opportunities to make people look stupid. This is terrible, and for job candidates -- who are stressed, tired, in a position where it's natural to be deferential, etc. -- very unfair. But it's the reality at many institutions, and it pays to be ready for it.
Word verification: trive, which is what you do when you do de above.
- January 14, 2012 at 12:14 PM
"Be ready for brutal treatment of yourself and your ideas."
Well, fuck. How common is this "brutal treatment" on on-campus interviews?
- January 14, 2012 at 12:44 PM
This is 12:14 again. One more thing:
3. EAT. It is very easy to spend your meals talking, but if you notice this happening, then start shoveling it in. (On my last visit I was complimented several times on my ability to do this.) And if you are someone who needs lots of protein, then don't follow the advice above to eat a salad for lunch, unless you put lots of hard-boiled eggs on it. This is a hard-learned lesson -- the first time I had a flyout I was soooooo hungry.
- January 14, 2012 at 12:49 PM
I know few people who were treated poorly during on-campus interviews. It happens, I'm sure, but given how expensive it can be, committees generally won't bother flying someone out just to bash them. That said, someone in the department not on the committee could be an ass, so it's best to be on the lookout.
Another piece of advice: don't be a yes-man/woman. I've known of people who were asked if they could offer some course wildly outside their areas. Sometimes, this is someone picking a fight with or making a point to the SC. But sometimes, this is a test to see if the candidate is ready to say no. Something along the lines of fishing for the candidate to say, "I can't offer a course on X." Learning to say no is vitally important in the first few years on the job, and while a good chair will help with that, I've known of departments who wanted to test a candidate's ability to do so. In keeping with the advice to stay positive, should you be faced with such a question, remember to stay calm, and be focused on the work you do, and do well. Unless the ad is for a Jack/Jill of all trades, you really aren't expected to teach every possible course in the catalog.
- January 14, 2012 at 1:15 PM
How common is this "brutal treatment" on on-campus interviews?
I just finished being subjected to it: namely, being asked many questions that were clearly designed to put me on the spot and make my views look unsupported / unmotivated / wildly false, rather than engaging charitably with my ideas with the assumption that I was on to something interesting and had some worthwhile things to teach people. In my experience this has been pretty standard practice for colloquium talks at all three research departments I've been at.
- January 14, 2012 at 2:12 PM
When I was on the job market, I had several on-campus interviews and I was never treated rudely or "bashed." This is of course not to say it doesn't happen. Clearly it does. But I expect that it is only because it is a horrifying possibility that we cling to the exceptions as if they represented a wide-spread pattern.
It is unfortunate if SC members do challenge and test candidates in the way 1:15 suggests that they do. This is a useless and absurd technique for gaining any real information. (For example, I do not expect that being a yes-person at an interview correlates in any way with being able to say 'no' and protect oneself as a junior faculty member.) In general, I find the whole idea of "testing" candidates to be silly. We usually get more usable information from job interviews when we -- members of the SC -- are as honest and transparent with the candidates as possible. At the very least, planting test and traps and scheming certainly gives the candidate a poor impression of the SC members.
- January 14, 2012 at 2:47 PM
So in your experience, the "brutality" is something peculiar to on-campus interviews at research institutions? Also - if you don't mind me asking - how did you hold up to the brutality? Did you get the sense that the SC really did not think well of your work, or that they were just being jerks on principle?
- January 14, 2012 at 3:14 PM
This is 2:12 again. I do think the "brutality" I was describing (and perhaps this is not the best word, though it really is brutal) is peculiar to research institutions and other "high-powered" environments. I teach at a SLAC and so hadn't experienced it in a while; I think this is why I was taken aback by something that in graduate school was very familiar. I would like to think that I held up okay, but it is very hard to say; it is the first time I experienced this sort of thing on the receiving end rather than the giving one. Stress and exhaustion don't help at all, though.
- January 14, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Related question: I have an on-campus with an SLAC, no job talk is scheduled, but there will be time devoted to discussing my research interests with the faculty.
My plan is to prepare a detailed sketch of my research background, immediate projects and long-term projects (if only for myself as a reference during these conversations). Should I prepare anything more than this? Other than this? For reference, we did discuss my writing sample during the APA interview.
- January 15, 2012 at 4:50 PM
A recommendation: if one is asked questions that seem designed to make one's views look "unsupported / unmotivated / wildly false," the best response is for one to support / motivate / give evidence for those views. If some research place is going to make a long-term investment in you, it wants to know whether you really know what you're talking about.
- January 15, 2012 at 7:01 PM
Reading this blog, I'm super glad that I don't have a job at an R1. It sounds fucking horrible. I'll stick to my 4-3 teaching load and laid back and humble atmosphere, thank you very much.
- January 15, 2012 at 8:54 PM
7:01 writes: "if one is asked questions that seem designed to make one's views look "unsupported / unmotivated / wildly false," the best response is for one to support / motivate / give evidence for those views."
In defense of 2:12, It is perfect possible to formulate questions that are rhetorically difficult to answer, even though the substance of those questions would have been easier to address had they been framed in a more friendly way. Similarly it is possible for a group of douche-bags to decide to torture a candidate and the candidate be hard-pressed to defend him- or herself despite their acumen.
I don't know if that was the case for 2:12, but a little charity seems appropriate here.
- January 15, 2012 at 8:55 PM
Yes, let us show some charity. A department is bringing a candidate out to campus, at great expense to the university, and a major time investment for the members of the department. And their big strategy is to torture the candidate. That does not sound like a charitable reading to me.
- January 16, 2012 at 4:50 AM
What 8:55 said, basically. Though I wouldn't go so far as to say that there was any *decision* to go in for torturing; rather, it is a natural thing for philosophers to do, and it can be quite unfair to job candidates, given our exhaustion and the inferiority of our standing. There are plenty of ways to challenge someone to defend their ideas without being rude and uncharitable.
- January 16, 2012 at 5:42 AM
In response to the discussion generated by 2:12:
I just came off two on-campus interviews both at R1 departments (one in the US, one in Canada) in which it was exactly the opposite. They were definitely "engaging charitably with my ideas with the assumption that I was on to something interesting". Sure there were some tough questions, but that's what you want! Especially when phrased in a non-combative way.
So, not all top departments treat their candidates "brutally". Some are actually quite pleasant.
- January 16, 2012 at 6:06 AM
And their big strategy is to torture the candidate. That does not sound like a charitable reading to me.
The claim is not that this was any sort of strategy, only that it is among the things that happened.
- January 16, 2012 at 8:20 AM
2:12 is really putting a lot of information about him/herself out there, along with with a description of the department he/she visited as "brutal" and "torturing" and an endorsement of a description of the department he/she visited as "douche-bags."
- January 16, 2012 at 8:30 AM
If I could change the subject for a moment:
What sorts of questions should one expect to get from deans, provosts, and faculty members from other departments?
Also - what documents should I bring with me to the campus interview other than my job talk materials? Should I bring multiple copies of my entire dossier - CV, writing sample, teaching portfolio + syllabi and all? For smokers who have done this - how much did you use such materials on the campus interview? Did you cook up new syllabi for courses once you found out you got the campus interview and then show those syllabi to SC members on the campus interview.
Help, please.
- January 16, 2012 at 8:54 AM
Here's a question I got from a provost: "I see that you like to write a lot. You know this is a teaching job, right?"
That was fun.
- January 16, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Are you seriously suggesting that philosophers never or rarely bring job candidates on campus and then treat them poorly? Surely you've noticed that the vicious treatment of a speaker is a sufficiently commonplace occurrence. Admittedly, it does not strike me as the norm. As 6:06 reports -- and as my own experience attests -- many departments, R1 or otherwise, are quite polite (I would even say most). In any case, the idea was not to generalize at all about research institutions. But it is also the case that many institutions have a habit of being hostile and unpleasant. Further, the suggestion was certainly not this was an explicit strategy, but rather just the result of poor social skills perhaps or some misguided idea that this is how serious philosophical discussion is supposed to be conducted.
Perhaps you could put aside the sneering sarcasm for a moment and explain what exactly is behind your resistance to the suggestion that a philosophy department was excessively aggressive during a job candidate's talk?
- January 16, 2012 at 9:55 AM
To FemFilosopher:
Your question is hard to answer without knowing a lot more about the institution and the department. As I'm sure you've noticed, there is very wide range of attitudes departments adopt about themselves at different institutions. Some SLACs are quite serious about research. Others, as the story 9:09 relates, very self-consciously think of themselves as "teaching institutions" where this category apparently excludes too much focus on one's own scholarship. (I personally find this strange, by the way. I am very happy to be at what I think of as a "teaching institution" but my department, my school, and I all but a lot of weigh on having a successful research program as well.)
However, let me offer the following suggestion. Even at research institutions, a detailed, drawn-out spiel on your research can be the kiss of death. Work on preparing very short and accessible descriptions of your research. Be prepared to go into more detail only when prompted. No matter how research-oriented a school is (whether an R1 or an SLAC), long, detailed orations about a research project get boring really quickly. People want to ask questions. They want to understand. So start with compact "big picture" descriptions and give your interlocutors lots of opportunities to engage you in a conversation.
Also I would be prepared to give a mini-talk to a group of smart undergraduate students as well. Find some self-contained lecture on an interesting subject. You never know, they may ask you to "teach" some students as well.
- January 16, 2012 at 10:11 AM
to 8:54, who asked about questions from deans and provosts:
These vary by type of institution, but they tend to be like faculty questions, but with an emphasis on the institution as a whole. So, they'll ask about your research, teaching, why you want a job at their school, etc. They'll want to know why your research is interesting, and why it's important. They like to hear about how it's important beyond philosophy, too. They want to know about why what you teach is important for the mission of the institution, and that your teaching philosophy comports with the institution's goals. They want to know that what you care about is consistent with what the school cares about, that you understand the nature of tenure and promotion at their school, and so forth.
I had one (at an R1) ask what it meant for a philosopher to "do research" if we don't take data (he was goading me to see how well I danced, and he has a reputation for doing this to all candidates--sometimes asking really jerk-ish questions). I had another ask about how I could scale up my ideas and collaborate with others on campus.
Like faculty interviews, they are partly about feeling the candidate out and partly about selling the institution. So, they really like to answer questions about vision for the institution / direction of things, and so forth. Hence, it helps to do a little homework on the institution.
Also, it doesn't hurt to ask your host faculty about the person you'll meet with. They often give hints to help you impress--they want ALL of their job candidates to impress the higher-ups, after all. It makes them look better as a department, and forestalls any tension when they put up a candidate to make an offer.
- January 16, 2012 at 12:30 PM
- zombie said...
You can also expect a dean and/or provost to ask about how your teaching experience/vision has prepared you for their particular students. A school with a lot of adult students, or international students, or a state school with a lot of first gen students might want to know about your experience with such students, and how you handle the problems/challenges unique to certain student populations. Here's where it helps to know about their students in advance. If it's a tech school, for instance, how do you engage tech students who are required to take philosophy?
Something to keep in mind is that a lot of these folks are not just administrators, but also have an academic/scholarly background, and they might be eager to "talk shop" as it were. Maybe they don't get no respect from their academic colleagues.
In my experience, someone on the SC will give you a heads up about the deans/provosts -- perhaps the person who walks you over to your appointment. It doesn't hurt to ask if they don't volunteer the info.
- January 16, 2012 at 1:54 PM
You know, this blog provides an excellent service. But job marketeers should remember that they need to be very careful. The philosophy world is small, and not all of us giving away jobs right now are tottering old fools too uncool to keep up with blogs. It's really not that hard to give away too much identifying information on line and hurt yourself ... or, perhaps even more importantly, to lead people to think that you have, even if you haven't quite, thereby perhaps hurting someone else's job search inadvertently. As 8:30 am hinted, faculty members running a search might not be thrilled about seeing themselves described as rude, torturing douche-bags, whether intentional ones or not ... especially 'just' after the event, when they presumably haven't made up their minds yet.
- January 16, 2012 at 2:34 PM
When I had my campus visit (R1, 2/2 load), I was told by several faculty members that the meeting with the dean would be low-pressure and that there wouldn't be any questions I had to answer. This turned out to be accurate. Least stressful part of the day.
- January 16, 2012 at 2:57 PM
Job talks are not like other talks in philosophy. The primary function of them is not for everybody in the room to learn some philosophy, wonderful as that might be, but to find out something about the candidate. This is especially a big deal for departments who are really committed to seeing their hires get tenured. So if we look like we are more interested in finding out whether you are a good philosopher rather than making sure that we get the most plausible version of your views out on the table, it is because we are. Most of the people in the room have already been hired. We already know what they can do. We want to see what you can do. We already exhibited our assumption that we have something to learn from you by choosing 2% of the applicants to come to campus.
If this feels like torture, it's not. It's just questions being asked.
- January 16, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Anon 4:59 - Word. Way less than 2% in fact, typically.
- January 16, 2012 at 6:38 PM
So philosophers in hiring departments are sitting around reading blog comments, discerning similarities between commenters' self-descriptions and traits of their job candidates, and letting this influence their decisions? Perhaps, but I can think of few things less responsible than saying "Hmm, I can't be sure whether NN is the person who posted this mildly negative comment about a department that might have been my own, but he/she *might* have done it, and that's good enough for me!"
For what it's worth, I'm sure that whoever posted those anecdotes liked the faculty at the hiring department just fine, doesn't think they're douche-bags, understands that this is the way philosophical discussions often go, and was just trying to offer some helpful advice to other job-seekers.
- January 16, 2012 at 6:45 PM
Jesus. SC members reading this blog really need to avoid getting confused between a commenter here describing, on the one hand, their situation, and on the other, them specifically. Even at this early date, numerous departments are already bringing candidates to campus. Moreover, it is not uncommon for candidates to appear fatigued or to otherwise fit the profile that 2:12 describes of him- or herself. I was on a SC last year and 2:12 could have been two of our candidates.
Please don't assume, or take yourself to have deduced, that a person commenting is someone you know. It is very common practice for commenters to alter irrelevant facts about themselves precisely to avoid being identified. It would of course be unfortunate if, by making these alterations, they end up describing another person's situation to a t. But the best way to prevent this from having untoward consequences is for SC members to resist making inferences. Be epistemically responsible! You are the guests here.
- January 16, 2012 at 7:37 PM
I understand what you're saying, 4:59, and you have an excellent point. However, some people in the profession seem to have the view that philosophical argumentation is a form of combat, and some of us have a problem with that. Some people are really "good philosophers" but may not shine when put on the spot in an adversarial way, especially when a *job* is on the line. It's a pity, then, that so much rides on that one performance.
- January 17, 2012 at 5:51 AM
" It would of course be unfortunate if, by making these alterations, they end up describing another person's situation to a t. But the best way to prevent this from having untoward consequences is for SC members to resist making inferences. Be epistemically responsible! You are the guests here."
I am not sure what 'you are the guests here' means - surely all the commenters are guests. But I entirely, totally agree with the rest. It is, indeed, really important for SC members to resist making inferences, as I have reminded people recently. But human nature is a tricky thing and we are not masters of our own psyches, and I think job marketeers should just be careful is all. You must understand it is hard for people not to talk and speculate about what they read, no matter how much they know they shouldn't. I am not saying it's right - I am just saying that some care seems to be prudent. I also super agree with your point about how 'unfortunate' it would be if someone accidentally sounded a lot like someone else specific. That was really my main point in writing. Don't take the risks for yourself or others. Leave all possible fake or real identifying information out of it. I have no ulterior motives here. I'm just being realistic. The 'best' way to prevent untoward consequences might be to have SC members free from all implicit bias and all temptations towards overhasty induction. But y'all on the market can't control that end of it. You can control what you say online.
- January 17, 2012 at 7:16 PM
All I meant by 'you are guests' is the following. This is a blog run by and aimed at job market candidates. I understood it to be a forum for candidates to air concerns, gripe, and ask each other for advice. Obviously it is helpful to have established academics (philosophers with jobs, tenure, experience with searches and what-not) lurking as well. Ideally we can offer advice and helpful perspectives. But where this blog can sometimes play an appropriately therapeutic role for job seekers, it is, for established academics, at worst not much more than a curiosity, and at best, an invitation to rethink current job market practices.
Perhaps thinking of established academics as 'guests' at the Smoker is not the best word for capturing the thoughts above, and perhaps the thoughts above are misguided in some respects. But that was, in any case, the thought behind the expression.
- January 17, 2012 at 9:34 PM
"for established academics, at worst not much more than a curiosity, and at best, an invitation to rethink current job market practices."
A good idea, certainly. Far too many people on SCs are many, many years away from their own market experiences. A gentle reminder of what the other side of the table feels like couldn't hurt.
- January 17, 2012 at 10:00 PM
This might be too late to get a response, but I'm on the market for the first time and got interviews for post-docs. I have no idea what happens next -- if it went well, do I get a campus visit? If so, is it typical for me to be asked to give a job talk and/or teaching demonstration as I would at a tenure-track position campus visit? I'm just trying to get a sense of what's to come if I'm lucky, but I can't find anything on the internet about the post-doc context specifically. Thanks for any help you can give!
- January 24, 2012 at 2:26 PM
I know at least one place does campus visits for their postdoc, but I don't know all that's involved at the visits. They at least do job talks, and they meet with the entire dept. faculty and then separately with whoever of the grad students will show up for a lunch meeting. At this particular institution, I don't think they do teaching demonstrations for any candidates, so I have no idea if teaching demonstrations are part of it for postdocs at institutions where those are done for tenure-track and VAP positions.
- January 28, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Thanks for the input -- I was worried no one looks at this thread anymore. Hopefully we'll hear from the experience of a few others. I'm wondering whether I should write about this as a new possible thread to post?
- January 28, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Interviews for UK postdocs are purely an on-campus affair. They typically invite all the shortlisted candidates out at the same time. Job talks and interviews are held on consecutive days. There's usually a candidates' dinner, where you and your competition are invited out to eat/drink with faculty and grad students.
I don't have any experience with US postdocs (which I gather is what you were after). Sorry.
- January 29, 2012 at 3:26 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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Asturian 'Fabe' (Bean)
"Fabada asturiana" (bean and pork stew)
The 'fabes' of Asturias are dried French beans of the 'phaseolus vulgaris' variety, whose quality must be extra or first to enjoy the protection of the Denomination of Origin.
Fabes are cream-coloured, kidney shaped (long and flat) and larger than other varieties. They can be cultivated together with corn crops or alternated with other vegetables. The sowing season is in the month of May and between 80 and 100 kg of seed are used per hectare. The beans are harvested by hand, pod-by-pod directly from the plant. Once harvested, they are taken to covered areas where they are dried and later shelled. It is a complete, high quality food, which stands out for the great number of essential nutrients that it contains.
More information
Product information
- Type of product: Pulses
- Season: They are consumed year-round, but especially in winter due to their high energy content.
- Origin: The production area comprises the lands throughout the territory of the Autonomous Region of the Principality of Asturias, whether on the coast, in inland valleys or in areas along the banks of the rivers.
- To drink with it: It depends on the dish in which the Fabes are used but, in general, they are properly accompanied by Asturian Cier and crianza and non-crianza Red Wines.
- Recipes: 'Fabada' (Asturian bean stew)
Nutritional information
- Energy: Average
- Cholesterol: 0
- Comments: Rich in Carbohydrates, Fibre, Calcium and Iron.


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A dramatic story filled with action, romance, violence and a dark-brooding feeling of a true medieval age of our history. Surrounded by an immense story with depth and interactivity to keep up the interest. Thousands of pages worth vivid dialogue voice acted to feast the player's ears, symphonic soundtrack originally composed for this story solely by 3 masterful composers! Enter a visually stunning adventure; The Moonlight Path, set in the Forgotten Realms - Faerûn for Neverwinter Nights 2 + Mask of the Betrayer + Storm of Zehir games!
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Ruins tested to work both indoors and outdoors.


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Old Man With A Suit On Claiming Blood & Rapping Eminem Lines On 42nd St In New York!
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text: James E. Cheek Learning Resource Center The James E. Cheek Learning Resource Center is the main library at Shaw University. Our mission is to provide access to information that supports the University's teaching and research goals and to enhance that access with current technology and exceptional services. Our goals are to strengthen our library through superior integration of technological expertise and services for teaching and learning. We do that effectively with librarians and support staff who work to refine and improve their skills and create programs that will enhance the intellectual success of the students, faculty and staff of Shaw University. Services Get a Library Card Borrow Materials Computers/Equipment Course Reserves Faculty Services Citation Support Cooperating Libraries Library Orientation & Training Virtual Reference FAQs About the Library Hours and Location Staff Directory Library History


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Powerful SHIMANO STEPS motor is strong enough to handle the steepest of trails, yet intuitive enough to give you just the right amount of support every pedal stroke along the way. - Designed specifically to give you that natural feel of riding a normal MTB - Weighs only 2.8kg, one of the lightest motors on the market - Stable, smooth intuitive power for improved bike handling over every section of trail - Solidly supports speeds up to 25 km/h TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - High power with max output of 70Nm (250W) - Designed for a shorter chain stay to match geometry and handling of a normal MTB - Narrow Q-factor of 177mm (same Q-factor as current XT) provides an efficient pedal stroke - Stable, smooth assist power output regulated by cadence - Direct pedalling feel (with or without pedal-assist activated) - Improved pedalling efficiency with dynamic chain engagement - Better tire clearance - Clearance for suspension linkage - Drive Unit cover hides cables and mounting bolts for a clean look (SM-DUE80-A) - Direct mount (53mm CL) or frame mount (50mm/53mm CL) options
The Firebolt Switch Unit control with intuitive operation is ergonomically designed for a MTB. It's the ultimate in comfort and reliability as you switch between modes while blasting through the trails. - The e-MTB Switch Unit (SW-E8000-L) is ergonomically designed for the specific demands of MTB riding such as riding through tight singletrack and bumpy terrain - Accurate, smooth shifting between power-assist modes regardless of weather or terrain conditions - Switch between Boost, Trail, Eco and Walk settings in a flash during the ride. Shifters incorporate the same design and shifting feel as XT Di2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - Four support settings to choose from: Boost, Trail, Eco, Walk - Boost: Complete support for a max boost and expert climbing - choose between high, med, or low level of assist - Trail: Intuitively smooth gradated support through even the most demanding singletracks. Automatically adjusts its level of support based on pedal pressure. Choose between high, med, or low level of assist - Eco: Solid support for those long expeditions - Walk: Assists you when you need to get off the bike and walk it—simple to activate
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Teen girl's pimp handed life term
A San Antonio man convicted last month of pimping a 15-year-old runaway from Houston and luring her new boyfriend to his death was sentenced Monday to life in prison.
In addition to the maximum sentence for murder, prosecutors had asked that Kwaku Agyin, 21, receive seven consecutive life sentences for three counts of child sex trafficking, three counts of compelling prostitution and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. But one life sentence was enough, state District Judge Lori Valenzuela decided.
She sentenced Agyin to four 25-year sentences and three 20-year sentences for the other felony offenses. All but two of the sentences will be served concurrently, she ruled.
Jurors returned the guilty verdicts last month after the girl, now 17, testified that she was prostituted by Agyin for several weeks in September 2011 after running away from a youth detention center in San Antonio. She was already selling sex to survive on the streets but never wanted a pimp, she testified.
The teen's new boyfriend, Marcus Anderson, 35, had been trying to persuade her to sell drugs instead, and she went to police after Agyin ambushed him from a closet at the Skyline Motel, fatally shooting him.
"It's so senseless," Anderson's mother, Ethel Anderson, said through tears on the witness stand Monday. "I miss my child. Twenty-four/seven he's on my mind. My heart is broken inside."
Prosecutors pointed to additional accusations that Agyin verbally abused guards while in jail, had physically abused his ex-girlfriend and once shot at a rival drug dealer.
"There's really nowhere beyond capital murder for this defendant to go," prosecutor Kirsta Melton said as she asked for the stacked life sentences. "He did it because he could — because it helped his street 'cred.' There are no baser instincts."
Defense attorney Mario Treviño called the sentencing request "ridiculous" and contended the teen started most of the troubles. Agyin's problems stem from the fact that his father, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and mother, a nurse practitioner, weren't prepared for the cultural shift of raising a child in San Antonio after immigrating from Ghana, he suggested.
Agyin's mother described him as "the type of spirit (that) captivates you and makes you excited about life."
"He values life," Christina Agyin said. "He values people. He has so much gracious spirit."
Twitter: @HearsaySA


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This weekend was fun, went to my friend's house-warming party (sporting the "Rainbow Look" using the Ben Nye Palette"), the pic above is with my good friend Zari (would you believe she is half Filipino?!), she is one hot mama and as you can see I was very colorful that day! LOL. But if you know me personally, you know it suits my personality. :)
I also got my bunny a new home to give her more room to play!
I had some more reader questions and thought id list them in case any of you are wondering the same thing...
Q: Where can I find the Monistat primer? Would it be in the facial aisle?
A: First of all, let's dissect what Monistat ORIGINALLY is for, it's for the treatment of yeast infections, and this particular chafing gel that we use as a primer, is to treat chafing around the bikini area. So it would NOT be in the facial aisle, but rather in the same aisle as tampons, condoms, and the like....and again just because it's originally for chafing around that particular area, the key ingredient is "dimethicone" which is the same ingredient in common makeup primers such as Smashbox Photo Finishing Primer.
Q: I don't think i've seen you post about any urban decay products... have you tried many things from this line? it's one of my faves!
A: Pretty much the only thing I have mentioned about Urban Decay of course is their Primer Potion (primer for the lids to enhance vibrancy and wear of eyeshadows), and their AWESOME UD Palette!. I love Urban Decay, but since I have a discount for MAC, I usually end up buying more MAC items!
Q: Why did you stop modeling?
A: It just wasn't my thing, as much as I appreciate all sorts of art and expression whether it be modeling or photography, I found a lot more joy into being behind the camera rather than in front. I LOVE photography and I love capturing things rather than me being the subject. There's also a lot of cons (strictly in my opinion) that go along with the territory as well, especially when you are under contract or signed with an agency, there are certain things you can and can't do and you have to be willing to work with other people's schedules and of course, harsh criticism, both from in and out of the industry. I still occasionally help out some of my friends who are photographers and help them build their portfolios.
Q: How big will your bunny get?
A: I researched it online as well as talked to a few bunny moms and I believe my baby bunny is a dwarf bunny just because I saw pictures of other dwarf bunnies and their ears and everything look so similar! This means that she won't really get any bigger than she already is which is a good thing! But she is learning so much everyday in terms of learning how to "fend" for herself and eat and drink on her own, as oppose to the BF or I having to feed her and make her go to the bathroom. Now she is doing it on her own without our help!
Q: When will you be selling pigment samples again?
A: I will be selling them very soon, right now Erica and I are currently packing everything and preparing our stock. I will be having an online store where I will occasionally be selling certain items, so you can definitely purchase samples through there.
Q: Where did you get your label maker and how much was it?
A: The label maker I used to label my MAC palettes I bought from Target. I believe it was about $12-19.
Q: I want to try mineral makeup but I don't know which ones are good to try, I don't want to break out, which ones do you suggest?
A: If you are an avid reader of my blog, you all know I love Silk Naturals mineral foundation! I get "buttery gold" and it allows you to customize your own shade by mixing the white powder with the dark powder. Visit their site for more information.
A lot of people also like Everyday Minerals but I personally didn't like their foundation on me merely because there was no shade match for me AND I found it to be sorta oily and blotchy on my skin at the end of the day. Buff'd Cosmetics also has awesome mineral products as well, and I love MMBB.com, I have tried their foundation and I love it as well if you don't like mixing your foundation. Lisa is great and she will take good care of you!
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Reader Questions...
13 comments
- MakeupByRenRen said...
you know what's funny? my first bunny penelope was supposed to be a dwarf bunny...or at least that's what the ppl told us...and she ended up being as big as a cat! i called her a cat-rabbit...i guess that's what you get for buying a bunny at the flea market!
- April 28, 2008 at 12:30 PM
- Ethereal Prey said...
*claps* well said! You are filled with so much knowledge. I've been thinking of changing up my mineral foundation, not sure where to get yet...
Bunny power! I'm sure your bunny probably wonders what you guys are up to while she's jumping around...
- April 28, 2008 at 6:07 PM
- MeaganMonster said...
Glad you rocked your rainbow look!
Too bad EM didn't work out for you, I like their stuff. I might have to try Silk Naturals now though.
Currently I'm addicted to The Body Shop's All In One Face Base because 03 is perfect for me...
I might just have to try Monistat as a primer... I used to use silicone based lubricant as a frizz control on my crazy dyed and fried hair.
FYI for those that don't know Dimethicone is Silicone based and sometimes labeled as "Polydimethylsiloxane"...
- April 28, 2008 at 6:16 PM
- Askmewhats said...
i love your reader's questions portion as we get to know you more! thanks nessa :)
- April 28, 2008 at 6:31 PM
- yummy411 said...
you and your friend look gorg!
- April 28, 2008 at 7:33 PM
- SumiSweet said...
I just discovered your blog 2 weeks ago and Im hooked! I LOVE all your fun reviews and colouful makeup! Unfortunately being stuck in Singapore, we dont have much access to brands like Milani etc. But there's always online shopping to feed the habit! ;)
- April 28, 2008 at 7:37 PM
- MrsDiaz said...
Hey Ness,
We need to resched our dinner date! We both have been so busy!
- April 28, 2008 at 8:40 PM
- Shen said...
what a fab look! you and other beauty bloggers inspire me to be a little more adventurous in my clothes and make-up! can i have your selling site so i can bookmark it already? i'm looking forward to your other products!! :)
i love your cute little bunny. him and my Duke should play sometimes. :)
- April 28, 2008 at 9:14 PM
- Anonymous said...
I love your site!
I was wondering if you could help me answer a question regarding face masks. I have a lot of masks, such as peel off ones to remove dirt and clean my pores, whitening masks, clay masks to detox my face, aloe mask to protect it from the heat ...I live in Thailand and it's extremely hot. as well as vitamin E moisture mask to take care of my skin and keep it hydrated. I know that it would be to much to use all of it everyday but would it be ok if I use, lets say peel of on monday, whitening on wednesday, clay of fri and the rest of the days moisture masks? Would that be too much? If so, how would you recommend? Looking forward to reading your reply.
P.s. I did not post up my email address due to privacy concerns but would love to read your reply on the website when you answer reader questions. Hope you understand and answer it. Thank you very much.
- April 28, 2008 at 11:55 PM
- Cruelty-Free Beauty Maven said...
thanks for spotlighting my question. if you try urban decay's matte eye shadows i swear you will never, ever go back!
- April 29, 2008 at 3:25 AM
- Bliss said...
Oooo you are looking very pretty and colourful, i like that hehe and im so jealous of your beautiful hair :).Its great to know you better through the reader questions.
- April 29, 2008 at 5:54 AM
- Anonymous said...
yey! you're selling piggies again! ;D
btw, i also don't like EDM very much. i tried SN and i like too but am too lazy to mix! lol. i am loving Joppa minerals now. ;D
- April 29, 2008 at 8:52 AM
- Stephanie said...
That white handbag looks awesome from what I can see of it. Where'd you get it?
- April 30, 2008 at 12:38 AM


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Sen. Lindsay Graham among first Republicans to make call for immigration fix.
At least one Republican U.S. senator is ready to try to tackle the politically controversial problem of immigration reform. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said this month that, with the poor showing his party made among Hispanic voters in the presidential election, other Republicans should be eager to join him.
It is not surprising that Graham would be among the first to step forward in favor of comprehensive changes to the nation's immigration laws. He was among the most vocal champions of the reform plan proposed by President George W. Bush in 2006. In the end, though, the bill fell short in the Senate with 37 Republicans opposing it.
While unemployment is high now, as more and more baby-boomers retire, the nation is likely to suffer a shortage of workers in key jobs. We will need more immigrant workers, not fewer.
The nation also needs to find ways to encourage the best foreign students attending U.S. colleges and universities to stay in this country and use their skills here. ...
The hard anti-immigrant stance taken by many Republicans might have appealed to some in the party's base, but it was not a winning formula at the polling booths. Graham thinks Republicans can remain true to their values but also embrace immigration reform -- and attract Hispanic voters to the GOP in the process.
We hope more of those from his side of the aisle will join like-minded Democrats to find a lasting fix to the problem of illegal immigration. It would be both good for the nation and smart politics.


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I had every intention and plan to be up very early this morning in order to sit in on a webcast from NYU's MS Clinic at Langone Medical Center. I figured it would offer a nice piece for day two of MS Awareness Week. Well, my multiple sclerosis decided that getting up early (or even before 9:00am it would turn out) just wasn't in the cards, MS Week or not!
That webcast was one of many events — both in person and virtually — occurring throughout the nation to mark MS Awareness Week.
I'll have access to, and will post for you, links for downloads of the replay of the event, but I can't help but be a little bit sad about missing it. It's just one more thing that MS does to make my life more difficult. I'm not whining, and I think you all know that, but damn!
This is a week we all hope to help get out the word. We want to be at our best to answer questions and respond to reactions that national publicity will bring our way… MS just doesn't see things the way we do very often, I guess.
So, today I will try to take it easy and plan for a day when I can do a little bit more than today and to help the awareness effort. Today is just more of an "MS awareness day" than I'd hoped for.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Don't forget that you can also follow me via my Life With MS Facebook page and on Twitter. Check out our bi-monthly blog I'm doing for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of the United Kingdom, A Yank's Life With MS, as well as our very special new monthly blog for the National MS Society.


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Got Milk? Should You?
By William I. Lengeman III
Should you add milk to your tea? Are you committing a mortal sin against tea culture by doing so? As a member of the non-milk camp, I used to have strong opinions about this issue. But I've come to realize that everyone likes what they like and that's just fine (I'm still having trouble with the concept of crunchy peanut butter, but I digress). Tea culture has gotten along quite nicely with milk for at least several centuries now and will surely continue to do so.
So how did this all get started, I found myself wondering. Who initiated the practice of...
read the full article here


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"A smattering of Edwin's imports were on a table near the door. Roasters from Mad Cap in Grand Rapids, MI to Square Mile of London, UK have provided samples of their finished product."
Two trains and one bus, or so I thought...
Amtrak canceled the north bound service out of Seattle this morning, citing track maintenance. As a testament to the mass transit squalor in this country, they scheduled a bus, instead - and it's faster. So I'm headed to visit with Edwin of Hario USA and Finca Vista Hermosa by bus.
Edwin and a shelf of Hario stuff.
Just when I was bumming out about having booked train travel intentionally and missing my mark, I met Jon. "These people", Jon said in the station, sitting on a twenty foot long wooden bench. A bench made from real wood with tall backs, over head even, without arms or other devices to keep you from laying down.
Jon is really hating life. He scheduled train travel from Chicago to Seattle on the Empire Builder, one of the oldest, longest lines in the nation. "I wanted to go on this train trip because I design and build highways in the Chicago area." he told me. It's plain to me that Jon feels bad about building roads and his train trip is a kind of soul search. Amtrak canceled that trip too, citing more rail maintenance.
At least I got to ride Seattle's Link Light Rail to the Amtrak station.
This bus is ridicules, it's nicer than any coach class train car I've ever been in. It has genuine synthetic leather seats, little movie screens and a bathroom. They feed us single-serving pastries and orange juice from concentrate. The bus driver gives his safety speech, and goes on a tangent in the middle: "The rest room is in the rear. Gentlemen, please sit when you use the rest room, the ride is a little bumpy and..." I get the feeling that he also cleans the bus.
Onyx Coffee Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, WA is cute and a college town. It's under the plight of the college and business is chained to the school schedule. The air is clear and the ocean is close. Bellingham is that place you'd love to live, but could never find a job.
Anticlockwise from centre; Scott, Tim, Aaron, Nathan, Edwin and Kelli.
On the ground floor of a condominium, a three group Linea and a two group Simonelli compliment the syphon bar and piles of pour over equipment. Edwin's company, Onyx Coffee, is right downtown and next to the infallible Boundary Bay Brewery. The coffee lab is small and well equipped. The welcoming space is long and narrow, with east-facing windows. As I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to run into Velton Ross of Velton's Coffee Roasting Company, on his way out. My time in the Onyx lab was happily shared with a crew from Herkimer Coffee.
A smattering of Edwin's imports were on a table near the door. Roasters from Mad Cap in Grand Rapids, MI to Square Mile of London, UK have provided samples of their finished product. We brought plenty of our own, Herkimer roasted from; Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.
Lots of coffee roasted round the world.
The Hario V60 was the flavor of the day and we dug right in. Edwin brewed the first one and then let us run with it. I'm used to the idea, and although all of the visitors have poured over, I happened to be the only one with significant V60 experience. We talked about flow rates, grind and filters. Edwin illustrated flow rates by running water through various pour over devices under the faucet. The V60 was the only one that didn't hold any water; the flow on all of the other devices is restricted by their aperture.
It took us a couple to dial in but the coffee was superb. We played with temperatures from 198 to around 204 depending on the roast and origin. Having Scott, lead roaster at Herkimer, in the room made dialing in an exacting and rewarding effort. I love the mouth feel in just the right cup of pour over coffee.
V60 Pour from pouredover on Vimeo.


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Monday December 9, 2019; 05:59 am EST
Your photos of weekend high tides will help CoastSmart see into the future
January 9 thru 13, Maryland's tides will rise higher than usual due to the alignment of sun, moon and earth. CoastSmart Communities wants you to illustrate the rise.
Snap photos showing high water and submit them to www.flickr.com/groups/
The collection of images will give CoastSmart Communities, an initiative of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, a crystal ball look into what sea level rise. Foreknowledge means plans can be to help communities avoid flooded future.