soapbox

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just say “I want X job doing Y at Z location”?

This week has had ups and downs in the job search.

First, the most geographically disadvantaged job that I applied for told me that I’ve made the final three in their search. It’s a tenure-track job at a small liberal arts college even. Unfortunately, taking the job would require living away from the family for at least 18 months and I’m just not sure I could do that.

Second, the geographically blessed job I applied for turns out to be contingent on someone becoming an astronaut. It said “contingent on funding”, but what it’s actually contingent on is the current post-doc in the position getting through the last couple of hoops to become an astronaut. Then there’s an open space that will have funding. Frankly, I’m a little bit pissed. “Contingent on funding” in my mind is we think there’s a good chance of getting a grant so we’re starting to look now… not “there’s a chance that maybe one of our people might be leaving and we want to keep our bases covered.”

An astronaut. That’s hard to believe.

Two more applications to hear about. If they fall through I’m going to be spending time at the playground.

I don’t have a clever headline or link for this post; I just wanted to say that I feel really bad for Phelps having his pot-smoking caught on tape and distributed across the world. Firstly, the guy has proven how hard-core he is – with that kind of training regimen, don’t you think he’s earned a little bit of relaxation? Secondly, this is a sad example of how America is (still) tight-ass about the wrong stuff. We have no problem with 12-year-old watching ultra-graphic movies or TV shows, no problem with the glorification of alcohol and cigarettes in pop culture, and no problem with a tyrannical interpretation of the 2nd amendment, but ohmygod, marijuana is the drug of the devil and must be classified right next to heroin even though medically it’s pretty chill.

I think I’m allowed to lobby for decriminalization – not for myself mind you, but just on general principle – given that the “worst” thing I’ve ever done in terms of restricted substances was to try smoking a marlboro when I was 9. No? what’s that? I’m an evil pothead and probably a baby-killer? fine then. As Tina Fey says, suck it.