wolven7 | Interviews, Writing, Fellowships, Perfect Days, Etc

Sneaker Pimps - [Low Place Like Home]--- So what's been up with me, you may want to ask, or not even begin caring about. Whatever.

Aesop Rock - Fryerstarter--- Today, I had very little left to grade. This is like some kind of minor miracle. Do you know what that makes today for? That's right: EVERYTHING ELSE I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO DO, THIS WEEK! WOO!!

But before we get to that, I need to get some things out of my brain to get clear and start fresh. So fuck you if you don't want to hear it.

I'm currently working on an interview, and my interactions, here, as they always do, have me questioning my professional technique. I always feel rude, even when I'm aiming for "Firm-But-Polite," and considering how many interview requests have gone denied, ignored, or otherwise just.. dissipated, I have a certain point at which I begin to wonder if I'm doing something very wrong, and if so, what? (Coheed & Cambria - [Apollo I: The Writing Writer]). I've got some journo friends taking a look, for me, to see if they can point to anything in behaviour content or technique which might be putting people off.

Speaking of my professional life, my life has been grading forever, and there are some gems to find, when you're grading intro papers on Philosophy of Mind.

Mindless Self Indulgence - [Bullshit]--- To that end, please remember that you don't just get to tell me that flesh-and-blood is the only matrix on which consciousness can operate, fail to give an argument as to why, and expect me Not to tear into you. That's just not how this works.

Then there was the stir over on my facebook caused by my notes to a student who tried to use the psychology and inner desires of children to stand as an argument against functionalism.

"Good discussion of functionalism and some of it’s problems, but consider this: Children are programmed by their parents and by society to want certain things, to behave in certain ways, and to know that certain modes of output will accomplish different goals. This programming tends to happen unconsciously, rather than consciously, but does that make it any different?

"Children wouldn't want candy unless they were first somehow taught that candy was a thing they should want."

I pretty much only give praise in the form of a challenge for them to think things through more completely. If you want to see the aforementioned stir, I suggest you check the Facebook. A lot of interesting links, and references, there.

Yesterday there was a meeting of the Georgia Philosophical Society, chaired by my boss from Perimeter, hosted at Oglethorpe (my summer employer), at which one of my former professors/colleagues (Dr Christie Hartley) was presenting a paper, to which Kate Schweitzer responded. And I was at Alon's.

I also ran into someone from high school, yesterday, while at Alon's, and she didn't recognise me At All. Just barely stopped myself short of a "Hey Jenny Slater" moment. My Grosse Pointe Blank fans know what I'm talkin' about.

Ego Likeness - [Blind Arms]--- All that being said, on Thursday I invoked a Perfect Day, and I subsequently had an hours-long conversation with Duncan Jones and then

mendori, ID McLean, and Jason A Clark about using Peter Singer's 'Practical Ethics' as a basis for dealing with the moral status of non-human consciousnesses. Yes I did.

Muse - [Sing for Absolution]--- Currently, and in addition to the interview, I need to be editing my Machine Question Symposium paper (.pdf link), and getting it into the best possible shape it can be, because the CFP for the full published volume is out, and it's been made abundantly clear that A) This is an open Call For Papers, not limited to the Symposium Presenters and therefore B) Only the best of all the submissions will be published.

Love and Rockets - It Could Be Sunshine--- Leaving aside the possibility of the bizarre situation wherein none of the people whose work made the publishing of this volume possible actually ends up appearing in this volume, this means that I need to be at the top of my game, all the way around.

And then there's this: "Job Details: Research Fellow in Ethics (Mind and Machine) Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. . . Grade 7: £29,249 - £35,938 p.a.
"Applications are invited for a full-time Research Fellow for the applied ethics strand of the Mind and Machine project at the Oxford Martin School. The post is fixed-term for three years from the date of appointment. A fractional appointment or job share will be considered in exceptional cases.

"The post may be offered at grade 6 (£26,004 - £31,020 p.a.) with an appropriate adjustment in the duties for promising candidates who do not have all of the required skills, experience and qualifications.

"Mind and Machine is an interdisciplinary research project jointly held by the department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics and the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Philosophy. The project will not only advance the science of brain intervention but also develop robust insights into the ethical, legal and social implications of such research, which will be the focus of this post. . ."

Parliament Funkadelic - [Stomp]--- This is a biotech/human enhancement ethics fellowship. Practical applications of human biotech enhancement. I mean... I'm applying for this. No question, because I would be a fool not to, with that focus, and that kind of money. I would be an Utter Fool Not To... But that changes a LOT of my current plans and obligations. January is only three months away, and three years is a long time in another country.

But we'll burn those bridges if and when we're walking across them, won't we?

Tom Waits - [Starving in the Belly of a Whale]--- In addition to all of this, ever since Dennis moved to New York, I've been really feeling the lack of professional people working within Religious Studies to whom I can talk. Dennis and I really understand each other very well, and there's not really anyone else I know, working in the field, who gets the things I'm doing as well. (Mirrormask - [Leaving the City]). I feel completely our of the loop on current writings, thinking, and names, now. It's... really frustrating.

So... Yeah. That's what's been up with me.

Cole Porter & Tony Bennett - [Begin the Beguine]--- So how are you?