I've been reading James Scott's "Seeing Like a State", partly on the suggestion of my undergrad advisor. It, or at least the first two chapters of it, are an overview of how modernist principles of control (largely in the interests of efficient extraction of value, whether from productive resources like forests or from citizenry in the form of ( Read more... )

I just read a piece by U of Chicago Sociologist Saskia Sassen (The Global City: Introducing a Concept - The Brown Journal of World Affairs: Vol 11 Issue 2, 2005). She's conceptualizing global cities, as opposed to world cities, as places where the practices and processes of globalization are tied to space and place. This is great for me, for whom ( Read more... )

I sometimes tackle reading material that makes me feel like my analytical or synthesizing abilities are lacking. I've been feeling that way about the book I've been reading for a while. This evening, it finally occurred to me that I'm reading about a field I really don't know much of anything about. That's probably why I feel like I'm lacking a ( Read more... )

I've met all the class requirements I need for graduation in my programs except for a GIS course I'm taking in the Spring. I have to be full time to get financial aid, so I chose a few other classes that sounded interesting. Full time is 12 credits and most classes are 3. However, I also need a single credit of senior portfolio as a capstone for my ( Read more... )

My poster on Pike Creek was accepted for the undergraduate research symposium in April! I'll be presenting it in the capitol rotunda in Madison! *bounces*

Yay!

I'm essentially done with a six page lit review on urban stream daylighting. As much as I've said that I'm not interested in being an urban planner, I actually found the literature engaging. Though I also very much appreciated Sharon Moran's more unusual critical humanities perspective on stream restoration and the White privilege and environmental ( Read more... )

Oh wow. From my confirmation email: "Congratulations on a successful submission of your abstract to the 2015 Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois. Please remember that the AAG accepts all submissions, and that you will be expected to present."

There it is. I'm in!

Wish me luck on getting this thing put together!

*bounces*

Ok, I think this is it; I'm submitting it now. Wish me luck! I kind of feel like I'm taking a $200 gamble. To be fair though, I'm also rather looking forward to the conference for its own sake. I'm not as familiar with the field of geography as I'd like to be, and though my applications will all be done by then, I'd really like to see what kind of ( Read more... )

My parents took me out for all-you-can-eat sushi yesterday, and had red velvet cake at home afterward, as a belated birthday celebration. They are wonderful, and I feel loved. I also feel like my birthday lasted almost a week ( Read more... )