Comments for keaandcattle.com http://keaandcattle.com An Art, Literature and Politics Blog, based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sat, 04 May 2013 21:44:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 Comment on Let me stew: I’m a doctor by Sara http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/let-me-stew-im-a-doctor#comment-1023 Sara Sat, 04 May 2013 21:44:02 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=878#comment-1023 I'm in the process of applying to PhD programs to start in the fall of 2014, and this has left me more scared than I was before. I’m in the process of applying to PhD programs to start in the fall of 2014, and this has left me more scared than I was before.

]]> Comment on R.A.K. Mason, ‘The Body of John’, and Reading a Poem by brent hubbard http://keaandcattle.com/literary-criticism/r-a-k-mason-the-body-of-john-and-reading-a-poem#comment-1008 brent hubbard Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:41:40 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=483#comment-1008 It seems obvious to me that the poet starts out lamenting his inadequacies - being dry and sere when he should be healthy and maybe putting on weight, and being unable to give forth even a tear, which goes against nature, which requires a person to give forth things. Meanwhile his friend John is achieving both of these. Then during the next verse it becomes clear that his friend is dead and in the grave above which the poet is sitting. Is that the only way a man can be what he should? It seems obvious to me that the poet starts out lamenting his inadequacies – being dry and sere when he should be healthy and maybe putting on weight, and being unable to give forth even a tear, which goes against nature, which requires a person to give forth things. Meanwhile his friend John is achieving both of these.

Then during the next verse it becomes clear that his friend is dead and in the grave above which the poet is sitting. Is that the only way a man can be what he should?

]]> Comment on Let me stew: I’m a doctor by Tony Shaw http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/let-me-stew-im-a-doctor#comment-986 Tony Shaw Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:17:57 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=878#comment-986 Interesting. I know this piece isn't directed at me as I have a PhD (in Literature) but I feel like commenting anyway. Yeah, I can see almost all my own experiences here, but not anything like to the same degree. Mine (including the minor corrections after the viva) came to just over three years full time. And the negative feelings only lasted the first few months - after that it was hard work, OK, but unbelievably exhilarating and rewarding: essentially, it was because it was taxing and challenging that I loved it. I was doing something original, this was virgin territory, and I wasn't bothered about the isolation as I often quite enjoy feeling alienated. To be trite: not everyone experiences things the same way. I was very lucky in that things fitted together really well at an early stage, the chapters flowed into each other easily, etc. Those were the best years I've ever had and they weren't that long ago. But then I came to my PhD pretty late in life, I didn't need it for a job, and I had nothing to prove to anyone except myself. I feel much better for it though. Interesting. I know this piece isn’t directed at me as I have a PhD (in Literature) but I feel like commenting anyway. Yeah, I can see almost all my own experiences here, but not anything like to the same degree. Mine (including the minor corrections after the viva) came to just over three years full time. And the negative feelings only lasted the first few months – after that it was hard work, OK, but unbelievably exhilarating and rewarding: essentially, it was because it was taxing and challenging that I loved it. I was doing something original, this was virgin territory, and I wasn’t bothered about the isolation as I often quite enjoy feeling alienated.

To be trite: not everyone experiences things the same way. I was very lucky in that things fitted together really well at an early stage, the chapters flowed into each other easily, etc. Those were the best years I’ve ever had and they weren’t that long ago. But then I came to my PhD pretty late in life, I didn’t need it for a job, and I had nothing to prove to anyone except myself. I feel much better for it though.

]]> Comment on Bruno Lawrence’s Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition (Revisited) by Brooklyn http://keaandcattle.com/arts/bruno-lawrences-electric-revelation-and-travelling-apparition-revisited#comment-856 Brooklyn Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:52:38 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=820#comment-856 Nice. Apropos of bugger all other than mention of Blerta made me look so I thought I'd share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiPD4kvHPxk Nice.
Apropos of bugger all other than mention of Blerta made me look so I thought I’d share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiPD4kvHPxk

]]> Comment on Let me stew: I’m a doctor by Frogmouth http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/let-me-stew-im-a-doctor#comment-855 Frogmouth Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:50:38 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=878#comment-855 Well, I think you might have lost them at " justshutthefuckup"... Well, I think you might have lost them at ” justshutthefuckup”…

]]> Comment on Bruno Lawrence’s Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition (Revisited) by CUP http://keaandcattle.com/arts/bruno-lawrences-electric-revelation-and-travelling-apparition-revisited#comment-854 CUP Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:30:35 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=820#comment-854 Just to be clear: that wasn't me. I think it was Bernadette Buckley's class, but I really can't remember much at all of that time. Who are you again? Just to be clear: that wasn’t me.

I think it was Bernadette Buckley’s class, but I really can’t remember much at all of that time.

Who are you again?

]]> Comment on Of Wigs and Witches by CUP http://keaandcattle.com/arts/of-wigs-and-witches#comment-853 CUP Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:28:25 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=827#comment-853 Yes, I understand there's some dreadful kids' lit out there. Unlike all the other forms of lit, where it's stella from start to finish. :-) Yes, I understand there’s some dreadful kids’ lit out there.

Unlike all the other forms of lit, where it’s stella from start to finish.

:-)

]]> Comment on Let me stew: I’m a doctor by CUP http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/let-me-stew-im-a-doctor#comment-852 CUP Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:26:32 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=878#comment-852 I guess I knew deep down that this was only going to be read by the people who agreed with it, not the people it was directed at. But that's what blogs are for right? :-) I guess I knew deep down that this was only going to be read by the people who agreed with it, not the people it was directed at.

But that’s what blogs are for right?

:-)

]]> Comment on Of Wigs and Witches by Jane http://keaandcattle.com/arts/of-wigs-and-witches#comment-847 Jane Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:23:57 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=827#comment-847 Borrow "The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate", "A Summery Saturday morning" and "The Lion in the Meadow" from any self-respecting parent. Also borrow some of Daisy Meadows' fairy book from any suffering mother of girl children and read as many sentences as you can bear. Compare the joy of reading the two aloud, repeatedly. You will then see the great yawning chasm that Mahy has left. Borrow “The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate”, “A Summery Saturday morning” and “The Lion in the Meadow” from any self-respecting parent. Also borrow some of Daisy Meadows’ fairy book from any suffering mother of girl children and read as many sentences as you can bear. Compare the joy of reading the two aloud, repeatedly. You will then see the great yawning chasm that Mahy has left.

]]> Comment on Bruno Lawrence’s Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition (Revisited) by Jane http://keaandcattle.com/arts/bruno-lawrences-electric-revelation-and-travelling-apparition-revisited#comment-846 Jane Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:13:44 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=820#comment-846 For the record, only one of our FRIENDS was out having sex, going to discos,smoking cigarettes and wearing a Guns 'n' Roses ensemble as far as I know. Glad you remember more of Miss Ell's? classroom than I do. Must be why you can now spell and punctuate. For the record, only one of our FRIENDS was out having sex, going to discos,smoking cigarettes and wearing a Guns ‘n’ Roses ensemble as far as I know. Glad you remember more of Miss Ell’s? classroom than I do. Must be why you can now spell and punctuate.

]]> Comment on Let me stew: I’m a doctor by Frogmouth http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/let-me-stew-im-a-doctor#comment-838 Frogmouth Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:09:00 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=878#comment-838 Woah, what or who brought that on? I feel for the poor person finishing her PhD. I'm also *slightly* traumatised by this article, because it's all true. To add to your list, there is also the bit where you have to stop every two minutes because you can't see the screen for tears. I'm not making this up. You go away, try to get a grip, go back, write a sentence, and then you can't see the screen again. There is also the bit where, without fail, important aspects of your life go to custard, not because of your PhD, but because that's life. And it doesn't stop because you're doing a PhD. And then you have to deal with both. I finally get that the PhD isn't at all about what you write, but the fact THAT you've written it. It's not a test of knowledge, but a test of perseverance. Ok, maybe that's not completely true. But it's a little bit true, isn't it? And am I warped in saying that I am so glad I did it? And that, if someone has a feasible idea about which they feel passionately, they should absolutely do a PhD? (If I was a supervisor, I would urge my students to attend mid-PhD counselling - notwithstanding the fact that no-one knows where the middle of a PhD is until it is actually finished.) Finally, on top of the people who "could have done a PhD, but...", there are those who know absolutely zip about your field, who've never written a thesis, but who generously offer to "edit" it for you. Huh?!? Woah, what or who brought that on? I feel for the poor person finishing her PhD.
I’m also *slightly* traumatised by this article, because it’s all true. To add to your list, there is also the bit where you have to stop every two minutes because you can’t see the screen for tears. I’m not making this up. You go away, try to get a grip, go back, write a sentence, and then you can’t see the screen again.

There is also the bit where, without fail, important aspects of your life go to custard, not because of your PhD, but because that’s life. And it doesn’t stop because you’re doing a PhD. And then you have to deal with both.

I finally get that the PhD isn’t at all about what you write, but the fact THAT you’ve written it. It’s not a test of knowledge, but a test of perseverance. Ok, maybe that’s not completely true. But it’s a little bit true, isn’t it?

And am I warped in saying that I am so glad I did it? And that, if someone has a feasible idea about which they feel passionately, they should absolutely do a PhD? (If I was a supervisor, I would urge my students to attend mid-PhD counselling – notwithstanding the fact that no-one knows where the middle of a PhD is until it is actually finished.)

Finally, on top of the people who “could have done a PhD, but…”, there are those who know absolutely zip about your field, who’ve never written a thesis, but who generously offer to “edit” it for you. Huh?!?

]]> Comment on An implosion all our own by CUP http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/an-implosion-all-our-own#comment-834 CUP Tue, 07 Aug 2012 03:35:14 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=848#comment-834 All good Fm. (I think it plooed.) All good Fm.

(I think it plooed.)

]]> Comment on An implosion all our own by Frogmouth http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/an-implosion-all-our-own#comment-833 Frogmouth Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:23:14 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=848#comment-833 Haha! Just teasing. I enjoyed your article. How about it ploded? :)) Haha!
Just teasing. I enjoyed your article.
How about it ploded? :) )

]]> Comment on An implosion all our own by CUP http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/an-implosion-all-our-own#comment-832 CUP Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:36:22 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=848#comment-832 You see, Frogmouth, I chose to eschew debate on the im/ex issue. Presumably explosives explode, but the building did seem to collapse in upon itself, so there could have been a bit of both. And even some of the excluded middle for all I know. As well as a fragment or two of nothing. And yes, I've been known to take the odd mg of codeine. Not intravenously however. But if I'm disallowed from making figurative reference to experiences that I have no personal knowledge of, well, that feels just like living in Stalinist Russia to me. You see, Frogmouth, I chose to eschew debate on the im/ex issue. Presumably explosives explode, but the building did seem to collapse in upon itself, so there could have been a bit of both. And even some of the excluded middle for all I know. As well as a fragment or two of nothing.

And yes, I’ve been known to take the odd mg of codeine. Not intravenously however. But if I’m disallowed from making figurative reference to experiences that I have no personal knowledge of, well, that feels just like living in Stalinist Russia to me.

]]> Comment on An implosion all our own by Frogmouth http://keaandcattle.com/cultureandsociety/an-implosion-all-our-own#comment-831 Frogmouth Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:10:51 +0000 http://keaandcattle.com/?p=848#comment-831 Apparently, it didn't implode, but explode, as one commentator on stuff pointed out. Also, you take opiates? Apparently, it didn’t implode, but explode, as one commentator on stuff pointed out.
Also, you take opiates?

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