I'm working diligently on this thing all the time, improving and clarifying it a bit each day, but I figure now's as good a time as any to ask for some feedback. This paper was published in the conference proceedings of the New Media Research at UMN conference (well, really it was just a spiral-bound collection of the papers presented, distributed only to conference attendees). They might be publishing the papers online as part of a white paper about the state of new media research at the University of Minnesota, but I'm not 100% certain of that. My writing sample for the job market will probably look a bit like this, so I welcome your comments. Leave them here or feel free to email me: clancyATculturecat.net. Also, please shoot me an email if you decide to use this paper in any classes you're teaching; I like to keep track of that information.

Where Are the Women? Rhetoric and Gender on Weblogs (PDF)

Using the F-word and being proud of it, published in the University of Minnesota's student newspaper!

New 5ives, especially Five revelations from Rene Descartes’ LiveJournal:

1. He used to be into Emo, but now he thinks it’s “kind of gay”
2. He’s thinking of getting a job next summer
3. He totally blew the math quiz on Friday
4. He’s frenched three times now (and one time got a little tit)
5. He’s using a Bob Marley icon some dude made

Adorable father-son moments with Steve and Alex and Mr. B. and Pseudonymous Kid.

This afternoon's used book store shopping led me to a lovely find...a companion piece, perhaps, to one of the blogosphere's greatest hits.

Back cover below the fold:

Have any of you ever asked students to write a Celebrity Vs. Thing as an in-class exercise? If so, how did it go?

It's been decided. When I get to the end of Evelina -- yes, I'm still slogging through it a couple of pages at a time and am done for the moment with even pretending to enjoy it, but maybe it'll pick up toward the end -- I'm going to read The Zanzibar Chest, which has been on my shelf itching to be read for nearly two years now.

The title of the post comes from a show I used to watch all the time on Nickelodeon to unwind, a show I wish were available on DVD, but there doesn't seem to be much support: Muppet Babies. Another show I wish were on DVD: Living Single. That one might have a chance.

On to other TV: Sunday night was the season premiere of The Simpsons. Tonight was the season premiere of House, and I was all over it. For those who haven't seen it, I can bring you up to speed butt-quick. The main character is Dr. Gregory House, a complicated and ornery diagnostician who works in a research hospital with several young doctors. In every episode, a patient comes in with an unexplained ailment. The doctors brainstorm to diagnose the condition as it rapidly worsens. They usually come up with an initial diagnosis and administer treatment that either only treats the symptoms and not the underlying problem or actually makes the illness worse. The patient is often lying about something related to his or her mental health, sexual activity, or family medical history, and the doctors always figure out the real problem when the patient is at death's door and save him or her just in time. Oh, and this season House's ex, played by Sela Ward, is on the show, and though she's married, sparks still fly between them. Now you're ready to start watching.

Next week is the season premiere of Lost and the series premiere of Chris Rock's new show, Everybody Hates Chris, and the week after next the season premiere of Alias (who is Michael Vaughn, really?!). And not directly TV-related, but the day after the Alias premiere, Serenity hits theaters!

Am I the only one watching Prison Break? It is GREAT, and I hope it doesn't suffer the fate of those other shows I was the only person who loved, like Platinum and Jake 2.0 (well, obviously given the link I'm not the only one who loved that).

There's a reason I don't have cable.

WTF? Eleven children in Ohio, all special needs kids apparently, were found in cages:

The children were found in nine cages built into the walls of the house near this small city in northern Ohio, according to the Huron County Sheriff's Office. They had no blankets or pillows, and the cages were rigged with alarms that sounded if opened, Lt. Randy Sommers said.

The children told authorities they slept in the cages - 40 inches high and 40 inches deep - at night. Doors to some of the cages were blocked with heavy furniture.

Sharen and Mike Gravelle are adoptive or foster parents for all 11 children, officials said. Prosecutors were reviewing the case, but no charges had been filed as of Monday night.

And then (my emphasis):

Appearing with a lawyer at the hearing, the Gravelles denied they had abused or neglected the children.

County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said the Gravelles claimed a psychiatrist recommended they place the children in cages.

Hello, screening for adoption and foster care? HOW could this couple possibly have been found suitable to raise children? Making children sleep in cages is okay? Didn't social workers ever visit the house? This just makes me sick.