#dissertation support services

[emilywatson-01]

Guide to Mastering Dissertation Writing

Mastering In Dissertation Writing! This guide explains each step of writing a dissertation. It includes useful tips, clear instructions, and good examples to make things easier. Whether you're just beginning or already working on your research, this guide is here to help you all the way. Reach your academic goals with confidence and ease!

[freyaandersson]

A Comprehensive Guide to Dissertation Writing

Use our easy, step-by-step dissertation writing guide to learn how to write a great dissertation. Learn easy methods and expert guidance to help you write the best dissertation possible. Improve your ability to organize ideas, plan your study, and communicate your findings. You may easily go through each step of the dissertation process with our complete guide, from selecting a topic to making final modifications. Reach the highest academic rank and surprise everyone who reads with a finely written dissertation.

[rehobothacademicservices]

Struggling with Your DBA Thesis? We’ve Got You Covered!

Need expert DBA dissertation support to complete your research with confidence? At Rehoboth Academic Services, we provide end-to-end DBA research help tailored to meet academic standards and university guidelines.

✅ Topic Selection ✅ Proposal Writing ✅ Literature Review ✅ Data Analysis (SPSS, AMOS) ✅ Editing & Formatting

Our professional DBA thesis service is perfect for working professionals and research scholars. Whether you’re stuck with your topic or need help with your DBA project report, we’re here to guide you at every step.

Contact us today and take the stress out of your DBA journey!

[prashasconsulting]

Expert Advice for PhD Aspirants: Leading Consulting Services in Hyderabad

Pursuing a PhD is a significant academic milestone that requires dedication, attention, and clarity of purpose. Whether you're transferring from a Master's degree or diving immediately into research, the procedure can be challenging. As Hyderabad emerges as a center for academic brilliance and innovation, candidates frequently seek personalized coaching and expert counsel from consulting firms. This blog investigates how PhD consulting firms in Hyderabad assist research scholars at every stage, providing expertise in proposal formulation, thesis writing, and viva preparation. Whether you're just starting out or battling in the middle, the correct coaching service can help turn difficulties into stepping stones to academic achievement.

Why Opt for PhD Consulting Services?

1. Comprehensive Guidance

PhD programs are rigorous and require a clear understanding of research methodologies, data analysis, and academic writing. Consulting services provide personalized support, helping students grasp these complexities with ease.

2. Time Management

Many PhD aspirants juggle research with work or personal commitments. Consultants assist in setting achievable timelines, ensuring consistent progress without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Improved Research Quality

A good research proposal and well-written thesis form a basis for good success. And consultants fine-tune your work in order to get it to sound and true standards of academics and make it publishable.

4. Experts Access

Top-grade consultants in Hyderabad connect you with domain-specific gurus that guide you for technical challenges and upgrades in research activities.

Key Services Provided By PhD Consultation Services Hyderabad

1. Research Topic Choice

•Most students often get stuck on the choices of topics that are relevant and researchable. Consultants narrow the choices to what interests you, the current trends, and even feasibility.

2. Proposal

• good proposal will cater to admission and funds. Consulting agencies ensure your well-defined objectives, methodologies, and what is expected in return from conducting your thesis or dissertation.

3. Research assistance to a thesis and dissertation

•A thesis requires clarity and coherence. Services include:

Nostructuring.

Editing for grammar, style, and academic tone.

Plagiarism checks and corrections.

4. Statistical Analysis

•There is selection of the appropriate tools through which consultants support statistical methods such as SPSS, R, or MATLAB and ensure the accuracy of the quantitative research.

5. Publication Support

•Publishing in journals gives greater visibility to your research and credibility. The services include search for appropriate journals, formatting, and managing submission processes.

6. Viva Preparation

•The consultants prepare scholars for a viva-voce examination with mock interviews and addressing potential questions that would be asked.

7. Career Guidance

•Post-PhD, experts offer advice on academic and non-academic career opportunities, including grant writing and postdoctoral research.

Top Benefits of Choosing Hyderabad for PhD Consulting

1. Infrastructure

Hyderabad has credible institutions like the University of Hyderabad, Osmania University, and IIT Hyderabad. Value added to the research is done with libraries, labs, and academic networks.

2. Cost Effective Solutions

Experts provided in Hyderabad compare to global consulting services but are low cost but high quality.

3. Diverse Expertise

A thriving academic and industrial ecosystem makes the city of consultants from all streams like engineering, life sciences, and social sciences.

4. Networking

Collaborations with local universities and industry professionals enrich your research experience.

How to Select the Best PhD Consulting Agency

1. Domain Expertise

Ensure the consultant is an expert in your field of research.

2. Rating and Reviews

Check what previous clients say about services.

3.Individualistic Approach

Select agencies that offer one-on-one consultation tailored to your specific needs.

4.Transparency in Charges

Ensure there are no hidden charges. Explain what services will be included in the package.

5.Support After Thesis

Select an agency that offers support post-thesis, with publication and viva preparation being part of the service. FAQs for PhD Applicants 1. How long does a typical PhD programme take? Typically 3–5 years. It depends on the discipline and research intensity and institutional requirements. 2. Do consulting services offer any guarantee of admission to PhD programmes? No. Consulting services will guide you through developing competitive applications, but you cannot guarantee entry as that depends on the institution's recruitment criteria. 3. What is the cost of PhD consulting services in Hyderabad? Costs differ depending on the level of service needed. A minimal service level, such as choosing a topic, may be less expensive, while complete service, that is, thesis writing, and then publication, may be more costly. 4. Do consulting agencies offer part-time PhD? Yes. Some consultants do part-time programs, providing flexible schedules or customized directions for working professionals. 5. Is consulting appropriate in academic scholarship? Provided that these services are made ethical by giving right guidance and assistance without plagiarism and all undesirable unethical practices, consulting becomes ethical.

Conclusion

Starting a PhD is an exciting yet challenging pursuit that requires strength in not only academics, but also in personality. With consulting services by experts in Hyderabad, you can tread this path with confidence and the aid of all the skills you need to thrive at the graduate level. Whether you need to write a good proposal, ace a thesis, or prepare for a challenging viva, the right consultant will ensure your efforts are translated into tangible results.

Ready to elevate your research aspirations? Explore PhD consulting services in Hyderabad today and take the first step toward your academic dream.

[eviturner]

Guide for Selecting a Forensic Psychology Dissertation Topic

Choosing a dissertation topic in forensic psychology requires careful consideration of your interests, the current research landscape, and the potential impact of your work. Forensic psychology is a fascinating and dynamic field that combines the areas of psychology and the legal system. Read this blog in depth to explore Forensic Psychology Dissertation Topic Ideas, understand what a Forensic Psychology Dissertation entails, and learn how to choose the best topic for your research in forensic psychology.

[tutorsindia152]

Masters Part Dissertation Writing Services | MBA Part Thesis Writing Help UK

Masters Part Dissertation Writing Services | MBA Part Thesis Writing Help UK

Description - Masters Dissertation Part or chapter-wise writing help. Looking to avail only to write part dissertation such as introduction literature review methodology etc.

Writing a dissertation is a daunting task as student need to produce an original piece of research work on a topic of special interest.

Contact us! 

India +91 8754446690 

[pit-and-the-pen]

ACOTAR Zodiac Signs

I’m just doing Sun (because this would turn into a full dissertation if I did rising and moon but I might do them in the future This is obviously just my opinion and for funsies. Please be nice if you disagree. Also, the book I use is called “The Complete Guide to Astrology.” It’s on kindle unlimited if you want to look into it! (there’s also 13 characters I’m doing here so some will be repeats)

Also, thank to @milswrites and @prythianpages for suggesting for me to write this all out <3 I'm happy to be your go-to for astrology.

Azriel: Scorpio. ““It is often said that a Scorpio man can be obsessive, possessive and vindictive, but the truth is he can also be loyal, supportive, compassionate and incredible in bed. This man has to deal with unusual emotional depth, leading to his extreme sensitivity and his need to close his heart in order not to get hurt. The only reason he becomes vindictive is in his deeply emotional nature and his incapability to forgive the depth of his injuries.” (this is the only one that didn’t come from the book and I can’t find the website I pulled it from) This one seems pretty self-explanatory but Azriel holds his emotions close to his chest for sure. I’m not convinced he doesn’t feel deeply and just has closed himself off to letting others feel his emotions. 

Cassian: Taurus. Embodies an animal like wisdom in that they have finely honed senses and are sensual, practical, and loyal. Inwardly, they are deeply grounded, patient and steady, but this can also lead to the tendency to be stubborn or bullheaded and overly materialistic in the pursuit of security. Others can see taurus as stable and lacking pretense.”  Despite everyone thinking he’s a bit dull, Cassian is a rock to all of those around him. He might not be the smartest in a scholarly way but out of the IC I think he has the most emotional intelligence despite not being able to read the room all the time. But he’s definitely stubborn.

Elain: Virgo. Analyze is the primary word for virgo. Virgo energy embodies the principle of service, as they love to feel useful in the world. Virgos are attentive to detail and very analytical. Their inner world is often self-critical and they are worriers. They tend to servitude rather than service and forget to take care of themselves in the process. Others see virgos as ethical and organized, though it’s a bit of a myth to say that all virgos are naturally tidy. This is, in part, because their perfectionist tendencies can lead to analysis paralysis. I think this really describes pre-fae Elain. She might have not been the best at protecting Feyre but she was really the only one that saw what everything was doing to her. She also loves gardening which feeds into the nurturing part of virgos. Idk she just gives me virgo energy.

Eris: Okay, bare with me on this one. Pisces. Their primary word is believe. They are seen as highly sensitive, creative and mystical beings. Pisces often struggle with boundaries and extreme empaths, which can cause them to fall into the role of victim or martyr. LIke the symbol of fish swimming in two directions, it’s the lesson of pisces to live in the realms of the manifest and mystical. If they can become comfortable with being agents of change they will avoid the escapist and addictive tendencies they may turn to on occasion. Like I said, bare with me. We never truly get to see Eris for who he is. We only get to see the mask that he puts on while Beron is alive. But even then, he’s willing to risk his life to help out the night court. He became their inside man and we get to see little bits of his personality. I think Eris is rules far more by his moon than his sun but I also think that who he presents as is mainly because of the abuse he’s suffered from Beron. 

Emerie: Libra. Balance is the primary word for libras, because they try to find the middle ground and harmonious balance in all that they do. Libra is the diplomat and mediator of the zodiac. Because of that, they can come across as indecisive, vacillating and even passive-aggressive at times. Generally, Libra comes across as fair, peace-loving and creative. Inwardly, they are focused on others and relationships (not always romantic) Emerie was the first person to see Nesta for who she is. And she is fiercely loyal to those she picks to be apart of her life. But she does seem to be in the middle of what little spats there are in her group, but as the most sensical one if that makes sense? We don’t get a lot of Emerie in the book (a crime if you ask me) but I think this is the closest to her character.

Feyre: Sagittarius. (actually confirmed by the book). Wander and wonder are the primary words for Sagittarius because they like to wander-physically and mentally- and they often live in a state of wonder at the world. Sagittarius is the seeker of truth and freedom and loves exploration of all kinds. They are seens as naive, inspirational and eternal optimists. Spiritually oriented and visionary, they have the ability to see the big picture of life. If Sagittarius embraces life as a quest for experience and truth their tendies towards naivete can become higher wisdom. I don’t fulllllyyy agree with all of this, but since her birthday is on the winter solstice she would be a Sagittarius and I can see it in bits and pieces. She’s always been very creative and literally see’s the bigger picture in life in the way can see the art she wants to create. But she’s also very self-sacrificing which I think adds to seeing the bigger picture. She’s able to look past her own wants and desires and do what she needs to do for the sake of everyone else.  

Gwen: Taurus, (see Cassian)

Helion: Leo. Leos are born to lead, and that is their primary word. Whether king, queen or leader in their own home, leos are born to shine and charm. They crave attention and tend to be melodramatic and superior when in shadow. Otherwise, Leos are dynamic, self-confident and playful. At their best, they are magnetic and affectionate and light up the lives of those around them because they carry the sun’s radiance within (I swear, hand on the bible, that’s what my book actually says and I didn’t read the whole thing before I made my choice on this.) This is an other self-explanatory one but even without all the sun references. Helion is kind and charming, but also a great leader. 

Lucien: Cancer. Feel is the primary word for cancers, they are all emotion and intuition. Cancer is the nurturer of the zodiac and are very traditional and family oriented. Inwardly, the sign is extremely sensitive and can tend toward being insecure and giving too much to the point of ignoring their own needs. Others see them as responsive and loving but they can also be moody. Lucien feels a lot of stuff. He’s written off as being snarky but I think it’s because he can see through peoples bullshit because of how much he truly  feels. He was there for Feyre. And regardless of what you ship, he was the only one to think of giving Elain something to cover herself with. 

Mor: Gemini. Gemini is the thinker and symbolizes the mind, voice and communication. Their inner life is curious, observant, often scattered and may be highly strung. Geminis are seen as socially verbally expressive but can sometimes manipulative and duplicitous. All I can say for this is SJM ruined what she had going for Mor and focused too much of the manipulative side of her. Mor had so much potential but this is still her sign. 

Nesta: Aquarius. Aquarians are the individuals of the Zodiac and their primary word is “know”. Aquarians are socially conscious and are dedicated to causes and reform, but they can also be emotionally distant and even anarchistic at times. Because they often feel alienated from those around them, they are sometimes tempted to betray their convictions to fit in, but their path is to embody their personal truth no matter what. Nesta is at her very core, loyal. She cares deeply for the people she’s let into her life, regardless of how much she will fight them as they try to get close to her. But she stands by her morals for sure. She is also willing to do what she needs to do when she thinks it’s right. I think that arrogant, cruel facade is the very conviction she was forced into. She was raised as nothing more than a way for her family to marry up and she took it in stride, despite how much it obviously affected her.

Rhysand: Leo. (See Helion)

Tamlin: Capricorn. The primary word for Capricorn is achieve. Capricorns are focused on climbing the ladder of achievement but may have a tendency to do so based on the expectations of the outer world rather than based on a foundation of self-trust, which is where the tail of the fish comes in. Capricorn is seen as responsible and determined but also, at times, controlling and fearful. Inwardly, although Capricorn is hardworking and law-abiding, there is often an underlying fear of never being enough. Their commitment and leadership qualities are their strengths. Tamlin is actually a good leader, he just lets himself be ruled by the fear he has of things happening to the people he loves.

[floralcyanide]

⊱ 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑙𝑑 ― 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑠 𝑆𝑛𝑜𝑤 ⊰

[ ᴀ ʜᴜɴɢᴇʀ ɢᴀᴍᴇs ᴀʟᴛᴇʀɴᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ғᴀɴғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ]

1960s ᴜs ᴘʀᴇsɪᴅᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ᴄᴀɴᴅɪᴅᴀᴛᴇ!ᴄᴏʀɪᴏʟᴀɴᴜs sɴᴏᴡ x ғᴇᴍ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑣𝑒 (ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠): 𝑒𝑛𝑑��𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟

౨ৎ 18+ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ᴏɴʟʏ !

⊹ summary: a run down of the events after new year's eve. ⊹ pairing: young!coriolanus snow / fem!reader ⊹ warnings: innuendo, the insinuation of smoking, mentions of alcohol ⊹ word count: 1139 ⊹ author’s note: sorry for the wait, but I decided to make the rest of the series headcanons instead of actual chapters. it is quite exhausting to write sometimes, and there's so much to this series that I'd rather do it this way. thanks for all of your support. this is my favorite series I've written so far. (:

౨ৎ divider credit: @cafekitsune

౨ৎ sᴇʀɪᴇs ᴛᴀɢʟɪsᴛ | sᴇʀɪᴇs sᴏᴜɴᴅᴛʀᴀᴄᴋ | sᴇʀɪᴇs ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ

౨ৎ this fic has been cross posted to ao3.

ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴘʏ, ʀᴇᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ, ᴀᴏ3, ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ, ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴡᴇʙsɪᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ɪɴ ᴀɪ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜsᴇ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋs ᴛᴏ sᴇʟʟ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. © ғʟᴏʀᴀʟᴄʏᴀɴɪᴅᴇ

❝A man does what he must—in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.❞ ― John F. Kennedy

✲ Coriolanus is leading in the polls so far for the 1964 election, but there’s a problem. He has yet to marry, and this is peculiar to many hesitant voters. Jack and Bobby both talk to him about this when they all gather in Coriolanus’ office to discuss their next steps.

✲ “I think the girl studying Jack would be a great contender,” Bobby suggests.

✲ Jack laughs incredulously at his brother, “I am not going to send off my student to marry a politician when she has so much ahead of her.”

✲ Coriolanus shuffles uncomfortably. The two of you have been secretly seeing each other here and there since that past New Year’s Eve, and it’s now the middle of April. The thought of just popping the question to you has crossed his mind, but he didn’t want to ruin the good things going for you. 

✲ Other problems more dangerous than marriage plague Coriolanus. The Women’s Revolution, the movement for Women’s rights, has reached new heights in their tension with the government. Coriolanus has been questioned about it by journalists and citizens alike. He firmly stands by his goal of women’s equal rights being passed into law.

✲ Jack offers Coriolanus the chance to come back to the Compound in the summer to finish up campaign strategies and kick back for a while. Little does Coriolanus know that Jack offered for you to return as well to finish up your dissertation. He wants to test Bobby’s theory of you and Coriolanus being together. Hopefully, you can finish up your project before Coriolanus makes a move.

✲ You arrive at the Compound, much to John Jr. and Caroline’s delight, as they run down the front stairs to you. You clamber out of the car, and the Secret Service removes your luggage. The kids cling to your legs as you laugh down at them. You glance up to see Coriolanus at the top of the stairs, and you do a double take.

✲ “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?” you ask, a grin growing on your face. It had been about a month since you’d seen Coriolanus. “It was a last-minute decision,” he shrugs. 

✲ That first day, you, Jack, Coriolanus, and Jackie go out on the boat and have a few drinks. You all catch up, and Jackie gives you knowing looks the whole time. You and Coriolanus avoid the elephant in the room regarding you two.

✲ The evening creeps up, and you and Coriolanus sneak to the fire pit after dinner. “Have I told you about my vice president?” “No, not yet. What’s he like?” “His name is Sejanus Plinth, I think you two would get along very well.”

✲ After you and Coriolanus discuss Sejanus, he asks a question after a moment of silence. “Have you ever tried the shit that Jack smokes?” “Not really, but it smells peculiar,” you say, “Why?” “You seriously don’t know what it is?” Coriolanus chuckles. “Well, it can’t be tobacco, so,” you trail off, realizing what the substance is, “Oh. I see.” Coriolanus laughs at you again before pulling a joint out of his pocket, “Wanna smoke some?”

✲ Coriolanus sneaks into your room that night just to sleep in the same bed as you.

✲ You and Coriolanus become prone to sneaking and doing daring things. One night, after everyone has gone to bed, Coriolanus drags you to the garage, where the two of you take Jack’s convertible out for a spin. Without the Secret Service. Coriolanus drives down a back road alongside the coast, where your arms are thrown into the air as the wind gusts past your hair. Coriolanus looks over at you, knowing then and there he needs to marry you. There’s no one else, and there never would be. 

✲ Coriolanus takes you out on a beautiful date in Boston at the fanciest restaurant in the city, which was suggested by Jack and Jackie. 

✲ When you get to the bottom of your champagne glass, something hits your lips. You jump in surprise and slide it out of the glass when you pull it away from you. It’s a stunning diamond ring, the gem itself huge. The band is a simple white gold, and you look up at Coriolanus, who has now moved to kneel before you. 

✲ “I know this is quite sudden and out of nowhere, but there’s no one else like you. And I don’t think I can go on without you being mine forever,” Coriolanus has his hand on your knee, a hand out so he can place the ring on your finger, “Say yes, and I’ll give you everything you could possibly want.” “I think I have everything I could possibly want right in front of me, Coryo.” “So, you’ll marry me, darling?” “Yes, Coryo. I will definitely marry you!”

✲ The next day, it’s splattered all over the press that presidential candidate Coriolanus Snow is engaged to be married to little old you, the student under President John F. Kennedy. Bobby is beside himself, and Jackie hugs you, whispering in your ear how she knew you two would end up together.

✲ It’s now the middle of summer, and the wedding day is coming soon. You decided to get married on the beach outside the compound where you and Coriolanus met. The entire Kennedy family is invited, and your friends from university, as well as a few of Coriolanus’ friends, are invited. You finally meet Tigris, Coriolanus’ cousin who raised him, at the bridal shower. She tells stories upon stories about the blonde boy getting into trouble, which you enjoy thoroughly. 

✲ You and Coriolanus marry in late June of 1964 in a beautiful ceremony, where Jack walks you down the aisle. He says it’s the biggest honor he’s ever received. Not even his Purple Heart could compare. 

✲ Your honeymoon is spent in Boston in a luxury hotel near downtown. For the whole week, the two of you hardly leave the bedroom. 

✲ When the two of you are back from the honeymoon, Jackie proposes a day on the beach for the whole family. You both sit by the sea while the kids play and the guys play some football. Coriolanus isn’t a major fan of sports, so he stays with the kids.

✲ Both of you watch as Coriolanus plays with Caroline, John Jr., and Bobby Jr. in the shallows, splashing back at them when they throw water at him. “Have you thought about kids yet?” Jackie asks suddenly. You open your mouth but close it back, unsure of how to answer, “I- we haven’t really… discussed it yet, I guess.” Jackie hums, nodding, “It would look great for the campaign, besides, the sooner, the better. Voters love a great love story.”

[emilywatson-01]

Learn how to write a dissertation proposal

Learn how to write a dissertation proposal with ease! Start by choosing a clear and focused research topic. Outline the key questions you want to answer and review existing literature to understand the background. Remember, a good proposal sets the foundation for your dissertation, so take your time and ensure it's well-organized and comprehensive.

[freyaandersson]

Write a Dissertation Proposal

Learn how to craft a compelling dissertation proposal Writing with our comprehensive guide. Get expert tips on structuring your proposal, defining your research questions, and presenting your methodology to ensure approval and set a strong foundation for your research.

[whencyclopedia]

Interview: Dithmarschen Republic

Located in what is the present-day German province of Schleswig-Holstein, the Dithmarschen Republic (1227-1559) was a republic by commoners who developed quasi-democratic institutions, including their own written constitution. Fiercely independent and freedom-loving, these peasants successfully defended their political independence against the forces of Holstein and the Scandinavian Kalmar Union as the Middle Ages came to a close.

House in Burg, Dithmarschen

Z thomas (CC BY-SA)

James Blake Wiener speaks to Dr. William L. Urban, a medievalist and the author of Dithmarschen: A Medieval Peasant Republic, to learn more about the Dithmarschers in this interview.

JBW: Dr. William L. Urban, many thanks for speaking with me. As your main research interest is that of the Teutonic Knights and the Northern Crusades, I am curious to know how you first became interested in the history of the Dithmarschers. What was it that led you to Dithmarschen?

WLU: In a very real sense, this book began at the University of Hamburg in 1964-1965 when I met a retired school teacher named Maria Krüger. Of Dithmarscher extraction, she often entertained my wife and me for tea, with cookies and tales of her native land. At her suggestion, I later read some of the local color novelists in the library of the University of Kansas. Thereafter, I went to the works of serious historians where I discovered that the novelists’ descriptions of Dithmarschen and its people were not exaggerations.

I was lucky enough to be able to travel to the countries north of the Elbe. After cycling across Germany three times, I lived in Hamburg and the neighboring town of Ahrensburg for almost a year. This gave me the confidence I needed to write a very rough draft of this manuscript before turning to the revision and completion of my dissertation, which appeared in 1975 as The Baltic Crusade. In the same year, I received a Fulbright-Hayes research grant for supplementary studies at the Johann Gottfried Herder Institute and the Philipps University in Marburg/Lahn. The opportunity arose for me to visit Dithmarschen twice that summer and again in 1976. In 1976-77, the University of Chicago awarded me a part-time faculty research grant in its main library, the Regenstein Library, to further develop my manuscript in discussion with Prof. Karl Morrison.

In the fall of 1982, Monmouth College provided me with a student assistant, Janet Fox, who typed the manuscript into the computer for editing. In the summer and fall of 1983, I was back in Marburg/Lahn with the help of a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service and a sabbatical from Monmouth College. At that time, Professor Walther Lammers was kind enough to read the manuscript and discuss it with me at his home. I really appreciated his support and friendship. In January 1988, with the help of my wife and a new student typist, Kris Wang, I began a two-year editing process. Hardly a sentence remained unchanged. Eventually, after being tutored to use PageMaker by Daryl Carr and Marta Tucker, I prepared the manuscript for publication during my spring semester sabbatical. In June 1990, my wife and I took a car tour of Dithmarschen to visit places I had previously missed. In the fall of 1990, Monmouth College provided another small grant to cover the cost of preparing the manuscript for publication, and Erik Midelfort (with whom I had discussed the Dithmarscher project on several occasions in the past) responded to my request for a final reading with several helpful comments on the text.

JBW: It is true that there was a notable absence of feudalism and serfdom in nearby Frisia during the Middle Ages. Were the political traditions in Dithmarschen similar to what many historians would term as 'Frisian freedoms'? If so, how 'free' were the Dithmarschers?

WLU: There were many similarities, but the Dithmarschers had a more strongly developed clan system. This communal spirit made it possible to build dikes and canals, to develop a legal system capable of dealing with crime, land disputes, and inheritances; it also made it easier to raise a fighting force of men who could stand up to feudal cavalry and neighboring militias.

16-century Map of Dithmarshen

Abraham Ortelius (Public Domain)

This evolved over time so that local communities (Kirchspiele) became more important, and then the more prosperous farmers became a quasi-aristocracy that dominated the 48 representatives of the final government.

JBW: Many of the characteristics of Dithmarschen – the presence of clannish families, a militia, and a fiercely independent populace – strike me as similar to other medieval peasant republics, like that of the Old Swiss Confederation or the Icelandic Commonwealth. Are such comparisons worthwhile or even valid?

WLU: In my book, I tried to analyze why most peasant republics failed. The Swiss survived because they had geography and poverty on their side. That is, the mountain cantons were difficult to attack and hardly worth the effort, while the other members of the Swiss Confederation managed to negotiate the complex political and military challenges by raising a well-drilled military force large enough to defeat the regional powers, then providing mercenaries to more powerful neighbors who became allies.

What Dithmarschen lacked was numbers, and both the Dithmarschers and the Hanseatic League failed to see the advantages of allying against their common enemies as the Swiss had done.

JBW: Relations between Dithmarschen and the medieval Hanseatic towns, like Lübeck, were close. Was this so that they could protect their common interests in commerce while maintaining a degree of political independence?

WLU: Yes, but their common interests were limited. There were Dithmarscher fishermen, just as there were in Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bremen, but no international network of trading partners for selling their catch. There were also too many tensions, especially Dithmarschen traditions that bordered on freebooting (and sometimes crossed over it)! Dithmarschers defended their citizens even when they were in the wrong, which was not always the case with the Hansa.

JBW: John I of Denmark (r. 1481-1513) and his brother, Duke Frederick of Holstein, attempted to subdue the peasantry of Dithmarschen in the 1490s. At the Battle of Hemmingstedt in 1500, Danes and Holsteiners were soundly defeated by the Dithmarscher peasants. What ensured their victory of what was seemingly a more powerful and better organized military force?

WLU: First, the invaders did not have the money to pay their mercenaries and allies for a long war, so they needed a quick victory.

Second, dumb luck. The king sent his army north from Meldorf toward Heide along a narrow road on a dike, expecting that the good weather would last. Instead, a winter storm blew into the invaders’ faces, making it difficult to see until they finally blundered into fortifications the Dithmarschers had hurriedly thrown up across the road. When they trained their artillery on the redoubt, the wind, snow, and rain doused the wicks and ruined the power.

Battle of Hemmingstedt

Max Friedrich Koch (Public Domain)

Lastly, Dithmarscher fighting skills were more appropriate to this battlefield – they opened the dikes, waded barefoot and half-naked through the freezing water to get at the foe, and then pursued the panicked enemy relentlessly.

JBW: What became of the Dithmarschers following the Protestant Reformation? Moreover, how did they ultimately lose their cherished freedoms?

WLU: The Dithmarschers were very pious, but because they had always been suspicious of clergymen, they had limited their authority. Since they had long managed their local religious affairs themselves and used the churches for schools and political assemblies, they found the change to Protestantism easy, which is quite something.

JBW: Are there any unique characteristics of the medieval Dithmarschen Republic that merit further consideration and study? If so, what are they?

WLU: First, we should not think of every European society as an inferior reflection of England and France, but of each possessing characteristics that are still important today. Second, these characteristics can be good or bad, or both at the same time. People are complicated. Third, not everyone can be moved by what they see in others.

Dithmarschers admire Britons; Americans are liable to see in the Dithmarschers what they once were, and everyone can remember that freedom is not free but must be earned and defended by patriot blood.

JBW: Finally, if there is one thing that we ought to remember about the Dithmarschen Republic, what is it in your opinion?

WLU: Someone inscribed a motto on the organ in Hemme, Germany: "Dithmarsia libera fuit." The implication was that it could be again, and today it has become so again.

JBW: Dr. William Urban, many thanks for lending your time and expertise!

Professor William L. Urban was educated at Baylor University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Universität Hamburg. He received a Ph.D. 1967 at the University of Texas, taught at the University of Kansas and Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois, at Knox College, Fort Hays Kansas State College, the Estonian Institute for the Humanities, and the Eastern Michigan University Cultural History Tour in Europe. He was Director of the Arts of Florence, then the Yugoslav and Czech programs of Associated Colleges of the Midwest. He received a senior Fulbright grant for research at the Herder Institut in Marburg/Lahn, Germany; several DAAD grants, NEH grants for summer study, and a United States Military Academy Military History Workshop. He is a corresponding member of the Historische Kommission für ost- und westpreußische Landesforschung and the Baltische Historische Kommission. He has published The Baltic Crusade, The Prussian Crusade, The Livonian Crusade, The Samogitian Crusade, Tannenberg and After, Lithuania, Poland, and the Teutonic Order in Search of Immortality, The Teutonic Knights: a military history, Medieval Mercenaries, Bayonets for Hire: the Business of War, 1550-1763, Matchlocks to Flintlock, Mercenaries in Europe and Beyond, 1500-1700, Bayonets and Scimitars, Arms, Armies and Mercenaries, 1700-1789, and Small Wars, and their influence on the Nation State. With Jerry Smith, he translated The Livonian Rhymed Chronicle, The Chronicle of Balthasar Russow, and Johannes Renner's Chronicle.

Continue reading...

[emohorseboy]

I'm so interested in all of your posts about mad liberation. I've never seen anything that puts my thoughts on the whole psych complex into words. I'm really curious to learn more about this. No pressure if not, but do you happen to know of any more comprehensive resources on this? Like books maybe?

Hi, I can definitely give you some recs! My list is a little bit UK centric because that's where I'm based but hopefully it's useful:

In terms of books:

I read 'Mad World: The Politics of Mental Health' by Micha Frazer-Carroll this summer and I can't recommend it enough.

I'm also making my way through 'Call Me Crazy: Stories from the Mad Movement' by Irit Shimrat, which I think is out of print but can be read as a PDF here (hopefully)

I've only dipped in and out of his books for my dissertation but Andrew Scull has written several well regarded books about the history of psychiatry ('Museums of Madness' is the one I've read bits of, 'Desperate Remedies' is on my TBR)

Some books on my TBR: 'The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease' by Johnathan Metzl, 'Drop the Disorder!', 'Searching for a Rose Garden: Challenging Psychiatry, Fostering Mad Studies', 'Anatomy of an Epidemic' by Robert Whitaker

Some really good articles:

'Abolition Must Include Psychiatry' by Stella Akua Mensah

'Mad Activists: The Language We Use Reflects Our Desire for Change' by Lisa Archibold

'Not a naughty child: people’s experiences of service responses to self-injury' by Alison Faulkner and Rachel Rowan Olive

More resources!

The Campaign for Psychiatric Abolition - UK based, they have a lot of really great resources including an extensive recommended reading list, a Psych Abolition 101 Zine, and a resource for making a crisis support plan.

Asylum Magazine - again UK based, radical mental health magazine. To read full issues you need to subscribe (I recently paid for a subscription for a year of digital editions for £10, physical copies are a bit more) but the website has plenty of articles that you can read for free so well worth exploring.

Psych Survivor Archive - US based this time, there is so much on here, the Psych Survivor Zine is the main event but they also have a really great resource list (some of the links are dead though).

Mad in America - publish a lot of really interesting and impactful stuff on their website, I also really like their podcast (particularly recommend this episode about ECT, this one about esketamine, and this one about 'prolonged grief disorder'). There is also Mad in the UK and a number of other country specific sites that exist as part of their Mad in the World Network.

Folks to follow:

Dolly Sen - UK based artist who does and is doing a lot of cool stuff, notably at the moment they are the lead artist for the Birdsong From Inobservable Worlds project. This podcast episode they did is also great.

Nicole / lacey_art_ - another UK based artist, she wrote a poem about a bird recently that I can't stop thinking about (she does a lot of other cool things too).

Rachel Rowan Olive - brilliant and funny artist, she is also on instagram and etsy.

Luna Tic - artist and activist who has been involved with a lot of really brilliant stuff, including the successful StopSIM Coalition here in the UK which managed to bring an end to SIM.

There are so many more I could name and so many more things I could recommend but this post is already so long! I really hope it was helpful. I started trying to be brief and then gave up but I did cut out a fiction and literature recs section because I thought that was overkill lmao. Thank you for giving me an excuse to make this list I had a great time.

Learning about the Mad and psych survivor movements has been so transformative and empowering for me and I could honestly talk about it all day. Please do feel free to send me a message if you want to chat about it more!

[glowsticknfriends]

okay. okay. i NEED to know what 📚 is for sans, jon, spinel and viktor!!

RAAAAGHHH OKAY OKAY SO

📚 what is your f/os love language? do they incorporate their love language into how they support you? (the main 5 love languages are; words of affirmation, acts of service, gift giving, quality time, and physical touch. though if you and your f/o have your own love language, please feel free to use that instead!)

oh man i think sans has two main love languages, quality time (receiving) and acts of service (giving). i think he's more than happy to just sit and be with the people he cares about, and that kind of calm relaxed low effort time together– being able to just exist alongside someone– is really important to him. and i'm basing him showcasing acts of service entirely off of the fact that sans canonically gives papyrus christmas presents whilst pretending to be santa,,,, i think sans does tons of shit to take care of the people he loves in little ways but never really takes credit for it/reveals the amount of effort he puts in so he can keep his lazy funnyguy persona

jon i think really appreciates acts of service. he's used to feeling like he has to do/handle everything in his life (both personally and professionally) on his own, so i think that the #1 way to weasel into his heart is by doing stuff for him, particularly annoying/tedious shit he doesn't enjoy doing, like dishes or laundry or organizing files. and i think jon tries his best to give physical touch as a form of comfort (esp to me because i like it,,,,,) he's not very good at it exactly, mainly just bc he doesn't have much practice, but him putting in the effort to try is in and of itself a showcase of how much he cares

spinel is a YAPPER which means words of affirmation baby!!!!!! and honestly i think it's her love language for both giving and receiving. if you're sad then she's gonna write a dissertation on Why You're Actually Wonderful and Perfect and the Greatest Person Ever and she's gonna perform it like a one man play. and i think she literally melts into a pile of wobbly noodles under compliments i think she lives and breathes (metaphorically) for that shit

i think since viktor has spent most of his life clawing and scraping and sometimes quite literally building most of what he has, he would really appreciate receiving gifts, especially gifts that are really thoughtful and based on his interests. he didn't have the means to buy stuff for himself when he was younger and after moving out of the undercity and getting into the academy pretty much all of his free time was put towards working/studying/proving himself in general. i think he'd be very flattered at the idea of someone giving him something they bought with their own money/made with their own hands just because they wanted to and thought he'd like it, rather than having to 'earn' it or 'fight' for it in some way. he won't think he deserves it but he will be very flattered <3 i also think he enjoys physical touch a lot and is a very casually touchy person, at least with people he really trusts and cares about

[window-window]

— VI. THE LOVERS

“NOW, MORE THAN EVER, YOU MUST CHOOSE LOVE -- FOR YOURSELF, FOR OTHERS, FOR THE UNIVERSE.”

UPRIGHT: love, partnerships, relationships, choices, balance, unity.

REVERSED: disharmony, imbalance, conflict, detachment, bad choices, indecision.

–––

DEX SABERHAGEN.

Last seen on January 20th. Dex was reportedly last at their university before his disappearance, participating in a survey related to Alon Agbayani's research for their dissertation. They'd arranged to stay later after school, and would return home late into the evening. Neither party left campus as far as anyone is aware.

PUBLIC BIOGRAPHY

A game design major with a minor in sociology. They were initially accepted into the college they attend on the grounds that they pursue studying applied analytical AI -- and allegedly knew enough about it to have already had experience building and working with professional programs, though that's only rumored -- but eventually changed degree programs with faculty permission.

Dex, under the online alias "Salem", is known to be working on several projects as we speak, largely by themself! These include Abyss, a game set at an unexplored depth in the ocean that draws inspiration from the escape room subgenre and survival horror, and I'll Be Better, a visual novel following an aromantic main character's slow detachment from their own personhood as they pursue compulsory romantic relationships and validation from several (terrible) choices to the extent that they lose who they are. He says he has more ideas, but none are fleshed out enough to formally bring up quite yet.

Not much is known about Dex. Public information just isn't really available; outside of their indie projects, any search of the name comes up nothing. The most you get is someone with the same surname who was once involved with an evangelical Protestant church in Morris County -- his mother, maybe? They look nothing alike, and Dex never talks about his home life ...

Interestingly, while they consider themself religious and attend church services, bot does not go to that one. In fact, he lives in an adjacent county altogether. Dex is noted to be friends with Leonid Simonyan, someone he sees both at these services and at school. He is also affiliated with voice actor Pablo Mercado-Moreno, though the exact nature of their relationship isn't clear.

He never brings that up, either. Aside from the technological world, and the topic of social interaction, they really don't bring things up on their own at all.

It's as if he appeared one day out of nowhere and is acting like he's been involved with the world the whole time. He also acts the part. Kind, social, but not engaged. Dex is often found in groups, rarely seen out and about by himself, but bot carries an air of detachment about them. They seem to like observing people more than they do actively interacting themself.

Dex isn't that talkative, often mumbles to himself and doesn't keep his hands still. Their speech feels almost scripted, and when not scripted it stilts. The way bot emotes in public spaces feels almost uncomfortable, like he somehow hasn't yet grown used to being around others. People find them strange.

An understanding person and fantastic listener. Indecisive, quick to fawn, folds under pressure. The universal donor.

FUN FACTS

– Cupioromantic. Specifying again here since not everyone may know what the fourth flag is, but Dex is canonically arospec.

– His hobbies outside of game development are very ... specific. They like painting rocks! And ... collecting sand samples? Why do they need that? They do not need to do that. Whatever, man, as long as he's having fun.

– Autistic; medium support needs. They particularly struggle with instrumental activities of daily living. Bot doubts he'll ever be able to live alone.

– They can write with both hands! Ambidextrous, if you will. (The joke here is that --)

– They don't swear, at all. They also rarely insult or even get openly upset with other people -- if they do, it's either accidental or their wording is light enough that the person may just not notice.

– Dex is terrible with directions. Just awful at navigating.

[rederiswrites]

Arden codex: 8, 14, 20, 23. the play one could be Very fun

Oooh, lots to work with!

8. A future historian’s analysis of Rook’s actions (Bonus: featuring a relevant primary source)

From the dissertation of Henry Darrow, University of Starkhaven.

Details as to how Arden Mercar, commonly known as Rook, became involved in the Blight of the Gods are often confused, with one source making a claim entirely contradicted by another. Some point to his involvement with the underground movement the Shadow Dragons as the point of connection, suggesting that he became involved due to Venatori alliance with the gods. Others propose that he was secretly an agent of the Tevinter military, serving under his father Charon Mercar, and his involvement with the Shadow Dragons merely a red herring.

I propose a rather radical revision of this timeline. I believe that Rook was in fact involved with a splinter faction of the Inquisition, and was in pursuit of the elven god Fen'harel before Ghilan'nain and Elgar'nan broke free of their prison. In support of this bold claim, I offer a series of fragmentary letters between one Lace Harding and known agents of the Inquisition, kept in the archives of the Mortalitasi in Nevarra.

While portions of these letters are sadly rendered illegible, what is clear is that Rook was working with this Lace Harding, as well as author and known Inquisition agent Varric Tethras, as much as a year before the Blight of the Gods began, and that they were in pursuit of an unidentified powerful figure. As you will see in the following transcriptions, we can guess a great deal that was previously hidden from these correspondences.

14. A letter from a faction leader to a companion about Rook’s actions.

Davrin--

Out of respect for your services to the Wardens to date I will not have you arrested, should you return promptly, but if I see that insolent whelp "Rook" again, I assure you, he will spend time in Weisshaupt's cells.

--First Warden Glastrum

20. Something written about Rook on a historical plaque. Oh Hmm!

ARDEN MERCAR BRAVE SON OF TEVINTER LEAD OUR FORCES AGAINST THE BLIGHTED GODS AND RETURNED THE SUN

[A more cynical scholar once noted that this statue and plaque are notably revisionist, as Rook did not carry the heraldry of Tevinter, and while the phrasing permits the viewer to believe that it was the forces of Tevinter which Arden led, in fact the Tevinter military was in disarray following the disappearance of Archon Radonis, and many of those who led the fight against the Blighted gods were from outside Tevinter's borders.]

23. Excerpt from a play dramatizing Rook’s actions (Bonus: include a review of this play)

I apologize, but the first thing that popped into my mind was the Gaang watching that terrible play together and I couldn't get past it so I've gone off prompt a bit.

"Maker, that was agonizing," Arden said, eyes squeezed shut.

"Speak for yourself. I thought my actor was amazing," said Taash. "'Raargghhh! Woarrghhh! Die, darkspawn!' Plus I had my own little mage stage hand to do the fire."

"Mhm. And you said 'therefore' and 'most certainly' and 'charge, my fair warriors' a lot less than me. So, you know, appreciate your fortune." Arden rolled his shoulders as if trying to shake off the last hour and a half.

Lucanis laughed. "Come now. You were terribly dashing. The actor is not nearly so handsome, of course, but you can't fault his commitment to the role."

"And I'll bet you loved your actor's commitment to completely destroying an Antivan accent?" Arden said.

"Very much so, actually. It had the added benefit of rendering all 'my' lines completely incomprehensible."

"Look lively, people," Neve cut in. "Here comes the director, along with a couple of aldermen if I'm not mistaken."

"Fasta vass. I need a drink," Arden muttered, straightening up and plastering a smile on his face.

[eponymous-rose]

Wednesday!

It's super foggy, so my bus gets in later than I'd like and there's no time even for the cup of tea. :( I tell my students how great they did on the first homework assignment and then launch into a lecture about the various methods we use to measure the wind. It's a fun lecture, but I'm most excited for getting into the discussion of radar next week! We also have a lecture on Friday about scientific writing that I think will be pretty interesting. Good times all around.

Lunchtime! I threw a bunch of random stuff into my bag this morning, but there's a good soup and some veggies and fruit, so I'm happy. I should probably be using this time to catch up on (SO MUCH) e-mail, but I'm just sort of zoning out and have a busy afternoon ahead, so instead I hang out and enjoy my lunch, watch some silly videos, and pay for my table vending at a card show on Sunday! Protecting an hour for lunch each day has actually been a big lift in terms of rearranging my schedule, but I notice a huge difference in my afternoon energy levels. (I do check my e-mail long enough to promise my forest service colleague that I'll get back to him tomorrow on the financial stuff.)

Now it's time for a 90-minute meeting with the team on my National Science Foundation grant - 3 professors (including me), a postdoc, and my PhD student, across two universities. The mood is considerably less panicked than it would have been yesterday! For context, all five of us have some fraction (up to 100%) of our salaries paid through this grant. One of the professors on this project is the most Eeyore person I've ever met - every statement that comes out of his mouth is a worst-case scenario or a reason why something won't work, but I've known him since I was a student, and I'm kind of used to filtering that view on life to a degree (I remember some friends and I taking him out for dinner at a conference and him saying in a morose deadpan what a good time he was having - he's just hard to read!). The other professor is an energetic ray of sunshine, but he was a little frazzled today since his kid got sick on the way to daycare and was now jumping on the couch behind him and demanding more crackers.

But it was a great meeting! We got a plan laid out for the next steps of research, and managed to put some blinders on my very, very ambitious and slightly scattered PhD student (every project leads to five side-projects with him, which is amazing... but he's meant to be defending his dissertation this summer). The highlight was when he showed some figures and promptly said "anyway, none of that's interesting, but the paper I actually want to write is--" and everyone cut him off like "WAIT WAIT PUBLISH THAT EARLIER STUFF FIRST IT'S AMAZING". I think we managed to encourage him to just publish this early stuff and also lock in the methodology so the postdoc can get started on next steps, and I got some support from sunny-professor (who was my PhD student's undergrad research advisor back in the day) to help keep my student on track - we decided to see where he's at early next week and set a deadline accordingly. We all finished the conversation in much better moods!

On to a quick half-hour chat with the student who defended his PhD last week - he has a couple questions about my comments on his dissertation and mostly just wants to pick my brain about where to put some figures in his upcoming paper. We agree that this is a job for Supplemental Materials and have a few minutes to chat about how wild the whole process feels. Since we finish a little early, I manage to get my signature on a letter supporting yet another student who recently took his PhD entrance exam.

Onward! Up next is an hour-long meeting with my first-year Master's student and her co-advisor. (Our department is very collaborative - this is my second co-advising experience, and I genuinely do really like that balance, although logistics can be a big pain.) I admire her co-advisor a lot, and I know his students think the world of him, but I think he's a little too hands-off as a research advisor sometimes - there's a time and place to let students investigate and come up with their own ideas, but a new grad student returning to academia after three years working in industry is likely going to need a little extra guidance. We do manage to throw some ideas around and I finally get a little fed up with the vagueness and point her at a dataset that I think will start to get questions going in her mind. Her co-advisor did have the excellent idea of having her put together an application for a national graduate fellowship to put a deadline on solidifying an idea for her Master's topic, and that's really helped. I also talk a bit about a Department of Energy proposal a colleague and I put together that might be a good fit for her research as well. A good chat!

Next is an undergrad research assistant (one of the amazing students taking my class this year, actually!) - she is also co-advised by another of my colleagues and I. That colleague and I have a really fun project we've been developing, also for the National Science Foundation, and one of the biggest comments on our initial submission was a lack of proof-of-concept data. Before sending in the resubmission (which is something I have to work on tomorrow), my colleague and I decided to bring on an undergraduate researcher to do some preliminary research and to get some experience working on this kind of project! We've already sent her to one conference to present her results, so she and I catch up on things (her co-advisor just left for an eight-week field campaign in a remote location in the Rockies, but will be kept up-to-date via e-mails) and she talks a bit about some of the feedback she got on her poster at the conference a couple weeks ago. That sparks some ideas about new data we want to investigate, and I think we manage to thread the needle so that we're going to be able to get substantial science done without overcommitting (she's graduating this spring!).

My final meeting is an hour-long check-in with another grad student prepping for the dreaded PhD entrance exam! He's doing extremely cool work - I like being a committee member for grad students because I get to see the work in these snapshots representing massive leaps in understanding and scientific maturity. I have just a few minor suggestions, and we agree to chat again in the next couple weeks before the exam.

Okay! It's time to make some to-do lists.

Stuff that needs to get done tomorrow (no meetings, work from home all day, sheer bliss):

Send my forest service colleague the financial info he's been waiting so patiently to get from me. This will involve coordinating with our terribly understaffed grants team and may involve me writing a few pages of justifications, so I'm anticipating this one will take a few hours.

Write letters of support for my PhD student. These are a joy to write and shouldn't take too long.

Provide comments to the postdoc out in Switzerland about her proposal. It's not a super long proposal, but it looked a little rough the last time I saw it, so I'm steeling myself for what may be a long read.

Decide whether I want to submit an abstract to a conference that'll be happening in June. It's not needed for me, but it's close by, a good friend is running it, it looks relevant, and I have some travel funds that will be deleted if they're not used by November. If I decide to go for it, writing the abstract won't take long at all.

There's a questionnaire asking how my research would be impacted by various political things going on, so I need to fill that one out.

I have a peer review for a scientific journal due on Monday that I've already delayed once - I simply gotta write it. I'm good friends with the editor, so I want to help him get that off his to-do list as well.

There's some required grants training that expires after four years, so I guess it's time for me to do that again.

Oh dang, speaking of expired, my driver's license is up and I need to apply online for the renewal (no huge inconvenience - I don't have a car and I use my passport for travel anyway).

There's a possibility of applying for a major grant with a friend in the computer science department. I don't know if either of us can put this on our plates, but we should at least chat about it quickly.

Reply to my absentee finishing-remotely-while-starting-a-new-job-but-has-been-incommunicado Master's student who reached out yesterday for the first time in three years.

Work on revisions to a grant proposal - I promised my co-author that we'd have the proposal draft ready to go by Feb. 7.

Work on revisions to the review article I have to cut down by about 5,000 words.

Stuff that needs to get done that I don't have to touch tomorrow necessarily:

E-mail my contacts in Canada and Europe re: my PhD student and future job opportunities (it's a little early to e-mail them now).

Figure out the no-cost extension process for my grant that's expiring at the end of the year - I know it has to be done at least 45 days before the grant expires.

Fill out a form that was sent to me about becoming affiliate faculty with a cool multidisciplinary institute on campus.

Make some fresh recordings for my distance-learning class next quarter (the old ones are from 2021 and I look quite frazzled).

Order copies of a couple of textbooks I'd like to evaluate for next quarter's 100-level class.

Grade the second homework assignment for my students (not due until Friday, but some may hand it in early).

Read a couple of articles recommended to me during my meetings today.

PHEW. Tomorrow is work from home! I'm excited - these have been fun days, but there's been SO MUCH one-on-one intense conversation and I'm ready to be a hermit for a bit.