I wish it would rain here and that summer would end. We had a couple of 100 degree days last week and the renegade mosquitoes are killing me.

I have more grading. Kill me now.

Holy crap, y'all, if Lulu had been around when we first did this would it ever have saved us a load of trouble. And expense.

I give to you The Buffistas Cookbook, second printing.

Oy! So true! Thank you, brenda, for setting that up! Awesome!

Isn't Lulu terrific! I think I'm going to snag a PDF. I have two printed copies (and gave away more as Xmas presents) but it would be nice to have it always in electronic form for quick searching and the like.

More Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

This time, Amy Poehler is Katie Couric.

Oh, and I ordered my Buffistas Cookbook! Yay!

I have a question.

You know that habit of women-who-speaks-English to end emails/messages with x? As in, singing their names, followed by a(n?) x? So, like, what is this x? What does it want from me? I know xoxo is for hugs and kisses, but why would strangers add that? Is this a "cute" thing or something of this sort? It's all too confusing.

Regards,
She-Who's-Still-Trying-To-Understand-The-"Cheers"-Thing

Hey everybody! The Buffista Cookbook really does rule. I use the cookie recipes on a regular basis.

Also, I've been looking into PhDs in the States lately, and I know there's a few people on the board who have already taken that route. I have many, many questions, but my main one is - how necessary is it to be proficient in a foreign language? Is it something they waive if your'e coming from a system where that's never been a requirement?

Tina Fey is so damn funny. I also like how they just ignore Amy Poehler's pregnant belly.

I have to figure out how to structure my day, so I don't end up watching So You Think You Can Dance on MTV all day.

For an archaeology PhD in an anthro department, you will probably need to pass a written test where you translate a scholarly passage. In one language; they tend to prefer one relevant to your course of study. (But my friend who wrote PhD in American history passed hers with Russian!)

Classics is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. I took classical Greek for 6 quarters in my PhD program, and had to pass written exams in French and German. I think Italian or modern Greek would have counted, and maybe Turkish depending on your area of study. I don't think you can get in to a Classics phd program without at least some latin or Greek.

Oh, and if your native language is not English, they *might* waive the language requirement, if you do well on the TOEFL. I don't suppose you grew up speaking Irish? Turks and Greeks in my program generally only had to do one foreign language exam (plus English).

I don't remember Lewis needing a foreign language requirement for his Ph.D., but then again, he was in a science track (genetic epidemiology and biostatistics) so that may be the reason why.