July 2011 – Page 5 – Silence and Voice

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-07-14

Alas, have to run again, but glad to stop by to say hello and learn a touch in the process. Until later, #phdchat colleagues. #
@SueFolley @LBA_OX12 I started to do the same; finally found a project management application I like on the Mac #phdchat #
@respros I keep and submit my notes into a university system; keeps everybody honest. I do at times struggle with agendas up front #phdchat #
@protoscholar @SueFolley Do you recount anyplace how you managed that in only 6 months? #phdchat #
@protoscholar @respros @LBA_OX12 Do you only talk when you plan an agenda of things to talk about? #phdchat #
@SarahR_H Nice to make at least the last few moments; the #phdchat conversations are so many now that it surpasses the Tweet stream memory #
@ClaretCarly @SueFolley Then again, doing original work takes time! #phdchat #
Able to come in at the tale-end of #phdchat #
@torresk @gconole I am coming to London the first week of September; perhaps then? #
Reading an interesting inter-library loan – "Transformative learning and online education: Aesthetics, dimensions, and concepts" #phdchat #
@torresk @gconole Ooh, a meetup. How lucky for you both! #
@lizith @naomi_jacobs What was the topic? Can you share one morsal for thought? #phdchat #
@hummingbird604 @thirduniversity Cheap to run? #phdchat #
@Janshs Phew!! I was literally shaking in the chair while receiving the needle, just waiting to jump with pain. #
@mkooleady I was testing my semi-structured interview questions. Useful feedback. Am working on a blog post to trace it #phdchat #
@mrgunn Yes, I heard about that; thank you. I am beginning to play around with this now. That was the one overwhelming need I had #phdchat #
@ASBO_Allstar @cambgirl Yes, I get a copy from the university as well. I only wish they also provided a CAQDAS app, too! #phdchat #
@cambgirl @ASBO_Allstar Yes, we have all had these conversations before; some things are never fully finalized, are they? 😉 #phdchat #
I just went to NYU to replace my id. Seems the entire university is getting new id cards. Note to colleagues – don't wait, no lines now. #
@ASBO_Allstar @cambgirl You are fortunate, as linking databases via cloud backups is frought with potential problems #phdchat #
@ASBO_Allstar I just assume I will have import problems that need manual cleaning. The other functionality meets my needs #phdchat #
@ASBO_Allstar Alas, I have not experienced import setting anywhere that is easy and accurate, #Papers2 included #phdchat #
@ASBO_Allstar @cambgirl Not sure I am following what you mean. I do have #Endnote in my office, though even their it is fickle #phdchat #
@cambgirl I know #Mendeley did a lot of work addressing duplicates, but it was such a problem for over a year I lost patience #phdchat #
@cambgirl To be fair, I do use #Mendeley to transfer files between locations, but the duplication issue did me in #phdchat #
@cambgirl Yes! #Papers2 plays nice with #Scrivener http://t.co/ENzKrge #phdchat #
@cambgirl #Mendeley requires a Word plug-in. My experience with plug-ins is that they lead to problems with frequent Word patches #phdchat #
@cambgirl I do not write in Word, due in part to Word's frequent file corruptions when fields are used #phdchat #
@lizgloyn @qui_oui Alas, no matter the occassion, fees never seem to go down. We get used to their increasing, and thus they do. #
@shelzangel Took time as I had to re-enter my references again, but now it is up and running, it is an integral part of my workflow #phdchat #
@cambgirl This means #Papers2 plays with #Scrivener and any other application without using fields or app plug-ins #phdchat #
@cambgirl #Papers2 has Manuscripts that allows you to search for citations and insert them, already formatted, into any application #phdchat #
@aeratcliffe You are missing the best pasrt of #Papers2 The Manuscript citation function is what separates it from the competition #phdchat #
@qui_oui I need a job like that. #
@lindathestar @merry30 @ai1sa I used to use #Endnote and then to #Mendeley and now #Papers2 Each time 1 less challenge to manage #phdchat #
@qui_oui True, though the public institutions are increasingly out of reach as well; just no funding either. #
@Lemness Indeed, all sorts of things seem possible when in the latter part of an all-nighter! #
@merry30 @ai1sa @lindathestar Agreed about those #Endnote messes. So simple in concept, though tedious in implementation #phdchat #
@cristinacost Alas, the concept is simpler than it seems, though still not sure why such hubbub about it. #
@merry30 @lindathestar @ai1sa Ahh. Seems there is no magic bullet. Alas, it is a complex issue we all have to face. #phdchat #
@Lemness Goodness, I cannot fathom that level of narrow interest. Perhaps focus is a better way to consider it. #
@qui_oui Well, that is still more than 50%+ less than the US, so on the way! #
@aeratcliffe Ahh, interesting. I do not use either, so no words of wisdom or experience to share. #
@qui_oui Ahh, welcome to US #highered as well! #
@Lemness Is it worth to give your life to change only one thing? #
I just had a second person agree to engage in my pilot, which is now scheduled for next week. After that, ready to begin! #phdchat #
@aeratcliffe What is wrong with using your MBP for everything? #
@merry30 @lindathestar @ai1sa How do you navigate and manage references without an app? #phdchat #
@lindathestar @merry30 @ai1sa I used to agree, though #Endnote is more hassle than it is worth. Now thrilled with #Papers2 #phdchat #
@aeratcliffe Too bad. May Windows treat you better than it treats everybody else! #
@ai1sa Yes, I agree that changing at this point may not be the best idea. #
@merry30 Looks like an interesting piece of research. In a way, it is potentially related to what I am about to work on http://bit.ly/lAFxSf #
@ai1sa Ahh. The challenge with #Endnote in Word (as opposed to #Scrivener or the like) is that you cannot do a proper count until the end. #
@aeratcliffe I tried this at first with a PC netbook and MBP, and become even more anxious than I am now. Stopped using my Asus as a result. #
@merry30 Ahh, I must have missed the research purpose on the survey opening-page, though I can no longer access it, so cannot check it. #
@merry30 Ahh. I was not entirely sure what the criteria were for it. #
@aeratcliffe Goodness, working between 2 systems may become a nightmare in usability and file storage. #
@Janshs The dentist must be a miracle-worker with pain. Perhaps her seeing me shake helped, but now waiting for the onlay to be built. #
@merry30 @lindathestar @ai1sa If they use fields, such as #Endnote and fields in Word, then they may not be read by the app #phdchat #
@merry30 @lindathestar @ai1sa Don't these quotes depend on the reference management application? #phdchat #
@merry30 Can you talk more about your study? Looked at it, though did not quite grasp who or what you are looking for beyond "men" #phdchat #
@jennifermjones Sounds like you are describing a threshold concept #phdchat #

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-07-13

I've just taken the WordPress 2011 User and Developer Survey, have you? http://t.co/QHrnOHK (pass it on!). #
Off to the dentist. I have some work to be done, about which I have been anxious all day. #
@RedOxxAffairs I just blogged about all the Red Oxx gear I just bought for my upcoming travel http://t.co/TcixE6c #RedOxx #
@aeratcliffe Depends on how you calculate cost, and worth, as well #phdchat #
@lynntrinko And voila; welcome! #
@jdk_music Wishing you all the best in your next steps. Change is never easy, though it leads to wonderful new possibilities #phdchat #
@rlk300 Yes; why didn't I think of that?! #
@DrEd101 Let me know if you find any that are #Scrivener videos that are particularly helpful #phdchat #
@DrEd101 I do not know any really good #Scrivener tutorials. There are a bunch of them, though none stand out right now #phdchat #
@savasavasava Excellent. Hope your travel is smooth and look forward to chatting when you have a moment. #
@lynntrinko Why are you protecting your Tweets? #
Right now, I am using ISI Web of Knowledge: Web of Science with the focus on the Social Science Citation Index. Enough for now. #phdchat #

The Travel Bag Winner? Red Oxx!

and the winner is . . . Red Oxx!

Last month I posted about how I was trying to find the perfect travel bag for carry-on (nothing with wheels as they just add weight, you lose 1/3 of the space for the wheels and handle, and it will not fit in European carry-ons). Both bags I examined were wonderful. In many ways, they were even comparable–the weight, the thickness, the quality. I even considered keeping them both, though could not justify this to myself (at least for now!). While the Tom Bihn Aeronaut seemed a little more stylish and eye-catching, I really do not want to draw any attention at all to my travel bags. The more attention, the more somebody, somewhere, on some airline will want to measure or weigh or otherwise examine my luggage, potentially delaying me or separating me from my luggage during the flight. You see, style for me translates as attention, and I do not want to attract any of it, for any reason, when I travel.

To be honest, the other deciding factor that had me settle on the Sky Train from Red Oxx, besides this bag feeling a little more rugged, was what I perceived as being stronger backpack straps and hardware. Nothing plastic in sight, the straps had solid metal hardware, felt a little more padded, and appeared to be more firmly attached to the bag itself. Let me be clear, I cannot carry any bag for long on my shoulder, as it will throw off my alignment and leave me nursing knots in my back. I am fully planning to use the backpack straps as I navigate the public transportation, trains, and walking to and from airports (not to mention navigating between terminals), as I move to and fro for the academic conferences I attend. Filling this bag with 20 pounds of clothes and books to test it as I walked around my apartment clearly showed me the Sky Train would be the hands-down winner carrying this on my back. Of course, only time will tell, so expect an update after my next travel in September.

Now I settled on a bag, all that remained was to get the assorted peripherals to help me organize the minimal load I will carry. That box just arrived, so let me share what else will travel with me (all in the colors I ordered to fit together!).

For my computer, I ordered the Metro Briefcase:

For my toiletries, I ordered the Tri-fold Shave Kit:

For my socks and such, along with assorted small items (like a clock, slippers, vitamins, etc.), I ordered 2 Nomad Shave Kits:

For my electronic items, such as chargers, camera, cords, adapters, and the like, I chose the Lil Roy:

And finally, the Travel Basket so I can have a central place in the hotel room to put my wallet, watch, hotel key, and such when I am in the room (as these things always get spread around since there is not a central home for them):

The colors of all these items fit nicely together, and will help me organize (and locate) things along the way.

I spend a lot of time thinking about travel, due in part to the fact that the trips I take are often very busy and commonly involve a number of side excursions. The less I have to consider how and what I transport while on the way to seeing what I am really traveling to see and experience, the better. Let’s hope all this gear from Red Oxx will work as I am planning; I am confident it all will.

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-07-12

Need a break; will read for the last bit of sunlight on the roof. #
Working on my literature review #Phdchat #
Was wondering when the idea would catch on; a new store on Christopher St and Greenwich Ave in #NYC will sell only tiramisu. #

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-07-11

@qui_oui 🙂 #
@kiwicito Yes, it was nice to spend time outside in the yard; best weather all year. #
@qui_oui Seems there are various #phdchat lists going around, so please add me to this one as well! #
I took most of the day off from my studies after this morning; I pruned trees and bushes, along with grocery-shop, today. Nice. #phdchat #