Socially Distant Cuisine

The Washington Monthly has long been a critc of the US News and World Report college rankings. Finally, they've come up with an alternative . The idea of ranking schools based upon "what [they] are doing for the country," is an interesting one... and not just because my alma mater ranks as the number one liberal arts college. In the Monthly's own words: Imagine, then, what would happen if thousands of schools were suddenly motivated to try to boost their scores on The Washington Monthly College Rankings. They'd start enrolling greater numbers of low-income students and putting great effort into ensuring that these students graduate. They'd encourage more of their students to join the Peace Corps or the military. They'd intensify their focus on producing more Ph.D. graduates in science and engineering. And as a result, we all would benefit from a wealthier, freer, more vibrant, and democratic country. I think the business of coming up with more mea...

So, all summer I've been obsessively reading Tomato Nation for its fabulously frank advice column The Vine. Honestly, everyone should read a good dose of this advice, though sometimes I wonder if my addiction is starting to make me a little callous. I find myself saying to people things like "No, I don't think he's in love with you," and "She's being a hosebeast, and you shouldn't have to put up with it." Is it better to be reassuring, even though it's just platitudes, or to give people a dose of reality when they're bordering on delusional? The Vine has convinced me of the latter, I think.

I'll be posting from time to time on my grad program's blog, Kindling Flames . I'm totally excited to have a place to muse about issues of education policy... you should check it out!

If you haven't, you must visit Toothpaste for Dinner . Pure brilliance!

I've always been interested in online communication. I'm not too shy to admit that I was a geeky HS girl who used IRC way back in 1995. I'm sure I'll wax poetic about the things that fascinate me about the medium in the future, but for now, I'll stick to the point. As an undergrad, I did an ethnographic study of online communication on my little liberal arts campus, and as a result, became actively involved in the online community there. I guess that I was a little more notorious than I thought, because every once in awhile, I'll randomly meet someone who went to my school, but who I don't know. It's 2 years later, and still I've heard more than once: "I know you-- you're the Purple Font Girl." I'm the Purple Font Girl. Now that I'm back to posting online, it only seems fitting.