Interrupting my usual programming to say that I read my first ever graphic novel/memoir/anything! Thanks to @tenspeedpress for sending me This Beautiful Ridiculous City by Kay Sohini, which finally prompted me to engage with this genre.

As a former urban literary scholar this was a return to my urban literary roots, and just a beautiful representation of the city overall. Full disclosure that Kay and I were at Stony Brook University doing our Ph.D.s in different lit departments around the same time. We’ve worked together before (she invited me to present on an MLA panel on careers back when I was about a year into my new life in publishing).

Reading books by people you know (even tangentially) is always a unique experience because you’re seeing the world through the eyes of someone that you’ve met, engaged with. It’s just a really different experience than reading works by a stranger (which is the majority of my reading).

What is really stunning about this work is that it isn’t just a book, it’s a beautifully conceived object. The artwork and color palette are stunning. I immediately felt like I’ll definitely reread and return to this book to take in the visuals and the nuances of the story.

It’s also a book I could see leaving out on my coffee table, or some other flat surface that needs a little life. It’s so vibrant, and a book I could see myself just thumbing through casually to brighten my day.

It deals with serious life challenges, but I think the seriousness and introspection of the work is offset by the brightness and vibrancy of the artwork.

10/10 would recommend. (And believe it or not I read a TON and don’t recommend or post about a large percentage of what I read).

QOTD: have you read any graphic books?

#bookstagram #bookstodon #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bibliophile #bibliophilelife #graphicmemoir #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookish #bookishlife #bookishlifestyle #bookflatlay #bookdecor #phdlife #postdoclife #theleveragedphd #academicaesthet

What is disappearance? In short, it is a repressive tactic used by authoritarian states to terrorize the civilian population into submission.

While the term “the disappeared” emerges in the aftermath of authoritarianism in Guatemala (1966) and Operation Condor in South America (perhaps most famously General Pinochet and his reign of terror in Chilean, but also juntas across South America including in Argentina), it describes a tactic that has long been in use and continues to be used by authoritarian regimes across the world, so it’s a concept to be aware of and understand.

Disappearance is characterized by illegal abduction, secret detention centers, torture, death, and unofficial burial.


Disappearance was, in theory, a way to avoid responsibility. The state maintained plausible deniability while effectively terrorizing their citizens into submission. The message is clear, you could be next.

QOTD: Have you heard of disappearing?

#studygram #notestagram #studygrammer #studying #academicaesthetic #academiaesthetic #researchlife #fountainpenink #postdoclife #theleveragedphd #fountainpen #journalaesthetic #fountainpenlover #darkacademia #studyspace #studytips #studyaesthetic #studyspo #studylife #studymotivation #rockyourhandwriting #journalaesthetic #studywithme #notespread #journaling #journalingcommunity #cozystudying #cozyaesthetic #leuchtturm1917

Start in das neue Jahr
Heute mit einem Meeting der gesamten Projektwoche (online) um ein Update über den aktuellen Stand meiner Analyse zum Stand der Diversität von europäischen Vögeln zu geben.
Das Ziel: Feedback zu bekommen und zu brainstormen, welche Story ein finales Paper erzählen könnte.
Da ich nach ausgiebigem Testen & einer erneuten Literaturrecherche leider nichtmehr 100% von der 'neuen' Methode bin die wir testen wollten, war ich auf frische Gedanken der Anderen gespannt.
Ganz aufgeben werde ich die Methode nicht, aber vorraussichtlich wird sie nun ein Teil des Papiers (und nicht mehr der Hauptteil) werden. Mit ihrer Hilfe lässt sich mMn schon tendenziell aufgeschlüsseln, welche unterliegenden Mechanismen eine Veränderung des Artenreichtums von lokaler bis regionaler Ebene verursacht haben (Veränderung der Gesamtzahl der Vögel, eine Verschiebung des Verhältnisses zw den Arten oder die räumliche Ausbreitung von Individuen einer Art). Aber eben nur tendenziell. Denn gerade wenn man wie wir unterschiedliche Ländern oder Ökoregionen vergleichen möchte, spielen mMn zu viele zusätzliche Faktoren und Unterschiede mit rein um die errechneten Zahlen als absolutes Ergebnis zu betrachten.
Es bleibt also viel zu tun
(Repost von Insta)

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