Filter & Sort
Privacy and Security: "Big and Little 'P' Policy"
On the national policy front, or "Big 'P' Policy, both privacy and security issues are rising to the fore. Do not track mechanisms are, to quote a New York Times recent article on this subject, "features on browsers — like Mozilla’s Firefox — that give consumers the option of sending out digital signals asking companies to stop collecting information about their online activities for purposes of targeted advertising." The market sector is not happy. Microsoft is releasing version 10 of its web browser, Internet Explorer, with a default do not track setting; to allow cookies or other tracking requires the user to change the setting. Business interests have reacted angrily, with the Association of National Advertisers sending Microsoft's CEO, Steve Ballmer, an open letter objecting to that decision.
The Nobel Satirist
The most famous literary award in the world finally catches up with Chinese literature. Scott McLemee discusses Mo Yan.
Impostors, Performers, Professionals - II
Steven J. Corbett and Teagan E. Decker consider the job search process.
To the Barricades -- With Data
The recent political flap over unemployment rates shows just why federal data collection efforts need the support of scholars and the public, writes Felicia B. LeClere.
On the Art of Selecting a Graduate Program
After taking into account the costs of pursuing a graduate degree, you now move on to one of the most stressful parts of your graduate experience: deciding which program is right for you. As a graduate student in the seventh (and final) year of my doctoral program with a remarkably large group of friends who have pursued graduate degrees, I have spent a lot of time talking to those applying to graduate school in a variety of fields and listening to what did and didn’t work for them, as well as the regrets that they had once the process was over.
The Teaching Track? Really?
The idea that there should be two tracks in higher ed is making the rounds again. I'm not impressed.
The Risks of Being an Independent Researcher
Initially, I wanted to write about ‘the benefits’ instead of mentioning a term with intrinsic conflicting, and not always positive, connotations. On the other hand, while trying to make a mental summary of my ideas, I discovered that, in fact, the option of being an independent researcher may present several serious challenges.
A College Tax?
It’s “Bad Idea Week” over at the Chronicle. They’ve solicited “out of the box” ideas for changing higher education. Some of them -- hey, what if community colleges hired faculty to teach? -- are just banal. (What, exactly, do you think we’ve been doing?) But others are interesting failures.