But Am I a “Useful” Doctor?

What a way to while away 2100+ days. But who is keeping tab when you have three more letters and a period–or is it two?–beside your name.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Alberta let me know in a simple generic e-mail today that I have met all the requirements for completing the Ph.D. Programme…except one.

I owe $1 in library fines…I think I’ll pay it in pennies.

I have not posted in almost a year for the dissertation cause— and that’s how it got done. For those so inclined you can view my thesis through the University of Alberta Electronic Thesis Portal:

Divided Landscapes

So where to go from here? In a nutshell two roads, one relatively straightforward and the other very much a work in progress. First–the amazing and ongoing story of Nordegg. The other…Mordecai Richler, Quebec, and self-censorship. The Council of Canadians and English-Canadian thinkers thrown in for good measure.

In the meantime its time to work on getting the dissertation into manuscript form. Lots to do when there is no longer a singular focus…like a full time job.

I know I have posted elsewhere but a hearty and passionate thank you to all who have allowed me to successfully pursue the Ph.D. (I guess there ARE two periods). I have posted a link to two blog entries that are getting a lot of discussion these days. They touch upon some ideas that bring together some of the above things I am ruminating with these days–but in a not-so-bygone era when there was no Internet much less Twitter or blogging. My apologies to those who have already read it/them but it is, in my humble opinion, an insightful dialogue…

\”Why I Quit My Job ( July 8, 2011)\”

And here is one response:

http://www.vancourier.com/news/didn+quit/5085267/story.html

Maybe they should sort out their differences in the ‘squared circle’