Scopes and Dissertations
On July 10th, 1925, the so-called Scopes Monkey Trial began in Dayton, Tennessee. The trial was actually concerned with a misdemeanor offense resulting in a $100 fine. However, the fallout from this trial changed the world by firmly establishing the concepts of separation of church and state, freedom of speech, and academic freedom. This notion […]
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“Dr. Livingstone, I Presume” and Dissertations
On July 9th, 1867, E.D. Young set out to find Dr. David Livingstone who had disappeared about two years earlier on an expedition of his own to find the source of the Nile River. The search successfully concluded nearly four years later with the famous salutation, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Those familiar with history would […]
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APA and Dissertations
On July 8th, 1892, the American Psychological Association was first organized in Worchester, Massachusetts. Since then the APA has worked tirelessly to promote the development and application of psychology, to establish high standards of research ethics, and to become the bane of existence for doctoral students working on their dissertations everywhere… Despite the APA’s many publications, divisions, […]
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Sliced Bread and Dissertations
On this day, July 7th, in 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company sold the first loaf of sliced bread. “Kleen Maid Sliced Bread” was marketed as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped.” Sliced bread has since become the metric against greatness is measured, in everything from food to inventions to […]
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Kisses and Dissertations
July 6th is World Kiss Day. Hopefully, when you woke this morning, you gave your partner a kiss. Maybe you have young children who still live at home, and you were able to give them a kiss before you rushed off to work today. A kiss from a mother can soothe a scrapped knee. A […]
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Genius and Dissertations
On July 5th, 1687 Sir Isaac Newton published Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, perhaps the most singular work of genius ever, and thereby set off a crisis of confidence among mere mortal doctoral students everywhere… A couple of days ago, I talked about the head trash that so many doctoral students collect on their dissertation journeys. Do […]
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Independence and Dissertations
Today, July 4th, is Independence Day in the U.S. Although I like to keep this missive light-hearted and maybe even a little humorous, today I think that it’s important to consider the magnitude of the actions of those who came before us — and, of course, to mention how those actions tie into your dissertation… […]
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Plastic Bags and Dissertations
Today, July 3rd, is International Plastic Bag Free Day. There are vast islands of waste swirling in the Pacific Ocean much of this waste is comprised of plastic containers of various sorts. Some of these islands are over hundred miles across! You may ask how does this much trash get stuck in one place? …And, […]
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UFOs and Dissertations
Today, July 2nd, is World UFO Day. Although this day is meant to commemorate the 1947 event when a rancher outside of Roswell, New Mexico supposedly discovered an alien crash site on his property, UFOs have a special meaning for dissertation students as well… In my conversations with dissertation students, the subject of UFOs arises […]
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Ice Cream and Dissertations
Today, July 1st, is National Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day. What’s your favorite dissertation-related ice cream flavor? Let me know in the comments below. And be sure to share this post with anyone you know who needs to add a little sweetness to their dissertation project! Here is a list of flavors I came up […]
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