ezra winton

Writing a PhD thesis is like sailing (if you’ve never done either)

Posted by in Academix, Personal Travails

On December 18th, 2013, I sat in a stodgy IT classroom in Carleton University (Ottawa), surrounded by five extremely intelligent people (one via Skype) who were there to challenge, provoke, rock and ultimately assess me. It was the end of six-and-a-half years of “doing” my PhD, and there I was, my doorstopper thesis in front of me looking like a turgid treatise destined for decades of editing or neglect (take your pick), and a clutch of eager professors ready to advance like well-meaning warriors who hadn’t eaten properly for days.

Feb.19
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2012: The year I grew up

Posted by in Personal Travails

Many cultures imbue numbers with great significance and others engage in the mass psychological delusion of New Years resolutions each January 1st. For my part, I don’t have irrational faith in the potential for numeric interventions in the chaotic unfolding of my destiny but I do quietly partake in the renewal ritual of cleaning up one’s messy metaphorical room at the turning of each new year. Having said that, 2012 is a nice even number that will hopefully mark some much-needed balance and focus in my life and in these…read more

Jan.05
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Sprung spring not quite

Posted by in Personal Travails

The subtle sounds of spring are quietly entering the streets of Montreal: birds chirping, ice melting under sun beams, the chatter of many people hitting the pavement. But alas, it is not quite sprung. It is still dreadfully cold here and save for the warm rays coming through winter glass, the trappings of winter remains tightly bound round my body, mind and soul. It is that time of the year again, the last cragging gasps of the long, cold, white and gray Quebec winter and I am so ready to…read more

Mar.14
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Done, done and doner

Posted by in Academix, Personal Travails

Short post of revelation: I successfully handed in my LAST paper for a required course ever. I wrote a 30+ paper for Ira Wagman on critical pedagogy and Communication Studies for my last required course of my PhD last week. I’ve spent a few days chilling out, and now it’s back to work. I need to get my Second Comprehensive Exam in order (a 35-40 page essay due in the spring) and begin putting together my 15 page PhD Thesis Proposal. I also have agreed to present papers on two…read more

Feb.16
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Shout out

Posted by in Academix, Personal Travails

Just a quick shout out to all of you who apparently are kind of regularly reading this here blog and also to the handful of you who have sent me kind words. It’s nice to know that when you are speaking to the vast and indiscernable void that is cyberspace, that there are actually some real humans at the other end listening and even communicating back. Thanks! Some updates: I’ve finished my textbook chapter with Ira Wagman for the next edition of the undergraduate communication studies textbook Mediascapes. Our chapter…read more

Oct.22
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