rants, raves, & randoms

I’ve been working away at my dissertation, and I really have been working on it—not as much or as consistently as I had hoped, but I am working on it everyday.  Yesterday I worked for about five hours and came a way with about nine pages of single-spaced notes.

I downloaded this program called Freedom a while back that seemed to make all the difference yesterday.  Basically, Freedom locks you out of your internet connection for a specified amount of time.  The only way to override this is to restart my computer, and while that isn’t that big of a deal, it is enough of a hassle (and a reminder that I am supposed to be working) that I just worked right through.  The time limit gives me a sense of urgency, that I only have two hours to get this done.  I am actually kind of excited to get back to work again today!

Here’s a an interesting little tid-bit: Brian WIlson has only ever won one Grammy, and it was in 2004 for an instrumental track.  It’s odd that he never won any in the 60s…who was winning them?  A (‘cause I just looked it up): Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band got Best Album in 1967, “Michelle” got Best Song in 1966.  Blood Sweat and Tears won Best Album in 1968.  Bridge Over Troubled Water (and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”) totally cleaned up in 1970 with Best Recording, Best Album, and Best Song.