back to school

Well, technically, my spring 2006 semester began today, though my actual classes don't start until tomorrow. I've still got some issues to work out in terms of registration, but here's how my semester's looking (each course title links you to the professor's CV):

PHIL 6700: Ethics
PHIL 6820: Philosophy of Law
PHIL 8950: Directed Reading: 20th Century Metaethics

I'll also be a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Steve Jacobson. All-in-all, the semester should be both interesting and relaxing, hopefully giving me both the inspiration and spare time I'll need to get started on my thesis. I'm pretty excited.

Molly continues to knock her bosses' socks off. They really love her there.

Clementine seems to have shaken off her second urinary tract infection. And, to our delight, she's started to walk into and lay down in her kennel by her own willing. I left her in the kennel this morning at about 9:15am. I've been home for about 45 minutes now and she couldn't be less interested in waking up and going potty. Finally, she's starting to act like an adult dog.

In closing, here's one of my favorite pictures of Molly as a child:

and so it goes . . .

Well, I just dropped a pretty penny today on my LSAT study guides. I'll probably take the test this summer.

Gosh, I'm sick of takin' tests.


Everything's going fairly well in the Sias home. I'm beginning to recover from an illness I picked up from that lovely wife of mine. I've spent half of the day today in the bathroom wiping snot off my face. It's been great.

Molly and I were more productive last night for about three hours than we have been in a long time, getting done some of the chores that we've both been whining about for months. Yeah, all in time to watch the Bulldogs forfeit the Nokia Sugar Bowl (not cool).

I've got two more big chores to get done tomorrow: (1) get a new driver's license and (2) settle the hold that Georgia State has put on my account (their fault, by the way) so I can go ahead and register for classes.

Okay, my nose is running again. Gots to go.

big money! big money!

Not to gloat or anything, but I just thought I'd tell you all that my wonderful wife Molly has just been given a raise! I'm very proud of her; there's really no one more deserving of it.

which is which?

Below are two pictures - one of me and one of Sufjan Stevens, one of my favorite musicians these days. Can you tell which is which? Good luck.

We've got Christmas spirit, yes we do!

We've got Christmas spirit, how 'bout you?

photos for you

Here are some shots I took in Michigan. As usual, you can click on any of them for a larger view.

The road into my hometown.

Molly enjoying the snow.

The Star Theater in the center of town.

The center of town, Christmas tree and all.

Big Boy.

Water tower in my hometown of Brooklyn. (For those with an artist's eye: Notice all of the diagonals.)

Sunset over snowy farm. Thanks to Heather for snapping this shot in my stead (I was driving).

Tunnel from Concourse A to Concourse B in the Detroit Airport. I call it: "It gets me from A to B."

The trip was nice, considering. It's nice to get back, though, and celebrate the holidays at home with friends and family.

I finished (and handed in) my last paper of the semester today. All I've got left is (a) an exam on Thursday morning and (b) some TA duties here and there (recording grades and what-not).

Molly gets her Christmas bonus check Thursday. Yeah, buddy.

Clementine grew noticeably larger during the four days that we were away. Needless to say, she doesn't fit in one hand anymore.

Later, everyone.

more prayers needed

For those of you who may not yet know, my grandfather, Thomas Auld, has just passed away. I'll spare you all the details (if you must know, call me - 678-357-7721), but suffice it to say, it's really bad. Please pray for our family - my mother, especially - as we try and make it through these next few weeks.

I was really close to my grandfather throughout my childhood. This is tough.

friends and family, i need your help!

Dearest friends and family members,

I'm working on a paper right now (not for any class; I'll probably submit it for presentation at another conference), and I need all of you to answer two very simple questions. Please take a few minutes to read the following story (it's only 6 sentences) and answer the two questions that follow. I NEED AS MANY RESPONSES AS POSSIBLE. SO PLEASE, EVERYONE, RESPOND. But, of course, don't respond more than once.

Here's how to answer: Click on the "1 Comments" link at the very bottom of this post. A new window should open up. In the "Leave your comment" box, write your two answers (just a letter will do, but make sure I know which letter belongs to which question). Where it says "Choose an identity," click "Anonymous." Just below that, there should be a "Word verification" box. Just type in the funky letters that appear above the box. Then click "Publish Your Comment."

Your answers will not appear on the blog; they'll be sent directly to me. Thanks.

One more thing: Don't over-think your answers. I'm more interested in your gut/intuitive responses.

Okay, here's the story. Questions below.

The vice-president of a company went to the chairman of the board and said, “We are thinking of starting a new program. It will help us increase profits, but it will also harm the environment.”

The chairman of the board answered, “I don’t care at all about harming the environment. I just want to make as much profit as I can. Let’s start the new program.”

They started the program, and sure enough, the environment was harmed.

1. Which of the following is most accurate?

a. The chairman intentionally started the new program.
b. The chairman intentionally harmed the environment.
c. The chairman intentionally started the new program and the chairman intentionally harmed the environment.

2. Regardless of your answer to #1, should the chairman be blamed for harming the environment?

a. Yes
b. No

Thanks again, everyone! Once I feel like I've received all the responses I'm gonna get, I'll tell you all if I got the kinds of responses I want.

p.s. If, for any reason, you have problems submitting your answers, you can always email them to me: jsias1@gmail.com.

UPDATE: Thanks to the few who have responded already.

back into the swing of things

Well, it's sad to say, but Thanksgiving break is no more. Molly and I had a blast down in Peachtree City hangin' out with her family. The for-real poker table was a nice touch . . . along with the three victories . . . ahem, ahem. And to top it all off, I got to watch the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (big in-state rivals, for those of you who may not be aware) with my wonderful mother out in Snellville. Molly wasn't quite as excited as I was, but she tried her best, and that's all that counts.

So remember how I told you all about that Philosophy of Mind paper that I was worried about? From the "updates and funny pictures for everyone post":

I handed in a huge paper yesterday, and to be perfectly honest, I'm afraid it might be one of the worst papers I've written in a while. And what's worse . . . it counts as 65% of my final grade in this class. So, as you continue to pray for Mom's recovery (see below), pray that this paper is actually a lot better than I feel like it is.

Well, I got it back today and, as it turns out, I actually did do a lot better than I expected I would. Technically, this was supposed to be a "polished early draft," to which Dr. Nahmias would suggest revisions. We hand in our final draft in a week or two. So on this draft, he didn't really give us a grade per se, but he did give us a general idea of what grade we would have gotten if that were our final draft. And, apparently, my paper is "already in the A-range."

So, I'll correct the few technical problems, insert another paragraph or two responding to an objection he raises, and that'll be that. That should secure me a solid A in that class . . . and hopefully, a strong letter of recommendation next year when I apply to schools.

Mom's doing well. We went to church with her yesterday and she went out of her way to discourage a few people from making meals for her. For those of you who have prayed (or continue to pray) for her, pray specifically that the wound itself heals quickly. My mother is the world's slowest healer. I swear, she's got bruises on her body from the 70's. So there's no telling how long a serious surgical wound will take to heal . . . and I'm sure after a while that'll just get really, really annoying for her.

One of Molly's co-workers cracked a joke today that implied that her Christmas bonus might even be down near $50. So pray that that chick is crazy. If in July, the company had over $100,000 put aside for Christmas bonuses, and there are only 40-or-so employees, and everyone, including the president of the company, has spent the last few months raving about Molly, but Molly only gets a $50 Christmas bonus, . . . well, no Christmas presents for Clementine, that's for sure.

Again, I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Here's looking forward to Christmastime.

p.s., Just 5(ish) more weeks until CMS Chris C. Stanifer's triumphant return.

new links

Just so ya know, I changed a couple of the links in the "stuff to keep you busy" section of the sidebar.

Sean and I have just recently started our own philosophy blog . . . and not just because we're geeks. Believe it or not, but there's a pretty robust community of philosophers blogging these days (and not just students). Anything we can do to better connect ourselves with other philosophers is worth it. So you can check that out here.

And, just so you can get an idea of the current status of philosophy Ph.D. programs, I've added a link to the 2004-2006 overall rankings. And if you're bored, you can look at the rankings for my particular area of interest. Really, a Ph.D. from any school on that list would be amazing.