Everything's kind of a mess

I've just moved into my summer sublet over on Dwight, where I'll dwell for two-and-a-half months before I head over to UIS. I began a new job at the Survey Research Center over at UC Berkeley. Back when I was a sociology student, Professor Kristin Luker would always talk about a survey method called CATI, or Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing. Basically, people read a meticulously thought out questionnaire that pops up on the computer screen, and record results according to particular coding. Anyone who took a methods course knew of this method, but I never thought that I'd be participating in something like it.

While pay is a lot more, I have nearly no connection with the people there. I basically isolate myself in a cubicle and listen to everyone read the same prompt to different potential respondents. At the Cal Student Store, I at least had people my age whom I could talk to and relate to. The SRC is more mundane. It's difficult to perceive the great social and academic impact of the study while you're reading the same prompt over and over again. Prof. Luker (who has a new book out) always noted that surveys are important for getting small amounts of information from a broad group of people. I definitely think I'm more about the great amounts of information from a few people.

Anyway, I just moved all my stuff into the Dwight sublet. Yesterday was most of the hard work, today was more follow-up...and pie! Phil, Sofia, and I went to Walnut Creek and Marie Callender's. Sofie got Blueberry Cream, Phil got Pumpkin, and I got Key Lime. I don't think the Key Lime agreed with me.

We walked around after that, looked through H&M, the Build-a-bear Shop, and a Barnes & Noble. The BBS is the craziest thing, they take these empty, hollow shells and anally probe them with a machine, then stuff them silly. The bears come out looking brand new...but the whole process seems mechanically sadistic. But I guess lieele children would get a kick out of it.

I got the SparkNotes version for "How to get a job in Magazines." I feel a little ashamed that I have to resort to guidebooks when I'm going to grad school, but at $13 it seemed like there was enough information to justify the cost. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

I'm going to try and work on my rice post, but inbetween moving my stuff, helping with Phil's stuff, and my new job, it's been tough to freelance. I do need to re-devote myself, because I have been slacking and lackadaisical for a while now.