Archive for Life

Reading Comics Rhetorically: Orality, Literacy, and Hybridity in Comic Narratives (Scan)

[Here is my first refereed journal article publication! BK]

category: Acceptances, Life, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics    

Celebrating 2 Years with Elizabeth (Discourse Chronicle)

[Elizabeth and I celebrated our two-year relationship anniversary with a day at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. I never rode a roller coaster in my life, but I love them now. Here are some YouTube videos showing which rides we experienced. BK]

Top Thrill Dragster (Launches at 120mph with a 400ft. drop – My Favorite Roller Coaster)

Magnum XL 200 (Top speed = 72mph with a 195ft. drop) – Elizabeth’s Favorite Roller Coaster

Raptor (Top speed = 57mph with a 119ft. loop) – Elizabeth’s Other Favorite Roller Coaster

Millennium Force (Top speed = 92mph with a 300ft. drop)

Gemini (Top speed = 60mph with a 118ft. drop)

Iron Dragon (Top speed = 40mph with a 76ft. drop)

Blue Streak (Top speed = 40mph with a 78ft. drop)

category: Life, Popular Culture    

End of the Semester [Spring 2009] (Discourse Chronicle)

[Theme song: Theme from Mission: Impossible. I always attempt selecting an appropriate song for each semester as evidence that despite seemingly increasing levels of insanity with teaching, research, classes, and personal life happenings, I maintain my unique and dry sense of humor. I am also reminded that things get done and done well whenever each semester ends and that never fails to amaze me. A few nights ago, I talked with Nick Stepaniak (my best friend of 16 years now) and he said I become more intellectually intimidating as I complete more semesters toward my PhD, which is something I never believe. All I know is where my passions lie and I love pursuing them as well as talking about them.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth successfully defended her dissertation and became Dr. Elizabeth Fleitz! Elizabeth found work next fall as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Southeast Missouri State University as well! We returned last week from finding her an apartment in Cape Girardeau, MO and she recently purchased a 2009 Chevy Malibu. We are celebrating being together for two years coming up in June.

Now I am preparing for prelim exams, which involves: reading 70 sources from a core reading list about Rhetoric and Composition; answering 3 questions from my committee in 8-10 pages per question; and developing a specialized portfolio with an extensive revision project, a course proposal and syllabus, and a review essay based on 30 self-selected sources as a specialized list. I imagine that sounds intense, but now is when I start working with my ideas under less supervision, which is something I looked forward to happening from the beginning. However, things seem like an impossible mission because I feel like I know nothing at all without courses. A strange feeling I imagine quickly passes. BK]

category: Life    

Scan: Journal of Arts, Media, Culture (Discourse Chronicle)

This article takes an interesting approach and is potentially a valid addition to the scholarship on comics. However, at present it is seriously flawed and is not publishable in a refereed journal. The author would need to make substantial corrections to the article, rewriting significant sections of the argument, for it to be published.

[Here is a “revise and resubmit” for an article I submitted about reading comics through a rhetorical lens. I plan on working with this submission further toward publication, but I do not understand how I misunderstood a source that I use regularly in my work. I am hoping things will become clearer after I revisit the article. BK]

category: Comics, Life, Popular Culture, Revisions, Rhetoric and Poetics    

Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives Update

[I recently contributed a literacy narrative to The Ohio State University’s Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives and now my story is available for viewing on its website. Any person may make a contribution at any time and researchers (undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate) will make use of them. From Cynthia. BK]

category: Gaming, Life, Literacy, Pedagogy, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

CCCC 2009 Recap

[Elizabeth and I made it back from San Francisco for a third time this year. Unfortunately, I do not have as many highlights because I spent most of the trip preparing my paper and presentation, which greeted me with poor attendance and one question from a BGSU colleague. BK]

Day 1-3

  • SWAG! All conference attendees received a tote bag from Pearson and a water bottle from Cengage along with a nametag holder and a program.
  • I finished placing orders on upcoming textbooks from publishers in the book room.
  • Elizabeth and I caught up with Dennis G. Jerz again and ate dinner at Lori’s Diner (my favorite restaurant in San Francisco).
  • I shared a narrative about learning how to read for The Ohio State University’s Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives.

category: Life    

CCCC 2009 (Discourse Chronicle)

[No blog this week. I’m presenting a paper titled “Composing in Castlevania: A Process Look at Playing Video Games” at the National C’s conference in San Francisco, CA. BK]

category: Life    

Now Playing (Discourse Chronicle)

[I realized again that much time passed since my last regular updates, so I thought I might share a few games keeping me busy. I am writing on Rock Band, Final Fantasy VII, and hopefully Street Fighter IV this semester. BK]

Rock Band

Final Fantasy VII

Street Fighter IV

category: Gaming, Life, Literacy, Pedagogy, Popular Culture, Rhetoric and Poetics, Technology    

End of the Semester – Fall 2008 (Discourse Chronicle)

[Theme: Eye of the Tiger (Survivor). A long time passed since my last entry and I apologize to my regular readers, but a lot happened swiftly during the last semester, with results I cannot complain about from my perspective. I believe the best way to describe this past term is change.

I changed my research interests from comics and rhetoric to video games and composition, but more drastic and with equally successful results, I changed my teaching style and students received it positively. For example, instead of a lengthy detailed lesson plan, I only come in with a few points and I roll with whatever my students contribute. The best times are when my students raise something popular culture and I “geek out” about it with them before relating things back to our discussion point.

Thomas R. Watson Recap

  • I listened to many presentations about digital rhetoric and multimodal composition
  • I renewed interest in an article I am preparing for submission to Computers and Composition
  • I felt I handled the question and answer period confidently with professionalism during my presentation

MLA Recap

  • I supported Elizabeth as she experienced job interviews for open positions next fall
  • I caught up with Joel Pace (an undergraduate mentor)
  • I became sick with a cold from San Francisco
  • I caught Elizabeth’s cold from San Francisco after recovering from my cold

As a result of suffering back-to-back colds, a ridiculous amount of video game playing happened for me, so I am glad I accomplished one of the things I wanted to during break. BK]

category: Life    

Sol Men (Volume One)

A quick listen to Irie Sol will have you coming away with a smile on your face and maybe a few shakes in your booty. Their polyrhythmic jams are always filled with enough funky bass and keyboard to give even the staunchest school librarian happy feet, but that isn’t where it stops. Pace and Matthews give heartfelt lyrics about war, protest, and living together in uncertain times while horn players Matt Rongstad and Jon Lanctin layer in cerebral jazz licks. When Pace laughs over the phone about trying to describe their influences, it isn’t condescension, it’s empathy. –Ian Jacoby

[Joel Pace is an Irie Sol band member, an undergraduate mentor, and close friend of mine. Irie Sol celebrates its forthcoming debut CD. BK]

category: Life, Popular Culture    

Next Page »