After one passes the qualifying exams in a doctoral program (and other assorted paperwork), one is considered “All But Dissertation,” or “ABD.” Perhaps some would say that this is a great accomplishment.  Others, like myself, would say it’s okay.  But being “All But Dissertation” is like being a body designated “All But Head” or “All But Torso.”

That is how I prefer to think about where I am now in my program.  All But Vital Organs.  All But Thumbs and Big Toes.  All But 200 Page Paper.

However, it has been brought to my attention that I am now in a Wikipedia article.  About the BU housing system.  This cheers me some.  I think this is good in an “All But Something For Which I Actually Hoped to Be Recognized” sort of way.

Finally this week, I was directed from BoingBoing to the Wonkette blog for commentary on the Virginia Tech tragedy.  I read a short entry about how Virginia Tech’s shootings resulted in fraction of the deaths that a car bombing in Iraq ended in, but that the car bombing barely made the news.  Underneath the entry was a “read more” section with these tags:  apocalypse, decline & fall, horror, surge, terror. 

On the right of these tags was an American Apparel add for underwear.  Impossible models were baring their impossibly toned bottoms.  I honestly thought that the tag words/links were actually a separate entry related to the American Apparel add.  I thought Wonkette was saying that the Virginia Tech shooting was a sign of the apocalypse, just like our obsession with consumerism and perfect bodies.  That we are going down the wrong road fast and should be very afraid.

But no.  It was just an add.  For underwear.  With absolutely no sense of irony whatsoever. 

I find that the most disappointing, the lack of self-awareness, since all of the comments (and the post itself) wanted so badly to be ironic.  Or maybe just relevant.  But they failed to do either.

But what do I know?  Most would just consider me All But Politically Enlightened.