Hey someone! you don't think we'd let you steal the crown like that do you? Novelty is no excuse, we know what you're up to, no amount of presents will obscure your usurping attempt. Class new name for Wal too...

We do this for a bit and then forget, then do it again. It's just another tactic to keep our vast intellects from exploding with pressure.

Can't wait, good to see Chris Morris making a movie.

Wal, have you reeeeeeeeaaaaaalllyyyyyy been through all the posts to check that?????? I mean... the apples are lovely!

Hi Wal, I've been working on a thesis outline (for god knows how long) and have found it very useful for formulating my framework and thesis structure. It's, basically, a miniature version of the thesis, with at least 1000 words for each chapter, and more for the introduction in which I've been working out the framework. This excercise has allowed me to see the thesis as a whole, and how well the various frameworks I've tried out will operate in each chapter before I commit to writing up or indepth research for all of my chapters. I've made quite a lot of adjustments as a result and am now far more confdent about the way the thesis will fit together when I finally come to writing it up. It's also been a good way of distilling my material down to the most useful and important bits. Maybe a mini version of this excercise will help you. Not sure if this post will help, or just state the obvious, but I thought I'd pass on what has helped me.

Hi Mrrox, I feel exactly the same way. I am self funded and haven't worked on my PhD for about 2 months now, partly due to Christmas and illness, but also, largely due to a mountain of marking and lecture preparation. I find it very difficult to switch to the PhD after marking 8 - 10 essays in a day (and doing the students justice). All I can say is, get your CV out there and take the best options available. If you are extremely lucky your department may have some research work for you, or you may find some teaching, you could tryy registering with supply agencies (schools) and sending your CV to lots of different unis/departments in your area. Good luck.

Bug, if you can't be sympathetic, then very often it is best not to respond. There are plenty of people out there who would love to be in your position re research posts, especially, even those who already have PhDs, but they find no problem helping you out when you hit your difficulties.

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I think this could be a really interesting discussion, but it's not really a question about funding and timetabling as your title suggests, and it would help if you credited PhD students with a bit more awareness of their situation re the realities of economics to academic life, we are not that dim. Plus, I think the post would be better responded to if you had a definite point that you want to discuss which is indicated, clearly, in the heading and in the text of your original post. It seems to me that you want have a discussion about the intricacies of the impact of departmental economics on the PhD process in various disciplines, and, I am hoping, something of a discussion about how to make the process more 'transparent'; although that has been hoped for often on this forum - isn't it a pretty well discussed issue generally, I've seen articles on this in the press - I'm not sure PhD students have enough knowledge of the other side of academia to conduct a thorough discussion - we could offer you suggestions of what we'd like though, but you'd need to make it clear that is what you want.

Love the theme music

I must say Wally, that was much better than Jonathan, oh dear I can't see the autocue, Ross. Here are my responses:

'Now the Book of Eli. Hmmm, where the hell did Denzel Washington learn his kung fu from?' Who cares? It looks great and it's all make believe anyhow, his charcter, as you say, is Christ-like, and thus has similar magical powers...

'The Book of Eli could be classed as a Christian movie on acid and steroids, with a dollop of Spaghetti Western thrown in to the mix.' Sounds crazily great, but I'd add Mad Max to that list, making it even better in my eyes.

Got to go to bed and resist John Carpenter's The Fog whichhas just started on telly, been ridiculously tired today.

You've made me think twice about seeing The Road

I saw Daybreakers and Nowhere Boy last week. Both good, I thought, although Daybreakers came out tops for me. It has some really beautifully composed shots, is smoothly made and acted, and I like that the vampire story was given a genuinely interesting twist. It gave me just enough of a fright too, in a few different ways. Nowhere Boy was a good, interesting story, but I think it's best treated as largely fiction - some brilliant acting in that from Kristen Scott Thomas, that girl from Shameless and the lead. Great choice for Paul McCartney too. The sequence in which John Lennon's mum dies is brilliant, particularly in terms of sund and editing.

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I say let 'em burn, so long as they can't burn you afterwards... Is it FE teaching? That is absolutely the worst sector for temp teaching work, at least some places in HE pay properly. I found supply teaching at schools lucrative - 120 quid for the day with no prep or marking (it's usually less if you've no QTS, but they considered me to be an expert in my subject so gave me the full whack), but it's very thin on the ground. I know what you mean about the head above water thing, I'm only just managing it and that situation could last quite I while, I fear.

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[quote]Quote From Dr_Strangelove:

'Well, of course departments and unis are under a lot of pressure to deliver revenue by whatever means and it stand to reason that those lecturers/potential supervisors who are ruthless will exploit potential and current PhD studnts in order to meet their targets.'

Well guys, is this such an obvious thought??! I mean, it looks to me as a very serious conflict of interests, where the party that takes the money can decide to take much more without giving any substantial reason for this! I wouldnt dismiss it that lightly, even because once entered the academia you will have to deal with it again, if only as a witness or co-supervisor.

I don't entirely understand your respone: I was agreeing with you, not dismissing your words, and , yes, from where I am sitting, with my experience of several competitive career areas, including academia, it is a very obvious thought: there are always ruthless people in any given area and they will exploit who ever they can however they can, especially when their careers depend on it. And yes, of course, I agree with your opinion on the other kinds of exploitation experienced by PhD students, not least because I have experienced all of them first hand and because they have been discussed by others, at length, on this forum many times. The issue of regulating the PhD process in order to make it less exploitative has been a popular one too - we have never, ever ruled out the idea that these experiences are rooted in economic concerns. We support eachother here, and try to get through this often exploitative ad demoralising process; unfortuately, we are not in a position to change the system. If you have any ideas which will help us do that, then please offer them up.

Also mods: THERE REALLY IS A DEMAND FOR A POSTDOC FORUM, Strangelove, and I suspect others, want to discuss topics with postdocs and established academics, not necessarily with PhD students.

Well, of course departments and unis are under a lot of pressure to deliver revenue by whatever means and it stand to reason that those lecturers/potential supervisors who are ruthless will exploit potential and current PhD studnts in order to meet their targets. My first sup, I am almost certain, fits into this category: no real background in my topic, very keen and promising me the earth until I actually signed on the dotted line and delivered my fee payment, after which point becoming distant and beyond unhelpful.

My uni has quite a good system for fee payments in some respects: it costs the same to complete a PhD as a full or part-time student, the payments are just made over a shorter or longer priod. I do not understand why, in your situation, you didn't go part-time for all or part of your PhD process, thus keeping the fee situation on an even keel.

OOOOwwwwwwww alright, Cat did put a lot into that, but in my mind, I know I won...

I'd like to post about films I am seeing currently, and I'd like to find out what you think about films on current release - not a competition, but still fun, I think.

So! Yesterday I went to see The Book of Eli. It was cheesey and I loved it, although the cannibalism sequences: human fleash served up cooked like a roast on a plate, mean I can't face meat for the time being. Very cheesily profound and gritty, kind of like Mad Max with a Hollywood budget and a moral, schmaltzy message - it made me want to write a book. I believe it's a total rip off of The Road, which I haven't seen, but that's never stopped a movie being any good IMO.

I disagree: i peoople didn't turn up it clearly indicates that they didn't like the menu. I got the most points, so I win!

HHHmmmmm fabulous menu, plus I'm loving the Scottish theme and the country cottage. I had a wander up stairs and found Teek's beard collection had been comandered as a cat nap basket by her brood of feline friends, quite a skanky mess... However, this has been a lovely evening, Belle and Sebastian are a favourite of mine too and I avoided the trampoline, so no upset tum for me. It would have been a 9/10, but Wally puked on my swanky new evening jacket, so it's a 7/10 from me.