This week my dissertation work will focus on the discussion section. Last week I ran data analyses comparing my work with those of other PhD candidates before me who have also researched Inca skeletal collections. The results are very enlightening and adds a whole new dimension to my own work. The goal now is to finish writing it up so people will know exactly what my study contributes to the whole.

On Tuesday, some more White Stripes songs are hitting Rock Band. Namely, their most famous ones: Seven Nation Army and Fell in Love with a Girl. As I was telling my roomate, I’m not too keen on listening to the White Stripes as music, but as game levels they’re pretty nifty.

I have a good feeling about Thursday. I just do!

After that, well I had hoped that my friend Mo and her new business would not get mixed up with the wrong crowd, but she fallen in will the St. Louis Craft Mafia. The scary thing is that they are so organized and powerful, they can have an even in broad daylight in St. Louis: the Indie Craft Revolution! It’s this Saturday and Sunday and I’ll probably make it for one of them to lend my usual support. And see the zoo. And Star Clipper. And get delicious food. And…

I just have to wait for the inexorable march of linear time to get all of this rolling. Come on!

Anyway, this kid of thirteen or so with a faded t-shirt and long messy hair that covered one eye was browsing for books about bass guitar. He pointed to an autobiography of Nikki Sixx.

“That book sucks.”

I looked at him quizzically.

“My friend told me to read that book because he is cool like Slash. But he’s not.”

I knew what he was talking about now. “Yeah, Slash is way better.”

The kid’s expression seemed to lift a little, having found someone with similar opinions. “Hey have you heard of the White Stripes?”

“Yep.”

“Wolfmother?”

“Yep.”

The boy looked disappointed. I found that odd since I thought he would be happier finding out that I knew of the bands he liked.

“I ask people if they know those bands and it sucks when they know them already because I want to tell them to listen to them because they’re cool.”

“Ah.”

Dear student:

Early last week, the University of Missouri mailed Internal Revenue Service 1098-T forms to our students via U.S. mail. On January 14th we became aware that, for some of the forms, the Social Security Number on the form was partially or fully viewable through the envelope window.

I am sending this letter to all students who received 1098-T forms since we do not know which students might have been affected. You can determine if your SSN was viewable by visually inspecting how your form aligns with the envelope window.

If your SSN was indeed viewable and you are concerned about the risk of identity theft, you may want to monitor your credit which can be accomplished by contacting one of the national credit agencies: Experian at 888-397-3742, Equifax at 800-525-6285 or TransUnion at 800-680-7289.