working at the PI

I have figured out that I can spend downtime at work adding to my blog. There will probably be more posting going on! Till I get busted by the man. But I figure as the temp I shouldn't be expected to work that hard. seriously.
I am currently shlogging my way through Marx's Capital. By way of contrast, I am also re-reading the Potter series in anticipation of the new book and the next film. I'm kinda regretting not submitting a paper for the Harry Potter conference that will be at Salem this fall. I was going to write something about queer harry potter. All those closets and dual worlds. Seemed appropriate. but the deadline fell around the same time as all of my other deadlines and that one just didn't seem important. oh well. The head of my department is giving the keynote speech. I'll post the URL when I think of it. I kinda forgot.
but back to Marx. I am thinking about the fetishisation of art. For Marx, the commodity is a fetish, something that culture has created a desire for. William Pietz, whose "Fetishism and Materialism" I am currently reading on the train, reads Marx as believing that capital is a species of fetish: a factory machine, a wheat field, a pension fund which are viewed as "capital" by accountants and political economists are fetishes. I really enjoy this bit considering where I am working!

Now on to a personal fetish, Pink Floyd is reuniting for SIR Bob and his magical concerts for self promotion. I had the pleasure of seeing Pink Floyd (the new slimmed down version sans Roger) in the late eighties and it was one of the most spectacular experiences of my young life. Lets hope a tour arises out of this.
On a side note, Bob is being sued by the other members of the boomtown rats for back royalties. I guess he has been a bit busy.

okay, back to the corporate grind.

names.