I’ve been recruiting for Scatterplot in recent weeks (with only limited success, thus far, though I remain hopeful that a certain favorite sociologist will soon use the login we sent him last month to begin posting). This usually involves a conversation about how often we hope contributors will post, the advantages and disadvantages of blogging pseudonymously, how to think about various audiences, etc. I usually also end up saying something like, “I consider myself a minor character on Scatterplot, and I like it that way.” I don’t watch enough TV to offer a concrete example of my Scatterplot aspirations, but Keith on “Six Feet Under” comes to mind…

Anyway, despite my intentionally limited role, Scatterplot has taken a hold of my psyche. Last night, I had this incredibly elaborate dream, in which my ‘boyfriend’ (ably represented by someone I dated 5 years ago) and I bought a house based on our assessment that

1) The large living room and high ceilings would be perfect for badminton matches;

2) It would be fun to blog such matches on Scatterplot.

To be clear, I don’t play badminton and I don’t think it would lend itself to scintillating blog posts, even if I did.

Here, however, are some recent sources of inspiration (can you guess where I spent Winter Break?):

• Rebar - remixes your landscape, with HT(s) to Pierre Bourdieu
• Like Gwen (see post on 1/6/2008), I’ve thought that if academia doesn’t work out for me, I might bake instead. Happily, The Cheese Board Collective just published their recipes, making it possible to have both an academic job and ginger shortbread.
• The best hike ever - a lake, a rope swing, a waterfall crashing onto the beach, the awesome roar of the Pacific…what more could you want?
• Still my favorite place to sit.
• Over break, I also read this most amazing book, which has contributed hugely to my understanding of (and curiosity about) the place that is now my home. This weekend, I’m going on a walk with a friend who grew up here (and with my book in hand) and am looking forward to being able to see Boston with better informed eyes.