These two paragraphs are completely unrelated. I admit it.

Bit 1
I keep forgetting to help spread the word about Phil Agre’s advice piece Networking on the Network, which is specifically aimed at graduate students (it’s almost long enough to be a PhD itself in fact). It isn’t just for academic types, though. It’s full of straightforward and insightful advice that is applicable to people working in, or aspiring to enter, any creative or intellectual profession. It does get a bit prescriptive (“don’t drink coffee” at conferences? good luck!) but the substance of the piece will at least make you take stock of the way you manage your professional relationships.

Bit 2
I know many of you have already seen the last of the Lord of the Rings movies – personally, I am bursting to announce that I saw The Return of the King yesterday and gladly surrendered to the gorgeousness, wonderment, and awe…[sigh]

Anyhow, all you friends of middle earth are invited to participate in the largest audience study ever by completing this questionnaire about your experiences and opinions of the movies. The questionnaire is hosted at the University of Aberystwyth but the study includes researchers working in universities in 20 countries across the world.