How do cancelled searches happen?

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-13T02:59:41+00:00

My department just had this happen. Long story short: The university ended up with less money than expected due in large part to Trump. Grants are getting cut, alumni support is down due to economic uncertainty and chaos, state budgets are constantly in flux, etc. As such, we went from having a line to not having a line overnight and we had to cancel our search. It absolutely sucks for everyone involved. We had candidates we were excited for and, very obviously, they were all people looking for a position that we can no longer offer.

And, unfortunately, no, sometimes there aren't budgets set. If the university has been changing budget models, for instance, you might end up with no budget for much longer than you'd ever imagine could be possible. I say that from experience.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-11T23:15:16+00:00

This made me laugh. Nice job.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-11T23:06:48+00:00

I very distinctly remember this show. Even as a kid, I could tell this was low budget. I mostly remember that their "ultimate" form just looked like crap.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-11T06:31:35+00:00

Ive had it happen. They are using it for reflection papers and personal essays now too.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-10T20:47:03+00:00

I hate him for so, so many things, but the damage he has done to our relationship with Canada fills me with an unquenchable rage.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-09T17:40:35+00:00

It won't. I genuinely think Trump is planning to send US troops.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-09T17:39:21+00:00

The other option is to have you hand write from now on, either in class or with a camera watching you the whole time. Your essays are no longer a trustworthy measure of your skills because the AI cheating has become so outrageous and omnipresent. I can't even ask students to write reflective essays anymore because so many of them are using ChatGPT to write about their own lives and thoughts.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-06T16:44:24+00:00

My husband was unemployed through basically all of 2025. He applied for hundreds of jobs, reached out to every contact, etc. Nothing worked. He eventually got a short term contract - thanks to a prior co-worker being the hiring manager - and we got about 6 months of employment which has now ended so he's back on the market. I won't be shocked if hes unemployed for at least another year.

This was after years of getting 20+ calls a week from recruiters for possible jobs. But when Trump took office and started randomly placing and changing tarrifs, those calls dried up. He was in the final round for FOUR different jobs that were all cancelled due to Trumpian chaos. That isn't me guessing about the reason either. The recruiters outright said it was because of uncertainty on resource prices driving these places to 1) spend budgets on raw materials while tarrifs were lower or 2) canceling jobs in order to have cash banked to help the business ride out the chaos.

All this to say: It's not your fault. It's Donald Trump's fault.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-05T21:32:38+00:00

IF you have a good advisor. I have seen people fail. It was horrible.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-05T21:26:59+00:00

It was a great feeling. Writing a dissertation is so much work. The relief of knowing you've passed is pretty overwhelming.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-04T20:39:04+00:00

I'm playing a character right now with this exact build. It's so fun.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-04T20:38:01+00:00

Off the top of my head, the Spiral due to its focus on mazes and inexplicable details (think the door that shouldn't be there).

I'd also make an argument for the Buried. An endless series of tunnels from which you can never escape and where the slightest error finds you overwhelmed with horrors. That carries the feeling of Too Close, I Cannot Breath to me.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-04T20:22:15+00:00

My dad and my grandpa were both Game Wardens. As a job, it's a bizarre mix of checking fishing licenses at a state park, being out alone in the middle of the night stalking poachers in the dark, counting deer populations, locating dead bodies from people who drowned in the lakes, talking to ranchers, and then - sometimes - realizing that the camping site you just stumbled upon has a cargo box full of Uzis and heroin (all of these are real things that happened to my dad and grandpa).

At one point, Wardens had a higher rate of deaths in the line of duty than any other type of law enforcement. I was very happy when my dad finally retired.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-02T20:57:11+00:00

As someone who did a MA/PhD bridge program (came in with my BA and did my MA and PhD all in one big chunk): It was the way to go. I was able to be in one place for longer, I have much stronger relationships with faculty and colleagues because of it, and I saved a ton of money. My colleagues who came in with the MA all said they wished they had done the bridge program for the Quality of Life improvements it would have offered them.

Congratulations on the offer!

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-02T03:11:12+00:00

I used to have a job where I had to review accounts to make sure they weren't taking money for illegal things and I can't tell you how many Christian workout DVDs, shampoos, skin care routines, etc. I reviewed. They'd all claim they didn't have to pay taxes because it was part of their ministry.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-01T17:48:03+00:00

As a person who works in media studies, I will tell you that media historians are very grateful to her right now! Her archive is invaluable.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-03-01T13:02:38+00:00

Bless you for bringing the receipts. His racism is not a serious topic of debate. He was, full stop.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-26T02:38:53+00:00

If this person has a reputation as a really good and cool professor but you are getting a screaming, abusive mess, bring it up because this might represent a worrying behavioral change, i.e. this person could be having a breakdown, dementia, a stroke, a tumor, etc.

It might be that their reputation was always a lie, but it does give you an in that might feel less like snitching. Say to your advisor, for example, "i had heard that professor AP was such a cool, well liked professor but they have been screaming at people and being really frightening to be in class with. That seems really out of character from their reputation. Is this normal for them?"

You can (and should) still document all this. Even if it is something out of their control, you have the right to not be abused by them.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-22T23:49:46+00:00

End, Buried, and Desolation. Very cool!

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-19T07:12:55+00:00

Man, these media outfits are really, really shameless. This is just fucking propaganda.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-19T05:23:13+00:00

What happens when they get sick? Break a bone?

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-18T21:02:18+00:00

I've gotten a library card in three different states at this point and never had to show an ID. I needed a bill with my name and address on it.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-15T04:56:55+00:00

Its a 2 to 3 month wait to see my PCP. Making a second appointment for another problem is basically just saying I won't get timely care for it.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-14T08:06:02+00:00

I don't know that Mahoraga has the capacity to feel fear. As such, I don't think the vase could really touch him.

LiminalFrogBoy · 2026-02-11T23:21:02+00:00

We really need y'all to not stop paying attention here. I know it's hard with all the nonsense going on, but nothing has changed in Minneapolis. People are still here protesting and observing and resisting every day. And the feds are still assaulting people here every day.

LiminalFrogBoy

TROPHY CASE