#kat's dissertations

[chase-prairie]

I'm guessing that as a graduate student you have read a zillion and one documents and books and papers and things in your field. Would it be outrageous to ask for recommendations/your favorites? I'm really interested in learning more about the history of Native land use and food systems in the midwest (which I suppose is a very long history, I'd be happy learning about any time period), prairie ecology, and the current outlook for native plants and pollinators (and conservation recommendations). Even one recc for each would be amazing. Feel free to postpone this ask if you're too busy! P.S. can't wait to read your dissertation.

This is a big ask, and I get a lot of these types of asks! In the future it'd be nice if people were more specific about their interests and not asking about general, huge topics. There's a level that you can and should be googling yourself! Many academic papers are online for free through sites like academia.edu and I'm not a search engine!

General answer if you're interested in this range of topics is Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass. She comes from the midwest and writes some on prairie and the book is all about Indigenous science stewardship.

Otherwise, the topics you're asking for don't have one single source that will tell you everything you're looking for. People make small studies of one community, one ecosystem, one plant. Whether it's ecology or ethnobotany, there's no one making compendiums of info, especially not in the midwest. That's why I do the work I do, but even what I do is imperfect. Be suspicious of anyone who/any text that claims to be comprehensive on a huge, complex subjects; they probably are bsing you.

Indigenous Land Mgmt:

Two good recent papers:

The subject of indigenous wild management is more intensely covered in California (M. Kat Anderson) and Vancouver (Nancy J. Turner). Those two authors are great for both nuts and bolts chat and philosophical perspectives about how people have lived in and altered and restored their ecosystems.

A compelling academic book on the subject is Roots of Our Renewal: Ethnobotany and Cherokee Environmental Governance by Clint Carroll, which is just as much about philosophy, knowledge production and protection and community building, as plants.

Prairie Conservation Practices:

Like I said above, currently published stuff is about very specific interactions and focuses, like a particular pollinator group in a particular plant. What you're looking for, a generalist summary of the field, doesn't really exist.

If you're looking for plant lists and how-tos Tallgrass Restoration Handbook or the Tallgrass Prairie Center Guide. Do not go for Ben Voigt. If you're looking for a general conceptual entry to Midwest conservation/restoration, there's Ecological Restoration in the Midwest

If you're looking for general recommendations for free, Xerces.org is the resource for bee-friendly landscaping and planting.

If you live near a University or Arboretum or Botanic Garden, this is the kind of thing where you should just browse the shelves near the books I've recommended! Chances are you have free access to the libraries, if not the ability to check the books out yourself!

[precious-silly-thing]

i think i developed more of a political compass from reading genet or the tao te ching or krazy kat or erowid than i did from reading theory. all these people read books funnelled by university presses and think they can save the world. or that they’re genuinely on the journey to understanding minoritarian struggle. it’s not even the accessibility angle for me that bothers me about theory. i don’t think the goal of language is clarity. what bothers me is that people have no concern with good writing when they publish some iteration of their phd dissertation. it’s pitiful to me that the fullest realization of one’s education in black studies or critical theory at large is a book. it feels obvious to me that the easiest way to make someone politically conscious is to appeal to their tastes in some way. thus people are radicalized through the most vulgar of their senses.

[scorpio-karma]

I honestly really don't get it, why after all these years, are people still obsessed and invested in TVD or with the cast? That show nothing but a complete shit show and dumpster fire garbage from start to finish (though the first few seasons did a better job in hiding it, because the show had promise and potential). Nothing  but one problematic thing after another and just so much negativity and toxicity surrounding it. And a lot of your stances raise a lot of questions and put a lot of things into perspective for me. 

First, it's so funny to me that you single out Nina for being a mediocre actress and using that as a reason to say her career after TVD flopped, or that she hasn't done anything since leaving the show. Because the majority of the TVD/TO cast (with the exception of only a few select), were also mediocre and not particularly good either. And honestly, what did you expect from a CW show, of all things? Also, the other cast members haven't done anything or gotten jobs after TVD either. 

Second, only singling out Nina for being problematic and doing shady things, when all of the TVD cast, including your dear and lovely Kat Graham, have done a lot of fucked up, problematic, and shady shit as well. Absolutely none of them are innocent or saints. Ian acted like a straight up, petty, and bitter manchild after he and Nina broke up and he got with Nikki Reed, while Nina handled that whole situation with grace and maturity, even with how shitty both Ian and Nikki treated her. On top of that, he's a fucking abuser who threw away Nikki's birth control pills, coerced her into pregnancy, and bragged about it publicly on a podcast as if it was something to be proud of. 

Third, singling out Nina for supposedly being racist (which to my knowledge, I've never seen her make any racist posts or comments), but say fuck all about Matt Davis, the biggest racist piece of shit in the whole show. Or Nate Buzolic, who on top of being racist, is also a raging homophobic and anti abortion rights. Most of the men on the show have done way worse than Nina or any of the girls, yet I don't see any posts from you calling them out on their shit behavior. Because as always, men can do the most abhorrent shit, they can be racist, homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, they can abuse, rape, or even kill somoene, and still have people defend and support them. But god forbid women aren't perfect and have flaws or make mistakes and fuck up. 

And you all wonder why the TVD fandom had such a bad rep back then, and still continue to have such a bad rep now. The very definition of toxic. 

First of all sweetie, you seem to be responding to some old ass posts from like 2019, so you the one that's still obsessed. Second of all, if you searched my Tumblr thoroughly (which I know is hard given Tumblr piss poor searching system) you'd find posts critical of all cast members. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only one I'm not critical of is Trevino because he knows when to stay quiet. And lastly, I'm definitely only skimming that whole message because you're clearly an unhinged Nina fan who went searching for shit to be mad at since they're tagged as "anti" meaning your not the audience for these opinions. Maybe find more recent and relevant criticisms before blowing up someone's inbox anonymously with a dissertation as to why they're wrong. In fact, maybe put this in an actual response to that post so they know what the fuck you're going on about.

[relaxxattack]

what are the four fics about ? is it like. challenging as in something you’ve not written before or something you have ect ect

oh my gosh yes! they’re all very challenging for me for different reasons… although to be honest writing is never NOT challenging…

1. a rosemary wedding fanadventure i’ve been very tempted to make… i’ve never made a fanventure before though and drawing that much art would be so hard!

2. moirallegiance dissertation project (my nanowrimo goal) - not only is it multi/mixed media and requires a LOT of art and design work to look good, i want the writing itself to be impressive and well done, and that’s proving to be very difficult T_T

3. davekat soulmate childhood friends fluff multichap fic - to be honest i don’t have many expectations on myself for this one but the story i want to tell is LONG so that’s something worrying ldjdjsns

4. dave(sol?)kat mafia multichap fic - this one is perfection in my head and put together so well and i’m SO worried about it falling flat once i try to put it on paper 😭 (it’s also on the back burner for right now since i want to write the other fics first)

[compassionatereminders]

Hi Kat! I had my first counselling session last week and I didn't hate it! I only get 4 weeks if that though (uni counselling is bad for long term help) but I just need to get through my dissertation crunch this last week and then I'll be FREE and also my friend and I have finally finished moving flats so things are finally looking less bleak!! Hope you're having a good day!!

You're doing good work and I'm cheering on your march towards freedom! ❤️💪

[hopefulstarfire]

I feel like the dnd gang absolutely have watch parties for LOVM. Kat makes cookies and Ryous in charge of the rest of the snacks. Duke has an entire dissertation on why Scanlan is the best character. Miho makes all the tiktok edits. Tomoyas getting their group cosplays ready.

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

Hard Hit by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera is now live!

Available on All Platforms

Michael Boone has just one goal: to get traded to his hometown team so he can be closer to his family. But when a runaway bride who happens to be his coach’s daughter jumps into his car to escape Mr. Wrong, the heat is on ... in more ways than one.

Boone

I’m supposed to be a guest at my coach’s daughter’s wedding to a player from another team, but instead I find myself helping her escape it. The timing couldn’t be worse—I have to stay in Coach’s good graces to secure the trade I need. But when the sexy, newly single redhead with legs for days shows up in my life again, I can’t say no.

Jolie

After escaping marriage to a man who made me feel like I was never enough, I plan to focus entirely on completing my dissertation. Science has never let me down—I can avoid emotional entanglements by focusing on cold, hard data. But when I’m powerfully drawn to a man who is warm and, okay, I’ll admit it—also hard—all bets are off. Mr. Right Now is exactly what I need, until both of us find ourselves wanting the one thing we can’t have—more.

About the Authors:

Brenda Rothert was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From hot hockey romance to steamy romantic suspense, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She's a lover of Diet Coke, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

For all the latest on Brenda and her books, join her Facebook reader group, Rothert's Readers.

Connect with Brenda: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrendarothert Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SWqgRb Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-rothert

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.

A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.

Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.

As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders series, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey players and romance...

Connect with Kat: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatmizera/ Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lzRBG6 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKatMiz Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2li6zRe Website: http://www.katmizera.com

[sandythereadingcafe]

COVER REVEAL

HARD HIT (St. Louis Mavericks) by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera

Release Date: March 21, 2023

US: https://amzn.to/42lnrrX

CA: https://bit.ly/3YYN52V

UK: https://bit.ly/3lx1N3g

AU: https://bit.ly/3JqmV3q

Michael Boone has just one goal: to get traded to his hometown team so he can be closer to his family. But when a runaway bride who happens to be his coach's daughter jumps into his car to escape Mr. Wrong, the heat is on ... in more ways than one. Boone I'm supposed to be a guest at my coach's daughter's wedding to a player from another team, but instead I find myself helping her escape it. The timing couldn't be worse—I have to stay in Coach's good graces to secure the trade I need. But when the sexy, newly single redhead with legs for days shows up in my life again, I can't say no. Jolie After escaping marriage to a man who made me feel like I was never enough, I plan to focus entirely on completing my dissertation. Science has never let me down—I can avoid emotional entanglements by focusing on cold, hard data. But when I'm powerfully drawn to a man who is warm and, okay, I'll admit it—also hard—all bets are off. Mr. Right Now is exactly what I need, until both of us find ourselves wanting the one thing we can't have—more.

[imnotinclinedtomaturity]

domesticity in “a week in the life”

[one] “We are trying to use less single use plastic, because we’re literally saving the world”

i love boyfriends who make new years resolutions together

[two] idk can we just talk about the fact that Dan is probably standing in between Phil’s legs to get this shot when Phil is talking about his plants?

(bonus: camera, what camera? all i care about is my boyfriend talking about us going somewhere together for like five months)

[three] i need my boyfriend to validate my fashion choices. i just love boyfriends who help pick out each others’ clothing

“I’ve made a bold choice and I need your opinion. How do I look? Is it cool or do I look like a mailman?” 

“Dan is saying I do not suit these glasses” 

[four] “We should spend more time out here except you haven’t put any sun cream on” 

where can i get someone who looks out for me like dan looks out for phil?

[five] the entire scene in the kitchen

i mean, god, all of the domestic bants about design (”big decisions and there is some contention”), can you imagine them trying to make decorating decisions for their flat? for their forever home? plus, look at this, i can just imagine them sitting across from each other, munching on some cereal late at night, talking. my heart. it can’t handle it. 

[five] boyfriends singing completely different songs together. because why the fuck not. can you imagine what they must be like at home? when this kind of shit just ?? happens ??

[six] houseplant updates and Knowledgeable Phil™

dan, on the porch: “the cherry blossom has died, or rather, its leaves have fallen”  phil, from the background: “they’re not leaves. get your facts right, howell.”

[fieldsofwax]

Had to follow for these impeccable points. The not choosing to follow on the sexiness of them being Italian men is ridiculous-they could have at least had a few times of them saying Italian words. I was doing film studies of the vampire myth, and it is rooted in a metaphor for slavery. there is a parallel there, If you notice, they discuss the union being equated with vampires (which actually happened in history “sucking up our lifeblood-our slaves keep our wealth”) and the burning of the building kat was in because they said they were union but really vampires. Damon choosing desertion of the confederacy after being drafted because he doesn’t believe in slavery, and then the mirror with him being one of the vampires enslaved and farmed for physical prowess in his blood and tortured for years, historically mirrors the time slaves were tortured and their blood was experimented on with the syphillis virus. This is research-backed vampire mythology. So I think that’s what they were trying to do, but we’re also too scared to make it that obvious so people could pick up on it. So I think this is very important to notice to understand why they chose America as the place they grew up in- but it’s still likely the Salvatore family was Italian immigrants. About people simping klaus and kai-completely derails any virtue-signaling arguments they have against Damon, and that Caroline had against Damon. Klaus abused Caroline as well. Stefan abused women as well. Kai is literally a psychopath. The virtue signaling is to cover up that they simply like who they like- it IS truly just personality favoring, and anger over their ship stelena not working out- but they try to prop their argument with virtue signaling. Just be real, people. Stefan is my least favorite character, and I could write dissertations about how toxic and abusive he is, but I know I can’t say that he is “worse” than Damon or klaus or Kai- they are all bad. I simply feel worse towards him because of my own personality and experiences with men like him. Be real, people. Your psychology of denial is showing.

My Possible Unpopular TVD Opinions

DISCLAIMER: This is MY fucking opinions, lets be for real. If you don’t agree, then good. If you do, then great.

This fandom doesn’t realize everyone’s horrible. One thing I’ve noticed about this fanodm is that people really like to pick and choose who’s the worst or the ‘least worse’ character. Idk, I just find it weird that someone favors Klaus Mikaelson, but HATES Damon Salvatore. As if Klaus isn’t terribly worse. Almost every single character in this series has done a multidue of horrible things, especially the vampires, so it doesn’t make sense to people do that. I understand if it was based on personalities, but the way people express their likings, it doesn’t seem like it is. For example, the whole Damon versus Stefan debate. Some people hate Damon because what he’s done, but turn around and love Stefan even though he’s done the same shit, and even worse.

Damon didn’t need to be labeled as the ‘better man’. Look, Damon is my FAVORITE character. I love that man with all of my heart, but truthfully, I don’t think he should’ve been the “better man”. All Damon’s life he has been coming second to Stefan. With their parents, Katherine, Elena, and damn near everyone else. And honestly, I think it got worse with Elena because deep down, she wanted him to be “Damon with Stefan-like qualities”. But he’ll never be Stefan. And that’s okay. I think Damon’s arc should’ve concluded with him accepting the fact that he’ll never be the better man, and him being okay with being imperfect. Not everyone has to be the hero.

Bamon should’ve fucking happened! If Bamon has one fan, it’s me. If Bamon has no fans, I’m no longer on Earth. I just really, REALLY, love this ship, I don’t think you guys understand. Honestly, it might’ve been better than Delena. Damon and Bonnie have some underrated chemistry and tension since day one. And they had a great set up. Damon sworn to protect the Bennet bloodline and now he has this girl who pushes his buttons alot, while he’s constantly pushing her buttons—UGH, I love it. True enemies to friends to lovers. They should’ve ended up together, atleast once. But we all know why it didn’t happen *cough* julie *cough*.

Caroline’s such a fucking hypocrite. I love Caroline, but she also annoys the fuck outta me. And I think it’s just her natural personality. She’s just so judgemental that it drives me crazy, and personally, I can never be friends with someone who always has ann opinion on the shit I do. What really bothered me about her is her drilling down on Elena during the first part of season 4 about Damon. Which I would’ve understood considering her abusive past with Damon, however, she never mentioned or brought up that as a reason why she hates Damon or why Elena shouldn’t love him. Instead, she came off really fucking hypocritcial because not even five second after basically calling Elena an idiot for picking Damon, she’s LAUGHING WITH KLAUS?!?!? Aka the most evil mf in the entire series, like let’s be so fucking fr. Klaus is ten times worse than Damon and this bitch is laughing it up with him over champagne. And not to mention she sleeps with him later on.

Bonnie would’ve made a better protagonist. Bonnie’s storyline had so much potential to be stretched out. Like she came from a very powerful coven that dated back to the first creation of an immortal being AND the other side. Her ancestoral history with the Salvatore brothers. The way she became one of the most powerful witches—like she fucking stopped hell fire, bffr. And Bonnie’s fine asf, she’s that girl. I think her character arc is good, and would’ve been great if racism didn’t occur with Kat Graham.

Elena is not as bad as y’all say she is. Can she a be a little self-centered? Yeah. But it’s not hard to understand why. During the first few seasons, EVERYONE made everything about Elena—especially Damon and Stefan. Like Bonnie was about to die for her during season 2. Everyone has risked everything for her. Shit, if people treated me like that, I would think everything’s about me, too! And no, Elena’s not a crybaby. If I was going through everything she was going through, I would cry every day and night. Girl lost two sets of parents, her brother at one point, and both of her guardians (Jenna and Alaric). And at one point, lost the love of her life (Damon in S6). Not to mention, someone was always trying to kill her, and then she had to deal with an evil doppleganger. Shehas every reason to cry. And the weird thing about that is, everyone calls Elena a crybaby but not Klaus? Every damn picture I see of that man, he’s crying his eyes out. It’s always that same damn crying face too. I love Klaus but y’all really be pickin and choosin who to pick on.

Damon and Stefan’s background should’ve been talked about more. I still don’t know why the producers, or whoever, changed their origins from the books (as far as I know they were from the 1500s in Italy) but I think changing it was so unnecessary. I don’t know why people have such an obsession with 1800s, but it’s WEIRD how we collectively decided to treat that time as an aesthetic while this country was treating people like animals, but hey, that’s just me. ANYWAYS, I think they should’ve brought up the brothers’ history and background earlier in the series, instead of waiting till the end where the rest of the story was falling flat. Because if we’re being honest, in the early seasons, we don’t know much about them. Hell, I don’t even think we know their birthdays. Like we’re aware of their troubled past, but we don’t know their family backgrounds, and I feel like knowing someone’s familia backgrounds helps understanding their core.

“When I kill someone, they’re supposed to stay dead!”. Alaric should’ve stayed dead. Jeremy should’ve stayed dead. End of story.

Kai’s actions are not justified. This fandom and hundreds of others have a tendecy of babying these grown ass people. So what Kai’s family treated him differently. That literally happens to damn near everyone in this world. It does not give you anexcuse to kill your entire family, INCLUDING CHILDREN?? Bitch you deserve to get locked up. They should’ve killed his ass but that’s just me. But Kai’s fun, I suppose. I just don’t like it when people baby him trying to justify him killing innocent children just because his father didn’t love him enough. Who cares? Go to fucking therapy like the rest of us. And then y’all tried to ship him with BONNIE?? OUR PRECIOUS BONNIE?? It’s like y’all forgot how he made her life a living hell in that prison world, which led her to almost killing herself. Bonkai could burn, don’t ever bring up that garbage ass shit ever again in my presence.

Might do a part two

[katagawajr]

my favs

[thanatos-moon]

This fucking emoji 🥺🥺 is the definition of appeal to emotion like are you seriously using a logical fallacy against me buddy??? Under my roof?? Cringe

[phoebehalliwell]

Yo but imagine if in this hypothetical source!baby Paige au she has the twin (so like once source and one not) imagine the chaos! Like say one is more “whitelighter” inclined than the other but their powers are less pacifist than the other? Like you have the orb shield made of fire (which is an insanely imagine power like galaxy brained idea) and like ? maybe the other one would have orbing thats burns on contact? Idk but like demonwitchlighter powers would indeed be cool :)

omg twin split where one’s the twice blessed and the other’s the source of all evil bc shane the baby daddy was actually a whitelighter who could sense paige was like a witch or something but started to fall in love with her blah blah blah but then the source was there something something and he decided this was too dangerous for her or something idk the point i’m trying to make is twin split one’s the twice blessed the other is the source of all evil when they’re brainstorming baby names paige pitches cain and abel and no one laughs. bonus points if the twins still end up exactly like kat and tamora personality wise and they still have mortal henry as younger brother

[witchofthemidlands]

“where’s the head” my professor & @loiselaineoxox

me: i look forward to figuring that out as well.

[ceo-of-daichi]

i opened up tumblr to see you replying to asks and i just 🥺 enjoy listening to your voice 🥰

i hope you are doing well (if you don't mind me asking, what's your dissertation about???) if i'm calculating our time zone difference correctly, pls get some rest tonight 🥺👉🏽♥️👈🏽

Also i kinda rambled🥺🥺 BUT THANK YOU FOR ADDING THIS PICTURE OF DAICHI IN I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! HE LOOKS SO HAPPY AND JUST I WANT TO HUG HIM SO BAD😭😭😭😭💛💛💛

[obaewankenope]

i... have less than 2k left of my dissertation to write... THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING! I HAVE WAY MORE TO ADD TO IT! SHIT SHIT ABORT MISSION! SHIT!