Australia’s most prolific op/ed writer, James McConvill, has entered himself in the competition for the Head of Deakin Law School, now that for undisclosed and no doubt tortuous reasons, Professor Mirko Bagaric is moving on. Not only has James posted his application on his blog, but he’s also taking bets on his chances. He’s offering odds of 20/1 on Acting Head and 5/1 on Professor and Head. James’ blog bookie shop is open for business here. He’s yet to tell us what his current employers at LaTrobe think. Oh, and in comments, James even promises to come into work if he gets the gig. The case against, which you may want to consider if you’re having a wager, is made by a commenter on his thread.
Update: In response to a question that may or may not be asked if James gets an interview, he clarifies what he has against cake.
Further update: James, after making an appearance in the Crikey email today, has deleted his job application and betting shop posts. However, his application is preserved in the LP archives here, though sadly the comments on the thread aren’t. It’s a pity that James has the habit of deleting his most controversial posts. With Crikey’s permission, I’ve reproduced their item about James’ quest and his controversial opinions here.
I’ve just mentioned to James that he might like to get himself across the detail of the Research Quality Framework, which replaces the current system where research funding is allocated according to the quantity of publications.
http://www.james.observationdeck.org/?p=167#comment-568
I dont know why I picked this thread to announce it, but I think I’m over my RWDB fantasy character pisstake, Lefty Elitist.
Its been fun, but Im not really much of an elitist, as it happens. Im just an ordinary Joe Sixpack, ekeing out a reasonable living brainwashing young minds in one of Australia’s premier lesser universities, and collecting Italian clocks.
Henceforth, I shall be known as Lefty E.
Anyway, young James, the Bundoora bolter, is coming in at about 1000-1 for Deakin HOS, I’d say. If he had any real intent there, he’s rather blown it. If not – quite an amusing diversion.
I fear, though, his self-boosterising posts exist somewhere in the nether region between the two, as James’s id and superego struggle for dominance over his fate.
Congratulations on your new choice of moniker, Lefty E. Will you be moving out of Keating Towers?
Thanks Mark.
No, but I might have to move down a floor or two. Turns out most bogans earn more than me.
Creeping degentrification etc.
Look, the James McConvill blog is a hoax. It is has to be. There is simply no other rational explanation for what happens at the that blog. I suspect certain LP regulars are behind it. With help from others. You know who you are.
erm Mark, can you change that to the English language sentence “Turns out most bogans earn more than me”
Cheers!
“tortuous reasons” … Heh!
That on-line job application was one of the weirdest things I’ve seen recently, particularly coming from a genuine academic. I had a quick scan, thought he was joking, then read it again and decided he was for real.
But who knows, maybe the trend will catch on. Maybe we’ll see on Malcolm Turnbull’s blog in a few months time …
“… I wish John Howard the very best in retirement. Regarding the question of succession, I think there is one candidate for the position that must not be overlooked. Me. Let me explain why I am an appropriate person for the job.
Firstly, given my already gigantic ego, appointment to the position of leader will be a relatively small step for the Liberal Party to take.
Second, clear name recognition. There are not many other politicians in Australia who are such a media slut as I!
Thirdly, my specialisation in making vast sums of money. Given this country will need vast sums of money once the resource boom ends, my leadership may be the only way we can avoid going down the gurgler.
More McConvill thoughts on quality and cake:
forgot the link
http://www.james.observationdeck.org/?p=167#comment-535
At 200s:
Former Justice Lionel Murphy, John Marsden (of the “my mausoleum door is always open” school of faculty administration), Phar Lap (of the too totally stuffed to stuff anything else up school of management).
At 160s:
Federal Attorney-General Phil Ruddock, PM in waiting Pete Costello, Kirby J.
And on the quality v quantity issue – in 1905 one Einstein A, a minorfunctionary in the Swiss Patent Office, without even a Law degree, achieved a certain notoreity with a number of papers in the refereed journals. After that he just coasted along basically, doing the (continental) coffee and cake thing.
I’d love a job which entailed coffee and cake. At the moment, I have a job which entails lots of tea and the off biscuit, which is far more British than European.
The odd biscuit. Not off biscuits.
So what happened to Mirko Bagaric? Is he in an undisclosed location being waterboarded or something?
Unfortunately, it’s not a hoax. *sigh*
And more importantly, there is no official notice at Deakin of Mirko Bagaric leaving. More than a little jumping of guns going on. Deakin law staff are NOT happy about it all, but feel that they can’t publicly weigh in for fear of being tarred with the same very revolting brush.
Cielo, you sound like you might have insight into the selection processes for HOS at Deakin. Who decides these days (given that collegiate models are, well, out of fashion…) The Dean alone, or a wider group?
I echo Lefty E.
Cielito lindo, do you want to give us more of the dirt?
Just to clarify Cielo – is there a reluctance to speak up on the Mirko-replacement because staff don’t want their name to be associated with McConville, or the torture-meister himself?
BB
for undisclosed and no doubt tortuous reasons
Is that a reference to an alleged incident described in Crikey recently?
Jesus weepers
I read the application and ran to get the bucket. This dude is in serious love… with himself. Now I know there is a difference between masterbation and self sex. If you love yourself a lot why not sleep with the lovedone. Yourself.
What a love story. Talk about till death do us part.
Hey Kimbo, next time you’re agitating for same sex sex marriage let’s include self marriage in the thread. It does deserve a mention.
Heh.
I might have to, Joe.
Rob, maybe!
I find it quite amusing that James puts himself out in the open there and doesn’t let people respond. I have been blacklisted from posting on his blog, merely because I suggested that he is acting illegally by offering odds on who will become next head of Deakin. For what it’s worth, this is what he wouldn’t let me post. If anyone wants to do it on my behalf, feel free:
“In my humble opinion, I thought it was the Gaming Regulations Act was the big issue.
And while you may ridicule typos, I certainly wouldn’t expect to see any typos in correspondence I received from the “Head” of a law school – or at least a “sandstone” law school.
Any update with the odds offered?”
I’m glad to see that there are other people out there in the world that are flabbergasted by James’ blog! I almost hope that he gets the job, because it would be incredibly entertaining to see what he does in the role. My heart goes out to all Deakin staff and students who are facing the (unrealistic?) possibility of living under James’ reign.
Whilst James is keen to dish out harsh words to people (as illustrated by his attacks on Mark & Megan), he seems unwilling (or unable?) to take a dose of his own medicine. James seems to have used his spamguard to prevent myself and some of my friends from making any further comments on James’ blog. It seems that he’s happy to have people comment on his blog, as long as they’re saying the right thing.
To James’ credit, he figured out that many of our comments were in jest. But what’s alarming is that he took a few days to realise! When we suggested that James run for Premier of Victoria, we thought we were pushing our luck and the game would soon be up. But, alas! James’ reply blew us out of the water: he’s “more inclined to take up a seat in Federal, rather than State, Parliament�. “Take up a seat�? Shouldn’t that be “run for a seat�? That’s supreme confidence for you!
I’ve found myself reading James’ blog quite often these days, and I always find myself returning to the same question: Is this guy for real?!?!
I must confess I did enjoy the comments thread at James’ place.
Megan for PM!
Further update: James, after making an appearance in the Crikey email today, has deleted his job application and betting shop posts. However, his application is preserved in the LP archives here, though sadly the comments on the thread aren’t. It’s a pity that James has the habit of deleting his most controversial posts.
Here’s what Crikey had to say:
damn! Missed the whole three-ring circus! And because he’s deleted it all I still don’t know what his whole hating on the cake crusade is about.
Every morning I scope out the LTU car parks for a Saab with a “Torture Before Muffins” bumper sticker. One of these days I’ll get lucky.
Laura, there’s always our friend Google cache, though sadly it only caught the first comment on his application. Young Megan was really an outstanding commenter, it would be nice if she wandered over here ….
To quote him, Laura:
Zoe, agreed about Megan. She was brilliant!
And according to his latest post it was all Just Jokes from Just James – “my posts were only offered in the spirit of open-minded, spirited public debate and good humour”
Just doesn’t ring true if you read the threads.
Yeah, Zoe, or what he told Crikey.
He may have had the impression no one read his blog, but I guess he knows people read Crikey.
Hmmm, what happened to that “contributing to public discourse” spirit? You know, the one that moved him to write about himself in such glowing terms.
All job applications should go on the internet.
Wouldn’t that be fun?
Does this answer your question, LeftyE?
http://www.james.observationdeck.org/?p=172
david, before job applications go online, I want to see a database of every workplace and workplace conditions.
I’ll pay Joe’s comment at James’ place:
http://www.james.observationdeck.org/?p=172#comment-602
I took a pdf copy of the comments but they’re way too long to cut and paste into this blog, and I can’t see any way to attach a pdf here.
You should all take a look at the comments under the post on the Racial Discrimination Act.
Guys, you’re so funny! Just wondering if James still has a blog?
And what the hell is going on at Deakin? I only finished my LLB last year there and there was never this much stuff going on! For 5 years nothing and then this. Seems I missed out on the best stuff!