"What’s Next for Taiwan: Navigating New Diplomatic, Economic, and Security Dynamics"

I want to watch this when I get a chance. 

;

Still struggling...

I am close (I think) to finishing this chapter that I'm working on, and I really need to get it done asap so that I can prepare for my courses that start September 3. But instead of diving into some correspondence that I need to go over to write the last section, I keep adding to and tweaking other parts of the chapter. I think I'm scared of how much work it might turn out to be. But I've got to do it. What can this be called? It's not "writer's block" because it's not about the writing. Is there something called "reader's block"?  

New year's resolutions for the 2025-2026 academic year?

I see I did one of these last year about this time. I did do some reading, but I don't think I used the commuter rail time to read--think I was still doing Duolingo. 

Did some writing--got the revisions done to my GHK paper, which should be out by the end of the year (watch this space). As you know, I'm still working on the biography chapters, and that's going to be something that I'll be working on until at least December, I imagine. 

But I don't really know what to resolve to do this year. I don't know what to hope for, to be honest. Maybe I can resolve to get more sleep. I think I could use some more sleep. (Maybe it's not a good idea to make new year's resolutions when you're tired!)

AI vs. learning

I seem to be embedding LinkedIn posts a lot recently. Here's another one about AI that I like. I might bring it up in class.

One chapter to go, but feeling drained

I managed to finish a draft of the second chapter that I'm responsible for and sent it off on the 9th, but I haven't made much progress on finishing the third chapter. I have over half of it done, I suppose, but there are a few points for which I need to spend some time looking through and organizing some archival documents.

But right now I am not quite in the mood to work on this. Two days before I sent off the second chapter, I heard from my mother that her older sister passed away. Aunt Lucy (married to Uncle Erich, who died in 2014) was 102. When someone reaches that age, you simultaneously feel that she could go at any time and also feel that she will be around forever. Even though we saw her decline in the last year or so--and especially toward the end--it's hard to believe that she's gone. My mother, who talked to her on the phone almost every night for an hour for probably 15 years, has lost the last person with whom she could share--really share, not just talk about--all their childhood memories. And Aunt Lucy was like a second mother to me, especially when I spent the summer of 1985 (40 years ago!) with them in Allentown, working at the family jewelry and clock store. I didn't realize at the time that she was 62 years old (which would have seemed extremely old to me back then); she always seemed young and energetic, even years later when she was complaining about various aches and pains. To imagine (to witness, really) that she led an active life for another 40 years after that reinforces that feeling of almost surprise that she is gone.

I'm not sure how to finish this. I will try to get back to work on my writing now. More updates as needed!

One chapter down, two to go...

I sent to the other authors the first of the three chapters that I'm responsible for in the GHK biography. It's actually the second of the three, that covers Kerr's advocacy for Taiwan during the late 1940s-mid 1950s and the effects of McCarthyism on his academic career. It's interesting writing about this with a Taiwanese audience in mind because I have to make sure that I discuss the American historical context in more detail than I might have to with a US audience. (Then again, as I was reminded by a colleague, I should probably not expect the US audience to be that much more informed about the McCarthy era, unless they have studied it. I think folks today would consider it ancient history. Which they shouldn't, for some very pressing reasons... But I digress.)

The other concern I have is about my style/tone. It's going to be translated into Chinese, so I tried to write with that in mind, but I had some trouble figuring out how academic vs. how popular I should sound. I'm afraid I might have erred on the side of sounding academic. That might need some work depending on what the editors and publishers expect. To me, it's interesting stuff, but it might sound a bit dry and boring to readers. Perhaps I should spice it up a bit. I tried to include quotes from Kerr and others to bring their voices into it, but of course the results will depend on how it gets translated. 

One extended quote that I liked was from a political science professor at Stanford who was interviewed by the Civil Service Commission about Kerr's loyalty when Kerr was applying for a contract position at the Hoover Institute that was funded by the International Cooperation Administration. He appears to have responded rather testily to the interviewer's questions:

In the last few years I have been interviewed by Government Investigators at least three or four times concerning George Kerr. I have always given George the highest recommendation and my opinion of him has not changed since the last time I was interviewed about a year or a year and a half ago. If I had any reason to question him either securitywise or from the standpoint of loyalty, I would surely inform the proper government agency. 

I first met George while we were both assigned to the Formosa Research Unit at Columbia University while serving with the United States Navy around 1944. I have known him ever since. Last semester at Stanford University he taught a course in my department. He has been out at the University for a good number of years now. I think that any man who has served as a Naval Attache and a Vice-Consul for this government does not have to be investigated every time he turns around. 

George’s character, habits and morals are beyond reproach. He is completely honest and trustworthy and a gentleman of the highest integrity. I can only reiterate all the statements I have made in the past. I cannot question his loyalty to this country. I feel the government is lucky to get his services and I would recommend him highly for work involving our national security program.

I'd love to know who this was, but unfortunately, his name has been redacted. I suppose I could figure it out pretty easily, though, if I did a little searching to find out who was at Columbia and then went to Stanford. 

But I have those two other chapters to work on now... due 8/15! Wish me luck!

Source: James M. Murtha, investigator, Report of Investigation, George Henry Kerr, CSC [Civil Service Commission] Case Serial No. 5.22.55.5235, 2nd Regional Investigations Division (New York, NY: U.S. Civil Service Commission, Intermittently 24 June-12 July, 1955). (FOIA request).

Some possible language to use with students

I liked the language of "developmental editing" vs. "copyediting" from this. It might be a good way to explain to students why they have to do multiple drafts, rather than just saying that they have to do two drafts before the final draft.