Friends, Probably-not-Romans (but who knows?), Americans:
This spiffy petition, by Ann Kottner, Joe Fruscione and many of their hero compatriots, asking the US Dept. of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division to investigate the labor conditions of adjunct professors in our country, currently has about 5500 signatures. It would be very exciting if it had more signatures than that — especially from you tenured and tenure-track faculty I allegedly hate (JK, especially from anyone for any reason!). So here’s the deal.
I’m going to keep watching this petition, and when it hits 7500 signatures, I will, in the spirit of my friend Gordon Haber, upload a YouTube video of myself lip-syncing — WITH FEELING — to the song of your choice (as suggested in the comments below). I would prefer a German pop song from the 80s (I would prefer “Major Tom (Völlig losgelöscht),” if we’re being particular), but if there’s anything being an adult has taught me, it’s that preferences are for chipmunks (who, in my four weeks in Chipmunk Central here in upstate NY, I can definitively state get all of theirs, including taking roost in the roof of the house right over where SchuFetus and I attempt, with varying degrees of failure, to sleep).
At any rate, please sign, please share, and please take an active role in my impending humiliation.
PAN KISSES KAFKA 
99 red balloons in the original German. Complete with the awesome Cold War outfit she has on in the video. 😉
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I read this and I’m sensing “Major Tom” in the subtext. #LitTheory
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I signed it a week ago, does that count? Unfortunately, the only German pop songs I know are Major Tom, 99 Luftballons, and is Amadeus German or no? I’d also accept anything from The Hoff (Hasselhoff).
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MAJOR TOM IT IS lol
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So basically, you’re going to pull a student move and just do whatever you want no matter what the directions are? haha (I don’t care, Major Tom is an excellent song and one that deserves off-key signing along at high volumes)
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pretty much
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I totally second Lee’s suggestion. 99 luftballons in German.
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I think you mean “Major Tom.”
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Nope. Nena. Because reasons.
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It will happen, so you might as well practice. My choice is “These Boots Were Made for Walking” — adjunct style.
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Duly noted.
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Well, if it gets to 10000–then do Boots or another highly appropriate choice!
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Consensus is clear. You will have to alternate between Major Tom and 99 Luftballoons or Wicked Little Town from Hedwig And the Angry Inch.
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NO SHOW TUNES. I should have specified. NO. SHOW. TUNES. NONONNONONO please no
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If it gets to 10,000 then she should do BOTH 99 Luftballons and Major Tom.
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Der Kommisar (Falco version please) — thank you thank you thank you!!
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Oooo, I forgot about Falco!! +1 (A German Pop Medley, perhaps?)
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Signed! And with my work address and work e-mail!
(You know, even though it’s in English, most power metal is German. And if you *really* wanted to humiliate yourself, you’d choose something with no cultural cachet whatsoever…) <–LOOK I THINK I JUST COMPROMISED MY COMMENTING IDENTITY
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Lots of great options for lip syncing, but there’s one in particular I would like to see *you* perform: Marlene Dietrich’s “Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt.”
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I’m hearing “Major Tom”…
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Maybe as a stretch goal for 10,000 signatures? 😉
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+1 for Luftballons. The people are speaking.
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Reblogged this on PrecariLeaks and commented:
(Re: Our petition to investigate labor abuses in Hired Ed)
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Haus der Lüge by Einstürzende Neubauten please!
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Oh jeez. I’ll take it under advisement 😉
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Justin Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl.” There is no question.
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Oh, there’s a question.
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Surely the only question is whether to sing it in German or English. I vote German. 😉
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I think I may have just snorted a tomato seed up my nose. Note to self: do not read Rebecca’s blog whilst eating salad.
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Gotta do some Neue Deutsche Welle.
Die Doraus und die Marinas: “Fred von Jupiter” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf3iWc6krj8)
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One word: Kraftwerk
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And if we CRACK 10,000….perhaps you can do the 99 Red Balloons trilogy?
*Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lur-SGl3uw8
**Hardcore cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb3WYwHsfr4
***Parody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Lt1rwj6R8
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Reblogged this on The Consulting Editor and commented:
More awesomeness from Rebecca Schuman.
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Reblogged this on professor never and commented:
A worthy cause(s): (seeing Rebecca pretend to sing, and petitioning for a federal investigation of university labor conditions)!
Please check it out and sign!
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Signed, Sealed, Delivered (totally ripping off Stevie Wonder and the Obama campaign). Hmm…maybe you could accompany the completion of the petition with a rendition of a line or two of the song though…in English of course. 😉 Kidding, but maybe not. Hopefully the number of signees will skyrocket further once the countdown to Fall 2014 semesters being…..
BTW–loved the Slate article. And, so true, the inability to ask questions in grad school. I remember one faculty member talking about the Chronicle of Higher Ed, back in the early 2000s and I had no idea what it was…and did not dare ask esp. bc this guy was one of the Prick–hood Laureates.
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Done! Why not have a remix of Major Tom and 99 Luftballoons?
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if it gets too 99,000 signatures you should lip sync 99 Luft balloons.
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Arg. That was supposed to be to, not too. Yes, I am an English major.
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