Man, things are moving fast this summer.
I've mostly been stuck in research mode, but it's been really productive. I am almost done with the tables for my first paper, which is going to be on arsenic and diabetes in Native Americans. Once that's done, I'll hopefully wrap up projects in mercury, perfume (musk fragrances), genetics, and stats. It's going to be hella busy from now until forever. But then after forever, if I'm lucky I'll be able to move back to California and keep doing this kind of work there. Yay wishful thinking!
On a less boring note, the cute boy from the wine shop gave me his number again (I'd lost it) and told me he has Monday off work. I will need to work a lot of Monday just to catch up on the arsenic stuff (I'm meeting with that boss on Tuesday), but hopefully I will be able to see him? I think I said this, but he's cute. Like, way cute.
And yeah. Life goes on!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
RIP Steve Schneider
Today I learned that Professor Steve Schneider has passed away of a heart attack at age 65.
This is very sad news.
I can't say that I knew Steve personally. I had seen him at a few events and heard him talk, but I was not a climate student. I think that his passing is a blow to the environmental movement and to the direction of environmental science, and part of me feels a pang of "What are we going to do now?"
But what feels more important than his research and advocacy, is that he had been a friend and mentor to many of my friends, and was a close friend and colleague of many of the people I most respected as advisers. He touched the lives of many people I care about, and I am hoping that they are all okay.
His life and trials in the public policy arena have made a big impression on me, even though I only heard about them secondhand. I had heard that he had been misquoted once by a reporter, and as a result had been banned from testifying before Congress about climate science for over twenty years. I don't want to reduce the man's life and achievements to just a cautionary tale, but the fact that this could happen to an honest scientist makes me angry and sad, and paranoid. My friends and I were taught to record all interviews with the press touching on our research to avoid a repeat of this situation.
I recognize the huge positive impact that his man had on my friends, on science, and the world. RIP.
This is very sad news.
I can't say that I knew Steve personally. I had seen him at a few events and heard him talk, but I was not a climate student. I think that his passing is a blow to the environmental movement and to the direction of environmental science, and part of me feels a pang of "What are we going to do now?"
But what feels more important than his research and advocacy, is that he had been a friend and mentor to many of my friends, and was a close friend and colleague of many of the people I most respected as advisers. He touched the lives of many people I care about, and I am hoping that they are all okay.
His life and trials in the public policy arena have made a big impression on me, even though I only heard about them secondhand. I had heard that he had been misquoted once by a reporter, and as a result had been banned from testifying before Congress about climate science for over twenty years. I don't want to reduce the man's life and achievements to just a cautionary tale, but the fact that this could happen to an honest scientist makes me angry and sad, and paranoid. My friends and I were taught to record all interviews with the press touching on our research to avoid a repeat of this situation.
I recognize the huge positive impact that his man had on my friends, on science, and the world. RIP.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Adventuras - Continued
DC was absolutely amazing.
Not only did I really enjoy all the touristy bits of the trip (US Botanic Garden, tours of the Capitol, the Zoo, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, Senate/Congressional office visits, etc.), I also had some of the most productive flirting of my life. I don't mean that in the "I hooked up with so many people" way, but I left almost every cute stranger conversation grinning like an idiot. And then in conversations with friends, I found out that while "official" apartments in DC are incredibly expensive, it is totally easy to find something in the 600-800 dollar range using Craigslist etc. (and that's what all my friends were paying). So I think I can afford to move out there and enjoy life a bit more than I have been in Baltimore. Score!
Thanks again to Emily for making that leg of the trip possible. Without her futon I wouldn't have tried.
Then the trip continued with a Lindy Hop Exchange in Atlanta, Georgia. I was a little wary of entering the Deep South but on the other hand I really, really wanted to dance. Fortunately, I wasn't the victim of a hate crime, nor did I starve. I found a cute vegetarian restaurant called Cafe Sunflower, and while it was a little pricey, the food was delicious. The waiter recognized me on the second+ visits and kept flirting with me, but I think he missed the memo that I'm not coming back. I had a wonderful time but my leg was still killing me from the run earlier in the week, so I had to curtail my swing dancing. Too bad, because some of the events (like lindy hop on skates at an ice rink) sounded ridiculously awesome. Looking back, I'm glad that I didn't wind up at Emory for grad school. It seems very hard still to be gay in the South. I had trouble finding guys comfortable with even being asked to dance with me, and swing is a pretty tame activity; and also, the waiter was surprisingly persistent. I imagine the dating pool would be even worse there than in Baltimore.
Then on the way home I passed through Chapel Hill and Carborro, North Carolina. Totally awesome place. I didn't realize how much of an exception to the rest of the region Carborro is; I might have been really happy at UNC. But I think that it would have gotten old after many years, and while I appreciate the hippy vibe, I don't have a sense of how many gay people there are. I had a very flirty conversation with the bartender at lunch and I think he might have been less enthusiastic if the regional pickings hadn't been so slim. But it was fun to flirt, and at the end I gave him the bead bracelet I'd gotten at the swing dance registration. Maybe he'll remember me from that.
And...yeah. Finally back in Baltimore with a pile of laundry to do and mail to sort through, but I couldn't have asked for a more distinctive break between quarters. I feel reinvigorated and ready to start school again.
(sorry no pictures, I forgot to take my camera with me.)
Not only did I really enjoy all the touristy bits of the trip (US Botanic Garden, tours of the Capitol, the Zoo, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, Senate/Congressional office visits, etc.), I also had some of the most productive flirting of my life. I don't mean that in the "I hooked up with so many people" way, but I left almost every cute stranger conversation grinning like an idiot. And then in conversations with friends, I found out that while "official" apartments in DC are incredibly expensive, it is totally easy to find something in the 600-800 dollar range using Craigslist etc. (and that's what all my friends were paying). So I think I can afford to move out there and enjoy life a bit more than I have been in Baltimore. Score!
Thanks again to Emily for making that leg of the trip possible. Without her futon I wouldn't have tried.
Then the trip continued with a Lindy Hop Exchange in Atlanta, Georgia. I was a little wary of entering the Deep South but on the other hand I really, really wanted to dance. Fortunately, I wasn't the victim of a hate crime, nor did I starve. I found a cute vegetarian restaurant called Cafe Sunflower, and while it was a little pricey, the food was delicious. The waiter recognized me on the second+ visits and kept flirting with me, but I think he missed the memo that I'm not coming back. I had a wonderful time but my leg was still killing me from the run earlier in the week, so I had to curtail my swing dancing. Too bad, because some of the events (like lindy hop on skates at an ice rink) sounded ridiculously awesome. Looking back, I'm glad that I didn't wind up at Emory for grad school. It seems very hard still to be gay in the South. I had trouble finding guys comfortable with even being asked to dance with me, and swing is a pretty tame activity; and also, the waiter was surprisingly persistent. I imagine the dating pool would be even worse there than in Baltimore.
Then on the way home I passed through Chapel Hill and Carborro, North Carolina. Totally awesome place. I didn't realize how much of an exception to the rest of the region Carborro is; I might have been really happy at UNC. But I think that it would have gotten old after many years, and while I appreciate the hippy vibe, I don't have a sense of how many gay people there are. I had a very flirty conversation with the bartender at lunch and I think he might have been less enthusiastic if the regional pickings hadn't been so slim. But it was fun to flirt, and at the end I gave him the bead bracelet I'd gotten at the swing dance registration. Maybe he'll remember me from that.
And...yeah. Finally back in Baltimore with a pile of laundry to do and mail to sort through, but I couldn't have asked for a more distinctive break between quarters. I feel reinvigorated and ready to start school again.
(sorry no pictures, I forgot to take my camera with me.)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Adventuras
Spring Break is here, and off to a terrific start!
I went out last night to celebrate the end of the quarter, and also my birthday, with a bunch of the Epi masters students. We went dinner/dessert/bar hopping in Mount Vernon (the city's gay/"cultural" district) and it was a ton of fun. I didn't pay for any of it and everything was delicious!
Then today I went running for the first time in forever, with Poorav and his friend Su. I ended up going 12 miles (walking most of it) and am now super sore. BUT I feel so much better now! It's a good sore.
Tomorrow through Wednesday I'm staying with my friend Emily in DC. The plan is sight-seeing during the day and then green film festival at night. Possibly some swing dancing, too.
Then Thursday-Sunday I'll be in Georgia for the Atlanta Lindy Exchange. I signed up at the last minute for a several-day swing marathon. Woot! I signed up as a lead but hopefully they'll let me flip-flop to being a follow sometimes.
Okay, it's late now, but I'm STOKED for this break! Maybe next time I'll post pictures from the trips...
I went out last night to celebrate the end of the quarter, and also my birthday, with a bunch of the Epi masters students. We went dinner/dessert/bar hopping in Mount Vernon (the city's gay/"cultural" district) and it was a ton of fun. I didn't pay for any of it and everything was delicious!
Then today I went running for the first time in forever, with Poorav and his friend Su. I ended up going 12 miles (walking most of it) and am now super sore. BUT I feel so much better now! It's a good sore.
Tomorrow through Wednesday I'm staying with my friend Emily in DC. The plan is sight-seeing during the day and then green film festival at night. Possibly some swing dancing, too.
Then Thursday-Sunday I'll be in Georgia for the Atlanta Lindy Exchange. I signed up at the last minute for a several-day swing marathon. Woot! I signed up as a lead but hopefully they'll let me flip-flop to being a follow sometimes.
Okay, it's late now, but I'm STOKED for this break! Maybe next time I'll post pictures from the trips...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Sweet Faculty Candidate
My favorite faculty candidate so far (Brandon) was back on campus today for a second interview. I really hope he gets the job!
Among other things, he's interested in arsenic metabolism genetics, and has connections to a *huge* cohort study in Bangladesh that has enough people for a well-powered GWAS.
If he came to Hopkins, I could do an arsenic GWAS plus the candidate gene work I'm doing already with Ana, and that's enough papers on the same topic for a dissertation! Hello thesis.
ALSO, because he'd be a super junior faculty, I could do "co-advising" and keep my current adviser, who is a big part of why I wanted to come to this school. And arsenic has a lot of epigenetic effects, so I could keep the plan of working on epigenetics with her while still keeping under the arsenic umbrella and working towards a totally coherent (and super interesting!) research program.
Among other things, he's interested in arsenic metabolism genetics, and has connections to a *huge* cohort study in Bangladesh that has enough people for a well-powered GWAS.
If he came to Hopkins, I could do an arsenic GWAS plus the candidate gene work I'm doing already with Ana, and that's enough papers on the same topic for a dissertation! Hello thesis.
ALSO, because he'd be a super junior faculty, I could do "co-advising" and keep my current adviser, who is a big part of why I wanted to come to this school. And arsenic has a lot of epigenetic effects, so I could keep the plan of working on epigenetics with her while still keeping under the arsenic umbrella and working towards a totally coherent (and super interesting!) research program.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"Change rooms in your mind for a day."
It's a line from a poem by Hafiz. I came across it today as I enjoyed yet another snow day in my apartment and spent the afternoon on the internet.
I feel like it's critically important to take a day every once in a while to do something you don't usually do. It doesn't have to be a huge adventure, though those are fun. Sometimes it's enough to expose yourself to a different way of thinking. Besides a short walk today I didn't leave my apartment, but I feel like I now have a totally different perspective than I had this morning.
I tend to be selectively risk-averse. In areas where I think if I think about it hard enough, I'll come to a right answer (and cheat the risk), I tend to favor risks and bold behavior. For example, the 'out there' ideas I have for arsenic metabolism genes are not nearly as exciting for my PI (who wants to start with more obvious and likely-to-yield-a-positive-result candidate genes) as they are for me.
But in areas where I don't feel like I can think away the risk, I am super risk-averse. For example: HIV. I was so concerned about contracting HIV that I worried I might get it from touching door handles with a cut fingertip if someone with HIV and a similar cut had touched the surface recently before me. You can imagine how this affects my attitudes toward sex.
But I realized today that the risk-to-benefit ratio isn't that skewed in real life. This doesn't mean I'm about to start hooking up with random strangers, but I feel like I changed my perspective on how I evaluate risks. I think of (low probability) undesired outcomes as possibilities now, instead of as "almost certainties". My stress level has gone way down.
It's funny that my emotional response to risk is so strong when I plan to spend my career estimating risk, and am comfortable describing events like cancer or heart attacks in detached and academic terms. I think it's that I don't have good numbers in mind when I think about the things that I feel are more likely to happen to me personally.
I feel like it's critically important to take a day every once in a while to do something you don't usually do. It doesn't have to be a huge adventure, though those are fun. Sometimes it's enough to expose yourself to a different way of thinking. Besides a short walk today I didn't leave my apartment, but I feel like I now have a totally different perspective than I had this morning.
I tend to be selectively risk-averse. In areas where I think if I think about it hard enough, I'll come to a right answer (and cheat the risk), I tend to favor risks and bold behavior. For example, the 'out there' ideas I have for arsenic metabolism genes are not nearly as exciting for my PI (who wants to start with more obvious and likely-to-yield-a-positive-result candidate genes) as they are for me.
But in areas where I don't feel like I can think away the risk, I am super risk-averse. For example: HIV. I was so concerned about contracting HIV that I worried I might get it from touching door handles with a cut fingertip if someone with HIV and a similar cut had touched the surface recently before me. You can imagine how this affects my attitudes toward sex.
But I realized today that the risk-to-benefit ratio isn't that skewed in real life. This doesn't mean I'm about to start hooking up with random strangers, but I feel like I changed my perspective on how I evaluate risks. I think of (low probability) undesired outcomes as possibilities now, instead of as "almost certainties". My stress level has gone way down.
It's funny that my emotional response to risk is so strong when I plan to spend my career estimating risk, and am comfortable describing events like cancer or heart attacks in detached and academic terms. I think it's that I don't have good numbers in mind when I think about the things that I feel are more likely to happen to me personally.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Taking the Plunge
I'm now registered for the 2010 International Lindy Hop Championships in Washington DC (Jack and Jill Open).
This is my first ever swing dance competition, and I'm going to be paired off with a stranger. So that this experience doesn't suck for them, I'm going to practice practice practice practice practice from now to August. Like, all the time.
I'm not anticipating winning any prizes (have you SEEN those YouTube clips?) but I am so excited to be going, and participating, and getting to see the best dancers do the most insane things, live. And I get a T shirt, too!
This is my first ever swing dance competition, and I'm going to be paired off with a stranger. So that this experience doesn't suck for them, I'm going to practice practice practice practice practice from now to August. Like, all the time.
I'm not anticipating winning any prizes (have you SEEN those YouTube clips?) but I am so excited to be going, and participating, and getting to see the best dancers do the most insane things, live. And I get a T shirt, too!
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