It is time to turn the lights out on this blog. The last few years have been good, bad, pretty ugly and a blast, and I've enjoyed blogging about it. Now I feel like I have too much to loose to share my experiences, under a pseud or not. When I started out, I felt I had something to say, thoughts worth sharing. Nothing endures, and really I'm quite relieved to have reached this decision. I suspect I'll still participate in the blog world through comments, but not here anymore.
I've not decided whether to keep the content up or not, I'll think about that later. I'll keep the url though, don't want the nasties moving in.
Thanks for reading, commenting, emailing, supporting and just being a tangible presence via the computer screen.
Cheers
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Friday, 27 June 2008
Big Block of Cheese
Today is 'Big Block of Cheese Day'. To me, that is, not to any of you, but you are welcome to join me. This week has been really rather stressful, much like the rest of the month of June and I have decided that I will put a big block of cheese in the foyer of my building so that it will smell bad. No, wait, that wasn't the point. I will spend a day doing all the small and insignificant tasks that I have accrued in the past three months leaving my desk and conscience clear. OK, so I might do a little 'real work' and prepare some lecture notes, but on the whole, I'm doing the irritatingly small things.
To do:
Post bottle of conditioner back to product manufacturer with bug that came from bottle. (yes, it is true, a wee while ago I was happily minding my own business in the shower and when I squeezed my bottle of conditioner, a winged insect came out with the conditioner)
Pin up recent departmental publications on notice boards and avoid pissing anyone off in the process.
Get my desk chair fixed to the right height for me (assuming flat shoes).
Write up my notes from this weeks innovation day conference seminar thing. (problem is, I couldn't actually take notes because I couldn't hold a pen properly. So I'm doing it from memory).
Clear my desk of crap.
Write a post on a classic science paper for The Giant's Shoulders blog carnival (of 'classic' science papers).
Swot up on admissions and course information for a forthcoming recruitment event.
Rejoice at the fact that both of my recent manuscript submissions are out for review.
Eat proper lunch not at desk.
Go to pub, drink beer.
There we go, that seems attainable.
To do:
Post bottle of conditioner back to product manufacturer with bug that came from bottle. (yes, it is true, a wee while ago I was happily minding my own business in the shower and when I squeezed my bottle of conditioner, a winged insect came out with the conditioner)
Pin up recent departmental publications on notice boards and avoid pissing anyone off in the process.
Get my desk chair fixed to the right height for me (assuming flat shoes).
Write up my notes from this weeks innovation day conference seminar thing. (problem is, I couldn't actually take notes because I couldn't hold a pen properly. So I'm doing it from memory).
Clear my desk of crap.
Write a post on a classic science paper for The Giant's Shoulders blog carnival (of 'classic' science papers).
Swot up on admissions and course information for a forthcoming recruitment event.
Rejoice at the fact that both of my recent manuscript submissions are out for review.
Eat proper lunch not at desk.
Go to pub, drink beer.
There we go, that seems attainable.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
I'd like to ban email. Nothing new in that sentiment is there? I've been thinking about this for a while now. I've noticed several emails drifting about the ether that contain communications in a style that would not exist without email. You know the one, the rapidly typed, venom spewing rant that crawls around cyberspace and poisons the day of all who read it. I'm willing to bet that the majority of the authors would never phrase anything similar if they had to print a memo, pick up the phone or go direct to the person. No no, email, that little breeding ground for passive aggressive nonsense, and silly reply-all moments.
I like email in that it cuts down the number of paper memos that fly around, can't deny that, but I dislike the casual disregard that people have for style, tone and format. OK, so emails that are
written as formal letters seem awkward and archaic, but emails that are dashed off as unpunctuated streams of consciousness are offensive. Like many academics, I choose not to respond to anything incomprehensible, and merely forward the email back to the student or
trot out a standard line of 'I do not understand this message'.
I also hate writing email. The formal work kind, not the informal friendly chatter kind. I find it very difficult to get the tone right, and try to strike a balance between easy going informality and
recognition of very real deadlines/needs/requests/questions that theemail is actually about. I have a standard format now:
Subject: simple words accurately describing topic
Dear/Hello/Hi/Good Morning XXX (exact greeting depends on person)
Sentence introducing topic of message. Sentence stating my needs regarding topic. Optional statement of explanation.
Optional sentence of urgency 'I look forward to your response'/'please let me know by X'
Optional attempt at humour (reserved for my most favorite people)
Social nicety such as Thanks/cheers/regards/best wishes (again, depends on person)
Propter
I don't think I've encountered a situation yet where this format has not been used. And subjects matter - I can't find emails easily without a subject.
I like email in that it cuts down the number of paper memos that fly around, can't deny that, but I dislike the casual disregard that people have for style, tone and format. OK, so emails that are
written as formal letters seem awkward and archaic, but emails that are dashed off as unpunctuated streams of consciousness are offensive. Like many academics, I choose not to respond to anything incomprehensible, and merely forward the email back to the student or
trot out a standard line of 'I do not understand this message'.
I also hate writing email. The formal work kind, not the informal friendly chatter kind. I find it very difficult to get the tone right, and try to strike a balance between easy going informality and
recognition of very real deadlines/needs/requests/questions that theemail is actually about. I have a standard format now:
Subject: simple words accurately describing topic
Dear/Hello/Hi/Good Morning XXX (exact greeting depends on person)
Sentence introducing topic of message. Sentence stating my needs regarding topic. Optional statement of explanation.
Optional sentence of urgency 'I look forward to your response'/'please let me know by X'
Optional attempt at humour (reserved for my most favorite people)
Social nicety such as Thanks/cheers/regards/best wishes (again, depends on person)
Propter
I don't think I've encountered a situation yet where this format has not been used. And subjects matter - I can't find emails easily without a subject.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
7 Songs for Summer '08
I'm not waiting for a tag for this one. As seen at Uncool.
"List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to."
I'm just going to take the top 7 most played songs from my iPod.
Free - Beth Nielsen Chapman
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Better Days - The Goo Goo Dolls
Teardrop - Massive Attack
You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones
How To Save A Life - The Fray
Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
Not exactly contempory but I like it.
Feel free to share.
"List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to."
I'm just going to take the top 7 most played songs from my iPod.
Free - Beth Nielsen Chapman
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Better Days - The Goo Goo Dolls
Teardrop - Massive Attack
You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones
How To Save A Life - The Fray
Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
Not exactly contempory but I like it.
Feel free to share.
Blogrolls, figrolls and bacon rolls
There is a bit of discussion over at NatureNetwork about blogrolls, and whether the blogs there should have them. Got me thinking about why I have one. The blogroll on this blog comes directly from my bloglines account and is most of the blogs I read on a regular basis. I used to use blogrolling to keep a list but updating it to suit my frequent and fickle changes just didn't suit me. A blogroll is a bit of an endorsement to some and so, from me, if you're on it, I probably read you, although I may have some feeds set to private for reasons I don't understand anymore. If you're not, then let me know if I should be reading you!
As many bloggers have things like stat counter that records site statistics, one of the easiest ways to build up some traffic if you are a new blogger is to make a blogroll, then click through to each of the linked blogs once in a while. That's usually how I find new blogs to read: I notice a new blog in my site statistics and think 'ooooh, someone new, must read!'.
The other way to build up some traffic is to leave comments on other blogs with your page linked. Fairly obvious huh? To get read you need to read. (Am I the only person who wishes there was a spelling distinction between read(red) and read(reed)? English!!)
I believe there are various other techniques that other people use like trying to exchange links, pushing their blog with search engines and similar, but I don't much like that.
And a brief note on comments here - I use haloscan to set up the comments, it is an add in to blogger. So when someone tells me they don't like the template or something it is a very simple matter for me to head over to haloscan and select a new template for my account. I think I once paid for the premium account which is why there are no adverts on the service. Email addresses in comments are only shown to me as I own the account.
In any case, blogging has become quite streamlined over the last 2.5 years, everything has been reduced to a click here or a helpful web service there.
Now, I really want a decent sausage roll...
As many bloggers have things like stat counter that records site statistics, one of the easiest ways to build up some traffic if you are a new blogger is to make a blogroll, then click through to each of the linked blogs once in a while. That's usually how I find new blogs to read: I notice a new blog in my site statistics and think 'ooooh, someone new, must read!'.
The other way to build up some traffic is to leave comments on other blogs with your page linked. Fairly obvious huh? To get read you need to read. (Am I the only person who wishes there was a spelling distinction between read(red) and read(reed)? English!!)
I believe there are various other techniques that other people use like trying to exchange links, pushing their blog with search engines and similar, but I don't much like that.
And a brief note on comments here - I use haloscan to set up the comments, it is an add in to blogger. So when someone tells me they don't like the template or something it is a very simple matter for me to head over to haloscan and select a new template for my account. I think I once paid for the premium account which is why there are no adverts on the service. Email addresses in comments are only shown to me as I own the account.
In any case, blogging has become quite streamlined over the last 2.5 years, everything has been reduced to a click here or a helpful web service there.
Now, I really want a decent sausage roll...
Thursday, 19 June 2008
I have submitted two papers in the last fortnight. One a review, and one a shorter paper. It is the latter that I am most nervous about. Sod it, not nervous, pretty sure of a rejection. Not because I'm aiming too high for the work, but more because of the nature of the journal and the nature of the paper. I think I grumbled about this before. In any case the submission just about made me physically sick. Over the postdoc nightmare yet? It seems not. On the plus side, communication between me and former postdoc supervisor is better than it has ever been. There have even been offers of future collaborations. I've often been warned about not burning bridges so am always open to collaborations, I just didn't really expect it.
I'm working on a potential collaboration right now. Unfortunately (yes, I'm still little Dr Negativity), it is for an EU scheme. I think Derek Lowe (In the Pipeline) summed up EU funding nicely but for those that haven't yet had the pleasure, it is a nightmare of red tape, regulations and dumb application forms. I think it frustrates scientific progress more than it facilitates it. Thing is (and this is the bad for me bit), the powers that be have not yet decided which idea (mine or another) will be in the application. I was asked this week to write my bit of the application and then a decision would be made. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't find that a particularly good use of my time. Writing a funding application is not the sort of thing I can do in 5 days, and nor is it particularly necessary. I know I am putting myself at a slight disadvantage because one idea will be considered in the full context of the application, mine will be a one page summary of the idea, but I'm not going to fret about that too much. Indeed, I'm not even going to be upset if my idea is not chosen for various reasons. If this collaboration works out, then it will be good and bad in almost equal measure, and that doesn't sound like the sort of thing new faculty should be investigating too much time and effort into. If I focus on my own research program, I can be more productive and faster. I do feel that I shouldn't let the opportunity pass me by entirely because it is an interesting opportunity.
In another context: if my research is frozen strawberry desserts, this collaboration is non-green frozen vegetables. Many things in common, but still representing a steep learning curve.
Now that I've cleared my desk of those papers for the time being, I want some me time. I want to focus on getting my fledgling research ideas up and running, I even miss doing lab work. The students have left for the summer, I think the marking is over so I want to get on with the research. Before the bomb that is teaching goes off in my office at the start of the new year. Of course, I don't just get to do research, I have several other interests brewing too. There's planning some kind of outreach activities and figuring out how to fund it, the most-awesome 'service' task in the history of the universe ever (if such a thing exists, I've got it, just don't tell the department chair that because I can get quite a lot of good will mileage out of it as well), and planning my lectures for next year.
As this is turning into a plan for the summer post, I'd also like to:
- take a short holiday with Dr R that doesn't involve parents or moving possessions
- furnish my spare room so that friends can come and stay (I need my relocation expenses paid so I can afford to do it)
- finish building my professional website and make it easy to maintain
- buy some new clothes for work that don't involve jeans and t-shirts
- get in a few good long hikes
Best get on with it then!
I'm working on a potential collaboration right now. Unfortunately (yes, I'm still little Dr Negativity), it is for an EU scheme. I think Derek Lowe (In the Pipeline) summed up EU funding nicely but for those that haven't yet had the pleasure, it is a nightmare of red tape, regulations and dumb application forms. I think it frustrates scientific progress more than it facilitates it. Thing is (and this is the bad for me bit), the powers that be have not yet decided which idea (mine or another) will be in the application. I was asked this week to write my bit of the application and then a decision would be made. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't find that a particularly good use of my time. Writing a funding application is not the sort of thing I can do in 5 days, and nor is it particularly necessary. I know I am putting myself at a slight disadvantage because one idea will be considered in the full context of the application, mine will be a one page summary of the idea, but I'm not going to fret about that too much. Indeed, I'm not even going to be upset if my idea is not chosen for various reasons. If this collaboration works out, then it will be good and bad in almost equal measure, and that doesn't sound like the sort of thing new faculty should be investigating too much time and effort into. If I focus on my own research program, I can be more productive and faster. I do feel that I shouldn't let the opportunity pass me by entirely because it is an interesting opportunity.
In another context: if my research is frozen strawberry desserts, this collaboration is non-green frozen vegetables. Many things in common, but still representing a steep learning curve.
Now that I've cleared my desk of those papers for the time being, I want some me time. I want to focus on getting my fledgling research ideas up and running, I even miss doing lab work. The students have left for the summer, I think the marking is over so I want to get on with the research. Before the bomb that is teaching goes off in my office at the start of the new year. Of course, I don't just get to do research, I have several other interests brewing too. There's planning some kind of outreach activities and figuring out how to fund it, the most-awesome 'service' task in the history of the universe ever (if such a thing exists, I've got it, just don't tell the department chair that because I can get quite a lot of good will mileage out of it as well), and planning my lectures for next year.
As this is turning into a plan for the summer post, I'd also like to:
- take a short holiday with Dr R that doesn't involve parents or moving possessions
- furnish my spare room so that friends can come and stay (I need my relocation expenses paid so I can afford to do it)
- finish building my professional website and make it easy to maintain
- buy some new clothes for work that don't involve jeans and t-shirts
- get in a few good long hikes
Best get on with it then!
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
In case you were wondering...
...about the bloggy dilemma I had a few posts ago. I have decided to remain here for now, posting much the same crap as always and pretty much when time and tide permit. I have, on my own domain set up a work website using wordpress for content management because it allows pages as well as posts, and I hope to keep a modest blog (which I'm calling a journal on that site) if I can convince the uber-powers-that-be that it is a non-threatening activity. We'll see how that works out for me. In any case, that 'journal' will be directly related to my work and research so of fairly specific interest.
That was all.
If I can think of any more things that annoy me today, I'll be sure to share ;-)
That was all.
If I can think of any more things that annoy me today, I'll be sure to share ;-)
No. 3
I live 500 miles away from my local branch of my bank. My debit card still reads "Miss P J Propter", I'd like it to read P J Propter. I have to go to my branch to make that change. I can't do it online. I can't do it over the phone. One of my bank accounts has been made inactive due to three years of no use (owing to being in North America), I'd like them to resend me a form that enables me to activate it. I have to speak to my branch directly. I can't do it online. I can't do it over the phone. One of my bank accounts doesn't have tax on the interests because it has grown up from the account that I had as a student. I read the website of the bank and it told me that if I wrote to the bank branch to modify this, they'd have to verify my identity by phone banking first. Remember, I'm 500 miles away from the local branch.
I think I'm going to open a new bank account tomorrow on campus.
I think I'm going to open a new bank account tomorrow on campus.
No. 2
"leverage the synergy resulting from the cross pollination"
I don't even know what that means. Are we, like, bumblebees or something? And since when could one apply a lever to synergy in order to give it some leverage?
And it isn't just me. The BBC covered Corporate BS speak recently. And Henry Gee took a bite of that pie that is blue sky thinking...
...going for a cuppa now, before I really do loose my sense of reality and reasonable English.
I don't even know what that means. Are we, like, bumblebees or something? And since when could one apply a lever to synergy in order to give it some leverage?
And it isn't just me. The BBC covered Corporate BS speak recently. And Henry Gee took a bite of that pie that is blue sky thinking...
...going for a cuppa now, before I really do loose my sense of reality and reasonable English.
Minor Irritation No. 1
When did prototype become a verb? Usage: 'to prototype this system we must....'
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Outreach
Why does science outreach matter to me?
During my PhD, and now as a member of faculty I have found many opportunities to participate in science outreach activities. Yes, I know I've not been in the new job for too long but I've already clocked up three days of outreach activities. I averaged 7 days a year as a grad student, so I'm well on track!
Many of my colleagues, and I think many of the readers of this blog don't understand why I give up both week days and weekend days to go stand in a room somewhere and wax lyrical about chemistry. Seriously though, between research, teaching and admin stuff (in which I include recruitment), who has the time?
It matters. During my PhD I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit many schools and do demonstrations and practical work with children from 8-18. All on a chemistry theme. There are a handful of children that I remember even now, because they were just so enthusiastic about it. We did the usual chem-demos - threw liquid nitrogen around, played with dry ice, a few demos that didn't involve fire, stuff like that. And we did a few easily mobile experiments with the schools, including the ever popular manufacture of 'slime' (PVA and borax). We always had the advantage because, going in to the classroom, we were a novelty.
Over the last few weeks I've participated in related activities to do with the chemical sciences in very public venues. One thing strikes me - going into schools is better. The number of very enthusiastic children I saw, with extremely dismissive parents was very disheartening. In a couple of cases I felt obliged to make a special effort to split the child off from the parents so that they might get some peace to do the task in hand. (As I've been projecting a lot lately, I'd say that this was the type of parents I had as a kid, so I sympathize with those children).
I never got those opportunities when I was a child. I was never taken to science fairs. People never came to a school like mine to do demonstrations and the like. Only once did I get taken to a university chemistry department but that was their idea of recruitment.
I feel that university chemistry departments (you can pretty much change the subject to anything there) have a great deal to offer schools. Science doesn't stand out without help. I'd almost say that science is more reliant on good quality teaching than other subjects. A crowd of university students of an intriguing age (the most common question I was asked in a high school was how old I was), and full of fun experiments and enthusiasm can go a long way to counteract dry lessons. Chemistry departments can bring in some resources (LN2 etc) that are difficult/expensive. Chemistry departments can bring in people who are happy to talk about who they are and how they got there. We can provide role models, mentoring and opportunities for students to see the next step on the ladder - university. Outreach matters. It is the precursor of recruitment.
Thing is, outreach wouldn't be a big deal if everyone did it. If all the people in my current department volunteered one day a year on an outreach activity (NOT recruitment), we could make a bigger difference. The thing that stops people is that it takes a lot of effort to come up with and plan an activity. That's where organizations like the RSC and the ACS come in (and the funding bodies). We need resources for these activities. We need ideas, small quantities of funding (usually to cover consumables and transport), and tried and trusted experiments. And we need them in a centrally located place. Does anyone know if there is an online forum for scientist with an interest in outreach? A place to share ideas, tips and tricks, and sources of funding? The trick is to find the things that the schools can't easily do, that are still safe and appropriate to the curriculum.
So why do I do it? I personally get a lot out of it. The child who gets the point, finally, after much frustration. The child that tells me they want to be a chemist. The child who studiously spends the lesson pursuing one experiment singly mindedly when the rest of their group have moved on. The child that asks the endless questions. (and one that I had last week) The special needs child,without the attention span for the task in hand, that spend 20 minutes telling me all he knew about chemistry, and who at the age of 1o could identify several small molecules that I drew for him AND give me their significance (CO2, CO, Water and Aspirin). For a few days each year, I want to be there for them.
During my PhD, and now as a member of faculty I have found many opportunities to participate in science outreach activities. Yes, I know I've not been in the new job for too long but I've already clocked up three days of outreach activities. I averaged 7 days a year as a grad student, so I'm well on track!
Many of my colleagues, and I think many of the readers of this blog don't understand why I give up both week days and weekend days to go stand in a room somewhere and wax lyrical about chemistry. Seriously though, between research, teaching and admin stuff (in which I include recruitment), who has the time?
It matters. During my PhD I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit many schools and do demonstrations and practical work with children from 8-18. All on a chemistry theme. There are a handful of children that I remember even now, because they were just so enthusiastic about it. We did the usual chem-demos - threw liquid nitrogen around, played with dry ice, a few demos that didn't involve fire, stuff like that. And we did a few easily mobile experiments with the schools, including the ever popular manufacture of 'slime' (PVA and borax). We always had the advantage because, going in to the classroom, we were a novelty.
Over the last few weeks I've participated in related activities to do with the chemical sciences in very public venues. One thing strikes me - going into schools is better. The number of very enthusiastic children I saw, with extremely dismissive parents was very disheartening. In a couple of cases I felt obliged to make a special effort to split the child off from the parents so that they might get some peace to do the task in hand. (As I've been projecting a lot lately, I'd say that this was the type of parents I had as a kid, so I sympathize with those children).
I never got those opportunities when I was a child. I was never taken to science fairs. People never came to a school like mine to do demonstrations and the like. Only once did I get taken to a university chemistry department but that was their idea of recruitment.
I feel that university chemistry departments (you can pretty much change the subject to anything there) have a great deal to offer schools. Science doesn't stand out without help. I'd almost say that science is more reliant on good quality teaching than other subjects. A crowd of university students of an intriguing age (the most common question I was asked in a high school was how old I was), and full of fun experiments and enthusiasm can go a long way to counteract dry lessons. Chemistry departments can bring in some resources (LN2 etc) that are difficult/expensive. Chemistry departments can bring in people who are happy to talk about who they are and how they got there. We can provide role models, mentoring and opportunities for students to see the next step on the ladder - university. Outreach matters. It is the precursor of recruitment.
Thing is, outreach wouldn't be a big deal if everyone did it. If all the people in my current department volunteered one day a year on an outreach activity (NOT recruitment), we could make a bigger difference. The thing that stops people is that it takes a lot of effort to come up with and plan an activity. That's where organizations like the RSC and the ACS come in (and the funding bodies). We need resources for these activities. We need ideas, small quantities of funding (usually to cover consumables and transport), and tried and trusted experiments. And we need them in a centrally located place. Does anyone know if there is an online forum for scientist with an interest in outreach? A place to share ideas, tips and tricks, and sources of funding? The trick is to find the things that the schools can't easily do, that are still safe and appropriate to the curriculum.
So why do I do it? I personally get a lot out of it. The child who gets the point, finally, after much frustration. The child that tells me they want to be a chemist. The child who studiously spends the lesson pursuing one experiment singly mindedly when the rest of their group have moved on. The child that asks the endless questions. (and one that I had last week) The special needs child,without the attention span for the task in hand, that spend 20 minutes telling me all he knew about chemistry, and who at the age of 1o could identify several small molecules that I drew for him AND give me their significance (CO2, CO, Water and Aspirin). For a few days each year, I want to be there for them.
Hair Today, Gone Today
I got a lot of hair cut off. I went from shoulder length, very thick (for those who have seen my facebook profile pic, just like that) to a short chin length bob type style with most of the weight of hair removed.
I feel light.
In other news, Dr R is away for the weekend hence the more frequent blogging. I have noticed several things lately in the blogosphere that I was going to write bigger posts about, but I'd rather finish that bottle of pink wine (Lou, I've got a Campo Viega Pink Rioja, from Sainsbury - not the typical sweet and strawberry like rose, but it went fantastically with a Thai curry the other night).
In brief:
Resolution of Congress (US) celebrating women in science - pretty much underwhelmed about this one, not sure what it means. Recognition is good, but does it actually do anything? I'm linking Alice's post at Science Woman because she makes more sense than me on the topic.
I am watching (as in reading) Katie's current job dilemma with a strange morbid fascination. It must be wonderful to be head hunted, but stressful to not have a paper (i.e. real) contract to sign. I am secretly willing her to get the California job because I like the thought of her being able to write about long walks on beaches, dolphins and pleasant Californian things. It must be quite wonderful to live in a country with a decent range of climates. The UK doesn't have such extremes. In any case I'd like either of her options to get their proverbial arses in gear and get her a paper contract to sign.
I did like PhysioProf's post on why shitty funding harms science:
I feel light.
In other news, Dr R is away for the weekend hence the more frequent blogging. I have noticed several things lately in the blogosphere that I was going to write bigger posts about, but I'd rather finish that bottle of pink wine (Lou, I've got a Campo Viega Pink Rioja, from Sainsbury - not the typical sweet and strawberry like rose, but it went fantastically with a Thai curry the other night).
In brief:
Resolution of Congress (US) celebrating women in science - pretty much underwhelmed about this one, not sure what it means. Recognition is good, but does it actually do anything? I'm linking Alice's post at Science Woman because she makes more sense than me on the topic.
I am watching (as in reading) Katie's current job dilemma with a strange morbid fascination. It must be wonderful to be head hunted, but stressful to not have a paper (i.e. real) contract to sign. I am secretly willing her to get the California job because I like the thought of her being able to write about long walks on beaches, dolphins and pleasant Californian things. It must be quite wonderful to live in a country with a decent range of climates. The UK doesn't have such extremes. In any case I'd like either of her options to get their proverbial arses in gear and get her a paper contract to sign.
I did like PhysioProf's post on why shitty funding harms science:
I think that is the most sensible thing I've heard on the matter because it is so inclusive. For science progress to be rapid (and we can assume productive) we need many people doing it. And it takes much of the ego out of the matter. I like that."So, shitty funding doesn't suck because it means some particular supergenius
idea will die on the vine. It sucks because overall scientific progress gets
slower the fewer people there are doing science."
Fright Night
There used to be a show on Food Network Canada about some women (mother of 10,000 children) who would show families how to plan a week of meals and use their resources (children) effectively in the preparation of those meals. There would be one night termed 'fright night' when all the offspring were off doing many activities and there was a narrow window of opportunity (usually about 20 minutes) for the family to sit and feed together.
For the last few years I've had my own 'fright night' but not due to a limited time for dinner. It used to be Sunday nights because I was so dreading going to work the next day. Sunday nights (when postdoc) sucked big style. There was just a growing feeling of dread that used to start at about 3 pm and would really be causing havoc by 8 pm.
That has changed, and fright night is now Friday night because we are both too tired to care about anything. Dr R has clocked up several hundred miles (>500) in communting, and I have been concentrating on the rocky mountain pass that is my work. And we have no energy to care. By Saturday morning we are normally back to being somewhat reasonable individuals, but Friday nights? They bite. Many of the folks I work with go out for a couple of drinks on Friday night and I went with them last night. Only trouble is, I'm way to tired to hold up my end of a conversation in a pub by 6pm on Friday night. My level is a nice glass of pink wine* and some crappy DVD reruns of Teachers, House or Buffy. Even a packet of Scampi Fries** did little to raise my spirits last night. Then I collapse into bed after the delights of ready meals and freeze-dried-chocolate coated strawberries (which Dr R wont like because it is white chocolate).
I'm getting my hair cut today. I hate today already. I can't stand getting my hair cut but I'm starting to look like a Banshee (in the sense of the long hair part, not the naked part) that has been on the Van de Graff generator too much.
* I like pink (rose) wine, but don't like ice in it. I noticed people in the pub putting ice in it. You want to dilute the already lowish alcohol with water? WTF is wrong with you people
** I like scampi fries, but only with beer.
For the last few years I've had my own 'fright night' but not due to a limited time for dinner. It used to be Sunday nights because I was so dreading going to work the next day. Sunday nights (when postdoc) sucked big style. There was just a growing feeling of dread that used to start at about 3 pm and would really be causing havoc by 8 pm.
That has changed, and fright night is now Friday night because we are both too tired to care about anything. Dr R has clocked up several hundred miles (>500) in communting, and I have been concentrating on the rocky mountain pass that is my work. And we have no energy to care. By Saturday morning we are normally back to being somewhat reasonable individuals, but Friday nights? They bite. Many of the folks I work with go out for a couple of drinks on Friday night and I went with them last night. Only trouble is, I'm way to tired to hold up my end of a conversation in a pub by 6pm on Friday night. My level is a nice glass of pink wine* and some crappy DVD reruns of Teachers, House or Buffy. Even a packet of Scampi Fries** did little to raise my spirits last night. Then I collapse into bed after the delights of ready meals and freeze-dried-chocolate coated strawberries (which Dr R wont like because it is white chocolate).
I'm getting my hair cut today. I hate today already. I can't stand getting my hair cut but I'm starting to look like a Banshee (in the sense of the long hair part, not the naked part) that has been on the Van de Graff generator too much.
* I like pink (rose) wine, but don't like ice in it. I noticed people in the pub putting ice in it. You want to dilute the already lowish alcohol with water? WTF is wrong with you people
** I like scampi fries, but only with beer.
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