Last night, while eating pizza at Big Mario's (surprisingly good and the closest to NY pizza I've found out here), I saw Dan Savage. I gave him some grated cheese for his pizza that he was looking for. He said "Oh, thanks." That was all. I didn't geek out and say hi or something dumb like "hey you're Dan Savage" (I'm pretty sure he knows who he is). But, to me, he is somewhat of a celebrity, so it was exciting.
Yay Seattle! Also, please check out the It Gets Better Project, created by Savage, contributed to by many, appreciated by so many more.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Animal Crackers
I really love animal crackers. They are delicious. They also have a surprising amount of protein (4g/box) and calcium (20% DV/box). Just to be clear, I'm talking about the REAL animal crackers, the ones in the little red box with the string (the Barnum's Animal Crackers, not the other ghetto crap you buy in a giant tub).
I also have very fond memories attached to animal crackers. And I don't mean something like when I was 5 and my grandparents always had animal crackers for me, nothing lame like that. One time in high school (not band camp), my good friend and I wandered into a CVS late one night and decided to buy all of what was left of the animal crackers in the store. It was the first and only time I've ever bought everything of anything in a store. And believe you me, we ate them all. ....Ok, maybe still lame, but it was exciting at the time.
I have noticed, however, that many of these crackers are in the shape of animals that really don't belong in the circus. Barnum is famous for his circuses and the box leads you to believe that this is what you're getting. But sheep in the circus? Really Barnum? I mean, I know it's been a long time since I've been to the circus, but how lame that would be to have sheep there. And what is a poor child to do now when they go to the circus expecting to see sheep. Camels? I guess they're debatable. Spitting animals could be entertaining for some. The elephants and bears make sense, even the gorillas, but I think you need some help on re-learning which animals actually make an appearance under the big top. On occasion, I'll also find this unidentifiable animal, one I used to refer to as "the shaggy dog," for lack of a better guess. Perhaps this is one of the carny's dogs that come along on the circus tour.
Maybe we can suggest some animal changes to Barnum. Any thoughts?
In other news, the lab is boring/frustrating/a black hole of misery these days. I'm hoping the lab gods remember our saluting them and they continue to bestow their blessings on me... maybe they are just on vacation or a vengeful streak.
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| Fig. 1. The real deal (not to be confused with a box of real animals). |
I also have very fond memories attached to animal crackers. And I don't mean something like when I was 5 and my grandparents always had animal crackers for me, nothing lame like that. One time in high school (not band camp), my good friend and I wandered into a CVS late one night and decided to buy all of what was left of the animal crackers in the store. It was the first and only time I've ever bought everything of anything in a store. And believe you me, we ate them all. ....Ok, maybe still lame, but it was exciting at the time.
I have noticed, however, that many of these crackers are in the shape of animals that really don't belong in the circus. Barnum is famous for his circuses and the box leads you to believe that this is what you're getting. But sheep in the circus? Really Barnum? I mean, I know it's been a long time since I've been to the circus, but how lame that would be to have sheep there. And what is a poor child to do now when they go to the circus expecting to see sheep. Camels? I guess they're debatable. Spitting animals could be entertaining for some. The elephants and bears make sense, even the gorillas, but I think you need some help on re-learning which animals actually make an appearance under the big top. On occasion, I'll also find this unidentifiable animal, one I used to refer to as "the shaggy dog," for lack of a better guess. Perhaps this is one of the carny's dogs that come along on the circus tour.
Maybe we can suggest some animal changes to Barnum. Any thoughts?
In other news, the lab is boring/frustrating/a black hole of misery these days. I'm hoping the lab gods remember our saluting them and they continue to bestow their blessings on me... maybe they are just on vacation or a vengeful streak.
 |
| Fig 2. GlaDos from Portal |
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Eat, Sleep, and Breathe
The other day I was walking home from my usual bus stop after a wonderfully long day of sitting in the little dark microscope box room and had to do a double-take at the graffiti on the floor. I immediately thought "oh, look, a neuron!" Regardless of its multiple (beautiful) dendrites, it was, in fact, not a neuron. On second look, I don't think it was even an intentional graffiti, merely a splatter of spray paint next to some inane tag.
This is not the first time this has happened. I see neurons on bumper stickers and glial cells in art work in restaurants. (Actually, I'm still pretty convinced that last one really was an abstract version of neural networks, but who knows). Am I obsessed? Maybe I'm more haunted by my work rather than obsessed. Perhaps, it's a nice unhealthy mixture of both. I suppose all good scientists are somewhat consumed by their work, that they see cell types in cloud formations, or mechanisms in their dreams.
Nevertheless, it reminds me how hopelessly geeky I am. But, never fear, little scientists, we are not alone. Tthe ever amusing author Mary Roach (author of 'Bonk,' 'Spook,' and 'Stiff' to name a few) speaks to this quite nicely in her intro to 'Bonk:'
This is not the first time this has happened. I see neurons on bumper stickers and glial cells in art work in restaurants. (Actually, I'm still pretty convinced that last one really was an abstract version of neural networks, but who knows). Am I obsessed? Maybe I'm more haunted by my work rather than obsessed. Perhaps, it's a nice unhealthy mixture of both. I suppose all good scientists are somewhat consumed by their work, that they see cell types in cloud formations, or mechanisms in their dreams.
Nevertheless, it reminds me how hopelessly geeky I am. But, never fear, little scientists, we are not alone. Tthe ever amusing author Mary Roach (author of 'Bonk,' 'Spook,' and 'Stiff' to name a few) speaks to this quite nicely in her intro to 'Bonk:'
"I am obsessed with my research, not by nature but serially: book by book and regardless of topic. All good research-- whether for science or for a book-- is a form of obsession. And obsession can be awkward. It can be downright embarrassing."
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