Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Excellent, excellent opinion piece. Excellent.
Hopefully the economy and war will not completely distract Obama from this important task of restoring credible science to government.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Raleigh Marathon
Kate and Madelyn did the half-marathon, and both did very well! As I mentioned before, I finished in 4:05 - not the sub-4 I had hoped for, but I underestimated the hilliness, even after studying this elevation map:
See those big hills at miles 5 and 13-15? I powered up them, feeling strong and still maintaining a sub-9:00 pace. I only slowed down a little at the 17-18 mile hill. I was feeling way over-confident and trying to guess how big my PR would be. Then the course left the lovely shade and soft dirt road of Umstead State Park - we turned a corner and were suddenly on a concrete sidewalk heading uphill and straight into the sun (miles 19-20). I didn't hit a wall or anything, but just could not keep up my pace for the rest of the course - even on the slight downhill from mile 22-25. Mile 25 was awful - it doesn't look like a big hill on the course elevation map, but it sure felt steep and way longer than a mile (as mile 25 usually does). So I revised my goal to 4:05 and finished in 4:05:24. Not too bad I guess. So here I am within a few tenths a mile of the finish. See my Obama '08 shirt? I got lots of compliments on that! And no heckling!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
The Land Slides Further
Obama adds symbolic NC victory to White House win
Obama had won North Carolina! It's the first time a democratic Presidential candidate has won the state since Carter won it in 1976. Isn't that crazy? That's crazy! In a good way of course! It makes me proud to be a North Carolinian. So that means Obama has 364 electoral votes to McCain's 162. GOPs, we CRUSHED you!!
To change the subject, Connie has asked for a race report - yes, I will post one later. In a nutshell, it was a tough race but it went well - ran a 4:05 marathon on a very hilly course.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Landslide Victory!
Wow. IN, FL, OH, VA, CO, NV, NM?!?!?! Wow! This is amazing. Now us liberals can get to work with Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright to implement our radical socialist agenda! (just kidding, CG - do you realize how ridiculous you sound now?) In all seriousness this is a really exciting time in our country's history, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. He's definitely got his work cut out for him.
Man, Phillies winning the World Series, Obama and other dems winning office...this is shaping up to be the Autumn of Sandra Cookie!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
PHILLIES WIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's go Phillies!!!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Reason #893 to keep that ignorant bitch away from the White House
Here are some quick facts
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Equal Pay
ABSOLUTELY NOT. Not only should men and women be paid equally for the same work, but parents and childless adults should also be paid equally for the same work. To "forgo pregnancy" does not necessarily mean you are going to be better or more productive at your job than someone with kids. In my field (biological sciences) I know male and female professors with children who manage to teach, publish, and get grants funded at the same (or even higher) rate and quality as professors without kids. So why would you pay them differently? Sure, it is true that there are scientist-parents who may have a brief "hole" in their publication record because of those 3 months they took for paid paternity/maternity leave. Unfortunately, this may affect their ability to get tenure or get grants funded (but fortunately many institutions are becoming more understanding of this). However, it should in no way whatsoever affect their salary!
In academic interviews it is against most institution's policies to ask if a candidate is married, has kids, is planning to have kids, etc. These policies are in place precisely because of the attitude you revealed in your comments in the earlier post. You cannot discriminate against someone based on these factors! And this is why it is best for an institution (or any place of employment) to have equal paternity/maternity leave policies - whether they hire a man or a woman, the possibility that that person will take parental leave is the same. You cannot decide against the woman because "she's a woman of childbearing age, so she'll probably take maternity leave". And actually, you cannot discriminate against men of childbearing age for the same reason either. I can understand the perspective of an employer who is short-staffed and needs someone to work full-time immediately with no extended leave on the horizon. But that employer has to realize that the possibility of extended leave is always there and is unpredictable. You never know if and when a employee will get cancer, have an accident, etc. and need an extended leave of absence. This is why you just have to hire the best candidate for the job and not discriminate based on perceived likelihood that a person will take parental, sick, or disability leave. Actually, I know a woman who, in the few years after landing her tenure-track position, had both cancer and a baby, and has still managed to stay at the top of her field.
All that being said, sure, it is possible that parenthood takes its toll on a person to the extent that their job performance suffers. But this is just one of many factors that can affect a person's job performance (divorce, chronic illness, depression, etc.) And that's why the only factors that should determine someone's salary or whether or not they get hired are their resume and job performance NOT their gender or family status.
In regard to the comment that a woman who isn't pregnant is more valuable than one who is, I look at my own place of employment. I am NO MORE VALUABLE to my employer than the two female teaching fellows currently expecting babies, or the male teaching fellow whose wife just gave birth last week (congratulations Jon and Celia!). Our supervisors at Duke University evaluate us only according to how well we do our jobs, not whether or not we take parental leave, an option open to all of us teaching fellows. It is unfortunate that not all employers practice such non-discrimination, and even more unfortunate that there are politicians do not support this mindset.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Economists' Policy Group for Women's Issues
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Make my autumn!
- The Phillies win the World Series
- Obama wins the presidency
- My proposal gets funded.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Told you
I am sure my gay friends with children (as well as those without) take great offense at you implying that their families are not strong.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Are you anti-abortion?
- "Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, which calls for a 'consistent ethic of life' on such issues as poverty and capital punishment, argue that economic policies may be the most effective way to combat abortion by providing social services, such as affordable health care, for pregnant women." I COMPLETELY agree with them. The way to reduce abortion is not to criminalize it, but to address the root causes of the issue: (1) why do unwanted pregnancies happen and (2) why do women choose to abort their pregnancy. Similarly...
- Douglas W. Kmiec, an anti-abortion scholar, argues that "that overturning Roe v. Wade would not end abortion, and that the bigger priority should be addressing 'the economic and cultural and social circumstances that force women to believe that they must make a choice against life.'" YES, once again I completely agree that overturning Roe v Wade would not end abortion.
Long story short, if you are pro-life you can go ahead and VOTE FOR OBAMA with a clear conscience!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
3 down, 47 to go!
Conn. High Court Rules Same-Sex Couples Can Marry
These things take time, but they do happen and will continue to happen. Some day, even Texas and Alaska will be on board, and anti-gay and anti-equality policies and laws will be seen as old-fashioned and narrow-minded.
Also, regarding this issue, I was very disappointed with how Joe Biden handled this question in the VP debate. Yes, I realize that there are virtually no major party leaders that support a constitutional amendment to allow gay marriage. But Biden's and Palin's attitudes towards gay rights and issues differ in significant ways. Check out this Human Rights Campaign video:
In other happy news the Phillies beat the Dodgers 3-2 last night! I'm calling for a Rays-Phillies World Series with the Phillies going all the way!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Science and the Election
McCain said last year, in a Republican primary debate: "I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also." In 2005, he told the Arizona Daily Star that he thought "all points of view" should be available to students studying the origins of humanity. But the next year a Colorado paper reported him saying that such viewpoints should not be taught in science class.
Okay, at least he finally acknowledged that creationism does not belong in science class. Of course, his creationist VP doesn't feel the same. I also found it interesting that Obama's science and technology advisers are actually, um, scientists, whereas McCain's science advisers are a couple of CEOs, the former secretary of defense, a former CIA director, and a former NSA adviser.
Friday, September 05, 2008
I change my mind!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
For biology teachers
This reminded me of Lehigh University's Michael Behe. When I was in grad school there, I often heard him referred to as an "embarrassment". I thought I'd check his webpage to see if he's altered any of his ID content (he hasn't). And Lehigh's Biology Department has stated clearly and succinctly their view of his views.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Tomato score: Squirrels 8, Sandra 0
but Madeline would have to be on duty 24/7 to keep the little thieves away. They have gotten at least 8 of my tomatoes, but the hearty little plant is producing more, so I must do something to protect them!
After Andrew left I built a chicken-wire fortress around my tomato plant. So far it's working, and my tomatoes have grown noticeably! Also, my marigolds have begun to produce flowers! This was after Andrew and his camera left, though, so I don't have pictures (I am still clinging to my broken digital, hoping somehow it might just start randomly working again). Also, my basil is being eaten less by insects and more my me. The mint is flourishing as usual.
Here are some pretty purple flowers from the side of my house. I've seen these all over the Raleigh-Durham area. Does anyone know what they are? I am awful with plant ID!
Andrew, I wonder if the large red and black beetle we saw was a type of carrion beetle (that's what it looks like in my Peterson insect guide). Do you remember it looking like this?
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
What a great sentiment...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The fate of my eggs...
Workers' Religious Freedom vs. Patients' Rights
If my religion were white supremacy, would that give me a right to deny services to all non-white people in my profession? If you don't believe in birth control, then don't work in a profession where your job description entails providing birth control! It's like a PETA activist being employed at Cabella's and then refusing to sell anything related to hunting! Or a Jewish person taking a teaching job at a Catholic school, and then claiming they shouldn't have to teach the lessons that contradict their faith! Yes, you should be free to believe what you want. But so should I, and I believe that birth control, and in some cases abortion, are healthy, important, and the morally correct thing to do with my body and my life. If anyone stands in the way of that, they are infringing upon MY religious freedom AND health, not just "patients' rights". And when the uterus in question is MINE, then the only morals that can be imposed upon it are MINE. Think birth control and abortions are immoral? Then don't take it or have one. I won't encourage you to or secretly stuff condoms in your mailbox. In turn, I ask that you not take my prescriptions away from me (there are pharmacists who DO that!). Don't you dare try to prevent me from doing what I think is morally correct for ME. KEEP YOUR LAWS OUT OF MY BUSH, BUSH!!!!!!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Orioles won on a SUNDAY!
The Phillies are losing right now, but it's only 5-2 in the 4th. Maybe they can pull out an amazing comeback like they did yesterday! Check out this line score:
Isn't that crazy? That would've been an exciting game to be at. I miss Citizens Bank Park!
Oh, sweet!!! Shane Victorino just smashed a 3-run home run to tie the game! Those Braves are going DOWN.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Madeline
This is an old picture of Madeline, but it captures her current spirit. Poor thing wants to go outside all the time! I've tried to explain to her that it's too dark and there are too many mosquitoes and I've showered so I don't want to put on more bug spray. But we were out in the backyard earlier this evening and as I was putting sticks in the compost bin, Madeline started trying to attack the sticks like they were string toys. Then I started throwing them, and she chased them, although they were a little too big for her to get her mouth around them (and she usually only "fetches" paper wads and broccoli stems). She's just like a dog, it's so funny! But what was really hilarious was the dirty little trick I pulled to bring her back inside - I ran across the yard, up the steps, and inside, waving a stick behind me, and Madeline bounded after me the whole way. She was kind of pissed off when I then threw the stick outside and closed the door :) Hmm, maybe next time she goes under the porch I can coax her out with a stick instead of cat treats! It's so weird, I've never met a cat as dog-like as she is.
I haven't mentioned the Orioles in a while because it is sad. They've been slipping further and further below .500. They lost to Toronto twice yesterday, and I am scared to check the standings. They are losing to LA now, but Jay Payton just hit a 2 run double, so now they're only down 5-3 in the 7th. Maybe they can do it!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Settling In
Anyway, here are some pictures of my new, humble little dwelling:
I don't have many from inside, but I'll wait until I get everything bought/ unpacked/ put-away...and host a visitor w/ a digital camera (don't want to waste film on some ordinary rooms!) And here is the poor little garden I started. Actually, the marigold seedlings are coming up quite well, the mint looks decent, and the tomato isn't dead (bought the mint, tomato, and basil plants from the garden store). The basil is being thoroughly enjoyed, but unfortunately not much by me. Does anyone know of any good organic insecticides for sweet basil? I'm quite naive and new at this!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Blacksburg, VA
These little raccoons must've known the rain was coming. That's probably what they were trying to tell us with all that chattering! They drew attention to themselves, and we saw them climb into their tree hole. I think I've only seen raccoons going through garbage cans or dead on the side of the road and never thought they were very cute, but these little guys sure were!
See this one climbing the tree:
And this one with his cute little face peeking out of the hole:
Monday, July 07, 2008
Newfoundland
On the last day of the conference I slipped out early to do an out-n-back run/hike of the East-Coast Trail (http://www.eastcoasttrail.com/trail/). It was an overcast sky, but still beautiful scenery! I ran/hiked about 18 miles (including the 3 miles to get from the hotel to the trailhead). It was a good workout!
My attempt at a self-portrait :)
Monday, June 23, 2008
Assault on Science
http://lasciencecoalition.org/
It's scary and troubling that this stuff is happening. Here are the important points outlined in an e-mail I received from the Ecolog list-serve:
Point 1: The Louisiana law, SB 733, the LA Science Education Act,
has national implications. So far, this legislation has failed in
every other state where it was proposed, except in Michigan, where
it remains in committee. By passing SB 733, Louisiana has set a
dangerous precedent that will benefit the Discovery Institute by
helping them to advance their strategy to get intelligent design
creationism into public schools. Louisiana is only the beginning.
Other states will now be encouraged to pass such legislation, and
the Discovery Institute has already said that they will continue
their push to get such legislation passed.
Point 2: Since Gov. Jindal's support for teaching ID clearly helped
to get this bill passed in the first place, his decision to veto it
will stick if he lets the legislature know that he wants it to stick.
Point 3: Simply allowing the bill to become law without his
signature does not absolve the governor of the responsibility for
protecting the public school science classes of Louisiana. He must
veto the bill to show that he is serious about improving Louisiana
by improving education. Anything less than a veto means that the
governor is giving a green light to creationists to undermine the
education of Louisiana children.
I don't understand what it is about the United States that makes these ID issues constantly arise. It is pretty much only the U.S. where this happens - other countries realize teaching religion in a science course is a horrible notion that doesn't even deserve a speck of consideration. The implications are scary for both religion and science - mixing both is a detriment to both. Even though I'm not a Louisiana resident or in any way associated with the state, I'm really embarrassed for their legislature, their governor, and the citizens who support turning their science classes into a joke. Spread the word and urge Gov. Jindal to veto this bill!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Rape in the U.K.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Giving
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Endangered Species Day
The Bush administration has only protected 58 species of plants, animals, and fish to date, compared to 522 species protected during the Clinton administration and 231 during the elder Bush’s tenure. Under this administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service has not protected a single U.S. species in 712 days. This is by far the longest period without a new species being protected since the landmark federal law was passed, surpassing even James Watt, who, under President Reagan, in 1981 and 1982 went 382 days without listing a species.
“The Bush administration denied coastal cutthroat trout protection not because the species doesn’t need to be protected, but because of hostility to the Endangered Species Act,” said Greenwald. “Decisions about how to protect our rivers and fish need to be based on science, not politics.”
That last point is so important. As a scientist, especially as an ecologist, I find it so frustrating when careful, high-quality, often expensive science is simply brushed aside because it doesn't fit someone's narrow-minded agenda. But I also understand that some of the blame falls on us - our inability to effectively communicate science and the implications of our results to policy makers and voters. Some people just don't understand how important it is to preserve biodiversity and understand our natural resources. Some things can't be replaced, but it's difficult to convince someone of that who only ventures outside their air-conditioned office for a round of golf or something. How do we get people like that to care about bacteria in the ocean sediments off the Bahamas, for example? Or more importantly, get them to appreciate the ecological connections between those bacteria and the rest of the ecosystem? Something to think about on Endangered Species Day!AMEN!
Friday, May 09, 2008
I don't understand Congress!
Anyway, the quality of my blogging is compromised now because my digital camera broke :( And I would rather not waste film on things like the "brutti ma buoni" cookies I made and Madeline making funny faces, even though they'd be interesting enough to post. But Andrew lent me his camera for a while so I took some pictures of the flowers in the courtyard of the building where I work. If I have some reading to do, I like to come out here instead of sitting in my office:
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Adding color to the greening of America
Thursday, May 01, 2008
To CG and anyone else who doesn't understand ecology
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Orioles tied for first place!
This is how the AL east standings should stay, with the team with the highest talent-to-$$$ ratio on top!!! Also, the Phillies won last night when Ryan Howard broke out of his slump with a 2-run homer. The Phillies are now 14-11, only 0.5 game out of 1st place.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Here is a perfect example...
Article about Catholic priest abuse
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
This is so sad...
The group that did this looks like something I'd like to be involved in:
Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup
Here's a picture of volunteers beautifying the waters of Maryland (borrowed from here).
I will be moving closer to an ocean! But it looks like they do inland waters, too. We limnologists appreciate that!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
THEY WON AGAIN!
This site is for bird lovers not baseball fans, but I may have to make a purchase.
Bonus today: The Phillies won and the Yankees are currently losing, but it's only 5-2 in the 7th. Double bonus: Jeter is injured and A-rod is 0-for-3 w/ 3 strikeouts.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Confronting danger in Afghanistan - sigh, how romantic!
"I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."
"It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," Bush said.
Well gee. Now when I think of war and its impact on troops, I will no longer think of PTSD! I think how lucky these young people are! And gosh, if they're having such a "fantastic experience" what's with all this "support our troops" hogwash anyway? If things really are "exciting" and "romantic" over there they don't need our support.Days until the idiot is outta there: 305
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Some interesting environmental science news
I found this article very surprising, even after all the reading I've been doing on dams. I never would have thought that all the world's dams store enough water to reduce sea-level rise! That's kind of scary. As Sahagian (from the EES dept. at Lehigh, my graduate alma mater!) noted, we're not going to be building many more dams. But what wasn't mentioned in the article is the fate of existing dams. Dams have a finite existence - the reservoirs behind them fill up with sediment rather quickly. Plus, dams are being torn down in some areas, because people are recognizing that they are not economically feasible and are ecologically destructive. So how will that impact sea level in 100 years or less, when all the reservoirs are losing their capacity due to sedimentation and/or the dams are torn down?