So, with the threat of losing my job and my students becoming more difficult to teach each day, i have really considered becoming a journalist and writing about science. I never thought I was a good writer, so its funny that I now aspire to become one. I don't know if I want to write only about science, since I love so many things, but it will be one of my favorite topics and one that I hope I can turn into a career. Ive also looked into classes at the local community college and found a journalism program. When I think about it, writing is not all that different than teaching. Its information gathered, researched and put out in a more pleasing (easy?) way. My job requires this of me everyday, sometimes I fail miserably, but sometimes its just perfect.

I'm bummed that I didn't look into this earlier, while still in college. I keep finding internships I am unable to apply for and classes I overlooked. I'm only 27, yet it feels like I am stuck, that my only option is to not get fired. So I am left to do all the research and practice on my own and hopefully get into the program at the community college. This could be good for me, but it will require lots of will power and focus, which by 3 0'clock are no longer words recognized by my brain. This is going to be a slow endeavor. Wish me luck.

So, due to a comment made by an old friend, the fact that I never use MySpace, and the need to vent, I have decided to start up this blog again. I didnt really want to stop, but work (and facebook) didnt really give me much extra time. So anyways, starting anew, writing about issues that bother me (which is practically everything these days) and of course science.

This is especially important since I am currently looking into writing programs. My dream of becoming a science writer has not disappeared and it would be good to get some practice. Lets see where this blog takes me.

I heart Keith Olbermann

Here we go again.....

So tomorrow I start a new life. A new (maybe temporary) home and possibly a new job. Now, if things go according to plan, it could be wonderful. But since nothing ever goes according to plan, I have stressed myself out so much that I have a new "ulcer".

The one sure thing in my life right now is that there are endless possibilities. I just hope Im quick enough, and lucky enough to find the right ones.

Above is a picture that pretty sums up how Im feeling- Im about to get eaten alive

I LOVE Turtles!

Turtle Nabs Drug Suspect

A box turtle equipped with GPS helps police nab a suspect growing marijuana in Rock Creek Park.

Just south of the DC/Maryland line, a turtle wearing a GPS device for research purposes makes an amazing discovery.

"The ranger in charge of the program discovered the turtle in the middle of a marijuana field," Sgt. Robert Lachance of the U.S. Park Police says.

Its been two weeks since my tests and I have, I think, finally gotten used to having free time that I dont have to feel guilty about. So I started reading NY Times, and quickly, as usual, became very depressed.

For almost a month, my news consumption had hit an all time low. I looked at the NY Times main page, scanned for what I thought was the most important/interesting and that was about it. I was feeling rather bad about being so uninformed, but I needed to study.

Sidebar
Caltech is a perfect place to study because you are surrounded by people who will always be 10x smarter than you on their worst day. This motivated me, since most of the people I smiled at while walking on campus, refused to return the sentiment. "Im smart dammit!" I wanted to scream, but would then return to my room and attempt to relearn 4 years of college biology and hang my head in despair.

Warm fuzzy CSET studying trivia: I had been studying some chemistry and came across the work of Robert Millikan, who found the charge of an electron from oil droplets suspended between two electrodes (WTF?!, I know). I then went on tour of Caltech and what do we come across? A bust of Robert fuckin Millikan, who was once president of Caltech. <3

Oh, one more Caltech warm fuzzy. SoCal just happened to have an earthquake, a rather large one, and who was everyone looking to for info? Caltech.

Anyways, back to depressing news. So today, I finally got back into the routine of reading the news, and I just became increasingly upset at what I was reading, beating myself up that I cannot change the world tomorrow. How long can I take these beatings? I dont know. What I do know is that it is rather unhealthy and cant possible be helping me fight my issue with chronic stress. So....just to included everyone in on the fun, here are two articles that make me want to jump out a window.

'The Jungle', Again
The Biggest Issue

(Yes, I realize they are op-ed's but that doesnt mean they still dont piss me off)

Besides all that, Im well, and excited to return back to my life in a little over a week, with some new exciting/terrifying additions. : )

P.S. I now have a facebook and it has (of course) become an addiction

All grown up....

The Chatterbox a cool place to hang out

So my friend's bar is in the newspaper today and I cant help but be proud. Having been a patron since the beginning, I have many fond (and not so fond) memories of this place, so Im happy that it has grown to be successful. Plus, it has Negro Modelo...my favorite beer, thanks Ralph.



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OOOOOHHHHHGGGHHHHHH!

Cheney’s Office and the Course of Climate Policy

The White House, in 2004 and 2008, has said that any presidential administration has every right to adjust or shape information flowing through the government agencies it manages. A central defender of the Bush administration’s vetting of last fall’s testimony on climate and health was John H. Marburger III, the president’s science adviser. In my 2004 story, displaying his usual candor, Dr. Marburger justified administration actions of this sort this way:

“So there’s always going to be a tilt in an administration like this one to a certain set of actions that you take to achieve some policy objective,” he said. “In general, science may give you some limits and tell you some boundary conditions on that set of actions, but it really doesn’t tell you what to do.”

There's a lot of shit going on today...
6 Die in Attact on U.S. Post in Turkey
Iran Reports Missile Test in Show of Force
Senate Backs Wiretap Bill to Shield Phone Companies (this one breaks my heart)



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NatalieDee