Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.
Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.
Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.
My first book report was on the Cat's Cradle. A novelty read for a student in rural high school. "Why don't you just read To Kill a Mockingbird?" my teacher asked. I was hooked and proceeded to spend what little money I had on any used copy of a Vonnegut book I could find. I couldn't afford new. I may have shed a tear the first time I purchased a first edition of Slaughter House Five and this morning when I heard of Kurt's passing. I defended him to my adviser once who equated him with King. Heresy. Vonnegut was and is a master of satire and prediction. Making me openly laugh at atrocity. The next time I am at a book store and the clerk asks me what I am looking for, I will respond "Something like Vonnegut." The amazing thing about Vonnegut is that he said, more humorously and sharp than the rest of, what we all thought. He was a sort of mental doppleganger for us all. I finish this farewell with a quote from Vonnegut himself.
As for being a midwesterner, he recalls his roots in nearby Indianapolis, a heartland town, the next one west of here. "I'm a fresh water person. When I swim in the ocean, I feel like I'm swimming in chicken soup. Who wants to swim in flavored water?"
Comments
Posted by: Mustafa Mond, FCD | April 12, 2007 11:40 AM
Stephen
Posted by: CR McClain | April 12, 2007 1:16 PM
"Cat's Cradle" was the first summer reading assignment I actually enjoyed in high school (and one of the only). It hooked me on Vonnegut and I have read many, many of his books - I still don't understand why "Player Piano" isn't considered more important (maybe it is and I just don't know it).
Posted by: Jim Lemire | April 12, 2007 4:11 PM
I, too, will miss him and his writings. One thing I remember is that at the age of 84, he had contributed to the literary world, maybe not as some would like, but to some of us, a different take or look at things.
Posted by: Blondie | April 16, 2007 3:24 AM