This comes from reader "Julie" who writes:
Dear Isis,
I <3 your blog. I <3 your Letters to our Daughters project. I hope you <3 the comic I am linking below. I don't know how much you know about the webcomic xkcd but this one is definitely worth looking at.
I see a hint of a ponytail on the kid at the end and am pretty sure it's a little girl. It's probably not the most realistic situation to motivate young people into science careers but we've gotta start somewhere. I hope you enjoyed this.
<3,
Avid Reader of your Blog, Julie
Dr. Isis <3s you too, little muffin! I <3 you a whole bunch! I especially <3 you, because this comic has me laughing my ass off this morning. I think it's the "Chomp Chomp" at the end that's killing me. Here it is:
Figure 1: And here's the original link to the comic, where you can read it in all it's high resolution glory. I want to be a scientist too!
Comments
http://xkcd.com/385/
The very best xkcd comic.
Posted by: Kate | May 18, 2009 8:32 AM
This one still cracks me up every single time I see it. I need a life. http://xkcd.com/149/
Posted by: Janne | May 18, 2009 10:39 AM
What a great comic. If nothing else, it reminds me of how most experiments turn out... with unexpected consequences! Thankfully, none of mine have resulted in anything as dangerous (or interesting) as airborne sharks. Merely inexplicable, difficult-to-publish results!
I have bookmarked this site for further yucks!
Posted by: Pascale | May 18, 2009 10:50 AM
since we're having a bit of an xkcd linkathon here in the comments, this one kills me.
http://xkcd.com/242/
Posted by: leigh | May 18, 2009 5:49 PM
"Thankfully, none of mine have resulted in anything as dangerous (or interesting) as airborne sharks."
Thankfully? You and I are very different scientists.
I would kill to have an experiment resulting in sharks (airborne or otherwise) with frickin laser beams attached to their heads. Or successfully knocking down MFG in macrophages. Either way.
They seem about equally likely today.
Posted by: becca | May 18, 2009 7:39 PM
I don't know which I love more: the comic or your use of
Posted by: unbalanced reaction | May 18, 2009 8:38 PM
My use of mad hot science? Cute shoes? The letter "Y?"
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | May 18, 2009 8:39 PM
This one is my absolute favorite..
http://xkcd.com/539/
Posted by: jb | May 18, 2009 9:46 PM
@becca
Right now I would be willing to crawl in the cage and face the flying sharks. Although I'm sure the study section wouldn't believe it until they had been quantitated and undergone peer review....
Posted by: Pascale | May 18, 2009 9:47 PM
MWAH_HA__HA_____HA!!!!!^eleventy
Toaster has a new project! He can even blame it on global warming and evolution!!!
In kindness to all the kickass people here whom Toaster admires, the airborne sharks (coming soon to a city near you!) will be taught the command "HEEL!" in Esperanto before they are
doomily releasedgently reintroduced into their native habitat.Posted by: Toaster | May 18, 2009 10:35 PM
...
@ Isis-7 and ur-6...
...smalllol...
Yeah, unbalanced's comment seems particularly . . .'unbalanced'.
...tom...
.
Posted by: ...tom... | May 18, 2009 10:42 PM
I love those comics. Thye're spectacular.
'The Difference' one is totally my family...
Posted by: Ace | May 20, 2009 3:28 AM
Absolutely fantastic comic! Loved Toaster's extension of the ideas, too. I have two diametrically opposite comments.
1. I suspect the originator of the comic has read the 'Hitch hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' series of books by Douglas Adams. If you like this comic, and haven't read those books, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM. All of them.
2. Unfortunately, in the real world, one would have to get ethics approval!!!!!!!! Just imagine what the request form would look like, ha ha!!!!!!
d.
Posted by: d. | May 20, 2009 9:04 PM