The blogosphere and I have a particular love/hate relationship. Allow me to demonstrate:
For example, today I learned the term "business shower" and learned I could save an extra 30 minutes a day if I could convince others around me that this is a good idea. Anyone?
Bueller? Bueller?
I read this article about 13 unintentionally disturbing children's toys. I think that hilarious lists are one of the greatest gifts the internet has given us. I watched a video of a man snorting a condom up his nose and pulling it out of his mouth. It's one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen, and yet how could I not click through to watch it when it showed up on Buzzfeed? I mean, really? How could I not?I also read some of the comments on some of my recent posts on animal extremists. Some of them made my heart sing, especially seeing David Jentsch (who I absolutely adore) show up to say some tremendously brilliant stuff. Still, some of the comments left me more feeling more like I had clicked into my comments section to find this...
Figure 1: Part surprised, part horrified, part disgusted, part unlubricated.
And that reminded me how important it is to use this place to do good things, but also to keep myself amused. We've got so many great projects going on here -- In March we sponsored some David Bruce awards. In June the ScienceBloggers raised $900 for Doctors Without Borders via the Silence is the Enemy Project. I am hoping that the Letters to Our Daughters Project will return this month. Early summer is a tough time for academics with end of the semester grades and grant deadlines in July. If you're interested in writing a letter, shoot me an email. I've got a few Ask Dr. Isis letters still to get to. But, when that balance is lost -- the balance between doing good things and keeping myself amused -- then Mama starts to take herself way too seriously. That's not good for any of us.
So,I decided this week it is time to engage in some new shenanigans.
With that, allow me to tell you about some awesomeness, beginning with this:
That's Arikia Millikan of the Millikan Daily, striking a pose on someone's car for the camera. She sent this to about a week ago. When I saw this I thought to myself, "Wow, self! Arikia sure reminds me of the woman in this video. Except the first time the King of Pop humped the air in her general direction, Arikia would have sprayed him with pepper spray."
If you're not reading her blog, go check her out.
Arikia's brilliant blogging and general l33t-ness make her one of my favorite people on the interwebz. She is also hilarious, which elevates her to status of one of my favorite people ever.
So, last Friday night I was sitting in my office part writing a grant, part stewing over my borked ScienceBlog and thinking about new media venues. I got to thinking about getting to participate remotely in ScienceOnline'09 last year via UStream and what a cool technology that is. I got to thinking that it might also be a useful tool for teaching and began playing with it, initially using it to broadcast an image of my office window.
Then Arikia showed and the hilarity ensued. It was a total blast! We figured out how to add audio so that we could have a discussion, how to interact with viewers via Twitter and the UStream chat, and we had guest appearances by PhysioProf, DrugMonkey, and Dr. Free-Ride. PhysioProf has promised to show up and sing Hava Nagila if we do it again. There may be another extra special guest joining us.
Some of my favorite commenters also made appearances in the live chat and at the end of the night Toaster Sunshine made us a musical remix of the events. You can find his little bit of lyrical genius, the Cheese Weasel Scientist, here. I think he is my new favorite musical sensation.
I am a big believer that you should work with people you enjoy being around. Last Friday night's shenanigans were pretty fun, so Arikia and I are thinking that we might start to do it as a regular thing. We'll be on UStream live from Casa de Isis tomorrow night at 10 pm Eastern hosting our as yet untitled variety program. Our stream is accessible here.
We could use a title. If you'd like to suggest one, leave it in the comments.
You can join us tomorrow in the UStream live chat section. You can also send questions and comments via G-chat (I'm at isisthescientist at gmail dot com) or via Twitter (either @drisis or @justarikia).
As with most things in my life, it could be fun. It could also be a total disaster.
Technology
Life Science
Comments
Um, isn't the title obvious at this point?
"Dr. Isis and her Cheese Weasels"
I think it's got a nice ring to it. Like "Bob Dylan and His Band".
Posted by: ambivalent academic | July 31, 2009 12:07 AM
This muppet-hatred is not becoming, Isis.
Posted by: BikeMonkey | July 31, 2009 12:14 AM
I hate you, BikeMonkey.
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | July 31, 2009 12:15 AM
I found the amazing screaming monkey to be the best part of the list.
Oh, and that kermie pic is a great way to convince the ARA you are kind and gentle to animals. I mean look, he's just ACHING for it- it would be cruel not to!
/supreme evil
Posted by: becca | July 31, 2009 12:18 AM
...
Random woman accosted on dark street... I am surprised that meets the Isis standard for acceptable social behavior. Obviously I am missing the 'playful' factor of it all...
That said, I enjoyed the 'awesomeness' factor approaching 'more than Mama can handle' ...but not quite meeting it.
Me, sometimes I just get so 'awesomed-out' that I have to shut the computer off and go sort my bottle cap collection again. ...:minism:...
...tom...
.
Posted by: ...tom... | July 31, 2009 12:28 AM
Um, it doesn't ...tom... That's why she would have pepper sprayed him.
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | July 31, 2009 12:32 AM
That is not becoming either. I'm no expert but isn't hate gonna require a few more halemerryfullagraces?
Posted by: BikeMonkey | July 31, 2009 12:54 AM
I am honored.
And PS: ...tom...
I wasn't being accosted. I was teaching some fools about tech support.
Posted by: Arikia | July 31, 2009 2:44 AM
Yeah! This means I'll be able to catch more than the last 5 minutes of your awesomeness.
I also forgot that I'm supposed to give BikeMonkey a "Fuck You from Dr. Isis" everywhere I see him. Sorry.
Posted by: LostMarbles | July 31, 2009 10:00 AM
Isis is really getting uhealthily obsessed with insulting random folks who have done her no harm. Now which DFW bloghat does that remind me of.... Hmmmmm
Posted by: BikeMonkey | July 31, 2009 10:11 AM
i'm seeking things to keep me from going totally batshit fucking crazy on my last few days of pre-doc life. this has been added to my list of things to do.
Posted by: leigh | July 31, 2009 10:28 AM
Until today, I never realized that I wanted empty, yodeling, walking lederhosen with a knockwurst remote...
Posted by: Pascale | July 31, 2009 11:14 AM
Dearest Dr. Isis and Arikia,
Regretfully I will not be able to attend your streaming event tonight as I have promised to go drink with a gaggle of local scientists, which could well take all weekend. If you wish to record some audio of the hilarity that I am sure will be there, you can send it to me for another remix if you'd like.
Sincerely,
Toaster
Posted by: Toaster | July 31, 2009 11:21 AM
You are mean. It's going to be 4am here in Europe.
Posted by: Change | July 31, 2009 3:47 PM
Thanks for this post. My friend living near the Eiffel Tower may need to look into this. However, I am skeptical at drug companies and their promises. I wonder if this will be another one of those "lifetime treatments" or cures
Posted by: rap | July 31, 2009 3:58 PM
I keep thinking about the Powerpuff Girls. Sugar & spice & secret ingredient X...
Posted by: Pascale | July 31, 2009 4:48 PM
Gaping Kermit!!!!
w00t!!!!11!!!
Posted by: TerrifiedTabetic | July 31, 2009 6:45 PM
HALL YEAH! I can't wait to be the Adam Corolla to your Dr. Drew again!!!
Posted by: Arikia | July 31, 2009 8:15 PM
becca, If you like the flying monkey you might also like the flying frog and flying cow. Both of which make appropriate noises after having been launched across the room at an unsuspecting coworker :)
Posted by: MOD.cur | July 31, 2009 8:27 PM
I listened from the UK. It is now past 6:30am here. I hate you Isis, you took away my sleep!
Posted by: Emily | August 1, 2009 1:37 AM
Well, I hope you at least enjoyed yourself Emily!
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | August 1, 2009 12:03 PM
"Isis is really getting uhealthily obsessed with insulting random folks who have done her no harm" nothing wrong with that. As long as the insults are funny.
"Both of which make appropriate noises after having been launched across the room at an unsuspecting coworker"
*monty burns finger wiggle* Excellent.
"HALL YEAH! I can't wait to be the Adam Corolla to your Dr. Drew again!!!"
So that's what happened to kermie... a penis the size of a mason jar...
Posted by: becca | August 1, 2009 2:07 PM
Evidently much too much...
Posted by: Emily | August 1, 2009 2:09 PM