Science Bloggers

Things I Have Learned Blogging at Science Blogs Part II: Mental Images Aren't Always Correct

sastyk — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:49:12 +0000

Things I Have Learned Blogging at Science Blogs Part II: Mental Images Aren't Always Correct

It is funny, when you interact with people on the internet, you develop a mental image of them - or at least I do. And sometimes people look pretty much like you expect, but sometimes not. I've found this situation to be particularly acute at science blogs, where I rapidly developed strong mental images of my colleagues, only to find that most of them are totally different in real life (thanks Google for clueing me in) than the sense you get from their blogs (even their photos can be misleading). I'm not sure what the correct word for someone whose internet presence creates a mistaken impression is - that seems like a word waiting to happen, but I thought I'd share some of my revelations.

First of all, the blogger I had read most often before was Dr. Isis, and other than a pair of very attractive shoes on a desk, I had no idea what she looked like, but was dying to see someone who can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, do hot hot science and do it all in high heels. I admit, I had a mental image involving slightly less pit hair in mind, but hey, she's all that!

I admit I get very excited when I earn a comment from Comrade PhysioProf, and I've noticed that he's particularly likely to comment when cats are mentioned - and no wonder, apparently - this is official artist's rendering of the real Comrade PhysioProf:

Sometimes you really should have guessed. I mean Zuska is just too perfect - she couldn't really be all the feminist she appears to be. I was a little worried that she was actually the cover name for this guy:

But fortunately that's not true. Zuska is all woman, and deeply concerned with women's issues. And remarkably she has time for a whole 'nother career. Who knew she was so famous?

As for PZ Myers, I can understand why he'd feel more comfortable representing himself as a fairly typical New Atheist - white, upper middle class, highly educated, widely travelled and Minnesotan who gets his diversity creds for not believing in God, but honestly, I think his movement is more open than that and he could come forward. And boy is Isis going to feel guilty about giving him a hard time on that border crossing issue when she sees the real PZ Myers:

As for Greg Laden, well, he's the only one that was pretty much what I expected. I knew he didn't really break his leg ice skating. It turns out that his hiatus was much more natural than that - and it is all the more astonishing that he went to Harvard:

Sometimes there's an important reason why the images don't match up. Martin Rundkvist recently observed that "every girl crazy for a sharp dressed man" and seemed to be obliquely concerned that an image of him in a tux would send all the women viewing it into throes of madness. This is probably why he left out the real image - one that could throw most us into a serious frenzy of lust: Wow, that is something every girl can appreciate!

On other occasions, the deep intellectual seriousness of the project they undertake requires that the blogger's image be somewhat cleaned up before they post - afterall, who would take Dr. Janet Stemweddle seriously if they knew that the sprogs were all a myth and the philosophy of science was being dispensed by someone so wise beyond her years - and who offers such an awesome Twilight Fanfiction blog on the side.

I would, however, call for the stunning number of minority scientists and science writers to stand up and show how diverse science blogs is. I think it would be easy to come to the false impression that science blogs isn't really as diverse as it is - and our writers need to stand up and be counted, showing how diverse we are in a number of spheres - our stunning number of minority writers like Pal MD:

and the gentlemen at Obesity Panacea:

Science blogs is also famous for its class diversity, as in the case of Ed Brayton:

And of course is a hotbed of religious diversity, where the only common ground is the love of a good beard, as in the case of Orac:

And, of course Boris Zivkovic:

How did we get to be such a diverse and fascinating community that projects such profound wisdom while maitaining the private integrity of each individual? This I must credit to Erin Johnson, who manages the community gracefully and smoothly. I want to give her all the credit that is due as well:

And what about me? Well, you all know that I'm just a simple country girl, trying to reduce her impact by living as ecologically as possible. Here's me in front of my eco-home - you should see the R-value on this 28,000 square foot baby, and all the appliances are energy star. Plus, my servants run on treadmills to power my hair dryer.

And look this is my newest farming project - we'll be raising them for the local harp seal meat market - coming soon, green baby harp seal steaks to your local farmer's market.

All of which just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover!

Sharon

sastyk Thu, 04/01/2010 - 02:49

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Truly an April Fool's post to be proud of! Ed Brayton cleans up good for Rachel Maddow, but I knew I'd seen him under some highway overpasses before. Greg Laden seems about right, but he looks WAY too calm (nobody mention homeschooling or gun rights nuts and we can keep him that way). As for Zuska, well, I'll just say I've appreciated your blog, and it was nice knowing you ;)

So....is there a lot of wine-drinking that goes on with Passover?

Hee hee! Happy April Fool's Day!

Good clean fun! Unlike the Raunchy Chickens Apr. 1 post- :-)

Folks who enjoyed this should check out Nate Hagen's announcement of the changes in his career plans at theoildrum.com

ROFL

I keep forgetting you peeps are a day behind us!!

viv in nz

Someone shared their "Absolute Torch and Twang" DVD (K.D. Lang) when I worked in St. Louis, about 1989. I am not big on country music, but that was a very good album. "Summer Fling" from a later album is really nice. And she was on Ellen DeGeneres' TV show. Who needs to know anything more? Thanks for the K.D. Lang mention!

Sarah Palin was important to me, when she was nominated. As a symbol, her presence seemed to promise McCain and the Republican Party were willing to adapt to changing mores and priorities. We saw how far that went. Now I wish her success as an author - and wish she would meditate a bit on responsibility, respect, honor, and trust. I feel that she failed her responsibility to Alaska when she left office early, and besmirched her honor. I can see her popularity, with that bright and open smile, but . . "Where is the beef?"

Happy first of April to you, as well. But now I have to get my C02 cylinder refilled. I have welding to do tomorrow, and my MIG cylinder is nearly out.

Blessed be.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

Seattle's 1,000,000 comment party: the movie

sporte — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:04:52 +0000

Seattle's 1,000,000 comment party: the movie

Okay, watching some of the other movies makes me realize that I've been very negligent in not uploading ours.

Without further ado, here it is.

Can you guess the age of the person who made the movie? I'll give you a hint. It wasn't me.

sporte Mon, 10/06/2008 - 17:04

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Ask A Science Blogger

hey! my ankles have been immortalized!

Peter: That's as it should be. You won the prize for most interesting socks and shoes.

I liked Peter's socks and hair.

I noticed that some of us like to talk with their hands.

;-)

In my defense, my oldest son's first expressive language was ASL (which he dropped as he learned to speak through many years of speech therapy).

By the way, my hubby was alarmed that I got a ride to a near neighborhood by one of folks there. He thought it was dangerous. Nah... all the folks who came were very nice. As it turns out this weekend I am going to come with him when he meets the real people in the flesh who he plays World of Warcraft with. He was surprised I was willing to come. How could I resist after watching this:
http://www.youtube.com/watchtheguild

That sounds great Chris! It was fun meeting you.

I don't know about meeting WOW players though....

Be careful who you ride home with. :-)

Four Science Bloggers take over Seattle and celebrate one million comments

sporte — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 09:25:16 +0000

Four Science Bloggers take over Seattle and celebrate one million comments

Ozzie's will never be the same.

The sun shone so brightly yesterday afternoon that it left us with no choice. We had to go outdoors. Luckily, Ozzie's has a wonderful upper deck in full view of the daylight and well-equipped with chairs.

Photo footage below.

The scene of the crime.

Where do we hang the banner?

Bloggers and readers enjoy the Seattle sun.

Dave confesses some uncertainty about the fate of Schrodinger's cat.

That's all for now!

But our readers say they want to do this more often!

UPDATE: GrrlScientist has more pictures here.

sporte Sun, 09/28/2008 - 05:25

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So who showed up at Ozzie's?

There were probably about 30 people total. As far as bloggers, we had Maria, Dave, Grrl, and me.

many of the peeps at the party were birders.

Goodbye to ScienceBlogs

mementomori — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:08:00 +0000

Goodbye to ScienceBlogs

Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness!
This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes; to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him;
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do.

-Henry VIII, Act III, Scene ii

It is time for The Cheerful Oncologist to sign out. I have decided to take a holiday from writing and therefore am cutting the cord from ScienceBlogs. I send thanks to those readers who put up with my malarkey over the past three years. If the fair maiden Blogorrhea, the muse of web logging, returns to bewitch me at some point I may start again, but until then I place my pen down and say to all, "God Bless."

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

-Colossians 4:5-6

mementomori Fri, 01/25/2008 - 03:08

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Three Hundred Easy Pieces

mementomori — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:46:25 +0000

Three Hundred Easy Pieces

That last post was my 300th since I joined the ScienceBlogs community in August of 2006. I usually don't comment about my personal life but I must confess to a certain feeling of satisfaction on reaching the 300 mark, as I never thought I'd last this long. Since creating my alter ego over three years ago I have enjoyed setting him loose on the unsuspecting blogosphere. Coincidentally, over this same time period my practice has become much busier, not to mention my family plus my snooty dog who requires more attention than Marc Antony gave the Queen of the Nile. This makes it hard to find the time to write. I wish I knew how these über-bloggers spew out fifteen posts a day.

Anyway, I am grateful for the chance to inform and entertain my readers - all four of you (just kidding). I hope to continue on as long as it can be determined that I have something worthwhile to say, which according to the International Web Log Rating Guide is a characteristic found in 0.000000000000001 % of all extant blogs.

Just kidding. Or am I?

mementomori Wed, 01/09/2008 - 13:46

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2006 Weblog Awards Finalists Announced

mementomori — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 21:05:48 +0000

2006 Weblog Awards Finalists Announced

While wandering around ScienceBlogs yesterday I read that my fellow med-blogger Orac has been nominated as a finalist in the 2006 Weblog Awards under the catagory "Best Medical/Health Issues Blog." Congratulations to him and to the other ScienceBloggers finalists: Pharyngula, Deltoid, Good Math Bad Math and Mixing Memory.

Unaccustomed as I am to self-promotion I wasn't sure if I should bleat the news that I was nominated too, but since we live in interesting times I asked myself "What would the typical Hollywood celebrity do?" Thus you see my decision to join the glittering crowd of egotistical gasbags out hustling their puerile talents.

I feel so much better now - I can almost hear you all wishing me the best...

mementomori Fri, 12/08/2006 - 16:05

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Congratulations! You are supposed to say, "It is an honor just to be nominated." At least that is what all the movie stars say at the Oscars ...

Of course I wish you the best! Right now, I wish all oncologists nothing but great big glasses of [insert favorite beverage] and a world full of bouncing, neverending pink kittens.

I came to your website via "As The Tumor Turns". Thanks for the Sunday poem from Neruda. I haven't thought about his work in a long time. Your choice is propitious because of Pinochet's death this week. It also inspired me to write about Neruda myself. Come visit The Testosterone Zone.

Nerd Update

mementomori — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:28:20 +0000

Nerd Update

Since there is a nerd contest going on at ScienceBlogs I might as well reveal my score:

What does this mean? Your nerdiness is: Somewhat nerdy. I mean face it, you are nerdier than about half the test takers.

Hey, I just might be the least nerdy of all the ScienceBloggers! Wow! Kinda makes a doc feel good about himself, don't it? I might even update my press photo to reflect my new found status as a normal guy...

mementomori Thu, 09/07/2006 - 11:28

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thanks. im 59 lightly.

Wow! You beat me. Until now I was the least nerdy SciBling with 56!

I, uh, scored a 70 so I am a mid-level nerd....

I knew. Deep down inside, I knew.

99%, but I think I would have done better still if they had asked a question on 'Is your computer case made of transparent plastic' and 'Does it have more than 5 led-lit cooling fans'.

Hmmmm....15 for me. Not beautiful, not intelligent, not rich, not even nerdy. Gee I'm not sure why I should go on living.

How can you have such a pathetically low score and call yourself a science blogger? FOR SHAME! :)

I scored a 68, higher than I thought I would, making me a low-ranking nerd. I would have estimated that the score would have been 50-55%. Too bad they don't show what the correct (nerdiest) answers are.

I don't dare post my score over at Respectful Insolence; I'd be banned from ever posting there again.

I scored a 36 and I'm a computer consultant.

65. I think it's an underestimate, personally.

C.O., mine's 76.

I scored --> High-Level Nerd. You are definitely MIT material, apply now!!!

haha.

AskaSciBlogger: Global Warming Debate

mementomori — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:28:38 +0000

AskaSciBlogger: Global Warming Debate

I read this article in the NRO, and the author actually made some interesting arguments. 'Basically,' he said, 'I am questioning the premise that [global warming] is a problem rather than an opportunity.' Does he have a point?...

While I am no expert in giving out answers to global warming I do know how to ask questions and would therefore like offer readers the chance to digest some views on the subject. Everyone knows that the debate about global warming can be broken down into several headings. In order to spark debate let me pose them as questions, then refer the reader to some interesting essays. The questions that have me fascinated are:

1. Is the warming of Earth due to a natural climate cycle or due to humankind's burning of fossil fuels?

2. If global warming is occuring because the planet is in the midst of a warm interglacial period (called the Holocene), will humankind's burning of fossil fuels increase the temperature above and beyond what would naturally occur?

3. Will human-induced global warming disrupt the natural glaciation cycle, or eliminate it completely?

4. Whether it be from a natural cycle or from human activity, will global warming raise the average global temperature to a degree that guarantees permanent damage to the flora and fauna of Mother Earth?

5. Are there any conceivable benefits to humankind from global warming? If so, do they outweigh the risk to those humans living in parts of the world that would be damaged by warming?

6. Should humankind be allowed to adapt to a world under the influence of global warming, even if it means leaving certain countries to live in other ones, or forming new countries?

7. Does chaos theory predict that global warming will lead to inevitable catastrophic changes in Earth's ability to sustain life, or will our species be able to adapt and survive living on a warmer, more inhospitable planet?

8. Does humankind have a moral obligation to stop using fossil fuels, even if it means returning to a more primitive way of life? Do the governments of the world's nations have the right to restrict individual freedom in the name of lowering the average global temperature?

For those who would like to read some contrarian views on the dangers of global warming I suggest these essays:

Global Warming: Enjoy it While You Can

Warmer earth might be welcome trend

Oh, for cryin' out loud - why not just link to the be-all and end-all of information on the global warming controversy? Wikipedia, come and bury us with facts and figures!

Anyone who reads this entire Wikipedia entry and clicks on every link in it is either Al Gore, Michael Fumento, or blessed with an unusual amount of free time. Good luck!

mementomori Wed, 08/30/2006 - 09:28

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1. Global warming today is mainly due to burning of fossil fuels. This is the conclusion of IPCC and other serious scientific studies.
2. Earth will obviously become warmer than otherwise, but go far enough back and you'll find an even warmer time. The problem right now is the speed of the warming so that the biosphere doesn't have time to adapt, not that a warmer world is in itself worse.
3. Unlikely. The CO2 we emit will in the end be absorbed in the oceans and then the warming spike will stop and glaciations will continue. OTOH, I don't think anyone knows exactly why the current ice ages started so we don't really know what it'll take to end the cycle.
4. Define "permanent damage". Species will go extinct, but given a few million years new species will come to replace them.
5. Of course, some will benefit, but on the average change is bad because people have adapted their lifestyles to the current climate, built coastal cities that will be flooed when sea levels rise etc. Even those areas where climate become more hospitable may find themselves in trouble as they get swamped by refugees from less lucky places.
6. If we don't reduce emissions we have no choice but to adapt as best we can. Even if we eliminate emissions the climate is going to continue to warm for half a century so some adaptation is unavoidable.
7. Species can, given time, adapt. Unfortunately they aren't given that time, and evolution of new species if glacially slow from a human perspective.
8. We have an obligation to phase out fossil fuels, but this will not force us to return to any primitive way of life. It just mean we have to focus our advances on other areas. Only if we stretch the ecosystem too far do we risk a collapse of civilization that would lead us back to primitive living styles. (for the few who are lucky enough to survive).
8b. Governments don't only have the right but the obligation to prevent people from hurting other people, and that includes limiting how much they may pollute the atmosphere.

I've read that global warming is so bad that it has even affected the sun. Apparantly the sun is the hotest it's been in the last 1,000 years. I don't know how they know that.

not to confuse the issue too much, but i recently saw a PBS documentary on global dimming, which is in some ways the opposite of global warming. however, some scientists have suggested that this phenomenon may have masked some of the effects of global warming.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_dimming
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming/globaldimming.asp

Reporter Looking for a Patient to Interview

mementomori — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 21:18:08 +0000

Reporter Looking for a Patient to Interview

I recently gave an interview to Jo Cavallo, a journalist who is writing a story for a national medical magazine about the dilemma of paying for new targeted therapies against cancer. She asked that I post the following request for interview:

Interview Request

I'm writing a magazine story about the high cost of targeted cancer drugs and I'm looking for cancer patients to interview who have either refused treatment because they can't afford their insurance co-payment
or don't have health insurance at all and can't get the drugs. If you're interested in being interviewed, please e-mail me at jcava15579@aol.com.

If you know of a patient who has had such difficulty please email Ms. Cavallo. Thanks.

mementomori Sun, 08/20/2006 - 17:18

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I suggest looking at The Wall Street Journal's "The Most Expensive Drugs" series (late 2005 to early 2006). These articles featured several patients who were refusing treatment because of the extraordinarily high cost of treatment.

What is the Name of This Movie?

mementomori — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:56:52 +0000

What is the Name of This Movie?

What movie do you think does something admirable (though not necessarily accurate) regarding science? Bonus points for answering whether the chosen movie is any good generally....

Ahem...being on holiday for the past two weeks I just now saw this AskaSciBlogger question and therefore have earned the rather embarrassing title of "Last to Respond." This does give me the advantage of reading my fellow ScienceBloggers' repsonses, which consist mainly of films that I have never seen (and never will, for that matter). Non omnia possumus omnes.

When it comes to revealing a succession of mind-blowing scientific concepts, however, can there be any doubt as to which movie left the most disturbing impression upon us? This same movie forced us to contemplate the consequences of our collective behavior, to ponder nervously about the fate of the human race and to gasp at the irony of evolution (or is it Intelligent Design, which makes the movie even more bizarre, if not unintentionally hilarious).

I shall pledge 1000 Columbian pesos to the first person who correctly guesses the name of this movie. Thank you, and goombye for now...

mementomori Mon, 08/07/2006 - 10:56

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I've not seen it (at least, not since I was old enough to remember), but I'm guessing that this might be Planet of the Apes. That fits the description, anyway.

I was going to go for Omega Man.

How about Alien?

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey?

My guess is Planet of the Apes; now where's my forty-one-and-a-half cents?! And for that matter, where are you going to find a ha'penny?

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

"Get your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!"

Congrats to Rob Knop and d for extracting the correct answer from the recesses of their overwrought brains.

[P.S. If I haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do, but if I haven't got a ha'penny then this contest is a total scam.]

Fair enough. The chuckle was worth it, because I have only ever heard Miss Piggy singing that song (courtesy of "John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together", just about the only Christmas album I listened to), so Frank Oz may very well be narrating all your entries in my head in the future.

It's strange, though, I've never actually seen that movie, and neither has my boyfriend. When I went to put it on our Blockbuster queue, it occured to me that I didn't know which one to add; 1968 or 2001?

d: the original 1968 Charlton Heston version. The 2001 version was kinda screwy, even though it did have excellent production values. The '68 version holds up surprisingly well.