animal variety pack & the battle of burritos...
just finishing up the second can of red bull (thanks again double D, i'm sure my liver will appreciate this in the near future) and getting ready to continue my non-parametric analysis of variance experience. good times.
tonight (although probably today for you) we're going to talk about some animals as well as an interesting ad from the michigan daily:
- Parasitology made the front page of the New York Times! nice to see an important field continue to get more and more exposure to a wider audience. Prof OConnor pointed out today in lecture that there was an extensive article on Dracunculus medinensis, the Guinea worm, in the sunday issue of the well-respected paper. i HIGHLY suggest checking out the article, and although you may have to join up (it's free, so shut up and spend the 30 seconds) it's worth it even for this single story.
the story of this nematode will literally make your skin crawl (no really, that's what it does...and it burns too...the latin name for the disease, drancunculiasis, translates to 'affliction with little dragons'). what's interesting is that this disease is poised to become only the second to be completely erradicated (after smallpox). behind this big push is former president carter and a host of volunteers and combined efforts from various health/drug-related organizations. i won't get into it much further since you should check out the article, but this disease ranges throughout ancient history and is even believed to be the origin of several medical symbols we use today (primarily the two 'snakes' around the staff).
yes, i'm a nerd, but i've been teaching lab about this stuff for years (we just did this species last week) so it's cool to see the system prominently displayed for the general public.
- speaking of parasitology lab, today we got to my favorite lab of the semester...the generically named 'other parasitic groups' lab, or what i like to call 'the lab that has something for everyone'. included are the leeches (we have live ones again this year, but i didn't do the demo since that bite didn't go away for months last time!!!), some highly morphologically regressive crustaceans, sea lamprey (very important in MI), vampire bats, and of course the infamous candiru catfish (Vandellia cirrhosa). for those of you who don't know what that last one is, i invite you to look it up. let's just say it's traditionally been the most memorable species we cover over the semester, and all the students now know not to pee in large south american rivers...
- we made it through the most recent social gathering at The Tank without any ichthyological casualties, and yet i seem to be asking for it. i went into the basement this evening to check on the fishes (all the coolest ones are downstairs, i don't care what a lot of you think!) and found that i had left the top open on one of the bigger tanks (120 gallon) for the ENTIRE NIGHT and most of the day. one of my favorite species in there, Polypterus endlicheri congicus, has had a bad track record with me. how did i lose the previous two specimens? you guessed it, they jumped out! somehow i got lucky and all the fishes knew to behave and stay in the tank...perhaps they are wising (is that really even a word?) up to the fact that there really isn't water outside their enclosures. in a related story, ralphie is still the slowest (and possibly the least intelligent) fish in the biggest tank, but we still love him.
Polypterus endlicheri congicus (aka Congo bichir)
Ralphie the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri)
- damon put his beloved blue-faced angelfish into the big tank yesterday night (it was in the sump prior to this, and has been growing up in there). upon addition to the bigger tank it was immediately picked on by his favorite angelfish from that tank, and as of today we have not seen any sign of it. we tend to fear the worst... see? his 'pretty' fishes aren't so nice afterall!
- and finally (for the animal segment) sarah sent me some updated pics of devil-dog, aka Jeevan from back home. he appears to have (believe it or not) gotten a little bigger - he was 85 lbs last time i saw him, but is apparently learning how to calm down (this is quite relative, and you'll realize that if you ever meet him/have met him). here's sarah's updated pic:
Jeevan (sanskrit-derived word for 'life') may appear peaceful, but rest assured that is a human gastrocnemius he has been chewing on...
- and lastly, i was waiting at nogginz today and reading the michigan daily when i saw a curiously large ad for Big Ten Burrito (aka our burritos are made with real bits of garbage) at the back. it read something to the effect of: "everyone loves our name...except the big ten conference"...once this all set in and i finished reading the ad i nearly burst into laughter (but settled for a quiet smirk). the big ten conference is actually MAKING big ten burrito (aka our tortillas taste like paper towels) change their name!!! so there is now a contest to come up with the new name for this refuse hub...i'm actually eager to see what people come up with. you had a good run guys, but you're apparently just not good enough to be affiliated with Big Ten Sports!!! more on this story as things progress.
and now it's time to get back to work. have a good night; and in the words of carlos mencia, "if you aren't laughing, you ain't living!" <:><
addendum: PhD comics is coming to the University of Michigan! see info below as this should be very entertaining and well worth attending (it's FREE, and the topic title fits perfectly...) -
Do you know that Ph.D. actually stands for "Piled Higher and Deeper?"
Piled Higher and Deeper is a popular comic strip
about life (or the lack thereof) in graduate school.
The creator, Jorge Cham, is coming to Rackham to
recount his experiences in graduate school at Stanford
and bring humor into your lives. He "feels your pain,
your panic, your coffee addiction .... and your departmental politics."
So come, laugh, and destress. You deserve it!
Lecture Title: The Power of Procrastination
Date: Monday, April 3
Time: 7- 8 PM --- followed by a book signing
Place: Rackham Auditorium (Main Floor)
** FREE**
For further information about Piled Higher and Deeper go to
www.phdcomics.com
This event is cosponsored by Rackham and the
Program in Biomedical Sciences. It is part of
Graduate Student Appreciation Week. More event
announcements to follow.
tonight (although probably today for you) we're going to talk about some animals as well as an interesting ad from the michigan daily:
- Parasitology made the front page of the New York Times! nice to see an important field continue to get more and more exposure to a wider audience. Prof OConnor pointed out today in lecture that there was an extensive article on Dracunculus medinensis, the Guinea worm, in the sunday issue of the well-respected paper. i HIGHLY suggest checking out the article, and although you may have to join up (it's free, so shut up and spend the 30 seconds) it's worth it even for this single story.
the story of this nematode will literally make your skin crawl (no really, that's what it does...and it burns too...the latin name for the disease, drancunculiasis, translates to 'affliction with little dragons'). what's interesting is that this disease is poised to become only the second to be completely erradicated (after smallpox). behind this big push is former president carter and a host of volunteers and combined efforts from various health/drug-related organizations. i won't get into it much further since you should check out the article, but this disease ranges throughout ancient history and is even believed to be the origin of several medical symbols we use today (primarily the two 'snakes' around the staff).yes, i'm a nerd, but i've been teaching lab about this stuff for years (we just did this species last week) so it's cool to see the system prominently displayed for the general public.
- speaking of parasitology lab, today we got to my favorite lab of the semester...the generically named 'other parasitic groups' lab, or what i like to call 'the lab that has something for everyone'. included are the leeches (we have live ones again this year, but i didn't do the demo since that bite didn't go away for months last time!!!), some highly morphologically regressive crustaceans, sea lamprey (very important in MI), vampire bats, and of course the infamous candiru catfish (Vandellia cirrhosa). for those of you who don't know what that last one is, i invite you to look it up. let's just say it's traditionally been the most memorable species we cover over the semester, and all the students now know not to pee in large south american rivers...
- we made it through the most recent social gathering at The Tank without any ichthyological casualties, and yet i seem to be asking for it. i went into the basement this evening to check on the fishes (all the coolest ones are downstairs, i don't care what a lot of you think!) and found that i had left the top open on one of the bigger tanks (120 gallon) for the ENTIRE NIGHT and most of the day. one of my favorite species in there, Polypterus endlicheri congicus, has had a bad track record with me. how did i lose the previous two specimens? you guessed it, they jumped out! somehow i got lucky and all the fishes knew to behave and stay in the tank...perhaps they are wising (is that really even a word?) up to the fact that there really isn't water outside their enclosures. in a related story, ralphie is still the slowest (and possibly the least intelligent) fish in the biggest tank, but we still love him.
Polypterus endlicheri congicus (aka Congo bichir)Ralphie the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri)- damon put his beloved blue-faced angelfish into the big tank yesterday night (it was in the sump prior to this, and has been growing up in there). upon addition to the bigger tank it was immediately picked on by his favorite angelfish from that tank, and as of today we have not seen any sign of it. we tend to fear the worst... see? his 'pretty' fishes aren't so nice afterall!
- and finally (for the animal segment) sarah sent me some updated pics of devil-dog, aka Jeevan from back home. he appears to have (believe it or not) gotten a little bigger - he was 85 lbs last time i saw him, but is apparently learning how to calm down (this is quite relative, and you'll realize that if you ever meet him/have met him). here's sarah's updated pic:
Jeevan (sanskrit-derived word for 'life') may appear peaceful, but rest assured that is a human gastrocnemius he has been chewing on...- and lastly, i was waiting at nogginz today and reading the michigan daily when i saw a curiously large ad for Big Ten Burrito (aka our burritos are made with real bits of garbage) at the back. it read something to the effect of: "everyone loves our name...except the big ten conference"...once this all set in and i finished reading the ad i nearly burst into laughter (but settled for a quiet smirk). the big ten conference is actually MAKING big ten burrito (aka our tortillas taste like paper towels) change their name!!! so there is now a contest to come up with the new name for this refuse hub...i'm actually eager to see what people come up with. you had a good run guys, but you're apparently just not good enough to be affiliated with Big Ten Sports!!! more on this story as things progress.
and now it's time to get back to work. have a good night; and in the words of carlos mencia, "if you aren't laughing, you ain't living!" <:><
addendum: PhD comics is coming to the University of Michigan! see info below as this should be very entertaining and well worth attending (it's FREE, and the topic title fits perfectly...) -
Do you know that Ph.D. actually stands for "Piled Higher and Deeper?"
Piled Higher and Deeper is a popular comic strip
about life (or the lack thereof) in graduate school.
The creator, Jorge Cham, is coming to Rackham to
recount his experiences in graduate school at Stanford
and bring humor into your lives. He "feels your pain,
your panic, your coffee addiction .... and your departmental politics."
So come, laugh, and destress. You deserve it!
Lecture Title: The Power of Procrastination
Date: Monday, April 3
Time: 7- 8 PM --- followed by a book signing
Place: Rackham Auditorium (Main Floor)
** FREE**
For further information about Piled Higher and Deeper go to
www.phdcomics.com
This event is cosponsored by Rackham and the
Program in Biomedical Sciences. It is part of
Graduate Student Appreciation Week. More event
announcements to follow.
posted by Solomon at 1:19 AM
2 Comments:
hey, we can talk about btb later... more importantly are you going to the PHD lecture? i'd like to tag along if you are!
definitely planning on going, so we should get anyone interested together for it as it should be pretty entertaining! ...and yeah, between PhD and BTB i figured you may have something to say ;)
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