I went to the final lecture in the Cornell summer lecture series tonight. Titled "Sex and the Soul", it was an exploration of researcher/author Donna Freitas's book of the same name. Her interest was piqued when students in one of her classes began to complain about the "hookup culture" that they felt forced to participate in; the resulting study shows that an overwhelming majority of students want genuine relationships - but you'd never guess that by observing an American campus. Freitas also found that students are at a loss to reconcile their spirituality with their sexual attitudes and activities - hardly surprising given our cultural schizophrenia about these aspects of the human psyche.
Freitas didn't exactly miss the boat - she documented exactly what she set out to research - but I think her findings raise questions about spiritual and sexual mores in the broader American culture. Sex is in our faces every day: in song, story, art, advertising, media, and conversation, yet we never talk about the profound emotional and spiritual effect it can have on us. It's generally assumed that organized religion frowns upon sex, but we don't have a conversation about what that actually means or why that's the case...
Leaving us all to stumble around in the dark until we figure out what makes us truly happy.
The culturally sanctioned options (sleep around or get married / evangelize or keep silent about God) aren't making a majority of us happy.* Let's start a conversation about relationships and religion that is open, respectful, and that allows us to explore more fulfilling relationships.
*I mean that these dichotomies can be stifling, not that any of the options are individually unsatisfying.
23 July 2008
05 July 2008
Independence Day
Just a few small anecdotes to report this time around.
Last week I met with Dean Susan Henry of CALS, as a favor to my grandpa. He'd asked me to go introduce myself to her back in March, but I couldn't find time with the end of the semester rapidly approaching. I always had intentions to meet her, but it wasn't until after Grandpa died that I realized that it was the only thing he had ever asked me to do. Dean Henry is intelligent, kind, and quite helpful, and I'm only sorry now that I can't report back to Grandpa.
Dean Henry connected me with a professor in the Applied Economics and Management department, since I was foiled in my attempt to take a prerequisite for a prerequisite for Agricultural and Food Policy (one of this professor's classes). I'll be meeting with him in a couple weeks, and hopefully we'll come up with a plan for me to be able to take the course and/or study ag policy in other ways.
My family had a wonderful low-key family reunion yesterday for the 4th of July. For once we didn't run out of strawberries and I got to have two helpings of strawberry shortcake! We also received our copies of the book that my grandpa wrote about his brother, who turned 90 a few weeks ago. I've never heard much about my great-uncle as a young man, but it turns out that he's had as profound an impact on the community as my grandpa did, albeit in different ways. It was a joy to read, especially since it included letters from each of his children.
My summer continues to go well - it's hard to believe that it's half-over already!
Last week I met with Dean Susan Henry of CALS, as a favor to my grandpa. He'd asked me to go introduce myself to her back in March, but I couldn't find time with the end of the semester rapidly approaching. I always had intentions to meet her, but it wasn't until after Grandpa died that I realized that it was the only thing he had ever asked me to do. Dean Henry is intelligent, kind, and quite helpful, and I'm only sorry now that I can't report back to Grandpa.
Dean Henry connected me with a professor in the Applied Economics and Management department, since I was foiled in my attempt to take a prerequisite for a prerequisite for Agricultural and Food Policy (one of this professor's classes). I'll be meeting with him in a couple weeks, and hopefully we'll come up with a plan for me to be able to take the course and/or study ag policy in other ways.
My family had a wonderful low-key family reunion yesterday for the 4th of July. For once we didn't run out of strawberries and I got to have two helpings of strawberry shortcake! We also received our copies of the book that my grandpa wrote about his brother, who turned 90 a few weeks ago. I've never heard much about my great-uncle as a young man, but it turns out that he's had as profound an impact on the community as my grandpa did, albeit in different ways. It was a joy to read, especially since it included letters from each of his children.
My summer continues to go well - it's hard to believe that it's half-over already!
18 June 2008
Grandpa
Quite a bit has happened since my last post, but the most profound was the death of my grandpa on May 25. I'd just like to take a few minutes to share his impact on my life.
I was really lucky to grow up in the same community as my grandpa. There can be two sides to the part of small-town life where everybody knows you and your family - it can be stifling for some, but for me it's made me feel more connected. I feel like my roots run deep here, and I love that. My grandpa was influential on many levels - in government, education (the local school district as well as Cornell), agriculture - the list goes on. His greatest influence, however, was his way of drawing people in.
Grandpa knew how to make everybody he met feel special. He'd ask about their lives, their families, what they were concerned about, what they'd accomplished - and somehow he would remember a large percentage of that information. He knew what was on people's minds, and he had a way of making connections and getting things done.
I'm constantly running into people who knew him in some capacity, and the response is always positive, even reverent. I'm extraordinarily proud to be one of his grandchildren, and I'm equally glad that my relationship to him is as a grandchild. It's easy enough to learn about what the man did in his public life, but only his grandchildren got to go fishing with him, or for a walk around the "block", or got to ride in that bright turquoise pickup with vinyl seats that got really really hot and sticky in the summer, or had him watching from the sidelines at the county fair each summer, always with a proud smile on his face. I'll miss him.
I was really lucky to grow up in the same community as my grandpa. There can be two sides to the part of small-town life where everybody knows you and your family - it can be stifling for some, but for me it's made me feel more connected. I feel like my roots run deep here, and I love that. My grandpa was influential on many levels - in government, education (the local school district as well as Cornell), agriculture - the list goes on. His greatest influence, however, was his way of drawing people in.
Grandpa knew how to make everybody he met feel special. He'd ask about their lives, their families, what they were concerned about, what they'd accomplished - and somehow he would remember a large percentage of that information. He knew what was on people's minds, and he had a way of making connections and getting things done.
I'm constantly running into people who knew him in some capacity, and the response is always positive, even reverent. I'm extraordinarily proud to be one of his grandchildren, and I'm equally glad that my relationship to him is as a grandchild. It's easy enough to learn about what the man did in his public life, but only his grandchildren got to go fishing with him, or for a walk around the "block", or got to ride in that bright turquoise pickup with vinyl seats that got really really hot and sticky in the summer, or had him watching from the sidelines at the county fair each summer, always with a proud smile on his face. I'll miss him.
22 May 2008
It's Always Something
Ok, semester the first: finished! When it came right down to it, I didn't want it to be done. It went too quickly! I had just gotten into the routine of classes and homework and was just becoming secure in my new friendships... and now it's summer, with a new routine and many of my friends elsewhere until next semester. Go figure.
I do think that my first CU semester went rather well. ANSCI 160: Animal Agriculture and Society built on my 4-H farm-girl background and was amazingly in-depth for a survey course. Then again, it was the first semester for the course, and there were five professors teaching it, and it was really hard to know what to study for the quizzes because each lecture was so in-depth... I guess it's a good thing I'm pretty good at dealing with chaos! Genetics started out in familiar territory (Punnet Squares, anyone?) and quickly zoomed off into a strange universe of math with letters and too many variables represented by "r"... but oddly enough, by the time I was done studying for the last test, it actually made some sort of sense. Thank goodness for crib sheets... otherwise I never would have remembered all those formulas! The AgSci Seminar would have been even better if I'd had time to hang around and talk to people afterward, but I really enjoyed the exposure we got to a wide variety of ag issues... everything from small farms to federal policy. The talks that stick out in my head are the CAFO planner, the organic sheep dairy farmers, the lobbyist, the weed specialist, and the food safety professor. Speaking of food, FDSCI 150: Food Choices and Issues initially sounded like a recap of the nutrition course I took last semester, but turned out to be so much more. I know more than I ever did - maybe more than I wanted to - about packaging and preservation methods. I could stand to know a bit more about the Green Revolution and genetically engineered food, but there will be other courses... assuming I have time. COMM 285: Communication in the Life Sciences was absolutely fascinating. I'm not sure I can even adequately summarize that class yet, but I'll give it a go. I suppose the take-home message was that communication is essential to science, science communication happens in many different ways, and evaluating science communication requires a certain level of scientific literacy. I already feel that this course will be majorly influential for me, but exactly how remains to be seen. Last but by no means least, NTRES 322: Global Ecology and Management taught me oh so much about climate change, methods for finding out about past climate change, gave me mental tools for considering the impacts of future changes... and I'm keeping the book. The prof (who is insane and brilliant) warned us that it was dry and boring, but whenever I was reading it, I very often had to set it down for a minute to exclaim over something novel or interesting. For once I didn't care about the style at all - the information was too intriguing!
I was also involved with EARS training this semester. EARS stands for Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services, and it's a peer-run counseling center on campus. I took the first semester of counselor training and definitely enjoyed it. It's a way of listening and helping people that, admittedly, doesn't come naturally to me. I'm used to "fixing" problems and dispensing advice, not guiding people to find their own solutions... but I've gained a deep appreciation for the latter approach and will try to practice it more often. Hopefully it will help that I now wish that all my friends knew it so they could use it on me...
I maintained a pretty good balance between school and play this semester, but I definitely have to work on making exercise a priority. That was probably my major failing this semester, and it definitely showed. I got sick a couple times (in contrast, I only got sick three times in the year that I worked in the ER, and two of those times were in the first month) and nearly passed out from dehydration once when I actually did go running. Oops. Anybody interested in being my workout buddy next semester?
This summer I'm looking forward to an online class (TC3's ECON 120: Principles of Micro - it's a prerequisite for a fall class), my internship, and waiting tables at Moosewood. Next semester I'll have 19 credits - more than I've ever taken. Stay tuned...
I do think that my first CU semester went rather well. ANSCI 160: Animal Agriculture and Society built on my 4-H farm-girl background and was amazingly in-depth for a survey course. Then again, it was the first semester for the course, and there were five professors teaching it, and it was really hard to know what to study for the quizzes because each lecture was so in-depth... I guess it's a good thing I'm pretty good at dealing with chaos! Genetics started out in familiar territory (Punnet Squares, anyone?) and quickly zoomed off into a strange universe of math with letters and too many variables represented by "r"... but oddly enough, by the time I was done studying for the last test, it actually made some sort of sense. Thank goodness for crib sheets... otherwise I never would have remembered all those formulas! The AgSci Seminar would have been even better if I'd had time to hang around and talk to people afterward, but I really enjoyed the exposure we got to a wide variety of ag issues... everything from small farms to federal policy. The talks that stick out in my head are the CAFO planner, the organic sheep dairy farmers, the lobbyist, the weed specialist, and the food safety professor. Speaking of food, FDSCI 150: Food Choices and Issues initially sounded like a recap of the nutrition course I took last semester, but turned out to be so much more. I know more than I ever did - maybe more than I wanted to - about packaging and preservation methods. I could stand to know a bit more about the Green Revolution and genetically engineered food, but there will be other courses... assuming I have time. COMM 285: Communication in the Life Sciences was absolutely fascinating. I'm not sure I can even adequately summarize that class yet, but I'll give it a go. I suppose the take-home message was that communication is essential to science, science communication happens in many different ways, and evaluating science communication requires a certain level of scientific literacy. I already feel that this course will be majorly influential for me, but exactly how remains to be seen. Last but by no means least, NTRES 322: Global Ecology and Management taught me oh so much about climate change, methods for finding out about past climate change, gave me mental tools for considering the impacts of future changes... and I'm keeping the book. The prof (who is insane and brilliant) warned us that it was dry and boring, but whenever I was reading it, I very often had to set it down for a minute to exclaim over something novel or interesting. For once I didn't care about the style at all - the information was too intriguing!
I was also involved with EARS training this semester. EARS stands for Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services, and it's a peer-run counseling center on campus. I took the first semester of counselor training and definitely enjoyed it. It's a way of listening and helping people that, admittedly, doesn't come naturally to me. I'm used to "fixing" problems and dispensing advice, not guiding people to find their own solutions... but I've gained a deep appreciation for the latter approach and will try to practice it more often. Hopefully it will help that I now wish that all my friends knew it so they could use it on me...
I maintained a pretty good balance between school and play this semester, but I definitely have to work on making exercise a priority. That was probably my major failing this semester, and it definitely showed. I got sick a couple times (in contrast, I only got sick three times in the year that I worked in the ER, and two of those times were in the first month) and nearly passed out from dehydration once when I actually did go running. Oops. Anybody interested in being my workout buddy next semester?
This summer I'm looking forward to an online class (TC3's ECON 120: Principles of Micro - it's a prerequisite for a fall class), my internship, and waiting tables at Moosewood. Next semester I'll have 19 credits - more than I've ever taken. Stay tuned...
26 April 2008
Journey
On the "Big Red Journey" front, the coming week is the last week of classes. My first semester is, astonishingly, almost over! I'll compose a review of it at some point in the near future, but right now, as happens frequently, I find myself contemplating the bigger picture.
Life is so fragile and so tenacious. It's almost ridiculously easy to destroy any single organism, or any given population, but life continues to survive and evolve and find new ways to keep going. Life is an overwhelming force.
Human nature has an amazing capacity for the beautiful and good, and yet so often we make mistakes, our efforts fall short, we're overcome by fear, or we're hurt by someone else. Accidents and malicious acts alike cause grief. I go back and forth about whether or not I think evil actually exists as such, or whether evil behavior has roots in fear and pain.
I'm getting closer to being able to do work every single day that will help change the world for the better. I'm confident that I can and will make a difference, and that my efforts will combine with those made by others to make human life more sustainable.
But I know that I'll make mistakes and suffer failures, too. Today my sense of my human foibles is intense, and I realize that I can try my very best and sometimes, that won't be enough. I'll go looking for love in the wrong places, I'll attach myself to a solution that turns out to be impractical, I'll inadvertently do or say something that will cause pain to somebody else, I'll misunderstand, I'll become afraid and forget that courage is the belief that there are things more important than fear. On some days, my best efforts will slip through my fingers like water. I will mess up, and there is nothing I can do about that except try to clean up the mess as best as I can.
The pain of limitations is something we all have to deal with, and I can't help but wonder if, on a metaphysical level, we're infinite beings who have been molded in finite shells and placed in a finite world. I have no idea what end would be served by this, but it makes sense to me when I consider that most of what we humans want is good - food, clothing, shelter, community, freedom, love - and that our greatest mistakes are often made in pursuit of these desires.
The only conclusion I can come to is that I have to try in good faith and accept that some of my attempts will fail. There's a sort of poignant beauty in that realization that somehow lets me believe that things will be ok - we will still have love and compassion even if the world is crashing down around our heads.
Life is so fragile and so tenacious. It's almost ridiculously easy to destroy any single organism, or any given population, but life continues to survive and evolve and find new ways to keep going. Life is an overwhelming force.
Human nature has an amazing capacity for the beautiful and good, and yet so often we make mistakes, our efforts fall short, we're overcome by fear, or we're hurt by someone else. Accidents and malicious acts alike cause grief. I go back and forth about whether or not I think evil actually exists as such, or whether evil behavior has roots in fear and pain.
I'm getting closer to being able to do work every single day that will help change the world for the better. I'm confident that I can and will make a difference, and that my efforts will combine with those made by others to make human life more sustainable.
But I know that I'll make mistakes and suffer failures, too. Today my sense of my human foibles is intense, and I realize that I can try my very best and sometimes, that won't be enough. I'll go looking for love in the wrong places, I'll attach myself to a solution that turns out to be impractical, I'll inadvertently do or say something that will cause pain to somebody else, I'll misunderstand, I'll become afraid and forget that courage is the belief that there are things more important than fear. On some days, my best efforts will slip through my fingers like water. I will mess up, and there is nothing I can do about that except try to clean up the mess as best as I can.
The pain of limitations is something we all have to deal with, and I can't help but wonder if, on a metaphysical level, we're infinite beings who have been molded in finite shells and placed in a finite world. I have no idea what end would be served by this, but it makes sense to me when I consider that most of what we humans want is good - food, clothing, shelter, community, freedom, love - and that our greatest mistakes are often made in pursuit of these desires.
The only conclusion I can come to is that I have to try in good faith and accept that some of my attempts will fail. There's a sort of poignant beauty in that realization that somehow lets me believe that things will be ok - we will still have love and compassion even if the world is crashing down around our heads.
18 April 2008
Right to Smoke? Not in My Air!
Ok folks, I have a proposal: ban smoking in public.
I've mentioned this to a few people, most of whom have professed to think my idea silly at best, un-American at worst. "But people have a right to smoke, a right to do whatever they want to their bodies," they tell me.
I agree completely. It's none of my business if people want to kill themselves slowly with their cancer sticks. We all know that smoking is horrible for your health and disgusting besides, but if that's not enough of a deterrent for some people, so be it. (Just don't try to get me to pay for the long-term health care costs... but that's a different story.)
I don't object to the smoke that winds up in a smoker's lungs. What I object to is the smoke from a smoker's cigarette or exhalation that winds up in my lungs. I have made the choice to not smoke, but any smoker I encounter is negating my right to make that choice.
It's commonly said that "your right to throw a punch ends at my nose", meaning that the rights of an individual extend up to but not beyond the point where exercising those rights would infringe upon the rights of another individual. Let me phrase this another way: your right to smoke a cigarette ends at my air supply. It's just plain rude to force nonsmokers to breathe your smoke.
I'm not the only one to come up with this idea. As the Ithaca Journal article (see post title for link) reports, the Common Council of Ithaca is considering a ban on smoking for the Commons and other public places around the city. As Annie Tegen, of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, is quoted as saying, "the right to breathe trumps the right to smoke."
In another article, an Ithaca College sophomore who is a smoker said that she would find going downtown to be annoying if the ban were enacted, because she wouldn't be able to smoke wherever she wanted. How's that for irony? I already find going downtown annoying because I'm not able to breathe wherever I go!
It's this simple: breathing is a need; smoking is a choice. Nobody can control where cigarette smoke drifts. Most people don't want to breathe it, and they shouldn't be forced to against their will. Smoke-free laws are going into effect all over the nation - let's hope Ithaca gets on that bandwagon!
EDIT: One more link: Tobacco Free Tompkins.
I've mentioned this to a few people, most of whom have professed to think my idea silly at best, un-American at worst. "But people have a right to smoke, a right to do whatever they want to their bodies," they tell me.
I agree completely. It's none of my business if people want to kill themselves slowly with their cancer sticks. We all know that smoking is horrible for your health and disgusting besides, but if that's not enough of a deterrent for some people, so be it. (Just don't try to get me to pay for the long-term health care costs... but that's a different story.)
I don't object to the smoke that winds up in a smoker's lungs. What I object to is the smoke from a smoker's cigarette or exhalation that winds up in my lungs. I have made the choice to not smoke, but any smoker I encounter is negating my right to make that choice.
It's commonly said that "your right to throw a punch ends at my nose", meaning that the rights of an individual extend up to but not beyond the point where exercising those rights would infringe upon the rights of another individual. Let me phrase this another way: your right to smoke a cigarette ends at my air supply. It's just plain rude to force nonsmokers to breathe your smoke.
I'm not the only one to come up with this idea. As the Ithaca Journal article (see post title for link) reports, the Common Council of Ithaca is considering a ban on smoking for the Commons and other public places around the city. As Annie Tegen, of Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, is quoted as saying, "the right to breathe trumps the right to smoke."
In another article, an Ithaca College sophomore who is a smoker said that she would find going downtown to be annoying if the ban were enacted, because she wouldn't be able to smoke wherever she wanted. How's that for irony? I already find going downtown annoying because I'm not able to breathe wherever I go!
It's this simple: breathing is a need; smoking is a choice. Nobody can control where cigarette smoke drifts. Most people don't want to breathe it, and they shouldn't be forced to against their will. Smoke-free laws are going into effect all over the nation - let's hope Ithaca gets on that bandwagon!
EDIT: One more link: Tobacco Free Tompkins.
15 April 2008
Mike Huckabee Comes to Cornell
Former Arkansas governor and US Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee spoke to the Cornell community tonight; his talk was entitled "In God We Trust: The Role of Faith in Politics".
I rarely pay much attention to politics. The obsession with power, electability, and the party line is a real-turn off, and I often bemoan the dearth of statesmen, as opposed to politicians. I went into this lecture knowing next to nothing about Mr. Huckabee, and came out feeling refreshed and encouraged.
Mr. Huckabee's opinions are based on sound, carefully considered logic and independent thought. I don't agree with him on every little detail, but it's clear that he has made every effort to educate himself and refuses to take the party line (or any other line) out of convenience. I found this not only eminently respectable but also a great example of true conservatism.
What do I mean by true conservatism? There's a lot of confusion over that word. Supposedly, conservatives are proponents of small government and personal responsibility (though it's true that many people who use the conservative label don't actually promote that view). Mr. Huckabee made a very important point, one which I hadn't come to as of yet on my own: our willingness as individuals to take responsibility for our lives is intimately related to the degree of government we must have. Cutting back government and slashing taxes may not be the best choice if more chaos is the result. I'm going to take that concept one step further and suggest that our success as a nation, a society, and a culture depends on how we treat each other. Laws, lawsuits, and even the Constitution can never do as much to protect us as patience, respect, and open communication.
An important caveat is that personal responsibility requires a great deal more in the way of initial effort by each individual. It takes a strong mind to constantly challenge oneself with new ideas and opinions, to try to make sound decisions about all aspects of life, and to try to contribute positively to the world. I firmly believe, however, that everyone is capable of this effort. There are any number of reasons why people might not take responsibility for themselves, but it's largely not because they lack the capacity. I'm not sure what the best way to encourage personal responsibility is, though. Maybe it's as simple as trying to live up to that ideal myself.
I rarely pay much attention to politics. The obsession with power, electability, and the party line is a real-turn off, and I often bemoan the dearth of statesmen, as opposed to politicians. I went into this lecture knowing next to nothing about Mr. Huckabee, and came out feeling refreshed and encouraged.
Mr. Huckabee's opinions are based on sound, carefully considered logic and independent thought. I don't agree with him on every little detail, but it's clear that he has made every effort to educate himself and refuses to take the party line (or any other line) out of convenience. I found this not only eminently respectable but also a great example of true conservatism.
What do I mean by true conservatism? There's a lot of confusion over that word. Supposedly, conservatives are proponents of small government and personal responsibility (though it's true that many people who use the conservative label don't actually promote that view). Mr. Huckabee made a very important point, one which I hadn't come to as of yet on my own: our willingness as individuals to take responsibility for our lives is intimately related to the degree of government we must have. Cutting back government and slashing taxes may not be the best choice if more chaos is the result. I'm going to take that concept one step further and suggest that our success as a nation, a society, and a culture depends on how we treat each other. Laws, lawsuits, and even the Constitution can never do as much to protect us as patience, respect, and open communication.
An important caveat is that personal responsibility requires a great deal more in the way of initial effort by each individual. It takes a strong mind to constantly challenge oneself with new ideas and opinions, to try to make sound decisions about all aspects of life, and to try to contribute positively to the world. I firmly believe, however, that everyone is capable of this effort. There are any number of reasons why people might not take responsibility for themselves, but it's largely not because they lack the capacity. I'm not sure what the best way to encourage personal responsibility is, though. Maybe it's as simple as trying to live up to that ideal myself.
12 April 2008
Summer Internship! etc.
I accepted an offer to be part of an innovative program called the Recycling Ag Plastics Project (RAPP) this summer! The internship is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension and is based in Ithaca. There are several initiatives going on, including research to determine just how much agricultural plastic is out there and how it's disposed of, working with producers and Extension educators to get the word out, demonstrating plastic baling equipment, and all sorts of supporting activities like publishing a newsletter and website upkeep. I'll get to be part of all of it!
I'm really excited by this project for many reasons: the variety of tasks, the collaborative aspect, and the problem-solving nature of the project. Most exciting, however, is that this project is about the intersection of agriculture and the environment - one of my greatest concerns, and the aspect of agriculture that is most interesting to me currently. I'm looking forward to a very busy, very exciting summer!
---
On a completely different note, I joined an online knitting-and-crocheting community called Ravelry. I'm still learning my way around, but it seems like a really neat way to organize projects, patterns, and supplies, and to find out what other knitters/crocheters are up to. The only drawback so far is that project pictures have to be posted from online hosting, and only Flickr is free for the purpose so far. The content might not be too interesting to some of you, but it's worth taking a look around for the organization of the site, which is intuitive and well-done. Sweet deal!
I'm really excited by this project for many reasons: the variety of tasks, the collaborative aspect, and the problem-solving nature of the project. Most exciting, however, is that this project is about the intersection of agriculture and the environment - one of my greatest concerns, and the aspect of agriculture that is most interesting to me currently. I'm looking forward to a very busy, very exciting summer!
---
On a completely different note, I joined an online knitting-and-crocheting community called Ravelry. I'm still learning my way around, but it seems like a really neat way to organize projects, patterns, and supplies, and to find out what other knitters/crocheters are up to. The only drawback so far is that project pictures have to be posted from online hosting, and only Flickr is free for the purpose so far. The content might not be too interesting to some of you, but it's worth taking a look around for the organization of the site, which is intuitive and well-done. Sweet deal!
10 April 2008
Science v. Religion
There's a very interesting discussion going on in the science blogosphere about, on the one hand, a concept called "framing", and the centuries-old science versus religion debate. It begins with posts by Matt Nisbet, Sheril Kirshenbaum, and Chris Mooney, and goes on from there. Mr. Mooney launched into a discussion of framing, which is definitely a worthwhile read. For my part, I'm going to try to integrate the two issues at hand, although the "science v. religion" concept is the angle to which I've given much more thought.
Because I don't encounter it much in my daily life, I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked to see direct evidence that many people consider "science v. religion" to be an all-out war. I'm not at all surprised that there is a plethora of opinions and views, but the level of sheer vitriol gave me pause. Aside from encouraging people to consider their own emotions and logic with the same overdose of scrutiny they apply to others' positions, I don't suppose there's much to be done about that. I'll skip the usual admonishments about how venting, personal attacks, flame wars, and even old-fashioned hard-headedness add nothing to reasonable dialogue, and the platitudes about how a lack of reasonable dialogue makes me sad. To the first, we all know that for truth. To the second, who cares?
The more pertinent question is, given that some portion of the population will always be prone to the wanton expression of whatever happens to be in their heads, and given that most of us would like to maintain respectful dialogue regardless, how do those of us in the latter group respond to the former group? I can't add to what has already been written about picking your battles, being the "better man" and "taking the high road", and knowing when enough is enough; those lessons have been elucidated for generations and only remain to be learned by each individual. What I do want to consider is that the way in which one advances his argument makes a terrific difference in the way it is understood and received.
PZ Myers, in an interview he gave to the University Register at UMM, uses language and references that seem more designed to amuse than anything else. I have to admit, I totally missed the Batman references, as those of you who know me will absolutely understand. On the other hand, his use of internet/gaming jargon ("EPIC fail. Evolution FTW!") made me giggle. I speak internet; I don't speak comic books. In that light, the Batman references made me confused, and I initially read that as Mr. Myers demonstrating himself to be your usual too-smart-for-his-own-good-asshole(-scientist). The internet jargon was probably just as alienating to those who aren't familiar with it. I'm the last person on earth to advocate communicating without a sense of humor (Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is one of my all-time favorites), and Mr. Myers's interview is a rather tame example of science communication gone awry (in fact, his language was entirely appropriate for the university newspaper context; removing it from that context and posting it on his blog did the original a disservice), but I think the point that contexts, likely v. intended reception of one's message, and allusions should be considered before publishing stands. At its heart, no matter what shades or nuances anyone attempts to add, I think this is what is meant by "framing" a message. It's a simple concept: Present what you have to say as honestly as you can in the best possible (and most accessible) light, and you'll save yourself from having to backtrack, as Mr. Mooney had to do.
On the other hand, I've very nearly had it with this "science v. religion" mess. I would love to get up on a soapbox and get everybody to go back to the basics of what science and religion essentially are, but I doubt I'd get a consensus even on that. My blog isn't much of a soapbox, but my take is that science is a tool that we use to explore and understand the physical world (and, increasingly, the metaphysical world), while religion is about our relationships to each other and to "the divine", however we choose to define that. These worldviews aren't mutually exclusive, and often serve to inform each other. Of keen interest right now, for example, is the ethical regulation of genetic testing and genetically modified organisms. Our technical ability to test for genetic defects and disease susceptibility and to modify the DNA of organisms is quite separate from opinions and decisions about whether or not we should actually do those things. The interface between science and religion can be even more complex than the issues I just mentioned, but I really don't think that anybody, no matter what his view, is well-served by the loaded, confusing, and often misleading positions put out by loyal creationists, devout scientific atheists, or anybody in between.
A little bit of critical thinking and respect would go a long way to improve the caliber of this particular discussion. And, this is where the concept of framing comes into play again. Creationists and scientists alike have treated the subject as a dichotomy that can have only one right side, and all they've succeeded at is rabble-rousing on their own side, inciting anger and hatred on the opposing side, and alienating those of us in the middle who didn't sign up for a culture war and, perhaps, don't even recognize grounds for one.
Because I don't encounter it much in my daily life, I have to admit that I'm a bit shocked to see direct evidence that many people consider "science v. religion" to be an all-out war. I'm not at all surprised that there is a plethora of opinions and views, but the level of sheer vitriol gave me pause. Aside from encouraging people to consider their own emotions and logic with the same overdose of scrutiny they apply to others' positions, I don't suppose there's much to be done about that. I'll skip the usual admonishments about how venting, personal attacks, flame wars, and even old-fashioned hard-headedness add nothing to reasonable dialogue, and the platitudes about how a lack of reasonable dialogue makes me sad. To the first, we all know that for truth. To the second, who cares?
The more pertinent question is, given that some portion of the population will always be prone to the wanton expression of whatever happens to be in their heads, and given that most of us would like to maintain respectful dialogue regardless, how do those of us in the latter group respond to the former group? I can't add to what has already been written about picking your battles, being the "better man" and "taking the high road", and knowing when enough is enough; those lessons have been elucidated for generations and only remain to be learned by each individual. What I do want to consider is that the way in which one advances his argument makes a terrific difference in the way it is understood and received.
PZ Myers, in an interview he gave to the University Register at UMM, uses language and references that seem more designed to amuse than anything else. I have to admit, I totally missed the Batman references, as those of you who know me will absolutely understand. On the other hand, his use of internet/gaming jargon ("EPIC fail. Evolution FTW!") made me giggle. I speak internet; I don't speak comic books. In that light, the Batman references made me confused, and I initially read that as Mr. Myers demonstrating himself to be your usual too-smart-for-his-own-good-asshole(-scientist). The internet jargon was probably just as alienating to those who aren't familiar with it. I'm the last person on earth to advocate communicating without a sense of humor (Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is one of my all-time favorites), and Mr. Myers's interview is a rather tame example of science communication gone awry (in fact, his language was entirely appropriate for the university newspaper context; removing it from that context and posting it on his blog did the original a disservice), but I think the point that contexts, likely v. intended reception of one's message, and allusions should be considered before publishing stands. At its heart, no matter what shades or nuances anyone attempts to add, I think this is what is meant by "framing" a message. It's a simple concept: Present what you have to say as honestly as you can in the best possible (and most accessible) light, and you'll save yourself from having to backtrack, as Mr. Mooney had to do.
On the other hand, I've very nearly had it with this "science v. religion" mess. I would love to get up on a soapbox and get everybody to go back to the basics of what science and religion essentially are, but I doubt I'd get a consensus even on that. My blog isn't much of a soapbox, but my take is that science is a tool that we use to explore and understand the physical world (and, increasingly, the metaphysical world), while religion is about our relationships to each other and to "the divine", however we choose to define that. These worldviews aren't mutually exclusive, and often serve to inform each other. Of keen interest right now, for example, is the ethical regulation of genetic testing and genetically modified organisms. Our technical ability to test for genetic defects and disease susceptibility and to modify the DNA of organisms is quite separate from opinions and decisions about whether or not we should actually do those things. The interface between science and religion can be even more complex than the issues I just mentioned, but I really don't think that anybody, no matter what his view, is well-served by the loaded, confusing, and often misleading positions put out by loyal creationists, devout scientific atheists, or anybody in between.
A little bit of critical thinking and respect would go a long way to improve the caliber of this particular discussion. And, this is where the concept of framing comes into play again. Creationists and scientists alike have treated the subject as a dichotomy that can have only one right side, and all they've succeeded at is rabble-rousing on their own side, inciting anger and hatred on the opposing side, and alienating those of us in the middle who didn't sign up for a culture war and, perhaps, don't even recognize grounds for one.
03 April 2008
Omphaloskepsis
You can thank Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for that gem of a post title. It simply means "naval-gazing". How cool is that?
Omphaloskepsis, the deed, is really cool too. It's something that I value highly from both a personal and social standpoint, because I think it makes a huge difference in how I treat others and how people interact generally.
Being aware of what I want and need and my gut reactions to all those things life throws at me unexpectedly has made me much more deliberate, careful, and genuine about how I relate to people. Deliberateness and carefulness might not sound like a good thing; passion is a cultural value, after all. But integrating passion with self-awareness has made me much more confident and open in my emotional expression.
I've seen so much hurt happen when people let fear and anger guide their decisions, and that's one of my chief motivations for all this navel-gazing. I really, really don't want to add to the pain and frustration in the world if I can help it.
One of my favorite examples comes from last semester, when a boy on whom I'd been crushing told me about his plans to ask another girl to be his girlfriend. Except that this forthrightness is unusual, it was very nearly a non-incident. I thanked him for his honesty and directness, and set about to get over the crush and develop our friendship. So simple! So much easier said than done!
Omphaloskepsis isn't without its challenges. I've been accused of over-analyzation on multiple occasions, and the accusations are true at least half the time. I often feel discouraged when others demonstrate a decided lack of self-awareness and respect for others, since I put so much effort into it myself. Then too, I'm human and I mess up far more often than I'd like. I try so hard, but that was never a guarantee of success. So, I try to keep a lid on my tendency to over-analyze, hope that by treating people well, I'll inspire some more gracious behavior in others, and apologize promptly when I do make a mistake.
That said, it's scary to approach people about any given bone of contention! So many times I've wished that I could forget about it, or run away... anything at all to not have to deal with the apprehension of having something unpleasant to say, or the fear of hurting someone. What I've found, though, is that the fear is usually worse than the doing, and that direct dealings cause far less pain than avoidance. I'm still practicing, and far from perfect, but it does get easier.
Omphaloskepsis, the deed, is really cool too. It's something that I value highly from both a personal and social standpoint, because I think it makes a huge difference in how I treat others and how people interact generally.
Being aware of what I want and need and my gut reactions to all those things life throws at me unexpectedly has made me much more deliberate, careful, and genuine about how I relate to people. Deliberateness and carefulness might not sound like a good thing; passion is a cultural value, after all. But integrating passion with self-awareness has made me much more confident and open in my emotional expression.
I've seen so much hurt happen when people let fear and anger guide their decisions, and that's one of my chief motivations for all this navel-gazing. I really, really don't want to add to the pain and frustration in the world if I can help it.
One of my favorite examples comes from last semester, when a boy on whom I'd been crushing told me about his plans to ask another girl to be his girlfriend. Except that this forthrightness is unusual, it was very nearly a non-incident. I thanked him for his honesty and directness, and set about to get over the crush and develop our friendship. So simple! So much easier said than done!
Omphaloskepsis isn't without its challenges. I've been accused of over-analyzation on multiple occasions, and the accusations are true at least half the time. I often feel discouraged when others demonstrate a decided lack of self-awareness and respect for others, since I put so much effort into it myself. Then too, I'm human and I mess up far more often than I'd like. I try so hard, but that was never a guarantee of success. So, I try to keep a lid on my tendency to over-analyze, hope that by treating people well, I'll inspire some more gracious behavior in others, and apologize promptly when I do make a mistake.
That said, it's scary to approach people about any given bone of contention! So many times I've wished that I could forget about it, or run away... anything at all to not have to deal with the apprehension of having something unpleasant to say, or the fear of hurting someone. What I've found, though, is that the fear is usually worse than the doing, and that direct dealings cause far less pain than avoidance. I'm still practicing, and far from perfect, but it does get easier.
29 March 2008
Welcome Back
D'ya know what? I actually feel like a live, honest-to-God human being this morning! I've been sick for 2 weeks but it would appear that I'm turning the corner. And... it's sunny! This is a good day to get stuff done.
It's a good thing that I keep getting emails from my department about summer internships, because I've only applied to two so far, and one of those already rejected me. I'm also trying to find a job for the rest of the semester, now that I'm done with my hospital job. Also on the list is deciding what classes to take next semester. Somehow, I need to find time to do my homework and study for Tuesday's prelim, and celebrate my birthday!
Speaking of birthdays, it's that time of year again in my family. My grandpa turned 86 yesterday, one sister had a birthday over break, and my mom's is a few days after mine. I'm really looking forward to homemade cheesecake with fresh goat's milk ricotta for my big day.
Speaking of goats, we have 23 kids this year, including a set of quadruplets. They sure made break interesting! We took some of them to a local nursing home and they made the residents' days. There's nothing like a cute baby for bringing smiles.
Speaking of smiles, I'll feel a lot better once I get some work done. Over and out.
It's a good thing that I keep getting emails from my department about summer internships, because I've only applied to two so far, and one of those already rejected me. I'm also trying to find a job for the rest of the semester, now that I'm done with my hospital job. Also on the list is deciding what classes to take next semester. Somehow, I need to find time to do my homework and study for Tuesday's prelim, and celebrate my birthday!
Speaking of birthdays, it's that time of year again in my family. My grandpa turned 86 yesterday, one sister had a birthday over break, and my mom's is a few days after mine. I'm really looking forward to homemade cheesecake with fresh goat's milk ricotta for my big day.
Speaking of goats, we have 23 kids this year, including a set of quadruplets. They sure made break interesting! We took some of them to a local nursing home and they made the residents' days. There's nothing like a cute baby for bringing smiles.
Speaking of smiles, I'll feel a lot better once I get some work done. Over and out.
16 March 2008
Lost and Found
Last week, I misplaced my Global Ecology and Management textbook. I couldn't find it anywhere in my room, at work, or my parents' house... so I started visiting all the lost-and-founds in the buildings I frequent. I didn't have any luck at Helen Newman, Noyes, or Mann, but both Ag Quad eateries directed me to the campus-wide lost-and-found in Barton Hall.
Of course, I'd waited until the day before break to make this mad dash in search of a book I'd been missing for a week; to be fair, my initial thought was that it was at work, and I had waited until my next shift to look for it there before exploring campus. In any case, the more I searched, the more I felt like I was looking for a needle in the Hundred-Acre Wood. The woman at Barton told me that some campus locations send her lost items and some don't, and Willard Straight Hall (the student union) has FIVE lost and found locations! I knew there was no way I'd make it to all of them before I had to leave, so I borrowed my professor's copy of the book for the duration of break.
Turns out that my book was in the one spot in my room that I hadn't checked. (It always works that way.) My lesson for the day: don't lose anything! I'm also going to double-check all my possessions and make sure they have my email address on them so that, if lost and found by honest people, they'll be returned.
Of course, now I have a week's worth of reading to catch up on...
Of course, I'd waited until the day before break to make this mad dash in search of a book I'd been missing for a week; to be fair, my initial thought was that it was at work, and I had waited until my next shift to look for it there before exploring campus. In any case, the more I searched, the more I felt like I was looking for a needle in the Hundred-Acre Wood. The woman at Barton told me that some campus locations send her lost items and some don't, and Willard Straight Hall (the student union) has FIVE lost and found locations! I knew there was no way I'd make it to all of them before I had to leave, so I borrowed my professor's copy of the book for the duration of break.
Turns out that my book was in the one spot in my room that I hadn't checked. (It always works that way.) My lesson for the day: don't lose anything! I'm also going to double-check all my possessions and make sure they have my email address on them so that, if lost and found by honest people, they'll be returned.
Of course, now I have a week's worth of reading to catch up on...
13 March 2008
Almost to Break
I have one more test to take and two homework assignments to turn in before I am, finally, free for a week! In the interests of sharing the not-so-good as well as the wonderful, I'll let you all in on a little secret: right now, I'm really tired and really cranky. The thought of a nap and the light at the end of the mid-semester tunnel are about all that's keeping me going.
But you know what? It's definitely better than being a working stiff with very little to stimulate my brain. Ultimately, that's why I'm here: I'm learning information and skills that are useful now and that will help me find satisfying work and continue to challenge myself in the future. Sounds cliché, I know, but take a few years off from school and let me know how you view the situation after that.
It's not all about the future, though. School affords me plenty of opportunities that I'm not likely to have post-school, like this upcoming break, access to world-class resources of all types, time in my life devoted to studying what I really care about, and of course awesome opportunities to socialize. I'm not necessarily an academic over-achiever, but the term definitely applies to how I live my life. My cup might be running over a little bit too much today, but for the most part I thrive on craziness.
Not to say I couldn't use some time off, of course. Over break I plan to catch up on some reading, hang out with my family, celebrate my sister's birthday, and play with the baby goats. Friday night, here I come...
But you know what? It's definitely better than being a working stiff with very little to stimulate my brain. Ultimately, that's why I'm here: I'm learning information and skills that are useful now and that will help me find satisfying work and continue to challenge myself in the future. Sounds cliché, I know, but take a few years off from school and let me know how you view the situation after that.
It's not all about the future, though. School affords me plenty of opportunities that I'm not likely to have post-school, like this upcoming break, access to world-class resources of all types, time in my life devoted to studying what I really care about, and of course awesome opportunities to socialize. I'm not necessarily an academic over-achiever, but the term definitely applies to how I live my life. My cup might be running over a little bit too much today, but for the most part I thrive on craziness.
Not to say I couldn't use some time off, of course. Over break I plan to catch up on some reading, hang out with my family, celebrate my sister's birthday, and play with the baby goats. Friday night, here I come...
10 March 2008
Cornell Beats Dartmouth 6-0!
My aunt called me an hour before the game last night with two extra tickets, and my friend Mollie and I jumped at the chance to see the Big Red in the ECACHL playoffs. I needed to study for a quiz in my AnSci 160 class, but I just couldn't pass up free hockey tickets. As it turns out, I made the right choice. (Erm, actually, ask me about that again after the quiz...)
Not only did we beat Dartmouth, we wiped the floor with them! I don't know quite what happened out there, but Dartmouth just couldn't skate, and their goalie let in one after another. I love hockey for the fast-paced action, of which there was plenty, and the fans, who were in a great mood. We were seated behind the goal in section G, which meant that we got a clear view of the puck each time it got past the goalie... priceless. For those of you who require a bit more detail and statistics in your athletic reports, please see the official story.
I love hockey no matter what, but that was a really fantastic game. :)
Not only did we beat Dartmouth, we wiped the floor with them! I don't know quite what happened out there, but Dartmouth just couldn't skate, and their goalie let in one after another. I love hockey for the fast-paced action, of which there was plenty, and the fans, who were in a great mood. We were seated behind the goal in section G, which meant that we got a clear view of the puck each time it got past the goalie... priceless. For those of you who require a bit more detail and statistics in your athletic reports, please see the official story.
I love hockey no matter what, but that was a really fantastic game. :)
09 March 2008
Life on the Hill
Wow. An update here is long overdue. I'm halfway through my first semester at Cornell already!
First, a nod to last semester: I finished my TC3 coursework with finesse, earning a 4.0 GPA there. It was a challenge to keep work and school and life generally balanced; I'm glad I learned how to do it, but I also learned that I wouldn't want to do that again!
Being a January transfer has been another interesting balancing act so far. Most people secure housing for the following academic year in the fall, but I couldn't do that prior to getting to campus in January and figuring out what would work best and who I'd like to live with. In another year I'd start looking for summer internships in the fall or over winter break, but this semester I didn't have access to Cornell's resources and Career Development Office until I was here. In the last two months I've had to adjust to a new schedule/routine and new academic challenges, and worry about summer work and next year's housing on top of that!
Fortunately, finding an apartment turned out to be relatively easy. My friend Ana and I secured an apartment on North campus, right across the street from AGR (a frat that my dad, grandpa, and some other relatives are members of). It's surprisingly cheap for near-campus housing, fully furnished, and seems generally comfortable and cozy. I'm really looking forward to living off-campus and with Ana next year!
Since I mentioned it, the Career Development Office has some great resources online that are publicly accessible. The resume resource sheets have already been very helpful (see "Online Ready Reference Sheets")! The job/internship databases are only available to people with a Cornell login.
I seem to be getting B's on my prelims, which is satisfactory (not ideal, but...). I still have room to improve, which I believe I can do in future semesters. Lecture-style classes have taken some getting used to, and I'm finally getting the hang of the academic rhythm and expectations around here. I'm certainly doing better than my first Simon's Rock semester! Organizational skills seem to have sprouted in my head overnight, for which I'm thankful. Actually, I probably picked them up from my mom via osmosis, though I'm not sure why they make sense now when they never did before.
My credit transfer drama has been mostly resolved! The registrar granted me 59 credits with the promise of another credit for my AP US History if I had the official score report sent (it's in progress). They'll take a maximum of 60 transfer credits, so I'm maxed out. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes, but they seem to have come to terms with my classification as high school dropout with an Associates. That's a load off my back. Once my AP credit comes through, I'll get them to certify my transfer credits in writing so there won't be any nasty surprises before graduation.
Life at Cornell is generally wonderful. I'm a tad bit older than the average junior, which is odd since I'm used to being young for my academic level. I have several groups of friends among students and locals and there is always something to do before, during, and after homework. Assuming I keep up regular posting, there will be more about my social life in the future... for now I have to maximize my Sunday afternoon homework productivity!
First, a nod to last semester: I finished my TC3 coursework with finesse, earning a 4.0 GPA there. It was a challenge to keep work and school and life generally balanced; I'm glad I learned how to do it, but I also learned that I wouldn't want to do that again!
Being a January transfer has been another interesting balancing act so far. Most people secure housing for the following academic year in the fall, but I couldn't do that prior to getting to campus in January and figuring out what would work best and who I'd like to live with. In another year I'd start looking for summer internships in the fall or over winter break, but this semester I didn't have access to Cornell's resources and Career Development Office until I was here. In the last two months I've had to adjust to a new schedule/routine and new academic challenges, and worry about summer work and next year's housing on top of that!
Fortunately, finding an apartment turned out to be relatively easy. My friend Ana and I secured an apartment on North campus, right across the street from AGR (a frat that my dad, grandpa, and some other relatives are members of). It's surprisingly cheap for near-campus housing, fully furnished, and seems generally comfortable and cozy. I'm really looking forward to living off-campus and with Ana next year!
Since I mentioned it, the Career Development Office has some great resources online that are publicly accessible. The resume resource sheets have already been very helpful (see "Online Ready Reference Sheets")! The job/internship databases are only available to people with a Cornell login.
I seem to be getting B's on my prelims, which is satisfactory (not ideal, but...). I still have room to improve, which I believe I can do in future semesters. Lecture-style classes have taken some getting used to, and I'm finally getting the hang of the academic rhythm and expectations around here. I'm certainly doing better than my first Simon's Rock semester! Organizational skills seem to have sprouted in my head overnight, for which I'm thankful. Actually, I probably picked them up from my mom via osmosis, though I'm not sure why they make sense now when they never did before.
My credit transfer drama has been mostly resolved! The registrar granted me 59 credits with the promise of another credit for my AP US History if I had the official score report sent (it's in progress). They'll take a maximum of 60 transfer credits, so I'm maxed out. I'm not sure what went on behind the scenes, but they seem to have come to terms with my classification as high school dropout with an Associates. That's a load off my back. Once my AP credit comes through, I'll get them to certify my transfer credits in writing so there won't be any nasty surprises before graduation.
Life at Cornell is generally wonderful. I'm a tad bit older than the average junior, which is odd since I'm used to being young for my academic level. I have several groups of friends among students and locals and there is always something to do before, during, and after homework. Assuming I keep up regular posting, there will be more about my social life in the future... for now I have to maximize my Sunday afternoon homework productivity!
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