Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy...Rain!
Happy Halloween, everyone. And may we all enjoy the rain, which has caused the cancellation of both the MSU Wesley Corn Maze and my biology lab stream data collection. Oh well.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Music Therapy Rally
The Music Therapy program advocates were rallying today outside the Administration Building...the vote to cut the program is tomorrow. I stopped by after chem recitation to support. Not high hopes, but it's just such a waste. Tiny percent of budget, program that is not widespread, and a fantastic outreach.
Orgo Quiz
I felt like I had done well...and, indeed, I doubled the class average. Yay for good moments in chemistry!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Singing in Church...
Lindsey, Griffin, and I are doing a trio during communion this Sunday for All Saints' Day..."Blest Are They." Aww, how cute. The college contingent of the choir is singing together. The only problem? THEY'RE BOTH MUSIC MAJORS! So what the heck am I doing there?
I am Covered!
I am officially covered for Quarter 2 under Aetna's Health Insurance for MSU students. I'm sure you were all terribly worried. : )
Home, Sweet Home
Got in at 1:30 am today from the Interfaith Conference; had Judaism class at 10:20. The Conference was incredibly well-organized and well-informed. I learned a lot and had a great time. : )
Monday, October 26, 2009
Hinduism and Anger
Here's my fun thought from the Hinduism "Speed Faithing" (quick intros to different faiths) workshop:
"Anger is like a screwdriver – you pull it out and use it when you need it and then put it right back in the box."
"Anger is like a screwdriver – you pull it out and use it when you need it and then put it right back in the box."
Interfaith Conference
I'm at the Interfaith Youth Core's "Leadership for a Religiously Diverse World" conference. Having lots of fun!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Orgo Phrasology
I don't think this is what the professor meant, but I was greatly entertained:
"More sterically hindered, less reactive it is."
(He's not German, either. Though he does love beer...)
"More sterically hindered, less reactive it is."
(He's not German, either. Though he does love beer...)
MC 241
I finally got Ross Emmett to reply to my Honors Option paper. I sent him a reminder email this morning; he replied instantly with comments...so he'd obviously already done it, just hadn't coded the "H" or replied to me. The class is completely and totally done now...tear. I loved that class. We did, though, get to chat about collective action problems and transaction costs today in 220!! Happy Becca. : )
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
BS 158H
Fruit fly experiments are:
1. Incredibly mean to fruit flies.
2. Incredibly heteronormative.
That is all.
1. Incredibly mean to fruit flies.
2. Incredibly heteronormative.
That is all.
Organic chemistry
I am pleased to announce that organic chemistry lectures are beginning to feel like something useful is going on. (It only took half the semester.) But finally, finally, I feel like he's imparting actual information and concepts. Yay!
Quidditch is Famous!
Bailey and the rest of the MSU Quidditch League were highlighted in the State News today. Bai's got a quotation and is listed as the captain of "The Ministry of Magic." Yes, my girl is an honest-to-goodness Quidditch captain. Don't we all wish we were?
Midterms
Religion=amazing wonderfulness.
Microbiology=fail at life. Forty-five multiple choice questions, incredibly detailed, from a lot of information. I didn't memorize the antibiotic resistance paths and names of specific bacteria as much as I should have. I knew they would be on the test, but spent some time memorizing other things. There was an ABSURD amount of antibiotic memorization asked on the test. And his study guide=not helpful. I understand that study guides are just guides, and that we're responsible for all material. But when he provides, for each lecture, a list of "vocabulary," and then asks a question about a term we discussed once briefly that appears nowhere on the study guide, it feels a bit tacky. But whatever. Life goes on.
Microbiology=fail at life. Forty-five multiple choice questions, incredibly detailed, from a lot of information. I didn't memorize the antibiotic resistance paths and names of specific bacteria as much as I should have. I knew they would be on the test, but spent some time memorizing other things. There was an ABSURD amount of antibiotic memorization asked on the test. And his study guide=not helpful. I understand that study guides are just guides, and that we're responsible for all material. But when he provides, for each lecture, a list of "vocabulary," and then asks a question about a term we discussed once briefly that appears nowhere on the study guide, it feels a bit tacky. But whatever. Life goes on.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Honors Bio and Wikipedia
My word, I love this professor. He's totally got links to Wikipedia's articles on amino and fatty acids on the lecture slide notes today...adore him.
International Relations (MC 220) Midterm
Well, that was most definitely the most fun I've had in an exam yet this year. (Though tomorrow morning I get to blab about Judaism, so that may change soon.)
Anyways, I was confident and happy and got to write pages and pages about international security. It was lots of fun!!!
Anyways, I was confident and happy and got to write pages and pages about international security. It was lots of fun!!!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Mom and Loreen Visit!
Mom and Loreen visited today. They were going to see David Sedaris at Wharton. I haven't read his stuff and had a meeting, so I didn't go to the show, but we all ate at Bravo! beforehand. I, of course, had my delicious balsamic chicken salad that I order every time. And a seasonal Tre Dolce - tiramisu, molten chocolate cake, and chocolate chip bread pudding - for dessert. La vie est belle!
Homecoming
I have officially participated in MSU Homecoming Events. Woohoo! Marched in the parade with the LBGT Coalition on campus, attended an Alumni Open House, and then...wait for it...attended my first college dance! I seriously suck at dancing. RING was in charge of it, so I went to help setup and tear down. I was on the dance floor a bit...but seriously, I suck. lol.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Orgo Exam Results
I got my exam back...a few really bad moments. (Most notably, when I drew out a four carbon chain and then threw a "Br" on it for n-butyl bromide...but forgot to draw in another bond. So it looks like I just have three carbons...doi, Rebecca. Doi.
But there's one where I feel like I deserve some extra credit. We shall see...
And, in other news, I think I got the hard stuff and screwed up the easy stuff. Good heavens. (There's hope that I do, in fact, know what I'm doing, though.)
But there's one where I feel like I deserve some extra credit. We shall see...
And, in other news, I think I got the hard stuff and screwed up the easy stuff. Good heavens. (There's hope that I do, in fact, know what I'm doing, though.)
Nuclear Study
MAD Theory is fascinating. Random notes from class:
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) Theory
• Rationality
o Assumes states are rational; assumes states have preferences and will choose policies to gain/achieve those goals
• War avoidance
o Assumes states want to avoid nuclear war (because nuclear war would wipe out world)
o A specific case of conventional deterrence (conventional just threatens pain, reprisal, not the destruction of the world)
o “Strangelove” military nuc office – “Peace is our Profession”
• 2nd Strike capability
o Says states should build their nuclear arsenals
o Need weapons (can’t threaten them if you don’t have them)
o Have to have credibility (I may have a big stick, but will I ever use it?)
Need to be willing to use the capability you have
This is a weakness with MAD – we very rarely have the opportunity to show our willingness. With conventional deterrence, not so much an issue – we’ve seen more stuff.
o Promote deterrence through punishment
o MAD works fairly well in this bipolar world where only 2 states really have nuclear capabilities
o MAD promotes proliferation a bit…
o State with 2nd strike capability can absorb enough attacks and be able to refire
Diversify – we have in land, sea, and air. Can’t keep all your weapons in one place
Retaliate and inflict unacceptable damage on the opponent
o Measure size by saying that neither side could win a nuclear war
o “enough” power doesn’t take much for nucs…
o If you had only 1st strike capability, you might be tempted to use them based purely on the belief that the opponent could not retaliate and thus had no deterrent (fear that enemy will decide to bomb you, so you try to get lucky – this is question with Israel/Iran – MAD works best in Cold War world, where this theory was created)
• Countervalue v. counterforce targets
o MAD is based on killing everyone
o Counterforce targets are the weapons, nuclear sites, etc.
o Countervalue targets are cities, people
o You want to keep the idea that they could respond, but saying you’re going to bomb each other’s people – huge war!
o Aiming at counterforce makes them feel they have
• Offensive v. defensive weapons
o In MAD theory, offense is defense and defense is offense
o You don’t want to use your “offensive” weapons – nucs – so they become defensive
o Missile defense systems don’t go and attack anyone, they intercept incoming missiles. Under MAD logic, this becomes offensive – it encourages attack because it takes away strike capabilities
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) Theory
• Rationality
o Assumes states are rational; assumes states have preferences and will choose policies to gain/achieve those goals
• War avoidance
o Assumes states want to avoid nuclear war (because nuclear war would wipe out world)
o A specific case of conventional deterrence (conventional just threatens pain, reprisal, not the destruction of the world)
o “Strangelove” military nuc office – “Peace is our Profession”
• 2nd Strike capability
o Says states should build their nuclear arsenals
o Need weapons (can’t threaten them if you don’t have them)
o Have to have credibility (I may have a big stick, but will I ever use it?)
Need to be willing to use the capability you have
This is a weakness with MAD – we very rarely have the opportunity to show our willingness. With conventional deterrence, not so much an issue – we’ve seen more stuff.
o Promote deterrence through punishment
o MAD works fairly well in this bipolar world where only 2 states really have nuclear capabilities
o MAD promotes proliferation a bit…
o State with 2nd strike capability can absorb enough attacks and be able to refire
Diversify – we have in land, sea, and air. Can’t keep all your weapons in one place
Retaliate and inflict unacceptable damage on the opponent
o Measure size by saying that neither side could win a nuclear war
o “enough” power doesn’t take much for nucs…
o If you had only 1st strike capability, you might be tempted to use them based purely on the belief that the opponent could not retaliate and thus had no deterrent (fear that enemy will decide to bomb you, so you try to get lucky – this is question with Israel/Iran – MAD works best in Cold War world, where this theory was created)
• Countervalue v. counterforce targets
o MAD is based on killing everyone
o Counterforce targets are the weapons, nuclear sites, etc.
o Countervalue targets are cities, people
o You want to keep the idea that they could respond, but saying you’re going to bomb each other’s people – huge war!
o Aiming at counterforce makes them feel they have
• Offensive v. defensive weapons
o In MAD theory, offense is defense and defense is offense
o You don’t want to use your “offensive” weapons – nucs – so they become defensive
o Missile defense systems don’t go and attack anyone, they intercept incoming missiles. Under MAD logic, this becomes offensive – it encourages attack because it takes away strike capabilities
"When the Bough Breaks"
In anthropology, we watched a segment from "Unnatural Causes" about premature births and low birth rates in African Americans. A study done showed, fairly convincingly, that premature births and low birth rates are the result here, not as much of socioeconomic class, health, or intelligence, but stress due to living in continual racism. The statistics between African American women and white women are not explained well enough by the difference in socioeconomic class (poor whites do better than middle class blacks, if I'm recalling the fact correctly - it's something very similar to that, in any case). African American women with a college degree, healthy lifestyle, upper-class career, and good, supportive family are still incredibly likely to give birth early or to a tiny baby. They looked at what stress does in pregnancy. There's also increasing attention to "life course" theories, stating that the health of the baby is impacted by the entirety of the mother's life, not just the stuff occurring during the birth.
Running!
It feels so good. I ran this morning. (I seriously haven't been. And it's been hurting me.) But the day is just so much more beautiful when I get up and run. Hopefully I am able to do so again tomorrow! (Must get up, must get up.)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Argh
I did not do as well on my orgo exam as I thought I had. Interested to see the class results...
Update: I did, however, beat the average. But barely. Mostly I'm annoyed because I felt that exam really feeling like I'd done well. I'll get the exam back in recitation tomorrow and will see what I goofed, though...
Update: I did, however, beat the average. But barely. Mostly I'm annoyed because I felt that exam really feeling like I'd done well. I'll get the exam back in recitation tomorrow and will see what I goofed, though...
Math Science Center Kits!
The Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center does outreach kits...and, while walking to Judaism today, I saw several being loaded into a van from the Education Building! I miss Jackie Zanotti now...(she worked in the Outreach Center). And Carolyn. And a bunch of other people...humph.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
War Simulation in International Relations!
1. Divide class into two states.
2. Tell both states the other state is your enemy.
3. Tell them the key to power and security in the world is paper airplanes.
People react in a LOT of different ways to this. In our class, we're apparently a bunch of blood-loving classical realists. The other "state" just mass-produced and chucked airplanes at us. Our state took some time to deliberate...and kinda got our butts kicked. Fun simulation, though. Some folks will just stockpile and never fire. Some will fire in a neutral direction. Some will hold Model UN conferences to encourage non-production. Some will just sit there. FUN!
2. Tell both states the other state is your enemy.
3. Tell them the key to power and security in the world is paper airplanes.
People react in a LOT of different ways to this. In our class, we're apparently a bunch of blood-loving classical realists. The other "state" just mass-produced and chucked airplanes at us. Our state took some time to deliberate...and kinda got our butts kicked. Fun simulation, though. Some folks will just stockpile and never fire. Some will fire in a neutral direction. Some will hold Model UN conferences to encourage non-production. Some will just sit there. FUN!
Bio Exam
Had an exam in biology lab yesterday. Incredibly easy. Very glad I didn't spend much time over the weekend studying for it. It was basically just an overview of whether or not we understood the methods we've been using and know when we'd want to apply them.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Happy National Coming Out Day!
The LBGT caucuses on campus do activities throughout the week to support individuals who are coming out. Today was a picnic. Our theme this year is "The Wizard of Oz."
Tada, the cake I baked for the occasion:
And thanks to Sarah from church and her mother for initial cake baking.
Tada, the cake I baked for the occasion:
And thanks to Sarah from church and her mother for initial cake baking.
Friday, October 9, 2009
How does this happen?
Okay. I am definitely being assigned and recommended for random things by people. I just received the following email:
"Hello, Ms. Rebecca Farnum,
I am contacting you on behalf of Associate Provost Terry Curry to thank you for your willingness to serve on the All-University Awards Committee to select Excellence-in-Teaching Citations. We need only one representative for the college, and have asked your colleague to serve.
Since you will not be serving on the committee, I provide, for your convenience, below to be removed from your calendar:
1. Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
2. And, Tuesday, November 10, 5:30 - approx. 8:30 p.m.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Betsy"
Well, Betsy, you're welcome. I had absolutely no idea I was invited/willing to do this. But okay. Though those time slots do actually work for me, so I could have done it. Shame...
"Hello, Ms. Rebecca Farnum,
I am contacting you on behalf of Associate Provost Terry Curry to thank you for your willingness to serve on the All-University Awards Committee to select Excellence-in-Teaching Citations. We need only one representative for the college, and have asked your colleague to serve.
Since you will not be serving on the committee, I provide, for your convenience, below to be removed from your calendar:
1. Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
2. And, Tuesday, November 10, 5:30 - approx. 8:30 p.m.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Betsy"
Well, Betsy, you're welcome. I had absolutely no idea I was invited/willing to do this. But okay. Though those time slots do actually work for me, so I could have done it. Shame...
Orgo Exam
Well, the professor is a terrible teacher. But he writes a beautiful exam. I'm fairly happy with life right now.
I'm off to the Kellogg Biological Station for an Honors Biology Lab field trip. I have no idea if I'll have internet access or not. So...love y'all! Have a great weekend. : )
I'm off to the Kellogg Biological Station for an Honors Biology Lab field trip. I have no idea if I'll have internet access or not. So...love y'all! Have a great weekend. : )
Skipped a Meeting!
I skipped a meeting today to give me a bit more time to study for orgo and not be rushing around. I said "no!" I hope you're all proud of me; it wasn't easy. But the girl learns, slowly.
(I would have been late. And my contribution to these meetings feels incredibly minimal, and I get very little out of them. But still. I had to say "no." And that's not fun.)
(I would have been late. And my contribution to these meetings feels incredibly minimal, and I get very little out of them. But still. I had to say "no." And that's not fun.)
How Nobel of You, Barack
Hope you enjoy my title, there.
Anyways - thoughts? In case you haven't heard, Barack was announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Many are shocked; he wasn't mentioned as a forerunner.
Deserved?
Too early?
"Meddling" in policy?
Appropriate statement of support and encouragement?
Anyways - thoughts? In case you haven't heard, Barack was announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Many are shocked; he wasn't mentioned as a forerunner.
Deserved?
Too early?
"Meddling" in policy?
Appropriate statement of support and encouragement?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
BS 148H Fungi
So a mushroom walks into the bar.
Bartender says “Get out, we don’t want your kind here.”
Mushroom says: “Why? Can’t you see I’m a fun-gi?”
Why did the fungi leave the party?
Because there wasn’t mush-room!
It's possible that we also saw what was described by our professor as a mold "orgy." I love this class...
An addendum:
It's further possible that the statement: “Let us introduce the concept of the vaginal ecosystem" was just made.
We were talking about yeast infections.
I seriously love this class...
Bartender says “Get out, we don’t want your kind here.”
Mushroom says: “Why? Can’t you see I’m a fun-gi?”
Why did the fungi leave the party?
Because there wasn’t mush-room!
It's possible that we also saw what was described by our professor as a mold "orgy." I love this class...
An addendum:
It's further possible that the statement: “Let us introduce the concept of the vaginal ecosystem" was just made.
We were talking about yeast infections.
I seriously love this class...
MC 220 Paper
We got our first papers for International Relations class back. 3.4. Which may be the lowest grade I've ever received on a paper. But I had a very hard time figuring out exactly what I wanted to argue - it was on a topic I have very little experience with. I finally found an argument, but it came a bit too late to write the paper on it, sadly. It's only 10% of my course grade, though, so I still have a chance to 4.0 if I do decently well on my exams.
Anthropology 270: Women and Health Exam
First official midterm was today. ANP 270: Women and Health. Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and three essays. I had a good time. Good heavens, I'm such a freak...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Homemade Bread!
I have successfully used Granna's bread maker and Mum's recipe to make tasty, well-risen, fully-bodied, delicious bread!
Yay!
Yummy lunch for Becca today.
Yay!
Yummy lunch for Becca today.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Oh, the world...
This status update on Facebook from a friend greatly entertained me:
"Today my elderly neighbor asked me to house-sit for the weekend. Though instead of giving me any contact numbers or codes she gave me a small slip of paper containing her facebook email and password. When I asked her why she said that she wanted me to check her farmville account and make sure that at 5:30 I harvest her strawberries so they won't wilt. MLIA."
"Today my elderly neighbor asked me to house-sit for the weekend. Though instead of giving me any contact numbers or codes she gave me a small slip of paper containing her facebook email and password. When I asked her why she said that she wanted me to check her farmville account and make sure that at 5:30 I harvest her strawberries so they won't wilt. MLIA."
Friday, October 2, 2009
Mixer!
Lindsey and I went to Grampa's yesterday...and got a mixer! Yay! No more handbeating cookies. : )
Also received a toaster, some more cups, matching flatware, and measuring cups. Woohoo!
Thank you, Grampa! : )
Also received a toaster, some more cups, matching flatware, and measuring cups. Woohoo!
Thank you, Grampa! : )
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Dude! Slime molds are cool
Fun thing from bio today:
Slime molds: single cells mass together to form slug. Reproduction happens best when some cells hold up the others. "Sucker" cells become the foot; "selfish" cells crawl up and reproduce. How does cooperation ever continue? Kin preference - the nice, cooperative cells group together and the mean, selfish cells do the same as generations pass. So cooperative cells work together to shove away the selfish jerks. Fascinating.
Slime molds: single cells mass together to form slug. Reproduction happens best when some cells hold up the others. "Sucker" cells become the foot; "selfish" cells crawl up and reproduce. How does cooperation ever continue? Kin preference - the nice, cooperative cells group together and the mean, selfish cells do the same as generations pass. So cooperative cells work together to shove away the selfish jerks. Fascinating.
Biking Down Farm Lane
I turned right on Service Rd and took it all the way to Farm Lane, and then went down Farm all the way to Bessey this morning. The bridge is lovely. (Though I have not yet ridden on the bridge, only under it.)
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