I've started reading on the KT Event, just to get some perspective on what different things were actually happening at the close of the Cretaceous. From the images I've seen of the ash layer, there is a very clear and distinct difference above and below the line. Even though the DVP was already erupting causing a slow die-off, it is not as noticeable as the KT layer. Besides, the gradual nature of the DVP extinctions would give time enough for animals and plants to adapt, evolve, and migrate - leaving survivors. Also, those furthest from the eruption would be less affected.
We cannot rule out the impact - or series of impacts, if that was the case - since they were the final killing strike. The KT layer thickens towards Mexico. This is obvious. How the Shiva impact works into the equation other than speeding up the Indian continent, is not yet clear. The Shiva impact is unlikely the cause of the upwarping of the Moho. That is an important piece of the puzzle and very specific. If Chicxulub and Shiva were of the same impact event, that only gives us a clue as to what hit us and adds more dynamics to the KT Event. Shiva just adds to the excitement.
As for the DVP, we can compare it to other major eruptions. I read something about the Toba eruption about 75,000 years ago. It is supposedly the largest eruption of the Quaternary but with no known major extinctions or other major problems brought about by it. A comparison might be in order between the Deccans and Toba and might just shed some light on the DVP part of the equation. Just some thoughts. Until later...
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Some Info on the Deccans
It is unclear from my preliminary research reading whether the Deccan Traps were erupting in this extreme way prior to the collision. It seems that the massive eruption may have already been going on for some time starting a slow die off of Late Cretaceous fauna caused by global warming as an after effect of the eruption.
One interesting piece of evidence is the Shiva crater - apparently another impact crater of the west coast of India and at the KT Boundary. That's two craters in the same time frame - relatively speaking. Could the collision have been a multi-impact event like the one that hit Jupiter a few years ago? Other than it being described as large, the Shiva crater's dimensions are not mentioned in detail. Is it larger than Chicxulub or smaller? Did both impacts occur together or with a long time period between?
Even with the Deccans erupting prior to impact, the global warming effect would take place over an extended period of time. Most animals and other organisms would surely have had time to adapt or move to better territories. Those most directly and immediately affected would be those living in the region of the Deccan Traps.
Much to think about and more to learn...
One interesting piece of evidence is the Shiva crater - apparently another impact crater of the west coast of India and at the KT Boundary. That's two craters in the same time frame - relatively speaking. Could the collision have been a multi-impact event like the one that hit Jupiter a few years ago? Other than it being described as large, the Shiva crater's dimensions are not mentioned in detail. Is it larger than Chicxulub or smaller? Did both impacts occur together or with a long time period between?
Even with the Deccans erupting prior to impact, the global warming effect would take place over an extended period of time. Most animals and other organisms would surely have had time to adapt or move to better territories. Those most directly and immediately affected would be those living in the region of the Deccan Traps.
Much to think about and more to learn...
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A Deccan Update
Just wanted to pop in and give an update. As I mentioned earlier, I have decided to try out my new strategy on the Deccan Traps issue. So far, I have some preliminary research resources to read as well as a couple professional journal articles. One article is about the age of a mantle plume source; the other is about major events at the end of the Cretaceous. I also did a quick brainstorming session a few days ago. Now I just added what I like to call a zero draft, less detailed than a full rough draft. As a matter of fact, this one is only one page long and bereft of any conclusions or even a single mention of the KT Boundary or the collision associated with it. However, I have also drawn up an outline to give me some direction and a focus and mentions more detail about the collision and boundary layer.
One important detail regarding this writing is going to be determining the evidence of the collision from that of the eruption. There is likely a distinct difference between the two, as far as evidence is concerned. This ought to make it clear which event took place first. Relative dating shows the Deccan Traps eruption took place some time after the impact. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it seems that most scientists are avoiding linking the two events in any way. Maybe they are afraid to lose credibility or that no one would take them seriously. Actually, I can see a good sound reason for this, as well. By holding off on linking the two events until more evidence is gathered and studied and more is known about each event, they are building up credible evidence to support a theory that definitely links the two.
Until next time...
One important detail regarding this writing is going to be determining the evidence of the collision from that of the eruption. There is likely a distinct difference between the two, as far as evidence is concerned. This ought to make it clear which event took place first. Relative dating shows the Deccan Traps eruption took place some time after the impact. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it seems that most scientists are avoiding linking the two events in any way. Maybe they are afraid to lose credibility or that no one would take them seriously. Actually, I can see a good sound reason for this, as well. By holding off on linking the two events until more evidence is gathered and studied and more is known about each event, they are building up credible evidence to support a theory that definitely links the two.
Until next time...
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Night Pigeons Evolving in Pittsburgh
I observed something a bit unusual last night. I have noticed that some pigeons have taken to nighttime flying and roaming about on city streets. Last night I paid a bit more attention. What I noticed was the bird's coloring. Not the usual light grey with darker patches. This one was nearly all black - with some gray on its tail feathers and on the undersides of its wings while flying. This is probably to protect it from night predators like birds of prey and bats - though I don't think the local bats get big enough to kill a pigeon. A lighter colored pigeon would be more noticeable at night and at higher risk. They are not coming out in great numbers - only a daring few - taking advantage of the lighted streets and plenty of food to be found. They're developing their own new niche. It's something interesting to watch develop. I just love evolution in action!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Update, Developments, and the Deccan Traps
I have been very busy with class work and the like. Since my last post - I've written a set of instructions for measuring strike, dip, etc. with a Brunton. I collaborated on a website project. Yes, there's now a new website that I am partly responsible for - and it is about geological phenomena. It's just a simple site - a class assignment project. Truth to tell we all wanted it to have more "bells and whistles" - via cool links, a Google Earth download, and even a link to this blog - but, alas it was not meant to be. It just became impossible with other projects cramming for limited time and space in our busy schedules. It would have taken less than a couple hours to gather the links, etc. - but converting everything into the website would have likely taken longer and that was the final death nell for those plans. Fortunately, they were not essential for the assignment. We did it in basic HTML coding - much more difficult and time consuming than current methods. Embedding the Google Earth download into it might have been impossible anyhow. The site is aptly named - Environmental Phenomena in Geology - and can be accessed at www.pitt.edu/~ajh32/engcmp1101/.
I believe another good thing came from not adding at least the link to this blog. Some religious type has already seen the site and wrote a handwritten letter to me at my home address with their opinions regarding the phenomena covered in the site's content. This person claims that tsunamis and other potentially destructive natural forces are God's wrath for the sins of humanity. I could go into a massive commentary here about that but since religion is kind of off topic, I will refrain from doing so.
This reminds me of other previous scientists who were sent letters by religious types quoting scripture for all its worth - hopefully it's a foreshadowing of what's to come. If my blog was mentioned in the website - I'd be spending a lot of my time arguing with this woman instead of getting anything worthwhile done. If I believed that a dialogue would help this person see reason and reality, I wouldn't mind so much. Unfortunately folks like this are quite stubborn even when the obvious is put plain. The Mormons in my neighborhood steer clear of me - I think they've heard that they can't win an argument with me. I like to call these types - Sophists - after a group of similar men of ancient Greece. I have about as much respect for them as Socrates did - which is to say, not very much.
As for my research projects... First, I have a new one which may or may not be related to an old one. I went to the Dinosaur Hall Preview at the Carnegie - and while I was there I saw a short film about the Deccan Traps. I had heard snippets about them over the past few years and ran across them in a couple journal articles about the KT Event. They are a set of massive volcanoes located in India which had a massive eruption at the time of the extinction event. From what I've gathered so far on the topic, not many scientists are putting forth a possible correlation between the Chicxulub impact and this catastrophic eruption. The Traps are used as evidence of volcanism being the cause of the extinction - including the source of the Iridium anomaly. However, something the Carnegie paleontologists mentioned alluded to a cause and effect relationship between both events. I remember my physics and my knowledge of the Earth's interior.
Essentially, the Deccan Traps already existed prior to the KT Event. However, and timing is extremely important here, the severity of these End Cretaceous volcanics was catalyzed by an unusually high temperature heat source BELOW the already existent magma chamber and a massive up-warping of the Moho layer underlying the volcanoes. There is no known cause of such phenomena. Tectonic plate movement is currently held as the reason for the Traps strange behavior. Unfortunately, tectonics does not explain the extreme heating or the up-warping.
This is where the meteorite collision may shed some light on the answer. The object that hit Earth was massive enough to create a 3000 foot tsunami that literally travelled the globe. The crater still exists under the Yucatan Peninsula. The connection between both events is likely disturbing enough that scientists are sidestepping it - or just focusing on one event. Obviously, the locations of the two are the problem - one in India - the other in the Gulf of Mexico. How could they possibly be related?
Simple physics combined with the Earth's interior leads paleontologists to the conclusion that some sort of shockwave would have travelled through the Earth to the other side - exiting at the Deccan Traps site in India. It explains the heat source - outer core material carried along through the mantle - along an already existent mantle plume - to its final destination underneath the Deccan volcanoes. It also explains the major upwarping - from below - of the Moho layer.
The shockwave would not necessarily have traveled directly through the center of the planet. This would only have been the case if the object hit the Earth's surface perpendicularly - or straight down. It is already known that it actually collided at an oblique angle - thus sending the shockwave through the Earth's interior at the same angle. This means the shockwave would not have "exited" at the opposite side of the planet - but at some point along the surface that is in direct alignment with the initial impact/shockwave.
Well, I am getting a bit antsy to get on with my own research. And since I seem to always regret not running with a new idea when the topic hits me - I may as well start my newest strategy with this Deccan Traps project. I will mention the new strategy later - once I see if it's going to fly my way. If it works, I may have a new high speed method of getting my work moving along at a good clip. [all puns intended] Moving along...
I believe another good thing came from not adding at least the link to this blog. Some religious type has already seen the site and wrote a handwritten letter to me at my home address with their opinions regarding the phenomena covered in the site's content. This person claims that tsunamis and other potentially destructive natural forces are God's wrath for the sins of humanity. I could go into a massive commentary here about that but since religion is kind of off topic, I will refrain from doing so.
This reminds me of other previous scientists who were sent letters by religious types quoting scripture for all its worth - hopefully it's a foreshadowing of what's to come. If my blog was mentioned in the website - I'd be spending a lot of my time arguing with this woman instead of getting anything worthwhile done. If I believed that a dialogue would help this person see reason and reality, I wouldn't mind so much. Unfortunately folks like this are quite stubborn even when the obvious is put plain. The Mormons in my neighborhood steer clear of me - I think they've heard that they can't win an argument with me. I like to call these types - Sophists - after a group of similar men of ancient Greece. I have about as much respect for them as Socrates did - which is to say, not very much.
As for my research projects... First, I have a new one which may or may not be related to an old one. I went to the Dinosaur Hall Preview at the Carnegie - and while I was there I saw a short film about the Deccan Traps. I had heard snippets about them over the past few years and ran across them in a couple journal articles about the KT Event. They are a set of massive volcanoes located in India which had a massive eruption at the time of the extinction event. From what I've gathered so far on the topic, not many scientists are putting forth a possible correlation between the Chicxulub impact and this catastrophic eruption. The Traps are used as evidence of volcanism being the cause of the extinction - including the source of the Iridium anomaly. However, something the Carnegie paleontologists mentioned alluded to a cause and effect relationship between both events. I remember my physics and my knowledge of the Earth's interior.
Essentially, the Deccan Traps already existed prior to the KT Event. However, and timing is extremely important here, the severity of these End Cretaceous volcanics was catalyzed by an unusually high temperature heat source BELOW the already existent magma chamber and a massive up-warping of the Moho layer underlying the volcanoes. There is no known cause of such phenomena. Tectonic plate movement is currently held as the reason for the Traps strange behavior. Unfortunately, tectonics does not explain the extreme heating or the up-warping.
This is where the meteorite collision may shed some light on the answer. The object that hit Earth was massive enough to create a 3000 foot tsunami that literally travelled the globe. The crater still exists under the Yucatan Peninsula. The connection between both events is likely disturbing enough that scientists are sidestepping it - or just focusing on one event. Obviously, the locations of the two are the problem - one in India - the other in the Gulf of Mexico. How could they possibly be related?
Simple physics combined with the Earth's interior leads paleontologists to the conclusion that some sort of shockwave would have travelled through the Earth to the other side - exiting at the Deccan Traps site in India. It explains the heat source - outer core material carried along through the mantle - along an already existent mantle plume - to its final destination underneath the Deccan volcanoes. It also explains the major upwarping - from below - of the Moho layer.
The shockwave would not necessarily have traveled directly through the center of the planet. This would only have been the case if the object hit the Earth's surface perpendicularly - or straight down. It is already known that it actually collided at an oblique angle - thus sending the shockwave through the Earth's interior at the same angle. This means the shockwave would not have "exited" at the opposite side of the planet - but at some point along the surface that is in direct alignment with the initial impact/shockwave.
Well, I am getting a bit antsy to get on with my own research. And since I seem to always regret not running with a new idea when the topic hits me - I may as well start my newest strategy with this Deccan Traps project. I will mention the new strategy later - once I see if it's going to fly my way. If it works, I may have a new high speed method of getting my work moving along at a good clip. [all puns intended] Moving along...
Monday, November 12, 2007
A Global Warming Rant - and Warning
Why is it so difficult for people to realize and understand that global warming is truly happening and that it affects everyone on Earth? It also affects the economy. As the ice caps melt away - possibly forever the sea level of the oceans will rise significantly. What do folks truly believe will happen as this takes place? Apparently nothing! At least they do not see how it affects them personally. Who gives a damn about anyone else on this planet? Everyone is out for themselves, apparently!
What will happen to the country's economy - and the world's - as the coastlines recede and islands disappear? We can realistically expect to lose Hawaii and possibly a few other states - especially ones in New England. We could lose Florida altogether. And there's really no point to rebuilding New Orleans - since it too will be completely submerged fairly soon. What do you think might possibly happen to our political system - not to mention our economy? Oh yes, it will have to adapt to these changes. And so will we. You better think about that when you go to the voting polls next year. There will be at least a few politicians to lose their jobs - when their districts, counties, and states disappear - along with their voters.
I did mention that isostatic rebound could lessen the problem - but it's too soon to determine if and to what extent it will alleviate some of this problem. Canada might be the only North American country to get any advantage from this process - and Alaska, of course. But if anyone ever planned to visit Hawaii - they better go soon - before it's gone for a very long time. We can also say adios to the Galapagos and other important island groups. That does not even take into account all the ecological niches destroyed and animal and plant extinctions. Habitat destruction is nothing new to the human race - and sadly, neither are extinctions.
If the Northwest Passage is now open - decades before it was expected - do we really believe that these significant changes are not going to become a reality very soon?! Many islands in the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere are disappearing - forcing the farmers and other inhabitants to leave for high and dry ground. This is not a maybe folks - it is a REALITY! Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear does nobody any good whatsoever!
Until next time...
What will happen to the country's economy - and the world's - as the coastlines recede and islands disappear? We can realistically expect to lose Hawaii and possibly a few other states - especially ones in New England. We could lose Florida altogether. And there's really no point to rebuilding New Orleans - since it too will be completely submerged fairly soon. What do you think might possibly happen to our political system - not to mention our economy? Oh yes, it will have to adapt to these changes. And so will we. You better think about that when you go to the voting polls next year. There will be at least a few politicians to lose their jobs - when their districts, counties, and states disappear - along with their voters.
I did mention that isostatic rebound could lessen the problem - but it's too soon to determine if and to what extent it will alleviate some of this problem. Canada might be the only North American country to get any advantage from this process - and Alaska, of course. But if anyone ever planned to visit Hawaii - they better go soon - before it's gone for a very long time. We can also say adios to the Galapagos and other important island groups. That does not even take into account all the ecological niches destroyed and animal and plant extinctions. Habitat destruction is nothing new to the human race - and sadly, neither are extinctions.
If the Northwest Passage is now open - decades before it was expected - do we really believe that these significant changes are not going to become a reality very soon?! Many islands in the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere are disappearing - forcing the farmers and other inhabitants to leave for high and dry ground. This is not a maybe folks - it is a REALITY! Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear does nobody any good whatsoever!
Until next time...
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Some Stray Thoughts on Global Warming
Some things have occurred to me regarding the global warming trend. It was recently brought to my attention that the Northwest passage is now open for travel and exploration. A giant peat bog is now available for playing around in - I think, in northern Canada. These are things we did not have since they were buried under tons of glacial ice. It is true that the sea level will rise, altering coastlines the world over and submerging most islands. But for anyone who has ever played Sim City, islands are not the best landforms for booming populations of humans. Unless we are planning on shrinking ourselves to take up significantly less space on this planet, or give up the American dream of owning our own chunk of land with a nice big house on it, we are going to be needing continental land mass for living on and growing crops.
God forbid if some terrorist nut cases end up nuking some part of the planet, that region will be uninhabitable for thousands of years, at least. Maybe the Iranian warlords over there in the Middle East might want to think about that for a while before they push the wrong button. I do believe al Quaida and the Taliban have a suicide wish - because that's what will happen if they even try such a tactic - the entire Middle East will be wiped out in less than a day.
There's more to the Global Warming situation than a lot of folks realize. First of all, as the ice melts, sea level will rise everywhere. However, there is a concept in geology called isostatic rebound. As glacial ice melts away, the excess weight on the continental plate is decreased. The continental plate takes advantage of this and buoyantly bobs upward, similar to a spring being released after the pressure is taken off. In the final analysis, we may all end up with more coastline, instead of less, once all the ice is done for.
Since it is melting anyway, and since we need as much fresh water as we can get. I believe that the best course of action would be to harvest as much of the fresh water from these glaciers as we can, before it all ends up in the saline sea water. We could build massive reservoirs and catchments to collect it in and transport it to parts of the planet where it will do the most good, where fresh water is most needed for growing crops and making life livable.
These were just a few thoughts I have scurrying around in my mind, of late. Until later...
God forbid if some terrorist nut cases end up nuking some part of the planet, that region will be uninhabitable for thousands of years, at least. Maybe the Iranian warlords over there in the Middle East might want to think about that for a while before they push the wrong button. I do believe al Quaida and the Taliban have a suicide wish - because that's what will happen if they even try such a tactic - the entire Middle East will be wiped out in less than a day.
There's more to the Global Warming situation than a lot of folks realize. First of all, as the ice melts, sea level will rise everywhere. However, there is a concept in geology called isostatic rebound. As glacial ice melts away, the excess weight on the continental plate is decreased. The continental plate takes advantage of this and buoyantly bobs upward, similar to a spring being released after the pressure is taken off. In the final analysis, we may all end up with more coastline, instead of less, once all the ice is done for.
Since it is melting anyway, and since we need as much fresh water as we can get. I believe that the best course of action would be to harvest as much of the fresh water from these glaciers as we can, before it all ends up in the saline sea water. We could build massive reservoirs and catchments to collect it in and transport it to parts of the planet where it will do the most good, where fresh water is most needed for growing crops and making life livable.
These were just a few thoughts I have scurrying around in my mind, of late. Until later...
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A Pet Peeve
Declawing of animals should be outlawed.
People who get their pets declawed do not seem to realize what they do to their beloved pets. All that matters to them is material possessions like sofas, rugs, and window treatments.
I wish people would think about the animals feelings, for once in their lives. Why do certain people even bother to buy or adopt animals?! A status symbol - to show off how much they can afford to spend on a living toy?! Animals are not toys, not things, not mere objects! They are thinking creatures with feelings and, yes, they do feel pain. In order to declaw a cat, or any animal, the fingertips are surgically removed - or else the claws will grow back. I have heard of cats crippled with arthritis from declawing. But hey, who gives a damn about these animals' quality of life or the right to live a pain free life when we can just give them an injection to put them to sleep and put them out of their misery. God forbid if we should be expected to watch the poor creatures suffer because of what their adopted parents did to them at an early age. Look at your fingers. Where do your fingernails start growing from? It is the same for all mammals -and likely for all animals with claws, talons, or fingernails. GET THE POINT?! [pun intended].
Even those monsters who do animal testing for cosmetics have to cut their test animals' vocal chords so the testers won't be bothered by the animals crying and screaming in pain. It's one thing to do genetic testing on lab mice and rats to find cures for cancer - especially since the US federal government refuses the use of stem cells for real human embryos for such tests. Why test a bunch of human cells to find cures for human ailments and illnesses - when we can just as well torture some innocent creatures for the same thing?! Except, maybe, because they are not human, and do not have human DNA! If we used the human stem cells, we wouldn't even have to use the mice or rats anymore. It would cut down on the costs for the research since we could go directly to the human genome to do what we must do - it would save valuable time and needless suffering of those with such illnesses. It would also save countless animals needless suffering, as well.
Do not worry; I am not an advocate for PETA. I have never, and will never condone or support such a radical group. They care more about the political dramatics than they do about the animals they claim to protect. Just like the so-called pro-life advocates who are just as likely to throw their own children out on the streets at the age of twelve - or younger - because the child happens to be gay. All life is precious - but to these groups - only under certain conditions.
I saw a Rotweiller without its ears and tail clipped, for the first time in my life, this past weekend at the local pet expo - so I guess there's some hope. Animals are not perfect, and neither are humans. Guess what folks, humans are animals, too. That tends to offend some folks. It offends me when we expect other creatures, including ourselves to be perfect, to fit our ideals. I also do not much care for folks who go around and say that everyone is evil and going to hell. I admit that I make mistakes in this world, all the time. But, it is usually the humans, who are the most disappointing to me. The only creatures that ever cared about me were, and still are, the furry, four-legged kind. I have a rapport with animals. Currently, I have two beautiful cats, whom I adore - and a bunch of furry neighbor friends, several of which have been trying to cheer me up lately - since my human friends are apparently incapable of giving a damn. I am sure they are trying to tell us something. Too bad we cannot quiet our thoughts enough to listen, to them or each other.
People who get their pets declawed do not seem to realize what they do to their beloved pets. All that matters to them is material possessions like sofas, rugs, and window treatments.
I wish people would think about the animals feelings, for once in their lives. Why do certain people even bother to buy or adopt animals?! A status symbol - to show off how much they can afford to spend on a living toy?! Animals are not toys, not things, not mere objects! They are thinking creatures with feelings and, yes, they do feel pain. In order to declaw a cat, or any animal, the fingertips are surgically removed - or else the claws will grow back. I have heard of cats crippled with arthritis from declawing. But hey, who gives a damn about these animals' quality of life or the right to live a pain free life when we can just give them an injection to put them to sleep and put them out of their misery. God forbid if we should be expected to watch the poor creatures suffer because of what their adopted parents did to them at an early age. Look at your fingers. Where do your fingernails start growing from? It is the same for all mammals -and likely for all animals with claws, talons, or fingernails. GET THE POINT?! [pun intended].
Even those monsters who do animal testing for cosmetics have to cut their test animals' vocal chords so the testers won't be bothered by the animals crying and screaming in pain. It's one thing to do genetic testing on lab mice and rats to find cures for cancer - especially since the US federal government refuses the use of stem cells for real human embryos for such tests. Why test a bunch of human cells to find cures for human ailments and illnesses - when we can just as well torture some innocent creatures for the same thing?! Except, maybe, because they are not human, and do not have human DNA! If we used the human stem cells, we wouldn't even have to use the mice or rats anymore. It would cut down on the costs for the research since we could go directly to the human genome to do what we must do - it would save valuable time and needless suffering of those with such illnesses. It would also save countless animals needless suffering, as well.
Do not worry; I am not an advocate for PETA. I have never, and will never condone or support such a radical group. They care more about the political dramatics than they do about the animals they claim to protect. Just like the so-called pro-life advocates who are just as likely to throw their own children out on the streets at the age of twelve - or younger - because the child happens to be gay. All life is precious - but to these groups - only under certain conditions.
I saw a Rotweiller without its ears and tail clipped, for the first time in my life, this past weekend at the local pet expo - so I guess there's some hope. Animals are not perfect, and neither are humans. Guess what folks, humans are animals, too. That tends to offend some folks. It offends me when we expect other creatures, including ourselves to be perfect, to fit our ideals. I also do not much care for folks who go around and say that everyone is evil and going to hell. I admit that I make mistakes in this world, all the time. But, it is usually the humans, who are the most disappointing to me. The only creatures that ever cared about me were, and still are, the furry, four-legged kind. I have a rapport with animals. Currently, I have two beautiful cats, whom I adore - and a bunch of furry neighbor friends, several of which have been trying to cheer me up lately - since my human friends are apparently incapable of giving a damn. I am sure they are trying to tell us something. Too bad we cannot quiet our thoughts enough to listen, to them or each other.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Bolivian Crater Information and a Rant
This image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Source: http://intute.ac.uk/sciences/worldguide/html/image_2093.html
Apparently, there hasn't been much research done on the Bolivian impact crater. This is due to its remote location. I did get a few bits and pieces of information about it.
- It's called the Iturralde Structure or the Araona Crater.
- It's located at 19 degrees 49' South by 68 degrees 19' West - NW edge of the Salar de Uyuni, Eastern Bolivia
- Oval - elongated in a north-south direction and bowl-shaped - 8km across
- Flat-bottomed with very steep inner walls [similar to the Barringer Crater, AZ] with raised external rim
- It is located downslope of some volcanic craters with evidence of a more recent lava flow being diverted as well as a diverted river. This proves that it is relatively recent. Also, even though some weathering has obviously occurred, the crater is still in relatively good condition - albeit, buried under layers of decomposing organic-rich soils and vegetation.
This is about all there is about this crater. No tektites, shocked minerals, or other necessary evidence. Most of the data is biological in nature with a detailed study of the soil layers and their organic and ecological implications. Geological evidence is minimal and largely absent. Where's the evidence of a human settlement destroyed by the impact? The age is not even determined: estimated to have originated between five and twenty thousand years ago. If they had conducted proper geological sampling and measurements, a more accurate date could be determined. Who cares what the ecologies were/are inside the crater since the impact? They can do that later! We need to know when it occurred and any other pieces of evidence regarding the impact itself. This is not very encouraging. It is science of the most absurd kind. A botanist led the expedition who apparently decided that the geology was of little importance. Why did they go to investigate the crater in the first place? It's a geological impact structure - that's what drew them to the site. Instead they decide to study what plants have lived inside since the impact. The impact and the crater itself are of little importance to the advancements of science. Apparently! The sad lack of geological evidence has some scientists believing that it is merely a volcanic crater instead of one created by a meteor. The vast majority of the evidence is from satellite images - that's the only way we know its size and general shape. There is just nothing written about this crater. Maybe evidence has been gathered but not yet put out there in print for reference. It is a very vexing problem. Until later...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Listing and Summaries of Some of My Projects - Part 1
This is just a quick general run down of the research topics I have yet to make progress on.
I want to design a device for releasing the pressure build up in volcanoes, similar to the way scientists release pressure along the San Andreas fault, to minimize the destructive earthquakes by causing small scale ones where the pressure is building up. I already have a design in mind and the most cost effective way to do it would be to use already existing materials. Patenting is not necessarily an issue at this point since the invention is not marketable in any way I can see, but will be a benefit to humanity and to science.
The Pleistocene mass extinction: As mentioned before, I am trying to assemble data and analyze it to find a pattern of global mass extinction congruent with the global immigration of human hunter gatherers in an attempt to illustrate that human over hunting was the primary cause of the extinctions. At the same time I am gathering data about the deglaciation that was also happening and given by many scientists and scholars as the primary cause of the extinction, in order to show that there are problems with the prevailing theory. The Bolivian impact crater adds a new interesting twist to the information.
Cretaceous Tertiary Boundary Event: I started this project many, many years ago and never got the chance to finish it and then I lost my copy of the original draft. Hopefully, I will find it soon. I did do a shortened version of it for a research writing class a few years back, but it was far from the quality of the original. It was also a very detailed study of a great deal of evidence from the K-T layer and impact crater, as well as a detailed survey of major animal groups that were affected, went extinct, and even ones that did not suffer greatly. I was trying to be thorough and cover the most important evidence and intended to add some speculation regarding the details. I intend to redo and/or finish what I started.
Jericho Geology: The ancient and biblical city of Jericho is legendary for its great walls, supposedly the first city walls to ever be built. Apparently, the city of Jericho is also considered the first human city as well. Then I found out that it was built along a very tectonically active fault zone. The issue is that the city and its wall was destroyed and rebuilt many times. For centuries, people just figured it was due to wars. But I believe it can be argued that massive earthquakes were the cause of the city's repeated destruction. This adds speculation about why they kept rebuilding the city in the same location. What was so appealing about the location to keep people there despite massive destructive earthquakes?
Aegean Dual Subduction Zone: A tectonic anomaly in the Aegean Sea. I call it an anomaly since its rarely observed in nature and the implications are enormous. What will happen if the center plate sinks into the mantle? What are we to expect with a section of the sea floor, devoid of the crustal layer? A new crust would form, but much thinner, and weaker, and with volcanic forces causing more problems. It's just a very interesting phenomena, and one to keep an eye on.
I will post more of these projects later this week, and hopefully add an update. Until then...
I want to design a device for releasing the pressure build up in volcanoes, similar to the way scientists release pressure along the San Andreas fault, to minimize the destructive earthquakes by causing small scale ones where the pressure is building up. I already have a design in mind and the most cost effective way to do it would be to use already existing materials. Patenting is not necessarily an issue at this point since the invention is not marketable in any way I can see, but will be a benefit to humanity and to science.
The Pleistocene mass extinction: As mentioned before, I am trying to assemble data and analyze it to find a pattern of global mass extinction congruent with the global immigration of human hunter gatherers in an attempt to illustrate that human over hunting was the primary cause of the extinctions. At the same time I am gathering data about the deglaciation that was also happening and given by many scientists and scholars as the primary cause of the extinction, in order to show that there are problems with the prevailing theory. The Bolivian impact crater adds a new interesting twist to the information.
Cretaceous Tertiary Boundary Event: I started this project many, many years ago and never got the chance to finish it and then I lost my copy of the original draft. Hopefully, I will find it soon. I did do a shortened version of it for a research writing class a few years back, but it was far from the quality of the original. It was also a very detailed study of a great deal of evidence from the K-T layer and impact crater, as well as a detailed survey of major animal groups that were affected, went extinct, and even ones that did not suffer greatly. I was trying to be thorough and cover the most important evidence and intended to add some speculation regarding the details. I intend to redo and/or finish what I started.
Jericho Geology: The ancient and biblical city of Jericho is legendary for its great walls, supposedly the first city walls to ever be built. Apparently, the city of Jericho is also considered the first human city as well. Then I found out that it was built along a very tectonically active fault zone. The issue is that the city and its wall was destroyed and rebuilt many times. For centuries, people just figured it was due to wars. But I believe it can be argued that massive earthquakes were the cause of the city's repeated destruction. This adds speculation about why they kept rebuilding the city in the same location. What was so appealing about the location to keep people there despite massive destructive earthquakes?
Aegean Dual Subduction Zone: A tectonic anomaly in the Aegean Sea. I call it an anomaly since its rarely observed in nature and the implications are enormous. What will happen if the center plate sinks into the mantle? What are we to expect with a section of the sea floor, devoid of the crustal layer? A new crust would form, but much thinner, and weaker, and with volcanic forces causing more problems. It's just a very interesting phenomena, and one to keep an eye on.
I will post more of these projects later this week, and hopefully add an update. Until then...
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Tid Bits and a Little Bit of Progress
I made a little bit of progress this past weekend on my Pleistocene research. It was a minor thing but it's still progress. I did a little bit of preliminary research on the mass extinction and I even took some notes - about two and a half pages worth - in a quad ruled notebook. I prefer to handwrite a lot of my stuff. It would help if I had a computer at home, but as it is, I like to take advantage of available resources when I can.
How exactly did I do this preliminary research? I merely did a basic google search on the web and read information from various sites on the topic. It looks like some other folks have been noticing the human migration and extinction pattern overlap. Though, key researchers still seem dumbfounded as to the cause of the extinctions. One site mentioned that such an extinction is not typically found during previous deglaciations. Other pertinent pieces of information relevant to my research is a general timeline of the beginnings of each region's extinctions with Africa, India, and Indonesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia being the oldest and the Americas among the most recent. This makes my point about it being a global mass extinction.
There was also a very interesting new piece to the American part of the puzzle. A newly discovered impact crater from a meteorite impact in the Bolivian Amazon area with evidence of human settlements being wiped out by the collision. Incidentally, this event occurred 30,000 years before present and the source of the discovery looks to be reasonably reliable since it was discovered by the Scientific Exploration Society. This puts a whole new light on initial colonization of the Americas. If geologists can determine the most reliable date of the crash and anthropologists have determined with reasonable certainty that one or more human settlements were indeed destroyed, then there is now even stronger evidence that there were humans here long before Clovis.
I never truly understood that argument from a logical standpoint anyway. So many scholars just assumed that the people who invented the Clovis points came here at the same time as they invented their new weapon of choice. It makes more logical sense to say that people arrived at some date prior to the invention of Clovis points. There is a long span of time between the evolution of humans and their invention of Clovis. They would most likely have arrived here closer to the Clovis time, but not necessarily just days or even a few years before. There is nothing about the Clovis points themselves that tells definitively when their inventors came to this continent - other than they arrived before creating their invention.
If I invent something in another country, say Greece, I would most certainly have to arrive there in Greece prior to my making said invention. However, I would not be obligated to invent it as soon as I got off the airplane that brought me there. I could design, build, and patent it over the course of fifty years if need be. So, why do we assume ancient peoples did any differently? Humans very well could have been here thousands or even tens of thousands of years before they invented Clovis points. It looks like the evidence speaks for itself.
The impact also may have contributed to the extinctions in the Americas. Another point my argument brings to mind is that humans would have had to colonize or inhabit in some way each subsequent region prior to the extinctions. It would make no sense for the extinctions to occur prior to human arrival to their environments.
I even came across that article about scientists finding evidence of extinctions due to human hunters in Australia. But I noted that the vast majority of the sites and studies were primarily focusing on the Americas. I do not fully understand why they seem to be ignorign the rest of the continents. Maybe because if they do they know damn well that they will happen upon the same pattern as I am attempting to illustrate. They love using the deglaciation as the primary cause - but this too occurred globally - not just here in the Americas. Also, South America would not have been impacted nearly as much by deglaciation. A Hyperdisease is biologically unlikely since diseases rarely if ever jump species. To assume such a process for a mass extinction as extensive as the Pleistocene's is to jump to very erroneous conclusions.
Just like the Bog People exhibit at the Carnegie Museum last year. Most, if not all, of the deaths were assumed to have been religious ritualistic in nature. However, if any person were found dead in a ditch along the side of a well traveled highway today, noone would assume it was religious or ritualistic at all. It would be deemed a homicide. People kill people everyday in this world! Why would our ancient ancestors have been any different?
Also of noteworthiness: the technical writing class I am currently taking is looking at the Helicobacter pylori epidemic that has been a human ailment as long as humans have been around. One article I critiqued for our online workbook was very interesting, even regarding my Pleistocene research. There are at least seven individual strains of the bacteria currently in operation, which in turn evolved from three ancestral strains. Interestingly, they are geographically traceable and can and are being used to determine the relative dates of colonization of various regions - e.g., continents. It would be very interesting to correlate the two series of evidence - the arrival of humans plotted against the beginnings of the extinctions in those regions. I might be able to run a preliminary chart or graph of this evidence. I might even correct for the timing of the Bolivian Bolide event.
How exactly did I do this preliminary research? I merely did a basic google search on the web and read information from various sites on the topic. It looks like some other folks have been noticing the human migration and extinction pattern overlap. Though, key researchers still seem dumbfounded as to the cause of the extinctions. One site mentioned that such an extinction is not typically found during previous deglaciations. Other pertinent pieces of information relevant to my research is a general timeline of the beginnings of each region's extinctions with Africa, India, and Indonesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia being the oldest and the Americas among the most recent. This makes my point about it being a global mass extinction.
There was also a very interesting new piece to the American part of the puzzle. A newly discovered impact crater from a meteorite impact in the Bolivian Amazon area with evidence of human settlements being wiped out by the collision. Incidentally, this event occurred 30,000 years before present and the source of the discovery looks to be reasonably reliable since it was discovered by the Scientific Exploration Society. This puts a whole new light on initial colonization of the Americas. If geologists can determine the most reliable date of the crash and anthropologists have determined with reasonable certainty that one or more human settlements were indeed destroyed, then there is now even stronger evidence that there were humans here long before Clovis.
I never truly understood that argument from a logical standpoint anyway. So many scholars just assumed that the people who invented the Clovis points came here at the same time as they invented their new weapon of choice. It makes more logical sense to say that people arrived at some date prior to the invention of Clovis points. There is a long span of time between the evolution of humans and their invention of Clovis. They would most likely have arrived here closer to the Clovis time, but not necessarily just days or even a few years before. There is nothing about the Clovis points themselves that tells definitively when their inventors came to this continent - other than they arrived before creating their invention.
If I invent something in another country, say Greece, I would most certainly have to arrive there in Greece prior to my making said invention. However, I would not be obligated to invent it as soon as I got off the airplane that brought me there. I could design, build, and patent it over the course of fifty years if need be. So, why do we assume ancient peoples did any differently? Humans very well could have been here thousands or even tens of thousands of years before they invented Clovis points. It looks like the evidence speaks for itself.
The impact also may have contributed to the extinctions in the Americas. Another point my argument brings to mind is that humans would have had to colonize or inhabit in some way each subsequent region prior to the extinctions. It would make no sense for the extinctions to occur prior to human arrival to their environments.
I even came across that article about scientists finding evidence of extinctions due to human hunters in Australia. But I noted that the vast majority of the sites and studies were primarily focusing on the Americas. I do not fully understand why they seem to be ignorign the rest of the continents. Maybe because if they do they know damn well that they will happen upon the same pattern as I am attempting to illustrate. They love using the deglaciation as the primary cause - but this too occurred globally - not just here in the Americas. Also, South America would not have been impacted nearly as much by deglaciation. A Hyperdisease is biologically unlikely since diseases rarely if ever jump species. To assume such a process for a mass extinction as extensive as the Pleistocene's is to jump to very erroneous conclusions.
Just like the Bog People exhibit at the Carnegie Museum last year. Most, if not all, of the deaths were assumed to have been religious ritualistic in nature. However, if any person were found dead in a ditch along the side of a well traveled highway today, noone would assume it was religious or ritualistic at all. It would be deemed a homicide. People kill people everyday in this world! Why would our ancient ancestors have been any different?
Also of noteworthiness: the technical writing class I am currently taking is looking at the Helicobacter pylori epidemic that has been a human ailment as long as humans have been around. One article I critiqued for our online workbook was very interesting, even regarding my Pleistocene research. There are at least seven individual strains of the bacteria currently in operation, which in turn evolved from three ancestral strains. Interestingly, they are geographically traceable and can and are being used to determine the relative dates of colonization of various regions - e.g., continents. It would be very interesting to correlate the two series of evidence - the arrival of humans plotted against the beginnings of the extinctions in those regions. I might be able to run a preliminary chart or graph of this evidence. I might even correct for the timing of the Bolivian Bolide event.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Plans and Proposals
I have very recently come to the conclusion that I might want to look into the patenting process and procedures regarding the two inventions I mentioned in my last post. It would be in my best interest to patent them both as soon as possible, so as to have the concepts locked in as mine (and my partner's) - I have decided to continue with his help on the remote sensing program. The volcanology related invention is mine alone, however. I am not entirely sure how else to proceed on these inventions. If we need a prototype prior to patenting - then we got some problems since both ideas are still in the conceptualizing stages, at the moment. I have already discussed this with my partner, he understands my concerns and agrees that we might want to look into this ASAP to determine where we stand. If we can obtain the patents first, we might be able to use that as leverage to obtain grant money for training and development for both inventions.
While I was thinking this through, I remembered a small project I did for a biology class years ago on terraforming Mars into an Earth-like and inhabitable planet by utilizing its own natural resources with a little bit of technological help from us to kick it off and get the process started. I am not sure if a process such as this is a patentable idea. Can one even patent such a process? Besides, it's not like as if people just come up with these kinds of ideas every day - except maybe in science fiction stories. However, the article that I based my project and presentation on was based on science and real world reality, not pie in the sky concepts. My professor OK'd the article and the report - and I ended up getting an A on the project. Even though I got some of the ideas from the inital article, I did add some realistic ideas of how to do exactly what my report proposed. I do think I still have the report somewhere in storage - though I don't think it's on disk. The article was from a science fiction magazine - though from the science discussion section - not from a story. This magazine is no longer in publication - Science Fiction Age. I do believe that it is possible to do what I proposed in that initial report, but it gives me ideas about moving foreward on that exact topic. A presentation would be in order - powerpoint all the way, baby! So, I now have another project peeking out wanting attention. I may as well add it to my outline list of topics.
While I was thinking this through, I remembered a small project I did for a biology class years ago on terraforming Mars into an Earth-like and inhabitable planet by utilizing its own natural resources with a little bit of technological help from us to kick it off and get the process started. I am not sure if a process such as this is a patentable idea. Can one even patent such a process? Besides, it's not like as if people just come up with these kinds of ideas every day - except maybe in science fiction stories. However, the article that I based my project and presentation on was based on science and real world reality, not pie in the sky concepts. My professor OK'd the article and the report - and I ended up getting an A on the project. Even though I got some of the ideas from the inital article, I did add some realistic ideas of how to do exactly what my report proposed. I do think I still have the report somewhere in storage - though I don't think it's on disk. The article was from a science fiction magazine - though from the science discussion section - not from a story. This magazine is no longer in publication - Science Fiction Age. I do believe that it is possible to do what I proposed in that initial report, but it gives me ideas about moving foreward on that exact topic. A presentation would be in order - powerpoint all the way, baby! So, I now have another project peeking out wanting attention. I may as well add it to my outline list of topics.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Update, Some Progress, and Conclusions
I printed out a couple articles on the Aegean Tectonics project and I have one on the Jericho Geology that I have to make a photocopy of because I don't have access to it online, but I have to wait for the library to open to do that. Other than that and the outlines I mentioned the other day, there's not much more to tell.
However, I am coming to some conclusions about at least some of these projects as I go through the list and make outlines and get some initial thoughts down in writing and on disk. Don't ask me why I am doing this, since I don't really know the true reason. Maybe it's some odd thing about me that I get antsy about leaving all the other projects on the backburner while I focus on just one to the point that I find it difficult to concentrate on that one with all the others buzzing around in my head. Or maybe I just have a deep burning desire for utter chaos in everything I do. I'm even reading articles on how to generate more ideas - like as if I don't have enough to worry about already! Yoi!
As to those conclusions:
The Yellowstone Project is basically an invention to perform controlled eruptions of volcanoes. I don't know if it will fly - it's literally a long shot - but if it's workable - it could be very useful and helpful. After the Hurricane Katrina disaster, I seriously doubt this country would be able to deal with such a large scale natural disaster or evacuate every habitable town and city eastward of that massive volcano.
Another project that seemingly fell into my lap relatively recently would make use of remote sensing programming to find "certain dangerous things". Yes, this is another invention, of sorts. Let's just say that I'm planning on usurping the prize in a somewhat hostile takeover - kind of the way Bill Gates got back at Steve Jobs and for a similar reason. My former "partner" decided that backstabbing one of his friends is the preferrable way to do business - yes, I'm the friend he betrayed. And payback's a bitch!
As to the other projects: It looks like the Pleistocene Extinction, the Cretaceous Tertiary Collision and Extinction, the History of Evolutionary Theory, and the Jericho Geology will all end up as books, mostly due to the extensive nature of each of them. I'm going to be covering a lot of information on each of these topics and I can do it piece by piece and part by part - each part ending up as an article or even a series of articles before I turn it all into a comprehensive book on the subject. This may be a reason why I am having a hard time getting much momentum going on any of my projects, most of them are a bit overwhelming. That's putting it mildly! Crikey!
I think I mentioned having to create a website for this science and technology writing class I'm taking this semester. However, I don't think it's quite what I feared. It's a group project but I haven't heard more about topics or anything. Now, if only I could find someone who is a lot more computer capable than I... Hmmm... Gonna have to get the word out...
Also of note, there's a proofreading fundamentals class coming up in a couple weeks - similar to the freelance writing workshop I attended over the summer. No hesitations here, this time - I learned my lesson last time. I'm definitely going for it - I'll be registering for it this week. It's at the same place and time as the workshop, on the 29th of this month. There's another one on getting your invention/idea to the marketplace, but there's a timing problem. Maybe they'll offer it in the spring listing. I certainly hope so, especially with two inventions/ideas to play around with. Another thing I'm thinking of doing is look around online for free tutorials on some of this to see what I can learn and get accomplished in the meantime. Well, tally ho!
However, I am coming to some conclusions about at least some of these projects as I go through the list and make outlines and get some initial thoughts down in writing and on disk. Don't ask me why I am doing this, since I don't really know the true reason. Maybe it's some odd thing about me that I get antsy about leaving all the other projects on the backburner while I focus on just one to the point that I find it difficult to concentrate on that one with all the others buzzing around in my head. Or maybe I just have a deep burning desire for utter chaos in everything I do. I'm even reading articles on how to generate more ideas - like as if I don't have enough to worry about already! Yoi!
As to those conclusions:
The Yellowstone Project is basically an invention to perform controlled eruptions of volcanoes. I don't know if it will fly - it's literally a long shot - but if it's workable - it could be very useful and helpful. After the Hurricane Katrina disaster, I seriously doubt this country would be able to deal with such a large scale natural disaster or evacuate every habitable town and city eastward of that massive volcano.
Another project that seemingly fell into my lap relatively recently would make use of remote sensing programming to find "certain dangerous things". Yes, this is another invention, of sorts. Let's just say that I'm planning on usurping the prize in a somewhat hostile takeover - kind of the way Bill Gates got back at Steve Jobs and for a similar reason. My former "partner" decided that backstabbing one of his friends is the preferrable way to do business - yes, I'm the friend he betrayed. And payback's a bitch!
As to the other projects: It looks like the Pleistocene Extinction, the Cretaceous Tertiary Collision and Extinction, the History of Evolutionary Theory, and the Jericho Geology will all end up as books, mostly due to the extensive nature of each of them. I'm going to be covering a lot of information on each of these topics and I can do it piece by piece and part by part - each part ending up as an article or even a series of articles before I turn it all into a comprehensive book on the subject. This may be a reason why I am having a hard time getting much momentum going on any of my projects, most of them are a bit overwhelming. That's putting it mildly! Crikey!
I think I mentioned having to create a website for this science and technology writing class I'm taking this semester. However, I don't think it's quite what I feared. It's a group project but I haven't heard more about topics or anything. Now, if only I could find someone who is a lot more computer capable than I... Hmmm... Gonna have to get the word out...
Also of note, there's a proofreading fundamentals class coming up in a couple weeks - similar to the freelance writing workshop I attended over the summer. No hesitations here, this time - I learned my lesson last time. I'm definitely going for it - I'll be registering for it this week. It's at the same place and time as the workshop, on the 29th of this month. There's another one on getting your invention/idea to the marketplace, but there's a timing problem. Maybe they'll offer it in the spring listing. I certainly hope so, especially with two inventions/ideas to play around with. Another thing I'm thinking of doing is look around online for free tutorials on some of this to see what I can learn and get accomplished in the meantime. Well, tally ho!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Back in action, finally
I wanted to check in and give an update on what's been happening with me. After the summer classes ended, I was busy with a family issue. Once that was over my access to the campus computers was seriously limited. I also think I was suffering from a bit of burnout and have been in some sort of funk for awhile. The uncertain nature of my creer situation is probably partly to blame. though I now have a few options about some actions to take in one or more directions.
I haven't really done anything about the Pleistocene project lately, either. However, that is about to change fairly quickly. I still feel like I'm treading water on a lot of things. I know it's resistance and it's only holding me back. I feel like choosing one idea to run with, so to speak, leaves all the other projects on the back burner. I'd really like to see some progress in at least some of those other projects. I might be able to publish something or make money from some of the other projects. The Pleistocene project is going to be a fairly long one that will take a long time to develop, mainly in bits and pieces. But then again, I'm not really getting started on it very much at all - from my perspective.
I am going to start setting myself two tasks per week regarding my research projects, including the Pleistocene project. I have already started implementing this - though I started with two of my other projects: Jericho Tectonics and the Aegean dual subduction zones. I wrote outlines and did quick write-ups about the main ideas for each. The other task for each week will be to work on my writing and reading for the science writing class I'm taking. Also, I want to start attending the Geology Colloquium on Thursday evenings and start going places and doing things more appropriate to a geoscientist since that is my long term goal in life - at this time, at least. Right now I'm not feeling very enthusiastic, motivated, or determined in any way. I know it's resistance, but it's still there hampering my efforts.
Actually, as far as an outline, direction, and quick write up are concerned - I already have those done for the Pleistocene project. I also have several articles, both major and preliminary, to read on the subject in order to move on. All that paperwork might be overwhelming me - even though it's not really that much to read. Resistance literally has me at a standstill - like as if I cannot see the good my efforts will do. I guess I feel like nobody of importance will find what I have to say to be of any value - and that I would just be wasting my time and energy on nonsense and frivolous silliness. Yes, I am too hard on myself and I am my own worst critic.
Well, tally ho, and all that jazz!
I haven't really done anything about the Pleistocene project lately, either. However, that is about to change fairly quickly. I still feel like I'm treading water on a lot of things. I know it's resistance and it's only holding me back. I feel like choosing one idea to run with, so to speak, leaves all the other projects on the back burner. I'd really like to see some progress in at least some of those other projects. I might be able to publish something or make money from some of the other projects. The Pleistocene project is going to be a fairly long one that will take a long time to develop, mainly in bits and pieces. But then again, I'm not really getting started on it very much at all - from my perspective.
I am going to start setting myself two tasks per week regarding my research projects, including the Pleistocene project. I have already started implementing this - though I started with two of my other projects: Jericho Tectonics and the Aegean dual subduction zones. I wrote outlines and did quick write-ups about the main ideas for each. The other task for each week will be to work on my writing and reading for the science writing class I'm taking. Also, I want to start attending the Geology Colloquium on Thursday evenings and start going places and doing things more appropriate to a geoscientist since that is my long term goal in life - at this time, at least. Right now I'm not feeling very enthusiastic, motivated, or determined in any way. I know it's resistance, but it's still there hampering my efforts.
Actually, as far as an outline, direction, and quick write up are concerned - I already have those done for the Pleistocene project. I also have several articles, both major and preliminary, to read on the subject in order to move on. All that paperwork might be overwhelming me - even though it's not really that much to read. Resistance literally has me at a standstill - like as if I cannot see the good my efforts will do. I guess I feel like nobody of importance will find what I have to say to be of any value - and that I would just be wasting my time and energy on nonsense and frivolous silliness. Yes, I am too hard on myself and I am my own worst critic.
Well, tally ho, and all that jazz!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Just Checking In
Just want to check in and get a plan together regarding getting moving on this Pleistocene project. Hopefully, the time spent on other pressing matters is going to be helpful - giving me a fresh start on the topic. I really need to gather some of my materials together and do something with them. Now that I have a bit of free time I need to get back into the organizing of my paperwork and other materials.
Also, I am planning a trip to the local museum next week and a visit to the arctic world exhibit which I haven't seen in years. Also, I have to start thinking about the subjects of my main career path - dinosaurs. They are not part of this current project, obviously but are the sole reason for my choice of career. I just put them on the back burner so to speak because of other project ideas coming into my life. I already started a wee bit of research on them - just printed out a few articles on them. Hopefully, I'll get to read some of both sets of articles over the weekend and make my usual commentary as I go along. I heard that scientists tend to do that a lot. Then add to this the reopening of the newly updated dinosaur exhibit at the museum this coming November - I already have plans to attend the members-only preview. Maybe I'll get to schmooz with some paleontologists that specialize in them. A really great networking opportunity. Well, until later!
Also, I am planning a trip to the local museum next week and a visit to the arctic world exhibit which I haven't seen in years. Also, I have to start thinking about the subjects of my main career path - dinosaurs. They are not part of this current project, obviously but are the sole reason for my choice of career. I just put them on the back burner so to speak because of other project ideas coming into my life. I already started a wee bit of research on them - just printed out a few articles on them. Hopefully, I'll get to read some of both sets of articles over the weekend and make my usual commentary as I go along. I heard that scientists tend to do that a lot. Then add to this the reopening of the newly updated dinosaur exhibit at the museum this coming November - I already have plans to attend the members-only preview. Maybe I'll get to schmooz with some paleontologists that specialize in them. A really great networking opportunity. Well, until later!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Ranting Practice
Well, I am now officially working on the final term paper on intelligent design - I won't give the concept enough credit or respect by capitalizing the words. So, here is a bit of a rant at the moronic absurdity that is intelligent design. Hey, I need the practice!
First off, before I go any further, let me tell you a wee bit about myself. I am a firm believer in evolution as a fact of nature - one that is essential to all life sciences such as biology, genetics, and especially medical research and technology. I am also a Christian - I do indeed believe in God, Jesus, etc., - but I know the difference between science and religion. Apparently, the Discovery Institute does not. I believe that evolution is just the process by which life came about - whether one believes in a supernatural Creator or not is irrelevant. Evolution is not intended to quantify or justify such a being's existance. Actually, such a concept is rarely if ever discussed in scientific circles - because it is outside our domain of study. We are scientists - not theologians - and I truly wish the Discovery Institute and their ken would cease confusing the two.
Do the supporters of 'intelligent' design take themselves and their loved ones to the doctors to keep them healthy and alive? If they do, then they are hypocrites - unwilling to risk their families' lives where their so-called "faith" apparently lies. If God's means of providing life is so essentially different from evolution, then these folks should rely on prayers alone to keep their loved ones healthy and alive.
The "evils" of evolution should not be permitted access to their families' lives whatsoever - for fear of them losing their faith. Medical science has its foundation in evolution. If you take evolution away - there would be no funding whatsoever for ailments like Parkinsons, MS, ALS, cancer, AIDS, etc. Also, if you are a supporter of id, I suggest that you refrain from giving donations to those causes since the legislation you wish to push forward will make it a veritable waste of money. Remember, that once put through legislation - successfully - all children educated in our public schools will not be capable of entering medical school at any reputable institution. So don't push them to become doctors if you want them to remain faithful to God.
What exactly do these vermin intend to do? Do they really plan to change the face of science and technology into a theocratic endeavor? If they do then there will be quite dire circumstances! Our nation's children will no longer be able to compete in higher education, especially in the sciences or medicine. You don't truly believe that medical doctors are supporters of id? They better not be, if they want to keep their practice.
I just read a "christian" conservative perspective on the issue and found that they use scientific terminology out of context to combat evolution. This is no surprise - since they love to twist words and take them so far out of context as to make them nearly unrecognizable to the person who originally said them. They are actually attempting to use genetics as support for id. This makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever - since genetics is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for evolution.
The argument about perfect order from the creationists - is so absurd and out of touch with reality as to be downright silly. If the eye is so damn perfect, then why are people and animals born blind? Why are eyes so prone to fail in their sight - if God's world and creations are so absolutely perfect?
The Discovery Institute uses the general public's ignorance regarding science to drive their political agenda home. They put the average American in an impossible position - choose God or the physical reality in which they live! Nobody should be expected to have to make such a choice! To force the issue is cruelty and harbors such dire circumstances as to be absolutely sickening!
He who is without sin, cast the first stone!!! He who is so absolutely perfect, stand up and make yourself known to all!
First off, before I go any further, let me tell you a wee bit about myself. I am a firm believer in evolution as a fact of nature - one that is essential to all life sciences such as biology, genetics, and especially medical research and technology. I am also a Christian - I do indeed believe in God, Jesus, etc., - but I know the difference between science and religion. Apparently, the Discovery Institute does not. I believe that evolution is just the process by which life came about - whether one believes in a supernatural Creator or not is irrelevant. Evolution is not intended to quantify or justify such a being's existance. Actually, such a concept is rarely if ever discussed in scientific circles - because it is outside our domain of study. We are scientists - not theologians - and I truly wish the Discovery Institute and their ken would cease confusing the two.
Do the supporters of 'intelligent' design take themselves and their loved ones to the doctors to keep them healthy and alive? If they do, then they are hypocrites - unwilling to risk their families' lives where their so-called "faith" apparently lies. If God's means of providing life is so essentially different from evolution, then these folks should rely on prayers alone to keep their loved ones healthy and alive.
The "evils" of evolution should not be permitted access to their families' lives whatsoever - for fear of them losing their faith. Medical science has its foundation in evolution. If you take evolution away - there would be no funding whatsoever for ailments like Parkinsons, MS, ALS, cancer, AIDS, etc. Also, if you are a supporter of id, I suggest that you refrain from giving donations to those causes since the legislation you wish to push forward will make it a veritable waste of money. Remember, that once put through legislation - successfully - all children educated in our public schools will not be capable of entering medical school at any reputable institution. So don't push them to become doctors if you want them to remain faithful to God.
What exactly do these vermin intend to do? Do they really plan to change the face of science and technology into a theocratic endeavor? If they do then there will be quite dire circumstances! Our nation's children will no longer be able to compete in higher education, especially in the sciences or medicine. You don't truly believe that medical doctors are supporters of id? They better not be, if they want to keep their practice.
I just read a "christian" conservative perspective on the issue and found that they use scientific terminology out of context to combat evolution. This is no surprise - since they love to twist words and take them so far out of context as to make them nearly unrecognizable to the person who originally said them. They are actually attempting to use genetics as support for id. This makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever - since genetics is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for evolution.
The argument about perfect order from the creationists - is so absurd and out of touch with reality as to be downright silly. If the eye is so damn perfect, then why are people and animals born blind? Why are eyes so prone to fail in their sight - if God's world and creations are so absolutely perfect?
The Discovery Institute uses the general public's ignorance regarding science to drive their political agenda home. They put the average American in an impossible position - choose God or the physical reality in which they live! Nobody should be expected to have to make such a choice! To force the issue is cruelty and harbors such dire circumstances as to be absolutely sickening!
He who is without sin, cast the first stone!!! He who is so absolutely perfect, stand up and make yourself known to all!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
A Ranting Update
Just want to update about what's happening. Lots of work happening - especially the written kind - and much more to come. Among the many pieces we're doing for the writing class is a research paper of our own choosing and related to our field of interest. My choice was of course the always popular Intelligent Design Creationism debate that still rages on here in the United States, for some unknown reason. One of the first articles I read regarding this debate said something to the effect of: scientists proved that evolution takes place without the need for an intelligent creator. The reality of the situation is that the scientific theory of evolution only shows and proves that change occurs over time. The creationists also keep slinging mud by claiming that evolutionists are atheists - which is inherently not true. Most people who have enough damn sense to realize that evolution is a reality and a fact of life (pun intended) - are also religious persons who do believe in a higher power and a creator but just believe that evolution is the means by which life came to exist on Earth. Most religious people do not adhere to the Intelligent Design belief. Also, Charles Darwin himself was a devout Christian!
I would love to know who threw the first volley of mud at whom - and when this occurred. I do believe it occurred in Darwin's time. Somebody crossed the line between science and religion and now we have more serious problems because of it. Fortunately, our opponents are not the brightest bulbs on the planet - though they claim to be true "scientists"- that remains to be seen. I've actually seen some evidence that seriously puts their expertise into question.
Why is it so dangerous a concept if noone in their right mind would believe such absurdities? Because of those elected officials overstepping their boundaries and attempting to change things in our society for the worse based upon the unproven claims of so-called "scholars" trying to literally dumb down our entire society. If legislation does go through promoting ID/C we will lose the respect of every other nation on the Earth. Not to mention ruining further advancement in many sciences and related fields - including medical research and medicine itself. I wonder if the proponents of ID/C utilize the medical facilities of this country to take care of injuries and illnesses. If they do, then they are true hypocrites - and should lose all credibility they currently have. Why do I say this? Because - to undermine and utterly destroy the same system that keeps oneself and one's family and loved ones alive and healthy is like biting the hand that feeds you. Also, if evolution and its related scientific theories are so damn false, then how can these people trust doctors and other medical professionals with their lives if their work is based upon lies and mere "theories"?!
Back to my update! Besides the ID/C debate paper which will be approximately eight pages long - I also have the option to do extra credit papers for the oceanography class I am taking. Each paper is to be five pages long, and about a marine organism (or organisms like diatoms, dinoflagellates, etc.). The more of these extra credit papers I do the higher my final grade. This is very good for me in two ways: I tend to do much much better on papers/essays than on regular exams AND this gives me a chance to show my advisor/professor what I am capable of. A chance to impress the daylights out of him - if that is at all possible! Yay for me!
I already have a couple ideas rolling around in my mind for potential topics: meiofauna and nudibranchs. That's just a start! Meiofauna are tiny microscopic animals that live among the soft sediment of the sea floor and are abundant enough to be food for certain filter feeding animals like clams, worms, and sea cucumbers. Nudibranchs are sea slugs - but some have a very bizarre feature. They eat sea anemones and jellyfish and somehow transfer these animals' stinging tentacles to protrude from their backs - using them as defense against predators. Both topics sound very promising and worth the effort.
Until next time!
I would love to know who threw the first volley of mud at whom - and when this occurred. I do believe it occurred in Darwin's time. Somebody crossed the line between science and religion and now we have more serious problems because of it. Fortunately, our opponents are not the brightest bulbs on the planet - though they claim to be true "scientists"- that remains to be seen. I've actually seen some evidence that seriously puts their expertise into question.
Why is it so dangerous a concept if noone in their right mind would believe such absurdities? Because of those elected officials overstepping their boundaries and attempting to change things in our society for the worse based upon the unproven claims of so-called "scholars" trying to literally dumb down our entire society. If legislation does go through promoting ID/C we will lose the respect of every other nation on the Earth. Not to mention ruining further advancement in many sciences and related fields - including medical research and medicine itself. I wonder if the proponents of ID/C utilize the medical facilities of this country to take care of injuries and illnesses. If they do, then they are true hypocrites - and should lose all credibility they currently have. Why do I say this? Because - to undermine and utterly destroy the same system that keeps oneself and one's family and loved ones alive and healthy is like biting the hand that feeds you. Also, if evolution and its related scientific theories are so damn false, then how can these people trust doctors and other medical professionals with their lives if their work is based upon lies and mere "theories"?!
Back to my update! Besides the ID/C debate paper which will be approximately eight pages long - I also have the option to do extra credit papers for the oceanography class I am taking. Each paper is to be five pages long, and about a marine organism (or organisms like diatoms, dinoflagellates, etc.). The more of these extra credit papers I do the higher my final grade. This is very good for me in two ways: I tend to do much much better on papers/essays than on regular exams AND this gives me a chance to show my advisor/professor what I am capable of. A chance to impress the daylights out of him - if that is at all possible! Yay for me!
I already have a couple ideas rolling around in my mind for potential topics: meiofauna and nudibranchs. That's just a start! Meiofauna are tiny microscopic animals that live among the soft sediment of the sea floor and are abundant enough to be food for certain filter feeding animals like clams, worms, and sea cucumbers. Nudibranchs are sea slugs - but some have a very bizarre feature. They eat sea anemones and jellyfish and somehow transfer these animals' stinging tentacles to protrude from their backs - using them as defense against predators. Both topics sound very promising and worth the effort.
Until next time!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Updates and Decisions
I'm here for an update on what's been going on. Dr. Jones just got in from the dinosaur farm out in Wyoming - if I play my cards right I am hoping to get out there myself one of these days - preferably in the near future. Such is life, I guess!
Well, I have also come to a decision as far as my furthering my career goes, anyway. It came about due to a lack of clarity in that memo assignment for class a couple of weeks ago. I realize that if I want to remain in Pittsburgh and work on becoming a professional paleontologist - I might as well utilize those resources at my current location to the fullest extent I can. So, to make a long story short: I am seriously considering grad school and majoring in geology - basically to get a M.S. degree in Geology - or higher - whatever the case may be. I can choose my subfield whenever I wish at this point but the current resources are pretty limited at the moment around these parts - at least as far as pursuing a paleo degree like I plan to - despite the affiliation of this university with the Carnegie Museums.
This also gives me a chance to beef up my other scientific skills and knowledge - like the biology and chemistry I will be needing at some point in the future. There is also the fact that I do have at least one or two non-paleo related topics for research - including Yellowstone - which has become a more practical project than it was originally. Also, I have been reminded about a Yellowstone field camp that exists - absolutely perfect for grad school and my project.
The writing class is being taylored to each person's individual field and interests - focusing on career and job research - in the form of memos, reports, outlines, resume, a cover letter, and a career related research paper. This is forcing me to make decisions I hadn't even realized I even needed to make and crunching it all into a mere six weeks. Also, my instructor mentioned helping me during office hours with a career statement for grad school - we don't get to do that officially for class so it has to be during her office hours.
Also, due to some mismanagement on my part - I am now needing to think and set up a more set-in-stone study and classwork routine for the rest of the semester. I even found an old semester weekly planner on an old disk from 2001 and have already started to change it to my current status. A helpful form of damage control, if you will. Good thing it won't take too big a bite out of my plans - besides, classes will be finishing for the summer in just 3-4 weeks - though now that means crunch time for me. I guess I can look at the bright side of my one friend going on a cruise at the end half of the month.
While I was at it looking through old disks - I found a bunch of old project work - including that related to the Pleistocene Mass Extinction - among other things. I really need to put it all together into one master document so I can play with it and keep it in just one disk - or two for a backup. I might as well do this with the other project work I've found, too - just so that it's all in one place when I need it in the near future. Well, I printed out everything I found important so far and will have to go through the rest of the disks at a later date to get the rest. I even found and salvaged an old powerpoint project from a French class - it might look good in my portfolio. Now, if only I could find the oone on Paleontology I did way back when... I would be a very happy camper.
Well, I have also come to a decision as far as my furthering my career goes, anyway. It came about due to a lack of clarity in that memo assignment for class a couple of weeks ago. I realize that if I want to remain in Pittsburgh and work on becoming a professional paleontologist - I might as well utilize those resources at my current location to the fullest extent I can. So, to make a long story short: I am seriously considering grad school and majoring in geology - basically to get a M.S. degree in Geology - or higher - whatever the case may be. I can choose my subfield whenever I wish at this point but the current resources are pretty limited at the moment around these parts - at least as far as pursuing a paleo degree like I plan to - despite the affiliation of this university with the Carnegie Museums.
This also gives me a chance to beef up my other scientific skills and knowledge - like the biology and chemistry I will be needing at some point in the future. There is also the fact that I do have at least one or two non-paleo related topics for research - including Yellowstone - which has become a more practical project than it was originally. Also, I have been reminded about a Yellowstone field camp that exists - absolutely perfect for grad school and my project.
The writing class is being taylored to each person's individual field and interests - focusing on career and job research - in the form of memos, reports, outlines, resume, a cover letter, and a career related research paper. This is forcing me to make decisions I hadn't even realized I even needed to make and crunching it all into a mere six weeks. Also, my instructor mentioned helping me during office hours with a career statement for grad school - we don't get to do that officially for class so it has to be during her office hours.
Also, due to some mismanagement on my part - I am now needing to think and set up a more set-in-stone study and classwork routine for the rest of the semester. I even found an old semester weekly planner on an old disk from 2001 and have already started to change it to my current status. A helpful form of damage control, if you will. Good thing it won't take too big a bite out of my plans - besides, classes will be finishing for the summer in just 3-4 weeks - though now that means crunch time for me. I guess I can look at the bright side of my one friend going on a cruise at the end half of the month.
While I was at it looking through old disks - I found a bunch of old project work - including that related to the Pleistocene Mass Extinction - among other things. I really need to put it all together into one master document so I can play with it and keep it in just one disk - or two for a backup. I might as well do this with the other project work I've found, too - just so that it's all in one place when I need it in the near future. Well, I printed out everything I found important so far and will have to go through the rest of the disks at a later date to get the rest. I even found and salvaged an old powerpoint project from a French class - it might look good in my portfolio. Now, if only I could find the oone on Paleontology I did way back when... I would be a very happy camper.
Friday, June 29, 2007
I mentioned the other day that I was going to post my career memo assignment here since I felt that it's the appropriate place to do so. So, here goes!
My career plans entail a good deal of writing. My ultimate goal is to become an established and respected research scientist in the field of Vertebrate Paleontology. This will require me to be able to communicate clearly, primarily in writing, any facts, data, and information I gather to other professional scientists as well as the general public and non-scientists. Starting out by writing articles for publication in both scientific and non-scientific subjects will establish me as a capable writer and communicator. Once I am published, I intend to alter my focus towards the sciences, at which point I can work on writing books based on my personal research projects. In the meantime, while I am writing, and to make a decent living, I am hoping to get employment in the scientific research and consulting business where writing skills will be very essential.
My long term career plans are likely to take a great deal of time to develop. I already know this and am preparing for this as much as possible. I already have several research projects that I have chosen and even attempted to start over the past couple years. What I must do is focus and produce real, tangible, and useful results. The article writing direction doubles both as a solution to get my writings out there into the publishing world and as an income stream. I recently attended a workshop about freelance writing for publication which gave me a good perspective and the motivation as well as a lot of workable ideas to get started on. One of the most useful pieces of information I got out of the workshop was: if one has a certain topic they want to focus on, they can write articles that get published but also end up as material for a book. In essence, a specific series of articles can be relatively easily converted into chapters or sections of a book. The woman heading the workshop said that my focus as a geoscientist will be very beneficial to me. I have actually started implementing my work on my research projects: first, by choosing one project to start and focus my attention on; next, by starting my own online web log (blog) tracking my progress, and keeping myself accountable and on track with the chosen project; and finally, by continuing to take classes and workshops in writing and the sciences, especially those most useful to me and my plans.
In the mean time, I must make a living while I write my articles and work on my projects. The most beneficial field for my interests and capabilities is the scientific research and consulting business, where writing in various formats will be very essential. This also makes it possible for me to make more progress as an established researcher and scientist. I am hoping to put all this to some use in the very near future. I look forward to putting my plans to the test.
Well, that's it - in a memorandum nutshell! I don't know how well it was recieved by my instructor - but I am definitely thinking positive. She even mentioned helping me with my career intention statement for possible grad school. Since Graduate school is part of the plan - I do think I will take her up on the offer. Talk about wow! Things are really moving fast now - except I don't yet have much of the project itself to show. I feel like I'm constantly in the planning and preparing stages - but maybe it's more because right now I'm doing two classes and with other things going on right now - lots of my time is taken up focussing on everything else. Fortunately, I'm only taking the one course this coming fall semester - hopefully, that will free up more of my time to devote to the research and article writing - and job hunting.
Until next time, signing off!
My career plans entail a good deal of writing. My ultimate goal is to become an established and respected research scientist in the field of Vertebrate Paleontology. This will require me to be able to communicate clearly, primarily in writing, any facts, data, and information I gather to other professional scientists as well as the general public and non-scientists. Starting out by writing articles for publication in both scientific and non-scientific subjects will establish me as a capable writer and communicator. Once I am published, I intend to alter my focus towards the sciences, at which point I can work on writing books based on my personal research projects. In the meantime, while I am writing, and to make a decent living, I am hoping to get employment in the scientific research and consulting business where writing skills will be very essential.
My long term career plans are likely to take a great deal of time to develop. I already know this and am preparing for this as much as possible. I already have several research projects that I have chosen and even attempted to start over the past couple years. What I must do is focus and produce real, tangible, and useful results. The article writing direction doubles both as a solution to get my writings out there into the publishing world and as an income stream. I recently attended a workshop about freelance writing for publication which gave me a good perspective and the motivation as well as a lot of workable ideas to get started on. One of the most useful pieces of information I got out of the workshop was: if one has a certain topic they want to focus on, they can write articles that get published but also end up as material for a book. In essence, a specific series of articles can be relatively easily converted into chapters or sections of a book. The woman heading the workshop said that my focus as a geoscientist will be very beneficial to me. I have actually started implementing my work on my research projects: first, by choosing one project to start and focus my attention on; next, by starting my own online web log (blog) tracking my progress, and keeping myself accountable and on track with the chosen project; and finally, by continuing to take classes and workshops in writing and the sciences, especially those most useful to me and my plans.
In the mean time, I must make a living while I write my articles and work on my projects. The most beneficial field for my interests and capabilities is the scientific research and consulting business, where writing in various formats will be very essential. This also makes it possible for me to make more progress as an established researcher and scientist. I am hoping to put all this to some use in the very near future. I look forward to putting my plans to the test.
Well, that's it - in a memorandum nutshell! I don't know how well it was recieved by my instructor - but I am definitely thinking positive. She even mentioned helping me with my career intention statement for possible grad school. Since Graduate school is part of the plan - I do think I will take her up on the offer. Talk about wow! Things are really moving fast now - except I don't yet have much of the project itself to show. I feel like I'm constantly in the planning and preparing stages - but maybe it's more because right now I'm doing two classes and with other things going on right now - lots of my time is taken up focussing on everything else. Fortunately, I'm only taking the one course this coming fall semester - hopefully, that will free up more of my time to devote to the research and article writing - and job hunting.
Until next time, signing off!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Ideas and Possibilities: From the New Writing Class and Other Sources
It looks like the professional communication writing class is a perfect idea. It continues what I got out of the freelance writing workshop and adds some much needed job-related writing. It's going to be hectic for me with all the stuff I have to do - but it was a wise decision.
Also, I read some articles from the Creativity Portal newsletter from a couple weeks ago about generating ideas to write about and capturing them. The capturing part I already have a couple ideas about: five minute quickwriting or brainstorming sessions immediately or as soon as possible after the idea comes to me. I can at least get a one to two line bit written down somewhere in a lecture notebook or on a piece of scrap paper until I get a chance to run with it. This I can implement ASAP - hopefully to good effect. Right now the generating of ideas issue will have to take a backseat for a few days due to writing assignments and an upcoming oceanography exam next Tuesday. However, on a more positive note this generating of ideas to write about might be very beneficial for the article writing I want to do as an income stream and eventual career move for my research.
Speaking of research - one of the major assignments for this new class is a six to eight page research paper on an important issue within my career field. Perfect for me - the gears of ideas are already squeekily moving into action on that. Maybe I can kill two or more birds with one stone with this one. Assignment + article for publication + research project of my own choosing... Possibilities, Possibilities!!!
The first writing assignment for this latest class is a memo detailing my career and job intentions. Once I get it rolling along, I'll post it here since it would definitely be appropriate for this venue. I guess it will give a general idea about my career intentions. Psyched and looking foreward to posting again really, really soon - hopefully tomorrow! Until later!
Also, I read some articles from the Creativity Portal newsletter from a couple weeks ago about generating ideas to write about and capturing them. The capturing part I already have a couple ideas about: five minute quickwriting or brainstorming sessions immediately or as soon as possible after the idea comes to me. I can at least get a one to two line bit written down somewhere in a lecture notebook or on a piece of scrap paper until I get a chance to run with it. This I can implement ASAP - hopefully to good effect. Right now the generating of ideas issue will have to take a backseat for a few days due to writing assignments and an upcoming oceanography exam next Tuesday. However, on a more positive note this generating of ideas to write about might be very beneficial for the article writing I want to do as an income stream and eventual career move for my research.
Speaking of research - one of the major assignments for this new class is a six to eight page research paper on an important issue within my career field. Perfect for me - the gears of ideas are already squeekily moving into action on that. Maybe I can kill two or more birds with one stone with this one. Assignment + article for publication + research project of my own choosing... Possibilities, Possibilities!!!
The first writing assignment for this latest class is a memo detailing my career and job intentions. Once I get it rolling along, I'll post it here since it would definitely be appropriate for this venue. I guess it will give a general idea about my career intentions. Psyched and looking foreward to posting again really, really soon - hopefully tomorrow! Until later!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Possibilities from the Freelance Writing Workshop
It's been awhile - but I've been busy - and unexpected things tend to happen when I least expect. I really didn't have much to report in about concerning my project - at least nothing of significance anyway. This past Saturday was the writing workshop. It was very informative and I do think it might be a possible income stream not to mention a way to break into the fields I want to work in. Since my interests are pretty far ranging - politics, social issues, education, the arts, etc. - this gives me a starting point. This is one of my three strengths as far as making this a workable route to success for me. The other two being my pretty good writing skills - I usually get A's on essays and term papers - and I have a focus to narrow my work towards. So maybe a wider focus will be best to start out and then once I'm established as a competent writer then start narrowing that focus into my desired field.
A couple other points were brought up: writing articles with the intent to publish a book with the material and wordiness. As far as wordiness is concerned, a professor from my philosophy of science days stressed pulling out any and all unecessary words. My writing style lends itself to wordiness - which in book format might be beneficial but in article writing is really not a good thing since word count and space is at a premium. She also mentioned that when staff editors cut a piece down for space they usually cut from the bottom up instead of going through the entire article and taking out those unecessary words - so, put the most essential information at the top and middle of the article. Good thing I know how to utilize the word count tool on my papers and I can delete unecessary words pretty easily. It's the cautious part of my nature - not to mention the perfectionist in me.
As to the book writing: she gave the example of a woman who intended to write a book and all the articles she published were parts of that book. She just tweaked it before publishing. That sounds really cool. Also, I liked hearing that some to most articles can be sold to and published by more than one publication - but whoever publishes it first gets naming rights. Apparently, most magazines and other publications tend to change the title to their own liking. Once the title is officially changed - it cannot be changed again later - by the author nor another publication. Also, one must mention it is a reprint before submitting it to other publications than the first.
She stressed noticing what we read in the newspaper and other places, to write as much as possible - everyday if possible - and research the writer's market for valuable information as to whom and where each article can be submitted. You can either have the article first and then submit it entirely in a cover letter or submit a proposal for a potential article and write it after the proposal is accepted. I think I like the first scenario best - at least for myself - just so I can write what I want and then taylor fit it - slant it - for the publication I submit it to. Also, I wouldn't be too thrilled with the acceptance coming through with a deadline four days in the future. Stuff seems to happen to me when I least expect or need it - at the most inconvenient times. The other way is more flexible - which I need right now. Maybe I'll look for some article writing tutorials to get my start. Plus, my professional writing class starts tonight - maybe that will help, too. Wish me luck - lots of it!!!
A couple other points were brought up: writing articles with the intent to publish a book with the material and wordiness. As far as wordiness is concerned, a professor from my philosophy of science days stressed pulling out any and all unecessary words. My writing style lends itself to wordiness - which in book format might be beneficial but in article writing is really not a good thing since word count and space is at a premium. She also mentioned that when staff editors cut a piece down for space they usually cut from the bottom up instead of going through the entire article and taking out those unecessary words - so, put the most essential information at the top and middle of the article. Good thing I know how to utilize the word count tool on my papers and I can delete unecessary words pretty easily. It's the cautious part of my nature - not to mention the perfectionist in me.
As to the book writing: she gave the example of a woman who intended to write a book and all the articles she published were parts of that book. She just tweaked it before publishing. That sounds really cool. Also, I liked hearing that some to most articles can be sold to and published by more than one publication - but whoever publishes it first gets naming rights. Apparently, most magazines and other publications tend to change the title to their own liking. Once the title is officially changed - it cannot be changed again later - by the author nor another publication. Also, one must mention it is a reprint before submitting it to other publications than the first.
She stressed noticing what we read in the newspaper and other places, to write as much as possible - everyday if possible - and research the writer's market for valuable information as to whom and where each article can be submitted. You can either have the article first and then submit it entirely in a cover letter or submit a proposal for a potential article and write it after the proposal is accepted. I think I like the first scenario best - at least for myself - just so I can write what I want and then taylor fit it - slant it - for the publication I submit it to. Also, I wouldn't be too thrilled with the acceptance coming through with a deadline four days in the future. Stuff seems to happen to me when I least expect or need it - at the most inconvenient times. The other way is more flexible - which I need right now. Maybe I'll look for some article writing tutorials to get my start. Plus, my professional writing class starts tonight - maybe that will help, too. Wish me luck - lots of it!!!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
The old notebook with some past info about the Pleistocene mass extinction turned out to be my original attempt from the South American Archaeology class I took in 2002. There's a nice list of articles and books on the subject - and a 22 page handwritten rough draft - not to mention a relatively decent outline. Granted, it was focused primarily on the Americas but also is quite detailed. Also went to the Carnegie's exhibit on Strange Beasts: Past and Present - it was interesting - though I disagree with some of the explanations and assumptions about some of the animals. Most of the animals were from the Eocene, Oligocene, or much older - except for modern animal oddities.
Another interesting idea occurred to me while studying for the upcoming oceanography exam. The text mentions the peopling of the Pacific islands - like Polynesia and how many scientists and scholars have difficulty figuring out how exactly those ancient folks travelled so far between islands - especially Easter Island and Hawaii. The thing that occurred to me was that most of these scholars are in agreement that during the mid to late Pleistocene the sea level worldwide was significantly lower allowing people to cross the Bering Land Bridge. This lower sea level would also make more of the current seamounts and atolls emerge as additional islands - making island hopping much easier than current conditions would make possible. To test this hypothesis - we would merely have to find some evidence of ancient human habitation on some of these seamounts and atolls. Firepits among other things that might be preserved even after having been submerged for millenia. If this evidence is found - it would also force back the dates of earliest settlement of these islands - which still looks like guesswork at this point anyway.
Another bit to mention is that I have developed an interst in antiques over the years and was thinking about what to collect and specialize in first. Well, being a scientifically minded person - I was thinking of collecting old scientific tools, equipment, etc.- even antique models and books. Old spyglasses, sextants, globes, etc. - this sounds like a fun and challenging hobby. I'll have to see what's out there to be collected. Hopefully, I'll come across some intersting finds. And off I go!
Another interesting idea occurred to me while studying for the upcoming oceanography exam. The text mentions the peopling of the Pacific islands - like Polynesia and how many scientists and scholars have difficulty figuring out how exactly those ancient folks travelled so far between islands - especially Easter Island and Hawaii. The thing that occurred to me was that most of these scholars are in agreement that during the mid to late Pleistocene the sea level worldwide was significantly lower allowing people to cross the Bering Land Bridge. This lower sea level would also make more of the current seamounts and atolls emerge as additional islands - making island hopping much easier than current conditions would make possible. To test this hypothesis - we would merely have to find some evidence of ancient human habitation on some of these seamounts and atolls. Firepits among other things that might be preserved even after having been submerged for millenia. If this evidence is found - it would also force back the dates of earliest settlement of these islands - which still looks like guesswork at this point anyway.
Another bit to mention is that I have developed an interst in antiques over the years and was thinking about what to collect and specialize in first. Well, being a scientifically minded person - I was thinking of collecting old scientific tools, equipment, etc.- even antique models and books. Old spyglasses, sextants, globes, etc. - this sounds like a fun and challenging hobby. I'll have to see what's out there to be collected. Hopefully, I'll come across some intersting finds. And off I go!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
A Minor Success and Other Bits and Pieces
Well, I successfully registered for the Freelance Writing for Magazines class. Just got in under the wire, too - only two seats were left. Whew! Nothing much else to report due to the holiday and other issues. Found a set of online tutorials regarding oceanography. Worked through a couple already and even took notes which I rewrote into my class notebook. I'll just do this directly with the rest - I wasn't expecting so many pages of notes per tutorial. I passed the quizzes at the end of the first two. It looks like the tutorials cover most of what my class will cover - so, it's a good review and study guide. Speaking of study guides - we're having our first exam next week - so, I'll be busy with studying for it. However, I plan on getting back on track with the research work as well - even if only for a change of pace to give myself a break. No, I haven't yet done that task of looking for past attempts to start this Pleistocene project. Hopefully, I'll get that started tomorrow - and by the end of the week possibly have a nicer rough draft to work with. Still working on the organization situation as well - one step at a time. I really must go through paperwork to sort it and toss out anything unnecessary. Well, gotta get to class! Until later!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Indecision About Upcoming Class
I am undecided about whether or not to take the writing class next month. I want to make a decision on it as soon as possible because I want to register for it by next week. It's only a couple weeks away. I think that my resistance is causing a wee bit of anxiety. I really don't see what harm it would do. At worst, I would realize that trying to get articles published in magazines would be a bad idea - but at least then I'd know this instead of trying and finding out later after months and years of trying this route - that it just is not meant to be. Much better than wasting valuable time, energy, and resources with no chance of success. I'd rather be prepared beforehand one way or the other. I don't like wasting my time. I prefer to get on with things - take action - but I like to be prepared and plan ahead - because I've experienced unexpected situations coming up that have blown me way off course - at least that's how I see it and how I feel about the whole ordeal. It's a royal pain and wastes so much of my time - and I feel like I'm getting nowhere fast. So, the pros and cons have to be weighed. I do believe that my resistance is actually some bizarre fear that if i take the class then I'm committed to seeing this entire idea through - which is wrong thinking. Once the workshop class is over, I don't have to ever consider actually writing articles for magazine publication if I do not wish to do so - or feel that it's just not right for me. I mentioned to a family member about the class and said that it's just to test the waters - so to speak - since I'm a good communicator, a good writer, good researcher, and like to simplify technical scientific concepts into regular language for regular folks to understand and comprehend - of course I would be writing scientific articles - this is just to get my work out there into the professional world - if not in high tech scientific journals - then maybe into more general audience oriented publications - Discover, National Geographic, etc. Of course, this would be the ideal situation - but once I have at least one article to send out, I can by then have a good working list of these kinds of magazines to submit my articles to. Then it's just a matter of when and where I send it - and patience - lots of patience. Yes, this is part of my strategy - one little tiny route. This one class is not a commitment - it's merely an info-gathering session to see if this is something that might just work out for me. It's a very valuable opportunity and could be potentially very beneficial and helpful to my entire career. Even if I could somehow pull off a couple published articles - they'd be excellent resume builders. I may as well attempt to see if this route bears any fruit. As the old adage says: nothing ventured, nothing gained! It is my turn to venture out of my safe little world of academia! Tallyho!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
A Bit of Progress
Well, I did accomplish what I set out to do - and by the deadline I set for myself. Yes, I did get a rough draft written before Tuesday night's class. It's only a mere five pages handwritten - and really, really rough. However, while going through some old notebooks looking for something else, I found an old attempt at a rough draft - so, maybe it's a bit better. I have attempted to start my research projects numerous times in the past - with only a few minor successes - and those mostly due to my being in a class with a term paper assignment. Apparently, I need the structure of a class and deadlines to make progress - at least at this stage in the process. I am also working on a strategy for making significant progress - it will be helpful when I'm not taking a class related to my research - hopefully. As for the oceanography class - it looks like it might just be very helpful to my efforts. We're going to cover a lot of different concepts - and some may even be directly helpful to more than one of my projects. Also, a non-credit one-time class on writing for magazine publications is being offered locally through another college. It's next month and does not interfere with my current class schedule. Actually, it's a Saturday night - so I'm seriously considering registering for it. Hey, anything helps! So, my challenge for the coming week is to locate and meld as many of my old past attempts at this Pleistocene project - some are in notebooks - others saved on diskettes. Once finished, I might just have a really viable rough draft to work on. I feel like fate is helping me along - as long as I take action and help myself, serendipitous happenings come along to help me out. Maybe, the more I focus on my research projects - the more "assistance" I'll receive. Hey, the more help the better! Signing off!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Interesting Finds
Just want to get a heads up out here in cyberspace. I've been busy with various things - all progressing well enough. Got some serious organizing started - though with still much work to do. But at least I've been in a cleaning and organizing mood all week. That isn't to say I've completely forgotten my self-appointed challenge for these days - the rough draft of my Pleistocene project. I did get a bit of the preliminary reading started - and with some really great and possibly evidence-boosting effects. Granted, this is merely preliminary readings - but they can and often do give me some interesting directions and avenues to follow. For instance, it looks like population increases - significantly large ones might just be the norm following glacial retreats. It turns out that the Cambrian Explosion was preceded by a massive Ice Age - resulting in a veritable Snowball Earth - when all but the equatorial regions was covered by massive ice sheets. This is quite informative and very helpful - though it seems to be a controversial issue - though why that is the case remains to be seen. Also, lighter isotopes in rock and ice cores indicate mass extinctions. This information, too is very helpful. We should be able to track if and when mass extinctions - especially global scale ones - took place with respect to various ice ages - especially at the end or melt-off stages. Also, an interesting bit of information may show that we humans may have stopped the glacial/interglacial cycles - or at least seriously slowed them down - with global warming. I guess it's something we have yet to see.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Progressing in Bits and Pieces
I'm trying to get my strategy into a workable format that will work for me. I can add to it as I go along. I'm challenging myself to get a rough draft of the Pleistocene project out by the time the Oceanography class begins on May 15. This means that I'll be doing computer work next week - typing ideas to get a good start. I'm still working on the organization situation while I'm at it. Hopefully with a little luck and initiative I can get some preliminary sources read to get a feel for the overlying issues. What are the prevailing theories? Taking a critical analysis of the ones already established is one goal. Then doing some more technical background research on them to get more detail, will be in order. I am progressing - though from my point of view, at a snail's pace. One of the reasons why I prefer to work along via a class setting is for the prearranged deadlines - it 's a good structure to work with. However, I won't be able to do it that way forever - too expensive - and at some point I will have taken all possibly significant classes. So a workable strategy structure will be in order and I think I may have come across a design of my own making - an amalgamation of different steps - techniques - etc., that look like a good start. But I am not focussing on the strategy building any longer- because I want to get the real research underway. Since I'm still at the beginning stages of my work, I feel like I can work the strategy process out better - streamline it for organization, efficiency, and effectiveness. Yes, the Contract is going to be worked into it. Also, I figured that this strategy could conceivably work on different projects - not just scientific research, etc. That's something to think about for the future. I'll see if I can apply it to other areas as well. I am presenting myself with a challenge for the next several days - to get a rough draft together - even if it's merely based on preliminary sources. At least I'll have my basic ideas out on the drawing board in my own words and then I can just apply the more technical information to it as I go along - tweak the rough draft into a more finished format. But for this coming week - just the rough draft! Tallyho!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Organization and Other Issues
I got some workable articles to get a headstart on my project. Printed them out last night. I have to get my stuff organized - both my paperwork, resources, and home environment. Being in college classes makes little time for that. At least now I have a bit of reading material - and again some older articles. I'm registered for a couple evening classes for the summer - Physical Oceanography and Written Professional Communication - both ought to be quite useful. But, as I said they are night classes - so that I can take care of business in the daylight hours. I can work on organizing everything of importance, and do some resume work and hopefully over the next few weeks do some very serious job hunting - need income to pursue my research. Hopefully, something in a scientific based consulting company where I can put all my many years of science classes and my research capabilities to some good use. No more pittance paychecks neither - I swear some companies must be trying to hire volunteers for the tiny amount they're willing to pay. I have school loans and living expenses like other grown adults my age. I have nothing against volunteering - as a matter of fact I'll look into that myself at the museum to get my toe in the door, so to speak. If I cannot get a job there that pays sufficiently, then I can at least volunteer there a few hours a week. It might even help in my research. But first things first - income has to come first - then I'll do the museum work on weekends. Got some insight from a professional aquaintance yesterday regarding comps and dissertations - it was very enlightening. Now I know what I have to look forward to - it's good to be prepared! But more on that later.
Monday, April 23, 2007
More Strategizing and About Me
Well, I've been busy with end of semester work - essay - presentation - labs - exam - not to mention filing my own income taxes. Yeah, I do that myself, too - mainly because the fees involved at official tax services like H&R Block - make my tiny miniscule refund a very moot point. It's not like as if I have all kinds of cool and money saving deductions - I can't even write off my tuition and fees - and I don't qualify for any of the other credits either. Maybe someday if and when I have things like income streams, a better job, plus other things to deal with, it will be better for me to just go the official route - but until then...
I have not been idle on my research - though it's mainly still strategizing. I did print out some good resources including a journal article from 1922 via JSTOR - I didn't realize they had articles that old. I attempted to read it but due to it's older language, I'll have to tackle it when I have more time to devote to the reading and interpreting and commenting. That's how I do it - by the way - I get an article or book and write commentary in the margins as I read it. If I get really on a roll then I'll pull out a notebook or some paper and start writing away. I heard some other scientists used to do this way back when - maybe some still do. This is why I prefer to have my own copy of the article or book - instead of borrowing from libraries etc. I have quite the extensive library - on all kinds of science topics. A friend of my brother's once told someone she was reading all these really cool books from a private library - mine. It needs some work - but at the moment my book collecting is on hold until I transport the vast majority of it to my new apartment. How I'm going to store the articles still needs to be determined - I have dozens going back at least ten years - since I started college.
As for the strategizing - it is continuing in fits and starts. I like to have a good workable plan laid out - so I know where I'm going with things. For one thing, I had to determine what my real world obstacles are. Lack of money, credentials, and experience - despite my many many years in college. For one thing, the geology bachelors degree fell through due to unforseen circumstances that I was unable to fix mostly because it was largely out of my hands. So, wanting to have a bachelor's degree in something I'd enjoy learning about and that might even give me an edge - or an interesting perspective - I changed majors to History and Philosophy of Science and being at the University of Pittsburgh - one of the best HPS departments in the world - I think I made an excellent choice. So, that's what my bachelor's degree is actually in - at least my first. Where my education goes from here remains to be seen. You already know my intentions on this. But now I'm trying to finish what I started when I first transferred to Pitt - and why I'm currently finishing up the geomorphology course I have been waiting and wanting to take for several years.
As for those obstacles: I've been figuring a way around them to the best of my ability. For one thing I've been attempting to get my own research projects up and running - hence the purpose for this blog. Yes, I mean independantly - with no help so far from advisors or professors - and I do not want to be talked into becoming a teaching assistant - I really really do not want to teach classes. So, I'm winging it - so to speak - an independant alternative - starting from scratch. I do feel as if fate has forced me to take this path - unforseen circumstances and all. Also, I'm going to look into any field trips I can take - or even maybe later on some volunteering at the Carnegie Museum. They do have field trips in the nicer months - and I bought myself a one year membership in January. So I'll be looking into those trips for the next several weeks. Volunteering later around work will also help build my experience. Hopefully, my independant research will give me the credentials and some alternative experience. I'll be looking into the Carnegie's summer field trips later this week - after my work is done for class. Be back later!
I have not been idle on my research - though it's mainly still strategizing. I did print out some good resources including a journal article from 1922 via JSTOR - I didn't realize they had articles that old. I attempted to read it but due to it's older language, I'll have to tackle it when I have more time to devote to the reading and interpreting and commenting. That's how I do it - by the way - I get an article or book and write commentary in the margins as I read it. If I get really on a roll then I'll pull out a notebook or some paper and start writing away. I heard some other scientists used to do this way back when - maybe some still do. This is why I prefer to have my own copy of the article or book - instead of borrowing from libraries etc. I have quite the extensive library - on all kinds of science topics. A friend of my brother's once told someone she was reading all these really cool books from a private library - mine. It needs some work - but at the moment my book collecting is on hold until I transport the vast majority of it to my new apartment. How I'm going to store the articles still needs to be determined - I have dozens going back at least ten years - since I started college.
As for the strategizing - it is continuing in fits and starts. I like to have a good workable plan laid out - so I know where I'm going with things. For one thing, I had to determine what my real world obstacles are. Lack of money, credentials, and experience - despite my many many years in college. For one thing, the geology bachelors degree fell through due to unforseen circumstances that I was unable to fix mostly because it was largely out of my hands. So, wanting to have a bachelor's degree in something I'd enjoy learning about and that might even give me an edge - or an interesting perspective - I changed majors to History and Philosophy of Science and being at the University of Pittsburgh - one of the best HPS departments in the world - I think I made an excellent choice. So, that's what my bachelor's degree is actually in - at least my first. Where my education goes from here remains to be seen. You already know my intentions on this. But now I'm trying to finish what I started when I first transferred to Pitt - and why I'm currently finishing up the geomorphology course I have been waiting and wanting to take for several years.
As for those obstacles: I've been figuring a way around them to the best of my ability. For one thing I've been attempting to get my own research projects up and running - hence the purpose for this blog. Yes, I mean independantly - with no help so far from advisors or professors - and I do not want to be talked into becoming a teaching assistant - I really really do not want to teach classes. So, I'm winging it - so to speak - an independant alternative - starting from scratch. I do feel as if fate has forced me to take this path - unforseen circumstances and all. Also, I'm going to look into any field trips I can take - or even maybe later on some volunteering at the Carnegie Museum. They do have field trips in the nicer months - and I bought myself a one year membership in January. So I'll be looking into those trips for the next several weeks. Volunteering later around work will also help build my experience. Hopefully, my independant research will give me the credentials and some alternative experience. I'll be looking into the Carnegie's summer field trips later this week - after my work is done for class. Be back later!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Still Strategizing
I'm always up for new and improved ways of approaching my projects. Right now I'm trying to focus most of my attention and free time on only the Pleistocene project - but interesting bits of information regarding others tend to come up. That's why I'm keeping this blog flexible for those bits that are interesting and seemingly important. Recently, I've added to my strategy. At the moment the main idea is to just stick primarily to one project until it gathers momentum and starts progressing at a much faster pace - then gradually add the next project until it too, is rolling along nicely - etc. Another part of the current strategy is to gather resources as I go along - literally. Basically, I'll print out articles that are pertinent to any one of my projects - or some other interests - even when I find them in the course of doing research for a class project. I'll also buy books on those topics - I've stockpiled quite an interesting library on such topics as evolution, extinction events, creationism, Einstein, ancient scientists and engineers, dinosaurs, genetics...I also kept most of my textbooks from my college classes - esp. science related ones.
I also tend to cover a topic as thoroughly as I possibly can - covering all the most essential evidence. My recent developments basically build upon this and bring forward past experiences.
One addition is to apply as much of what I have learned from all the classes, etc. , to as many of my projects as possible. For instance, those projects that will make the best use of Structural Geology, Geophysics, GIS, Genetics, Geomorphology, etc. I've been in college awhile - so the list is quite extensive. Part of this is due to the fact that I feel like my skills are rusting from non-use because they aren't being properly applied, secondly from a need to give myself an edge in my work, and finally to be prepared to defend my position as thoroughly as possible. My lab instructor just took his comps and mentioned what they're basically like - eight hour defense of your research with peers one day and professors and advisors the next - talk about nerve wracking. They basically determine whether you should continue in grad school and give - hopefully constructive - criticism of one's work so far. All semester I've been getting these bits of feedback about the whole post-graduation research work and what to expect from the real world of scientists - not only from class but also from a book I just finished reading - Feynman's Rainbow. Talk about immersion.
Another possible addition to my strategy is what I like to call The Contract - an intersting concept and learning tool that can be adapted to just about any subject - and in this case - my individual and collective projects. Educators should pay attention to this one. One of my grade school science teachers invented it. Basically each week she'd give us a packet of mini projects and exercises - some more fun - some challenging - all geared around the current class topic - plus a bit of extra stuff. The first page was usually a map with instructions to name the features marked on the map - continents, oceans, rivers, countries, mountain ranges, etc. Then there would be some matching, multiple choice, true & false, etc., questions. It was kind of like a take home test or quiz mixed with related "fun stuff " like word searches, logic problems, crossword puzzles, and at least one coloring page - usually of dinosaurs. Well, suffice it to say, I might be able to adapt that concept into an adult version specified to my projects. This could work. The "fun stuff" would maybe be a field trip to the museum to see an exhibit that has some important information to convey. There's one going on now over at the Carnegie on Strange Beasts: Past and Present that I've been meaning to see. Also, any lectures, conventions, workshops, or other events relating in some way to my work - or anything that sounds interesting. Hey, I need all the help I can get - esp. since I'm winging it at this point. And life sure loves to get in the way. Signing off.
I also tend to cover a topic as thoroughly as I possibly can - covering all the most essential evidence. My recent developments basically build upon this and bring forward past experiences.
One addition is to apply as much of what I have learned from all the classes, etc. , to as many of my projects as possible. For instance, those projects that will make the best use of Structural Geology, Geophysics, GIS, Genetics, Geomorphology, etc. I've been in college awhile - so the list is quite extensive. Part of this is due to the fact that I feel like my skills are rusting from non-use because they aren't being properly applied, secondly from a need to give myself an edge in my work, and finally to be prepared to defend my position as thoroughly as possible. My lab instructor just took his comps and mentioned what they're basically like - eight hour defense of your research with peers one day and professors and advisors the next - talk about nerve wracking. They basically determine whether you should continue in grad school and give - hopefully constructive - criticism of one's work so far. All semester I've been getting these bits of feedback about the whole post-graduation research work and what to expect from the real world of scientists - not only from class but also from a book I just finished reading - Feynman's Rainbow. Talk about immersion.
Another possible addition to my strategy is what I like to call The Contract - an intersting concept and learning tool that can be adapted to just about any subject - and in this case - my individual and collective projects. Educators should pay attention to this one. One of my grade school science teachers invented it. Basically each week she'd give us a packet of mini projects and exercises - some more fun - some challenging - all geared around the current class topic - plus a bit of extra stuff. The first page was usually a map with instructions to name the features marked on the map - continents, oceans, rivers, countries, mountain ranges, etc. Then there would be some matching, multiple choice, true & false, etc., questions. It was kind of like a take home test or quiz mixed with related "fun stuff " like word searches, logic problems, crossword puzzles, and at least one coloring page - usually of dinosaurs. Well, suffice it to say, I might be able to adapt that concept into an adult version specified to my projects. This could work. The "fun stuff" would maybe be a field trip to the museum to see an exhibit that has some important information to convey. There's one going on now over at the Carnegie on Strange Beasts: Past and Present that I've been meaning to see. Also, any lectures, conventions, workshops, or other events relating in some way to my work - or anything that sounds interesting. Hey, I need all the help I can get - esp. since I'm winging it at this point. And life sure loves to get in the way. Signing off.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Busy with Other Research
I've been busy the past few days working on a research project for the geomorph class I'm taking. It's mainly a little write up describing rock glaciers with some pictures added. I have to make a presentation out of it - I'll do a powerpoint version with the pics and my own commentary. Even if I print it out it'll look halfways decent. That's one of my personal mottos: if in doubt, use powerpoint! It works for me - apparently PowerPoint presentations are one of my strengths - I get my point across and usually do very well. I wish I had done this when I took Morphological Analysis years ago - my project for that class was about dinosaur morphology being a key indicator and strong evidence that they were warm blooded. Animals of such sizes just could not warm themselves enough in the sun - there's just not enough sunlight in a given day - like reptiles need to survive. There is other evidence to support this that I've come across - and it's why this is one of my many projects I have lined up. Hopefully, I'll have more to post later this week - preferrably on my Pleistocene project. Until then!
Friday, April 6, 2007
A Bit of Scientific Work
I've been busy - taking care of business mostly, but I have gotten a couple bits of research work done. A few weeks ago I typed up a research projects summaries list to get an idea about what projects I have lined up so far - but more details regarding them later. This past week I just added a couple that were initially forgotten. As for the official project I mentioned last time, I came across an article from back in December 2006 that seem to support my findings so far. Apparently, it has been determined that humans were the primary cause of megafauna extinctions in Australia at the end of that last ice age. The evidence was found in the Naracoorte Caves in South Australia. The species found were capable of surviving in various temperatures and clearly went extinct concurrent with the arrival of humans. One scientist mentioned that it is unlikely that the animals went extinct due to the overhunting because once the population got small enough the hunters would not have expended the energy and resources to hunt down the last remaining individuals. I must disagree with his assessment. Yes, the population would obviously have gotten down to such a small number of individuals to make hunting impractical. However, once a population gets to such a minimal number of individuals it is no longer viable and would likely go extinct as a matter of course. Any ecologist would know this. I am very surprised by his comment - though it may have been taken out of context for the article - which is entirely possible since a well known news organization ran the story. The one problem I have with the Overkill Hypothesis already accepted is that it limits the overhunting to only the Americas. This makes no sense because the more proof in a scientific investigation, the better. The more continents and species observed and the more evidence gathered - the easier to prove the case one way or the other. Why do we limit our research in this way?!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Better Late Than Never - Yet I have been busy!
This 2007 Challenge was supposed to begin back in January - but due to various reasons I put it on a back burner. I do this way too much - but stuff does happen! I have not been idle on the research itself. I am currently taking a course in process geomorphology - on landscape changes - which is very helpful with more than one of my projects. Also, I have done some preliminary research on my first pick - the Pleistocene Mass Extinction that took place at the end of the last ice age. I have even begun some light writing on the topic - just to get an idea where I want to go with the project. I did manage to eek out a tentative outline for the project itself. It looks like my first major task is to research several of the past ice ages to see if there is a consistent pattern of mass extinctions as the glaciers were retreating. From my point of view this does not make much logical sense - since glacial melt-offs increased land, fresh water, vegetation, and other resources for both animals and vegetation to increase. One would expect a population increase and an increase in species variability as niches opened up. But I could be wrong about this - and nature is known to work against what we would consider logic. However, if extinction of this magnitude is indeed a commonality during glacial retreats then it would be interesting to find out why this is so. Either way, it sounds like an interesting opportunity to look into Earth's past.
Friday, March 23, 2007
My intentions statement
Hello!
I am finally officially online. The purpose of my blog is to track my own personal progress on various scientific research projects I have gathered over the past several years as a college student. Also, I would like to add my own commentary about various scientific issues - like global warming. I am not going to claim to be an expert on any of this - because I truly do not feel that I qualify to make such a claim. I just graduated in August with my first Bachelors Degree. So, in a strange sort of way, this is my fledgeling attempt to start some post-graduation research. My preferred field of study is Vertebrate Paleontology - though I have interests in other sciences - especially the geological sciences. So, that is the basics about this blog.
I would like to thank Barbara Sher for her 2007 Challenge that gave me the kick off I needed!
Gigi T.
I am finally officially online. The purpose of my blog is to track my own personal progress on various scientific research projects I have gathered over the past several years as a college student. Also, I would like to add my own commentary about various scientific issues - like global warming. I am not going to claim to be an expert on any of this - because I truly do not feel that I qualify to make such a claim. I just graduated in August with my first Bachelors Degree. So, in a strange sort of way, this is my fledgeling attempt to start some post-graduation research. My preferred field of study is Vertebrate Paleontology - though I have interests in other sciences - especially the geological sciences. So, that is the basics about this blog.
I would like to thank Barbara Sher for her 2007 Challenge that gave me the kick off I needed!
Gigi T.
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