What is your world view - this is mine

You scored as Materialist. Materialism stresses the essence of fundamental particles. Everything that exists is purely physical matter and there is no special force that holds life together. You believe that anything can be explained by breaking it up into its pieces. i.e. the big picture can be understood by its smaller elements. Existentialist 63% Materialist 63% Cultural Creative 56% Idealist 56% Romanticist 50% Postmodernist 50% Modernist 44% Fundamentalist 38% What is Your World View? (corrected...hopefully) created with QuizFarm.com

Grasse River waterfall

A view out the front window of the camp Julia and her roommates are staying in for a few days before coming home from college.

Why Do They Ignore the Mineral Lick?

It's illegal to feed deer in the Adirondacks (probably the rest of the state too) because we don't want to transmit CWD. But no one said anything about mineral blocks, so I put one out. It's been there all winter without a single lick (to my knowledge).

Me, today

I'm not dressed like this to protect me, it's to protect the mice (seriously).

Canadian Parliament - Ottawa, Ontario

Ottawa is a wonderful, beautiful, safe, small city. Only 130 miles from Saranac Lake. Like going to Albany. Drive to Malone, through the Akwesasne reservation (get cheap gas) and cross at the bridge next to the GM engine block plant. Make sure and take a tour through the Parliament building.

Some Worms are Larger

This is a nice batch of roundworms isolated from some persons intestinal tract.

Went to Ottawa to give a seminar at the National Research Council. Spent time with my friend who works with one of the most deadly bacteria known to man. Guess what that pathogen would be. Hint: it's found primarily in North America in rabbits. Here is a picture of one of my favorite helminth parasites. Female on the left and male on the right.
Heligmosomoides polygyrus once known at Nematospiroides dubius.

Are You an Extremist Kook?

Do you think all Americans should have access to health care?
Do you think large corporations should pay their fair share of taxes?
Do you think all Americans should be paid a living wage?
Do you think the Federal Judiciary is a separate branch of the government?

Ok then, according to Rush Limbaugh, you are an extremist kook. Congratulations!

Ever Seen a Palace Made out of Ice?

Why the Next Pope will Not be American.

From USAToday Poll Results Yes No

Allow Catholics to use birth control 78 21
Allow priests to marry 63 36
Allow stem cell research 59 36
Allow women priests 55 44
Allow Catholics to divorce/remarry 49 48
Make church doctrine on abortion less strict 37 59

Except for the last item most American Catholics don't seem to believe in church doctrine.
How long will it be before the American Catholic church succeeds from Rome?

Why are Colleges and Universities Liberal?

It has now been documented that US colleges have liberal faculties, not just in the humanities and social sciences but in the hard sciences as well. Of course conservatives claim this is a conspiracy by the colleges to keep them from getting faculty positions. It seems more likely that it is a matter of self selection. Should liberals be upset that members of the military are more likely to vote conservative? Does the fact that some conservatives believe the earth is less than 6000 years old possibly have anything to do with the liberal bent in higher education? Even President Bush proclaims that the 'jury is still out' on the issue of evolution.

So what is a liberal and what do we believe? Well think about it, liberals believe in 'liberty'. We believe you should be free to follow your conscious as long as it does not impede the rights of others. We believe in fighting for our rights. Conservatives believe in fighting for what they think your rights should be. So here is a list of liberal beliefs:

-we are in charge of defining what our family is

-we believe that the government should not dictate our religious beliefs or moral values

-parents should teach religious values, not the government

-we believe you have control of your own body

-we believe people different from us shouldnt be discriminated against

-we believe the government has the responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations

By the way, you can find out where your political inclinations lie by taking a test at www.politicalcompass.org

And one more thing, Republicans want to deregulate big business and regulate you.

How is Pope Elected?

When the Pope dies the Cardinal Camerlengo must verify his death by calling his name 3 times. If the Pope is dead, the Cardinal Camerlengo becomes temporary boss. A period of 9 days of mourning occurs and then a funeral. 120 Cardinals, all under the age of 80, meet in the Sistine Chapel and cast two votes each morning and one vote each afternoon. Older Cardinals are not allowed to participate and Cardinals in the Conclave must have no contact with the outside world until a new Pope is elected. During the period of voting the Cardinals stay at a hotel like facility in the Vatican City called the Domus Sanctae Marthae. A silent ballot is used. A candidate requires 2/3 majority to be elected. However, if after 30 ballots a candidate does not get 2/3's of the votes, the requirement becomes half +1 of the votes. Technically any Catholic male of age is eligible to become Pope. However, the last time a non-clergyman was elected was in 1379, Pope Urban VI. I am not running for Pope.

Skiing at Whiteface - Things Not to Do

Don't go skiing if you are really out of shape.
Spring skiing on crud is ok, but not if you haven't skied for 7 years.
Don't think that just because you could keep up with the kid when he was 8, you can still keep up now that he is 17.
All that being said, it really was fun to ski with old ski buddies after so many years. It was a beautiful warm Spring day and after three long runs I spent a couple hours sitting in the Sun on the deck reading research papers and drinking Ubu.

What Does the Future without Oil Hold?

Is this the year that oil production has peaked worldwide? Or will it be in 2007? It appears that oil production will be on a downward slide from here on out. What are the implications of less oil in the years to come? It doesn't seem likely that industrial based societies will be growing at a rate of 4-7% much longer. Steep international competition will cause the end of 'Globalism' and a trend towards regionalism. Military adventures over the possession of oil seem likely (oh yeah that has already happened). But will we be willing to go to war with China over oil in the future? What about a hydrogen based economy? Is that a fantasy or a coming reality? It seems to me that Americans will have to downscale their living styles. Air travel will become too expensive, maybe even travel by personal automobile. I would think the lack of oil will be the end of industrial agriculture and the reemergence of local farming. Could be scary times in the near future.

Did the Easter Bunny Visit You?

The EB visited my house early all decked out in a tuxedo!

Our House in the Woods

Solitude is key !

World TB Day 2005

Today is World TB Day. Why today? Because 123 years ago today Dr. Robert Koch presented his discovery that TB was caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most people in the USA do not realize that 8000 people die every day of TB. One third of the worlds population is infected with M. tuberculosis. World TB Day is intended to promote awareness, knowledge, and motivation for action against TB worldwide. World TB Day 2005 pays tribute to public health systems’ staff, nurses, laboratory technicians, NGO volunteers, prison clinicians, private medical practitioners, pharmacists, academics, students, cured patients and, in some instances, family members and other ordinary people concerned about the well-being of others. Without them, the achievements of the past 10 years would not have been possible, without them further progress will be impossible.

Do You Want to be a Nobel Prize Nominee?

Is Dr. William Hammesfahr, proponent of life for Terry Schiavo (he claims he can cure her), actually a Nobel Prize Nominee as stated by Fox talking heads Sean Hannity and Joe Scarborough? Well yes, actually he is. He was nominated by Congressman Bilrakis (R-Fl) as verified by this letter. What the average person does not probably realize is that only members of the Nobel Assembly or persons directed by them can nominate someone for a Nobel Prize. But still, it's a pretty good trick. I'm going to get Brandon to write a letter nominating me for a Nobel Prize and then I too can be a Nobel Prize 'nominee'. I'm sure that will bring in the grant funds!

And Another Thing!

Yesterday a six month old baby in Texas was disconnected from life support in spite of the objections of his parents. There was no way the baby was ever going to survive however so Texas law allows hospitals to discontinue life sustaining care, even if patient family members disagree. A doctor's recommendation must be approved by a hospital's ethics committee, and the family must be given 10 days from written notice of the decision to try and locate another facility for the patient. This law was signed by our illustrious president Mr. Bush. Texas really is the death state. However there is no way in hell you are going to die in Jeb Bush's state of Florida. Just amazing.

Can a Teacher be Fired?

An interesting case in Plattsburgh that has been ongoing for a couple years now. A female PE/track coach appeared to be seeking an 'improper' relationship with a 16 yr old HS student. 'Improper' appears to be a euphemism. The local paper was given letters the teacher had written to the student and they were published. 'Improper' to put it mildly. In any case, the school board attempted to get the teacher dismissed. It went through the complex NYS process with the school board putting forth 46 charges against her. The teacher was put on paid leave of absence. The hearing officer dismissed 41 of the 46 charges, sustaining only 5 of them. The letters were deemed 'improper', the fact that the coach instructed a track relay team to lose a state qualifying race was sustained. The hearing officer directed that the teacher/coach be allowed to return to her job in 2005/06. My only question is this: what if the teacher had been male instead of female? I'm not saying the hearing officer would have ruled differently, but I am suggesting that the local community would be in an uproar.