Why I don’t like labs

It’s kind of ironic, really. I’m a Bachelor of Chemistry student, and I DETEST laboratory work.

It’s not the concept in itself, per se, just a combination of things that might be particular to my University. Papers with guidelines that leave out important information, and don’t explain things properly. Repetitive and boring tasks. And, of course, laboratory logs that take 10 hours MINIMUM to finish. They eat up your weekend and are a constant source of stress because numbers don’t make sense, and you can’t find any troubleshooting help in mentioned guideline papers.

I could have finished my logs this weekend. However, my results don’t make sense, and I can’t figure out what the error margins are for most of my calculations.

Argh.

Spotlight: Starbuck

Concept explained here.

Starbuck

Kara Thrace, image © Yahoo

nothing but the rain

Simply: Originally male character, made female for the 2003 reimagining of Battlestar Galactica. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace is the best shot in the fleet, in cockpit or out.

Why? I have, hands down, never seen a female character like Starbuck on TV before. She’s tough, confident in her abilities and she never backs down. In boxing, she’s an even match for any of the male pilots. But what I like most about the character is that the writers have never fallen into the trap of making her “mannish”. She is all the above, but still clearly female. I don’t mean feminine, I mean she’s a strong and powerful woman. And though she has many flaws, she’s still accepted by the crew for who she is and what she can do.

Starbuck, especially the Starbuck of the first two seasons, never fails to boost my self-esteem. The character affirms my belief that women can be just that strong, that complex; and that we aren’t the weaker sex.

She’s the strongest of many strong female characters on BSG, and she’s the main reason why I think Battlestar Galactica should be shown to teenage girls everywhere.

Obligatory anti-Republican post

This morning, out of curiosity, my boyfriend and I watched John McCain’s speech at the RNC. And I have to say I admire the man’s patience. People were cheering and chanting at his every sentence. It must have been maddening. Then again, he’s probably used to it.

Oh, and that people can cheer the promise of new nuclear power plants and drilling of new oil wells… Mind boggling.

I’m interested in the Republican mindset. I’m very curious, and especially about things I just can’t understand. For instance, how one can see socialised medicine as an evil. Or how one can want to take a woman’s right over her own body away. Or simply that one can value less taxes for oneself over aiding the less well-off in society.

And the thing about protecting the security of the American people? I honestly do not see the link between that and attacking Iraq (and, as seems to be in the cards if the Republican party win the election, Iran). Or the logic in doing so. Iraq and Iran are on the other side of the planet. Yes, they might become a danger if they develop long-distance rockets. So build your rocket shield, then. Afraid of terrorists? Tighten security in your own country. Don’t go in and provoke them!

Also, LOL at calling Russia out for “invading a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world’s oil supply”.

Not that Iraq was small, or democratic, or, as mentioned, anywhere near the US. But I’m pretty damn sure the US attacked them primarily to get their oil.

Yes, I know, I am full of self-righteous, European, social-democratic anger. I am coloured by the fact that my country’s entire political spectrum is to the left of the American. But it angers me that the result of the upcoming election will have ramifications for us, and we can do nothing to affect it.

Also, I don’t understand the Republican mindset. And I get so frustrated by not understanding.

Free book!

The world’s best author is letting us read his book, Neverwhere, for free for a limited time.

It’s one of my favourite books, dealing with a world beneath London, populated by monsters, angels, and a kickass female hunter. So: go read!