I'm registering for an ambitious schedule next quarter. This is the first time that I will be taking classes outside of my Geophysical Science Department (besides the Core), and I've definitely chosen a variety. Here's my 4:

ANTH245 Traditional People, Intellectual Rights (Indigenous Rights). Anthropology.
GEOS223 Introductory Paleontology. Geophysical Sciences.
LLSO272 Human Rights III: Contemporary Issues in Human Rights. Law, Letters, & Society.
PBPL253 Social Welfare in the United States. Public Policy Studies.

And then alternates, if for some reason I don't get in to the ones above:

BIOS15109 The Origins of Cancer. Biological Sciences.
ANTH245 Global Environmental Politics. Environmental Studies.

Dear Mr. Rogers, I will miss you. There are more than two kinds of feminists, more than just shaved and unshaved. Silly. And I am upset at the tutors. First you make me cry and now you leave and I am stranded. But at least I had a productive day and will use 4 mealpoints tomorrow. stereographs are growing on me. 1234, 56 to go. And two more weeks to learn html.
Tonight I heard the drumming. Echoeing in such an amazing way off the walls of Harper Library. So much scattered sound I had no idea where the sources was. Outside? Inside? Upstairs, downstairs? The beat matched my pulse and I felt like it knew me. Comfort.

The Body Talk
This afternoon in bio: in rolls the model body. and the cart of boxes and boxes of random body parts. it was the most comedic (while still being incredibly informative) lecture ever. he dropped the spleen on the floor, started throwing body parts up in the air and catching them, swings them back and forth, waves to us with the skeleton hand, simulates birth through the pelvis, shows us the best place on (his butt) to get shot. yelling at people to wake up "otherwise I'm going to have to throw this pancreas at you!" I would love to take a class in the future from Dr. Quintas if possible. Please protect your sphinctors, he says.

Good News!
I got into the first round of interviews for the Center for Neighborhood Technology internship.
How I got this though, I have absolutely no idea. Tonight I am applying for three more Metcalf internships (two for the local PBS Station here in Chicago and one with Chicago Metropolis 2020). I just reread my Center for Neighborhood Technology essay for the first time and was horrified by my typos. I am especially embarassed about this sentence: ""I feel that I am a strong for this position because one of my greatest strengths is my communication skills..." I guess they must have just skimmed over the essays, or just given everyone who applied a first round interview, because for an internship that demands excellent writing skills, I sure proved them that I am incapable of writing anything intelligible. I sure hope I can make up for this by wowing them in the interview.

Buttonless is me. From four down to one and I need a sewing kit badly. HPVineyard publishes their booklet in a square that I am jealous of, it looks so neat. And Carla, thank you so much for the butter chicken! Eating with my hands with familiar friendly faces, known spices, and warm food was exactly what I needed after a walk through the storm. If I don't make it into Summer Links I think I may cry--I want it so badly. Do I have the dedication for a 40 hour training, and the emotional energy to answer the calls? I wish I could believe that I do. Your voice on the line, after weeks of thinking. Cross two things off my "todo" list. Ahhh, the ease of instant messaging and people traking me down instead. 4 people in 24 hours with distant voices and loose connections. Is that a sign?

Hole-in-the-wall. How great!
"Since 1999 NIIT, an IT and software company, has made the internet available to the poor of the slums of India. By placing kiosks in very poor urban areas the group hopes to study how internet literacy spreads among populations." --From the Scout Weblog

Seems like I have quite a night ahead of me...

Until 1:30am
Tonight I am learning more about the provision of basic social services--food, shelter, emergency medicine, etc--at NIGHT. My stops will include Cook County Hospital Trauma Unit, the 19th District Police Station, and the National Runaway Switchboard's Crisis Call Center. Then I am visiting the Lakeview neighborhood and will explore the area on foot to learn more about how people live in the area at night-- trying to figure out what a person does when they are hungry, cold, sick, or tired and they don't have a place to go or money to spend. My "tour guide" will be a staff member from the Night Ministry, an organization that is very active in the Lakeview area at night with outreach and services.

The Storm
According to the present weather report: Light Snow and Windy Feels Like 13°F, Wind: From the North at 28 gusting to 38 mph.
I've been scared to go outside all day. Instead, I've been curled up in bed by the window reading. My whole apartment is shaking from the wind, my windows rattling like crazy. Outside my window there are about 50 trees and with every gust they look like they're going to be uprooted and flung hundreds of feet away. Today I only saw about five brave souls out walking, each one was bent over facing the wind, arms wrapped around themselves with looks of misery on their faces as they slowly walked along.

To Apply, or not to apply?
Due Monday.
1.) Justice and Violence Intern, Government and Public Policy. Working for Chicago Metropolis 2020.
2.) News and Public Affairs Production Intern, Arts and Culture. Working for WTTW/Channel 11 (PBS).
3.) Heritage Intern, Government and Public Policy. Working for the Heritage Foundation.

A little political humor, not a broken link.
(thanks Jake)

Did you know that shark cartilage is used to teat cancer, arthritis, and osteoporosis among other diseases?

NSDL Scout Reports
Do you ever feel like a little kid with something so exciting that you just have to share it? Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I feel that way about certain things sometimes. When I get information for certain programs, or read a great book. Well, I certainly feel this way with something that I've been a part of for three years now. I am on a listserve for the NSDL Scout Reports, and the Scout Report. The University of Wisconsin finds and sifts through really interesting web sites and then organize them and write summaries for each one, and then submit them in a report each week. They put out a report bi-weekly that is published online and also sent out to subscribers. The Scout Report is the Univ. of Wisconsin's original publication, but now they are also funded by the National Science Foundation and put out three more reports that I find completely fabulous:

NSDL Scout Report for Life Sciences: Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Botany, and other Life Science topics.
NSDL Scout Report for Physical Sciences: Geology, Chemistry, Astronomy, Physics, and other Physical Science topics.
NSDL Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology: Industrial Engineering, Calculus, Algebra, Geometry, Civil Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Environmental Engineering, Computer Sciences, Human Factors, Hardware, and Software, and related topics.

Also, *smile* they have a Weblog!

In celebration of not writing my bio short response paper right now (Erin convinced me to skip it today) I've decided to actually dedicate some time to this blog--which I haven't done in such a very long time. Thinking back over the past few weeks of this winter quarter I'm beginning to realize how lucky I have it right now. It's my easiest quarter academically so far, no tragic personal circumstances have arisen, I have the most free time I've ever had at school, I am not forced to work, I'm actually sleeping a good amount each night, I have a great apartment and [for the most part] I'm eating at least two meals a day--just to name a few things. I feel like this is going to be on of the last times in my life when I'm so free and have it so easy-going.
I've never been really nervous about the future before. Besides of course trying to decide which college to attend. Although that was a very important choice in my future it was only a hard choice in choosing which college, not whether I would attend college or not. So up until now I have pretty much had a set plan for what I would do. People ask me all the time what I'm going to do with a geophysical science B.S. I used to say that I was going to go on in academia and be a volcanologist, and study earthquakes, and be some sort of geologist. But now I'm not so sure. I would still *love* to continue studying geophysical science. I would be happy going to graduate school at the University of Washington or Oregon State continuing on. But at the same time I feel like my direction is changing a little. And maybe graduate school in geophysical science isn't the right plan for me. I feel called in the direction of public service. In helping others. In building strong communities and mediating conversations between different groups of people. In teaching and being a leader helping others out who are less fortunate than I am. To help kids get to college and flourish. To encourage environmental sustainability, more public transportation, and better living conditions. And so many other things. How can I encorporate all of this together? Somehow there must be a way to combine my love of science and my desire to help other people. If anyone figures this out, let me know.
More than anything I really want to participate in the Summer Links Program this summer. It's funny, because after coming to the University of Chicago (and even before I got here) I kept saying that there was absolutely no way that I would ever stay in Chicago one second longer than was necessary. I love going to school here, but I really don't like the midwest so much. I like Chicago as a city and it's great to be here for a few months out of the year, but there's always this enormous indescribable strong urge to return to the Pacific Northwest whenever possible. I *love* Portland, Oregon. Almost more than anything else in the world. I have enormous respect for the people there, the beauty of the surrounding land is overwhelming, the climate is perfect, the city the perfect size and perfectly located. Even after traveling around, the Mt. Tabor neighborhood is the one that I cherish most in the world--of course this has to do with me growing up there, but it also just has this peaceful, community-oriented and friendly feel to it that so many other visiting friends have commented to me about. Portland is where my best friends are, so many amazing places... it's where my heart is and always will be. But for some reason this summer I feel like my place to be is in Chicago. Even though at the same time I really don't want to stay here, I just know that it's the right thing to do for me right now. It's hard to explain why I feel this way. And I'm not even sure why. But I just do. I applied for the Summer Links Program at the very last second (about a day and a half before it was due) and somehow have made it into the interview round. 75 of us have interviews and there are only 30 chosen to be participants. Keep your fingers crossed for me. This would be one of the most amazing programs ever if I get accepted. At the same time though I have also applied to the Metcalf Fellows Program for one internship already, and am deliberating whether I should apply for more [which are due Monday, and they would be to work at the Smithsonian this summer]. Also, I'm definitely keeping the possibility open of going back to the University of Alaska--Fairbanks to work for Upward Bound once again. I had one of the most awesome summers being in Alaska in June and July, I would be honored to work there again for the Classic program.

Worth Sharing: The Other Face of Fanaticism

Last night was a beautiful night in Hyde Park. The temperature rose, the snow completely melted and the streets were glowing and wet. Everything felt so clean and I was happy to be walking about by myself.
Finally, the book that I have been searching for turned up in the stacks at Crerar. It's brand new, and was somehow missing in circulation in the library. After two weeks of it being lost I am now the first to check it out: Human Cloning and Human Dignity: The Report of the President's Council on Bioethics. Hopefully this weekend I'll find a quiet place to hide away, drink hot chocolate and read.
Today in biology we held copies of the Human Genome in our hands. Each microchip worth $1600 and holds all 30,000+ genes. Pretty impressive.
Tonight in the short span that I was studying at the Reg I counted nine people I knew in one corner of the 4th floor, seven people associated with Henderson house alone. I think everyone here studies too much. ;o) It's the only place that I seem to run into people!

Stereonet sickness, although I have to admit, it's getting much funner. And yes, funner is a word.
Cleaned out my inbox tonight. Deleted 800+ messages. A huge accomplishment.

I miss you.

This morning started off in the best way possible with two pieces of news that I found out seconds after waking up....
A friend from high school just got engaged on Valentine's Day! -and- A friend on campus came over this morning and announced that she is now a Christian! The beginning of two amazing life-changing relationships of love. I couldn't be more excited!

Pure Genius. Tha Shizzolator.

Did you know that...
1 . the language of the Ewoks was created by altering and layering Tibetan, Mongolian, and Nepali languages?
2. The global consumption of chocolate totaled approximately $42.2 billion worth of chocolate-based consumable goods. Americans spent $2.4 billion on boxed chocolates alone in 2001, but out of the $42.2 billion, Britons spent $19.2 billion.

"If You're Happy and You Know It Bomb Iraq"

Sometimes all there is is disappointment after trying so hard.

It came! It came!
22 days later. Who knows what the USPS did with it during that time, but at last it's finally arrived and I am happy. A leather coat, my puma shoes, a sparkly red sweather and other goodies, including Good Earth Green Tea. My favorite.

J: (1:06:19 AM): But may I ask what would make life great for you?
Me: (1:07:41 AM): hmm. More free time spent with friends. A clean kitchen also stockpiled with good food to cook. warmer weather. seeing paul. being in the pacific northwest. hiking.

How about you, dear reader?

Clarksville, Louisville, Madison: a short summary of my weekend GeoUnion trip to Southern Indiana
Ice cream as stratigraphic layers.
Crunchy Peanut Butter Jelly sandwich fossils
Ophiolite sequence.
Infossiliferous. -Nick
Disinstitue of Paleontology –Guil is going to write us reference letters!
Your thumb looks like a brachiopod. -Kristy, to Ellen in the hot tub
So all of you guys can guess, and I’ll tell you who’s right. –Ellen
We found out that alcohol is not sold on Sundays in Indiana.
Horseshoe crab dressed up as trilobites @ the visitor’s center.
“Something’s hissing”

24 million dollars. a free trip to hawaii. and nothing will be like before. i am so proud of you. and you both deserve the vacation so much

2am. Back from Anju's party which I went to after much relaxing at the Pub. The kind of Friday night you never think is possible at the UofC. ;o) I haven't even packed for the trip, and I desperately need a shower. Very little sleep for me tonight, but at least it's not due to academics!

Sometimes friends can make you cry with happiness in unexpected ways.
Thank you for your kind words.

Another fantastic dinner. tofu-veg stir-fry mixed with Friends and Will & Grace. Totally made my night. Thanks Erin!
[Michael Jackson scares me, a lot]

What is the difference between a biscuit and a dumpling?
Can a dumpling be mutated?
What is a dumpling?
Does a dumpling have corners? Rounded corners? Does a biscuit?
Is it domelike? Does it poof? Is it cylindrical?
Why would you eat something that is plopped into stew?
Are they baked or boiled or steamed?

These are very important questions. Seriously. Just ask my roommates.

And all I can taste is this moment. Iris, with more than one association. I just want you to know who I am.
I walk to campus and think of so much that I want to write, wish to say, to express to everyone. And then I never take the time to do it. I've been bad about updating lately. More than just my blog, but in my journal (which I so persistently wrote in the past three months), in emails, calling friends. This is probably the easiest quarter of school so far, so time shouldn't be an issue for me, but the hours sneak on by. In mysterious ways.
I've felt like a failure this week. In planning activities that I'm in charge of. In [not[finishing what I've started. Taking pictures. Thinking straight. With still things on my to-do list that have been there for a long time. So many goals/actions for this quarter which I haven't been initiated. But it's one step at a time.... and I'm taking babysteps for a bit I guess.

Why does this make me cry.

W. P. Banjo nonstop rock.
I swear, that song will be in my head forever. Back from my visit to see Kate. Snowmobiling (my first time ever!). Broomball. A giant frozen lake +20 fun Bethel students in a Northern Wixconsin cabin = oh so much fun. It was four days of exactly what I needed. Forget Chicago, focus on ___. Tubing was awesome!