Science Writing

I think I am going to begin applying to science writing programs this month. I'm a little scared, since I don't know what the job market will be when I finish -- assuming I get in somewhere -- but I think I have to try.

North by Northwest, and Art Deco

This past Friday night, I saw _North by Northwest_ at the Paramount Theater in Oakland. First, I love that theater. Being around art deco stuff makes me happy. Second, the movie was great! I haven't seen many Hitchcock movies, but now I would like to see more.

Soon To Be Published

My first article is ever so much more closer to being published! I am so excited.

Velociraptor!

Today, while walking to work, I saw a man get out of his car holding a foot-long model of a velociraptor, complete with base. He then started walking towards Industrial Light & Magic. That made my morning.

Steven Pinker!

Last night, I went to a Steven Pinker lecture at San Francisco's Jewish Community Center. He spoke about his latest book, titled "The Stuff of Thought." I had read his book titled, "The Language Instinct," years ago, and loved it, so I was very excited to see him in person. And, as I expected, the talk was amazing. I especially enjoyed the psychological and linguistic theories of swearing. What a night...

Cool Clock

I have been eye-ing a very cool wall clock in local hardware stores for a few years now. Maybe I should just get it, and hang it in my room. It's just so beautiful....

Rowing

After watching some of the rowing events in the Olympics, I was inspired to try to row again (on an ergometer at a YMCA). Usually, when I row, my lower back gets very sore, and tend not to want to row again for a few months. But, last week, I tried rowing without using my lower back as much (that is, without leaning back as far as I used to on my rowing stroke). Problem solved! If I just concentrate on pushing with my legs and pulling with my arms, my torso moves back on its own: I don't have to focus on moving it at all. And, because my lower back isn't (as) sore, I can row for longer periods of time. One of the best parts about rowing on an ergometer is how doing so completely loosens all of my muscles. I imagine the feeling might be similar to what yoga practitioners feel after doing yoga. (Of course, I could be way wrong.) Anyway, the feeling is pleasant.