I DID NOT KNOW GOOGLE HAD THIS. I was actually looking for something on PubMed a few weeks ago and was wishing google had a scientific journal search. But yeah, those things are -always- really expensive but occasionally  you can find a few free ones. The British Medical Journal is free and there are a lot of other good ones that make their catalogues available online to anyone with a library card. I abuse that privledge way more than than anyone else in this city.

And I don't mind having my brain picked at. D: I'm one of those people who can talk about their academic interests like a seven year old talks about his pokemon cards.

Hinotori wrote:

I have a pretty long rant about NASA being screwed by the government, but everyone else just about covers it. The worst part is that nobody really gives a shit about NASA and 100% of the time Congress even THINKS about NASA it's in the context of, "HMM. HOW CAN I FUNNEL SOME OF NASA'S BUDGET INTO BEING USED IN MY STATE??" And as a result of that NOTHING ever happens because everyone's too busy fighting over what part of the map the research is happening in.

I double majored in Astronomy in college and one of my Professors basically got up in front of the class and said, "If you intend to have a fulfilling career in any science at all you better think of learning another language and getting the hell out of the US because they're determined to make life hell for everyone."

Yaaaaaaaaay.

Double majored in Astronomy and what?  Based on your comments about PubMed, I'd guess Biology, but that's just a wild-assed guess with a bit of wishful thinking included.

I'm asking because I'm a community college science instructor who is teaching astronomy next semester (I'm not Professor Plum on this forum for nothing ) and I'm happy to meet someone here who shares my interests in both science and anime.  I'm also teaching introductory biology and anatomy and physiology next semester and have taught geology, zoology, and environmental geology.  Yes, I have a diverse resume.

Anyway, hello!

Hinotori wrote:

That's odd. We have a couple that release recent journals, as far as I can remember. Cincinnati has way too many nice things. D:

But half the problem as far as Astronomy/Anthropology/Paleontology

Muahaha!  Another chance to brag. 

My M.S. thesis was on the fossil mollusks of Pit 91 Rancho La Brea.  That means I'm a world expert on a major group of fossils at one of the most famous Pleistocene (Ice Age) sites in the world.    That and $1.50 will buy me a tall cup of coffee at Starbucks.  Oh well.

(or pretty much any dicipline I'm REALLY interested in) is that they get quiet about things three or four months about making a serious discovery. Even in recent journals it seems like they'll trail off on a topic for a little while before barking out that they discovered a new species last summer.

Like Tiktaalik?  I read a lot of pre-release teasers about that discovery on the Evolution and Creation forum at Internet Infidels, a freethinkers board.  Lots of paleontologists and evolutionary biologists hang out there.  You should join--best evolution discussion I've seen on the net!

The trick is to make friends with people who are willing to explain things to you.

*Waves*

I think I got most of my pre-coursework information from lonely grad students on the Bad Astronomy boards.

Bad Astronomy rules!

Hinotori wrote:

Hello new friend.

I'm currently in the process of re-researching and re-applying to graduate schools in that very field (NOT MOLLUSKS. And it'll probably probably get me much of the same.

Paleontology?  Cool field, but impractical.  The last job it got me was as tour guide for the Pre-Historic Forest in Irish Hills, Michigan.  That place is now closed, but there's another one in Sandusky, Ohio, near Cedar Point.

What group of organisms are you interested in?  That will play a big part in where you apply for grad school.

It's still a promise that I'll be swarming around you for the remainder of this thread,

Swarm around me all you like. Just remember that I'm a dirty old man (Gio can attest to this).

and I'll check out that board. I think I've heard of it before but I've been looking for more people to bother lately anyway.

Some very smart people hang out there.  Just be prepared to back up your arguments.

And yeah, Paleontology is a big offender. That's why I want to get in on the action. What was wandering around in my head was the whole 2003 UB313 mes and what it ultimately turned into. Drove me crazy, it did.

Hail Eris!

Hinotori wrote:

I'm luckiest in that I'm not picky. I'd -love- to do hyolitha (well SOME mollusics ) or cetaceans or plesiosaurs in the antarctic or synapsids or somethng all the rage these days but those fields are so competative I'm not holding my breath.

Of all those groups of organisms, I can give you a recommendation of only one institution for only one of those groups--the University of Michigan for cetaceans, and that's only because I graduated with a Ph.D. in biology from there.    Hyolithids would be an obscure enough group that you wouldn't have much competition, but I couldn't tell you off the top of my head where to go for them or for the other groups.

I'm also researching some broader Evolutionary Biology programmes.

Such as?

I'm one of those people that wants to do research so hard I'd be content on slave wages.

Which is about what you'll get, too.

I know it's not the most practical thing I could go nuts over, but it's something I've said I wanted to do since I could talk, so even if I spend most of my time working at World's Largest Dinosaur I'd probably be happy with the idea that it could happen in short bursts.

Well, then, you're devoted enough to make it happen.

I'd probably like being a tour guide, too. Right now I'm doing wildlife rehabilitation work which is pretty much the other end of the spectrum, but I'm still estatic over it.

What kind of wildlife do you rescue?  It would be really sexy if it were something like raptors, but all of it should be worthwhile work.

I have no problem with dirty old men. That's been another goal of mine since I was a kitten.

Oh, really?   Be careful what you wish for, my dear, as you might get it.

And I'm always up for a good argument as long as someone doesn't pick on my poor spelling. Even then I don't really mind.  D:

I'll keep that in mind.

Last edited by Professor Plum (12-27-2006 06:36:29 PM)

Imaginary Bad Bug wrote:

More Google Love for Gio!

Google joins effort to digitally film the entire universe

'Imagines the possibility of finding alien life, hopely sexy alien life'

GOOGLE FUCKING BOOKS, MAN!!

http://books.google.com