And Then I Saw This

This link to an interview with Bill Nye (The Science Guy) just came across my Facebook feed (thank goodness I still log in from time to time for little gems like this one).  Remember Bill Nye from our elementary and junior high school years?  His show had the corny song, and he looked even cornier with his big bow tie?  But remember how much we LEARNED about the world around us because he made it so easy and fun for us to understand?  At what point did people decide to forget that science is not only cool, interesting and factual (not to mention, makes sense) and stick their heads in the sand instead???

This link is to a 3-minute interview with Bill Nye...a scientist who has helped change the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXLdcqIj-SA

Snippets...on science

On the cover of this week's Parade magazine is world-renowned (and much beloved) astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson.  I LOVE this guy.  Not only does he make science fun and accessible to folks who might normally not think of themselves as particularly interested or "science-savvy", but he also happens to be hilarious.

As I was reading the article about the so-called "Master of the Universe", I was struck by one particular paragraph in the article:
"...Tyson sees himself as a citizen of the entire universe, and he believes knowledge about science can help protect what [Carl] Sagan called 'the pale blue dot' of Earth.  '[The science documentary] Cosmos is not only about updating you on what science is but also conveying why it matters--especially in the 21st century, when issues related to science are fundamental to political issues,' Tyson says. 'These are political hot potatoes that could be settled or informed if we became more scientifically literate.'"

Issues such as climate change, vaccinations, GMO's, amongst others could become non-issues (or at least, seen simply as partisan talking points rather than true scientific unknowns) if a greater contingent of the public understood science, even on a base level.  The fact that many people who self-identify as "climate change deniers" don't understand the scientific process, don't understand how scientific theories and laws are developed, and don't understand what a preponderance of empirical evidence is...well it's frustrating, considering all of these things are taught in junior high.  We have 12-year olds who have a better handle on how science works and why it matters than their parents do.

I remember listening to an episode of The Diane Rehm Show on NPR several years ago, where the subject being discussed was climate change.  Her panel of expert guests were scientists representing various agencies and organizations, and they all extolled the fact that climate change is, indeed, happening.  At one point in the discussion, when Diane opened the phone lines, a caller admonished her for not inviting a panel member "from the other side" to represent the opinion that climate change is not occurring.  Diane (very correctly, in my opinion) answered that it is not her practice to have a contrasting opinion represented during a scientific discussion, when the overwhelming evidence (and overwhelming consensus of the scientific community) is contrary to that dissenting opinion.  That would be like having a serious intellectual discussion about gravity, and bringing someone onto the discussion panel who claims that gravity does not exist on Earth. 

I sometimes wonder about people who are anti-science.  Science is what has propelled medicine, air travel, electronics, agriculture, food safety, energy, amongst many other things we take for granted.  Why people would trust politicians to feed them information on climate change when they would never trust one to fly a plane, perform surgery, inspect their food, or develop reliable energy sources...I don't understand.  Why do folks doubt science so much?  Especially in a time where scientists don't tend to be rich (and yet the average member of Congress is a millionaire) or bow to special interest groups, I can't quite put my finger on how scientists have ended up as the "bad guys" in so many people's minds.

I think many people in this country are intimidated by intellect and education.  Heck, I can admit that I am!  I love science, and I understand it to a large extent, but I am nowhere near the level of being an elite scientist.  But, rather than feel alienated or defensive by this fact, I tend to embrace the fact that there are people like Neil DeGrasse Tyson who DO understand many things about the world far better than I ever will.  I look to them to explain this subject matter in a way that I CAN understand, so that I can make more informed decisions about how my elected officials should create policy.  I don't look to politicians for the answers.

Carl Sagan's widow, Ann Druyan, states in the Parade article that after years of "hostility toward science", we "are beginning to look up at the stars and dream again."

If putting Neil DeGrasse Tyson on the cover of the magazine is any sign, then I sure do hope so.

I Almost Included a Picture, But Decided Against It

With temperatures here having dropped to below freezing due to the so-called "polar vortex," we've stayed inside the last few days to keep warm.  The forecast for the rest of the week, however, suggests that we'll be getting a significant thaw out soon, with temps hitting the 40s and perhaps 50s by the weekend. 

That little bit of news reminded me that I had some work to do in the backyard.  Without going into too much graphic detail, let's just say that we have two decent-sized (50-lbs-ish) dogs, and that I haven't been in the backyard since before our last snowfall (approximately 1 week ago).  This was put-my-big-girl-boots-on type of work.  B asked if she could join me, but the idea of her stepping in the "wrong" place was just too much to have to think about, so I banished her to the dining table to draw while I set about my work.

So glad I doubled up on my plastic bags.  So glad I wore my boots.  So glad I'm not color-blind like the hubby and am able to differentiate leaves from "other things."  So glad my thigh muscles are strong enough still to deal with the constant crouching so I didn't have to try to bend over this pregnant belly.  So (especially) glad I don't have an ultra-sensitive gag reflex.

I filled (to the top) a nice, doubled-up, heaving-under-the-weight bag of the stuff that's really good to pick up when temps are still keeping things frozen.  This post would've gone a whole different way if I'd waited until the big thaw tomorrow. 

I almost included a picture.  Aren't you glad I decided against it?

Taking a Bit of a Hiatus

From Facebook, that is.  I've realized that whenever I'm away from my computer for an extended period of time, I don't miss checking Facebook, but I DO miss writing here on my blog. There are other reasons for leaving Facebook for awhile, including

-increasingly troubling security issues
-a need to rid my friend list of people I haven't seen or known in 15+ years that have unrestricted access to my photos, thoughts, groups, etc
-it's time-sucking/wasting, and I could be a lot more productive without it
-it's self-indulgent and self-promoting, and encourages me to broadcast to the masses many photos/stories that I would typically have shared with only family and a handful of friends
-I spend too much time checking to see who has "liked" or commented on the aforementioned stories/photos I posted; it's like I'm vying for top prize in an online popularity contest
-I miss the time I once devoted to this blog

I won't be deleting my account, or even stop checking Facebook.  But I do plan to substantially lessen the amount of time I spend on the site.  I'm hoping my next post will really only be about the birth of this next baby.  For all its faults, Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with many people I do love and care about, but wouldn't normally be able to communicate with so frequently.  I don't mean to demonize the site; I just want to better the way I use it.

Baby #2

This little one is only a few weeks from making its arrival (assuming it doesn't come early) and I feel so very out of sorts and unprepared.  When I was pregnant with B, I was buying second-hand dressers, stocking them with newly-laundered, freshly folded baby clothes and cloth diapers, and reading all the pregnancy books I could get my hands on to know exactly what to do when she arrived.  Now, at 36 weeks, I've managed to set up a small alcove in our master bedroom where I've stocked some shelves with all the baby essentials...but I must admit, I've spent much more time knitting Xmas gifts than I have reading about birthing techniques or what vegetable the baby most resembles at this week of the pregnancy.  Things have changed, but I can't quite figure out why.

I'm nervous...but not because of the unknown, but because of the known.  I know what an undertaking having a newborn in the house is...the constant diaper changes, clothing changes, spitup cleanup, breastfeeding, breastfeeding, breastfeeding.  At least in Michigan I had a community of friends to keep me company during those lonely first few weeks and months of figuring things out.  I know hardly anyone here, and the idea of being homebound with a newborn with no social outlets is a thought I really don't want to have to visit.

This little one is so incredibly active, perhaps surpassing even the activity B expressed when she was in my belly (and she was one active baby).  This one has kicked me so hard in the ribs I've screamed, and has woken me from sleep from feelings that it is pushing down, trying to get out of me.  It's unreal sometimes, but I also really like it.  Knowing that this is my last pregnancy does make me try to enjoy it--even the crampy, painful aspects--as much as I can.

This baby, or perhaps my age, makes me far more fatigued than I remember being while pregnant with B.  I have a hard time keeping my eyes open for much of the day, and doing anything physical can be daunting at best.  When I was in the final weeks of pregnancy with B, I was still planting trees and shrubs in the yard and had just finished a job that had me walking through prairies for much of the day.  Now, 4 1/2 years later, I can find it hard to just get out of bed in the morning and go downstairs, much less exert any physical labor.

Having said all this, I am so very excited to hold on to this little baby a little while longer, and enjoy our special time together before it's born.  We don't know the baby's gender, and are still working on finalizing names, so s/he can stay in utero for good while longer as far as I'm concerned.  There will be plenty of love waiting for him/her here on the outside whenever it's time for its arrival.

That Girl

For many reasons, I've decided to try taking a break from my Facebook ranting and do it here instead, since this is my own "private" space.  Facebook has a way of making me even angrier about things than I originally was, and so I feel a need to put some distance between me and the social network for awhile.

My latest and most continuous rant is about the way that our society treats our young girls.  Having suffered through bouts of teenage anorexia, bulimia and body image issues myself, I know how the pressure to conform to a predetermined idealized standard can be overwhelming.  I feel a need to rage against this for my own daughter.

But, it's not easy.
When you go to the costume store at Halloween, and the "boy" section has superhero options as well as career options (fireman, doctor, soldier, SWAT team member), and the "girl" section has only princesses and fairies...
When you go to the shoe store and the boy shoes are in a variety of colors and interesting character choices, and the girl section only offers pink shoes with the Disney princesses on them...
When your daughter is in love with the "How To Train Your Dragon" movies, and asks only for Hiccup and Astrid for Christmas, but the toy company has decided to make action figures of only the male characters from the movie, despite the fact that Astrid has a central role...
When you go to the newest Disney princess film, that's been marketed as the anti-princess movie because the girl can "do it on her own without a guy," but she still has to end up falling for a guy at the end of the movie, drilling in the point that a girl needs a guy in her life to feel complete...
When you go out in public, and the only thing people can talk to your daughter about is her looks--her hair, her beauty--and she begins to think that is the only valuable aspect of herself...
When your daughter tells you it's more important to her to be beautiful than it is to be smart...
When your daughter is afraid of getting a haircut because she wants her hair long and flowing like the Disney princesses, and thinks that's what makes her special...


These are the reasons I rant.  It's easy (actually, I think a cop out) for people to say, "Ah, it's just a phase!" or "You're her mother!  Your influence is what matters, and she'll outgrow it!"  I don't buy any of that.  The outside world has amazing and sometimes irreversible effects on the psyche of our young people, and no amount of "Mama loves you for who you are" and "Your heart is what makes you beautiful!" is going to compensate for the Am-I-not-so-pretty? images of Disney princesses and other media propaganda that is thrown at my impressionable four-year old all the time.  It's insane.  And so I rant and rage and try to rail against the status quo.  I try to start the dialogue with people who might never have considered this issue before.  I talk to my daughter all the time about the many reasons--none physical--that she is special.  I try to be the anti-pop culture.

But I fear I am failing.  Tonight, my daughter came into the house upset, after having played with some of the neighborhood girls.  She announced that it made her sad that those girls were smarter than she is.  When I asked her why she thought those girls were smarter, she said, "Because they have light hair" (they're blonde).

Here we go again.

Long Time, No Post

I'm still here, guiltily checking my blog for signs that it has imploded from disuse.  Lots of thoughts on tap for some forthcoming posts, however, so stay tuned.