- Hallo! I am currently living on the prairie, a reluctant
capitalist with an unrealized secret
socialist side. I am currently (again) a
graduate student of
biology . I have since found a previously unknown passion
for
microbial ecology and bioinformatics. Soon, I will begin a new master’s
topic that deals with development of an undergraduate curriculum in
bioinformatics .
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I have great passion for the natural world and fucking love
evolutionary biology and natural history. Consider myself to be a bit of a
left-thinking individual. I have multifarious and often ephemeral hobbies; some
of the more lasting of them are home brewing, herb-growing, and
geocaching . I
play guitar poorly, like the ancient world and old Rome. Can probably out drink
you, can sound like anybody if I try hard enough, have a folder full of
voice-talent auditions, am introspective, a fast-typer. Oh, and oh yeah, I am
Irish . Top that.
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Career aspirations are toward a medical degree. In fact, I
was on a wait-list to get into medical school last fall but I didn’t make the
cut that time round—so we are back in graduate school for a different masters’
focus until I can apply again for 2008. But, in the meantime I am hoping to win
the lottery.
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What I am into? Really a fan of the
Wikipedia , and try to make
edits whenever they are due. You can check me out here as
frenkmelk to see some
of my edits and contributions. Hey, I am no copy-editor, but I know what I know,
eh? I have been reviewing my
X-files lately too. The
last 3 seasons especially--I am a
Doggett fan! He is
a skeptic!
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Recently, I have really rediscovered my zeal for my
science. Being back in school has really awakened me to how much I really
used to love life sciences. Lately, I have been involved with some other
graduate students and professors to try to form a green-eco friendly club on
campus to reduce carbon footprints and enforcing the three R's (reduce, reuse,
recycle and all that) this summer we will be appealing to the administration and
others to push for a greener campus. Evolutionary biology is another great
passion of mine and something that I very strongly about. Likewise, I
think it may in order to take a more radical stance when it comes informing the
layperson or non-expert just exactly what evolution is and what it is not.
In many instances, it appears the evangelical right has taken the initiative on
this matter. Also, on the biology front, I am into
panspermia --the hypothesis
that life came to Earth via comets in the
archean era . Also, in
general the speculated early ecology of the Earth I have found really
interesting as it likely gave rise to life as we realize it today.
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I am always up for meeting those who have some capacity for
EXTREME irony and are fellow wits and trivia whizzes. I do not, however, espouse
any total doctrine of any party though, I will vote with the
Dems and am
intrigued by libertarianism too. Also, I am all about empiricism and have been
trying to make myself a more objective person in my old age. I like to compose
short absurd stories with which I amuse my friends. I have been known to write
erotica about Illinois politicians—who knows, they may amuse you too. I am an
avid documentarian and have volumes of pictures, video, and years of journaling
to prove it. I am not a religious person—was raised Irish- Catholic but consider
myself an agnostic at present (but shh! don’t tell my parents!) However, I am
fascinated with mythology and its importance and impact on cultures, just a
shame that people use their doctrines to affect and subjugate others. I am also
fascinated by how people are willing to delude themselves and remain willfully
ignorant of the world around them simply because they are tethered to some
arcane system of beliefs from which they cannot stray. I don't care what you
believe in...Just be able to tell me why you believe it.