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| 11:20pm 03/07/2008 |
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I reread this issue from the ol' '87 Teen Titans and figured, 'why the hell not?' and drew up Raven and Jericho. Cleaned it up some today, want to ink it, not sure if I should try. Though that Trevis/Elena I inked up came out rather decent, so maybe I should give it a shot.
( another ) |
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Read 3 - Post |
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| Undergrad Education for Women in Science and Engineering: Part III |
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| 02:16pm 03/07/2008 |
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The last post specifically about the undergraduate education chapter in the book Who’s Afraid of Marie Curie: The Challenges Facing Women in Science and Technology by Linley Erin Hall.
The book says:Undergrads are often in large classes with limited interactions with professors; also there aren’t many female faculty in science and engineering programs
I say: Large class sizes are problematic to all students, not just women. I personally learn well enough in a lecture hall, but that style of learning does not suit everyone. And, as always, the quality of instructor is still most important.
Regarding faculty: Our Materials Science department claims women make up 25% of the faculty, but looking at our faculty page I calculate more like 20%; it drops even more if you count emeritus faculty still hanging around. Curious that our administrative staff (read: secretaries and assistants) is exclusively women, though. Also, MSE is about the only engineering department that uses its diverse faculty as a selling point for potential grad students.
I think the most important aspect of this is that all students need to believe that females can be successful scientists. If men have their biases reinforced throughout college (rather than challenged), it only worsens the environment for women.
The book says: Men generally only ask for help as a last resort, so it makes women self-conscious to ask questions or seek help.
I say: This is one of the points I agreed with whole-heartedly; I've been saying for years that men are more reluctant to get academic help. In my department there is a fair amount of women (~35-40%), but in office hours women are the majority. If I try to think of all the classes I’ve attended office hours for, this is what I come up with:
| 200 Level MSE Classes |
women~60% |
| 300 Level MSE Classes |
women~70% |
| Mech. Eng 211 |
In class: women<20%
In OH: women>50%
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| Programming |
In class: Probably 25%
In OH: women~50%
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This could actually be an advantage for women because they are less afraid to seek out help. I have personally wondered why I and other women "need" help more than guys; it certainly makes you doubt your abilities. |
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| Fractional iteration of functions |
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| 01:34pm 03/07/2008 |
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Can anyone recommend good resources on the theory of fractional/continuous iteration of functions? Even finding half-iterates of very simple polynomial functions of R seems to be beyond me. |
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| Enneagram Types |
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| 12:55am 04/07/2008 |
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Hullo, everyone.
I've just joined this community, found it in an interest search for 'introversion', and was very pleased when I did. I read through most of this year's entries, and found myself identifying with many of the posts and comments.
I'm wondering about Enneagram personality types for INFP people. What's yours?
Here are some tests for those who are not sure:
http://similarminds.com/test.html
http://www.9types.com/newtest/homepage.actual.html
And some info here.
Thanks. :o) |
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Read 19 - Post |
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| instead of eating a proper breakfast--! |
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| 07:20am 03/07/2008 |
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Hoooolyyyyy crap I cannot even believe how much pain I am enjoying right now. The right side of my body has, as a general rule, not been prone to aches/pains/arthrtitic good times, so this needs to stop like. Right now. My left knee near about gave out when I stood up what the hell. N' I think I almost shorted out my radio dumping the water for the cat on it. JEeeeEeEEeez, at least Nieva's drinking water again, she looked like fuzzy white shit last night.
TL;DR: I'M A BIG ARTHRITIC BABY, WAHH. Shut up and go to work Elle.
Hurrhurr I missed this icon. :') |
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| Tangerine War Cries |
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| 04:48am 03/07/2008 |
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Shoppers with coupons in hand barrel in and out
of aisles careless steps
pop the skin of stranded grapes and
squish their entrails into beige
and off-white linoleum tile how
careless the women is bruising
the flesh
the body of a Tomato
between her left index finger and thumb,
The produce outnumbers them
all forty bushels to one
Bags of Potatoes peer through
their mesh cages with sunken eyes
and the ears of Corn crack open
their husks to listen to Shallots
screaming down the aisles
Apricots preach anarchy with Georgian
Peaches whose pits are doomed to die
The sterile Watermelons
seedless as the result of genetic manipulation
wail for seeds of their own
that never existed. While a gentlemen loads
one worth 2.99, into his cart and wanders
to the checkout line
Infuriated greens yell over sprinklers
Radishes incite riots
they chant for
their freedom! Customers oblivious to
the war that will ensue.
Bunches of Plantains
and Bananas stand united, Pomegranates guard
their positions
Kiwis-Strawberries-Apples-Fresh Basil-Limes
March behind Tangerine War Cries!
~Eugene Nemeth |
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| Because I wanna be a hip, science savvy blog whore too! |
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| 02:38am 03/07/2008 |
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My sentiments exactly. Thank you "xkcd" for another fantastic comic.
Anyways I kinda like the concept of the "Science and People" entry I did way too long ago and I think I want to come up with *gasp* a part II. However, until I wrangle my inspiration once again I will probably just post a few poems or witty comics. |
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| Shooting Stars and Satellites |
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| 10:55pm 02/07/2008 |
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Poll #1216871
Open to: All, results viewable to: All________ is everything that is wrong with America. Have any big plans this holiday weekend? |
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| 09:35pm 02/07/2008 |
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I hadn't drawn Trevis in a looong time, so I gave him his lady to hug lmfao.
My poor kitty's pretty miserable. That ear cathater must be killing her; I have no idea why the vet didn't give us some pain meds for her. Just some antibiotics for the infection. We're taking her in tomorrow afternoon to have them inspect the ear and somehow wheedle some pain meds for her. Poor baby. 8(
Nick and I went to the cooomic stooooore and they were having a killer deal on excess trades, so I got Blue Beetle II 2-5 and then a Titans issue that mentioned someone dying that, as it turns out, doesn't really effect me! Oh well. Still keepin' my eye out for Cable & Deadpool 50. Dinosauuurs.
( Mo' drawings ) |
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Read 9 - Post |
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| Undergrad Education for Women in Science and Engineering: Part II |
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| 02:26pm 02/07/2008 |
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More response to the undergraduate education section of Who’s Afraid of Marie Curie: The Challenges Facing Women in Science and Technology by Linley Erin Hall.
The book says: “Big fish from a small pond, meet hundreds of other big fish. Now you’re all in a pond together, and some of you are going to be average-- or worse.”
I say: A few of the barriers to women presented by the author are hardships all students experience when entering college. I certainly have perspective here, going from a small rural high school to a very large public university. Many students were the best in high school, but they all can’t be the best anymore. Males and females both experience the struggle that comes from losing the “best” identity and it can destroy a student’s self-confidence.
The book says: Women lose confidence because of competition and weeder classes.
I say: The large math/science weeder classes are challenging for both males and females. All engineers have to take 4 math classes, 2 physics classes and chemistry at UM. Calc II and Physics I especially are viewed as weeder classes at Michigan. Someone said quite well in the book, “The classes were about proving that you can stick it out, not about learning the material. These classes don’t teach you academic skills, but rather skills of survival.”
The Calc classes are small, taught by graduate students, though, and the tests are consistently written so ~50% is the average. Tests also make up your entire grade. Physics, on the other hand, is more brute force- you do a chapter each week, covering a verified buttload of topics with tests every 3 weeks. These classes end up being graded so if you are alive and participating, you’ll probably get a C-. The challenge is sticking it out through the 33% you get on the second exam. It is a hardship students of all genders face, not just women.
If I think about the effect these classes had on my education, I come to this conclusion: they destroyed my expectations for myself. Specifically, the physics classes and programming did; it’s pretty bad when you just want a C so you can be done with a class. It took me a few semesters to decide that I shouldn’t be settling for mediocre grades, that I can do better. My GPA last semester reflected my confident attitude, though nothing about my capabilities changed. |
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| no subject |
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| 09:35pm 01/07/2008 |
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Poll #1215653 Best Thing Ever: Year 4 / Week 44
Open to: All, results viewable to: AllWhich of these is better?
Nine out of ten doctors recommend traveling the universe. |
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Read 59 - Post |
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| Undergrad Education for Women in Science and Engineering: Part I |
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| 11:22am 01/07/2008 |
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I just read the chapter about undergraduate education in Who’s Afraid of Marie Curie: The Challenges Facing Women in Science and Technology by Linley Erin Hall. This will be the first of a few posts about my thoughts.
The book says: Women are the minority in most technical programs, and the programs with more women are seen as easy (biology, geology) compared to more male dominated programs (physics)
I say: This goes back to our society’s degrading perception that women are inferior at math and science, and the effects it has on girls and young women. The problems are all not gender-bias related, but women generally lose interest in technical subjects in high school. I think because of negative stereotypes about women’s abilities, science and engineering are not pitched to high-school girls like they are to guys. I have known 5 girls who transferred from UM’s general college to the College of Engineering, but only 1 guy. These women were not presented with engineering as a viable option when applying to college, but found their interests in applied science clearly led them to an engineering major.
The fact that programs with more women in them are viewed as "easy" reflects the notion that women are poor at technical subjects, so if they do choose such a field there must be a reason, it must not be hard or math-intensive. No one benefits from this perception, but I have experienced it even in the engineering fields. MSE and Industrial and Operations Engineering have relatively high amounts of women in their programs, but both are mocked, called "MSEasy" and "IOEasy." There is a competitive, one-upping environment that makes everything a pissing contest. I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to the male-domination of the fields; I blame it on the competitive nature of students who can no longer be the best in the class. The fact is that no academic programs are easy, but some people stroke their egos by making such comparisons. |
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| 189 |
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| 10:18pm 30/06/2008 |
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I need to give it a good name. Hmm.HIS NAME IS DR. IGNATIUS POMFREY.
So yeah one of the chimpanzees there totally flipped out and attacked the glass at Brittney and use and we were were like WHATHOLYJEEZAHHHH and then we went to see the gorillas and the big poppa silverback paced by the glass and STARED US THE HELL DOWN AHHH JFDSOIKL WHAT IS THAT WHY
Saw lots of neat things yes. Took a few pictures in the aviary and of the chimp before it tried to eat us and some lions donated by Sigfried and Roy. They were all males. Gay pride lol. Mmm and I got the turtle toy and Nick got a lion for him and one for his nephew and a wolf for his niece.
( Also ) |
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Read 30 - Post |
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| This sounds junior, but I don't have an old Linear Algebra textbook with me. |
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| 04:39pm 30/06/2008 |
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The wonderful thing about linear transformations between R^m and R^n is that all possible functions of that sort are expressible via matrix multiplication, and all m-by-n matrix products on a vector from R^m are linear transformations into R^n. Right? What is the proof of this? This seems so fundamental and elementary, but I'm initially stymied in trying to figure it out. Perhaps I should put more than 2 minutes of effort into these random questions before asking the community. |
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| no subject |
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| 03:54pm 30/06/2008 |
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Can any of you guys recommend me some popular books on mathematics? The same sorta thing as popular science books on certain topics of (or sometimes, comprehensive summaries of) physics, biological, cosmology, etc. I can grasp certain isolated areas of mathematics, but I want the intellectual dexterity that comes with a rigorous, conceptual familiarity with mathematics. I want to be able to recognize and become comfortable with certain fundamental concepts and ways of thinking about mathematics. I'm preferably interested in algebra, since that's what I'm studying in school, but geometry is good too. General summaries that start with basic stuff and get to advanced stuff like calculus are fine. |
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Read 13 - Post |
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| 188 |
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| 10:38pm 29/06/2008 |
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I had a better vision in mind but this is all that came out!
Nick is convinced Cody from The Rescuers Down Under is actually Brock Samson as a child. He...he has some interesting proof. |
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Read 5 - Post |
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| You're just jealous because he licks me and I like it |
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| 11:19pm 29/06/2008 |
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Yesterday I stepped on a tiny glass shard and it is now lodged in my heel. My mom and I gouged at my foot for awhile this morning, but it's no better to walk on. My 0.6 mile walk to work will not be fun tomorrow.
I have found God and she is the white chocolate truffle cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.
I got a fortune cookie today: Good things are coming to you in due course of time.
I can't decide if this summer is going fast or slow. |
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Read 8 - Post |
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| no subject |
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| 10:22pm 28/06/2008 |
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No draw today. Cause I can't draw at all ever. Lmao. Wow. |
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Read 17 - Post |
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| no subject |
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| 02:21pm 28/06/2008 |
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Poll #1212767
Open to: All, results viewable to: AllDid you know John McCain is aware of the internet? Did you know John McCain called his wife a cunt? What's your favorite computer program? Does livejournal make us narcissists? Do you ever write private livejournal entries?
I posted a private entry and backdated it so it was even more private. |
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![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
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