Neoplasia block

My favorite quote from medium Robbins, my pathology textbook: "There's no escape: It seems that everything one does to earn a livelihood, to subsist, or to enjoy life turns out to be illegal, immoral, or-most disturbing-possibly carcinogenic."

Lost Tribes of NY

Who hasn't seen this yet? Seriously, check it out. Brilliant!



(found via a cup of jo)

From the desk of KP

I'm feeling a little lackluster tonight. I'm not sure why that is, but it's probably a combo of not enough sleep, a little bit of a cold, changing weather, way too much to do and not nearly enough motivation. I've decided to just stay in tonight and veg out with some West Wing and tacos. Sound good?

School has been nonstop lately, and I know I haven't been keeping up with anybody as well as I should. Bad friend! I'm neck deep in lectures I need to study, but when is that not the case? I maintain a healthy balance of "OH MY GOD I'm going to FAIL this test WHAT WAS I THINKING WASTING SO MUCH TIME THESE PAST TWO WEEKS!!!!" and "Ain't no big thang." It keeps me on my toes without making me too crazy. And at the end of the day, I have my friends to tell me to chill out, a porch swing to sit on in the warm evenings, a big bed to climb in to, kittens to cuddle with.

Here are a few random things from around the interweb (as A likes to call it):


Morgue chocolates from wound impressions! The perfect thing to give out this Halloween, I'd say.


How freaking sweet is this kitchen from the selby? Words can't describe my love for chalkboard paint.


I WANT ONE!!! From here.


Cartoons for the kiddies. Collect them all here.

That's all folks. Time for some vegetation. What are the rest of you up to?

Jim Carroll

Another blogging hiatus with no excuse. Busy busy busy, you know. Micro's over, and I managed to pass, blah blah blah.

I wanted to stop in and pay homage to Jim Carroll, who died on Friday. He's one of my two favorite poets and just a crazy wonderful character, and the world's a little less fantastic without him in it. Read his obit here. If you've never read any of his stuff, check out Void of Course--definitely my favorite of his books, full of really beautiful, sexy poetry. Here's a good one:

POEM

The wide Mojave sky dark
And vain as my heart tonight
Walking back by the feel
Of the blacktop under foot

What's that desert fragrance
That lights the 4 A.M. sky
With a shampoo green glow?

Is that a coyote eye

Or a tail reflector that bumped loose
From an old English racer?

Which are popular on the reservation
But never last long

They weren't made for this landscape

--Jim Carroll

Anyway, great guy.

It's raining here in New Orleans, off and on but really, always on again. How's the weather where you are?

Oh. My. God.

(via)

Gold Dust Woman

A little Nicks fix to ease the studying.



Doesn't get more fabulous than that.

(via fabulon)

New plant

Study break! Any fans of Planet Earth out there? I mean the BBC version, with the soothing voice of David Attenborough, not Sigourney Weaver (not that there's anything wrong with Sigourney Weaver). By the way, why in the world did they re-release a US version with Sigourney Weaver doing his voice over? I never understood that.

ANYWAY, if you are a fan (and even if you aren't), check it out:



The newly discovered Nepenthes attenboroughii, a rat-eating pitcher plant! Named after Sir David Attenborough himself! Article here.

(PS--thanks for the heads up, David!)

Bronco

Hey people. I'm off to class (for once), but I thought I'd stop by and say good morning first! Also, how sweet is this old Bronco?




My grandpa used to have one just like it. When we'd visit my grandma in Bullhead City, AZ, we'd use it to tow a boat out to Lake Mead or take a cruise through the desert. It wasn't the most reliable transportation, but it got the job done most of the time. Not that I don't love my little Toyota, but I think my status as a bad-ass would jump up quite a few notches if I was driving this to class today. Found over at ACL (he finds the coolest stuff).

Anyway, if I leave right now, I'll be just the right amount of late for class, so I'd better get going. Ta ta!

Barney Frank

Ah, my hero! From huffington post.

Gay lovin'

Great article today in the New York Times about Theodore Olson and his challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage--read it right here.


You know California needs a good bitch slapping when a Bush loving super-Republican has to take up the fight for gay marriage. In addition to be a big Reaganite, he argued Bush v. Gore in 2000 and helped in the fight to impeach Clinton. But he also happens to be a stand up dude who fights for gay marriage because it's the right thing to do. It warms my cold little heart! Check out the article.

Secret treasures

Quick study break to tell you to go check out the National Geographic Treasure article on the New York Times website! Some of the pictures in the slide show are stunning.


I take this as the second sign in a week that I should get a subscription the National Geographic. It's only $15 a year for goodness sake!

I wallowed in the pits of despair for a few hours this morning after looking online and thinking that I got a 55/100 on Friday's exam. But it must've been a temporary glitch, because around noon, the world righted itself (i.e. they updated the records) and I PASSED!! Woohoo!!! One exam down, a depressingly indefinite number to go!

Sweaty Sundays

So in order not to die an early, fat-filled death, I've started exercising. Don't get me wrong--I know that show girl thighs and bubble butts are sexy. But I figure I'll be eating my way through all of the pork products New Orleans can offer for the next three years, and I'd better not let it go to my...head.

Anyway, I hate it. H-A-T-E it. I'm not one of those people that gets a fabulous endorphin glow after working out. I just feel bored and tired. But I think I've finally found an exercise class that I can get on board with:



Sweaty Sundays! Leg warmers, lycra, indie rock and 80s pop...Oh Los Angeles, how we love thee! Seriously, doesn't doing aerobics to 99 Luftballons in a hot pink spandex crop top sound infinitely better than a half hour on an eliptical? Hells yeah.

Just try not to laugh

I'm stuck inside studying today, with no outside contact but the view of the city from this study room. And it looks like I'll be here for a good long while. Who knew there were so many different kinds of antibiotics? I'm feeling grumpy and sleepy and more than a little overwhelmed. On a day like today, it's good to find something simple to take pleasure in. So I give you Upside Down Dogs:





Seriously, if you're having an off day like I am (or even if you're not), this has to make you smile. Just pick your favorite breed from the list to the right and start browsing! Kind of makes me wish I was a dog, actually.

(found via inside the loop)

Armadillos and things

Microbiology fun fact #1*: There are two natural reservoirs for Mycobacterium leprae, the organism that causes leprosy: humans and armadillos.

Who knew?

I know that people like my dear, dear friend Mississippi Brad call armadillos varmints and use them as target practice (does anyone know if Brad reads this blog?), but I can't help it. I think they're adorable. Seriously, how sweet would it be to be able to curl up into a little armored ball when you get annoyed with the world?

Also, check out the Pink Fairy armadillo:

Isn't it teeny weeny and cute? I do love things in miniature.

*One week into our microbiology course, it's becoming abundantly clear that there aren't a whole lot of "fun facts" in the field. Lots of nasty, terrible, tedious facts, but not too many that I would call "fun". I'm sure that my classmates can attest to that. So Fun Fact #1 might be the first in a very short series--I didn't want to get your hopes up and then dash them to the ground. Ta ta!

Air troubles

One of my two working ac window units just died. In a house with four rooms and sixty year old insulation, when it's hundreds (hundreds!) of degrees outside, that's no joke. It's boiling. I've decided I need one of these:

I mean really. Have you ever seen anything so lovely? I can almost see it sitting here at my desk with me. Bright blue, oscillating, even safe enough for my cats not to lose a paw in. If the financial aid office ever gets around to giving me any money, I might just have to splurge. Although if one magically shows up on my doorstep from a secret admirer, I wouldn't put up too much of a fight. Just sayin, y'all.

Boooooobs

Hey all! Sweet new article at the Social Medicine Portal about breastfeeding, in honor of World Breastfeeding Week. Check it out right here!


Not to get all Dr. Dise on your asses, but since all of my friends seem to be having babies these days, I thought I'd share. Seriously people, breastfeeding is, like, mondo important. Check it.