Making up for lost time!! It's been a very busy month.

First, a very important and intelligent book! Doubt is Their Product by David Michaels.

And a fun book by Theo Gray called Mad Science

All this comparing me to women with dark hair, high cheekbones, and striking eyes is getting old.  And Dr. Isis from ScienceBlogs has added the last straw by finding what I now will unfortunately have to say is the best match yet!

 I don't pout or glare (usually, but maybe I'll take it up if this comparing continues!) and don't tote a pistol but thanks to my bro, an ex-marine, I can fire one and hurt you if you stand really, really still.  Good thing you'd run because I'd never have the guts to do it anyway! I'll just aim at the fake cardboard guy.

This is Baroness, an intelligence officer for Cobra from the GI Joe series. She's evil and ruthless. I'm not. I'm the nicest person you'll ever meet....probably, or so say my students.

When you vote for the ladies I am accused of being similar to, Baroness is NOT on the list! I don't know that the facial recognition software would work on a cartoon. But, I will ask!

It looks like I am driving to see Reza Aslan speak in Chicago this evening. I really enjoy his writing style. Along with Mary Roach (and others), he is an author I am looking forward to meeting (at least for a book signature).  I know this is not science (and some readers could possibly be seething that I dare mention a book about religion--but why not, there's a pic of me in a Catholic School uniform next to Pope JPII, so I'm not exactly breaking new ground here), but I enjoyed his book about Islam called No god but God.  It was a clear and logical, intelligent and exhaustive explanation of Islam.  Just the facts but with a marvelous writing style (as a good science book should be, too!).  He has a new book out called How to Win a Cosmic War: God Globalization and the End of the War on Terror I just started it, but so far, so good.

Finally, I came across a video I enjoyed by a young man who entered the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientists Challenge last year.  Here, Michael Koehler explains Bernoulli's principle. Future professor? What do you think?

While we are presently concerned about the Swine Flu, which hopefully can be prevented with common sense measures, I think a look at a more pervasive infection is worth your time.

An ingenious website has been created to identify the symptoms of a NERD infection and to help support those with such an infection.  It is high time that this has been done.  I wrote to them telling them of my symptoms and they thought it best I write something up for them.  However, liking the visual aspect of things, I decided to film something.  Above is what I came up with.  Naturally, I could go on and on, but kept it relatively brief or we'd be here all day!

Watch my video, visit their site, tell your story. The world must know.

The State Science Olympiad is done for another year.  It is always a ton of work, but fun for everyone!

Our bioengineering department head is pretty cool (Mike Insana).  He walked by my office, pointed at me with a laugh and said "My vote is for Racquel Welch!"  LOL! thanks!

Julia Roberts is in the lead....still. I don't see it, I really don't, but don't let my opinion stop you.

Last lab of the year, so need to tend to that!  Until next time,

Kindly, Joanne