• The Death of Vera Rubin [Link]

    2016-12-27 • 📁 Astronomy

    Vera Rubin, an amazing Astrophysicist who's research changed everything about galaxy formation and cosmology, died this week. If you study something larger than a collection of a few stars (like me), your research is impacted daily by her discoveries.

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  • Reaction of Restoration

    2016-11-09 • 📁 Religion and politics

    Last night my view of the world changed. I thought our nation was on the precipice of saying no to xenophobia and degrading “locker room talk.” I thought we would come together and support those who feel marginalized by main stream society. I felt like our nation would truly, unitedly, take care of the widows, orphans, and the aliens living among us.

    My faith is one built on a relationship with a God who died for me and loved me when I was his enemy. From this love, I am drawn to the commands of compassion for the poor and social outcasts. I thought I lived in a nation where these were also priorities. I have been proven wrong. But that does not change my resolve. I will continue to care for and protect those society tries to throw out. I will listen and empathize with all who feel unheard. I will do what I can to amplify the voices and stories of those who feel marginalized and voiceless.

    I take hope in the fact that God promised to bless Abraham, his descendants and the whole world no matter what. This blessing is not one of money, power or privilege, but one of restoring love. This restoration is what I am fighting for today and forever more.

    Remember, love has already won on that dark night when the curtain was torn in two.

  • Therapy Dogs and Rabies Treatments

    2016-10-18 • 📁 Therapy dog

    With a therapy dog at a hospital you quickly notice the patients that are there for rabies treatments. After recently being attached by an unknown animal, they don’t like the surprise of a dog in the hospital.

    There are a few that are different. Recently one told the staff that they were looking forward to my visit. They petted Chance and had a nice visit. They had brought company with them, and they too enjoyed Chance. Then the nurses handed out some dog treat, as usual, and right on cue, Chance’s “lab-ervore” took over. I always expect it and I am always in control of him, but he starts darting around trying to find all the treats. He wound up getting a bit too close to this patient and I’m sure it triggered some flash backs.

    After a few moments, and a lot of comforting, everything was OK. They even went back to petting Chance like before. This event was a tricky situation, but with Chance’s overall good behavior and training I think he helped make sure this person stays an animal lover.

  • With dogs, there is no need to speak

    2016-08-23 • 📁 Therapy dog

    Having visited a hospital for around two years, Chance has met a number of patients who can’t speak for one reason or another. Chance does not miss a beat. He will say hello to anyone whether they say it back or not. There was one patient who loved dogs, but had a tube down their throat.

    They were excited when we came in and sat up to looked at him. This was not a wise move for them. So they could lay down, I picked Chance up and put him in bed with them. They were so happy, you could see them smile. You could also see them trying to mouth the words “Good Boy.” I told them that Chance just loves pets and did not need anything more. I saw the relief when they realized they did not need to speak.

    Recently we had a very sad visit; grief is painful to everyone around. Chance can feel this, I see it in his movements. He becomes very calm, very slow, and very deliberate with all his motions. When the time is right, he goes to work. He sometimes reads the situation better than I can. He knows when to introduce himself, who to start with, and even how long to stay. Chance always lightens the mood, even in these grief stricken situations.

    He does this all without saying a single word.


    An Aside: There have also been patients who have not been able to pet him, and he rocks with them as well.

  • csv2deluxetable

    2016-08-19

    I have written and released my first utility! It takes a csv file and converts it to a deluxetable used by AAS.

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  • 3n+1

    2016-08-18

    This was the math problem that got me interested in problem solving as a career. Even though I choose a career in Astrophysics rather than Mathematics, this problem still holds a place in my heart.

  • Vera Rubin [Link]

    2016-07-23 • 📁 Astronomy

    Happy Birthday Vera Rubin! I love Vera Rubin’s story. The more I lean the more I am impressed. Today I learned that it was her 88th birthday from the following tweet.

    Please read about her from Brain Pickings or her Wikipedia page.

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