(posted by Smag-Al)
It's that time of year… RFA time, when the foundation's scientific advisory board, comprised of a select bunch of highly respected scientists, convenes for a two-day meeting to review all the applications for this year's round of grants. It's quite the dazzling, nerdtastic 'melding of the minds'; there's so much brain power in this building right now, the air is almost palpable.
As with other scientific meetings, a spirit of gleeful one-upmanship accompanies this event, as the nerds are let out of their cages (read: universities/labs) and encouraged to intermingle and exchange ideas, but mostly just attempt to prove to each other that whatever obscure research project they've been slaving away on over the past several years has had (or will soon have) some sort of measurable effect on the scientific community at large. Case in point, this discussion I overheard in the elevator this morning, on the likely contenders for this year's Nobel Prize:
Nerd 1: "So, do you think John* will get it this year? That stuff he's been doing with enzyme X is amazing."
Nerd 2: "What about Ben*? I'd say he's definitely in the running."
Nerd 3: "Nah, I mean, Ben does everything, but to win you really need to focus on just one thing… and 'help humanity.'"
[nerdy chuckles.]
Nerd 2: "Ben sure isn't gonna cure cancer anytime soon."
[more nerdy chuckles all around.]
Nerd 1: "John will definitely get it sometime in the next 5 years, but I don't think this is his year."
Nerd 3: "But have you HEARD what his lab's been doing lately?"
And so on and so forth.
As Lydia said when I gave her the recap, it's crazy to think that we're 2 degrees separated from a future Nobel Prize winner.
* Names have been changed; nerds deserve their privacy, too.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Smags in Atlantic City... worst idea ever...
(by Smag-Lydia)
Nothing on the East Coast is more ghetto than Atlantic City. "What?!" you ask, "How about all those inner city parts in all major metro areas?" And I would respond, "yes, but an unfortunate and fortunate attribute to those inner city parts is that you can avoid those areas if you don't want to be harassed. In Atlantic City, they're mixed in with the crowd. You can't avoid them if you TRIED."
Here's a small sampling of comments the SmagTwins Al & Al got when they went down to AC on Tuesday afternoon. (note: this is in DAYLIGHT)
[excerpt from an email from Smag-Alex]
As we're walking down the boardwalk this afternoon: "hey do you want a happy ending?" His friend standing nearby is just saying "f*******ck, f*******ck" the entire time we're passing by.
Two men pass by in one of those carts pushed by some poor dude: "squishy squishy squishy squishy squishy"
I have no idea what that second one meant, but it was definitely said in a really lewd way. Why do gross men feel they're entitled to shout obscenities at small Asian girls?
[end email from Alex]
Why DO people feel entitled to do that? I've discussed this with Alex before, and we're confused why people who are in cities/places where there is a constant flow of Asians (many of whom who speak perfect English) feel compelled to yell weird things like this. We don't understand the choice of words either. Squishy, squishy? Al and Al are tiny girls with a really low body-fat ratio, so it can't be a physical attribute comment... Also, if you've read our blog from the beginning, you'll remember that a fellow smag and I were harassed with a shout of "CHICKEN CHOW MEIN!" in Times Square late at night. I don't run by Polish people and yell "PIEROGIES!"or the like. How does a leering gentleman choose what to say to someone? What are they trying to accomplish, and has it ever worked for them?
Of course, Atlantic City is different place when you have more than 2 smags in your travel group, and also different when you have some jasians with you. (Jasians = jacked asians)
Nothing on the East Coast is more ghetto than Atlantic City. "What?!" you ask, "How about all those inner city parts in all major metro areas?" And I would respond, "yes, but an unfortunate and fortunate attribute to those inner city parts is that you can avoid those areas if you don't want to be harassed. In Atlantic City, they're mixed in with the crowd. You can't avoid them if you TRIED."
Here's a small sampling of comments the SmagTwins Al & Al got when they went down to AC on Tuesday afternoon. (note: this is in DAYLIGHT)
[excerpt from an email from Smag-Alex]
As we're walking down the boardwalk this afternoon: "hey do you want a happy ending?" His friend standing nearby is just saying "f*******ck, f*******ck" the entire time we're passing by.
Two men pass by in one of those carts pushed by some poor dude: "squishy squishy squishy squishy squishy"
I have no idea what that second one meant, but it was definitely said in a really lewd way. Why do gross men feel they're entitled to shout obscenities at small Asian girls?
[end email from Alex]
Why DO people feel entitled to do that? I've discussed this with Alex before, and we're confused why people who are in cities/places where there is a constant flow of Asians (many of whom who speak perfect English) feel compelled to yell weird things like this. We don't understand the choice of words either. Squishy, squishy? Al and Al are tiny girls with a really low body-fat ratio, so it can't be a physical attribute comment... Also, if you've read our blog from the beginning, you'll remember that a fellow smag and I were harassed with a shout of "CHICKEN CHOW MEIN!" in Times Square late at night. I don't run by Polish people and yell "PIEROGIES!"or the like. How does a leering gentleman choose what to say to someone? What are they trying to accomplish, and has it ever worked for them?
Of course, Atlantic City is different place when you have more than 2 smags in your travel group, and also different when you have some jasians with you. (Jasians = jacked asians)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Happy Smagmin day! (that's Admin Day to you non-smags...)
Yes, we two smags are currently admins at a foundation that spoils the crap out of us. Not only are all the ladies at the foundation attending a posh luncheon at the Pierre tomorrow, but since we're out for most of the day -- they delivered gorgeous flower arrangements to all the admins today in honor of Admin Day (tomorrow). Each admin got a different arrangement! Here's mine:
I know we're totally spoiled here. I'd completely forgotten how awesome it is to be delivered a gorgeous set of flowers. (also, we both know we're terrible at regular blogging, but we'll work on that.)
I know we're totally spoiled here. I'd completely forgotten how awesome it is to be delivered a gorgeous set of flowers. (also, we both know we're terrible at regular blogging, but we'll work on that.)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Happy Opening Day!
What better way to brighten up a gross rainy cold day than with an Opening Day Yankee win?!?
This is the exact time of year that I get inklings of resentment towards "The Other Smag" for not letting us get cable at home (read: access to all baseball games) - even though she's absolutely correct predicting we would just plop ourselves down in front of our tv and never leave. (Heck, I already sometimes do that with just network tv. Do you know what's ON network tv? Nothing!) Does this give me just cause for spending money on MLB.tv this year then? I spent all yesterday afternoon listening to the CBS radio coverage of the game while doing work.
This is the exact time of year that I get inklings of resentment towards "The Other Smag" for not letting us get cable at home (read: access to all baseball games) - even though she's absolutely correct predicting we would just plop ourselves down in front of our tv and never leave. (Heck, I already sometimes do that with just network tv. Do you know what's ON network tv? Nothing!) Does this give me just cause for spending money on MLB.tv this year then? I spent all yesterday afternoon listening to the CBS radio coverage of the game while doing work.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
THE SMAGS TAKE SAN DIEGO!!!
Yes, we two smags are gonna be in San Diego the second week of May 'on business!' And we will take that Gaslamp District by STORM. Please send me some food recommendations so I can fully plan all my meals for that trip. Yay also for flying business class. It will be my first time flying anything but coach! holla back, youngin'!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Happy Pi Day!
Yes, it took 3.14159... to get me out of accidental blog-retirement. I wish I'd had the foresight to make those pie crusts like I was tempted to (just cuz I felt like it), because then I'd be making a fresh pie tonight without having the hassle of making the crust - which as Alex can attest to is usually the part that takes me the longest. For Thanksgiving, I made two crusts and then promptly refrigerated them and went to bed. Don't have the work ethic and time management to do both parts in one day. (I will say that while I love the below image, I'd like to think that my pinch-crimping is much prettier than in this pic. First image is not my pie, second image IS my pie.)
Isn't it kind of a smag-tastic thing to want to do something like bake randomly? I feel like smags like to do random creative things like this... or perhaps it's not random on Pi Day.
** EDIT** I made my Key Lime Pi Pie last night. Here it is! If I'd just bought a ready-made graham cracker crust, we could have eaten this right after Law & Order, but as it was, I sat there for an hour and a half slowly stabbing at graham crackers with a wooden spoon until I gave up and used my hands. Didn't finish this puppy until 11:56pm - just in time for the end of pi day! And I'm glad I didn't wake up the other smag with the loud noises from making the whipped cream.
Isn't it kind of a smag-tastic thing to want to do something like bake randomly? I feel like smags like to do random creative things like this... or perhaps it's not random on Pi Day.
** EDIT** I made my Key Lime Pi Pie last night. Here it is! If I'd just bought a ready-made graham cracker crust, we could have eaten this right after Law & Order, but as it was, I sat there for an hour and a half slowly stabbing at graham crackers with a wooden spoon until I gave up and used my hands. Didn't finish this puppy until 11:56pm - just in time for the end of pi day! And I'm glad I didn't wake up the other smag with the loud noises from making the whipped cream.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
How long can 2 smags go without internet in their apartment?
... Over 3 years! That's how long!
So after moving into our new apartment from the one down the street, VznDSL was frustratingly unable to move our service from one to the other. I collectively wasted over 15 hours of my life on hold or talking to someone from VznDSL (this is a conservative estimate). In a silly act of defiance, Alex and I decided that we didn't need it anyways - living for the time being, off my Blackberry. I'm still pretty impressed that we've gone this long without cable or internet.
But everything changes next week. We've decided to get REAL internet service --- no more trying to steal wifi from neighbors, no more heading to Starbucks in emergencies, no more begging friends of friends in our neighborhood to use their computers (cuz really, that was awkward, even if James' friends are the nicest people in the world!). We will be able to take work from HOME! This is good -- because a true smag is connected in at least 3 different ways (my guess is (1) iPhone/BB; (2) High speed internet; (3) 2nd iPhone/BB...). With the addition of #2, Alex and I will be connected in the proper smag way. Well, I have an iPod touch instead of #3, but with wifi, I'll be able to dl apps to my heart's content! Congrats to US for finally getting internet!
So after moving into our new apartment from the one down the street, VznDSL was frustratingly unable to move our service from one to the other. I collectively wasted over 15 hours of my life on hold or talking to someone from VznDSL (this is a conservative estimate). In a silly act of defiance, Alex and I decided that we didn't need it anyways - living for the time being, off my Blackberry. I'm still pretty impressed that we've gone this long without cable or internet.
But everything changes next week. We've decided to get REAL internet service --- no more trying to steal wifi from neighbors, no more heading to Starbucks in emergencies, no more begging friends of friends in our neighborhood to use their computers (cuz really, that was awkward, even if James' friends are the nicest people in the world!). We will be able to take work from HOME! This is good -- because a true smag is connected in at least 3 different ways (my guess is (1) iPhone/BB; (2) High speed internet; (3) 2nd iPhone/BB...). With the addition of #2, Alex and I will be connected in the proper smag way. Well, I have an iPod touch instead of #3, but with wifi, I'll be able to dl apps to my heart's content! Congrats to US for finally getting internet!
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