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March 31, 2008
[ traveling... ]
So, now where were we again? I must sincerely apologize for ignoring you devoted blog readers. I actually had a prospective student mention to me (g'luck on the decision if you're reading this!) that I have been MIA on the blog lately....Well, there are reasons for that, reasons for which many 2nd year students can relate to, but that are most likely inexcusable.
So, what's new in my life? Well...I've been proc statementing it with some data. Ended up deleting a whole entire data set [good thing for back up!] trying to make a silly old variable...uh, the 'set' statement, folks, is an important one, don't forget it! :)
Taste Diversity is coming up! This year we are having a talent show--so everyone should participate! For real. Us girls are doing an Indian dance, and I might also do a piano piece... There's gonna be tons of great food--and fun! So even if you can't do the talent show, you gotta come for the food....I've been also thoroughly enjoying my social epi class, which is entirely good, since I'll be dabbling in social epi for the next 4 years.....Oh, and btw, I shall make a decision about which school I am going to for my doctoral program next week, as this weekend, I make the decision...The other day was grad fest, and I went and got my cap and gown--yikes! Reality kicks in...! I'm both excited and a bit stressed, as that means the closer to graduation, the less time I have to work on my master's project....!
Well, I just wanted to quick check in, let you know I'm still alive....
Hopefully, my next post won't be so drab and boring....We'll see....Someone special is coming to visit me from Boston for one whole week! I'm SOOOO excited!!!! I'll give you a clue on who--ummmm...so, he's handsome, and Nigerian, smart, and....lol......
i know i know, i haven't graduated yet....but i'm almost there!
March 30, 2008
Fabulous Muscles
I had a fabulous week and weekend, though my muscles did not. Both my uppercuts hurt. I'm still on that inexplicable high I can't pinpoint. Maybe it's because everything that I've been doing I've been doing really hard. I'm not very good at faking anything, including energy and when I get into something I like, I'm really into it. Maybe I've just found venues for all my interests right now and I'm in a good place in my life to do them all.
My field experience, for example, is one way in which I take something and make an epic project out of it. This year's legislative session ends in less than two months and I definitely won't get my hours in by that time. So I thought it'd be really fun (I mean that it'd be fun. I know it 'sounds' sarcastic, but I am very serious about it) to extend my experience to get the full spectrum of the legislative process. This summer I'd love to meet with lobbyists with the Dietetic Association's interests in mind and learn their strategies and careers. Then I'd love to work with representative staff people (not sure with whom it would be) to compose a bill from scratch or work on a bill that died in session. I can gain that experience during the fall. Then I'm going to take the Legislative Action course next spring, which I hear is an experience where you get to follow a lobbyist around. Ideally, I could follow one with whom I've been working to really understand the whole spectrum. I love the energy at the Capitol.
I'm really excited to start researching for my final paper in my Eugenics course. I've been interested in exploring how art/theatre affected German culture between the wars and how the political climate affected art ever since I took my theatre history class as an undergrad. Now I'm getting to flush that out with from the public health and eugenic perspective. I have a feeling that this will be one of those things in which I am so interested that it will become another epic project....
And I've still been going out. I saw a local jazz/hip hip fusion band called G8 last Tuesday. I'm not very knowledgeable about that genre, but it was a great show. Friday night I went to the Whole at Coffman (the student union on campus) for a really good local show with the Birthday Suits, The Blind Shake and MCVL and it was Mute Era's cd release show. It was just a fun, loud night of music. And last night I went to a jazz warehouse party that was really awesome. It was one of those magical nights where I ran into many groups of friends, some new some old, that I never would have expected to be at something like that. I was out way too late and am paying for it today. I didn't feel like I was my best today while I sparred. In the third round, I took a vicious hook to the head and actually saw three stars in my periphery and sort of fell to the ground. I didn't lose consciousness or anything but it startled me. And now I have a massive headache. But I'll go back again. I'm going to fight before I turn 26. That gives me one year and six days to gear up. My mom will love to hear that.
March 29, 2008
Earth Hour
If any one went to www.google.com today, you probably noted that their home screen was entirely black. While I thought that my computer was surely on it's way to officially dying, I was reminded that today (March 29th) is the annual observence of Earth Hour.
"Earth Hour is an international event that asks households and businesses to turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour on the evening of 29 March at 8 pm local time until 9 pm to promote electricity conservation and thus lower carbon emissions."
I highly recommend that everyone and any one take part by turning off!
FMI:
http://www3.earthhourus.org/
I'm Sticking with Public Health, not Bracketology
I thought I’d drop a quick blog this morning since it has been awhile. For starters, we won’t even talk about my bracket now that Wisconsin lost (I believe a certain alumnus who made a comment on my last blog entry jinxed them, if you’re reading this you know who you are) and that Memphis continues to scorn me after I picked against them in the second round. So much for that.
School has been going very well of late. I’ve been learning a lot in my Medical Technology class. Last week we had a patent lawyer come in and talk all about how to get patents and how often you’ll be sued if you have a good product in hopes that others can also profit from your success. Actually this was pretty interesting, and something I knew nothing about so I feel like I’m getting a lot of good information on the medical technology sector. In about a month I have to present as part of a group project on medical devices that treat obesity, which unfortunately is a rapidly growing market with a lot of money to be had. On one hand it would be great to develop some more devices that could control obesity, but on the other hand (the public health hand I suppose) it’s a very preventable, but far from simple, problem.
I have been trying to be relaxed about the progress of my master’s project, but that’s a little difficult. When we’re able to do interviews, they go very well and dig up some solid information. But we have got to do more! I guess I was naïve in thinking that scheduling key actor interviews would be a piece of cake, but that is proving to be difficult. Until then I have been refining my introduction and methods section, but to be honest that’s not the fun part. I want to write about what we find and why it’s interesting, and preferably before the end of April. In the end it’s going to get done, and it’s going to get done on time (my job depends on it). That should be motivation enough.
Well the rents are in town so I’m off to hang out with them for awhile. Sorry everybody for jinxing the weather in my last blog. I got what I had coming because I wiped out on some ice walking to the bus, leaving me with an arm that still has some pain. At least it’s sunny and warm (high of 47) today.
See you around the blog.
March 28, 2008
Spring Break
Christie Martin is finally getting around to data collection after an unplanned hiatus!
Christie is grateful for wonderful friends in Chi-town!
Entertainment of the week:
La Chaya
4537 Nicollet Ave South
Minneapolis 55419
612.827.2254
www.lachaya.com
Minneapolis/St. Paul Happenings:
Go to: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/
Word of the Day, Tuesday March 25, 2008 (dictionary.com):
repine \rih-PINE\, intransitive verb:
1. To feel or express discontent.
2. To long for something.
Week at-a-glance (weather.com):
Wed Mar 26
Mostly Cloudy
44°/29° 10%
Thu Mar 27
Snow / Wind
38°/25° 70%
Fri Mar 28
Partly Cloudy
38°/23° 10%
Get Tips for Driving in the Rain
Sat Mar 29
Mostly Cloudy
41°/34° 20%
Sun Mar 30
Rain / Snow Showers
39°/31° 40%
Mon Mar 31
AM Clouds / PM Sun
42°/27° 10%
Tue Apr 1
Partly Cloudy
45°/31° 10%
Continue reading "Spring Break" »
WOW busy!
Hi everyone,
Sorry it has been a while. I went to Vegas as promised over break - it was a lot of fun but not the vacation I needed (I can't believe I thought bright lights and masses of drunk people would be relaxing)! It was a really good time though and I highly recommend the trip if you haven't been there.
THEN, once I got home, I took on the DMV and became an official Minnesotan - driver's license and plates! Now I admit that I was a little delinquent in doing this (I've been a student in Minnesota for 6 years now), but being a student just seems to be the excuse of the century in terms of not doing anything you're supposed to! Anyway, so now I'm a Minnesotan!
AFTER THAT, I had to start studying for a midterm I had this week. I have really, really, really bad "senioritis" (or second year MS student -itis I guess) and really hadn't planned to study a whole lot until I looked at the study guide and realized that I would not pass if I didn't study. So, 8 hours of NCAA basketball later (which was awesome last weekend) I had finished filling out the study guide and was feeling a little better about life (at least until Monday when I realized that I needed to commit it all to memory!)
THEN it was Easter - which was a day filled with church and family and some more studying. It was a great time!
THEN it was Monday. Back to school. If I'd had time, I might have cried about it, but as soon as break was over, school became its usual graduate school nasty self and I had to turn on full steam! This week I had a midterm, a hard assignment due and a new project for my RA. To get my week started right though, I went to a concert Monday night at the Target Center. I went to Seether, Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace with my brothers and some friends and it was AMAZING! I'm not a huge concert person (particularly because I like this kind of music and the concerts tend to get a little crazy) but we had great seats which were near the stage but not part of the "mosh pit" in front of the stage. I would see them again in a heartbeat!
NOW it is Friday and the concert buzz has worn off, but at least I made it through the week. This weekend will hopefully involve a LOT of sleep, maybe a quick trip to Duluth and of course, more homework and work on my master's thesis. I think I am finally starting to be ready to be done with school. It's scary but I think it's time.
Have a great weekend everyone!
March 25, 2008
Palo Santo
I still have that strange feeling like I'm on the pinnacle of something great but I don't quite know what it is yet. Everything I have been doing lately feels inspiring and it's making me feel unfocused yet really excited about everything.
First of all, I feel like a machine. I honestly can't believe that I've been able to keep up my lifestyle. I haven't really just chilled in months and I don't really miss it. I think I've found a new adrenaline that has been acting as caffeine, sleep and raw eggs in a glass all at once. I've still been going out a lot and keeping up with school and working out and friends. I'm beginning to hypothesize that the working out is what's keeping me alive, but I might be full of crap.
So I sparred for the first time this weekend with a friend of mine. It was the most fun I've ever had in my entire life. I've mostly avoided things that look like they'd hurt, but for some reason, boxing is exempt from that standard. I got beaten up Sunday. I got my first bloody nose and mouth and I had no idea until the round was finished. I'm really glad that already happened so now I'm not scared of it anymore. Had we been scored, I definitely would have lost, but I stuck in there, held my own and made her bleed a little too. But it was so freaking fun I can't wait to go again next week. My body hates me today though. Geez, I'm sore. I also took a number of body hits, maybe some of the soreness is from that too...no kidney shots though.
And I've been going to some shows lately that have been really awesome.I saw John Vanderslice and Steve Malkmus last week at First Ave. I'm not hugely into Pavement yet but it was a really great show. Then I saw X on Saturday. That's right, X. Like LA 1977 punk/post punk scene X. It was soooo amazing. They're kinda old to be doing what they're doing but man, they rocked it hard. Double encore. They held nothing back at all. And people watching at that show was a trip. There were a lot of older people you can tell were into the whole post punk scene in the late '70's but now they have kids and stuff. Then there was a handful of gutter punks and everyone in between. It was at the Cabooze which was the weird thing. It's a strange venue that usually has hippie jam bands play. This was not that scene. And last night I saw Black Mountain at the Entry. It was also rad. There are a lot of good shows coming up in April and May too. Actually, it's touring season again! And summer's closer! Then I can go out every night and it won't feel exhausting because it's warm and light!
And yesterday I went to a workshop called The Medical Arms Race: Health Policy, Media Coverage and Public Relations put on by the Journalism School. It was really great! I feel inspired to study more about how media affects health care and vice versa. The author of Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine is Making Americans Sicker and Poorer Shannon Brownlee spoke. I can't wait to read her book. It's a fascinating approach to a restructuring of the health system since ALL the resources are available, there is just too much waste. Then Susan Foote, a Public Health professor here spoke (she teaches Health Policy and I'll take it sometime next year) and also the VP of Communications and Public Relations from Allina Hopsitals and Clinics spoke. It gave me a lot of new things to think about.
Back to school this week. Home stretch!
March 16, 2008
Happy Spring Break
Even though it may just be a gesture or allusion to a break, Spring Break still puts me in a rather good mood if only it means that Spring is here (or right around the corner)! I know for many of us graduate students it only means we don't attend classes. Other than this, life, family, and work goes on even if we need a break.....I know I just got back from Budapest, but a tropical spring break vacation sounds dandy and feels like a necessity...
This past week essentially boiled down to adjusting back to this time zone and playing catch-up with all of my classes. Budapest was a delight (and I highly recommend it), but it certainly disrupted my school routine. The performances went really well, the audience was quite receptive, and we still managed to see some must-see Hungarian sites. However, I'm still a little hesitant with the food as it can only be described as the antithesis of how I normally eat. Nevertheless, a good time was had by us all...
Other than this, life goes back to normal: Research, Class, Thesis, and Rehearsals with the MN Opera and a show at the Southern Theater in May. I completely forgot that my Ethics class starts after spring break, which I am looking forward to since I find ethical conundrums and debate quite fascinating, particularly in the realm of public health and bioethics.
Happy almost-Spring!
The Sky's Run into the Sea
Man, I feel really lazy already. I mean, I've been really busy, but it's not been 'productive' stuff. It's officially spring break and I feel like it's already over and I haven't done anything productive. I've been doing stuff at weird hours and taking naps whenever I can squeeze them in. I feel like I really need to catch up/get ahead on Biostats because it's just slipping a little away from me but it's been hard to muster up the energy to do it so far. I'm not going anywhere this week; just working full time. My job's really awesome in that I can work as much as I need whenever. I've had an action-packed weekend so far. Friday, right after work, I headed down to the Triple Rock for an early show- Thao Nguyen and Xiu Xiu. It was an inspiring show. Xiu Xiu was incredible. They were amelodic, dynamic and powerful. Then I had a birthday party for a friend at Azia. I've never been there but it really wasn't my scene. Too clean and fancy. I felt like a hoodrat there. Then I boxed yesterday and was partnered with a tall dude and my shoulders hurt from holding mitts for him at my head height. It's good for me though. I took a friend's Butt and Gut Buster class out in Minnetonka and I feel that today too. Then I went to an amateur fight at the boxing gym last night. Man, it was a good show. There were a lot of exciting fights and a lot of bloody noses. I got to see some women fight which was also really cool. It's inspiring to me to become a good boxer and also to improve my defense so I don't get a bloody nose. At times it got painful to watch as someone would keep getting jabbed in their nose again and again and again. Then I saw Wayne's World at midnight at the Uptown Theatre. I freaking love that movie and have since like 1992 or whenever it came out. It was rad to see it on a big screen. It was not rad that it cost 9 bucks.
I feel like school's been dragging lately. I've been slightly lower on the motivation scale than normal but that probably has something to do with being too busy doing other stuff. It'll get easier as the nights are lighter longer and warmer. I really don't want to cut anything out of my life right now. I like it all even though it does feel like I'm going from one thing right to another. Maybe a 'mental health' day is in order soon. That's a legitimate sick day, right?
I have this slew of seemingly unrelated points of interest that I'm trying to figure out if they can be strung together to make a Ph.D. program. I would really like to study nutrition and exercise physiology, human ecology, sexual behavior, anthropology and history. Personally, I think they're all related but I'm wondering if I can convince someone to let me make that a program and what research that could entail and what I could do with it in the end besides know a lot about the topics. I will explore the options with a skeptic's view.
March 15, 2008
March Madness
Is there any month with a better name? Lots of madness is going on here right now that I need to tell you about.
First, and most importantly, the tundra is finally begin to thaw out. We had three or four straight days of sun and temperatures in the 40s. I don’t care if this is boring news to you, cause this is pretty exciting for us up here. I can actually see the grass again! Who needs to go south for spring break? I mean, spring has finally made its way here. By the way, I am not responsible for jinxing this beautiful weather if it were to all of a sudden get frigid again next week. Stranger things have happened.
Second, and nearly as important, my favorite sporting event is almost underway; the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Students and fans of the Golden Gophers are riled up as last night they defeated the favored Indiana Hoosiers with a “Laettner-esque shot” by Blake Hoffarber as the buzzer sounded. Hoffarber caught a pass from the opposite side of the court with 1.5 seconds left, turned on one foot and put up a one handed shot that went in to win! He’s already been named “The Minnetonka Miracle Worker” (he played high school ball in the neighboring suburb, where he sunk a championship-winning shot, from his butt no less, in 2005). So today the Gophers play Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament semi-finals. Very exciting stuff. This time of year is always so distracting for me, because you never know what’s going to happen in these games.
But March Madness could also apply to my schoolwork, specifically my master’s project. Two interviews down, two more scheduled, and six left to be scheduled. And oh yeah, with two months left until the whole thing needs to be done. So far the interviews have gone very well, but I need more to happen soon so I can have some time to write up the results. For now I’ve just been working on revising my introduction and methods section. My goal is to have those two pieces 99% completed before the interviews are over so that I can just focus on the last two sections in my race to the finish line. Not only that, but I received my employment information for my fellowship that begins in July, and in italics it reads, “This offer is contingent upon your completion of all MPH degree requirements.” Just a little added pressure. So in other words, I will finish this project on time, no matter what it takes. Goodbye social life and sleep in April.
Well until then I’m going to keep plugging away with some fine tournament action on in the background. Oh and before I forget again, I mistakenly excluded anything about Brett Favre’s retirement in my last blog. I think I was still in denial at the time. I was crushed, but not surprised. For us Packer fans it is a life-changing moment. I mean, the guy has started every game since I was in third grade!!! He’s by far my favorite sports figure and unless you’re a Packer fan, you truly don’t know how great he is and what he meant to the franchise. Thank goodness I’ve got plenty going on right now to deter me from dwelling on his retirement.
See you around the blog.
March 10, 2008
The push before spring break...
Hi everyone,
I think I'm in the same place as everyone...counting down to spring break! I decided last month that because it is my last school spring break, I need to go somewhere. My sister has the same spring break as I do (she's a junior at UW-Stout) and we are going to go to Las Vegas together for a few days. We tried to find a beach to go to, but by the time we were looking staying in a tent on the beach would have been the only option financially! I'm excited to take her to Vegas though, I have been there a few times but this will be her first time! We haven't really talked about what we're going to do but I'm sure it will be fun! We don't live that far apart, but we don't get to spend much time together, so it will be good "sister" bonding!
That being said, I need to get a lot of work done this week! I set the goal of turning a draft of my entire plan b thesis to my advisor by Friday. That sounded way more achievable BEFORE I started trying to write the discussion. But I'll keep working. I also have a few assignments due this week and an exam after spring break I would at least like to think about (or at a minimum, catch up on the reading for the class...oops!). I'll keep plugging along!
Have a great week!
March 09, 2008
Newsworthy Events
Christie Martin is excited for a trip to Chi-town!
Christie is grateful for AWD!
Entertainment of the week:
The View
2730 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55416
612.920.5000
http://www.viewcalhoun.com/
Minneapolis/St. Paul Happenings:
Restaurant Aura, Vox Medusa and the Suburban World present
MILONGA NIGHT
An evening of dinner, movie and dance
Saturday, March 15th, 6pm.
Schedule of Events:
6pm Wine Tasting with Sandra Deutsch of Salud America Wines
7pm Herencia Film with three course dinner service begins
9pm El Toro Tango Show
9:30pm Milonga Night with Tambuca and live statues, break dancers and fire dancers from Vox Medusa
For More Information, go to: http://restaurantaura.com/
Word of the Day, Sunday March 9, 2008 (dictionary.com):
gewgaw \G(Y)OO-gaw\, noun:
A showy trifle; a trinket; a bauble.
Week at-a-glance (weather.com):
Mon Mar 10
Mostly Sunny
33°/22° 10%
Learn to Keep Heating Costs Down
Tue Mar 11
Partly Cloudy
42°/24° 10%
Wed Mar 12
Few Showers
41°/30° 30%
Thu Mar 13
Few Snow Showers
39°/24° 30%
Grab Your Skis
Fri Mar 14
Mostly Cloudy
34°/19° 20%
Sat Mar 15
Mostly Cloudy
32°/18° 10%
Sun Mar 16
Mostly Cloudy
36°/22° 10%
Continue reading "Newsworthy Events" »
The Dream Ticket
Christie Martin is glued to CNN!
Christie is grateful for those who voted at today’s primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont & Rhode Island!
Entertainment of the week:
20.21 Restaurant
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
612.253.3410
http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/finedining/2021/minneapolis/
Minneapolis/St. Paul Happenings:
Billy Johnson
www.billyjohnsonmusic.com
Thursday, March 6th * 7:30-10:30pm
B-TEAM * Billy and George
At CRAVE * www.cravemn.com
Great Food/Great Sushi
Friday, March 7th * 9pm-close
Billy Solo
At Ruby Begonias in Stillwater
112 N Main ST * 651-351-5380
Saturday, March 8th * 8:30-11:30pm
Billy, Andra Suchy, and Andy Pierzina
At VIC’S * http://www.vicsdining.com/
Word of the Day, Monday March 4, 2008 (dictionary.com):
probity \PRO-buh-tee\, noun:
Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness.
Week at-a-glance (weather.com):
Wed Mar 5
Snow Shower
23°/4° 80%
Thu Mar 6
Partly Cloudy
17°/-3° 10%
Fri Mar 7
Partly Cloudy
12°/-1° 10%
Learn How Cold Affects Your Health
Sat Mar 8
Partly Cloudy
24°/19° 10%
Sun Mar 9
Mostly Cloudy
31°/18° 10%
Mon Mar 10
Partly Cloudy
34°/22° 10%
Get the Latest Flu Reports
Tue Mar 11
Partly Cloudy
39°/24° 20%
Continue reading "The Dream Ticket" »
Spring Break!!!
Hello everyone..
Yeap…it is Saturday night and I am on my bed with my laptop…catching up with so many writingggg..arhhhhhhhhhhhh (sorry..just want to express my emotion)!! If you’d happened to wonder where Thuy was for the last two weeks?? First, I must apologize for not keeping you up to date with my crazy life; second, I was basically trying to catch up for the last two weeks. I know…I know...the same - old story again. Let me get this straight, I am NOT a procrastinator…I just work much more effectively under extreme pressure!
One high light of last weekend was that I traveled to John Hopkins University for a Minority Health Profession Conference. It was one of the best minority student targeted conference I had ever attended. I was on a student panel talking about minority student and pursuing a career in public health. If you actually know me in person, you may know how I can really talk a lot! Well, there were about 5 people on the panel and I basically took most of their time. However, it was a great experience for me to share with undergraduate students my story of why I pursue public health instead of medical school. Unexpectedly most of the people there found my story interesting and I surprisingly became famous for that day!
In addition to me talking about my life, I also had the chance to meet Dr. Ben Carson and heard him talk about his life and success. Dr. Ben Carson is a world renounce neurosurgeon; he worked his way up from poverty. He has been my role model since my first year of college; having the chance to meet and hear him talk was amazing. There were so many points I took from his speech. One statement which I found very powerful was when he talked about public health profession works with the most important thing a person has – their health. A person can have everything, but without their health, everything becomes meaningless.
This is the last week before SPRING BREAK..yeahhhhhhhh. I am so excited about this break because I have been so overly stressed with everything that are going on with my life. My goal for spring break is to prioritize most important things and cut down other less important things (that would be so hard because I think everything is important). I will be back to DC this Thursday for another conference. I am very excited because I received a grant to attend this conference. If there is a place I want to work in the US….that would be Washington DC. I just love DC!
That’s my update for now. I have pictures to share with you from my trip to John Hopkins, unfortunately I need to figure out how to work my brother’s camera. I hope everyone is having a fantastic last week before Spring Break. Study hard and catch up before you leave for your vacation!
March 08, 2008
Walking With Thee
This has been a busy and objectively depressing week,...yet inspiring. First I will discuss the parts that make me swing to the side of pessimism. Monday night, I finally watched Inconvenient Truth. And realizing that the documentary is still 'entertainment' and data can be manipulated in almost any way to prove one's point, it still terrified me. I think it's going to be one of those things where in a few years we're going to wonder how the issue could have ever been a partisan issue that, although evidence exists, that one has to BELIEVE in. Kind of like evolution. It pisses me off when people make it a 'do you believe in it' issue when there is scientific data (and A LOT of it) supporting the 'theories'. And I really don't understand how issues like those become liberal vs. conservative issues. Politics would be far less frustrating if politicians used rational judgment based on scientific data to create legislation. Anyway, that was Monday.
Then Tuesday night I saw a documentary at a St. Paul library called View from a Grain of Sand. It followed three Afghan womens' stories about how progressive their culture was in the 1960's and 70's and then how conservative, misogynistic warlords (mostly funded by OUR government to fight those horrible commies with their oppressive ideals) made life absolute hell for women. I really can't imagine having my life the way it is and then one day being told I can't go to school and wear burqas on the few occasions I can leave the house. So that was depressing.
And then Wednesday night I was at a Senate hearing for my field experience. I'm following legislation on natropathic doctors obtaining credentialing. I really love the idea of natropathy, but being an evidence-based person, I find most of it difficult to project a lot of faith in their practices. I think more studies should be done on some of their practices, though. The Dietitians are concerned because the natropaths claim expertise on subjects like nutrition, which dietitians provide. They are concerned that natropaths will be providing advice and vitamins, supplements and the like to their patients without science-based training like dietitians receive. They did not gain licensure, but it looks like it may happen soon. Really, I'm not sure exactly what happened Wednesday night. Something passed, but I feel too shaky on the details to report.
Then Thursday I spent the whole day at the Capitol lobbing with the American Heart Association about childhood obesity prevention and access to health care for all Minnesotans. It was pretty awesome. I learned an incredible amount just being involved for one day! The Capitol is so full of energy. And also, I can't help but salivate over the architecture. The neoclassical style is what I studied in theatre and am still quite obsessed with it. I want to sit cross-legged on the floor and draw, but I'm pretty sure I'd be stepped on by Senators and lobbyists. And probably lose any credibility I may or may not have. But then my Eugenics class met at the Science Museum to see the Deadly Medicine exhibit. The class has been so thorough that I didn't feel like I learned too many new things, but it was a great exhibit. The exhibit design was particularly good. We were supposed to have a guest lecturer that evening from the Genocide Studies department but he passed away unexpectedly two days prior. It was really unfortunate.
So after that rough week, I needed some music. I saw a local jazz band, the Atlantis Quartet, at the Times Thursday night. I'm not well-versed in jazz by any means but I had friends going and it was fun. Then last night I saw a few bands at the 7th Street Entry. The Jealous Girlfriend was really fantastic. I good loud rock band with a female vocalist with Chan Marshall/Joanna Newsome style. A great juxtaposition. And there was a lame neo-60's-pop-country-band called Grand Archives. They were good at what they do, I just don't like what they do. Then the Most Serene Republic played. Crazy Canadians. They were pretty good. Kind of sounded like an hour long song with silly audience banter interjected every 3-4 minutes. Last weekend I saw Kid Dakota's CD release show at the Turf Club and it totally killed. I'm really into their new stuff. And I also saw Atlas Sound at the Tripe Rock. It was kind of a strange show, but interesting. Some very beautiful parts.
And SXSW starts this week. Wish I were in Austin. Maybe next year...
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Last modified on Monday Jul 02, 2007