Sho' me wat you workin' with!

So I got word today from one of my Chemistry students, that she earned an 89 on her most recent exam after getting 39 on her first exam. Whoo-hooo!!! Now I won't get into all the HHHAAAAAAARRRRRRDDDDDD work it took for her to get to this point. Let's just say that our sesisons involved me being a "Mama", tutor, and academic cheerleader. And this chick is Greek, so the "Mama-like sessions got a little fiery at times like when she came in threatening to drop the class, LOL!! Umm, hells NO!! Now, I've mentioned it before, it REALLY tee's me off that my female students have so many what I feel are "male science professor" induced bouts of academic insecurity like this young lady. Like REALLY tee's me off!

Anyhoo, one of my favorite things to say to my students when they come to me claiming to have finally seen the "Chemistry" light, is "okay, show me what you're working with". And that brings to mind this VERY unrelated rap song, which is the source of that line:

Running from the scope, again!!

So I had an informational interview for a bioinformatics gig with a company today of which, 75% consisted of the questions were about my experiences in Pathology. P.A.T.H.O.L.O.G.Y. YEP! So what's an informational interview? It's my term for an interview where you submit an application, something or someone scans/reads it, then the company sends you a link to questions to fill out to see if they want to interview you further.

And that was ironic, because I did a couple virtual "unknowns" on the Hopkins Pathology unknown website eariler in the day. Then that was followed about an article about the new malpractice rules for Hospitalists on MedScape:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/779319

Rut roh! I kinda' got that "yikes, patient care is a mess" crook in my neck again and realized that things seem to be getting worse over time in patient care.

Anyhoo, things seem to be leaning in the Bioinformatics direction again which is good, with my tutoring maintaing at a steady pace too. Overall, I can't complain! :)

Taking the "S" out of STEM

These days, I've spent a LOT of time on various blogs, reading story after story of US trained PhD's discouraged over the current job situation. And it's a VERY sad especially when you know a few of these folks from your interactions with them on the net. Take for example "Tom" (not his real name) who has a resume to die for but hasn't been able to find a permanent gig for about 18 months. Now the guy is having regular meals at the soup kitchen because he can no longer afford to feed himself. Or Shiva (not her real name), and brilliant Indian chick who's a divorcee' and single Mom and is also struggling to find full-time work. It's not hard our here for Scientists, it's a ROYAL bee-yotch for many!!!

Well until the job situation improves I can not in my right mind, encourage ANYONE to consider a career as a Scientist hence, removing the "S" from my support of STEM fields. Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (my "M") ALL look promising but Science careers, hells naw! And this is unfortunate because by the time the US realizes how much the lack of people pursuing these fields is going to cost them, they will have LONG since lost ground in being a leader in ground breaking research.In fact, I'm predicting India and possible China will be the next sites for the next major scientific and medical research discoveries for reasons too numerous to name.

And that brings me to my next point about the financial behemoth called big pharma. Let's face some facts here, this industry has NOTHING to gain from a healthy America, absolutely NOTHING! Combine that with their lobby (and Gov't officials according to some) and you have the perfect recipe for why most major diseases will NEVER be cured. There's just too much money being made in sickness and dying/death. So as an unrelated example, I've made a personal choice to ONLY buy high end items from consignments shops, eBay, thrift stores, ect. to keep from making already rich people rich. And I've decided the same thing when it comes to my health. I'm going to go overboard maintaining a healthy life style so I decrease my contribution to the what I feel is the worst industry on the planet, Big Pharma.

Do you, Boo!

Many days when I take a spare moment to contemplate where I am in my career, I come to the conclusion that I often don't know what da' hell to think. Yes, I'm enjoying being a part-time Chem prof, tutoring folks, and working on my certificate in Bioinformatics. But that missing thing for me is medical school and will be until I matriculate.

A couple days ago I was talking to a very close friend of mine when she said something that made me pause, then "check her" on that statement (not in a neck rolling way, LOL!). She said that she thinks that whatever God wants for us we already have. And my first thought was that that was the BIGGEST LIE I'd ever heard. Why? I'll explain with an example, I wasn't born with ANY education, so did that mean that God's plan was for me was to be ignorant for the rest of my life? Or what about when I finished my first college degree, did that mean that God only intended I have just one?

I don't think God's plan for us is to have just one "finish line" or goal in life, otherwise, what would be the point in living after you got there? I think God's plan is for us to live life as a series of success AND failures, and that each of those occurrences not only contributes to who we are and who we become. But those stories ultimately become our "life fabric". People say that when you hear a negative sounding "message" you should take into account the "messenger" because there's often some aspect of their own life they're unhappy, with when they can't share your dream. And while I value this woman's presence in my life VERY much, it's now pretty clear to me that I should keep my goals of becoming an MD/PhD to myself. I mean, we can still be cool, but I learned a LONG time ago that not everyone in your life is going to support whatever dream you have. And that's why you have to be REAL careful about whom you share it with. Nuff' said on that.....

Earlier today, I read an interesting article about reasons to get a PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology and I was led there from an article about the differences between bioinformatics and computational biology fields. And that later article made a light bulb go off in my head. For YEARS, couldn't wrap my mind about being a "Bioinformatician" because it just didn't seem to "fit". But this article along with some research into the field more aptly describes how I see myself, in the field of Computational Biology as opposed to Bioinformatics. I guess for some, this is really splitting hairs, but "fit" has ALWAYS been important to me or I'd already have a PhD. I need my program to "fit" who I am. So what's my definition of Computational Biology? The use of computers for the analysis and intrepretation of Biological data, which means that all the work I've done in Pathology/Biomarkers comes into play BIG time!

Speaking of "fit", it seems appropriate in this crazy life of my mine that as soon as I "think" I've made a decision, something happens to throw a wrinkle in that "plan". I got word last night that I'll be starting a work-from-home gig in Bioinformatics in April according to the guy who recruited me for his new Biotech start-up company. Of course, as a Biotech start-up that start date could be anytime. And this means that we don't have to move for me to do what I want to be doing right now. And that's cool, because I was thinking earlier today that it would be kinda crazy to move now then have to move in 1.5 years for med school too.

So is this a lesson about my faith (or lack of) in God's plan for me? Seems so, I'm just looking forward to no longer being the butt of God's jokes when I talk about my ever changing "plans", ROTFL!!!!

Lastly, as I see myself morphing into a NEW woman (courtesy of peri-menopause, LOL), I'm thinking of changing not only my blog "name" but blog addy as well into something that reflects where I feel I am in my life right now. VERY clearly, Path may or may not be the "path" for me pun intended, and I want to make sure that I put as much open and positive stuff into the universe as I can.

March 2013- From comment to post

Long time Path201X blog follower's comment: "Hey scripper scrapper, Please don't block me out. I enjoy reading your posts."

Gotta LOVE your friends and supporters from the INTERNET, ROTFL!

And thanks to you too Anon for the virtual love!

The thing is, I can't figure out how to configure this thing for username/password access (so much for my computer programming abilities, LOL), so for now I'm going to leave my blog open to racists, haters, and others who would dare try to ruin my dream. Plus, I personally find having to enter so much stuff on a blog site a BIG pain in the arse, so at least for now, I'm leaving it be. The thing is that I ALWAYS forget that I'm married to a highly experienced computer hacker, so there's not a whole lot going on on the INTERNET that couldn't be addressed one way or another. And that's my not so vainly disguised threat to my haters to think REAL hard about who you're dealing with. Cyberstalking IS a crime and I don't need an IT trained husband working at a certain G'ovt agency to know that.

Movin' on, after a family discussion, or should I say that I've always had my family's support on this, I think I'm coming around to the possibility of moving out of Metro DC MUCH sooner than later because deep down in the crevices of my heart, I really, really, REALLY want to do some type of research, Bioinformatics using research. And these days with the craptastic market for Scientists, beggars can't be choosers. So now, I'm going to follow-up on some of those opportunities I get which will require a move. And based on the emails I've received about positions, that includes about 10 states.

Unfortunately, this latest threat to my med school app by a hater who didn't like my comments means that I won't be sharing where I'm moving to or what school I'm attending since I plan to keep talking 'ish about racism, ageism, gender discrimination, how much Pharma cheats and SUCKS, and anything else I deem unjust or unfair. And like it or not, TRUTH brings the devil like stank on sh......, opps my bad, I'm tyrna keep it clean, LOL!!!

Anyhoo, I had a really good day today, I'm seeing my 3rd client which means my throat is hurting a little (I shoulda' had tea instead of coffee with my lunch). But it also means that Mama is getting P.A.I.D, cha-ching!

In an Erkle voice "Do I look fat???"

I've always found it interesting what different cultures consider overweight or fat. And since I recently posted on a site where it was insuinted that I had a weight problem, I guess you could say that it prompted me to post this picture I took of myself ~ 2 weeks ago.

So why are having curves considered "fat" to some people (white folks)? Better yet, why is being morbidly obese considered attractive to others (Blacks/Hispanics)? The weight issue in this country is at the heart of why I don't support Obamacare in it's current form. Put bluntly another way, I do NOT suppoort free healthcare for folks who have NO interest in thier own health. Or that smoke. I DO think they should pay MUCH higher premiums for their lifestyle choices although I have no idea how this could be enforced.

So with that said, I guess I'll "sat" my "fat" a$$ down somewhere. Or is that "phat" a$$, LOL??? Thank goodness "beauty" is in the eye of the beholder!

PS- I can't believe I just spent HOURS "debating" a stalker that called me fat! URGH,lol!!

PSS- What 'da hell is Beyonce thinking with a song with lyrics like "bow down b*tches??? Really Bee?

Who runs the world?

WOMEN!!!! Definitely NOT "girls", but I get that lyrically, women wouldn't have fit quite so nicely!

I got word this morning that I'm being considered for an Epi/Informatics fellowship with a major agency and also for a real Epi/Informatics gig. So, I'm pretty happy right now! Yeah!

I've also been thinking a LOT about this PhD "issue" and I now I'm thinking that I should let my next gig dictate which direction I go (so it will be paid for among other reasons). If I get a full-time faculty gig, I think the Science education route would make the most sense. If I can get an Epi or Informatics gig, emphasis on the Informatics part of that, then a PhD program in Informatics will make more sense.

I think.

*Images from google images