Grad school can sometimes be painful.
I like discussing papers at journal club. I read most of them and try to contribute something to the discussion. I may not have the wisest thing to contribute but I try to take away something from every paper we discuss because I feel that 1 hour is my chance to get an insight into how people think when they read papers and how they might view things differently than I do (which is often the case). I really like the process of learning in that hour of journal club.
Students are required to be at the journal club even though they might have a million other things to do. Sometimes it feels like a bother, but in the end I think everyone learns something and also contributes something to the discussion if they spoke up even ONCE during the club. It is almost the nature of science. You cannot be in the thick of it and stop yourself from being involved. Every discussion at journal club is valuable because it is the collective sharing of thoughts that you might not get to hear when you are reading alone.
Faculty, perhaps, play an even more significant role in such journal clubs. They bring to our table their significant experience and expertise in the field. Their comments are almost ALWAYS worth hearing and their input is deeply appreciated. It's that rare hour where students can get an insight into how professionals in their field view any paper and research process.
However, all faculty are not mandated to be at journal clubs if they don't have the time. Since many of them are extraordinarily pressed for time, and have several competing interests, they don't come. Which is fine because if they feel like they have the time to make it, they do contribute to the discussion and that is always beneficial to all the students.
So, it hurts like hell when faculty you admire do turn up to the journal club (supposedly because they could make time for the club in their busy schedule), don't pay any attention to the discussion at the club because they were working right through it and then abruptly get up and leave midway without a word of explanation.
It hurts too much.
I guess it's part of growing up in grad school with faculty and other students subbing for your missing family. The lesson perhaps, is that your interests will never match up with everyone else's at the table and you cannot expect everyone you academically admire to make a trial at mentoring at the club, however brief that hour or even part of that hour might be. What I am really struggling with is do I prefer brutal honesty where the faculty tells you that the paper you picked is an utter waste of time or a completely silent cold approach where they do come but they just leave midway perhaps because they don't think it's worth their time to even say anything.
I think I pick honesty. Silence hurts more than I can express.
Tinypliny's Journal
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07/26/2011 19:09 #54793
Grad school painsCategory: whine
07/24/2011 23:33 #54784
All the VERY best, e:heidi!Category: e:strip
We all know you will clear it smoothly and with flying colours!
A zillion good wishes and more coming your way!!
A zillion good wishes and more coming your way!!
heidi - 07/26/11 19:56
A rockette? That's awesome. Thank you!! :-)
A rockette? That's awesome. Thank you!! :-)
tinypliny - 07/26/11 19:38
It didn't translate too well in the scaled down png but it was a "rockette" like performance artist with a huge plume hat, feathery wings and a shimmering dress with a wand and giving you a "tada!" sign. :) I guess it does come close to tinkerbell... though I forgot about that totally!
It didn't translate too well in the scaled down png but it was a "rockette" like performance artist with a huge plume hat, feathery wings and a shimmering dress with a wand and giving you a "tada!" sign. :) I guess it does come close to tinkerbell... though I forgot about that totally!
heidi - 07/26/11 19:31
I love the heart above the first i... is it a butterfly, tinkerbell or fireworks above the second? Rainbows and unicorns to you, too, (e:tinypliny)!
I love the heart above the first i... is it a butterfly, tinkerbell or fireworks above the second? Rainbows and unicorns to you, too, (e:tinypliny)!
paul - 07/25/11 21:58
Good luck!
Good luck!
heidi - 07/25/11 17:58
Thank you so much!!!!
Thank you so much!!!!
07/23/2011 20:02 #54772
The fry pan has arrived.Category: eating in
I am thrilled to bits. I have already made and devoured a full pan of stir-fry vegetables and tofu. I am now planning to put it through the acid test by making bread in the pan.. maybe tomorrow or next weekend.
The pan heats up amazingly fast. Compared to my older pan, the walls heat up to a crazy temperature so stir-frying takes even less time and sauces are thickened quickly. Somehow my watery stir-fry seemed to take on a more intense taste when cooked in the pan. I may be biased by all this anticipation that has preceded the pan. So I will reserve my final judgment for a couple weeks and see how it holds up.
The pan is an absolute JOY to look at. It's exactly like the photograph in the post below. However, it's not as heavy as I'd hoped it would be. It's around 5.5 pounds. That's nearly 2 pounds less than what I thought it might be. But it's gorgeous. I especially like the beautiful handle on the dome lid and the polished surfaces. I have already put a few scratches on the internal surface with my stainless steel spatula but I am not too sad. The pan needs to earn its battle scars to survive in my kitchen.
The pan heats up amazingly fast. Compared to my older pan, the walls heat up to a crazy temperature so stir-frying takes even less time and sauces are thickened quickly. Somehow my watery stir-fry seemed to take on a more intense taste when cooked in the pan. I may be biased by all this anticipation that has preceded the pan. So I will reserve my final judgment for a couple weeks and see how it holds up.
The pan is an absolute JOY to look at. It's exactly like the photograph in the post below. However, it's not as heavy as I'd hoped it would be. It's around 5.5 pounds. That's nearly 2 pounds less than what I thought it might be. But it's gorgeous. I especially like the beautiful handle on the dome lid and the polished surfaces. I have already put a few scratches on the internal surface with my stainless steel spatula but I am not too sad. The pan needs to earn its battle scars to survive in my kitchen.
libertad - 07/25/11 22:39
They have wooden spatulas but I don't cook with the plastic one I have, I use it for lifting when the item is done cooking.
They have wooden spatulas but I don't cook with the plastic one I have, I use it for lifting when the item is done cooking.
paul - 07/25/11 22:03
Cooking with plastic sounds disgusting. I am sure they have "good plastic" but I am sure thats what they said about bpa plastic before. I mean think about how many chrmicals are in plastic. I would rather have several wooden spoons.
We have some bamboo spoons they seem a little less absorbent but I am concerned about whatever they use as the glue.
Cooking with plastic sounds disgusting. I am sure they have "good plastic" but I am sure thats what they said about bpa plastic before. I mean think about how many chrmicals are in plastic. I would rather have several wooden spoons.
We have some bamboo spoons they seem a little less absorbent but I am concerned about whatever they use as the glue.
metalpeter - 07/25/11 16:54
Oh Tiny all Indian Food tastes the same....Kidding ..... It is like when a Chinese places says they have both Manderian and Cantonese food.... Ha.....
Plastic if you watch it and don't leave it there should be fine.... Just like if you used something metal with a metal handle at some point the hand would get burned......
Oh Tiny all Indian Food tastes the same....Kidding ..... It is like when a Chinese places says they have both Manderian and Cantonese food.... Ha.....
Plastic if you watch it and don't leave it there should be fine.... Just like if you used something metal with a metal handle at some point the hand would get burned......
tinypliny - 07/24/11 22:26
But then I need to have one spoon for dessert-y stuff, one spoon for north-indian, one for south, one for thai and another one for fusion... That would drive me nuts...
But then I need to have one spoon for dessert-y stuff, one spoon for north-indian, one for south, one for thai and another one for fusion... That would drive me nuts...
heidi - 07/24/11 21:47
Wooden spoons are wonderful. They get seasoned with all the oils and stuff, that's how they're supposed to be.
Wooden spoons are wonderful. They get seasoned with all the oils and stuff, that's how they're supposed to be.
tinypliny - 07/24/11 21:35
I am not very worried about things sticking though. ;-) That's what oil and butter is for. hehe
I am not very worried about things sticking though. ;-) That's what oil and butter is for. hehe
tinypliny - 07/24/11 21:34
I was thinking of using wooden spoons.. but they are notoriously difficult to wash and forever retain the smell of not only garlic but every spice they come into contact with. I had one of these spoon (some fancy french thingy that my landlady gifted me) and the only thing I can remember is I was ALWAYS scrubbing my skin off because I couldn't get them to smell neutral. Eventually, I just left it in my flat in ROC. I hope the next tenant liked it more than I did.
I was thinking of using wooden spoons.. but they are notoriously difficult to wash and forever retain the smell of not only garlic but every spice they come into contact with. I had one of these spoon (some fancy french thingy that my landlady gifted me) and the only thing I can remember is I was ALWAYS scrubbing my skin off because I couldn't get them to smell neutral. Eventually, I just left it in my flat in ROC. I hope the next tenant liked it more than I did.
libertad - 07/24/11 21:00
It will if you leave it in the pan. I mostly use them when they are off the heat. Wooden spoons and such for when they are on heat.
It will if you leave it in the pan. I mostly use them when they are off the heat. Wooden spoons and such for when they are on heat.
tinypliny - 07/24/11 20:07
Don't you think the plastic might melt though?
Don't you think the plastic might melt though?
libertad - 07/24/11 19:43
Yay! Someone gave me a narrow plastic spatula that has holes in it and it has turned out to be one of the most useful things I have in the kitchen. You should probably get something similar because I would think the scratches will eventually make it easier for your food to stick, but that is just a guess.
Yay! Someone gave me a narrow plastic spatula that has holes in it and it has turned out to be one of the most useful things I have in the kitchen. You should probably get something similar because I would think the scratches will eventually make it easier for your food to stick, but that is just a guess.
metalpeter - 07/24/11 10:15
If there aren't pictures of the food you made then it didn't happen....HA.... Glad you enjoy it.... Now you just have to test it with some beef stir fry and those extra ingredients ....Kidding glad it is working for you.....
If there aren't pictures of the food you made then it didn't happen....HA.... Glad you enjoy it.... Now you just have to test it with some beef stir fry and those extra ingredients ....Kidding glad it is working for you.....
07/22/2011 22:27 #54769
Armstrong 220711Category: goals
Day 5: 14x
Reason for stopping: breathlessness.
Status: I think I stop breathing or breathe very less when I do these push-ups. Next time I must remember to breathe as deeply as I can. Maybe it's the hypoxia that is limiting the number of push-ups I can do.
Reason for stopping: breathlessness.
Status: I think I stop breathing or breathe very less when I do these push-ups. Next time I must remember to breathe as deeply as I can. Maybe it's the hypoxia that is limiting the number of push-ups I can do.
paul - 07/23/11 14:46
I totally believe that. Try and get one complete in/exhale for every pushup.
I totally believe that. Try and get one complete in/exhale for every pushup.
07/22/2011 20:52 #54768
Fry Pan Excitement, Part IIICategory: eating in
Jul 22, 2011 6:30 PM
Departed FedEx location
SYRACUSE, NY
Jul 22, 2011 5:29 PM
Arrived at FedEx location
SYRACUSE, NY
YIIIIIIIIPPEEEEE! It's in NY State now!!!!
Backstory: (e:tinypliny,54740) (e:tinypliny,54752)
A teacher if they are kinda there just for insight could say different things and give you pointers or what ever as say a reader.... but say they are there as not a guide as your teacher they would kinda be telling you how to write your Paper?
Hmmm... I am not quite sure what you just meant there (e:metalpeter). ;)
I don't know enough to comment but I'm going to any ways.
What if you had all ready put in say 1/3 of work or time into something and a teacher who isn't say your teacher says it stinks as an example would that make someone start all over? But what if your teacher thinks it is great?
Also is this teacher official.... Say from a Personal standpoint they think it is silly or dull but from the professional side they have a different view.... Cause they aren't in class so it isn't the same thing....
I'll use an example of me.... At work there are certain things that If I said about someone being lazy or doing stuff wrong or being a bad seed to my boss or a boss could cause all hell to break lose..... Now If I'm at a bar pounding beers or smashing something out side and we are off the clock I could say.... Well trying to kill the pain of that hell hole I work in and forget about all those lazy people.... Then we are off the clock so we could talk and he could give his perspective.... Now on the clock there would be meetings I assume.... But off the clock and away from work it is different is what I was getting at.....
i'm with you. i think silence is more painful. as hurtful as "this sucks" can be, it can also be part of the learning process, future selection processes, or even a hand in helping to direct further attentions. or even if it isn't. sometimes, knowing honestly where someone stands can be liberating.