week 1: Jan. 16-22

Possible External Triggers of Star Formation in the Orion -A Giant Molecular Cloud 

various species, freely mixing

I like pictures, and thought I would like to see pictures of stars.  Oftentimes i can understand things if I can see a picture, even better if I am the one making the picture.  The pictures used were charts that did not capture my attention, so I switched my attention to listening.  The subject was outside of my knowledge base and quite impenetrable for me so I spent the time listening and watching the interpersonal dynamics in the room, as if astronomers were a different species. This was more fun. They look like us and even dress like us, but the hairstyles were noticeably different.  
I noticed that even though they are a different species, they have many of the same 'issues' with each other that we picture-makers do.

Middle East Story Time

listening to stories of squirrels

I like stories.  I like telling them and listening to them and thought I would see if they are different in the middle east.  i forgot that the 'story' of stories being told was actually being told in Urbana, and I am quite familiar with that format.  I did pick up some big time warm and fuzzy watching the kids in the room and frankly, watching the parents watch the kids.  it turns out that even though many in the room did not know each other, they all had liking kids in common.