Author: cdwan

The furnace guy came out this morning, and it’s “all better” again. Here’s the scoop:

Home ownership details…

As I walked past the protesters this morning, I tried a different tack:

I didn’t talk to them, but I silently and deliberately wished each of them well, as fellow human beings. More happiness. Less suffering. The good fortune to do good works in the world.

That was hard enough. Apparently, I started with the really difficult stuff way too soon. The Dalai Lama focuses his compassion on the Chinese soldiers who are torturing his monks and nuns. I have trouble having compassion for a human being standing right in front of me. I’ve got a long way to go … but at least I know which way I’m headed.

redmed is wearing a graduation robe with a big long cape and a funny hat! Apparently this “Fellowship” thing involves costumes! Yay!

Truth be told, I’m about to lose it with joy. We’re starting to ritualize the End Of The Training. 27 freakin’ years. I’ve watched 12 of those. The rituals are spread over several months. When she put on that robe, I couldn’t stop smiling.

A comment by evil_genius spurred a lot of writing, and I’ve decided that it merits its own post. This is a continuation of the protester conversation.

my thoughts

My calm is in danger.

confrontation with the protesters

We had the opportunity to do a 5K run/walk this morning in support of research to treat fetal alcohol syndrome.

fdmts 22:33, aka 6m26s/mile

redmed 42:38, 12m12s/mile

That’s 30 seconds faster, per mile, than I’ve *ever* clocked myself before. I’ve also never run a race before. I suspect that I’m just a competitive fool. I was in the top ten overall, and as I finished, I heard an official congratulating the woman who had just finished ahead of me as the “fastest woman.”

Woo. Now, Cheetahs.

For the “Christianity was much better when they operated under threat of being thrown to the lions” files:

We’re here for the ACOG national meeting. That’s “American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.”

This “Truth Truck” covered in vaguely biblical rantings, flags, and pictures of dismembered fetuses is driving up and down the street in front of the convention centers. On one side there’s a picture of a man pointing two handguns at the camera, and the phrase “The wages of sin are DEATH!!!” Fortunately, the police are preventing them from loitering. redmed says that tomorrow there will probably be actual protesters with picket signs and stuff.

I don’t know which of these fools it was, specifically: these, these, these, these, or these.

I do know now, based on a few minutes of internet research, that this is an active and organized campaign. They directly threaten doctors. They advocate violence and murder. These are the doctor killers. Their stated goal is to intimidate doctors into quitting their jobs.

They are insane, and they are armed. They have killed before and they will kill again. They are here.

I take a certain satisfaction from the fact that it’s difficult to *actually* offend me. This offends me. It comes nigh unto enraging me. Some of their online propaganda claims that they are acting as “missionaries.” That’s such a perversion of the word as to be sacrilegious.

Christians: Please reclaim your religion. These fools are making you look bad.

Off to sunny San Diego for a half week not-really-a-vacation. redmed is speaking at the ACOG conference. I had frequent flier miles and wanted to hang out with her. Plus, I’ll be arm-candy at all the fancy dinners and stuff. Why yes, I would like another mimosa, thank you.

The most interesting part to me is that we’ve got tickets to the Wild Animal Park of the San Diego Zoo. Still more interesting, we’ve got tickets to see them run the cheetah. They give her a mechanical lure and lots of room to come up to speed. With any luck, I’ll get to see the fastest land animal running as fast as it can! Go stand by the highway and watch cars go by at 65mph. That’s CHEETAH SPEED.

Okay, so maybe I’m just loopy that I’ll be out of town for a couple of days. It’s all good.

Hey kids, once again it’s time for our annual reminder that everything you put on the internet is PUBLIC. This dude outed me in his news feed.

On the other hand, there was still more press: I spoke briefly with the author of BioInform, and was promptly credited with reviving the term “Sneakernet.” At least I didn’t say “These sequencers are going to totally screw you.” That was the manager of tech services at Wash U.

The article from my interview with HPC Wire went to “press” today.

Here it is.