Archives for : Ottawa

It’s been a while ….

Posted by :David Manly On : March 1, 2010
0

Category: AAAS, Ottawa, San Diego, Twitter

Yeah, I know it’s been a while. Yeah, I know you all have been eagerly awaiting my next post.

I know, and I apologize. But, this term has kept me incredibly busy, and when you spend every day reading and writing, its hard to get the motivation to do it for fun. If I were paid to do so, that would be different (and I am currently accepting sponsorship offers) 😉

So, here is something a little different.

For those of you who do not know, I am on Twitter (follow me! @davidmanly) and have become quite an avid Twitter-er.

Therefore, so you can all know what I was up to in San Diego … here are my Tweets from when I left Ottawa for San Diego to my return.

Ohhh, and zoo pictures will be up soon 🙂

Enjoy!
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In San Diego, getting ready to go to some receptions. Little nervous, as this is my first time to meet and talk with prof. writers 5:45 PM Feb 18th

Ok, off to shoot a video and then attend some receptions … wish me luck! 5:54 PM Feb 18th

http://twitpic.com/140j6f – This door-knocker prevents disturbances and potential molesters from coming to you hotel 6:12 PM Feb 18th

http://twitpic.com/140myt – I saw the sign, I opened up my eyes and saw the sign … 6:32 PM Feb 18th

‘Think Canada’ button is firmly on my chest. Wooo Canada! #aaas 8:43 PM Feb 18th

Being given a pep talk by the president of the #aaas, who is also a Nobel laureate. 9:53 PM Feb 18th

Wooooo Plasmodium falciparum! I love parasitology and microbiology 🙂 10:20 PM Feb 18th

I’m in the same hall that has hosted #SDCC Marvel and DC panels, and yet, I am learning about aquaporins. Wooooo 😉 10:26 PM Feb 18th

I’m in the same hall that has hosted #SDCC Marvel and DC panels, and yet, I am learning about aquaporins. Wooooo 😉 10:26 PM Feb 18th

OK, ready to hear about the science of superheroes! Wooooo! #aaas 11:23 AM Feb 19th

Apparently, Masi O. and Milo V. from TV’s Heroes are supposed to be here #aaas 11:27 AM Feb 19th

All about making science ‘real’, and they worked on Watchmen, new Tron, Fringe and Caprica 11:44 AM Feb 19th

Watchmen screenwriter and author of Physics of Superheroes are also here. 11:47 AM Feb 19th

Saw a video with Brian and Stewie talking about science and the awesome reach-around that it is 11:57 AM Feb 19th

19/50 of top grossing films are sci-fi or superhero related 12:00 PM Feb 19th

Day after tomorrow … bad film with bad science 12:03 PM Feb 19th

Two good scientists in movies: Foster in Contact and Williams in Good Will Hunting 12:14 PM Feb 19th

Screenwriter from Watchmen is great and talking about the plausibility of science 12:21 PM Feb 19th

Death of Gwen Stacy is perfect example of kinetic motion and gravity 12:31 PM Feb 19th

Thank Quantum Mechanics for your iPod 12:38 PM Feb 19th

So happy. Shrodinger’s cat thought experiment is being discussed 12:39 PM Feb 19th

Science of Dr. Manhattan finally explained! 🙂 12:46 PM Feb 19th

Science of different powers on TV’s Heroes. Now? Invisibility and flight #aaas 12:59 PM Feb 19th

Last speaker: How do superheroes evolve? 1:13 PM Feb 19th

Best sentence so far: “A mutational innovation” #aaas 1:18 PM Feb 19th

Choanoflagellates … ancestor of multicelluar animals? 1:28 PM Feb 19th

I just met the woman who is the science advisor for the show Breaking Bad #aaas 1:50 PM Feb 19th

Worst sci-fi movie of all-time from the panel. The consensus is The Core #aaas 2:07 PM Feb 19th

Panel is done … 90 minutes till my next one about food allergies. Off to exhibit hall 2:15 PM Feb 19th

In the food allergy presentation discussing allergen detection and even a possible cure #aaas10 4:34 PM Feb 19th

No definite cure for allergies, so main way is reading food labels! Do you read them? #aaasa10 4:51 PM Feb 19th

One food contains multiple possible allergens that an individual could be allergic too #aaas10 4:57 PM Feb 19th

Cure possible? A researcher has shown that daily exposure to allergens do increase tolerance. #aaas10 5:26 PM Feb 19th

They expect that within 3 years, a treatment for allergies will be available, besides carrying an Epi-Pen #aaas10 5:41 PM Feb 19th

In a rather dry, but very important seminar, regarding scientist communication with policymakers #aaas10 6:56 PM Feb 19th

Ig Nobel prize discovery – the “rescue bra” which can quickly turn into a respiratory mask. I kid you NOT 8:57 PM Feb 19th via mobile web

http://twitpic.com/1483pm – The amazing RESCUE BRA! 9:05 PM Feb 19th

One last thing for #aaas10 today. Apparently, the first stage of love (obsessed stage) in the brain is identical to that of someone with OCD 12:24 AM Feb 20th

Just got into my first seminar of the day: Repairing our DNA. I’m looking forward to this one! #aaas10 11:27 AM Feb 20th

Room was EMPTY, but now starting to slowly fill up #aaas10 11:31 AM Feb 20th

One human cell has around two meters of DNA! WOW! #aaas10 11:35 AM Feb 20th

First presenter: DNA mismatch repair systems and why use model organisms #aaas10 11:44 AM Feb 20th

Fascinating stuff about yeast genetics (gene loss from genome rearrangements) and the rate of this is much higher than we thought #aaas10 11:54 AM Feb 20th

But don’t worry. Our cells have numerous repair mechanisms to combat this (but, nothing’s perfect) #aaas10 12:01 PM Feb 20th

“There is a method to my madness” – Comforting thoughts from a cancer/DNA biologist #aaas10 12:08 PM Feb 20th

New speaker discussing Xeroderma pigemnentosum (cannot repair UV dna damage and creates many cancerous lesions) #aaas10 12:17 PM Feb 20th

Over 400 cancer genes have been identified (aka oncogenes) #aaas10 12:24 PM Feb 20th

Last presenter: Importance of DNA double-strand break repair #aaas10 12:33 PM Feb 20th

Chemotherapy agents damage DNA, which can cause cancer #aaas10 12:33 PM Feb 20th

Students are falling asleep to the left and right, but it is fascinating (double-strand break repair mechanisms) #aaas10 12:42 PM Feb 20th

BRCA2 (known to be involved with breast cancer) is very important in double-strand break repair #aaas10 12:45 PM Feb 20th

Ahhhh snoRNA, how I missed you (pronounced snore-nah) #aaas10 12:56 PM Feb 20th

I asked a good question. Yay me! #aaas10 12:59 PM Feb 20th

Did you know that particle physics helped make the shrink-wrap around Butterball turkeys stronger? #aaas10 1:36 PM Feb 20th

Ok, break for lunch! In an hour, I’ll tweet from a press briefing about stem cells #aaas10 2:01 PM Feb 20th

Awaiting the news conference to begin #aaas10 2:58 PM Feb 20th

We need to think of cancer as a disease of stem cells, as that is where most begin #aaas10 3:17 PM Feb 20th

For stem cell therapy – “The science is just NOT there yet, but will be soon” #aaas10 3:23 PM Feb 20th

Umbilical stem cells work for a small child for blood-related cells. No lung, no brain. They are unproven #aaas10 3:28 PM Feb 20th

Met a nice girl from Texas today, and now I’m off to do an interview about women in science #aaas10 5:43 PM Feb 20th

Back to the hotel … exhausted, and it’s only 8pm 11:05 PM Feb 20th

Watching Frost/Nixon on TV … good times 🙂 11:46 PM Feb 20th

“I’m saying, that when the President does it, it’s not illegal” 12:38 AM Feb 21st

Mmmmm, Canadian Press breakfast …. #aaas10 11:18 AM Feb 21st

About to attend a presentation about women in science in US, Canada and the world #aaas10 11:30 AM Feb 21st

European Union has 27 countries with over 500 million people (bigger than the US) #aaas10 11:50 AM Feb 21st

“Women are not daunted by science, but are daunted by careers” – EU Commission #aaas10 12:06 PM Feb 21st

“Science is not biased, but people and employers are” – US representative #aaas10 2:31 PM Feb 21st

Had lunch and now in a sustainability lecture regarding communities #aaas10 5:14 PM Feb 21st

It seems that the public does not trust scientists to put society’s goals above their own goals #aaas10 5:26 PM Feb 21st

Little Timmy took a drink, but he will drink no more. For what he thought was H20, was H2S04 5:44 PM Feb 21st

http://twitpic.com/14mecm – You gotta start ’em young! 6:05 PM Feb 21st

I’m excited for this talk: Mutators vs. Anti-Mutators in Evolution and Medicine #aaas10 6:31 PM Feb 21st

Canadians everywhere are in mourning. So disappointing. However, we still have hope! #GoCanada 10:07 PM Feb 21st

Unexpected meeting with @MiPiAi was fantastic … made a day that was not going well turn great 1:22 AM Feb 22nd

I lost my umbrella today 1:22 AM Feb 22nd

GO CANADA! Ice dancing was grrrrrrreat 1:36 AM Feb 22nd

Got up and my computer has a problem. But, off to breakfast and then the zoo. No conference for me today 🙂 1:46 PM Feb 22nd

*Phew* Did most of the San Diego zoo in like 4-5 hours. It was a good day 8:20 PM Feb 22nd

Heading out to my first ever #TweetUp, with the fabulous @ArkhamAsylumDoc. Great way to finish up my last day in San Diego 🙂 11:01 PM Feb 22nd

#GoCanada! THAT’S how you ice dance 2:40 AM Feb 23rd

Airport fun!!! 1:16 PM Feb 23rd

http://twitpic.com/14xzf1 – Woooo! Exit row! I’m the go-to guy in event of a landing to open to door. Go me! 2:32 PM Feb 23rd

Landed in Chicago, had a quick bite of McD’s, and now waiting to take off back to Ottawa. Hopefully it won’t be too cold 🙂 7:20 PM Feb 23rd

http://twitpic.com/15041y – Hey David, it’s Canada. Welcome back … Sucker 9:33 PM Feb 23rd

When Home isn’t Home, and the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11!!!

Posted by :David Manly On : July 20, 2009
0

Category: Apollo 11, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Ottawa, Sick

Well, I’m sick.

I stayed home from work today, but they are still finding ways to slowly encroach upon my life. That being said, I have just a few short weeks left until I can finally cast aside the shackles of public affairs, and pick up the shackles of a Master’s of Journalism. Joy.

It’s not that I hate Ottawa, I don’t. It’s just not ‘home.’ You know?

Even though I’ve been here for almost a year, it’s not home. When I think about my future, it is not in Ottawa. Ottawa is for politics, not scientists. Ottawa is where scientists go for money, I should know, as I currently work there.

But, to put a happier spin on this post, it is the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing. SO, here are 10 interesting space & moon facts:

– The official name of Earth’s Moon is, “the Moon” with a capital M. All other moons are with a lower-case m to show the difference
– “Buzz” Aldrin’s mother’s maiden name was Moon, and his real first name is Edwin
– At 62,000 feet of elevation, without a pressure suit, your blood would boil (known as the Armstrong line)
– Every year, the Moon drifts 3.8 cm away from the Earth’s gravity
– 55 per cent of Americans know that the sun is actually a star. What the other 45 per cent think it is, I have NO idea
– During a full Moon, the Earth’s temperature increases by about 0.02 degrees
– There are THREE golf balls on the Moon
– Neil Armstrong’s footprint on the surface of the Moon will remain intact for approximately 10 million years
– Only 20 seconds of fuel remained in Apollo 11’s lunar lander when it landed on the Moon
– If you heat moon dust to 800 degrees Centigrade, it turns into water

Why is this night different from all other nights?

Posted by :David Manly On : October 25, 2008
3

Category: Chinatown, club, Haloween, Ottawa, pumpkins, rave, Vet hospital

That’ll be one for the books!

But, let’s start at the beginning. And the names have been changed to protect the innocent … and the guilty.

One of the people in the program, Bangs, came up with an idea to carve pumpkins on Friday. I was actually excited for that, as I was gonna bring out the dissection kit (complete with scalpel, forceps, the works) and impress everyone with my mad skillz. You ALL know I got ’em!

Then, a good friend of mine in the program, Starbuck, came up with an apparently brilliant idea. She went to a ‘funk’ party last month, and it was “AMAZING!” So, we all agreed to meet up at Bangs’ house for a bit and head on over to this place.

So, when I arrive, a whole bunch of people were already there, and we just sat and talked. Finally, Starbuck came with Buffy (another girl in our program) and sat for a bit before we decided to leave. When the time came, Starbuck called for some cabs.

Now, there were 10 of us and two cabs. Now, since cabs can only legally fit four, you think that it would go: four, three, three. Ohh, no no. We’re MASTERS students. It went four and seven! Bangs said it best, “It cost us $8 for the cab ride, and $10 for the extra two people. I got no change back from the $20. How does that make sense?”

We arrived at the intersection, and walked to the club. I should have known something was wrong, as there was a total lack of wildlife and the smell of sulphur. Little did I know we had entered Dante’s unknown 10th circle of Hell, Ottawa’s Chinatown district.

There were people outside the club dressed in Halloween costumes, and, I’ll be honest, it was a little weird. But, I figured they had just come from a party. Then, we walk upstiars and the distinct smell of bleach wafted through.
“Right. Starbuck mentioned that below this place was a Veterinary Hospital” … the weirdness has just begun.

Taking cover, behind two cauldrons filled with candy was a witch. Behind her was the angel of death, and some sort of pagan woman sitting beside her. I pay my $7, and walk in to the room blasting with music.

“Ohhhh, WOW,” was my first thought. Followed exceptionally quickly by, “WTF are we doing here?” It was a rave, and not just any rave, a Halloween rave, and not just any Halloween rave, A BAD Halloween rave.

Suffice it to say, everyone looked ridiculous dressed, no matter how you were dressed. You either didn’t dress up and looked stupid, or you were dressed up and looked really stupid.

And then, Starbuck walked in. The look on her face was something I’ll never forget. It was like some sort of perverted mix between horror, illness, shock, embarrassment and some shame thrown in for fun. She was NOT happy, and apologized profusely to everyone. She looked so sad and embarrassed, that quite a few of us gave her a hug and told her it was ok. Despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

Eventually, one of Starbuck’s friends came and told us that they were going to another place. By then, a few of us were at a table talking and making the best of our predicament. “I want my $7 worth” said Bangs. I agreed, as did a few others. So, Starbuck and Buffy left to escape the new found discovered level of hell, while we all stayed and played “Never have I ever”. For those not aware of how to play, someone makes a statement “Never have I ever… shoplifted”, and if you HAVE done it, you take a drink. Fun game, with some interesting tidbits that were shared, none of which will be described here (in breach of our implied confidentiality agreements)…lol

Eventually, we all decided to leave to get some food. Now, I’ll eat a lot of stuff, or at least try anything once. The only exception is fish, in which I am allergic too. So, wouldn’t you know it, we ended up at a Vietnamese restaurant. The only thing that DIDN’T have fish was the water, and I still stayed away from that to be safe! Ever person around me ordered something with fish or shrimp in it, which made me uncomfortable and slightly nauseous.

The conversation was quite random, but more interesting things were discussed. I learned that Bangs HATES cats, and that another girl in the program, Shark, LOVED the movie Sharkwater (hence the nickname) because I recommended it!

After food, we all decided to head on hoe and I went for a walk with Shark and another girl from the program, Golbal, to their places and then I would catch a cab. We had a nice conversation about life, liberty and the night in general. After we got to Global’s place, it was just Shark and I. And, during our walk, we discovered a beer bottle sitting upright.

“I really want to hit it,” I said. “Go for it, but hit it against the wall” said Shark.

So, I kicked it, HARD, and it hit the wall, bounced, landed and only the neck of it was broken! So, we decided to do it again, and I hit it even harder, and it bounced off the wall, hit the pavement and shattered. “I love the sound of breaking glass,” said Shark. Honestly, WHO doesn’t?

And, I took a cab from Shark’s place and got home at a totally unreasonable hour, but with memories that will last a LONG time.

Thank you Starbuck, for a night that, in all its ridiculousness, will live in the memories of all us who attended. Although, sadly, I don;t think you will ever, EVER live it down!

A court is a court, of course of course, unless that court is a court of course, unless that court is the famous Ottawa Court!

Posted by :David Manly On : October 23, 2008
2

Category: Big Bang Theory, Canada, Courthouse, murder, Ottawa

So, wanna hear what I did this week?

I FINALLY had my day in court!

It wasn’t for anything I did (not for lack of trying), but the whole program went to the Ottawa courthouse to learn how to be a court reporter. Fun stuff, right? WRONG!

We went there last Friday, and got a tour and had the opportunity to observe some live trails. I gotta admit, that was sorta cool.

The first trial was the Mental Health Court, in which a man was being sent for two months in a psychiatric hospital. Apparently, he suffered from schizophrenia and had delusions that he was an inventor that was about to inherit some money.
While the trial was interesting, it was also a bit sad. It was nice to see someone getting the help they need, and I wish I could see the follow-up two months from now to see if he has improved.

The second trial was a second-degree murder trial, where witnesses were being questioned. I thought this would be exciting, but I guess in my life, I should have known better!
Here is a sample of what happened.

Crown: So, when you intervened during this ‘incident’…
Witness: I didn’t intervene then yo, I broke up the fight latah!
Crown: Ok, so, when you intervened during the first incident…
Witness: I didn’t intervene. I didn’t do nuthin then.
Crown: Thank you. So, during the first incident, when you intervened.
Witness: *Stares at the Crown* I..did…not…intervene
Crown: While you were intervening, did you see anything?

HONESTLY, it was about 2 hours of this. The Crown just kept asking the same questions over adn over and over again. It’s like when a record skips, it’s entertaining for a bit, but then it starts to grade your nerves. So, I did what any student would do, I started falling asleep … IN A MURDER TRIAL!

Now, this week, we had to go to court on our own to investigate another trial and report on it. A few of us went into a domestic violence court, where there were 2 mini-trials occurring. I thought that it should be interesting to see a whole trial through to its conclusion. But, remember, what is the moral of the story? What I think will be interesting, is NOT. Trial 1 was adjourned because the Crown wasn’t there … the LAWYER WASN’T THERE! Honestly people, not very impressive.
Trial 2 was adjourned because the main witness could not be found. So, within a span of 2 minutes, I learned that the Canadian Justice System is kinda lazy, like me when I’ve eaten too much. “I could do it, but let’s wait and see what happens in a bit.”

Then, a friend of mine came up with an idea to go to the Criminal Courts to go see a marijuana growth operation trial. To be honest, it wasn’t that bad. The Crown was a little over-zelaous at points with his expert witness and had to be reigned in, but it was ok. And, never forget, the company was great.
Nothing like having lunch surrounded by four pretty girls and being the only guy 😉

As for the rest of my Ottawa adventure, everything is still the same. My grades hover in the realm of mediocrity, my food choices are slim, the climate is approaching what I like to call the next ice age, my money is sinking faster than the Loonie and my workload is so dense that if it was stacked upon one another, it would have it’s own gravity!

*Sigh* At least I have TV to keep me company… and with that, EVERYONE should watch the funniest show on TV right now. It’s called, The Big Bang Theory, and it is on Monday nights at 8p.m. on CBS.

Here are a few clips below 🙂

Fudge, Flask, Finger,Fungus, Feud, Fuse … and other F words

Posted by :David Manly On : October 7, 2008
2

Category: Chemistry, F, hell, J school, Journalism, Ottawa

*SIGH*

Journalism is hell.

Not like real hell, but more like a figurative hell. One with keyboards a clankin’ at all hours of the day, phone calls going unanswered, technological mishaps, pens burst, pencils snap… you know, like nightmare personified, but for J school students.

Well, as much as I thought I’ve learned from the past four-and-a-half weeks, apparently, it is NOT enough. I just got a swift kick in the arse back to reality.

In J school, we hand in a few assignments every week, and we get them handed back to us via email. I got one such assignment today. When I saw my mark, I’m pretty sure that my brain saw it and said: “DAMN! I do suck. I left Biology for THIS? Screw you, but I’m goin home!”

That’s right…. the other, other F word… FAIL

I have never failed anything in my life, except for 2 things.
1) First test in first year Chemistry…42%. But, I worked my ass off in that course from that moment on, and that test ended up being dropped!
2) Yeah, NOTHING ELSE!

The rules state that if you spell a person’s name wrong, you get an automatic F. I did not spell someone’s name wrong. If you misquote someone, auto-F. Not this guy!

I misspelled the name of the election district. I said Ottawa Central, instead of Ottawa Centre. Ottawa CENTRE. Wouldn’t Ottawa Centre be central too? I personally think that’s a better name… less confusion.

Not that it’s a big deal, as we get to re-write our assignments and get them re-graded. I finished the re-write, and I actually think it’s a MUCH better article than it was originally.

So, there you have it. I am a big F. But, if you add one more vertical line to an F?
F + I = A!
Now you ever said math didn’t have it’s uses?