Just Outside My Door...

First day of school is upon me! I'm currently entrenched and wading through the murky waters of Thomas Khuns' Structure of Scientific Revolutions. His vernacular is seldom dynamic and he tends to be very loquacious and verbose, as well as a little sexist, but the content is mind blowing and gives me a lot to think about. Especially as I enter the second year of my masters program and begin to ponder what it is I actually want to contribute, or can for that matter, to the scientific community at large.
Other matters that have nothing to do with school include our first successful home brew! We have made quite a tasty amber ale, we affectionately refer to as Fly Spit(or maybe I'm the only one, but the story behind the name reveals our adolescent first attempts at brewing). We currently have a second batch in the works, a decadently colored brown ale. Dark and rich, it will be ready just in time to match the mood of our environment and the color of the leaves strewn about the streets of down town Olympia.
I have left my project in good standing, a couple of two hnag attempts and managing to link it through the crux and to the crimpy finish from the last set of underclings. I haven't climbed a lick in 5 days now but I'm satisfied with where I am at. There is a lot of good conversation out there in the blogosphere, especially on Peter Beal's site. So what are you doing wasting time reading this? Click away my friends, I'll see you all soon.


Our 'Easy Amber Ale'


My neighborhood.

Shoe Covers

Occasionally some people suggest shoe covers as an alternative to shoe-removal.

I have expressed scepticism before that shoe covers can be worn with high heeled shoes. I find it impossible to imagine what an high-heeled shoe with a cover on would look like. Shirley Saunders supports my suspicion. She points out in her book that shoe covers can be damaged by high heeled shoes.

From an aesthetic point of view, I would not want people walking about my home in covered shoes. I want it to be a place of relaxation not a crime scene. In any case, I think most people would feel sillier and more self-conscious in shoe covers than in socks or bare feet.

Roundworms

Something horrible I learned from Shirley Saunders' book.

Roundworms live in the intestines of dogs and cats. They pass their eggs into the feces. These tiny eggs can survive in the soil for months.

You might not see any dog or cat plop on the ground on which you walk, but potentially you are picking up Roundworm eggs on your shoes.

If you allow shoes in your house, Roundworm eggs may be introduced onto the same floor on which your children play. It just takes your child one mouth to hand contact for her to become infected. Potentially she could develope lung problems as a result of infection.

Just take your shoes off and ask others to do the same. Its not rocket science.

Cafe.Mom: The No-Shoe Rule for Houseguests

Cafe.Mom: The No-Shoe Rule for Houseguests

Got my copy of 'Sole Truth About Those Soles!' by Shirley Saunders

I received my copy of Shirley Saunders' book 'Sole Truth about those Soles!' today. Shirley Saunders is a nurse practitioner in the USA who argues forcefully that wearing shoes in homes is a really bad idea.

Get your copy of 'Sole Truth about Those Soles!'

Treating other people with respect

re-post

We should always do our utmost to treat other people with respect.

All of us have little things that we are sensitive about. Other people might find it hard to understand those things and may think we are oversensitive about them. However, that does not mean that we should not take those things into consideration.

For instance, some people may not like to hear bad language. If so, you should try as hard as you can not to swear when in that person's company. You may think that is silly. You may think they have the problem, not you and they should deal with it. I disagree. I think that you should respect the fact that those people do not like bad language.

Some people may not like you to smoke when there children are present. You may think that is silly, after all they are not going to be affected by you smoking just one cigarette in front of them. However, perhaps these people do not want you to set an example to your children. You should respect that.

Likewise, some people do not want shoes to be worn inside their homes. This is something important to them.

You may think this is daft. If it is for cultural reasons you may think "They are living in the UK not in China." If it is to protect the carpet you may think "Carpets are meant to be walked on." That is fine. You are entitled to your opinion. However, you should still treat their preference with respect. They are fellow human beings who have the right to their preferences and opinions as much as you do. So please don't complain if you are asked to remove your shoes in such homes.

We should also not be afraid to state our preferences. Nobody is going to know that you would rather they avoided using bad language in front of their children unless you tell them this. In the same way nobody will know that you would like shoes-off in your house unless you make it clear. There is nothing wrong with expressing how you feel and asserting your wishes. You have the right to be respected.

Yahoo! News: Sydney glows red under outback dust storm

Yahoo! News: Sydney glows red under outback dust storm

I bet most people in Sydney are taking off their shoes at the door.