Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals

Am I ever going to learn

I should know by now that the best thing to do in the corporate community is to keep your mouth shut and head down. But no, I insist on having to make suggestions and sticking up for my fellow employee. For example the other day I was called into "chat" with my boss about my position in the laboratory. I told her a few of my thoughts on how to make things run more smoothly. Time passes next thing I know they are not going to renew my contract - and that they are posting for a more advanced position - "that if [I am] interested in, feel free to drop off my resume." That would be fun being interviewed by my current boss about a position that I was already doing. I might be inclined to drop off an application if it wasn't for the fact a buddy of mine was already getting the second position without applying. This way it works well for them - they can get rid of me without having to lay me off or cause an upset. I love the corporate community - no one is happy but if you try to suggest a positive change it is game over for you. Uh oh, here's someone who is strong and opinionated, doesn't matter that she gets more work done than most people, we need to get rid of her. I know I should have learned by now - my last role in a corporate setting should have taught me - but I refuse to let these people who sit in their office make decision that don't help anyone. Instead of bitching to my co-workers and needing stress leave I try to explain why people are upset to those in charge of the decisions. Instead of them listening and thanking me (or anyone in my position) they seem to be afraid. Well it's a good thing I've been looking for a new job.

posted by Angela @ 11:45 a.m. 0 comments

Today like everyday

Today after a quick game of tennis I do what I do everyday - looked for a new job. Why? I do have one and it is okay-ish, but ever since reading Naomi Klein and feeling somewhat empowered I want a job that pays me what for what I am doing, gives me benifits and allows for sick days. Which makes me realize that I am so glad we have a centre government cause a right-winged one wouldn't help me (or many other recent graduates) with our plights. This leads me to another thought - on the Boston Phoenix.com website there is a media log by BY Dan Kennedy who wrote on attending a campagin speech by good ol' George Bush; it included this fabulous quote

I drove up to Stratham, New Hampshire, on Friday to watch George W. Bush address the faithful at an outdoor rally and picnic. It had been four years - since the South Carolina primary, in 2000 - that I'd had a chance to see Bush in such a setting, and I'd forgotten how effective he can be. Not to mention how out of touch with reality.

Bottom line - join the anyone but Bush Camp!!!

posted by Angela @ 2:54 p.m. 0 comments

The Double Helix

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr. Francis Crick died last Wednesday. He, along with Dr. Watson, was Watson and Crick the bane of my Biochemistry Degree (along with many other researchers). These two discovered the shape of the double helix in DNA - with help from Dr. Roslyn Franklin. There is a lot of controversy (well as much as the biochemistry world can muster up) over the events of Watson and Crick receiving the prize. There were many researchers at the time, who were each coming up with very possible structures - many people think Watson and Crick simply used the ideas from other people and submitted their ideas first. For example Roslyn Franklin did all the x-ray crystallography work, which is the closest thing you could get to a "picture" of the DNA. Chargoff came up the A=T G=C base pairing rules. British researchers put the entire thing together but inside out. Watson and Crick saw this model and realized that the phosphate had to go on the outside with the bases on the inside (the model we are all familiar with) rebuilt the model and submitted it to Science (or was it Nature) magazine. "Their" discovery was then nominated to win the Nobel Prize. They won but many people participated in discovery what now plays a central role in the lucrative fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering.

posted by Angela @ 9:35 a.m. 0 comments