Miyazaki

Lately we have been enjoying the films of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese animator. We had already seen Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Howl's Moving Castle a while ago. A few months ago, I decided to try Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and everyone loved it. We then watched Princess Mononoke, and just last night, My Neighbor Tortoro.

These are wonderful films. The animation is drawn by hand, the characters are memorable and often highly imaginative, the music is excellent, and the plots are very good. Unfortunately, we are nearing the end of his oevre (remaining are Porco Rosso and The Cat Returns).

I highly recommed these films to anyone with children, or anyone with a vivid imagination.

cellphones and interruptions

A huge problem with cell phones is that they make you interruptible nearly all the time. So many times I'm sitting in the cell culture hood pipetting, or injecting a mouse, and the phone rings. It's a major problem just to see who it is because I usually have both hands occupied. I know, you can turn off the phone, but who wants to bother with that? Only when I go into meetings do I silence it completely. Not even vibrate; how many buzzing cell phones I've heard at meetings...

But one place I will absolutely not answer the phone is in the bathroom. That is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where no one can reach you. And it's just plain weird to talk with someone with your pants around your ankles.

Man and Woman

Viruses are female

This morning, my son Devin and I were talking about viruses. He told me that viruses are female.

Why, I asked.

Because, he said, viruses go into cells, and make more viruses. Females are the only ones who can make things. That's why viruses are female.

I never thought of it that way. Brilliant.