Under construction

Poverty and racial inequality issues are far more prominent in Baltimore, than any other city in which I have lived. Maybe it because it is impossible to avoid as you drive from one yuppified section to another pocket of yuppiedom through some pretty tough neighborhoods. In cities like, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Chicago the stretches of "good parts" are connected so you can go years without seeing any problems.

I went to DC this weekend to celebrate A's birthday. A's sister lives near DuPont circle, and so that is where we started our day. We drank a pitcher of beer outside in an outdoor cafe, watching the white folk walk pass in their weekend dresses and khaki short uniforms. After some time in the Smithsonian, we trekked our way to the Metro to go to the DC Waterfront fish market. All in preparation of a special dinner for the birthday girl.

The joke goes: Two blond girls and an Oriental girl get off the Metro in a black neighborhood....

Actually, since moving to Baltimore, I have not felt as much paranoia as I once did, although in this case the torrential rains was making the neighborhood seem fairly gloomy. A needed a poncho/umbrella so the three of us ducked into a CVS. While A was debating what she wanted, I overheard a pretty awesome conversation.

Touristy old white couple with bags of food:
Excuse me [to a white lady], do you know this area well? We were wondering if that Safeway next door would sell wine. Or of a wine store nearby?"

White lady:
I think the Safeway might have a few bottle of wines, but I would not say it is a good selection. This neighborhood is under construction so there aren't any wine stores nearby. Your best bet is to go to the Harris Teeter[yuppie store of MD, DC, and VA] by Capitol Hill.

I don't know if the couple understood what "under construction" meant, but I thought that was an incredible diplomatic way to put it. I was feeling so superior that I got the code.

I woke up this morning and it was 68 degrees. I could not believe it. So I traded in my car for the bike to go to work. I should point out that my route to work does include some of the roughest neighborhoods in the country. And as I was pedalling through, I noticed a number of boarded up houses and signs that read "house under construction." Guess it really is more of an accurate term than a politically correct one. Guess who is the rube now?

When your opinions make you a bitch....

Topic: Michael Vick backlash.
Popular opinion: He is a scumbag. He should not be allowed back into the NFL.
My opinion: People are irrational. Why are people all up in arms about this guy? I would be okay with people being upset because he was involved in gambling, professional athletes can't cross that line. My issue is that everyone is angry because he was cruel and killed a bunch of dogs. Admittedly, this is the behavior of many serial killers, but as long as he is not killing a bunch of people I'll let it pass. These same people have no issue with meat, leather, or my area of expertise, animal research. Actually, these people don't even have an issue with Donte Stallworth or Pacman Jones. Why have we drawn the line at Vick? Is that going to be the new criteria for criminality, how much cuteness is harmed? Ridiculous.
Tangent: I am also maybe the only person in the state of California that voted to allow horse meat to be sold legally.

Topic: When is the right time to have babies?
Popular opinion: When a woman/man has found that perfect someone and both are well established financially and in his/her career.
My opinion: As close to their 20s as possible. When did we blind ourselves to basic biology? It is true women can have children into their 40s, but that normally occurs when it is not their first child. But having a first child, in your 40s will be statistically be difficult. (I'm talking statistics of a large population here, not anecdotes.) Women's fertility rapidly declines in their mid 30s unless there has been prior pregnancies. Luckily, with modern medicine there are IVF treatments to overcome that, but it can be a heartbreaking process. It infuriates me that we don't talk about these things in our society, because young women should be informed about the decisions they are making. In many east Asian countries if I repeated what I said here it would be fine, but among the overly educated American elite it is offensive. Really? The worst part is that they try to argue about it. These are facts. And lastly, children can survive a wide array of socioeconomic circumstances delaying the event does not make your child smarter, happier, more beautiful, or any less yours.
Tangent: Watch the movie Idiocracy.

Topic: Hypothetical sports match-ups
Popular opinion: Athletes of the past would be able to compete today.
My opinion: Don't be ridiculous. Athletes are far superior today than they were 30 years ago. That's just the way it goes. 30 years from now they will be better than the athletes today. I believe these match-ups are a complete waste of time.
Tangent: I really wish they showed less ESPN at bars, otherwise this topic would have never entered my radar.

One more strange work thing

For the past week, the boss of my boss has had the same urination schedule as me. Which I find strange because I do not have a set schedule. It would not bother me so much, except he always says "hi" to me as we both enter in our respective gender appropiate bathrooms. Today, he even started a conversation. I may have to start using the bathroom on the 5th floor if this continues.

Walk like an egyptian

Around 4:30pm, the office is filled with the sound of cell phones. I don't think there is a scientific correlation with elaborate ringtones and foreign scientists, but I feel like there is one there. The postdoc with a desk close to mine has "Walk like an Egyptian." Every 5 pm, I find myself humming this song in its entirety. Sometimes if I am in the tissue culture hood, I will go through the whole catalog of Bangles songs. Calgon take me away!