Sports: An Epidemic to Which I am Immune

Setting aside the hatred I had for playing sports when I was younger, the largely ignored ethical problems behind athletic franchises, and the hotheads who spit and drool over even the most banal match, I could summon up some appreciation for sports.

I recognize the time and dedication it takes to develop the skills we see professional athletes perform. I understand that some people legitimately enjoy developing those skills and playing sports themselves, that the odds and statistics behind them are fascinating to many. And I see that following certain teams and players gives many people a community feeling that they may not derive from other sources.

I just don't care. I can't. I've tried, and I don't. And part of me will never understand why others care at all.

I have many friends who feel this way, and I've noticed that those of us who completely exclude ourselves from the crowd of athletic interest are not given much room to say anything about it. People expect us to go on with our not-liking-sports, shut up and leave the rest of the population alone about it.

That would be all well and good if such a thing were possible. Trust me, we would love to do that. I would love to say, "Go on with your bad self," and turn a blind eye to the whole ordeal.

But tell me one place I can go, with the exception of my own bedroom, where I can escape this phenomenon. TVs, radio stations, merchandise, advertisements, casual conversations on the street, casual conversations others strike with me. I feel relatively sheltered from the whole thing at my small, liberal arts university, but I'm still right in the heart of Cardinal country, and god forbid I ever utter the fact that I'm partial to Chicago baseball.

Furthermore, it's almost impossible to bring up the sheer unreasonableness that is the salary of the pro athlete and how useful that money could be elsewhere. Why mention it if everyone around you is so heavily, personally invested in supporting such a thing?

I don't think it's the sports I hate - and I could come up with plenty of reasons to hate sports. I think it's the fact that I'm expected to care and know about this stuff, and truly getting away from it is a legitimate struggle. It's everywhere, and I don't think I could sufficiently express the honest, complete absence of concern I have for it. It's just true, literal zero.

To my sportsy friends: Imagine yourself being completely indifferent to a TV show. Say it's St. Elsewhere (it's probably safe to assume you're indifferent to St. Elsewhere). You don't dislike it, but you've seen it and you have no interest in seeing it again. Meanwhile, everyone around you is constantly talking about St. Elsewhere, analyzing it and speculating about what's going to happen next. You see St. Elsewhere ads and t-shirts everywhere. Everyone is convinced of its genius and significance, and the actors seem to be hailed as gods. Children emulate them, and the virtue of the St. Elsewhere actor rests on the pedestal of human ideals.

So you give it another shot - you think about all the great things you've heard about St. Elsewhere, and you put yourself in the shoes of those who paste the characters onto their walls, and you watch, intently. But it's all for naught - St. Elsewhere is incurably meaningless to you. When people bring it up, you feel a profound sense of boredom wash over you. And should you ever mention in conversation that you're not a St. Elsewhere fan, you find yourself being expected to shut up about it, to stop being a party pooper while everyone else carries on loving it. So you go home, and what is your wife watching? St. Elsewhere.

I can't change how much people care about sports, but maybe I can offer some advice for dealing with those of us who just don't want to hear about it:

First off, stop with the banter about what team we may or may not like, and leave us alone about our disinterest. We don't find it funny or charming - we find it deeply irritating.

If you are friends with us and you know we don't care about sports, it would mean a lot if you would at least try to talk about something else. Anything. Please.

If you find yourself with someone who seems to deeply hate sports and everything sports stands for, recognize the St. Elsewhere conundrum. Keep in mind the possibility that this person wouldn't be so adamant about the issue if they weren't bombarded with sports material whenever they leave the house.

And bottom line: know that we exist. Don't expect everyone at the table to be up to date on your team, and don't place the responsibility on them to be interested. We're not lazy, and we're not diseased - we feel lost in a world devoid of meaning that's dying to pull us in with it. Forgive us when we look out the window trying to find birds to watch instead.

Somdul - thinking about spirit animals

See, favorite, and share Somdul on DeviantART.

Been playing with the idea of spirit animals again. Here's a genet idea I'm really liking. "Somdul" means "balance" in Thai. I think the name serves him and the genet well.

Zulu Color Chart

First character I ever came up with who had the whole personality/history/design set. Love my boy <3

Let's Talk About Lake Natron: A Practice in Scientific Inquiry

There have been some photographs circulating through social media recently. You may have come across some eerie shots of what look to be petrified birds and bats, seemingly frozen in place during their everyday routine of doing whatever birds and bats do. These were taken by photographer Nick Brandt at Lake Natron in Tanzania, famous for its alkaline waters that are far too caustic to host most life.

Photo by Nick Brandt

The way these photos are presented, hawks, flamingos and other flying critters apparently come into accidental contact with the water and suddenly find their bodies calcifying, “turning to stone” mid-movement. The Verge took the story and dubbed it, “Lake of doom: deadly waterway calcifies any animal that dares to dive in.”

Take the photos and the surface information and of course it looks that way. I mean look at this fish eagle. He looks like he caught the White Witch of Narnia on a bad day.

Photo by Nick Brandt

But, as usual with popularized science stories, this is all far too simplistic, and it's a great opportunity to raise an eyebrow and question what we're seeing on the internet.

We can walk through the subject thoughtfully without a ton of work. Let's start by looking at Lake Natron.

photobucket.com

Surprisingly beautiful, right?

This lake is affected by a handful of conditions that render it dangerous for most life on Earth. It's located in a low region of the Great Rift Valley in eastern Africa, downhill from the continent's only active volcano. The ash that emits from the “Mountain of God” is comprised largely of sodium carbonate, an integral compound in baking soda. This ash drifts through the air and down the streams in the surrounding hills and ends up in Lake Natron. Natron lies in a basin, so it doesn't empty out any of its treasures to send elsewhere. This means all those nasty chemicals build up and create mineral deposits that don't get along too well with most living things.

To add to the trouble, Natron is a wide, flat, shallow lake, only a few meters deep. This means the water of the lake has a ton of surface area with which to absorb heat from the sun, but not much water underneath to take on the heat. During the dry season in one of the hottest parts of the world, this leads to extremely hot water. The water in the lake is quick to evaporate in such conditions, as well, leaving it ever shallower and ever hotter.

Late Natron's water even takes on a blood red color in some places, sealing the deal on its deadly appearance.

Wikimedia commons

So no, a 140 degree-F pool of red baking soda water is, as a general rule, not the wisest place to go. But do things really dive in and come out calcified?

Yes but no. As with all bodies of water, some animals find themselves submerged on accident – it's the nature of living near water. An animal that becomes drenched in the water when the lake is at high salt concentrations could certainly find itself hardening to death as a result, particularly if it is unable to rinse off the sodium carbonate somewhere else.

But the dynamic poses in Brandt's photos shouldn't fool you. Brandt found these animals dead on the shores of Lake Natron and, inspired by these stranger-than-fiction statues, positioned them in ways that convey some degree of life. Note that this doesn't mean Brandt molded the animals into position like barbies. He claims that they were as hard as stone, immovable, and he artfully staged the most preserved ones in the positions in which he found them.

Photo by Nick Brandt

It does take time, however, for this calcification to happen. Sodium carbonate doesn't solidify right away; it slowly dries into a hard, rock-like substance. This perhaps makes the photos more remarkable, as the birds don't appear to have been lying still and dead as the chemicals hardened their bodies; they were alive, experiencing the chemical reaction slowly and forced to cope with it.

So the water is dangerous, but this doesn't mean it's irrevocably lethal like the photos and their online treatment tend to imply. Some extremophile fish, bacteria and crustaceans live in Lake Natron's waters. The red color that makes the lake immediately remarkable is the pigmentation of an algae that thrives in Natron's high pH balance. The deathly blood red is actually a sign of abundant life.

Perhaps more impressively, this lake serves as the one and only breeding ground for Africa's lesser flamingo, which relies on the lake's shallow waters to protect their nests. The birds pile mud up into humps in the middle of the lake and roost there, keeping the eggs out of the water and deterring predators with the surrounding alkaline moat. Flamingos wade and feed in these waters in droves during breeding season and walk out of the water unscathed.

So, is there a gray lake in Africa that petrifies anything that touches it? No. While Brandt's stone-like statues draw fascination to this lake, the truth of its complexity is perhaps even more amazing. Lake Natron reveals the mind-bending resilience of life amongst its hot and stinky waters.

References:

http://www.moivaro.com/pages/lake_natron_tented_camp/lodge.htm

http://news.discovery.com/earth/photographer-rick-brandt-lake-natron-131003.htm

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/03/lake-that-turns-animals-to-stone-not-so-deadly-as-photos-suggest/

http://www.geekosystem.com/natron-birds/

http://www.geekosystem.com/natron-birds/

A self-assessment survey by Hank Green, completed by me

Early in the Brotherhood 2.0 project, Hank asked John to respond to a survey he sends to friends and family every year. I've been thinking it best to do some personal reflection, so I used that as a guideline.

This is all just for me, so I apologize it's not really interesting at all unless you really want to know what's going on in my life. It might behove you to fill this out yourself, though. You might answer these questions very differently a year form now.

1-6) Mystery questions

7) How long have you known Hank and Katherine?
Unfortunately I don't.

8) What do you want from us?
I suppose what I expect from Hank is just to keep creating constantly like he is wont to do, and to keep pushing me to be awesome, even when I'm sleepy and not feeling awesome. And for the Katherine...keep supporting and loving Hank.

9) What are you doing?
I'm getting my bearings back in St. Louis, on my home campus, planning a busy semester with lots of new endeavors. Right now I'm enjoying Orientation Leader training for the second time, preparing for a different leadership experience with different people but in a familiar position. I'm hoping to be ever-present, determined, and creative this year, because I'd like a shot at working as a coordinator.

Once school starts I'll actually be working on my BA in biology, rather than just talking about how I'm going to do it. Plus I'll get to plug at my philosophy major and religious studies minor some more.

As far as work goes, I'll be a Connection Leader again, and I'm really hoping to work with The Journal so I can start my science writing portfolio immediately and with the help of good mentors.

I'm also hoping this year will be good to our secular student group. That's going to require some consistent teamwork. Let's see if we can get that going this time.

I'm also watching a lot of Breaking Bad.

10) How much longer do you think you'll be doing it?
I'll be at Webster for another two-and-a-half years. Then my plans are wide open.

11) Why are you doing it?
Biology major: I want to learn about science and teach it to the world.
Philosophy major: I love to think, and I need the writing experience.
Religious studies minor: It's interesting and expands my philosophy background.
Orientation Leader: My experience last year changed me and my relationship with Webster, and I want to see what it can do for me and the other OLs a second time. And money.
Orientation Coordinator: I see New Student Orientation as something that is tailor-made for certain kinds of people, and I want to figure out how it can work better for people like me. Also money.
Connection Leader: Money and sometimes I can be helpful for new students, which feels good.
Journal: Science writing experience.
WUSSS: I want this club to be successful, recognized, and respected.
Breaking Bad: It's amazing and Aaron Paul.

12) What do you want to be doing?
I want to be living in a small but nice place with Carlos (the toad) and Kelton, with three rescue dogs and some rescue cats and maybe some rescue goats, growing food in my own personal garden, living in a warm climate and writing about science and philosophy. But I feel like if I were doing it I wouldn't know what to do next.

13) What is next in your life?
More college, more involvement, more friends and family, more self-transformation.

14) How you doin'?
As well as I've ever been. I'm not so hooked on fear that I have to find things to be afraid of. I'm open to opportunities, confident with myself and my relationships, and less sensitive to nonexistent dangers. I've been very happy for almost all of this year, and it's great.

15) What's the best book you read this year?
I've read half of A Game of Thrones. Does that count?

16) Describe a perfect day.
I wake up in my cozy new apartment, feeling abnormally well-rested in the early morning. Kelton is beside me. I'm up to watch the sun rise, and I go into my living room and open the windows for some sun and warm breeze. Kelton gets up to fix himself some breakfast while I nestle into the couch. No one on campus is awake, so I don't hear or see anyone around. I just sit on my laptop, catch up on my Youtube channels, and spend an hour or two writing something that is meaningful and thoughtful. Kelton makes me some oats before leaving to work out, and by the time he's back I'm all wrapped up and ready for a more active day.

I shower and fix myself up, thrilled about the way my hair is acting. Kelton and I grab the dog we don't currently own and take him out for a morning walk around Webster Groves. We pass some of my peeps - Kyla, Stu, Brooke, KP, David, etc. - and give them all hugs and hellos. Kelton and I end up at Starbucks, where we share internet discoveries and talk about our common interests. Then we hop over to Forest Park and explore.

We come back to campus to find that all my friends are free and wanting to join up. They come over to my place to watch Friends, and they all crack me up for hours. We play some Mario Party. I enjoy some lambic and chocolate while they visit. After they've gone, Mom magically shows up, and she and I lie on the couch watching Strangers With Candy together. After I snuggle with her and get sleepy, Kelton and I cozy down for bed. And through this whole day I'm never cold, not once.

17) Assuming that all things come to an end, how will humans go extinct?
Overpopulation and excess power over the planet's ecosystems will serve humanity more resource and safety problems than it can handle. People will not have the knowledge or the willpower to live sustainable lifestyles in harmony with everyone else, and the species will collapse on itself.

18) So how are you feeling about kids these days?
Don't want them. Take my ovaries, please.

19) In this space, create your own question and answer it.
What do reflections represent in Breaking Bad?
I haven't read anything about it yet, but maybe they are signals of Walt noticing changes in himself. Moments with reflections could be moments of taking personal inventory, noting the little shifts that bring Heisenberg to life.

20) "Ambrotso" tastes better than any other kind of food. What does "ambrotso" taste like?
Chocolate?

21) If you were a cliche, what cliche would you be?
Don't get your panties in a bunch.

22) What's your least favorite part of any given day?
Assessing how awake I am in the morning and deciding whether or not I'm committed to getting out of bed. I rarely feel rested.

23) Do you enjoy science fiction?
I enjoy science nonfiction more.

24) Cheese or chocolate?
Seriously?

25) What was your first concert?
Aside from in the womb, I think it was Phil Vassar.

26) Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
Asheville, North Carolina

27) Would you rather invisibility or time travel?
Invisibility. I don't ever want to fuck with time, but I often want to hide from people.

28) If you could start a business that would be instantly successful, what kind of business would it be?
A green/smart/sustainable car dealership.

29) What's wrong with the world?
There are too many simultaneously uneducated and self-involved people in it.
_____________________________

That ended on a bit of a cynical note. Here's this:

Trick Machines: Elephant

Some reasons why the elephant is not anatomically built for riding or for the tricks it does in circuses.

See this piece on deviantART here.

John says his favorite color is Green.

I drew John Green and stuff.

House Stark: Fabric banners available!

A soon-to-be-launched series of house banners from Game of Thrones and the Ice and Fire books. Email me at kaufmanhay@gmail.com for orders and questions.

Product and pricing information:

$49.99

$5 of your purchase goes to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

14"x36" - no other size options
Printed on a satin-polyester blend

Shipping charge not included

House Tully: Fabric banners available!

A soon-to-be-launched series of house banners from Game of Thrones and the Ice and Fire books. Email me at kaufmanhay@gmail.com for orders and questions.

Product and pricing information:

$49.99

$5 of your purchase goes to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

14"x36" - no other size options

Printed on a satin-polyester blend

Shipping charge not included

House Targaryen: Fabric banners available!

A soon-to-be-launched series of house banners from Game of Thrones and the Ice and Fire books. Email me at kaufmanhay@gmail.com for orders and questions.

Product and pricing information:

$49.99

$5 of your purchase goes to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

14"x36" - no other size options
Printed on a satin-polyester blend

Shipping charge not included

House Greyjoy: Fabric banners available!

A soon-to-be-launched series of house banners from Game of Thrones and the Ice and Fire books. Email me at kaufmanhay@gmail.com for orders and questions.

Product and pricing information:

$49.99

$5 of your purchase goes to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

14"x36" - no other size options
Printed on a satin-polyester blend

Shipping charge not included

House Baratheon: Fabric banners available!

A soon-to-be-launched series of house banners from Game of Thrones and the Ice and Fire books. Email me at kaufmanhay@gmail.com for orders and questions.

Product and pricing information:

$49.99

$5 of your purchase goes to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

14"x36" - no other size options
Printed on a satin-polyester blend

Shipping charge not included

House Arryn - Fabric banners available!

A soon-to-be-launched series of house banners from Game of Thrones and the Ice and Fire books. Email me at kaufmanhay@gmail.com for orders and questions.

Product and pricing information:

$49.99

$5 of your purchase goes to the American Association for the Advancement of Science

14"x36" - no other size options
Printed on a satin-polyester blend

Shipping charge not included

Riley: Cat.

Carlos Unimpressed

Carlos Unimpressed by Nukaleu

Indigram - July 5, 2013

A feature for Indigo.

photos edited on Instagram

Instagram if You Please

Just because it might be of interest to some, you can follow me on Instagram for a visual dip into my everyday life, image playfulness, and a lot of animal pictures.

I'll throw some creations I thought more interesting here. Maybe I'll continue as they're created, so you can always follow me here, as well!

Carlos Snooze

Carlos Snooze by Nukaleu

addiction to fear: i have it.

I’ve gotten to know two me’s. One of them is rather fantastic, and one is the root of all my problems.

One is upbeat, silly, rolls around in sweatpants and doesn’t worry about if her eyeliner is sitting just right. She laughs loudly and sees beauty in others’ flaws. She finds sunny days joyful, cloudy days cozy, and nights restful. Everything is colorful to her: people, places, objects, processes, ideas, abilities. She is uninhibited, empowered. She’s unafraid.

But the me that is afraid is horribly sour. She’s quiet, cautious, and still. The world she sees as hers is dull; the one she perceives to be apart from her is intimidating. Nothing she accomplishes is satisfying; others’ accomplishments only cause her to shrivel up more. She looks for problems, digs for minutia with which to be concerned. When she cries, it’s always ultimately because she’s terrified that she’s not strong enough, smart enough, impressive enough.

She creates real-world problems by fabricating them in her mind. She knows this. She knows that everything really is wonderful, that all she has to do is let go of that tightness in her chest. But she’s too afraid to do it, because what if her pride, her skills, and her reputation go away with it?

The answer, I think, is to distract her. She needs to be shown that living without fear is safe, but the only way to pull her away from it is to make her forget about it for a while. And sometimes, when it pops up momentarily, she might need to scare it away herself.

It makes me wonder if depression is nothing more than an addiction to fear. I think I’m going to treat it that way for a while.

E. Aster. Bunnymund

[Originally posted to Tumblr in "Solving Cubes" on May 20, 2013]

The fourth in a series of drawings to commemorate my favorite character designs in the world of animated film. I have 13 characters picked out.

Have any good-looking characters in mind that you think I should draw? Send me your requests for number 14!

4) E Aster. Bunnymund

Bunnymund from Dreamworks’ Rise of the Guardians has a talent for being both badass and adorable. He has athletic features with some softer ones in between: strong thighs connected to cartoonishly big toes; a built upper body covered in a feathery puff; eyebrows that are almost permanently stern, on a flat and angular face set into a head densely covered with cottony hair, all topped off with huge ears that are presumably as soft and flexible as they look. This midpoint between fierce and loving is essential to Bunnymund’s character, serving as a guardian to protect the happiness of children.

Drawing by me, pose original, character ©Dreamworks