It has been awhile since I last read on the planet of microbes. After reading this article you’ve shared, it really does put a big smile upon my face because it’s fascinating how these deep ocean creatures strive through extreme conditions with the absence of light for survival. It is an optimism and a sign of hope I am desperately in need of now, after constantly dealing and staring at cancer tumor cells which are totally depressing.

Recently in my class, we were discussing on the detrimental effects of global warming and ways to counter and mitigate the issue. Here’s the article which I thought you might find to be interesting too: http://www.agribusinessweek.com/forest-farming-is-a-profitable-solution-to-global-warming/

Paul: Thanks so much for sharing that beautiful story. It took me back to the other summer nights I felt that way when I was a teen, stealing away with a boy past curfew, but always with something so innocent in mind–a moonlit walk, a held hand if I was lucky–those really are the most pure and romantic times of a girl’s life. I still think of those boys from time to time, with such fondness. So I’m certain the cute Canadian girl still thinks of you too from time to time, especially when she misses how relationships were once so simple.

Sam: Well, to answer your question, I’ve been avoiding choosing between music and science for five years now, so I may not be the best person to ask for advice! I go to school for a semester, then take off two years to write, record, and tour for an album, then I go back to school…this is my life. And it hasn’t been until recently that I’ve felt the need to choose. Both endeavors are really satisfying, but they’re satisfying in completely different ways. For me, making music is this visceral, completely self-induglent (maybe even selfish) thing in my life that is rewarding on an emotional level. It’s not challenging for me to write music. Maybe it should be. But it almost feels more like an effortless purging of creativity, and since it comes easily, it doesn’t really keep my attention. I like recording music best of all because getting a song to sound in the studio the way it does in my head is actually really challenging and fun. I wish I could spend all my time recording, but touring is important too for other reasons.
Science is a different animal all together. Maybe I’m a sadist, but there’s nothing I like more than feeling consistently stupid–which I get to experience all the time when I’m in class. It’s frustrating and humbling to feel like I don’t understand anything at all, but when those moments finally do come of “getting it”, well, that’s what I live for, that’s what motivates me. So all I can say is do not just what you love, but what you find fascinating. Something that keeps your interest. It’s not bad advice to take when choosing a partner, either.

Miza: Wow, you’ve really sold me on the observatory in Singapore! Now I’m disappointed that I didn’t go when I was there. Well, hopefully next time.
Sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate with your research, but it also sounds like you’re doing something really worthwhile. Good luck and hope to meet you in the future! Oh, and Annie is doing great! She’s due in November and is the most beautiful pregnant lady I’ve ever seen.

Futureboy: Forget the calculators and rulers, it looks like whatever you’ve programmed on your website is WAY smarter than my methods! So, I assume if you get the job in NYC, you’ll be calculating Mannhattanhenge as well?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattanhenge

And in regards to Pee Wee, I’ve been looking forward to his Broadway debut for months now! I’m not sure if he’s heard of Au Revoir Simone, but I plan on bringing him a tee shirt, and my bobble head doll to sign, of course.

Awd: Thanks

Alod: As a former French student, Le Petit Prince was required reading! It’s one of my favorite books, but I have to say, even better than the book is the 1974 film version starring one of my all time biggest crushes, Gene Wilder, as the fox.
I haven’t read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” but have added it to my fall reading list. Notes to follow. Thanks for the recommendation!

Remi: I know just what you mean about how stars can make you feel so small. As silly as it seems, whenever I get really overwhelmed with life, all I have to do is look up in order to remember how small whatever drama I’m going through really is in the grand scheme of life. I suppose that for some people, God keeps them feeling humbled all the time. But for me, I’m humbled by nature. Although I guess some would argue they are one in the same. (And the Paris skyline is another magical thing all together.)

Sylvia: It was so lovely to see you at the Stockholm show! Thanks so much for coming up and saying hello to me after the show, it’s always nice to see familiar faces in unfamiliar places. Thanks also for checking out my drawings, and for making one yourself! I love it! And I think you’re the first person to illustrate Erika’s new blonde hairstyle. I’ll be sure to pass it along to her and Annie as well. As nice as it was to see you in Sweden, I really do hope that next time we’ll be in Italy! Not getting to visit Italy at all this tour was definitely one of the big disappointments of my summer. It really is my favorite country in the world, with Japan as a close second. Maybe next summer?

Fifteen years ago, in a science summer camp, I discovered astronomy, constellations, the north pole star, the summer triangle as you said. In this camp I made friends, that I know I would never meet again after, because they were living in every places it can exist in France, but they were great friends, for two or three weeks.

Then I came back in Paris ; atmospherical pollution and overlighted buildings hide us all the stars. Sometimes, one or two or three of them bright tiny points sometimes come to my eyes, and I remember of these times. And sometimes when I travel out of Paris, I can see them and remember of every constellations that exists. But well, it never occured that someone who has a capital place in my heart could be next to me, so I could talk to her about light and darkness, gargantuan stars that appears so ridiculously small, and that meaningless things can become suddenly meaningful.

Recently, I discoverd the wonders of your music and have been hooked ever since. As I was reading your bio I felt confortable enough to leave you a comment with the hopes that you will read the following recomendations: “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach. Hopefully you read these books and let me know how you like them.

regarding the wild teenage boys at the canteen I was imagining them
as they were hidden in a wall hole spying you White Occidental American Girls during shower time at the end of the day. (!!!?)

As a Sociologist (Me), Heather, you should recognize that these teenagers kids are just like savage little animals (i’m not saying in a denigratory way but in a Ethnologic way )that have never seen such other humans like you, and plus the fact that your ensemble is all made by female, istigates their vivacity and imagination.
I think they feel like some ultra attracting natural goddess has fall into their jungle, and is quite strange for their life too.
Just think for a moment that every situation can be reversed: is not the explorator to look for aborigens but is this one that tries to find what the explorator is like.

For what regards the alimentary diet there I would suggest you to try to cook yourself the most simple primary things (fresh fruits, fresh vegetables) as preferred by many peasants here in Italy: bolied potatoes and boiled onions, with just some salt and oil (palm oil?)

Your Jungle reports suggests that you are facing greatly these uneasy situations with a clearer mind and strong carachter.

You will be rewarded in experience and pleased on returnin & dealing newly with usual daily life things.

(Do you have more chances to see the falling Perseids there?)

By the way, even in really light-polluted areas, I do some computational astronomy for fun things like figuring out when the sun or moon will be aligned with MIT’s “Infinite Corridor”:

http://futureboy.us/mithenge/

Maybe I’ll have to just predict when the brightest planets will appear over my neighbors’ television antennas? I’ll have to use more than just a calculator and a ruler ’cause I’m not as smart as you.

I’ve decided that a condition of my employment will be that I have to get tickets to Pee-Wee Herman’s Broadway show. Possibly every night. Since I don’t know anyone in New York, you’ll have to go with me. Have you ever talked with him about your band name?