Hello! The following is a list of blogs created at Reed College. If you’re looking for other Reed blogs not listed here, look at the list to the right, under the Other Blogs and Links section.
Have a request for getting a blog? Email Tony Moreno at tmoreno@reed.edu. Also, check out a few help pages we have:
Latest Posts
Become a Reed senior: own a bit of science
- Is science something you learn or is it something you do? Reed students seem to spend an unusual amount of time on both. They spend hundreds of hours curled up with books and assignments, and they also spend hundreds of hours doing science, especially in their senior year when they embark on a year-long thesis project. A ...more
Emily Dykhuizen '01 et al. move to Purdue
- Emily just updated her 'Reed profile' with this email to Arthur, "It's been a crazy year. I'm finishing up my postdoc in a couple months and my husband and I are both starting faculty positions at Purdue University in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. We only applied to a handful of schools ...more
Gary Bartlett's parting interview with electionline weekly
- Following Doug Chapin's lead, re-disseminating Gary Bartlett's wonderful parting comments in electionline weekly after his replacement after 20 years as Director of the North Carolina Board of Elections. Gary has accomplished many things in two decades, but for scholars, NC has long been known as among the best states in terms of data availability and dissemination. ...more
Cole Perkinson '13 Wins Watson Fellowship
- Cole Perkinson, who will graduate Monday with an interdisciplinary degree in chemistry-physics, happens to a wonderfully talented musician with eclectic tastes. Many classmates still remember when he 'brought the house down' on the last day of intro chem with his rendition of Tom Lehrer's 'The Elements' and he has performed for several years in the ...more
The Future
- Sharon Heichman '13 I've finished my thesis, gotten my laurels soaked with champagne and covered in glitter, and danced my heart out. In less than a week, I will be donning a cap and gown and walking across a stage in the middle of Reed's beautiful campus in order begin an entirely new chapter of my ...more
A New Adventure
- Alan Montecill0 '13 In early June, I will join Yale-NUS College as a Dean's Fellow. Yale-NUS is a liberal arts college in Singapore, created jointly by Yale and the National University of Singapore. Its inaugural academic year begins this coming fall. This means that its inaugural class of 150 students will have no upperclassmen at their brand-new ...more
After Reed
- Elisabeth Thomas '13 I've turned in my thesis, obtained those coveted laurels, conquered my thesis orals, and will be graduating on Monday, May 20. It feels like victory, but I can't bask in it too long, as the real world - the post-Reed world - awaits. In all honesty, I am not sure what I am going ...more
FREE "Midnight" Breakfast at Commons!
- By Tuesday of Finals week, the quality of snacks on the Stim Table in the library often begins to decline. You're a hard-working student, and your body needs some substance to balance the too-many cups of coffee you've consumed over the last 24 hours. Thankfully, Bon Appetit and Students Services are here to help! Looking for ...more
Chittick Picnics at Forest Park
- On Monday, May 6th, the residents of Chittick took a van up to Forest Park for a picnic. After great difficulty finding and parking in a space, we hiked into the park and found a nice patch of ground to sit back and enjoy a picnic. We ate sandwiches, some of which contained the strangest ...more
Halfway around the world ... in Islamabad
- My buddy, Geoffrey Hiller, travels the world taking photos. He's currently on assignment in Islamabad, Pakistan. Take a look at his travel blog, Inside Pakistan, for an amazing view of another world. A scene from a recent campaign ...more
All-knowing Athena has your number...
- Whatever your reunion numeral may be, follow Athena's yarn back to Reed and revel in the company of fellow alumni. The goddess of wisdom invites you to indulge your playful side, apply your intellect in Alumni College (one during and one after Reunions!), and/or just catch up with classmates on the front lawn at Reunions '13: Reedfayre, June ...more
The PhD Phactory
- Where do science and engineering (S&E) Ph.D.'s come from? That's a question that the National Science Foundation has been asking for a long time and the answers may surprise you. Last month, the NSF published its most recent answer online in a free-to-the-public report, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S.-trained S&E Doctorate Recipients The report summarizes the data ...more
Surviving Reading Week and Exams
- In the interest of complete transparency, I have to tell you that this blog post doesn't contain any closely guarded secrets to academic success. Truthfully, I'm probably recycling a lot of common advice (and none of the interesting stuff about chewing a different flavor of gum to help you retain information for a test, or ...more
Apollo knows talent!
- Apollo calls you out to play your own tune, or revel in those of others, amidst all of the talent that will be showcased at Reunions '13: Reedfayre, June 12-16. More than 600 people are already signed up to attend. Dorms are still available, and $50 gets you a bed for the duration. Register online. Entertainment: ...more
Where I'm Going Next
- Robert Shyrock '13 I told everyone I was ready to leave college, but then I went and got myself a job at Reed. I'm going to be working at Conference and Events Planning (CEP) at Reed for the third summer in a row, managing a small group of students, moving linens around, and just generally making ...more
Is that the Sun?: How to Beat the Heat
- "What is that?" a Reedie inquired to his classmate as they exited the library. "I don't know, but gosh it's so bright." The two students covered their eyes with their hands, and looked up through the shadows of the cherry blossom trees in Eliot circle. It was the sun, glowing in all of its summertime majesty and ...more
Job announcement for graduating seniors: Lab coordinator
- Coordinator of Research Programs The Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks to hire a Coordinator of Research Programs to conduct and facilitate research in the Communication and Language Lab. This is a full-time, 12 month, academic professional position. The coordinator will be involved in every aspect of our research, including recruiting participants. Participants are recruited ...more
Meet Your New Bloggers: Ashley
- Hi interwebs, My name is Ashley Brandt, and I'm your other Res Life blogger! Like Danielle, I'm an English major set to graduate in 2015. Currently, I live in the Spanish House, where I have also been accepted to live for the 2013-2014 academic year. As a resident in a language house, I get to practice ...more
Thanks, Reed, for sending me to learn more about BRAINS!
- Sharon Heichman '13 As sad as I am to be graduating in May, I give Reed so much credit for continuing to support me in my academic endeavors even after that time. Over the past seven months of my life I have spent much of my free time with a group of rats in a windowless room in the ...more
Analytical chemistry and 'The Con Man'
- One wouldn't think that a story about scientific fraud would arouse a lot of passion among the reading public unless it had something to do with climate change or water fluoridation, but a NY Times story from this past weekend's magazine (The Mind of a Con Man, April 28, 2013) generated over 360 comments in ...more
Mapping it all out...
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"Early Voting in Florida" at the MPSA Conference
- Paul Gronke and Charles Stewart presented their paper on early voting in Florida at the Midwest Political Science Association conference the other week in Chicago. The paper highlights the effects restrictions to early voting had on voters in Florida in 2012. In 2011, the State of Florida proposed a series of changes in how it conducts ...more
Further job search update
- We now have some further information to report regarding the search to fill a visiting position in Linguistics for next year. First of all, we now know the exact times and locations for the candidates' job talks and the student lunches. I've given this information below. Second, there's been a change to the teaching component ...more
Greg Eibel is retiring!
- Greg Eibel is retiring from his work as the machinist in the physics department at Reed College after 38 years. As the second longest serving staff member at the college, he's had the opportunity to work with, befriend, inspire, and support many of us over the years. Check out this profile of Greg that ran in ...more
Psychology Talk Monday April 22nd: Children's Narratives
- This Monday, April 22nd, at 4:30pm in Psychology 136, the Psychology Department is hosting a talk by Robyn Fivush entitled "Narratives of emotional events in developmental and social contexts." Robyn's work should be of interest to you if you care about... ... children, and how they understand the world? ... adolescents, and how they define their identity? ... ...more
Pronouns Panel Thursday 4.18
- For those of you interested in Language and Gender, check out this on-campus event: What are pronouns anyway? Personal Pronouns Panel! Thursday, 4/18 @6:30pm in Eliot 314 What are personal pronouns? What's a gender neutral pronoun? How are pronouns connected to gender identity? All your questions will be answered with Addie from the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center ...more
Hoist a pint to Steve Arch at 4 p.m.
- The biology department would like to share this virtual toast with all friends of Steve: "As you know, Steve Arch passed away unexpectedly on Sunday while vacationing with friends in Colorado. He made a huge impact on our lives and there is now a gaping hole. We enclose a photo of the famous clock to prompt an ...more
Classical Music - up close and on the table
- The Oregon Symphony had to cancel their NYC trip so they are offering some 'local' as a substitute: Classical Up Close!. Groups of musicians will be offering evening concerts at standard venues around Portland between May 6-12 (including Reed, May 6). They will also be performing 'blitz' concerts around the city during the day. Just to ...more
Virginia Woolf's England
- Join Jay Dickson, professor of English & humanities, along with Robin Tovey '97, assistant director of alumni & parent relations, as they plunge headlong into the world of Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group, October 9-17, 2013. Using the cities of London and Brighton as our exploratory bases, we will travel for eight days in October ...more
'Thank You' to Our Supporters
- Reed's Centennial Campaign was launched in 2005 with lofty financial goals and even loftier ideas about how to spend the money. Two years later, the financial industry tanked, but the campaign plugged along. Eventually, an enthusiastic band of Reed supporters donated over $200,000,000 in new gifts to the college. You can read more about the campaign ...more
The Phony Baloney Vote Fraud Award for 2013
- I can't resist giving this claim out of North Carolina special prominence. It has to be a contender for the phony baloney vote fraud claim of the year. Among the changes being proposed in NC is an end to same-day registration during "one-stop" in-person absentee voting. State Senate Pro Tem Phil Berger is quoted in the Greensboro ...more
To NC Legislators: Rely on data, not anecdotes
- A decade of reform since HAVA has led to many positive changes in American elections, not the least of which is that there are solid empirical data available to provide guidance to legislators and election officials who want to improve performance and conduct more efficient elections. This is one of the goals of Doug Chapin and ...more
Selected Multimedia about LBJ
- Johnson was not a natural speaker, and biographers report that he was always embarrassed by his Southern drawl, certain that he was not being taken seriously. The years as vice president were especially difficult in this regard; how could a tall, gangly, drawling Southerner not fail to be overshadowed by an attractive, tanned, charismatic JFK. However, Johnson's ...more
LBJ, Austin, and the Hill Country of Texas
- I am leading a Reed alumni trip, along with Michael Teskey, to the Hill Country of Texas to look at wildflowers and try to understand one of the most fascinating and complex figures of America's 20th century, Lyndon Baines Johnson. Because our alumni do not have access to the Moodle system, this posting is a ...more
Proposed Changes to Early Voting in NC Could Affect over 30% of Electorate
- (This posting is a guest posting from Chelsea Brossard, research associate at the Early Voting Information Center.) Two proposed bills in the North Carolina legislature. Senate Bill 428 seeks to shorten the early voting period from two weeks to one week, and House Bill 451 aims to outlaw voting on Sundays. Our analysis demonstrates the impact these ...more
Underwater Meditation Retreat
- I don't have to tell Reedies about the magic of being underwater. After all, we invented underwater basket weaving. So here's another underwater adventure (courtesy of Tricycle magazine) that might interest Reed's aquatically inclined. (Note: it arrived in my Inbox yesterday, but I didn't have a chance to look at it until this morning.) Tricycle Hosts ...more
Meetups
- Meetup is one of the websites that connect you with your neighbors. I have heard many students commenting on how they think having conversation partners/communities would help with their language acquisition, but they struggle to find people they could talk to using the target languages. Meetup is great in this sense, "meetups are neighbors getting ...more
"Fish-inspired" Wind Farms
- In order to reach maximum efficiency, windmills must be spaced far apart. This allows each rotor to capture 'clean' air moving across its blades. Unfortunately, arranging windmills for high efficiency means that wind farms must occupy a fairly large patch of land. Professor John Dabiri, Center for Bioinspired Engineering, Caltech Prof. John Dabiri, Center for Bioinspired ...more
Russian various
- Like comics? Learn Russian with comics! К О М И К С. Р У КОМИКСЫ ДЛЯ ДЕТЕЙ И НЕ ТОЛЬКО... A theater fan? Check out the Journal of Russian cinema! Interested in reading? Encyclopedia in Russian? Organized by categories and easy to find topics you are interested in. Russian virtual library. Bilingual Journal of Theoretical and ...more
Learn Chinese with images
- All about Chinese is unique. It is so special that I found myself scrolling through the pages, looking at those pictures and the words as if it had taken me back to my own college days. It has its innocence, simplicity, quietness, romance, cuteness, sweetness, and beauty. If you are also interested in painting ...more
Spartan tip - Symmetry errors
- Spartan automatically examines models for symmetry. When it finds symmetry elements, it applies these in subsequent calculations. For example, if you build 'flat' NH3 (possible point groups: Cs, C3v, D3h, etc.) and calculate its equilibrium geometry, you will end up with a flat 'minimum'. In other words, your final model won't be a minimum at ...more
To remember, sleep
- After a long afternoon or night of studying organic chemistry do you sometimes wake up the next day with little or no recall of what reagent does what? If that happens a lot, it may be that your sleep pattern is to blame. Scientists have learned that several types of memory require sleep for consolidation. That ...more
Untying the Electoral Knot: Reimagining the States with Equal Populations
- Hat tip to Nathan Yau's Flowing Data blog, the map reimagines the 50 states with equal populations. It's a cool geographic systems application and a nice way to reflect upon the biases in our Electoral College ...more
French Grammar Central
- French Grammar Central is developed by Robert D. Peckham from University of Tennessee Martin. It is one of the most complete grammar study guides I have ever encountered. French Grammar Central has "nearly 580 links," and "is ample material for course on an advance college level, and would be particularly good for those studying for exit ...more
It's good to be rich and pay state taxes. And it sucks to be poor.
- If you want a quick summary how the American political and economic system is so skewed toward the wealthy, contrast these two reports. First, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy issued a report on the most regressive (Washington state!) and most progressive state tax systems, taking into account all state, local, excise, and property taxes ...more
SciFinder Login from Chem 201
- Aaron is introducing SciFinder in lab this week. The SciFinder portal is the best online tool for finding information about chemical compounds and reactions, and Reed is finally able to offer access to all students. To make it easier to access this resource, I've added a link to the login page at the top of ...more
Can a picture tell you whether a molecule is polar?
- This question is asked in a particularly interesting way by G.E. Höst et al in the December issue of J. Chem. Ed. ("Students' Use of Three Different Visual Representations to Interpret Whether Molecules are Polar or Nonpolar", DOI: 10.1021/ed2001895). They presented students with three types of pictures: positive and negative isopotential surfaces rendered in blue and ...more
Get Ready for 202 with a Quick Review of 201
- Aaron Nilsen and I have been discussing how to make the transition from Chem 201 to Chem 202 (new schedule, new format, same book) as smooth as possible. One idea: share a short list of 'things to remember from Chem 201'. Aaron's suggestions for things to review from Chem 201 can be downloaded ...more
Adjust JPEG resolution in Spartan'08 (Windows)
- This info has been knocking around my email inbox for a long time (rec'd from Wavefunction help on 9/15/2009), but while Spartan has moved on to Spartan'10 ('12 or '13 just around the corner), maybe the advice is still useful. 1. (Simplest way to raise resolution) Make your molecule as large as you can (to fit ...more
MOOCs for remedial education
- The NY Times continues its blanket coverage of the MOOC phenomenon with a story in today's business page: "California to give web courses a big trial." The interesting subtext in the story is that use of the MOOCs by San Jose State University isn't an initiative intended to replace regular offerings, but is really an attempt ...more
Reed Canyon Wildlife
- With the restoration of Reed Canyon, we've been accumulating a lot of native critters. Here's a selection of some recent sightings: Otters are making increasingly regular appearances in the Canyon - look for them early morning, particularly by the outdoor amphitheatre A video of the same otter frolicking away can be seen here: Baby ducks are also making ...more
Nature being Natural
- In typical fashion spring in Oregon is well- predictably, unpredictable. We broke records for the longest stretch of dry weather for the month of May- only followed by wet windy weather which may send non-native residents running for their umbrellas. But all together the month has averaged out to be a 'typical' beautiful spring here ...more
Gender Studies Symposium
- From Jackie Dirks:The deadline for submissions to the Gender Studies Symposium at Lewis and Clark is October 26th.The complete description is at http://college.lclark.edu/departments/gender_studies/symposium/ They take lots of papers from undergraduates, graduate students, and junior professors, and it's a great opportunity for our talented Reedies to get some public speaking experience. This year's theme is "Objection! Gender, ...more
Film screening: Sun. Apr. 17, "Southern Belle"
- Hi there, just a reminder of this upcoming event sponsored by the Anthro dept that is highly relevant to recent debates vis-a-vis US history and contemporary pop culture (especially given the recent 150th anniversary Civil War memorials. A 'Secession ball' last week in S. Carolina provoked protests from the NAACP as party-goers dressed in their plantation best...) Film screening: Sun. ...more
Tim Miller Performance, Tuesday October 11
- Internationally acclaimed performer Tim Miller presents "Glory Box" October 11 at 7:30 in the Reed College Mainstage Theatre. There are no reservations for this performance. Admission is open to the public and the Reed community on a first come first serve basis, with some ticketsreserved for the Reed community. The performance is sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center and ...more
Meanings and Makings of Queer Dance Conference, Feb 16-18, 2012
- Meanings and Makings of Queer Dance: Embodied Pleasures in History, Representation, and Queer CommunitiesUniversity of Michigan (Ann Arbor), February 16-18, 2012Selected panels will be podcast. Visit the Congress on Research in Dance's website for a full schedule and to view the podcasts: www.cordance.orgLink to full-sized posterHi all. I am on the program committee for ...more
Study Material for Ch. 12
- Three items: Answers to Activity 24 - Nov 28, 29 Chain Mechanisms involving Free Radicals Lecture slides for Day 25 - Dec 3, 4 Addition Reactions & MOs of Free Radicals Learning tips - Chapter ...more
Answers for Exam 5
- Answers for Exam 5 can be downloaded ...more
Farewell
- Well, it is the end of the semester and everyone has either left now or is in the process of leaving; we had our final dinner on Wednesday after the final final -- the interpretation of two works in Catania's Museo Civico. The weather is glorious, but it is a little melancholy -- the end of ...more
Grand Finale: Piazza Armerina and the Medea
- This was our final week of classes. On Friday we visited the 4th century villa at Piazza Armerina, famous for its many beautiful mosaics: For more pictures, follow this link. On Saturday we were lucky to be able to go to a performance of the Medea in the theater in Syracuse originally constructed for Hieron I, ...more
Taormina, the Opera and Lipari
- This week we spent Thursday at the opera in Catania, and Friday and Saturday at two of the more up-market resorts in the area, first, Taormina, with its wonderful Hellenistic/Roman theater, and then on Saturday, as part of an excursion, the island of Lipari, supposed home of Aeolus and his bag of winds.The opera was ...more
Etna and the Rotonda Baths
- A busy weekend: on Saturday many of us went up Etna with our local geologist Alessandro to illuminate the craters, lavatubes, rifts and other varied volcanic phenomena. We reached the snow, and even briefly had some hail and snow fall on us:There was plenty of ash.On Sunday, as part of Catania's "Week of Culture," the ...more
Russian Language Mentor
- The Russian Language Mentor has a great collection of recourses. It contains 14 recourse categories, they are 1) Developing Language Proficiency Reading; 2) Developing Language Proficiency Listening; 3) Developing Russian Cultural Literacy (in English); 4) Cultural Literacy Interactive Research Index; 5) Grammar Review and Mailbad; 6) Crossword Challenge: Building Vocabulary; 7) Fundamentals of Case ...more
Stick and Stones can...
- It's Summer Time! And in our continued attempt to restore and protect this beautiful resource, Canyon Crew has been diligently removing invasive plant materials, and expanding their "toolbox" of tricks to insure safe travels in and around the canyon trail system. In addition to mastering the terrestrial aspects of the canyon restoration, Canyon Crew has ...more
A Continuing Canyon Relationship
- Submitted by: Haleigh Ziebol, Class of 2015 Although I am a new member of Canyon Crew this Summer, I am not, by any means, a newcomer to Reed’s canyon. As I gazed over the Blue Bridge when I arrived as a young freshman back in August, the Canyon’s pristine waters amazed me. The burgeoning trees. The ...more
Kris Anderson, Assistant Professor, Psychology
- Anderson is a board member of the Women's Commission on Alcohol and Drugs Issues- Oregon, and in the past, has been actively involved with the Northwest Institute on Alcohol and Drug Issues and the Society of Addiction Psychologists (Division 50) of the American Psychological Association. Anderson presents her academic research on addiction to schools in the Portland area, both to educators ...more
Richard Healey, Mathematics, Class of 1965
- Healey founded Grassroots Policy Project (GPP) in 1994. GPP works with social movement organizations to develop strategic practice: how activist groups can incorporate concepts about power, ideaology, and social justice into their daily practice. The organization strives to translate these big ideas and theories into practical ...more
Mary Lindebald-Fry, Sociology, Class of 2013
- In the summer of 2011, Lindebald-Fry worked for the Colville Confederated Tribes at the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) office, which aims to assist Native American families in becoming ...more
Vasishth Srivastava, International Comparative Policy Studies, Class of 2013
- In the summer of 2011, Srivastava interned at Senator Richard Blumenthal’s office in D.C. after working with Blumenthal on his campaign the previous ...more
Ruth Linehan, Linguistics, Class of 2012:
- In the summer of 2011, Linehan worked at Project Vote Smart in Philipsburg, Montana, a volunteer-driven organization that compiles research about political candidates and policy in order to create a better informed ...more
Converting Total Energy to Enthalpy, 298K, 1 atm
- The total energy is obtained from a model in which the nuclei are frozen in place. Therefore, the total energy fails to include the kinetic energy of the nuclei and cannot be compared directly to the standard enthalpy, H, at 298 K, 1 atm. This post describes the procedure for obtaining the missing kinetic energy ...more