Lessons from Microbiology

Every now and then, take your phone out of its protective case and wipe that sucker down with an antibacterial wipe!

(Growth from cell phone-bottom pic, upper right)

Carry antibacterial gel, use it and or wash your hands after using public stuff...yuck.

(Growth from keyboard in college library - bottom pic, upper left)

Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Damn...just walk around with a mask on; the air is gonna kill you.

(Growth from 20 min of medium being exposed to air- bottom pic, lower left)

Good to know that people must be washing hands or using hand towels to open door as exit bathroom. JUST DO IT!

(Growth from inside bathroom door handle- bottom pic, lower right).

P.S My lab buddies call me Ma'am, apologize for every curse word and want to know if they can be in my study group...I am the group. I think I'm the lab group mom. Sigh.

Facebook-Conformity & Groupthink

I just finished my first prerequisite course – Fundamentals in Psychology – with an A+ I might add, and some of the concepts that we discussed in the class came to mind when I logged into the Book of the Face.

 

What I noticed was that Fac.e.book would make a great closed environment for a scientific social psychology study of conformity and groupthink.

 

Conformity – the act of yielding to social pressure; of matching attitudes, beliefs and behaviors to the group norm.

 

Groupthink – a phenomenon that occurs in groups where the desire for conformity; for consensus results in incorrect decision making or loss of ability for critical evaluation. The pressure to conform prevents debate; eliminates critical thinking.

 

FA.CE.BOOK = GROUPTHINK …A LOT and heaven forbid you are a non-conformist and/or actually apply critical thinking to a subject…more often than not you will be driven from that discussion, beat down, denigrated, insulted, blocked, unfriended. Happens all the time. If you don’t see it – perhaps you have succumbed to groupthink. You might just be conforming to the group.

 

Think about it. Do you just watch what others post – yeah, those opinionated post that get under your skin, that just make one-sided point without any discussion and also offer no solutions because you don’t want to rock the boat; make your friend mad; offer a solution that may raise the ire of said friend?

 

Do you just click like or add you affirmative comment; cosigning that picture/opinion/political piece without offering any context?

 

Do you enter into the discussion in the affirmative and then when someone else offers a dissenting opinion you jump down that persons throat with name calling, shade slinging and condescending quips in order to show how dumb and out of step with “mainstream” thinking that person is?

 

Have you ever been in the midst of an interesting yet heated debate on FB and just sat idly by saying NOT A DAMN THING in the thread while someone debating outside of  thought “norms” gets thrashed, but then contact them privately to commiserate? OH YEAH! I’ve seen that one. Heaven forbid you go against the thread norm and publicly come to the defense of the outlier. INTERESTING.

 

I didn’t have words to put to the phenomenon until after taking this class, debating with my classmates and watching videos of the results from some studies on conformity & obedience. Interesting stuff. Food for thought.

 

So…what say you? Can you see the groupthink and conformist nature of FB?

Charlee's Graduation

West Point Information Session & Benny Havens

The West Point Outreach Admissions Team were in town for the CBC and we hosted a West Point Information Session for potential candidates in the DMV Area. Many thanks to the Admissions Team, to Katie from Congressman Cummings Office, to a West Point Parent - my mother and to the "Old Grads" that came out to answer questions of the candidates and their parents.

It was an awesome turn out and awesome time. GO ARMY!

Live Blogging: College Road Trip Randoms

Well, after a whirlwind tour of a conference in ATL, I landed back at BWI around 1pm today and after taking an exam for work and repacking my bags I was ready for the estimated time of departure to take Prince Jordan to COLLEGE!!!

The FireMarshall, on the other hand, was not.

We pulled out at 4:30pm for our 10 hour journey to Indiana Tech. We are going to stop at a friend of ours from West Point days overnight in Indianapolis, but yeah...10 hours playa's.

I've got my wireless card, power cord and thus can live blog from the car. Stay tuned for random thoughts of our journey.

BTW - I think the van is poorly packed. We could have gotten another family member in on this journey, but The FireMarshall felt that the way he packed the van was for maximum safety. And I quote..."Just in case I had to slam on the breaks and the refrigerator went flying, you wouldn't want to get his with college stuff shrapnel?"

I hate him.

The sunset is beautiful and we are looking for someplace to grab a bite to eat & stretch our legs.

We stopped at some super truck stop that had a Qwizno's, BoogerKing, a Starbux & a shoppette thingy. The FireMarshall and Jordan post up with a quickness at the Qwiz and order the largest sandwich they can, snatching a bag of chips with it. I get a cup of soup & a water. Do you know how hard it is to try to have a halfway decent, healthy meal at a truck stop. Near damn IMPOSSIBLE. FM says he wants some driving snacks for later...Hostess cupcakes, Raisinettes, a bag of honey roasted peanuts...BAZTARD. He is still tall and narrow and doesn't workout not one friggin minute.

Hate & Rage.

And that skinny punk had the audacity to eat a few of his chips and throw them in the trash cause they tasted "too healthy". In his haste to eat, he grabbed a bag of baked chips. "Where's the fat; those tasted like bark."

Hate & Rage

A package of SuziQ's was calling my name, but after looking at the label at the 500 calories & 49g of sugar...I passed. I did find some apple slices and carrot sticks, but paid almost 3x what that SuziQ would have cost me.

Next time...I pack snacks.

Tried to take a nap. I simply could not get comfortable. Jordan watched a bunch of Family Guy episodes. SMH.

A two lane stretch of highway went down to one lane with about a gazzillion tractor trailor rigs and one conversion van trying to merge. Can you say stand still. We will NEVER get there.

Carrot snack time. Comedy channel on XM Radio. George Wallace just cracked a joke: "Aint nuttin open after midnight 'cept hospitals and legs" I almost peed. I'm gonna add that to my "mother indignation" sayings...next time Charlee wants to stay out past 12am for some party Imma say "What you need to stay out past 12 for? Ain't nuttin open past 12 'cept hospitals and legs and if you ain't in the hospital...."

She will hate me for sure....Good.

George Lopez..."Kids today wouldn't survive our childhood. Allowance? What's that? Mom would say I allow you to live, so get out of my face before I kill you."

The FireMarshall almost swerved off the damn road. That routine was so damn true, we thought we were gonna just die. I....need...a...new...kidney. Two.

Stopped for gas and what did we see down the road. A WHITE CASTLE. Jordan went crazy and insisted we get a bag of burgers. I'm now praying that I don't have a GI disturbance.

I passed out in the car with the computer in my lap at around 3am. Woke up to The FireMarshall singing gospel (MaryMary) at the top of his lungs....just in time for me to see a deer come out of nowhere and head straight for the side of the van like it was going to ram us or something. The FireMarshall being ever diligent, managed to honk the horn and slow down causing said deer to veer away from van.

We then had to drive about 10 miles per hour as said deer just kept running down the side of the road trying to decide where to run into the corn field. Deer would run back into our lane in front of van then back to corn over and over. Finally the cornfield came to and end and the deer ran off into the woods. Whew.

We arrived at Ronnie & Chrissy's house around 4am. We all went into an immediate coma.

Woke up to the smell of coffee and breakfast. I can't find anybody, but there is a breakfast buffet here in the kitchen (that is friggin SPOTLESS) and we are digging in.

We have arrived in Indiana. Move in day tomorrow.

College Dorm Shopping

I took my son out shopping yesterday for stuff/junk for his college dorm room. Still not sure how I'm feeling about all this yet. It will probably hit me when we throw him out - I mean drop him off - near the end of this month.

We made a list, added some recommendations off the school webiste and started checking stuff off slowly yet surley. Between Bed, Bath & Beyond (and all the coupons I had saved up) and that "of the debil" store Wal.Mar.t, we did a little under 5 c-notes of damage. DAMIT.

We are pretty much done except for a winter coat, new sneaks, some clothing items and some much desired Tims. HUMPH! This boy need to get a damn JOB!

The Prince saw this stupid lava lamp and announced that his dorm room was now complete - shopping was over. Yeah, right. Yes, we got to stupid lamp. I'm such a push over.

Just some of the damage. Some.

Dinner at Paloma Bonita

The family went out to dinner at Palomoa Bonita's on Monday to celebrate Prince Jordan's graduation from High School. We had an absolute fabulous time at this restaurant. We took my BFF Pattey to this same restaurant when we came down October of 2007. The same exact people & staff were there and they made sure that Jordan had a rip roaring good time (as you can see from the video).

If you are ever in Cancun, Mexico and want a great dinner along with awesome entertainment then you HAVE to go to Paloma Bonita's...it is definitly the whole kit & kaboodle.

Pride...and Loss

We are on our way back to Maryland after taking Prince Jordan to early registration at his future home for the next four years at Indiana Tech. We made the 9 hour trek to Ft. Wayne, IN to Indiana Tech where we toured the campus (there isn't that much too it, really - small private college), met the Lacrosse coach, the advisor, took a math placement exam & registered for classes.

Friday evening, we all gathered in the Student Center for pizza & parent session as the incoming freshman ate and prepared to do a student activity - Scavenger Hunt - around the campus. I watched as my son, instead of sitting with us, pulled his chair over to the adjacent table, introduced himself and made friends.

Prince Jordan, my son, sought out his fellow teammates, introduced himself to other parents - engaging them in conversation as if he was a master networker.

I watched my son take charge of his group for the Scavenger Hunt without being pushy. They came in 3rd of 10 groups. A respectable finish.

I watched my Prince, male heir to the empire, during a practice with some of his new teammates, put his arms around the defenders and have a pow-wow meeting of the minds. I watched a pioneering team (the 1st time for Lacrosse at Indiana Tech) begin to gel.

I watched as my son took direction from the coaches and immediately incorporate what he was learning.

He got up the next morning without me (even though I did call) and take his Math Placement exam. And even though I hovered, the Prince registered for his own classes and created his schedule without my prodding.

I've never seen Prince Jordan happier. Master of the Universe. Helmsman of his own Destiny.

I also watched my son, right before my eyes, go from "my boy, my baby" to a young man. A young man who didn't need his mommie running behind him anymore. Boys grow into Men and leave home. With my daughter, I kicked her out the nest (and she keeps coming back like a bad penny). With my son, he jumped out the nest without even looking back.

...And my heart aches.

I am definitely a proud mother. The FireMarshall walks around with his chest all puffed out, while I think that any minute he will start passes out cigars again. What I witnessed was testimony to the fact that we had raised a boy to manhood and did it well.

...And yet I feel a sense of loss.

The Prince is now preparing to be the Future King...of his own Kingdom.

College Knowledge

Just some little factoids I picked up during our visit to Prince Jordan's College. Knowledge is power...& interesting at the same time.

In the 1400's a law as set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence, we have "rule of thumb".

Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentleman Only...Ladies Forbidden'...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

The 1st couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred & Wilma Flintstone.

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

What is the only food that doesn't spoil?.....Honey

The % of Africa that is wilderness is 28%...The % of North America that is wilderness is 38%. Go figure.

Intelligent people have more zinc & copper in their hair.

At least 75% of the people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

Believe it or not, you CAN read it:

I cdnuolt blveiee taht i cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdeanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde
Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny
iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by itslef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh?

The San Francisco Cable Cars are the only mobile National Monument

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

It was acceptable practice in Babylon 4000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the brides father would supply his son-in-law with all the Meade he could drink. Meade is a honey beer & because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the 'honeymoon'.

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured to bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase...'goodnight, sleep tight'.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints & quarts. So in Old England when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your Pints & Quarts and settle down". It's where we get the phrase 'Mind your P's & Q's.

Senior Week - The Boys

Graduation Day

The Sweetest Days

The Sweetest Days - From Birth to Graduation - a video montage tribute to my son, Prince Jordan.

Prince Jordan takes Princess Camille to her Senior Prom

Prince Jordan Signs with Indiana Tech Warriors

The Indiana Tech Warrior's are excited to announce they have signed Jordan Steptoe to their men's lacrosse roster.

Steptoe is currently attending River Hill High School in Clarksville, MD. He developed his skills as a Goalie over the past 4 years with year round lacrosse camps, leagues and "Drill Thrills & Goalie Training" from University Lacrosse. He was selected to play on The Club "U" Varsity Elite Team with University Lacrosse and has participated in several tournaments including the Gait Cup, Top 16 and Elite 150.

Steptoe was the starting goalie for River Hills JV team and, as a senior, for the River Hill Varsity Hawks. In addition to his skill on the lacrosse field, he has been a People to People Student Ambassador, participated in the Lead America Criminal Justice program at Johns Hopkins, and holds the rank of black belt in Tai Kwon Do.

The commitment and passion Jordan shows for lacrosse and being a goalie has extended to his life in school. He has applied the same discipline and focus to his academics to secure his academic future. Once at Indiana Tech, Jordan plans on pursing a major in Criminal Justice.

For more information on Steptoe, contact Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Terry Nichter at TRNichter@indianatech.edu.

Senior Lacrosse Day

Shout outs to GMa Sandy, GPa Joe, GreatGMa Willie, Sister Erin, Charlee & Cara as well as all of Jordan's friends that stood in the gap while The FireMarshall and I were out of town in NYC to attend the Baptism of "My Baby Maia". There are times when I want to trade up families... but this was not one of them.

Senior Lacrosse Day.

Thanks Ma!

River Hill High School Senior Prom

So, we survived the prom. A great time was had by all, the kids look fabulous & the parents had a great time too!

- The Prom Parent Picture Party was a HUGE hit. The parents staggered in at various times after 5pm and we had a slow start with the pictures cause two ladies were VERY late, but it went off without a hitch. Once we got the kids off, the parents hung around till about 9pm drinking wine, eating snacks and telling war stories. It was a blast! If you would like to see the invite I created for the parent party, drop me an email and I'll shoot it to you.

- Why did my son's date make a hair appointment at 3pm the night of the prom. ARE YOU SERIOUS. Limo arrived at 6pm, dinner reservations at 6:30pm. What time did she arrive to put on her dress? 6:15pm. I almost had a nervous breakdown.

- Why did my son's date wait till two weeks before the prom to order her dress and when it arrived the Saturday before the prom, it didn't fit (too big). She managed to get her mom's friend (whoever) to alter it a bit...but if that was the case, why did it take me about 10 safety pins to get that girl in her dress and to keep it on. I literally "sewed" that chile in her dress.

- Other than the "Date Drama" it all went off without a hitch. The kids arrived back at the house around 12am, changed, hung out, ATE AGAIN, and then went to the P3 (Post Prom Party) at the AMC Movie Theater. I don't know how long they stayed at P3, but I know around 3am I smelled wood burning...so they were all out back on the outdoor patio and were having a post prom bonfire in the fire pit. The FireMarshall and I got up around 5am and the house was silent with young men layed out in the basement "teen den" knocked out cold. I don't think they will get up until sometime close to game time tonight...perhaps Gma Sandy will fix em pannycakes.

Congratulations River Hill Seniors!

Homecoming

The first major event of my son's senior year was Saturday. River Hill Homecoming! Jordan and two of his friends, Tyler & Kevin came over with their dates to take pictures, go to dinner and then to the dance. CUTE. After the dance, Jordan had a little "get-together" at the house in the basement. About 15 teenagers decended on our house. He had 3 Tv's hooked up with a Wii, Xbox360 and DVD player going. These kids killed every soda, a whole plate of brownies, two giant pizza's from Costco's, a platter of sandwich rolls, all of my energy drinks, a super size bag of chips and God knows what else.

What was really impressive was all the boys how stayed over, got up in the morning, pulled out the shop vac and cleaned the basement and took out the trash. Perhaps it was to cover any evidence of foul play. Who will know. I was happy with a clean basement.

And so Senior Year kicks-off.