Good things (a list to get me through the week).

Surely I am not the only academic who feels perpetually buried under — well, under stuff that needs doing. It’s a very daunting pile, and sometimes I think that the only plausible way that I could catch up would be to fake my own death.
But one must not lose perspective. Progress is made occasionally. And, in the background, there are cool things that make the press of obligations more tolerable.
So, this Tuesday night, I urge myself onward by taking stock of some good things, and some wee bits of progress.

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Two blog carnivals and a frog.

The inaugural edition of Scientiae, the new women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics blog carnival, has been posted at Rants of a Feminist Engineer. Skookumchick has assembled an impressive array of posts dealing with joys as well as frustrations — go check it out!
Also, the 55th Skeptics’ Circle is up at The Second Sight, and the skeptics think they have your number. (You don’t believe me? Click on the link and find out for yourself!)
Bonus after the jump: See what kind of frog I am.

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Non-Hallmark sponsored Valentine’s Day bullets of pure love.

Yes, Valentine’s Day is in the top three Hallmark holidays of the year. No, it is not a holiday actually created by Hallmark, despite what half a dozen people have independently asserted to me in the last 48 hours. I am appalled that the commercialization of this holiday has people keeping score on who loves the most (and who is most loved) on the basis of overpriced flowers, jewelry, and chocolate.*
The rampant commercialism of the day notwithstanding, this seems like as good a time as any to share some love:

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We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!

Scientists move through the world without needing badges to indicate their various achievements.
This does not mean, however, that scientists might not want badges. If scientists all wore sashes of badges over their lab coats, it might well facilitate communication by letting them determine the relevant interests and experience of the other scientists with who they are talking. Badges would also provide a natural opening with which scientists could share their best stories with each other. (“What did you freeze?”)
Badges also help a scientist stay nimble with a needle and thread.

Below are the Science Scouts badges I have earned, so far. Each is linked to its Scout Handbook description. Questions about how I may have earned particular badges will be entertained in the comments.

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