In which I explain reasons 1 and 2 my PI is crazy (and is making me that way)

I understand that many of us scientific types have our quirks.  I personally try not to intentionally do things that I know annoy other people.  Or in this case, really, really, REALLY tick people off.

My PI is crazy.  I told him that and he disagreed.  (I know, GASP!)  He tried to argue that he was clearly not as crazy and definitely not crazier than other faculty in our program.  I told him that they all have their eccentricities.  He refused to concede that point.  We (his lab) continue to call him crazy man.

Anyway, one of the many things he does that really, really, REALLY ticks me off (me and the rest of the lab) is that he doesn’t tell us when he isn’t going to be here.  He sneaks around and doesn’t tell us when he’s going on vacation or to a meeting or on a field trip with one of his kids.  No “I’m not going to be here next week, but I’ll be checking my email.”  No “I’m not coming in until late tomorrow afternoon, give me a call if you need anything.”  No “I’m going to be in Hawaii for a week so don’t even bother.”  NOTHING! 

I suppose he believes that if he’s not here lording over us that there will be no science done.  I’ve tried on many occasions to explain to him that we actually tend to get more done when he’s not around. 

Digression:

He’s the type of person that gets bored sitting in his office, so he comes into the lab and wants to chat about last night’s baseball game or whatever useless thing he found on the internet.  He will try to have these conversations while I’m doing cell culture, which is annoying as crap because it’s hard to hear him over the blower and I’M TRYING TO DO AN EXPERIMENT!!!  Apparently this is unclear, even though I have asked him several times to please not talk to me when I’m in the hood.  In case it was unclear, this is yet another pet peeve.  He actually tried to have a conversation with me while I was sitting at the microscope counting cells!!!  Not like, “I wanted to tell you John called” kind of conversation.  A full-fledged argument about an important aspect of my project.  WHILE I WAS COUNTING CELLS!

Apparently on Friday, he mumbled something to his pet post-doc about not being here part of the week.  Didn’t say anything to any of the rest of us.  Because we’re clearly just not going to show up for work on Monday because he’s not here.  Son of a….  Deep breath! 

It just makes me really angry because he’s treating us like children.  He actually asked the PI whose lab is next door to check on us the last time he was gone.  I mean really! 

Of course, I have been here for 2 hours now and haven’t gotten out of my chair yet.  But I have things planned for today.  I have tissues to pull and lengthy experiments to set up.  Things that aren’t going to wait for tomorrow or Wednesday or next week (whenever it is he’s coming back).  My big experiment for the day will be running overnight, which is why I’m waiting to set it up.  I don’t want it to run too long.  So my sitting here is partially justified.  But crazy man, if you’re reading this, I’m doing more work today without you here than I would if you were standing here breathing down my neck.  So THERE!!!

Thoughts on an absurd subpoena

I don’t even know where to start addressing this whole issue of the subpoena that’s been issued to Kathleen Seidel and her Neurodiversity blog.  The whole thing is just so absurd I don’t even know how to digest it.  I’ve been letting it marinate and knock around in my brain for a few days, and I still don’t know what to say. 

I’m just flabbergasted.  I’m shocked at the fact that someone that is clearly unrelated to the case at hand was issued a subpoena at all.  I’m astounded at the impressively broad nature of the subpoena.  I’m dumbfounded at the sheer volume of information that Kathleen would have to submit if this subpoena were upheld.  Seriously, how many truckloads? 

And what about all the other bloggers listed on the subpoena?  If everything relating to Kathleen’s website is required, why not everything produced by every blog and website she’s ever linked to?  Why not just do a google search and subpoena everybody that’s ever written the word autism?

I have no doubt that the subpoena will be squashed.  However, the fact of its very existence is absurd to an infinite degree.  I hope that this can be resolved quickly, and with minimal expense to Kathleen.  (And I hope that scumbag of a lawyer gets kicked in the face!)

(See also Orac's open letter to Kirby and Olmstead at Respectful Insolence and Liz's list of blog entries about this issue.)

A message for my PI

Links to the absurd

• A blogger subpoenaed: Kathleen's Neurodiversity blog has been served.  (Curtsy to PalMD.)  ETA: Liz has a list of blogs addressing this issue and her take on it (she's listed in the subpoena).  Also check out the slightly longer version of my thoughts on this.
• An "All time ass-whooping" for science?  See also Orac's er, um, comments about his broken irony meter.
  
• Disgruntled Julie has a post about PIs being a little nutso.  (Of course, I have some much more hair-raising tales, but those will come in time.)
• Really, how do people take Jenny McCarthy seriously?  I read somewhere a few weeks ago that she had posted some sort of call to action video on YouTube.  Not thinking clearly, I searched her name on YouTube.  You can imagine the types of things I turned up...
• And because I was trained from birth to be a Braves fan: 

It's official!

I'm up and about and doing work.  Yeehaw!

On being in a rut

I am in such a rut!  I can’t seem to get motivated to do anything at all.  I have to give lab meeting tomorrow.  Hmph.  I have no coherent data.  Of course, having a coherent project might help that, but whatever.  I’m not bitter or anything. 

If I could get myself motivated to just DO something, anything, I think I would feel better.  Instead, I just keep sitting here, surfing the net, doing nothing worthwhile. 

I haven’t been sleeping well again.  This is a problem I have from time to time.  Probably a year ago I cut out almost all caffeine, and that helped.  For a while.  When I get stressed or even slightly depressed, the sleeping stops.  I think now it’s at least somewhat due to allergies.  Benadryl was good to me last night, but I still don’t feel rested because I haven’t been sleeping well for a couple of weeks now.

I know that if I could just get myself going again, if I could just manage to keep myself busy in lab, I would feel better.  I would likely start sleeping better.  Rationally, I know these things.  Practically, I can’t drag myself out of my chair.

Honestly, I think the only reason I manage to drag myself out of bed every day and even make it to lab is lots and lots of very gentle nudging from TM.  He loves his lab and his PI and his work.  And when I’m still in bed he comes and tells me “Wakey, wakey!” often enough that I eventually give in.  I’m very, very lucky to have him.

I know I need to get out of this rut.  I know it.  I know I need to fight against the clouds that are closing in.  I can’t give in and get taken over by my whiney, emotional side.  I have to fight it.  But I don’t wanna!  But I have to.  I must.  And I will try.  At least half-heartedly…

April Scientiae is up!

Check out the April edition of Scientiae over at Women in Science.  It's all about fools and foolishness.