Because everyone needs those special few people in their lives that just complete them.
Throwback Third Thursday (#tbtt) proudly presents Disneyland Jan 2009 vs Disneyland Dec 2014 Tomorrow I am attending the International Plant and Animal Genome Conference XXIII (fondly referred to as PAG by those attending). And it's not only exciting because it's my first big conference and I will be there with a bunch of wonderful people from the Genetics program at Texas A&M but it is in San Diego and I am presenting my first graduate level poster! People are going to get their first official look at my research then I get to go home to mom and dad when I'm done. It's like the 1997 Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair all over again but instead of "The Color Attraction of Mice" I will be presenting on African lions in "Genetics and Genomics: Powerful Tools for Wildlife Conservation" (Oh how times have changed). It's a brand new year and I am starting it off with a bang. This poster represents the next big stage of my graduate career and the beginning of what I know is going to be a successful year. I am finished with my classes so now I can really focus on my research, prelims and making sure I don't get sick while doing it. I can't wait! Don't think that just because you live in a big city you are exempt from wildlife. On November 29th a mountain lion was spotted in Beverly Hills, the second recent sighting of a big cat east of the 405 Freeway. Mountain lions call the Santa Monica Mountains and Topanga State Park, west of the 405, and the Angeles National Forest, north of Pasadena, home. This particular cat wasn't collared so they don't know if it's a State Park cat on holiday or if it's a cat that has a knack for keeping cryptic in the fancy digs of 90210. Although the sighting was originally a tweet made by a Beverly Hills local (right), I was made aware of this sighting from a post on the Urban Carnivores Facebook page. Urban Carnivores is a website dedicated to keeping people informed on the carnivores you might run into in Los Angeles and Ventura counties with up-to-date news and the latest in local scientific research on mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, etc. The fact there is a need for this type of website goes to show you need to stay alert wherever you are. So, keep in mind, though you may be somewhere urban, there may be something wild lurking around the corner and wild will not give way urban so step aside. |