Dead Bodies and Poop
Got your attention, didn't I?
I just picked up a copy of Death's Acre by William Bass and Jon Jefferson. The book is all about Dr. Bass and The Body Farm - aka The Anthropology Research Facility - at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. This is where forensic anthropologists, among others, do experiments with dead bodies to learn things like how a body decomposes and other fascinating (if kind of gross) stuff. It may sound bizarre and kind of morbid but I really love this kind of thing. Seriously. Stiff by Mary Roach is one of my favorite books and where I first came across mention of The Body Farm. Then I read Carved In Bone by Jefferson Bass, aka Dr. William Bass and Jon Jefferson. Fiction but still lots of forensic anthropology so I was thrilled.
The other book that I'm going to try to find soon is The Big Necessity: The unmentionable world of human waste and why it matters by Rose George. It is all about poop and fecal contamination of our water supply, how that leads to diseases, how we can change things, etc. Really. Go check out today's Unshelved as Dewey does a much better job describing this book than I do. I know it must seem weird but I really want to read this book. Maybe I can pick up a copy before I leave on vacation. Can't you just see me on the plane reading a book about poop?
In more serious matters, my boss retires today. Probably one of the best supervisors I have ever had the good fortune to work for, B has always been of the school of thought that says her employees are grown ups and know what they are doing and her job is to stay the hell out of the way and let them do it. Now personally this works fabulously for me. I do not handle being micromanaged very well, nor do I like being ignored. B has always found the right balance with all of her peeps. And today is her last day. I am really happy for her (and a little envious) and I will miss her terribly. Cake and presents starts shortly. Tears will probably follow soon after.
And finally vacation starts in less than a week. Actually at this time next Friday I will be on the ship sailing the Pacific. Three and a half work days left, five and a half days total. All I have to do is provide a couple of brain dumps to people here at work, fix a couple of bugs, print off my paperwork, pack and make my flight out early Thursday morning. I am so ready. Dad and I will have some web access while on this trip so I may do the occasional blog entry instead of saving everything for when I get back. And I'll post pics when I get back - some here and the full set of all the pics on my Flickr account (family and friends only so if you are interested let me know in comments or e-mail so I can send you a pass).
I just picked up a copy of Death's Acre by William Bass and Jon Jefferson. The book is all about Dr. Bass and The Body Farm - aka The Anthropology Research Facility - at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. This is where forensic anthropologists, among others, do experiments with dead bodies to learn things like how a body decomposes and other fascinating (if kind of gross) stuff. It may sound bizarre and kind of morbid but I really love this kind of thing. Seriously. Stiff by Mary Roach is one of my favorite books and where I first came across mention of The Body Farm. Then I read Carved In Bone by Jefferson Bass, aka Dr. William Bass and Jon Jefferson. Fiction but still lots of forensic anthropology so I was thrilled.
The other book that I'm going to try to find soon is The Big Necessity: The unmentionable world of human waste and why it matters by Rose George. It is all about poop and fecal contamination of our water supply, how that leads to diseases, how we can change things, etc. Really. Go check out today's Unshelved as Dewey does a much better job describing this book than I do. I know it must seem weird but I really want to read this book. Maybe I can pick up a copy before I leave on vacation. Can't you just see me on the plane reading a book about poop?
In more serious matters, my boss retires today. Probably one of the best supervisors I have ever had the good fortune to work for, B has always been of the school of thought that says her employees are grown ups and know what they are doing and her job is to stay the hell out of the way and let them do it. Now personally this works fabulously for me. I do not handle being micromanaged very well, nor do I like being ignored. B has always found the right balance with all of her peeps. And today is her last day. I am really happy for her (and a little envious) and I will miss her terribly. Cake and presents starts shortly. Tears will probably follow soon after.
And finally vacation starts in less than a week. Actually at this time next Friday I will be on the ship sailing the Pacific. Three and a half work days left, five and a half days total. All I have to do is provide a couple of brain dumps to people here at work, fix a couple of bugs, print off my paperwork, pack and make my flight out early Thursday morning. I am so ready. Dad and I will have some web access while on this trip so I may do the occasional blog entry instead of saving everything for when I get back. And I'll post pics when I get back - some here and the full set of all the pics on my Flickr account (family and friends only so if you are interested let me know in comments or e-mail so I can send you a pass).