hopeful

"'It's kind of disheartening," Freeman said. "In the little town we live in — this is a really small town — I don't know how you can live in such a small place and try to be separate.'"
actor freeman foots prom bill in sundance doc - david germain in AP

not to be a downer on a day like today (i won't lie, i got a little teary-eyed at the end of obama's speech this morning), but i just can't contain my amazement at the idea of a town that does not allow black and white students to attend the same prom. so morgan freeman paid for them to have one.

"Dr. Mason and other legal experts suggest that President Obama might be able to change things significantly for young women in science — and young men — by signing an executive order that would provide added family leave and parental benefits to the recipients of federal grants, a huge pool of people that includes many research scientists."
in 'geek chic' and obama, new hope for lifting women in science - natalie angier in the new york times

not very many PI's at the three institutions i've worked at have been women, and even fewer have had families. i understand that to succeed in any profession a lot of personal sacrifices have to be made, but in science the whole 'you can have it all' dream of a family and a career can seem fairly impossible for women. for people who pretty much rely solely on government funding, the next four years could be a good change.