After a few months of break for other projects, I started dancing again.
On Saturday 3/17/18, we had a WCS party. On Saturday 3/24/18 we had a salsa party. On both occasions, I had a chance to dance with a visiting instructor, and had a decent dance. Thank you so much.
Such dances remind me of how much I love dancing, and also help me to get back in shape. (Speaking of shape, my body moved surprisingly well for WCS and Salsa, though.)
On Sunday 3/25/18, we had a milonga at All about cha cafe in downtown Tulsa.
There was a beginning couple, who asked me "some tips" for Tango. They learned the "basic eight" steps of Argentine Tango in the past month, and were practicing it.
They seemed perplexed at the milonga, because the way other people were dancing Tango was so different from the "basic eight".
I told them that "basic eight" is not meant to be copied in milonga. The step is meant to teach elements needed to dance Argentine Tango, and dancers need to break the "basic eight" step apart and use the elements to dance.
Bottom line. Beginning dancers need to develop basic body usage for Tango first. We would have them practice basic elements, like walking, ocho, molinette, cross, etc.
In other words, they need to practice "what" they need to do for the dance.
There were other dancers who knew these basic Tango moves. In other words, they knew "what".
But unless they demonstrate "how" well they do the moves, the dance wouldn't become interesting to others (including his/her partner).
"How" they carry themselves, "how" they support partner, "how" they move together, "how" they execute a move, "how" they dance with the music, etc etc. "How" is pretty much everything once a dancer gets "what" they should do.
Even if they think they know Tango, if their posture is misaligned and looks uncomfortable or forced, then their "how" is not good enough. Fixing "how" requires third person viewpoint; mirror, video, coach/instructor, etc.
There are different kinds of professionals for dancing. Professional teachers can teach "what" to do for a dance, at least. Professional dancers are people who know and demonstrate both "what" and "how". If their dances do not have convincing power to others, they still have a lot to learn as "dancers".
When you learn a dance, you can pay attention to whether you are learning "What" or "How".
March 27, 2018
March 20, 2018
Science/Life: Small research projects
This week is supposed to be spring break for students. My student is indeed taking a break and I don't see him in the lab.
But officially for me, it is not. Instead of taking a break, I made a list for my own small research projects and enjoy working on them besides my regular work.
The small research projects include:
Start-up company evaluation
Ketogenic diet and cancer
Theories on the causes for Alzheimer's disease
Musical Theater production
Methodologies for Actor/actress/producer
They are both for my professional and non-professional activities. For projects, I only do something interesting and useful for me. As of late March 2018, these are most interesting, and fun to investigate.
I'm a researcher. I do research. Just like that. And I'm sure I'd use the results some time.
Additionally, I started working out. Daylight saving is a good opportunity to re-introduce evening walking and workouts. Many things, including body weight and physical fitness, are simply associated with habits. Shedding off winter weight by 10-15 pounds would be nice.
But officially for me, it is not. Instead of taking a break, I made a list for my own small research projects and enjoy working on them besides my regular work.
The small research projects include:
Start-up company evaluation
Ketogenic diet and cancer
Theories on the causes for Alzheimer's disease
Musical Theater production
Methodologies for Actor/actress/producer
They are both for my professional and non-professional activities. For projects, I only do something interesting and useful for me. As of late March 2018, these are most interesting, and fun to investigate.
I'm a researcher. I do research. Just like that. And I'm sure I'd use the results some time.
Additionally, I started working out. Daylight saving is a good opportunity to re-introduce evening walking and workouts. Many things, including body weight and physical fitness, are simply associated with habits. Shedding off winter weight by 10-15 pounds would be nice.
March 15, 2018
Science: Lecture time
I presented a one-hour lecture today in Physiology department. It was not textbook teaching. I was supposed to talk about my own work, with some modifications for the audience different from usual cancer research audience. It was an interesting challenge.
In general, as a guideline;
If a talk is for 10-15 minutes, a paper's worth materials fit the bill.
If a talk is for 20-30 minutes, 2-3 paper's worth materials will be needed.
If a talk lasts for 45-60 minutes, several paper's worth materials will be needed. Gathering that much materials can take years.
Putting all the materials together and present it as a story; such an opportunity is also a great time to review my own research and its future direction.
It is easy to lose direction in research. Take time to re-define most important aspect and focus on it, and have courage for not doing less important aspect, are critical.
Note to self.
In general, as a guideline;
If a talk is for 10-15 minutes, a paper's worth materials fit the bill.
If a talk is for 20-30 minutes, 2-3 paper's worth materials will be needed.
If a talk lasts for 45-60 minutes, several paper's worth materials will be needed. Gathering that much materials can take years.
Putting all the materials together and present it as a story; such an opportunity is also a great time to review my own research and its future direction.
It is easy to lose direction in research. Take time to re-define most important aspect and focus on it, and have courage for not doing less important aspect, are critical.
Note to self.
March 7, 2018
Life: Compare apples and oranges, and bananas, and melons,...you'll know fruits
The other day there was a thread on gun control. In the thread, US and Japan were compared. And a comment said, "it's comparing apples and oranges."
To some extent, it is correct.
But if you really want to be knowledgeable on the subject, in the case gun control and gun death relations, comparing US and Japan, then Sweden, Norway, Germany, Spain, China, Korea, Australia, and so on, is a valid approach. Eventually you'll have a broader knowledge and case studies on the subject.
Don't be afraid of comparing Apples and Oranges. Don't stop thinking by the phrase "comparing apples and oranges", but keep comparing bananas, melons, mangoes, strawberries,...... you'll have better idea about fruits.
And such knowledge can help you to be a solver of a problem.
When "Apples and Oranges" idiom is used, it can be worthwhile to check whether the idiom guides you to stop thinking or not.
To some extent, it is correct.
But if you really want to be knowledgeable on the subject, in the case gun control and gun death relations, comparing US and Japan, then Sweden, Norway, Germany, Spain, China, Korea, Australia, and so on, is a valid approach. Eventually you'll have a broader knowledge and case studies on the subject.
Don't be afraid of comparing Apples and Oranges. Don't stop thinking by the phrase "comparing apples and oranges", but keep comparing bananas, melons, mangoes, strawberries,...... you'll have better idea about fruits.
And such knowledge can help you to be a solver of a problem.
When "Apples and Oranges" idiom is used, it can be worthwhile to check whether the idiom guides you to stop thinking or not.
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