Dance: Tulsa Spring Swing 2019; what makes the difference among dancers?

TSS was last weekend, but better late than never.

I went to Tulsa Spring Swing (TSS), an West Coast Swing (WCS) event, for a night (4/20/19 Saturday night) for watching contests and social dancing for fun.


As a dance event that gathers professionals and amateurs, contestants and fun-oriented dancers, event staff and participants, there were many different levels of WCS dancers. 

Some were good. I thought one of them can dance on Broadway.


Watching these different kind of dancers, I was wondering what makes the difference among them.

Body? Sure. The body's appearance, the shape and the usage, have clear visual impact. Dance is an opportunity to demonstrate functionality of your body. Smooth, limber, precise, responsive, graceful, fast,....there are many positive attributes that you can refine. It shows.

Knowledge on WCS? Yup. There are familiar patterns and there are rare "killer moves". If you are Newcomer or Novice, executing them without a hitch alone can place you up in the contest.

Teamwork? Yes. It is one of judging criteria that judges use. Dancing with a familiar partner allows you to take it a little further.

Musicality? Of course. It is another one in judging criteria. WCS is supposed to be open to musical interpretation and "play". Stiffly dancing set patterns with a plastered smile won't get you anywhere.

Message? Right. When you dance, along with the music, your bodies are sending various messages to the audience, whether you are aware of them or not. May the messages be positive, fun, and entertaining ones.

......

Add anything you think what counts.


It had been a while since I was staying up late (like, 4am) and dance last time. It was fun. 

[Event flyer 2019]

Science: What is "Marketing Abstract"?; OMRF Geroscience symposium (4/24/2019)

We work in an academic setting (University). When we discover something in the lab that may have commercial value or applications, we also work with industry liaison component of our University, Office of Technology Development (OTD). 

Today the OTD was giving a seminar about commercialization of invention (titled "Industry Call for Opportunities"), so I went.


Following is how it works, in short.

(a) Once we find something (discovery or invention) with commercialization potential, we file a disclosure of invention to the OTD.

(b) They determine whether they/we pursue intellectual property (IP) claim (aka patent).

There are some conditions to be met to file an IP claim. We need to be careful about disclosure or publication.

(c) Once we decide to file patent, the OTD will write up document for intellectual property claim application, and file it to the patent office.

By this time, the discovery or invention is presented in a form of a "new technology".

(d) Based on the invention/discovery, we (the OTD and researcher) prepare for a "Marketing Abstract".

The Marketing Abstract is a searchable summary of the new technology. It will be also presented by the OTD in local and international conventions for new technologies.

The Marketing Abstract should briefly tell (i) what the technology is, (ii) what the technology does, and (iii) what advantage the technology has over others (competitive advantage or innovation). In short, value proposition.

From our standpoint, preparing for the Marketing Abstract for our technology is a milestone.


(e) The OTD (and us) have additional job. They (we) will try to "sell" our technology, so to speak, to the party interested in the technology, such as pharmaceuticals, ventures, and investors. Also, people in the industry do search for what they want, and once the Marketing Abstract is out, our technology can be "found". 

The OTD and industry both subscribe to an online "matchmaking" system, which helps to connect a new technology and a searching party.

(f) Once the technology is found and interested by a party, the OTD will negotiate with them about the use, such as licencing, commercialization, or research aid.

Here is another milestone closer to the "final goal" of the technology changing the world.


We in academia tend to go for publication first. But we need to consider delaying publication when intellectual property rights are involved. Now we are talking about translating science into a business in real world.

It helps to know these and plan accordingly.




Also today, we had a Geroscience symposium in nearby OMRF (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation). 

Link:
https://gerosciencemeeting.omrf.org/

The theme was "The role of inflammation in aging and age-associated diseases", which is involved in what we do in cancer prevention studies and in Alzheimer's. 

The main auditorium is several minutes walk away. I attended a few sessions. It was interesting to see similar biological events from different angles. Scientists in different research fields tend to have different "basics" and different ways of thinking. 

Today passed so quickly. It was a busy day, although not feeling like so.

[Center logo]

   

Dance: Upcoming dance events for April 2019 in Oklahoma

There are two weekends remaining for April 2019. And there are two special dance events for each weekend in Oklahoma. 

On 4/20 Easter weekend, there will be West Coast Swing event, "Tulsa Spring Swing" in Tulsa (Marriott Southern Hills).

Event link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/147826182784560/

It is a WSDC registry event, meaning that the event would attract local and regional competitors. It has been fun event. For your consideration.



On 4/27 weekend, there will be Argentine Tango workshops and milonga event (Weekend with Paloma and Maximilliano) in Oklahoma City (3Sixty Entertainment Powerhouse).

Event link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2047867348639211/

Paloma and Max are Argentine Tango professionals, traveling and teaching AT at festivals. They are " 6 time finalists in the Tango Mundial of Buenos Aires (the biggest Tango competition in the World), including 2nd place in 2007. They have 21 years of experience and knowledge in Stage and Salón tango."

Their demonstration should speak louder than just words. Check it out.

[Maxi and Paloma, Portland 2018]

(disclaimer: I don't own these videos and all rights belong to them)

Science: "The Straw Millionaire" for early career

Here is a Japanese fairy tale, "The Straw Millionaire".

[from YouTube ("KidsTube"), in English]
(disclaimer: I don't own these videos and all rights belong to them)

A poor young man prays to Kannon goddess to make him rich. She tells him to leave the temple, and the first thing he grabs will make him rich.

He steps out, then trips. He's got some straw in his hand. How will some straw make him rich?

............

This past Saturday there was a visitor, an exchange medical student visiting OU Tulsa campus from Kyoto, Japan. He wanted to talk with Japanese scientists/researchers working around here and get some career advice for doing scientific research.

For some reason he made a contact to me. So I spared some time to talk with him.


One of the things I told him about early career research is "The Straw Millionaire".

Frankly, students are not useful at all at first. They need training before they can do experiments and start getting reliable results.

Most of them are aware that they got close to nothing. It can be discouraging.


Then, here comes the Straw Millionaire.

The poor young man gives horsefly-tied straw to a child, and gets three oranges in return. He feeds the oranges to a woman suffering from thirst, and gets beautiful fabric in appreciation. He gives the fabric to a man needing fabric, and gets a sick horse. The horse is tended well and gets healthy, and is eventually given to a moving man as his ride. The young man receives the moving man's house and farm, a fortune. Now he is rich.



Likewise, early career researcher needs to be able to produce results for his supervisor or mentor. The results can come back as next opportunities and rewards that help his career move forward. 

Seemingly small results he produces can be the "thing in his hand" he can give away and get something bigger in return.


This kind of mentality is important. No one wants to work with a guy with entitlement mentality who demands something for nothing. Most want to help someone who has been helpful to them. And the world is surprisingly small for scientists.



We had a dinner in a Moroccan restaurant ("Cous Cous cafe" in OKC) with two more colleagues and kept having some "insider talk" on scientific research.

A fine Saturday evening, I suppose.

Life: When they say it is a new era, will you change anything? (on upcoming "Reiwa" era in Japan)

Current Emperor of Japan is retiring. The Prince is going to succeed the Emperor position on 5/1/2019. 

In Japanese constitution, Emperor is defined as the symbol of the nation. Although not supposed to get involved in politics, he is involved in various diplomatic roles and domestic tasks. As the head priest of Japanese Shintoism religion, he functions as a spiritual leader as well. Kind of like British royal family and the Pope combined.

Obviously, being the Emperor is demanding, taking mental and physical toll. At age 85 as of today, current Emperor might have hoped a well-prepared and peaceful transition. After some debate in parliament, his abdication request was approved by the government.

Japanese calendar names an era according to the Emperor's "ruling" period. Current Emperor's time has been called Heisei (平成). Year 2019 is Heisei 31.

In Japan, there are many articles and reflections trying to summarize 30 years of Heisei (1989-2019).

On 4/1/2019, the Japanese government announced the name of new era' "Reiwa (令和)".

The name "Reiwa" is based on Manyoshuu (万葉集), a Japanese classic poem anthology established in 8th century. 

Usually imperial era were named after Chinese classic literature. I don't see any issue here in the use of a Japanese classic anyways. The name sounds as good as all others.

Beginning of a new era is associated with hopes for improvement or change. Technically, other aspects of my life have not changed. But they say a new era is beginning.

Then here comes the title question; "When they say it is a new era, will you change anything?"

So called "new era" is a change in environment. Will I respond? Will I do anything about it?

I'll certainly do things for the better, as much as I can. The Red Queen in Through the looking glass spoke the truth.

How will I in the future summarize this upcoming "Reiwa" era, then? I certainly hope to say good things about yet-to-come Reiwa era.

Planning things from the endpoint/"rear-view" from the future is useful in many ways. I should  apply this '"rear-view" from the future' more often.

[Government official announcing "Reiwa" name]

PS

We submitted a grant application today. A series of accidental delays pushed the submission to the last minute, but we made it thanks to a bunch of lucky events and helps offered.

I usually prefer a less dramatic situation in which I do not need to test my luck. That said, I am feeling pretty lucky now, thank Heavens and people helped. May the good karma return to you, nice helpers.