Atheists in the Biological Sciences

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Comment by TNT666 on January 18, 2012 at 4:07am

Tamiflu effectiveness against influenza, as quoted by public officials, was based on corporate trials, not independent ones. European researchers today have released data that ROCHE did not want made public, by going through Access to Information laws. The hidden/unpublished data reveals both lack of effectiveness and safety. Again a case of corporate interests contrary to public interests. They are not on the same plane. More to come when I spend more time on this in the coming days. For now, it's late.

Comment by Chizu_Sando on January 17, 2012 at 9:04pm

LOL @ frog story! Yes, I would eventually like to be an exotics vet. Dealing with euthanasia is hard, but eventually you become sort of hardened to it. Sounds horrible to say, but true.  While vets do deal with horrible things like abuse, in my experience it is a very small part of the job. Mostly you do routine spays/neuters, dental cleanings, ect. 

Comment by TNT666 on January 16, 2012 at 10:18pm

Indeed, herpers are an uncommon breed of scientists :)

@ Annie: The tadpole habitat selection was meant to determine what, if any, tadpole habitat played a role in the long term decline of Rana septentrionalis (Mink Frog). Unfortunately the geographical location my supervisor insisted I focus on had insufficient specimens to do the study, which is why I switched to sex determination.

@ Chizu: We have only three vet schools in Canada, entrance is insanely difficult, even though my grades were right, I would've needed experience with vets to even hope to get in, and never got around to it. Vet assistant I think would be a very satisfying job... leading eventually to vet? I've hesitated because I suspect I'd find it hard to deal with euthanasia on a daily basis, ...and cases animal cruelty.

Frogs are just the cutest things, specially Tree frogs!

I once picked up off the ground the mother of all Green Frogs, a female, which must have weighed nearly 5 lbs!!!! I needed both hands to pick her up, and my hands were far from touching!..... and then she screamed!!!!!!!... I swear, I was so surprised... I let her go immediately. Very efficient predator repellent! :)

Comment by Annie Thomas on January 16, 2012 at 10:02pm

Hello TNT666.  It's fun to meet fellow herpers here.  Best wishes Chizu as you pursue your degrees.  TNT666- what was your study on tadpole habitat selection?  It sounds interesting.  I live in Florida, but spent most of my time herping in the tropics.  My husband is the true herper... but it sucked me in. My interest is in bats. 

Comment by Chizu_Sando on January 16, 2012 at 9:53pm

Ah yes, garter musk is in a class of its own. lol AAS Associates in Animal Science. I'm learning to be a vet tech, or are they called veterinary nurses there? I applied at A&M college station for a zoology masters but didn't get in. I'm hoping another degree and better grades will help.

Comment by TNT666 on January 16, 2012 at 9:44pm

What's an AAS degree?

Comment by TNT666 on January 16, 2012 at 9:43pm

Hi fellow 'herpers' Annie and Chizu. I did my M.Sc on tadpole habitat selection and pleurodeles sex differenciation. Ah the stories of late night collections stuck chest deep in slow river muds! :)
But that was in the 90s...

I don't keep any for recreational purposes though.

My M.Sc. supervisor was studying genetic hybridisation of Ontario Garter Snakes as well as that of Jefferson/Blue-spotted Salamander Complex. I got so many snake bites the Summer I worked on his research, one does amazingly get used to it... as well as the smell of endless stress defecation... :(

Sure do miss those days... up here in Yukon, we generally only find Wood Frogs, and certainly no snakes.

Comment by Chizu_Sando on January 16, 2012 at 9:37pm

Do you ever go on youtube? If you're interested go and search for ViperKeeper. Al posts videos every week of what it takes to work with hots. He breeds and provides specimens to zoos around the country.  That's where I really fell for venomous. I used to work in a lab and I'd spend all day hunched over a microscope with Al's videos playing in the background. :)

Comment by Annie Thomas on January 16, 2012 at 9:27pm

Cool!  My husband used to breed arboreal pit vipers (mainly eyelash vipers) and poison dart frogs for zoos and aquariums.  We haven't had anything hot in years... but were thinking of getting some eyelashes again.  We are down to one herp... my 12 year old daughter has a corn snake... a hearty starter snake. ;-)  Good luck on your degree.  And yes, people who will work venomous snakes is necessary... and important.  Plus, I think they are the most beautiful. 

Comment by Chizu_Sando on January 16, 2012 at 9:05pm

Yay! I'm only a baby herper as it were. I have currently kept small colubrids, several frogs species (mostly Hyla), and a beardie. But I have a huge passion for hots and conservation. I'm currently getting my AAS degree and want to be an exotic vet. Not enough vets are willing to work with venomous but they need love too. :)  

I currently only have two African House Snakes (2.0 Lamprophis fuliginosus) and a checkered garter (1.0 Thamnophis marcianus) The garter can be a pain in the butt. I'm convinced and early diet of goldfish gave me brain damage. XD

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