Well Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology rejected my paper about mutualisms in Chinese pitvipers for the third time. Unfortunately, I cannot resubmit there. Apparently, they keep sending my article to the guy whose work I'm bashing for "blind" review. Sadly, the system ain't that blind. I'm depressed. So depressed that I'm eating buffalo chicken wings. I hardly ever eat meat anymore. But right now I need...
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jaylin:
I wish that I could wake up one day and say, "Duh, this is so friggin' easy... Am I that hungover that I can't evern piece together ad hoc math theories to do elementary computations anymore?" ... because, seriously, I don't even know what the hell an ad hoc math theory is anymore. You're too smart, sir. Far too smart. 
So this is my first "official" graduate level paper (not counting the four that were rejected up to twice apiece that need to be re-written and resubmitted to various ecology & biology journals), I wrote it for "Environmental Geology" seminar. Hope you like it! Even if you don't like it, feel free to comment:
Volcanic Processes and Super-volcanoes: Facts and Prospects
Introduction: Volcano Basics
In...
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Volcanic Processes and Super-volcanoes: Facts and Prospects
Introduction: Volcano Basics
In...
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vivid:
<My friend told me all about your deviantart stuff and I was bowled over girl. wOOOH! >
Thanks to both you and your friend.
<3
Thanks to both you and your friend.
<3
jaylin:
Your comment on my set was amazing! I absolutely loved it 
Aaah, after a long week of graduate studies, teaching, drinking insane amounts of high-priced Belgian triple-ferments, and insane amounts of Eiswein... I'm taking it easy, drinking Stash Green Tea Chai and hoping to actually get some sleep tonight... What do you think of competition? Vermeij's "Escalation Hypothesis" frames the idea that inter-specific competition is THE greatest single factor in Natural selection. Specifically, he basically claims...
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sockpuppet:
I suspect that that hypothesis doesn't really pay proper attention to the possibility that intra-specific competition is probably at least as powerful a drive.
Certainly, you have to evade your predators long enough to breed; but you also have to out-compete your relatives, who by definition are the individuals with needs like yours. I'm sure this is the reason for sexed size difference in sparrowhawks (European ones, Accipiter nisus ) for instance; it allows males and females to hunt the same territory without excessive competition for prey species.
Basically, speciation is a way of avoiding competition with your relatives.
I also think this is a strong driver in (for instance) bird migration; makes it possible to spread your competition around. And that moving into new habitats at the edge of an existing range is a strong driver for the same reason - less competition from your relatives; which in turn will produce speciation as the organism adapts to its slightly-changed environment.
Not that I'm a biologist, or anything.
Certainly, you have to evade your predators long enough to breed; but you also have to out-compete your relatives, who by definition are the individuals with needs like yours. I'm sure this is the reason for sexed size difference in sparrowhawks (European ones, Accipiter nisus ) for instance; it allows males and females to hunt the same territory without excessive competition for prey species.
Basically, speciation is a way of avoiding competition with your relatives.
I also think this is a strong driver in (for instance) bird migration; makes it possible to spread your competition around. And that moving into new habitats at the edge of an existing range is a strong driver for the same reason - less competition from your relatives; which in turn will produce speciation as the organism adapts to its slightly-changed environment.
Not that I'm a biologist, or anything.
Alright! Finally, a long week of graduate courses and teaching puny undergrads comes to a close... Aah, I like my students a lot, they think I'm a freak though is the impression I get from them in non-campus interactions.
I just ordered my first batch of Peet's Coffee and I can't wait to taste the stuff. Won't get it till like Tuesday or Wednesday. I...
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I just ordered my first batch of Peet's Coffee and I can't wait to taste the stuff. Won't get it till like Tuesday or Wednesday. I...
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Alright, so I've been on here almost 4 days I think and I finally have time to write a blog. First, I had to entertain some friends, show them my new dorm space. Yeah, it's weird being a grad. student and T.A. at such a small school (USF St. Pete) because I live across the hall from one my students! A cute one at that!...
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Hey! Finally got on here. Now that I have my illustrious teaching assistance position, with all its attendent hotties and perks, including an actual salary from my university... here I am!