Rule #4

Every group of grad students should have a past time. 2/3rds of us suggest keg kickball. But whatever you do, take time to play.

That could be Baaahhd!

Goats are becoming increasingly common in the populations of domesticated animals. Spurred on by the ‘green movement’ and the desire to raise productive pets, an increasing interest in the therapeutic benefits of goats has been identified, particularly in combination with therapeutic gardening. While goats are frequently friendly towards humans and respond to human affection, they are larger than dogs and when agitated or frightened can “run amuck.” A recent incident in Australia calls this to our attention. A neighboring billy goat (aka Billy) was responsible for two spinal cord injuries, multiple cuts, and a sprained ankle when he became frightened and escaped his yard. The purpose of this study is to first identify and manage the risks related to using goats in animal assisted therapy. The second part of this study will examine the therapeutic benefits of goats in multiple environments.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7612632/Rampaging-goat-puts-three-in-hospital.html

Rule #3

Understand correlations. No really, understand them. And then say this 10 times everyday. "Correlation does not equal causation." Seriously, say it. Learn it. Live it. Otherwise you might as well go be a pirate.

Rule #2

Rule #2: Always read the methods and results section of articles. There will be a time when you wish you had. You might think it's covered well enough in the discussion, but if that was true, they wouldn't have labeled them separately.

Rule #1

After a LONG hiatus, we have decided to post rules. Rules out there for the future graduate student. We couldn't have gotten where we are without the fabulous mentorship of our predecessors, so in tribute and in hopes to help those out there starting graduate school, here are our rules. Follow them. They will help.

Rule #1
Tell yourself it's worth it everyday, even when the job market doesn't look great and you can't remember the last time you ate

Happy Holidays!

It's nice to have the semester over with. It's a nice break from all the work that was heaped upon us at the end of the semester. We hope everyone has a wonderful vacation and happy holidays spent with friends and family.

Pizza Bagels

I am thankful for Pizza Bagels. So thankful that I have given them proper noun status. I had Pizza Bagels for dinner tonight, and as I gloried in the awesomeness of the Pizza Bagels I began to think about the other things I am thankful for: diet coke, beer, video games, cable, werepigs, sports, running, and facebook. But what I am most thankful for are the other two members of the TR Mafia.

Grad school is hard, really, really, stupid hard. There are days when you can hardly stand under the pressure that has been heaped on your shoulders. And what gets you through is not the power of your dream, or your conviction, or your passion, or your brilliance... it's your friends. It's the people sitting next to you, laughing with you (okay, at you), learning with you, but mostly encouraging you.

In grad school you are exactly as strong as those around you. It's that simple. And I happen to to be among giants. I'm thankful for that, and for them, and for the time I'm getting to spend learning from them. I just wanted y'all to know that I am thankful. Also, to know that 2/3 of the minds behind this blog are the greatest minds in field.

Oh, and I want you to never underestimate the power of the Pizza Bagel --- it makes people grateful that they are in grad school... it's magic, freaking magic.