User:Rowan

I'm the resident astronomer. Ask away.

Rowan's answers to frequently asked questions

You can also find out more from Rowan's forum profile.

What is the origin of your username?

originally the heroine of a book I read long...long...long ago, which I have since failed to find again. alas the name seems to be wildly popular. no caps because i was feeling lazy that day. apparently i am also lazy today.

Where is your user pic from, and what does it mean to you?

My avatar is a sun. I am an astronomer, though I don't work on anything sun-related. But I like shiny things, and the sun is very shiny. I've thought about replacing it with a less pixelated version but was too lazy and now I'm just kind of used to it.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

What do you mean, "grow up"?

What general things should we know about you?

I'm an astronomer. I like looking at the sky, and shiny things in general. I went to Carleton College so you can ask me about that anytime (it's awesome). I like cats and dogs, and horses, and fluffy things. I read way too many comics in my morning routine. I do Aikido, a Japanese form of budo which is often styled a "martial art" but it's really less killing and maiming and more towards harmony. Sometimes I fail at the "harmony" part in my everyday life, and I feel bad about that. I have a very strong sense of right and wrong, but I try to see everyone's point of view and give them the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes that doesn't work. I'm married to the cutest guy in the world. *swoon*

How do you generally stand on political issues?

Left-leanings socially; right-leanings fiscally. Sometimes these conflict and usually social wins out over fiscal. (And I'll say that by "right-leanings," I don't mean these people who have forgotten all about about fiscal responsibility)

What do you feel is your greatest achievement in life?

Still working on mine. I will get those three letters eventually.

Describe any animals you live with.

I live with a sweet lovable little kitten (10 years old ) who doesn't know how to purr but shows his happiness through his little pink nosey. He's very smart, and a people-kitten. (edit: had to put him down when he was 11.5, he got very sick)

The other one, the black fluffle is absolutely insane. I'm not entirely certain she has more than one brain cell; she uses it entirely for destructive rampages at high speed around the house. And staring at birds. But, she purrs very loudly, and is extremely gentle whenever attacking feet. Actually, we now think she does have a brain, just just uses it very selectively for destruction. Probably because she's bored. We've solved this by getting another kitten (white fluffle) who is gentle and sweet and purrs even louder than black fluffle. He was a shelter cat, so had some problems at first, but is now all better and very very cuddly. Plus they play together which is nice.

What are your favorite books of all time?

Because it's impossible to really choose, I'll go with ones I've read and re-read.

<i>The Hobbit</i> and the <i>Lord of the Rings</i> trilogy
<i>Hitchhiker's Guide</i> series
<i>Discworld</i> series, most of them but especially anything to do with Death or the Watch, plus Small Gods. And Pyramids. Soul Music (though that's kind of about Death too, or at least Susan) And... well, ok, almost all of them.
<i>Good Omens</i> which I will point out is by Terry Pratchett AND Neil Gaiman
Most anything by Neil Gaiman as well, now that I mention that.

Ones I haven't re-read a lot but have rediscovered: The Bourne Identity and the Bourne Supremacy. The last one (Bourne Ultimatum) isn't as good as the first two but is still pretty decent. Very different from the movies, fwiw.

What kinds of music do you like?

I'll listen to almost anything from new age to classical and opera to folk to country to rock to alternative to metal. There's very little rap I like though.

What is your gender?

also

Arr!

list every job you've ever had, in any particular order

Totally random order:

Pickle jar stuffer
Adjunct faculty - astronomy
Movie theater attendant
Teaching assistant (variety)
Math tutor
Grommet attacher for small motors
Car wash car wiper-off-er
Pizza waitress
Research assistant (variety)
Babysitter
Rock in farm fields picker-upper
Mission Planner for Chandra X-ray Observatory
Statistitician, college women's basketball
Bookstore clerk
Lab rat
Secretary

Data entry person

What's your major?

Physics for undergrad, Astrophysics for grad.
Though I tell people Astronomy if I don't want to scare them off.

What are your favorite movies?

<b>Miyazaki films</b>, though probably not Pom Poko, that one was just kind of weird. Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa all rank up there pretty close to one another, though.

<b>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</b> and <b>Hero</b> are both fantastic.
<b>Ronin</b>. I could watch this movie over and over again.
<b>The Dish</b>. The only movie that has made my husband try to extract a promise from me that I won't endanger my life for science. (my response: but what if it's really important??)
<b>What Dreams May Come</b>.

Campy movies, irreverent movies, spoofs. Action flicks.

What part of the world do you live in? Do you like it?

I love the cold and the winter, so anywhere south would be horrible for me (been there, tried that, nearly died). I love it here in the north. Cities I like so far have been Boston and Minneapolis; Chicago is too big and sort of all cookie-cutter, even if it's got good stuff in it.

Let there be snow!

What is your religious identification/lack thereof?

There is a grain of truth in all religions. But they all get it wrong.