"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." ~George Bernard Shaw
I have been thinking a lot about my career choice lately. What is it that I do? Is it what I want to do? Do I enjoy it? and What am I doing it for?
Well I went to school to get my Masters in Museology (yes it's a real degree). I really enjoy arts administration, but those jobs are few and far between. In the meantime I work in development at a museum. And I do enjoy it, even though it isn't exactly what I want to be doing. Mostly, I do it because I know the end product of my work could change lives. Museums changed my life way back when I was in 5th grade.
Not every organization is perfect, and the museum I work for is no different. But it is an amazing organization with mostly amazing people working there. The potential I see in it is immense. I have been there for 8 years and I have seen it change a lot, some stuff good some not so good. But I still feel very positive in the progress that we can make, and in the difference we can make in people's lives.
Progress can only be achieved if:
1. People let go of their preconceived ideas of what/who we are and what we do. In this day and economic climate we cannot be museum purists.
2. People realize that change is inevitable, and although you may be uncomfortable with it you have to do what's best for the museum.
3. People stop whining and complaining that they don't have enough of whatever resource they need. Figure it out, people have done more with less, we can too!
So even in the face of adversity, in a time of waning state support, we can make a difference. Progress is attainable, and I will continue to have hope!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Red Heads Rock!
I had an interesting discussion today while on an errand with some co-workers. Would you want your kid to be a red head, aka. a "Ginger?"
A little scientific information:
Red hair is made up of a combination of high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and relatively low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin.
Being that I have red hair I think it is always assumed that if I had a kid it will without a doubt be a red head.
However, red heads are actually a genetic mutation in the MC1R protein (let the jokes commence) of a recessive gene on chromosone 16. Only 1 to 2% of the worlds population is red headed. And that percentage increases in certain parts of the world, with Scotland having the highest at 16%.
To have red hair both Steve and I would have to provide this recessive red head gene to our kid. SO it is very likely I will not have a red head. If my MC1R gene is rr and Steve's is RR, no red head kids. If Steve is Rr, then we have a higher chance of having a red head.A great example of this, and how it can skip generations. (from http://www.thetech.org/genetics/ask.php?id=245)
Now since we are so rare, remember only 1-2% of the world's population, it causes me to get very angry at famous red heads when they change their hair color to blonde or brown or whatever. There are few red headed role models. As kids we growing up we get ridiculed for being different, called names some not to savory. If all of the famous people out there change their hair color, they perpetuate the myth that having red hair is ugly. Even if they just wanted a change from their regular "look."
Examples of pretty red heads:
Julianne Moore
Amy Adams
Lindsey Lohan (she really is a beautiful girl, tragic though)
Rose McGowan
Geri Haliwell (Ginger Spice)
Nicole Kidman
Alyson Hannigan
You get the idea.
Calling All Famous Red Heads! Don't change your hair color and be a representative of the Ginger Kids! (I'm sure that is copyrighted by South Park creators). Whatevs.
Oh and to answer my original question "Would you want your kid to be a red head, aka. a 'Ginger?'"
Yes and no. I would love to have little mini-mes with blue eyes and red hair, but I do not wish on my children the ridicule that I grew up with. Maybe times have changed and being made of for having red hair isn't as bad, but I doubt it. Hopefully, they will appreciate their hair color as much as I do. (Although I do lighten mine to Strawberry Blonde like ti was when I was real little.)
A little scientific information:
Red hair is made up of a combination of high levels of the reddish pigment pheomelanin and relatively low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin.
Being that I have red hair I think it is always assumed that if I had a kid it will without a doubt be a red head.
However, red heads are actually a genetic mutation in the MC1R protein (let the jokes commence) of a recessive gene on chromosone 16. Only 1 to 2% of the worlds population is red headed. And that percentage increases in certain parts of the world, with Scotland having the highest at 16%.
To have red hair both Steve and I would have to provide this recessive red head gene to our kid. SO it is very likely I will not have a red head. If my MC1R gene is rr and Steve's is RR, no red head kids. If Steve is Rr, then we have a higher chance of having a red head.A great example of this, and how it can skip generations. (from http://www.thetech.org/genetics/ask.php?id=245)
Now since we are so rare, remember only 1-2% of the world's population, it causes me to get very angry at famous red heads when they change their hair color to blonde or brown or whatever. There are few red headed role models. As kids we growing up we get ridiculed for being different, called names some not to savory. If all of the famous people out there change their hair color, they perpetuate the myth that having red hair is ugly. Even if they just wanted a change from their regular "look."
Examples of pretty red heads:
Julianne Moore
Amy Adams
Lindsey Lohan (she really is a beautiful girl, tragic though)
Rose McGowan
Geri Haliwell (Ginger Spice)
Nicole Kidman
Alyson Hannigan
You get the idea.
Calling All Famous Red Heads! Don't change your hair color and be a representative of the Ginger Kids! (I'm sure that is copyrighted by South Park creators). Whatevs.
Oh and to answer my original question "Would you want your kid to be a red head, aka. a 'Ginger?'"
Yes and no. I would love to have little mini-mes with blue eyes and red hair, but I do not wish on my children the ridicule that I grew up with. Maybe times have changed and being made of for having red hair isn't as bad, but I doubt it. Hopefully, they will appreciate their hair color as much as I do. (Although I do lighten mine to Strawberry Blonde like ti was when I was real little.)
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