Infrared Cameras et al

Yesterday two students did a presentation about thermography, a diagnosing modality that basically takes pictures of heat. During the question period I asked if there were any side-effects to the method - which was essentially like asking if it could harm people to take normal pictures of them. The thermograph camera doesn't produce anything that physically interacts with the subject. My breach in cognition went unnoticed as far as I know, but I felt rather dumb.

This morning, CB, RH and I presented about smallpox in public health. It's a disease with a lot of interesting history behind it - the first case we have evidence of was Rameses V (Egypt, 1157 BC); at some point in history, essentially every adult in Europe had experienced small pox; it changed the course of history by wiping out the Incas and Aztecs. It is the only disease ever to have been eradicated.

I purchased my tickets for going to PA this summer... guess there's little room for backing out now. The money has been spent and it's a done deal, however wise or foolish. It's sort of weird to spend the equivalent of one term's earnings (~$450) on a plane ticket and event registration. However, I think the trip will be valuable and I aim to kill three birds with one stone: attend the Faith Builders Educational Programs college student retreat, visit the Honorable Matthew Christopher Varney, and attend DA's wedding in Michigan. As a bonus I will get to meet some main characters from the MVarney Chronicles.

The trip might be one of the craziest things I will have done - but, hey, I said life gets better with age, right? Better, and crazier.