georgia on my mind... and india, too!

Thanks to the Nerdfighter Challenge that I stumbled upon at Kiva, I've added two more countries to my list!

Called the Mid-Year Loanathon, here's what our team captain had to say:

"If we lend $220K by June 15 we'll win a $1,000 prize. PLUS if we win there will be a fun contest with a $500 individual prize for the winning team member! All loans count, but you can filter below for team picks to see some loans we’ve vetted for you!"

 

Major coolness!!!

After filtering out those countries I've already loaned to, I settled on these two loans.

 

Davit of Georgia, a country with a coastline much like the one for my US state of Georgia, was an immediate hit with me!

"Davit is a 21-year-old determined student charting his course in marine navigation at the university. With a love for the sea and a passion for precision in navigation, he is committed to mastering the skills required to safely navigate ships across the world's oceans. However, the financial challenges of pursuing this specialized field weigh heavily on him, prompting Davit to seek a student loan to fund his education. He envisions himself as a future captain, guiding vessels through challenging waters and contributing to safe and efficient maritime transportation.
This loan is special because it allows low-income students to pursue education and find jobs before repaying. " 

Marine science!!!

Low-income student!!!

In Georgia!!!

Those are all descriptors that could have been applied to me at his age!

(smile!)

The loan for the Diaspora Co. in India took a little longer to attract me.

In fact, their ask of $100,000 was a big drawback, until I read more.

"Diaspora Co. is a woman-of-color-owned business dedicated to working with South Asia’s best regenerative family farms. Diaspora works with 140+ farm partners and 1500+ farm workers across 10 states in India & Sri Lanka to source their collection of 30+ single-origin spices and 6 house blends that are sold to their primary market in the US. Diaspora sets thriving wages with its farm partners (an average of 3 to 5x higher than commodity prices) that ensure smallholder partners and their workers are adequately compensated for their labor.
Kiva’s loan is critical for Diaspora ahead of their planting and harvesting seasons as they look to invest in seeds, irrigation, and farmworker help. It enables the company to make pre-harvest advances for the majority of Diaspora’s supply chain, allowing farmers to produce without taking on high-interest predatory loans. Lending to Diaspora supports improved, sustainable livelihoods and climate-smart agriculture practices. This is Diaspora’s second loan through the Kiva Social Enterprise program."

Here's the comment I left to encourage others to lend to them.

"This one loan will help HUNDREDS improve not only their livelihoods, but their lives and the lives of others in their community. Win, win!"

Right now, they've acquired about a third of the needed funds to make that happen.

 

I'm glad I had the repaid funds from former loans to allow me to celebrate my birthday by helping others.

 

If, dear reader, you feel inclined to help them, just click the links for the two loans.

Many thanks!

helping horseshoes

When the message came in from One Hundred Miles to help out these marine creatures with the prehistoric flair, I jumped at the chance!

Maybe you will, too?

Just go to this link by January 31 and fill in the information... many thanks!

 

Here is the letter I sent.

------------

Dear Leslie Furr [of the United States Pharmacopeia],
I want to express my strong support for the adoption of Chapter 86, the proposal that would grant competitive status to endotoxin tests that use synthetic horseshoe crab reagents.

Horseshoe crabs have a vital purpose in providing a renewal food source for other coastal species.

More than 360,000 migrating shorebirds use Georgia’s coast as an essential stopover site as they migrate thousands of miles to and from their nesting grounds in the Arctic and wintering grounds in South America. Some threatened species, like the Red Knot and Whimbrel, fly thousands of miles before stopping. When they do, horseshoe crab eggs provide an essential food source that fuels the birds’ migration and mating.

I applaud the work of the Microbiology Expert Committee in developing this new proposal. It will provide a reliable and sustainable source for endotoxin testing material that does not use the blood of a wild animal. Further, based on real-world evidence with medicines already on the market, the recombinant agents have been shown to be as good as, or better, than traditional testing using limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL).

Finally, we would encourage the United States Pharmacopeia to expedite the process of adopting the new chapter to facilitate earlier adoption by companies that want to convert to recombinant reagents prior to November 2024.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely,
Faustina Smith

gifting science to a niece, a great-niece and one great-nephew

Once upon a time, I was in charge of sharing science with locals and those visiting Savannah during National Chemistry Week.

That seems like forever ago, though it was October 2019.

The pandemic has certainly changed how time is viewed.

I had already retired before that event, so I had time to do it up right - gathering materials from the City of Savannah Water Management team and from the American Chemical Society, test-driving experiments to find those that worked best in the allotted times, getting the right to perform the experiments in Morrell Park downtown, making sure the event found its way into the press and onto the airwaves.

I ended up overgathering, as it turned out.

The leftover chemistry materials and science activity books have been languishing in my living room closet ever since.

No more!

More than 25 sets of the two activity books, as well as 45 self-inflating balloons for one of the demonstrations, are on their way to Louisville, Georgia, where Ally lives.

That great-niece will be 13 years old on June 2nd.

I know she will be thrilled to share science with her 7th-grade class!

 

Another 25 sets of the two activity books, plus fifty sparkly pencils, as well as the kits and instructions to make uv-detecting armbands, are on their way to Sumiton, Alabama.

That's the home of the niece that shares my birthday of May 29th!

She'll be 10 years old and she loves science.

I'm sure her 4th-grade classmates will much appreciate the fun activities during these last two weeks of school!

That left me with about 40 of the "Saving Savannah's Water" activity books.

I had crammed the medium flat-rate boxes from the Post Office as full as I could get them - and they were so very heavy! - but these books would not fit.

Now what to do?

Then the idea popped into my head: why not give them to Sebi's school?

What a marvelous idea!!!

I even told the school secretary that I had been there recently for my great-nephew's first communion, making them top of mind.

She was thrilled to receive the books!

And I am thrilled to have all of that science into the hands of those who will use it.

 

Yes, this has been a very fulfilling day!

i thank You, God.

nothing like a little STEM to get ya goin'

As a long-time member of the American Chemical Society's ACT4CHEMISTRY group, I try to respond in a timely manner to their requests.

Today's email contained no fewer than five such.

 

* * * * *

Dear ACS Member:  
The House and Senate recently announced the Representatives and Senators who will go to conference over U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA)/the America COMPETES Act (COMPETES).
In their role, the conferees will resolve disagreements and differences from each chamber's bill into one combined final bill.
This process also brings the U.S. government closer to establishing its innovation priorities for the next decade.  
The conference committee is the final opportunity for constituents and organizations to advocate for priorities to remain included.
ACS has consistently advocated for several priorities focused on STEM education and workforce funding, sustainable chemistry, and helium conservation.  
Below you will find several broad issues with their specific act4chemistry alerts.  

    STEM Education and Workforce - ACS is asking for the inclusion of several STEM education and workforce provisions to promote equity and inclusion.  
        https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html#/116

    Sustainable Chemistry and Advanced Energy Technology - ACS is asking for the inclusion of language authorizing sustainable chemistry programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE).   
        https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html#/117

    Helium Conservation - ACS is asking for inclusion of helium conservation measures at the DOE and NSF
        https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html#/118

    NIST Manufacturing Programs - ACS is asking for inclusion of provisions supporting NIST manufacturing programs from the House version of America COMPETES Act.
        https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html#/119

    Combating Sexual Harassment in STEM - ACS is asking the conferees to include the House COMPETES provision to combat sexual harassment and discrimination in the scientific enterprise.
        https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html#/120

We ask you to highlight these important priorities to your Representative and Senators as they forge a compromise legislative vehicle.
We also ask that you share this important advocacy effort with your fellow chemists.
For questions, please email us at act4chemistry@acs.org.

Warm regards,
Karen Garcia

* * * * *

 

Done, done, done, done, and done!

I even received a Thank-You email for my efforts on their behalf!

 

* * * * *

Thank you for your recent Act4Chemistry action.
Our members are a crucial element of our advocacy efforts and we appreciate your continued engagement.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!
 

Messages were sent to the following recipients:
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01)
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA)

 

* * * * *

 

Now, it's up to the politicians to do the right thing, as Spike Lee would say.

I'll be watching to see that they do.

After all, elections are coming up again.

Those that have not done in accordance with their constituents' wishes will have to get new jobs, won't they?

not a grove, but a survey

I don't know how many were chosen from Georgia for the Arbor Day Foundation Annual Survey, but I am of that number.

How nice to be chosen!

They must have known I would comply - just look at this spiffy certificate they had enclosed!

I also received address labels and a one-page calendar, with promise of other goodies should I decide to send along a donation with my survey response.

(smile!)

I guess they don't know about my new stance on where the money in my pockets goes.

However, I have completed the two-page survey they'd sent to me.

Partly, the first question drew me in.

"Which of the following have you done in the past 12 months? (Check all that apply.)

 

Pruned one or more trees

 

Planted a flower or vegetable garden

 

Fed birds near your home

 

Planted one or more trees " 

I had check marks for all four activities!

I prune trees at least once during the course of a year, mostly because the squirrels are so active at planting scrub oaks, pines, and now a mimosa, all too close to the house.

The growths have to be trimmed to keep them from taking over!

I planted a spiderwort garden in one corner of my front yard, down near the street.

As well as liking these drunken irises that stagger hither and yon, the pretty plants adorn a sloping area that is difficult to mow.

Bonus for me!

The birds greatly enjoy the berries produced by my wild lantana bushes twice a year.

I need to trim back those bushes now, but they are still heavy with berries, so I have left them for now.

I also try to keep the bird bath filled so the birds can splash about - that's fun to watch!

 

As for the planting of trees, that has been done indirectly, with me supplying the funds to the Arbor Day Foundation for the addition of a grove of sixty to a national forest.

This year made the third time that I have done so as part of my birthday gift to me.

 

I encourage all readers to choose at least one activity from that survey question to pursue for this new year.

Enjoying nature is one of the side perks of doing so...

and that's beneficial for your mental health.

Wonderful!

(smile!)

spending gary's money

This email says it all, so here it is!

*****

Alpha Chi Sigma national@alphachisigma.org
7:25 PM

Dear Faustina,

Thank you for your gift of $ 19.02  to our organization.  The advancements we have made can be attributed in many ways to people like you who have generously supported our mission.  We are grateful for your generosity and hope that you will take great pride in the important difference that your gift makes.

Since Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 educational organization, the IRS allows your contribution to be fully tax deductible as permitted by law. Please retain this letter for your records.
 

*****

And here's the inspiration for me to give for the betterment of science!

This email arrived yesterday.

 

*****
Supporting Our Brotherhood
Fresh off the success of #GivingTuesday, we’re opening up one more chance to show your support and celebrate 119 years of Alpha Chi Sigma Brotherhood. We’re inviting all Collegiate Brothers (and Professionals, too!) to make a participation donation of $1.19 to recognize 119 years of our double bond.
Feeling generous? How about bumping that number up to $19.02 to commemorate our founding year? Gifts of any amount are welcomed and appreciated!
As an added bonus, all Founders Day gifts will be matched by Brother Gary Anderson, Alpha Eta ‘62, up to $6,000!

Founders Day Celebration
You are invited! Join Grand Historian Mitch Levings tomorrow night at 8:00 pm EST for a virtual celebration of brotherhood.
Mitch will regale us with stories of our beloved Fraternity and will be joined by other special guests during the 2-hour celebration. We can’t wait to see you tonight!
 

*****

That bold, italicized line has been highlighted by me!

Since Gary was in a mood to have others spend his money, I was certainly going to help a brother Altotus out!

Now, the meeting starts in fifteen minutes, so, I have to make like a wyvern and fly!

(smile!)

atomic size matters to quasicrystals!

Well, well, well! The book almost made it for my birthday! Indeed, if I consider it an extended weekend, then it's right on time!
When I had backed this kickstarter project in February, I had been very impressed with Veronica Berns' intent. She was so excited about the research work she was doing for her doctoral thesis that she wanted folks who knew and loved her to have some understanding of it. She decided to construct a comic book to decrease the fear factor that many folks have at the word "chemistry".
I don't have the time to read it right now. I am about to embark on a trip to Alabama, north Georgia, and North Carolina. I know I will be quite busy with family every day.
However, after that, I'll be off to south Florida for two weeks. That will be a solo journey and I'll try to read the book during that part of my summer vacation.
So... stay tuned!

atomic size matters

I needed to do something positive today.
Earlier, I found out about the deaths of two women in my social circles. I wasn't as close to them as I might one day have been, as our friendships are still fairly new.
Nonetheless, their deaths have left a dark place in my psyche.
How better to remedy the loss than by helping with the creation of something new?
As a chemist, this kickstarter project truly speaks to me. Veronica Berns, a recent doctoral graduate in chemistry, has inked a comic book to help explain solid state chemistry to her family and friends.
Pretty nifty, right?
What is solid state chemistry?
You know, the stacking of atoms to create micro-scale versions of old-fashioned vacuum tubes and transistors to help your computers, laptops, and even phones be "smart" for you, while still being physically small and lightweight. A scant 35 years ago, I was an electronics maintenance technician for the US Navy's "modern" computers, machines which were the size of refrigerators and required their own sterile, cool, environments - and had a fraction of the operating memory of today's electronic toys.
That's less than two generations ago! Amazing!
But I digress, as I am known to do...
(smile)
My $29 is not really needed by her campaign. Her science project has struck a chord and has garnered more than double the amount she had set as her goal.
Amazing! Does my heart good to know there are more than five hundred nerds like me who want a copy of her book. I wonder how many of the backers are also teachers like me?
I'll look forward to its shipment in May - just in time for my birthday!
Nice!

speculative relationships at the broken hearts table

I really needed this today.
The finished products are not yet on their way, but I received two emails from kickstarter projects I've backed.
The second arrived this afternoon, from Scott Kroll, of "Speculative Relationships: A SciFi Romance Comics Anthology". As part of the rewards for my support, I have been granted early access to the finished product, via weblink. I was also sent the weblink for the backstory on the making of the anthology.
(If you want them, just click here for the anthology and here for the "Making Love" ezine. Well worth the sawbuck for the pair!)
Beautiful! Just the thing I needed to help clear my mind from the great loss I have felt for the past two days.
The story I chose to read first was Rinko Endo's, "The Same Moon". Anyone who knows me will affirm that I have an attraction to the moon, whether beneficial or maddening depends on the day.
(smile)
Her tale was just the therapy I needed. Such a sweet story about a thug and her healer! I don't know why, but I could totally relate to the thug. Perhaps it's from my recently dregged memories of my days as a sailor in Panama, when I had weapons practice every month for proficiency with 45's and M-16's. That was necessary in case the secured facility where I worked was ever overrun by terrorists.
I was very skilled with those weapons.
I really loved her story.
I'm going to ration out the stories, maybe read just one a day for the next week or so, make them last a bit longer. That will allow me to get the full benefit of each, to better appreciate both the artistry of the work and the tale itself.
I've skimmed through the "Making Love" 'zine. Nice little tidbits in there for each artist - very nicely arranged! I look forward to taking my time and perusing every page, at a leisurely pace, perhaps while sipping a cup of hot tea and periodically glancing out at a weeping sky...
The other reward actually arrived by email on Wednesday, but I was a bit swamped at the time. You see, I teach and I had scheduled a test for my students that day. Then, last Friday, I had diddybopped off to Atlanta for Dragon*Con, test unwritten. I ended up spending most of Tuesday and Wednesday making up for my fun weekend.
(Still worth it!)
This afternoon, while awaiting the last inning and a half of a championship playoff game, i was taking care of a backlog of emails. Fortunately, a soundtrack was awaiting me, buried in the forwarded jokes and transferred photos and fb messages.
Those hard-working Titshaw brothers, whilst making their next film, "The Broken Hearts Table", had taken a time-out to compile a songlist.
No, the movie is not a musical.
These "Monthly Music Mixes (lasting one-year) that inspired The Broken Hearts Table" began this month. Woohoo! Fourteen songs, all by different artists, some remakes of old favorites, some new tunes, most absolutely without equal. "Sad, Sad City", by Ghostland Observatory, and Mayer Hawthorne's "A Long Time" were especially welcomed by my exhausted brain.
Actually, their September Music Mix is quite good for reading about Speculative Relationships. Seriously. That Ghostland Observatory tune is especially, and incredibly, appropriate.
I'll have to check and see if the brothers will allow me to release their playlist, so you can judge the truth of my words.

trek: a spoof musical beamed into a galaxy far, far away

As far as I know, my headline could be the truth!
Last month, I contacted the creators of the kickstarter project, Accio Actors, to inquire about the reward delivery schedule.
You see, it's been just over two years since I gave financial backing to the production of their musical. I was to receive the soundtrack, the playbook, and a prop from "Trek: A Spoof Musical".
Sadly, none of the items promised had yet materialized.
Today, I received this message from the group.

"12:09 AM, 27 Jan 2014
Accio Actors commented on a link you shared on facebook.
Accio Actors wrote: "Unfortunately due to disagreements with the writers of the show, it has been taken down and is now out of Accio's hands and in the hands of the writer of the musical. We tried our hardest last year but it never was able to resolve. Our apologies and thank you so much for your past support." "

How very sad that Lauren Field and Gaetano Rodriguez have opted to not fulfill their obligations toward their financial supporters. Shame on them. Actions such as theirs cast dispersions upon honest creators of crowd-sourced projects, making it more difficult for those creations to become realities.
Again I say: Shame on you, Lauren Field and Gaetano Rodriguez.

So, I boldly went in search of whatever did still exist.
Here's what I found!


This is all of the information which would have appeared on the program.
"TREK: An Intergalactic Spoof Musical

An Accio Actors Production

Story by Lauren Field and Gaetano Rodriguez
Script by Lauren Field
Music and Lyrics by Gaetano Rodriguez

Director: Lauren Field
Music Director: Gaetano Rodriguez
Producer: Katie Wilcox
Stage Manager: Emily MacAgy
Choreography: Lindsay Ingram & Anastasia Cobb


Cast:

Kirk: Jeremy Moranski
Scotty: Joe Southall
Bones: Devon Motte
Mr. Spock: Jacob Zdan
Janice: Alicia Carrillo
Uhura: Nina Brooks
Sulu: Justin Gonzalez
Chekov: Rachel Andelman
Andorian General: Tobi Easterman
Red Shirt Bob: Alex Windisch
Red Shirt Ashley: Anastasia Cobb
Flamboyant Red Shirt: Zachary Wilson
Stephanie Butts: Stephanie Pavluk
Richard Richardson: Bernie Marger
Villian/ Chorus: Geoffrey Richardson
Andorian/ Chorus: Chris Kinney
Andorian/ Chorus: Sasa Ilic
Cheerleader/ Chorus: Lindsay Ingram
Cheerleader/ Chorus: Samantha Kendall
Starfleet Officer/ Chorus: Abby Carlen
Alien/ Chorus: Katie Wilcox
Mortimer: Ian Muentener
Eugene: Jonathan Foster

Band:

Guitars: Gaetano Rodriguez
Piano: Nick Hughes
Drums: Mitchell Clark
Bass: Charlie Foti
Violin: Kathryn Hope

Crew:
Emily MacAgy
Janine Field
Todd Kozlowski
Michael Brown
Jeremy Rineheart"

I even located a bunch of stills from the show! My many thanks to Pedro Carillo Photography for graciously sharing these photos of the actors! Here they are!
If I can ever locate the lyrics of the songs, that will be posted here, too.
Meanwhile, I shall continue to hope the writers will one day live up to their promises.
As for the rest of the cast: Live long and prosper, y'all!

adventure in physics

In September of 2011, I first became aware of this short film, The Flight. The goal was ambitious: a film with a lead character who was not only curious, desirous of change, smart, and capable, and... lesbian. That's right. Her sexual orientation was simply another of her attributes, like her curiosity.
How refreshing: a film about a smart young woman, not a film about a young woman questioning her sexuality.
It was also about a young woman on a quest to find what more there was to life than the small island on which she lived. According to the elders, that bit of land was the only land still on the planet, all the rest had been destroyed by the sins of humanity.
Ah! That last bit caught your attention, didn't it? The world had been drowned because people were bad - yet, on this sole remaining landmass, homosexuality still existed. No, that's not quite right. It's not that homosexuality still existed that is the important point here. Homosexuality is simply not distinguished as a sin; it is an accepted way of being, just like heterosexuality.
Like I said, pretty ambitious for a student short film.
I backed it heavily on its kickstarter campaign, but to no avail. The project did not meet its funding goal of $4000.
That time.
The next September, it was back for another run at funding.
My finances had been used for other projects, making a far lesser amount available. But, I did provide funding again for the film, as I still believed it to be a remarkable piece.
After all, the young woman manages to build a set of flying wings simply by the reading of a banned book. What a marvelous combination of science literacy and spunk!
This time around, she succeeded! Moreover, I was able to view the film on the large screen at the Trustees Theatre, too, when the student showcase was opened to the public. Very nice to see "The Flight" in such a setting!
And now I have my very own copy, to view whenever I like.
I should consider having a screening at my house sometime in the future, to share these works with a larger audience. After all, my goal is to broaden the horizons of those I know, not to let them stay on their own isolated islands.

Nick of time

The second time around, he was successful in obtaining the funds needed. Not much later, he was sending the book about time travel adventures of a teenager to his backers, including myself.
I am so proud of him.
Mahalo!

Science, time travel, history - this book has it all! AS my reward for backing his kickstarter project, I was to receive two copies of the book. Not only did I receive a copy - an autographed and nicely inscribed copy! - but the main branch of my local public library also received one to share with the young readers all around me. What a fabulous bonus!
Here is what he wrote to me in the book:
To Faustina -
For your "outside the box" thinking and your generous support of literacy.
Mahalo!
J. Lee Graham

And he sent me a bookmark, too!
(smile!)

hypothes.is - check that fact, please

In the name of separating facts from factoids, I became one of 791 backers of Hypothes.is in November of last year. I am so proud of what Dan Whaley and his talented crew have accomplished! The website is up and ready for action!
Speaking of the website, they have a special link for listing all - I mean ALL - of the donors. Gratitude makes for a good attitude of both givers and receivers. That is one of the reasons I support these kickstarter projects. By and large, the hosts of the projects, those who dare to put their hearts out there for all to see, in hopes that others might share their dreams - those people are truly grateful when family, friends, and strangers choose to suuport them. That's pretty magical. I like being part of that magic for others.
Check the comments to this post to see what I mean about gratitude.

bostwick does research. - a web series!

Oh, WOW!
Adam Hall and Mildly Fearsome Films has definitely upped the moxie quotient on this kickstarter project! It was already pretty awesome that Doug Jones is one of the stars involved.
Who's he? Well, he's the guy you don't usually see out of make-up. You may know him better as both "Pan" and "Pale Man" in "Pan's Labyrinth", or "Silver Surfer" in "Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer" - or my favorites, lab assistant "Jonathan Wright" in "Sudden Death!" and "Abe Sapien" in "Hellboy" and :Hellboy II: The Golden Army". If you go here, you can see him with his golden Saturn from the Science Fiction Films Awards.
So, pretty awesome, right?
Well, hold tight to your seats, folks! Here's the latest scoop!

Update #8
Jan 30, 2012
Very Exciting Announcement about who will play Dr. Rust & Dave

We couldn’t be more excited to make this announcement.

Literally.

Not possible.

We are very pleased to announce that Barry Bostwick will be joining the Research. cast as the fabulous “Dr. Rust.” We know you haven’t seen the series yet - but you will LOVE him.

LOOOOVE HIM!

Only if you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past 50 years or so would you not instantly know that name, that face. Barry is the owner of a beautiful Tony award, a Golden Globe, and a Courage Award. He’s played a president, a mayor, an All-American student, and a devil-may-care high schooler. Barry originated “Danny Zuko” in Grease and got his big break in film on “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” (can you see why we LOVE him!?) And TV fans will remember him as the hilarious bumbling mayor of New York in “Spin City.”

Not only is Barry an amazing actor but he’s an incredible person. We’re honored, we’re blessed to have him join us.

Check out his bio and allll of the amazing things he’s done on our CAST page. Thank you for joining us, Barry!!!

We're also pleased as punch to announce that we have cast Gabriel Diani as our lead researcher and the glue that holds together our crazy little team - "Dave."

Gabriel Diani works as an actor, comedian, and filmmaker in Los Angeles. He wrote, produced, and starred in the award-winning horror comedy "The Selling" about a real estate agent trying to sell a haunted house (coming to DVD/VOD in August), raised over $30,000 on Kickstarter to publish a new version of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" that replaces the "n-word" with "robot" (satirizing attempts to make the book more palatable to modern audiences), and made the web series "Mary Olson" which has garnered over 1.3 million hits on youtube.
Videos and more information at http://DianiAndDevine.com.

He’s far too modest. “The Selling” has been reviewed all over the internet, attending more festivals than we can count, and has won several awards including Best Feature at the Friars Club Film Festival and at the LA Comedy Film Festival (along with 4 others...) Gabe was also honored with Best Actor & Best Screenwriting awards at that festival.

Yes. Wow. Please join us in welcoming him to the team!

Love,

The Research. Team

Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest and greatest as it happens!

Oh, you bet I will!
And now I know there will be singing in the webseries! How could they have Barry Bostwick and not make use of his vocal talent?
Oh, OH, O H!!!! I do sooo enjoy all things Bostwick!

research. - a web series

Hi, I'm Faustina and I'm a science nerd.
Hi, Faustina.
I must admit, the reason I'm here is because of my addiction to "Sudden Death!"
Er... okay. But you realize this project is not a musical, right?
Yes. Sadly. But I have hopes that a song or two may spring into existence along the way.
Yeah, I get you. A girl can dream.
Damn Skippy.
Damn Skippy!
So, now that that is out of my system, why am I investing a goodly chunk of money into this West Coast kickstarter project?
Weren't you listening??? I already told you: I want, need, MUST HAVE that special edition dvd of "Sudden Death!"!!! Ever since the Savannah Film Festival brought it to town in 2010, I have been hooked, craving more, more, MORE!!!
Pardon me while I straighten my clothes... and regain composure....
(deep breath)
Now, Adam Hall, who I saw in the queestion-and-answer session after the film screened on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, at 9:30 AM in the Trustees Theatre, right here in Savannah, Georgia - whew! - well, he's opened the funding doors for this dream of a webseries, opened those doors wide open, so folks like me can stroll on in and make ourselves at home, like big ol' producers. Nice, right?
AND.. get this, the webseries is going to be about scientists doing research about everything you ever wanted to know anything about ever. Sounds like fun to me!
And I'll get that special edition dvd of "Sudden Death!"!!!
And mad producer credits on each episode!
And that special edition dvd of "Sudden Death!"!!!
Of course, that will only happen if the project hits its funding goal. Which is in two days. And they aren't quite there yet.
But they have to succeed, they just have to!
Or how will I ever see "Sudden Death!" again?
I'll only have the promotional postcard from the film festival, the postcard that has graced my office wall ever since I saw the film.
That would be so very sad, now that I know the dvd is within my grasp.
Let me see if I can get some other folks to help out!
Later!

time travel adventures

Yep, believe it or not, we have an author in Decatur who wants to encourage kids to read science books! To that worthy goal, he has written two books, In The Nick Of Time and The Time Of His Life, about space travel and has them geared toward the home-schooling market in particular. The books have an entertaining story with science, math, history, and other topics sprinkled in right under the kids' noses.
With this project, he's trying to get them published.
Hopefully he'll be successful in this funding venture.