Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
    Well, tomorrow is the big day for my summer anyway. Tomorrow is the REU Program Student Presentation Day (it sounds more "official" to call it a symposium, in my opinion). Since my last name begins with "B", I am going first. Don't you just love alphabetical order? Hmmm . . .     So, at 9:15 AM Eastern Time, Tuesday, June 26, 2004, I will be giving my first scientific presentation. Now, I don't mind going first as a general rule — au contraire, I love public speaking — it's just that many if not most of the other students here have presented research in a symposium format before, and I have not. I'd just like a little more time, you know?     However, on a philosophical note (and those of you who know me may know what I am talking about here), their greater experience should not have any bearing on their topping me. Only a thinker should be able to beat me; and quite honestly, most of them are not thinkers — not in my definition of the word, anyway.      I just talked with my advisor, and I have some minor rearrangements to do on my presentation, so I've got to run. Some philosophical clarifications should be coming, in case the previous paragraph sounded a bit too egotistical for your taste.