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jima

Where you can find me
What I do (my job): 
Environmental research scientist
Where I do what I do: 
St. Croix Watershed Research Station at the Science Museum of Minnesota
My Webpage(s): 
http://www.smm.org/scwrs/people/almendinger
Interests
I wish I were an expert in: 
In no particular order: -- being multilingual -- Irish flute (which I've never tried, but I've given up on guitar) -- archery -- juggling
Dream jobs: 
-- To work in a small, focused laboratory in the woods on the shore with great friends -- which is what I already do, except it would be great to not be on soft money ALL the time... -- To travel around the world on a research vessel, a la Jacques Cousteau. Yet when I read his biography, he was continually burdened with seeking donations and grants, which is not so different from our lab (except of course for the travel...). -- To be a tornado chaser. And a runner-away-from-er. I'd name my car "Toto."
Science in my life
What is science to you?: 
Air.
I would invent: 
Lemba bread for traveling.
Technology I love: 
Well, I used to have this computer named Lola... as computers go, she was *very* personal. She had this tattoo on her underside -- "110/220 V AC" -- I'll never forget it.
How do you use math in your daily life?: 
It's the language of science. Or, rather, it's the universal language scientists use to describe nature. Then the trick is to use our human-interface language to explain what the math is saying.
What technology do you use every day?: 
Fire. Sticks. Wheel, sometimes.
Technology that drives me crazy: 
Telephones should be one-way devices that I can use for calling someone else. The ones that ring and expect me to answer drive me nuts.