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Aliens arrive: we have killed your leaders and taken control of your planet.
Us: oh thank god
Aliens: you are now citizens of ... Wait what
Fund a biopic of Dr. Ben Barres at
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/askthequestionmovie/ask-the-question
Dr. Ben Barres was a neuroscientist whose research focuses on the glia, not nerve cells but other cells which help to sculpt and maintain the wiring of the brain.
Once he realized that he was transgender, he was nervous about coming out, afraid that he would lose his job and his friends. He wrote a letter explaining his situation,
“Although the idea of my changing sex will take some time for you to get used to, the reality is that I’m not going to change all that much. I’m still going to wear jeans and tee shirts and pretty much be the same person I always have been—it’s just that I am going to be a lot happier.”
But his family and all of his colleagues were immediately supportive.
And he found a lot more support now that he presented as male. After a talk, one scientist remarked what a great seminar it had been, saying that “Ben Barres’s work is much better than his sister’s.” Ben doesn’t have a sister. He was the same person presenting the same research.
“By far, the main difference that I have noticed is that people who don’t know I am transgendered treat me with much more respect; I can even complete a whole sentence without being interrupted by a man.”
He became an outspoken advocate for gender equity and fairness to LGBTQ+ scientists.
He changed procedures of the National Institute of Health Pioneer Award. Previously, a nearly-all-male committee selected almost exclusively male winners.
He changed the nomination process for candidates to be chosen as Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators, seeking gender equity.
He helped establish the child care assistance program for Stanford untenured faculty.
He convinced multiple science conferences to require a pledge from attendees that they will not sexually harass, with the understanding that that behavior would bar them from future participation.
His neurological discoveries with glial cells led him to co-founding ANNEXON, a biopharmaceutical company testing drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative autoimmune diseases such as ALS, Huntington’s disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and geographic atrophy. Barres also worked with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to explore ways to promote recovery of function after spinal cord injury.
Dr. Ben Barres deserves to be celebrated for his work and for his activism. Dr. Barres believed that our differences should be honored, as there is a place for everyone in science. He hoped to inspire young people, especially women and LGBTQ+, to become the next generation of scientists.
#neuroscience #neuroscientist #transgender #WomenInScience #QueerInSci #QueerInSTEM #TransInSTEM
into existence because of their most recent actions, and this "time-out" is a blessing in disguise.
Knowledge of Rules: 6/10—I play/own too many systems.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. I used to know systems by heart when I was a teen, but that's long gone now. By choice & for peace of mind.
Still, even if I don't have all the rules memorized, if something sounds cool & doesn't give players unfair advantages, I let it happen 'cause it adds to the games I'm running & this adds to our fun.
several other things to do (like not getting killed.)
But as a DM, I'll allow all the roleplaying my group needs to have their questions answered, needs tended to, their certainties questioned & doubts increased. :)
Between themselves? Perfect! I let 'em have their share of fun, as it gives me time to set the next stage/come up with something... anything!
There are times when a #DM, even a very well-prepared one will need time to regroup or correct course or come up with stuff the PCs brought
& breaks in flow as disbelief rolls in.
For inspiration I resort to own experience* & Nature documentaries.
Creativity: 10/10
Again, this is an honest response: I write whole novels based only on an idea I had that usually starts: "what would happen if someone replied/reacted to MC's question/action?"
So, when I sit down to plot or run a game, I'm never short of unique ideas to use.
Humor: 5/10
I'll allow it (to a point). I'll dispense it (if circumstance warrant it.)
*You'd love my Hellscapes.
Kev
Tao