Introducing: Nuts and bolts

Nuts…

So, long time, no talk, gentle reader. That’s because I’ve been writing a paper (my first first-authored paper, if you must know) and I feel really guilty about extraneous writing activities, like somehow I am cheating on my paper. How can I justify reading up on a tasty tuber or invasive insect and crafting its story and biology into an intriguing knowledge nugget, when mountains of data await re-analysis for the billionth time, and co-authors deserve satisfaction? How indeed?

Well what if, instead of natural and actual history tidbits, I were to write up useful methodological tips? What if I were to describe the tools and tricks I have found useful to the progress of my science? Well that’s just basically like writing up my methods! But in a piece-meal, overly detailed, and more generally helpful way. How can one feel guilty about that? That’s just good citizen-ship.

… and Bolts. Get it?

Hence the introduction of a new recurring segment, Nuts and Bolts. But don’t worry, I fully intend to pick up on the ethnobotany and invasion biology nerdery again, once the paper is done-ish and the guilt will allow it.