About Felicia

I hate writing profiles. Whenever I try, I end up with what can only be interpreted as a half-assed attempt at being witty, making me seem sad and lonely at best, a complete loser at worst. Still, since I think a blogger without a profile is only half a blogger, here I am.

The blurb to our left suggests that I am, among other things, a biology student. I would have had a degree by now if I wasn't so easily distracted (rather like a magpie, I like shiny things). I try not to let this get me down, however - I know that although it may take a little longer than expected, my goal of becoming a scientist will eventually be realised. See, if I wasn't passionate about science, I would have chosen a more lucrative career to begin with.

I am currently in the process of finishing a BSc degree (so that I may then move on to a MSc, and so on - I don't intend on ever leaving the world of academia). My final project is a study on the phylogeny of Selenidera toucans and the biogeography of the Neotropics - the intersection between these two areas is called phylogeography.

My being obsessed with biology and especially evolution has been central to my developing into a secular humanist, skeptic, rationalist, you name it. Around 13 years of age I read River Out of Eden by Richard Dawkins and was hooked, both on evolution and a secular worldview. The realisation that there are people who try to discredit the foundation of biological science led me to take a stance against religion and other irrational ideas.

Unfortunately I have a handicap in debates against creationists: I am continuously baffled that people actually believe the crap they're spouting. Every time I think I've gotten over it, someone tells me something to the effect of "why is there no documentation on macro evolution, why aren't apes making human babies, or dogs making cats?" (actual quote from some troll on the Brights' forum), and my mind goes blank, refusing to believe the witness of my senses. It is my own special brand of naïveté.

I read a lot of webcomics and suffer from a lingering addiction to World of Warcraft, still experiencing withdrawal nearly two years after I quit playing. Should one harbour a desperate desire to interact with me outside of the blogosphere, I just might have an account on Facebook. Please note that I'm slightly restrictive on friending people though - if you're not sure I know who you are, introduce yourself in a message first. I use Facebook as a way to keep in touch with people I actually know, not as a way to collect hundreds of contacts so that people will think I'm cool.

In closing, I have a thing for eusocial insects in general, and Apis mellifera in particular. Together with my father I have been a beekeeper since I was 13.