McDonnell Distinguished University Professor, publisher of over 100 scientific papers, friend of Bill Nye, member of almost every mission that has involved both NASA and Mars, my four-year advisor: this is just a sparknotes version of the endless accomplishments of Wash. U.’s own Ray Arvidson.

He is usually seen haunting the southwest corridor of the Earth and Planetary Sciences building. He is currently ridiculously busy with the Phoenix Mars Mission. NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander touched down on the Martian north pole this summer and is now digging up soil looking for evidence of water. So, what would a man of this caliber listen to while relaxing from all of the team-coordinating, data analyzing, remote sensing, and alien hunting?

Well, he doesn’t listen to an iPod. Instead, I was handed a small, somewhat outdated Insignia mp3 player. 

This miniature device is home to whopping 107 songs by 5 different artists. Apparently doing the whole Mars thing doesn’t give you enough time to update your mp3 player (Although I don’t think it can hold too many more). The first album, as one might expect of any professor, contains Beethoven’s 5^th and 6^th symphonies. But, surprisingly, Beethoven is the least played.

Three of the five albums are greatest hits compilations: The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band. These all-American classic rock artists are not an unusual find on anyone’s playlists, and almost expected for someone of Ray’s generation.

But after Beethoven and the classic rock rotations, the last, and most played artist on Ray’s mp3 player is not exactly whom you might expect. This coveted spot goes to Fergie. No, no, not Fergie MacDonald, the renowned Scottish accordion player. His most played artist is none other than ex-crystal meth addict, inept speller, and member of the Black-Eyed Peas, Stacy Ann Ferguson. His favorite song? Mary Jane Shoes. “There is some vibrational mechanism [in Mary Jane Shoes] that cures my sinus headaches,” Ray said in defense of this new revelation. Had anyone else made this statement, I would have claimed BS, but the man’s life is science. And based on how many times this song has been played, it also seems Ray has more than his fare share of sinus headaches. In fact, I’m starting to recall hearing Fergie’s dulcet tones beginning as soon as I leave his office after my advising meetings.

For such a limited song selection, one does get to choose from a variety of music genres.  And Ray’s lack of an iPod just fits in with the fact that he is more of a PC guy anyways. I’m just going to go ahead and give that little ole’ Insignia an A—5 stars— because I don’t want to have to switch advisors – there is way too much paperwork.