tete a tete means a conversation between two people. with all this time on my hands to write in my blog, you'd think I'd be conquering the GRE.
time is nugatory. overrated really.
"beverly hills! that's where. I want. 2 BE!"
By popular vote, Hamiltonian voters to be specific:
Amenah needs to get a boyfriend.
Yep.
So, Akochi, if you are reading (he's not, but if so) you better work on this for me.
At least 10 times, I have been mistaken forAkochi's wife. Heh. ANd when I'm alone, by myself, people think I'm 17 or 18. The irony.
there's no misoneism in this entry. nope.
I don't have a sinecure. MY job is quite full of things to do, and explore, and conquer.
and btw, if anyone was worried, which no one better be, the people i work with are awesome! like, for real. now that that is resolved, let's go onto something more productive.
Like discussing.......the end of the world.
No.
That' s actually not that interesting of a topic.
I'm hungry. I tend to write that alot in my blog. Sorry.
GOing to eat chicken curry. Yum.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Ode to 3730xl DNA analyzer
Pop quiz. Which quality graph shows better sequencing?
A.)
or
B.)
Well.... you were right! A.) shows a consistent q value above 20, which means that there is only about 1/10000 chance that the reported base is incorrect. And the sequence in general was about 750bp. That's good.
B.) is fighting to sequence. This is most likely due to the sample template not doing its best with its primer.
A.)
or
B.)
Well.... you were right! A.) shows a consistent q value above 20, which means that there is only about 1/10000 chance that the reported base is incorrect. And the sequence in general was about 750bp. That's good.
B.) is fighting to sequence. This is most likely due to the sample template not doing its best with its primer.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Hamilton MT
The pictures below are not taken by me, but here is a brief taste of the place I'm in. (I feel like I'm doing some sort of brochure...heh.)
Chief Joseph, 250-400 Nez Perce warriors and their families passed through the valley in their futile flight to freedom in Canada, in what is known as the Nez Perce Indian War of 1877. Their attempt to maintain their freedom and avoid the reservation was the only time the Nez Perce fought the whites.
Need I say more?
"When you work at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, there's a time to work and a time to play. Dr. Steve Porcella (left), a postdoctoral fellow, shows NIAID summer students "the ropes." During the summer, 26 high school and college students worked with RML scientists. Some students worked in other areas, caring for animals, performing secretarial and administrative tasks, or doing jobs in the shop and maintenance department. Four of NIAID's 16 intramural laboratories are located at RML and conduct basic and applied research in viral, bacterial and prion diseases and related clinical disorders. Prion diseases such as scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are major research areas."
~Missoula Times (newspaper)
This is Steve when he first came to RML. Steve is now head of the Core I work for, and today, we (!) celebrated the Core's 1 year anniversary.
Bitterroot national park. This is located four blocks from me--this is where I go jogging.
Bitterroot Valley (Hamilton is located in this valley) next to the mountains I see outside my window.
Left: Bitterroot River--I cross this when I go biking towards the mountains (in the distance)
Below: Building 1 of the Rocky Mountain Labs was constructed in 1928, after some doctors--Dr. Ralph Parker, Dr. Howard Ricketts and Dr. Spencer--paved the way in a schoolhouse lab. The lab is now about 10 buildings.
Chief Joseph, 250-400 Nez Perce warriors and their families passed through the valley in their futile flight to freedom in Canada, in what is known as the Nez Perce Indian War of 1877. Their attempt to maintain their freedom and avoid the reservation was the only time the Nez Perce fought the whites.
Need I say more?
"When you work at NIAID's Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, there's a time to work and a time to play. Dr. Steve Porcella (left), a postdoctoral fellow, shows NIAID summer students "the ropes." During the summer, 26 high school and college students worked with RML scientists. Some students worked in other areas, caring for animals, performing secretarial and administrative tasks, or doing jobs in the shop and maintenance department. Four of NIAID's 16 intramural laboratories are located at RML and conduct basic and applied research in viral, bacterial and prion diseases and related clinical disorders. Prion diseases such as scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are major research areas."
~Missoula Times (newspaper)
This is Steve when he first came to RML. Steve is now head of the Core I work for, and today, we (!) celebrated the Core's 1 year anniversary.
Bitterroot national park. This is located four blocks from me--this is where I go jogging.
Bitterroot Valley (Hamilton is located in this valley) next to the mountains I see outside my window.
Left: Bitterroot River--I cross this when I go biking towards the mountains (in the distance)Below: Building 1 of the Rocky Mountain Labs was constructed in 1928, after some doctors--Dr. Ralph Parker, Dr. Howard Ricketts and Dr. Spencer--paved the way in a schoolhouse lab. The lab is now about 10 buildings.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Weeeeeeeeeeee!
Raise your hand if you remember Amenah's comps topic.
Heh heh heh! so, i'm like surfin the RML site [which btw, you out in the real world could never have direct access too, since like everything here is super duper secure (i mean, go and google the RML and you won't find diddly squat)], and there he was!
Dr. Hin
nebusch!
I used his papers for my comps, and he's like around the corner, down the hall, and to the left! budabing, budabang!
I told Kent all about this discovery, and he pushed me out the door, and introduced me to the man.
So, here's a tribute to Yersinia pestis, the alleged etiological agent--but not--of the BLack Death:
and here is my intro to my paper.....
The Culprit of the Black Death
Arguably, no other disease has surpassed the devastation that was the Black Death. Claiming an estimated 17 to 28 million Europeans at a speed of 1.5-5 miles per day during 1347-1350 (Scott, 2001), the Black Death robbed Europe of its livelihood, leaving an unidentified black fingerprint upon its Medieval history. Until recently, the acceptance that Yersinia pestis was the etiological agent of the Black Death has gone uncontested. Currently, studies that suggest otherwise (Cohn, 2002; Gilbert et al., 2004; Scott, 2001) assert that molecular and epidemiological evidence shed light on the flawed connection between these two apparently dissimilar diseases. The elucidation of the causative agent has been previously based on pure speculations of the similarities between symptoms and misuse of archaic medical records. It is necessary to extinguish un-substantiated conclusions formerly declared by these methods, and to replace them with the molecular and epidemiological research that strongly indicates the impossible, if not unwarranted, relation between Y. pestis and the Black Death. It is also crucial to resolve the discrepancies within this controversy in light of a potential threat of the re-emergence of Black Death. Indeed, in order to develop treatments, the causative agent of Black Death must be identified to prevent the effects that claimed the lives of many. To address this question, an examination of aDNA studies, and Y. pestis transmission will be discussed.
and here are some of Joe's papers:
Hinnebusch, B. J., Rudolph, A. E., Cherepanov, P., Dixon, J. E., Schwan, T.G., and Forsberg, A. Role of Yersinia murine toxin in survival of Yersinia pestis in the midgut of the flea vector. Science 296: 733-735, 2002.
Hinnebusch, B. J., Rosso, M.-L., Schwan, T. G., and Carniel, E. High-frequency conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes to Yersinia pestis in the flea midgut. Mol. Microbiol. 46: 349-354, 2002.
Hinnebusch, B. J. Transmission factors: Yersinia pestis genes required to infect the flea vector of plague. In: M. Skurnik (ed.) The Genus Yersinia, Kluwer Plenum Press, 2003.
Heh heh heh! so, i'm like surfin the RML site [which btw, you out in the real world could never have direct access too, since like everything here is super duper secure (i mean, go and google the RML and you won't find diddly squat)], and there he was!
Dr. Hin
nebusch!I used his papers for my comps, and he's like around the corner, down the hall, and to the left! budabing, budabang!
I told Kent all about this discovery, and he pushed me out the door, and introduced me to the man.
So, here's a tribute to Yersinia pestis, the alleged etiological agent--but not--of the BLack Death:
and here is my intro to my paper.....
The Culprit of the Black Death
Arguably, no other disease has surpassed the devastation that was the Black Death. Claiming an estimated 17 to 28 million Europeans at a speed of 1.5-5 miles per day during 1347-1350 (Scott, 2001), the Black Death robbed Europe of its livelihood, leaving an unidentified black fingerprint upon its Medieval history. Until recently, the acceptance that Yersinia pestis was the etiological agent of the Black Death has gone uncontested. Currently, studies that suggest otherwise (Cohn, 2002; Gilbert et al., 2004; Scott, 2001) assert that molecular and epidemiological evidence shed light on the flawed connection between these two apparently dissimilar diseases. The elucidation of the causative agent has been previously based on pure speculations of the similarities between symptoms and misuse of archaic medical records. It is necessary to extinguish un-substantiated conclusions formerly declared by these methods, and to replace them with the molecular and epidemiological research that strongly indicates the impossible, if not unwarranted, relation between Y. pestis and the Black Death. It is also crucial to resolve the discrepancies within this controversy in light of a potential threat of the re-emergence of Black Death. Indeed, in order to develop treatments, the causative agent of Black Death must be identified to prevent the effects that claimed the lives of many. To address this question, an examination of aDNA studies, and Y. pestis transmission will be discussed.
and here are some of Joe's papers:
Hinnebusch, B. J., Rudolph, A. E., Cherepanov, P., Dixon, J. E., Schwan, T.G., and Forsberg, A. Role of Yersinia murine toxin in survival of Yersinia pestis in the midgut of the flea vector. Science 296: 733-735, 2002.
Hinnebusch, B. J., Rosso, M.-L., Schwan, T. G., and Carniel, E. High-frequency conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes to Yersinia pestis in the flea midgut. Mol. Microbiol. 46: 349-354, 2002.
Hinnebusch, B. J. Transmission factors: Yersinia pestis genes required to infect the flea vector of plague. In: M. Skurnik (ed.) The Genus Yersinia, Kluwer Plenum Press, 2003.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
the genomics CORE
well....here is a picture of the people i'm currently kicking it with at the core, minus Akochi and I. (And Stacy, the woman on the right, is not here anymore)
From left to right, Steve (my boss) Kent (the dna sequence head), Dan (the microarray guy--dont' get in a fight with this guy, he's buff), John (computer guy--how ironic, yi yi), and in the front is Amy (everything) and Stacy (new mother)
Are you ready? The "Amenah-is-bored-waiting for samples-and-to-work-with-the-one-and-only-PI-worth-working-for" post
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, October 24, 2005
A Conversation with Josh Yeoh's Superconsciousness
Superconscious (whispering): Viruses don't exist. They are a figment of your grand imagination, Amenah.
Me: What? What are you saying? But you see....
Supeconscious: You're wrong Amenah. Just remember that. Those doctors have made up a a name for an imaginatery group of imaginery packaged proteins.
Me: Listen. I know I had the stomach flu. And that was caused by one of your alleged 'ficticious' viruses. I know what I know. And that's that.
Superconscious: Heh heh. Viruses don't exist Amenah.
Me: Fine. They don't exist.
Me: What? What are you saying? But you see....
Supeconscious: You're wrong Amenah. Just remember that. Those doctors have made up a a name for an imaginatery group of imaginery packaged proteins.
Me: Listen. I know I had the stomach flu. And that was caused by one of your alleged 'ficticious' viruses. I know what I know. And that's that.
Superconscious: Heh heh. Viruses don't exist Amenah.
Me: Fine. They don't exist.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
AHHHHH!
so, like i've techinically been here on "work-status" for 3 days, and i'm already taking over the core????!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!
(i met some really cool postbacs....they are so smart! one, Akochi, is applying to like 16 med schools and lists Johns Hopkins, Yale, Harvard, and COlumbia as his top picks....! WOw)
(i met some really cool postbacs....they are so smart! one, Akochi, is applying to like 16 med schools and lists Johns Hopkins, Yale, Harvard, and COlumbia as his top picks....! WOw)
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Rocky Mountain World NEWS
Falling in love with Montana
It’s kind of funny, in a not-so-funny-way, the fear of unanticipated futures. Fear of the unknown. But for Amenah Babar, lab technician and researcher for the RML Core Genomics NIH Center, the fears of scarey mountain people dissolved immediately upon arrival in the valley into the delights of mountain life. Before venturing out into the abyss of uncertainties, Babar recalls the dreadful nights in which she debated the locations of job opportunities, “I could have easily stayed in Minnesota, working at the U. I could have traveled all the way to the east and worked at my beloved yet terrifying Johns Hopkins. And then, I could have been in Ann Arbor. I just didn’t know what to do.” Upon asking her exactly what makes her feel that this was the right choice, she responds, “I’ve dreamed of this place. Literally, I’ve dreamed of these mountains. I love running around the curves, and biking around the fields. Or just sitting on a bench by a bubbling river. You know, I can’t really explain it in words. But being here, in this moment in my life, right now, I just know. This is where I am destined to be.”
Laboratory Work
The institution itself is surrounded by a metal fence, and guarded by Level 4 (level 5 being the highest security) trained security guards. A visitor must be walked through a metal detector, and escorted around with approved lab researchers. A quick chat with one of the guards eases any anxieties one might have about the guards with weapons (namely, guns), with the realization that the guards are not only friendly, but they are there to protect you. Babar’s first impression, “I knew what to expect. The place was just as I thought it might be, and how Imran, my older brother described it. And I’ve even become friends with some of the guards already.” Walking with her to her lab, I noticed the ratio of female-male workers, “Do you ever feel like you’re the only female?” I asked. Laughing, she responded, “Again, I guess I kind of expected to be working around mostly men—even the other postbacs are mostly guys. I’m here to bring this place a bit more life—I mean look at these walls! They’re incredibly male-like. I’m going to paint them bright red or orange.” In fact, there are about 20-25 other postbac researchers, all ranging from Computer Science Majors to Chemistry majors—and as Babar reported, most are male. Babar works in the Genomics Core, where, at first, she will be sequencing DNA for Bethesda and RML. The procedures will entail using the Sanger Method of DNA end termination using tagged ddNTPs within a speedy Thermocylcer. Then, the unused ddNTPs will be dried off using the Centrisep method and dry vacuuming. Finally, the samples will be prepared for the ABI sequencer which is remarkable in itself. The ABI sequencer is a simple robot, which sequences the DNA through separation of different sized fragments determined by the ddNTP locations. Babar seems to be thrilled to use such equipment that is found in only a few labs across America, “This baby is high tech. I mean, all we do is stick the plate in, and the robotics of the sequencer does the rest. It’s amazing!”
Discoveries
Babar describes one of her preliminary discoveries in Hamilton. “I was riding my newly tuned up bike through the neighborhood, and low and behold, there it was! A semi-weighted key, six octave, yamaha keyboard! It must have literally dropped out of the sky! It was just one thing on my prayer list. PRAISE GOD! Yes, I needed to play piano, to stay sane. And there it was. The sign said, ‘FREE’, and I nearly fainted.” "You're not one of those crazy Christians, are you? The ones that actually believe that some sort of Being answers prayer??? I mean, come one, a keyboard--outta the sky??" I asked in disbelief. "Yes. Yes, by popular opinion, I'm quite crazy. Keyboards do occasionally appear out of nowhere, that I can attest to." Upon request and further bribe, Babar played us a tune or two, and it appears she soon may be debuting her first platinum album entitled, “A Long Way From Home”. In her spare time, Babar is attempting to write her first book "The Third Babar...errr...rather, is it Bukhari?", and study for the GREs. “I contemplated retaking the GREs, and was quite bitter about it. But then Nansu asked me, ‘Amenah, can you do better?’ And I thought and I thought. And I decided that I could. So, I’m going to, begrudgingly, take them again.”
On a last note, I asked her if there was something she missed from Minnesota. Babar responds, “My family. My friends. And Carleton.”
**Note to the reader: Upon contemplation and re-visitation of old deleted posts, it came to Babar’s attention that the interview style was in fact genuinely and originally Babar’s. In July of 2005, a post was written describing things in Explo World News. But due to popular opinion—Leslie and YiYi—the post was deleted because of a portion describing a kiss on the cheek and a coat in the rain. Thus, and a long exploding thus, interview style was created by a Babar. Although, in more consideration, Josh Yeoh is still quite fabulously inspiring. (All rights reserved.)
It’s kind of funny, in a not-so-funny-way, the fear of unanticipated futures. Fear of the unknown. But for Amenah Babar, lab technician and researcher for the RML Core Genomics NIH Center, the fears of scarey mountain people dissolved immediately upon arrival in the valley into the delights of mountain life. Before venturing out into the abyss of uncertainties, Babar recalls the dreadful nights in which she debated the locations of job opportunities, “I could have easily stayed in Minnesota, working at the U. I could have traveled all the way to the east and worked at my beloved yet terrifying Johns Hopkins. And then, I could have been in Ann Arbor. I just didn’t know what to do.” Upon asking her exactly what makes her feel that this was the right choice, she responds, “I’ve dreamed of this place. Literally, I’ve dreamed of these mountains. I love running around the curves, and biking around the fields. Or just sitting on a bench by a bubbling river. You know, I can’t really explain it in words. But being here, in this moment in my life, right now, I just know. This is where I am destined to be.”
Laboratory Work
The institution itself is surrounded by a metal fence, and guarded by Level 4 (level 5 being the highest security) trained security guards. A visitor must be walked through a metal detector, and escorted around with approved lab researchers. A quick chat with one of the guards eases any anxieties one might have about the guards with weapons (namely, guns), with the realization that the guards are not only friendly, but they are there to protect you. Babar’s first impression, “I knew what to expect. The place was just as I thought it might be, and how Imran, my older brother described it. And I’ve even become friends with some of the guards already.” Walking with her to her lab, I noticed the ratio of female-male workers, “Do you ever feel like you’re the only female?” I asked. Laughing, she responded, “Again, I guess I kind of expected to be working around mostly men—even the other postbacs are mostly guys. I’m here to bring this place a bit more life—I mean look at these walls! They’re incredibly male-like. I’m going to paint them bright red or orange.” In fact, there are about 20-25 other postbac researchers, all ranging from Computer Science Majors to Chemistry majors—and as Babar reported, most are male. Babar works in the Genomics Core, where, at first, she will be sequencing DNA for Bethesda and RML. The procedures will entail using the Sanger Method of DNA end termination using tagged ddNTPs within a speedy Thermocylcer. Then, the unused ddNTPs will be dried off using the Centrisep method and dry vacuuming. Finally, the samples will be prepared for the ABI sequencer which is remarkable in itself. The ABI sequencer is a simple robot, which sequences the DNA through separation of different sized fragments determined by the ddNTP locations. Babar seems to be thrilled to use such equipment that is found in only a few labs across America, “This baby is high tech. I mean, all we do is stick the plate in, and the robotics of the sequencer does the rest. It’s amazing!”
Discoveries
Babar describes one of her preliminary discoveries in Hamilton. “I was riding my newly tuned up bike through the neighborhood, and low and behold, there it was! A semi-weighted key, six octave, yamaha keyboard! It must have literally dropped out of the sky! It was just one thing on my prayer list. PRAISE GOD! Yes, I needed to play piano, to stay sane. And there it was. The sign said, ‘FREE’, and I nearly fainted.” "You're not one of those crazy Christians, are you? The ones that actually believe that some sort of Being answers prayer??? I mean, come one, a keyboard--outta the sky??" I asked in disbelief. "Yes. Yes, by popular opinion, I'm quite crazy. Keyboards do occasionally appear out of nowhere, that I can attest to." Upon request and further bribe, Babar played us a tune or two, and it appears she soon may be debuting her first platinum album entitled, “A Long Way From Home”. In her spare time, Babar is attempting to write her first book "The Third Babar...errr...rather, is it Bukhari?", and study for the GREs. “I contemplated retaking the GREs, and was quite bitter about it. But then Nansu asked me, ‘Amenah, can you do better?’ And I thought and I thought. And I decided that I could. So, I’m going to, begrudgingly, take them again.”
On a last note, I asked her if there was something she missed from Minnesota. Babar responds, “My family. My friends. And Carleton.”
**Note to the reader: Upon contemplation and re-visitation of old deleted posts, it came to Babar’s attention that the interview style was in fact genuinely and originally Babar’s. In July of 2005, a post was written describing things in Explo World News. But due to popular opinion—Leslie and YiYi—the post was deleted because of a portion describing a kiss on the cheek and a coat in the rain. Thus, and a long exploding thus, interview style was created by a Babar. Although, in more consideration, Josh Yeoh is still quite fabulously inspiring. (All rights reserved.)
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Wrong Wrong Wrong
Me to you: Have you ever been so excited and rushed, and late for service, that you literally ran into the wrong church?
You to me: Amenah, you're crazy.
Me to you: Well. Go ahead and laugh. But I really was looking forward to visitng another church--River Side.
You to me: How in the great big world did you ever successfully do it?
Me to you: I ran in. How did I know that the church I really wanted to go into was right next door. I mean, this building had a huge cross on it, i figured, what are the odds, its the right church, right? Wrong. I mean, the directions from mapquest got me to the right street, i just didn't look at the address number, nor the big sign by the door that did NOT say River Side Church.
You to me: Amenah, you're crazy.
Me to you: You try to live under the pressure I live under. I mean, what was I suppose to do, look at the old man greeting people at the door, look at my watch, and exclaim, "boy, this is the wrong church!" and run out? I had no alternative. No turning back. It was, in fact, the First Church of Christ.
You to me: Did you at least have a good time?
Me to you: Well, you know, it was good to sing good ol' fashion hymns again. But the sermon lasted 15 minutes!!! Can you believe it? I looked at my watch, and almost fell out of my chair when the pastor dude stopped preaching after 15 minutes! I'm still in disbelief!
You to me: Well, what was the message?
Me to you: It was actually pretty solid. it was on rejoicing amidst trials. Right out of one of my favorite verses in Philippians. And this guy from Wilmar MN kept thanking God for the visitor(s) today, while everyone nodded at me. I feel like I was the only visitor. They were awfully friendly. And they want me to come back.
Well, I have to Church hop a bit more, before that's settled.
You to me: Amenah, you're still crazy.
Me to you: Did you know that along with all the other good stuff Church has to offer, I benefit from being updated on world news? I don't watch tv, i really hsould listen to MPR. But I just found out about Pakistan, India, Afghanistan's huge earthquake during prayer. i was again, in disbelief.
You to me: That's it? That's all you have to say about the earthquake? Come on Amenah, I know you have some thoughts.
Me to you: I really do. but I'd better save it for my evening post. You see, I have to make dinner for company now. I'm experimenting on Adobo chicken, a Filipino dish. but I will write more.
(inspired by Josh Yeoh's interview with himself, all rights reserved)
BTW: HAPPY BDAY FORREST!!!
You to me: Amenah, you're crazy.
Me to you: Well. Go ahead and laugh. But I really was looking forward to visitng another church--River Side.
You to me: How in the great big world did you ever successfully do it?
Me to you: I ran in. How did I know that the church I really wanted to go into was right next door. I mean, this building had a huge cross on it, i figured, what are the odds, its the right church, right? Wrong. I mean, the directions from mapquest got me to the right street, i just didn't look at the address number, nor the big sign by the door that did NOT say River Side Church.
You to me: Amenah, you're crazy.
Me to you: You try to live under the pressure I live under. I mean, what was I suppose to do, look at the old man greeting people at the door, look at my watch, and exclaim, "boy, this is the wrong church!" and run out? I had no alternative. No turning back. It was, in fact, the First Church of Christ.
You to me: Did you at least have a good time?
Me to you: Well, you know, it was good to sing good ol' fashion hymns again. But the sermon lasted 15 minutes!!! Can you believe it? I looked at my watch, and almost fell out of my chair when the pastor dude stopped preaching after 15 minutes! I'm still in disbelief!
You to me: Well, what was the message?
Me to you: It was actually pretty solid. it was on rejoicing amidst trials. Right out of one of my favorite verses in Philippians. And this guy from Wilmar MN kept thanking God for the visitor(s) today, while everyone nodded at me. I feel like I was the only visitor. They were awfully friendly. And they want me to come back.
Well, I have to Church hop a bit more, before that's settled.
You to me: Amenah, you're still crazy.
Me to you: Did you know that along with all the other good stuff Church has to offer, I benefit from being updated on world news? I don't watch tv, i really hsould listen to MPR. But I just found out about Pakistan, India, Afghanistan's huge earthquake during prayer. i was again, in disbelief.
You to me: That's it? That's all you have to say about the earthquake? Come on Amenah, I know you have some thoughts.
Me to you: I really do. but I'd better save it for my evening post. You see, I have to make dinner for company now. I'm experimenting on Adobo chicken, a Filipino dish. but I will write more.
(inspired by Josh Yeoh's interview with himself, all rights reserved)
BTW: HAPPY BDAY FORREST!!!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Rough draft of Platform for Presidency of the United States of America, year 2020
First of all, I'd like to clear up this nonsense about gun control. If I become President, I will promote mandatory laws that require every stinkin citizen who's living and breathing to have a rifle on hand. And, this of course, will be the first steps to encouraging all citizens to travel to the west, to participate in deer hunting in Montana.
All you CAVE people (citizens against virtually everything) should realize that by now, the state of Montana is being overrun by criminal deer. I don't just mean any type of deer, I mean man eating, skunk choppin, bug squashing deer.
I mean for crying out loud, just the other day (the 7th of october, 2005, 9:35 pm on route to victor) there was this deer that just strolled, nonchalantly--with deliberate attitude-- across the road, while I charged at it 55 mph. Now back in the day, deer used to be afraid, and would leap across the road. But this deer is symbolic of all the deer in the country. They aint no longer afraid of us humans. But can you blame 'em? We dye our hair purple, and pierce our tongues! We're freaks of nature! I had to slam on those breaks, in mid rap to KJ52.
If you have yet but one last ounce of decency and care for your beloved children you will vote for me. And a vote for me, will mean a vote for crime control! Save cows, eat a vegetarian! (sorry Mike, i stole that from you, but will you be my campaign manager anyway??? come on, you know you have it in you)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay okay. but for real, I mean, I must have some sort of serious protection going on. Deer are EVERYWHERE. I can't believe this. 10 minutes ago, I'm like cruising along, after my wonderful time at WOW (just a sec, I got to finish this first), and there it was standing there. "AHHHHHH!!!!" i go. And slam on the brakes. I was literally shaking. Yeah, I see deer all the time, chomping on the grass right next to the road, etc. But this one stood there--right on the road, right in front of Elmo, and looked at me. I was a blowing my horn too. Did I tell you that God is protecting me? Well. He is. I don't have a clue as to why, either. Sigh. Big sigh.
BUT. WOW! Women of Worship! So I've been going to House of Praise, and tonight there was WOW--like Vomen of Wisdom! Can you believe it vomen????? And during the service, the pastor's wife taps me on the shoulder and asks me to play the piano while she prays. I'm like, "what????" but then i do it, and it was such a blessing! so spontaneous, but like true worship....i din't have music, i just played from the heart. And that IS my heart's desire. i think they're gonna let me play and sing on the praise team!! Yay! I mean, they've actually asked me to already, after Lorraine heard me pounding before Bible study.
and this one dude I was chatting with, finds out I'm working for the nih-RML, and is like, "Wow, I've never met a doctor before! like a science doctor that is..." I'm like, "no no, i'm not a doctor! i've only just graduated from college!" but he's still like, "oh, you're being modest! just like your brother..." I think it was the glasses. Cuz I'm wearing them to see the screen for the songs. But, heh, Dr. Amenah. that's just toooooo weird!!!!
i'm going to now go watch 'you got served' for inspiration.
wait, here it is:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust.' Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday....Because you have made the LORD who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil will befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways....He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation..." ~ one of my grandma's favorite Psalms, 91.
All you CAVE people (citizens against virtually everything) should realize that by now, the state of Montana is being overrun by criminal deer. I don't just mean any type of deer, I mean man eating, skunk choppin, bug squashing deer.
I mean for crying out loud, just the other day (the 7th of october, 2005, 9:35 pm on route to victor) there was this deer that just strolled, nonchalantly--with deliberate attitude-- across the road, while I charged at it 55 mph. Now back in the day, deer used to be afraid, and would leap across the road. But this deer is symbolic of all the deer in the country. They aint no longer afraid of us humans. But can you blame 'em? We dye our hair purple, and pierce our tongues! We're freaks of nature! I had to slam on those breaks, in mid rap to KJ52.
If you have yet but one last ounce of decency and care for your beloved children you will vote for me. And a vote for me, will mean a vote for crime control! Save cows, eat a vegetarian! (sorry Mike, i stole that from you, but will you be my campaign manager anyway??? come on, you know you have it in you)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay okay. but for real, I mean, I must have some sort of serious protection going on. Deer are EVERYWHERE. I can't believe this. 10 minutes ago, I'm like cruising along, after my wonderful time at WOW (just a sec, I got to finish this first), and there it was standing there. "AHHHHHH!!!!" i go. And slam on the brakes. I was literally shaking. Yeah, I see deer all the time, chomping on the grass right next to the road, etc. But this one stood there--right on the road, right in front of Elmo, and looked at me. I was a blowing my horn too. Did I tell you that God is protecting me? Well. He is. I don't have a clue as to why, either. Sigh. Big sigh.
BUT. WOW! Women of Worship! So I've been going to House of Praise, and tonight there was WOW--like Vomen of Wisdom! Can you believe it vomen????? And during the service, the pastor's wife taps me on the shoulder and asks me to play the piano while she prays. I'm like, "what????" but then i do it, and it was such a blessing! so spontaneous, but like true worship....i din't have music, i just played from the heart. And that IS my heart's desire. i think they're gonna let me play and sing on the praise team!! Yay! I mean, they've actually asked me to already, after Lorraine heard me pounding before Bible study.
and this one dude I was chatting with, finds out I'm working for the nih-RML, and is like, "Wow, I've never met a doctor before! like a science doctor that is..." I'm like, "no no, i'm not a doctor! i've only just graduated from college!" but he's still like, "oh, you're being modest! just like your brother..." I think it was the glasses. Cuz I'm wearing them to see the screen for the songs. But, heh, Dr. Amenah. that's just toooooo weird!!!!
i'm going to now go watch 'you got served' for inspiration.
wait, here it is:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust.' Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday....Because you have made the LORD who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil will befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways....He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation..." ~ one of my grandma's favorite Psalms, 91.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Robert Finley
"Did you know that those crazy scientists actually believed that we were once covered in fur? I mean, like the monkey???" ~my grandpa to Imran, on evolution.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Real Time PCR: saving the world, one gene at a time
I was determined to never wear glasses. And yet they are so incredibly stylish.
I have, in fact, obtained two pair for driving. One is quite distinguishing, I should buy a pair just to wear around normally. I feel so much smarter, and much more respected. I so hate being nearsighted, though. But with the glasses I can see far away. Ah, sweet sight.
"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction."
Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872 .
But I drove safely to Montana, and am in one piece, even as my glasses appeared in the mail after I arrived. Poor YiYi (Azra) was dragged along. And there were so many deer. Unbelievably too many. Have I ever told you I love mountains? They are my latest passion. I could just sit outside for hours, staring out at them. (I did declare once, I believe it was freshman year, that I was going to find me a mountain, and stake my claim into it. I am situated right between the rocky mts, in the valley.) Rashika, it is true that where your eyes are, so will your car be. But dont' stare at the trees too long. Keep those beautiful elf eyes on the road.
I have decided to name my car...drum roll....Elmo. Mo-Mo for short. I am going to get another stuffed Elmo, and buckle him in the back seat.
"If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching television by candlelight."
George Gobol.
I have in fact, started reading and watching tv far too much. I just finished the movie Crash. On a scale 1-10, i give it a resounding 6.
"Descended from the apes? Let us hope that it is not true. But if it is, let us pray that it may not become generally known."
FA Montagu.
I am currently regressing back into the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which directly implies that entropy should increase. i find myself contemplating the big bang theory far too much. That would be TJ's fault.
this is another pathetic attempt at communicating to the outside world. i really should stop before i say something. on one last fleeting attempt,
This last part of the this dreadful post will be officially dedicated to Mike. Mike who? Mike Min. if i had put it at the beginning you would never have read the other stuff.
For your information, real time PCR solves the real problem at hand. The problem being that old fashioned PCR was limited to end-point detection within the plateau phase of amplification, while we really should have the detection during the exponential phase where there is exact doubling of the product during every cycle. In fact, end-point detection is so mendacious that there is terrible precision, low sensitivity, low resolution, and finally, it only does size base discrimination. It hates short people. For quantitative reasoning, use real time PCR. this wonderful reality technique manipulates FRET (fluorescent resonance energy transfer). In fact, FRET is the reason that the reporter dye and the quencher dye make a deal---transfering high energy to low. The amount of the reporter signal--fluorescent--increase is proportional to the amt of product being produced by our sample. Thus we can quantitate all day and all night.
I have, in fact, obtained two pair for driving. One is quite distinguishing, I should buy a pair just to wear around normally. I feel so much smarter, and much more respected. I so hate being nearsighted, though. But with the glasses I can see far away. Ah, sweet sight.
"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction."
Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872 .
But I drove safely to Montana, and am in one piece, even as my glasses appeared in the mail after I arrived. Poor YiYi (Azra) was dragged along. And there were so many deer. Unbelievably too many. Have I ever told you I love mountains? They are my latest passion. I could just sit outside for hours, staring out at them. (I did declare once, I believe it was freshman year, that I was going to find me a mountain, and stake my claim into it. I am situated right between the rocky mts, in the valley.) Rashika, it is true that where your eyes are, so will your car be. But dont' stare at the trees too long. Keep those beautiful elf eyes on the road.
I have decided to name my car...drum roll....Elmo. Mo-Mo for short. I am going to get another stuffed Elmo, and buckle him in the back seat.
"If it weren't for electricity we'd all be watching television by candlelight."
George Gobol.
I have in fact, started reading and watching tv far too much. I just finished the movie Crash. On a scale 1-10, i give it a resounding 6.
"Descended from the apes? Let us hope that it is not true. But if it is, let us pray that it may not become generally known."
FA Montagu.
I am currently regressing back into the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which directly implies that entropy should increase. i find myself contemplating the big bang theory far too much. That would be TJ's fault.
this is another pathetic attempt at communicating to the outside world. i really should stop before i say something. on one last fleeting attempt,
This last part of the this dreadful post will be officially dedicated to Mike. Mike who? Mike Min. if i had put it at the beginning you would never have read the other stuff.
For your information, real time PCR solves the real problem at hand. The problem being that old fashioned PCR was limited to end-point detection within the plateau phase of amplification, while we really should have the detection during the exponential phase where there is exact doubling of the product during every cycle. In fact, end-point detection is so mendacious that there is terrible precision, low sensitivity, low resolution, and finally, it only does size base discrimination. It hates short people. For quantitative reasoning, use real time PCR. this wonderful reality technique manipulates FRET (fluorescent resonance energy transfer). In fact, FRET is the reason that the reporter dye and the quencher dye make a deal---transfering high energy to low. The amount of the reporter signal--fluorescent--increase is proportional to the amt of product being produced by our sample. Thus we can quantitate all day and all night.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Youthful Bliss II
I went to DQ the other day. It was, like, in the middle of the day. And I kept getting weird vibes from people, like they were suspicious of me.
I thought and I thought.
I mean, on a good day, I look Arab. Maybe my outfit, I was wearing bibs with a hat, made them think I was part of the mafia--you know the 1/16 Italian sometimes comes out.
But then I realized, they think I'm playing hookie! School is in session, and I look like I should be there!!! HA HA HA!!!!
Silly high schoolers.
So my official day of departure should be next tuesday. I'm driving all the way to Montana!!! YEEHAW! Actually, Hamilton is quite populus, and I think I'll get the mix of the small yet big town feel. BUt just to make sure, I'm bringing the overalls, and the straw hat....Maybe Nansu will let me bring a kitten. Imran says there are grizzlie bears. BRING IT ON ADVENTURE! Me and my kitten will survive!!
Here is something I'd like to leave you with. My next post will most likely be from Montana:
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
A Pslam of David (103, King James)
I thought and I thought.
I mean, on a good day, I look Arab. Maybe my outfit, I was wearing bibs with a hat, made them think I was part of the mafia--you know the 1/16 Italian sometimes comes out.
But then I realized, they think I'm playing hookie! School is in session, and I look like I should be there!!! HA HA HA!!!!
Silly high schoolers.
So my official day of departure should be next tuesday. I'm driving all the way to Montana!!! YEEHAW! Actually, Hamilton is quite populus, and I think I'll get the mix of the small yet big town feel. BUt just to make sure, I'm bringing the overalls, and the straw hat....Maybe Nansu will let me bring a kitten. Imran says there are grizzlie bears. BRING IT ON ADVENTURE! Me and my kitten will survive!!
Here is something I'd like to leave you with. My next post will most likely be from Montana:
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
A Pslam of David (103, King James)
Monday, September 19, 2005
to do list revisited...
1. get a job...X NIH post bac IRTA fellow in MONTANA
2. get a car...X...97 green mercury sable
3. get a cell phone...X
4. buy a house...in progress ;)
5. get married and have kids...in progress
6. visit carleton...X got my beloved bike back
7. make cheryl and leslie get a blog...1/2---KILS got a blog!
8. talk to and visit Smars, Elfie, Edaeni...sort of talked to, not really...sniff
9. conquer the world...XXXXXXXXXX
10. figure out the rest of my life...X
11. retire...2B continued.....
2. get a car...X...97 green mercury sable
3. get a cell phone...X
4. buy a house...in progress ;)
5. get married and have kids...in progress
6. visit carleton...X got my beloved bike back
7. make cheryl and leslie get a blog...1/2---KILS got a blog!
8. talk to and visit Smars, Elfie, Edaeni...sort of talked to, not really...sniff
9. conquer the world...XXXXXXXXXX
10. figure out the rest of my life...X
11. retire...2B continued.....
Friday, September 16, 2005
explo...explo...explo....
drummin away with Ben
dance off with Peet and a student on a ship on cruise night
heh heh heh!
EXPLOding at Wellesley...!
me and the girls before cruise night
India, me, and Josh on presentation day
look, they're gettin it! soon to be doctas....doing PDX
family....
Imran on his way to CT
mommy, yiyi, and me in my last room at carleton
Imran at the Taj Mahal...which one is he? he's the one on the far right
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