Grading...

I have a stack of 43 lab reports on my desk to be graded.
Average length: 10 pages.
Shortest: 2 pages.
Longest: 29 pages.

Here's how the next two days are going to go:
Stage 1: This isn't so bad.
Stage 2: Partial credit sucks.
Stage 3: I can't believe you got that wrong!?!
Stage 4: I hate this; make it stop.

Refuting a commonly held myth: I do not like to use my red pen. It causes despair, not joy.

Grading despair is not unique. It's good to know we're not alone.

I'm sorry; this is a depressing post. Maybe a smiley face will help. :)

Zombies go with *everything*

Yeah... I don't even know what to say about this... But I thought you should be aware that it is out there. (That wasn't meant to sound ominous.)

Other notable zombie-related things:

Shaun of the dead--always a good choice

I Am Legend--Will Smith, 'nuff said.

How Zombies Work-- I have to argue with the fact that this is categorized under "Science." I have yet to see a peer-reviewed journal covering the topic of zombies.

Mateo's post on zombie outbreak ethics--never hurts to be prepared

Thoughts on the dozen

Sometimes I think we put the 12 apostles up on pedestals when we really need to remember that they were regular guys. Last night we were studying Mark 10 during Cgroup. We got to the section discussing the request of James and John and spent a few minutes on this particular verse:

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

I think the general consensus was something like "Really? Whoa James and John, back it up for a second and think about what you're saying. Do you really want to demand that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world and God of the universe, do what you want him to? Not only that, but the request you're following it up with is one of power-hungry selfishness? You sure you want to do that?" We had a good laugh at their naivete and the fact that they just don't get Jesus and his purpose even though he's been trying to hammer home the point to them for a couple years at this point. But really, do we get it? Granted, we have scripture right in front of us to study, the knowledge of what happened to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit living in us. But despite all this, I still think we lose sight of the big picture a lot. As Eugene pointed out, don't we ask in that way too? "Please God, could you help me with this... oh, and here's how I want you to fix it." It's not that far removed from the way James and John were posing their request.

So my point here is really just that the 12 were regular guys. Human beings. Yes, they got to walk along side Christ and be a part of his ministry on earth, but they were still human. We can see the absurdity of some of their choices and actions (Peter, dude, what were you thinking trying to rebuke Jesus?!), but I'm going to argue that some of my choices and actions are just as naive and ridiculous. I think if we put ourselves in their shoes we'd probably have a little more compassion for them and try to see how we're pretty similar. Just trying to follow Christ and make sense of it all. Our thoughts are just too human... :)

My big little brother

Yesterday was my little brother's 19th birthday. I don't think I blogged about him during my month of thankfulness a while back so now seems like a good time. Not only was yesterday Chad's birthday, but it was also the day of his winter sports banquet. I know I've said this before, but he got all of the athletic genes. ALL of them. He's been a three sport athlete for the past 4 years: football, basketball, and track and he was a starter on the varsity team in both football and basketball. Our house has been overrun with footballs, basketballs, baseballs, tennis balls, occasionally a soccer ball, basically any kind of ball that mom would let him have in the house for the last 19 years. Including a nerf basketball goal in the kitchen. If you throw something at me and I flinch instead of catching it... Chad is the reason why. Haha. He's intelligent too. His latest report card was on the fridge at home and contained only As and A+s. And the kid's not taking easy classes his senior year: AP Calculus, AP Physics, and his third year of Spanish to name a few. He's heading to Purdue next year to major in Engineering Technology. Given these achievements, you might think my bro's a 3, right? Wrong. I'm 95% sure that he's a healthy 9 (which integrates to a 3), and I'll tell you why.

My brother is one of the most laid back people I know; he gets it from my dad. It takes a lot to get him angry, or upset, or super excited about anything. He just takes life as it comes, one day at a time. He doesn't get too worked up over anything. He also takes charge when needed and is a good leader, from what I've seen. He knows what needs to be done and does what it takes to make it happen, whether it's taking extra work home for a group project or calling plays on the court. One of the coolest things about Chad, though, is his humility. He's a good leader and people respect him. A lot of that respect comes from the fact that he doesn't take things too far. He's not arrogant about his achievements and he doesn't even like the limelight when people try to shine it on him. Last night at his sports banquet, his basketball coach called him "the most humble athlete I've ever coached." This was right before he awarded Chad the Mental Attitude Award, his second Mental Attitude Award of the year (he was also awarded it by his football coach last fall.) I'm proud of all of Chad's athletic achievements, but I'm even more proud of how he handles himself on the court and with his teammates. Honestly, after this year no one will care that he made 6 3-pointers in the sectional game (which he did), but he'll carry his attitude about achievement and working as a team a whole lot further in life.

Chad has always been popular, for as long as I can remember. When I was in 5th grade, my friend Joel told me that my brother was cool and I wasn't. It was an on-going bit that we both laughed at because Joel was a big tease, but looking back... I'm pretty sure that he was serious. Haha. So my brother is part of the popular crowd at school, but the thing is... he's part of every crowd at school. Now, I may be biased and in the dark as his sister, but I really don't know anyone that really doesn't like Chad. He is the easiest person to get along with (except when you wake him up, but most people don't see him like that:) ). He's friends with everybody: the jocks, the geeks, the ag guys, the outcasts, younger, older. Doesn't matter. He's also a big hit with kids. The cheerleading coach's son is about 6 yrs old and he follows Chad like a puppy. There's also this little girl at church named Haley. My mom says that almost every Sunday she feels this little tap on her arm and turns to find Haley standing there, asking "Did you bring Chad with you today?" Haha. She even comes to sit with our family sometimes. They all like him so much because he pays attention to them. When other teenagers won't give the little kids the time of day, Chad talks to them, teases them, and makes them feel special.

So that's my "little" (I guess I should say younger) brother in a nutshell. I'm pretty proud of him and I'm excited to see what he's going to do next in life. :)

Oh, and he got the curls too... ^^ :)

Sciencey sites (!)

I realize that no one is probably going to think this is cool other than me... and maybe Mateo since I know he enjoys some science from time to time. Regardless, I just got so excited that it's worth a blog post.

I was just frantically searching the ppt slides from my cell bio class in search of the answer to one of the questions on my exam tomorrow, when I ran across a web address in small print at the bottom of one of the slides. So I typed it in and found this:

A Science blog! They read cell biology papers so we don't have to. I read the one I needed for class and found it to be really reader friendly as long as you have a little bit of background (ie if you know that the golgi apparatus is part of a cell, you can probably read this blog and take something away from it). It hasn't been updated since October so I'm not sure if it's still active but I'm definitely bookmarking it.

While I'm at it, here's another good science-y site. It gives the most recent science discoveries, research, news, etc. but in a news type article that usually isn't horribly jargon heavy. I particularly like the virus news section. :)

Microbiologists are also romantics

"Isn't this beautiful?... I don't know; Maybe I'm a romantic."
--Dr. Roberto Kolter, Harvard Med

That's what the visiting speaker said yesterday during his talk. He was talking about that bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) above and I agree with him. I've mentioned previously that I find science beautiful. The organisms we study, the process of learning about them, and the complex way in which all of the biochemical processes combine to produce a living, functioning system; it's amazing and totally beautiful. Here are a few of my favorites.

Fruit fly eyes. If I had to pick my favorite organ, regardless of species, it would be the eye. They're just cool and ridiculously complex. And there are tons of mutations that cause variations on color in fruit flies. These eyes are red which is wildtype (typical) for fruit flies.




C. elegans. Otherwise known as microscopic round worms. I spent a whole summer working with these little guys and got kind of attached to them. They eat bacteria and you can only see them under a microscope. They're transparent so you can see all of their organs inside; those round things in the middle are eggs. The head is on the right. They make a squiggle pattern across the plate as they move (think a snake in sand.)


This is the nucleus of a cell (where the DNA is). Each of those colored splotches is a different chromosome. Your chromosomes are organized within the nucleus exactly the same way in every cell (ie chromosome 2 is always beside chromosome 7, etc). This has important implications for DNA replication, repair and segregation. Isn't that cool?! I think that's cool.




Most of the colorful pictures that you see in microbiology are falsely colored (like the nucleus pic above). The scientists use fluorescent probes to label the components that they want to see to make them easier to study. Not these guys. This is a type of bacteria called Vibrio harveyi. It's luminescent. That blue light you see is made by the bacteria. The cells are all communicating with each other and once they reach a certain cell concentration (quorum) the signal gets sent to turn on the light. For V. harveyi it's not such a big deal, although pretty nonetheless. But in other types of bacteria this kind of signaling is directly related to infection and pathogenesis.

And last, but certainly not least: fungi. Not quite microbiology... but near and dear to my heart. I usually blame my interest in fungi on my time working in the Zolan lab, but really I think it began long before that. My uncle and I used to go mushroom hunting out in the woods by my grandparents house. At the time he was big into mycology and taught me a lot. So here's a video which some of you have probably seen before... and I promise, once you get past the slime mold part it's not as gross. :)

[God] composes some of [His] loveliest poems for the microscope and the telescope. -edited from a quote from Theodore Roszak

The YH list of praise

9 women gathered tonight for an evening of worship and thanksgiving. Stories were told, songs were sung, laughs were shared, God's faithfulness was remembered. From big to little, silly to serious, here's our short list of the things we're praising God for.

UK trip_Harry Potter_digital camera_friends that bought it_askance and other fabulous words_talking to Lindsey Stutler_finishing grad school application_wonderful people to write good references_naps_Mickey_naps with Mickey_bed_acceptance to Trinity_awesome movie night discussion_Dan Waugh and the blessing he is as a pastor and mentor_beautiful Easter dress that fits like a glove_amazing friends_sweet time of fellowship_3 bedroom house with a backyard_washer and dryer_the return of art and inspiration_requesting a week off from the band_joy/anticipation for future relationship_no panic attacks during rehearsal_good experiment results_a supportive and encouraging PI_restored relationship_new desk_fantastic coworkers, all of them_friends who share the faith_this place in life_security in God_job and the way it came about_God's amazing control over everything and the way we see his hand in it_spring break and a trip home_friends who dog-sit_Chompers_moving towards the end of school and closer to family_blogs and the return to them_Ellie and Lucy_cats_seahorses_musicals_independence_contentment_fish: Richard and Stupid_walk with Mom_all Moms_and Dads_Ethiopian blueberry coffee_movies and the enjoyment of them_trip to Chicago_sleeping better_funny, freaky, gardening roommates_a backyard and the things to be planted there_sheep and the farm_hugs_lions_lion hugs_[addition]Aslan and CS Lewis (how did this not come up in the lion conversation?!)

My cup runneth over

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7

Let this be a week overflowing with thankfulness. :)

Again with the toddlers...

This family is too attractive for their own good. :)

Two convicting questions

These questions happened during recent conversations with the Yellow House ladies and between Beth and I.

#1. Why is it that when God answers the prayer I've been begging for him to answer, I immediately forget and move on to the next thing I think I need?

Blast this wretched human insatiability. Lately I've really been trying to a) recognize that I'm doing this, b) repent of my ungratefulness, and c) dwell more in thankfulness for all the amazing blessings I've been given. And seriously, there's a LOT of blessings! Tonight at YH every one of us began with a list of blessings, a bundle of blessings, if you will. Dwell in thankfulness. Dwell. Abide. Thanksgiving. Joy.

#2. (paraphrased from the question asked by Nicole) Why don't we do the things we know will make us feel better, be healthier, and overall put us in a better physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional state?

Such as go to bed at a decent hour, get out of bed when we know we should, take our vitamins, eat healthy things, exercise, take time to spend with God everyday, etc. Ugh. Why do we make this so hard when it's so easy (or at least simple)? Goal this week: take one (or more, we'll see how the week goes :) )of these things and make it more of a habit, because it's good for me and about time that I was a little more disciplined.

My new desk [edit]

One of our post-docs left; I inherited his desk and bench. Here are the reasons, in no particular order, why it is exponentially better than my former desk/bench combo.

1. I no longer have to move my computer/paperwork when I need to do bench work and vice versa.
2. I have a window. Granted, we're on the ground floor so I can see a limestone wall and ivy, but if I look up I can see some sky and trees.
3. My desk is across from Rohini's, who is arguably my favorite person in the lab.
4. My music horizons are being expanded by listening to Rohini's Indian music. :)
5. My cell phone has signal.
6. I'm now in the middle of the lab and closer to everything, including the lesser used tissue culture hood.
7. I have shelves, and drawers that lock!
8. I have my own set of pipettes!!!
9. I no longer have to worry that the crazy bio safety lady will come in and yell at me for having coffee cups/eating lunch at my bench.
10. There's not a MilliQ H20 carboy sitting above and constantly dripping onto my bench.


Ah the joys of my new desk and bench. :)


EDIT: Tuesday. Today Rohini and I graded papers/did bench work to the Mamma Mia soundtrack. Take the previous reasons my new desk rocks and multiply them by 10. It just keeps getting better. :)

Mark 8 words

Because I think Wordle is pretty nifty, and Mark 8 was a better choice than my golgi apparatus hw.