Hello there,
Ever had everything bad happening at the same moment that it makes you think exactly which side of the bed you got down this morning? Well, it happened to me and it happened on a Monday-which will be a great motivation for the rest of the week.
The night before my laptop cracked literally-the right side hinge had somehow ran out of lubricat or the screw has tighten up after frequently open and shut sessions-so, it got tight and cracked just right after I had finished watching movie- the laptop has had been making 'sounds' everytime I opened and shut it down, but there was no other problem so I had ignored it until it cracked...
The crack was till the battery compartment on the hind side..I can't use it until it comes back from the service centre( which reminds me that I HAVE TO SUBMIT AN ASSIGNMENT THIS THURSDAY!) Heck, everything is on the hard disc and I only have hard copies -so, I have to type it in again.
We had a tough time looking for the service centre which is hidden like among the buildings around the industrial park. Anyway, I have asked the technician and he estimated about RM500-that is a lot, it hurts to pay so much when all this while you have been taking care of the laptop like a previous thing.
Then, Monday morning I walked into the tissue culture room and discovered that the lights in the room has went off. The humidity level there was high and the temperature was above 30C, WHICH SPELLS BAD for the plants. High humidity means high vapor which can lead to contaminations!It has been that way since Sunday due to the heavy rain and thunder.
Then, I slipped and landed on my bum hard..it was when I was rushing to the service centre and I noticed that the soles of my heels have worn out-never thought it will jeopardize me on this very day-I must hace twisted my arm as I was really painful and was aching the whole night. Forgot to mention, but when I took the fall, two cleaners noticed that and laughed at me-this has been such a great day..
I have always thought that grown ups never fall down especially ladies-especially with high heels, my heels were not even high in the first place (heck, they were just two inches of the floor). It is a wonder how women walk in stilettos which are really high and less supportive to your weight.
Then, the whole night I was seriously stressed as my laptop was the only company that I have had-so, without it, life is so boring, was clueless as what to do-you can't be sitting at your desk forever and dedicate your time to reading journals and doing assignments no matter how productive they are...I was staring at the walls till 4am in the morning..so much for productivity...
My laptop won't be in till Friday--I am so stressed-have not started on my assignment yet---
On Monday, I replied my supervisor's e-mail on the report that I have sent her on Friday the week before...she was pissed off on the fact that she had been sending e-mails to me yet the was failure to send notice so she asked if there's anything wrong with it..
I just replied it is perfectly okay cause all this while she had no problems e-mailing me (she is in US now). Heck, she received my report so where is the problem? Obviously at her end...I was not that sad that I did not receive her e-mail (glad in fact...)
Okay that is all..someone wants to check her e-mails..got to go...too long blogging will make people notice..
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Amount of effort in designing posters for conferences
Hai there again,
Twice in a day, which rarely happens. Guest I have a lot to say and a lot of time in ny hands before 5pm today. So, thought all out there would like to know what is bugging me right now..
How to design a good poster? (Good here refers to an award winning poster -of course) I have been studying quite a number of posters, especially those which had won awards (to compare and learnt)..but I can't see much difference in it.
I noticed from the past two conferences that I have attended that the is a trend to award those posters that are more of economic or medicinal value (more to cancer research or anti allergen compounds etc) which should not be the way..
So, I was thinking why should I put any effort if the award is based on the type of project? Then, again what is the fun of prticipating if you don't have anything to fight for? I mean a purpose to put up the poster..Well, supervisors will most probably say that it is important to publish and that is a purpose enough..(I hear you-not a good reason for us right!)
But, I thought I would just put in all the effort that I can give, then, leave it to god (okay, so unscientific but is there any other option?)
Competitions are supposed to bring out the best in us- by really working hard for the aim or award but when from the very start you know that the system in giving out the awards are basically flawed, you just don't want to do it..
Got this thinking until my brain was totally heated up-I just walked over to my co-supervisor and asked her about it. She told me that efforts should be minimal given the situation of the conference. That was really honest of her but really it is so unlike me to give up and do a 'half baked job'..
like I said -I am a perfectionist and minimal efforts just don't get along with me..
Well, I will put my best effort and hopefully will win the award.
It will be nice to win and parade at those whom had not won at all throughout the years they have put up posters at different conferences!
Twice in a day, which rarely happens. Guest I have a lot to say and a lot of time in ny hands before 5pm today. So, thought all out there would like to know what is bugging me right now..
How to design a good poster? (Good here refers to an award winning poster -of course) I have been studying quite a number of posters, especially those which had won awards (to compare and learnt)..but I can't see much difference in it.
I noticed from the past two conferences that I have attended that the is a trend to award those posters that are more of economic or medicinal value (more to cancer research or anti allergen compounds etc) which should not be the way..
So, I was thinking why should I put any effort if the award is based on the type of project? Then, again what is the fun of prticipating if you don't have anything to fight for? I mean a purpose to put up the poster..Well, supervisors will most probably say that it is important to publish and that is a purpose enough..(I hear you-not a good reason for us right!)
But, I thought I would just put in all the effort that I can give, then, leave it to god (okay, so unscientific but is there any other option?)
Competitions are supposed to bring out the best in us- by really working hard for the aim or award but when from the very start you know that the system in giving out the awards are basically flawed, you just don't want to do it..
Got this thinking until my brain was totally heated up-I just walked over to my co-supervisor and asked her about it. She told me that efforts should be minimal given the situation of the conference. That was really honest of her but really it is so unlike me to give up and do a 'half baked job'..
like I said -I am a perfectionist and minimal efforts just don't get along with me..
Well, I will put my best effort and hopefully will win the award.
It will be nice to win and parade at those whom had not won at all throughout the years they have put up posters at different conferences!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A day of disappointments
Hai there,
It has been quite some time since I last painted some of the scenarios that were taking place in the lab.
Good news..dear supervisor is away for 6 months at US for her sabbatical leave..so, we are like 6 months free without having to continously look out for her to drop by unexpectantly at the lab.
And the events of today, I came in rushing as I had to go to pick my cheque at the financial department at 10am, so I came in at 8.45 to do the PCR. Got that done and was preparing the 1% agarose gel when I just realized that I forgot to put in the plasmid into the PCR cocktail..(oh my god!)
Checked the cycle on the PCR machine and it was already at the annealing temperature..I took it out anyway and put in the plasmid, (although I knew the chances are quite slim that the amplification can be rectified (probably the polymerase enzyme is ruined at this point)
Started the cycle again from the denaturation part and ran the results on the gel, the gel had primer dimers (I am not sure whether this is due to the mistake that I have made, or it is just that whatever that I wanted to amplify did not amplify because the particular plasmid does not contain the insert that it should contain)
If latter is the case, then my cloning is not successful, doing RNAi is not easy (this is like my 20th attempt). I have decided to start a new cloning cycle but would like to check on a few stuffs. Did I mention that last thursday, I got a few colonies which practically overgrew as there was a blackout for three days in the lab? So the colonies were really big plus there were a lot of other colonies which nearly merged with the once that I got initially.
I cultured them overnight at 370C in kanamycin resistance LB but they manage to grow,my idea is that the pANDA vector ligated back to itself.
When I went to the financial department, I was told that the previous month cheque will not be given as it will be kept for quality control sake and will be given when I graduate (duh, this is so irritating...!) However, someone else got the cheque for two months and it is not in the record (I quickly e-mailed the officer in charge of this situation so that she can look into matters). Sorry, getting your friend in trouble is not so good but in this case I think this is appropriate (given the circumstances that I was deprived of my cheque!) .
So, I just banked in the other cheque and was told that the money will be in by evening, (why can't they do it and get it into the account by that time itself. Well, knowing haw these people work, I shall check tomorrow for the updated version of the account. The happenings today had disturbed my plans financially..
I went to a nearby shop which sells shoes and clothes. saw this one dress which is beautiful but it is costly, got it at a lower price but I am sure the price is still high and unreasonable so decided to hunt it down at some other stores-they should have it (it is so chic so almost all departmental stores should have this style..can't help it (I am not stressed because of what happened today-it is just that I need a place to vent it out) .
Some surprise took place today with someone suddenly displaying emotions (It is not that this person is not popular with emotions display but weird when it is done individually). Let' s give this person a name - the co-supervisor.. (told you-it is a big surprise).
I need to tell all about today and I think that's it-it rains everyday and that is kind of fun...someone is seriously taking advantage of the system by not coming to the lab often (there is always an excuse) . I did not bother to follow up as I knew something is amiss ( the truth will
prevail). Will get her back for it when that happens.
So while I was doing this, some nosy people (always have been that way) in the lab suddenly noticed and were very interested. I on the other hand have no intentions of sharing my blog stuff as what I am writing is about them (some hunch that they won't take it to well).
I am signing off and that is the story for today...
It has been quite some time since I last painted some of the scenarios that were taking place in the lab.
Good news..dear supervisor is away for 6 months at US for her sabbatical leave..so, we are like 6 months free without having to continously look out for her to drop by unexpectantly at the lab.
And the events of today, I came in rushing as I had to go to pick my cheque at the financial department at 10am, so I came in at 8.45 to do the PCR. Got that done and was preparing the 1% agarose gel when I just realized that I forgot to put in the plasmid into the PCR cocktail..(oh my god!)
Checked the cycle on the PCR machine and it was already at the annealing temperature..I took it out anyway and put in the plasmid, (although I knew the chances are quite slim that the amplification can be rectified (probably the polymerase enzyme is ruined at this point)
Started the cycle again from the denaturation part and ran the results on the gel, the gel had primer dimers (I am not sure whether this is due to the mistake that I have made, or it is just that whatever that I wanted to amplify did not amplify because the particular plasmid does not contain the insert that it should contain)
If latter is the case, then my cloning is not successful, doing RNAi is not easy (this is like my 20th attempt). I have decided to start a new cloning cycle but would like to check on a few stuffs. Did I mention that last thursday, I got a few colonies which practically overgrew as there was a blackout for three days in the lab? So the colonies were really big plus there were a lot of other colonies which nearly merged with the once that I got initially.
I cultured them overnight at 370C in kanamycin resistance LB but they manage to grow,my idea is that the pANDA vector ligated back to itself.
When I went to the financial department, I was told that the previous month cheque will not be given as it will be kept for quality control sake and will be given when I graduate (duh, this is so irritating...!) However, someone else got the cheque for two months and it is not in the record (I quickly e-mailed the officer in charge of this situation so that she can look into matters). Sorry, getting your friend in trouble is not so good but in this case I think this is appropriate (given the circumstances that I was deprived of my cheque!) .
So, I just banked in the other cheque and was told that the money will be in by evening, (why can't they do it and get it into the account by that time itself. Well, knowing haw these people work, I shall check tomorrow for the updated version of the account. The happenings today had disturbed my plans financially..
I went to a nearby shop which sells shoes and clothes. saw this one dress which is beautiful but it is costly, got it at a lower price but I am sure the price is still high and unreasonable so decided to hunt it down at some other stores-they should have it (it is so chic so almost all departmental stores should have this style..can't help it (I am not stressed because of what happened today-it is just that I need a place to vent it out) .
Some surprise took place today with someone suddenly displaying emotions (It is not that this person is not popular with emotions display but weird when it is done individually). Let' s give this person a name - the co-supervisor.. (told you-it is a big surprise).
I need to tell all about today and I think that's it-it rains everyday and that is kind of fun...someone is seriously taking advantage of the system by not coming to the lab often (there is always an excuse) . I did not bother to follow up as I knew something is amiss ( the truth will
prevail). Will get her back for it when that happens.
So while I was doing this, some nosy people (always have been that way) in the lab suddenly noticed and were very interested. I on the other hand have no intentions of sharing my blog stuff as what I am writing is about them (some hunch that they won't take it to well).
I am signing off and that is the story for today...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)