Jess was at Derby practice last night and jammed her shoulder. It kept her up during the night, so we went to the hospital in the morning and got her checked out. Luckily there appears to be nothing broken, but they have prescribed her some pain medication and given her a shoulder strap. She's iffy for the Sunday game, but as it is, essentially, a bruise, we just have to wait and see when she heals up. I'll make sure to keep her benched if she's not ready to play. It's my job.
Also, teaching Sandlin how to make bread has kicked off a spate of loaf-making at my house. The third loaf is in the oven now. I've had pretty good luck using the food processor to make the bread, even though it is pretty hard on the motor. I'll give my stand mixer a workout next time and see how it compares. Jess is, of course, quite happy with the baked goods, and the lunchtime sandwiches have taken on an entirely new dimension.
-N
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Sound of Job Security
Obama addressed the National Academy of Sciences today. That wooshing sound was the tremendous sigh of relief from the scientific community as we receive a mandate, and support, to become the best in world class research in all levels and all field. A few choice lines:
"Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before."
"Next, we are restoring science to its rightful place. On March 9th, I signed an executive memorandum with a clear message: Under my administration, the days of science taking a back seat to ideology are over. (Applause.) Our progress as a nation –- and our values as a nation –- are rooted in free and open inquiry. To undermine scientific integrity is to undermine our democracy. It is contrary to our way of life. (Applause.) "
The applause marks were in the text you can find here, but they may as well have been mine. It makes you think (bitterly)- what was the advantage of a president you felt like you could have a beer with?
The current funding situation in our department is sort of a bridge- funding for basic science research has been winding down, as likewise the apparent careers of some of our faculty. It is scary to see research faculty who have had relative stability for a decade be told they no longer have funding. Or a job. At the same time, faculty with money have been offered the chance to purchase large equipment form discretionary funds it if might signifigantly advance their research. So we are. Hopefully a few more years of this Heady Funding and we can return to the early NASA days the Obama fondly reminisces of.
---
Since it is probably my obligation to my dear readers to help you understand the value of basic research, I think in full disclosure I should explain that I don't actually do basic research. Not these days. My current work is to find a new application (the treatment of my viruses), for FDA approved compounds. The direct clinical application (and also the fact that most people can understand this) is not basic research.
The other less popular (rarely talked about) part of my project is basic research. The question is so fundamentally detailed and focused that it isn't worth trying to explain here. And there isn't a clinical application for it - yet. If we can learn something new about how these viruses do what they do, it will likely give us future targets for therapies. But only if chemists and other people are allowed to play with the idea of building compounds that tuck neatly into proteins to specifically inhibit them- but not things that keep us healthy.
Maybe someday we'll have all the tools in place so that once you get a few clues about a new virus you just assemble a few things in your Build-A-Bear workshop and Blamm-0, cure for the common pandemic. Isn't THAT exciting?
---
Micro-news: I am anxious to see the end of some experiments I am piloting this week. This will be a litmus test for the drugs I am working with, and then I am going to hand them off to my undergrad to repeat ad nauseum for error bars and such. One last chance to see this work.... Also, my undergrad will be back for the summer! Soon, I think. I actually have no idea where he is, but none of the undergrads were around today so I won't take it personal.
Matt has gotten back into mountain biking - 3 times in as many days. Hooray for fitness. I need to keep running so I can sign up for the Race for the Cure. Any one else Racing? I know you won't be with your mom, show her some love!
We just got back from hosting an awesome after work picnic: moral of the story, my co-workers are generally available for any idea I feel like putting together- and it only takes 2 emails. The next question is: Wine Tasting or Water Balloon fight?
Our AC units have been installed, and I am trying to suppress that feeling of survivalist panic that it will become too hot to do normal activities like wait for a bus or walk to the store. It isn't May yet!
Ceramics has started again! My teacher told me to bring some inspiration in since we are going to be doing some hand-building this go around. Anyone got some artistic I could borrow?
"Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before."
"Next, we are restoring science to its rightful place. On March 9th, I signed an executive memorandum with a clear message: Under my administration, the days of science taking a back seat to ideology are over. (Applause.) Our progress as a nation –- and our values as a nation –- are rooted in free and open inquiry. To undermine scientific integrity is to undermine our democracy. It is contrary to our way of life. (Applause.) "
The applause marks were in the text you can find here, but they may as well have been mine. It makes you think (bitterly)- what was the advantage of a president you felt like you could have a beer with?
The current funding situation in our department is sort of a bridge- funding for basic science research has been winding down, as likewise the apparent careers of some of our faculty. It is scary to see research faculty who have had relative stability for a decade be told they no longer have funding. Or a job. At the same time, faculty with money have been offered the chance to purchase large equipment form discretionary funds it if might signifigantly advance their research. So we are. Hopefully a few more years of this Heady Funding and we can return to the early NASA days the Obama fondly reminisces of.
---
Since it is probably my obligation to my dear readers to help you understand the value of basic research, I think in full disclosure I should explain that I don't actually do basic research. Not these days. My current work is to find a new application (the treatment of my viruses), for FDA approved compounds. The direct clinical application (and also the fact that most people can understand this) is not basic research.
The other less popular (rarely talked about) part of my project is basic research. The question is so fundamentally detailed and focused that it isn't worth trying to explain here. And there isn't a clinical application for it - yet. If we can learn something new about how these viruses do what they do, it will likely give us future targets for therapies. But only if chemists and other people are allowed to play with the idea of building compounds that tuck neatly into proteins to specifically inhibit them- but not things that keep us healthy.
Maybe someday we'll have all the tools in place so that once you get a few clues about a new virus you just assemble a few things in your Build-A-Bear workshop and Blamm-0, cure for the common pandemic. Isn't THAT exciting?
---
Micro-news: I am anxious to see the end of some experiments I am piloting this week. This will be a litmus test for the drugs I am working with, and then I am going to hand them off to my undergrad to repeat ad nauseum for error bars and such. One last chance to see this work.... Also, my undergrad will be back for the summer! Soon, I think. I actually have no idea where he is, but none of the undergrads were around today so I won't take it personal.
Matt has gotten back into mountain biking - 3 times in as many days. Hooray for fitness. I need to keep running so I can sign up for the Race for the Cure. Any one else Racing? I know you won't be with your mom, show her some love!
We just got back from hosting an awesome after work picnic: moral of the story, my co-workers are generally available for any idea I feel like putting together- and it only takes 2 emails. The next question is: Wine Tasting or Water Balloon fight?
Our AC units have been installed, and I am trying to suppress that feeling of survivalist panic that it will become too hot to do normal activities like wait for a bus or walk to the store. It isn't May yet!
Ceramics has started again! My teacher told me to bring some inspiration in since we are going to be doing some hand-building this go around. Anyone got some artistic I could borrow?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Some pictures, et. al.
Hi, all,
I finally managed to get the pictures off the camera and up on the internet for the sisters visiting for the weekend. You can check that out at this link.
The visit was a pretty rousing success. We went out for BBQ multiple times, with delicious results. We took kelsey out to Salt Lick, which was fantastic, and then all the Preecs siblings went out to Rudy’s later, which is also really, really, really good. We went down to South Congress, full of strange and fun local shops and bought a lot of candy and browsed a boatload of antiques and strange things at ‘Uncommon Objects’, a neat store. I spent most of my purchases at the local candy store. Smarties, Sweet Tarts, and Lemonheads, in case you were curious. The Alamo Drafthouse showed a Master Pancake Theater production of The Fellowship of the Rings, which was hilarious. For those of you that have never seen one before, a few people sit up front and tell jokes throughout the whole movie. It ranges from really funny to injuriously hilarious. (Score-amir!) Raucus laughter was enjoyed by all.
We also did some clothes shopping and played a lot of rock band. We’re a pretty musical family. Best singing award goes to Matt, best inability to determine up from down goes to Sandlin, best country music purchase goes to Kelsey, and sweatiest drummer award goes to me. Jessie gets the most lefty-righty flips award, and a lifetime achievement award for playing rock band with pretty much everyone that has ever spent the night at our house.
There’s some other pictures in there from this weekend, too. Jess had an ‘outdoor’ itch, and so we moseyed off to do some hiking this weekend. It was actually a really good day for it, a little overcast in the morning, and not too hot when the sun broke through. It was 7.5 miles overall, which is right about at the limit of our hiking ability, it seems. And we also get a bonus half-mile for hiking to the river afterwords and taking a cooling, refreshing dip. Good times.
Oh, and we saw a snake.
Most of the rest of the weekend has been resting. Though there have been some other developments. Just in case anyone hasn’t heard, Peachie, the family cat up in Alaska, was put to sleep this weekend. She was acting very strangely and had gotten down to 5 pounds, a very unhealthy weight. Ultimately, age just was too much for her, and so the parents made the hard choice and let her go. She was 19 years old, which is like a Methuselah cat, and she was an absolute sweetheart, as long as you didn’t care overmuch about the state of your furniture. The world is a slightly less fuzzy place without her in it.
Also, I’ve had to call in professional help, though they haven’t returned my calls yet, because it’s pretty obvious that our sprinkler system is leaking somewhere underground. I don’t want to cast aspersions, but the easternmost fence area in the backyard is pretty much a swamp, and I don’t think that’s traditional for Austin. It gets pretty wet around the west side of the house, too.
A few other bits of Micro-News, I’ve been doing yet more writing, attempting to do at least a page or two every day in an effort to finish my story so I can try and get it published and move onto another hobby: sound. I want to try and do a podcast with the siblings. That would be fun. Jess is off at roller derby, and has another game next week! You can actually watch it over the internet, and if anyone wants to know how, just e-mail me and I’ll let you know the details. My proposed next work-exursion to England has been pushed back to June. A nice time to get away from the blistering Austin sun and go hang out with some Sheep.
With love to all,
-N
I finally managed to get the pictures off the camera and up on the internet for the sisters visiting for the weekend. You can check that out at this link.
The visit was a pretty rousing success. We went out for BBQ multiple times, with delicious results. We took kelsey out to Salt Lick, which was fantastic, and then all the Preecs siblings went out to Rudy’s later, which is also really, really, really good. We went down to South Congress, full of strange and fun local shops and bought a lot of candy and browsed a boatload of antiques and strange things at ‘Uncommon Objects’, a neat store. I spent most of my purchases at the local candy store. Smarties, Sweet Tarts, and Lemonheads, in case you were curious. The Alamo Drafthouse showed a Master Pancake Theater production of The Fellowship of the Rings, which was hilarious. For those of you that have never seen one before, a few people sit up front and tell jokes throughout the whole movie. It ranges from really funny to injuriously hilarious. (Score-amir!) Raucus laughter was enjoyed by all.
 |
| From Sister Visit & Hike |
We also did some clothes shopping and played a lot of rock band. We’re a pretty musical family. Best singing award goes to Matt, best inability to determine up from down goes to Sandlin, best country music purchase goes to Kelsey, and sweatiest drummer award goes to me. Jessie gets the most lefty-righty flips award, and a lifetime achievement award for playing rock band with pretty much everyone that has ever spent the night at our house.
 |
| From Sister Visit & Hike |
There’s some other pictures in there from this weekend, too. Jess had an ‘outdoor’ itch, and so we moseyed off to do some hiking this weekend. It was actually a really good day for it, a little overcast in the morning, and not too hot when the sun broke through. It was 7.5 miles overall, which is right about at the limit of our hiking ability, it seems. And we also get a bonus half-mile for hiking to the river afterwords and taking a cooling, refreshing dip. Good times.
 |
| From Sister Visit & Hike |
Oh, and we saw a snake.
 |
| From Sister Visit & Hike |
Most of the rest of the weekend has been resting. Though there have been some other developments. Just in case anyone hasn’t heard, Peachie, the family cat up in Alaska, was put to sleep this weekend. She was acting very strangely and had gotten down to 5 pounds, a very unhealthy weight. Ultimately, age just was too much for her, and so the parents made the hard choice and let her go. She was 19 years old, which is like a Methuselah cat, and she was an absolute sweetheart, as long as you didn’t care overmuch about the state of your furniture. The world is a slightly less fuzzy place without her in it.
 |
| From Sister Visit & Hike |
Also, I’ve had to call in professional help, though they haven’t returned my calls yet, because it’s pretty obvious that our sprinkler system is leaking somewhere underground. I don’t want to cast aspersions, but the easternmost fence area in the backyard is pretty much a swamp, and I don’t think that’s traditional for Austin. It gets pretty wet around the west side of the house, too.
A few other bits of Micro-News, I’ve been doing yet more writing, attempting to do at least a page or two every day in an effort to finish my story so I can try and get it published and move onto another hobby: sound. I want to try and do a podcast with the siblings. That would be fun. Jess is off at roller derby, and has another game next week! You can actually watch it over the internet, and if anyone wants to know how, just e-mail me and I’ll let you know the details. My proposed next work-exursion to England has been pushed back to June. A nice time to get away from the blistering Austin sun and go hang out with some Sheep.
With love to all,
-N
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Need a little inspiration?
Life at work or lab getting a bit much? You may already be aware of this, but I have a suggestion.
Go to Google, type in "Susan Boyle you tube" and join in the planetwide celebration of a deeply inspiring event.
I never watch American Idol, precisely because its huge popularity is partly based on the mockery and ridicule it heaps on the many people in the early rounds whose delusions of talent are overwhelmed by their burning desire to be famous and just . . . be on TV.
I had heard about this video fleetingly, but saw it at a party on Sunday. If you haven't seen, don't let me spoil it for you . . . just watch and see what you think. I'll come back tomorrow and tell you how it affected me.
Go to Google, type in "Susan Boyle you tube" and join in the planetwide celebration of a deeply inspiring event.
I never watch American Idol, precisely because its huge popularity is partly based on the mockery and ridicule it heaps on the many people in the early rounds whose delusions of talent are overwhelmed by their burning desire to be famous and just . . . be on TV.
I had heard about this video fleetingly, but saw it at a party on Sunday. If you haven't seen, don't let me spoil it for you . . . just watch and see what you think. I'll come back tomorrow and tell you how it affected me.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Party in Austin
Well, I'm up 'early'. I got up at about 11:30 today, and my sisters are both still knocked out. We'll see what everyone is up for when everyone is...well...up.
But so far, fun times. We made pizza, Noel Pizza, which is the best pizza ever. We saw Master Pancake Theater do an MST3K-style voice over of the Fellowship of The ring, which was HILARIOUS. We strolled around south congress, which was a hoot, and plan to form up the 'Preecs Family Band' later this evening. Fun times are being had by all.
Also, having so many bedrooms to hold so many guests is really neat. This is a seriously nice house.
We'll throw up photos later, I just thought I'd let everyone know that fantastic vacation time is being had by all. Cheers!
-N
But so far, fun times. We made pizza, Noel Pizza, which is the best pizza ever. We saw Master Pancake Theater do an MST3K-style voice over of the Fellowship of The ring, which was HILARIOUS. We strolled around south congress, which was a hoot, and plan to form up the 'Preecs Family Band' later this evening. Fun times are being had by all.
Also, having so many bedrooms to hold so many guests is really neat. This is a seriously nice house.
We'll throw up photos later, I just thought I'd let everyone know that fantastic vacation time is being had by all. Cheers!
-N
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Thanks MomanDad!
I promise to post soon about the good times we had in Cleveland, but this will probably be after EVEN more good times in Austin TX. The Sibs are getting together to break spring and hang out this weekend, so you'll get an update on that from someone.
I just wanted to post a short one today to say that MY PARENTS ARE THE COOLIE-WOOLIEST. Ever.
Unless they wish I still believe in the Easter Bunny, but either way, my Easter basket reached
an all time high. For this, they get a picture of my new haircut.
I just wanted to post a short one today to say that MY PARENTS ARE THE COOLIE-WOOLIEST. Ever.
Unless they wish I still believe in the Easter Bunny, but either way, my Easter basket reached
an all time high. For this, they get a picture of my new haircut.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Home and Garden Blogging
Hi there, once again,
Friday we got Jessie's grandmother in. She's been visiting for a while, and yesterday we went to the wildflower center and hung out with some cousins that also live in Austin. It's spring, so the bluebells and other wildflowers are out in full bloom. I got to pick up some wildflower seeds for experiments with our yard, but those are best to plant in the fall, so I'm hanging on for now. But I have a lot of seeds, so I can plant a lot of them, if I want.
Then today was home improvement day! We've added some upgrades to the outside of the house.
Hummingbird feeder! Just a little for now, to see if we get any.
Regularbird feeder! Because regular birds need food too. We're hoping we don't get *too* many pigeons, but there are quite a lot of them around here.
Mulch! I didn't get enough to cover everything, but this is a pretty good start, I think. I also probably should have gone for normal 'mulch' color, as opposed to 'Scorched Earth Black'. I'm still experimenting.
I have a couple of wide pots where I'm growing some things to see how they turn out. The big thing in the middle is actually a tree I rescued from our lawn before the mowers came by. I want to see if I can get some potted trees. Maybe I'll even Bonsai them if I get crazy enough. The rest of the pot is filled with wildflower seeds, which are just barely sprouting, and some native grasses I just threw in. I'm excited by the idea of replacing the lawn with native grass someday. It grows better, requires less maintenance, and if you get the right types, you don't even have to mow, if you don't want to. Neat.
And finally...
We had a broken sprinkler head. We discovered it while we were looking for hail damage. It was just spewing water all over and making a mess. Not good, and wastes water. So today we went out, found the right sprinkler head, installed it and adjusted it. Next time I'll wait until the ground is a little bit drier. We made a lot of mud.
Gotta go, soon, company here, but we're getting a new roof from our insurance company, work is pretty great, and we're getting visitors soon!
-N
Friday we got Jessie's grandmother in. She's been visiting for a while, and yesterday we went to the wildflower center and hung out with some cousins that also live in Austin. It's spring, so the bluebells and other wildflowers are out in full bloom. I got to pick up some wildflower seeds for experiments with our yard, but those are best to plant in the fall, so I'm hanging on for now. But I have a lot of seeds, so I can plant a lot of them, if I want.
Then today was home improvement day! We've added some upgrades to the outside of the house.
 |
| From New Album 4/12/09 5:25 PM |
Hummingbird feeder! Just a little for now, to see if we get any.
 |
| From New Album 4/12/09 5:25 PM |
Regularbird feeder! Because regular birds need food too. We're hoping we don't get *too* many pigeons, but there are quite a lot of them around here.
 |
| From New Album 4/12/09 5:25 PM |
 |
| From New Album 4/12/09 5:25 PM |
Mulch! I didn't get enough to cover everything, but this is a pretty good start, I think. I also probably should have gone for normal 'mulch' color, as opposed to 'Scorched Earth Black'. I'm still experimenting.
 |
| From New Album 4/12/09 5:25 PM |
I have a couple of wide pots where I'm growing some things to see how they turn out. The big thing in the middle is actually a tree I rescued from our lawn before the mowers came by. I want to see if I can get some potted trees. Maybe I'll even Bonsai them if I get crazy enough. The rest of the pot is filled with wildflower seeds, which are just barely sprouting, and some native grasses I just threw in. I'm excited by the idea of replacing the lawn with native grass someday. It grows better, requires less maintenance, and if you get the right types, you don't even have to mow, if you don't want to. Neat.
And finally...
 |
| From New Album 4/12/09 5:25 PM |
We had a broken sprinkler head. We discovered it while we were looking for hail damage. It was just spewing water all over and making a mess. Not good, and wastes water. So today we went out, found the right sprinkler head, installed it and adjusted it. Next time I'll wait until the ground is a little bit drier. We made a lot of mud.
Gotta go, soon, company here, but we're getting a new roof from our insurance company, work is pretty great, and we're getting visitors soon!
-N
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)