2%

Quick fact: The journal "Science" reported recently that only 2% of scientists regularly blog.

I suppose it's up to me to carry the banner. :P

Another sciencey note: I downloaded a free bibliography program this week called "Mendeley." I've never used this kind of software before, such as the $300 "EndNote" or "Papers" for mac. Nevertheless I was pretty blown away by the fact that this program can automa

tically read science journal papers that I download as PDFs, it can automatically figure out the authors, publishers etc. You can add notes and highlight the papers, organize them in folders, search them etc. But the best magic-like part for me was when I opened up Microsoft word and downloaded the plug-in for that so I could just drag and drop the name of the PDFs from Mendeley to word and it automatically created a perfectly formated Bibliography!!! And what's more is there was a drop down menu where if you selected a different format (APA, MLA or a journal specific format) all the bibliography entrances would auto adjust to the desired format!!!

Okay so this thing really isn't new and I'm sure most everyone has used this kind of thing before, but it was new to me...and having spent many many hours creating bibliographies as an undergraduate, this just blew me away.

I think I'm going to Boston, I think I'll start a new life..

I decided to redo the music playlist, so I hope that everyone enjoys the songs on there. At this point how could I not include "Boston," by Augustana?...especially considering the parts about a girl leaving California in search of cool summers and snow! All the other songs on the list I deeply enjoy. The band Muse has become a recent favorite because I think it's amazing to hear a post-punk rock group that has been heavily influenced by one of my favorite classical composers: Sergei Rachmaninoff (see their song "Space Dementia"). The true classical pieces on the list, the pavane and the cello concerto, are both songs I've performed before with an orchestra in the past. "Cabron" and "You Only Live Once" are just some fun songs that didn't get much radio time and as for "I'm Yours".....well, that one's for Lauren. I love that girl!

Lauren actually flew to California a few days ago and won't be back until my birthday on Aug. 10th. She is there to celebrate her father's birthday as a large family get-together in New Mexico.

I have been continuing to show up at lab...still haven't really done much. Mostly I've been going through my online scientific ethics course. In the last couple days, however, plans for a project on osteosarcoma (bone cancer?) cells has emerged. The plan is I will learn how to stain different proteins and DNA inside the cells with different antibodies or tags, then take their picture with a fluorescence microscope to try and see if the proteins and the DNA are near each other or not. Not too complex, but a great way to start learning the techniques. With the presentations I've been seeing and papers I've been reading lately, it is becoming clear that scientists are expected to become ameteur photographers. Good thing I enjoy that kind of stuff.

Heres a little example:

The First Week of my PhD...

Lauren and I are mostly settled into our apartment now. Last Sunday we watched the city fireworks from the stairwell window on the opposite side of the apartment and then the next day I began my PhD (Monday, July 6th 2009...a day to certainly be remembered in infamy!!!). Everything went pretty smoothly receiving a welcome meeting with the Dean and finishing paperwork. By lunchtime I met my summer-lab-rotation PI (principal investigator) who I'll be working with over the Summer.

I toured our lab, which was huge! It was an integrative group with 4 different PI's, two of whom are married and pull in the largest amount of cancer research funds for the university. My PI hadn't quite decided what my project should be and the technician I was supposed to shadow this week was on vacation....so....this week I've had some "freedom." Basically I've just been meeting people, organizing my lab bench and reading papers. I have learned a few things about cell culture this week: basically spray everything down with ethanol before and after you use it and while you're using it don't let anything touch anything else.

I'm hoping that I'll find a few more things to do this next week...but on the other hand, perhaps I should relish in this 'nothing to do' feeling which I do not anticipate to last...

- James

Pictures

UMASS!!!

So James and I finally got to Massachusetts and are totally in love with our new place! We have a stove that works and a shower that does not need pliers to use!! We have a kitchen, dinning area, front room, balcony, office, bedroom, and 1.5 baths. oh yea and a washer dyer! We live in a pretty good area with lots of Italian food, but unfortunately no Mexican food..... Literally NONE!! (Taco bell does not cut it!) Our new ward is so so so small! There are under 90 members, and it seems that me and James will never escape 9am church....Also the first thing people at church told us was "Hi my name is_____, this a triple calling ward" So we are sure to busy. James has already started school and I am trying to unpack the house and keep busy till I leave to California. But on the plus side we do have cable and internet now!


Oh you guys also have to check out our pictures! We have one of the cutest pictures of Morgan!