Christian the Lion

I love kitty cats.

Thank you Ron.

Clinical vs. Basic

The summer research I’m conducting is different in that instead of doing basic research I’m in the clinical realm. As of last week, my main tasks were to educate myself, run literature searches, and use my little thinking cap to determine the best way to take this project. Given that I’m an undergraduate and that I didn’t know X syndrome from Y syndrome 4 weeks ago, I felt that I was given a ridiculously large responsibility. After several meetings with the PI, we both decided on a course of action and I’m happy to say that he responded well to my recommendations.

The PI that I’m working under doesn’t have the physical existence of a lab, but he does indeed have fellows running around, working on projects. In a way, I do enjoy the space a lab provides because it’s a great way to interact with lab mates. And with this, I have to get use to the fact that clinical and basic researches are both managed differently. Since projects are mobilized by MDs instead of PhDs in this clinical setting, one can’t simply set up an experiment for next week. Really though, this is exactly what I need to see. One of the main reasons why I sought out this PI for a summer research position was to get such clinical research exposure and understand the process.

Oh and next week, I’ll start helping another PI on a project. More the merrier.

Right now though, I have more free time available than what I prefer. I need to remind myself that it’s summer and I should go play outside with the rest of the kids. I think I’m going to start filling up my empty time by exploring the campus and the near by city. I should start reading one of my summer books (Avoid Boring People by James D. Watson). Maybe I’ll write a little review.

Wishful thinking

When I become a successful medical scientist, I'm going to buy this and fill it with some of this and that. Maybe I can drive this around and have this for the weekends and these two things will have there own room. Hopefully, my wife won't mind. Oh, and I'll have a couple of these running around as well and at least two of these. When my midlife crisis strikes at 39 (I'm mature for my age) I'll just buy this instead of doing the normal thing. After I come to my senses, I will find inspiration by moving to here. During this time of productivity, I'll win this and I predict that once it happens I'll become an untouchable like him. At this moment in time, I'll change my profession to do some good. A couple of years later, I'll probably suffer a mild heart attack from yelling at these individuals on the Senate floor. A year after this event, I'll retire and live here. In my old life and annoyed from my normal mode of transportation, I'll rebel and drive this around. It will sadly be the death of me or maybe this. I haven't made up my mind.

J.K. Rowling to Harvard Graduating Class of 2008

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Via: Fwds End: Graveyard of Forwards

On Repeat: Mystery Jets

I've had the Mystery Jets on repeat this whole day. Here's why:

Mystery Jets- Young Love


Mystery Jets- Two Doors Down


The hoop earing on the lead vocal in this video, Blaine Harrison, is fierce.

Mystery Jets Myspace
Mystery Jets

Response: Anamatronic Flesh Shoe

I was going through Design Boom and stumbled across the Anamatronic Flesh Shoe by Adam Brandejs.

In 2004 the Canadian artist Adam Brandejs created this 'Anamatronic Flesh shoe' in response to issues of sweatshop labour and content ownership. What looks like real skin is actually latex other materials used include steel, gear motors, printed circuit, rio MP3 player, batteries, staples and his friends hair. The shoe's toe and heel raise and lower as it occasionally vibrates/pulsates, and twitches as if it were still alive.

Artist's statement:
'It's a Nike shoe stapled together with human flesh, twitching...

Other than simply being twisted, this piece comments on issues of sweatshop labour and content ownership. Each piece of skin is therefore different in colour, size, and texture and the Nike logo is done in white, slapped overtop of all the other colours. really, either you’re going to get it or you’re not.

While your 10 year old son or daughter whines about not having the coolest shoes for school, another 10 year old on the other side of the world will never need worry about such issues as they won’t get to go to school, they make shoes for 3 cents a day instead. thus, the shoe represents the lives put into it.

People like to ignore the reality of the issue, or come up with simple solutions such as 'we’re giving –them- work' thanks, I’m sure the world would fall apart without such generosity. And I’m sure before sweatshops the world crumbled.

If the flesh disturbs you, then the reality behind the issue would disturb you far more if we opened our eyes long enough to see it. we live in a culture disconnected from what it is doing to itself and others, we choose to ignore rather than deal with the reality we have created for ourselves. this piece ultimately comments on this simple idea'.

Buy a shoe that goes towards a good cause.

I love Robots, too.

Pixar has a new movie out, Wall-E, and it has indeed made me excited. Why? Robots. My love of robots started with R2D2. Time has been kind enough to put together roboporn a gallery of robots. Funny enough, I saw robots all over Scandinavia. The last robot I bought was in Copenhagen as a congratulations gift to myself. I just make myself so proud sometimes. Anyways, a family portrait is below. Someone looks familiar.

Visions of the Past Little toy robots are sold as collectors' items in Stockholm.

Update: A new sexuality to come by 2050: robosexuals.

(haha)