The state of my career

I've been working toward my PhD for a very long time now. I submitted a paper, they asked for some additional experiments, I did them, and came up with an unexpected result that will require me to largely rewrite the paper. It kind of weakens the original point, but makes for a more complete story. However, I've been having a lot of trouble getting a couple of other experiments to work, so I went back to try and figure out what might have caused my unexpected result. Basically, my protein is synthesized much slower than a closely related protein, indicating a different RNA structure... Understanding how all this works is not necessary, however, as I think the picture is really worth 1000 words:


My career has been reduced to a picture of a phallus.

(As a sidenote, if you tilt your head to the right, it looks like a snowman with a big gun...or a huge erection...you know, whatever.)

The reason for the slower synthesis is likely the little antenna between the shaft and the left testicle. Sigh. I'm going to have to do a lot of practicing so I can present this with a straight face.

stupid rant of the day

I am not a short person. I will readily admit that, at some times in my life, my pants have been pushing the limit of socially acceptable length. I've never been asked if I'm expecting a flood or anything, but it's hard to find pants that fit when you're a female but are the height of an average male (look it up - average American male is 5' 9.5"). I am forever grateful the people in the fashion industry who finally realized that there are tall women out there who live on a budget and, as a result, started selling pants in "long" sizes at stores where I can afford to shop. I really do appreciate that. Really.

What I can't understand is short people whose pants are too short. 99% of pants made for adults in this world would be too long, if anything - how is it that YOU managed to find the one pair of pants anywhere that doesn't even touch the top of your shoes? ...or are you just mocking those of us who have done a better job of overcoming gravity?

Marge Simpson is a sage

So I managed to catch the Simpson's re-runs on TV last night and it was as if fate had plunked me down in front of the TV... You see, Lisa won tickets to an indy flick on NPR and dragged the whole family to see a movie called "Kosovo Autumn" or something to that effect and as the family is leaving the theater, the following conversation took place:

Bart: [after they watch a foreign film] I was so bored I cut the pony tail off the guy in front of us.

[holds pony tail to his head]

Bart: Look at me, I'm a grad student. I'm 30 years old and I made $600 last year.

Marge: Bart, don't make fun of grad students. They've just made a terrible life choice.

So true, Marge, so true....