Shocker of the day

My boss has been really busy lately. I just figured there was another grant proposal deadline coming up. He's been hiding in his office, keeping the door closed and such. Finally he crawled out yesterday and called a lab meeting for today. To break the news: he's leaving! As in, he's quitting his job and moving to greener pastures. In 3 months! I'm shocked, shocked, I tell you.

I may have mentioned this before, but my adviser is just the nicest, most decent human being, and he certainly deserves good things happening to him. I suppose this is a good thing for him. And I've really tried very hard to show my support for him, and to wish him luck in his endeavors. I've tried not to be selfish, but the truth is: I'm worried sick.

He has done some of his homework already and he has lined up alternate advisers and placement for his students. He has another adviser in mind for me, and under the circumstances, I think I agree with his choice. I have to think it over, and talk some more to him about this. For now, I'm going back to being shocked!

Arrays again

Considering the fact that I'm supposed to present a poster later this summer on the microarray data that my adviser has collected in collaboration with another lab, I figured it was time to brush the old data off again. I must admit that I've been so busy that I haven't taken a look at the data in about a year.

My research has taken off in a different direction, then I got busy taking written and oral qualifying exams, and currently I'm furiously trying to finish up research by the end of the summer to hopefully graduate in the Fall. In addition I had gotten a bit frustrated by my inability to find software that would allow me to look at the data, maybe suggest some biological pathways involved, without taking one or more courses in how to work the software. That dilemma hasn't changed yet, but the date of my poster presentation is creeping ever closer. If you know of any good idea for affordable microarray analysis software, don't be shy, tell me about it.

I'm currently looking into an online package called Expression Profiler. Wish me luck.

Happy shopping!

At first I thought it was one of those e-mail scams: "You won 2 million dollars," or some equivalent. However, the amount was a lot less, and it seemed so... legit.

I did some research, remembering that indeed, I had done a survey like that, and eventually responded. And voila! I actually did win $200 to spend at Amazon.com.

Ooooh, now what? I'm going to buy stuff that I would otherwise never get, but that I really want! Suggestions are welcome.

Final results for the shuffle meme!

Here are the final results of the shuffle meme, with links. If you're not into heavy metal, you might want to skip the first link. The song carries very special meaning to me, and the lyrics hit home, especially in these times of war, but it's not for everyone. Also, not always could I find actual video on YouTube, but the songs were there.

CAE wins with 4 right, 1 half right
Anonymous got 2 (I actually know this is a single individual)
Sciencewoman had 1
Canada had 1

1. Gun down cold on a raw deal, home turf my battlefield. Expendable youth-Slayer

2. You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life. Dancing queen-ABBA

3. Stuck on you, got this feeling down deep in my soul that I just can't lose. Stuck on you--Lionel Richie

4. Te regalo una rosa la encontre en el camino. Bachata Rosa-Juan Luis Guerra

5. There is a rose in Spanish Harlem, a red rose up in Spanish Harlem. Spanish Harlem-Various artists, Tom Jones was the one guessed, I listened to Rebecca Pidgeon's version, which I will post on this blog in June.

6. Bomba! Un movimiento sensual. Azul, azul (Bomba!)-King Africa

7. Del caribe aflora, bella, encantadora. En Baranquilla me quedo-Joe Arroyo. I've never been able to sit still when this song is playing. Gotta move the feet, gotta move!

8. Por alto esta el cielo del mundo. Obsesion--Various artists, I listen to the version by Los Trio, the one linked to is by Pedro Flores.

9. Is this the real life, is this just fantasy. Rhapsody-Queen

10. No hay dia que pase que yo no me acuerde de ti. Contra la corriente-Marc Anthony. This is my all-time favorite song from Marc Anthony. I don't like his English-language songs, but I'm absolutely crazy about his songs in Spanish.

11. Toen ik van de week je brief kreeg na een lange tijd. Hou me vast-Ruth Jacott. I could not find a video of the whole original song, I did find a latinized medley version of the songs "Vrij me mij" and "Hou me vast," the latter starts at 1:16.

12. Tu vida se parece a una novela. Mujer de novela-Grupo Niche. My all-time favorite latin band, they have numerous fabulous songs for listening and dancing. And I think this is my favorite song by this band.

13. Let me tell you now all that's on my mind. The only one-Lionel Richie

14. Kijan zot fe m'pa ka kompran zot ka viv kon si pa ni pwoblem. Zouk la se sel medikaman nou ni-Kassav'. Great song in the French-Carribean style called Zouk.

15. Man it's a hot one, like seven inches from the midday sun. Smooth-Santana

16. Old pirates, yes, they rob I; sold I to the merchant ships. Redemption song-Bob Marley.

17. Joseph's face was black as the night . Under African skies-Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt. The version linked to is with Miriam Makeba.

18. Procura seducirme muy despacio. Procura-Chichi Peralta. Fantastic song to dance to, by Chichi Peralta who used to be part of Juan Luis Guerra's band 4:40.

19. In the sunlight of your smile, in the summer of our life. Beautiful Maria of my soul-Los Lobos. Soundtrack from the movie Mambo Kings. This is the English version, there is also an equally beautiful Spanish version.

20. Takmis koluna elin adamini. Simarik-Tarkan.

21. Acordate Moralito de aquel dia que estuviste en Urumita y no quisiste hacer parranda. La gota fria-Carlos Vivis

22. If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one. Fragile-Sting

23. Without dreams of hope and pride a man will die. Children of Sanchez-Chuck Mangione. No good video of this song, but a decent sound version.

24. When the lights go down in the city. Lights-Journey

25. Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven. Tears in heaven-Eric Clapton