Plush microbes

**Note: For some reason, my posts look different than the way they look on the preview screen, they look all jumbled up. Is anyone else having this problem? Is it my template that's the problem? Can I change the size of the section where my posts appear???**

I want one of these things! Or all of them!Ummm, not the actual microbes of course, just the toy versions. Click here to check them all out!




For example, here's the common cold bacteria:































And here's E.coli! Aren't they cute? And while you're at it, check out the action shots, they're funny!

:)

Click here to see this person's other cartoons.

Online Communities

You can find more comics by this person here. I like his sense of humor.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

I'll be at Barnes and Noble tonight at midnight to pick up my pre-ordered copy of the new Harry Potter book. I can't wait to see what happens in the end!

I must say, I really like the adult version of the cover in the UK. If I had the option, I'd definitely go for that one.

Interesting discussion

This one caught my attention on the interfaith forum. The discussion is about whether God needs religion or not (which in my opinion is worded very poorly).

You can click here to see what people are saying if this topic is of interest to you at all.

Word of the Day: Procrastinate

pro·cras·ti·nate Pronunciation[proh-kras-tuh-neyt, pruh-]

–verb (used without object)
1.to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost. –verb (used with object)
2.to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.


[Origin: 1580–90; <>pro-1 + -crāstināre, deriv. of crāstinus of tomorrow; crās tomorrow + -tinus suffix forming adjs. from temporal advs.); see -ate1]

Will it help if I use it in a sentence? " Procrastination is something I've come to master as a Ph.D. candidate."

Gets on my nerves really. Once I start working, I can stay focused for hours. My problem is actually gathering the will to sit down to "work". Arrgh, I was not like this, what's happening to me??? I've come to realize I work much better under pressure, with deadlines and such. When left on my own, I will take my time to finish "boring" tasks. Somehow, there always seem to be more urgent tasks to be done than writing, or experimenting, such as rearranging the books on the shelves by authors' last names, doing the dishes/laundry, wondering what to eat for dinner and looking up recipes, or rearranging items on desk for better work efficiency (for the 5th time that day). Sometimes my floors suddenly look like they badly need vacuuming, and sometimes I just have to scrub my bathtub (there'a a certain element of "analness" in my nature by default though, in case you can't tell) before I can start work-or not. You would think with such a tidy desk and a clean house I would have no problems concentrating on work. Things that usually don't occur to me when I'm having fun suddenly start mattering once I sit in front of the computer or pick up a pen. In the lab, since there's no housework to be done, I find myself washing bottles, and cleaning countertops. If my house and lab are clean, you can sort of tell I've been trying to work. I am by no means a slacker, I always get things done on time, and can really work hard if I concentrate. I don't have this problem when I'm making lesson plans, or grading papers, or working on proposals. The procrastination always comes hand in hand with dissertation work, not much of anything else really. I think this is why liking your topic matters...I've got nothing to be excited about. :S

I think I must get my advisor to set my defense date sometime in late fall...That will definitely put my bum to work. After all, a good dissertation is one that is DONE I guess.

Oh...And sometimes I get a sudden urge to blog...I wonder why!

Kitchen adventure

I really like cooking and eating at home (especially when I have the time for it), but I think this past Sunday was my first "real" attempt at cooking something that required a lot of effort by myself- and the results were not that bad...

Yours truly cooked what you see here on the left from scratch, rolling out the the dough and everything. It's much like ravioli, with the dough filled with meat inside, boiled and topped with garlic yogurt and a mixture of burnt oil and pepper. It's a Turkish dish called 'manti".(umm yeah...yogurt with garlic, you heard that right! hehe). :) I think it turned out alright cause my boyfriend gulped it down and went for seconds. I toiled away for about 2.5 hours in the kitchen for this, to produce only a few plates' worth of food (half of which I froze). If it were to be prepared for a big crowd one would definitely need a lot of help, but I hope to be able to cook this for friends sometime. :)

Who knew rolling out dough was such a workout??? I've had a stiff/sore neck for a while now (damn computer, and damn not doing yoga for a while! I really need to get back to my workout schedule) but yesterday my whole upper back, chest, shoulders and neck were aching like crazy, I could barely move. All I could do was lie down (which is really not doing much of anything and makes me feel guilty). Today I am feeling much better, thanks to Advil liqui-gels and icy-hot patches. I'm not sure the rolling action was to blame for most of the pain though-I think I know the main culprit- it's the wet hair/AC combination. I kind of feel like I have a head cold, too. Sheesh, and it's so hot outside!