Free

Free is an interesting term in the United States.  Any deals that offer something for free have some kind of catch to make them...not completely free.  For example, buy one get one free.  What they really mean is buy two for half off each.  You are more inclined to buy when you wouldn't have before.  Therefore, they make more money, besides...we all know that the markups are more than enough to cover the expenses to make the product.  Another trick I often see is the free soda, or free entree.  The favorite is kids are free.  Each of these will require either an additional person or an additional item to be complete.  Again  you are more tempted to buy when you may not have earlier.  It is a decent discount to those who already planned on making the purchase however.

Today I was offered a free lunch.  What was the price?  1 and a half hours of PCR training and marketing.  For those who are not familiar with PCR it is the replication and amplification of genetic strands.  This procedure is used for cloning, speeding up the growth of bacteria (or yeast, etc.), and DNA fingerprinting (forensic science).  The intention of the seminar was to present several problems many people face when doing PCR; problems due to temperatures, making sure the right genetic material is duplicated, etc.  Then after presenting the problems, a specific item from this company was presented as the solution.  Backed with research data that supports their claim that it is best to order the material needed from this company.  Classic example of marketing at its best.  Anyway, it was a good seminar and I learned a few things.  The food was ok, nothing special.  Considering the fact I was sent from work in a mandatory fashion it was good.  I did get to meet the representative who supplies the laboratories at my university.  That was a great opportunity because now I can feel a little more comfortable making an order from campus if necessary.  So, to recap....nothing is truely free so be careful, especially in the U.S.  Also, PCR is a fun thing to learn about if lunch is involved and you have to go for work anyway.  Have a great night!

Infiltration

Sneaky, sneaky.  I have infiltrated the system.  Of course when one normally thinks of infiltration there seems to be a negative connotation.  By no means do I mean bad, but I have successfully infiltrated the system at the laboratory.  I am trusted by all those I am in contact with.  We are actually becoming friends.  I think I like internships.  They give me a chance to be me and to work as hard as I can.  Then I get to look at the results, and even a failure is a success that teaches us all something new.  I love research.  Its so fun.  Today I needed my supervisor for just a little longer than his ride was willing to wait, so I took him home.  I took him home and ate dinner with his family.  Thats not something that happens for everyone.  I'm just so glad I get along so well with my "boss".

Fortunes and Food

Have you ever eaten at Panda Express?  Today I decided to give it a try.  I'm a big oriental food fan.  I'm especially fond of General Tsao and Orange Chicken.  The most fun comes from eating with chopsticks.  I  learned at a relatively young age how to use them, and I've kept trying ever since.  I like to eat anything I can with chopsticks, even jello and ice cream.  I knew that Panda Express was the equivalent of Chinese fast food so I didn't know what to expect.  On the one had the service was very quick...on the other it really wasn't that good.  It was decent, and food nonetheless, but it just didn't spell out chinese food the way I've come to appreciate it.  So....the pluses: quick chinese food, free chopsticks, relatively cheap price, and it will fill you up.  Minuses: Greasier, non-fresh tasting, harder or chewier than normal (from being kept over time), no authenticity.  I'm not saying I wouldn't go there again, but I would much rather find an authentic chinese food resteraunt.  Ah, don't forget the fortune cookies.  Fortune cookies are always good...or at least I haven't had bad ones yet.  Anyway, this time I got two fortune cookies, probably because they thought I was buying for two = - P.  One said, "you will receive some prestigious prize or award" and the other, "To reach distant places, you have to take the first step".  I think that if anyone is depressed the need a fortune cookie.  I've never seen a negative one.  Can you imagine a resteraunt telling someone they would die a terrible untimely death?  Its just not good business.  As for the prize or award...I think I already got it.  I am the proud owner of someone's heart.  Thats the biggest prize I could ever win.

Testimony Meeting

I've always wondered why testimony meeting in many family wards is a long dragged out silence.  I'm sure that its not because they do not have testimonies.  Perhaps its the fact that we are all fasting and therefore have terrible breath.  Then again it could be the fear of getting up and speaking to an audience, unsure of what we will say.  Maybe we think they already know what we believe.  Whatever it is, the same problem seems to be complete reversed in a singles branch/ward.  This is indeed a strange phenomenon.  I look forward to having a missionary who bears their testimony all the time.  Maybe I'll get to hear a testimony more often. 

A Productive Day...Away From Work

Yay!  I did it!  I finally had a productive day without being at work.  This morning I woke up and got dressed up to go play soccer.  Then I drove to a nearby city where I had seen some soccer fields.  I spent the next three hours running, kicking, throwing, and juggling.  Luckily they had one of the straight "wall" goals so that I could kick it and use the rebound to kick again.  I never realized how much energy goes into each kick until I kicked repeatedly (about one kick for every two seconds) for several minutes.  Playing soccer by oneself isn't the most exciting thing however.  I'm thinking of trying to recruit some local people from the singles ward to come play each weekend.  It would give us all something to do and give us exercise...something I doubt the TV and computer are doing for us.  I know that most of the locals like soccer because we usually end up playing at the end of each FHE on Mondays.  Upon returning home from my work out (and getting a bite to eat) I focused my energy on cleaning up the yard.  This consisted of a lot of weed pulling, raking, and burning.   Initially I tried to burn everything in a barrel, but it was such a slow process that I knew I needed an alternative.  Conveniently placed to the side of the barrel is a big dirt pit...why it was there is beyond me, but it was full weeds.  I cleaned it up to the point where it was bare for several feet in diameter and then began a pile.  On one side of the pit was a dirt mound....probably from the dirt that had been removed to make the pit.  I stood there with a large shovel ready to pounce on anything I didn't like.  All in all it went pretty well....I saved some work for later (I admit to being exhausted) after cleaning up a good portion of the property.  I only singed a few hairs on the inner arm (looks like I shaved just below the wrist) and came away smelling like smoke.  When I came inside I took a shower, threw away my soccer socks (you should see the holes = - p ), and started laundry.  So, to recap....I worked out playing soccer, served my aunt by cleaning up her property, and finally did my laundry.  Final score: Anton 1, Lazyness 0.

2 Days, 2 Nightmares

Did you miss me?  I can't believe I went two days without writing....shame on me.  Just so you know I was punished though.  Every night that I didn't post something I didn't sleep well, the first night that included two nightmares...something rather uncommon for me.  I will try to be a little better about it.  Unfortunately I can't really get my creative juices going tonight.  I am extremely tired after staying up late last night.....hmmm....not sure I want to fess up to this........playing computer games.  It turns out that I am somebody that hates to lose.  I had to play until I won which was about 4 or 5 this morning.  Yeah, bad idea.  So I will get the sleep I need tonight and take a lesson learned.  Don't allow your pride to ruin your sleep.

Return of the Gremlins

Look out!!!  They may be after you next.  For sure these are the sneakiest most diabolic creatures known to man.  Our lab must have something they want, because we are constantly terrorized by them.  This time, they didn't even have the decency to wait until we were gone.

-------NEWS FLASH-------

The Boise VA Hospital had a security breach early this morning.  By 10:30am the saboteur had breached the research facilities located downstairs.  Somehow they managed to enter the ceiling panels without being spotted and found a way to cause leaks from the bathroom directly above.  Although it was intended to appear as an accident the scoundrel was not able to escape without being sighted by VA employees.  Unfortunately the gremlin was able to escape and thwart the attempts of local security to trace it.  In the mean time warm bathroom water began to fall from the ceiling tiles in large quantities.  An employee was heard to say, " It was like every 5 second another bathtub of water would completely drain through the ceiling tiles onto our workstation.  It damaged the chair, several papers, and compromised the sterile equipment of that entire section."  Emergency assistance was requested and promptly filled by the VA repairmen.  Due to the security lock down of the research area, an employee had to be posted at the door to swipe their card and allow repairmen in and out.  10 minutes, and 13 repairmen later the leak was finally sealed.  The employee of that section were all sent home while housekeepers spent the remainder of the day trying to salvage the lab.  The gremlin ambassador was unavailable for comments.  A repairmen stated, "This accident could have easily been avoided.  Someone will get in trouble for this."  For the time being, researchers are being asked to bring umbrellas as proactive protection against anymore mishaps.  Local authorites ask that citizens be vigilent and report any suspicious activity immediately.  Those who have information regarding the whereabouts of any gremlins may receive a reward in exchange for that information.  This is Notna the Suspicious signing off.