Liscum Lab Blog

OOOOOOOOOO

2008-10-21T23:04:00.002-05:00

So here's a photo of the pumpkin I carved 21 Oct. I don't think I need to say anything...but Change is hopefully coming!

McShame pisses off the rowdy science crowd!

2008-10-09T17:09:00.003-05:00

Well I didn't think much about the comment McCain made about the 'overhead projector for the Chicago Planetarium' in the debate the other night - other than it was just one example of 'pork' he probably could have used that was connected to O. I was more struck by his proposal to put ALL govt programs on freeze or cut except defense (I could just hear the NSF dollars evaporating). Yet apparently he really did use a BAD example and a number of people in science are pissed about his choice - see article about Sky Theatre funding.

Add to this his comments on govt programs the far right's lack of support for stem cell research and I think McShame should pull out of the science field as well as MI!

A Bitch Slap to Robert Gallo!

2008-10-06T07:24:00.002-05:00

For those geeks out there that know of the long running feud between American retrovirus pioneer Robert Gallo and French HIV researchers Luc Montagnier and (to a lesser extent by association) Francoise Barre-Sinoussi - the genesis of this feud is highlighted very effectively in the movie "And The Band Played On" - it seems with the award of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology those in Stocholm have spoken! Condolences to Gallo (although I tend to side with the French on this one)!

Condolences

2008-09-29T19:15:00.001-05:00

My condolences to Mannie for the loss of Paul Newman. I'm pretty confident you've already dug out Slapshots to rewatch for the week.

On another note, it's almost Halloween. The chill is in the air. Is 'ole Luke getting an honorary tombstone in the Liscum graveyard? Was he ever in any horror flicks?

Are you serious? What happened to intelligence in this country?

2008-09-05T22:22:00.003-05:00

For any of you who (like I) find it hard to fathom that female supporters (or male for that matter) of Hillary could now turn and run for a diametrically-opposed plank of the GOP because McCain picked a veep with an XX sex chromosome composition, or that they might be so pissed about Hillary not getting the nomination as to vote GOP independent of McCain's VP pick, you need to check out this completely shocking site:

Just Say No Deal

I know these people (former Dems) viscerally hate Obama but are they serious, now suddenly they are willing to cast their vote, and encourage others to do likewise, for a ticket that is SO fundamentally different from all that Hillary stands for (with the exception, as Gloria Steinem has stated "the sharing of a single chromosome")? The divisive ignorant nature of Americans befalls me!

The PIs feeling on Gov. Palin's belief on Creation in public schools

2008-09-03T22:28:00.002-05:00

What is scary about Palin is not her faith (I have absolutely no issue with faith per se) but her desire to 'force' it upon others. I have no problem with teaching Creation, but it simply does NOT belong in the public school science class. Creation (or Intelligent Design) is NOT science and thus does not belong in a science classroom. Sunday school, theology, and maybe philosophy YES, public school science class NO. And to use the argument that 'let the kids see both sides and debate the issue' is really quite silly. Should we also allow revisionist history to be taught in public schools? To borrow from the Republican play book, this is a 'slippery slope'. If Creation is taught alongside evolution in public school science classes we best start teaching David Irving-style Holocaust revisionist history in world history classes - so we can allow the students to debate the issue (how ignorant does this sound?). Healthy debate is good, but there is a place for it and Creation does NOT belong in a science class. It is faith, and faith belongs in the heart and the congregation. As a scientist I cannot apply scientific method to test faith or the potential validity of Creation. This fact alone means that Creation can not be science, and thus simply does not belong in public school science classes. Faith does not need to be proven, but that is what we attempt to do on a daily basis in science with theory. My students cannot publish results that are based on 'faith' of theory, but rather need to provide evidence for or against. Creation cannot be tested or proven by scientific method, it only requires faith. The founding fathers felt that the Church and State belonged separate and if the Second Amendment is to be held with such high regard maybe we should hold this ideal in high regard as well?

So Sarah Palin scares me because of how she blurs the line between her faith and her job as a public servant. I have to believe that she can have strong faith without trying to legislate it. Aren't we frequently hearing the argument forwarded by President Bush about liberal judges legislating their views. How is Palin's (or the Republican plank) any different? Do they just feel that THEIR beliefs, being grounded in faith, are simply better, nigh correct?

Time will tell whether American's buy the snake oil of the Democrats or the Republicans, but one has to applaud the process this time around for making two of the top four spots something different!

If you missed it...the NEXT first lady!!

2008-08-26T14:19:00.001-05:00

Michelle Obama ROCKS!

Classic video...

2008-07-17T11:53:00.001-05:00

I just randomly ran across this and haven't seen it in years, but love the song and the video:

Pearl Jam, Do The Evolution'

Happy Birthday Boss Man

2008-06-29T22:58:00.001-05:00

OK, I know it's not until tomorrow, but technically tomorrow is only 1 hour away. Anyhow, just thought I'd send a shout out to Mannie to wish him a happy birthday!! Make those lab members take you somewhere good for lunch:) Enjoy and have a great day!

60's TV still has value

2008-06-24T21:19:00.002-05:00

Here's an episode from Star Trek (the original series) called "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" that every American who might vote for McCain this fall just because of race should watch. It's a classic episode as powerful today as when it was first aired:

Watch CBS Videos Online

One can hear the crickets chirping...ANYONE out there?

2008-06-24T00:28:00.002-05:00

Well I guess I'll join B in questioning of any Liscum Lab members (present or former) aside from he and I ever use the Internet? The blog has been he and I having private little conversations and jabs at each other for too long now. Time for some new voices, hell even a comment. Come on Jo I know you get emails when a new post goes up...Renee has an excuse (I read her blog so I know!).

On the (good) chance that B is the only one reading this I have another Fu movie recommendation: Furious Slaughter. Another Old Skool Fu flick, this one starring Jimmy Wang Yu (the One-Armed Swordsman himself - although he's neither one armed or a swordsman in this particular movie). This is not an easy flick to find but if you can it's really quite good as 70's Fu goes - the story (and English dub) are good, the lead actor is perfect in this role, and the fights are plentiful and bloody (if not exceptionally fast or wire-fu). I posted a review on my HK Flix page (yes my screen name there is Porky Lo Meng, I'll explain to anyone who wants to know why). If you can't find this one and still want a decent Fu flick ( or a more modern one) try "Transporter 2" - very good action, and from a non-Asian dude!

NEW - 2008 Lab T-shirt

2008-06-10T14:01:00.003-05:00

Hey the 2008 Liscum Lab T-Shirt is ready to go to the printers. We need a head count (#'s and sizes) for anyone who wants one this week. Like to place the order by Fri 13 June.

If you want to see the design go to link Liscum Lab '08. We thought this design might appeal to not only the current members but some of our previous members!

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting...another movie recommendation

2008-05-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm clearly locked in a Fu mood lately so I've got another movie recommendation for ya'll that is in the Fu genre. This one is great for a whole set of reasons that aren't in common (generally) with my most recent recommendation - Jet Li's "Hero". The current recommendation, "Contour", is NOT a cinematic masterpiece - hell it's not even up to the quality of Ron Widbin's Rockbridge/Hickman produced stuff on the Columbia public school channel - nor is the acting high quality (again think high school plays)...BUT, it kicks Hero to the curb for pure adrenaline-charged nearly constant kick arse Fu action!! This is some of the most impressive Fu action I've seen in years.

"Contour" was made by a bunch of martial artists and stunt people who call themselves simply: The Stunt People. These are some crazy, but VERY talented mo-fo's. Anyhow, these guys & dolls have been making Martial Arts/Fu/Action shorts for some time now and in 2006-07 produced and released their first full-length feature film - "Contour". Eric Jacobus, one of the founders of The Stunt People, wrote, directed and starred in "Contour". For those of you who know of Ed Wood Jr and his films there is some similarity between Contour and Wood films in there shoestrng budgets, poor acting and horrible scripts - but that's where the similarities end. If Wood could kick arse like Jacobus he'd not be simply remembered as the Worst Director of all time but the Worse Director of all time that no one would dare tell that to for fear of getting their head crushed. Anyhow, "Contour's" plot is thin at best - hell I can't rightly tell you what the plot is - but it's Ok since the plot and character developments are just means to connect the various awesome fight scenes. This movie is one fight to the next, with many lasting so long one will get tired just watching these guys/girls beat eachother relentlessly. The fight scene near the end of the movie is nearly 20 minutes in length and is a masterpiece. Nevermind that all the characters in the movie are played by a handful of people (they wear masks of various types, many times causing me to laugh out loud at how stupid it all looks, to shield that they are in fact the same guys/girls); the entire budget of the movie (~$5000) was likely spent on water (for obvious rehydration), food, and medical bills [there is no way it was spent on much more]; and that NO ONE in the cast can act (Jacobus is a pretty decent Fu version of Bruce Campbell - even looks a little like him) - this is simply a tour de force of Fu action. You will wince 30-30 times I gaurantee! The DVD also has a docu on the making of "Contour" and The Stunt People, as well as several shorts and training pieces - all quite amazing. I highly recommend it - but don't expect great (or even good...mark that decent) cinema, you need to watch this knowing it's low budget for film, but as high a 'budget' for action as anything out there.

See some reviews of "Contour" at HK Flix

Search out this movie for rental...B has my copy so maybe he'll respond to this post after he watches it?

Movie Recommendation

2008-04-29T00:06:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen the Jet Li movie "Hero" - SEE IT!!! It's not simply a kung fu or action movie. In fact, while the fight scenes are impressive - well except the one that got so much hype in the HK Fan circles between Li and Donnie Yen (this one is OK but not as great as I expected) - they are not the anchor of the Film. Note that I used Film with a capital F - this is fine cinema. The director, Zhang Yimou, is a veteran HK director who specializes in highly stylized dramas. He didn't skimp on his stylized vision with "Hero". WOW! The cinematography is stunning, the sets and action choreography are intertwined with the camera work to produce simple beautiful images. Yimou's use of color and backgrounds is breathtaking. Three examples stand out: 1) the 'red' fight between Maggie Cheung (aka, Flying Snow) and up-and-coming starlet Ziyi Zhang (aka, Moon) in the leaves; 2) the 'green' fight between Tony Leung (aka, Broken Sword) and Daoming Chen (aka, the King) in the palace; and 3) the 'blue' fight between Leung and Li (aka, Nameless) over the mountain lake. If you are an old skool Fu fan (like myself) be aware that this movie is 'wire-fu' all out, but it's done well. I felt the 'wire-fu' in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a bit too much, but in "Hero" it was more tolerable, and in large part this was due to Yimou's asthetic senses. "Hero" is a great story, told well through both dialog and visuals. This is a movie that both Fu fans and non Fu fans can enjoy. Watch it with or without the English dub (which is quite well done), but watch it - really watch it. You will be impressed. HK cinema kicks Hollywood to the curb!

Cool seminar...

2008-04-02T20:44:00.000-05:00

As an academic and science geek I go to many seminars (although fewer now that I'm the "manny" for my kids afer school), but tonight I had the pleasure of attended a really different but thoroughly enjoyable seminar (at it was for me). No not scientific in any way, rather it satified my love for Second World War history; Sir Ian Kershaw was on campus to give a lecture on 'How and Why the Nazi's Fought on to the Bitter End'. Kershaw is a renowned historian/author who is a Professor in Sheffeld UK. His talk was truly captivating (again for me) and I guess all my reading has been doing some good because I wasn't at all lost in the mix of dates, personalities, political discussions, etc. I found it quite intellectually stimulating. Here's hoping MU gets a few more greats like Kershaw in the near future (apparently he has a friend at MU and has been here before a couple times - although I suspect he is also attending the WWII Conference at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans 10-12 April - I wish I could go!!).

The 80's DID rock, but now it's officially dead!

2008-03-04T19:44:00.000-06:00

Well I heard from a Wisconsinite today that today is a 'sad day' because Brett Favre retired, but I think there is sadder news today - Gary Gygax passed away. Who? you say...Gary Gygax...he created Dungeons & Dragons! Yes I was an 80's kid who was into D&D - frankly few kids weren't unless they were REALLY geeks. Gygax was THE man of the 80's and with his passing I think we can say D&D has officially passed too.

So, now how sad will the day be? Will Texas and Ohio finalize the Democratic side of the 08 election equation? Hope so but not likely - I think this will drag out for some time...giving the Elephants more ammo and time. Sitting at dance right now and can't wait to get home to Chris Mathews' and Keith Obberman's coverage on MSMBC.

Change is a coming...

From Trops

2007-12-07T13:01:00.002-06:00

I was asked to put up a few photos of the recent happy hour at Tropical Liquers. For some reason I can't change the very old photos on the flickr so if anyone out there has the log-in and password please send it along. OK, I've done 4 posts now, where is everybody else?

This where all of the drinks come from.

Group shot

Shay and Jo

Shay and Ullas

Me, Shay's Sister Linda and Shay

For all of you snow deniers

2007-12-07T10:50:00.000-06:00

During our walk to lunch yesterday, an individual, who's background in living in snow-filled environments is the stuff of legends, made some very untimely predictions about the weather here in Columbia. I took a few snaps of the snow last night before I went home regarding the "stickiness" of the snow. As of this morning, it's still here (and sadly probably here to stay)!

Renee visits

2007-11-08T14:29:00.000-06:00

We got paid a visit yesterday by Renee and Abby on their trip through Columbia. Here are some photos of all of us.

-B

(nice group shot)

(sassy and slim)

(budding young scientist)

Mannie's pumpkin carvings make the news - kind of...

2007-10-31T22:53:00.000-05:00

Well last week out of the blue I got an email from ABC News in NY (truly) requesting that I log onto their site and deposite pictures/video of my pumpkin carvings. Don't know how they found me or my carving (some kind of general google search likely go my Halloween site). Anyhow I made a short video and submitted it. I wasn't chosen for Good Morning America (that was the big 'reward') but they did post my video on their site Check it out

Tis the season to be ghoully!

2007-10-10T09:27:00.000-05:00

OK the weather is now cooperating so my fever is back (Halloween fever that is). Check out all the new happenings - yes I've started my carving - no I haven't done Tom's suggestion yet. Go see what's new at the Liscum House of Horrors

Jack-O-Lanterns

2007-10-09T20:56:00.000-05:00

It is the season and so I have come up with a great pumpkin for Mannie to carve. This is truly the scariest thing imaginable...a "God Warrior."

Good luck finding a pumpkin large enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCODIhAXbQM

MuuuuuHaaaahhhaaawwww - Tis the season

2007-09-29T20:33:00.000-05:00

Well it's not cold fall weather but 'cooler' than it has been, I raked the lawn for the first time today, and tomorrow is the last day of Sept....soooooo...yup the Liscum House of Horrors graveyard (version Mark I; vMI) went up tonight!!! The two little ones were my helpers this year. This was the first year since Taylor was old enough to help that she didn't - guess this is a sign she's growing up (sigh). Anyhow she said she gets to help dad alone with he next version in a week or so (when other stuff gets added). Tonigh I only set lights and basic tombstones. Mixed it up a bit from previous years - time will tell if I like the new design.

Got 4 more pumpkins last night off the pumpkin mountain at Hy-Vee (literally it's a small mountain...Ok the size of the hill "the Englishman went up"). Have 7 total ready for their sacrifices. Maybe I'll start tomorrow night...trying to juggle reading/reviewing grant proposals for the NSF panel I'm serving on in early Nov with this blessed of all holiday seasons!!!

More to come...

WOW!!! How has this happened to US.

2007-09-22T10:14:00.000-05:00

How many times does our glorious leader have to say things like this (Mandela comment) before people wake up and realize we have an idiot at the helm?

Just a query from a concerned and disturbed citizen.

Lab Meeting 8/15 - Paper for discussion

2007-08-13T20:49:00.001-05:00

We'll do the following paper at this weeks lab meeting:

The FERONIA Receptor-like Kinase Mediates Male-Female Interactions During Pollen Tube Reception

2007 Lab T-shirt preview

2007-07-21T11:56:00.000-05:00

Well this year's T-shirt design is almost in the can...went with a retro 50's Sci-Fi theme this year. Just a font change to the backside and addition of Herr Doktor's kids (the oldest one caught that faux pas) and it's ready to go to print.

Click HERE

ASPB Meeting meeting

2007-07-03T15:54:00.000-05:00

As it seems there may be several Liscum Lab members at this years ASPB meeting in Chicago, might I suggest a gathering...lunch or dinner perhaps?

Will it be deep dish or Thai? Will anyone order a golden shower? You just never know.

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants.asp?areaid=25&cuisineid=65&home=Y

HOT New Liscum Lab Publication

2007-05-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

Check it out - fresh off the presses (at least the electronic ones; it comes of the printing presses in Aug):

Regulation of phototropic signaling in Arabidopsis via phosphorylation state changes in the phototropin 1-interacting protein NPH3

Congrats to Ullas for a job well done on his first, first-author paper in a high profile journal!

11 May Lab Meeting - PAPER discussion

2007-05-08T11:46:00.000-05:00

The agenda for this weeks lab meeting will be a paper discussion. Ullas will moderate the discussion. Here's the paper:

TIR-NBS-LRR Proteins & Photobiology

Human Trash

2007-05-03T12:27:00.001-05:00

Well I think I've once again become the ultra-cynic I was years ago. Optimism and belief in the best mankind has to offer has no basis in reality. This week has been a whopper and I'm now completely fed up with the human race that utilizes the same air I use!!! Does anyone have any integrity anymore? Can anyone value someone else for who they are instead of how it would make the analyst feel about themself? Can anyone reframe from telling lies, devalueing others, and participating in rumoring? Can anyone look out for someone other than themself? I'm convinced the answers to these and many other 'philisophical' questions are NO!!

My current take on the world around me is that most H. sapiens are not worth the flesh they are wraped in - sorry but there it is. If your not 'human trash' I apologize, I don't refer to you. For those of you who would answer no to my above queries, you are trash, simple to the point and final. Do us all a favor and join others like you in some bleak and black utopia somewhere other than here!!

Now why didn't we ever think of something like this?

2007-04-25T00:35:00.000-05:00

Check it out
i love the voices
it is only 6 months away.....

Am I Caving to the MAN and HIS Ways?

2007-04-23T23:48:00.001-05:00

Question of the night: I decided to go to the Director of Grad Studies breakfast tomorrow (late of course because it starts at 8:30 am and I'll still be carting kids around) to accept my "award". My question is, does this mean I've now become ONE of the THEM, you know the ivory tower, 'ata boy' types? Double thinking my decision - don't want to be a sellout!

A Blog Question

2007-04-21T21:33:00.000-05:00

OK - now that I'm officially a "blog addict" I have a question for you all. How do you get that thing where you can let people sign up to get email alerts when there is a new post? Thanks for your help - I'm trying to get my blog up in running (yes, I've jumped on the bandwagon). If you want the check it out, here's the link: http://peckedtodeath.blogspot.com/.

Hope all is well in the land of Liscum:)

Renee

Liscum Lab Continues its WINNING streak

2007-04-20T20:33:00.000-05:00

For the fifth year running the Liscum Lab brought home a prize from MU's annual Life Sciences Week poster competition. This year Ullas was the big winner taking a 2nd Place in the Molecular Structure & Function panel - $500 prize and a plaque.

A big congrats to Ullas. On a related note rumor has it that Brandon and Jen just missed the award cut in their category, Cellular Function.

Da Boss is proud!!

Super Glue - a cure!!

2007-04-17T20:46:00.000-05:00

Have you ever accidentally (or on purpose) gotten SuperGlue on your fingers and had to wait a week for that dead-numb sensation (caused by the dead flesh) to wear off? Well I have a qucik fix - medium grain wood sandpaper. This may be an obvious one that's out there but I accidently got SuperGlue on multiple fingers tonight (honestly, I was attempting to glue the suction cup back on one of Bubba's 'suction cup bullets' for a tommy gun that Grampa got him for his birthday, when the damn glue container broke - I can hear the collective, "OH SHIT!!!") and had to find some way to get that stuff off. Turns out that by sanding the hell out of ones fingertips (maybe a good way to remove or at least blemish, ones fingerprints too) the SuperGlue does come off - with off course all the skin to witch it is permenantly bonded - but that dead skin numb feeling is gone, and my fingers are more sensitive now (removing 3-4 layers of skin will do that).

SuperGlue on skin - solution, sandpaper!

BIG Congrats!!!

2007-04-17T20:40:00.000-05:00

Hey all, in case you hadn't heard Dr. Bethany Stone (former Liscum lab student and postdoc - and first PhD rotation student) was awarded the 2007 Provost Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award!!! This is a HUGE deal and says a lot about Bethany's teaching qualities and dedication. Give her a BIG congrats the next time you see her.

An now for something completely different....

2007-04-10T18:02:00.000-05:00

OK, I've done three "movie" review posts, time for some science as this IS a LAB blog page.

Check out this new Nature paper from one of our collaborators, Ning Zheng, and long-time colleague Mark Estelle - this is a truly AMAZING paper. Few papers are as solid and of such HIGH IMPACT.

TIR1-auxin-Aux/IAA crystal structure

Easter movie ritual

2007-04-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

Alright just to keep with Renee's expectations of the Liscum Lab Blog becoming Mannie's personal movie blog, here's another movie review: Every year at Easter time I sit down for ~4 hrs and watch Ben-Hur.

This is a classic Hollywood epic by William Wyler, made when epics were commonplace, but Ben-Hur is not a commonplace movie. Based on the book by Gen. Lew Wallace (Federal soldier in the US Civil War) titled, "Ben-Hur: A Story of the Christ", this 1959 screen adaptation features Charlton Heston in the lead role of Judah Ben-Hur. We follow the life of Judah from XXVI AD until the death of Christ. The Hur family is 'nobility' in Jerusalem of the day and Judah is a respected member of the Jewish community then under the yoke of the Roman Empire. Confronted with the challenge of his boyhood Roman friend, Massala and now (XXVI AD) Tribune of Jeruselum (aptly played by Stephen Boyd) to use his influence to help the Romans quell discontent, Judah spuns friendship over love for 'his people'. When a tile falls from the roof of the Hur family complex and nearly kills the new Governor of Judea, Massala seizes his chance at revenge and imprisons Judah's mother and sister and sends Judah to die in the Roman galleys. Now comes the first of Judah's 'close encounters' with the carpenter's son - while on his own personal Battan death march from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean, Judah, parched from walking in the desert is given water by a strange hippy-looking man - one who scares the scat out of the rough and tumble Roman guard by simply looking his way.

Now jump ahead ~3.5 years, Judah has lived below deck in a number of Roman warships - 'row[ing] to live' - when a great battle commences and drawn once again by fate, he saves the life of Roman council Quintus Arrius (played by Jack Hawkins - also had a small but important role in William Holden's "Bridge Over the River Kwai"). When it turns out the Roman's won the great battle, despite the flag ship going down, Arrius is grateful to Judah and takes him to Rome where Caesar gives Judah to Arrius as 'his slave' rather then sending him back to the galley's. Judah is then adopted by Quintus Arrius and becomes 'young Quintus Arrius' so when he returns to Jerusalem to seek revenge on Massala he surprising him by entering as Quintus Arrius the younger, rather than Judah Ben-Hur. Of course this is not what Massala wanted or expected. Judah only wants to rescue his family members but it turns out that they are 'dead', or at least that's what the love interest of Judah (Esther) tells him when she finds out from mom and sister that they are now lepers (Massala sends his cronies to find them and the jailer finds them as lepers and casts them outside the city walls). Now Judah is REALLY pissed...he befriends Sheik Ilderim who owns a 'magnificent' set of Arabian chariot horses with an eye to beat the Roman Tribune - Massala of course - in the circus in Jerusalem. Judah sees his chance - helped of course by the pointed comment of the Sheik that 'anything can happen in the circus...men die".

Now the action scene to match all action scenes - the great chariot race - this is worth the price of admission, but only in widescreen. If you watch Ben-Hur in pan-and-scan you are getting took. Too much happens during the chariot race to waste your time with pan-and-scan - black bars be damned (I don't actually mind them but many do) - watch ONLY the WIDESCREEN version of this movie. Of course Judah wins the chariot race and Massal dies a nasty death (sorry if I spoiled anything - it's a full 3 hrs into the movie though so you'll probably forget I told you). On his death bed Massala gets the last 'laugh' when he tells Judah the 'race is not over' and his mother and sister are alive in the Valley of the Lepers.

Judah then searches out his mother and sister and when bringing them home from the Valley of the Lepers runs into the carpenter's son for the second time (actually he sees him from a distance once other time before the chariot race) as the latter is 'the Dead man Walking' - Judah returns the favor of giving the Hippy guy water and is of course forever changed by the experience (you can almost hear the chorus of Hallelujahs). Upon he crucifixion and rain storm that follows Judah's mother and sister are 'cured' from runoff of the cross....from here on out (another 15 minutes or so) the movie is a bit anticlimactic, but hey we can forgive it since we've already sat through 3.5 hrs of spectacular.

I fully love this movie, have since I was a kid - of course the chariot race was the only thing I cared a lot for as a kid. As an adult I can now more fully appreciate the nuances of the story line. I highly recommend this movie if you've never seen it. Of the 'Biblical' movies this is one of the best - I rank it equal to, if not better than, the Ten Commandments (again with Heston, but backed by a more high power supporting cast including Yul Brenner and Edward G. Robinson). Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards and deservedly so.

(alright enough I guess since it took me 2 hrs to write this and 2 hrs for you to read it!!!)

Daniel Craig IS 007!!!

2007-03-28T21:01:00.000-05:00

Well I finally got to watch the latest Bond movie (Casino Royal) last night...I had predicted, much to the chagrin of many of those around me, that Daniel Craig had the edgy look that might make him good for the role. I think I've been vindicated - he is an awesome Bond. He's got more edge than even Connery had in the first couple Bond flicks...and he get's the crap kicked out of him multiple times (including some very man-cringging torture late in the movie....) and still comes back for more. The movie, while significantly different from the Fleming book of the same name in many ways did establish the 'back story' of Bond of the book fame at least. If Craig keeps the job maybe they will keep a Bond of the Fleming mold that is a hardened govt killer instead of the mamsy-pansy that Roger Moore regelated all subsiquent actors into. Anyhow, I will state that Craig is the closest ANY actor has come to the character Fleming describes in his books.

Darwin, monkeys, Gene Kelly, and Spencer Tracey????

2007-03-27T00:46:00.000-05:00

Well it's been a while since we've had any blog action - time to kick up the new year (which is not so new anymore). Sitting here tonight doing a little manuscript work and caught a way cool movie on TCM - "Inherit the Wind" - dramatization (based on a Broadway play) of the "Scopes Monkey Trial" of 1925. For all you science types you ought to know about this landmark courtroom drama - the State of TN v John Scopes - Scopes was charged with breaking a then new law in TN that outlawed any public school teaching that questioned Divine Creation. Although Origin of the Species was first published in 1859 the concepts of evolution were only just beginning to be taught when Scopes was charged with breaking the Butler Act (the law mentioned above). This trial brought evolution and 'Darwinism' into the public and cultural eye. As so often happens with loud voices seeking to squelch free speech and thought, their actions tend to focus more attention to the issue(s) they take offense to than if left alone - thanks Bible thumpers, we who believe that man is an evolved species thank you!!!

Anyhow, back to “Inherit the Wind” - it was given 4 stars on TCM and I would agree. Great cast: including Spencer Tracey, Frederick March (1931 Jekyll and Hyde), Gene Kelly (yes the dancer, but no dancing in this film - Kelly is awesome as a smartass newspaper man), Claude Akins (a favored bad guy in TV and film westerns, e.g., the main heavy in Howard Hawk's “Rio Bravo” with the Duke), Dick York (Darrin on “Bewitched”), Harry Morgan (Col. Potter on M*A*S*H), and Norman Fell (….Mr. Roper!!). With the cast comes great acting!! Duh...Like several other amazing 'classic' courtroom drama's (e.g., “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Anatomy of a Murder”, “12 Angry Men”, “Judgment At Nuremberg” [also with Tracey]) the claustrophobic nature of the courtroom is ever present, the heat of the southern summer (think “Mockingbird”) is oppressive, and the oratory expected of a heavy hitter courtroom story is delivered with ease by March and Tracey. So, not only is the story interesting to anyone with a brain who uses it, but it's a really good movie for entertainment sake. I highly recommend it…I may actually try to purchase a copy I liked it so much.

OK, I've gotten the ball rolling…bring on the Lord~!

2007 The year of the Liscum Lab!

2007-01-07T16:14:00.000-06:00

We've now entered a new year and it's time for resolutions...I am making a New Year's resolution for the Lab as a whole:

We collectively will put the lab back on the map, on campus and off!

We are in a rebuilding phase in the lab, both relative to relationships and expanding the group (e.g., getting new personnel). We've have several manuscripts that need to get out the door (mostly my fault on this count) and others that should be in the works this year. Let's make this a banner high profile pub year. We can achieve our goals (resolution) if we all put our energies forward. This starts with me and works it way downward, but if I drop the ball you all have to hold me to the fire as well.

I have great faith in our group.

Ho! Ho! It's now THAT time of year

2006-12-19T20:18:00.000-06:00

It's been too long since the last lab post when the header is Boo!! and it's now mid Dec!! Not much new, we've had some ups and downs over the last couplee months but as we end this year and enter another I am hopeful for GREAT things from each and every member of the lab. Our annual Christmas/Holiday party is tomorrow at B's (it's in it's 3rd year at B's!!) and we are once again doing the gift exchange/steal, with the change that this years exchange will be of DVDs only. Any DVD mind you, just limited the gift to a certain type...so will Jo bring Zoolander or GalaxyQuest?? Will B bring Saw II (he promised no Saw, which I took to mean no Saw I), what will I annoy people with??? I don't have a clue what our current undergrads might bring. Time will time...stay tuned.

BOO!!! It's that time of year...

2006-10-17T14:34:00.000-05:00

Hey all

Time for some Halloween news from the Liscum Lab and the Liscum House of Horrors - If you are wondering what we're up to this Halloween season Click HERE and go to the News/Update section of Mannie's Halloween Page

Happy Haunting

Lab Meeting 17 Oct

2006-10-15T15:35:00.000-05:00

All - B will be presenting 'manuscript' ready first versions of hph data (ALL data!) this week at lab meeting. The purpose is to go through tthe data with him in a similar fashion to how we've went through U-man's data to revise/tweak stuff so he can start finalizing what will go into the manuscript!

These data-storming sessions work only if eveyone, presenter and critics, all put their energy into tthis. We've all stepped up to the plate recently...great job...let's keep it up.

10/10/06 Lab meeting

2006-10-07T17:35:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone:

For this Tuesday's lab meeting, the recent article of phosphatase (PP1) action in regulating stomatal opening will be discussed.

The link to the article is here:
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/103/36/13549

-B

26 Sept Lab Meeting

2006-09-25T07:18:00.000-05:00

Adgenda: Jen will have her 're-do' of her sphingo presentation. Ullas may update us on his JBC progress as well.

Howdy Y'all!

2006-09-13T21:33:00.001-05:00

Greetin's from a location south of the Mason Dixon, way south.
I've arrived, settled, and to quote the classic movie "Kingpin," am finally above the law.
It's been a lot of work, but I like it. I've got three different classes this semester and four next with research and all the other faculty stuff.

If anyone's out this way, feel free to drop a line. There's lots of outdoor stuff to do here because there is nothing but outdoors. Atlanta is close by though if you prefer the city life.

Also, if you felt like giving a seminar I could hook you up. I'm the committee.

Here's the new info:
tjcampbell@ngcsu.edu

-Tom

Halloween in T-47 days.

12 Sept Lab Meeting

2006-09-11T12:18:00.000-05:00

The U-Man is re-presenting data this week (updated figures for his JBC submission he's working on)...come with your thinkin' caps on!!! We need lot's of critical input.

New Day

2006-09-05T13:43:00.000-05:00

Today's lab meeting was hopefully a watershed meeting...time will of course tell, but I hope that this is in fact the case. Next week (Tues 12 Sept), Ullas will present what is hopefully his final set of figures for his JBC manuscript...come with questions and comments, criticisms and complements.

Please do take comments made in lab meeting today to heart but not as personal attacks. Criticisms yes, attacks NO. The lab can only grow if we give it room to do so...we all have that capacity and will all benefit from doing so.

I'm proud of ALL of you presently in the lab and have high expectations for each of you - live up to them!

The Boss

29 Aug Lab Meeting

2006-08-28T07:24:00.000-05:00

All - a little reminder. Tuesday's lab meeting is scheduled for 11:30-12:30 in 472 LSC - B is presenting DATA!

Subscribe to Liscum Lab Blog

2006-08-26T11:37:00.000-05:00

Those of you who are not blog savvy or do not check this blog often and you don't want to miss announcements and happenings, now can subscribe to Liscum Lab Blog via email. Scroll down and on to the right, enter your email address and voila you are subscribed to the blog feed. New blog entries will be syndicated by email to you as they are posted.

New Lab Meeting Time

2006-08-23T12:41:00.000-05:00

We have switched Liscum Lab Meetings to Tues 11:30-1 in 472 CSBLSC. This is effective starting 29 Aug lab meeting date.

For the record

2006-08-21T10:49:00.000-05:00

We had a substantial lab meeting on Friday and Mannie mentioned a number of new items for lab policy. I recorded these and post them here for all:

Individual meeting times

* Show data and plans for experiments to Liscum (regardless of whether you are giving lab meeting) not “I did this…”
* Then in lab meeting everyone in the group will see the data and offer input
* First individual meeting time ought to be lots of stuff to discuss
* Meetings start Monday - 8/21/06 – Meet in Mannie's office
M – 11:15-12 UV
W – 11:15-12 Jen
Thu – 11:15-12 Jo
F – 11:15-12 BC

Lab Meeting

T – 10a-11a New lab meeting time

* All meetings in 4th floor conference room
* Each person presents 1 time in 4 weeks
* People should have new data at lab meeting
* Everyone should comment openly, freely and without fear of criticism (no need to be petty/vindictive)
* Based on people’s data it will be determined whether we do a paper; not an excuse to not have data
* Ullas will present during the first lab meeting – 8/22/06
* Maintain the list of presenters on the blog (liscumlab.blogspot.com)

Mannie’s Rules for Writing Research Papers

* Generate figures with legends and put them into your notebook
* Copping out by writing materials and methods first; instead, save for last
* Liscum starts with the results then the discussion
Results section:
Done the experiments and have the data
Putting prose to the figures
Few references other than to techniques
Discussion section:
Making intellectual sense of results
Conclusions will be referenced highly
* Materials and Methods and Introduction can be written while Liscum reviews results and discussion
* Copy the structure of someone else based on the journal you wish to submit to

Before we creep out Columbia's 8 and below crowd

2006-08-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

Provided the euphoria of the impending Chucky's visit does not overwhelm us on Friday, I am posting a paper for lab meeting (provided we have it of course):

Haodong Chen, Yunping Shen, Xiaobo Tang, Lu Yu, Jia Wang, Lan Guo, Yu Zhang, Huiyong Zhang, Suhua Feng, Elizabeth Strickland, Ning Zheng, and Xing Wang Deng.

"Arabidopsis CULLIN4 Forms an E3 Ubiquitin Ligase with RBX1 and the CDD Complex in Mediating Light Control of Development."

The Plant Cell, July 14, 2006.

http://www.plantcell.org/cgi/rapidpdf/tpc.106.043224v1

Happy reading all!
-B

Lab outing

2006-08-15T19:56:00.000-05:00

Look where (a kid can be a kid) we're going for a lab outing Friday evening!! This is our BIG sendoff to Jessica E - she leaves on lifes adventure of college in a couple weeks but Friday is her last day in the lab.

All are welcome to join the fun and games - pizza, beer, and games!!

11 Aug Lab Meeting

2006-08-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

Because of our previous cacelled lab meeting we will discuss the following paper tomorrow:

Fluorescence cross-corrlation spectroscopy

How well do you know your Bond?

2006-07-28T01:04:00.000-05:00

oh no, not about Chris Bond, I am talking about James Bond

I got 6 of them right.

click here to take the Bond quiz

28 July Lab Meeting - CORRECTION

2006-07-26T14:34:00.000-05:00

All - OK due to some absences next week we will do our round table "what I've been doing and propose to do" discussion at this weeks lab meeting. Presentations can be informal to formal, but make them clear and understandable. We'll have projector if you want to use electronic visuals (they are encouraged as a way to show off your data!). Everyone should plan on taking 10-15 minutes each (more is certainly acceptable if discussion deems it).

We'll do the paper previously posted 11 Aug

28 July Lab Meeting - Paper Discussion

2006-07-26T12:04:00.000-05:00

All, for this weeks lab meeting we'll discuss the following paper:

Fluorescence cross-corrlation spectroscopy

Euchre

2006-07-24T13:09:00.000-05:00

It's euchre night!

If anyone's interested, lets play euchre on Tuesday night (7/25) at 7:30 at my place.
The address is 1709 Hinkson Ave. #4, next to BXR and Stephens Stables. My apartment is in the eastern most building, on the ground floor. Call 815-9035 if you need help.

We could get two games going if there were enough people, but I would need some folding chairs donated. ( I have 6 chairs total).

Uno is a possibility if Ullas brings it. I'll have some beer.

Everybody's invited...even if your new to the lab and I don't know you. Also, we're going to have a BBQ this weekend, saturday night in cosmo park, to which you are also invited.

Who's in for the euchre?

The Big Show

2006-07-06T22:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I can't really say it's the "big" time, but I'm happy about it nonetheless and since this is the forum for Liscum Lab posts, here's my update. I'm finally above the law...as an associate professor! Yep, I'm packing up my stuff and moving to a new school in Georgia. Now, if I can just forget that this is the same area where Deliverance was filmed, I'll be fine.

Anyways, to finance my move, I was thinking to host a poker party, but then I remembered that I suck at poker and would end up losing, so I think I'll have a euchre night instead- in the coming week or two. I'll keep the board posted.

Happy Birthday

2006-06-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Mannie!

More Lab Kudos

2006-06-16T14:32:00.000-05:00

Another PNAS paper has come out from work of Liscum Lab members - this time work of Ullas and Daniel (former student). Awesome job guys!!!!

Click here for link to paper

It is this high quality of science that has allowed Da Boss to get his piece of news this week - promotion to Full Professor! Thanks to all past and present members of the lab from the ol' man!! I didn't get there on my own

"...The Ugly One"

Another Sad Departure

2006-06-09T21:56:00.000-05:00

Well this year has been a tough one for departures of Liscum Lab members. First Renee (some months ago) and within the past month Amanda and Jessica R. Today it was Beth. For those of us remaining let me say we'll miss all of our departing members - they are ALL off to BIGGER and BETTER things though:

Amanda is off to Georgetown U for an excelerated MS program

Jessica R. is starting a tech position with Lori Eggert (Bio MU) shortly

Beth is headed for an RN position in sunny S CA (Santa Monica)

Best of luck to them all - they all know where the Blog is and it's purpose is to keep us all caught up!!! Drop us a line now and then.

"...The Ugly One"

Wango Tango!!

2006-06-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

Look who's coming to the Blue Note....it's Uncle Ted!
http://www.thebluenote.com/

The tickets are kinda pricey, but no where else can you see so many people in zebra clothes.

More Congrats!!

2006-05-16T00:32:00.000-05:00

This is a BIG graduation year for the Liscum Lab - this past weekend we had 4 graduations alone:

Alex - PhD
Amanda - BS Bio, w/Honors
Beth - BS Nursing
Jessica R - BS Bio, w/Honors

In two weeks Jessica E will be graduating from Hickman High in town!!!

BIG party this Sun to celebrate all these accomplishments - Caribbean theme!! Sign-up sheet (for foods, etc) in the lab.

Cinco de Mayo photos added

2006-05-10T13:58:00.000-05:00

Hola lab folks! Photos from this year's Cinco de Mayo lunch have been added to the photo flicker on the right. Please have a look.

Adios!
-B

10th Anniversary T-Shirt Ready for Production - WANT ONE??

2006-05-05T10:27:00.000-05:00

All current and former members of the lab...the 2006, 10th Anniversary Liscum Lab T-shirt is ready to go to the printers. We need a final count of #'s ASAP. Please contact Mannie (liscume@missouri.edu) if you want one (include # and sizes).

check out the shirt here

CONGRATS!!!

2006-04-21T22:20:00.000-05:00

Congrats to the following Liscum Lab members:

Alex Esmon - successfully completed his PhD last week

Brandon Celaya - 3rd Place Award in MU Life Sciences Week poster session (Organismal Biology section)

Amanda Tinsley - Honorable Mention in MU Life Sciences Week poster session (Cell Biology section)

Good luck to Ullas Pedmale in the poster session at the International Plant Photobiology Meeting in Paris next week!

Check it Out - 2006 Lab T-Shirt Design

2006-04-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

Below is a link to the current set of designs for the front of the 2006 and 10th anniversary lab shirt. Current consensus is design BLUE1. Feedback????

Check 'em out

I'll have a back design shortly after we finalize the front design.

WOW!!! CSI Get's Freaky!!

2006-03-29T23:33:00.000-06:00

Just sitting around reading papers for Plant Development and watching a little CSI on Spike...."Fur and Loathing" - what a weird episode. Basic premise of one of the two story lines is to understand why a guy in a full body racoon suit was walking across a highway and got hit by a car. The CSIers just brought in a 'cat' in bra and panties (a guy in a blue furry cat suit - head and all!) who has apparently had 'skirtchy' with the racoon. Definition of skirtchy: animal forplay, essentially. Needless to say the CSI crew turned on the UV lamps to check out the cat suit and surprise, surprise...yup fluorescent haploid DNA. Boy what a weird episode. Makes all of our lives look down right tame, normal and dare I say quite forgetable! Alright, commercial is over...gotta go see why grown men dress up in animal suits to rub up against eachother...

Recent visitor

2006-03-22T13:03:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone for their participation and enthusiasm during the recent visit by Winslow Briggs. For my part, I can honestly say getting to meet the man was quite an experience and honor. I sincerely hope I have a chance to see him again!

Thanks all!
-B

St. Patty's Day

2006-03-15T10:42:00.000-06:00

Friday is good ol St. Patty's Day. Come to Flatbranch to celebrate with the best of them!! Hopefully they will have some green beer for all those who have never had colored beer! Plus I hear that the Rogers lab will once again be celebrating Dirks exodus at Flatbranch. Hopefully Brandon will get drunk again and . . .

The Lab "Curse" Lives!!!

2006-03-03T22:21:00.000-06:00

A little birdie tells me that the "bad water" in the lab continues to be a problem - with the birth of Bethany's son this past Halloween we thought that the lab we free of fetal development...NOPE. Apparently one of our "extended" family (a former student) is currently "with child" (since Nov). So he "curse" continues...this makes a solid 8 years with no period of rest for the wicked!!

Who's NEXT???? Be afraid, be very afraid!!

Resumption of Lab Meeting - THIS WEEK!

2006-02-28T14:43:00.000-06:00

All, despite my current level of 'brain melt' I am experiencing this semester I believe the time is due to resume regular lab meetings - most of the recruitment stuff is done or near done and thus I can attend again.

Time: Noon, Friday 3 Mar
Place: 372 CSBLSF

B and Ullas will be discussing BRET stuff.

Fat Tuesday

2006-02-27T13:02:00.000-06:00

Good afternoon all!! Tomorrow is Marti Gras or Fat Tuesday to most of you. Planned is a late happy hour at Willies, 7ish for all those who would like to join us in celebration by drinking some hand grenades and hurricanes!! But don't forget your beads!! I'm hoping that maybe Brandon will do something amusing to all of us for some beads!!

Oh the Days of Yesteryear: Doughboy and Kitty-Litter

2006-02-25T09:55:00.000-06:00

Just sitting in STL eating breakfast and preparing myself for a day of reading Life Sciences Fellowship nominations and waiting for Taylor's 2 dances in her dance competition - we have considerable waiting given that her dances are separated by other stuff by about 4 hrs!! Tom's recent post, and Renee's responses to them, reminded me that the past few years have been quite free of "oddities" for the lab. We've come along way sine the days of rotation students who "have tried it before" (the infamous cat scat eating confession) and feel that a PhD is about disappearing for a couple months to "go home to bake cookies with mom". Having said that we certainly have some good stories of our 'distant estanged relatives".

OK, better get runing to the competition venue for the long wait.

Something only Mannie and Renee will care about...

2006-02-19T20:12:00.000-06:00

To think what could have been....I almost got some for free.
Anybody feel like tuna and tabasco cheese nips?
Rose Designs

My Childhood and the X-Files Collide

2006-02-15T00:47:00.000-06:00

Well sitting here watching the X-Files and one of my favorite two-parters is on: "Tempus Fugit"/"Max". Within the first 5 minutes of the second part ("Max") Mulder and Scully visit Max's (a frequent abductee) trailer in Barnes Corners, NY - here's the connection to my childhood - NO NOT frequent alien abduction, although some would conclude that would explain a lot - rather Barnes Corners (the real town) is located 6 miles from my hometown of Copenhagen NY. Just a couple minutes ago Mulder was in the Syracuse airport (or the facimile in Vancouver BC where the X-Files was filmed). Pretty cool to see ones childhood haunts depicted on TV in owns favorite show. It's been a long time since I've seen these episodes - not only do they remind me of home (NO not space) but they are killer episodes (and not for the plane crash at the heart of the story).

OK, back to the show and off the computer. Thought we needed an update to the blog...apparently everyone is so busy that they've had no time. Leave to the one who does the least in the lab (me) to post now!!

Shout out!!

2006-02-03T08:42:00.000-06:00

I must give a shout out to my man Weird Al!! After watching videos yesterday on yahoo, I was reminded of how great he is and how FUNNY his videos are. For example: Fat, and Amish Paradise! What talent this gem in the rough has! "Maybe Vader someday later, but for now a small fry"! With lyrics like this I can't believe he's not more popular!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2006-01-31T21:37:00.000-06:00

Cheers today to Jo for proposing a great idea of getting together this Friday after work to celebrate just being a lab. What a nice idea, especially this week! Please count me in and thanks again to you Jo. Yes, we heard you...

Hey... who can fill that last spot on the Liscum Laneconquerors (or Laneconquistadors as I prefer) this year? The day of our triumph (2/17/06, high noon) draws near and the team needs one more person. Do you think you can outbowl those departmental secretaries or that pesky history department? Please do volunteer.

Will Liscum make it? We missed him on the 2004 and 2005 teams.

Too busy with lab drama to post???

2006-01-31T13:17:00.000-06:00

OK - I admit - I've been lurking. Trying desperately to keep up with the lab, but since I'm not an X-Files fan, don't have much to add comment-wise. So for those of us who need a Liscum Lab fix - more posts please..........

Anyhow - life here on Wisteria Lane is uneventful. Both of the F1s have been sick off and on for over a week - we had to take Abby into be tested for whooping cough (still waiting on test results, but I don't think she has it) and Ethan has been running a fever since Saturday. I'm about ready to disinfect the house with chlorox!

That's about the exciting news here - see why I need a lab fix??

Blog Going the Way of the Newsletter?

2006-01-29T02:08:00.000-06:00

It's been ohhhh soooo quiet recently. Apparently I'm the only one with free time on my hands at 2 am....well just getting ready to hit the hay and thought I'd see if anyone has been on...nope, nadda, no one, not a sole.....quiet, silence, no news.

Here's to waiting for some more posts....

New Study: Auxins Do Not Relieve Nasal and Sinus Congestion Resulting from the Common Cold

2006-01-25T23:33:00.000-06:00

UPI (12:43 AM EST) - A researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia has reported that the plant morphogen auxin (chemical identity; indole-3-acetic acid) can now be conclusively removed from any list that it might be on as a possible cure or relief for nasal and sinus congestion resulting from the "common cold". Professor N. O. Sheet told reporters, "I thought it might be worth finally putting to rest an idea, kicked around for a couple of decades in select circles, that the simple phytochemical and plant hormone auxin might hold the cure to the common cold." Prof. Sheet said, "I recently caught a nasty cold and my head felt just congested enough to do some tests...I wasn't surprised at the finding. I read several scientific papers devoted entirely to the role of auxin in axis formation during embryogenesis, but it did absolutely nothing for my pounding head. If anything my head felt more like an explosion waiting to happen after the tests than before, although I don't have any statistics to support this contention." If Prof. Sheet's findings hold up to the scrutinity of the scientific community it is nearly certain that his chances of wining one of the top prizes in science will continue to elude him.

Gone With The War of the Coprophages

2006-01-25T00:57:00.000-06:00

Sitting here watching an awesome episode of the X-File (The War of the Coprophages) about killer roaches from space - this is the one with "Bambi" the entomologist hottie - another sexy scientist to add to the list - and thought I'd add a post.

Well we had our run on the F1000 Top 10 Plant Biology papers list, as of today we got bumped off. In an ironic twist we got bumped by a paper I reviewed for F1000 on BTB proteins that was on the Top 10 Hidden Jewels and is now also on the Top 10 Plant Biology papers.

Time to get cracking on the next paper - I like being on these lists!!!!

Sweat dreams all.

Hanging On By Our Fingertips!

2006-01-24T00:16:00.000-06:00

Well we've slipped to #10 on the F1000 Top 10 Viewed in Plant Biology:

F1000 Top 10 Viewed in Plant Bio

...but we're still hanging on...how much longer????

X-Files - A New Way to Lose Weight

2006-01-23T23:58:00.000-06:00

Apparently one needs just find a find devouring mutant to date to lose SERIOUS weight! The present X-Files on tonight (2SHY) is one about a serial killer who uses digestive enzyme excretions to "devour" his fatty victims!! Only drawback - you don't survive this little proceedure, pretty effective though at removing weight.

Creepy scene...the killer was just having correspondance with his soon to be next victim (e-dating) and the camera panned up to show him licking his lips...what a stylistic touch. The X-files was classic when it was good.

OK, time to read something fun for a few minutes before bed (I'm feeling completely wiped out tonight - I think everythings catching up with this old body) since I've been working all night on my discussion for tomorrow's Plant Development class.

Trivia of the day (night): What was Shaggy's (from Scooby Doo) family name?

No Mark Estelle visit

2006-01-22T15:26:00.000-06:00

According to Elizabeth Rogers, who I just spoke with, Mark Estelle will not be coming to campus for a seminar tomorrow and will thus not be meeting with our lab. Apparently his wife sustained an injury and he feels it would be better for him to stay home.

Just thought I'd pass this along...
-B

Starting that next trip around the sun

2006-01-22T14:47:00.000-06:00

Well the birthday festivities are finally over and I can get back to work today to get ready for a very busy week.

Thanks to everyone who came out with me to Hooters on Friday, I appreciate the appearances very much. It was really nice to be surrounded by my friends from work at the beginning of this birthday weekend. We all had a good time including watching me fail at the hula-hoop. I include some of the much requested (including the hula-hoop episode) photos below.

Yesterday, I drove out to Lawrence to see Jason, Kelli and the new baby (see photo below). They are doing very well in their new place and getting settled in for a long semester (Jason's is just getting started next week I guess). Kelli will remain on maternity leave until early March when she has to go on the conference circuit, start writing up her data for publication and go through the comps. We shared a nice dinner in KC before I headed back to Columbia. I hope I'll have a chance to see them again very soon.

All right so much to catch up on, and so little time to do it.

Have a great Sunday everyone!
-B

Recovery Time!

2006-01-21T21:03:00.000-06:00

Well no news from B today so I guess he's still go that goofy grin on his face from last night!! Actually I know he's on the road to visit Jason and Kelly (and baby). I hope Jo get's the Hooters pics up soon and they aren't obscured by fake boobies.

Remember all - we have a lab time with Mark Estelle on Monday (he's the IPG speaker this coming week).

BTW, the PNAS paper is holding on to the #6 position on the F1000 Top 10 in Plant Biology list:

F1000 Top 10 Viewed in Plant Bio

NaCl & Latex - Did You Know You Can Find It In Great Concentrations in Columbia Outside the University?

2006-01-21T01:01:00.000-06:00

Well tonight was our lab outing and like any good field trip - and yes even Renee will agree that this now constitutes a "science field trip" - I learned something new. I learned that one can find high concentrations of NaCl and latex in at least one place in Columbia that is not a University - Hooters!! I swear every waitress there was carrying at least a quart-n-half of NaCl and four good large gloves worth of latex!!

Beyond the learning experience I think everyone had a good time - I gotta give it to B and Jo, the wings are pretty good. While the hottest ones were best the milder ones had good flavor. B got a special "gift" for his B day, although I don't think it's what any of us expected - he got to hula-hop with the Hooter girls encouraging him on - they didn't partake in anyway - I venture to say B felt a little ripped off but I gotta say everyone else got their money's worth of the "Latino 2D Torso Shimmy" - I gotta get Taylor to give B hula-hop lessons.

Here's to modern cosmetics!

BTW, if you're familiar with the Howard Stern show you're familiar with the term "But-er-face", I think it's fair to say a lot of the Hooters girls have that syndrome - apparently they ran out of $ after the gloves and NaCl solutions!

Hoooo-De-Hooooooooo....

2006-01-20T10:19:00.000-06:00

Well I think B is shaking with pure adrenalin-driven excitement today. Our long awaited (for B anyhow) venture to the new Columbia Hooters is nearly upon us. We should all take this as an opportunity to visualize the male of our species in a long lost jungle stalking habitat where bagging a mate was paramount to everything aside from eating (the latter of which is apparently easier to do at Hooters than bagging a mate!). Hmmmm, this seems like a science field trip to me...

Ready or not...

2006-01-19T15:33:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder to all attentive readers of this blog eager for news about my birthday celebration (9th anniversary of my 18th birthday) at Hooters. I'm going to go forward with plans as they are despite some likely (though not confirmed) cancellations since rescheduling is a bigger pain. I will send out an e-mail to folks currently working in the lab as a reminder as well. All the fun will start at 5:30 PM though I'm going to get there around 5 PM to try and get a good table. If you're in Columbia and would like to come, please e-mail me (brc4yd@mizzou.edu) so I can get a bigger table. Currently, I'm planning on 6-9 people coming.

Take care all!
-B

Fahrenheit or Celsius??

2006-01-19T14:01:00.000-06:00

Funny story. We got a new refrigerator yesterday. It has controls the top where you can see the actual temp inside the firdge and freezer. I asked the delivery guy if the settings could be changed to Celsius instead of Fahrenheit and he looked at me as if I came from outer space. After being in the lab for so long I refer to the fridge as 4 degree and the freezer as -20. However, tell me the temp outside in Celsius and I am running to get my calculator for conversions........ Anyway, I read the manual and I was indeed able to change the seting - so now I'm obsessed and keep opening the fridge to check the temp. I need a job........

Photo clarification...

2006-01-18T23:55:00.000-06:00

I just checked out the lab photos on the Flikr.com link to the right (on my Explorer browser it shows up as just a white box)...I thus feel the need to clarify the caption for the photo of the Herr Dr Prof working in the lab...the caption reads somelike "working on a grant / funding the lab" - to be honest there is a 50/50 shot that at the time that picture was taken the boss was NOT actually working on the grant but taking a break to play a game of Euchre (setting a good example for the kids huh?) - look at the screen of the computer in the shot- doesn't look like a Word doc to me - the only other thing it could be is a screen of SwissProt modeling, in which case the boss WAS working on the grant. Actually now that I think about it I'm certain it was the later since the boss would never play Euchre in the lab!!

Watching X-Files again...tonight is a bigger than normal laundry night (I'm on my third and final load of the night) - tonight was monthly bath night for the kids so got lots of towels (they get really dirty after 20-30 days)...BTW, that was humor - remember it's often twisted!!

"This Is Going to Hurt Me More Than It Will Hurt You!"

2006-01-18T23:20:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a good "dad day" - I have to take ALL three of my kids to Green Meadows tomorrow to get their flu shots!!! I can hear the growns from all those as excited as I (and my kids iy turns out) get about needles being driven into our arms. Taylor is currently the only child who knows we are "going to see mommy at er work". In fact I told her this morning (we've been planning this trip for a few days) not to mention the real reason for the thurs trip to her brother and sister - big mistake (hindsight is "20/40" as Dan Q. once said) - right before bedtime tonight she asks me in front of Kasey (who gets the most freaked about visits to the Doc): "Dad does Kasey know why we ARE REALLY going to visit mom tomorrow?" We some quick thinking got me out of that little moment without having to beat either child!

I'm not looking forward to teaching a class tomorrow with no syllabus even prepared, followed by an afternoon of screaming kicking children. ARRRRRRRGGGGGGG.....

OK, somebody else needs to break themselves away from their work to post something...otherwise I want to see thick notebooks of data in lab meeting tuesday!!! (Actually maybe I should expect that anyhow...there's a thought...I'll rumminate on that for a bit)

The Chicken's Cluck

2006-01-18T20:25:00.000-06:00

Click link to see my hot Flickr.com pics reneemerri.

Blockheads, Geeks, Dog-Faced Boys & Fiji Mermaids

2006-01-17T23:38:00.000-06:00

Nightly pre-bedtime post...just chilling watching a great episode of the X-Files..."Humbug"...it's the one with all the circus 'freaks'. They made so many good episodes the first few years.

Ahhhhh...the Geek was just chasing down the trailer park landlord's dog (Geeks eat anything...apparently including yippy dogs)...what the midget (ooops, little person) landlord catches him before the deed is done...but wait, the Fiji Mermaid attacks and kills the midget - ok it's not a Fiji Mermaid but really the twin brother freak to otherwise normal Vincent Schiavelli, who carrys his deformed flesh eating brother around in a sort of human pouch...sooo twisted. Gotta love it.

Ok, that's enough of my mindless posts of absolutely no interest to anyone and certainly capable of aggrevating Jo.

I think I'll join the circus....

When Its Done Well & Explained Clearly...Proteomics Rocks

2006-01-17T13:49:00.000-06:00

If you didn't go to Scott Peck's talk (Scott is a new faculty member in Biochemistry, his group is on 2W LSC) you missed a killer talk.

We need to partner up with Scott!!

Fear

2006-01-17T09:13:00.000-06:00

I log in last week .. 5 posts. By Monday.. 23 posts.

Again I say "Fear".

I don’t have your all’s witty repertoire (or, apparently, your free time >:), but in the famous words of Frasier, “I’m listening.” Nice lab fix for the Tucker Hall Slave to the Man.

-Bethany (the other B)