Biology

While this technique is used in several different science classes, I enjoyed the specificity of the experiment in relation to biological structures. In cell bio lab our class used thin later chromatography to determine the polarity of several different amino acids. Amino acids are the molecules which are the building blocks for proteins. Using a TLC plate and a specific type of developing solution, groups in our classes determined the relative differential migration amounts for specific amino acids. In doing so we were able to determine which of the molecules were polar and which were non polar. While I don't recommend cell bio to non bio major students because of its time commitment and difficulty I do suggest at least checking out a bio class for a gen ed requirement or something along those lines. You might find you enjoy bio enough to make it your major. 

This is our completed TLC plate. Not much to look at but interpreting data is the challenge 

 

Post rain surf

After a weekend of rain Sunday was a great day for surfing. The waves at Hendrys were over 4 ft. All day. The water was definitely a little cold with the winter chill but with a solid suit the water was fine. The only thing that's not the greatest about surfing after a rain is the water runoff. When there is a significant amount rain the oil, trash, general funk gets swept out to sea. It makes for kind of a gnarly surf slush but when the waves are that good it's hard to say no. 

This is the view at Hendrys this past Sunday in the morning. Overcast but still good. 

Calvin and Hobbes

Recently I bought the complete series of all the Calvin and Hobbes books. What I find most enjoyable about the books is that they are equally as entertaining now as they were when I was a little kid. As I've grown older and a tad but wiser I've begun to understand the finer points of humor that the author has and how he portray it through the characters he draws. Below is one of my favorite sketches. Calvin is discussing the evolution of laughter with his good pal Hobbes. It strikes an interesting note by describing the oddity that we as humans enjoying laughing at things that are absurd. Hobbes retorts by saying that if we couldn't laugh we probably couldn't handle life. These little snippets of wisdom from Calvin and Hobbes are what has drawn me to the comic once again. I highly suggest buying the whole set or even just one little book on amazon. You can get the entire four volume set for only 50 bucks. Check it out. 

Lakers celtics

So I finally got to go inside the staples center. The whole area around it is basically a carnival on game night. Tons of people. Tons of things happening. It's kind of like going into the future. Either way it's a good time. Being from Boston I  always want to see my teams when they're in town. I missed the bruins when they played the ducks and kings so I thought tickets to lakers celtics would be a solid valentines day present. Unfortunately the celts lost and I took the typically barrage of insults from zealous sports fans but it's all good. I definitely suggest getting down to LA to check out the staples center and the espn zone at some point. Definitely worth the trip. 

Bio club

To get accepted to a good school via transfer is more and more competitive so it's always worth while to try and find a few ways to make your resume look better while enjoying yourself. I good way to do that is by joining clubs. It shows that you are active in campus activities and that you are able to balance a schedule. A solid club to join is bio club. They do bake sales, field trips, and all sorts of helpful study sessions. They are have fun activities like the kickball game against the geology club. Last year bio club won. Woo! Go us. 

Here is a picture after the victory

Downtime

This semester is undoubtedly my most difficult. I'm taking cell bio, ochem 2, and physics 2. With a workload like that I've been figuring out ways to mellow out on my downtime. There are tons of places on campus to take a minute to kick it and read a book or just lay down for a nap. One spot I've enjoyed lately is the stone steps next to the bridge on west campus. With the jack London book is just got, I've been taking some time inbetween classes to take a breather and give my brain a little rest. I highly suggest doing something similar and taking a second to enjoy living in sb. 

This is my spot. 

Well ladies and gents

I may have created the greatest culinary invention of all time. In the process of unsuccessfull making sushi I have created something far superior. Something beyond sushi itself. I call it. The sushirrito. A masterpiece is ingenuity and persistence. Is it a burrito? No! Is it a sushi roll! Definitely not! It is, the sushirrito. Designed with a complex of sticky rice, cooked salmon, avocado and fried carrots, it blends together the delights of the mobility of a burrito and the tastiness of a sushi roll. Soon to be perfected, it will take over the sushi cuisine. Fear not my fellow Californians, the California sushirrito roll will be available. 

Here is it's prototype