tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88506256561191555592012-02-16T04:26:35.912-08:00A few of the disconjointed thoughts of Spike McGuireSpikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-87539899392502789132010-02-26T12:49:00.001-08:002010-02-26T12:50:21.617-08:00

After they gave her something for the pain they started to prep her for surgery. Once they had decided what was wrong I was kinda surprised how fast they got her in the operating room. The only hold up was waiting for the operating room to clear. Apparently there was another woman in with the same problem. While they were prepping her for surgery I decided to I really should call family to let

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-30100838624241963522010-02-12T08:05:00.000-08:002010-02-12T08:34:14.492-08:00

So two weeks ago Sunday morning at 2:05 am to be exact Kristin wakes up with an unbearable pain in her left side. I assume it's gas and get her various anti gas medication. A call to an on call doctor was less than helpful. She suggested it was found ligament pain(common pregnancy problem) or a kidney stone neither really fit the symptoms well. Well it wasn't gas or round ligament pain or

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-76190460283960220422009-12-17T06:30:00.000-08:002009-12-17T06:57:33.722-08:00

I'm sure my many faithful readers have been wondering why I haven't written any new posts in a while. Okay so maybe all both of them just thought I nothing to say. I did in fact have something to say however, but my wife swore me and my immediate family to secrecy until the end of the 1st trimester. And when your wife is pregnant with twins, it's the only thing on your mind for any length of

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-38103274950409524042009-08-13T10:23:00.000-07:002009-08-13T11:10:22.787-07:00

So if you can't tell from My previous post, I really don't like the encryption software they put on my school owned laptop. It slowed down my computer (alot), was generally annoying, completely unwarranted and it fubared my machine.They managed to bring my computer back from the dead, but as is common with such things, not without some issues cropping up. For example my documents folder had

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-90815240376826778662009-06-29T08:10:00.000-07:002009-06-29T11:15:15.135-07:00

A case study in the pit falls of whole disk encryption and how it can be real pain.After countless news stories of laptops lost while filled to the brim with juicy patient and employee data our UAB wise bureaucracy has leapt into action. Now mind you, the less informed might wonder why personal information was being stored in such a portable form as a laptop, and why such a tantalizing piece of

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-36222704666094672382009-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:002009-06-12T08:27:08.596-07:00

First, a little background. A large number of people in the state of Alabama are unable to merge properly. Instead of finding a gap and matching speed like any sane, intelligent, or generally not stupid person they pull up right next to you or directly in your blind spot and wonder why they can't move over. Or they try to merge going 10 mph slower or faster than traffic. To further complicate

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-22099359781869332032009-05-21T07:20:00.001-07:002009-05-21T11:39:13.977-07:00

First, let me explain how I came about the creation of my very own, one of a kind, cookie recipe. Oddly enough it all begins with cinnamon rolls. When ever I make homemade cinnamon rolls, I make homemade frosting for them. I take a glob of butter and mix in powdered sugar until it looks right, and then add some milk and vanilla. I generally avoid measuring while cooking. As a scientist most

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-3702229815193107992009-05-14T07:34:00.000-07:002009-05-14T08:53:23.046-07:00

In science one little mistake can cost you a lot of work. Case study. Wednesday I sac. 6 mice and take their lymph nodes and spleens. I mush it all up to get the cells out. I kill all the red blood cells, leaving the white blood cells. I then count the cells Not all of them, just enough to let me guess about how many I have. I had about 400 million of the little buggers. Next I stick

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-89910607965939222052009-05-05T19:08:00.000-07:002009-05-05T19:08:01.606-07:00

You hear a lot about generations these days. I think the media likes it as a PC way of categorizing people. Baby boomers, gen X, Y, next, blah blah. Generally it sounds like "kids these days".Generally I don't like such labels, but I have a bone to pick with one of these groups. Yes I'm talking to you baby boomers. Okay I doubt anyone but my friends and sisters will read this.As a whole the

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-8729028925210938362009-04-30T18:38:00.000-07:002009-04-30T19:08:55.240-07:00

There's a lot of talk going on about the legalization of marijuana. One of the argument is that the laws don't reduce use. By criminalizing it you create and dangerous black market and the lure of a forbiden fruit. I've heard the same dribble about prostitution, porn, and long list of other vices. The arguments are all the same "you can't make it go away and try to do so just makes it worse,"

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-68162069988765030252009-03-26T18:48:00.001-07:002009-03-27T08:46:01.352-07:00

Some of the best thing I've ever cooked are the random "frying pan surprises"I could thing what to eat so I just threw something together and this is what I can up withChicken, garlic, olive oil, rosemary, thyme, cooking sherrycookedadded kidney beans, sliced almonds, ricotta cheese, tomato and over some macaroni noodlesmmmmmmm

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-77436266354140573312009-01-20T18:44:00.000-08:002009-01-20T19:11:18.381-08:00

You start calling faculty members by their first namesIt takes you more than 10 sec to explain to the average person what you're studyingAfter telling people what you're doing everyone tries to console you by saying "you must be smart" or "you'll probably make lots of money."You're not going bald but your skull is enlarging and you hair can't keep up.When you type a paper with a longer works

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-2051418728477484262009-01-20T06:56:00.000-08:002009-01-20T07:08:55.315-08:00

For those who may wonder why I haven't posted in a while, let me explain. Since November I've been working on my "qualifying exam" which has been the scourge of my existence. It's less than ten pages long, but keep in mind this is a scientific research proposal. My first page cites 20+ papers, and the paper as a whole right now has 36 sources. I don't know if anyone has ever read a

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-4311090547479953102008-12-26T08:09:00.001-08:002008-12-26T08:37:33.594-08:00

I'll forgo a laundry list of my yearly haul, but I can't resist extolling my favorite gift. So quick background, I like to cook on occasion. I really don't know what I'm doing but hey often times it's quite good. In my amateur culinary endeavors, I have developed a deep loathing of cheap dull knives. This Christmas my wife gave me a Zwilling J.A. Henckels "Professional S" Chef's knife. When

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-38690675137690459582008-10-17T18:57:00.000-07:002008-10-17T19:27:05.517-07:00

I'm starting to worry that I'm to easily annoyed. Little things just really rile me up sometimes. My new laptop for example (to be correct its the university's new laptop which I have the privilege of using) has the delete key up next to the F keys instead of down next to the arrows like my old one and it drives me nuts. And I really hate how smokers throw cigarette butts every where. And

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-60176382002766218512008-10-02T13:34:00.000-07:002008-10-02T14:15:13.753-07:00

Okay I'm really writing about email spam but how could I resist a reference to our favorite canned protein source, (I know everyone one prefers soylent green but that's not canned and it gives me gas). Ooo shiny!Okay Internet spam. To generate most spam the little social deviants send out computer viruses that turn your computer into an email sending zombie. These silicon powered drones then

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-29559755211844559522008-09-25T10:27:00.000-07:002008-09-25T10:54:55.723-07:00

So I get paid through grants. Either through the department I'm in or my mentors research grants or is the case now and NIH training grant. No to get a training grant is really an honor. I had to do interview and get letters of recommendation ect. What this means is, is that while I get paid the same the money comes from somewhere else. Additionally my Mentor doesn't have for the bill for

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-45958944903818799602008-09-24T18:24:00.000-07:002008-09-24T18:36:30.353-07:00

So I'm getting ready for bed, and while I'm waiting for my wife I'm checking my toe nails to see if they need a trim. During the inspection my wife with fresh mint breath declares, " That is the Fattest pinky toe I've even seen!" I was a bit shocked, first this was not her first view of my feet. Next I don't think that my toe is even big boned. But according to my wife the littlest pitty

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-29006290318375235942008-09-13T09:00:00.000-07:002008-09-13T09:00:00.898-07:00

In the first ever what's the difference between a duck survey, the winner is . . . drum role please. . . okay I'll skip the drum role due to budget constraints. . . "Hydrophobic fishsticks!" "You lied to me!?!" came in a close second. I'd like to thank all of the contributing silliness, inside jokes, and comic anecdotes.The winner will be signing autographs after the award ceremony. My

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-54416852445507070802008-09-10T09:10:00.000-07:002008-09-10T18:56:49.601-07:00

As a graduate student in the biological sciences on a campus with a medical school, I live near the collision of two very different worlds. Every day I am surrounded by Doctors of Medicine and Doctors with a Ph.D. and even, for the highly motivated multitaskers, people with both. Now there are some great research scientist with M.D. but many M.D. in research just dabble in my world. Luckily

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-88698047930204127912008-08-12T07:51:00.000-07:002008-08-12T08:08:25.168-07:00

Today is a beautiful gorgeous day. That is if you like rain. Most everyone around me is glum and bummed that they can't see the hot, hot August sun. I have a different view. I love rainy days. Sure two three weeks of non-stop rain will get me down. But I love the naturally relaxed feel of slow gentle rain. There's no pressure to go out and do something; it's perfectly acceptable to sit and

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-91071315423956014292008-08-01T11:42:00.000-07:002008-08-01T13:01:06.851-07:00

Firemen are heroes, anyone who doubts this is a commie a fascist, or maybe just dumb. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for a brave fireman that rescued me way back in the fall of 91.Now we all see the firemen rescue the poor frighten kitty from the tree, least on the news. Now I've talked to firemen, they have better things to do then pull a cat out of tree that will most likely come down

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-15447294273974503242008-07-15T12:28:00.000-07:002008-12-12T20:10:12.069-08:00

As as undergraduate I was working on a project that required that I rinse a large rack of test tubes between processing of 20 or so protein samples. During this rather boring and repetitive process I mentioned to the graduate student, whose project I was working on, "I wish I could train a monkey to do this . . . Wait I'm the monkey aren't I. " To which he laughed at my moment of clarity,

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-24177854409914525032008-07-14T13:41:00.000-07:002008-07-15T12:23:19.984-07:00

I have often been puzzled by the actions of those around me. On this personal list of sociological enigmas, near the top, are the vandal restroom word smiths. I have been on many road trips and so have see a great many public restrooms. Without fail all but the newest restrooms were adorned with profanity, references to genitalia and means by which a "good time" could be obtained. Boredom is

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-83675282415057293072008-07-10T14:53:00.000-07:002008-07-15T17:00:13.354-07:00

Most of my family and I consider ourselves amateur photographers. Which means we all drool and dream about pro gear that we can't afford, and take lots of pictures that mostly don't turn out because we don't know what we're doing (except my wife who just makes me mad because all her pictures are better than mine). But if you take enough pictures every once in a while you get a good one. This a

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-72704476576407191512008-06-09T13:40:00.000-07:002008-06-09T14:19:46.871-07:00

I've often heard that the anticipation of something is worse than the actual event. Now for the normal means of suffering this can often be the case. I am currently dredding a long thousand mile oddessy to Omaha. While I'm sure that the family reunion will be an over abundance of bonding, love and good times, the drive there and back will be my own private CIA interogation. Many might say it

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-51939476512156914192008-06-05T19:01:00.001-07:002008-06-09T13:40:46.290-07:00

The day was bright and crisp. The temp was a balmy -39 which happens to be the same temp in Celsius and Fahrenheit. It couldn’t be a better day to celebrate saint lizisprettysmartforagirl day. Two thousand years ago on this day beloved saint lizisprettysmartforagirl introduced the art of chest sledding. It is the greatest day in recorded penguin history. Though some of the young fledglings of

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850625656119155559.post-44401057764546103252008-06-01T19:36:00.000-07:002008-06-09T13:40:21.555-07:00

Many ages ago My sister mentioned the Polar Bear oppression of Penguins and the plight of the Paraguayan sloths. Considering at the time the rise in popularity of the creature I decided that the world was ready to hear this harrowing tail.Unfortunately due to the rigors of Graduate school the story was never finished. I intend to repent of my sloth(no pun intended) and resume my writing.Polar

Spikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16619409298217407547noreply@blogger.com0