Category Archives: science

Question About “VWXYNot?”

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Thus read the title of an email in my inbox this morning. The message continued: Hey, I consult for a Canadian immigration lawyer who is looking to expand her presence online.  I am  interested in having a mention within one of your … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, cancer research, communication, idiocy, meta, personal, science | 16 Comments

A Few Maxims For The Instruction Of The Over-Educated

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

The Western blot – an assay that allows you to separate all the proteins in a sample by size using gel electrophoresis and then detect the presence of a particular protein using an antibody that (hopefully) binds specifically to it … Continue reading →

Posted in English language, science, silliness | 25 Comments

Dockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Upon hearing that Mr E Man and I will be heading to his sister’s house for Christmas and therefore don’t have a Christmas tree at home this year*, our friends invited us round to their place on Friday to help … Continue reading →

Posted in family, personal, photos, science, silliness, sport, television | 10 Comments

A change would do you good

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

My involvement in the municipal election a couple of weeks ago left me with a buzz of positive energy that inspired me to keep the momentum going and get out and do something constructive again as soon as possible. Luckily … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, conferences, games, personal, politics, science, technology, television, Vancouver | 9 Comments

Weight, watt?

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

From an automatic pre-send spell check of an email I sent today, asking a PI for guidance on some subfield-specific terminology: Very helpful. In other news, I learned today that my online life is benefiting my career: years of experience … Continue reading →

Posted in career, English language, grant wrangling, idiocy, meta, publishing, science, screenshots, silliness, technology | 20 Comments

“I always know everything”

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

^^quote by my youngest nephew, then four years old (he’s now ten, still knows everything, and wants to be a lawyer, FSM help us all). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I spent Friday in an all-day symposium at my institute, on the subject of … Continue reading →

Posted in career, conferences, English language, family, medicine, Rumsfeldian symposia, science, silliness | 4 Comments

RBO Lab Meeting

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Our lab manager mentioned that some journals are starting to ask for certification to prove that the cell lines described in submitted manuscripts have tested negative for mycoplasma contamination during the course of the study (for the uninitiated, mycoplasma are … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, science, technology | 25 Comments

Separating the l33t from the graph

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Were you ever explicitly taught which graphs to use to represent different types of scientific data? I remember some very basic lessons on this subject in high school maths (and possibly biology), but once I reached university it was never … Continue reading →

Posted in career, communication, education, English language, science | 25 Comments

Science Crossword Quiz

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

As I mentioned on Friday, while tidying my desk at work last week I found a new and miraculously untouched science puzzle from last year’s desk calendar! It’s in the form of a crossword, and after trying and failing to format … Continue reading →

Posted in competition, English language, science | 28 Comments

The Teacher Feature

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Writing my last (proper) post reminded me that way back in 2009 I started a series on my most influential teachers, and that I’d intended to include my PhD supervisor in the list. However, given that it’s World Teachers’ Day … Continue reading →

Posted in career, communication, education, music, personal, science | 6 Comments