Sometimes Nanotechnology Isn't All Its Cracked Up to Be. Oh, I'm so bored, and I'm here running fluorescence measurements that are bound to end up meaningless anyway. I was in the middle of an experiment. See, I have a sample. I put polymer in my sample. I need to know how much the polymer fluoresces. So, before I put in the polymer, I take a fluorescence measurement. This is my background. After I put in the polymer I take the measurement again. Then I subtract the first from the second, and in this way determine how much the polymer itself is fluorescing. Well, after I took the first set of data the fluorimeter computer broke, and then after a new computer was installed the fluorimeter itself was completely uncalibrated. Now it is fixed. However, whenever a system like this has been changed, it is usually impossible to compare data taken before and after the change. This is because if I put the same sample in before and after the recalibration I get a different amount of counts. So here I am, running all my samples, but when I get upstairs and look at the data it will most likely be junk. Which means doing the whole experiment over again, which is a couple of hours of work at least. Ah science! Only two more samples to go. They take about 7 minutes each, which is not enough time to do anything useful, but enough time to get bored in between. Normally I would do absorbance at this time, but I did it already. You think it's boring reading this entry? Well, I'm living it! Add to this the fact that my deadline is creeping up on me, and the last thing I want to do now is redo experiments or worry about sketchy results, and you get a nice big pity party. My mom used to sing a song to me, called, "Party Pooper." It went like this: Every party needs a pooper that's why we invited you, Too bad you don't get to hear me sing it. Tell you what. If you want to hear me sing it, I will record it, and e-mail you if you leave me a note. Wow, I'm on it today, aren't I? This keyboard sucks. First of all, it's right on the edge of the table, so there is no resting my hands. It is impossible to push it back, because the darn fluorimeter is in the way. Second, the keys are really hard to push. Unlike the silky ease of the buttons on my Apple PowerBook, I have to push these darn buttons with force. They are unrelenting! So, I have way too many typos. It's like trying to type when drunk. But the last sample is running now, so hurray, I can stop this entry soon. Someone sent me an e-mail with a link about masturbating at work. The weird thing is I had just gotten done masturbating at work! What a coinkydink! |