Shane Lloyd's Blog

Cove Mountain Hike

2009-05-10T22:30:00.005-04:00

Cold Springs Hike

2009-05-03T22:05:00.003-04:00

2009-01-25T17:29:00.004-05:00

Philadelphia

2008-09-01T23:06:00.002-04:00

Philly for the day!

Harrisburg, PA

2008-08-30T12:24:00.003-04:00

I took a trip out to Harrisburg with Jenny and Cody this afternoon. It's actually a pretty nice city. The Capitol building is very nice, although it was like a ghost down around there on the weekend!

Penn State White Coat Ceremony

2008-08-08T20:08:00.002-04:00

Today was the white coat ceremony for the Penn State College of Medicine. We gathered at the Hershey Theatre (a very posh venue!) and received our white coats and recited the Hippocratic Oath (a pledge to serve the greater good that is taken by all incoming medical students at all schools). I have pasted the full text of the oath below the pictures.

The Oath of Modern Hippocrates

By all that I hold highest,
I promise my patients competence, integrity, candor,
personal commitment to their best interest,
compassion, and absolute discretion and confidentiality within the law.

I shall do by my patients as I would be done by;
shall obtain consultation whenever I or they desire,
shall include them to the extent they wish in all important decisions,
and shall minimize suffering whenever a cure cannot be obtained,
understanding that a dignified death is an important goal in everyone's life.

I shall try to establish a friendly relationship with my patients
and shall accept each one in a nonjudgmental manner,
appreciating the validity and worth of different value systems
and according to each person a full measure of human dignity.

I shall charge only for my professional services,
and shall not profit financially in any other way,
as a result of the advice and care I render my patients.

I shall provide advice and encouragement for my patients in their efforts to sustain their own health.
I shall work with my profession to improve the quality of medical care
and to improve the public health,
but I shall not let any lesser public or professional consideration
interfere with my primary commitment to provide the best and most appropriate care available
to each of my patients.

To the extent that I live by these precepts,
I shall be a worthy physician.

My New Apartment!

2008-08-01T14:31:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally got moved in and all set up in my new apartment down here in Pennsylvania. Many, many thanks to my mom, who helped me get all this new furniture and get everything setup. It was an effort like I have never seen before. I really like the new place, and the location is great. It is less than a 15 minute walk from my door to the door of the hospital, so, it will make getting to class and such easy.

I am also enjoying having actual furniture, rather than stuff acquired second hand and that from the Salvation Army. My new TV - a congratulatory gift to myself (at least that's what I tell myself - is also great. It's a 40 inch Samsung LCD. God bless high definition - now I can watch the Science Channel in HD.

There are two bedroom, so, I have a place to study (and a place for visitors to sleep when you visit - you know who you are!).

Steveston

2008-07-21T19:06:00.000-04:00

Steveston is a little fishing village in the southern part of Richmond. It has with quaint, village feel. It was a great place to spend the afternoon.

English Bay

2008-07-20T21:25:00.000-04:00

English Bay is on the west side of downtown Vancouver. I took these pictures along the beach and sea wall that runs at the edge of downtown on English Bay. What a great evening!

Stanley Park

2008-07-19T20:27:00.000-04:00

Stanley Park is this huge urban park in Vancouver. It is completely surrounded by the ocean, with an amazing sea wall to walk around. Several years ago there was a massive wind storm that destroyed many of the trees in the park - it was quite the sight to see (as I had not been there since the storm). However, the park still hasn't lost any of it's beauty.

Mile High Lodge

2008-07-17T19:34:00.000-04:00

I went with my Dad on a great fishing trip to Mile High Lodge. A great area on the shore of a beautiful lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. The weather was great, and we even managed to catch some fish!

Victoria

2008-07-10T21:45:00.000-04:00

I went with my mom to tour the Provincial capital of Victoria. The weather was great!

Ketchup Chips in a Box

2008-07-08T11:51:00.000-04:00

In case anyone didn't believe me... Yes, ketchup-flavoured chips are very popular in Canada. More importantly, though, you can buy them in a box. Within this box are two plastic bags containing the chips. Don't ask me why, it's just the way it is.

White Rock, British Columbia

2008-07-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

Toronto, Ontario

2008-07-05T11:08:00.000-04:00

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents in the city limits, and over 5.5 million in the metro area, Toronto it is the fifth-most populous city in North America.

African Lion Safari

2008-07-03T22:04:00.000-04:00

Melinda and I met her parents and brother at "African Lion Safari", which is this amazing wildlife park/zoo/conservatory in Southwestern Ontario. You drive through the park and the animals are free to roam amongst you. Many of these animals I had never really seen so up close. Word of warning, though, beware of the monkeys! (You might be missing a sideview mirror by the end of the trip).

Canada Day

2008-07-01T23:57:00.000-04:00

Canada Day ("Fête du Canada" in French) is Canada's national day, celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act of 1867. Similar in spirit to July 4th's Independence Day in the United States, Canada Day celebrates the day which united Canada as a single country of four provinces.

I got the chance to celebrate Canada Day in the nation's capital of Ottawa. It was a great time. The whole city was transformed into a essentially a big celebration. The beautiful buildings and streets of Ottawa were transformed into platforms for the hundreds of thousands of spectators and performers in the street.

Happy Birthday Canada!

Niagara Falls, Canada

2008-06-29T21:49:00.003-04:00

Niagara Falls are massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections: Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the border and American Falls on the United States side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.

Six Flags

2008-06-27T16:20:00.009-04:00

Six Flags is a massive chain of roller coaster theme parks in the United States. We headed down to the "Six Flags Over Georgia" in Atlanta. I've never been to a place like this with such extreme rides before, so, it was quite the experience. Of course, the extreme heat didn't help things much in the morning, but, after a hydrating lunch break we were back at it. They've got rides were you're sitting normally, where your legs dangle below, where you're standing up, and ones where you are lying down (like you're flying). All the white these rides will go upside down with loops and all the rest.

Summer BBQ

2008-06-22T22:50:00.002-04:00

We had our Summer BBQ today. It was a great time at Ted's house. It was also a farewell party for my going away. I really appreciated everyone who came and the gifts! Thanks so much guys!

Leida, Stephanie, and Michael relax in the sun.

Ted and the girls fill water balloons... oh no, what could be coming?

Michael takes a break from grilling. Laura sits and wonders if Michael's lazing about is going to result in an overcooked veggie burger...

Somehow I was convinced to sit on the swing and be pummeled with water balloons by the children... I insisted on the poncho (a small victory!).

A great cake made by Hope. Thanks so much!

A pedometer! Great, now I can be obsessive compulsive about how many steps I've taken per day like everyone else in the lab!

If anyone is familiar with the random human feet that have been washing ashore near Vancouver, then this gag gift will either be very funny or very offensive.

A classic!

Now I have something to put on my bedside table! Thanks Jeff!

Yellow Branch Hike

2008-06-21T17:38:00.000-04:00

Laura, Ramon, and I decided to head out for a bit of a hike. We first headed to the Stumphouse Tunnel Park (pictured below, when my mom was visiting). Although, this time we actually went all the way to the back of the tunnel - it was very cool! Later, we found the Yellow Branch trail and took a nice hike to this waterfall. It was spectacular to see! A great day all around.

Having forgotten to bring a flashlight, Ramon and I praise the iPhone, whose light guided our way through the pitch-black tunnel.

The quaintest street sign you'll probably ever see.

Laura unnecessarily attempts to scale this fallen tree.

The Bateman Lab: Summer 2008

2008-06-17T14:55:00.003-04:00

The whole Bateman Crew.

From left to right: Shane, Jeff, Michael, Eric B., Ramon, Leida, Eric L., Stephanie, Hope, Ted, and Laura.

The New iPhone 3G

2008-06-10T21:25:00.001-04:00

North Carolina Mountains

2008-06-08T23:02:00.004-04:00

Biltmore Estate

2008-06-07T22:19:00.000-04:00

Biltmore house is a French Renaissance-inspired chateau near Asheville, North Carolina, built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1888 and 1895. It is the largest privately owned home in the United States at 175,000 square feet. Still owned by Vanderbilt's descendants, it stands today as one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age.

The estate today covers approximately 8,000 acres (32 km²) and is split in half by the French Broad River. It is owned by The Biltmore Company, which is controlled by Vanderbilt's grandson, William A.V. Cecil, II. In 1964, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. In an attempt to bolster the Depression-riven economy, Vanderbilt's only child, Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil, and husband John Amherst Cecil opened Biltmore House to the public on March 15, 1930.

Vista Blues

2008-06-05T22:35:00.003-04:00

Here is an extended version of the "Vista Blues". I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Obama wins Democratic nomination

2008-06-04T10:52:00.006-04:00

Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night. By doing so, he shattered a barrier more than two hundred old to become the first black candidate ever nominated by a major political party for the nation’s highest office. It was only a generation ago that many parts of the United States were segregated by race under the law. Obama's nomination to lead the Democratic in the 2008 Presidential election is a testament to the progress that has been made in this country.

A crowd of 18,000 gathered at a stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota to hear Obama's victory speech. Another 15,000, who couldn't make it into the stadium, watched and listened from outside.

Michele Obama gives Barack a victory fist bump on stage, just before he makes his speech.

You can check out the full speech in the video clip above.

There Can Only Be One

2008-06-04T00:48:00.000-04:00

Areva

2008-06-03T21:27:00.003-04:00

I kept seeing this commercial on TV, so, I finally decided to find out exactly what is up with this "Areva" company is. Areva is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate that deals in energy, especially nuclear power. In this video you see the entire process of getting a nuclear power plant to work. It starts with mining of uranium fuel in Canada (by a huge margin the largest source of Uranium in the World). The process continues with the production of fuel rods for use in nuclear power plants, and the transmission of power to cities. Apparently, the real finish line though is a bunch of people dancing in China.

Anyway, the commercial looks kind of cool, and, who doesn't like Funky Town?

Jeff & Aaron's Wedding

2008-06-01T13:56:00.000-04:00

Last night we celebrated the marriage of Jeff Willey and Aaron in Greenville. It was a great time. Congratulations to you both!

The first dance... damn you paparazzo!!

Eric Livingston gives a thumbs up... just because he's that cool.

Ted and Felecia are regaled with what is clearly a very interesting anecdote.

I inform Eric Bandstra that it is impossible to take a good picture of him. Here, he proves my point.

Oh no you did-n't!

The Bateman Crew (sans Ted Bateman).

I was smelling the flower, not coming in for a kiss!

Erica catches the bouquet. Eric catches the next bus out of town.

We all waved sparklers as Jeff and Aaron ran through what was clearly a huge fire hazard. Made for some great pictures though.

Someone had the grand idea of setting the whole vase of sparklers alight. It looked very impressive... until the vase exploded. No worries though, no one was injured... severely.

75,000 People at Massive Obama Rally

2008-05-19T19:18:00.000-04:00

Over 75,000 gathered on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon today to see Barack Obama. It is a record attendance not only for Obama, but for any primary candidate in history. In fact, boats crammed with people also pulled up alongside the river bank in order to hear him speak. Check out the pictures below to see just how massive this crowd was.

South Carolina Botanical Gardens

2008-05-18T16:51:00.004-04:00

The South Carolina Botanical Garden (295 acres) is located in Clemson, South Carolina on the campus of Clemson University. This garden has many nature trails, ponds, and streams, woodlands. The gardens are the home of the historic Hanover House, which is an early 18th century house built in the South Carolina Low Country and moved to the Clemson campus. It also has a pioneer village featuring the Hunt Log Cabin, which was originally built about 1825 in the Seneca, South Carolina area.

Some bizarre Native house (I'm guessing).

My Mom: Queen of the Forest.

The wild goldfish here are huge!

Beautiful Greenville!

2008-05-17T20:44:00.000-04:00

I love Greenville more and more every time I go there. It is a wonderful city. The downtown area in particular is very nice. It is a trendy mix of artists, shops, restaurants, and cafés. The architecture is very nice (consistent use of brick and white trim). The Reedy River flows through the city and makes for a nice park area. If I had to live in South Carolina this place, or Charleston, is where I'd want to be.

I'm not sure about the authenticity of the "GQ Fashions" in the background!

Greenville County courthouse.

It was getting pretty hot out...

I think this restaurant unfairly characterizes goats. I've known some fairly industrious goats in my day.

Charleston, South Carolina - Part 2

2008-05-15T11:10:00.000-04:00

Charleston, South Carolina - Part 1

2008-05-13T23:02:00.000-04:00

Charleston was founded as Charles Towne, Carolina in 1670, and moved to its present location on the west bank of the Ashley River in 1680; it adopted its present name in 1783. Charleston is known as "The Holy City" due to the prominence of churches on the low-rise cityscape, particularly the numerous steeples which dot the city's skyline, and for the fact that it was the only city in the original thirteen colonies to provide religious tolerance to certain French religious sects. The Charleston metropolitan area is estimated at 603,178, making it the second most populous city in South Carolina, closely behind the state capital Columbia.

Stumphouse Tunnel Park

2008-05-11T19:49:00.000-04:00

A tunnel was first proposed in 1837 by residents of Charleston, South Carolina as a new and shorter route for the Blue Ridge Railroad between Charleston and the Ohio river valley area which until then was only accessible by bypassing the mountains entirely to the South and then traveling up north through Georgia and middle Tennessee.

In 1852, 13 miles of tunnel were proposed to cross the Blue Ridge Mountains through South Carolina, North Carolina, and into Tennessee. Construction on the railway was begun in the late 1850's and was successful through most of South Carolina until hitting the mountains around Wallhalla in Oconee County. There Stumphouse tunnel along with three other tunnels was to be built.

Construction on Stumphouse tunnel began in 1856 when the George Collyer Company of London brought many Irish workers into the area for this project. Many of the workers lived in housing on top of Stumphouse mountain called Tunnel Hill. By 1859, the State of South Carolina had spent over a million dollars on the tunnel and refused to spend any more on the project, therefore the tunnel work was abandoned.

Around Campus

2008-05-10T16:40:00.000-04:00

Indiana & North Carolina: Obama vs. Clinton

2008-05-06T00:30:00.002-04:00

Polls open in just a few more hours. The latest CNN "poll of polls" puts Clinton 4 points ahead in Indiana, and Obama 10 points ahead in North Carolina.

Let's wait and see...

UPDATE: Clinton takes Indiana by just 0.9 point, while Obama takes NC by 14 points. Clinton campaign officially on "death watch".

Macs

2008-05-04T23:50:00.001-04:00

Click on the comic to see a larger version.

Top 10 Surprising Facts about Barack Obama

2008-05-03T18:57:00.000-04:00

Happy May Day!

2008-05-01T12:25:00.001-04:00

May Day occurs on May 1st and refers to any of several public holidays. In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labor movement. As a day of celebration, however, the holiday has ancient origins and can relate to many customs that have survived into modern times.

When I was in elementary school in New Westminster, British Columbia, we'd have to participate in the May Day festivities as Queen's Park. The most notable of these activities was the maypole dance. The maypole is a tall wooden pole, erected with several long coloured ribbons suspended from the top, festooned with flowers, draped in greenery, and strapped with large circular wreaths. Children hold on to the end of the ribbons and engage in dances around the pole that cause the ribbon to be woven into complex patterns. I never really understood what the purpose of it all was, but, we had fun nonetheless.

Photo Montages II: Cleveland & Atlanta

2008-05-01T10:14:00.002-04:00

Part II of my continuing series of posting my photo/video montages comes today. In this installment we find documentation of our lab's trip to a conference in Cleveland, Ohio from June 22-25th, 2005. Later on we find the great trek to Atlanta on October 1st, 2005 to check out the CNN Center and the world's largest aquarium!

Cleveland, Ohio

Atlanta, Georgia

Slide Shows: From the Beginning

2008-04-30T20:57:00.002-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a penchant for creating picture/video/music montages of my various pursuits and trips. It's similar to what I did with the Obama video below. I use a great program called iMovie that comes with all Macs. I have created whole DVDs with these videos, from my time in South Carolina in 2005 to my work in Europe in 2006. I am in the process of converting all of these videos and getting them up on YouTube. I'll be delivering them at least two at a time over the next few weeks.

So, let's get started...

Clemson University Campus

Washington, D.C.

Calcified Tissue International Publication

2008-04-29T14:31:00.002-04:00

I just submitted the corrected proofs for my second first-authored publication to the science journal "Calcified Tissue International". This paper focused on the skeletal effects of a natural protein called RANKL. This protein activates certain cells in our body and causes them to break down bone. By blocking this protein, it may be possible to treat people with disease such as osteoporosis.

I don't have a link to the online abstract, but, I will post it as soon as I get it.

Barack Obama: Open Your Eyes

2008-04-27T22:41:00.000-04:00

I made this video this past weekend. I'm trying to remind those who have gotten distracted by the last week of unjustified attacks on Barack Obama. People need to keep things in perspective and remember that this is about the person and a vision for change.

I'd love to hear your feed back here, or by email. Enjoy!

Does Barack Obama look too good?

2008-04-26T00:22:00.005-04:00

Recently a local news reporter asked Barack Obama whether he was too good-looking to relate to working class people. She stated how some think that Obama looks like a male cover model from the magazine "GQ". Hmm... I don't think they ever thought this would be the problem. Check out Obama's response in this short clip - it's priceless.

Obama goes on to address comments that he is an "elitist", which is the most bizarre thing to pin on someone who was raised by a single mother and his grandparents, who was a community activist and civil rights lawyer on Chicago's poor South side, and who has just finished paying off his students loans after working to get into Harvard.

To play the clip just click on the big play button in the middle.

Lost Returns!

2008-04-24T10:57:00.002-04:00

The second half of Season 4 of "Lost" returns tonight on ABC at 10:00 PM.

I can't wait!!

Apple just keeps on growing...

2008-04-23T23:11:00.003-04:00

Apple released it's sales figures today, and the news is amazing.

Apple posted record revenue of $7.51 billion in the last quarter, up 43% from this quarter a year ago.

Strong demand for Macs driven by record laptop sales helped Apple turn a $1.05 billion net profit. The company sold 2.2 million Macs, 10.6 million iPods, and 1.7 million iPhones from January to March, helping drive the strongest March quarter in Apple’s history.

Laptops sparked the growth in second-quarter Mac sales. Apple sold 1.43 million laptops during the quarter, an increase of 61 percent over 2007. This was attributed the continued demand for MacBook and MacBook Pros as well as the introduction of the new MacBook Air. Sales of iMacs also increased during the quarter. Apple sold 856,000 desktop computers, an increase of 37 percent over the 626,00 sold during the year-ago quarter.

Penn State

2008-04-15T22:25:00.004-04:00

I have just recently accepted the offer of admission to the combined MD-PhD program at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine! Penn State's medical campus is located in Hershey, about 15 minutes from the state capital of Harrisburg and 90 minutes to the northwest of Philadelphia. Orientation starts on August 1st... looks like it's time for another move!

The combined MD-PhD program has an 8 year duration. Your first two years are spent in regular medical school classes. After that, you complete the so-called "Step 1" of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam. Then, you part ways with you medical school colleagues and enter into the PhD research environment. You spend years here conducting laboratory research in a field of interest. After defending your thesis research, you return to medical school to complete your final two years of study and the "Step 2" of the Medical Licensing Exam.

It's a long road, but, there are perks. At Penn State I will receive complete tuition remission for both medical and graduate school, as well as a yearly stipend. A break down of what they will be providing over the course of the program:

-----------------------
Medical School Tuition: $47,320/year
For four years, this amounts to $189,280

Graduate School Tuition: $20,050
For four years, this amounts to $80,200

Annual Stipend: $21,000/year
For all 8 years, this amounts to $168,000
-----------------------

So, altogether, they are essentially providing a total of $437,480 in funding over the course of the program. To be honest, I had never added it all up like this. I can see now why there is so much trouble admitting international students into these programs - most of the funding comes from public funds (i.e., taxes), and generally people are not to keen to be paying for foreign students. Extra private funding usually picks up the cost of any international students admitted.

Miss South Carolina

2008-04-03T20:52:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you will all remember this cringe-worthy performance by Miss South Carolina in last year's "Miss America" pageant. The video is a little old, but, I came upon it again and felt the need to share it for those who has not seen it.

It certainly sheds light on the public education system in South Carolina, consistently ranking 48th in the United States. "No worry," say some locals, "that's not too bad". Of course, they think the ranking is out of 100...

Well, let's hope she has a "Plan B" in case law school doesn't work out.

Victoria

2008-03-23T15:49:00.000-04:00

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, making it the seat of the provincial Crown. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, one must take a ferry from mainland British Columbia to get to Victoria.

Grouse Mountain

2008-03-21T15:02:00.001-04:00

Grouse Mountain is a one of the North Shore Mountains overlooking Vancouver.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

2008-03-20T11:55:00.000-04:00

No visit to Vancouver's west coast is complete without a trip to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver. The original bridge was built in 1889. It stretches 137 m across and 70 m above Capilano River.

University of British Columbia

2008-03-19T21:47:00.000-04:00

Time to do some tromping around my old campus. Things have really changed, even in the year since I was last here. It's hard to believe how many new buildings are being constructed.

Main Library (now the Barber Learning Centre) with the nearly finished additions.

Koerner Library. I spent many an hour in the depths of it's basement studying.

View down into the main atrium of the Forest Sciences building.

University of British Columbia School of Theology.

The Rose Garden - not quite in bloom yet.

Cognitive Systems Research Building.

Around Vancouver

2008-03-19T00:41:00.000-04:00

Just some random shots from around the city. Always something interesting to see!

James says, "We're a long way from Kansas". Not really, but, that's what I thought.

I'm wondering what one of the apartments with the corner views of Stanley Park and the ocean go for. Actually... I don't want to think about it.

Now how are you supposed to get your car out there? Oh... it's for boats and float planes... that's cute.

Headquarters for Electronic Arts - the largest developer of video games in the world. Vancouver, and the suburb of Burnaby, have two of the largest gaming studies for EA. Metro Vancouver is actually the hub of video game development in the world. Who knew?

Vancouver Skylines

2008-03-18T21:34:00.001-04:00

We managed to get some great pictures of the Vancouver skyline. The first couple pictures are the view from the apartment rental we had in Yaletown. The last three are from the roof of the new BC Cancer Agency research centre, where a friend of mine works.

Vancouver is such a gorgeous city! With the ocean inlet in the front, and the towering mountains in back, you can see why this is a tourist destination for so many people.

Harrison Hot Springs

2008-03-17T14:27:00.000-04:00

We decided to give James a taste of some "real" mountains - not these hills they call mountains in the South. Even then, these things are puny to what you can find in other parts of British Columbia, but, we didn't want to give him vertigo right off the bat. Harrison Hot Springs gets its name from the natural hot springs that exist along it's northern shore.

White Rock, British Columbia

2008-03-16T17:10:00.002-04:00

The first stop after getting off the plane in Vancouver was to head for our old stomping grounds at White Rock. The weather was not spectacular, but the views sure were.

The train tracks run between the main drag in White Rock (Marine Drive, on the right) and the beach (down below, on the left).

Awww! Glad to see my mom again!

Very, very high tide. Normally the beach stretches way out. It could take you 10 min to walk out to the ocean proper.

The famous White Rock. It really is white!

The Best Place on Earth

2008-03-08T20:36:00.004-05:00

I'm getting ready to head back to British Columbia for Spring Break vacation. As a teaser, I thought I would post the advertisements that the B.C. government has been running in the United States - trying to draw tourists and investors from the United States to "The Best Place on Earth", as they put it.

While, we can't ignore the distinctly 1990s "Chamber of Commerce" style, I can't help but think that "a balanced budget" and "first rate health and education" wouldn't be good lures for Americans - not like we've seen much of that down here in a while. Especially when you read articles like this, showing massive housing growth as the U.S. heads into the mortgage crisis, or this, detailing the over 40,000 jobs created last month in a country with 1/10 the population the U.S. (who in the same period lost 63,000 jobs).

New York City

2008-03-04T21:10:00.008-05:00

I got the chance to go up and visit my friend Melinda in New York, where she is studying at the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.

View of Manhattan's East side.

Ahh, the 5th Avenue Apple Store. The temple for all the Mac Faithful. I hear you can sign up for an Apple tithe... 10% of your income is automatically funneled to Steve Jobs himself.

Possibly the coolest advertisement for "Lost" I've ever seen.

Times Square! Unfortunately, the ball dropped a few months ago on New Year's Eve.

Time to go up the Empire State Building and check out the view. Unlike last time I tried this (and was turned away due to bad weather), the sky was a clear blue when we made our way up the elevator.

Clear views of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Actually, a snow storm passed by for around 10 minutes while we were up there. It was the first time I've seen snow falling upwards.

Brooklyn Bridge.

Pictures from "ground zero" of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. It's hard to believe the new building hasn't even begun construction nearly 7 years later.

Lady Liberty! You know, sometimes people say things will be smaller in person. That is all I heard before I went to Paris - ohh, the Mona Lisa painting is so much smaller in person. Yet, when I actually went the first thing I thought was, "this painting is huge!". Similarly, hearing the statue of liberty was rather small, I was astounded as to how big it actually is. Viewing it from underneath it is an impressive sight.

Farewell to New York!

Vancouver at Night

2008-02-24T00:22:00.002-05:00

I can't take credit for the pictures in this post. That honour goes to artist "G23" at InterfaceLIFT. What I can say, though, is that these are some of the best pictures of Vancouver at dusk/nighttime that I have seen. I am headed up to Vancouver with a friend of mine for Spring Break in March. Hopefully I can put my new Canon G9 to good use and get some shots like these. Vancouver really is the most beautiful city that I have been to (particularly when it's not raining!).

Most of these pictures were taken in and around an area known as "False Creek". You can see exactly where this area is by clicking on the map above (look near the bottom). You'll see that the ocean snakes inland creating an inlet that almost looks like a river, hence the name. The north side of False Creek has undergone an unbelievable transformation over the last decade. Now home to the most trendy and expensive part of downtown Vancouver, this neighbourhood is called Yaletown and is absolutely gorgeous. The south side of False Creek is being redeveloped for the 2010 Olympics, and will be home to the Olympic Village, athlete housing, and other venues.

"Shot just after sunset looking over False Creek into the residential district of downtown."

"This shot was taken from the Seawall that lines False Creek and points to Burrard Bridge from a different angle."

"Standing on the Cambie St. bridge overlooking the false creek residential district of downtown Vancouver. The crescent moon adds a nice touch to an already stunning city."

"Granville Street (front) and Burrard Street (rear) bridges spanning False Creek."

"Sailboat at anchor in False Creek at night."

"The Human Element"

2008-02-23T22:10:00.004-05:00

In my continuing series of bizarre and interesting American television advertising, I bring you what is probably the most moving, yet, ambiguous ad I've seen. Dow is a chemical research company whose stated mission is "to constantly improve what is essential to human progress by mastering science and technology". Regardless of how you feel about their business, I do feel they have managed to convey a powerful message about the role of science and research in the modern world, and how it is really for the benefit of us all (the "human element" as they state it). I would, however, note that this is the same company whose plant killed 20,000 people in India when a tank containing toxic gas leaked. Food for thought, regardless.

Zune - "Sleeping Lessons"

2008-02-22T14:58:00.002-05:00

First of all, if you don't know what the "Zune" is, you're already better off. The Zune is Microsoft's attempt at a competitor to the iPod from Apple. I wont go off on a rant, but, it's a very limited product that doesn't really offer any compelling features over the iPod.

Anyways, what the Zune does have is a pretty clever advertisement. For some reason, I just really like the use of metaphor here. The "Zune" player holds pictures, video, music and such (like an iPod) which they have illustrated as the frames of the guy's life. It falls apart at the end when he gets chopped up into pieces, but, at least the music saves it. The song is called "Sleeping Lessons" by a group called "The Shins". (And no, I don't receive any money from Microsoft... or the cotton company, for that matter).

Click the play button in the bottom, left-hand corner to view the video.

HIV - The Coolest Science Videos You've Ever Seen

2008-02-21T15:37:00.000-05:00

As a science-type, I am always interested in videos and animations of various scientific things. I thought that I would go ahead and post what are probably the best science animations I have ever seen. I was first introduced to them during my studies in Pharmacology at the University of British Columbia.

AIDS is a devastating disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is unique because it attacks your immune system itself. It enters into your immune cells and hijacks them. The virus takes over the cell and instructs it to start making copies of the virus. In this way the virus turns your body against itself. Your own cells are producing billions of copies of the virus, completely unaware of the harm they are causing. There is no cure for HIV, it can only be managed. Eventually all of the drugs that the patient is taking will become ineffective, they will develop full blown AIDS, and succumb to the disease.

There are a series of three videos which outline (1) how HIV infects cells, (2) a new class of drug to treat HIV, and (3) why the HIV virus will eventually develop resistance to drug treatment and lead to the death of the patient.

HIV Replication

In this video you will see how the virus attaches to a cell, takes it over, and uses it to make copies of the virus. These copies then leave the cell and infect other cells. A single cell that has been taken over by the HIV virus will create billions of copies of the virus per day

Mechanism of Tipranavir

Tipranavir is a new drug that has been developed to treat HIV. As you'll see in the video, tipranavir is able to stop the activity of an essential part of the virus called "protease". It does this by fitting into a small crevice in the protease and disrupting it's activity - kind of like throwing a wrench into the gears of a machine. But, the virus is smart. If it changes the shape of the crevice, the drug can fit in there anymore and is ineffective. Tipranavir is unique because it is able to change its shape to fit in the modified virus.

Resistance to HIV Drugs

In this video we see how the HIV virus is also to adapt to treatment with HIV drugs. The virus can mutate, changing its shape to prevent drugs from inhibiting its activity. Eventually all HIV treatment will fail.

Cotton

2008-02-20T11:59:00.000-05:00

The weird thing about American television is that you will see T.V. advertisements for the most bizarre things. I am going to feature some of these ads over the next few weeks.

The first is an ad for cotton. Yes, that is right, cotton. Why would you need an advertisement for a fabric, might you ask? Actually, I really don't know. Although I might contend the idea of cotton being the "fabric of our lives", I must say it sure is a pretty looking ad. Also, it apparently features cotton fields in South Carolina. This state certainly does have some beautiful areas!

Barack Obama: "Just words?"

2008-02-19T19:54:00.000-05:00

Last week, Hillary Clinton commented that while Barack Obama was capable of delivering great speeches, they were really "just words" and had no real value compared to the real "solutions" she could offer. Barack Obama delivered a passionate response to this accusation. What followed was probably the most moving thing I have ever heard from a political figure. Indeed, Barack Obama has outlined detailed plans for America, despite the claims of Hillary Clinton.

I encourage you to watch this short clip.

UTMB Second Look

2008-02-18T18:02:00.001-05:00

I had the chance to return to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas for an all-expense paid "Second Look" weekend as part of their Combined MD-PhD program that I was accepted into. It was a fantastic weekend. They took us to the best restaurants, gave us tours of the island, and a chance to meet and have fun with current students.

Galveston was the original capital of Texas, prior to a large hurricane that destroyed much of the city in the early 1900s. However, you can see around the city that many of the homes and architecture recall a time when it was the most important city in the state. In particular, some of the neighbourhoods have a very interesting victoria, gothic style that reminds me of a Tim Burton film.

You can see that this tree has managed to grow into the fence of this beautiful old home in the historic area of Galveston. This is an area where many students at UTMB live and own their own homes, the price of which are quite affordable.

These pictures were taken in one of the random public gardens around Galveston's residential neighbourhoods.

On my way back to Clemson from Galveston our plane ran into some severe weather. Severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings were called in some of the counties around the Atlanta Airport that I was flying to. You can see this wall of clouds. We circled in the air for a while, before having to land in Hunstville, Alabama for a couple hours. The weather soon cleared, and we were able to continue on our way.

Vancouver 2010

2008-02-08T11:35:00.001-05:00

I managed to find the bid original video that was used to help win the 2010 Winter Olympics for Vancouver. It's a great video that really shows off the beauty of Vancouver-Whistler. Enjoy!

(Note: Just click on the "play" button in the bottom, left-hand corner.)

Mac Market Share

2008-02-01T13:46:00.000-05:00

Awesome news for us Mac users! The most recent data is in showing that Mac OS X market share has increased 22% from a year ago, and 76% from two years ago! Wow! This news follows Apple's recent report of a 44% increase in sales of Apple desktop and laptop computers from a year ago, and their $9.6 billion dollars of revenue in the last quarter (the best in Apple history).

It's a great time to be a Mac user!

Click on the chart for a full-size view.

Lost - Season 4 Premier!

2008-01-31T19:56:00.000-05:00

For those Lost fanatics out there (like myself), I'm sure you're all thrilled to see the return of the best show on TV right now! It premiers tonight at 8:00 PM Eastern (which unfortunately conflicts with the Obama-Clinton debate on CNN, for those interested). I always download the show off of iTunes the next day (or through other sources, such as the ABC website) so that I can watch it in HD and without commercials.

If you have not experienced "Lost" yet, then I suggest you get caught up by watching the DVDs! Lost is a show that you cannot, and must not, just enter into midway. It is like one continuous episode, and if you miss any of them, you will have no idea what is going on. You can check out Amazon to get Season 1, Season 2, or Season 3. I don't get paid by them, I just like their low prices on books and movies.

First Author Publication!

2008-01-30T08:45:00.000-05:00

I recently found out that the Journal of Applied Physiology has accepted my publication titled, "Development of a Low-Dose Anti-resorptive Drug Regimen Reveals Synergistic Suppression of Bone Formation when Coupled with Disuse". You can read the abstract on PubMed by following this link or you can download the full article here.

This is my first, first-author paper, and I was very happy to see it published! Back in January of 2006 I found out that the work I completed with Dr. Brian Leander in the Department of Botany & Zoology at UBC has been accepted. That was a second-author publication, you can read that blog post by clicking here.

Funniest Commercial Ever?

2008-01-28T10:12:00.000-05:00

I saw this commercial on TV the other day, and I must say I could NOT stop laughing. It is for Orbit gum. I have never had the gum, so, I'm not sure how good it is. What I do know is that they make a good advertisement. You may need to watch it a few times to catch it all.

Transcript:

Wife: "You son of a biscuit-eating bulldog."
Husband: "What the French, toast!?"
Wife: "Did you think I wouldn't find out about your little doo doo head cootie queen?"
Mistress: "Who are you calling a cootie queen? You lint-licker!"
Wife: "Pickle you kumquat!"
Husband: "You're overreacting."
Wife: "No, Bill, overreacting was when I put your convertible into a wood chipper, Stinky McStinkface!"

Obama Rally at Clemson

2008-01-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Senator Barack Obama held a rally at Clemson that I attended with some friends from the lab. It was quite the experience! I've definitely been swayed by his message working together to change America for the better. It was a refreshing and inspirational message that was so much different from the typical scare tactics that you hear from the other guys. You can read more about Obama's campaign at his website or you can also download a PDF document that outlines his election platform.

UPDATE: Obama won the South Carolina primary 2:1 over Clinton, representing a major win. Above is Obama's victory speech from Columbia, South Carolina. It is about 15 minutes long, but, I would highly recommend watching it. You'll never hear a more passionate or inspiring speaker this day in age.

MacBook Air

2008-01-22T15:01:00.000-05:00

Apple released their new ultraportable notebook computer today, called the MacBook Air. Coming in at under 3 lbs and less than 0.75 inches at its thickest point, the MacBook Air is the thinnest notebook ever made. You can check out more details of this pretty amazing device here. I must say, while I wouldn't be willing to give up some of the features (i.e., DVD drive) in this computer, I am anxious to see how they apply what they learned in making this device to the next generation of full-powered MacBook Pros.

Here is the new MacBook Air commercial that is running on TV. It really gives you a feel for just how thin this thing is.

Snow in Clemson? (+Huckabee)

2008-01-16T16:23:00.000-05:00

Snow in Clemson, South Carolina?! Jeepers creepers. Who would have thought. It was actually pretty cold, we got down to -8 C one day. That's a bit cold I don't care where you are from (Antarctica excluded).

Yes, my wonderful attempt at being very quaint and nostalgic with this photo. In reality I just didn't want to go farther into the cold than a metre from my front door.

Only in South Carolina would it even enter into someone's head to put this on their vehicle.

Later that day Republican Presidental Candidate Mike Huckabee paid Clemson a visit. I went to check it out, but, he was 90 minutes late! So, nuts to that. Contrary to what some of the campaign signs stated, I do not "like Mike" right now.

Chilliwack River

2008-01-05T16:18:00.000-05:00

First post of 2008! I went up with my mom to Chilliwack River to get some shots of the river and the surrounding foliage. The greens really seem to pop with this new camera.

Downtown Vancouver

2007-12-30T23:32:00.000-05:00

Today I got the chance to go see a Vancouver Canucks hockey game with a friend of mine; however, before we headed to GM Place we decided to peruse around Downtown Vancouver near the Waterfront Station. I got some great pics of the new convention centre that is under constuction, as well as the world's largest mailbox!

Snow in Aldergrove

2007-12-28T10:28:00.000-05:00

I was in Aldergrove visiting my friend Parveer when we were treated to a bit of snow. I managed to grab some pictures from around the local school.

Boxing Day

2007-12-26T20:27:00.000-05:00

The wonderful Canadian holiday of Boxing Day is upon us. For the non-Canadian readers it's really a bizarre holiday that doesn't mean much to us other than 1) we get a day off of work, and 2) there are insane deals at all the stores (think Black Friday). You can read more about Boxing Day by clicking here.

Of course, what it means for me is the annual trek to South Surrey to visit my Great Aunt and Uncle and enjoy some great food and family.

This is my Dad. I swear, happiest guy you will ever meet. But, get a camera on him and you'd think his house had just exploded.

Cutest dog on the planet? Possibly. Though, after watching this Youtube video you might disagree.

Cousin Lori and Uncle Russ. As you can see, Lori is such a mature woman. What is that, spring rolls?

Merry Christmas (+ New Camera!)

2007-12-25T12:24:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I got the amazing Canon G9 digital camera for Christmas (thanks mom!) and I'm just giving it a workout around the new neighbourhood being redeveloped near the house. I am pretty impressed so far, but, I am going to have to figure out how to use all of these manual controls.

The Bateman Lab

2007-11-29T13:20:00.000-05:00

Today we hauled everyone out to get the old group photo. Good looking bunch this year! You can check out the Bateman Lab website, including profiles of all of its members, by clicking here.

From Left to Right: Laura, Michael, Erica, Leida, Eric B., Jeff, Eric L., Ted, Shane, Rich, Hope.
Missing: Stephanie

San Francisco 2007

2007-10-25T15:14:00.001-04:00

We were in San Francisco this past week for the 2007 American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology Annual Meeting. The conference was held at the NASA Ames Research Center, about 30 minutes east of San Francisco. Even so, we got the chance to explore the city and see the sights. It is without a doubt the most beautiful city I have visited in America. A wonderful mix of people and scenery. It's also the home to Apple (and if you know me, you know that counts for a lot!).

Clemson Homecoming 2007

2007-10-20T18:25:00.000-04:00

Apparently U.S. Universities have this thing called "Homecoming" in the autumn where all of the alumni come back to the school for a big celebration (that coincides with the Homecoming football game). As part of this, a number of floats are made. Unusually, the floats here at Clemson are stationary, rather than being the typically slow moving motorized variety. Regardless, I was pretty impressed with the creativity and quality of some of these. Enjoy!

Wake Forest Study

2007-10-16T16:35:00.000-04:00

We just finished up the last phase of an absolutely crazy radiation study at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The pictures below were taken in the Cancer Treatment Facility at the Medical Center. During the day it is used to treat patients, but in the off-hours it is open for scientific purposes. The man pictured is Jeff Willey, our senior graduate student and the one who organized this whole study. Great job Jeff!

iPhone (aka JesusPhone)

2007-09-30T22:45:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally broke down and bought the iPhone. I must say, it is without a doubt the most amazing thing that I have ever owned. You see it on TV, like in the commercial below, but it really is even more amazing to use it in person. I was in the Apple Store in Atlanta, and I knew as soon as I picked it up, "I can't see any possible way that I can leave this store without buying this". The rest is history.

Endeavour Lands!

2007-08-21T12:13:00.000-04:00

At 12:30 pm today the shuttle landed! It was an amazing thing to see. Before you could even see the shuttle there was two incredibly loound booms as it slowed down past the sound barrier. Then you could see it come swooping in for its landing.

Within three hours our animals were unloaded and we could start our work. It ended up being a very long day, were were there working until about 10:30 pm. (Having started the day in the lab at 6:30 am, were were certainly glad to get home and have some food).

NASA Launch Photos

2007-08-14T10:02:00.000-04:00

Hey all. I thought I would upload these spectacular launch photos that were provided to our group by someone from NASA HQ. They used a pretty high powered zoom lens and a amazing quality camera. Enjoy!

Endeavour Launch

2007-08-10T13:05:00.000-04:00

Here is where we got to watch the launch from, right in front of the launch control center! This is where all the NASA employees come to see the launch, talk about VIP!

T-60 seconds to launch! You can feel the tension in the air, everyone is holding the breath waiting for the launch.

6:36 PM Eastern Time: Lift off! The 4.5 million pound (2 million kg) shuttle lifts off from the launch pad! The roaring sound of the launch takes about 10 seconds to arrive to where we are.

The sound is incredible! What's more, the exhaust from the shuttle is so bright it is hard to even look at it.

The exhaust plume from Endeavour.

Here is the video that I took of Endeavour taking off. In about 5 minutes it will be rocketing through space at 28,000 km/hour. It will circle the earth about 11 times a day!

Astronaut Walkout

2007-08-09T14:44:00.000-04:00

The big day!

Shelli and I await the arrival of the ENdeavour Astronauts. They'll be getting into the AirStream "astro van" on their way to the shuttle launch pad. Right now their being outfitted in their suits and undergoing final health checks.

All the press and NASA employees await the astronauts. The heat is incredible right now, but it'll be worth it!

Thumbs up for the astronauts.

Here they are, the crew of Endeavour!

U.S. Navy Commander Scott J. Kelly will command the seven-person crew of STS-118. Charles O. Hobaugh will be Endeavour's pilot. Veteran astronauts Richard A. Mastracchio and Dr. (Dave Williams of the Canadian Space Agency will be returning to space for their second missions. Barbara R. Morgan, Tracy E. Caldwell, and Benjamin Alvin Drew round out the crew as mission specialists.

Heading into the astro van. Lets hope they have air conditioning in that thing.

Here is a video that I took of the Endeavour Astronauts coming out from the Operations and Control (O&C) Building into the "astro van" on their way to the launch pad.

Launch BBQ

2007-08-08T05:55:00.000-04:00

Well, today is the big day! This morning a parge picnic/BBQ was hosted by BioServe and Amgen (the primary collaborators on the study we're involved with). We were at a park down by the ocean, and although it was hot, the food was great (and free!).

Have to keep hydrated in this heat!

Nice ocean view from the BBQ site.

Rich and Jeff, keeping it real.

Keep on smlin'! We need that positive energy to get the shuttle up.

Here's the group enjoying lunch - although Eric B. (back right) looks a little stunned.

Night Before Shuttle Launch

2007-08-07T12:45:00.000-04:00

Well, we're finally down to one day to launch! Everything is looking good, with all the previous issues with pressure valves and such no longer an issue.

Excited!

The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) - always an impressive sight! This is where the shuttle is moved from horizontal to its vertical launch position. Then, it's loaded onto the big, external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters before being brought out to the launch pad.

Here's the group! (Left to Right): Eric B., Ted, Eric L., Erica, Stephanie, Jeff, Shane, Rich.

The night before the launch they roll back the scaffolding and illuminate the shuttle - all systems go!

VAB at night.

2007-08-05T10:40:00.000-04:00

Just 4 days to launch! Getting closer....

Mars Phoenix Probe set to launch at 5:30 am!! After a 10 month journey to Mars, the Phoenix will land at the northern pole to collect rock, dirt and ice samples and explore for life.

Heading over from Kennedy Space Center to the Canaveral Air Force Station where all of the rocket launch (but not shuttle launch) facilities are.

Platform 17, holding the Delta II rocket that will carry the Mars Phoenix. To be honest, I'm not sure if it's the right or the left pad... they both look the same.

Around Base & Bruce Willis

2007-08-04T07:29:00.000-04:00

The exhilerating energy of the Bruce Willis Blues Band. Riiiighht...

Eric and Rich are excited to see The Bruce in person!

On the secure base at Kennedy Space Center - just 5 days to go! (Warning: avoid taking pictures in sandles in Florida grass, mysterious bugs will bit your foot and cause red marks).

Delta IV rocket preparing to launch a defense department satellite at the end of the month.

Rocket displays at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Center.

Canaveral Towers

2007-08-03T10:25:00.000-04:00

Well, we have made it down to Florida and checked into the condos that we will be staying at for most of the month. We've got an eighth floor, three-bedroom condo overlooking the pool and the ocean - it's pretty nice. The beach is great, if you can take the heat (but that is what the water is for!).

Off to NASA...

2007-07-31T13:33:00.000-04:00

Well, we're headed down to Florida and the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday! Our lab is part of a collaborative animal study that will be going up on the shuttle Endeavour. We'll be there for teh Shuttle launch on August 7th (pending any delays) and for it's landing 12 days later. We'll also be seeing the launch of a Mars Lander called Phoenix, which should take place on August 4th. I will be sure to post lots of pictures as I get them. We've got beach condos for most of the month, and will (hopefully) also be hitting the ever-popular Disney World.

I hope to have some equally cool pictures in the coming weeks, I'll keep you all posted!

iSight and Photo Booth

2007-06-25T15:37:00.000-04:00

Well, it turns out you can have a lot of fun with the built in iSight camera in the MacBook Pro and the Photo Booth software the comes pre-loaded.

Oh no, it's a radiation attack!

I've got a head ache! A bad one!

Our cover for the new CD we're putting out. "The Geek Squad"

Some mysterious creature prepares to flick Eric Livingston in the head, while a headless Eric Bandstra looks on.

Camera catches an image of Jeff after eating the world' sourest candy.

New MacBook Pro!

2007-06-22T15:29:00.000-04:00

Well, I thought I would update you all. I finally got my new MacBook Pro last week. It's a beast of a machine! I love it. The screen is so incredibly bright and clear, and the speed!

For the über geeks out there, here are the specifications:

-2.4 Ghz Intel Core2 Duo
-15.4" LED-backlit Display (Glossy)
-4 GB DDR Ram
-256 G-Force Video
-160 GB Hard Drive
-8X Dual Layer DVD/CD Writer

It also has a tonne of cool other features. Built in iSight Camera and microphone, of course, but also a backlit keyboard. It has a light sensor to detect when the room is dark, then all of the keys light up on the keyboard so you can see them. It's also got a sudden motion sensor that turns the computer off if it detects it is being dropped (to protect the hard drive) and a magnetic power adapter so you can't trip over the cord and bring the whole laptop off the counter!

Highly recommend the MacBook or the MacBook Pro to all you Apple fans or prospective switchers.

Walk to the Lab

2007-06-20T15:11:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd post a nice sort of point-of-view series of pictures to show what I see on my way from my current place to the lab where I work on campus.

113 Clemson Street. This is the place where I am living right now, it's actually pretty good. The kitchen and bathrooms were just rennovated (i.e., a week ago).

Our drive way. Yes, very exciting.

Wonderful Clemson Street.

The road splits here. To the left is Clemson Street (with my place on the left of the road). To the right is another street... that I don't know the name of, but it doesn't matter. All I do know, is that cars don't stop here, making crossing somewhat problematic on occasion.

The train tracks I cross on my way to work (taking the short cut). It's actually in use, and sometimes if my timing is bad I'll have to take the long way around to avoid the train.

Sikes Hall on campus - administration etc.

Clock Tower. Yes, it's 8:50 AM, and it's a Saturday. Yeah for MCAT studying!

I finally made it to the BRC where our lab is! And since its only 30 C, I'm only partially drenched in sweat at this point.

Asheville, North Carolina

2007-06-11T15:04:00.000-04:00

Well, I went to visit my friend and former room mate up in Asheville, NC this past weekend. It was a great trip/visit and we got the chance to see some great scenery in the local "mountains".

Shane in the void.

Ironically the Ohio plates make a claim about the birth of flight. NC and OH tend to fight over this. The Wright Bros. were from Ohio, but the first flight took place in North Carolina. You decide.

The bizarre plants and trees made for a fairy tale-style pathway.

I would love to come back when all the flowers are in bloom. All of the trees/plants you saw in the picture above will bloom with these in the summer.

Me being the rebel, and standing behind the do not cross sign. Oooohh, I'm so tough.

Farewell to Cultus Lake

2007-05-05T14:54:00.000-04:00

As I bid farewell to Cultus Lake (and British Columbia in general) I got some great pics from around the Lake.

It's spring, and certainly warm, but you can still see the last vestiges of winter with the snow capped peak in the distanace. Still, I wouldn't want to go swimming just yet!

Beautiful shot with the lake, boats and someone's hard work on maintaining their flower garden.

The East Side of Cultus Lake. The lake was just so still, almost like glass.

This is the artistic shot that I didn't expect to be artistic when I took it. That's my mom down there on the dock. Almost looks surreal.

Me and my oar.