Notes on my desk

These are the stickie notes that have been tattooing my desk:

option 1: make stupid options impossible
option 2: learn to recognize and choose wise options (12/9/09)

cast spells, not gels

"What have you been doing? Get it, get it better, or get it worse. No middle ground of compromise." -- Thomas Eakins to Henry Ossawa Tanner.

"...[L]ike a tree planted by the waters..."

TODAY*
*is the day of salvation

turn your worries into experiments (1/15/10)

should --> am --> have
|
|
\/
changed mind

(don't let the "shoulds" build up)

vigilant patience

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it." -- Rene Descartes

"It is a shameful thing to be weary of inquiry when what we search for is excellent." -- Cicero (as quoted on the ISI website, 5/13/09)

the blessed now

"My soul finds rest in God alone... He alone is my rock, and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." -- Ben Franklin

good is stronger than evil (4/15/09)

the basic idea: use what's known to predict, then test, characteristics of a system/process/molecule (3/28/09)

"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lost his own soul?" -- God
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -- Jim Eliot

French mice no eat Velveeta

"Aim at nothing and you are sure to hit it." -- Michael Jordan

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

"Seek and ye shall find; knock and the door shall be opened."

pico = 10^-12
femto = 10^-15
atto = 10^-18
zepto = 10^-21
yocto = 10^-24

Research activities:
* conducting experiments
* organizing or analyzing data
* presenting findings in a publication or dissertation
* collaborating with faculty: preparing publications
* overseeing the work of other research assistants
* other research activities

interferent* or interferant
fluorimeter or fluorometer*
(* = Skoog)

NO3^2- most are soluble (nitrate)
Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, Rb+, NH4+ most are soluble (alkali metal ions and ammonia)
Cl-, Br-, I- most are soluble (exceptions: salts with Ag+, Pb2+, Hg2^2+)
SO4^2- most are soluble (exceptions: salts with Ba2+, Pb2+, Hg2^2+, Ca2+)

OH- are only slightly soluble (exceptions: NaOH & KOH are soluble; Ba(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, Ca(OH)2 are marginally soluble)
S2-, CO3^2-, CrO4^2-, PO4^3- most are only slightly soluble
(Zumdahl, Chemistry, (2000), p. 150).

* Give estimate of # of rounds and stick to SMART goals
* Read at home and write down what experiments to do
* Work here
* Prioritizing is key
(work on other stuff only during down time during selection)
* First thing every day: Fe3+ selection
* Be at the bench all the time
* Make decisions quickly
* If have questions, ask Dr. Lu directly
* Begin the Fe2+ selection, too
* Need results for the grant: I'm the only one on it
(1/4/10)

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." -- Psalm 126:5