December the 29th - 2009 Wrap-Up

Firefox and Pidgin beta installations
Google Docs organization
BMMB 598C syllabus review
XMarks cleanup

December the 16th - 100th Post!

FINALS WEEK - END FALL '09

Wake Up: 11PM Sunday the 13th
Worked until morning on laboratory organization materials
Went out to brunch with Sydney and Dr C on Monday morning
Returned to Fenske to continue studying
Studied ChE 535-Rxn Eng overnight
Nap, midnight-1:30am on Tuesday the 15th
ChE 535 exam, 8am
Retrieved feedback for ChE 535 presentation project
Returned to apartment briefly
India Pavilion!  (Annette, Ben, Sydney, Dr. C, Matt, Brian, Jilli)
Returned to lab to design 'Electronic Laboratory Notebook'
Spiraling doom...
CRASH (6:30PM)

Wake Up: 2:30AM Wednesday the 16th
Set up 'Software Configuration' site
Organized some Course Harvest stuff; created 'Classes_Multimedia' sync
Pack up, head to lab!

August the 31st

Write 'SHOtime Reflections' paper

Stop by the HUB; fill out 'officer report form'

• Vice President - Kristin Adolfsen (kja5015)
• Secretary – Stephen Pishney (srp5072)
• Treasurer – Dan Reilly (dtr5016)
• Service Chair – Taylor Schulz (tcs5043)

Pick up camera tripod from Matt

Plan 'Toxic Mold: A Housewarming Party'

Maybe Chem 212 tutoring (1-2pm)... check messages!

ChE 438 videotaping

Inoculate aerobic (dd1,7,1cy,7cy) cultures for plasmid harvest

ENGR 497I - Teaching Internship at night

Continue process Lab Access Request forms
===============================
Honors Orientation
Complete by posting Mentor Evaluation
Sign up for next year in September!

OXE - ChemE Honors
Fill out 'officer report' form in HUB
Decide on when to have the first informational meeting
Work on 'introductory meeting planning document'

April the Third

So... that bike ride never happened. I ran into a prospective student on my way out, and I put the hour toward a tour of the place instead. After that I tutored physics and got half-price dinner at Pita Pit, and planned to finish off the night with a physics lab. Unsurprisingly, I got distracted in Fenske... and ended up spending ~5 hours teaching material balances and thermodynamics to a group of students that had gathered.

It's almost 5am again... and probably a good time to look at tomorrow.

A Full Day

1200-1400 Tutoring (organic chemistry)
-- Lunch and coordination with home --
-- Review Session planning --
1640-1730 ChE 340 Review
1800-2300 Ag Ball

The Weekend

-- Review Session Coordination --
1400-1800 OChem Review Session
-- Apartment Redux --

The Further Weekend

-- All day reserved for biochemical engineering --

April the Second

This morning I got caught up with some organizational stuff in my apartment, and ended up skipping my first class (along with my last two classes as well!) I managed to sort through all kinds of junk from home, and filter out a good many useful things that I had lost (gloves) or didn't know I had (a million pens). Feeling very well-armed for the day, I DID make it to my second class almost on-time.

Speaking of filtering... apparently bovine serum albumin is used as a stand-in for antibodies in viral filtration studies? BSA is a model protein, but it binds non-specifically to lipids, other proteins, and itself, thanks to hydrophobic patches on the outside of the molecule. Nothing indicates to me that anything learned from BSA would carry over to actual monoclonal antibody production. This is something to look into.

After class, I spent a solid two hours on my network sync project, helping it along by manually transferring files on a 300GB removable hard drive. All of my stuff is almost sync'ed! Once it is, I can begin the long, slow process of organizing everything and doing manual 'version control', culling out the junk that's outdated or no longer useful.

As part of my file management, I've taken to re-learning some Windows command prompt stuff: http://commandwindows.com/command2.htm
Very useful, for anyone who does anything remotely administrative.

My internet domain is almost completely set up! Obviously this account transferred without a hitch, but my Logical Extreme site is also going along as planned: I have Google Apps installed and working on it, and I have all of the FTP and DNS stuff worked out so that my own content uploads and displays correctly. The plan is to use this as a model to show the utility of this hybrid Google/Custom HTML system for managing teams (more specifically, for dealing with the complexities that arise when a single academic research project has active members that are separated by distance and time). Could this turn itself into a business? Dunno if the market is large enough, but it's always worth a shot.

More after the break... weather is just too nice, and it's time for some cycling before I tutor and prep for tonight's physics lab.

March the Twenty-Seventh

*Wakeup* (11am)
Tutoring (12-3pm)
Mentoring stuff
ChE 340
Dinner
Nap (8-12am)
*Sleep* (6am)

March the Twenty-Fifth

*wakeup*
Major OChem Review (all non-rxn Midterm 3 material)
-- breakfast --
12:00-3:00 Tutoring - Chem 210 and BMB 251
Head back to apartment to clean up...
Reformat refurbished hard drive (with external adapter)
-- Dinner -- (quesadillas with Ben)
4:30 - 6:00 ChE 340

AIChE Signup (extended until April 8th!)
Collect some research direction from emails
Backup to Transfer Drive

Review ChE 210, 220 material
Apartment Phys 214:

• ( ) Read chapters 33, 34
  
• ( ) Prewrite lab report

Begin prepping OChem Review Powerpoint
======================

BMB 402

• Finish "electron transport chain" readings

ChE 597C

• Organize Website
  

Other

• Rescue plants; check on CPTC
• Rebuild transfer hard drive
• Activate sync on P4_H2O
• Learn how to use RefWorks
• Pfalzcraft warranty information
• Jesse's Project
  

===========================================
AIChE Regionals (Mid-Atlantic)

Very little information available!

• Register for $65 until April 8th
• Register for $80 until the day-of
• Paper and Poster Competitions require the following:
  Name, Email, Institution, Research Area and Topic
  Description of the Paper/Poster
  
• AIChE Paper Competition website

RHODOBACTER:
Pushing forward the HERSHEY collaboration seems like something that could be done with minimal effort since they are very interested and very excited about potential of isotopic labeling.
BRANDON ... do the sell N-15 labeled yeast extract?
The primary NMR work would be done with just N-15 labeling and not carbon. Some planning there would also be useful.

Building a floatation meter (with multiple LEDs) is still something i would like to undertake ASAP. Working with the details of the algae floatimeter would lend directly to constructing a simple flow through device to monitor absorption ratio for example for a computer controlled feed strategy for a reactor.

RHODOBACTER:
BRANDON, we need to push hard for a conference call with ARGONNE - tomorrow if possible.
Push for new round of data as well as cloning maps for planning.
I will send email this AM.
Clearly need to take a shot at draft of Woodward grant to get that off dead center.
The details of what Hershey will do will have to be super crudely sketched out to help them start filling in blanks.
I sent letter to NIH to request ability to update the NIH-RO1 proposal for the updated strategy for membrane proteins with Hershey.

March the Twenty-Fourth

*wakeup*
Shower; file download
-- breakfast --
8:45-9:45 Tutoring - Chem 212
9:45-12:30 Class

Head back to apartment to work on Phys 214:

• (X) Set up WebAssign
• ( ) Read first chapter (33)
• ( ) Do first WebAssign (Hwk 2)
  
• ( ) Prewrite lab report

4:00-5:00 Tutoring - Phys 250
-- dinner --

Review ChE 210, 220 material
Begin prepping OChem Review (aromatics)
======================

BMB 402

• Finish "electron transport chain" readings

ChE 597C

• Organize Website
  

Research

• AIChE Presentation details
  

Other

• Rescue plants; check on CPTC
• Rebuild transfer hard drive
• Activate sync on P4_H2O
• Learn how to use RefWorks

Chemical Engineering

• Experimental Design
• Rational Data Fitting
• Statistical Analysis
  
• Numerical Methods and Modeling
• Biochemical Thermodynamics
• Molecular Stability, Enzymes and Kinetics, Concentration, Pathways and Regulation

Thought: teach a ChemE 'overview course' that treats the cell as a chemical reactor!

March the Twenty-Third

Apps, Blog home: http://brandoncurtis.net
Projects home: http://logicalextreme.net

Google Apps, Blogger relocation

Web hosting research

Web host setup (7.5 cents per day!)

Garden Plot!

pKH email

PSU policy review
Org Intent paperwork pickup

Open Source Web Design
Filezilla FTP Engine

Need to get a bit more organized online...

BMB 402

• Finish "electron transport chain" readings
  

BMB 474

• NONE
  

Phys 214

• Set up WebAssign
• Read first chapter (34?)
• Prewrite lab report
  

ChE 597C

• Organize website
  

ChE 340

• Feedback Form
  

pKH

• Organization paperwork pickup
  
• OChem Review stuff
  

Research

• AIChE presentation info

Other

• Register domain name
  Web Hosting Pad
  
• Learn how to use RefWorks
• Plant rescue
  
• Check on CPTC
• Rebuild transfer hard drive

March the 2nd

*wakeup* (1pm)
Grant stuff - OPTIMIZER
psuKnowHow - feedback form


pKH
Review Sessions on campus?
Improve previous Review Packets
Plan for upcoming Review Sessions
Feedback Forms - review sessions, private instruction

Stuff due this week
597C stuff
402 exam
474 exam
Poster

March the 1st

*wakeup*
OChem OChem OChem
psuKnowHow Emails

Dinner

Grant Stuff
ChE 597C Web Design
BMB 402 Review
BMB 474 Review
Write!

February the 25th

*wakeup* (8am)



To Do

Zydney - Bio Option course review
'Artificial Dormancy' project
Set up grow rack
Return library book
MP3 transfer (test rebuilt drive)
Rhodo Reactor Run paper

WRC: Library Notice?
Verizon discount for psu employees?

Check on CP order

February the 24th

*wakeup* (5am)
Micrb 106 Review
Breakfast! (pancakes, oatmeal)
Tutoring (Chem 212)

February the 23rd

*wakeup* (12:30pm)
Office chair repair
Facebook Cleanup
BMB 402 notes review
Shower
Tutoring - Micrb 106
Music Boosters fundraiser dinner
KnowHow - file transfers and Office 2007 discovery
Garden House - pasta and stirfry (multiple meals)
Software install/uninstall/configuration
Breakfast planning and setup
*nap* (4:30am)

February the 22nd

*wakeup* (2pm)
Wash dishes, clean the bathroom (1 hour)
Lunch, Algebra II (2 hours)

• Tortillas, black beans, avocado, hot salsa, sharp cheddar, green peppers, jalapenos...
  

Nap (2 hours)
Dinner

• Cereal
• Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans
• Soy Milk

ChE 340 Statistics Review and Email
Mushroom Saute
Salad!

• Spring Greens
• Carrots
• Green Peppers
• Sauteed Mushrooms
• Olives
• Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar + Parmesan Cheese
  

BMB 402 Slides Review
Dishwashin'
*crash*

February the 21st

*wakeup* (2pm)
Lunch
Bob Dylan
Dinner
Tangelos
Soup and cereal to work
Wheatabix and Peachy Paterno at Barnard Street
psuKnowHow computer improvements
Capsaicin research
Text message archiving
*crash*


On Deck

BMB 402 Slides Review
Review for Chem 210, test 2
Clean up ChE 597C homeworks >> Website
Math 110 Review Session Materials
ChE 340 Review Email
Write!
Erik - Math

Scholarships - http://www.engr.psu.edu/scholarships/
Chem 110, 112, 210 Review Session Planning
Bike Wash
Bike maintenance 'clinic'
Complete setup of the first growth rack in A14


One-Week Resolutions

Ten bowls of cereal/soup (2/22-2/29)

February the 20th

*wakeup* (8:20am)
Determine exactly what courses are needed for ChE, BMB
Matt - Scheduling
Ben - WW access
Jeremy - Instruction Update
General email purge
Return to Garden House... Breakfast, Shower
ChE 340 Meeting
Lunch
Tutoring - Chem 212
ChE 340 planning
ChE 340 Review
Dinner @ Home
Email Review
Back to campus!


On Deck

Scholarships - http://www.engr.psu.edu/scholarships/

February the 19th

*wakeup* (8am)
Bike brake pad swap
Complete dish wash
Food to Fenske
BMB 402 Review
NETL meeting
Lunch
Phys 250 Tutoring
Trek to Wartik
Email sorting
Phone Home
Dinner
*crash*

On Deck

Review Session Planning
ChE 597C Homework
BMB 402 Slides Review
Write!
Bike Wash
Shower
Erik - Math
Matt - Scheduling
Determine exactly what courses are needed for ChE, BMB

Completed

Pick up tickets, hard drive, monitor from home
Guaranty signatures for '09-'10 lease

February the 18th

*wakeup*
Garden plot signup and planning

• WSK garden?
• BPL greenhouse?
  

Road bike brake swap
psuKnowHow advertising
Bill mailing
More bike work
Shower
Lunch
psuKnowHow advertising
Tutoring: BMB 251
Voicemail deconvolution
Angel deconstruction
ChE 340 - both sections

Determine exactly what courses are needed for ChE, BMB
BMB 402 Review
Bike wash
Complete dish wash
ChE 597C Homework


On Deck

Hit home: pick up tickets, replacement hard drive
Signatures for Garanty
Bike maintenance 'clinic'
Complete setup of the first growth rack in A14

Write!

Notes

Decide to do one thing at a time
Showers take 15-20 mins... plan accordingly
Cereal can replace most meals... plant cereal components at work

February the Tenth

*wakeup* (8am)
psuKnowHow - Chem 212 (8:45)
BMB 474
ChE 597C
Lunch (Cereal)
Apartment Selection



On Deck

Clean up ChE 597C homeworks >> Website
CERS Paper Submission Review

Review M.O. Theory; Notes Writeup
Review psuKnowHow (questions I couldn't answer!)

Spring Scheduling
Summer Discovery Grant
Scholarship Overview
IUG Paperwork
Read Rhodo grant
Phys 250 - Prep review materials