Friday, August 7, 2009
Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin
Super interesting article about the relationship between exercise and weight gain.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Structure of HIV genome 'decoded'
Article from BBC News:
Scientists say they have decoded the entire genetic structure of HIV-1 - the main cause of Aids in humans.
They hope this will pave the way to a greater understanding of how the virus operates, and potentially accelerate the development of drug treatments.
HIV carries its genetic information in more complicated structures than some other viruses.
The US research, published in Nature, may allow scientists the chance to look at the information buried inside.
HIV, like the viruses which cause influenza, hepatitis C and polio, carries its genetic information as single-stranded RNA rather than double-stranded DNA.
The information enclosed in DNA is encoded in a relatively simple way, but in RNA this is more complex.
RNA is able to fold into intricate patterns and structures. Therefore decoding a full genome opens up genetic information that was not previously accessible, and may hold answers to why the virus acts as it does.
The team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said they planned to use the information to see if they could make tiny changes to the virus.
"If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," says Ron Swanstrom, professor of microbiology and immunology.
"We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host."
Deep inside
Dr David Robertson from the University of Manchester welcomed this "definitive analysis".
"What this may reveal is some of the proteins operating at a level below the structures, which may have all sorts of functions within the virus.
"More generally, if we can unpick the structures then we can compare the systems of different viruses and gain new understanding of how they work."
Keith Alcorn of the HIV information service NAM added: "Encouraging the virus to mutate is not a new idea, but it is one of a number of options on the table.
"How important this information will be for the development of new drugs remains to be seen, but it is a useful addition to what we know."
Scientists say they have decoded the entire genetic structure of HIV-1 - the main cause of Aids in humans.
They hope this will pave the way to a greater understanding of how the virus operates, and potentially accelerate the development of drug treatments.
HIV carries its genetic information in more complicated structures than some other viruses.
The US research, published in Nature, may allow scientists the chance to look at the information buried inside.
HIV, like the viruses which cause influenza, hepatitis C and polio, carries its genetic information as single-stranded RNA rather than double-stranded DNA.
The information enclosed in DNA is encoded in a relatively simple way, but in RNA this is more complex.
RNA is able to fold into intricate patterns and structures. Therefore decoding a full genome opens up genetic information that was not previously accessible, and may hold answers to why the virus acts as it does.
The team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said they planned to use the information to see if they could make tiny changes to the virus.
"If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," says Ron Swanstrom, professor of microbiology and immunology.
"We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host."
Deep inside
Dr David Robertson from the University of Manchester welcomed this "definitive analysis".
"What this may reveal is some of the proteins operating at a level below the structures, which may have all sorts of functions within the virus.
"More generally, if we can unpick the structures then we can compare the systems of different viruses and gain new understanding of how they work."
Keith Alcorn of the HIV information service NAM added: "Encouraging the virus to mutate is not a new idea, but it is one of a number of options on the table.
"How important this information will be for the development of new drugs remains to be seen, but it is a useful addition to what we know."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box, or larynx, that causes your voice to become raspy or hoarse. In my case, completely gone.
Most of the time, it comes on quickly and lasts no more than 2 weeks. (2 weeks is a long time!)
With most cases of laryngitis, home treatment is all that you need. Try to rest your voice, add moisture to the air in your home with a humidifier or vaporizer, and drink plenty of fluids.
sigh
Most of the time, it comes on quickly and lasts no more than 2 weeks. (2 weeks is a long time!)
With most cases of laryngitis, home treatment is all that you need. Try to rest your voice, add moisture to the air in your home with a humidifier or vaporizer, and drink plenty of fluids.
sigh
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Love
THE IRONY OF LOVE...... is loving the right person at the wrong time, having the wrong person when the time is right, and finding out that you love someone right after that person has walked out of your life.
Sometimes you think you're already over a person, but when you see them smile at you, you suddenly realize that you're just pretending to be over them, just to ease the pain of knowing that they will never be yours again. For some, letting go is one way of expressing how much they love a person, but for others it's holding on to that special feeling as long as possible before it fades away.
Most relationships tend to fail not because of the absence of love, love is always present, it's just that one was being loved too much and the other wasn't being loved enough.
We all know that the heart is the center of the body, but it beats on the left. Maybe thats the reason why the heart is not always right. Most often, we fall in love with the person we think we love only to discover that for them, we are just a pass time, while the one who truly loves us remains either a friend or a stranger.
So here's a piece of advice: Let go when you are hurting too much. Give up when you or the other believes love isn't enough, and move on when things are not like before. There is someone out there who will honestly love you, and only then will you know true love.
-Ellie Treinen
Sometimes you think you're already over a person, but when you see them smile at you, you suddenly realize that you're just pretending to be over them, just to ease the pain of knowing that they will never be yours again. For some, letting go is one way of expressing how much they love a person, but for others it's holding on to that special feeling as long as possible before it fades away.
Most relationships tend to fail not because of the absence of love, love is always present, it's just that one was being loved too much and the other wasn't being loved enough.
We all know that the heart is the center of the body, but it beats on the left. Maybe thats the reason why the heart is not always right. Most often, we fall in love with the person we think we love only to discover that for them, we are just a pass time, while the one who truly loves us remains either a friend or a stranger.
So here's a piece of advice: Let go when you are hurting too much. Give up when you or the other believes love isn't enough, and move on when things are not like before. There is someone out there who will honestly love you, and only then will you know true love.
-Ellie Treinen
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Facebook Going Public
As of today, Facebook is going public. Yikes. Make sure your settings are all set to Private. Article from the NYT here.
Friday, June 26, 2009
ABCs of Branding: 8 Branding Lessons Through Michael Jackson Song Titles
We Are The World
→ Be Conscientious - Strive for excellence. Maintain strong beliefs.
By Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie, USA for Africa - 1985
Got To Be There
→ Have Empathy for Your Customers - Cultivate loyalty beyond reason. Personalize the experience for your customers. Support your evangelists to increase your loyal following."Got To Be There" from Got To Be There - 1972
Rock With You
→ Be Genuine - Be approachable, be authentic, and be real. Do this as employees, a company, and a brand."Rock With You" from Off The Wall - 1979
The Love You Save
→ Have and Live Your Values - Stand for something, not for everything. Have a reason for being. Let financial success be a by-product of doing the right thing."The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5 from ABC - 1970
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
→ Be Remarkable - Don't settle for good. Zag! Pop! Pow! Be A Purple Cow. Be Remark-able."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" from Off The Wall - 1979
Man In The Mirror
→ Maintain Vision - Want to make the world a better place. Help your customers live their dreams. Build to last, not to flip."Man In The Mirror" from Michael Jackson Bad - 1987
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
→ Strive To Develop Innovative Ideas - Don't fall behind. Adapt to changing circumstances. Keep creating ideas that innovate."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" from Thriller - 1982
Off The Wall
→ Have Fun - So tonight... gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf... And just enjoy yourself! Groove! Let the madness in the music get to you. Life ain't so bad at all... If you live it off the wall."Off The Wall" from Off the Wall - 1979
→ Be Conscientious - Strive for excellence. Maintain strong beliefs.
By Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie, USA for Africa - 1985
Got To Be There
→ Have Empathy for Your Customers - Cultivate loyalty beyond reason. Personalize the experience for your customers. Support your evangelists to increase your loyal following."Got To Be There" from Got To Be There - 1972
Rock With You
→ Be Genuine - Be approachable, be authentic, and be real. Do this as employees, a company, and a brand."Rock With You" from Off The Wall - 1979
The Love You Save
→ Have and Live Your Values - Stand for something, not for everything. Have a reason for being. Let financial success be a by-product of doing the right thing."The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5 from ABC - 1970
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
→ Be Remarkable - Don't settle for good. Zag! Pop! Pow! Be A Purple Cow. Be Remark-able."Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" from Off The Wall - 1979
Man In The Mirror
→ Maintain Vision - Want to make the world a better place. Help your customers live their dreams. Build to last, not to flip."Man In The Mirror" from Michael Jackson Bad - 1987
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
→ Strive To Develop Innovative Ideas - Don't fall behind. Adapt to changing circumstances. Keep creating ideas that innovate."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" from Thriller - 1982
Off The Wall
→ Have Fun - So tonight... gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf... And just enjoy yourself! Groove! Let the madness in the music get to you. Life ain't so bad at all... If you live it off the wall."Off The Wall" from Off the Wall - 1979
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Kiva Bake Sale!
Today at work, we are having a bake sale. Everyone was asked to bake some goodies and bring them into the office.
We have 3 silent auction items (red velvet cake, zucchini bread and apple cheesecake) as well as numerous other cookies, brownies and bars for individual sale.
All funds raised are going to support Kiva entrepreneurs through loans which means every dollar given to bake sale will be invested, reinvested, and reinvested for years and years to come!
We have 3 silent auction items (red velvet cake, zucchini bread and apple cheesecake) as well as numerous other cookies, brownies and bars for individual sale.
All funds raised are going to support Kiva entrepreneurs through loans which means every dollar given to bake sale will be invested, reinvested, and reinvested for years and years to come!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
WTA Day
Liz and I volunteered with the Washington Trails Association to clear a trail in the Snoqualmie National Forest. We started off the day clearing the start of the trailhead as you coule barely tell a trail started there. Luckily, we had purchased "Joy of Gardening" gloves from Fred Meyer the day before and we ready with the clippers to clear down some weeds and major over-grown plant life. After that, we started rebuilding a wall that had fallen with rocks. And when I say rocks, I mean boulders. It took us over 2 hours to esablish 6 rocks.\
Liz helped by being the brains of the rocks and I was the muscle. But she did help out as I was rolling the rocks down the riverbed by grunting and claiming "that looks heavy!". It was good fun.
At the end of the day in our sweet helmets.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Volunteering
Tomorrow, Liz and I are volunteering for the first time with the Washington Trails Association. We have signed up to help clean up a hiking trail about 2 hours from Seattle. We wear hard hats and work gloves...this is going to be fun!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hiking Vernal Falls - Yosemite Day 4
We hiked to the top of Vernal Falls and the base of Nevada Falls. After hiking up the mountain, you then climbed 600 steps that were flattened rocks, slippery from years of use and mist from the waterfall and lined with a sheer cliff to the roaring river below.
Awesome.
Vernal Falls in the distance
Dad doing good on the climb up
Sean on the rock steps, see the incline?
Rainbow from about halfway up the hike
Another pretty rainbow caused by the mist, at this point, we were soaking wet from the "mist"
Top of Vernal Falls, this is what you go through before you reach...
...this! Vernal Falls!
Falls, river, rocks and rainbow
Hmm, fake smile #1.(Please note the soaking wetness, Jena had a hood, I did not)
Kinda fake smile #2. I think its time for more Mom-packed lunches and snacks
So pretty
Up to the base of Nevada Falls we stopped to take a dip in the stream
Just kidding! I mean, I am a good swimmer but I am pretty sure that the 54 degree river would win.
Nevada Falls!
Jena, Sean, Nevada Falls
Kinda fake smile #2. I think its time for more Mom-packed lunches and snacks
So pretty
Up to the base of Nevada Falls we stopped to take a dip in the stream
Just kidding! I mean, I am a good swimmer but I am pretty sure that the 54 degree river would win.
Nevada Falls!
Jena, Sean, Nevada Falls
Rafting the Merced River - Yosemite Day 3
While we didn't want to wear the wetsuits at first, at that first soaking wave, we were glad we did!
Despite how awesome all of these pictures are, I think Jena is the bread-winner with the action shot of picking her butt in the wetsuit.
The Martin/Thompson clan loves Whitewater Excitement!
The "men" in their sweet wetsuits and even more awesome hats.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
