Last day of 2015

Consciousness

Last day of 2015, 

I've been swamped with an idea,

that relives my college freshman scenes.

Compassion Vs Fact

Analysis (Part I)

I’d like to process today how many layers of consideration do we have to put into when we consider a root of a problem/argument/debate/conflict/etc etc etc?

Then we use “compassion” when we consider someone else problem. How far we can sustain such a compassion when it comes to dealing with a problem? Do we outright demand an expected response what it’s supposed to be or do we have a personal compassion which is in turn dictated by many strata of consideration?

Here’s an example.

Year End Lunchbreak

Today is our year end lunch break at Weill Hall 2nd floor. It has been 4 years since I joined Weill Institute Cell and Molecular Biology. Since this is the only time when everyone from every lab in WICMB comes down and has lunch together, I began seeing new faces some of whom I don't even know if they're graduates or postdocs.

I'd like to end my post with this song, oldie but goodie; the song from 90s when I was in high school.

"When I look into your eyes" by Firehouse

Vegan Cheesecake

Today is my first day I ever tried eating vegan cheesecake after 30 years of carnivore life.

Unless I'm told it's made of vegan, I would have believed it's just a normal cheesecake with a bit difference in flavor. I also learned that cheesecake was made out of tofu. It's chocolate vegan cheesecake. Sweet.

Feedback

Today I received quite a number of feedbacks on my student seminar from last week.

Most of the comments I found common:
1. Lots of Data
2. Speak slowly

What stands out among those comments and I found it peculiar is one feedback that reads like this:

Positive comment(s):
So much data! You Rock!

Advice for improvement:
You are perfect.

This is my first ever feedback that makes me smile.

To Hold A Conversation When Words Are Not Enough

I've been listening to one of my favorite songs MLTR's A Complicated Heart a lot these days.

With their mellifluous song and a rather rhythmic flow of the piano music, I feel nostalgic and at the same time found myself passing time with ease, somehow knowing that this is the song I listened to when I was in 8th grade (1998). This is me after 17 years, listening to the same song again. 

~ ~ To hold a conversation when words are not enough. ~ ~  

A Wobbling Market

After a recent market crush in September, all began from where; some point finger at China slowing GDP growth, others point finger at the US potential interest rate hike, and these two big countries spooking each other market days and nights, SPY was pounded from all time high $213 to $187 within a week. This crush makes you realize a prior Greek bailout in June was just another pre hiccup before the market took a dive.

The FOMC is pondering these days whether or not to hike the rate. Last meeting in October, they mentioned the rate hike was still an option and will consider this again in coming December 15-16 week. The market was eventually up until last few days and reacted horribly last week.

Based upon that, I consider writing my findings on markets in future posts and what it really means for an average investor like me in the long run.

Personality Test

Today I took the Myers Briggs test. Basically the test is designed to reflect the personality of the taker, based upon four different psychological functions: Sensation, Intuition, Feeling and Thinking. Depending on how deep one's psychological trait influences in each category, you can be categorized as having one from 16 different personality outcomes.

My result shows that I am "INTJ". 

Introvert (31%), Intuitive (38%), Thinking (47%), Judging (16%). 

What's surprising is only 2% of the general population has INTJ personality, and they tend to cluster in Science, Technology, Business, Investment Banker, Executive and mostly in tech fields. 

"FAMOUS INTJS

Famous INTJs include Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Bill Gates, Dwight Eisenhower, Alan Greenspan, Ulysses S. Grant, Stephen Hawking, John Maynard Keynes, Ayn Rand, Isaac Asimov, Lewis Carroll, Cormac McCarthy, and Sir Isaac Newton."

What's even more surprising from the list is I recently watched the 1943 movie "The Fountainhead" based on one of the Ayn Rand best selling novels.  

I have read Asimov robot series too, where three laws of robotics were first introduced, I recall.

The State of feeling "Done" and "Incompleteness" at the same time

I am tired from going through all the meetings, and talk.

Journal Club at Friday (I presented Cdc42 paper published in PLos from Sophie Martin lab)
Journal Club at our group meeting (I presented modeling paper from P.Brennwald lab)
Membrane Signaling Group talk (25 min)
CSHL talk (12 min)
GGD Student seminar (45 min)

Those happened during two months, excluding my practice talk over and over again.