Just can't find the time to post these days. Work is coming to a head, again. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. I'm coming to a decision gate in my career, in which i need to hunker down and focus on publishing papers and bringing in grants. The former is coming along ... i'm hoping to get out two myself soon, and both my current postdoc Ivana and my former postdoc Lan will be each sending out one within the next month. I've also been generating grant applications steadily, with three done last month and a very big one scheduled to go out by June 1. Given the current state of the National Institute of Health, it's very difficult to get things funded, but my current philosophy is to continually submit the strongest applications i can to a variety of funding agencies. My projects are expanding but i need to get more students in to keep the work moving forward. I'm staying positive but it's definitely crunch time for me. Atlas shrugged.

On the positive side, my soon-to-be-graduating masters student Raja finally installed our custom built collimator in the microCT scanner in the imaging center, and i must say it is fantastic. Raja and our engineer Fred did an amazing job constructing a flexible, functional device with such precision and integration that it looks like it's a regular component of the scanner gantry. We're now getting the motors working ... Raja sent me a worrisome email the other day in which he casually mentioned that he blew a few capacitors on the motor control board while trying to increase the current delivered to the motors, luckily it was an easy fix ... so shortly we will have a completely novel unit for small animal radiotherapy. That will definitely aid in my search for funding.

Also positive are the results of recent experiments conducted by my molecular biologist Ivana, in which we validate a new reporter gene strategy for use in low oxygen environments. Her experiments are really taking off now, generating some very interesting data for future papers and grants.

I'm already feeling the loss of my radiochemist Lan, who departed Stanford earlier this month to return to Shanghai where he is taking an Assistant Professor position. We've been discussing a host of new experiments in the laboratory and the clinic involving novel PET radiotracers, and we'll need a good radiochemist to spearhead tracer synthesis. Hopefully i'll be able to hire a replacement shortly. In the meantime, Lan is keen on collaborating across the Pacific, so we'll be working out those mechanics and hopefully producing more good results.

When i allow my mind to drift from work ... and i must say that's happening more and more infrequently, as more often my mind is instead drifting towards work ... i've been revisiting my hobbies, some ever-present, some rediscovered. I've started reading Electronic Gaming Monthly again, my favorite of the console gaming magazines. It's got me hyped for the next-gen systems. Although the Xbox 360 is still lacking a formidable stable of games, i'm very impressed with what i've seen of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter. My sister Hilary's boyfriend Jeff has a 360 and this is the game that's occupied him lately. My interest in the 360 is therefore rising, but i think i'll be holding off for a while, for three main reasons. The first is that the games i'm really keen on, the next-gen editions of Splinter Cell and Halo, keep getting pushed back. The second is that the PS3, despite possible similar delays, looks like it will kick Microsoft's console's ass. And the third is that i'm thinking of spending money somewhere else ...

That other expenditure focuses on the "rediscovered hobby" i alluded to above. I've taken an interest in classic scooters again, and am thinking of buying one. It would a good commute vehicle, anticipating nice summer cruises along Alameda de las Pulgas through ultra-rich Atherton. I'm keeping an eye out for an aesthetically pleasing classic Vespa that runs well ... something like a Vespa Rally or Sprint, with at least a 150cc engine but preferably 200cc. I'm interested in learning more about working on scooters, but for starters i'd rather pay a bit more for something reliable than get a deal on something that needs work. It'll probably be a few months before i find something and convince myself to fork over the money, but if anyone sees something that meets my criteria, let me know!

Veronica took me to see Jim Gaffigan at the Palace of Fine Arts last Friday. I wasn't even aware that PoFA had a theater, but it turns out there is a very nice one next to the Exploratorium that holds 1000 people. Mr. Gaffigan was as hilarious as his cd The Last Supper, interspersing classic old jokes ("hooooot pockets!") with equally amusing newer material. We had second row seats and were worried that either Gaffigan or his opener would be picking on us, but neither of them were very interactive with the audience. For better or worse.

Other social activities that i've taken part in recently have included visiting Geoff and Naomi's new apartment on 26th Ave. in the city, attending Veronica's officemate Stephanie's surprise birthday party with her family at Bucca di Beppo last night, catching up with old friends Greg, Noel, Juliet, and co. at a few gatherings last week as well as little Josey's first birthday party tomorrow in Golden Gate Park, and dinner with the folks as well as my sister and Jeff at the Palo Alto Creamery last Sunday.

I think there's something in the water in New Zealand, or some crazy Mystery Spot-like geophysical anomaly. How else do you explain the brilliance of the multitude of indie pop bands hailing from the Oceanic nation? Not a mediocre INXS in the bunch ... they all excel at their chosen genre.

Lately i've also been checking out new-ish albums by Pretty Girls Make Graves (some growth, some filler ... not a mesmerizing third effort but there's certainly room for growth), the Jack White/Brendan Benson project the Raconteurs (excellent excellent excellent, a wonderful fusion of the most alluring aspects of each songwriter), Built to Spill (a great return to form after a five year hiatus), Lilys (Kurt Heasly never stops shifting musical styles, but he always crafts engaging records), the Black Angels (bluesy, droney indie rock that at times gets predictable, but succeeds in constructing a lush, atmospheric experience), Comet Gain (the C-86 descendants still impress with their lo-fi, noise-laden anthems), ¡Forward, Russia! (praised by Editors, the boys from Leeds add another dance punk album to the pile, albeit one with promise), and the Stills (unfortunately, not nearly as interesting as their debut). Lots of great sounds to start off 2006 with a bang.

It's weird, it doesn't matter what i'm doing these days, my thoughts inevitably return to work. Which is good, and bad. Atlas shrugged.