snapshots, genetics retreat

Jim Skeath declared the procedures to notify overtime speakers: an iPad with words "2 min left" on the screen, and an anti-Ting Wang device: a miniature gong. It's just ordinary and uninteresting but it appeared so funny in that occasion. Jim could hardly conceal his complacent in that.

(anyone being in 2010 genetics retreat would understand what "anti-Ting Wang" means: the three talks from our lab [Ting, Brett, me] were all severely overtime, and we collectively ignored the warning of timer)

When I talked, I was so nervous that words just gushed out like a drain pipe out of control. None of my deliberately designed little jokes worked -- or merely not uttered at all.

Learned to play ultimate frisbee, in that calm, cool, beautiful afternoon on the backyard slope of Oak Creek. Everyone was yelling and chasing the flying disc like mad, several with bare foot. The water-laden cloud hovers above us, gazing at us.

That night at bar, Kevin, in the middle of traditional, unconventional, beer-drenched ping-pong game with Gautam, yelled at me how he admired my talk and work, all those restless weekends, ... stuff. I was so pleased at the comment that I got six Schlafly in, 300% over capacity, stumbling to my room before falling into slumber.

I was little disappointed that Jim didn't make more jokes during his closing remark. But I'm really thinking about filming such and his opening remark at all the future events.

Be solemn for a day

It has been a solemn day. I watched the memorial event at Ground Zero live over internet. Though I missed President's readings, I got to watch most of the victim families' remembrance over their loses. I recorded a few of their words, some are especially moving to me:

    "for my mother, a firefighter, you are part of New York"
    "for my amazing father, we love you, please keep watching over us"
"may there in, comfort you"
"alphabet of names, in a green field, in a warehouse of memory"
"to my uncle, we miss you more than words could describe"
"to my great husband, your little daughter turned 20 today, you'll be so proud"
"your dad, your three children, we'll never forget you, we miss you"
"I'll pass on your legacy, I will teach the children everthing you've taught us"
"we miss you so aweful, but we knew you're watching us, we'll meet again"
"we live every day in your honor"
"my dear dad, I hope I can play a round of golf with you"
"the world is a lesser place without you"
"it's been ten years, but it's still not easy without you"
"Danniel, we want you to know you'll always be our baby boy"
"Daddy, I wish you could see me now, because everyday, I try to make you proud"
"Steve, I still see you face every single day when I look at Hanna and Hannous"
"And for my father, who I never met, because I was in my mother's belly. I love the idea of having me, I wish you can be here enjoying with me"
"we keep you in our heart every day"
"we never found you, we never recovered you, but we know where you are"
"dad I'm still learning to cook, I'm working on it, we miss you"
"thank you for the pennies, Ketrina and I love finding them"
"dad I love you, your spirit lives on with your five grandchildren"
"to the world you've just been one person, but to me you are the world"
"I believe Teddy, and all those beautiful souls, have been walking around us here today"
"and my brother, a family man, a navy man, a holy man"
"my father, everyone knew you were lucky, and everyone you loved were blessed"
"for my dad, I wish I could have known you better"
"my dad, I know, everytime I'm in the woods, or catch big fish, you are there smiling at me"

 In the afternoon I attended a memorial event organized by Wash U students:

Genome browser paper accepted

Boss walked out of his office door, with excitement he declared, "Xin's paper is accepted by Nature Methods!"

I jumped up and rushed into his office, glanced at his correspondence with editor, and hugged with him. After been overwhelmed for 1 second, I was back to normal, and concluded succinctly, "this is a good start."


****  flash back  ***
paper submitted around first days of June, before I went to Newport for meeting. Got Decision and Reviews back on the night my friend lidaof arrived at St. Louis (7/28). Revised in one week and re-submitted, and kept waiting till just now.

Je ne comprends rien

New blog for Human Epigenome Browser

I created a new blog for Human Epigenome Browser

http://washugb.blogspot.com/


Here's a snapshot, of its current appearance, in case it changes in future...