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| My name is Phil, and welcome to my beach on the shores of the internet. I created this site as a way to keep my family and friends updated on the status of my endeavors, and as a source of entertainment as well. I will continue to post pictures and information about my hobbies, interests and crackpot theories about life, the universe and everything as time permits. I am a biologist with a Bachelor of Science in Cell Molecular Biology and minors in Anthropology and Microbiology. I graduated from the University of Washington in 1998 and now work at a cancer research facility in Seattle. The lab I am working in is investigating the function of specific growth factors and their role in differentiation, growth, and development. We use a variety of techniques, including cloning and the use of viral vectors, to introduce genetic constructs into embryonic stem cells. By studying the defects in specifically mutated genes, more can be understood about their normal function. I was in the US Navy for 10 years, where I learned a lot about the importance humor, humility and humanity. Hunting submarines for Uncle Sam during the Cold War was fun and rewarding, but now I chase after mutations in DNA and the secrets of transcriptional regulation. I live in a second floor apartment but have a fantastic garden on my balcony, as well as a forest of indoor tropical plants including Nepenthes (pitcher plants) and Euphorbia (spurge), as well as fresh water and marine reef aquaria. I also enjoy antiquing and restoring artifacts to functional use. |
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| Latest Projects... |
| ...And Artifacts |
| More artifact than art this figurine (above) is actually a piece of mass produced hardware. The base houses a bottle opener. The figure is made of cast metal, painted black and the neclace is brass wire. The finish was rather coarse, with the casting lines visible and there was a lot of wear to the finish as well. |
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| I have been feeding my passiflora regularly and have been rewarded with a bumper crop of flowers. |
| DISCLAIMER |
| This site is for fun and entertainment. If you are offended by anything contained herein, or wish to make inferences regarding my personality, psychological state or temperment please follow the following link... |
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| Red passiflora bloomed for the first time on November 21, 2000 after 2 years. I moved this one indoors when the cold weather hit to give the buds a chance to open. I left its clone outside to see how it would take the cold, which it didn't take very well. |
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| This hellebore usually blooms just after New Years Day, if those darn pesky squirrels don't get to it first. I am considering setting up a "robot sentry" (motion detector connected to a sprinkler) to stand gard. Squirrels like eating the flower buds just before they open. |
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| By artifacts I refer to the objects people create to manipulate and explore the world around them, as well as the physical manifestations of ideas such as art. |
| My projects are the myriad endeavors in which I choose to invest my time. They provide me with entertainment, joy, and enlightenment. |
| Detail of a ceramic tile (above) depicting the goddess Athena, either receiving armor from Hephaestus or presenting it to Achilles. Either way, I admire intelligent women who can handle weapons. Not great art by any means, but I picked it up for $2.00 and have been enjoying it much more than a latte. |
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| A few artifacts from my navy days |
| Another shot of the blue passiflora. Click on it to see a larger version of this image. These usually survive the winter outside, but I make cuttings in the fall in case we get a really cold blast. |