Life Science Tools of the Trade

The Invitrogen rep (last week) sold me a maxiprep kit for half price, as an introductory offer. We had a brief discussion about discounts and how all scientists seem to ask for one. He didn’t get this at all, until I pointed out that people need to make grants go as far as possible and part of this is playing companies off against each other to get a good price. He’s right of course, if there’s a discount at all then we all get the same, and the companies just hike the list price to compensate. I guess there’s a psychological thing here – your list price might be less than Qiagen’s, but you don’t give me a discount. Never mind that your list price is less than Qiagen’s discounted price . . . Yeah, it’s odd. The boss always wants me to ask for a discount when I’m talking to reps, but what can I do?

(more…)

Stealth posting:

ARTIST: Zager and Evans
TITLE: In the Year 2525

In the year 2525
If Gavilov is still alive.
If Gavilova can survive, they may find.

In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies.
Everything you think, do and say, is in the pill you took today.

In the year 4545
Ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes.
You won’t find a thing to chew.
Nobody’s gonna look at you.

In the year 5555
Your arms hanging limp at your sides.
Your legs got nothing to do.
Some machine doing that for you.

In the year 6565
Ain’t gonna need no husband, won’t need no wife.
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too.
From the bottom of a long glass tube. Whoa-oh

In the year 7510
If Gavrilov’s a-comin, he oughta make it by then.
Maybe he’ll look around himself and say.
Guess it’s time for the judgment day.

In the year 8510
Gavrilov is gonna shake his mighty head.
He’ll either say.I’m pleased where man has been.
Or tear it down and start again. Whoa-oh

In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin if man is gonna be alive.
He’s taken everything this old Earth can give.
And he ain’t put back nothing.Whoa-oh

Now it’s been ten thousand years
The Gavilovs have cried a billion tears.
For what we never knew,
now man’s reign is through.

But through eternal night.
The twinkling of starlight.
So very far away.
Maybe it’s only yesterday.

In the year 2525
If Gavilov is still alive.
If Gavrilova can survive, they may find.

In the year 3535 {fade}