I was recently reading an article about how birdsong influences the expression of small RNAs called... microRNA that in turn, influences gene expression.

It's absolutely fascinating. If you think about it, everything happens with gene-expression. Every little sound or image or any sensory input we receive from outside changes and temper the way our genes express in an ever-changing interaction.

I wonder what an intense episode of stress does to our immune-system related genes... Does it promote allergic reactions? Does it suppress the immune-system in a counter-productive move? I have this slight inkling of a doubt that this year, my escalating stress, nightmares about graduating and complete lack of restful sleep day in and day out is probably the primary cause of all my out-of-the-blue allergies.

I have never had allergies to ANYthing before. I usually cope with stress well... but then I have also had family around me in the past to buffer most extreme stressful times. I have sailed through most 40 hour shifts with nothing more than sore throats in the past. But I think if I had to do those shifts now, I would fall seriously sick. Things have changed so much.

So coming back to microRNAs, I wonder how microRNA influenced gene-expression charts the course of body physiology and especially, immune-system function. Sounds like an excellent future avenue ripe for investigation - especially since we can knock some of these microRNAs out with drugs...

Puts her spin on Charles Dickens

I saw no shadow ...
I saw nooo shadowwwwwwwwwwwww ...
I saw noooooooo shadooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww ...
of another parting ...
from her.

Someday I want to find out if I can belt out a simple operatic tune. Maybe when all this messy academic phase is past and I am a decade older (and not dead or sick with cancer and chemotherapy-related side-effects) I want to take some voice training and see how long I can draw my breath out into a loooonnng note in tune.

Turns out that the ingredient list and the nutrient profile I posted for Aunt Jemima Blueberry waffles in my last journal were from some older versions of their waffles. They were the ones available online on the Aunt Jemima website. I should have proof-read them more carefully. I vaguely remember thinking that this was not what I saw on the box as I posted the waffle battle journal. But I put that thought on hold because I went back to some number-crunching and r-coding before I dropped into unconsciousness at my desk.

I was surprised when (e:Paul) pointed out the tertiary-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in the list. Because I distinctly remember the box saying "no preservatives". So here are the real photos of the Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles box I bought yesterday.


Check: No preservatives.


And 10 calories less that what I posted. They really changed the recipé.

I dreamt about waffles for 3 days in a row till it got out of hand today morning. I could smell them while I was eating apples. I examined hormonal and physiological reasons behind the craving hoping to expose the irrationality of it all. I even considered my new anti-allergy buddy Claritin as one of the culprits behind the craving.

But in the end, I am sorry to say, the waffle craving totally won out. I trotted straight from work to Pricerite to get frozen waffles. I was then faced with CHOICES!



I thought Eggo was the only one who made waffles. But no. There were Aunt Jemima waffles battling for my attention as well. Regardless of the majority vote in this thread: I chose Aunt Jemima. The nutritional profiles were pretty similar.

Eggo Blueberry Waffles Nutrition data:

Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles Nutrition data:


The ingredient list was also rather similar

Aunt Jemima waffles ingredients:
INGREDIENTS: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, ARTIFICIALLY FLAVORED BLUEBERRY BITS (SUGAR, DEXTROSE, SOYBEAN OIL WITH TBHQ, SOY PROTEIN, SALT, CITRIC ACID, CELLULOSE GUM, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, MALIC ACID, RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE), SUGAR, WHEY. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE [SOY LECITHIN]), WHOLE EGGS, CALCIUM CARBONATE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, CORN STARCH, COLORED WITH (YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6), FORITIFIED WITH (REDUCED IRON, NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VITAMIN B6], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2] , THIAMINE MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], CYANOCOBALAMIN [VITAMIN B12]), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR (DEXTROSE, CORN STARCH, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS), SOY LECITHIN. CONTAINS: SOY, EGGS, MILK, WHEAT

But somehow, I chose Aunt Jemima because the phrase "Aunt Jemima" invoked a friendly image of some homely aunt making a fresh batch of waffles in the morning. Aunt Jemima won the battle on psychological grounds.

Now have a website!!! You know you want to click through:


They have most of their formerly mysterious wholesale catalogue online: I know for a fact it's not for restaurants alone. You can get fresh cases of salads and chocolate or whatever you like from them if you can consume that much. I have, in the past, eaten their mesclun salads with every meal for a whole month till I finished the case. :-)

And they carry the whole range of Ecce Panis Artisan breads: Now, if only they would take online orders and allow me to pay with credit, I don't have to trek all the way to Grant Street for my Guercio fix. :)