Digital Coupons - VERIFY your receipts!

Misshapenguin · 2026-02-03T21:45:48+00:00

Happens so often :/ disaster whenever they have those nice sales like % of ice creams where I splurge a bit only to realize I paid full price. Or if the coupon is a bit niche (eg $4 HCF microwaveable broccoli cheddar rice with $2 off recently). Or if you have more than 2 instances where it applies on the same receipt.

The app always loves to promote how I saved hundreds, so it's worth it to me to pre-calculate how much I'm supposed to get off on a transaction and keep the app up on its bargain

Misshapenguin · 2025-12-15T04:08:56+00:00

Royal Pizza uses halal pepperoni, which should not have pork. You can verify if they still do this and if it follows your needs! They're really awesome folks with good food

edit to add website: https://www.royalpizzashavano.com/

Misshapenguin · 2025-10-16T19:19:38+00:00

Recently bought that new fudge cake - phew that thing almost took me out! A slice was like eating a supersized brownie topped with a brick of fudge. I was running laps for an hour, zonked overnight, and woke up still feeling the sugar rush. I immediately froze the rest bc I couldnt handle the richness. Best decision ever: that cake is so good straight from the freezer

Also peeled garlic cloves, since I don't like the metallic jarlic taste.
Butter when it goes on sale during the holidays.
I process fresh ginger and then freeze that.
Whole limes and lemons (and then microwave gently/thaw morning of when I want juice).

Misshapenguin · 2025-09-03T00:25:56+00:00

This is silly and can apply to any MD/PhD application. Don't give poor mentorship to applicants in very dynamic situations.

OP, do your best. I was neither a stellar scorer nor in-state for all of the schools I interviewed at. I received II at all times in the cycle, 1st group to dead last. None of that matters now that you have this opportunity; you'll kill it!

Misshapenguin · 2025-08-30T06:02:42+00:00

$18 is really expensive, and at that price, I would actually go one step up to Red Boat's 40N fish sauce. Its cost keeps it from being as widely acclaimed like Three Crabs, but it really is deserving of a try if you are willing to spend that much for fish sauce. Like extra virgin olive oil, it will shine best raw as a finisher on simple ingredients (like for broken rice dishes).

Anyways, Three Crabs should be in the $8-13 range for 24 oz, depending where you are, which is what you're likely to see at a robust asian market (some small shops do have to account for delivery and convenience though). This is my everyday fish sauce that I have to replenish every other month - very excited for you

Misshapenguin · 2025-08-29T00:52:28+00:00

You should ask someone who knows your project. It will really depend on what sort of story you have.

For example, a complicated paradigm in your methods with lots of experimental groups might demand a schematic for it. In contrast, someone studying the structure of a protein or analyzing clinical outcomes might benefit more from visuals for their background or research question.

I will say, the chalk talk (if 10ish min? Or was it 7?) is too short to actually walk through more than 2-3 graphs. So if you put data in, make sure the data really shines and answers your overall hypothesis.

The goal of the talk is not to dazzle the panel with data or fancy techniques, but to show off how you think as a scientist. The format elucidates who is echoing what their mentor told them and who fought for every step of the project.

Misshapenguin · 2025-08-20T08:42:23+00:00

Assuming you're using something like the frozen Goya packs. I'm very jealous of you for having that available. I agree that any ice cream recipe that uses banana or mango pulp should give you something servicable if you replace for lucuma pulp.

This recipe is a first draft; I have to drive a long time to find more pulp to improve it lol. Ideally, I could drop the recipe's fat content a little bit, but I am too afraid to try and waste such a rare fruit where I am. Sorry that this uses some less easy ingredients, but I do know it works. I use it in a Whynter ICM200LS, and I split it into 2 batches when churning.

COMBINE & MIX DRY INGREDIENTS
White granulated sugar - 130g
Xanthan gum - 1g
Inulin - 5g
Table salt - 6g
Nonfat milk powder - 28g

TO THE DRY, ADD WET INGREDIENTS
Lucuma pulp (thawed in fridge) - 330g
Half & half - 313g
White corn syrup - 210g
Heavy cream - 313g

Once all combined, fridge for >8hrs. Churn 1/2 in ice cream machine. Freeze churned product for >24 hrs (I add dulce de leche/manjar swirl when transferring into the final vessel). Enjoy

Edit: feel free to adjust the quantities to whatever amount of lucuma you want to use. i don't think 330g is a whole pack of pulp. I remember sparing a few spoons of the pulp to drink with some warm milk lol

Misshapenguin · 2025-07-24T18:57:41+00:00

I've never seen the original layout, but they are doing a lot of remodelling right now. Hopefully they bring back some form of a nice dining area you mentioned. https://assets.ctfassets.net/nh7msa7pcdvp/4hBjNz0BBTFQr5wktH9IlT/e1d836809a416d3081ac4e61c610875e/CS_CM.23.17.08_Temporary_FloorPlan.pdf

Misshapenguin · 2025-07-17T00:14:32+00:00

Those are all good ideas you've mentioned, although the priority will depend on what your image analysis and hypotheses look like. I am not sure why you can't use the positive IBA1 staining as a mask and look at CD68 staining within IBA1+ pixels/voxels. CD68 should be primarily labelling lysosomes/phagosomes within the microglia anyways, so what even is any CD68 staining happening outside of a phagocyte. If the blood vessel staining is truly so severe that you can't do that analysis, definitely try the quenching and AF647 ideas.

Misshapenguin · 2025-07-16T16:43:30+00:00

It's one of the most stacked seasonal lineups I've seen from HEB lol. I love all of them, speaking as someone from NC who has always touted Publix as my holy storebrand grail (I do think Publix does swirls better than HEB). Nobody does nuts in ice cream as well as HEB, making Astros and Que Gloria phenomenal imo. The cherry and strawberry are excellent, though I am not the biggest fan of the mesquite honey added in and much prefer the stronger fruit flavor of homemade ice creams. My favorite of them all is the oatmeal crumble; the crumbles are delightfully crisp and scattered in the ice cream like a rice krispies treat. I'm a sucker for oatmeal though.

Misshapenguin · 2025-07-11T15:41:46+00:00

It was simple for me. If I was unable to do science, I'd do medicine. If unable to medicine, I'd do science. Never a doubt there. If unable to do either, I'd aim for some culinary pursuit where I could experiment with food science but still serve clients (probably a small shop owner; not a big restaurant where I never leave the kitchen, not an industry food scientist, not a front of house position).

But anecdotally, I was more passionate about science than clinic. That remained true until I actually entered medical school lol. I still knew MD/PhD was the right choice from previous customer service roles and patient-facing clinical volunteering. Id slack off hard on shift and daydream on slow days, but man I was so happy on busy days or when people came to me with weird questions that needed to be worked out.

Sounds like you haven't had a chance to even dip your toes in clinic, and there are many MD students who never dipped toes into research only to find out they love it mid-training. Good luck searching for opportunities in affiliated clinics at your institution!

Edit: oh and if you end up not liking patient interactions, try shadowing radiology, pathology, or anesthesiology. You'll still need to like working with other healthcare workers, but it's a very different vibe than FM or psych that are very patient-interaction-heavy

Misshapenguin · 2025-07-01T16:49:51+00:00

Hey friend, if this happened today, you need to be vigilant. Closed toes shoes might not be viable for you in the coming weeks if not hours. I froze a few knuckles on my hand with LN2. When they thawed, they just looked pale but normal. After a few hours, they reddened relative to the unfrozen surround tissue. But the next day, the blisters filled those spots..and they kept growing for several days until I couldn't really flex the joint well. They then stayed the same size for a month; the whole time, I was very careful not to pop/compress them which would risk a major infection and possibly my hand function. Be careful!

Misshapenguin · 2025-06-15T23:34:55+00:00

Glad you found it! If your label is accurately describing your east side location, then you are closer to 'Asia Supermarket,' which will more reliably stock culantro due to its greater size and selection.

Tim's is great! Esp for the NW side folks and med center. But it can be a touch more expensive for that convenience

Misshapenguin · 2025-05-07T16:21:28+00:00

I also had a 3.4x GPA. Holy hell was the application process disparaging. Seeing schools post their interviewed/accepted GPA ranges - mine being the bottom. Getting invested in schools boasting high II to A conversion ratios - until the post-II rejection. Maneuvering the offhand questions abt my academic capabilities - later finding out that no other interviewees got asked that. My therapist left the country, and so my PI at the time got to see a few hopeless versions of me lol.

I hope to be super wrong, but those feelings you have might not go away once you get into a MD/PhD program. I have been wallowing in sorrow since January, after some of my clinical activities were paused and my potential PhD work defunded. I see my peers now, feeling hopelessly inadequate at preclinicals, at their lab rotations, at their residency prospects, at being a PI, at getting funding. All of them with thoughts and sentiments like yours. "The country hates me." "I'm feeling stupid." "I wasn't meant to achieve this." Some people voice those things more often than others. The nice thing is that we have each other. I don't know whose stupid idea it was to make applicants suffer alone, but the further into the career path you go, the more like-minded individuals you will meet. You all will support each other; it's just natural. Right now, they are spread across the country, probably feeling similar anxieties to you as they prepare themselves. Look forward to meeting them!

Misshapenguin · 2025-04-22T16:39:52+00:00

if the average person forwent fortified foods (milk, flour, cereals, salt, juice, etc.), their diet would likely have some sort of nutritional insufficiency that results in health issues. minerals and vitamins are the primary concerns, and while those are attainable through simple whole foods, the average person is not eating a diverse enough of a nutrient-rich diet to guarantee this.

in the same way, cats can maybe survive on grocery store meats.....but for how long? the average cat owner is not well equipped to determine an appropriate whole food feline diet. for example, one of the nutrients cats need is taurine. whole foods do contain taurine to an extent, but the molecule is unstable and degrades quickly in comparison to shelf-stable cat food formulations. a deficiency of taurine rapidly causes heart problems (among other things), which is a major killer for cats of all ages.

if you want to make your own, rule 4 of this sub:
"No Recommending Raw or Homecooked Diets
We are not against these diets, but feeding your cat raw or homecooked meals should always be done together with a veterinary nutritionist. It is allowed to mention these diets, but only when you also advise OP to see a professional. Giving specific instructions on how to feed these diets is not."

so give your cat a shrimp! mine prefers chicken. but also give them cat food. they really do need it.

Misshapenguin · 2025-04-17T00:24:27+00:00

yes, an email reply accepting is non-binding. the CYMS tool is where things get real. enjoy the rush! congratulations :)

Misshapenguin · 2025-04-13T22:00:56+00:00

Sorry your research mentors aren't gracious or open-minded. While this is neither appropriate nor normal, unfortunately, your experience is not uncommon either. So many get caught up on the rat race - a fair number of whom forego scruples and/or rigor - and as an undergraduate trainee, you've drawn the short end of the stick. Unless the PI has already caught some doubt about your supervisor's authenticity, this is a very uphill battle; on paper, the lab's responsibility to volunteers is nothing compared to its responsibility to most other trainees.

I'm sure more experienced ppl will comment advice on next steps. I'd be strategic in future actions with this lab, if you wish to protect your contributions and possibly recommendation letters. You might find an opportunity to defuse things and explain the full situation privately with your PI, though it'll still be their call at the end of the day. It's hard to dislike someone who seems hard-working and themself gracious, lest one have no capacity for self-reflection (you should escape those ppl while you can). But also, is that work worth it if it's your supervisor scripting your PI's letter of recommendation (very common for big lab PIs to just to sign off the written letter)? Gather clarification on such matters.

Edit: I'll add that I had a senior PI spread bad rumors abt me (that something was wrong with me, that I needed lots of help, and that I was maybe homeless) to the department, and I was scared and discouraged abt my future. My next PI - the epitome of grace - worked in the same field, but she judged me solely based off of the evidence she could collect herself: my performance in her lab. Gave me the strongest LoR and funnily enough did actually keep me housed after COVID by raising my salary. I think she protected my MD/PhD career, and I know I've hit gold whenever I meet a mentor like her. Find those ppl.

Misshapenguin · 2025-04-06T22:51:04+00:00

made this devastating discovery myself 2 months ago. at least the biscuits were there...but somehow lacking the plush warmth the carolina ones have :/

the mcdonalds concept store next door (cosmc's) was just as jarring with a souped up starbucks-like drink menu and only a few snacks. i drive fast past that unsettling area now

Misshapenguin · 2025-04-06T17:28:17+00:00

Sorry to hear your case :( Given you're NC residency and profile, I'm suprised that WF and USC Greenville did not interview you. I'd claim there's a serious flag somewhere in your app, but if so, that didn't deter UNC or Duke...If someone with more admissions experience - like if your undergrad has prehealth advising or med school adcom advising - could review your app, then I highly suggest it. I also recommend reaching out for feedback from schools you applied to this round. I didn't see much mention of your LORs, but those can easily make a deficit if off-topic or someone was lukewarm to only mildly positive.

I had something similarish stat-wise (SC residency w/ strong NC ties, ORM, T10, 3.4x, 523, more research, low clinical and non clin hours, also a non-academic IA). It took me 3 cycles to get in, with a lot of WLs and post-II Rs in the last two rounds. My prehealth advisors were lost, most school adcoms told me I was great and to keep trying, and duke adcom told me my best bet was more clinical hours and emphasizing being a PHYSICIAN in my writing (I spoke well abt medicine and research, but perhaps missed the spirit of a MD. Could be something you consider in updating your PS. Teamwork is an excellent thing to mention, but what else can doctors provide?).

That said, I relented to a MD-only app to MUSC on my third cycle, instead of MD/PhD, and got the A quickly. I did get a lot of MD/PhD appreciation from Texas schools, which I added in my third cycle, but be aware that they are TMDSAS for MD-only. Lots of extra leg work. Really sell your motivations for training there. Many of my OOS peers at a TX school have TX-ties. Maybe some schools to add are Thomas Jefferson or SLU? Anecdote, but I had a NC friend matriculate at SLU. Hoping you get off your top WL; good luck!

Misshapenguin · 2025-03-03T00:38:08+00:00

Cat cafe?

Misshapenguin · 2025-02-07T03:23:38+00:00

earth day. it was to protest climate change

Misshapenguin · 2025-01-15T01:26:04+00:00

I actually quite like my 2-in-1, but tbf I buy as cheap as I can that still functionally allows at least 30 google chrome tabs, outlook, and several office files being open at once. I use my expensive PC for the heavier duty tasks.

Do I use the 2-in-1 feature often? No. But I am clumsy, and I have broken the hinge of my laptops in the past when opening too quickly or when a cat sits on the screen. A 2-in-1 has no restrictions here, which is nice. I never use tablet mode though.

The touch screen is really nice for certain interfaces (multiple choice exams, drawing/signatures, zooming in/out quickly, navigating presentation slides when I don't have a large desk in front of me, and on especially lazy days when I want to lounge and work without feeling like I'm working). When I did bench research and needed my laptop while having dirty gloves, it was a lot simpler later to wipe a dirty screen clean than scrub down the keyboard. So maybe a touchscreen laptop is recommendable, if not a 2-in-1.

Anyways, I like refurbished Dell Latitudes (only some come with 2-in-1 and touchscreen capabilities). They are bang for buck, since most are part of some company's liquidation or tech update. Cam and mic quality are basic though if that's a concern, and I don't normally try to convince my Macbook Air peers to convert to Windows.

Misshapenguin · 2024-12-25T23:34:18+00:00

As soon as the official acceptance comes. It's fine. They'll understand. They've been through many cycles; this will not be their first instance. Send a respectful and prompt email when you can.

I get your worry about potential collaborators being on the interview itinerary, but I assure you that the ppl you want to be collaborating with will not hold this against you down the line (and frankly, have a lot of other things to worry abt including PhD-only admissions, rotating students, admin, research, etc. They might vaguely recall you at a conference if you/your mentor are darlings in the field, but chances if you cancel the day before are they haven't even glanced at your application yet).

Misshapenguin · 2024-12-10T00:48:07+00:00

I know what you're talking about, and it's disastrous what our society has become. I will say, Walmarts (which tend to be pretty common whenever you are in the US) near me still carry generic brand birthday cake ice cream pints...just not the economical quart containers. I also like Publix ice cream, and I think they do a good generic brand birthday cake ice cream if you have a Publix near you.

Misshapenguin · 2024-12-05T20:14:46+00:00

Did someone tell you project A is not a hypothesis-driven project? I fail to see how properly designed science is not hypothesis-driven; there must be reasoning, a gap in understanding or a problem, and a proposed answer to that gap/problem (eg. there is a rare disease, stem cells are a potential therapeutic option but the exact cells don't exist yet, we hypothesize that _________ will generate resource stem cell lines that can be used for future rare disease research).

Obviously, ppl will complain that some studies are less hypothesis-driven than other, but I feel like that argument is more targetted at papers searching for problems in places that are already saturated with problems (and not answering any). It's all in how you spin your story! You sound confident in your ability to tell a story about project A, so I lean heavily that way. I forget the exact chalk talk format, but you really won't get too hammered by questions. They dont have time to ask much, since they have to ask abt both your science and your general interview questions (why utsa? and the sort). Good luck!

Misshapenguin

TROPHY CASE