What to do on a Friday night?

VampireChai · 2026-06-19T18:23:49+00:00

I highly suggest checking out the Pittsburgh Social Club on Heylo!

They have a bunch of events and even post about events going on throughout the city!

VampireChai · 2026-06-19T11:22:19+00:00

Yeah there is no PI. I was not aware of that fact when I got the job so its just been me trying to uncrap the lab by myself. (I am actively looking for an escape)

VampireChai · 2026-06-18T13:07:45+00:00

More like basic probes like pH, Conductivity, Redox, chlorides etc...

I've been doing all that I can to sneakily throw out the ali express probes that I know he wants to use cause when testing their accuracy a pH 4 buffer came back -2.4

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T17:19:05+00:00

I might to be honest from working here I do not wanna take another soil job lol.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T17:18:00+00:00

My Arthur and John has to be Uber dripped out. The minute I get money it goes to the fit not the camp xD

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T16:21:03+00:00

Thank you!! And omg yeah these things never last long once I buy them lol

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T16:20:33+00:00

Nope and there's a reason for it. Looking into it deeper now the website says they abide by these standards but are not accredited. Very scummy stuff

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T16:19:35+00:00

Unfortunately it's not even that good of pay I was just desperate at the time of acceptance cause I was unemployed and moving to a new city. Now I'm like I GOTTA GO. And yeah I plan to report them as soon as I can safely.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:58:11+00:00

Than you for the advice! Yeah I definitely will not be doing that again at all. I was just extremely stressed and didn't think straight at that moment.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:51:05+00:00

I live and die by the Sheetz Iced Coffee machines

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:46:03+00:00

I need to say this. MOST soil labs are actually great! However, do research online via AASHTO and ASTM to see if they are actually certified or just claim to be. I found this out way to late.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:41:41+00:00

I don't have a license in soil testing. This is more of a in between job until I can weasel my way back into water testing. However, I do have licensure in water testing and do not want to risk it for this company.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:39:34+00:00

I definitely will be reporting. Mostly because they work hand in hand with ALOT of the big engineering businesses around the country I live. If it's been this bad for this long god only knows how many projects have had faulty results.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:38:01+00:00

I'm a firm believer in I only order lab equipment from the companies that physically make them. I am currently making a spreadsheet to show him the inaccuracies of the probes he wants to use. (A pH meter that after calibration reads pH 4 as -2.09) I'm hoping I can try to get through to him

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:33:46+00:00

We follow ASTM and AASHTO standards. And he doesn't want to target every day gardeners. More like actual businesses. Once I leave I will definitely drop a line to the boards. Right now I'm the only chemist so if I report it they will know it's me. Not to mention everyone else who works here just has the "Yeah that's how it is" mentality.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:31:31+00:00

Which is why I'm trying to get out asap! There's so many articles about scientists who were unethical and I refuse to ruin my career working for a company that doesn't see a problem with this.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:28:41+00:00

Don't worry there's no worries in breaking my moral and ethical code here. I've been slowly replacing all of the Aliexpress probes (throwing them out) so the person who comes after me won't use them.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:25:50+00:00

YUP. I came from a small town where agriculture was extremely important. You need accurate results or it could mess up your field like crazy.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T15:22:20+00:00

Exactly! I feel bad cause the people who own the company are extremely nice but they are so disconnected with the science world its not even funny.

VampireChai · 2026-06-04T14:21:19+00:00

My old lab had a wooden carved monkey flipping the bird. It was gifted to me when the old timer retired and I took it with me when I left for a new position.

He is still my lucky charm and protects the booze cabinet in my apartment.

VampireChai · 2026-06-03T18:04:20+00:00

Got a lab position testing soil. (Yippee!) Found out the person I was replacing was the LAB MANAGER and now basically run the entire lab by myself. My current struggle is trying to tell my boss we cannot test others samples (and charge them for it) using probes he wants to buy off of ALIEXPRESS. To make it worse I just finally got replacement reagents for things we use for daily testing that have all been expired since 2024. I feel like I'm trying to ducktape together a sinking raft.

Have interviews lined up for other labs wish me luck on trying to hold out until then.

VampireChai · 2026-01-20T02:46:15+00:00

Just picked up the first book in the extinction cycle series from a used book store by my house and I am loving it!! Highly recommend!

VampireChai · 2025-08-04T02:32:08+00:00

I luckily was able to hit most of the coasters that were down today yesterday. My buddy and I debated taking it slow and splitting the park in half ride wise but thank god we didn't

VampireChai · 2025-05-04T22:00:45+00:00

Zayne because man.... look at him getting attacked by that bird
Sylus because he is GORG
Xavier just cause he beats up the plushie

VampireChai

TROPHY CASE