Quote of the Day
I got an e-mail! I guess you know you're a dweeb when a quote like this can have you laughing out loud every time you read it:

"My VPN wouldn’t work & then I messed with it & now it really won’t work."

I don't really know when the next gift-y holiday is, but if you're looking to get me something, perhaps I could make a suggestion or two? (Caution: Sarcasm)
And while I'm blogging along on irrelevant tangents (in the absense of any real news), maybe I'll attempt post hoc justification for today's PowerPoint operation debacle by pointing you in the direction of this NY Times article (free registration required) which suggests that PowerPoint may have been partially responsible for the recent Shuttle Columbia disaster. So there.

Busted Links, Etc
Speaking of backups - sheesh. You may or may not have noticed that the site was down last night. The drive that physically hosts this site experienced a head crash, and as a result all the data on the drive (including this site and a number of others) was lost.
The hosting company repaired the drive and restored the site from a backup copy, but their last backup was on the 12th, so quite a few things were missing. Fortunately, I maintain an updated local copy of the site on my hard drive here. Unfortunately, there are apparently still some issues with the replacement drive (I can update old files, but I can't seem to upload new ones to certain folders) so you might experience some busted links here and there until that gets sorted out.

Notes
It's been a while since I've received any new notes or study documents. Please, if you've taken good notes in a class, don't hesitate to help out your fellow students and toss them in my direction. I'm sure Jennifer is working on the Biochem stuff, and I believe Saba is organizing some sort of Gross Anatomy thing, but some of those other directories are starting to gather dust. You may not be aware of this, but dust and cats are my two serious allergies. If I wander into the FTP to update the site and end up going into anaphylactic shock because you couldn't be bothered to send in some notes, then my blood is on your hands.
(On a related note - whoever is doing it, please stop e-mailing me cats.)

Something Else
There was something else I wanted to mention in the update today, but I can't seem to recall what it was.
In lieu of whatever useful information I've apparently forgotten, Erin Loggins pointed out that UTHSCSADental.com was loaded on one of the PCs in the Gross Lab on Friday. It's fine to browse the site from wherever - I'm cool with that - just try not to get goo on anything, as it's nearly impossible to get that formalin smell out of html.

Backups, Insurance
Nothing new on the notes front (but no news is good news, right?) but there are one or two little computer-related items I thought I'd toss out.

Today's visit to my mailbox produced a letter from the company providing the insurance for our Instant Message Facilitation Devices, with the insurance policy and coverage details. Keep an eye out for that.

Are you backing up your data (primarily your My Documents folder on the XP machines) on a regular basis? Today, we had one of the Dells suffer an unrecoverable harddisk failure, so the unfortunate owner (whose identity I shall not disclose here) lost everything on the drive that hadn't been backed up to a CD-R.
Don't let this happen to you! Back up your crap, I'm not even kidding. I'll probably work up some step-by-step instructions for the Tech Tutorials page on how to get this accomplished for anyone who needs them. Look for that in the near future. Well, you can look now if you want, but you're just setting yourself up for disappointment, unless now is later, which, as of the time of this writing, it isn't...or wasn't. Whatever.

Passwords, Biochem
Everyone should be getting notifications that their Arwen passwords are about to expire. Since we have a number of different passwords for our various UTHSCSA-related services, I've added step-by-step instructions for changing all of them (that I could think of) to the Tech Tutorials page (which is always accessible via the Links page if you need it).
If you typically use the same password for all of them, it would probably be a good idea to go through and change them all at the same time, to avoid confusion later.
If you can think of a UTHSCSA-related password I've left out (or if you're a Mac user who'd like to provide instructions for changing the OS X password), please let me know.

I've added Alexander Hamilton's notes from the Biochemistry Exam 1 Review session (including the review notes from Dr. Hardies and Dr. Hinck) to the Note Vault. In addition to the Hardies and Hinck documents included in the aforementioned Exam 1 Rreview document, Dr. Barnes has now also posted his review notes to the Dental Biochemistry page.
What? Yeah, Jennifer's notes. What'd you think I said? No way, I totally said "Jennifer's". You're just nuts. Perhaps you should get some rest or something.

Website Contest
Ok, I'm hosting a little competition to ensure the overall functional integrity of the site:
The first person to positively identify a broken or incorrect link to a page or document on UTHSCSADental.com wins $350 in cold hard cash.

Contest Update: I won. The Chapter 10 Biochem Notes entry was linked to the Chapter 9 document. Congratuations to me. (The link has been corrected.)

Keeping the Notes Kimtinually Updated
Hey, y'all remember Biochemistry? Y'know, the one who sat at the back of the class who no one hung out with, or really even noticed most of the time? Well, now that we've kicked Gross Anatomy to the curb it's time to show ol' B.C. some personal attention.
To aid us in our courtship, the cupidous Jennifer Kim has penned us up some love notes in the form of Lecture notes for Chapters 11 and 12, as well as the 5th Conference covering the two aforementioned chapters.
Put on some Barry White and head into the Note Vault to grab those.

Additionally, Jennifer sends along this perfume-scented note, personally addressed to you with little hearts dotting all the i's:

Please remind people that they shouldn’t just use these notes, though. I talked to Dr. Barnes and he told me that anything on the syllabus was fair game. However, for other teachers (Hincks and Hardies), it is just what they discussed in class. I could be wrong, so I’m going to ask tomorrow during class. Enjoy =)

Well That Was Fun
Well that wasn't so bad, now was it?
So, now that all that extremely important information has become completely and totally irrelevent, let's see if we can't clear out some of those brain cells for Biochem and Biomaterials, eh?
(I believe the manner in which those brain cells are cleared will be a matter of personal preference.)

Gross Anatomy Study Resource
Yesterday while studying for Gross Anatomy (someone mentioned that we had a test coming up, I think), I stumbled across what appears to be an awesome resource for studying and clarifying concepts, especially those related to the Laboratory portion of the exam.
The University of Michigan Medical School Gross Anatomy Sessions contain not only their lab dissection procedures, but also streaming dissection videos (like our prosection videos) and "Anatomy Tables".
The Anatomy Tables in particular appear to be awesome. For instance, check out the Thoracic Wall, Pleura, Pericardium Anatomy Table. Arteries, veins, muscles, osteology, viscera - all laid out in convenient tabular format.
The "Lab Videos" as well seem to be pretty good sources for looking at prosected structures similar to what we might see on the lab portion of the test.
Their Medical School curriculum does go into a little more detail on some of the structures (eg, they do the arm along with the axillary region) so there will be some information we can just skip over if you choose to check it all out.

Click Here for the Session Index, and select "Systemic" or "Regional". Both contain the same information, but are ordered slightly differently and Regional is divided into more specific sessions. (Systemic is fairly similar to our layout.)
Once you've selected "Systemic" or "Regional" and picked a topic, links at the top of the page for "Anatomy Tables" and "Lab Video" will get you the stuff you need. Some sessions also have quizzes and review material which may also be helpful.
Good luck on tomorrow's test!

Gross Test Study Chart
Christina sent in a Gross document consisting of charts and tables of all sorts of information. Germ Layers, Joints, Muscles, Veins, Arteries, Ligaments, etc etc etc. This isn't just a list of items, either, but a detailed listing of the what and where and when associated with the various structures.
Head on into the Gross section of the Note Vault to pick that up.

Birthdays and Blaster 2
As far as I know, the Student Directory now has a complete list of everyone's correct birthday, including a few that weren't on Tony's list. When you've got a free moment (ha!) drop by and verify that all your information is complete and correct.

I sent out an e-mail to everyone regarding a new Critical Update that's available for Windows. Some new vulnerabilities have been discovered that could lead to a virus just as troublesome, if not moreso, than Blaster.
Please do not ignore those little "Critical Updates are available" alerts in Windows.
Instructions for manually checking for and installing Windows Critical Updates are located on the Tech Tutorials page under the heading "Updating Windows".
(Oh, and if you get an e-mail that claims to be from "security@microsoft.com" about a critical patch or somesuch, do not run the attachment. It's a virus, too. Big surprise, eh?)

Archival, Etc
Added two Gross Anatomy documents that already went out to everyone via e-mail. The first is a 20-page illustrated guide to the first three weeks of embryonic development sent in by Lauren Bonugli (who is celebrating yet another a birthday on the 13th), and the second is a table of fetal precursors and their associated adult structures sent in by the esteemed Tony "Belated Birthday" Morlandt.

Being the industrious chap that I am, I cleaned out the Histology section of the Note Vault in the wake of Monday's brutal exhibition of trickery and spite, er...I mean, "Histo Test". I decided that relocation would be a more humane fate than outright eradication for all those notes on hemidesmosomes and osteogenesis, etc, so they've been retired to their own cozy little archive in the Histo section (which I'll kindly ask you not to refer to as an "old notes home").

Words That Rhyme With "Melancholy"
To those who have apparently taken to reading the page for a spot of entertainment, here is a poem:
(Composed in a post-Histo-test funk, so be forewarned - "uplifting" it ain't.)

Oh, ye artisans of flesh and bone
Who toil to repair what neglect hath sown
And dispense the wisdom to keep at bay
The forces of pain, rot, and decay

Oh, ye who those you serve hath name'd
"The Conductor of an Orchestra of Pain"
Ye, who alone can see the hidden beauty
And claim its revelation as your duty

Oh, ye whose "greed" causes much discord
While the rarity of your skill is oft ignor'd
Ye, who have slaved to hone your art
Prowess refined by investing hands and heart

May ye never, in regret, proclaim
"Surely all my craft is performed in vain"
"To do my job well shall only inspire disdain"
For when given to this lamentable refrain
Know that all you do is well worth your while
Appreciated, nay, celebrated in each perfected smile

BioKim Notes
Jennifer's notes for the Biochemistry lectures covering Chapters 9 and 10, as well as Conference 4 over Chapters 8-10 have been added to the Note Vault.

From a site management perspective, last month's news has been moved to the newly-created News Archive, which has been variously described as "astounding", "phenomenal", and "a technological masterpiece" by people who were actually talking about other things.

Maybe It's A Metaphor For Something


A note of clarification: "The Secret Lives of Dentists" is not necessarily what you might call a "fun" or "inspirational" movie. It is what you might call an "independent film".
(I enjoyed it. Those who attended with me, however, were somewhat less than enthusiastic. Uncultured heathens.)

Independent Film Alert
For what it's worth - the independent film "The Secret Lives of Dentists" begins a one-week engagement at the AMC Huebner Oaks 24 tomorrow (Friday, September 5th).
It has showtimes during the engagement at 1:50, 4:40, 7:20, and 10PM, and runs for an hour and 45 minutes.
Reviews online seem to be of the "absolutely loved it" or "completely hated it" variety, and I haven't seen it so I can't pass along judgement either. Yes, the main characters are husband-and-wife dental practitioners (so it's not one of those clever, yet misleading titles) and there are apparently some scenes of gratuitous dentistry interspersed within the plot of a suburban marriage that's become uncomfortably routine (or something).
If you feel like you could use a break from studying for Histo tomorrow or this weekend (but still want to keep the whole dental vibe going), it might be something to keep in mind.

Speaking of Histo, Christina sent in the list of questions and answers that she used for the practice practical. I think you know where to find them.

Histo Hitlist Parade
Two items of note to add to the Histo pile (¡Es enormé!):
First off, Saba Ahmed has returned to the scene with the second part of her "Useful Items" list, which she describes as "all the in between the lines information that I thought would be helpful to visualize and understand what we are looking at under the microscopes."
Secondly, bringing a new name to the Note Vault, Michelle Pucek comes out fighting with her "Exam 1 Lab Hitlist" - a comprehensive and well-organized list of, er...things to hit.

As an aside, if you download notes and find them useful, please be sure to thank the author for sharing the fruits of their labor with everyone.

Note-u-copia
Lots of notes added. I mean it.
The Histology section of the Note Vault has a set of answers to the "Learning Objectives" questions submitted by Derek Miller (though Derek cautions that these answers are provided "as is" with no expressed or implied warranty.)
Also new in Histo - Blackbook scans compliments of Roberto Loar. Now you can see what the words refer to as you study them.
Finally, Amber Patel's Gastrointestinal Development lecture notes are available in slideshow form in the Gross Anatomy section.

Please be aware that some of the files I uploaded today weigh in at the multiple-megabyte range. Download them once and save them to your hard drive. I get 8GBs of bandwidth a month, and while that may seem like a lot at first, it can get whittled away pretty quickly serving large files like these to over 90 students.
I'm really testing the waters with these first few large files. If I see the bandwidth usage go through the roof, I might simply leave "request" links in the Note Vault and e-mail these large documents out as I receive requests for them. We'll see.
In the meantime - check out any previous news items on here you might have missed. This is important information, people! (I think. Maybe. Well, it seemed important when I wrote it, anyway.)
Once again - huge thanks to Roberto, Derek, and Amber for helping out.

VitalSource Key Software Update
Check your VitalSource Software Updates. Version 3.0.8 is out for the Dell users as of 8.25.2003. (The Mac users are at 3.0.4 as of 8.13.2003.)
While you're updating, check to make sure your licenses are up to date.
Instructions are on the Tech Resources and Tutorials page if you need them.

Histo Slide Hitlist Fixed
Happy Labor Day everybody!
Apparently there was some oddness with the formatting of the Histo Slide Hitlist document sent in on Friday. I think that's been fixed. Let me know if you have any problems opening it.

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