Surface Tension Between My TA and I

WARNING: Angry Rant

Yesterday I had a night lab with Lapin. It was a pretty simple lab that we've done countless times before, so we moved through it pretty quickly. During one instance of the lab, our TA commented that I was pipetting incorrectly. He stated that I should account for the amount of liquid trapped inside the pipette after it was emptied. Although I was almost positive that the small amount left was accounted for, he went on to say that he would feel more comfortable if we did the whole lab again. This would require us to redo more than 3/4 of the work we had already finished all due to his perspective of how to pipette. Lapin and I decided to continue because in my Chemistry labs we were instructed that the measurements of the pipettes need not be adjusted for the little bit left and should never be blown out for risk of skewing the results. I of course could not argue with my TA about it as I don't want to fail the course or have them hate me for the rest of the term. Needless to say, I won't be happy with the TA for the remaining amount of the term, but what can you do.

On a brighter note, a girl mistaken Lapin for the TA because we are asian. She began apologizing realizing that she added to the stereotype that all asians look alike. After asking for where the REAL TA's were, she left and went back to her bench and began telling her lab partners about the embarassing event. I of course laughed at Lapin teasing her a little bit.

After the lab was finished, Lapin went to meet with her friend while I walked home. I texted some people along the way almost sure I was being followed by someone, but everytime I looked back, no one was there. I finally made it home safely and went directly to my laptop. I began searching for proper pipetting technique and after finding a credible source, I learnt that I was in fact correct. The measurements scale of the pipettes are calibrated to account for surface tension of the liquid and hence the amount suctioned should not be adjusted. Therefore, I just want to say that I was right Mr. TA and I'm glad we didn't redo the lab because your ignorance would have caused us to skew our results which you wished to conserve.

You know you're a nerd when you know more about lab equipment than your TA.