The New Year Looms

I hope everyone who was celebrating Christmas has had a good one. It's the day before New Year's Eve and I've been spending my holidays in London... I've been stuffing myself with the loads of panettone, espressos and hot chocolate! Christmas dinner was lovely! Goose... mmmm...
It's been raining non-stop today. Bah! So much for the snow that was promised. There was a bit of snowing couple of days back... So what to do on a rainy cold afternoon? update blog while listening to my itunes. David Gray is singing about December now...
Anyway, can't wait for the New Year now, though I may just skip going to Westminster for this New Year countdown as the tube will be on strike... again! Nothing new for the new year innit?
May 2006 be a fantastic one for every one of you. Hmmm... I haven't even thought of my resolutions yet. But then again, I'm not much of a fan for that, I tend to think resolutions can be made at anytime of the year. Heh.

Happy New Year all.

" Oh my mind, what happened to the time. December."
-David Gray

Ice Garden

Braving the sub-zero temperature, I went to the Ice Garden exhibit at the Clarendon Quad by Evolving City. It featured several ice sculptures and artic images and sounds.



Two blocks of melting glacier ice blocks on ropes. Note the layers inside...


Ten 2m columns of ice. Popular with the kids and photographers...


Cool ice lenses...


Large graphic film. Again popular with the kids.


And as I exit the garden, ahead was the Bridge of Sighs which I thought was enchanting and fitting for the end.

Happy Birthday, Ping!

It's Ping's Birthday today!

Happy Birthday Ping! Hope it's a good one!

Angry

At first it looked as though there is a major accident that had happened. But the commotion was actually caused by the protesters again! Today they are more angry than I have seen before. Some cried, some singing, shouting, blowing horns, banners flying, pickets waving... Basically looked like a football after-match celebration, except that the mob was angry and not happy.
As I got closer, I found that they were all over the street, including the entrance of my building. Some people plus myself just stood there before the exit, unsure whether to test the crowd outside or not. The reception quickly told us to get out through the side-door and avoid the mess as the police (there must be as many police officers as the protesters!) tries to get them away from our building. They aren't supposed to be so near afterall, come to think of it... were they allowed to protest today?. So we quietly sneaked out, thank goodness for side-doors! A researcher wasn't happy though and cursed as the side-door leads to safety but it is as well a large detour.
Now I hope that my bicycle ourside is intact when I go home this evening.

On a lighter note, there is news about a possible new species in Borneo has been discovered by WWF. How exciting! I wish I could be these people sometimes!

The Battle continues...

Woo! Construction is to continue on the Oxford biomedical research facility. Now then maybe the lab animals can have a better place to be housed in. This means that police will be around more often to the Science Area. I hope that will discourage the bicycle thieves too. It's shameful how crazy security gets in Oxford University buildings, yet people have their bicycle stolen very often... right in front of their buildings even!

Meanwhile... take that you terrorists! :P

Powering up... oops power is down!

The new power plant is opened to tackle the country's energy shortage, but some people did not appreciate that.

No wonder Lord May of Oxford today had said that "Sadly, for many, the response is to retreat from complexity and difficulty by embracing the darkness of fundamentalist unreason." in his final speech as Royal Society President.

Now let's look at the logic of turning to atomic energy:
1. Use of certain atoms to create energy by striking it usually with a neutron, the unstable nucleus of the atom will then split, releasing lots of energy. This will then trigger a chain reaction as more neutrons are released from the atom. Atoms used are usually uranium.
2. Highly efficient, very low CO2 emissions, and not very susceptible to fuel price changes (and not a lot of uranium is needed anyway).
3. Expensive to build, but the energy output is about twice the amount of a fossil fuel power station.
4. Problem: Radioactive waste. Where to put them?

Unfortunately, when one thinks of a nuclear power plant, it is immediately associated with atomic bombs or Chernobyl.

Now let's look at the alternative (for producing large amounts of energy):
1. Wind power: Renewable, "eco-friendly", quite cheap and the exploitation has been in use for a long time (think windmills!). Very promising considering that the country has such good winds! But the actual energy efficiency? Though this concept is good, I think there is a limit to how many wind turbines we can build as UK is such a small island. And there is a problem that some people says it's ugly and/or noisy...
2. Hydro power: Hydroelectric is renewable too, still quite cheap and "eco-friendly" in the sense that it will not produce any pollution. But the building of the dams which means submerging lots of land area is a major environmental issue. And of course, this method is reliant to the amount of rainfall.
3. Fossil fuel power: Basically burning up fuel and generating power that way. Not efficient. Fossil fuel power includes coal, gases, oil. Cheap, but produces lots of pollutants and of course CO2 emission high. Pollutants release sometimes causes acid rain. And as energy is not renewable, fuel prices goes up and up and up...
4. Solar power: In Britain? Get real. You can use it to generate some energy but not efficient to power the country (unless technology improves).
5. Biofuels power: Like fossil fuels, but renewable as fuel source is from crops and can be sometimes methane from animal excretions. Polluting by emitting lots of CO2 and other gases and particulates that you get when you burn stuff. No risk of acid rain. Good idea, but the current method is not cost-effective and needs refining.
6. Wave and tidal power: Like solar, it is not enough to power the country, the technology is way behind.

I'm opposed to using power generating by combustion and hydroelectric dams for obvious reasons! We should stop using these as soon as we can by switching to alternatives.

Now I'm not saying that we should all turn to atomic energy, but it is a good option. When weighed with all the pros and cons, nuclear at this stage seems to make sense. Unless you want government to ignore the energy shortage! Nuclear is needed until science in renewable energy improves... or when many of us can really cut down on energy consumption. But that is difficult for many of us, as we want machines to do our daily chores and heating/cooling and lights etc... And that requires lots of energy.

Warning label

Yeah that's what I feel like today...

Moshunter may explode without warning

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From Go-Quiz.com

What's the fusc?

So the formal dinner at one of many colleges was not bad at all.
But I just don't understand one thing: the tradition of wearing a gown. Why did we have to wear a gown to dinner? What is the point of that? and what is the point of the college staff sitting at this high table and mumble something in latin before the meal?
Really, hierachy of this nature should not be needed anymore. All the fusc for what? We are only here to socialise and eat for goodness sake.
Okay. Other than that it was a nice night. Lots of alcohol consumed and meeting new faces.

Fog as thick as my brain

Bleh what a day... no sun but fog and more fog. Looks like it's gonna stay this way for the rest of the day, and it's seriously affecting my brain power, or whatever that is left of it anyway.
No matter, at least there is a (free) dinner tonight amidst all this blurriness. But the thought of socialising with new people will be somewhat of a welcome, even though the dinner is a black tie event (please brain please be in working order by tonight and don't let me say anything stupid!!). Heh, that is Oxford for you... fun and formal...

Oh and did a silly blog personality test thing on Blogthings:

Your Career Type: Investigative

You are precise, scientific, and intellectual. Your talents lie in understanding and solving math and science problems. You would make an excellent: Architect - Biologist - Chemist Dentist - Electrical Technician - Mathematician Medical Technician - Meteorologist - Pharmacist Physician - Surveyor - Veterinarian The worst career options for your are enterprising careers, like lawyer or real estate agent.

What's Your Ideal Career?

Well then, I guess I'm in the right career path...

Sunny Frost?

The morning was clear and bright. But as I walked out of the door, the cold hit me, and I realised the cars and grass had a layer of frost over them. What a start to the day. Got to work on my bike, making my own smoke screen as I exhale and thus blurred my own vision. And by the time I reached my destination, I felt like a block of ice. Must remember to put on my gloves or else I'll be permanently stuck to the handlebars. Looks like it's going to be a cold season... Might as well, and maybe the Thames will spew it's banks and freeze over Port Meadow and then all of Oxford can go skating. Whee!

Autumn season

Conkers are falling
leaves are turning
Autumn is coming
The air is getting colder
And the days are getting shorter
Autumn is not over

Okay okay so that is not the most brilliant poem ever, but I made it up as I biked to work. I love the autumn season, but then again it rains every other day and that is just crap for me who has to cycle on the wet street with fallen wet leaves smacking my face...

Halloween weekend

Happy Halloween people! Even if you don't believe in such a thing, don't you just love to have that excuse to dress up as some freak or other? hehehe!
Here is one party I went to and the host thought it funny to have the bathroom done up too...

There they go again...

I am quite annoyed at these so called animal lovers! There they are again outside. This time they aren't so quite, as they got a loud speaker with them. The police seemed more agitated now I think, because today the camera was in use. The nasty protesters were so noisy that I could hear them from my office.
Okay, need to stop whining about them. It is what they want I suppose.

"Words fall from our mouths, Like plates from shaking hands, Smash upon the silence, Of the smooth naked canal.
I'm evil and a heathen, I'm a heathen and evil like you, There's not a lot I couldn't do.
I like how you pretend, That the end will be the end, So fill your thirst, Drink a curse, To the death of death instead.
I'm evil and a heathen, I'm a heathen and evil like you, There's not a lot I wouldn't do"
-Franz Ferdinand

On another matter. Prof Sir Richard Southwood has passed away on Wednesday morning. The world of entomology will miss him :_(

Walk away

Today, I got my first glimpse of the animal rights protesters. They were on the opposite side of the road, while the police stood on the the other. The activists hung banners and held their pickets; and the police armed with cameras, and even a video-camera apart from their usual gear. And there was siIence, save for a car or bicycle that passes by occasionally. I can't help to feel the tension in the air as I walk pass them (police side, of course). I had half expected shouting and insults to be heard from the activists, but I guess that is what the police are hoping to film. Yet, their presence is felt as they look straight at the empty construction site behind the police that is to be a block of research labs. But then I gave a shrug, walked away, and went on with my day.
Though today's demonstration seemed calm, I know that is just deception. The damages they did to the university buildings and threatening letters they've sent speak for themselves.

"Mascara bleeds a blackened tear. And I am cold. Yes, I'm cold. But not as cold as you are. I love the sound of you walking away. Why don't you walk away?"
- Franz Ferdinand

Mazes and security doors

I'm still adjusting to the fact that my maze-like building is so strict about security. Due to some misguided animal lovers, nearly every door to a corridor is locked. And only special tags can open them, in addition to swipe cards at the main entrance of the building. I overheard a researcher cursing under his breath when he encountered another locked door and had to fumble for the tag again. I don't blame him... Apart from opening doors to get to one place and another (or getting lost) in my building, I'm glad to see that the insectary down in the basement is large and has a healthy stock of mosquitoes of different species. Only thing is that safety procedures mean special lab coats and gloves to be worn in there :(. And of course, no photos. Now if I can just remember the way...

Location, location, location

After a bit of break, it is time to get back to life as we think we know. So I left my job, and also my previous home in Cardiff. I'm now starting anew again in... Oxford!
My first impression is that I will like it here, though am filled with self-doubt that I am not brainy enough for this city. I will be doing research here (in mosquitoes still, surprise surprise!) and so far the people I've met are friendly and extremely smart (too smart!). Arrgh! I hope I can survive!

Left? Right? They all look the same...

Took this in Bute Park.

Last day

Yep, today was the last day that I worked in this insectary. I'm a little sad to leave. One of my boss even took me for fish & chips and ale at lunch time (now when could you drink during working hours, eh?) I'll miss this place.


I'll miss this silly sign outside the insectary too. :P
But, time to move on. There will be another insectary. But for now, I'm off for a break!

In Flight

I was taking more pictures in my insectary the other day. One picture so happens to capture a female Aedes aegypti clearly in mid-flight! That's rare for me... Especially using only a µ-300 Digital Oympus camera.

It is three, not two.

Yay! It's Friday! Weekend is here. And then I found out (more like told) that it's the bank holiday weekend. Gah! How did I not remember that??? Somehow I thought it is next week. My head is gone...

Soup du Jour

Sorry, can't help myself...

The Terror Within

Today's news headline goes to show that this country has terrorists from the inside and outside. Sure, some people say that these 'do-gooders' doesn't deserved to be called that. But, just listening to the interview with that lady in charge on ITV confirms it is deservingly so. It's all OK until someone really gets hurt isn't it? Oh wait, people were injured before...
Today, a stolen corpse; tomorrow, a made one.

And as I write this, the song 'Na na na na naa' by the Kaiser Chiefs is playing. Very fitting... it goes like this:

Na na na na naa (x4)

oh it does not move me
it does not get me going at all
Na na na na naa (x2)
it does not shift me
its not the kind of thing that i like
Na na na na naa (x2)
It does not move me
its not the kind of thing that i like
Na na na na naa (x2)

she does not listen
she's too wrapped up with all of her things
Na na na na naa (x2)
this does not get to me
shes not the kind of girl that i like
Na na na na naa (x2)

oooohhh
she does not move me
she's not the kind of girl that i like
Na na na na naa
Na na na na naa
oooohhh

OOOOHH
it does not move me
its not the kind of thing that i like
Na na na na naa (x4)

oooooh
it does not move me(it does not move me)
it does not get me going at all
it does not shift me(it does not shift me)
its not the kind of thing that i like
it does not move me
its not the kind of thing that i like
Na na na na naa (x4)
oooooh

Rock on, Prof!

Heh, don't know how I missed this. My former lecturer and tutor got mentioned in BBC news! Way to go, Prof! Am chuffed. Not because he gave me A's in my essays (though that is swell too :P), but because he is a good lecturer (i.e. never fell asleep in his class/seminar), an awesome tutor (though sometimes the topics he picks are very, very, challenging), and a great researcher. Am proud to be his former student, and can't wait to read more about his bee findings.

Big weekend

The Cardiff Big Weekend came and gone. And it was quite enjoyable. Well, can't complain when there is a fair and free open air concert eh?

Highlight of the concert for me was on Saturday, particularly the performance of this band called I Am Kloot.


And the festival ends with a bang...
Would put more photos, but they are utter crap!

Where's the replay button?

Wow, the song 'You're Beautiful' is still number one in the charts here. I keep hearing it everywhere as well. But it does keep me in a good mood while I'm in my lab. So, buy the album people... unless you hate music like these.

Maggot blues

If only that was a song...
Someone asked me that what had become of my dying maggots. Well, the truth is some are still dying. One week it seems that they are happily wiggling away, the next week they all committed suicide.
All I know is that it's the media that is sometimes not to their liking (but it's the same media all the time... and almost the same formula used in London Zoo). I'm perplexed. I do know though that meat is the best result. But the risk of cultivating some nasty disease in the insectary is putting me off to use that option... for now.
Anyway, I'll have bit of a think. Maybe there is some sort of compromise.

Blasts again?

Okay, this is bad. Now reports of some sort of blast in London Underground and one on a bus... again! Though this time it seems not much damage is being done. But I should think the mental damage of the people affected is quite a bit. I don't know where to begin to curse these people... To think that I used to stop at Warren Street to visit Ping when I am in London. And I used to live in Shepherd's Bush! Sigh!

There be bed bugs in my lab!

Here are some bed bugs in a containment unit (i.e. jar).

Bed bugs, or Cimex lectularius, is the latest addition to the lab. Am happy to say that they will not be lodging in the insectary for long. Just temporary accomodation. Phew! But I was a bit excited when these bugs arrived in the post today... how sad is that?
For more info on these creatures, have a look here.

Instant... but not so instant

Good weather in the UK means lots of barbecue. Nowadays, you can pop into your supermarket and get an instant (and disposable) grill for less than five quid. Yeah, too good to be true? That is why Tesco's put a little clause on their instant BBQ to make sure we don't get too excited...

Silence

Walk -- in silence
Don't walk away -- in silence
See the danger -- always danger
Endless talking -- life rebuilding
Don't walk away

Walk -- in silence
Don't turn away -- in silence
Your confusion -- my illusion
Worn like a mask
of self-hate
Confronts and then dies
Don't walk away

People like you -- find it easy
Aching to see -- walking on air
Hunting by rivers, through the streets,
every corner abandoned to soon
Set down with due care
don't walk away -- in silence --
Don't walk away


'Atmosphere' by Joy Division
(Also, Ian Curtis' birthday tomorrow)

7 blasts on the 7th day of the 7th month

Got into work this morning, made a cup of tea and read the news. There seemed to be some explosion due to a power surge at Liverpool Street Station. Typical, I thought, as I remember my days of waiting on that platform. But then later on I learned that 6 explosions followed that, including a bus near Russell Square. Luckily, Ping was kind enough to let me know that she was alright. So were some of my friends, though now there is the trouble of going home after work. Am I glad now that I moved out of London.
Hoping for the best...
Update: London incident has made other cities paranoid too. The M4 is massively jammed up. Delays on the bus too. The central and bus stations were closed for a bit. Man, this is has been a long day as it took me over an hour to get home. But it was not as long as the Londoners. Oh and it seems that there were 4 blasts and not 7.

Live 8

Date: 2nd July 2005

After sending Ping off, some friends and I headed to Bute Park for a bit of Live 8 big screen viewing. It was a relaxing afternoon...

Hello Hello...Hola!

And here are some of the photos from the concert. Starsailor and The Killers photo didn't turn out well.

The opening of gig was with the song 'Vertigo'



The lovely effects for the song 'City of Blinding Lights'



The message that they were trying to convey...



This one for 'Miracle Drug'.



This one for Bono's dad, Bob Hewson. 'Sometime You Can't Make It On Your Own'.



The dedication to Nobel Peace Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. The song was 'Running to Stand Still' with the ending of 'Walk On'. Awesome!

Vertigo Tour

U2 Vertigo Tour
Location: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Date: 29th June 2005
Supporting bands: Starsailor, The Killers

That was the experience of a lifetime. The Killers were awesome even in large venues! The Starsailor were not bad too. But of course, U2 just took the cake! Such a spectacular show that Ping and I couldn't stop dancing and jumping all the way to the end. Too bad for the middle-age portly people that sat near us and didn't seem at all excited. Can't believe that they just sat on their rumps for most of the concert. Did they come to watch U2 or Madame Butterfly?
Right, photos coming soon...

Signs

People put up the funniest signs.

My friend Nat took this picture in Cardiff Bay not too long ago. Hilarious!


And this picture I took two days ago on the way to Swansea.
Know your Italian?

Mystery of the dying maggots

When I started with rearing the houseflies, the adults emerged had curly wings and hence unable to fly. My collegue started calling these 'walks'.
But having solved that, I now have a much bigger problem in my hands. A large portion of my housefly larvae are dying and I can't figure out why. Everyone is scratching their heads but that does not help me. At least there are some that made it to the adult stage, if not my boss will have my head for breakfast! Oh well, it's the weekend now. Time to hit my local pub and forget about my problems till Monday...

Hooting with laughter

A new comic called Golden started by a bunch of webcomickers, has left me nearly paralysed with laughter. But it's the latest page by Ping is one that did it for me. Full of razorbill-sharped bird puns that will leave you honking with laughter, or in a vegetative state. Check it out, but be warned you may not stop with the pun abusing for some time after that.

Come into my parlour...

Sometimes the insects in the insectary escapes from their cages, resulting in me having to chase them for the next half hour. Sometimes, the insects will wander into their natural predator: the spider. Here is one that has been living in the insectary. Looks like it has done pretty well for itself. There's Drosophila, mosquito and this latest edition of the housefly.



Now, does anyone know what spider is that?

It is bright

Hey! there is actually some sunlight today! Now for a bit of tan...
Knowing this British weather, the sunshine won't last.

They are alive!

Haha, the housefly eggs have hatched and wiggling happily in the media I made. I would put up a picture of the maggots but it will be very traumatic to some. Also, am having phantom itches from looking at them too long...

Not my thing

Musca domestica are filthy things. Having to breed them alongside me lovely mossies is giving me grief. They stink. Their food stink. But I still can't get the hang on rearing them. I hope they will survive the weekend or else I will be back to square one.
Yep, flies are not my thing.

Mad Season

First it was sunny, then snow, then hail, then sunny, then more snow... and now? rain! lots of it.


This was when it was snowing about 2 weeks ago.

From Pupae to Adult

Amazing how my simple digital camera could capture this mosquito emerging from the pupae casing. This is an Aedes aegypti female.


The adult breaks open the pupal case and starts to crawl out.


The adult starts to unfold its front legs, its abdomen elongated. Note the pupa on the top right corner.


After a couple of minutes, the unfolded front legs rests delicately on the water surface. But the last pair of legs are still attached to the pupal case.


Top view of the mosquito. Note the distinct lyre shape white markings of the torso.

For more info on the Aedes life cycle, have a look here.

Hello Kyoto

Some of us might be aware that the Kyoto Protocol comes into force today. About 141 countries (not including the USA, China, and India), which makes up about 55% of greenhouse gas emissions have signed up for this treaty and promised to cut these emissions by 5.2% by 2012.

I do believe that pollution is a big problem and we should be doing something about it and fast. Question is, will this Kyoto Protocol make a difference?
My answer is no.

This event has me suddenly think of the song Changes by David Bowie:

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

More about Kyoto and related links:
UNEP
BBC Climate Change
Climate Change: Menace or Myth?

Spring time?

Poem lyrics of To Spring by William Blake.

O thou with dewy locks, who lookest down
Thro' the clear windows of the morning, turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!

The hills tell each other, and the listening
Valleys hear; all our longing eyes are turned
Up to thy bright pavilions: issue forth,
And let thy holy feet visit our clime.

Come o'er the eastern hills, and let our winds
Kiss thy perfumed garments; let us taste
Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls
Upon our love-sick land that mourns for thee.

O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour
Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put
Thy golden crown upon her languished head,
Whose modest tresses were bound up for thee.


And here's a picture I took this afternoon.

First Buzz

Hello! A little side project to hopefully be of use to someone.
So, the first task for me to do is introduce the mosquito.
Here's Wiki's