Monday, July 25, 2005

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.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

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!

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

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.

Friday, July 15, 2005

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...

Thursday, July 14, 2005

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)

Thursday, July 07, 2005

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.

Monday, July 04, 2005

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...

Friday, July 01, 2005

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!