It's Chinese New Year's Eve today. For those who are celebrating, happy Chinese new year!
Have a good year ahead. Woof!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Around Cardiff
Apart from being in Cardiff, I sometimes take short trips outside the city with friends. Wales is a beautiful place if you care to look...
Castell Coch (Castle Coch). Meaning The Red Castle. Located just outside the city. If you bother to walk upstream of the River Taff, you will eventually arrive here.
Some spring flowers blooming in the many hills of Wales.
Mumbles. Lovely seaside and places to go walking. Home of Catherine Zeta Jones I am told...
More Welsh Seaside... lovely.
Swansea City. About an hour's drive away from Cardiff.
Caerphilly Castle in Caerphilly. Not only do they have a cheese named after their city, they also have one of the oldest castles in the world.
Lake in the Breacon Beacons. Photo by Nat.
And you gotta have sheep in Wales! :) Photo by Nat.
Castell Coch (Castle Coch). Meaning The Red Castle. Located just outside the city. If you bother to walk upstream of the River Taff, you will eventually arrive here.
Some spring flowers blooming in the many hills of Wales.
Mumbles. Lovely seaside and places to go walking. Home of Catherine Zeta Jones I am told...
More Welsh Seaside... lovely.
Swansea City. About an hour's drive away from Cardiff.
Caerphilly Castle in Caerphilly. Not only do they have a cheese named after their city, they also have one of the oldest castles in the world.
Lake in the Breacon Beacons. Photo by Nat.
And you gotta have sheep in Wales! :) Photo by Nat.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Mosquito Relocation
This morning we had to relocate all our mosquitoes and equipment to a new insectary next door. All the elbow grease... that plus the tropical condition of the insectaries while wearing a jumper is near torture. Meanwhile, outside temperature was -1 Celcius! I can't help but to laugh at the irony...
Monday, January 23, 2006
Attack of the Mosquitoes
Arrgh! The mosquitoes has escaped during the weekend and was happily flying around the insectary! The moment I stepped into the room they all went for me. I've just spent the last hour and a half trying to recapture/kill them while evade from being bitten.
Bleh! I hate it went there is a containment breach.
Bleh! I hate it went there is a containment breach.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Cardiff Revisited Part Two
Now down south is the bay. Here are some of the pictures...
Parts of Cardiff Bay still has its marshlands. This patch is protected for the interest of conservation.
The Millenium Centre. There is Ping demonstrating the size of the building. No, we did not see any TARDIS appearing at the time :(.
And here is Ping again nearer by the water. Bird book and binoculars in hand! :)
Parts of Cardiff Bay still has its marshlands. This patch is protected for the interest of conservation.
The Millenium Centre. There is Ping demonstrating the size of the building. No, we did not see any TARDIS appearing at the time :(.
And here is Ping again nearer by the water. Bird book and binoculars in hand! :)
Friday, January 20, 2006
Cardiff Revisited Part One
I'd gone back to Cardiff for Nat's birthday celebration. It was fun. It was refreshing to come back to this city. So I thought to put up some pictures of Cardiff City I took for the past year...
Here is one of the animals on the stone wall along the street of Cardiff Castle.
Inner part of Cardiff Castle. This is the original bit of the castle. Other castle builidings was later on built in.
Cardiff's very own Clock Tower. I could hear it ringing from my old house!
A part of Cardiff City Centre and an alternate view of the clock tower. Photo by Ping.
The Welsh dragon on Cardiff Town Hall roof.
Millenium Stadium as seen from a bridge in Bute Park.
Another bridge in Bute Park that I always cross during my evening jogs in the summer.
Cricket game during summertime.
The centre piece in the Univerisity Park (or is it Garden?).
Here is one of the animals on the stone wall along the street of Cardiff Castle.
Inner part of Cardiff Castle. This is the original bit of the castle. Other castle builidings was later on built in.
Cardiff's very own Clock Tower. I could hear it ringing from my old house!
A part of Cardiff City Centre and an alternate view of the clock tower. Photo by Ping.
The Welsh dragon on Cardiff Town Hall roof.
Millenium Stadium as seen from a bridge in Bute Park.
Another bridge in Bute Park that I always cross during my evening jogs in the summer.
Cricket game during summertime.
The centre piece in the Univerisity Park (or is it Garden?).
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Hardy creatures
Wahey! An actual mosquito post!
Before I left for London during the Christmas break, I decided to kill off my adult Aedes aegypti colony. This is done by getting rid of their food and water. They should then die fairly quickly. Surprisingly, they are still alive. On top of that, Aedes aegypti eggs can be kept on dry paper for months. And to hatch them, just simply add them to a tub of water! It goes to show how hardy these creatures are, and so such successful pests.
What do the eggs look like?
Okay, not the most brilliant picture... but here is a female adult (dead) with some eggs (hers probably). It's the black stuff by the way! And the size of one egg (circled red) is about the size of this comma (,).
So if you live in a place with Aedes mosquitoes, and have some odd desire to find their eggs... check damp areas like wet grounds or water containing vessels (including natural ones like rock pools, puddles, leaf axils and tree holes). Note that the eggs tend to stick to the sides of vessels that contains/recently contained water.
Hope that was useful information...
Before I left for London during the Christmas break, I decided to kill off my adult Aedes aegypti colony. This is done by getting rid of their food and water. They should then die fairly quickly. Surprisingly, they are still alive. On top of that, Aedes aegypti eggs can be kept on dry paper for months. And to hatch them, just simply add them to a tub of water! It goes to show how hardy these creatures are, and so such successful pests.
What do the eggs look like?
Okay, not the most brilliant picture... but here is a female adult (dead) with some eggs (hers probably). It's the black stuff by the way! And the size of one egg (circled red) is about the size of this comma (,).
So if you live in a place with Aedes mosquitoes, and have some odd desire to find their eggs... check damp areas like wet grounds or water containing vessels (including natural ones like rock pools, puddles, leaf axils and tree holes). Note that the eggs tend to stick to the sides of vessels that contains/recently contained water.
Hope that was useful information...
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Shut the F*** Up!
Grrr! Second day at work and those buggers are back screaming their lungs and brains out about their supposed love for animals. Here I am trying to work on some gene sequences and for the last 3 hours I get them as this irritating background noise! Shut up! shut up! shut up!
Well, at least I get the satisfaction of them freezing outside. It's 1 degree Celcius at the moment... Maybe some of them will catch a nasty cold/flu/pneumonia that they need medicines that had probably been tested on animals before (snicker). Okay, I need not to be mean... bah!
Well, at least I get the satisfaction of them freezing outside. It's 1 degree Celcius at the moment... Maybe some of them will catch a nasty cold/flu/pneumonia that they need medicines that had probably been tested on animals before (snicker). Okay, I need not to be mean... bah!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Fair Trading
A little Christmas present was given to me couple of days before I left for London for the Holidays (oh yeah, now I'm back in Oxford). And that present has left me thinking and somewhat a little guilty... they were Divine Fairtrade Milk Chocolate Coins.
I have always been supportive of getting rid of poverty, hence the support for Live 8. But thinking back of my actions, I realised that I've never really bothered to make sure that I buy fair trade things. Have I been contradicting myself all this while? Could it be that I've been buying sugar at the expense of some poor farmer in Central America?...
Later, I've rummaged through my cupboard, but none of the products bore that Fairtrade logo. My heart sank. Luckily, a quick surf on the internet informed me that my Twinnings tea has a fair trade policy. So was my Cadbury's cocoa powder...
Earlier today, I've gone to my local supermarket for a bit of shopping. And for the first time I actually checked for Fairtrade labelled products :). Now I'm not one that makes new year resolutions, but I'm definitely making a resolution to be fair trade aware and buy products that has an ethical trade policy.
So little does the giver of that present know that his gift was not only just nice chocolates for the Christmas cheer, but a reminder for me to do my part in making poverty history.
Thanks.
Find out more about Fairtrade.
I have always been supportive of getting rid of poverty, hence the support for Live 8. But thinking back of my actions, I realised that I've never really bothered to make sure that I buy fair trade things. Have I been contradicting myself all this while? Could it be that I've been buying sugar at the expense of some poor farmer in Central America?...
Later, I've rummaged through my cupboard, but none of the products bore that Fairtrade logo. My heart sank. Luckily, a quick surf on the internet informed me that my Twinnings tea has a fair trade policy. So was my Cadbury's cocoa powder...
Earlier today, I've gone to my local supermarket for a bit of shopping. And for the first time I actually checked for Fairtrade labelled products :). Now I'm not one that makes new year resolutions, but I'm definitely making a resolution to be fair trade aware and buy products that has an ethical trade policy.
So little does the giver of that present know that his gift was not only just nice chocolates for the Christmas cheer, but a reminder for me to do my part in making poverty history.
Thanks.
Find out more about Fairtrade.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
The Year that was
New friends
from different walks of life
a gathering for Live 8
and another for July 7
Then a new opportunity
To a new city
More new faces
from new places
remembrance of a sad event
Which a friend could not prevent
A peaceful Christmas holiday
at least for me
And now a new year
and hopes for a better one
again
from different walks of life
a gathering for Live 8
and another for July 7
Then a new opportunity
To a new city
More new faces
from new places
remembrance of a sad event
Which a friend could not prevent
A peaceful Christmas holiday
at least for me
And now a new year
and hopes for a better one
again
Friday, December 30, 2005
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
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
Sunday, December 18, 2005
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.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
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!
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!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
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
Meanwhile... take that you terrorists! :P
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
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.
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.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Warning label
Yeah that's what I feel like today...
From Go-Quiz.com
| Moshunter may explode without warning |
| M EXPLOSIVE |
From Go-Quiz.com
Thursday, November 24, 2005
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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:
Well then, I guess I'm in the right career path...
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. |
Well then, I guess I'm in the right career path...
Thursday, November 17, 2005
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!
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