Holiday?

I'm bored. I'm supposed to take a break now that I'm kinda done with my writing. But a weekend alone (yeah, most of my friends have gone on holiday, and those still around are not the ones I really want to hang out with) is making me crawling up the walls with boredom. Why is it that when one who was so busy desired so much to have all the free time, and yet when the time comes there desire to work comes back? Irony? Or maybe because I haven't settled my future plan yet. I'm still undecided on what to do with my life. yes, I'm an not that young a person who should still be struggling with this question... or so it seems.

I used to think this is what I would like to do, but lately I feel that I've gone a little bit off course. Since young I've always like to go into conservation. Sometime in my undergrad I've decided that evolution was a better choice, since I did well in those subjects than ecology. I do tend to do better in medical-related subjects too, thus ended up with medical entomology. It is still an interesting subject, but I wonder if it is really worth a day job for?

Well, not just in medical entomology, but scientific research positions in general. After years of studies, honing your skills for such specialities, what kind of job do you end up with? Working as a postdoc, if you intend to stay on with research. The pay is terrible (it really is terrible), the benefits near none, working hours are long... At least if you were to study medicine, with the same amount of years put in, you would have been a senior doctor by now or a surgeon.

And the BBC reports that kids nowadays are losing interest in science. Less scientist are being churned out and will affect our ability to be at the cutting edge of scientific discovery. Well, how about pay us scientist to work huh? the average train driver gets paid more than researchers.

I say, maybe, just maybe, the kids are smart.

Anyway, digression over.
Back to the subject. Bored. So I came into lab, to the surprise of some people. Look at my babies in the insectary to make sure they have food and water. Talked to the boss, demanding we write a paper ASAP. He agreed. Now I have something to do, write a scientific paper. Hours later, pondering on my unwritten paper, I decided that I should take a holiday.

I've finally submitted

There it sat my two copies of my thesis... nearly 300 pages long... on the old wooden bench of the examination school... and off it went tucked in two ginormous envelopes, ready to be sent to my examiners. It may be a relief, but years of my life was basically summarised in The Thesis. I'm exhausted, and feeling strangely empty.

The next leg awaits... the oral exam and meantime, the hunt for a real job. *sob*.

Goodbye, Grandpa.

As of today, I no longer have living grandparents. The only granddad that I'd ever known (my other granddad died when I was just born) had passed away. He was 88 years old, I think.
I still remember when I used to visit him as a kid, he would make sure there were plenty of kit-kats and yakults in his fridge...

I'm gonna miss him.

Panic, panic, panic!

I've given in my forms for thesis submission. Deadline is next month.

PANIC!! PANIC!!!

Coffee miss

I keep missing coffee during the lab's morning caffeine round. Nearly everytime that I do, someone puts a note on my desk.

Cute.

State of mind

No more jury duty, yay. But more work in the lab. I'm so ready to finish this work and find a real job! I'm so tired right now, and as one of my friends put it:

Doing a PhD is like having your life on hold, but it ages you like 10 years.

I've been stuck with this song for the past week. check it out if you are a star wars fan: Here

Jury Summoned

Just great. I have been given a jury summon. It's not that I mind doing it, it is just that can it come at a better time? Bleh, guess I can do my thesis while I sit there in court. :P

And there is that concern about my effing shoulder. Man, what should I do? I only have a couple of days to decide.

2010 already

Oh man, time sure flies.

I'm still stuck indoors (with a white fluffy freeze blanket that covers outside my home) attempting to get some progress done with my thesis.

Sigh.

What has changed since 12 months ago?
My shoulder still hurts, thought not as bad as it was 12 months ago. I am permanently on painkillers, and trying to finish this doctorate.

Here's to the new year. Somehow, humans take the start of a calendar to resolve doing something. I kind of find it hard to do so. I believe that once you have a resolve, do your best to have it done, whenever that resolve started and don't wait till new year to get you started.

Still, one can't help to feel that the start of the roman calendar brings an opportunity to do something anew etc...

Ok, so here's to 2010. May it be a mark in time of my life that was notably good and things that I want done gets done.

Term is almost over!

Yay, In two weeks, I'll be flying to South East Asia for a break. I can't wait.

Today is the last day of lab practical teaching of second year undergrads. Wow, with my condition, it was quite exhausting. I had to sit down at intervals... but great that all the practicals when well, better than last year anyway. It is funny how some of the students asks such bizarre, and some just down right silly, questions. Here are some examples:

In a microbiological testing practical:
1. "How to I spread the bacteria on a petri dish with this swab?" - by swabbing the plate, maybe?
2. "How do you describe bacteria morphology?" - that's like giving you the answer to the practical question, dude.
3. "How do I get the bubbles out of the API strip?" - arrgh!
4. "I put the wrong reagent in the API strip, will it affect my test?" - what do you think?
5. "The bacteria looks round. is it?" - ...

In a molecular testing practical:
1. "Is 020 on the display mean 20 µl?" - on the P20 pipette? no!
2. "I don't have enough reagents, I think you didn't give me the right amount, is it?" - no, you were using the wrong pipette at the wrong volume.
3. "So the ethidium bromide is used for tagging the nucleotide in the sequencing reaction?" - no! did you read the practical book?
4. "why won't my sample load into the gel well?" - that's because you are stabbing the gel and so the nozzle for your sample is block.
5. "My water is frozen, what do I do?" - ... that's just the best question to ask...

Michealmas

Argh, Michealmas term begins! All the little freshers so wide-eyed and confused are streaming into this city. The traffic's jammed with kids with their parents in big Land Rovers or station wagons, which are packed full of their belonging for their start in university life.

Maybe it'll be another time for me to start torturing some of these kids in class again. hehehehe.

This will probably my last Michealmas here. That means last time for me to be all friendly with the newcomers.

If you are thinking why I'm so bitter, it is because I'm so tired to re-introduced myself to a bunch of kids who are trying to be friendly, only to then never see these lot again. It is such a waste of energy.

Yeah, my thesis is getting on my nerves, how could you tell?

Trip to an Oxfordshire village

When I first stepped off the bus in Eynsham that late morning, the first thing that came to mind was a song by the Thrills. It has lyrics that goes like this: "hanging around in a one horse town ...". Except that this wasn't a town, it was a village. But the gist of it is that it was a sleepy village even during the daytime.
As I have mentioned in my last post, a shop here was the only Mac shop In Oxfordshire that would let me try out Macspeech Dictate and eventually help me buy one.

Just so you know, there is a Mac shop in Oxford Town itself. But don't bother going there.


The village centre. Love the little coloured flags. But could do with a few more people around.


Walking along what seems to be the main road through the village, I was wondering if I would find the shop. But there it was, a little shop painted white (indicated by the red arrow), with its big vehicle parked outside.


Finally, an aide I was looking forward to. As you can see, it comes with a headset. I'm still getting used to dictating, but eventually I will be good at it to write my thesis. if not, at least good enough to write this blog post.

So, if you ever are in need of Mac related software and services, why not take a trip to this place? Oxford Mac solutions are staffed by knowledgeable and friendly people. Thanks a bunch!

Trying to adapt

Well, it seems like I haven't updated this blog for some time now. My shoulder and arm, as well as my neck are still giving me trouble. I have been trying to sort this out with the help of the University occupational health service, and one of their recommendations was to try out a dictation program. After weeks of finding out who sells a copy of the detection program for Apple (Macspeech dictate) as well as haggling with my boss, he is finally agreed to buy a copy for me (but still licensed to him, talk about generous). This software program has just arrived, and I have been testing it out and "training" it over weekend. It is not as accurate as I would like yet, but still it is better than what I had anticipated. Voice recognition software has really improved during the last few years.
anyway, since now there is a chance of actually writing my thesis without straining my arm further, only to do now is talk to my computer.

Another thing, I am also waiting for a specialist in the orthopaedic unit to have a look at me. As it is NHS, waiting time is ridiculously long. How come the NHS does not understand that the longer one waits to be treated, the more likelihood that the condition will worsen. And then, they would have to spend more money in treating the patient. Man, how I wish I have medical insurance.

PS: the only place that sells Macspeech dictate is a little shop in a village just outside Oxford. I will blog about that another day. Right now, it is time for sleep.

Slow torture

Headaches, arm pain, upper back pain, shoulder, elbow, wrist pain... it's probably easier if I were to actually break my arm. Physiotherapy is not working so well and the only thing that is helping me right now is the needles. It's nearly 6 months, and am still showing very little signs of improvement (if any).

This is surely like slow torture...

Needles Karma

It feels like a trial of pain endurance lately. Here I am struggling to keep sane from the pain in my arm and shoulder I am still having since the bike accident while trying to write my thesis in the slowest possible pace, which is a tremendous pain in itself. My doctor has prescribed some drugs for me to help me, but the side-effects are so strong. It nearly isn't worth taking the drug which, by the way, just took off some of the edge of the stabbing pain. But when you are feeling like there is a knitting needle stuck into your back, any pain relief you can get is good.

Which brings me to my topic for this post. While bearing/grimacing the pain, work must still go on. I've been dissecting mosquitoes for my next experiment. And as you know the mosquito is a tiny creature, and conventional dissecting tools are far too big for this kind of work. Therefore, I used acupuncture needles to do the job. Here's how it looks like under the microscope.



Funnily enough, when at the doctor's... while being prescribed the painkillers for temporary relief, I was also advised to sought out other ways to treat my shoulder. One word was suggested:

Acupuncture

At first I thought the doctor was joking. But recalling a conversation I once had with a postdoc from Sweden, where acupuncture is a legit form of treatment on their NHS, I thought maybe I shouldn't dismiss this doctor just yet.
So off I went at to a respectable sounding acupuncturist (i.e. certified therapist) and have it done, and hey presto! The stabbing pain was gone... by stabbing me with six needles no doubt... oh, the irony!

Well, there you go. Acupuncture is a way to go with nerve injuries. In fact, even WHO approved the treatment. Unfortunately for me, this treatment is not on the NHS. I'll have to cut down on the drinks and night outs now. Then again, I wasn't doing too much of those anyway lately.

Tinkering around...

I'm really no techno geek. But finally today I've decided to try out the new customisation of Blogger thanks to Ping. Bear with me, as I only have very little spare time to be tinkering around with this blog. And with a still dodgy arm... I think I may overdid it already ... :(

Valentine's amusement

There was a guy on Cornmarket Street yesterday with a large sign that read:

"Happy Valentine's Day.
Fancy a date?
Over 18 only."

I was tempted to take a picture, but thought he was embarrassed enough already, given the stares and other cameras taking him. I wonder if that was a dare or a lost bet?

Happy Darwin Day!

Charles Darwin was born 200 years ago on this day. His theory on natural selection is the foundation of every biologists. Today, Darwin Day will be celebrated by millions across the world. Oxford University is making a bit of an effort into it. You can now download Darwin's book Origin of Species from Oxford University and Google Book. Now go read it! and have a bit of cake while you're at it too!

Pain continues... bleh

Been back to the doctor for my injuries and this time I'm being taken more seriously. I was sent up the hill (hospital on the hill, that is) for an xray and am happy to say that the wrist look alright. But the suspicion is that I probably had a Scaphoid fracture and after 6 weeks, it's healed. As for the shoulder, it's still hurts like it was a month ago. After weeks of putting off using my right hand and arm (and that is such a feat), I've now noticed the difference, and how weak the right arm has become.
I've been referred to a physiotherapist and given some rehabilitation exercise to do. Man that hurts, and am expected to hurt even more in order to gain back my muscle strength.
I wonder if I had help earlier on, would I have to suffer still, or could my pain had ended far earlier after the injury?
Anyway, what's done is done. I can't change any of what has happened. All now is hope I get a full recovery and get back to working full force.


Here's one of the exercises I had to do. I actually have the same stress ball as this picture, and coincidentally, I can just about manage to squeeze about that much with my right hand.

And am back to being annoyed again

And being annoyed by the same person too.

Two postdocs in my lab started to discuss some orders they needed to do and since that person, whom made me angry so much not too long ago, was going to do the orders, he wanted to know how much the other postdoc needed. Since, I overheard the conversation, I asked what it was that they are ordering as it sounded as if it is something that I'll be needing too in my experiments. But what was the reply I got from Mr. Annoying???

"Why don't you write down your experiment plan for me so I know how much (of the chemicals) you actually need?"

Hang on a second man, what gives?

"I don't think I'll need a lot of it, well depending on your order size, that is." I said, well something like that anyway.
"Yeah still you should have your experiment plan written down, so do that and we'll see how much you need."

Needless to say, I was a bit confused. First of all, why the F*ck do I need to show him my experimental plan? He ain't my boss. Second of all, I know how much I need. I just need to know if there will be enough for me in the order too.

The other postdoc at this time came to my defense, saying I already have an experimental plan (which is true, as I had discussed this with him before since he was the expert in this field) and that my plan only calls for small usage in comparison to his experiment. So, I could potentially just use some of his when they order in. No need to put in an extra order.

Okay, so problem solved. But I just can't get over the arseyness of Mr. Annoying. He didn't ask the other postdoc to write his experimental plan for him to see. I have this feeling that I'm only being treated this way because I'm the bottom of the tier in this lab.

under-over-reacting: NHS vs self-help

So it has been like a month since my bike accident. My wrist still hurts, my back and shoulder still aches. Within the first week of my fall, I have already been to the GP for a check in case that the damage done was more serious than I had anticipated. OK, it doesn't help that my colleagues at work are scaring me with the possibilities of my condition but they were looking out for my best interest, I guess. Anyway, the diagnosis was that I have a sprain or sprains, and was advised with normal movement and NIASD for my pain. Unfortunately, ibuprofen is not a good friend of mine and I soon found it's ugly side-effects. In other words, they don't seem to do much for me.

Days later after my visit with medical professionals, and after trying his recommendation, I found myself still in pain and no improvement really. I really hate having to go back to my GP with his bored don'twastemytimewithyourminorailments face and somehow I left me feeling that I have over-reacted on a small injury... so off to Boots I go and got me a tubigrip to keep my joints in place. AND IT HELPS!

Now why didn't the bloody doctor advise me on this instead told me to keep using my arm as normal but no heavy lifting? The more joint movements I make the more painful they become. Surely this is not NORMAL?

Now at week 5, I'm finding my wrist a little bit improved. But shoulder and back is getting no better and my thumb joints are getting worse. I now have a neoprene wrist and thumb brace for people with carpal tunnel syndrome so I can keep working somewhat at my own expense.

Do I nag the NHS GP again? Or should I wait and do more DIY medical care? So far I have helped more than the doctor. Part of me feels like I'm over-reacting, yet part of me thinks I'm taking things too lightly...

At any case, I'm stuck with a situation where my work is suffering...

Bleh!

2009 better be my year

Happy 2009 everyone!

for the Chinese calendar, it will soon be the year of the Ox. And according to the zodiac, it will be a good year for me. Well, let's hope it is, cos I'll be needing a good year after so many crappy ones.

The year that was:

highlight: Got my diving license!
low: hit by car, still feeling the pain!

Well 2008 wasn't such a bad year, but it wasn't spectacular either. But I do wish that this year will be a great year for me, like finishing my Phd or something. One can always hope...

Bye-bye, Squeeky

As I was making my way to my department yesterday on my bike, I was unfortunate enough to be struck by a car pulling out of a university car park next to the Natural History Museum. They always say that in accidents, the event seemed to occur in slow motion. I remembered the split second before that car hit me from the side and sent me flying through the air. That split second glance and realisation was enough for me to brace myself for the impact, and immediately struggled to get up as the thought of the possibility of being run over by oncoming traffic was none too appealing. Fortunately, it was a Saturday.

"Are you OK?" the bloody driver asked. Why is it that people bother to ask that question?
I got up, picked up my helmet which came off on impact (fat lot of good that did... luckily my head didn't hit the floor... maybe I should get another helmet now). The driver repeated his question.
"No! I am not OK!" I practically shouted, "You just hit me with your car! How do you expect me to be OK???"
A few profanities (from me, mind you) later, I realised we were causing a scene, and a little trail of cars have piled up behind us. I suggested we clear the road. A couple of pedestrians came to aid us. They saw everything and was really concerned for my safety.

I seemed to be in a fairly good shape, though somewhat shaken up. There did not seemed to be a bruise on me thanks to winter clothing... but my wrist where I fell on was hurting... Now my entire arm aches :(
The pedestrians told me I was quite lucky, that I fell "right". Maybe my karate training makes me react quickly? But did advise me to go for a check just in case. But I have decided not to, as the hospital is quite some distance and the thought of waiting in the busy Emergency Department for hours and without a bruise to show would waste everyone's time.

My bike looked fine as well, until we tested it. Turns out that the rear wheel is bent and the gears were goners too. Repairs would cost about £70. I bought my bike for £85 three years ago. I settled for £70 cash instead of the driver paying me for repairs.
My poor bike. I had named it Squeeky as that's what it did the first few months I had it (until I gave it some oil). Squeeky had taken me to so many places in Oxford and had suffered countless abuses from me. Now my half-rusted steed is at the end. You have served me well, Squeeky. Good-bye :_(

Thank you as well to the lovely pedestrian couple who helped me at the scene. The lady gave me a satsuma to calm my nerves and they offered to be witnesses should I find I have more serious injuries.

My desk...

Here's the mess I left at a corner of my desk... thinking of going back tomorrow (or rather, later today) is giving me that sinking feeling already. But it has to be done!
Back to the grind, I guess. Wish me luck... and goodnight!

Frustration

I've been trying to solve this mystery of a gene for such a long time. Now, after countless hours of experimenting, analysing the result is like opening pandora's box. OK, maybe not as bad as pandora, but you know what I meant. Arrgh! And there three weeks ago I thought I had the answer... Every step I take to answer a question, there seems to be more questions cropping up instead. now at closer inspection, I had missed something and found something else and thus can't explain what I am seeing.

Needless to say, at 7pm on a Monday... I'm stuck with my work.

Papers are strewn all over my desk and I think I'm gonna leave it like that.
I'm just gonna go home now.

:(

Influences

So most of you would have read that Michael Crichton passed away about 2 weeks ago. It was kind of a surprise to me, as I didn't know he had been battling with the big C.
I grew up reading Crichton books and watching his films. And I have to confess that I probably was influenced by this writer and his stories to go into science when I was younger. In fact, looking back in my photo library, here I found one of my first mosquito collection, and guess where have I propped my test tubes on for a photo?





In fact, does this picture look familiar?



Sigh, the memories...

In between experiments: LaTeX

Okay, I honestly don't know which number this "in between experiments" post is... anyway...

So while I have a little time at work, i.e. waiting for experiment to finish, I thought about how I would be writing my thesis.

I like so many other peoples, have been using Microsoft Word (Mac version) to do my writings. But I just hated how this software seem to have a mind of it's own. Many times would it auto-correct, auto-space, auto-misaligneverythingbecauseyouputafigure, auto-whateverelseformatyoudidn'twanti&thatstupidrobotwindowwavingatyou and classically, crash, when too much writing is going on. Also in science, writing a paper/thesis requires citation and bibliography. EndNotes seemed to be the popular choice here for Word. But it isn't free.

So off I went to find myself a way out of the tyranny of Microsoft, and I remembered someone mentioned LaTeX. Now LaTeX (pronounced Lah/Lay-Tech, apparently) is not a word processor, but a "documentation system for high quality type-setting". It requires some knowledge of typing commands to get it to do what you want your document to look like... pretty much like html. For the bibliography, LaTex version is also available, called BibTex and you can use an application like BibDesk to enter all your references pretty much like EndNote. So your document is pretty much looks like a command screen. But once you finish and convert it to pdf or dvi format, you'll see your end result. And I think it looks pretty good.

I still haven't got the hang of it yet, but I am seriously considering using LaTeX to write my thesis. Problem is, no one uses this in my lab, including my boss... so I wonder if he'll be willing to do any corrections of my paper by hand. Ok, not no one I know... I only know one other person who used this for thesis-writing (and thus was chuffed when learnt that I am attempting to do the same, and even gave me a tutorial to speed my way. Ah, bless!).

The moment we've been waiting.

It seems like the whole world was watching the USA.

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
To those who would tear the world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you.
And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

-Barrack Hussein Obama II, president-elect of the USA.


Well done, America.

Laazzieee

Not that I'm the most hard working person in the world...

But my boss is possibly the laziest person I've met.
He emailed me from his office next door to have me go get the serial number of one broken PCR machine in our basement lab.
Can't he just go himself? He only sits in his office all day. He could do with the exercise.

Bleh!


What's a PCR machine?

UFO: Alien Invasion - cool game, and FREE!

If you miss the old 90's game called X-COM, you will like this one! The best thing is that it is completely free! It also runs on macs.
Thank you to the people who made this game.

There goes my free time...

Download UFO: Alien Invasion here

Oxford Learning at home via iTunes!

Now you can listen to top lectures and more from Oxford on iTunes!

I'm chuffed! I'm now listening to Sir Nicholas Stern's lecture on Economics of Climate Change while typing this.

Talk about useful multitasking...

The Best Longest Sojourn Chapter 1 Quotes

While waiting for the next step in doing work (and making myself feel better after yesterday's episode), I reread the first chapter of TLS. My! The hilarity! So hence I decided that I should share with you my favourite quotes from this chapter. This is why I love TLS so much!


Page 2
Jaeger: “By th’ way, why are you doin’ on th’ ground, Kingy? Waita minnit! Those are spirit bonds! I declare! You’ve been messin’ with a death priest, Kingy!”
Tytus: “My! How nice of you to notice!”

Page 5
Daenon: “Have you two completely lost your wits? Because you have to be lacking in something if you want me to conduct something like this!”

Page 7
Daenon: “I don’t respond well to threats, Tytus!”
Tytus: “Maybe not, but hopefully you’ll respond better to the lack of air, eh, Master Daenon?”

Page 8
Tytus: “Oh my dear, sweet Magara! Death cannot keep us apart. I’ll dinf a way to bring us together… I promise!”
Daenon: (thinking) Why not just kill yourself and make things easier for the rest of us, you stubborn fool?”

Page 9
Daenon: (thinking) This would be almost amusing if it were not so unnecessarily cruel…

Page 10
Thorne: “I’m just not worth it!”
Daenon: (thinking) Now that is a person who values his life cheaply!

Page 13
Tytus: “What kind of unholy Calderan noise is this?!”

Page 14
Keenan: Thorne! You’re alive!”
Thorne: “Yeah well, uh should I have played dead or something?”

Page 15
Tytus: “Don’t just stand there… Kill him! Off with his head!”

Page 17
Tytus: “Pull his beard out – hair by hair!”
Daenon: “You are sick! Do you know that?!”

Page 20
Tytus: “… We had them cornered…”
Jaeger: “We?”
Tytus: “All right! My guards!”

Page 22
Thorne: “… Why are you back in the moat? Did you fall in?”
Daenon: “No, I decided to go for another dive! Of course I fell in! Did you think I’d find one drenching so invigorating that I would go for another?”

Page 25
Keenan: (thinking) Me? Just a pretty boy? Hmmph! (Tytus then yells in a fit of rage.)
… A petrified pretty boy, maybe?

Tytus: “ I want them beheaded! Decapitated! With heads chopped off!”

Page 26
Tytus (on being accused of having an attitude like King Fischer of Caldera): “…and I am not one bit like that vicious, avaricious, tyrant!”
Somewhere in The Empire of Caldera…
Fischer: “I do know all about that Sojournan king… and I’m not one bit like that bloodthirsty tyrant!”

Page 27
Tytus: “All Right! I accept your proposition! Just… SHUT UP!”

Page 28
Daenon (to Thorne): “Do you mean to tell me you fought your own guards, jumped from a high tower into a lizard infested moat, then ridden all this way… and yet you are not sure I if you want to live?”

Page 33
Mercenary 1: “I know where ee’s gwoing! Let’s gwo!”
Wilye (to Jaeger): “Well, gotta go, sweetcheeks! Let me know if ya want a job!”

Page 34
Jaeger (on realising what the Bloody Brigades was after): “D’oh! That’s mah job they’re after!”

Page 37
Mercenary 2: (to Thorne) “Come on, Blondie! Drop it!”
Thorne: “The name is Thorne!”

Page 38
Mercenary (on his broken bow): “Dang! And eet wuz ma fav’ret bow too!”

Daenon: (thinking) I had better give Thorne a hand… even if that imbecile doesn’t need it or deserve it either!

Page 40
Mercenary 2 (on which target to shoot first): Blond or brunette… decisions…

Page 41
Thorne: (to Daenon) “Now if you could do that, why didn’t you do that earlier instead of that fancy somersault thing?”
Daenon: (thinking) Picky… picky…

Page 46
Jaeger: (thinking) If he thinks he can outrun a warbeck, he’s dumber than he looks!”

Thorne: (thinking) Cornered! I’ll have to fight that armour-plated chobeck!
Fiddy: I heard that!


Now if you haven't read TLS, go and read it now!

Annoyance to Anger

I have been finding someone I work with irritating for some time now. Funny how some things that you can consider minor can slowly get to you. For my case, that mild prolong irritation escalated into that of anger. So much of it that I was red-faced and tears formed from the frustration. All I could picture was to bash that person's head in or throttle him till blue, instead I seethed trying to control from violent reaction.
Now it may be that I was overreacting and that being that livid was seriously OTT, but it did happen and I'm none too proud of it.

It all started when certain things in the lab goes missing. Angry as everyone was, nothing can be done about it since no one could rightly say why these things go missing from a kit. But one person in my lab keeps accusing me and another of the cause. Now my lab is not the most organized group, as we don't have managers or technicians to help with running a lab. So people are usually trying their best to order stuff needed for the lab when one notices that stocks are running low.

Now I have just been back from a long sunshine holiday, and lets say that being back in a basement lab in a place with shit weather is not what I call lifting your spirits.
So when yesterday when I wanted to use a kit and found it nearly empty I wasn't very happy. I needed to use 10 pieces from the kit and there was only 9. Before I left for the holiday, there was over 100 pieces. So where have the rest gone? No one seemed to know, and surprised in fact that so many had gone. There was still lots of chemicals that go with the pieces still so it shows that no one had been using the kit massively. No matter, I took 5 pieces and selectively did my experiment, while another 4 was later used by another colleague. And since the kit box was now empty, the colleague threw it away.

So when that person found out that the box was thrown because it was empty he was angry. Again, with the accusations... not believing that I and my other colleague did not use the entire 100 pieces or so. And since today our lab was moving to another space, no one had ordered a new kit.

First of all, OMG it was only yesterday afternoon that I and others in the lab (not the irritating guy of course) found the £500 kit nearly empty.

So why telling me that it was bad form of me for not ordering a new kit yesterday? I tried to tell him that we were moving labs today and tomorrow so no need to order urgently and anyway there is 100 pieces that we were supposed to still have.
"If we didn't move today and that I wanted to use the kit then I couldn't, can I?" he said.

Better still that that he told people in the lab that my colleague and I were the ones who threw away the empty box, though my colleague told him that he threw it. Got nothing to do with me, ok? Anyway, it was EMPTY. It was taking space on the crowded shelf. My colleague then put the chemicals that came with the kit on the shelf. That was also unacceptable for him, as then he said that we should also throw away the perfectly good chemicals.

Then to top it all off I was told not to follow bad habits from my other colleague who is senior than him in the research hierarchy. Like his habits are so desired...

Argh, just who does he think he is? He just started in this lab and is his first job having just graduated and he is bossing the senior post-docs with years and years of lab experience?
And why was it me that had to order a new kit? Is it because I have the most junior position in the lab?
I also hate how he talks to me and the senior post-doc. It's as if we are beneath his level.

Most of all though, I hate how I let this guy get to me. Now I have bleeding headache from all this.
Don't get me wrong, apart from this habit of his taking out his frustration on me and my other colleague, he is in general a nice guy, albeit a loud personality that is not really to my liking because I'm an introvert.

Hmmm, do I need anger management?

Shit happens?

Today started out well... but then shit happens. I have been doing an experiment since yesterday and at the final step, at about 6pm, the machine (a large centrifuge, which was service not two weeks ago) suddenly died on me. I couldn't even retrieve my samples for it was locked inside the damn thing. Thus, I am forced to leave it until an engineer could get it opened, which could by tomorrow or next week. Either way, my samples are f***ked. That's £100 down the drain, not counting the time and effort I had spent.

If the machine had died earlier in the day I wouldn't have thought it to be anything but a bad day at work. But when it had to die just when I was finishing, and when there is no one around to help me, I'm thinking I just might have the worst luck in the world.


I want to scream.

Silence is golden

It's examination season and I've been doing some invigilating for the university. It teaches me how to be silent and do nearly nothing for 3 hours. Oh fun.

At least I am being paid some money :)

Le Tour de Oxford

After getting a shock from seeing the appalling state of the university accommodation's room offered to me, I've decided to have plan B. And thus I began my room search around this city on my bike, feeling as though I'm doing a tour. I hope I get a good place with sane housemates...

Sweet Oxford

Sugar sachets in my department cafeteria now comes with an Oxford view! Talk about posh. But, it's nice eh?

Blame it on the girl (La Nina)

Cherry trees may be blossoming, but it's still quite cold for this time of year. I remembered this time last year we were having barbecues and tea on the lawn. Is this the La Nina effect? Or should we be blaming it on global warming, or both?

Nevertheless, here's a picture of my garden last week.



It may be pretty, but my house doesn't have double-glazed windows... :(

Happy Anni!

A quick shout out to my parents. Happy Anniversary! Hope you are having a ball!

Arpeggi

It seems like it was only yesterday that I started this blog. But lo and behold it is already 2008.

And I am still in the same place that is Oxford.

"In the deepest ocean
The bottom of the sea
Your eyes
They turn me
Why should I stay here?
Why should I stay?"


Usually, people would think up of resolutions that they would like to commit to at this time. Y'know, lose a few pounds... be kinder to people, etc.

"I'd be crazy not to follow
Follow where you lead
Your eyes
They turn me

Turn me on to phantoms
I follow to the edge of the earth
And fall off
Everybody leaves
If they get the chance

And this is my chance"


But time is really a subjective thing, isn't it?


"I get eaten by the worms
Weird fishes
Picked over by the worms
Weird fishes
Weird fishes
Weird fishes"


All I want is still pretty much the same as I did two years ago.

Question is, will I get it?

"I'll hit the bottom
Hit the bottom and escape
Escape

I'll hit the bottom
Hit the bottom and escape
Escape "


All I can do now is going in an endless Arpeggi...

Still, happy 2008 everyone.

Off to somewhere warm

No, I don't mean my insectary. Though it is warm and humid.

I'll be flying tomorrow to somewhere warm
(and sunny?) for a break! Yay! Finally, I'm getting a holiday.

Have a Good Xmas and New Year everyone!

It's so cold in this house- really!

It's so cold in my new house. My housemate has monitored that her bedroom could be as cold as 13ºC. But tonight, it's so cold that my fingers are having difficulty typing as they are cold stiff. Problem is that our house had only electrical heating that is super expensive. Also, our house has only single-glazed windows.

The weather outside is sleeting I think... the windows are too fogged up to see outside... I think it's about 10ºC in my room now... I'm yet to turn on the heating... gonna duck under the duvet with a hot water bottle to save electricity!

brrrrrrr....

In memory

To a friend who was gone three years ago at the age of 22. How his life took a turn for the worst is something I will always wonder, that why there was no one to help when he needed it. When I first heard this song, I thought that maybe this is how he felt.


Walking in the countryside
It seems that the winds have stopped
I took down the posters from my wall
Left letters for you all

I remember moments of happiness
Endless summer, acoustic guitars
Being a man made me coarse
When I wanted to be delicate

I called up Eugene
Told him I was drowning

Like a castaway on a warm ocean
Waiting for a purpose to rise
They say it's not becoming
For a boy my age

If you want to know what makes me sad
Well it's hope, the endurance of faith
A battle that lasts a lifetime
A fight that never ends

Walking in the countryside
It seems that the winds have stopped
Tell my mother I am sorry
And I loved her

- SRXT, by Bloc Party

Old leaf

Looking at all the new students arriving, fresh and wide-eyed. All their idealistic dreams they have for starting a new part of life in Oxford.
I went to the freshers events at college. And I was ready to go home and put on my PJs and sip hot tea after a couple of hours. I think my time for this sort of thing is over. All of my friends are still out at parties, but my rendition of a good time is sit around drinking wine, while listening to some music. Is that odd?


Man, I feel old.

Stalled

The world waits for no one. It keeps going even if your time seemed to have stopped.
So how do you find that strength to get up everyday and go about your life, knowing that the things you do could just be a bloody waste of time?

I guess I don't. All I can do is hope for the best and fear the worst. It's too hard to keep having high expectations of myself. Why do I want a career in this field so badly? The passion I once had seemed to have been blown away with the wind, and all that's left is the belief that what you do is worth something and will make a change in the world. Is it really such a noble cause or just an egoistic thinking of wanting to be something big? The desire for self-importance/greatness causes so much suffering that I sometime wonder if this is even worth it. This weight I carry sometimes feels so heavy that I can't breathe. Question is: is this baggage even worth holding onto?

"I noticed tonight that the world has been turning
While I've been stuck here withering away
Though I know I said I wouldn't leave you behind
But I have to go, it breaks my heart to say

That I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely
And I'm too tired to talk

To no one back home
I've got troubles of my own
And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now"

-Keane - Can't Stop Now



And along this path I have taken I have forgotten how to smile.

In memory of a tenor

Il principe ignoto:
Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa,
nella tua fredda stanza
guardi le stelle
che tremano d'amore e di speranza...
Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,
il nome mio nessun saprà!
No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò,
quando la luce splenderà!
Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio
che ti fa mia.

Voci di donne:
Il nome suo nessun saprà...
E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!
Il principe ignoto
Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!
Vincerò! Vincerò!

Lost summer and brain

I'm convinced now. Summer forgot a visit to the British Isles. It was Spring in April... cherry blossoms etc. and then it was Autumn. The leaves have already started to turn. Rain is ruining the annual festivals and maybe that's why Pete Doherty is arrested again.

Anyways, thanks to pages of writings and 15 degree wet gloomy surroundings, my water logged brain is barely keeping up... I've just tried to photocopy a pack of ham I've bought from the supermarket instead of the intended papers! X_X.

In Between Experiments 5

The sun has finally decided to come out of hiding. It's been raining for the past month or so... and those who read the news might have saw what happened to all that water in Oxfordshire. I have already lost count how many times I've been drenched whilst biking to work, but luckily didn't have to wade through any flooded areas. Anyway, BBQ season is surely gonna start!

My lab will be shut down tomorrow for servicing of certain equipments, so that means I'm on hold on the experimental side... which suits me fine, really. I'm getting quite worn down now and tomorrow's absent from lab means I can have more time working on my paper. Oh woop de doo.

I need a holiday...:(

On another note, saw on BBC news that Malaysian blogger Raja Petra is in a bit of trouble... for sedition (?). Somehow, this reminds me of the Muse song Take a Bow.


Corrupt, you corrupt,
Bring corruption to all that you touch.

Hold, you’ll behold,
And beholden for all that you’ve done.

And Spell, cast a spell,
Cast a spell on the country you run.

And risk, you will risk,
You will risk all their lives and their souls.

And burn, you will burn,
You will burn in hell, yeah you’ll burn in hell.
You’ll burn in hell, yeah you’ll burn in hell for your sins.

Ooohhh.
Our freedom's consuming itself,
What we've become is contrary to what we want

Take a bow.

Death, you bring death and destruction to all that you touch.

Pay, you must pay
You must pay for your crimes against the earth.

Hex, feed the hex
Feed the hex on the country you love

Beg, you will beg
You will beg for their lives and their souls.

Yeah,
Burn, you will burn,
You will burn in hell, yeah you’ll burn in hell,
You’ll burn in hell, yeah you’ll in hell,
Burn in hell, yeah you'll burn in hell for your sins.

Dream or reality

"I'd never thought my nightmare could almost come true." C said to me.
I asked what had happened. C, T, and K had just come back from a trip with their boss, L. L had offered to drive them to the meeting in his car, little did they know that he also had a vision of a bat. T continued the story, as C was a little shaken up by their experience. Halfway through the journey, L turned out of the motorway, for reasons unknown and two minutes later tried to go back on the the motorway. "The sign clearly showed the road's direction. And of course if you are british on british road with years of driving experience, you should know which side of the road you drive on. But for some reason, he didn't." T said.
I tried not to laugh for they did nearly die on the motorway. But I couldn't help it when I imagined them in L's tiny little car, driving on the opposite side of the road, with L oblivious to the oncoming traffic.
"The worst thing for me is that I had a dream about this trip last night." C said, "I dreamt that K was the one driving us to the meeting and was on the wrong side of the road because he unfamiliar with the UK road."
K, who is from the continent, shook his head "Didn't need me to turn your dream to reality, isn't it? I shall never forget that angry trucker's face!"


Memo to self: Never sit in car with L as driver.

It's so cold in this house

Warning: Incoming gripe


It is 13ºC outside and my room is not much warmer. Heating is off because it's supposed to be summer, but here I am freezing my fingers off. There hasn't been a day without heavy rain... roads are jammed with traffic and there is a general feeling of gloominess to match the weather... and it's much worse up north as some of you might have read in the news.

And what's the weather forecast for the rest of the week? Yep, RAIN!

:(

Some people hate to be wrong

I know an American (called him W here) who hates to be wrong. Yesterday, he yet again proved this.

At a buffet table:
W: (looking at scones, like the ones in the picture) those look good.
Me: Yeah, those scones do look good.
W: No, they are crumpets (grabs one and leaves).

>_<

Wintertime again?

Right, in April we saw one of UK most hottest weekend of 26 celcius. Now, at the end of May, guess what's the temperature?

4!!! (highest of 7 during the day)

In Siberia, the average temperature was reported as 20.

Can anyone say climate change?

Feeling like the song Running Up That Hill

I think I need a break... meanwhile, this song by Kate Bush is stuck in my head and it fits my mood.

It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, it's you and me.

And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
Say, If I only could, oh...

You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware I'm tearing you asunder.
Ooh, there is thunder in our hearts.

Is there so much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
You, it's you and me.
It's you and me won't be unhappy.

And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building,
Say, if I only could, oh...

You,
It's you and me,
It's you and me won't be unhappy.

"C'mon, baby, c'mon darling,
Let me steal this moment from you now.
C'mon, angel, c'mon, c'mon, darling,
Let's exchange the experience, oh..."

And if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

say if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

So if I only could,
I'd make a deal with God,
And I'd get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
With no problems.

So if I only could
Be running up that hill
With no problems...

"If I only could, I'd be running up that hill.
If I only could, I'd be running up that hill."

Still feeling cold...

A couple of sunny days, then its hail and snow again. And I thought February was cold...

Sick of being sick

I was really ill about 3 weeks ago,. And then after I recovered (which took me nearly two weeks), I got another flu the next week. I'm so sick of this! Why do I keep getting sick? I eat properly, I do regular exercise...

Luckily though, it has been sunny for the past three days.And that makes me feel better already. Let's hope the good weather stays.

Rain rain go away

Rain! there's so much of it! The river is high and so it looks like Torpids might be cancelled. So much for the team that has been training so hard for the event.
As for me, I hate cycling in the rain!
Also, this weather is helping flu spread around... in fact, I've just recovered from it... not before giving it to three other people!

More snowy pictures

Here are some photos from Thursday.


Picturesque.


Branches of a tree covered with snow provides a cool pattern... until a lump of the snow dropped on me.


A Wood pidgeon feeling the cold in a berry tree. Brrr!


A fountain with icicles, but still sprouting water!


Snowman sitting under a tree.


Underneath there be housemate's car!


My house after the snow had started to melt.

White powder

I woke up this morning and lo! What a sight that greeted me!



That's my back garden! I just love how the pear tree look with all that snow. Today, widespread snowfall in the country has disrupted traffic and forced schools to close. For a lot of the people though, it was a good time to play! I still had to go to work, but left early after having to trudge and glide around ankle deep in this white stuff.

More snowy pictures soon.

Bird flu is finally here?

I know that bird flu cases had already appear during the last year in the UK, but it didn't seem to have spread. But now, front page news is that some turkeys in Norfolk had been affected by the H5N1 strain. Will DEFRA be able to contain this outbreak in time? We'll see.

Meanwhile, I think my old lecturer, Prof. John Oxford must be more busy than usual. I was just reading his Q and As on the BBC website...

Anyway, now it is a good time to buy chicken. I had just been to Tesco's and the poultry prices have dropped significantly. I guess lots of consumers are scared by the news. Heh.

Burns night

Okay, it's a little bit out of date, but last week was Burns Night (25th Jan). Did you celebrate?

Over here in my college we had a Burns Supper (the good ol' haggis, neeps and tatties!) and Ceilidh dancing! It was most fun and educating! The only downside for me is that I don't like Scottish Whisky.

"Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit."

Strong Winds and A4s

It's been very windy this week. And if you had been reading the news, there were several deaths around the country due to this strong winds.
Today was especially windy... so much so that the boardings at the animal lab construction site blew off and got several protesters hurt.
Speaking of protesters, somebody sent a LETTER BOMB to a company in Abingdon causing some injury to the opener. The letter was an A4 and the sender stated was a Dr. Barry Horne (a dead animal activist).
What is the world coming to?

Recap 2006

Hmm, can't believe it! already another year has passed. I feel like I'm stuck at this stage in life, I don't feel like I've grown much at all... like a... LARVAE AT 4TH INSTAR STAGE BUT CAN'T PUPATE!!!


Ahem, well there are things that did happened during 2006 of course. Im gonna try and re-cap and see if any of the "highlights" are of any real importance.

1. Learning to live as an Oxonian. Um, well at least I saw Thom Yorke.
2. Being on the college student committee and the bar manager. Hair-raising experience.
3. Trying to become a bona fide researcher. I'm still trying really hard :_(
4. Friends. Yes at least I've made some cool friends here.
5. Karate. Yay, I'm back to practicing karate. Shotokan Style.
6. Old Friends. Got to meet with some old friends of mine.

I guess I'm just a tad more wiser (and definitely older). I guess the little steps in life do make a difference afterall. But I do hope 2007 will be a more fulfilling year.

Empty

It's one in the morning, I'm still mulling over my freaking paper... my brain has really vacated the premises! I can seem to write anything!!! Gah!. Other than this empty cranium, I keep having hunger pangs. Glad that there is so much of the turkey from xmas leftover :P... Just how much can I eat? Odd thing is, my BMI puts in the underweight catergory. Where is all the food going?

Man do I feel empty!

Clinging on... just barely

It has been a massive turmoil for the last couple of weeks. I feel like I'm about to be swept off by the waves (dare I say, of tsunami scale?) of stress and unrest in the group. Needless to say there is really one giant root of all problem. My head is like a giant volcano, really to explode/implode...
I'm so ready to get a breather now, and with the latest cock up... everyone in the lab may actually have to take that break...
Oh wait, I still got piles of work to do :(

There's trouble brewing in the new year. I know it. But I do hope at least that it'll come and go quickly and so I can get on with my life.

2007 is supposed to be a very special year for me and a certain group of old friends... simply because we vowed to meet up in that year after 5 years of separation... I just need to hang on tight for a while and ride out these turbulent days.

I need a drink...

Happy Birthday Ping!

A quick shout-out to Ping!

Happy birthday! I hope you will have a good day, and... celebration perhaps?

Anyway, many happy returns!

Wrung out

It's been a hectic week. And then bar things till late at night ... I'm glad on days like a Saturday to make up for the sleep debt. But that means I rarely see the sun... not that there is much at this time of the year!

Christmas is coming... time flies... oh boy...

Season Warmer - Tapioca style!

(LEFT: My pudding on my ugly red carpet.)

When it gets all dark and cold and wet during this autumn, I'd love a warm and comforting dessert. So after much experimenting about with tapioca, I've made a pudding... much like the asian sago pudding classic. It was yum! Here's how.






Ingredients:

Tapioca pearls
Palm Sugar
Double cream
Coconut milk powder
Soya milk

1. First cook the tapioca pearls in lots of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Then leave it to cool for another ten and let the pearls turn completely transparent. Strain and wash under a tap to remove excess starch.
2. Return the tapioca into the pan. Add coconut milk powder and a little soya milk and mix to make a thick liquid.
3. Add chunks of palm sugar according to your level of sweetness. Gently heat the mixture until sugar dissolves.
4. Add a dash of double cream and stir until mixture is thick.
5. Pour into cups/bowls and top it up with some peach slices or other fruits of your choice.
6. Eat!

(Right: Close up of my half eaten pudding.)

Something to take away those winter blahs eh?
Right now, back to work!

Running away from responsibilties

It is as if I am jinxed or something. Experiments are going awry, even the simple ones... The amount of stupid mistakes that I would normally not make is ridiculous... and sometimes just unexplainable that things go wrong.
So naturally I'm feeling down in the dumps. I can't get around how come I'm majorly this bad? I've done lab work before and never had a problem. It's like my brain has died or gone missing. Maybe I killed it or left it behind in Cardiff with Brains (lager).
To make matters more complicated,I'm still managing a bar part-time that is under pressure to perform better. When I first took over, it was a tip! Every health and safety (not a big fan of this, but the basic H&S common sense should be obviously applied) and hygiene regulation was practically broken. At least that is somewhat under control.

So, I've decided to take a trip to visit a friend in Exeter. Don't care of the running experiments. Nor the bar. I'm running away from here!

Maybe when I come back I'll be better?

"Well here I go,it's coming at me through the trees
Help me, someone, help me, please
Take my shoes off, and i will throw them in the lake, and I will be, two steps on the water

I found a fox, who was caught by dogs, he let me take him in my hands
His little heart, it beat so fast
And I'm ashamed to be running away
From nothing real, i just can't deal with this
I feel ashamed to be there"

- The Futureheads/ Kate Bush, Hounds of Love.

Grumble grumble

The days are getting oh so short, yet there is more and more things to do. I'm having to keep an updated dairy... something I've never done. This week, I'm fully book... really, my day starts at 9am and ends at 11pm... today I'm only going to bed at 3 or 4am.

I want to lie down!

Halloween aftermath

After a record earning at the bar for Halloween on Friday, my recently acquired flu decided to punish me even more.
Well, at least in misery I will have the satisfaction of being told of doing a good job - even if right now I've lost my voice, coughing, sniffling and have tons of academic work to do. And darn, still have to go back to the bar and do the stock... even with the extra hour gain is not helping enough!

Have a great Halloween to all.

Health and Safety... BAH!

Sometimes (and by that I mean most times) Health and Safety has no logic whatsoever. So afraid that we might hurt ourselves in everything we do, H&S officers are adamant that we fill out forms after forms after forms of safety rules and follow them. We now have to wear goggles and mittens when using a microwave!!!

But then, last week someone had a bit an accident that was potentially dangerous. What was Health and Safety good for when you really can't expect the unexpected? They can't even tell me how I could dispose a long plastic pippette that does not go into the normal pippette bins...

As most people who watches Top Gear will know, that Richard Hammond was injured while driving a Dragster for the show recently. Now Health and Safety is crawling all over them, trying to find fault at why this was unexpected.

Same goes with my lab now. Things like a dirty shelve is suddenly a H&S issue.

I do think we need a level of safety, but really, it is a common sense thing. But we can't have everything dictate to us. If the UK had an earthquake tomorrow and the chemicals on the shelves were to fall down on us, are we then gonna put all chemicals on the floor and have no shelves?

Meantime, I wish the Hamster a speedy recovery and can't wait for the new season to show. I heard that filming has resumed today for Jeremy Clarkson and James May. Yay!

Embarrassed

One morning I cycled to work, lightly singing a song that is supposed to be Karma Police.

And just as I cycled pass a bus stop I saw someone that seemed quite familiar. It took me a while to realise...

It's Thom Yorke. Again. (Hmm, why is he waiting at a bus stop?)

The expression on my face when I finally recognised him must be errr, amusing. I don't think he heard me singing.

Embarrassing...

Then again, maybe I'm mistaken and that person is not Thom... (wishing partially that it was a mistake).

Summer is over

And just like that the summer has come and gone. The trees are turning yellow and red. Days are rainy and colder... though with the occasional warm sunshine.

So, recap of the summer: What I did

Work, work, work...
Outdoor sports like tennis and cricket
Get to see a Bollywood film being made in Oxford. Their trailers and cars were parked outside my department. It seems that Priyanka Chopra and Salman Khan was here (oops, I saw them but didn't really recognised them in the flesh... my bad. Plus, I walked pass the camera while going for lunch. Oops again.)
Karate in the stuffy dojo.
Holiday in Italy
Worldcup
Summer Ball
Punting
Picnics

Hmmm, it was a great summer I think. I wish it wasn't over so quickly.

Goodbye, Crocodile Hunter

Not a good start to a Monday morning when I read the news. 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin has just passed away early today from a diving accident. According to BBC news, he was killed by a sting ray.
This is a sad, sudden loss. He was such an inspiration. He was probably the first person to make me look at reptiles in another light...
He truly loved wild life and I guess at the end he died doing what he loved.
He will be truly missed. But his legacy will go on.
Thank you, Steve. People like you are the reason I studied biology.

My condolences to Terri Irwin and the rest of the family.

In between experiments 4

Waiting for another experiment to finish. Been listening to a band called The Shins from someone's iTunes. I love the music sharing thing. Anyway, I think this song is good:

So Says I
By The Shins

An address to the golden door
I was strumming on a stone again
pulling teeth from the pimps of gore when hatched
a tragic opera in my mind...
and it told of a new design
in which every soul is duty bound
to uphold all the statutes of boredom therein lies
the fatal flaw of the red age.

Because it was nothing like we'd ever dreamt,
our lust for life had gone away with the rent we hated
and because it made no money nobody saved no one's life.

So we burned all our uniforms
and let nature take its course again
and the big ones just eat all the little ones
that sent us back to the drawing board.

In our darkest hours
we have all asked for some
angel to come
sprinkle his dust all around
but all our crying voices they can't turn it around
and you've had some crazy conversations of your own.

We've got rules and maps and guns in our backs
but we still can't just behave ourselves
even if to save our own lives, so says I, we are a brutal kind.

Cause this is nothing like we'd ever dreamt
tell Sir Thomas Moore we've got another failed attempt
cause if it makes them money they might just give you life this time.

Such a loser...

It's bank holiday and here I am at work. The building is quiet and I feel very odd indeed. Sigh!
Since all cafeterias are closed, I went to Sainsbury's to buy lunch. Big mistake. The noodle salad a bought was not only cold, but half of it was frozen. Now I would have gone back to complain but it's like a 20 minute walk. Blech!

Today I feel like such a loser... :(

Gloomy thoughts

Boss (AKA supervisor) is throwing hissy fit again... well as far as I know that it's got nothing to do with me, but the fact that he is taking it out on people creates resentment.

That is only one of his problems.... Anyway, here I am thinking if continuing this course of work under is one particular person is a decision I should change. If it was just a regular job, I would think about not renewing my contract or quit before things get worse. But as it were, I'm actually trying, at the end of three years, to obtain a PhD. I'm in doubt now wheter I would finish my PhD at this rate. Sigh!

Just how far would I go before actually resolve to give up for good?
Well, I got a meeting with the Boss today. Hopefully it won't be too bad. Must remember to not cower in fear... X_X

Life without a computer

My powerbook has finally kicked its aluminium bucket. And I'm without a computer at home. Life seems so much more quite and boring without a computer. I've began to pace around in my noiseless room, it's just so odd...

That is how dependent some people has become to computers, sadly.

I need to get my little lappy fixed! I'm now using a very old iMac at work... well, at least it's better than none.

Lab boredom antics

If you work in a lab, do you sometimes find yourself sitting around waiting for your samples? Long enough to get bored, but not long enough for you to walk away and do something else. Here are 10 things I've done/seen in my lab other than the usual sitting and stairing into space.

1. Sleep/dose. I've observed a researcher in my lab taking forty winks on his chair, feet up on the mini fridge, while waiting for his samples/results. Surprising how he never falls.
2. Kata practice. Tekki Shodan is the best for long and narrow lab spaces such as mine. Perplex glass on the microbiological safety cabinet/ fume cabinet is good for seeing your reflection while you practice. Recommend you do this when no one is around. Be careful not to topple things.
3. Spinning around on the swivel chair. Makes you dizzy. Only if you have one of those in your lab. I remembered doing a lot of when I was four or five, and broke my tooth once when I fell... Oh well.
4. Talk. Have a good chat with another colleague. Only if you have friendly and good-natured ones. Some researchers get highly annoyed if you try to chat with them or make noise generally in the lab. Luckily, non of my lab colleague are grumpies.
5. Sing. Sing along with the radio in the lab. Or just sing your own song. A couple of researchers in my lab like to do this. Sometimes one of them would whistle a tune. Mostly though this is done when they are still doing something, and not waiting around.
6. Clean. Give the work bench a good wipe down.
7. Read. Anything from newspapers to work articles. Bleh.
8. Dance. Know some moves? Why not try it out on the smooth floor (if you have a smooth floor) of the lab. Again, alone is best to avoid embarrassment.
9. Organise. Keeping your work place free of clutter.
10. Write/draw. Usually work-related things like a 'to do' list for tomorrow or 'to buy' list. Sometimes though it's just doodles.

OK. That's all. Hope that inspired someone, or made someone laugh at least.

My week

Here are some things I did for the past week in my mundane life.

Monday: Laugh at a new video made by two guys called The Dormitory Boys/ Back Dorm Boys, taking the piss out of Jessica Simpson's new song (great Monday blues killer). Order drinks for the bar that I manage part-time. Dinner with a housemate.

Tuesday: Piping woes in the insectary, giving us a private paddling pool, hence I feel like a janitor. Tried to call a certain someone but as usual phone is off. Karate training to vent out stress and whatever. Laundry.

Wednesday: Dinner with housemates.
While another housemate had a BBQ party in the garden, which annoyed the house when drunken guests made a ruckus at midnight. Some people had to get up at 6am for work!

Thursday: Due to lack of sleep, the day seemed long and no work was really done. A colleague then had the fab idea of going for a drink after work. Yay! Late dinner :P

Friday: Bank in a cheque from Inland Revenue! They had taxed me too much last year. Dinner by way of Chinese takeaway :P... wasting time by loitering in the room, emails, listening to music. Got the new Keane album from a friend :).

Saturday: Get up late :D. Late lunch. Karate Training. Grocery shopping. Dinner with housemate again. Defrost the dodgy freezer so that technicians can fix it on Monday.

Sunday: Sort out bills. Tidy my room a bit... Laundry (My karate trousers needed a wash). Defrost the fridge so that technicians can fix it on Monday too. Dinner at a friend's place, plus Battlestar Galactica! :D


So that's my week. How is yours like?

Pressure! Here comes the gripe.

Gah, work things are not going my way. I'm so frustrated. Pressure to get results is building and I feel like I could explode. What to do when experiments don't work like it's supposed to and you don't know what to fix??? That and the heatwave is making me mad. My room sometimes goes up to 30 degrees at night and the fan I bought feels like it is blowing hot air, which means I don't get much sleep, which adds to more grumpiness.

Which makes my theme song of the week being Pressure Point by The Zutons.

I can't get this pressure point out of my head
I can't get this pressure point out of my head
I feel it in work, you know, I feel it in bed
I can't get this pressure point out of my head
I've paid all my bills and I've acted so well
Ain't been cheating, there's nothing to tell
So why all this pressure, I dont understand
I call on my neighbours, and lend them a hand

Doctor, oh doctor, I'm willing to learn
Well all of my bones, well they toss and they turn
Mother, oh mother, I'm begging you please
To rid me of madness and cure this disease

Maybe told you what I have become
With all of this pressure, my mind's on a run
Why maybe its changing, let's hope for the best
Maybe it's something to get off my chest

Doctor, oh doctor, I'm begging you please
To rid me of madness and cure this disease
Mother, oh mother, I'm willing to learn
Well all of my bones, well they toss and they turn

Pressure pressure pressure pressure...
Pressure pressure pressure pressure...
Pressure pressure pressure pressure...
Pressure pressure pressure pressure...

I can't get this pressure point out of my head
I can't get this pressure point out of my head
I feel it in work, you know, I feel it in bed
I can't get this pressure point out of my head

AAAAAAAhhh ... Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure...
AAAAAAAhhh ... Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure...
AAAAAAAhhh ... Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure...
AAAAAAAhhh ... Pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure...

If they were true...

And if only they were real... Well I guess the checkout machines are.
I love going to Co-op!

The End of World Cup 2006

Ahem, first of all... YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! Bravo Italy!!! My Italian friends must be crazily happy at the moment. Outside my window, I can hear some fans cheering, cars honking...

So that is the end of this year's World Cup. And what a spectacular one! Until next time...

Meanwhile, enjoy these guys paying tribute to World Cup 2006. Dadada!




Oh and yay to Roger Federer as well for clenching the Wimbledon title again! *Happy Dance*

Spammers and scammers, please... NOT!

Now even my private work email address is spammed! Here is one that I've just received. I can't help but to laugh at this.

DEAR SIR,

URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL!!!.

AFTER DUE DELIBERTION WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE THE
PLEASURE TO FORWARD TO YOU THIS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
PROPOSAL. WE REQUIRE A RELIABLE FOREIGN INDIVIDUAL OR
COMPANY WHO WILL ASSIST US TO RECEIVE THE SUM OF
USD$100 MILLON INTO HIS/HER BANK ACCOUNT.
(Why make millons when we could make *pinkie to mouth* millions?)

THIS FUND RESULTED FROM A CONTRACT WHICH OUR COMMITTEE
AWARDED IN 1999 IN COLLABORATION WITH SOME PAST
MILITARY OFFICERS. THE SAID CONTRACT WAS SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED AND COMMISSIONED AND THE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS
WAS PAID THE PRINCIPAL COST OF THE CONTRACT LEAVING
THE SUM USD$100 MILLION WHICH WE DELIBRATELY ADDED.

UNFORTUNATELY,AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
OWN FOREIGN ACCOUNT.HENCE WE ARE SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE. MY COLLEAGUES AND I AFTER DUE CONSIDRATION AGREED ON THE FOLLOWING SHARING RATIO;
1, 30% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER
2, 60% FOR MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES.
3, 10% FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENCES THAT
MIGHT BE INCURED IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.
(yeah right, mate. 60% isn't that fair! Civil servants of which country anyway?)

TO REDUCE YOUR CURIOSITY AND DOUBT, LET ME SINCERELY
INFORM YOU THAT WE OBTAINED YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FROM
REPUTABLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES AND I AM
THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE
OF THE FEDERAL OIL AND GAS BOARD (FOGB).
(I didn't know I had connections with reputable chamber of commerce and industries since I'm in the poor research business. And Pat here seems to be a highly ranked, secretary of the... what again?*getting curious*)

WE ALL HAVE PUT IN SO MANY YEARS IN SERVICE AND HAVE THUS
PATIENTLY WAITED FOR THIS GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO CONCLUDE THIS TRANSACTION
BEFORE THE END OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.

TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF THE FUND, WE SHALL
REQUIRE:
1, YOUR BANKER’S NAME,ADDRESS,ACCOUNTNUMBER,NAME
OF BENEFICIARY,FAX AND PHONE NUMBERS.
2,YOUR COMPANY’S NAME,ADDRESS,PRIVATE FAX AND
PHONE NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION.

WITH THE ABOVE INFORMATION, WE WILL ON YOUR BEHALH
SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE FUND TRANSFER FROM OUR FEDERAL
MINISTRIES CONCERNED.
(And on my behalh please go and hang yourself)

TAKE NOTICE THAT A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIALITY
SHOULD BE ACCORDED THIS TRANSACTION AND EVEN A HIGHER
LEVEL OF TRUST AND HONESTY EXPECTED ON YOUR PART.
(Oh I took notice alright... Trust and honesty to a scammer... right, got that.)

NOTE:- KINDLY REPLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:- pattychim500@yahoo.com
(anyone who would like to say hi to Pat please go ahead and email him.)

BEST REGARDS.

DR. PATRICK CHIM.

(I wonder where did Dr. Patrick Chim got his PhD?)

Summer Hols

Been away on a little break to Italy. It was great. Florence was the choice of stay, but I got to travel a bit around the country on day trips... My week of rambling was filled with extreme (37 degree) temperature, Culex mosquitoes, Italian language, fumes of alcohol and generally trying to pace the Italian way of life...Here are some of the memoriable pics of that lovely country.

Shock! That was my expression when I realised that I'm going to have to sit on that ATR plane courtesy of Alitalia. Err... give me Ryan Air anytime... but then again what an experience... I doubt I'll have a chance to sit on a propellar plane again.

Room with a view.
The Villa I stayed in was eclectic, with their own orchard and vineyard... best part though was the view from my room... Overlooking the city of Florence, I just had to enjoy a cool drink of Campari mixx on the balcony amidst the scorching temperature.

Yes, why don't I?

Replica of David looking a little shy there...;)

The famous Florence Duomo, peaking out at the end of a lane...

The hand of San Giovanni on display in the Siena Duomo.

Gondolas parked in a row in Venice's San Marco square...

Where else would you go to get Venetian masks?

In Italy, kids are in a hurry to get to school... Go kids!


Bye bye Firenze... I'll definitely be back to ramble around the Tuscan landscape again! But for now, I'm back with a tan and work starts again... sniff.