Thursday, March 31, 2005

my training...

Past few days were pretty exhausting. Never ending workload in the lab is killing me (the bloody plasmids I transformed wouldn't form colonies, damn those lowlives). I haven't even started reading the reference books I borrowed from my uni's library last Sunday.

Today, I feel like blogging about what I do for my current training program (so that you guys would stop asking me what do I actually do for my industrial training).

Okay, to start off, I am currently doing my practical in a laboratory which is generally on molecular cloning. What is molecular cloning, you ask? Heck, I don't really know, but from what I see here everyone's doing DNA recombinant for bacterial cells.

Now, the DNA recombinant thing. Basically, what I'm actually learning from the phD and Masters students here are mostly on how to extract plasmid or genomic contents from a desired cell, run several tests to confirm the DNA, culture some host cells, and transform the host cells by intergrating the plasmid or genomic composition I've extracted into them. That's 'basically'. In between, I've been learning quite a few tips on handling several bioequipment and machines I've never laid my hands on before, and this is really good hands-on experience for me.

Not that it's all fun though. I need to send in a schedule of my daily activities to my supervisor every Friday, and I had to spend countless hours doing research and making notes because genetics isn't really what I do back in my uni. However, I believe it's worth it, and definitely useful when I start my final year thesis project next semester. Besides, it's only a 2-month stint. And definitely safer than some coursemates of mine who are checking HIV positive blood samples for training *gasp*.

So there you have it, my industrial training.

Oh btw, I wanna share something funny. A coursemate of mine; who is undergoing training too, is doing data entry instead (what the hell?). I laughed like mad when I hear that. I wonder what is he going to write about when passing up the training report.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

the brain thing (again?)

Wanted to post about the earthquake, but realized everyone's blogging the same thing.

Wanted to post about another awkward conversation which happened during work, but lazy to translate.

Wanted to post about the controversial commercial about the LRT issue, but misplaced my newspaper with the information I need.

Too tired to think, I'll just post what everyone else are posting:





You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained



The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning.

Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others.

If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic.

Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet.



The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility.

Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way.

If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art.

Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.





You see, that explains why I am right-handed but left-footed.

Monday, March 28, 2005

life, and several things to ponder...

Maybe God wanted us to meet the wrong people before meeting the right ones, so that when we finally meet them, we will know how to be grateful for the gift.

Maybe when the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often time we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

Maybe the best kind of friends is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Maybe it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in their heart, but if it does not, be content it grew in yours.

It only takes a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth, even that fades away. Go for someone who can make you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find people that make your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to keep you happy.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying while everyone around you were smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling, and everyone around you are crying.

Randomly selected quotes

Sunday, March 27, 2005

what we believe...

I don't usually talk about religions because that's quite a sensitive issue to some. I was reading random blogs when I came across one which was ridiculing another belief, incidently, one that I can relate to, thus the entry of this post (this post has nothing to do with the other blog, it's just something that came into mind all of a sudden, therefore please don't feel offended by its provocative content). Please do not read if you think you'll be offended.

As you guys have already known, I'm an atheist. I can't remember how long I've been one, but I do remember I've never believed in God since the day I can think rationally (btw, Buddhism is a teaching, not religion). This is further concreted when I took up science, and more specifically, Biology, as my field of studies.

Believing that man evolved from apes is not something stupid. Although Darwin's Theory have several loopholes, at least it offers some kind of logical explanation, if not the real deal. To me, that is quite fitting for my question as to why am I existing the way I am now.

I can tolerate jokes regarding religions, but please don't go overboard. Atheism isn't a religion, true, but there's no reason to ridicule. If you ask me, I believe I'm leading a better life as a person compared to a lot who claimed they are followers of God. I don't need a God to make myself do good deeds, I do good deeds because I want to. At least occasionally I'll be wishing that the world will no longer have wars, instead of those who go to temples and pray for their own wealth. If you say I'm gonna go to hell for not believing in Him despite all the kindness I've shown, then the hell, off to hell I am. I don't give a damn about it. If heaven is full of people like you, I would consider it a blessing to be in hell.

Secondly, please do not ridicule the possibilities of evolution. You hear it everyday, new species of animals and plants and whatever living organisms are discovered everyday. Did God send them? No, it's because of evolution. Whether you like it or not, evolution is happening. And it doesn't happen overnight. It's because of the selective breeding due to the survival of the fittest. Giraffes don't have long necks just because they want to stretch and reach for leaves on top of trees. It's because giraffes with longer necks can survive better since they can suit to the environment. So how difficult is it to accept that we share the same ancestors with apes? If anything, I find the son of God living on earth even harder to believe. Btw, I'm the second incarnation of Emperor Shih Huang Ti.

I have a question to ask. Have anyone ever met God?

You don't have to answer me though. I'm not really interested to know unless you can bring Him out for lunch with me, preferably during the weekends.

I do not blame the blogger for putting up such posts, he probably didn't think it is a big deal. Besides, it can raise a productive and healthy discussion. I'd also like to add that I think Harun Yahya is an idiot, and his scientifically-proven arguments are immature. But I guess you can find similar comments in the blogger's haloscan.

I still respect other religions. I am only asking you not to insult what I believe in. I apologize if I've offended anyone in any way. Please don't send me death threats.

Saturday, March 26, 2005

i'm the shy shy type one lah...

I had a drink last night with an old friend I got to know back in my first year's orientation week. Okay, not exactly 'old friend', but I haven't met her for more than a year, so you know what I mean. She suddenly messaged me out of the blue and being a good friend, I asked her out for supper late last night after her Easter celebration.

We were practically talking non-stop since we haven't met for so long. Most topics were non-relevant; her sisters, my siblings, coffees, hairstyle, microbes, whatever that came into mind. Somewhere along we ended up discussing about blood donations and crap stuff like that, and she told me how tiring it is to donate blood 'twice' in a week. I was dumbstruck. How do you get to donate blood twice a week?

She told me she had period a few days after her blood donation.

I don't know about you guys, but that puts me in a very awkward situation. I mean, I'm generally quite conservative, and I don't discuss about menstruations, pms, or things like that with friends, more so with girls. I know lah I'm strange, but it makes me uncomfortable. It was like putting a fullstop to our talk and I didn't know how to pick up the conversation thereafter.

She went on and on about that for quite a while before I had to stop her and told her to talk about something else.

This sorta reminded me of something which happened last month, when I had just moved into my rented house with my friends. I washed my clothes and hanged them out in the sun one day, only to find them gone in the evening. I was wondering what happened to my clothes when I walked into my housemate's room and found that she was folding my clothes. Fine, that looks pretty normal at first, but she's doing the same thing with my underwear! That totally freaked me out. I know, I know, I'm weird, but I just can't accept my friends from the opposite gender helping me folding my underwear. That, to me, is even weirder. I thanked her and had to politely tell her to leave those chores to myself next time.

I'm pretty shy and conservative when it comes to private stuffs like these. What to do, I'm easily embarassed mah.

Anyway, we brought up this topic out of amusement when we were having a steamboat party last Friday, and to my horror that friend of mine can actually sort out the underwears of my other housemates. Now I know one of my roommates wears Renoma, and the other one wears Hush Puppies. Then there's another guy who wears 'S' size.

See what kind of embarassment it can get you into?

Thank goodness she didn't continue helping me out with my chores.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

a conversation at the workplace

This conversation happened today back in the lab where I am currently undergoing my training:

Tutor 1: So where do you actually stay?
Me: Cheras.
Tutor 2: Oh, so you're from KL lah?
Me: Yeah...
Tutor 1: Both your parents are from KL?
Me: No, my mom's from Seremban. Why?
Tutor 1: Oh, so you're from the peninsular...
Me: Uh huh, I think I would have some recollection if I'm not born in KL...(starting to feel weird)
Tutor 2: Then your father's a Chinese?
Me: Yeah...
Tutor 2: Your mother?
Me: Chinese too.
Tutor 1: Like that you're not of mixed parentage lah?
Me: I look like one?
Tutor 2: We thought you're from Sabah or Sarawak cuz, I don't know lah, your face looks like you're from there.
Me: Oh, ok... (don't know what else to say)

Darn, must be the broken Malay slang...

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

how true...

You scored as atheism. You are... an atheist, though you probably already knew this. Also, you probably have several people praying daily for your soul.

Instead of simply being "nonreligious," atheists strongly believe in the lack of existence of a higher being, or God.

atheism

92%

Satanism

79%

agnosticism

79%

Buddhism

63%

Judaism

58%

Islam

54%

Paganism

54%

Christianity

38%

Hinduism

21%

Which religion is the right one for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com

Didn't have time to blog, so just posting some crap here.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

friends forever

Just only the first day of work, and I'm already feeling homesick.

But don't get me wrong, I'm not those mummy' boy type.

What I meant was, having gone through one day at a job which I am planning to put my foot in has brought plenty of flashbacks in my life. It makes me think, after I graduate next year (hopefully), will everything around me remain the same?

Will I hang out mamaking as often with my old buddies, driving all the way to Kajang at midnight to taste some delicious satays?

Will I be playing football with my friends as often as I do now?

What about those memorable trips I had with my old buddies and uni friends?

I regret holding back so often in the past, and missed all the fun I should be having. If I can turn back time I swear I will ditch aside the reputation and principles I hold so dearly, and make the most out of what I have.

But what has been shall remain has been. Though I can't do anything to change that, I know there's a lot I can savour from what's remaining. I now know what I want to do. After these 8 weeks of training, I'll make the best out of my final year in uni and enjoy every moment of it. And bless me, let this be the most glorious time of my life so that the beautiful memories I share with so many wonderful individuals can be carried along with me till the day I die.

'Friends forever' is such a short phrase, and often misused. Isn't it ironic how meaningful it really means when you just stare right into those two words?

You've never heard me say this before, but I love you guys.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Liverpool 2-1 Everton

I'm stupid to be awake at times like these, having to report at work at 8 in the morning, but I'll never miss a derby match like this one.

Screw the Bluenoses, Liverpool won the match, and did so with 10 men!

To be honest, Everton put up a lively performance, and Baros definitely deserved that red card (I would've asked him to leave the pitch anyway after watching him miss 2 one-on-ones with the keeper, what rotten luck), and Cahill scored a fabulous goal near the end.

That aside, Liverpool's injury jinx doesn't look to be ending anytime soon. Derby debutant Warnock had to leave 20 minutes into the game after a 50-50 challenge with Cahill, Hamann and Morientes looked to have some bad injuries and were subbed in the first half, and Garcia had to play more than half the match in pain. I mean, 15 nasty and clumsy fouls by the Blues and all they get is 4 yellow cards? Liverpool made only one crazy challenge and Milan's off to the dressing room for an early bath.

That's about all I wanna say, since we got the three points anyway. Champions' League spot, here we come!

Saturday, March 19, 2005

exams out, training in

Just finished my last paper at 5pm yesterday, had a football game right after that to cure my itchy legs, a steamboat party with my housemates(photos coming up as soon as I get them), stayed up all night going out for drinks with friends from campus, watched 'Shutter' and fell asleep doing so, packed my stuff in the morning, got home around 3 something, slept through the evening, and finally here I am back to blogging.

So, what's up people?

There aren't a lot for me to blog about, since I was isolated from civilization for the past couple of weeks, so the only thing I can keep you guys updated about is my industrial training. Heck, I've only received my offer letter on Monday after 4 bloody months of waiting, and I'm off to another local uni for training. For 4 months you'd think I'd deserved to be in some big research organization or private companies but no, now I have to cover all my expenditures using my own pocket money. How sad. But still better than having to extend one semester just for these 3 pathetic credit hours. Well, you gain some, you lose some (in this case, I kinda lose quite a lot of 'some' financially).

And right after my training, I'll be moving back to PJ and start early on my thesis. Dr Lani's quite a great chap, she allowed us to get access to her labs during the holiday so I guess I can spend some of my free time mingling with my coursmates' projects, hahaha...

8 weeks of training, here I come!

p/s: Btw, I've been having difficulty posting comments on you guys' blogs, I don't know why. Just wondering if it's just me or are you guys having the same problem.

Monday, March 07, 2005

lost

Had a very horrible nightmare which startled me awake, and I couldn't fall back into sleep. So here I am, blogging again.

Let's just say I wanted to travel to this special destination. I was waiting for a suitable cab that would take me to that special place. A cab stopped and I got in. Then I saw another passenger in the cab, on his way to another destination. I got off from the cab, because I know the cab won't bring me to the place that I wanted to go. The cab already has another destination, and it wouldn't be fair to pick up another passenger along the way.

So there I was again, back waiting at the taxi stand, hoping another cab would turn up, a cab which will take me to where I wanted to go. I've waited for so long I can't remember, and when I had just made up my mind to give up, a cab turned up. This time, I made sure there wasn't any other passengers before I step into the cab. Initially, I thought this was it, my ticket to the special destination I had wanted to go to, and my heart was filled with so much happiness I can feel colourful butterflies flying inside of me.

But some things aren't meant to be when it was never meant to be. After a short distance, the cab stopped and picked up another passenger. I was devastated. It only took me a short while to decide to leave and wait for another cab. But I soon realize, that I've left my wallet in the cab. And I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Without my wallet, how am I supposed to board another cab, anymore?

I did not ask for a lot. I only hope that the cab would turn back and return me my wallet. Or the least, give me a call to tell me you've left with my wallet and you can't return it, so that I would stop thinking about it, and work to earn enough money to buy a new one. Just don't leave me waiting here in the middle of nowhere, waiting for the same cab to come back, waiting for an explanation.

Suppose I will never come across the same cab again, then would that mean I will never board another cab anymore?

I don't know, and for now, I don't even think I care anymore.

Well, that wasn't the nightmare which kept me awake until dawn but rather, something related to it. It was just so terrible I felt like my heart was ripped out from my chest and was torn into little pieces. I never thought I will describe it in such a way, but yeah, that perfectly describes the feeling I am feeling now.

Funny how the exam blues can get me into such moody modes. Dang.

of blood and blog

Two totally different topics, sorry for the misleading title.

Anyway, came back for the weekend because my roomate's family came to town, and he needed a room to stay for the night before his mother goes for her checkup in University Hospital later in the morning today.

Speaking of hospitals, went for my routine blood donation on Friday and found out that the hospital's running low on O-type blood. Not sure if there's any readers at all here, but if there are any of you readers out there who somehow accidentally stumbled upon my blog and saw this post, I am now pleading you to show a little kindness and donate some blood to help save some lives.

Imagine the joy of a mother crying her eyes out knowing her daughter, who had been a hit and run victim, can be rescued because a kind-hearted man donated his blood.

Picture a 5-year old child sitting on the floor outside the intensive care unit waiting for his daddy, not knowing his father is in critical condition and losing huge amount of blood.

Think what miracles this world can give you, when your most beloved one is lying there motionless in the operation room needing the extremely rare O-negative blood supply, and then the nurse walked in and said a good samaritan has just provided enough blood to save the most important person in your life.

A friend once told me,
'if you can't do great things, you can do small things in a great way.'

This is the greatest small thing you can do.

----------------
Regarding the second topic, well, not really sure what's happening in the blogsphere recently, but two of the blogs I frequently visit had announced that they are considering quitting blogging, for good. I don't know the reasons behind the controversy, but I wanted to say that I will support their decisions, whatever it will be.
Blogging used to be a fun hobby.
It sure doesn't look fun anymore.