Am feeling hardworking... feeling lost (kinda)... feeling hopeful that I can completely finish up my prac write-ups before midnight. Everytime I look at what I've got, I always get the feeling that something's not quite right, or something more can be said about the results. I've been rather prone to procrastination nowadays, a nasty habit picked up while in Syd (gahh, blame it on Commerce)!
Haven't ventured more than 100m away from the Hall this weekend - a real wonder. I've been cooped up in my room the whole day today, working on trying to work... :P
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Friday, November 28, 2003
Mooovieee time!
I know it's hard to believe, given my movie-going habits, but tonight saw my first trip to a cinema since I came here!
Like what usually happens if I don't get the tickets beforehand, I didn't get to see my first choice of Love Actually. We got there, and the tics were sold out. So we went for our 'backup' movie - Russell Crowe's Master and Commander... which some would say is 'my' kind of movie. It was a tad draggy at times, but otherwise it was fine. It also had quite a bit of the Galapagos Islands in it, and some natural history stuff (the ship's surgeon was an ardent naturalist)!
Want to watch:
Love Actually
LOTR: The Return of the King
The Last Samurai
Troy (only due for release mid-next year)
Visited the Movies S'pore site, and saw that Infernal Affairs 3 was gonna be out soon. And I thought that I.A. 2 was just released not long ago?!
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Tomorrow's the last day of the biochem module for this term! Yay!! Biology of organisms is up next... am looking forward to that.
Went for the ICSS Sponsorship Sub-committee meeting after lab prac today. I've bagged a list of roughly 10 organisations to get started with first. The draft letter will be ready by the end of the week, and hopefully we can get it finalised and start sending them out next week.
Then I rushed back to Linstead for dinner... and headed out again to attend my first worship session with the College's Christian Union. 'Twas all right... though I'm a bit unfamiliar with the songs that they sang. And I hadn't initially planned to, but, I joined their Christmas carol service choir too (<-- they started rehearsing a few weeks ago). We only have 2 more weeks to rehearse before the actual event. Naturally, I placed myself in the alto section, but in the midst of the singing, I lost myself and sang the soprano parts... which follows the original melody. So... I think I'll hop over to the sopranos the next time, and just mouth the higher notes. :P
Went for the ICSS Sponsorship Sub-committee meeting after lab prac today. I've bagged a list of roughly 10 organisations to get started with first. The draft letter will be ready by the end of the week, and hopefully we can get it finalised and start sending them out next week.
Then I rushed back to Linstead for dinner... and headed out again to attend my first worship session with the College's Christian Union. 'Twas all right... though I'm a bit unfamiliar with the songs that they sang. And I hadn't initially planned to, but, I joined their Christmas carol service choir too (<-- they started rehearsing a few weeks ago). We only have 2 more weeks to rehearse before the actual event. Naturally, I placed myself in the alto section, but in the midst of the singing, I lost myself and sang the soprano parts... which follows the original melody. So... I think I'll hop over to the sopranos the next time, and just mouth the higher notes. :P
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Ahhh. :)
Just had a refreshing session of fencing with a hallmate... A--- the sabreur with whom I went to the fencing shop on Sat. We started at 9pm, and fenced non-stop for an hour and a half... using both the foil and sabre. It felt awkard at first... we did it in a section of the dining hall, and our S'porean and M'sian friends came down to witness us "spar", while studying at the same time. A--- was so full of humour and funny antics so many a time we just burst out laughing. Our friends kept chuckling too. I couldn't concentrate at all, so we just fenced for pure fun and joy. Bah... we were in no mind to think of tactics. I still hold my ground in supporting the notion that women sabreurs should not fence against guys... they're so much more aggressive and violent!
Today's BUSA match against Sussex having been cancelled, I didn't have a chance to 'break in' my new kit proper. Instead, I had the priviledge of doing so in my hall's dining room. :P
Just had a refreshing session of fencing with a hallmate... A--- the sabreur with whom I went to the fencing shop on Sat. We started at 9pm, and fenced non-stop for an hour and a half... using both the foil and sabre. It felt awkard at first... we did it in a section of the dining hall, and our S'porean and M'sian friends came down to witness us "spar", while studying at the same time. A--- was so full of humour and funny antics so many a time we just burst out laughing. Our friends kept chuckling too. I couldn't concentrate at all, so we just fenced for pure fun and joy. Bah... we were in no mind to think of tactics. I still hold my ground in supporting the notion that women sabreurs should not fence against guys... they're so much more aggressive and violent!
Today's BUSA match against Sussex having been cancelled, I didn't have a chance to 'break in' my new kit proper. Instead, I had the priviledge of doing so in my hall's dining room. :P
ICSS major event
ICSS had a meeting today to discuss our major event for this academic year. Among with many others, I volunteered to be in the committee (at least I didn't put my hand up for the 'secretary' position! - as if I haven't had enough of secretorial jobs before :P)... I picked the Sponsorship Comm. The other comms were Operations, Logistics and Publicity, all of which were the kind of committees I've been in before. Reminds me of Guides or prefects (again... sigh). Though Sponsorship is kind of like PR, and I do quite a fair amount of PR-ing and liaison work already, so I hope it'll go easier on me. Gotta source up sources!
Anway, for the major event, the plan is to set a world record (and enter the Guiness Book of Records) for the largest jelly-flag made. Or something like that. We'll be making lots and lots (and lots X n) of red and white agar-agar jelly to form a mosiac of the Singapore national flag... big enough to cover the College's Queen's Lawn. The budget's set to be around 10k pounds, and will most probably take place in Feb next year. Tee hee... the ideas people come up with. ;)
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
*Phfftphew*
Just came back from 5 hours of bar duty. It wasn't that bad, since I was lucky enough to get rostered on a Tuesday. The first few days of the week are pretty quiet down at the bar... and the bar re-apps and manager were helpful in getting us familiarised with the items behind the counter, as well as how to work that touch-screen product sales machine thingy.
Together with A--- my bar duty-mate, we sold roughly 50 pounds of drinks and snacks. In return for our efforts, we received 3 pounds' worth of bar tokens, which, when converted into SGD, is reasonable. :P I must say thanks to my friends who came down to support me, and to A---, for the music from his laptop. :)
A few S'poreans went to watch the free London screening of the new local (S'pore) film 15... they said it was 'ok', but hardly understood it 'cos of the use of all the dialects and jargon. It is rated R(A) back home, but here they pay no heed to the age of the audience.
Sigh... my lab reports are nowhere near completion. I have less than a week to finish them up.
Just came back from 5 hours of bar duty. It wasn't that bad, since I was lucky enough to get rostered on a Tuesday. The first few days of the week are pretty quiet down at the bar... and the bar re-apps and manager were helpful in getting us familiarised with the items behind the counter, as well as how to work that touch-screen product sales machine thingy.
Together with A--- my bar duty-mate, we sold roughly 50 pounds of drinks and snacks. In return for our efforts, we received 3 pounds' worth of bar tokens, which, when converted into SGD, is reasonable. :P I must say thanks to my friends who came down to support me, and to A---, for the music from his laptop. :)
A few S'poreans went to watch the free London screening of the new local (S'pore) film 15... they said it was 'ok', but hardly understood it 'cos of the use of all the dialects and jargon. It is rated R(A) back home, but here they pay no heed to the age of the audience.
Sigh... my lab reports are nowhere near completion. I have less than a week to finish them up.
I am on bar duty tonight - 6.30 to 11pm! Awwww... don't wanna go... the bar was never meant for me... or was I never meant for the bar? I'll have to rely on my duty-mate to hand out whatever orders the bar-goers order. I have no idea what's what in a bar. And I need to freakin' work on my lab reports.
"What drives a person to kill?"
That was to focus for today's talk by the IC Christian Union. Although the talk was ok, it was rather more like a Bible study. I felt that it failed to address the reality of the world's situation... the killings and destruction of human lives going on. It was more on the black-and-white concepts of the the drive to murder, taken from an entirely Christian or Biblical viewpoint, and on an individual basis.
-----------------
Received a note from the bio department telling us of Operation Wallacea. I am tempted to sign up, but the travelling bit is a little daunting. Also, Indonesia is not exactly the best of places to speed a few weeks in during such times of turbulence. What I might do is to get (more) involved with SEC or NParks when I return next year... with their research projects. RMBR of the NUS is certainly a good option, but I'm not sure if they allow non-NUS students to participate in whatever projects they're running. Oh and TKG is asking me for GVN's plans for coordination of environmental projects with them for 2004. *g* Good on'them.
-----------------
Talking about TKG... the news said that 1 in 4 female teachers there is an old girl. :) How sweet... Old girls turned teachers at Tg Katong Girls
That was to focus for today's talk by the IC Christian Union. Although the talk was ok, it was rather more like a Bible study. I felt that it failed to address the reality of the world's situation... the killings and destruction of human lives going on. It was more on the black-and-white concepts of the the drive to murder, taken from an entirely Christian or Biblical viewpoint, and on an individual basis.
-----------------
Received a note from the bio department telling us of Operation Wallacea. I am tempted to sign up, but the travelling bit is a little daunting. Also, Indonesia is not exactly the best of places to speed a few weeks in during such times of turbulence. What I might do is to get (more) involved with SEC or NParks when I return next year... with their research projects. RMBR of the NUS is certainly a good option, but I'm not sure if they allow non-NUS students to participate in whatever projects they're running. Oh and TKG is asking me for GVN's plans for coordination of environmental projects with them for 2004. *g* Good on'them.
-----------------
Talking about TKG... the news said that 1 in 4 female teachers there is an old girl. :) How sweet... Old girls turned teachers at Tg Katong Girls
Monday, November 24, 2003
Sydney airport frisking for a PM. Hahaa... another embarassment for Johnnie Howard's government. The Aussies can be hilarious sometimes.
A random snippet from long ago. Nothing much has changed though:
Aside from that light-hearted article, there're more grim news for the world... as usual. How can terrorism ever be dealt with? Some tips for Europe from SM Lee; he's a great man, the SM: Europe hasn't faced up to 'new terror'. The world needs more leaders like him.
A random snippet from long ago. Nothing much has changed though:
Aside from that light-hearted article, there're more grim news for the world... as usual. How can terrorism ever be dealt with? Some tips for Europe from SM Lee; he's a great man, the SM: Europe hasn't faced up to 'new terror'. The world needs more leaders like him.
Sunday, November 23, 2003
I met an old friend online... my old patrol-mate. :) Chatted about times past, about the present, about Guides, about TKG... getting nostalgic.
This bit is interesting, and revives some old emotions in me.
.............................................
MY: and yes.. guess wad.. after i left guides.. i actually missed it.. and went back to serve.. even XH cldn't believe it..
MY: she thot i was joking.. haha..
MY: and i'm the only one serving from our batch...
husky: ?!!
husky: uhhhh.... O_O
min yu: haha...
husky: actually, know what? i kinda miss it too.
husky: so are you a ranger? or CLT?
MY: yup.. i dun really miss our seniors.. but they dun come back either..
MY: erm.. i din go for the course.. coz it's ex and the sch doesn't want to pay for us.. so i'm juz a unit helper.. but they call us CLT
husky: ooo cool... Cadet Lieutenants... hehe
husky: but i did join my local guide unit when i was in Syd
MY: ic..
husky: and now i'm trying to balance out my schedule so that i can join the scouts here
MY: =) u're still very active huh? u noe sth..
husky: the guides here are hmm... kinda laughed upon. 'cos they do all the 'girly' stuff
MY: if u hadn't left us that time.. u'd become the next Company leader..
husky: many girls join scouts instead
husky: erm...
MY: ic..
MY: haha..
husky: the rebellious me? always missing meetings and all
MY: hmm.. but u had the potential.. and u were good..
husky: always full of complaints... lol
husky: is the coy on better ground now? or still the same old "louder! you talking to ants issit?!"
MY: haha.. no lar.. no more such nonsense.. only during sudden inspections or footdrills then we do that, but we try not to resort to such "violent" means too.. haha, it's worse tho.. in a sense..they have no discipline and no respect..
husky: you know whenever i hear that two-toned whistle, my mind instinctively thinks "darn! sudden inspection!". it happened again just last week when a cop in some play i was watching blew his police whistle... it's freaky... the effect of certain things in guides...
MY: oh dear...traumatised...
husky: no discipline... hmm... then that's bad. as for respect, i never really thought it was respect for the seniors from the start ('cept for a few)... it was more like fear from corporal punishment and all that
husky: hehe
MY: haha.. no more corporal punishments.. but this time.. the respect thing is like quite bad.. i mean.. they really talk to us like they're talking to their frens.. in smses they even include profanities..
husky: aww that bad? profanities in smses? what do they do... give you flak?
min yu: it's like when they're not happy abt sth, they msg u immediately and voice their views.. like the other time when we released the probational posts, this guide who's always been quite loud thot she wld get the CL post and she went ard boasting bout it, but when she din get it, she msged murni and went like : f--- ....
husky: doesn't sound good at all. :( it can only get downhill from here... sigh. the younger generations (not that we're *that* old! hehe) are just becoming bolder and bolder.
husky: don't the guiders do anything about it? mm who are the guiders now anyway? gosh... i'm sooo out of touch
MY: yar.. that's why.. sometimes we get headaches thinking of how to change them..
.............................................
I know I shouldn't be looking back, shouldn't be thinking backwards. But I still do wonder what if I had stayed... what if I didn't go... all those opportunities of a different sort. Would it groom me into a better person, in a way? Leading the prefectorial ExCo... leading the coy... I knew great things were in store for me and yet I left. But I left for even greener pastures? For the sake of my future? If I hadn't gone to Sydney there'll be no doubt I couldn't have made it here. There's absolutely no way I could've had the luck of ending up here if I made my launch from Singapore.
Making new friends, experiencing a richer side of life, absorbing a new culture, learning and living the ways of a new country... getting the chance to say "G'day mate!" and coming to understand true blue Aussie Strine lingo, I gain these and more only through losing much. Gain some, lose some. That's the way it always has been. That's life. I do wonder, but I have no regrets.
This bit is interesting, and revives some old emotions in me.
.............................................
MY: and yes.. guess wad.. after i left guides.. i actually missed it.. and went back to serve.. even XH cldn't believe it..
MY: she thot i was joking.. haha..
MY: and i'm the only one serving from our batch...
husky: ?!!
husky: uhhhh.... O_O
min yu: haha...
husky: actually, know what? i kinda miss it too.
husky: so are you a ranger? or CLT?
MY: yup.. i dun really miss our seniors.. but they dun come back either..
MY: erm.. i din go for the course.. coz it's ex and the sch doesn't want to pay for us.. so i'm juz a unit helper.. but they call us CLT
husky: ooo cool... Cadet Lieutenants... hehe
husky: but i did join my local guide unit when i was in Syd
MY: ic..
husky: and now i'm trying to balance out my schedule so that i can join the scouts here
MY: =) u're still very active huh? u noe sth..
husky: the guides here are hmm... kinda laughed upon. 'cos they do all the 'girly' stuff
MY: if u hadn't left us that time.. u'd become the next Company leader..
husky: many girls join scouts instead
husky: erm...
MY: ic..
MY: haha..
husky: the rebellious me? always missing meetings and all
MY: hmm.. but u had the potential.. and u were good..
husky: always full of complaints... lol
husky: is the coy on better ground now? or still the same old "louder! you talking to ants issit?!"
MY: haha.. no lar.. no more such nonsense.. only during sudden inspections or footdrills then we do that, but we try not to resort to such "violent" means too.. haha, it's worse tho.. in a sense..they have no discipline and no respect..
husky: you know whenever i hear that two-toned whistle, my mind instinctively thinks "darn! sudden inspection!". it happened again just last week when a cop in some play i was watching blew his police whistle... it's freaky... the effect of certain things in guides...
MY: oh dear...traumatised...
husky: no discipline... hmm... then that's bad. as for respect, i never really thought it was respect for the seniors from the start ('cept for a few)... it was more like fear from corporal punishment and all that
husky: hehe
MY: haha.. no more corporal punishments.. but this time.. the respect thing is like quite bad.. i mean.. they really talk to us like they're talking to their frens.. in smses they even include profanities..
husky: aww that bad? profanities in smses? what do they do... give you flak?
min yu: it's like when they're not happy abt sth, they msg u immediately and voice their views.. like the other time when we released the probational posts, this guide who's always been quite loud thot she wld get the CL post and she went ard boasting bout it, but when she din get it, she msged murni and went like : f--- ....
husky: doesn't sound good at all. :( it can only get downhill from here... sigh. the younger generations (not that we're *that* old! hehe) are just becoming bolder and bolder.
husky: don't the guiders do anything about it? mm who are the guiders now anyway? gosh... i'm sooo out of touch
MY: yar.. that's why.. sometimes we get headaches thinking of how to change them..
.............................................
I know I shouldn't be looking back, shouldn't be thinking backwards. But I still do wonder what if I had stayed... what if I didn't go... all those opportunities of a different sort. Would it groom me into a better person, in a way? Leading the prefectorial ExCo... leading the coy... I knew great things were in store for me and yet I left. But I left for even greener pastures? For the sake of my future? If I hadn't gone to Sydney there'll be no doubt I couldn't have made it here. There's absolutely no way I could've had the luck of ending up here if I made my launch from Singapore.
Making new friends, experiencing a richer side of life, absorbing a new culture, learning and living the ways of a new country... getting the chance to say "G'day mate!" and coming to understand true blue Aussie Strine lingo, I gain these and more only through losing much. Gain some, lose some. That's the way it always has been. That's life. I do wonder, but I have no regrets.
I went to church today! For the first time since I came to London... naughty me...
All Souls Church - it's quite a big church, and many overseas students from Imperial attend it.
All Souls Church - it's quite a big church, and many overseas students from Imperial attend it.
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Went to Camden, but not to the markets. Spent a little fortune there in getting my fencing kit and weapons. For the same amount, I could've gotten a decent Nikon Coolpix digi + extras! Or a few digi-scope attachments. Or camera lens. Or a few good tripods. Or a slide converter. Or... Ahh well, but since I'm really getting serious about fencing, and those that the club has are grossly oversized for me, it's worth it. And ooh... they're the supplier for the fencing stuff used in James Bond! Quality is thus guaranteed. Now I've got my own weapons too. :) Hehee... and I can now practise with another hallmate who does fencing. 'Cept that he's a sabreur, and sounds like a rather aggressive one at that.
Also hopped down to Chinatown to meet my cousin, who came up from Winchester, and Auntie D.
The weather has been horrible lately. It's always raining. Now's more like the London that I had in my mind before I came - damp, wet, dark, cold, umbrellas. Sunset is at 4 pm, and getting earlier still day by day. I miss the sun. I miss the blue skies...
Also hopped down to Chinatown to meet my cousin, who came up from Winchester, and Auntie D.
The weather has been horrible lately. It's always raining. Now's more like the London that I had in my mind before I came - damp, wet, dark, cold, umbrellas. Sunset is at 4 pm, and getting earlier still day by day. I miss the sun. I miss the blue skies...
Drat the fire alarm. It went off again and we had to evacuate the hall. It's fast becoming a weekly occurance... it happened last Sat as well.
Friday, November 21, 2003
I am sulking now.
SB volunteers' recognition ceremony takes place tomorrow (ie. today in Singapore). T is back in S'pore, and she'll be there, along with the rest of the gang 'old man' FW and TH. This time round, I'm the one missing. :( For the first time since '99... I won't be there... can't be there for the next two years, perhaps more, as well. Waaahhhh...
And I wish those stupid people outside would stop laughing like mad hyenas.
SB volunteers' recognition ceremony takes place tomorrow (ie. today in Singapore). T is back in S'pore, and she'll be there, along with the rest of the gang 'old man' FW and TH. This time round, I'm the one missing. :( For the first time since '99... I won't be there... can't be there for the next two years, perhaps more, as well. Waaahhhh...
And I wish those stupid people outside would stop laughing like mad hyenas.
Good news for the flies of the world:
Don't swat that fly, here's $250,000 to study it
And great developments for the sharks too:
Figures show less shark's fin being consumed this year
(But like TH said, it is 'cos of increased public awareness or 'cos of the economic slowdown? Hmm.)
Also I don't know what's this craze about this particular Korean online game that people all over the world has been talking about (except here... maybe it hasn't hit London yet?). A SWC IRC room that I went into last night had posted this link in their topic, and I know it's catching on among some friends in Syd: www.gunbound.net. Looks fun. Shall try it out when I have more time.
Don't swat that fly, here's $250,000 to study it
And great developments for the sharks too:
Figures show less shark's fin being consumed this year
(But like TH said, it is 'cos of increased public awareness or 'cos of the economic slowdown? Hmm.)
Also I don't know what's this craze about this particular Korean online game that people all over the world has been talking about (except here... maybe it hasn't hit London yet?). A SWC IRC room that I went into last night had posted this link in their topic, and I know it's catching on among some friends in Syd: www.gunbound.net. Looks fun. Shall try it out when I have more time.
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Today, many Londoners rallied outside Buckingham, among other places, to protest against Bush who is in Britain on a state visit. A group of Imperial students went around campus in soldiers' uniforms and carrying plastic guns, waving flags, trying to persuade others to join in the march, with little success.
And now, this.
Istanbul blasts leave 26 dead, 450 hurt
UN, world leaders condemn Turkey attacks
I see history repeating itself, over and over again. Attacks by terrorists, attacks by America on the Middle-eastern countries, attacks that are not entirely justified. I see no end to this, though I may be an idealist. I feel a great bubbling of politcal sentiments inside me...
World peace - does it exist? Can it ever exist?
And now, this.
Istanbul blasts leave 26 dead, 450 hurt
UN, world leaders condemn Turkey attacks
I see history repeating itself, over and over again. Attacks by terrorists, attacks by America on the Middle-eastern countries, attacks that are not entirely justified. I see no end to this, though I may be an idealist. I feel a great bubbling of politcal sentiments inside me...
World peace - does it exist? Can it ever exist?
T returned to S'pore last night. Most of those in USyd are having their holidays now - all the way till March! Those in UNSW will get their hols after their exams. They've finished their first year! I'm jealous. :P
Went up to a friend's room to watch a movie after dinner... 8 people in all, squeezed into a single room. Reminds me of boarding school... all those late-night, post-lights-out movie sessions... that incident where we got into trouble with the housemistress (my first experience of being in hot soup :P).
Had a dose of South Park, then watched Ali G Indahouse on DVD. Yeah I know, it's a R(A)ted film in S'pore, and it's got hrm... offensive material, but when you say you're watching something with friends, you watch it with them. I don't know what to think of it; I've got mixed feelings about it. But it wasn't *that* bad.
Had a dose of South Park, then watched Ali G Indahouse on DVD. Yeah I know, it's a R(A)ted film in S'pore, and it's got hrm... offensive material, but when you say you're watching something with friends, you watch it with them. I don't know what to think of it; I've got mixed feelings about it. But it wasn't *that* bad.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Had a free arvo today; went down to the crepe place again for lunch, with a different group of friends - my S'porean friends. Had take-away crepe instead of eating it there since it's cheaper. :P
Went to the Natural History Museum again after that, till 2+pm, and returned to Linstead with the aim of studying. Visited the BG Wildlife Photographer special exhibition... flashed our Imperial ID, and got a free pass. Hehe... we felt so priviledged. Bought 3 winning entry postcards to add to my collection from past years'. I remember how, in years past, all I could do was to visit its website and admire the photos on the screen, and now... I'm here! w00t! It's on until April next year. I think I might go in again.
Didn't fence in the home match today; the team now has 5 people, so I don't *have to* be there. Time for a break. Asked H later on, and she said that we lost 122-127 to King's College. Argh!! Sooooo close!!
Went to the Natural History Museum again after that, till 2+pm, and returned to Linstead with the aim of studying. Visited the BG Wildlife Photographer special exhibition... flashed our Imperial ID, and got a free pass. Hehe... we felt so priviledged. Bought 3 winning entry postcards to add to my collection from past years'. I remember how, in years past, all I could do was to visit its website and admire the photos on the screen, and now... I'm here! w00t! It's on until April next year. I think I might go in again.
Didn't fence in the home match today; the team now has 5 people, so I don't *have to* be there. Time for a break. Asked H later on, and she said that we lost 122-127 to King's College. Argh!! Sooooo close!!
S'pore student dies after car crash in UK - the accident took place when they were travelling to the Nottingham Games, where I went to 2 weeks ago. Sigh. A real pity.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
London exhibit updated - mostly Phantom pics
I forgot to mention this just now.
While walking from the tube station to the theatre, we passed by what seemed to be a premiere of some new movie, and some supposedly well-known celebrities were there. There was a huge screen to the side showing what was happening on the red carpet - obviously, the crowds were blocking the view of what's happening in the centre - and on that screen, we saw Robbie Williams! :P Took a pic of V standing there with the screen in the background.
While walking from the tube station to the theatre, we passed by what seemed to be a premiere of some new movie, and some supposedly well-known celebrities were there. There was a huge screen to the side showing what was happening on the red carpet - obviously, the crowds were blocking the view of what's happening in the centre - and on that screen, we saw Robbie Williams! :P Took a pic of V standing there with the screen in the background.
Ahh... just came back from the theatre... went with my Singaporean friends to see Phantom of the Opera! Though I have seen it before (in S'pore, like 5+ years ago, featuring the cast with Sarah Brightman), it's a totally different experience here. The theatre architecture itself... the sets... the backdrop... the atmosphere... :) :) Yay! My first musical in London, after being here for 7 weeks. We're aiming to see either the Lion King or Les Miserables next... don't know when that'll be. Sigh. Tickets don't come by *that* cheap. Still haven't watched any movies yet though, as opposed to my a-movie-a-week routine in Syd. :( Love Actually seems like a good one... Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, and Colin Firth!! And it's set and mainly filmed in London. Need I say more?
*hums Phantom songs, just like everyone else*
*hums Phantom songs, just like everyone else*
Monday, November 17, 2003
We started on biochemistry today... again, a subject that I dislike. Luckily for me, biochem this term lasts only for 2 weeks. It's really elementary, and the lectures today covered mostly stuff that I learnt in Sec 3... the last year in which I touched anything chemistry. The biochem prac was ok though, for at least, for once, everything turned out as expected and my results made sense... and I happily turned it in.
Had lunch at the crepe place further down the street... our first ever bio group lunch off campus. Not bad, though I miss Marche's crepes in Singapore. And Passionflower's in Sydney.
Oh yeah... I used my umbrella for the first time in London today. Rainy season's fast approaching... drizzle on!
Had lunch at the crepe place further down the street... our first ever bio group lunch off campus. Not bad, though I miss Marche's crepes in Singapore. And Passionflower's in Sydney.
Oh yeah... I used my umbrella for the first time in London today. Rainy season's fast approaching... drizzle on!
Sunday, November 16, 2003
A friend of mine in Canada was saying how he lives right across the street from Cecilia Zhang. Read all about her kidnapping. God bless her family... and I pray that she's still alive and will be found. I wonder why ST did/does not have news of that? Did I miss it?
No frisbee games today, as originally planned. Everyone wants to study. :|
Also, from now on, I shall be posting less-detailed blogs. Sigh. Issues with my parents, about security and privacy concerns. Might not be blogging everyday also. Time to study.
Also, from now on, I shall be posting less-detailed blogs. Sigh. Issues with my parents, about security and privacy concerns. Might not be blogging everyday also. Time to study.
More photo exhibits are up:
Imperial College and Linstead Hall
London and Surrounds
Both will be updated when I have the time to crop my photos and go around taking more new ones.
Imperial College and Linstead Hall
London and Surrounds
Both will be updated when I have the time to crop my photos and go around taking more new ones.
The Straits Times has an interesting article on blogging: Bloggers go unplugged. I wonder if I've been bitten by the bug? Well I have been keeping a diary since my younger days, so the only difference with blogs is that I'm typing instead of writing, and I keep my innermost thoughts (if any) to myself. So... no?
Saturday, November 15, 2003
I woke up at 7am today... though not by choice. The fire alarm in the hall went off again. Sigh. And I was having such a nice dream... I've forgotten what it was about, but I know that it was a nice one.
My original plan for today... was to go for the London Feedback Group forum. It's this group that's formed by a number of S'pore societies from the London universities... that discusses stuff and sends feedback back to the government in Singapore. On today's agenda:
1) BG Lee -- New man at the helm, new direction for Singapore?
2) SAF's priorities -- Combat readiness, care for soldiers?
3) Epidemic Disturbances and Economic Resilience
Sounded interesting... but no-one else from ICSS was going... I have been asking around, and no fellow fresher nor senior planned to attend it. Oh well. I didn't want to be a nige.
So... instead, I tagged along with some friends to check out the Camden Markets.
Lots of clothes... alternative styles of... thought (?) with lots of themes revolving around sex, and the f- word. There are decent items as well, but I wouldn't say they're cheap. Prices for clothes range from 5 pounds to hrm... 100? Not sure. Didn't pay attention. The crafts and other things are interesting, but there's no use for most of them. People... lots of people... had to squeeze through alleys... and out of coincidence, we met two other groups of people from Linstead Hall!
Spent a few hours in the hall bar at night, where a friend was having his bar duty. Even Singaporeans from other halls came to support him! Sigh... I'm rostered for bar duty this coming Wednesday, but fortunately, it's the least busy day since most people go to the pubs on Weds. Anyway, played a few games of that gun-shooting game in the little gaming corner of the bar, and watched others play pool.
Haven't studied or worked at all today. *big sigh* Shall try to make up for it tomorrow...
My original plan for today... was to go for the London Feedback Group forum. It's this group that's formed by a number of S'pore societies from the London universities... that discusses stuff and sends feedback back to the government in Singapore. On today's agenda:
1) BG Lee -- New man at the helm, new direction for Singapore?
2) SAF's priorities -- Combat readiness, care for soldiers?
3) Epidemic Disturbances and Economic Resilience
Sounded interesting... but no-one else from ICSS was going... I have been asking around, and no fellow fresher nor senior planned to attend it. Oh well. I didn't want to be a nige.
So... instead, I tagged along with some friends to check out the Camden Markets.
Lots of clothes... alternative styles of... thought (?) with lots of themes revolving around sex, and the f- word. There are decent items as well, but I wouldn't say they're cheap. Prices for clothes range from 5 pounds to hrm... 100? Not sure. Didn't pay attention. The crafts and other things are interesting, but there's no use for most of them. People... lots of people... had to squeeze through alleys... and out of coincidence, we met two other groups of people from Linstead Hall!
Spent a few hours in the hall bar at night, where a friend was having his bar duty. Even Singaporeans from other halls came to support him! Sigh... I'm rostered for bar duty this coming Wednesday, but fortunately, it's the least busy day since most people go to the pubs on Weds. Anyway, played a few games of that gun-shooting game in the little gaming corner of the bar, and watched others play pool.
Haven't studied or worked at all today. *big sigh* Shall try to make up for it tomorrow...
Friday, November 14, 2003
CB prac 5: Genetic problems - inheritance, genetic code, and the lac operon
That was in the morning; I had the afternoon off... and a few of us ordered Chinese take-away meal boxes for lunch. :P I'm getting tired of having paninis day after day. Only thing was, the guy said that it'll arrive within the hour, but we ended up waiting for over 2 hours.
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Sigh... I still haven't finished reading all my past emails... those that I received during my field trip away. Gotta catch up on APYEN developments. Don't know where we stand with Bayer and UNEP.
I need some distractions from studying... my life must not revolve around textbooks and lecture notes...
That was in the morning; I had the afternoon off... and a few of us ordered Chinese take-away meal boxes for lunch. :P I'm getting tired of having paninis day after day. Only thing was, the guy said that it'll arrive within the hour, but we ended up waiting for over 2 hours.
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Sigh... I still haven't finished reading all my past emails... those that I received during my field trip away. Gotta catch up on APYEN developments. Don't know where we stand with Bayer and UNEP.
I need some distractions from studying... my life must not revolve around textbooks and lecture notes...
Thursday, November 13, 2003
CB prac 4: Mendelian genetics
I did some digiscoping today, in the bio lab. No, it wasn't through a telescope, but it was through a scope all the same. We were examining some structures in the fungus (the common bread mould) Neurospora, and I was curious as to whether my camera was up to the task of shooting through the microscope. So... at the end of the prac session, I took it out, adjusted some settings, pressed it against the microcope lens, and got this!
(Click to enlarge)
I did some digiscoping today, in the bio lab. No, it wasn't through a telescope, but it was through a scope all the same. We were examining some structures in the fungus (the common bread mould) Neurospora, and I was curious as to whether my camera was up to the task of shooting through the microscope. So... at the end of the prac session, I took it out, adjusted some settings, pressed it against the microcope lens, and got this!
(Click to enlarge)
BUSA Fencing - Away - QMUL
We didn't win, but that was expected. Queen Mary's Fencing Club has had a long history of strong fencers... and we were more-or-less prepared for it. At least... we performed better than last week... and I managed to score more points... or so I hope.
We did manage to get another fencer into the team in the end, so I didn't have to fence all three weapons. But, even so, if I had a choice, I wouldn't have fenced epee... I still dislike it. One of my opponments was a particularly aggressive epeeist, and I'm now nursing my blue-black bruises along my right arm.
I'm tired... not from the fencing itself but from the carrying of the kits. We had to lug our equipment across to Zone 2, 14 tube stations and nearly an hour away, plus no less than 3km on foot. My shoulders and neck are aching from the strain.
There's a 4th-year Singaporean medical student on their team. Somehow, I'm inclined to think that overseas Singaporean student fencers are a rare breed... so I was rather surprised. Heh... the accent always gives it away. And as usual, I had the normal "Are you Singaporean? You don't sound like one."-type response.
Their team is cool... their people are real friendly, and are not as 'scary' as those from Royal Holloway. They chat, and smile, and joke more, even through their masks while on the piste. And they have no 'Great Britian' people on the team (ie. national fencers). They treated us to drinks and dinner in their bar/cafe... "post-match socialising". :)
Free morning tomorrow... but gonna sleep now...
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
CB lect 15: Genetic code
CB lect 16: Gene regulation in bacteria
Last two cell bio lectures for the term... there're still two more pracs to go though.
Ordered the molecular cell bio textbook and a fencing book through amazon.com a few days ago, and they've just dispatched it.
Was chatting with T last night, and she suggested that I go into USyd's WebCT to grab her lect notes and resources on cell bio. Went in... and found... lots of materials... and useful links. One of them was the official online version of the textbook which I just purchased. *sigh* There goes my 35 pounds. I wish they had something like BlackBoard or WebCT here at Imperial. It'll make the studying, revision, and communications such much easier. (For those two online learning systems, each module/unit of study that a student takes each term is displayed, and selecting the individual modules will take you into the lecture notes, resources, assignments, quizzes etc. for that module. For some, there is also an online forum set up for communications between the students and lecturers.) The name is still not justified... "Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine"??
CB lect 16: Gene regulation in bacteria
Last two cell bio lectures for the term... there're still two more pracs to go though.
Ordered the molecular cell bio textbook and a fencing book through amazon.com a few days ago, and they've just dispatched it.
Was chatting with T last night, and she suggested that I go into USyd's WebCT to grab her lect notes and resources on cell bio. Went in... and found... lots of materials... and useful links. One of them was the official online version of the textbook which I just purchased. *sigh* There goes my 35 pounds. I wish they had something like BlackBoard or WebCT here at Imperial. It'll make the studying, revision, and communications such much easier. (For those two online learning systems, each module/unit of study that a student takes each term is displayed, and selecting the individual modules will take you into the lecture notes, resources, assignments, quizzes etc. for that module. For some, there is also an online forum set up for communications between the students and lecturers.) The name is still not justified... "Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine"??
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
CB lect 13: Crossover mechanisms
CB lect 14: Bacterial genetics
Handed in my assignment today... *phew* :)
Someone from one of the neighbouring halls in Prince's Gardens was hospitalised last night due to a possible contraction of meningitis... gotta be 'vigilant'. :|
CB lect 14: Bacterial genetics
Handed in my assignment today... *phew* :)
Someone from one of the neighbouring halls in Prince's Gardens was hospitalised last night due to a possible contraction of meningitis... gotta be 'vigilant'. :|
Monday, November 10, 2003
CB lect 11: Gene structure and functions
CB lect 12: Chromosome aberrations
CB prac 3: Genetics
Brought my laptop along, and worked on my assignment during lunch. Progressed pretty well... now I'm left with 1/3 of it. This on genetics, so I'm not tackling it with the same enthusiasm as I did for the one on politics of conservation.
Prac today started off not in the lab, but in the lect theatrette. Besides being shown slides of mitosis, meiosis and the likes of molecular biology, we were introduced to the numerous forms of mutations and faults caused by genes. Like people with extra fingers and toes, or alien-like babies, different eye colours in animals, manx cats, coats of rabbits... etc. The lab part of the prac was done on simulating chromosome cross-overs using chains of beads, and examining slides of squashed locust testis for meiotic activity. It was... ok... I guess. Better than beheading fly larvae.
CB lect 12: Chromosome aberrations
CB prac 3: Genetics
Brought my laptop along, and worked on my assignment during lunch. Progressed pretty well... now I'm left with 1/3 of it. This on genetics, so I'm not tackling it with the same enthusiasm as I did for the one on politics of conservation.
Prac today started off not in the lab, but in the lect theatrette. Besides being shown slides of mitosis, meiosis and the likes of molecular biology, we were introduced to the numerous forms of mutations and faults caused by genes. Like people with extra fingers and toes, or alien-like babies, different eye colours in animals, manx cats, coats of rabbits... etc. The lab part of the prac was done on simulating chromosome cross-overs using chains of beads, and examining slides of squashed locust testis for meiotic activity. It was... ok... I guess. Better than beheading fly larvae.
Singapore is hub of rising Asia illegal wildlife trade... aww. 'Tis old news, but Singapore as the 'hub'?? Hub of tech, of science, of communications... is all right. But of illegal wildlife trade? AVA'd better well do something.
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Photos from Nottingham are up. Only 16 pics though: Nottinghamshire
Oh oh... and did I mention the squirrel? Not the squirrels, but the squirrel??
There's a squirrel living on the grounds of the Nottingham Castle, and it's soooo tame that it'll jump onto you if you hold out a nut! :D I did so, and it bounded up my leg. When I squatted down, it hopped onto my knee and just stayed there while it cracked the nut. Even when I ran out of nuts, and clicked and called to it (pretending as if I do have something to offer it), it came running and jumping onto my lap and held and sniffed my fingers. One of the staff at the ticketing counter said that the same squirrel has been living there since 8 years ago. Wow!! Ooooo... I love that squirrel!!
Oh oh... and did I mention the squirrel? Not the squirrels, but the squirrel??
There's a squirrel living on the grounds of the Nottingham Castle, and it's soooo tame that it'll jump onto you if you hold out a nut! :D I did so, and it bounded up my leg. When I squatted down, it hopped onto my knee and just stayed there while it cracked the nut. Even when I ran out of nuts, and clicked and called to it (pretending as if I do have something to offer it), it came running and jumping onto my lap and held and sniffed my fingers. One of the staff at the ticketing counter said that the same squirrel has been living there since 8 years ago. Wow!! Ooooo... I love that squirrel!!
Saturday, November 08, 2003
Nottingham
So after spending 3 sleepy hours on the coach (the coach driver reminded us that his vehicle is not a mere 'bus'), we arrived at Nottingham Uni. That was one high-tech bus... erm, coach. It had an inbuilt computerised navigation system, and all passengers were required to switch off their mobile phones 'cos of the interference.
The journey reminded me of the field trip... country lands, sheep, cattle, and farms.
The Notts Games has traditionally been organised by the Malaysian Singapore Soc of Nottingham Uni, and this year saw 17 participating UK universities. I've never seen this many Singaporeans (and M'sians) together in one place... overseas... before. The air was heavy with Singlish and lots of people were wearing their old school or JC t-shirts, with some opting to wear their uni gear, me included. Got myself a hooded sweatshirt yesterday. Spectator-ed the badminton, basketcall, and table tennis matches in the morning. Many people met their old schoolmates, and there were many happy mini reunions.
The campus is huge... even bigger than USyd's and we had to rely on the bus and shuttle services to get around. Went to the netball courts to watch our team compete, and we were freezing out there. The weather was quite chilly, and many a time I had been tempted to run around the courts. Our team did well, I must say. We had many seasoned and skilled netballers. :)
The majority of the ICSS people were playing in the games, so us few supporters took the opportunity to visit the city town of Nottingham. Only four of us went to the Nottingham Castle, which is not much of a castle as I later found out. What we saw was the grounds of the castle, and not the castle. Since... there is no castle left. It was destroyed, and had every single structure and brick removed goodness knows how many hundred years ago. The structure that we thought was the castle is in fact only a castle mansion, containing the castle museum shop and some art and culture gallaries.
So there is nothing too exciting about Nottingham apart from the fact that it is where the legend of Robin Hood lives... and there are streets and roads named after the characters from Robin Hood and his merrymen. Sherwood Forest lies north-east of the city, and there is a real Sheriff of Nottingham who governs the city.
Went 'shopping' in the city - normal, boring stuff. Modern stuff. Had KFC (mmm...) for dinner, and hopped back onto the bus which took us back to Nottingham Uni. Then we got on the coach and at 7pm started heading back towards London.
Got back at 10+pm... saw many cops ("bobbies") and soldiers patrolling the area near our campus, around the Royal Albert Hall. Wonder what's happening... saw them there in the morning too.
Friday, November 07, 2003
Just checked the St John Sydney Uni division's site. They're having a divisional bushwalk tomorrow. Fun... :|
CB lect 9: Meiosis
CB lect 10: Mapping
I printed out the lecture notes (those that my senior gave me) and followed them during the lecture. It helps lots! Explanations and diagrams were much clearer, and now that I have them, I don't know what I'd have done without them.
Signed up with ICSS to go with them to the Nottingham Games tomorrow... I'm not competing, but am going as a supporter. Should be fun. It'll be more like a sightseeing tour... exploring the country. :P To my knowledge, it brings together Singaporeans from all other UK universities as well, and they compete in all sorts of games like badminton, netball, tennis, volleyball, chess, bridge card etc.
It's a 3-hour bus ride to Nottingham, so we're leaving the College at 5.30am. Hehe... can't sleep late tonight.
CB lect 10: Mapping
I printed out the lecture notes (those that my senior gave me) and followed them during the lecture. It helps lots! Explanations and diagrams were much clearer, and now that I have them, I don't know what I'd have done without them.
Signed up with ICSS to go with them to the Nottingham Games tomorrow... I'm not competing, but am going as a supporter. Should be fun. It'll be more like a sightseeing tour... exploring the country. :P To my knowledge, it brings together Singaporeans from all other UK universities as well, and they compete in all sorts of games like badminton, netball, tennis, volleyball, chess, bridge card etc.
It's a 3-hour bus ride to Nottingham, so we're leaving the College at 5.30am. Hehe... can't sleep late tonight.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
CB lect 7: Eukaryote inheritence
CB lect 8: Gene interactions
CB prac 2: Sterile techniques 2 / Microscopy 2
Not surprisingly, I wasn't the only one who skipped today's lectures. When I went for prac after lunch, I kept hearing people asking others (I myself was asked a few times too) about what went on in today's lectures... which meant that, obviously, those presenting the questions didn't attend the lects. Since many of us have got the comprehensive notes, why go for lectures that will get us confused and falling alseep? It's a waste of time. Heh... university-level time-mangement strategy. :P
Practical was again, split into two parts - we had to draw up our results from the last prac... and we had a variety of bacteria and microfungi growing on our petri dishes of agar; the next part was to dissect a Drosophila fly larva and examine the chromosomes on its salivary glands.
The dissection was a total failure. Based on my lab bench, only 2 or 3 people out of 10 managed to locate and identify the salivary glands in the larva. It wasn't easy. The rest of us, me included, just made a mess of the head and gut and other internal contents of the larva... yuck. I tried it on 4 larvae, and still couldn't identify the glands. We had to pick a larva from a bottle and place it on a microscope slide, then with two dissecting needles, separate the head from the body... while it was still alive and squirming. I couldn't bring myself to do it at the first go, so I had my friend kill mine for me. Yuck... yewww... what's more is that this is all done under a microsope, so every single structure in the larva could be seen, and when the tissue and fats spew out of the punctures made by the needles, it isn't a pleasant sight. Sick. But I don't know if it's 'sick' because we are all beheading fly larvae (I mean, poor flies!) or it's 'sick' because the sight makes me sick.
Some ask me why aren't I doing vet science. This is one of the reasons why.
CB lect 8: Gene interactions
CB prac 2: Sterile techniques 2 / Microscopy 2
Not surprisingly, I wasn't the only one who skipped today's lectures. When I went for prac after lunch, I kept hearing people asking others (I myself was asked a few times too) about what went on in today's lectures... which meant that, obviously, those presenting the questions didn't attend the lects. Since many of us have got the comprehensive notes, why go for lectures that will get us confused and falling alseep? It's a waste of time. Heh... university-level time-mangement strategy. :P
Practical was again, split into two parts - we had to draw up our results from the last prac... and we had a variety of bacteria and microfungi growing on our petri dishes of agar; the next part was to dissect a Drosophila fly larva and examine the chromosomes on its salivary glands.
The dissection was a total failure. Based on my lab bench, only 2 or 3 people out of 10 managed to locate and identify the salivary glands in the larva. It wasn't easy. The rest of us, me included, just made a mess of the head and gut and other internal contents of the larva... yuck. I tried it on 4 larvae, and still couldn't identify the glands. We had to pick a larva from a bottle and place it on a microscope slide, then with two dissecting needles, separate the head from the body... while it was still alive and squirming. I couldn't bring myself to do it at the first go, so I had my friend kill mine for me. Yuck... yewww... what's more is that this is all done under a microsope, so every single structure in the larva could be seen, and when the tissue and fats spew out of the punctures made by the needles, it isn't a pleasant sight. Sick. But I don't know if it's 'sick' because we are all beheading fly larvae (I mean, poor flies!) or it's 'sick' because the sight makes me sick.
Some ask me why aren't I doing vet science. This is one of the reasons why.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
My first competitive fencing match in the UK!
So yeah, I'm officially in the college team, not a reserve or anything. Here are the BUSA league fixtures/results for an idea of what we're up against.
Today... was a great "Erm..."
Two declarations before I go on:
1) I do not like left-handed fencers (except those on my team :P). While they're used to fencing against righties, we righties aren't used to fencing against lefties, so it's hardly fair.
2) Fencing epee makes my mind go numb. It's like telling me to think in a different language.
At first, the President told us that we only had to fence in two weapons - foil and epee. Then when we turned up, we were in for a surprise... the sabre is included in this year's BUSA matches as well. A further shock (for me) - I had to fence sabre in this match since there weren't any left-handed ones available for one of our team's original sabreurs. So in summary, I was going in without any experience whatsoever in two out of three weapons.
The Royal Holloway team was good... or at least better than us. Though we didn't actually complete the match due to some glitch in the electronic scoring equipment, the winners were clear in the foil and epee. We were in the last rounds of the sabre when the scoring machine (?) kept going 'beep beep beep beep' even when the fencers on the piste weren't doing anything... we couldn't find a replacement for the spools or whatever, so we were forced to stop. I could say that the Holloway peeps weren't too pleased about it, having came all the way to Imperial. We did have a real chance of defeating them in sabre though.
I've found a new calling in sabre. It feels so good. The modern calvary sword... hmm... after honing my skills in the foil, I might choose to specialise in the sabre. The epee is a no-no. In epee bouts, there are no rules. Simply to hit, and not to be hit. That's it. Hit anywhere you can, and score. Both hits at the same time, both scores. No 'off target', no 'right of way'. They say that it is thus that the epee is the purest of the three weapons, just like in real duelling where there are no rules. But the sabre is cool. I performed best in the sabre despite the fact that I have not touched one prior to this day. :) It's the most 'dangerous' one too, since all aggressiveness comes with it and it is the cause of many an injury sustained by a fencer.
They wanted to go to the union bar for some socialising after the match, but since it was already nearing 6pm (we started at roughly 2.30), I had to run. SingSoc organised a potluck night at our seniors' apartment and I had planned to meet up with a few friends to prepare some pasta. I'm so tired... and arm's aching. Bruises aren't showing yet, or maybe there aren't any. :P
Today's Guy Fawkes Day. Fireworks all around...
It's also Dad's birthday. :)
CB lect 5 - Genetic concepts 1
CB lect 6 - Genetic concepts 2
We have a Yet Another Boring Lecturer. He's the same Dr who took us on for the lecture on scientific writing. His voice has the effect of a lullaby... it's monotonous, void of all expressions, and always ends on a high note. But since he doesn't give us notes, we are always madly scribbling down what he says and writes on the board, which half of the time, we can't make head or tail out of. Gotta read up the textbooks.
It's quite an amusing sight though, for during his lectures, I look at the people sitting in front of me, and I can spot two or even three who have their eyes closed and heads nodding off... zzz...
But... all is not that bad, thanks to our loving seniors. One of them has forwarded me the entire set of notes that the lecturer uses, typed up neatly in Word, complete with diagrams. :) It covers everything that he has taught (and will teach) and more. I've circulated it among my fellow biologists... it will sure come in real handy. :D
I nicked off a few old textbooks from a Singaporean senior (he's a Masters Senior... lol) for a fair price of 20 quid each. The main textbook, Biology by Campbell et al, has such a familiar cover. I think I've seen students at USyd carrying it around. Others I've got are The Invertebrates and Vertebrate Life. They're older editions, so I'm wondering if the great costs I save are worth me lacking updated info... but anyway I'll only need those later.
CB lect 6 - Genetic concepts 2
We have a Yet Another Boring Lecturer. He's the same Dr who took us on for the lecture on scientific writing. His voice has the effect of a lullaby... it's monotonous, void of all expressions, and always ends on a high note. But since he doesn't give us notes, we are always madly scribbling down what he says and writes on the board, which half of the time, we can't make head or tail out of. Gotta read up the textbooks.
It's quite an amusing sight though, for during his lectures, I look at the people sitting in front of me, and I can spot two or even three who have their eyes closed and heads nodding off... zzz...
But... all is not that bad, thanks to our loving seniors. One of them has forwarded me the entire set of notes that the lecturer uses, typed up neatly in Word, complete with diagrams. :) It covers everything that he has taught (and will teach) and more. I've circulated it among my fellow biologists... it will sure come in real handy. :D
I nicked off a few old textbooks from a Singaporean senior (he's a Masters Senior... lol) for a fair price of 20 quid each. The main textbook, Biology by Campbell et al, has such a familiar cover. I think I've seen students at USyd carrying it around. Others I've got are The Invertebrates and Vertebrate Life. They're older editions, so I'm wondering if the great costs I save are worth me lacking updated info... but anyway I'll only need those later.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
CB lect 3 - The genome
CB4 lect 4 - DNA replication
More mircrobio stuff... can't wait till this module is over.
Was supposed to have a CB tute in the arvo but since my tutor is the same lecturer who's handling the bio pracs (and there's a prac today for the other group of students), it was postponed to the 25th. Heehee...
CB4 lect 4 - DNA replication
More mircrobio stuff... can't wait till this module is over.
Was supposed to have a CB tute in the arvo but since my tutor is the same lecturer who's handling the bio pracs (and there's a prac today for the other group of students), it was postponed to the 25th. Heehee...
Monday, November 03, 2003
"In my opinion, when a fencer chooses to pick up a blade, he also takes up the ennobled tradition of his ancestors regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religion. Warriorship transcends our superficial distinctions. Thus, the modern day fencer has a choice to respect and to learn fencing's rich and diverse past. For by learning the history and the tradition, a fencer forms a deeper connection - almost a common bond to all of those who have come before him." ~ Patrick M. Mahoney, U of Wisconsin"
Just a somewhat inspirational quote I happened to come across while digging up info on the epee. I like it. :)
Just a somewhat inspirational quote I happened to come across while digging up info on the epee. I like it. :)
The ecology field course over, and the sub-course of population and community ecology completed, we started on the second course: Cell Biology (CB)
Today -
CB lect 1: Intro to cell bio
CB lect 2: The nucleus
CB Prac 1: Sterile techniques & microsopes
The lecturer, a professor, was good. At least he's much better than the first two, and managed to get our undivided attention. He was really passionate about his subject - cells and genetics, and rubbed some of his interest onto us. The notes we were provided with were all diagrams, and there was no text, so we had to take down lecture notes - no more wagging.
Got past years' exam papers from the bio undergrad office during the 1hr break.
Went to the fencing session during lunch... and also paid the Union shop a visit. Got a pocket-type Imperial 2004 diary, and finally got myself a new ruler (the markings on my old Snoopy one had faded... so there's not much of a ruler left).
Had our first bio practical after lunch, and it lasted until 5pm. It was boring... nothing exciting. The normal sterile techniques stuff and innoculation of cultures on agar, isolation of fungal spores... yadda yadda. I am not looking forward to the next prac.
Today -
CB lect 1: Intro to cell bio
CB lect 2: The nucleus
CB Prac 1: Sterile techniques & microsopes
The lecturer, a professor, was good. At least he's much better than the first two, and managed to get our undivided attention. He was really passionate about his subject - cells and genetics, and rubbed some of his interest onto us. The notes we were provided with were all diagrams, and there was no text, so we had to take down lecture notes - no more wagging.
Got past years' exam papers from the bio undergrad office during the 1hr break.
Went to the fencing session during lunch... and also paid the Union shop a visit. Got a pocket-type Imperial 2004 diary, and finally got myself a new ruler (the markings on my old Snoopy one had faded... so there's not much of a ruler left).
Had our first bio practical after lunch, and it lasted until 5pm. It was boring... nothing exciting. The normal sterile techniques stuff and innoculation of cultures on agar, isolation of fungal spores... yadda yadda. I am not looking forward to the next prac.
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Realisation Strikes
Think of it...
"Talfryn" - the top end of the hill... or the high hill... or simply on the top of a hill.
And it's Welsh.
I just went to the Welsh border.
To the hills there.
And trekked up one of them... to one of its tops.
Talfryn!
Now at least, at last, I can identify with it. ;)
w00t!
This weekend's been a boring one.
Most people are out of the Hall, and some have gone back 'home' home, or to their relatives'.
Yesterday passed by with me spending the entire day in front of the laptop, fixing up the field trip photos and other stuff to do with the site. Today has been pretty much the same... bu
Most people are out of the Hall, and some have gone back 'home' home, or to their relatives'.
Yesterday passed by with me spending the entire day in front of the laptop, fixing up the field trip photos and other stuff to do with the site. Today has been pretty much the same... bu