Lost in Translation

• Spanish: “No te peines, que en la foto no salís” (Don’t comb your hair, you’re not going to be in the picture): i.e., “don’t get too excited, this matter doesn’t concern you.”

• Serbian: “Da bog ti kuca bila na CNN” (May your house be live on CNN): Not a compliment.

• Hebrew: “חבל על הזמן”: Can mean either “waste of time” or “awesome” depending on the context.

• Cantonese: 鬼畫符 (a spell written by a ghost): Lousy handwriting.

• German: “Es ist mir Wurst” (it’s all sausage to me): I don’t care.

• Greek: “Εκαμεs τον μουτσιον επιστήμη” (You made masturbation a science): You’re overcomplicating things.

From the Daily What

Have you been to Wikipedia lately?

Lately, all I see on Wikipedia is this.

(from the frogman.me)

Keep Calm and Carry On

I know I have been quiet recently. And I am seldom silent. If it is worrying then I'm sorry. Still I am certain that things will improve.

I say that from experience. They always do.

My appearance today is due to the sighting of a tote bag that carries a slogan that says so little but means so much. Have a look at this slogan, don't you agree?

There is no need for a play on words. There is nothing hidden that requires deep thought and understanding. It is direct, honest and truthful. It is not deceitful and it harbours no lies.

It means what it says, and says what it means.

And we'll just keep calm and carry on.

Here is a bit on its origin if you are keen.

Because times have been trying...

... so I write less.

I'll be back when my literary voice returns.

Till then.

Memories from long ago

Its 5am and I am awake.

Stories beginning with such statements never end well. With every passing year, I seem to have lost the ability to stay sane after a sleepless night. Its like age is catching up but I am not yet old. Or at least not by my standards.

My reasons for my sleepless night aside; I have a story to tell.

My nostalgia brought me to a particular album. Turns out that 5 years ago, almost to this day, I was on an island off the coast of East Malaysia.

That was part 2 of a 3-part expedition.

Just 5 years, but why does it seems like a lifetime ago.

I almost owned the world. And with a sunset like that, what more can I ask for?

I could set up a nice camp-fire. But only with the help of half-naked and handsome men of course.

More importantly, I could row. Do you see what I am holding in my hands? I miss having full mobility of my shoulder.

The more I live...

... the more I realise that most things in life is more art than science.

The last time I was here, in front of the NMR, I had a terrible day. That day was punctuated with bouts of tears and some keyboard banging. It only ended at 10 in the night with a very grumpy me. The machine kept telling me that echo time has to be reduced. But honestly, what on earth is echo time? Even the boss couldn't tell me.

Today, I walked in with 45 samples and a terrible mood to boot. Because being in this place reminds me of the last time I was here. Reminds me that all these shiny metal are just pretty and nothing else.

But guess what? The machine worked and my samples are gorgeous and the world is alright again. Everything is smooth and my peaks are beautiful. Shimmed, right to the baseline.

You most probably have no idea what I am saying. But to put it simply, everything went so smoothly that I am contemplating more experiments.

Did I do anything different? No. Even my samples are the same. This serves to proves that there is no logic in science. Absolutely none.

Drained Dry

I owe so many things that I feel bad for lying in bed right now. Typing languidly.

Walked into the college kitchen today to borrow a pulveriser. And for some odd reason, started having tears stream down my face as the college chef scramble for tissue and funny anecdotes to help distract.

Distract the 3 year old in me.

I don't even cry often enough for myself to warrant such an episode.

Oh dear me, I feel so tired of living.