Thursday, April 28, 2011

Random 20 Thoughts

Thought I'd just jot down some random thoughts I have randomly when I want to add a thought to a blog but am too lazy to make an entire entry dedicated to it... Think I'll do this randomly and just publish whenever I get 20 thoughts listed... Why 20? Because it's a normal number unlike those people trying to be special by using some "special" number with some "special" meaning. (Also because 20 is 2x10 and if you rotate the 'x' it becomes a + which becomes 2+10 which is 12 and that's 6x2 which is 3x2x2 or 3x2^2)

Start Date: April 12, 2011
End Date: April 28, 2011
  1. I was reading my textbook about molecules and ions moving through cell membranes. I occurred to me then that in order to pass the membrane all that really matters is the size and amount of charge.
  2. Wouldn't it be nice if heaven was a place where you can inflict the same amount of pain to those who have wronged you until you two have no choice but to make up?
  3. How do subway drivers get to work?
  4. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with things... AHAHAHA! That was so not something I would say via the interwebs, just typing it made me laugh.
  5. I shouldn't have deleted tumblr, now I just stare at facebook rather than read pretty poetry
  6. I should disable my facebook... but... I... can't...
  7. Sending emails is fun. It makes me feel awesome and important and as though I'm doing something useful with my time.
  8. While reading about twin-paradox: Trying to imagine 2 twins born at the exact same time, a biological impossibility... oh wait, a physical relativity impossibility as well!
  9. I can't comb my hair because a bunch of it will get combed out.
  10. The Silmarillion has been sitting on my desk for some time now... I should get on that...
  11. Flashback: To those days when we would annoy each other by asking "why?" after every response. "Why?" is such a perfect question.
  12. Singapore: Sing-a-pore... hm... was actually hoping that would have more meaning... somehow it reminds me of the spongebob theme song though.
  13. Eating is a waste of time. We should all just live off of IV drips.
  14. Actually we should just add some chloroplasts to our skin cells...  I wonder if that'll actually work... 
  15. I may not be eating a lot, and I might be really tiny, but I swear I'm not anorexic. Proof is in my fridge. At the second rake. Where all the chocolate is.
  16. If we could see ultra-violet light.. what colour would it be?
  17. Great, so if a nuclear war breaks out, even northern Canada's not safe. Swiss is surrounded by possible targets of bombs so that's out of the question too. Perhaps by then global warming will make Antarctica habitable.
  18. I'm so amazing that I'm jealous.
  19. Trying to download Java stuffs when I exceed my hourly limit... Have to wait an hour... -.-... by then this spontaneous wish to learn Java will have disappeared. Fail.
  20. In 40min I will be playing Sims Medieval. Win.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I should have gone to York

I live in Vaughan. It is in the GTA. It is however far away from downtown. UOT is downtown. I go to UOT. I should have gone to York.

So I've been looking over my possibilities of getting to campus next year. 5 possible ideas so far and each one less appealing than the other 4. This paradox causes much dis-appeasement in my current life.

4 out of these 5 ideas involves the ttc... basically:


Rights, so one of the plans is of course to just drive all the way downtown from Vaughan. Obviously this plan is laughable due to the intensive parking fees downtown. So let us not even linger on this idea.

For the longest time the plan was to simply take the 105 bus to downsview station and then subway to campus. Simple, and lots of people commuting this year seem to be fine w/it (by fine I mean still somewhat alive). However having taken this route to go home on all occasions, I have decided it is totally a waste of my time. And time is very important for me right now.

So since the bus idea would not work, the next plan was the go-train. Basically I would go be dropped off at the go-train station each morning, take that to Union station, and then TTC back up to St. George station. However go-train is expensive, $4.63 per ride plus I'll have to get the TTC monthly pass on top of that since I'll need to be subwaying from Union. This means the pre-TTC cost is around $9 per day, significantly more than taking the 105 (~$6 per day). However they say this is the fastest route to campus, and the most comfortable. Yay.

So those are 3 plans so far, the next one is my currently preferred one. It involves getting a car. It also involves driving to Wilson station in the mornings and then TTCing. Wilson park fee is only $3 per day, this is by far the cheapest and most convenient plan. And if I carpool with a friend gas and parking can be split somewhat to make it even cheaper. The problem there is just the insurance. Right now with just my name added to insurance it's ~$100 a month, that's little over $3 a day. So in reality this plan costs over $6 a day for the pre-TTC cost. Oh... plus gas... darned gas... let's say we use 5L a day... that's around $11 or more a day (pre-TTC) for this idea... Still, very tempting... I mean... car... tempting....

Of course if all else fails, the last plan is an apartment. Looking around, and downtown apartments are either too sketch or too expensive. If I can find a roommate to pitch in for an apartment somewhere along the subway line thing would work too. If the rent can be maybe $400 per month (per person) max, that's around $13 a day. Slightly more expensive than the car, but for the car I'd have to first buy the car. Also being away from home allows me to be out past my 10PM curfew, always a plus side. This would allow me to take night classes and possibly have more social contact. Still, car is more tempting just for the freedom.

So in the end I have concluded that commuting is a pain. And depending on which POSt I enroll in, I'll decide my method of transportation for next year after that. Meanwhile it's off to research everything I can for all the ideas since I have nothing better to do!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Some random blab on facebook

WHAT WAS YOUR:

1. last beverage: WHAT WAS YOUR:

1. last beverage: Green tea
2. last phone call: Home
3. last text message:  Guess who's back with car insurance?!? 
4. last song you listened to: Pain- Three Days Grace
5. last time you cried:  After poking at my eye for an hour to get an eyelash out

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. dated someone twice:  no
7. been cheated on:  no
8. kissed someone & regretted it:  no
9. lost someone special: no
10. been depressed: no
11. been drunk and threw up: no

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

12. Lilac
13. Green
14. Light colours

LAST YEAR (2010), HAVE YOU:

15. Made a new friend:  Yes
16. Fallen out of love: Maybe?
17. Laughed until you cried:  Yes
18. Met someone who changed you:  Yep
19. Found out who your true friends were:  Didn't care enough to find out
20. Found out someone was talking about you: Yep
21. Kissed anyone on your FB friend's list:  Yes

GENERAL:

22. How many people on your FB friends list do you know in real life:  Most of them who's faces/names I remember
24. Do you have any pets: Will probably get a beta fish this summer
25. Do you want to change your name: Not really
26. What did you do for your last birthday: Tea party + Dinner + Sleepover
27. What time did you wake up today: 10:34 AM
28. What were you doing at midnight last night: Downloading games
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for: My Sims Medieval torrent to finish 
30. Last time you saw your Mother:  30min ago
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: The lack of magic
32. What are you listening to right now:  Parents talking about taxes
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom?: I wish! I named my first plush doggy stuffy Tom because it was the first english name I learned back when I was learning english
34. What's getting on your nerves right now: My house's slow internet connection
35. Most visited webpage: Gmail, Google calendars... I am very organized.
37. Nicknames:  Pi-girl, Mg, Mereeeena
38. Relationship Status: Single
39. Zodiac sign:  Leo
40. He or She: She
41. Elementary: Ventura Park & Thornhill Woods PS
42. High School: Stephen Lewis SS
43. College: Trinity College, University of Toronto 
44. Hair color: Black; but I swear the tips are brown now... DARN YOU UV RADIATION! 
45. Long or short: Long
46. Height:  ... average?
47. Do you have a crush on someone?: Yes
48. What do you like about yourself?  The fact that I like myself.
49. Piercings: Ears
50. Tattoos: none
51. Righty or lefty: Righty

FIRSTS :

52. First surgery: 4 or 5 years old I think...
53. First piercing: 11?
54. First best friend: Is it bad that I can't remember her name anymore? I was like 4 ok?
55. First sport you joined: Ping-Pong. I joke not.
56. First vacation: Singapore
58. First pair of trainers: You mean for bikes? Around 9?

RIGHT NOW:

59. Eating: Oh Henry! 
60. Drinking: Air vapour
61. I'm about to: Have lunch
62. Listening to: Parents still talking about taxes
63. Waiting for: MY TORRENTS TO FINISH

YOUR FUTURE :

64. Want kids?:  For sure
65. Get Married?: Hopefully
66. Career?:  Research probably

WHICH IS BETTER :

67. Lips or eyes: Eyes
68. Hugs or kisses: Hugs
69. Shorter or taller: Doesn't matter
70. Older or Younger: Doesn't matter
71. Romantic or spontaneous:  Spontaneous
72. Nice stomach or nice arms: Wth? What constitutes as a nice stomach? Like they can eat a lot? o.O... I'm going to have to go w/the arms on this one... 
73. Sensitive or loud: Loud
74. Hook-up or relationship: Depends on my mood
75. Trouble maker or hesitant:  Hesitant

HAVE YOU EVER :

76. Kissed a stranger: No
77. Drank hard liquor:  Chinese 97% white rice wine. Death.
78. Lost glasses/contacts: Nope, my first pair's still somewhere in this house
79. Sex on first date: No
80. Broke someone's heart: Doubt it
81. Had your own heart broken: What heart? 
82. Been arrested: Nope
83. Turned someone down: Unsure...
84. Cried when someone died: When grandpa died... even though I didn't really know him well
85. Fallen for a friend: Yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

86. Yourself: ALWAYS- I'm brilliant!
87. Miracles: Not really
88. Love at first sight: Yes
89. Heaven: Yes
90. Santa Clause: No
91. Kiss on the first date: Wth? Believe in it? Like it's against the laws of physics to kiss on the first date or something? What kind of question is this?
92. Angels: Yes

Thursday, April 21, 2011

15 Day Science Challenge

It seems like just about every other interest group has their own tumblr challenge, so I’ve devised my own for us scientists.
  1. What does it mean to be a scientist?
  2. What is your stance on embryonic stem cell research?
  3. If you were a closed circuit loop, which elements - resistor, capacitor, inductor, etc. - would you contain?
  4. What is your favorite theory in all of science? Your favorite law? Favorite principle? Theorem? Constant? Color?
  5. Name one female scientist. Now name one besides Marie Curie.
  6. Which is your favorite type of blot - Southern, western, or northern?
  7. Will nuclear fission ever be a viable power source? Come on, you gotta be kidding me!
  8. How should science and religion relate to each other?
  9. Do you remember that one English class you had to take as an undergrad to satisfy a gen ed? Yeah, that sucked.
  10. What is your most successful science-themed pickup line?
  11. Just how far would you go in the pursuit of scientific knowledge? In the pursuit of a Klondike bar?
  12. What is the biggest open question in your field of study/interest?
  13. If you were a chemical species, how would your bonding and anti-bonding orbitals be arranged, and why? Don’t forget to mention your HOMO and LUMO.
  14. If you ever won the Nobel Prize for your research, what would be your theme song when you accepted the prize?
  15. Will scientists ever teach a robot to love? 

------
This will be done

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Answer Attack

I really like questions. I think. I'm not actually 100% sure about that fact because I question it so much. Not that I really need an answer, it's all about thinking of the answer.

It sometimes bothers me when I'm doing a problem and someone comes along and tells me exactly how to get to  the answer when I didn't ask for it. Hell even if I ask I normally rather have just slight hints rather than the full solution. Not to say I don't appreciate the help, but I just wish the difference between "help me" and "load up a rifle with answers and shoot me" had more of a distinct line.

I never liked being taught procedures, it made no sense. This is probably why I never bothered to memorize my multiplication tables back in grade 4; I saw no reason to multiple. Then they gave us problems to solve with the multiplication... and only then did I start remembering the multiples of numbers. And it was never through sitting down and staring at the multiplication table, I think I just picked it up along the way solving problems. And still today I don't know them all, but the fact that I know that 7x8 is simply 7^2+7 keeps me going along. Most people would be thinking, "that doesn't look very simple..." but hey, it works.

That was a bit of a tangent there, but back on topic. I don't like it when people give me the answers. Ever had that situation? When you ask a friend one little question and suddenly you get an Answer Attack? It's painful and I don't approve of it.

Besides the whole fact that throwing answers at people doesn't mean they'll understand the concept (defeating the purpose of helping them in the first place), I find the entire act simply arrogant. When someone asks for help, they have already admitted that you may possibly know something they don't; don't make a fuss over it. By throwing the answer around, it's almost as if you found the solution extremely easily. Unless the question was something that one ought to know (ie. a fact that should be memorized); not everyone will find the question easy. And whoever asked for help will definitely feel less competent if you're spilling over all the concepts that they have yet to understand.

Also, assuming you're better than someone because you can do the question may not always be the fact. What if the person who asked for help simply misunderstood the question or made 1 careless error? Then suddenly they're stuck listening to you ramble on about all the steps they already knew how to do. I would personally find it insulting that someone was assuming I didn't understand the concepts I already knew.

Of course all people react differently to being helped (see The Keener for clarification). I'm speaking more from a nerd perspective. I enjoy learning things myself, help is only needed when I forget a fact. Otherwise I would rather mull over my notes and/or seek professional help. I do find that keeners take well to having answers pelted at them and geeks tend to end up arguing over their respective answers to prove they were right. Geniuses though will no doubt take great offense to being 'assisted'.

And of course I realize sometimes I'm guilty of attacking people with answers as well. Oh dear I'm a hypocrite aren't I? Well that's not too bad! (Reminder to make a post about why being a hypocrite is better than being naive sometime...)

So remember, if you want to help a friend; always check to see exactly what kind of help they want at first. Never Answer Attack.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

To grow a heart...

Jenny sent me this a while ago. But I've been thinking more and more about it recently.

http://www.stemcell.umn.edu/faculty/Taylor_D/home.html

Whether you watch the video they have or not does not matter, because I'm going to basically repeat it anyways.

So, they took a heart (rat I believe) and de-celled it. Meaning they used a solution to dissolve all the cells of the heart and take them out, leaving only the extracellular matrix outside it. Then they proceeded to add some newly created stem cells (omgosh I want to learn how to make...) of another animal (of the same species) into the outlinings of the heart.

And a heart grew. And it actually started pumping.

This of course opens the idea of organ transplant using one's own DNA to create said organ! And in this case we won't be making any special clone as is told by much sci-fi or breaking any big ethical code... right?

Actually I was mulling this over for a bit, I feel like there has to be SOMETHING wrong with it... but then again this technique seems pretty clean. All you need is an extracellular matrix... and well I'm certain that some donor will provide one and then all that needs to be done is find a way to create more. I suppose that would be the hard part but then the extracellular matrix is made of chemicals and macromolecules secreted by the cells around it. So basically simply remove the fully made heart along with a minor bit of the ECM to use for the next round, the fully formed heart for the second round will rebuild the bit of ECM that was lost when the first heart was removed. Makes sense right?

Of course this is all just me blabbing here, removing a heart from its ECM without destroy the ECM is actually pretty hard I would imagine... that's where the bio-engineers ought to come in. Ahh how I love the engineers and physicists, they make it so easy for the biologists to do crazy experiments with life.

But of course, perhaps there is some big ethical issue here that I'm overlooking... but it's all for the sake of human lives... I swear... that and the fact that I enjoy messing w/these ideas.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Can't Complain

I recently realized just how much people blog and post complaints in their lives. It's somewhat sympathetically entertaining. But then it can also be depressing, as if the world is so terrible that all we can do is see the negatives. Well isn't it time for some optimism? Shouldn't someone go against the natural wish to complain and see the good things about their lives?

So I thought I'd dedicate a post to how great my life is.

But then as I started thinking more about what to write about, I realized that if I actually do write about how great my life is, I'd be bragging. I mean I don't think many people care to hear about how wonderfully successful and awesome I am.


So, being positive, as great an idea as it seemed, is now looking like an act of complete egotistic arrogance. And while I can be both, often at the same time, I might as well as tone it down a bit.

Though I do admit that it's a bit saddening that I feel it would almost be 'wrong' of me to talk about how great my life is to other people. I'm sure many will (and have) respond(ed) with encouragement and congratulatory statements. So maybe I'm just thinking too hard about this. 

Yet there's a perfectly decent explanation to why I think so hard about this. It's part of my competitive nature, and the fact that I'm currently surrounded by others who have similar competitive edges. Some are doing better than me, some are not.

For the ones who're doing better, I would hate to be happily talking about my life only to hear a moment later that theirs is clearly much better. It's like talking about how proud you are of an 85 when someone else has a 90. Yes, I think in marks. I be nerd like that (refer to The Keener). 

For those who aren't doing so well, I would just feel like I'm rubbing my successes into their faces. It's like they thought there were happy with an 85 but I have a 90. I know, I used the same example twice. I'm lazy. 

When it comes down to it, I guess I'm under the assumption that everyone else thinks and feels the same way I do when it comes to this stuff. And while I'm sure that's not the cause, well we're all very much alike. Sometimes I wonder if the people who seem not to care actually don't care. I mean I know I've acted nonchalantly when receiving news I didn't like, it can't really be wrong of me to make the general assumption that this could be the case for many others as well right? After all, literature today's full of implications that the quiet ones feel the most; this idea must have some form of truth to it if so many people write like so. 

So I'm actually at a loss of what's right in this case, should I complain along side other people though I certainly have little to complain about? Or do I just sit and listen like I've always done and be at a loss for words when asked how I felt? 

In the end this post doesn't clear anything up! But sure was fun to explore the topic. I think I should write about why I like questions more than answers some time later... 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Re-organizing

Typing is great and all, but I feel like I've lost touch with my inner self. It's been too long since I've written in my journal, and I don't quite like that feeling.

So... now considering if I want to keep up this whole "blogging" thing... more and more I've rediscovered that my former thoughts on the blogging world is correct. Ie, somethings should stay in your head or on paper and not publicized to people via interwebs. And in typing out my thoughts like this, I get closer and closer each day to saying something I didn't mean to say. Well I would never say it, I would imply it through my choice of topics.

I'd much rather be more secretive about my biases unless they're subject to good gossip. So this actually leaves me at a loss as to what to do...

Blogger's so pretty... and so google... *strong need to support google

At the same time I really need to work on my horrendous writing abilities... I'm surprised my TAs still can mark out what I write...

I have come to a conclusion. I will continue this blogging thing but stick to topics that are more public rather than private... oh wait, I've been doing that all along... wow I'm good.

And in case you're wondering why I'm posting in the busy time of exam season, I just finished a mega-chemistry study sheet and needed to relocate my thoughts before studying more biology.

-Update-

Tumblr has been deleted!! Whoo, feel better now!

Friday, April 08, 2011

In hopes of a relaxing summer

So, reconsidering former decision to get a job this summer... not sure if that'd be the best idea. Apparently there's a new Sims game coming out. http://www.ea.com/the-sims-medieval

A friend of mine has it and says it's amazing. We're both big Sims fans. 

But Sims isn't the only thing making me reconsider my previous wish for a job. I realized I also have a large book list. And I found that I do have enough funds for spending for the time being. But I suppose I can't rely on my parents forever... still... might as well as take advantage of being young while I still can.

Just took a break from this future planning to study some biology, a bit discouraged now. As I looked to my most beautiful notes, I was then confronted by two awful facts. A: I take horrid notes. B: There's too much to memorize. This is bad. From the looks of things so far I need a minimum of 80% to maintain my 4.0 in this course... most people would take this time to completely slack, but I don't want just an 85% in biology. This is biology, it's my course! I want a 90! Wait... redid calculation... only need a 91% to end with a 90% in the course... *hopes up! However getting 91% for biology isn't that easy, I probably forgot a few details from first half of lectures and I still have half the second half to go over in detail... So far I at least know I have half the course down solid. Time to get back to studying about the cytoskeleton... 

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Bold what applies to you!

From Tumblr... somewhere... maybe?


I am a male.
I am a girl. 
I am shorter than 5’4.
I think I’m ugly sometimes 
I have many scars.
I tan easily. 
I wish my hair was a different color.
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
I have a tattoo.
I am self-conscious about my appearance.
I have/I’ve had braces.
I wear glasses( only for certain things)
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger.
I have more than 2 piercings.
I have piercing in places besides my ears.
I have freckles.
I’ve sworn at my parents.
I’ve run away from home.
I’ve been kicked out of the house.
I have a sibling less than one year old.
I want to have kids someday. 
I’ve lost a child.
I’m in school.
I have a job. 
I’ve fallen asleep at work/school.
I almost always do/did my homework.
I’ve missed a week or more of school.
I failed more than 1 class last year.
I’ve stolen something from my job. 
I’ve slipped out an “lol” in a spoken conversation.
Disney movies still make me cry.
I’ve peed from laughing. 
I’ve snorted while laughing
I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried.
I’ve glued my hand to something. 
I’ve had my pants rip in public 
I was born with a disease/impairment 
I’ve gotten stitches/staples.
I’ve broken a bone.
I’ve had my tonsils removed.
I’ve sat in a doctor’s office/emergency room with a friend.
I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed. 
I had a serious surgery.
I’ve had chicken pox.
I’ve had measles
I’ve driven over 200 miles in one day
I’ve been on a plane.
I’ve been to Canada
I’ve been to Mexico
I’ve been to Niagara Falls.
I’ve been to Japan.
I’ve celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
I’ve been to Europe
I’ve been to Africa.
I’ve gotten lost in my city.
I’ve seen a shooting star
I’ve wished on a shooting star
I’ve seen a meteor shower.
I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
I’ve kicked a guy where it hurts.
I’ve been to a casino
I’ve been skydiving.
I’ve gone skinny dipping.
I’ve played spin the bottle.
I’ve drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour. 
I’ve crashed a car.
I’ve been skiing.
I’ve been in a play.
I’ve met someone in person from Facebook.
I’ve caught a snowflake on my tongue.
I’ve seen the Northern lights.
I’ve sat on a roof top at night.
I’ve played chicken
I’ve played a prank on someone.
I’ve ridden in a taxi.
I’ve seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I’ve eaten sushi.
I’ve been snowboarding.
I’m single. 
I’m in a relationship.
I’m engaged.
I’m married.
I’ve gone on a blind date.
I’ve been the dumped more than the dumper.
I miss someone right now.
I have a fear of abandonment.
I’ve gotten divorced.
I’ve had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t.
I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did.
I’ve kept something from a past relationship.
I’ve had a crush on someone of the same sex
I’ve had a crush on a teacher. 
I am a cuddler.
I’ve been kissed in the rain.
I’ve hugged a stranger. 
I have kissed a stranger. 
I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t.
I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t.
I’ve sneaked out of my house.
I have lied to my parents about where I am.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I’ve cheated while playing a game. 
I’ve cheated on a test. 
I’ve run a red light.
I’ve been suspended from school.
I’ve witnessed a crime. 
I’ve been in a fist fight.
I’ve been arrested. 
I’ve consumed alcohol.
I regularly drink.
I’ve passed out from drinking.
I have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months.
I’ve smoked weed
I’ve taken painkillers when I didn’t need them.
I’ve eaten shrooms.
I’ve popped E.
I’ve inhaled Nitrous.
I’ve done hard drugs.
I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem.
I have been diagnosed with clinical depression.
I have been diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorder.
I shut others out when I’m depressed.
I take anti-depressants.
I have been anorexic or bulimic.
I’ve slept an entire day when I didn’t need it.
I’ve hurt myself on purpose. 
I’ve woken up crying.
I’m afraid of dying.
I hate funerals.
I’ve seen someone dying.
Someone close to me has committed suicide.
I’ve planned my own suicide 
I’ve attempted suicide.
I’ve written a eulogy for myself.
I own over 5 rap CDs.
I own an iPod or MP3 player.
I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/manga. 
I own multiple designer purses, costing over $100 a piece.
I own something from Hot Topic.
I own something from Pac Sun. 
I collect comic books.