A friend once told me that I kept a lot of things to myself, especially how I feel and think. It makes getting to know me and getting really friendly with me, difficult. I think in some aspects, I've come a long way, in others, maybe not so much. This blog is one of my effort to open up a bit, express more of myself, and at the same time allow me to practice my writing. Who knows? I might get published (for real) one day.
Life is continuous improvement...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Fitness Plan
I have successfully played squash for two times last week. I was still short of one session of work-out since I was targetting for three-times a week. I wanted to swim on Saturday to make up the number but was too tired after the late-night on Friday and ended up sleeping late.
I will try harder this week.
I will try harder this week.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A Good Friday...
Things went quite close to plan last Friday. Left work about 5.30 pm to rush home to change and got myself to the squash courts by 6 pm, although the in-campus traffic was quite bad.
When I got there, Clement was playing with Mr Lim. Megat was jogging. I had a few strokes with Mr Lim before playing a game or maybe two with Clement. Then a game with Megat. What a surprise that KengLong appeared with CheeHoe! But then, they seemed to be busy together - talking and playing - and not much time for others. Weird!
Anyhow, I left and tried to get hold of PS and Pauline to confirm the plans for the later part of the night, but failed. Seemed like everybody had their phones off (or rather their batts were dead). Pauline, called me back later to firm up the plans and off we went to hang out... with Wai...
It was a good night of ribbing and laughing...
When I got there, Clement was playing with Mr Lim. Megat was jogging. I had a few strokes with Mr Lim before playing a game or maybe two with Clement. Then a game with Megat. What a surprise that KengLong appeared with CheeHoe! But then, they seemed to be busy together - talking and playing - and not much time for others. Weird!
Anyhow, I left and tried to get hold of PS and Pauline to confirm the plans for the later part of the night, but failed. Seemed like everybody had their phones off (or rather their batts were dead). Pauline, called me back later to firm up the plans and off we went to hang out... with Wai...
It was a good night of ribbing and laughing...
Friday, January 16, 2009
Perchlorates
A friend asked me about perchlorate detection today. Wow, what a topic!
Perchlorates, in the form of ammonium perchlorate and the other perchlorate salts are used in a wide range of applications, including pyrotechnics and fireworks, blasting agents, matches, lubricating oils, textile dye fixing, nuclear reactors, electronic tubes, tanning and finishing leather, rubber manufacturing, electroplating, aluminum refinishing, automobile air bag inflators, paint and enamel production, and pharmaceuticals (1).
Perchlorate is of concern for the following reasons (2):
(a)it has potential human health effects at low concentrations - another source mentioned that it inhibits the thyroid function;
(b)it may be widespread in the environment;
(c)removing it from water and soil may be costly; and
(d)it may have deleterious effects on ecosystems.
And aside from that, in the industry, it may have corrossive properties. That is the one that bothers us most here, since the environmental bit is hopefully taken cared of by the powers that be.
Off my head, would ionic chromatograph (IC) work for this? Afterall, they are talking about anions. And true enough, googling 'perchlorate analysis' gave me a list of hits which uses IC. And surprisingly, ESI-MS, which was a darling topic of mine during grad school. Which was one of the factors that pushed me into the field that I am in now, TOF-SIMS. Apparently, using the EPA 314.0 method for IC, there would be some interfering anions (e.g. chlorides, sulfates and carbonates) which would give false readings since the IC detection is via retention time identification. Other methods were made to overcome this, mainly, IC/MS/MS, LC/MS/MS and ESI-MS. I wonder if there were work done with other ionization methods e.g., FAB and MALDI.
This has been interesting.
(1). A Systematic Approach to In Situ Bioremediation in Groundwater
Interstate Technology Regulatory Council, 2002. www.itrcweb.org/Documentation/ISB-8.pdf
(2). http://www.clu-in.org/contaminantfocus/default.focus/sec/perchlorate/cat/Overview/
Perchlorates, in the form of ammonium perchlorate and the other perchlorate salts are used in a wide range of applications, including pyrotechnics and fireworks, blasting agents, matches, lubricating oils, textile dye fixing, nuclear reactors, electronic tubes, tanning and finishing leather, rubber manufacturing, electroplating, aluminum refinishing, automobile air bag inflators, paint and enamel production, and pharmaceuticals (1).
Perchlorate is of concern for the following reasons (2):
(a)it has potential human health effects at low concentrations - another source mentioned that it inhibits the thyroid function;
(b)it may be widespread in the environment;
(c)removing it from water and soil may be costly; and
(d)it may have deleterious effects on ecosystems.
And aside from that, in the industry, it may have corrossive properties. That is the one that bothers us most here, since the environmental bit is hopefully taken cared of by the powers that be.
Off my head, would ionic chromatograph (IC) work for this? Afterall, they are talking about anions. And true enough, googling 'perchlorate analysis' gave me a list of hits which uses IC. And surprisingly, ESI-MS, which was a darling topic of mine during grad school. Which was one of the factors that pushed me into the field that I am in now, TOF-SIMS. Apparently, using the EPA 314.0 method for IC, there would be some interfering anions (e.g. chlorides, sulfates and carbonates) which would give false readings since the IC detection is via retention time identification. Other methods were made to overcome this, mainly, IC/MS/MS, LC/MS/MS and ESI-MS. I wonder if there were work done with other ionization methods e.g., FAB and MALDI.
This has been interesting.
(1). A Systematic Approach to In Situ Bioremediation in Groundwater
Interstate Technology Regulatory Council, 2002. www.itrcweb.org/Documentation/ISB-8.pdf
(2). http://www.clu-in.org/contaminantfocus/default.focus/sec/perchlorate/cat/Overview/
The Outlander
James Caviezel - I called him as the man with the sad face. Almost all his movies involved him in some kind of sad, down-trodden situation, most likely with tears. Maybe I am wrong.
This movie is so cliche. But ofcourse with a title like that I should have expected that the end of the movie would favor the outlander or the outsider. I bet the guy, can't remember his name, the king-in-waiting was also thinking the same thing as me. "What is this guy doing, just dropped out from no where and trying to exert his will and wisdom on his community, and also usurped the king's affection, and the king's daughter affection."
But then, this outsider or outlander as he was known to the Vikings, was the hero of the show. It's his right to shine. So, he did. He could do no wrong. And most importantly, he could not die. Atleast not in the movie. The girl would not die too. Because the hero had to get a pretty girl.
The show is ok, except for the butchering and people got eaten alive. That's just vile.
This movie is so cliche. But ofcourse with a title like that I should have expected that the end of the movie would favor the outlander or the outsider. I bet the guy, can't remember his name, the king-in-waiting was also thinking the same thing as me. "What is this guy doing, just dropped out from no where and trying to exert his will and wisdom on his community, and also usurped the king's affection, and the king's daughter affection."
But then, this outsider or outlander as he was known to the Vikings, was the hero of the show. It's his right to shine. So, he did. He could do no wrong. And most importantly, he could not die. Atleast not in the movie. The girl would not die too. Because the hero had to get a pretty girl.
The show is ok, except for the butchering and people got eaten alive. That's just vile.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Lucky
On the way to work yesterday, I heard this song on the radio and was immediately captivated. I had at first thought that the singer was Michael Buble. It turned out to be a duet. The singers turned out to be Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. And the song turned out to be Lucky.
The harmony was just great and lovely. The lyrics dreamy. Overall, it's just a really nice and happy song.
I should be so lucky.
The harmony was just great and lovely. The lyrics dreamy. Overall, it's just a really nice and happy song.
I should be so lucky.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Where friends come together...
Friday night saw me hosting a get-together-cum-house-warming for a dear group of old friends. Fridays are typically not a my favorite day or rather night for a lot of things after work, as, fridays usually would turned out to be a rather busy day for me. Work to finish before the week ends, etc. etc. (the king n i?)
There were ChongSing & HwaSiew & their 2 sons, Angie & CK & their 2 daughters, Kenny (with his arm sling) & MuiKeok, Jonathan and WeiNien. This was easiest the biggest group I have ever hosted, other than the gathering of aunts, uncles & cousins during the school hols. Being such a big group, we ended up sitting and chitchat-ing on the floor.
OK, I was a bit apprehensive about hosting the event due to the size, but it turned out alright. I had fun catching up, and I think everybody had fun just fooling around. I'm not sure about MuiKeok, though. She seemed kind of quiet. Anyhow, hope she wasn't too bored.
We had the birthday cake for ChongSing, CK and Kenny to blow candles but it turned out that Kenny lied about his birth date!!!
And they got me an IRON! Exactly what I needed....
There were ChongSing & HwaSiew & their 2 sons, Angie & CK & their 2 daughters, Kenny (with his arm sling) & MuiKeok, Jonathan and WeiNien. This was easiest the biggest group I have ever hosted, other than the gathering of aunts, uncles & cousins during the school hols. Being such a big group, we ended up sitting and chitchat-ing on the floor.
OK, I was a bit apprehensive about hosting the event due to the size, but it turned out alright. I had fun catching up, and I think everybody had fun just fooling around. I'm not sure about MuiKeok, though. She seemed kind of quiet. Anyhow, hope she wasn't too bored.
We had the birthday cake for ChongSing, CK and Kenny to blow candles but it turned out that Kenny lied about his birth date!!!
And they got me an IRON! Exactly what I needed....
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