10:44 PM
Dear Sirus,
31st March 2006 (week 4)
This week has been an eventful week full of reactions (big and small) and too many things done to be recorded. However, one particular thing I did stood out – column chromatography.
Although best done using test tubes , it is usually not done that way because of the amount of time needed and sometimes it was deemed un-necessary as other simpler alternatives can be found. However, for the sake of knowing how a true columns really runs, dr sudhakar(boss) allowed me to tried using test tubes. And when I say tubeS , I mean it plurally, and its many many tubeS.
So I allowed the column to run, while monitoring for any sign of compound coming out of the column via Thin layer chromatography (TLC) – crude – but nevertheless serving its sole purpose of just informing the user whether any compound has eluted.
When the first drop of TLC confirmed a substance was coming out, boss showed me a rack of test tubes (32) and told me to use them (which he later changed his mind about it as it was suspected to be contaminated) , I thought at that time “ would I be needing so many tubes?”, and I only took approximately 20 at that time. So I started collecting the eluents from the column. To my surprise, it would appear that my column was moving at 1 mili-meters(mm) per hour, it was so slow that by the time I was due for home, I had 80 test tubes covered in aluminium foil in which nearly 60 of them were filled – my column still unfinished.
The next day (today , 31st ) , I continued to collect the column eluent until the max count of test tubes reached 85 – a career high for myself - , and I thought 10 test tubes back in the secondary school days were enough.
The next part didn’t come as a surprise, nevertheless still a psychological blow . I had to do thin layer chromatorgraphy for alternate test tubes (god bless) to check whether the compound was the same . And so I did, and trust me – believe me – it was an enjoyable experience , but taxing on the mind. It drew away my energy for the rest of the day, and made me commit some mistakes I shouldn’t have made.
For example, I was supposed to air dry a solution to isolate the solid, I accidentally over-pressured the air tube causing my material to “jump” out of the vial it was in!(good thing it was only a little) . I was feeling lethargic the whole day after that.
However, if you were to ask me if I am willing to do the column again, I would say yes. I think its really once-in-a-life-time and I might not ever get to do it again, that very thought just makes me cherish today’s experience of column chromatography.
Yu Song
Harry
0 Hippogrifts
8:06 PM
Dear Sirus,
23 March 2006
Its been a while since i last blogged, mainly due to the fatigue after work (under attachment).
Work has been tiring - nevertheless fun - for me for the past 3 weeks (after this week) . Its something like a dream come true (if they start paying me 4 digits pay :P) , but for the most parts, it was a great experience(and it will continue to be i believe).
I have not seen such high-technological anywhere before, not to mention the easy availability of the chemicals , although all those coupled with the amount of hazards we're exposed to everyday.
I had to attend a EHS(environmental health safety) course (2 days) before i can officially work in the lab. That alone ate up 7 working days of mine! Although troublesome, EHS training is something absolutely neccessary, not only for the EHS part, also for the bonding between new students-staff alike.
The most important concern for me however - and as i anticipated - is basketball. It has always taken up my life for the most parts of it, however now, it has became a minority in my life. this is both annoying and frustrating, although i completely understand that it is a adaptation process that must take place in order to become a greater person. I am trying to juggle both basketball and work together, and i think its gradually getting better for me as i am able to play 2 days per week (trust me, its nothing compared to before work but its something) .
Another problem that has been encountered is fatigue, its a strange thing, but you get psychologically tired which directly (or indirectly) affects your physological(physical) state. Its hard to sleep at 10.30 pm(and somehow always get delayed:P) and wake up at 7 am just in order to make it in time to the work area @ 9 am - its okay once in a blue moon, but do that for 5 days/week, its not exactly interesting.
I am not whining tho, i wouldnt give up anything less in exchange for the colleagues(and mates) in my company , the things i learn and experience, its just absolutely wonderful! I think this has definitely shaped my life to be more organised than before and it has helped me to set my life in perspective for the new and up-coming semester.
Meanwhile, i'll try to blog more often and so i am able to look at my penesive when i need to re-collect this memory:)
p.s i am attached to Institude of material research and engineering(IMRE) pronounced as (I-ME-RE)
Harry
0 Hippogrifts
3:02 AM
Dear Sirus,
hmmm... i got tagged by ryan...The Rules: The first player of this game starts with the topic 5 weird facts about yourself, and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their 5 weird facts as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Do not forget to leave a comment that says, You are tagged in their blog and tell them to read yours.recent 5 weird things :1. I feel i am gonna fall sick every other day..2. I've very much rather play basketball 24/7 if my sleeping mechanism didnt kick in3. I treat my band of brothers with great love:) something that never happened before:)4. I am beginning to like checking my emails after my attachment started5. I begin to realise that everything i ever desired was everything i hadNext 6 person i tag..Cheong Yew (Ng)Jia Wei (prince)Chee Liong (foo)CandicePei kun (chee)Rui Cheng (sam)good luck!
Harry
0 Hippogrifts
8:00 AM
Dear Sirus,
memorable quotes from one of my all time favourite movie, Terminator II
Watching John with the machine, it was suddenly so clear. The Terminator would never stop, it would never leave him. And it would never hurt him, never shout at him or get drunk and hit him or say it was too busy to spend time with him. It would always be there and it would die to protect him. Of all the would-be fathers who came and went over the years, this thing, this machine was the only one who measured up. In an insane world, it was the sanest choice.
The above quote called out to compassion . The machine is compassion, it should never stop, never leave anybody, of all the things i learned ever, this thing, compassion, the only quality really valuable, although an insane value viewed by many, is the sanest value i cherish
The future, always so clear to me, had become like a black highway at night. We were in uncharted territory now, making up history as we went along.
The above quote shows me how we always think we know what to do , but really do we? Something can happen, anything. you never know.
I know now why you cry. But it's something I could never do.
Most touching quote.. Many times we understand what we MUST do.. although we done like it we have to..
The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it for the first time with a sense of hope, because if a machine, a terminator, can learn the value of human life, maybe we can, too.
I just plainly love this quote. I think its impressive that if someone as simple as an ant and a frog is able to cherish life, i dont see why we cant learn the value of what we have around us. The future is not know, but we must face it with a sense of hope!
The future is not written, There is no fate but what we make for ourselves.
simplified: No fate, but what we make
Self explainatory.
Harry
0 Hippogrifts
5:14 AM
Dear Sirus,
27th Febuary 2006 , Monday , 2110 hours
Today was one of the most meaningful and stressful day of my revision for my exams..
The subject i am doing revision for is engineering maths two(AKA A-Maths integrations upgraded) . It was indeed a stressful however always eventful and rewarding. I was due for class at 1 pm @ T731 with mrs tung and my class.
It was interesting considering that gordon and i arrived in the classroom being the only two students that was there at first. Shortly, after the others started to came in. But the maximum head count for that day was 6 . Sad. However, it only goes to us , those there , because the teacher had more time for each individial.
I completed THREE past year papers (and one thats only half done) , from 11.30 am to 8.30 pm , I am in such a state of fatigue (mental) that i cant even calculate 2(2x2) - 1, looks easy? Believe me, i used a calculator to do that. . The level of mental fatigue was at its threshold, push it any further and you can start digging a 6 ft cavity for my future.
Anyway i am glad i finished 3 past year papers (a feat in my opinion) and master all the questions! THats great news.
Benjamin accompanied me pretty much throughout my studying period and i have him to thank for my un-explained phenomenol long "Staminia" .
I am too tired to continue on this now.
But heed this,
Engineering Maths II is scheduled for termination on 28th febuary 2006, 11 10 hours.
:)
Harry
0 Hippogrifts
4:03 AM
Dear Sirus,
Life has changed dramatically for me, something which i noticed , was that i am beginning to know more friends and not only that, i think i i gradually bonding very well with these cool people. I credit this change to my friends and to myself. I once read "A change in your heart is enough to fix your life" (i.e To change what you get, change yourself).
As a tribute to my friends who made this possible i am going to put them on my blog! They include (but not limited to)(and in no order)
Kenny - your approach to basketball and life really got my respect
Chee Liong - Your cheerfulness is awfully contagious
Ryan - Your timely sense of humour always brightens up everyone
Shun Fu - Your immense ability to comphrehend thinks awes me
Shi Long - Your ability to think is your greatest gift
Benjamin - Your silent attitude to life has taught me a great deal
Gideon - You have taught me the ability to listen, forgive and forget
Prince - You have shown me a new outlook to life
Anthony - Your immense ability to precieve is simply uncomphrehensible
Pei Kun - Your ability to laugh at whatever people throws at you is amazing
And to everyone else not mentioned, it doesnt mean you're forgotten!!
I thank these people (and the rest of you out there) for the life i have now. You make my day everyone of you . Hope to see more of you guys! Especially ppl from my tian feng! Do post more in the forum!
Harry
1 Hippogrifts
3:32 AM
Dear Sirus,
Todays is one of the worst days i ever had. I think its been a long time since i felt this way.
Today (thur 16/feb/06) , I went with a joyous feeling to coach my team "tian feng", i actually got to coach this team through my cousin, and every training i was pretty excited as its my life long dream to coach. My mom wanted me to cancels today training because i had two upcoming tests tommorrow (Fri) , one is Trace And Transition metals, the other effective use of logic in arguments. Huge modules, high weightage for both. I spent the whole morning mugging on books (woke up at 7am) so i could get off to coach during the noon time, little did i expect that my notion to do this caused my life's utter disappointment.
As 3.15 approached, i was curious as to whether the players have arrived, (they had a test till 3 pm) so i called on of my players (who was living beside the court in a HDB flaT) , he said he would get changed immdiately and come down. Seeing that i am a 20minutes bus journey away, i quickly decided to hail a cab(together with gideon) to rush to the training area. When i got there, i only saw two people - utter disappointment (there were supposed to be at least four). But i told myself, "its okay, they'll come"
And came they did , all was present (total of 7 people) and i started the day's drill!
First was the usual, warm up, and running. They did fine at that, i was pretty satisfied with that.
Then came the next drill, i divided them into two groups to have them do a little competitive drills, i gave a few simple instructions, stand at either 3 spots and SHOOT THE BALL . i said , each of you are to make a given number of shots and depending on whose time limit is the best wins, the other will get punish ( i allowed them to choose the punishment before hand and what punishment they get will be decided by drawing poker cards out of a deck).
there was one three person grp and one four person grp, i said, three person grp make 20, 4 person grp make 30,they grumbled that it was unfair. Truly? Did you think this drill is for you to see whos better? Obviously, if you are REALLY BETTER, it wouldnt be no problem ? And they started grumbling it was unfair bla bla bla, so i changed it to, fourth person sit out and 3 on 3 ,shoot from any spot, one person one minute. So the team that lost had to be punished (ran 7 rounds) .
Second drill, pass screen, recieve, pass screen recieve, a basic concept i told them, 4 person on a court, spread evenly 2 basic principles
1)You cannot pass the ball back to the person who passed to you
2) The reciever must have been screened or help to screen before recieving the ball.
And they cant even do it! And i was aware that some of them was not serious at all.. I told them what to do and they actually argued that "aiya no need la we know what to do" and i was like "heck since you know what to do , do you still need a coach?" , I felt truly upset by that because, i gave much time and energy to come up with all this drills and jeopardise my test's results to come and train you guys and you tell me this kind of thing? i was truly truly upset.
After that, eventually i tied the game, although it was one group who won, i lied to them that they were tied. Seriously, up till that point, i just wanted to switch off on them. And god blessed , it rained!
But i didnt go back, i wanted to give them one more chance.. so i told them, 50 free throws, (which eventually got cut to 10) , if the ball hit the ball thrice,.. you run suicides. (which later got cut to running the length of the court only) . They dropped the ball SIX TIMES, and they didnt run... I was truly disappointed them, i was HURT.
I just didnt want to continue, at this point, the rain got bigger so i said training stopped.
Later the rain subsided(but floor abit wet still) so i said, okay lets play (i am no longer coach) and i was SHOCKED to realise that their improvment was so little.. (if any at all... really) , i was disappointed, especially those who PROMISED me they would work hard, 3 weeks defeat that person, 2 weeks start doing this, 1 month start becoming that.. its been 3 weeks , and all i see, is a messy puzzle shuffled into a messier puzzle . Will it ever be solved? I dont know.
I failed as a coach, i given up everything i can, time for my family, time for studies, time for friends and time for myself to coach them for free. Should i continue to do this? I guess i should get some rest before deciding what to do next...
I dont know.. they say, the future is not written, there is not fate but what we make for ourselves..
but truly i ask, is one sided effort suffice to overall improvement? I doubt - it takes two hands to clap.
Harry
0 Hippogrifts
