Top of the World

So, these days I am trying to create a sensor at my internship that I already know works, but I really don’t know why. I accidentally “discovered” this phenomena while testing my old devices, and thought it was really cool to play around with. Late last night, I got two *Brilliant*, with a capital B, ideas on alternate uses of this phenomena. I haven’t told J about it yet, but I feel really good about myself right now.

Also, I helped my undergrad with his experiments, and helped him get results he and QoH were struggling to get for the last 2 months. It took me less than a day. I am a freakin genius.

Can some please look up “Humility” for me? Thank you.

To move or not to move

So, I have been considering moving my blog to my own website rather than let it reside with Blogger. I am not sure if this would inconvinience others or make it much more difficult to find. On the other hand, this blog has become a personal journal of sorts, and I would love the ability to archive it for future analysis. What do you think?

$$$$$$$$

My internship is set to end at the end of this year. J, QoH and I had an understanding that he will extend it by another 3 months. Yesterday, I get an email from J saying that the extension would not be possible, but he will support me as a RA by funnelling the money through QoH. Well all this is fine and good, but couldn’t he have made the decision a few weeks ago? The next pay cycle at my university starts in 3 days, and if I dont get all the paper work done by then, I stand to lose half a month’s salary. WTF? Right now I am trying not to think about it, and not get all upset about something I dont have control over.

Mid Night Blues

I want the company of woman now. I NEED the company of a woman. It is the only thing I can think of. A long walk, coffee, midget porn…. nothing has worked so far. I am minutes away from calling one of those 900 numbers.

Me, Myself, and I

I have been at relative peace with myself for the last few days. I met with one professor this week, and he basically said he had no money to hire me. One good thing that came out of that meeting was that he suggested that I set up a meeting with QoH, J, him and myself to explore joint research opportunities. Its not the ideal scenario, but it is still something.

I havent worked on my internship stuff all week. I have a meeting with J tomorrow morning, and I have already figured out what to tell him. So no worries there either.

Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel” is stuck in my head since this morning.

Aaarrrrrggghhhh

I so fuckin confused!!! I just came out of a 3 hour meeting with QoH. First 1.5 hours was a group meeting, and then we met alone for the remaining 1.5 hours. He was being so nice to me, and encouraging me to take active role. He was painting all these rosy pictures of future with J and him, and how I could potentially graduate within a year and half’s time. Now I am not sure if he is being manipulative, or if he actually speaking the truth. We had a semi-open discussion about me approaching other proffessors, and he was trying to dissuade me without being too aggressive about it. Atleast that part of it was along expected lines. I am so confused right now. I dont know if my decision to quit QoH’s lab was a well thought out one, or if it is one more the bad decisions I have made under stress. Any opinions?

Too much information

I found the gultiest of the pleasures this morning. I dont believe I did not think of this before. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the match made in heaven: Laptops and Toilets. Have you ever tried catching up on your daily reads during your morning albulations? Dont mock it till you try it. Why hasn’t anyone written odes about this?

Winter is Here !!

We had the first snow of the year today !! Boy was it beautiful. This is a picture of my neighbour’s roof with a light dusting of snow. I was so psyched to wake up and see it snowing. We dont get much of snow in my part of geography. Maybe one or two snow showers a year. This is a great start to December.

Ok, back to business. I heard back from two other professors today. One of them told me that she does not have funding for another RA, but will be willing to talk to me if I want. I figured I have nothing to lose by talking to her, so we setup a meeting 2 weeks from now. The third professor sent me a one line reply saying he would be happy to talk to me. He has a reputation for being direct and brief, so I didnt take it personally. I hope to meet him sometime tomorrow, or early next week.

I am really happy that all 3 people I am really interested in also seem to be interested. They agreeing to meet me and talk is not a great achievement by itself, but it is a step in the right direction. I am all pumped up.

For the love of humanity

Nguyen Tuong Van [wikipedia.com], an Australian citizen was arrested in Singapore for drug trafficing in 2002, and was sentenced to death by hanging. He will breathe his last breath in less than a day from now. After all the efforts to save his life had failed, his mother plead to be able to hug her son for one last time before he is executed. Her plea was rejected, and is now being reconsidered [cnn.com] due to pressure from the Australian goverment.

This just blows my mind. I do not agree that he should be hanged in the first place, but I will let it slide since it is the law of their land and I respect their soverignity; but I see no justification in them not allowing contact between a son and his mother. How can a goverment be so insensitive as a to deprive a mother of a last hug from her son? Isn’t it bad enough that she has endure the agony of his death? Why is she being punished for her son’s mistake? Have the Singaporean citizens have lost all morality and humanity? If they do not change their mind about this, I am going to boycott everything made in Singapore, and I would strongly urge you to do the same.

A Good Start

I already heard back from one of the professors. This professor knows me pretty well, and for some reason has a good opinion of me. He is currently on a sabatical and will be back in town early January. His email was very positive, and he had even suggested a direction of research that might be of mutual interest. He has asked me to meet him once he is back. I think this is as good a start as I could have expected. I am oh-so-relaxed now. I can sleep in peace tonight.