So it's Monday all over again...

Aaahhhhhhh...... It's Monday and it's a whole new week - means have to wake up before the moon is down.

Sleep-late + wake-up-early regimen is sucking every pint of energy from the already fragile body of mine. But thinking of being able to laugh at conversations, chatting with friends, sneering/perli-ing friends (sorry ying chian, for couldn't help but to "bully" you. But you know la, I never mean to be so, well, mean. You know I am good to you, most of the time.) keeps me moving on.

Just trying to appreciate the people around me whenever I could. You never know what is going to come the next minute.

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New, but weird

As a science student whose interest lies in biology, I couldn't help but to be fascinated by the bizarre creatures previously unknown to the world. Here are some examples that can keep you in awe:

1. Ghost slug

Or, taxonomically known as Selenochlamys ysbryda, the ghost slug - so called due to its glowing white colour - doesn't haunt any thing but snacks on earthworm. "Ysbryda" originates from ysbryd which means "ghost" in Welsh.

2. Lungless frog

Having the scientific name of Barbourula kalimantanensis, from the species epithet "kalimantanensis", we know that this fella inhabits the pristine forest of the Borneo island. Unlike its cousins, this guy only breathes using solely its damp skin. No kidding. No lungs at all.

3. Photosynthetic slug

So you say animals cannot make their own food, huh? Guess what, this sluggish example will beat the slug out of you. How it gets the chloroplast you asked? This little fella takes up chloroplasts from the algae it consumes. It doesn't stop there. Part of the genome of the algae is being incorporated into the DNA of this green Elysia chlorotica as well. Geez, when this guy steals, it strips you naked down to the genes.

4. Unusually twisted snail

Snails usually have their, well, normal way of twisting their carapace in no more than 3 axes. Sounds like I am speaking German to you? Never mind. This particular snail, called Opisthostoma vermiculum, is only found in a particular, confined karst region (I am not speaking Indian, revise your geography about limestone caves) in Gunung Rapat, Perak. Its shell twists in 4 axes. Very unusual.

5. Palm that flowers to death

What do you think of this: When you are at the peak of your life and right after that you are gone (touch wood)? This huge palm tree will flower heavily right before the end of its life. The flowers of this Tahina spectabilis are the upper part of the palm as shown in the picture.

6. Extremophile

Think archaea that live in hotsprings and hydrothermal vents are extreme? What about these fellas that live in the unthinkable environment of a hairspray? The next time you use the spray, think of Microbacterium hatanonis.

7. Fish with transparent head


Macropinna microstoma has a transparent head that is filled with fluid Its bright green eyes often stare upwards unless a prey has been detected. This guy is about 15 cm in length.

Images and description retrieved from http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/new-species/1

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Are you living the right way?

Every person born into this world is destined to carry a burden - whether he/she wants it or not. This is because we are socially-interdependent beings. Quit complaining about the burden - the burden is a constant, the variable is you. The burden has no fault, the problem is in you.

If you were a leader of any sort, you are inevitably entrusted with responsibilities - far more than the rest of the group. However, the burden's weight is not your concern, it is the strength of your shoulders that bear the burden that matters most. Start working on your shoulders, not working your mouth by grumbling over the burden.

Nevertheless, there will be a time where the weight is beyond the human limit - you just can't do it alone. If it comes to that, request for a friendly, trustworthy pair of shoulders to share the weight. Don't complain about the incompetency of your partner, it is your fault to choose a person that is incapable. Every time you point your index finger at others to blame, remember 3 more fingers of the same hand is pointing back towards you.

This world is not shape to suit you. You have to shape yourself to meld with the world. This planet doesn't revolve around you. The earlier you realize that, the better your life quality.

To the rest of you who prefers or remains as followers, please put yourself in the shoes of the leader. Empathize. The fact that most of you are in the comfort zone is due to the hard work where the leader has put in to get all the ruffled feathers and treacherous waves soothed, sorted and smoothed. Be thankful, stop complaining. If you want improvements, make constructive arguments instead of just a blunt "no" and followed by a string of annoying complaints that don't help the situation even a bit, except to irritate the leader further.

Be grateful. The reason that your life is still meaningful - a slight bit or truly - is partly due to the effort of the people around you, aside from your own actions.

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Ranting and Raving

I am trying not to appear whiny or anything like that but seriously, last week spelled so much problems and tasks that I, for a moment, thought that I was in a world where "breaks" and "time-outs" don't exist.

Though currently in the final year, societal affairs are like heat-seeking missiles to us. Till now, I am involved in about 3 activities, and still counting. I mean, WHERE, for the love of God, are the rest of other Utarians? First Aid? Sure the biotechs can do it. Ecofriendly? Sure, the biotechs can do it. Blah blah blah? Sure, go seek out the biotechs coz they can do everything (note the tone of sarcasm). Really need to head-hunt for more leaders-to-be. Our telomere caps will soon run out of length otherwise. Unless you can administer telomerase in capsules, which is, by the way, unfeasible and unrealistic.

Another thing that boils my head is the elective subject. Last week, we waited for 15 minutes in the sauna-turn-lecture-hall for the "much awaited" lecturer along with other courses. Fed up, I paid a visit at the office with the class rep. So, a course rep + a class rep embarked on a journey of "The Hunt of the Lecturer". We mentioned our "plight" to the officer and guess what? We were asked whether we attended the right lecture slot, were we seeking the right lecturer, how many other courses and could we name some of them that attended the same subject... I mean, do you really think we didn't check those through already??? And what are the odds for more than 1 course to be attending the wrong slot for a wrong subject at the same time? We should really considering enlisting "common sense" as one of the pre-requisite subjects nowadays.

After ploughing through all those nonsense, a call was made to seek confirmation. And what did we get? -- The lecturer happened to be 2-hour-drive away in Kampar. Unless she was a "kage bunshin no jutsu" user (Naruto fans should know these), or had abilities of Hiro Nakamura (Heroes fans should know him) or could emulate Daphne Millbrook's speed (again, Heroes fans should know her), I didn't see how was our lecture was going to be taught. The lecture was canceled and that piece of news landed on our fellow classmates with gasps, aghast, disbelief, bewilderment, uncertainty, dissatisfaction, oh well, name all the negative adjectives you have in mind.

All bad things aside, actually we also had a good time. Our Instrumental lecturer is very nice and apt at quoting anecdotes and analogies; our Phytochemistry lecturer is very energetic and charismatic; our Molecular Cloning lecturer is, well, still our good ol' Dr "T" who couldn't help but to emphasise his points with a generous serving of "K's" (short of "okay/OK"). Overall, this semester has less tests and reports. That means more assignments, people, we don't get to rest.

For our class, I am glad that it stays very much the same as it was last semester - not many left except for a couple or two. To the rest of us, welcome to Year 3 and happy surviving it.

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