All the World's a Petri Dish

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102063672010-01-07T04:22:38.093+08:00All the World's a Petri DishBecause all men and women are microbes. Excepting me.Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1150736388589180882006-06-19T23:52:00.000+08:002006-06-20T00:59:48.726+08:00Come on, don't dissapoint me!

So, those "seditious bloggers" didn't stop there. Careless remarks, an oversensitive people involving the law in an issue it shouldn't be even involved in. Some 'debate' about freedom of speech. A false dichotomy between free/responsible speech.Later, the Danish cartoon controversy erupted and the government went "I told you so!"The issue was (mis)used as GP essay fodder, then forgotten.But it

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1148787534086339212006-05-28T10:45:00.000+08:002006-05-28T11:38:54.123+08:00I am so blind

The law-enforcement and judiciary have been acting strangely (by Singaporean standards) lately. I mean wha-- hearing so many ex-PAP MPs cases at one go (after elections of course), letting Gomez off with a slap on the wrist. Something clicked in me one week after they released Gomez. I am so blind to take so long to figure that out. I still reserved my suspicions, though. The agreement to hear

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1148098635303978982006-05-20T12:07:00.000+08:002006-05-23T19:14:22.110+08:00Vote Again

Guess who made it to openDemocracy's bad democracy award shortlist?This one is a tough competition though... just read the writeups. It has to be tough when The Revolutionary Movement of Congo just missed the shortlist.Bad Democracy AwardsI'm thinking IMF would win this round... they just have more media exposure.UPDATE (23/5): Guess who's getting a mandate?

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1147417954652424922006-05-12T13:52:00.000+08:002006-05-12T15:12:37.883+08:00Fate, Karma & Destiny

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on; nor all your Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.-- The Rubaiyat of Omar KhayyamI don't believe in Fate, because I believe in consequences.I don't believe in Karma, because I am but a drop in the ocean in the greater scheme of things.What I believe in though, is Momentum. We can control

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1147009358865988732006-05-07T21:35:00.000+08:002006-05-08T20:15:39.653+08:00Nagfa

To Nagfa:When someone makes me an ambigram, I make one back!This one was a little rushed tho!Note to self: Pls update sidebar.Edit: Done. Good.

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1146476720407644752006-05-01T16:16:00.000+08:002006-05-01T17:45:20.486+08:00MSDS safety sheets and things like that

Material Safety Data Sheets are fun. One of the most infamous MSDS's is that of water, which includes the following:FIRST AID: SKIN: Wash exposed area with soap and water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention.EYES: Wash eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting lids occasionally. Seek Medical Aid. INHALATION: Remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1145790309187840142006-04-23T19:01:00.000+08:002006-04-23T19:05:20.236+08:00Ambigram: Zero

Thou shalt not divide by zero.

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1143713750444855952006-03-30T18:11:00.000+08:002006-03-30T18:16:52.333+08:00All the World's a Petri Dish. For real.

Check this out.Funaria hygrometricaFrom the Botanical Society of America Online Image Collection.What a boring title. Surely that photo deserves better! Maybe not all men and women are microbes, because some are actually mosses.

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1141476456656248292006-03-04T20:30:00.000+08:002006-03-04T20:49:45.086+08:00Gah!

BUSY BUSY BUSY BUSY BUSY!OK, that's enough in case someone thinks I'm chanting or something...!Gotta write some sort of paper. May the gods of biological sciences smile upon me despite my ongoing heresy against them... *ahem* Failing that, may the gods of sciences in general smile upon me. If not, just the editors and reviewers of my paper. I'm not picky...*crosses fingers*Still, physics rocks

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1141190145678552162006-03-01T12:38:00.000+08:002006-03-01T13:15:45.700+08:00In pre-celebration of (American) Pi Day

Today is March 1. You get pi to 2 digits. I dub this day pseudo pi day. It is also the release of the air level results (Haven't got it yet, Yikes!)Pi day occurs at the 14th of March every year. This obviously is some American idea cos' you use the US format of mm/dd. If you used the European format of dd/mm, you'll have to hold it on 31 April. Of course this means that you get something like 31/

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1139634920579772222006-02-11T13:01:00.000+08:002006-02-11T13:29:07.203+08:00No reason, just rhyme

Expletive - An invective when expressive that can be quite abrasive.An adjective whose objective is derisive or otherwise, negative.What's abusive is elusive even to those attentive;Offensive or defensive, it's all rather relative.---------------------------------------On a very seperate note: I think it's very confirmed that mosquitoes love B+ blood. Ha!

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1139489384452194252006-02-09T20:25:00.000+08:002006-02-09T20:49:44.570+08:00Reflections on Infections

Apparently, there's a virus going on around Singapore these days, and it's airborne! It causes throat infections! At least one person has been hospitalized for this (don't worry, it's not that serious, I got it and turned out fine. It's just not recommended for people with compromised immune systems)! A great way to get your throat infection is to ride public transport. People all around me are

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1139111439982083872006-02-05T11:42:00.000+08:002006-02-05T12:26:11.440+08:00Oh joy!

Yes, I'm alive, but I'm sick again. There must be something wrong with my immune system nowadays. Well no, I didn't contract anything from the lab, it's probably just from my brother, who probably got it from those hot, dusty and slimy disease incubators that are otherwise known as primary schools.Also, I'm uh... working now. I'm working in a lab. Most of my friends are doing admin, haha, take

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1138251538527157942006-01-26T11:42:00.000+08:002006-01-26T15:48:54.490+08:00A Tale of Two Meritocracies (Part 2)

Before I begin, let me roughly summarize what is needed from Part 1:1) A meritocracy is only as good as its definition of merit.2) An exam meritocracy is problematic.3) Singapore's implementation of the exam meritocracy is flawed.4) The exam meritocracy has consequences... it prevents 'talent' from rising to the top.5) The problem is systemic.This post is going to be far more speculative than the

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1138166912680082112006-01-25T12:02:00.000+08:002006-01-25T13:37:09.933+08:00Numbers May or May not Lie

This here is an attempt to reconcile the following statements:1) Numbers never lie.2) There are three types of lies: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics.Gee, that's a toughie isn't it? I mean, time and again, statistics always prove themselves plus or minus some value. Car accidents happen pretty much with regularity. The house always wins. But then again, we also hear of people 'overcoming the odds'

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137666237912872272006-01-19T18:23:00.000+08:002006-01-21T12:57:47.636+08:00A Brief History of (My) Ambigrams

Well, before I go around dispensing more advice and things like that I'd better post something inspirational: Like how horrible I was when I first started! I'll probably post a bunch of landmark ambigrams too...!Unlike most people, I heard of ambigrams before I heard of Dan Brown. Of the names associated with ambigrams in order of discovery (for me):Douglas Hofstadter : Ambigrams -> John Langdon

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137665433218785802006-01-19T17:42:00.000+08:002006-01-19T18:22:07.693+08:00Not so Pointless Entry

I don't know whether to be happy or to be sad...!Me: Should we be happy or sad?Myself: Which would make us happier?I: Duh...So I decided to be happy.Anyhow, just to make this entry not completely pointless, I'll just post an ambigram from photobucket. Plus, my sidebar looks short, and I need to make it longer :p.Theory/Practice (2005)Click for an animated version.This is one of my assymetrical

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137506076927381532006-01-17T21:52:00.000+08:002006-01-17T21:54:36.940+08:00A Statistic

A Statistice minus lambda times lambda kayOver kay factorial;There's got to be a better wayWhen lambda equals one.Dedicated to a fellow student.

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137483629881511592006-01-17T15:29:00.000+08:002006-01-17T15:54:53.923+08:00Small Step for a Pax

Alright, I've tweaked the template a little... This is going to be the first step in changing the blog skin. I've kept the default colour scheme because I myself can't colour coordinate. So...Here are a couple of changes:I've made the main text column wider, so that my articles don't look so squished.Added my picture to create spacing between the links section and the top of the page.Added a '

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137396669502084462006-01-16T14:39:00.000+08:002006-01-16T16:12:13.526+08:00Evolution of an Ambigram

Hmm... Looks like I forgot to link Art & Science of the Ambigram on the sidebar. Must fix that. In retrospect, it is much more well-written than I thought.This post will address the evolution of an ambigram. I'm not sure how it's done, but I do it anyway. So I decided to go ahead and do one, observing how I do it. My method is very different from say, Mishra's or Langdon's, but it's mine! And

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137383005623062972006-01-16T11:11:00.000+08:002006-01-16T11:43:25.643+08:00Stream of Consciousness

My latest endeavor is more akin to running against a stone wall than running against red tape. Red tape I can handle. I've done that more times than I would care to.Stone walls, I'm not so sure. Never done that before.In a way, it's kind of expected. No one hears and no one listens to me. At least, not until after I start chipping away at them slowly. It gets results, but it's slow and labourous.

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1137045629379252982006-01-12T11:42:00.000+08:002006-01-26T15:51:18.386+08:00A Tale of Two Meritocracies

Here's a bit of a warning: this post is going to read a little like a GP essay, without the sissy er... I mean *cough*objective*cough* stuff like cop-outs er.. I mean balance and contrived opps... I mean wholistic approaches like SPERM, err... I mean PRESM. Or stupid, unhelpful statements like "I agree to a large extent" (as if agreement is both zero-sum and linear).My impression of

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1136881802387274072006-01-10T15:36:00.000+08:002006-01-10T16:30:02.403+08:00Me, Myself,I: Introducing us.

Well, I've decided to add dialogue as a way to discuss stuff in a differently. But since I suck at creating characters, the dialogue would incidentally be between: Me, myself and I. I'll let them debate the merits of this method of discussion.Me: Hi, I'm me.Myself: I'm myself!I: NO! NO! I'm the one who is I, neither me or myself is I! I am I!Myself: You realize when we said 'I' we were using it

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1136869195628282342006-01-10T10:08:00.000+08:002006-01-10T13:26:36.270+08:00Songs of Experiment

"Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing." - John Erskine (1879 - 1951)Correct, Erskine, correct. If were marginally competent in musical composition, I would attempt to prove you wrong. But I am not; thus I have to agree. I wish you won't tempt me anyhow. You're just lucky my only a ability to articulate music is to use a stingray to sing songs by Faye Wong

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10206367.post-1136626129483731932006-01-07T16:40:00.000+08:002006-01-07T17:46:59.466+08:00Fourth Worst Poetry in the Universe

It is a little known fact that the Pax has a soul of poetry, despite detesting literature a little too strongly when I was in Sec 2. This is the meaning of this story/poem, now go tell me what the meaning is during exam Bla bla bla... Oi! Since you tell me the meaning you know already, ok? Want me to tell you what it means back for what?What's more, sometimes I think the so-called 'meaning' of

Paxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07732293323582197125noreply@blogger.com0