New Seven Wonders

I'm spending my morning sipping coffee in front of my PC reading some news as usual. And I found out that UNESCO is getting people to vote for the new seven wonders. I've casted my vote, so make yours too! I've linked the website to my blog at right hand corner.

I've casted my vote to:

1. Great Wall of China
2. Pyramid of Giza
3. Easter Island Statue
4. Stonehenge
5. Acropolis
6. Colosseum
7. Taj Mahal

The results of voting will be announced on 07.07.07.

Remember to vote and be part of the history!

(Please vote for the GREAT WALL OF CHINA)

~We are a part of the world. We make our choices for OUR seven wonders of the world~

Teen-ager develops microchip printing technique in bedroom

I was trying to listen to Nanomaterials lecture recording earlier on but the website wasn't working. So, I decided to study the notes and searching for those information from internet, which possibly may be a more effective way of learning (if you're concentrate enough). Then, I came to this page when I was looking for information of STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscope) .

Brilliant! How can this kid print 50 words on the human hair in his ROOM? It's not even lab!

(I know I blogged a little too much today but I think I want to share this piece of info with you!)

新年！

刚刚和SH，Ching Siang 还有贪吃的亦升吃过晚餐。一桌人吃晚餐，就难免聊聊天、吹吹水。寒暄几句，当然就会慰问对方新年期间，几时回家、几时开工。CS还向我要些新年歌，我才意识到，啊！是时候在我的旮旯播放些新年歌咯！

我就来带头，给大家带来点农历新年的气氛吧！

^^

陆续有来哦！

Celtic Horoscope

You Are A Rowan Tree

You are full of charm and cheer. You light up a room. And while you crave attention, you do it without ego. You are an interesting mix of contradictions - and very unpredictable. You are both dependent and independent, calm and restless. You are passionate, emotional, gregarious, and (at times) unforgiving.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

I do not understand what is Celtic Horoscope but the prediction of my characteristics is quite accurate.

Mix of Contradictions
Unpredictable
Dependent and independent
Emotional
Calm and restless

How about you?

The Illusionist

I told Ying that I was going out to watch "Blood Diamond" last night, but I ended up watching "The Illusionist" that she recommended in her blog. Yee Hau and I decided to try our luck to go GV Vivo City with the LUCKY TICKETS I won earlier on. But, we're not too lucky, the tickets were SOLD OUT in Vivo City as we have predicted. So, we went to Plaza Singpura. "Blood Diamond" SOLD out, "Babel" sold out, "The Illusionist" 5th row from the front, midnight show!

That's how I ended up with this show. (I intended to watch them on the DVD Ying bought) This is the first time I watched midnight show in Singapore. The expenses of going out for a midnight show is just too high (mainly the cab fare). But this is different because I have free tickets! Hahahaha!

This is a good show! It's been a long time since we saw Edward Norton on the screen. The background music added the mysterious effect of the movie. The illusionist, Eisenheim (Edward Norton) performed very good magic, that the audience thought he had super natural power, even to bring back the dead ones. It'll be really creepy if a magician performs such magic in public!

I'm lazy to tell you the story as Ying has already done it (Did she?). Overall, I would rate this movie 4/5. It's pretty good, worth to watch!!

Do You Have a Borderline Personality?

You Are 51% Borderline

You have some symptoms of borderline personality disorder. If you feel like you're more than a little dramatic, you may want to investigate further.

Do You Have a Borderline Personality?

This is my result of the bordline personality test. Oh my god, I'm a little dramatic, which I think it is quite accurate. What you do think? Try yours and tell me!

^^

Prison Break

Prison Break is back on the TV on US on 22nd of January! I've asked my friend to send to me if he saw Episode 14 (has to be very precise as he didn't watch) on Tuesday. Immediately, he checked and BINGO! He downloaded that for me. I dare not to get from him, (although we tried to get it send through MSN several times but failed), because I was in the midst of the progress report as I said so in previous entry.

I finally got the episode from him this morning (urged him to go to the morning lecture) and I watched it, JUST NOW! It's still as thrilling as the previous episodes. To a point I really feel like killing someone just because the story STOPPED just there!!! (Ai Mei knows the best!) How I wish I had the other episodes with me right now!!! I could continue and continue... like no tomorrow.

Anyway, I hope the story won't go too far. I actually hope it'll stop after Season 2 because everything has gone too far, too complicated and almost everything in the drama has become one of the conspiracy of US. I want Prison Break to remain "A GOOD SERIES" in my list, so they really better stop adding in any complications!

P.S. I want to share an extra picture of the handsome Michael Scoffield (Wentworth Miller). I love his voice, very SEXY! Hahahahaha! ^^

Finally...

I've been spending my time in librabry after lectures, editing my FYP progress report. My mentor gave me a lot of suggestions in improving the presentability of my report and lots of editing need to be done!!

My supervisor asked for the progress report to be sent to him by end of this month at the first week of school reopen. I was so shocked to receive the email but yet the usual laziness was dragging myself to start writing. I gave myself excuses like "I need to do more experiments to verify the results", "It's just a progress report, it won't take THAT LONG...", "Still have time... End of January what..."

I realized that I really have to start on the second week of school. I started to compile my data from all the testing, mainly VSM (Vibraing Sample Magnetometer, measuring magnetic properties) and elongation tests. The number of graphs that I have to plot are MASSIVE! I messed my bedroom everytime I try to plot the graphs. There are simply too many categories and ... JUST TOO MANY!!! I regretted that I kept them un-arranged since I started my experiments like... LAST YEAR?!?!?! GOSH...

Lesson #1: Compile your data after every experiment is a MUST!

When I was on my way to the finalised report, I sent the draft of the arrangement to my mentor. I needed his advice for the arrangement. And of course he did, with lots of comments and advice. There were some contents that I haven't included into the report before sending to him and he made comments on those too. Sighz... My report wasn't too formal for his standard because my mindset was set to "It's just a PROGRESS REPORT!!!" Luckily he reminded me that the report has to be submitted to my DEAR PROF... So, I edited them so hard for last two days and he finally approved my report to be sent to my supervisor.

Lesson #2: Do NOT be over confident and DO take things seriously!

I take for granted with the fact that both my mentor and supervisor are nice person. And I depend on my mentor quite a lot on continuing my experiments and etc. I actually feel guilty that he has to check my report for me though he's so stressed out for his own report. But he said that's one of his job in the school. I feel so grateful for having such a nice mentor. He's patience, caring, helpful and smart! Sometimes I fear that there's anything I did to trouble him (all the time...)

Lesson #3: Do NOT take things for granted!

There were some incidents (in school and personal stuffs) that reflected how I neglect the important things in my life. I need a change. I know it is not too late.

Finally, I submitted my progress report.

Finally, I realized I was being foolish. And it's never too late to change.

^^

想

今天如常地绕过南大华裔馆的喷水池，望着那草地、那喷水池、那蓝天、那白云，我突然很想就往喷水池边躺下来。

叭！……

但是一回过神来，原来路上来来往往的车和人那么多，噪音伴随着我耳机里的陈奕迅，格外浮躁。弄不明白在那种环境下，我那一瞬间的想躺下的闲情从哪来。

多怀念秋天在北大的日子，午休时分，总把书包扔到草地上当枕头，就这样躺下去。草场来来往往的学生，有在树下看书的学生、吹箫的、念诗的、聊天的、吃午饭的……正和我从小想象的所谓“大学”一模一样。多有味道！

这里的生活总是忙忙碌碌，无论什么都要求最快速度。睡眠不足仿佛变成了值得骄傲的事情；运动变成了奢侈；工作忙碌忘了用餐，更是为这种紧张的生活调味。仿佛正常生活的人，变成了不正常的人。我们到底为什么忘了均衡一切，才叫生活？

回到房间，我在想，如果当时我就这样躺了下去，路人会不会以为我晕倒了？

有故事的歌（一）

大会堂演奏厅 李克勤
曲:林慕德 词:李克勤
潇潇瑟瑟悄悄夜静无人伴我行是寂寥
丝丝点点细雨串串落下迷离扑朔飘渺
冰冰冷冷滴着微微柔黄是雾灯的苦笑
飘飘凉风轻吻浪潮
偏偏想起那次幸运回头大会堂里邂逅
卿卿我我说笑静静垂头两手轻轻紧扣
分分秒秒象是停留停留浪漫中的演奏
可惜时光不会逗留 转眼飘走
可笑是我没法没法不想
跟你同度甜蜜甜蜜片段
星雨下你在笑着我
象个小丑 台下弹奏
不再害怕害怕害怕分手
分手以后无奈如旧 人渐消瘦
相爱是这样会令我
疲倦不休 无力挽留
潇潇瑟瑟悄悄夜静无人伴我行是寂寥
丝丝点点细雨串串落下迷离扑朔飘渺
冰冰冷冷滴着微微柔黄是雾灯的苦笑
飘飘凉风轻吻浪潮
偏偏想起那次幸运回头大会堂里邂逅
卿卿我我说笑静静垂头两手轻轻紧扣
分分秒秒象是停留停留浪漫中的演奏
可惜时光不会逗留 转眼飘走
可笑是我没法没法不想
跟你同度甜蜜甜蜜片段
星雨下你在笑着我
象个小丑 台下弹奏
不再害怕害怕害怕分手
分手以后无奈如旧 人渐消瘦
相爱是这样会令我
疲倦不休 无力挽留

已经好久没有听李克勤的歌，大概是因为曾经一度，姐姐为他而疯狂，歌曲也有点听厌了吧。姐姐一直很喜欢他，但是，李克勤的命比较差，那么华丽的歌声，却从未真正大红大紫，直至“情情塔塔演唱会”之前，很多人对他的印象也不过是那首已经老掉牙的歌曲“红日”，真是悲哀……所以，当他终于获得“最受欢迎男歌手”时，我是真正为他感到高兴！毕竟他是那样出色的歌手。

其实，李克勤不只歌唱得好，词也填得很不错。“大会堂演奏厅”，每一次细听这首歌，如MTV的画面都会浮现在我的脑海里。男女主角在演奏厅里的邂逅，心里的遗憾，好像是自己心里的体会。

真的很喜欢这首歌。

(Ok, I think I should get back to my progress report... again... )

Nodame Cantabile （交响情人梦）

刚刚才看完了这部电视剧，“交响情人梦”，是一步从漫画改编过来的剧。剧情都围绕在一群音乐系学生的生活与种种，虽然有时候挺夸张的（例如把人揍得飞起来了等），但是，还是蛮可爱！

剧里的男女主角都是俊男美女。男主角“千秋”是一名钢琴系的学生，但是梦想是成为有名的指挥家。而女主角“野田”呢，也是一名钢琴系的学生，但是梦想是成为幼稚园的老师，而且还作了一首叫“屁屁体操”的歌，逼自己的老师跳舞。一天，从外国回来的著名指挥家到大学来，成立了一个“s乐团”，收集了大学被公认的“垃圾”，然后由千秋指挥。故事就这样继续发展下去……（我也别说下去了，说了你也就不用看了）

从千秋开始当指挥后，有好多关于乐团合奏的那种感觉（虽然有点夸张地被形容着），我都能体会。最想念一群有默契，为共同目标而努力的团员一起奋发努力把歌曲奏好。不喜欢独奏，孤零零一个人面对着乐器，一个人感受。总觉得当一个乐团奋力把音乐的感觉带给观众的时候，就是音乐最美丽的时刻。

(从我的housemate，Sock Hoai （超级日本迷） 那儿得知，剧里的女主角“野田”（Noda Megumi)是依据真人真事所刻画出来的一个角色。真人也是名叫野田，而且就像剧里所形容的一样，对钢琴很有天分，可以靠听觉就把一首歌给记下来。不仅仅如此，剧里所形容野田的邋遢，也是真的。而且，“屁屁体操”是真有此曲，真的是野田所作的一首曲子。）

好久不见

让人期待的张学友今年将举办个人巡回演唱会咯！~

张学友是我一直最喜爱的歌手，如果劲歌金曲的幕后主持是我，张学友就会每一年都获得“最佳男歌手”。虽然那么喜欢他，却从来没有观赏他的个人演唱会。第一次观赏演唱会，反而是“左麟右李演唱会”，托姐姐的福，谢谢智勇哥哥！！ ^^

在我念大学先修班第二年的时候，舅舅曾邀请我和姐姐一同观赏张学友的演唱会。但是，那时近STPM考试，而且，仍疯狂于华乐团的我也刚刚停止演奏及比赛，妈妈不允许我去。说什么也要把我留在家读书……就这样错过了！

然而，今年的巡回演唱会，我再也不能容许我错过了！

吉隆坡：五月（日期未定）
新加坡：7月13/14日
香港：八月（日期未定）

这三场之中，总有一场我是去得成的吧……

至于“好久不见”，是张学友最新专辑主打歌。已在电台上播着，但是专机还没开始售卖，也还没得下载。你们不妨扭开收音机来听听~

艳粉街的故事

我的童年家住在艳粉街
那里发生的故事很多
我没有漂亮的儿童车
我的游戏是跳方格
大人们在忙碌着活着
我最爱五分钱的糖果
我们姊妹三个是爸和妈的欢乐
尽管我家里没有一个存折

我远永记得门前的那棵树
还有树下的台阶
那里没有五光十色的灯光照射
只是砖和土的结合
却是我童年的舞台
在哪里找到了自我
什么样的年代有什么样的音乐
<我爱北京天安门>是我最爱唱的歌

我也记得杂货铺前的大青石
传说以前有个石狮子
我只看见坐着老奶奶和老爷爷
石头被磨的又光又滑又暖和
我躺在上面幻想着未来
这里的高楼会不会越来越多
如果我背景离乡
头上的月亮会否依然照亮我

有一天一个长头发的大哥哥
在艳粉街中走过
他的喇叭裤时髦又特别
他也因此惹上了祸
被街道大妈押送他游街
他的裤子已被撕破
尊严已剥落
脸上的表情难以捉摸

艳粉街...一条普不普通的街
记录我童年快不快乐的生活
艳粉街...一条普不普通的街
童年的往事在那里淹没

艳粉街...一条普不普通的街
记录我童年快不快乐的生活
艳粉街...一条普不普通的街
童年的往事在那里淹没

多少次我彷佛又回到了艳粉街
那里的伙伴在等我
我们高举着彩旗和拳头
叫着打倒这个和那个
虽然不明白为什么
只知道不用上学作功课
啦......

艳粉街发生的故事很多很多

一直随着姐姐听一些艾敬的歌曲，但是这么多年了，我最熟悉的依然还是这首。我一直都只是听，当然，我是喜欢这个旋律，这段歌词。但是，那种意境、那种体会，还是直到上周五载公车上听MP3才真正的被感动了。经常如此，只有带着耳机的时候才真正把歌曲里的每个小细节听进心里。

或许是长大了……所以被感动？

多么希望我也可以用这么感动且简单的歌词，唱着我所住过的地方，那扇门后藏着的故事……

My PRECIOUS.....

Look at this... This is my PRECIOUS...

This is an image of my iron oxide powders from TEM (transmitted electron microscope). I had produced these babies on September 2006 by coprecipitation method. I tried to observe them on SEM (scanning electron microscope) but all I can see is a bunch of blur grey and black image of unknown stuffs (although I know they are iron oxide, but the examiner will not know). This is all because SEM has lower resolution compared to TEM. SEM could be more useful in observing morphology of the samples and good enough for micro size samples as well. So, my mentor being a very nice person as usual sent my samples to TEM room to examine them. And YEAH! Finally we see something.

I haven't really measure the size, yet, you can roughly tell that they're about 10nm!!! But due to some unforseen circumstances, my samples are mixture of nanorods and nanospheres. Weird...

FYI, these babies have very good magnetic properties. They could be magnetized and demagnetized almost instantly.

They're just one of my products. I'll take more pictures of my samples of my FYP and show them here! Hahahaha....

Anyway, I was supposed to write a progress report now but when I sit in front of my pc, I just can't stop clicking my way... I'll stop RIGHT AFTER this blog and continue with the report.

^^

让人受不了的笨！

上周五我如每个新的学期一样，上办公室见我的counsellor。她平时都没多说两句，总是一句成绩没问题就说再见。但是，上周五我俩谈得特别多。其中让我耿耿于怀的，就是我那个笨反应。

事情是这样的，教授问我，是否有意思继续念书。我的第一反应是，不要！过后着话题就摆在一边，我想了想，我为什么不就跟她说我还在考虑呢？！ 她是否有什么想告诉我？而我却一口咬定我不要在念书了。

我总是有一点笨，总是依据自己心理所想的给于反应。SH说，或许那是Instinct，念书将近20年，真的是时候出来看看了。

幸福

妈妈做的一切，就是我的幸福。看看这个叫做scones的点心，是一种英式的点心。如果不是五姨嫁给了英国人，我们还没机会吃呢~

至今，除了金马伦高原之外，我还没在其他地方吃到这道点心。也或许说，我平时也没钱上英式的“茶餐厅”，哪些地方或许会有吧！

Scones 的制作过程异常的短！妈妈三两下就搞定，应该不到45分钟吧！好快！一个scones、一杯咖啡、一本书，在我最喜爱的下午茶餐桌上，就是用钱也买不到的幸福！

好像现在就有香喷喷的scones吃啊……

Self

可不可以为我解释什么是自己？失去自己的时候，人是什么样子的？

我从来没有想过“失去自己”真正的意义，总觉得这都是电视剧里才会听见的对白。而且，我总是那种看电视不用脑的人，所以，总不会特别思考这种问题。但是，当对白运用在日常生活的时候，我就开始咀嚼它真正的意义。但是，我似乎没有答案。

我觉得每个人在每个阶段都有所改变，别说阶段，面对不同的人或不同的情况，我们也会有不同的样子、心情。改变是唯一不变的事实。 但是，有时候我们会面对我们不喜欢的变化。然后，我们想回到过去。而且，我们还尝试把责任推到别人的身上，为自己找个借口。但是，有没有想过，改变了得自己，究竟还是不是自己？如果还是，为什么说已经失去了自己？

我承认有时候我也不喜欢改变，我总觉得以前就是最好的。但是，改变是唯一不变的事实。我们总要勇敢地面对一切。

惊！

我在踏入2007年时，大约写了一些今年要做到的事。虽然，都不是什么大事，不像别人的大愿，但都是我觉得对我自己本是很重要的。其一，就是弹钢琴。

我正想问亦升他平时上那个网站下载乐谱，晴天霹雳！他告诉我那音乐室正在维修中，已经好几个月了，还问我：“你不知道吗？”我的天啊！还想这个学期的学分比较少，时间比较好分配，可以让我做些自己一直想要做的事……晴天霹雳！

不要急，可以改改自己的计划~

佳慧说有目标总好过每天无所事事，完全定不下注意该为自己的生活作些什么，那才可悲。我赞成~我的resolutions之一，就是好好的规划我的人生~

会是好运的一年吗？

今天下午是学校的New Year Gathering。学生、教授、还有实验室及办公室里的人都出来聚会。有免费的午餐、有魔术表演、每人一个大包包、一支笔，还有幸运抽奖哦！~

你猜对了！我的重点正是幸运抽奖！自小我的运气不是太好，幸运抽奖只得过一只手表（很小的时候），此后，和抽奖总是没有缘分。今天我的号码是第一个被司仪念出来的！！42号！！嗯……当然，第一个号码嘛，奖品就不是特别丰富。9份安慰奖之一，两张Golden Village Cinema的戏票，任选电影、任何一天，只要是今年七月前就可以了。

吃一顿免费的午餐，还另外的了将近$20的奖品。很不错了啦！！

^^

黄河

黄河，应该是我家里收藏的最多的CD。爸爸因为年轻时是合唱团的一分子，也是革命的一分子，因此，喜欢黄河大合唱，是理所当然的。我年幼就懂得唱黄河大合唱，你说棒不棒？呵呵^^

参加华乐团的第一个音乐会，就是黄河扬琴协奏曲，我还记得是瞿建青弹的扬琴。虽然很喜欢扬琴，但是，我不得不承认，扬琴的共鸣不管怎么说都不及钢琴。因此，弹得再好听，还是差了那种澎湃汹涌的感觉。为了那种澎湃汹涌，我就开始收罗黄河钢琴协奏曲。第一卷，就是黄河钢琴协奏曲的创始人，殷承宗。殷承宗就是把黄河大合唱改编成钢琴协奏曲的人。最让我兴奋的，就是我在北京实习的时候，我观赏了殷承宗的音乐会。当时正好中国在庆祝战争60周年纪念，演奏黄河当然是少不了。当时，黄河的音乐会多得很，有大合唱，有钢琴协奏曲等。从众多的选择当中，我当然是选择的黄河钢琴协奏曲的创始人。

上周六，我在gurney plaza里逛，边逛边等姐姐从她老板家里出来接我吃晚餐去。偶然的机会下，让我瞧见这CD。我本人并不喜欢郎朗，第一是因为台风夸张得要命，第二就是我读过一篇访问他的报道，他太骄傲了！但是，黄河的名字实在吸引人，所以啊，我还是忍不住给买下来了。我就猜到了妈妈会问：“这CD你不是早有了吗？”;爸爸就问：“你不是最讨厌郎朗的吗？”果然！！我的答案早已想好。“这个不同，不同人弹出不同的味道。”；“还是讨厌，只要不看见他的样子就好了！”

郎朗的黄河比殷承宗弹得快，而且少了一段东方红二为之逊色。但是，整体上还是很好听。此外，望春风、翻身的日子、龟兹舞也很好听。望春风很温柔、翻身的日子轻快、龟兹舞旋律很特别，是钢琴伴奏管子的一首曲。而春江花月夜钢琴和琵琶的搭配救奇怪了些……

另外，请大家注意封面上的“黄河之子”，是金庸为专辑所提的字。 ^^