Contemplate

Its 2009 already.. and here I am sitting on my butt contemplating the future. The feeling of not going back to melbourne is a mixed one- kinda sad because those few years were really the best years of my life, yet happy because from here on, I can move to the next stage in life.. which is erm.. ironically to pay off a debt.. but one i dont mind.. something different for a change.

Torn between 2 choices- PhD or medicine.. I know not which is better. After 4 years of science, it is as if my brain circuitry has been wired to think in a science manner. I went to the NUS med/Sci book store and opened up a medical textbook on clinical practise and realised its a totally different ball game as compared to science.. it came almost as a shock to me. I thought that having a firm grounding in science will guarantee an ace in medicine.. but looks like its a totally different ball game- one which stakes are higher and mistakes can cost lives.

Yet I just feel compelled to want to do something about it- the fact that I am young and have to serve NS imparts a feeling of my hands being tied up. But oh well, a debt is a debt and it has to be paid off.

Anyway sitting on my butt's starting to get boring.. hopefully job replies come in soon.. really need to keep my mind active and focused on something before it rots..

Notable of 2008

My First batch of Students @ IMCB/ASTAR

Double Cramp @ July Camp '09

At 'I LOVE SG' Day, Melb'08.. that guy sure is Hainanese..

Melbourne City

Skiing at Falls Creek

Full Marathon '08

Grad '08

YX graduates

Research X'mas Party

A confectionary triumph

Hard headed people at Kat's NYE party..

Paintball with the BB guys.. and getting shot in the nuts..

Running Running as fast as I can..

At AHMR Congress '08 with Poster Presentation

Kenchin learns to snowboard.. unsuccessfully..

Kenchin learns to rock


Saying farewell to the OCFers

Hope 2009 holds alot more :)

Mission Accomplished

Honours + full marathon accomplished as of 7th Dec '08, the 2 things I want to achieve before 21,

accomplished :)

It is Finished

After 5 years, I am done.. I am now a Bsc. Hons. and I have a 2 year (1 yr 10mths) haiatus to think about the future.. but whichever way it is.. there's only one way- higher and further; that is the essence of progress.

"Success isn't final, Failure isn't fatal- its the ability to carry on that counts"

I wonder what the medical science scene will be like in 2 years time.

Record

10km in 50:22

new record

Its scary how the marathon's coming up so fast, best to keep up with the training schedule- due dilligence

Monday

The 3 best answers to explain experimental anomalies in thesis defence:

1. The activation of the Large Hadron Collider messed with my Results

2. The +ve Chi values were not normalised for the fengshui of the incubator

3. My mom said so

Standing at the end of my uni obligations, I begin to wonder what could await me.. A sense of relief for me.. I feel this strange feeling that I look forward to begining NS- its as if I get to start a brand new chapter/phase of life.

I look forward to serving my duty to my country, it is about time

But before I do that, the tired honours student must sleep.. Goodnight all..

Ionised

Radiation Biology can be addictive when you start to get technical.. :)

From Poison to Antidote

Consider these 2 examples:

Cyclophosphmide was a WWII developed from a chemical weapon, commonly known as mustard gas.. today, it is a standard use chemotherapeutic drug for most cancers.

Atropine, a poison famous in the ancient world from the Deadly Nightshade (Belladona atropa).. is used today as an antidote to organophosphate (nerve gas) poisoning and for the treatment of ocular pathologies such as glaucoma.

It brings a new dimension to "poison" and "cure".. its as if saying in terms of pharmacology- there's no drug or compound that is absolutely good or absolutely bad.. it is the dose and the concentration determines whether the outcome is physiologically favourable or not. Effectively dismissing the assignment of poison and cure (probably too much moral baggage to put onto molecules).. and saying that it is all relative. An overdose of cyclophosphamide is probably just like mustard gas poisoning, it will kill. An overdose of atropine, and you will probably die convulsing to death.. so the right dose and right usage can potentially make it a cure..

Doesn it make u think about how we can then use other things we call "poisons" as potential therapeutics? we just need to figure out how to and how much..

Storm

Sweat falls like a spring squall

Hurricane force gusts thru the lungs

Veins like lightning, mark the limbs

The deep rumble of blood coursing the vessels

A distant thunderstorm in the mind

As feet bear the frame swiftly...and relentlessly

Hiatus

My aching body tells me that my hiatus from running has been way too long..

Patched up with muscle relaxant.. its a grave warning to get disciplined and back into the regimen..

I think chemotherapeutic regimens have witty names like CHOP (Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin (Adriamycin), Oncovin (Vinblastine), Prednisolone) and MOPP (Mechlorethamine, Oncovin (Vinblastine), Procarbazine, Prednisolone).. so u CHOP and u MOPP cancer away.. witty..