What I do (Part 1)

A lot of times people ask me what I study/research/degree. This can briefly be summed as follow

X: So what is your Master degree on?

Me: Molecular Biology.

X: Oh. Sounds fancy/interesting.

*awkward pause, where you can tell they clearly have no idea what I do and don't know how to proceed*

Me: *in attempt to sound friendly* It's kinda like Biotech, but Biotech is more like the business aspect. This is the basic research part.

X: Oh.

Actually, I wasn't really telling the entire truth, kinda like watered-down and measured-in-PPM kind of truth. From Wikipedia:

Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity ... Molecular biology chiefly concerns itself with understanding and the interactions between the various systems of a cell, including the interactions between the different types of DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as well as learning how these interactions are regulated."

It's kinda like saying I'm doing Biology. Or Physics (hah!). It's just a general term for a field of study. While I do quite a several aspects of research, my main interest and focus is on molecular phylogenetics.

For now though, let's focus on understanding the concept of phylogeny.  Rather than throw lines of jargons at you, I was pointed to this excellent and well-produced video, which I think does a great job of highlighting the wonder of nature, the concept of phylogeny and why we study it.

  

More to come.. 

Pretty fly

If you're an avid radio listener, chances are you would have heard Keri Hilson's Pretty Girl Rock (which I would say sounds like it's inspired by the rather terrible Pretty Boy Swag by Soulja Boy).

But have you seen the video for it?

It's actually quite awesome, and not a typical "scantily-clad female prancing around with gaggles of males leering after her as if they've never seen an attractive female" music video.

I'm not a music pop culture expert; when I first watched it without reading the description I wasn't really sure what was different transitions were about. Then I quickly identified the similarities of two particular scenes to Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson and Creep by TLC. Intrigued, I checked out the video description and re-watched the video more carefully this time.

From the official video description:

Follow Keri Hilson through the decades in the video for her single "Pretty Girl Rock," directed by Joseph Kahn. Keri transforms herself into women who have paved the way for black female artists, including Josephine Baker, the first world-famous African-American entertainer; singer Dorothy Dandridge; disco queens Diana Ross and Donna Summers; dance music legend Janet Jackson; and R&B trio TLC.

The order of the artistes, as I've manage to dig around are:

1. Josephine Baker

2. Dorothy Dandrige

3. The Andrews Sister

4. Diana Ross

5. Donna Summers

6. Janet Jackson

7. TLC

As a homage video, I think it is very well-done and it really captures the essence and highlights the differences between each era/artiste. From the rather innocuous flirting of the first 3 artists to the synchronised swaying of Diana Ross and finally to the "tough gal" hip-hop dance of the TLC, I really marvelled at how things have changed and evolved in music and dance and the portrayal of female performers.

I was a little curious about Josephine Baker, so I dug around Youtube a bit and found this: Footage of Josephine Baker performing her infamous Banana Dance at the Folies Bergère in Paris, France c. 1927

If you have not seen the original Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson, the one portrayed by Keri here is admittedly, quite a watered-down version. But then it's a quite difficult task to recapture the power and awe of the original video by Janet herself, which if I'm not mistaken, probably set the standard for flawless synchronisation and complex choreography in music videos, and an excellent showcase of the raw energy and power of group dancing.

TLC was among the pioneer groups that made hip-hop more mainstream, and females as hip-hop performers in general. I'm not entirely certain about this part, but as hip-hop became more mainstream, I believe hip-hop as a dance also evolved to be accepted as a type of dance - it's a very in-your-face style, wide arm and leg movements, and very energetic. As an example, you can check out this hip-hop routine performed on SYTYCD.

All this stuff might not mean a lot to most folks, but I find it fascinating and interesting, and definitely gives you a slight sense of pause and a raised eyebrow and how things have changed.

Finally...

It took a longer time than expected, braved through many seemingly innocuous nay-sayers... but finally..

I just submitted my thesis!!!



Phew! Now it's just viva in around 2 months time. But taking a short break in the mean time. Yep, only a short break cos unfortunately still got lots of other stuff to do.

Gloom...

Today is probably the longest raining day I've ever encountered in UKM.

Started raining around 7.30 am this morning, and has been since the whole day. Alternating between a drizzle and medium downpour the whole day.

Had not seen a peek of the sun at all.

It's gonna be a cold (and lonely*) night.


*which is practically every night anyway.

Random encounter of the kiddy kind

I was out with my parents out today and they wanted to buy some stuff at this grocery shop/medicine hall. I just wandered around and I saw some tins of brown rice/rice/cereal which was actually baby feed. So I picked one up and checked it out: "For ages 1+...Baby's first solid food!". Apparently there are also "3 delicious varieties" to pick from. A few questions ran through my mind: Would a baby even know the difference between brown rice and regular rice? Wouldn't it taste kinda plain and dull 'cos you can't really put in tons of meat and vegetables? Would a baby like to eat such plain gooey stuff, 'cos I wouldn't...

"Hi mister, so how old is your child?"

It took me a few seconds before I realise that a product salesgirl had crept up behind me, and was actually addressing me. Amazingly, even though my mind went black for a few seconds, I managed to hold back both a mental/physical choke. Composing myself a few seconds later, I replied with a sheepish, "Uh no kids, just looking around" and tried walking away in a seemingly non-embarassed/fazed manner.

ushering toys

Toy Story 3 is an awesome movie. Almost made me tear up; walking out of the exit a dad asked his little daughter if she's crying, and the mom herself made an audible sniff.

Anyone up for catching Usher next week?

Bull city

Yes, it's been a long long time since I've came up with a post that has any semblance of appeal and interest. Basically it boils do to procrastination, work, AWOL-ing in the lost Land of the Turtle, and uh, more work.

Anyway here is the long lost photo post of the obligatory "generic tourist pictures"! Pictures are from when I went to Spain last year (yeah, yeah) and Alvin (and his Grey's Anatomy-esque friend) dropped by from his busy work of saving patients and delivering babies to accompany me on a whirlwind tour around Barcelona.

Our first stop was the famous Sagrada Familia. Interestingly I didn't know it was still under construction, and well at 11 euros each we didn't feel like forking out the cash to see the insides of an incomplete building. So we just stood around and grab the best shots we can.







Then we went on to Park Guell, which I feel has quite a interesting history. Guess housing busts aren't a modern economic woe. Getting there was an uphill effort, literally. Which is why I'm thankful they build escalators to get there.


It's quite picturesque; a wide area that's nice for jogging and walking. Views from the hill.




This little lizard is quite famous; it is a highlight of the park. And it also representation of the mosaic art items prevalent in gift shops around Spain.



The following day we went to the cathedral, which turned out quite like how you picture in those books. The dark and forbidding halls emanates an aura of serenity, of smallness, and intrigue. For some reason when I think of old churches, I always picture a lady running up to stairs of a cathedral, banging frantically on the wooden door while shouting, "Sanctuary, Father. Please, I seek sanctuary!"

And unlike the Sagrada Familia, it is complete. Although I think at that time it's undergoing some maintenance.







And for me, nothing screams "old church" better than unreachable colour-tinted windows! Woot!


Montjuic. Uh, looks nice but we didn't go inside.



Then we looked at our map and thought of making a short romp around the park. Before that though, we stopped at a place called La Cascada. Me and Alvin and had no idea what it is, but thought it'd be interesting to go there, just in case it turns out to be a regulare perforamance venue for Cascada. We were a little disappointed that it turned out to be this Cascada instead. But oh well, we still grabbed some cool pictures!






We also dropped by Montserrat. Which was located in some mountains, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Where the pious folk can pray and seek enlightenment in peace and solitude; cut away from civiliation and modern amenities. Well, except the little train track that goes up all the way to the mountains (45 minutes), which carries throngs of noisy and curious tourists. And other than the little bakery, cafe, and gift shop over there, which is totally irrelevant as I'm sure the priests there subsist only on dry bread and plain water.

View from the monastery overlooking the mountainside.



The main entrance of the monastery.



Statues of patron saints


There's even one of Saint John Baptist de La Salle! Which of course I grabbed a picture with!



Supposedly there are choir performances at certain times by the castrated choir boys. Well, that's what I imagine they are anyway, but since I didn't see them there's no way to verify either way.

More colour-tinted windows!


A few more miscellaneous pics:

A statue which-name-I've-forgotten.


The jetty near my hostel.