Overdue issue

The first task today is sorting out what happens on my record (of my enrolment and progress report). After showing Rou (the officer informed me that my enrolment had been confirmed) the letters, she got quite embarrased. She explained that their computer systems (and thus database systems as well) are being changed and apparently some parts of their data are being transfered. She said I can just ignor the 2 odd letters. As the progress reports form came along with the letters are also a bit different from each other, I also checked of which is the correct one (and again, she was embarrased again). Looks like their systems really need to be checked... -.-;;

Overdued progress report?!!

What else can be more annoying then this? I got 2 letters from uni when I came back; both of them are from the postgraduate studies office. The contents are basically the same; they mainly say I'm supposed to submit my 6-months-progress report of 30 Sep 2005 yet I haven't, and something would happen if I don't submit it asap. What a Dick!! I just submitted my full research plan at the end of Feb and my enrolment is just confirmed a couple of weeks ago, hence the first progress report submission shouldn't be acquired until the end of August this year; how can the uni send these rediculous letters?! There must be something wrong with the letters, or with the rule of research project. I should ask the office what the hell happen tomorrow morning.

Reply from ESR in Christchurch

Dr. On replied to my enquiry this afternoon. It's really amazing he's got a huge culture collection of up to 2700 species, which encompasses almost all known species of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Arcobacter. He'd also like to know a little more about my research project within, if possible, 4 weeks as biocontrol of Campylobacter is a subject of considerable interest to him. As Prof. Murdoch noted, he is exactly keen to work on Campy. :)

Easter Egg in OpenOffice.org

1. create a new sheetin openoffice.org Calc (spreadsheet) 2. enter this formula in a cell : =game() and validate (validation button or enter) 3.the cell will display "say what?" 4. Enter this formula: =GAME("StarWars") 5. a new window will open with a little game star war game. 6. But if you type again this formula, the cell will return the display "oh no, not again!" XD 7. To be able to play again, we need to close the file, close openoffice.org and the QuickStarter, and then restart OpenOffice.org This is really a good egg!! XD

Prohibited exports

For some personal reasons, I'd like to send some honey products to TW recently; however I can't do this as easily as I've thought - due to import/export prohibition. I know lots of dairy products such as honey are not allowed to be imported into NZ, and so are not to be exported from NZ (according to Prohibited Exports on NZ Custom Service); but what about honey products such as soap or lip balm?? Unlike pure honeys, these products shouldn't be able to spread any diseases or something like that, but who knows what those authorities are thinking... I just send the authoroty an email and asked them if these honey products are allowed to send by parcel. Hope they'll give me a reply tomorrow, 'coz it's a bit in a hurry...

Another specialist

Prof. Murdoch introduced me another researcher - Dr. On in ESR, Christchurch, who has a longstanding interest in Campylobacter. Prof. Murdoch also noted that Dr. On has got quite a collection of Campylobacter. Unfortunately an auto-response mail comes bake right after I send an email to Dr. On. It looks like he's away these days.

Cyclone Wati

Vicky says there's a cyclone going to hit NZ this week. What's more, it's gonna hit the North island. It sounds it would be a quite strong gale. But according to this updated news, it would cause too much devastation - I think. At least that wouldn't cause running mountain like in TW. :P

IE vulnerability

Microsoft Internet Explorer "createTextRange()" Code Execution (on Secunia.com) "...The vulnerability has been confirmed on a fully patched system with Internet Explorer 6.0 and Microsoft Windows XP SP2. The vulnerability has also been confirmed in Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview (January edition). Other versions may also be affected... " ...what's this SP2 for then... Useless! :P

The last mPCR

With the last Campy swab samples from the Medlab, I proceded the last multiplex pcr today to type what species they are. Results: All Campylobacter jejuni. Somewhat disappointing. Keep waiting the C. fetus isolates from Christchurch then.

Response from Christchurch

I received replying from Christchurch today. The head said they'd got only 2 isoloates of C. fetus, and was asking me if I'm interested in. Of course I am. Hopefully those isolates will arrive next week (or the week after).

Joe's birthday today

...How come there're so many birthdays these days?

Campy with MicroAeroPak

Looks like this combination is not too bad. All campy samples grow on all plates and broths... don't know if the MicroAeroPak or my optimization matters the most though. # Today's work: Pick those pin-point-alike single colonies from plates and multiply them, so that they are exactly pure culture. Incubate another 2 days (till Friday).

Birthday meal

Last night aunt Sangar asked me to attend a birthday party of uncle Yeh, uncle Larry and another kiwi friend of them today. She said they'll pick me up at Gate 8 at 18:45, but actually they're late... :( The place we had the dinner is called "Katayya ?????? ??????" (can't remember this awkward name). Pope is also invited by them. Vicky? Because she is allergic to gluten, she can't join us. I have to say this meal is a bit boring to me; most of the time they're just talking - introducing Tzuchi foundation to the kiwi friends. Aunt Sangar promised me last night that the meal wouldn't be too long, but actually it lasted till 21:00+, and after the dinner they also spent some time on Karaoke... I reckon this is really a waste of time to me. :(

OpenBSD finances

According to OpenBSD Journal, OpenBSD's finance is not in a good condition; actually they've had a loss of approximately $40K USD total. What a shame! Considering their works on security such as OpenSSH and cryptography, that MUST BE a big loss for IT area if they cease their hackathon. :(

The last Campy swabs (I hope)

As I haven't got any response from Christchurch, I asked Medlab if they could collect some Campy swabs for me. This week I get 7 isolates. At the same time, I also want to try the efficiency of MicroAeroPak from MGC company. So I streaked the swabs on plates and also soaked in 10 ml BHIYE broths (with 0.025% FBP supplement) and incubate them in polycarbonate jar with 2 sachets of MicroAeroPak in it. The humudity in the jar is also tried to be maintained by way of placing 2 glass dishes of water with cottons soaked in them. These are what I can do to optimize the growth condition of Campy by far. Hope the result won't make me too disappointed.

Big cleaning

Today we have a big exercise cleaning (and moving). As those stuff in my room(-to-be) is finally cleared out, I can move into my new room. It took me less than 30 min to move my stuff from my "camping tent" to my new room. Since I move into my new room, my old "camping tent" is also cleaned and lots of boxes are unpacked (Vicky's stuff...). Actually this room is supposed to be a guest room, therefore we've tried hard to make it looks different from what it looks like before. Actually there's also another spare room left at upstairs and we thought it'd be a good idea to make it to be another guest room as well. After moving out unwanted sofa, boxes, sofa, stuff, quilts and sheets (huh, quite lots eh?), assembling banks (bunks?) and bed, vacuum cleaning and finally these two guest rooms make us feel like we're in motel! :) By the way, we're gonna have "Boil-Up" for dinner. Vicky said this is Maori food and they eat boil-up only on Saturday. I really look forward to it~~ :D~~

Enrolment confirmation

Just received an email informing the confirmation of my enrolment just now. In the past 6 months I was a conditional student, but now my enrolment is confirmed. And that also means now that your enrolment has been confirmed, I'm required to submit regular progress reports every 6 months. Monday week I can finally renew my ID card (the words "Expires 28 Feb 2006" look really yuck).

Yuki(and other)'s birthday

Today is Yuki's birthday, but amazingly it is also one day before Emi and Emma's birthday. That's why there is a big flag(?) in the Turners' house and therere Yuki, Emi and Emma's name on it.

C. fetus request

As I haven't found any C. fetus from Medlab isolates, I decide to contact some other research institutes which are doing C. fetus. There're several facilities handling C. fetus in NZ, but somehow I couldn't find their contact, and eventually I can just contact with the one in Christchurch. After sending email to the facility in Christchurch this morning, I got a response at lunch time. Unfortunately it seems the one I sent to is not the representative of that unit, and he suggested that I may ask their head. Therefore I sent another enquiry to the head of the Christchurch facility if they could provide us some C. fetus isolates.

Manuka basket

Last week I was quite unhappy about those movie makers and photographer from somewhere (I knew afterward that they took those stuff for Comvita), but I have to say I may have to forgive thank them. Katherine and me, both of us, got a basket of Comvita's products today. Lets's see what's in there: Royal Jelly Hand & Body Lotion x1 Propolis Lip Balm x1 Bee Polen x1 Royal Jelly Soap with Manuka Honey and Apricot x1 Manuka honey (UMF10) x1 Kiwifruit & Honey x1 Pohutukawa Honey x1 ???? Soap x1 Skintensive Cream x1 Fortacold Throat Lozenges x1 ...and a lovely small bee ♫