A horrible sign of things to come?

When I first started this PhD, I kept thinking about how I did Honours. Despite supposedly working harder than ever (which was kinda true), my party/socialising level went up another level! Miss Amandine can vouch for this - she was often a companion in bar crawls! I was adamant that science was not going to eat up my life and isolate me from non-lab people!

For the first year of PhD, I believe I managed to keep a good balance between socialising and work. Weeknights were spent in the gym, lunches were regularly taken with working people in the Grid. Fridays were reserved for drinks in the city, Saturdays were usually whatever popped up. The law was that if one weekend day was spend in the lab, the other had to be spent doing other things. Life was good and balanced and come Monday, I was able to regale people with stories about funfunfun weekends.

Some of the more senior scientists used to laugh and warn that a time would come when I would have to wave goodbye to my Arts-induced freedom, that I would lose the ability to go out 3 days a weekend to many different partied and movies and karaoke. *NEVER!* I defiantly cried, *I will never let work define me and my activities!*

How quickly things change.

It has struck me a few times so far this monumental second PhD year that I've barely been able to see my non-lab friends at all, whether it be lunch or drinks. Okay, the situation has not been helped with the London-exodus occuring and me semi-quitting drinking. But it was with much horror that I realised afte I met some chums for lunch that it'd been so long since I saw them that they were not aware that I am about to embark on The Great European Adventure 2007! Work has overtaken my life to the extent that people no longer know what I'm up to!!!

This is a terrible state of affairs! TERRIBLE! And as soon as I finish working my ass off and recharge myself in Euroland, it will change!!!

Movie review - The Simpsons Movie

I am a huge Simpsons fan. HUGE. As are the rest of my siblings (although Pooey may not be to the same extent as we others). Say a Simpsons quote and chances are I can say the line immediately following or even the episode it came from. *Forwards, not backwards! Upwards, not forwards!* As you can gather, I have been waiting for this movie many, many years of my relatively long/short (take your pick) life. I'm not such a one-eyed fan that I don't recognise that the series has dropped in quality over the years so it was with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that I saw the Movie.

Like the tv episodes, this movie intertwines a number of storylines which I'll try to outline here.

1. (Main one) One day in church, Grampa starts speaking in tongues warning about a coming disaster. After the death of Green Day due to the pollution of Lake Springfield, Lisa manages to convince the town to clean up. Homer undoes all the good work by dumping a silo full of pig manure (*spider pig, spider pig, does whatever a spider pig does!*), and manages to have the entire town baying for his blood when they get encased in a dome to stop it spreading. After the town discovers what Homer's done, the family manage to escape to Alaska, but upon discovering that Springfield is going to be turned into a New Grand Canyon, even Marge gives up on him when he refuses to return and save the town.

2. In the mean time, he's also alienated Bart by daring him to skateboard naked across town and then denying that he knew anything about it. This leads to Bart to see Flanders as a father figure after observing the way Flanders cares for Rod and Todd.

3. Homer attempts to redeem himself in everyone's eyes.

Reading the credits at the end, I recognised a lot of the names from the *classic* years (seasons 3-8) such as director David Silverman (there is a Simpsons style known as *pure Silverman* - if you listen to the DVD commentary), and writers George Meyer, John Vitti, Mike Scully, John Swartzwelder etc etc. The presence of these people on board (imo) shows as the family, particularly Homer, stop churning out endless rounds of gags and return to being the 3-dimensional people that made them iconic. While Homer is still a stupid buffoon, he's a likeable stupid buffoon. Apart from the family, the rest of the town characters don't get much look in. The exception being Ralph Wiggum - his crack line is awesome!!!

Other than the strong plot, the satire, cheap shots and jabs at the audience that made the series so iconic are also present. Itchy and Scratchy make a great comeback (something I miss in the more recent eps), Lisa's crusade for the environment is called *An Irritating Truth*, Homer asking why would somebody pay money to see something they could see for free on tv (heh), and of course, numerous cracks at Disney -particularly when when cutesy animals help out humans!!! At the end of the film, I had sore cheeks from laughing so much. One thing that's been deleted from the series is the presence of a token celebrity guest who play insignificant roles, with the exception of Tom Hanks as himself. That is a good thing. The only other *guest* is Albert Brooks playing the head of the EPA, but he's been on the show so many times he may as well be a semi-regular. And many people have commented on it, but Bart's nudie run is BRILLIANT! Yes you do get to see his doodle, and it's worth every laugh it garners.

That said, this is not the kick-in-the-face-to-all-the-poeple-who-said-The-Simpsons-has-lost-it movie I really wanted it to be. It takes a mystical guide to show Homer why he needs to save Springfield - a device that was used in the Homer's Soulmate episode. A lot of the laughs come from basic slapstick humour (Homer getting hit by random items). I mean it's not unfunny, but its not particularly inspired. The fact that the other citizens of Springfield take a backseat. Bart defaces a Simpsons family wanted poster and a family who look just like the defaced characters turn up. Ok, that last one was actually really funny but still a bit easy.

I think the main problem is that by waiting so long to do a movie, they've consolidated their fan base a little too well. I was always going to see it, I was always going to love it, I was always going to be comparing it to the gold that I remember it being. But I also can't deny that I didn't enjoy it. Despite everything, this is a highly enjoyable movie. Not a classic, and unlikely to convert haters into lovers, but definitely enjoyable and that's what makes it great.

8/10 (7/10 if you're not a fan or truly do wish to return to the glory days)

I can't stop looking at this picture

People who have been paying attention to my *books* category will find a pattern - I seem to like either romances, vampires, or romances with vampires (and the occasional classics smattering). I've also started rediscovering YA-fiction latetly. So when you combine all those elements, you get the books that I've been reading lately; the Twighlight series by Stephenie Meyer.

The plot isn't anything particularly new. Girl moves to new town, falls in love with strangely beautiful but outcast boy. Boy turns out to be 100-year old vampire. What really makes it special to me and the many other online fans of this book is how it's told and the characters, particularly Edward the vampire. It's told from Bella (the girl's) perspective and she's the snarky, mildly insecure and clumsy teenage you all know (or perhaps were). While this slightly weakens the story because you don't know what it is Edward sees in her (she's also self-deprecating), the sense of wonderment she has at the events around her make up for it. And then of course there's Edward. *sigh*

Being the geek I am, I searched to see what other online book freaks were saying about it and lo and behold, I discovered Stephenie Meyer's own webpage and was thrilled to discover the books have been optioned for a movie. And I was absolutely gobsmacked at the guy she thinks should play Edward.Henry Cavill. The strange thing is, I remember not being too impressed when I saw the Count of Monte Cristo but this photo totally proves me wrong! And I'm not the only one in agreement. I immediately sent the pic to Kirsty and lets just say the conversation degenerated after that.

Let's hope the movie is done soon!

Movie review - Il Mare/Siworae

Afte the kerfuffle between me and Jiggs over the Hollywood re-make of this 2000 Korean movie, Pooky decided to purchase the original on the intention that we'd watch it together and perhaps it would make more sense.

The plot is basically the same - two people living in the same house (named Il Mare) but separated by two years begin corresponding through a mystical mailbox. The same time-travelling dog owned by both of them are there, he's still a builder/architect type, the twist etc etc. But some things are different - notably she's a voice actor (not a doctor) and, of course, the ending. So how do the two movies compare?

Well. Originally I was not going to review this movie because I fell asleep during it. That's a review in itself, quite frankly. Pooey is probably gonna think what I'm about to write is sacrilege, but I really did find the english remake better, and not just because Keanu is way better looking than the male Korean lead. This movie was sloooooooooooooooooooooooow. And unless the key event happened while I was sleeping (Miss Pooky assures me it didn't), the *flashback* reason why they were unable to meet up felt to me like a bit of a last minute add in to make the entire thing more tragic. The idea that the two fall in love over their correspondence also felt better done in the Keanu version because their letters seemed more interactive.

So anyway, I found this movie fairly ordinary. Sleep-inducingly ordinary. Or that might have been Miss Pooky's couch. *shrug*
4-5/10

drowning

omg, I just realised I have a month until I start the Great European Adventure 2007.

I GOTTA GET TO WORK!!!

Potty for Harry Potter (NO SPOILERS HERE!)

Being the perceptive fellow he is, Kahuna gave me a Borders voucher for my birthday!After experiencing the initial excitement of what to get, I realised it would be perfect for getting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! Unfortch, since I was in Sydney for the weekend, I did not pre-order a copy of HP7 cos I wanted to get to reading ASAP! I decided the best course of action would be to party throughout the night and then plant myself outside Borders Pitt St. Mall to get my copy.

Again, the best laid plans never work and I ended up waking up in the apartment at 9:30 - 30 minutes after the book went on sale! I reached Pitt St. around 10-something am and was surprised to see the shop didn't have a giant line pouring out into the mall. In fact, it looked kinda empty.

Although if you look carefully, there are several people wearing capes.

Then I went inside the store and found these two massive queues. One was to register your pre-ordered copies, the other to collect. Not having ordered, I went to the help desk and asked what to do - and they let me purchase two copies then and there, and thus avoid one of the giant queues! Hooray! (Sooooo dirty :P)

Looking sheepish with my proof of purchase

So here I am towards the back of the queue that stretched into the Centrepoint Arcade.

And here I am quickly moving forwards - the the system was very efficient!

And then with the two books I managed to get! (I was going to photoshop out my double chin but it looked like I had a beard - better get back on that diet!)

From here, I dawdled around, getting groceries, having lunch, making cookies before finally succumbing and sequestering myself in the apartment to read from 3-something pm onwards. Miss Pooky returned from the lab from hell and forced me to take a break for dinner and then movies. We returned around midnight whereby I declared I was not going to sleep. Come 3:30am I finished the book and then messaged Pooey in London to let her know I was done!

So what's my verdict? It's action-packed, it answers all the questions, and it was downright satisfying!

Party in Sydney!

Yes people, I am once again in Sydney. Alix was finally leaving Australia to go back to France and decided to have party. In Sydney. So I decided to fly up for it! So having informed Miss Pooky of my plans, I flew up and we went to the party!

The cousins! (and Miss Pooky)

Although it was a little rainy and Pooky was feeling a bit sick from arriving back from Singapore the day before (among other things), I believe we all had a good time! I introduced her to Zubrowka Vodka and we managed to have a bit of conversation in franglais!

Simpsonize me!

As a promo for the upcoming Simpsons Movie, http://www.simpsonizeme.com/index.php, allows you to upload a photo and let you see what you look like as a Simpsons character!

This is me:It does kinda look like me, except the eyes need to be a little bit more chinky!

The Big Day Arrives!

After about 5-6 years togther, Dr Ilaya and Mr Kelly finally tied the knot yesterday! Unfortunately, I didn't bring a camera (hey, as a bridesmaid, when would I even have time to take photos?!?) so take me word for it until I can scum pics off other people.

I won't do an entire day run through, but all went well. By staying over with Nance, we were all on schedule for the hair appointments, make up appointments, photography appointments...only the flowers were a bit late. Everyone fit into their dresses (yay!) which was especially great because Nance and I had pizza for dinner. It was all a big relaxed day - what do you expect when the maid of honour is a guy and I was a groomsman (heh). There was laughing during the ceremony, especially when Nance didn't realise the priest was prompting her to say *I have* and there was a big silence.

My lovely freesia and tulip groomsman bouquet

Also particularly amusing was when Nance went to throw a bouquet and the aim was so off that Marcus had to position her in the right position - it just kept hitting the concrete or the chapel gardens!

Even though it was fr-e-e-z-ing (really, people were rubbing my hands to get the circulation back into the them, photography was fun too. Hampered by taxis ruining the view of landmarks, duking it out for locations with other wedding parties (who would have thought there'd be four in one day - P.S., we had the best dresses, no salmon pink tulle monstrosities for us!), stopping by Maccas in full wedding regalia, the photographer gave up trying to make us be serious after a while.

Then of course, the 14-course banquet at the end.

Count 'em there are fourteen items! And we polished them off good!

Good lord the wedding cake (mud with fondant icing, no marzipan) was good! If there weren't 12 courses preceding it, I would have eaten more! As it was, I took two slices home.

In keeping with everything else, it was highly relaxed and we all just sat around hanging crap on each other. A jolly time was had by all. I know cos I stayed there until the end. The only sad bit was that our shoes maimed us and since I didn't have the foresight to bring along a spare pair of shoes, I couldn't kick on at the wedding reception after party.

My pretty, maiming shoes

So congratulations to the happy couple and have a great life together. And thank you very much for my bridal present (below) - it really matches my clothes!

Stupid diet, soooo cranky

There's been nothing much to write about for the last few days simply because I haven't done much. Well that's not true, as you can tell by the title, I've been on a diet and it's making me cranky. We got the dresses for the wedding back last week and I only managed to try it on Thursday. Imagine my shock when the dress I remember being roomy had been taken in to the extent I didn't try to sit down! On Saturday, Rachie and Nance confirmed that they too believed the dresses had been taken in too much.

Since then I have been on a shocking diet get the dress comfy. It zips up without too much difficulty but there's no way a wedding banquet is going to fit inside! The diet is basically:

• No bread
• No rice
• No pasta
• No dairy (other than yoghurt)
• No meat if I can get away with it
• No added sugar or salt
• No processed foods or food I don't prepare for myself (if possible)
• Very much decreased portions
• Regimented eating times - NO SNACKING!
  

However brutal this diet may seem, this is me in the dress.I spent last night going around the house in it (homework, etc) so I guess the diet worked. All I have to do now is maintain it.

The flipside is that by the time 5pm gymtime has rolled around, I AM BLOODY STARVING!!! and totally incapable of doing my normal workout *sobsob*. So to compensate, I have been getting off the bus two stops early and walking while carrying about 5kgs worth of computer and another 2kgs worth of handbag (I like to carry a lot) - a distance of about 1.5km. I've also been working hard trying to get as much work done as possible for the London conference that I've been sleeping around 2am. So basically, I am food-deprived, sleep-deprived, and exercise-deprived.

On the other hand, if there's one thing this has taught me, it's that I will never be anorexic :D.

Face Framing

Some people say that if there's one thing that can alter a moderately good looking girl to an all-out stunner, its her eyebrows. Case in point, Liz Hurley.

L. Hurley circa 1989. R. Hurley currently

Okay, ignoring the shocking hairstyle, lighting, and wardrobe (no comment on surgery), you've got to admit, she looks a lot better with those arched eyebrows. Dare I say younger? Eyebrows can also cement a friendship - at ski trip 2001 I told Miss Amandine she had very nicely shaped brows and we've been friends ever since!

I first started plucking my own brows into a mildly arched shape from the age of 15 until I discovered waxing at the age of 19. That pretty much stopped when the shop I used to get it done at changed hands and started to concentrate more on doing nails - I didn't like the smell. And so I went back to plucking, until I really couldn't be bothered maintaining the shape and let them grow back in.

Well Nance *requested* that Rachie Poo and I get our brows shaped for her wedding and we all headed to Liz Hurley-world, the Estee Lauder Brow Booth to get them done. And then when she was done, she declared it a great job, as did Nance and Rachie.

Top - old brows. Bottom - new brows.

I don't know - they look the same to me. A little thinner and a bit straighter, possibly, but nothing that's drastically altered my looks. I guess I need to get plastic surgery done :P

Movie review - Transformers

Blockbuster season has been ho-hum for me with Spiderman 3, Pirates 3, Shrek 3, and Ocean's (1)3 all passing by (I'll prob see them on DVD). So what of Transformers considering I have said numerous times that Michael Bay OWES ME THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE BACK. I still can't believe I went and saw Pearl Harbour in the cinema. I don't think Transformers closes the debt, but it comes mighty close.

The AllSpark was a life-giving cube from the planet Cybertron. The evil leader of the Decepticons, Megatron, wanted to use the AllSpark for nefarious purposes. The honourable Autobots led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen - from the original cartoon series) are there to stop him! Cybertron was destroyed by war and the AllSpark lost to the galaxy until it crash landed on...EARTH!!! Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) inadvertently buys the Transformer Bumblebee as his first car and a whole bunch of other humans including the super-hot Josh Duhamel (right) get dragged into the war between the two groups of giant robots (in disguise).

Like all Michael Bay movies, a certain number of elements are present:

• Plot that makes no sense (although people walking into this movie expecting a plot are asking too much).
• Major bust up with lots of explosions/car chases/flying.
• Unbelievably bad dialogue.
• Large ensemble cast who either get largely discarded (Bernie Mac) or kept on despite no reason to stay there (Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson)

I could continue but I won't.

BECAUSE FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS, THIS FILM ROCKED!!!

Everything I hate in movies were present...and of course, it was done by Michael Bay. But what helped me enjoy it immensely was that it seems everyone involved in the film (except John Voight) did not take it seriously. This movie is gloriously, ridiculously stupid and not one iota of angst (apart from the CGI) is wasted on making it intelligent. The bad dialogue (really, it is shocking!) is counteracted by the tongue in cheek references and the equally hammy acting. Shia LaBeouf is particularly good considering most of his acting, especially the *holy shit, there's a giant robot in front of me* bits must have been against blank space.

Absolutely ludicrous plot elements abound - Sam telling Optimus Prime off for crushing his mum's roses, the Autobots trying to be inconspicuous and trying to save the human race...but then they lure the Decepticons to a major city where the robots go mano-a-mano in the central business district, killing god knows how many people.
The CGI is something most reviews have raved about and with good reason. It is seamless. For most CGI, there is a slight something wrong with it that makes you know it is fake. But in Transformers, while you know the giant robots have been animated into the live action, the animations have a solid rendering that it looks like they could have built giant models and had the people act around them. I was a mild fan of the cartoons when I was a very young child, especially of the *shrit zhuup shreet* sound they made when they transformed, and I loved the transforming animations. I could have watched an hour of that alone.

But enough raving, here's a list of things I really didn't like

• Product placement - all Autobots are GMC vehicles except for Optimus Prime (because you know everyone would have had a fit if he weren't his usual Mac truck)
• Bumblebee being a Camaro instead of the inconic Beetle. But I guess he's still ok
• The human characters are pretty one-dimensional...there's no more to them than meets the eye
  
• Megan Fox - can't act one bit. But she looks good...so I guess that's enough.
• The amount of time it took for the transformers to start fighting each other. And when they were fighting I couldn't really tell who was whom.
  
• The script. It is really that bad
• Josh Duhamel's costume has too many pieces
  
• Silly Natty has mentioned to me that the sound effects (full of deep bass) were overwhelming when she saw it.
  

One thing I did miss was the power struggle between Megatron and Starscream. Other than one line "You've disappointed me once again, Starscream" the rivalry the two had in the cartoon wasn't there.

And so in conclusion, Michael Bay has surprisingly delivered a movie that contains many elements of his other shockers, yet manages to be wonderful entertainment instead of making me add another 2.5 hours to his debt. If you don't love CGI, explosions, and stupidity, don't bother.
8/10
(pictures from rottentomatoes.com)

Shortbread!

Mammy's little baby loves shortbread, shortbread....and this baby (i.e. Me) luuuurrrrrrves shortbread! Those who follow this blog know that I've experimented with making different types of shortbread (see here and here) but really, nothing beats normal buttery shortbread. And shortbread really needs to be buttery - nothing beats that melt in your mouth buttery...ness.

This recipe comes from a cookbook aptly titled *Comfort Food* by Maxine Clark. Usually when I get a recipe out of a book, I make the thing, hand it out to people, get their opinion and modify it accordingly. When I made this one, however, Smee declared it the best shortbread he'd ever had and father of my male handbag of the time ate the entire box I gave to the handbag as a present. I took that to mean they thought it was pretty good. In addition, it's pretty easy to make except for the elbow grease needed for the creaming.

INGREDIENTS - Use all ingredients at room temp
225g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 cups plain flour
3/4 cup rice flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla essence - *optional* not included in the original recipe, I put it in once as an accident and it still tasted OK.

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius
Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla if you use it.
Sift the two flours and salt into the butter mixture and combine into mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Using your hands, gather the dough together and on a clean surface, knead together into a ball. (Be careful not to have too much fun kneading or it goes greasy)
Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for about 20 mins.
When firm, divide into three balls and roll between two sheets of baking paper until 1cm thick.
Cut into happy cookie shapes and bake for 20-25 mins until golden coloured.
Allow to cool on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack.

Happy variations!
Lemon and Poppy Seed: Add the finely grated zest of 2 lemons to the butter and sugar when creaming and add 2 heaped tablespoons of poppy seeds with the flours.

Macadamia and Ginger : Add 2 teaspoons ground ginger to the flours when sifting and 2/3 cup chopped macadamias.

Happy birthday, House of Dior!

The Haute Couture House of Dior celebrates it's 60th year today! Dior, founded by Christian Dior was the source of all those nipped-in waists and puffy post-WWII skirts. Termed the 'New Look' (e.g. right source), it was a radical change from the 20s flapper style, the between wars simplicity of Chanel, and the war-time fashions that reflected rationing of fabrics. Geez that's a beautiful dress - I'd buy something like that if it were on sale now!

Things looked pretty dire for the house when Dior died prematurely in 1957, but the he had the foresight to appoint the 21-yo Yves St. Laurent as successor. Things went nicely along for a while but by the mid-90s with couture sales falling. I don't know if the sales have since risen (it's a very specialised market!), but the house was rejuvenated in 1996 with the appointment of John Galliano to head couture and ready to wear lines.

Galliano...he might look a right nutbag the way he goes out in public (left, source), but you can not deny the sheer beauty of his creations. Ignore the fact that the pic features Charlize Theron who could make a bag look good. That dress is a MARVEL. Just look at it!!! That is the kind of dress I imagine despotic empresses wore when they were sending peasants to their death. What fashion-loving girls get to wear in heaven! I don't know how comfortable it is, I don't really care. It's a stunner through and through.

But this dress worn by Cameron Diaz really takes the cake (source). I don't doubt that it helps to have a body like Diaz's to show it off, but that dress is an artistic and architectural wonder! The shadows created by the combination of all those layers and ruffles and light bouncing off the hot fuschia satin. I believe that this dress could make anyone feel like a goddess, and I know that James Packer paid $100,000 so Erica Baxter could wear it at their wedding. Incidentally, I think the pink version is better - the white doesn't seem as spectacular to me.

In any case, hats off to you and your style, Mr. Galliano. Continue that spectacular sense of style that Dior is known for and let the House define high fashion for another sixty more years.

Phighting with Photoshop

Fiddling around with my various cell markers last week after listening to a talk, I decided to try and use someone else's method for blood vessel analysis. I'm not exactly sure how she did it, but I know it involved a lot of Photoshop.

I SUCK AT PHOTOSHOP. I swear, almost everytime I need to create a pic or do some touching, I'm always asking other people for help.

There was some darkening of vessels with and labelling of pericytes somehow, I dunno. But this is my best shot at it so far.
This looks nothing like the crystal clear stuff she churned out! Look at all those blobs! and the tears in the tissue. *sniff sniff* I've greyscaled, altered levels, inverted, and altered levels again but I don't think I could use that to follow the vessels if my life depending on it. Looks like I'm gonna have to keep slogging away or find a low-tech way of doing it.

Happy New Month

Well, it is now the first of July. The calendar year is now half over and I've got sooooooo much work to do before the end!!! Aiyo. 18 months of PhD down, another to go. Ouch!!!! So in the words of Jack who sent this to me last year:

See the Old Month out and the New Month coming.
Have a Nice New Month!

P.S. Happy New Financial Year, everyone!