January 2005 Archives

This week has been weird. I've been completely tired since the BDO on Sunday, and that has been really telling in regard to my writing productivity. Today's been much better, with a couple of good ideas put out onto paper. Still, I am behind where I wanted to be this week. Gotta keep on plugging away.

There's a lot going on right now around our lab group, well, the left-overs as I am starting to call ourselves. Much of what we have been told over the past month or so is starting to come to fruition - and it does look as though myself and the others occupying our office space will be moved on. Today I've learnt about the relocation plan, and subsequently there will be a number of upset scientists - particularly Sharise & Diana.

It is disappointing as this outcome is far from what we have been told. Tomorrow, a lot of things are going to come to a creshendo - it could get ugly. I'll write more about it later.

Its Australia Day - and in the true Australian tradition of symbolising a day that encompasses all that is Australia - we've taken the day off.

Good news on Australia day is the Nicole Kidman didn't become the Australian of the Year, but the gong went to burns specialist Dr. Fiona Wood. I'm pleased about this. In recent years, scientists & people who work for the public good have been sidelined by the Australian obsession with our sportsmen & women. I don't believe its a sign that they are held in greater regard (although some would argue this), but no one really knows what else is going on out there. I guess the idea that the noble scientist plugging away in bad light in a small room somewhere that finally gets some wider appreciation appeals to me. Well, I reckon that's the only way I could ever be famous. :)

Another cool award given out was to Ben Kearney from Tassie, who influenced the town of Coles Bay to rid themselves of the plastic bag. Nice to see an environmentalist not sidelined as a tree-huggin hippie.

Today, I'm off to an obligatory Australia Day BBQ at Aoina & Davo's place. Hopefully the wet weather won't ruin a chance at backyard cricket. Mum has whipped up a pavlova for me & the gang, so it should be a good time. Otherwise, there is tennis & cricket on the box - is this heaven?

I'm completely stuffed - both mentally, physically & sinus-wise. yep, it wouldn't be the BDO without some kind of music-festival derived head cold. It was a fantastic day - and perhaps one of the best I've been to.

The day started out at Barry & Stacey's holiday apartment at Burleigh. A quick debate about bus vs. car, stocking up on cash & supplies, and we were ready for the day ahead.

The contract is signed - I'm off to Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Now let the organisation begin.

I'm excited!

well, it officially started yesterday. after my research group vacated their labspace in my building, there was always going to be a point when there was a tussle over space. given that 6 students were 'left behind', we were given some kind of assurance that we wouldn't lose any office space.

well that's been thrown out of the window. the space grab has started in earnest. despite what has been promised to us in the past, it looks as though my time at level 5 MBS is at a close. it really shits me, given that I've only a few weeks to go (knock wood) on my write-up. i was severely pissed off yesterday about it.

just another one of the universe's attempts to tap me on the shoulder and tell me to move on.

and on top of all that, it was BBH's last contracted day at UQ yesterday. my lab group is moving on, well, at least leaving people behind. its all a little 'Survivor' really. "I'm sorry BBH/TimmyB/anyone not working on sludge, you've been voted out of the labgroup - goodbye!".

Yeah, I'm not bitter.

If we extrapolate from the non-alcoholic version, I think I'll be cancer-free for at least several lifetimes according to this article in New Scientist.

New Scientist Breaking News - Mystery compound in beer fights cancer

Mystery compound in beer fights cancer

* 19:00 19 January 2005
* Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition
* Andy Coghlan

Some cancers are caused by heterocyclic amines, DNA-damaging chemicals found in cooked meat and fish. When Sakae Arimoto-Kobayashi's team at Okayama University in Japan fed these chemicals to mice, the DNA damage to their liver, lungs and kidneys was reduced by up to 85% if the mice drank non-alcoholic beer instead of water.

Arimoto-Kobayashi thinks as-yet unidentified compounds in lager and stout prevent the amines binding to and damaging DNA. If these compounds can be identified, brewers might be able to produce beers particularly rich in them, or they could be added to foods.

Heavy alcohol consumption is blamed for around 6% of all cancers in western countries (New Scientist print edition, 18 December 2004), though moderate consumption reduces the risk of heart disease. Since the mice drank non-alcoholic beer, the findings do not show whether moderate consumption of normal beer has any anti-cancer benefits. "The total benefits and risks of beer with alcohol are still under consideration," says Arimoto-Kobayashi.

Journal reference: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/jf049208k)

I guess most of the population at the BDO this Sunday will also be beneficiaries of their consumption on the day.

Sunday is going to be HUUGE! The BDO is back again for 2005 & I reckon it will perhaps be the best line-up I’ll see there. Back in 2002, I was lucky enough to see Jurassic 5, The White Stripes, Basement Jaxx & The Prodigy. In 2004 I was able to see Metallica, The Black Eyed Peas, The Darkness, The Strokes & Jet. This year’s highlight has to be ‘The Beastie Boys’.

Writing has been good lately – well it had better be. Having a good strong goal to work towards has been a great boon for my thesis production – and it looks as though 80% will be completed in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I can get a few things sorted out before the end of January and get my ‘Intention to Submit’ form into the UQ Graduate School. BBH has done the good thing lately and helped me with some feedback. Lets see if ‘The Others’ will be up for it too.

Black Books rocks – heaps. Thanks to a loan from the Derry boys, I was able to finish watching this 3 series corker. This is definitely a DVD must for China. Makes me wonder a little about the blackmarket selection over there. I hope there's a good range of Australiana. Will the ladies from Fountain Lakes be there? I definitely ‘want that one’ (think ‘Little Britain’). Man I’m embracing my inner-geek lately. Now I’ve got to track down the second series of the ‘The Office’… I can’t wait to start delving through the DVD markets in Shanghai.

I've been thinking a lot about this. What I'm doing seems really unique amongst the people I know everyday, but more and more I am hearing about friends of friends/relatives/guy at the newsagent that have spent time O/S in China (and in many cases Shanghai).

A paper I contributed to has been officially published! Fantastic. Go and check it out at this link....

Blackall, P. J., Christensen, H., Beckenham, T. B., Blackall, L. L. and Bisgaard, M.. 2004. Reclassification of Haemophilus paragallinarum, Pasteurella gallinarum, P. avium and P. volantium as Avibacterium paragallinarum gen. nov., comb. nov., Av. gallinarum comb. nov., Av. avium comb. nov. and Av. volantium comb. nov.
Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. Volume 55 (2005), Issue 1, pages 353-362; DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.63357-0
Download the paper.

Its nice that a little bit of my work can come out as something like this. I'm aiming to add to my small list of publications in 2005. I've got a few ideas for my thesis work, & once I have submitted my thesis, I'll start to look at getting some writing done & then go through the submission process. The question is can I find the time amongst moving overseas, learning Chinese and starting a new job? Fingers crossed!

Things are starting to progress with my contract negotiations with GE. Despite a few little hiccups in getting the specifics of the contract sorted out, it appears to be going swimmingly. I'm already starting to appreciate the differences in Western & Eastern (well, Chinese) business practices. Should be interesting.

I've been spending a little bit of 'work' time checking out accomodation & transportation options for getting to and living in Shanghai. I've already sourced a few quotes from travel agent's to get my flight to China - Qantas is looking gooood! Also, it will add to my frequent fliers points so thats another bonus.

Not much happening beyond that. There's a few minor niggles out at KD with 5 adults rubbing shoulders, and Linda & I are both busy with our respective studies. I'm looking forward to Saturday morning - I've proposed a BBQ at Southbank to my mates, and weather permitting, it should be pretty good.

I've finally admitted to myself that I'm going to Shanghai. Receiving a contract from GE and going through the pre-induction process has really sent it home.

It looks as though I will be starting on the 28th of March 2005, arriving the week prior. Linda's been at me a little in the last week (with good reason) to give her some idea about when things are going to happen. Hopefully now we can move forward and start getting everything organised for our move.

I've started to compile a list of what will need to be done - everything from innoculations to fave' toothpaste brands. Kinda pathetic but I guess it reinforces the science nerd persona I've been cultivating for the past year.

As for preparing for China, I've got the Lonely Planet Guide (9th ed.) and obtained a phoenetic guide to learning Chinese Mandarin. I might actually have to start reading some of this stuff.

I got a good news email today from my mate Morten. He & his wife Jeanette have successfully given birth to little Julie Justine. Mum & bub are fine, well, I guess there still b#ggered looking after the little tyke.

What's really scary is the fact that my sister Alicia & I were wondering just last night about how Jeanette's pregnancy had gone. Last I heard she was due to give birth in early December.

I wonder if we have ESEP - extra-sensory email perception...?

Hi all...

Well, I've finally gone and done it - publishing my weblog permanently on the internet.

And of course, the link you need is...

http://www.beckenham.id.au/

The ironic timing of my wanton act of greediness has just come to my realisation. While hundreds of thousands of people are suffering throughout south-east and southern Asia, I've gone and made myself an Amazon Wishlist.

I kinda feel a little sick about it. I've thought about doing this for quite a while. What made me do this at this time I'm not sure - probably over-excitedness about my Shanghai move. I keep on thinking about those Western tourists in southern Thailand right now, the ones in Phuket that decided to carry on with their holiday in the very scene were thousands of human bodies remain unidentified and undiscovered. On the same beach where people still search for their friends and family. ugh. I'm a bad bad man.

I know this is western guilt, and as a sole person, relatively penniless, I can't do much there. It makes me wonder what type of person I would be in a situation like that. Would I be the person who runs into the ocean to save their family, the one that would break down and not function, or the one who would loot through the devastation?

I don't know - all I know is that I'm a little ashamed of not thinking about those who have lost everything just a little bit more than I should.

Well, I've decided that going public is the only way to make myself honest.

I haven't given a lot of thought to how I could go about this - but I chose goals that I can work towards. I reckon if I can do that, I've met my resolutions.

Here we go...

Happy New Year! Will it be though? I reckon so.

Looking forward to 2005 is one of my New Year's Resolutions (yes, I will post them all as soon as I can). It will be interesting to see how it all goes this year - especially as I am keeping an open diary. Let's see how truthful and how resolute I can be.

But this train of thought is for another entry - I've got a couple of diary entries to make.

Firstly, I had a good end to 2004. Enjoying a fine Chinese meal with Lin, BBH & Toina at Asian House in the Valley was a good start to the evening - and of course - the Peking (or should I say Beijing) Duck was excellent. Watching the Southbank fireworks from Toina's balcony at Highgate Hill was pretty special. I really enjoyed the time spent there, and the bubbly made it all that more poignant. We followed this up with a visit out to Dave's place in Mt. Gravatt were we counted in the New Year. There were only two downers to the evening - the lack of gelati & lack of TimmyB-attributed pissiness at Dave's do.