Unfortunately, jIyajbe’ tlhlngan

Sunday 28th February, 2010 - 9:37pm

• Feeling: a bit stressed
• Listening to: “Whip it” – Devo
• The weather outside: 299 Kelvins
• Mantra of the day: I doubt, therefore I might be

If you don’t know what “jIyajbe’ tlhlngan” means (*gasp* how could you not?), it’s Klingon for “I don’t understand Klingon”. Sure, my (fake) resume claims I speak it fluently, but like most people, I was just lying to improve my (imaginary) job prospects. I am starting to learn a few phrases here and there though, thanks to The Klingon language institue and Hol ‘ampaS – I can say nuqneH, qaStaH nuq? (meaning “Hello, what’s happening?”), but more importantly, essential phrases like nuqjatlh?, jIyajbe’ and nuqDaq ‘oH puchpa”e’ (“Huh?”, “I don’t understand” and “Where is the bathroom?” respectively), which should help me somewhat if I ever end up lost in Kronos and need to pee. Unfortunately though, my pronounciation is positively horrendous. All the sounds that require unusual mouth and tongue movements seem to come out sounding like a footballer spitting on the field at half-time, or worse, no sound comes out at all. Maybe I should stick to learning French. *sigh* Though the sad thing is that I actually know almost as much Klingon now as I do French…so you can imagine it’s not much at all. Oh well, best yet would probably be perfecting my English, lol. Heavens knows I should try to master that first, haha.

Back to more earthly matters though, I had my (Dis)Orientation Day at uni last Thursday. Even though I’m not actually a first-year student, it’s my first year studying science at this university, so I went along anyway and tried to blend in. I actually did have to be there for a while to go to a lab safety seminar (which I’d been told was a lab safety test, but apparently the only on-campus bit was a boring seminar and the test was just an easy online quiz – sweet!). As well as the lab safety seminar (during which I embarrassed myself by tripping down the steps in the lecture theatre – way to stay safe, huh?), I also went to the faculty & lab tour, and attended an information session for the commencing biomed students. I was quite shocked to see how few people are actually studying this course (there would have been a couple of hundred people at the general science faculty sessions, but there would probably only be 30-35 biomed students, tops), but the info session itself was actually really interesting…and dare I say, exciting! I must have looked like such a dork, sitting there with this look of rapture as the professor told us about her research (she’s growing a human heart from adult stem cells – how kickass is that?!) and about all the other projects going on in the biomed community. It was really motivating, and I’m so glad I went to that as well as just the compulsory lab safety thing.

One interesting thing I did note when we were looking at these electron microscopy pictures, is that up close (very very close!), a white blood cell looks exactly like a Raffaelo chocolate. No kidding, the resemblance is quite amazing! I don’t know how widespread the popularity of Raffaelo chocolates is though (they’re made by the company that makes Ferrero Rocher and so forth), so I got some pictures from Google Images and put them side by side for you to compare.

Cool, huh? There were some other really cool electron microscopy pictures we saw too, including some really pretty colourful ones that remind me of those fractal graphics people make in Photoshop, but I couldn’t find the same ones online. Bummer…I wanted to use one for my desktop background, hehe.

Anyway, moving on, I’ve updated the poetry section today. Yes, yet again! What’s left behind, Murdering a dead man, Zoo, Senseless, The whole house is an attic, Tearing down the sky and Requiem for Lana are all new, and as expected, the usual teaser. I’ve been watching U2′s Zoo Tour, lol.

Zoo

I believe you, do you believe me?
we’re going to watch the world end
on a big plasma screen TV
and with high definition audio
the trumpet sounding will be
crystal clear
so clear!

I believe you, do you believe me?
I place my trust in the hands of politicians
and oh, I know that when I hunger
they will feed me
all the sweet lies that keep me nourished
and when I’m ill it will only be because
I put my tick in the wrong box
my mistake!

I believe you, do you believe me?
there’s a golden star within my reach
if I pay the price they’re asking
and I will walk with flowers
blooming at my feet
if I wear that shade of lipstick
and drink their brand of cola

I believe you, do you believe me?
please stop it if you do
because everything I know is wrong

And before I go, a few more questions for you.

1. Random question: Do you ever dunk food in your coffee (or tea)?
2. Another random question: What is your favourite cartoon strip? (Online or print)
3. tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh’a'?

Must start getting stuff ready for class tomorrow now. The first day of semester always makes me so nervous! Adios amigos. Be excellent to each other!

My lovely commentors: Vanessa, Jessica, Simply Precious, Deanna, Kate, Caity, Jamie, Julie, Mary, Tiff K & Rachel.