Chemistry

Well, hello there random citizen!

I was in my deeper philosophical moment when I've suddenly thought of my course (Chemistry), and how people (usually) react on it...

People are more often than not, being skeptical whenever I talk about my course in  my university. 

When I say I am majoring in Chemistry, they will respond with something along these lines...

"What can you do with that degree?"

 "Oh my gosh! Are you going to make bombs?"

"Ha? What's that?"

"Just Chemistry?"

Ouch! That sure stings. I mean, not for me, but for them.

For them knowing so little of Chemistry, when it is so commonly used in our daily life.

The makeup that you apply on your face? That's chemistry.

The foods that you eat so heartily? That's chemistry.

The detergent that you use for your laundries maybe at least once a week? That's chemistry.

The colors that you can see all around you? That's chemistry.

The gas/petrol/diesel/oil that you fill into your car? That's chemistry.

The medicine that you eat when you are ill? That's chemistry.

....and many more.

Chemistry, and many other subjects/courses relate very closely to one's life. So, you should appreciate that.

Go figure! :)

Determined to jog.... aaaand, it's gone

Hello hello!

I went for a jog today. A VERY SHORT jog. hehe :p

Anyway, I've been thinking of jogging for quite sometimes now. However, taking into account the medium-sized hill I've got to hike  every time I have to go to school....

I thought, "maybe, not today."

So, today came, and I've realized that I've been very dormant in my room. A little toooooo passive, I may say?

I thought, "let's give jog a go." I was determined!

 

It started of plain....

I ran, and ran.

Then, I started to pant, and pant.

And the rain...

Keeps on pourin'.

So I said, "Oh, Man!"

I went back in.

See you soon! :p

Crazy Golf

Hi there.... people and aliens

Do you fancy playing golf?

I was never interested before (well, I've never even tried). However, yesterday was a spur of the moment kind of actions. After a couple of hours at the @Bristol, Suzanne and I went to have a try at crazy golf in Cabot Circus. It was so much fun!

 

 

Being the amateur that I was, I lost over an infinite number of shots for 2 courses (38 holes). The monkeys even booed and farted on me. Boohoohoo :(

I wasn't sad..... the fun that we had cancels it out! Yay!

50% student's discounted dinner at Tampopo to close off the curtain for the night!

Supermarket Chemistry

Hello..... fellow internet users!

I'm a final year Chemist now. Hooray! Erk... Okay. Maybe not that happy :)

Anyway, at most times, a final year chemist in Bristol uni will be given options on whether to choose a lab-based project, or a school-based project. I've chosen the latter one, and surprisingly got it (despite of my poor results).

Now that that's settled, my supervisor (the all-capable Tim) had asked us to create 3 experiments (not 1, but 3) based on the GCSE Chemistry designed for South African's students using basic materials and apparatus found in any South African's Tesco. So, in one way or another, we'll be published in a booklet (at least) for South African's students' practicals. Yay! (You may clap your hands here)

Tim had called this particular part of our dissertation as "Supermarket Chemistry". Splendid name! Don't you think so? 

During this past few weeks, I had a little go in brainstorming ideas for my experiments, and actually came up with a number of ideas:

1) Producing musical notes with different amount of water in glass jars

2) Determining a hard-boiled egg from a raw egg

3) Mixing oil with water

etc.

Sadly, I was told to think CHEMISTRY, instead of PHYSICS. I wonder.....

Now, I've thought of a few other experiments that can be done:

1) Making pH indicator using red cabbage

2) Pushing peppers toward the edge of the water surface using detergent

3) Making radioactive looking slime

4) Producing a tube of liquids' layers (colorful, of course)

At a glance, they sounds fun, easy, and cheap enough to do. However, I've got to put more brain into this work. It's only October! Plenty of time.... (as if!)

Desperate measures, at desperate time

I'm inside the coach from London to Bristol, when my phone showed me a very sad state. The battery was low! So, I've tried to be an Einstein and charged my phone like this....

Put my laptop on sleep, and just connect the usb cable from my phone to the laptop. It worked!

....and that's how I was able to write a blog at this moment. Hehe :p

One blind man

I found that this man, and many others like him to be pretty resourceful. They might be disabled, but that didn't stop them from making a living.

Pancake

Hello!

I was watching this old korean's variety show called family outing, and there were too many cooking and eating scenes! I've realized that they really like to cook pancake, and it seems really easy to make.

I almost salivated, when the thought occurs to me that I should make my own pancake for dinner. And, I did!

Here is the recipe, taken from 'Joy of Baking';

Ingredients:

1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons (28 grams) granulated whitesugar

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup (240 ml) milk

2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, melted

Plus extra melted butter for greasing the pan.

How to make:

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg, milk, and melted butter. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and then pour in the egg mixture, all at once, and stir (with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon) just until combined. The batter should have some small lumps. (Do not over mix the batter or the pancakes will be tough.)

Heat a frying pan or griddle over medium high heat until a few sprinkles of water dropped on the pan or griddle splatter.  Adjust the temperature as needed. Can also use an electric griddle with the temperature set at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Using a piece of paper towel or a pastry brush, lightly brush the pan with melted butter or oil (or spray with a non stick vegetable spray.)

Using a small ladle or scoop, pour about 1/4 cup (60 ml) of pancake batter onto the hot pan, spacing the pancakes a few inches apart. When the bottoms of the pancakes are brown and bubbles start to appear on the top surfaces of the pancakes (2-3 minutes), turn over. Cook until lightly browned (about 1-2 minutes).

Repeat with remaining batter, brushing the pan with melted butter or oil between batches.

Serve immediately with butter and maple syrup.

Makes about 8 - 4 inch (10 cm) pancakes.  Serves 3-4 people.

Einstein's riddle

Hello!

I was distracted by 9gag yesterday, and I saw this riddle by Einstein. It was said that only 2% of people who tried can answer it, but I think, what was really meant by that is; there are only 2% of people who tried answering it without making notes can be successful.....or, something like that.

I've tried making notes, but it was quite hard for me. So, I developed a method in answering it. It might not be new to others, but I just thought of it to make the riddle a lot easier. I solved it in 10 minutes or so.

So, why don't you give it a go?

Answer;