Posts from January 2012

I am back to my non-stop waltz listening mode.

I found this slightly lower key version so earthy after years of listening to the über-flashy Rieu version. :)



And this is a waltz by the lesser known Sviridov. It sounds so very similar to Shostakovich's Valse No. 2, but it is faster in pace and more energetic!


PS: The Sviridov waltz video is especially for @paul. :)

A spatula to whack all the other spatulas to the ground.

It could be exactly what I have in mind. But then when did a picture ever tell the truth? We will see how it holds up in my kitchen warfront.

I want to see this documentary.



Has the coming of Pricerite with its massive produce section to Elmwood increased access of underprivileged residents of the area to affordable fresh produce. YES!

2012 is going to my best year thus far.

I just decided that it will be so it better be.

Top 10 lessons that I learnt in 2011.

1. Data analyses is 95% data cleaning and variable definition.

2. R is fun and liberating.

3. Perl is even more fun but it's funny and weird and super tough to learn.

4. I have a massive crush on Hadley Wickham. Mostly because he is the ggplot2 creator. And maybe also because he has a website of family recipes and oh, a really informative website manual for ggplot2. Is this as impractical a crush as the Rahm Emanuel phase? Well... slightly less because I might actually get to meet him someday... but on the whole, big check.

5. ggplot2 is a fascinating way to think about data.

6. FlowingData is one of my favourite inspirations. It replaces aldaily (which, unfortunately, I have been steadily ignoring).

7. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. You just need to find the switch - which is often right on the darkly shrouded wall behind you.

8. Linux is not so much a monster as a friendly devil. I prefer linux as my primary OS. Surprise.

9. I love my family. They are the best anyone could ever hope for and of course, the only ones I have.

10. Surprisingly, I like documentaries way more than movies.

I need to burn this into my mind:

Ctrl-D

After I make some unfortunate mistake at the prompt, bash patiently waits for my next move... when I really just want to get back to the home prompt and start all over again. Ctrl-D curtly tells it not to wait anymore and it exits with:

> bash: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
bash: syntax error: unexpected end of file

You have to love those quoted adjectives in trailers.

"Delightful"
oh, was the popcorn tasty?

"Terrific"
oops terrible?

"Stunning"
had a cataract surgery
"WONDERFUL!"
We were stoned.
"Masterful"
full of what?

"Spendid!"
you didn't!

"INTOXICATING"
say no more
"Charming!"
give it a rest already

"Captivating!!!"
drunk. no doubt

"Seductive"
so you have a crush on the actress

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PS: wish there was a way to float words right. would have made it even more authentic. heh.

Another view of gorgeousness*

That is going to be my philosophy this date onwards.

In the year 2000...
2012...

I will

1. Work all year in pomodoros and squash as many tomatoes as I can.

1. Publish. Publish. Publish

1. Master R and Perl.

1. Learn how to manipulate and code in Bioconductor

1. Analyze and publish on least one public dataset in genetics.

1. Transition into more genetics and bioinformatics.

1. Write more science. Make future-oriented useful notes.

1. Be more in contact with my family.

1. Be less confused, Be more mentally organized

1. Set priorities and stick with them regardless of what comes in between.

1. Reach a better place and work on feeling less guilty

For Paul, Matt and Terry. :-)



---
NB: @matthew, check out the illustrations here:

My new deadline is December 31. I am dead serious about this and want to finish it once and for all. Even if lake Erie burst into flames right now and it was a grand public spectacle, I wouldn't want to go see it more than I want to finish my dissertation writing.

So I am taking off the internets and (e:strip) till the next year.

All of you, happy holidays and behave yourselves.

cheerio,
TP