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Friday, September 20, 2013

quantum trouble

Nothing more precious than a cup of coffee on a days spend in the library. 
Especially when you have to struggle with tough stuff as an explanation of our existence, of an existence of our universe.


Anyway, during last lecture from Quantum Mechanics we heard depressing news. I cannot stop thinking about it.

When we look at the world classically we can make statements that it has zero energy, in Quantum world there is always some energy. 
Systems always oscillate at least a bit. So now if we have a space and even it seems empty then it will have infinite amount of those small energies. 
We also know that the general relativity implies that all the forms of energy gravitate, and if we have a infinite energy then we have infinite mass which leads to infinite gravity. 






And BOOM! 

If that was true then our universe would collapse in an instant.

This collapse is not a problem, because well it hasn't happened.
The problem is that I am studying a theory that we successfully use in everyday life (all modern technology was possible because we understood quantum mechanics). But yet same theory cannot completely explain why our universe is still around.

I might have got it all wrong, but it bothers me a lot.

Well next week will bring me probably something new to worry about, since our universe if full of mystery.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

look on the bright side


I really like "Life of Brian" by Monty Python but I wouldn't recommend it to those who do not like sense of humor that laughs at everything, religion including.
Nevertheless, the song in the end of this movie is great! 

"Bight Side of Life"


Always look on the bright side of life.
 [whistling]
 Always look on the light side of life.
 [whistling]
 If life seems jolly rotten,
 There's something you've forgotten,
 And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
 When you're feeling in the dumps,
 Don't be silly chumps.
 Just purse your lips and whistle. That's the thing.
 And...
 Always look on the bright side of life.
 [whistling]
 Always look on the right side of life

...

Here is what happened in the morning that started very good day for me.

As always I was late in the morning.

It all started that I obviously slept too long, 
But then I were in a bathroom too long, 
I were dressing up too long, 
Eating my breakfast too long, 
Brushing my teeth way too long 
And definitely run too fast for my bus.

While crossing the street on which my bus stop is, I saw my bus!
I have speeded up, slipped and crushed flat all my body on the ground and my backpack landed just above my head. 
I thought, "That really aches."
Tried to stand up and continue to my bus that was just one bus length away from me. But couldn't and fall on the ground again.
I was very lucky and my bus hasn’t waited for me, even I am sure the driver saw me laying there. Anyway...
Thanks to that a man from a car that was stopped by my body on the ground asked me if I am all right and where I am going.
 I got a ride to the university even it wasn't at all on his way, he actually had to check where my campus is because he didn't know the way.
My Danish is not great but I had a decent 20min chat with that gentleman. 

I met a nice person that helped me even I wasn't in a hurry and it wasn't on a way, which is just wonderful, isn't it?

I have arrived earlier than ever to the university, and checked injuries. 
One could say that nothing happened to me, even my little accident looked pretty badly. 

I managed to do a lot of study before my class.
I had great day because I got great discussions with 3 people and I think understood and learnt a lot from them.

I heard about very interesting place and I might be moving to a new apartment very soon.

All my bones are in pain, but even for a second I haven't had a moment that I felt sad about my morning crush on the ground.



And...
 Always look on the bright side of life.
 [whistling]
 Always look on the right side of life
 [whistling]

...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

mysterious notebook

My advanced quantum mechanics notebook with notes from 2 weeks of lectures went missing.
I have checked everywhere at home and it is not there.
Yes, I have checked my backpack too.
Nothing.
Last night I gave up, went to bed. Had a lot of nightmares... just kidding.
In the morning I went to the library and asked if maybe I left it there.
My conversation with librarians:
L: "How big is your notebook?", "Like this?". Showing me address booklet.
Me: "No, it is bigger with notes from lectures."
L: "Like this?". L asked while showing me A4 format.
Me: "Well, I do not know. Maybe like this, or maybe smaller."
L: "Is your name on it?"
Me: ”Well, I do not really know. I do not remember."
L: "Do you know how it looks? Yellow, green ...”
Me: "Well, I really do not remember, but I know I’ve lost it. I do not know even where I could have left it, I've just thought maybe in the library?"
L: "So maybe you know when you lost it?"
Me: "I am not sure, maybe last week because I had it on last Wednesday during my lecture, but I do not really know."
Librarian makes a phone call.
L: "If we have found it we gave it to Information desk, go there and ask."
Me: "Yes, thank you."
I was walking away.
L: "But, do you remember at least what is written in your notebook, ha-ha."
Me: "Ha-ha, well this I actually think I do."
So, now I just have to go and have the same conversation with people at the Information desk.


Update: September 19th 2013

I still haven't found it but here is how it looks like. How could I have forgotten that it has periodic system on?
Anyway, it should be now way easier to find it.


Monday, September 16, 2013

bus stories 2

I've finished classes the other day and had meeting with friends in the city. I went to the bus stop and stood under the roof. I've asked a girl if the bus I've intended to take already went or is it coming soon.
She answered that she is not sure but there should be one coming soon. I've just said "I really hope I haven't missed it", smiled to her, and kept waiting.
A second after she just decided to stand 4m away from me in a rain even the bus wasn't on a horizon.
My questions is:
 Was she really so afraid that I will keep talking to her that she would rather stand in a rain?
I mean I am chatty but I didn't know I am scary? Hahaha.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

decisions

I do not think I am any good example in making thought through and responsible decisions.



However, who decided what decisions are good or bad?

And what it really means "responsible decisions"?

Well whenever I want to find out about something, I jump straight into it. It is not like I am not afraid. I am, I am panicking like anyone else or maybe even more than others because I know myself and I know I am going to try it, I am going to do it. My curiosity won't let me just leave it.

As anyone I get enthusiastic about million things, why I choose one of them above the other is hard to say, but I do not fear difficulties that come with any change.

Being ready for difficulties it is not enough, the most frightening is that I have to decide on one particular path. Choosing one means missing out on others, or does it?

Obviously I am afraid of choices I make now, I do not want to regret anything when I am older. One thing I am really afraid of is that I will be grumpy and frustrated... That is a huge pressure.

But following all the possible paths means you follow none.

So what I try to do is to take risks, follow some paths and abandon others. Sometimes I am following certain path just to prove that it wasn't the right one. Sometimes I even know it won't be my path, but still I try it just to be sure, just to not regret I haven't check it out. It might seem chaotic to some people but I try to think 'who cares'.

No one can make choice without feeling afraid. Even not making any decision because of lack of courage is a decision.

I believe that our brain is very powerful machine and it can analyze way more than we aware of, so I just listen to my subconscious part of brain, an "intuition". For some of you it might be following your heart, or listening to your soul, or to God, no mater how you call that wisdom voice I would recommend listening to it. I just think it is easy to over think stuff, so sometimes is better to just be spontaneous, or just sleep on it and see what seem right in the morning.

About big decisions well as long as you know what you want, and you aim to achieve it then eventually you will see that whole world bends, flexes, and curves to make a crazy path to get to your dream.

Decisions are even harder if you have to take another person into equation, well it is harder if you respect that person's freedom. But this one is a whole different topic called love.

As I said I am not the best in decision making, but I think I do what I can to cross out from equation things that I do not want to do. And I think the times when it went wrong taught me something, because nothing is ever completely wrong.




















I was inspired to write this post by the book I am still reading "Brida", I am terribly slow reader, and of course by a big danish chocolate pound cake (very fatty, a bit salty and very very chocolate'ish). 

A good cake is a necessity whenever you have to be a bit philosophical.


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

bus stories 1

8:00 am

I am in a bus towards university 
Bus is approaching a bus stop, and there is a girl a bit late for it... she saw a bus and started to run. Not very fast run but in my eyes impressive enough for such a early morning. She made it, we all felt like clapping our hands... well maybe just me... but she made something that killed my enthusiasm, she took the last smoke and through the cigarette she apparently was running with on the ground !? I wish she didn't, I wish I felt like clapping my hands and saying 'good job girl' and think that red cheeks add beauty to anyone... She stole it from me, not very nice of her, I think...

Anyway, it is quite cold here 10°C, but sunny and pretty! 
It is going to be a good good day :)

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Pakistani culture in Malaysia

Working with Pakistani boys in Malaysia gave me an opportunity to learn a bit about their culture. I am very grateful for that.

Very  quickly Biryani became my favorite dinner dish.
Biryani is a rise with ginger sauce and red chicken baked on fire!
Mniam!
(there are many versions of Biryani but generally its rise is fried or cooked separately from a thick sauce)



In one of cafeterias around the Universiti Teknologi Petronas one can get very nice Pakistani breakfast. It is very filling, and oily, but I like it a lot.


Cafeteria.
As a change to Malaysian Nasi Lamak I got to like also Pakistani food for breakfast.

Breakfast.

I got a present from a friend from Karachi, Pakistan. A modern version of traditional Pakistani outfit Kurti made by Sheep.



I have worn my Kurti to university, because after hours we planned to eat Raya dinner together with other students and professors from my department (Raya at university).



I have used my friend's scarf as dupatta, I wear it across shoulders which is a typical way of wearing it. One can easily wear Kurti as a shirt over jeans - and that is what I did.

A useful tip (that is probably only new to me) how to wash clothes like cotton Kurti. First of all hand wash, second of all if after washing you realize some unevenness in coloring then add a bit of vinegar to the next washing.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

last day in Malaysia

My last day in Malaysia I went shopping for souvenirs in Kuala Lumpur. I was very lucky that it was the Independence Day of Malaysia (31st of August).



My backpack was bigger than me... Generally my luggage was much heavier than allowed, had to ask for mercy to take my books back to Europe without paying 1000MYR fee. Thank you Malaysia for great 2 months!! :D