Stepping stones

Lost in constructions

2006-09-30T12:15:00.000+02:00

Well folks.....things have been hard at the lab lately.....working with molecular biology is like working blindfolded!!!! you only get results with patience, and a bit of good luck....
Life at the lab have been hectic these past few weeks, and it's only just recently that i see some light at the end of the tunnel.....constructing Lactococcus lactis mutants is not an easy task, it's considered as a difficult strain by many!!! i just hope my constructions will work out, and that i can start my real work by the end of october!! and if y'all are still wandering what my real work consists?......short reminder: bioflms....biofilms.....biofilms......that's only the only thing there is to know for now...besides, why bore you with details anyways??

As for my social life here in Paris.....nice guess......no progress.....lol...I've moved out of Vélizy and i'm currently a Massy resident.....yepp....i'll be there for my remaining years here....Massy is an OK place....i have an Opera and cinema just around the corner......the sport center, small shops and boutiques are not that far either, whats more, I live in the middle of a melting pot!!! Africans; Arabs, Jews, native French you name it! the whole world is at Massy.....lol....My studio, is quite cool too....I'm its very first tenant!! yes.....and i like the way it's built; it's not the common square type of studios, that we usually see, but has a modern touch to it....i'll need some interior design tips....but i know just the person to ask...Martine hope you're reading this ;)......i'll give you an idea of what it looks like as soon i take pictures......

Well i'm planning to buy an accoustic guitar and start playing again!!!! yes, i've made up my mind...God has given me a talent; so i'd better start using it....and this is for the PK people, i need the latest music that's being played during the youth meetings!!.....i need to keep up to date, especially if you'd like me to join you when i come back in December......i yearn to play again!!!! its been a long long time!

Ok i'll stop here for now......but in preview of what's to come, on this blog.....i'll post pictures of last summers Montreal expedition.....i was on safari.....in Canada....i know i know.....AGAIN.....

2006-08-04T23:07:00.000+02:00

September 11 9/11 Loose Change Part 2

more theories.....

2006-08-04T23:06:00.000+02:00

September 11 9/11 Loose Change Part 1

Interesting theories.....

Heat

2006-07-26T22:16:00.000+02:00

Temperatures are well over 30 degrees now…talk about good weather!! The thing is, what I miss the most is sandy beaches and a good swim in the ocean…..But no….i’m stuck in Paris for the time being….and instead of being outside enjoying this weather, you’ll probably find me in my lab, which is overheating by the way (close to 40 degrees on bad days) and we don’t have air conditioning…only a portable fan…but what’s the use if it keeps blowing warm air right!??!

Life here in Paris is pretty much routine now…only work work work…..i do meet up with some friends or share a pint with my fellow students occasionally…truth must be told, my second ‘home’ is my work place…
welcome to my world......geek world??

Working with the flame on like that just increases the temperature..especially when wearing your lab coat...hehehe.....can someone help me with some ice....

Won't be complaining in winter time though.....i'll move to the lab...hmm wonder where i'll put my matress....

World cup maths.....

2006-06-13T20:15:00.000+02:00

The world cup is well under way......and i'm having world cup fever!!! Despite Africa's loss in their games...i'm surprised of how well they managed to demontrate high class football....Especially Ghana and Togo....i'm really impressed!!! i'm a new Ghanaian fan......

But comming back to my main point....i'm sure you've heard people speculating about who is going to win this year's final....some say Germany, others England...some Argentina......but the truth lies in elementary mathematics.......to do this, we need to have all the cup winners since 1930:
1930: Uraguay
1934: Italy
1938: Italy
1950: Uraguay
1954: Germany
1958: Brazil
1962: Brazil
1966: England
1970: Brazil
1974: Germany
1978: Argentina
1982: Italy
1986: Argentina
1990: Germany
1994: Brazil
1998: France
2002: Brazil
2006:???????????

now if we add the years 2002 and 1962, years of Brazil's world cup victories, we get 3964......
Beleive it or not, this number could be used to perdict this year's world cup winner!!!!
Brazil won on that day!!!........still won't beleive me?? try substracting 3964 with 1958.....you get 2002......yes Brazil won in that year too.....hmmm......incredible is it?? well take 3964 and substract it with 1970, another Brazilian year.....we get 1994 a brazilian year!!!!.......I know i know.....you'll say that this magic number (3964) only works with Brazil.....It also works with Germany as well: 3964-1974 (German victory)= 1990 German victory.......In the case of Argentina, 3964-1978 (Argentinian victory) = 1986 (Argentinian victory)!!!!!

So why not say that this year Brazil is going to win?!?!?! lol

Saskatoon

2006-06-05T11:47:00.000+02:00

Once upon a time in a little place called Saskatoon....
Here are sights and sounds....mabye not sounds...of Saskatoon and it's counrtry side...Saskatchewan is a beautiful place....but very flat i'm afraid.....hehe...enjoy!!

One of many Saskatoon bridges.......

Saskatoon University!!! the campus is bigger than any University Campus in Norway!!! it also has a Synchrotron center!!! imagine that!!!!

Saskatoon river.......
Another bridge.......
Saskatoon castle........ehh.. i mean hotel...one of the first built in this city....

On our way to Moosejaw...a small town in Saskatchewan...nice scenery

the only hills you'll ever find in Saskatchewan!!!

Some more scenery.....if only you could imagine the cloud of musquitos bugging us.....it wasn't easy taking these pictures....!!! RESPECT

Makes you wanna skinny dip?.......lol...
Spooooookyyy............I know what you did last summer......."I'll Huff and i'll Puff and I'll blow your house down!!!!" hehehe lol....

My love......naturally beautiful, naturally gracious....
Crescent Park in Moosejaw......beautiful park with bandages on trees......please don't ask...don't ask...
Crescent Park......relaxing isn't it....

There you have it folks.......Hope you enjoyed these as much as i did!!

9 more days ....

2006-04-30T16:28:00.000+02:00

Just nine more days before my week off from work!!! i can't wait....
So far i've been working on an article....and to tell you the truth it's not an easy task....there's always new reults to put in and analyse.....hopefully it will be done by the end of may... Besides tat the weather is quiet nice nowadays, although it's a bit cooler today with heavy showers. Nevertheless, we've had temperatures exceeding 24 degrees celcius this week!!

Summer is just around the corner....finally!!

Proverb of the day (Ewe proverb-Ghana) : "A kitten can catch only a baby mouse"

Translation: Always do what you can and have a realistic estimation of your abilities. Avoid overestimation of your powers.

Pk ....

2006-04-29T12:16:00.000+02:00

Here are friends i left back home....Apparently all is quiet in Trondheim where gatherings & kebabs are as popular as ever......

quote of the day: " When friends meet, hearts warm"

a couple of weeks

2006-03-30T18:11:00.000+02:00

So close and yet so very far..... i'm feeling lonley right now.....and i only wish to see my familly and friends back home......yes i'll be coming home soon!! but just for a few days in Easter.......I'm also really looking forward in seeing my Love, Martine, in a couple of weeks...how could i live without her??? it's time for us to make new memories and take more pictures.......like the one here below.....AHH GOOD TIMES.....good times.....=)

7 more weeks....just 7 more weeks...and counting....

Quote of the day: "True Love never grows old"........

Back in Paris...without a scratch...

2006-03-27T19:24:00.000+02:00

Well i'm back.....came back yesterday evening, after a long trip; or rather a long waiting time at different airports.....Guys!! never take Lufthansa!! they'll be waisting your time!!!!
Anyways, life in Leipzig was somewhat depressing and scary......depressing due to the fact of the whole East Germany atmosphere, i had the impression that the people there are never smilling....never.....and that's so sad.....Scary because of the guys shaved heads...and Boots...and attitude........i never imagined things could be so scary....now i know....Seriously!!! i was stared at by everyone!!! like if they've never seen an African before!!!!! i'm sure i'll be the talk of the town for weeks to come...lol...... here are some pictures

Find the outlier in this picture............

Leipzig's tallest building.......owned by a local TV station...shame....could have been a nice 5 star hotel!!

Memories from the past.....is it just me or is that Lenin's big head???

Hmmm.......some cheap imitation of Trafalgar square???
Leipzig's Opera hall.......the guy there looks lost though......
Me, on Leipzig's imitation of Karl Johannes Gata........no comments.....

The Saussige man.....Would you guys beleive me that this guy stood at the same spot the entire day!!!! ......yes, the heater is supported by a rod!! and don't ask me where he gets the heat from!!! Solar pannels?!!? can't see any!!!

My Goodness!!!........no !!! not again!!!!.........Sieg!!!!!! Sieg!!!!!!!!!!

Leipzig's face lift.......i mean renovations...

Fact...the people at the job are there 24/7!!!!!! no jokes!!! the World cup is just around the corner you know....

Ati......I am itellingi you.....ini Germanii buildings ari ini Golduu!!!!

small details........

Thomaskirke.........the place where Bach used to "Hang out" with his pipe....i mean organ.....whatever......
"Itz Tru....Itz Tru....Barrrrr uzd tu play zi organ Hierrr ja ....ja...........Und du? Wo kommer du aus????"

Leipzig's central station...Hauptbahnhopf......it was quite nice being in there....it's bigger than
Oslo S!!!!!

The final count down!!!!.......this Town is going to host teams such as.....France...Angola.....Iran....Serbia....Germany....Australia...etc....

Nam Nam!!!! Das ist Ekstragross original thuringer bratwurst!!!!! don't be fooled by them looks!!! these bad boys are delicious!!!!!!!

The NERD infront of his poster..........

My fellow researcher...Stathis from Greece....
Night life......at an Irish Pub......and what good way of enjoy it with a nice refreshing Guiness!!!!! "Guiness is good for you!!!!"

Irish Pub....Irish guy...this is Eoin Syron.......Nice Chap!!!.....full of Irish spirit.......

And Irish charm......this is another PhD student.......Mariangela....from Italy......

Stathis and I ......

Ok.....that's it folks!!!!

Ich bin ein Leipziger

2006-03-21T21:03:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow....big biofilm conference in Leipzig Germany.... I'm so looking forward to see and listen what others have come up with their research on biofilms....might even make important contacts.... don't worry guys..i'll give you a short preview of Leipzig...but remember...No way on earth will i be a tourist!!! hehehe ...... consider me as a visitor...lol...hehehe...

I'll be going there with another fellow PhD student from Greece, and my two supervisors...All of my work will be presented as a poster communication......i won't be orally presenting it, but i'll just stand in front of it, and eventuallytry to answer any questions that arises....

I'll have to wake up pretty early to catch my train to the airport which leaves at 5: 06......I won't even consider getting a ride from that junk mobile....lol....

Quote of the day: " Seeing is different than being told "

Late for work....

2006-03-18T11:51:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was a weird day.......the car that was supposed to take us to work, just wouldn't start!!! i don't know if i should call that car a piece of junk.....we've been having problems getting it started for weeks now every morning....spending minutes trying to have it running.....and when it does start, the driver would just hit on the gass pedal, and not on the clutch.....result?.....loud noise!!! only loud noise!!!! this car has probably replaced most of our neighbor's morning alarms!!! yes, the driver passed the driving test just two months ago......so you guys can imagine just how frightning it can be .....especially when sitting in front!!!!
Even my superviser at work noticed my concerned , he said that my face looked pale from fright ever since i came to work with that car..... and he's right, coming to work with that car is a survival test in its own.....

So why can't i use other means of transportation?? ......hmmm......i don't know with you guys, but taking three trains to work every morning is not what i call an ideal way to go to work....especially if that journey takes something like 1 hour and a half ....by car it's only 30 minutes (give or take....due to morining traffic)

So coming back to my story...i had to take the train yesterday...and since the train time table changes after 08:00 am, i ended up finding my office at around 10:00 am and not 08:30 as expected......the funny thing, the driver did manage to get to work before me, yes, using that same car.....the battery were eventually replaced with a new one!!!!! ahhhhhh talk about frustration!!!!!!!

Quote of the day:

" When your neighbor's horse falls into a pit, you should not rejoice at it, for your own child may fall into it too." Yoruba proverb

Eat…sleep… and biofilms….

2006-03-14T22:49:00.000+01:00

that’s all I ever do these days!! The thing I once called “a life” have long disappeared. The funny thing is that i have no regrets of this lifestyle, which I’m being accustomed by the day. Working at lab these past months have given me joys for the accomplishments and disappointments for some of the bad results….I’ve learned that research is not easy…and it will never be.....

I got the chance to breath and get my mind off work one Thursday evening, I think it was two weeks ago ( where’s my concept of time??? What’s today’s date??)…Arve and Kirsti were in town, and we made up of lost time. It was great having to meet them and all, they made me realize that I’m missing out on the sight seeing aspect of Paris!! There are just loads of things to see and experience in this city…If only time was on my side!!

Oh well ….i’ll just have to make time…and start taking pictures!!....

Proverb of the day: "Do not vacillate or you will be left in between doing something, having something and being nothing"
- Ethiopia

M* ...for Martine

2006-01-31T07:37:00.000+01:00

The L Word

2006-01-28T19:11:00.000+01:00

Wow ...can't remember the last time i was here....even found a spider web somewhere.....
To tell you guys the truth, a lot has been happening to me lately, I've been blessed with Love these past few weeks....not the kind of love that's being shown on TV, movies or other types of Media, but the kind of Love GOD himself gave us as a gift....1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us:

Love is kind and Patient,
never jealous, boastful,
proud, or rude.
Love isn't selfish
or quick tempered.
It doesn't keep a record
of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth,
but not in evil.
Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful,
and trusting
LOVE NEVER FAILS!

People out there should be constantly reminded of this definition of the L word and its deep significance....The L word symbolises free will.....the will to surrender one's will, to sacrifice one's desires, to place duty, fidelity and trust above all, to put oneself last.....I haven't realised the true meaning of this word until i met M*....thank you M* and may God bless you!!

Quote of the day/ month :
"Love speaks, even when the lips are closed"

2006-01-15T21:27:00.000+01:00

Wish you were here?

2006-01-06T17:50:00.000+01:00

The Million Dollar question: what is this Tower called??

L'Arc de Triomph.......it costs 18 euros to get underneath the Arc.....imagine!!! 18 Euros!!!

La Seine.....dirty......dirty......nice bridge though....
Tour boats.......sounds great....but the weather was lousy....to much cold winds......

At the Eiffel Tower......but where is the Tower??? and why are there few tourists?? The tower is just above us....and its not the Tourist season......

Ground zero....Eiffel Tower.....Did you know it costs 3, 80 euros just to use the stairs!!! imagine what the lift would cost....do your maths.....

Notre-Dame by night...could someone remind me to get a better camera....
Notre-Dame Cathedral .....Lies!!!! Quasimodo was nowhere to be seen!!.......

Unfortunately, my batteries died and i couldn't taken more pictures.....lucky for you guys huh?!?! these pictures are boring!!!! hehehe.......i'll have to work on my poor photographic skills.....

Proverb of the day:

The man who has bread to eat does not appreciate the severity of a famine.

Explanation :
Because friendship is pleasant, we partake of our friend's entertainment; not because we have not enough to eat in our own house......one to think about.....Never take friendship for granted....

Happy Holidays!!

2005-12-30T14:39:00.000+01:00

Back from Montreal, and I miss it already!!! The past 6 days in Canada were incredible!! Don’t think I had so much fun….So how’s Montreal like? The climate is pretty much the same as in Trondheim, with stronger winds. As for the scenery, the houses are pretty much built the same way as in America. The people have a strange French accent! I had a hard time figuring out what was being said...

I must however admit that the purpose of me being in Canada had nothing to do with being a tourist, but visiting old family friends and bonding with a special someone. The Lord has blessed this trip as far as safety is concerned (I just don’t like long flights, especially when it involves crossing deep oceans...) and has also blessed me in an indescribable way; never have I felt this way before...I pray that he’ll continue to shine his bright light on this path of mine and of M*’s path, which he has now placed right next to mine…

Proverb of the day: "Do a thing at its time and peace follows it" (Mandinka)

MIA

2005-12-19T13:28:00.000+01:00

I was abducted....abducted by aliens....
what can i say? what's my excuse for not being able to write something this past month?? the truth is i really had a hard time trying to get access to the internet......i either didn't have internet at the lab, or had restricted access where i'm staying right now.....all in all, my disappearance was not voluntary!!! I'm now writing from my office at work...yes i finally have my own computer!!! after how many weeks?!

My arrival in Paris was great, although i was hit by some kind of depression after my first week.....call it home sickness, the blues or anything you like =) i was hit by a number of things....first of all by the fact that i was far from my familly and friends, second by the huge anount of work awaiting me, by all the people counting on me and my success in three years..., by the crowded streets, the huss and fuss in the subways....rush hours....the expensive food......and, i never imagined myself saying this.......no brunost!!!!!!!!

My work is now well under way, eventhough i'm not really working with my project, i'm basically working on another project which is a kind training...so far results are great...hope things will go as smoothly in the near future...If things goes well; I'll be attending a conference on Biofilms in Leipzig, that sounds great....if they give us a green light, I'll be working on a a big poster and maybe even a presentation with 5 other sutends and researchers...

Enough about work......i'm sure people are wandering where i'm staying right now.....well, i share a small appartment with another person, a collegue from work...i'll be staying there until end of june...the rent is considerably cheap and the shops and metro are not that far off....

For those of you wandering when i'll be coming back, all i can say is, sometime next year....i won't be coming back for Christmas and new years....I'll spending Christmas in Montreal/Canada with old firends....i'm basically going this week....i can't wait!!!! Something good might come out of it...who knows....;).....

That's all folks!!!! for the time being.....

Proverb of the day:
"Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped"

deep.....very deep......

The final count down

2005-10-27T16:02:00.000+02:00

I'm now done with my packing, but why is it i feel that i'm forgetting something?? i always feel this way after packing up......

Anyways, yesterday was my last band jamm at PK I'm really going to miss this group!! and on top of that, I'll miss guitar playing too, 'cause I won't be bringing it with me this time ... this may explain the reason why I feel I'm forgetting something....What would i do without my guitar?? i'll probably try singing for a change ( yikes!!)

One more day before "D-day" remaining...i'll have to wake up early tomorrow morning; at 04:30 am!!!

Quote of the day: "Chicken egg cannot turn its hen over" ( Liberian Proverb)

Meaning: This is an advice to some young people who by their book knowledge, might claim to know better than their parents.....This proverb could also be used as a lesson to Christians who instead of humbling themselves and begging for God's forgiving grace, they tell God what they want Him to do for them....

Packing

2005-10-26T01:25:00.000+02:00

I've started packing for my trip on friday....for those who don't know me that well.., I'm a lousy packer!! I mix everything up, and that's the least of my worries!!! The last thing i don't want, is to have forgotten my favourite jeans or my lucky boxers!!!!

Had to confirm my flight today...guess I'll be travelling on an e-ticket....it's kind of wierd, especially when used to travelling with conventional tickets!!! This transition to the technological world is maybe for the best...all I need is my credit card; no way of loosing your tickets... but what if I get mugged??

Two days left before" D-day"....What will await me in France??

Quote of the day: The best way to eat an elephant in your path, is to cut him into little pieces (African proverb)
Meaning: The best way to solve a problem is to solve it bit by bit...

Baby steps.....

2005-10-25T00:51:00.000+02:00

Finally, my own blog!!
Quite an accomplishment for a guy who has no idea, or experience in computer technology; but as the saying goes, there's a first time for everything....

I really hope this blog page will keep you informed and posted, as you follow my footsteps on this bumpy narrow road we humans like to call LIFE...

Quote of the day: "A bird is in the air but its mind is on the ground" (Mandika proverb)
Moral of the proverb: well, always keep in mind that wherever you are, or whatever you've become in life, it is important to rememeber where you came from and what is important.