Avianto's Journal

I am back in Germany now, safe and sound. Just arrived this morning in Hannover and still suffered a jetlag. Germany still cold and damp but not as cold as Canada, of course. It was -9°C and thin covered snow street when I’m arrive.

Will write more after I get my rest. I already missed Canada =(.

I finished my research here in Canada, so even though this is a hard thing to do, I have to leave Canada. I have to finish my Master thesis back in Germany soon. S o o n.

I’ve only stay in Canada for 4 months but I kinda like it here. Other than the Canadian winter weather which is insanely cold and windy, I have nothing to complain. My research went very well, the place where I did my research was a really great place with lots of great talented people around, most of the people I’ve met are nice and friendly, sceneries are great, cities are beautiful especially Montréal, skating in the Rideau Canal was wicked experience and lots of nice things happening here. So really, I truly enjoyed being in Canada in general and Ottawa specifically.

I’m gonna miss this country… It may not the best place on the planet but it is one of the best in my personal note. I don’t know if I could come back here again but I definitely planned to come back. I love this place, it is an amazing place.

So I’ll be leaving Canada on Saturday afternoon from Montréal. So long Canada, hope to see you again!

… is actually a name for fossil mythicmyiid (that’s another word for moth) from Dominican amber.

When it comes to the Latin name of the species, scientist could be fun and wacky too. There are lots of Latin scientific name that actually doesn’t sound so “scientific” at all. Some are funny, wacky or just plain weird.

Some noteworthy are:

• Dissup irae, hard-to-see fossil eremochaetid fly.

• Vampyroteuthis infernalis, squid, translated to “Vampire squid from Hell”.

• Draculoides bramstokeri, spider, from Dracula’s author Bram Stoker.

• Metallichneumon neurospatarchus, ichneumonid wasp, “Neurospatarchus” translates as “Master of Puppets”.

• Dicrotendipes thanatogratus, chironomid aka. midge, “Thanatos” means death and “gratus” means grateful. Yes, it’s Grateful Dead.

• Galaxias gollumoides, fresh-water fish, named after Gollum because it has large eyes and was found in a swamp.

• Mantis religiosa, praying mantis.

• Hornia, meloid beetle, I have nothing to say.

This list coming from Mark Isaak’s fabulous website, Curiosities of Biological Nomenclature. The entry and the link is courtesy from reading Ottawa Citizen this morning.

January 24 is the crappiest day of the year, some experts says. According to Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen today, a British scientist has devised a mathematical formula for today’s condition:

[W +(D-d)] x TQ divided by M x NA.

W is the weather, D is debt minus the money (d) you earned in January. T is the time since Christmas and Q, the time since you lapsed back into your bad habits. Divide that by M, your low motivational level, and NA, the need to take action.

I believe this condition only applied to the 4 season countries. So if you are living in or nearby the equator, lucky you.

But isn’t it also weird today is the 21^st birthday of our beloved Macintosh?

For those who keep the score:

• Freedom: 27

• Liberty: 15

Full transcript or the very best segment. Sigh.