A fierce horned owl with wings spread wide and flapping menacingly, glares down with it's slanted beady eyes over a dangerously sharp, pointed beak. Long, wickedly curved talons hover ominously, ready to swipe down and make a quick, grim grab. He casts an eery shadow over his hapless victim, there's no place to run, the denouement of the predator-prey game.
His doomful fate anear, a tiny mouse stands with feet braced apart, head thrown back proudly, tail at attention and hand held up flashing an expletive 'Last Act of Defiance'.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Thursday, October 07, 2004
![I'm PEACH colored roses. [[ cute , sweet, & thoughtful ]] What about you?](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tt5hdsV3IYs1a4bqzKEJ3IOeY1IWnO_T__yBdneFq7WRs2qo_elb6dzlaK_3YYhpo7j_9ax-IkEtQrlzWr1B65UaVUUUmsWrQn9aVlwU5th3QR7curNGueL5IfWk0p3r2FfIle=s0-d)
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Making Strides
October is Breast Cancer awareness month. Cancer is so prevalent that it's hard pressed to find someone who hasn't had it affect themselves or a loved one. Sometimes it seems cancer is around us too much. CIBC recently had their Run for the Cure marathon in Vancouver where people had the option of wearing a sign that shows who they're running for. It's touches something in you to realize how many people this disease has affected, how many loved ones taken away too soon. But memories persist and this is why we continually strive to find the cure and make medical breakthroughs. We run for loved ones but we also have to live for them.
For woman, of all cancer incidences, 32% are expected to be breast cancer and has the highest rate of incidence in North America. It is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer among women and the second leading cause of death behind lung cancer. Lifetime probability of getting breast cancer is 1 in 7. Studies done by National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program shows that non-Hispanic white, Hawaiian, and African women are at the highest risk. Asian/Pacific Islander groups and Hispanic women have the lower risk levels with the lowest among Korean and Vietnamese women. But for anyone who's taken statistics, these are based on population averages and doesn't take into account individual factors such as family history, reproductive history, and lifestyle. The risk increases with age and it can affect _anyone_.
Early Detection is key in breast cancer. Yearly mammograms highly recommended for women age 40 and above. A clinical breast examination should be part of your periodic health exam, every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and older. As kinky as this sounds, women should know how their breast normally feel. This way they're able to tell if anything is abnormal, or doesn't feel right. Self examination can be done easily, when you're taking a shower for example. Hey, you're naked anyways! But don't panic over every bump. Not everyone's boobs are the perfect globes of beauty you see in pinup girls, and theirs are probably bought anyways. About 9 out of 10 breast lumps are not a sign of cancer. However, 90% of breast cancer are first brought to notice by women themselves or by their partner.
In evolution class, I read a journal article on why breast cancer is more common in North America vs other places such as Africa. They looked at number of pregnancies and lactation period and pinpointed it to hormone levels. North American women have moved away from being labelled the homemaker to establishing career first, family later sort of attitude. As is, women these days usually wait until they're around 30 before giving birth and even then, the average children per household is about 2. In other societies, women give birth constantly and nurse their young for years. Even after their own child is weaned, they will help nurse other babies in the community. So in their lifetime they'll only go through menstruation maybe 10-20 times at the most. Most of us by the time we reach our 20s have already surpassed that rate and we're all too familiar with the hormonal battleground that goes on inside of us, the mood swings and all the other unwanted symptoms. It's this fluctuation of hormones that may contribute to our susceptibility to breast cancer more than our counterparts half a world away.
But in life as well in science, nothing is conclusive. That article made me think that as we're evolving socially, culturally, our bodies can't keep up. Compare the feminist woman nowadays to what it was a century ago and yet our body functions has pretty much remained the same. Evolution after all doesn't happen overnight. It can't always keep up with human progress or even human destruction. Of course that's a whole different arguement right there. Had more thoughts but think I'll finish it another time.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Kooky Strangers
In my bid to know more people, I've been making an effort to chat up a stranger a day. Unfortunately, I come across as a neurotic freak who likes to talk too much, which is a total misnomer for me since I can win the prize for shyest person around. I'm looking at this exercise as also a way for me to practice my social skills so that in any social setting I will have more than algae, biology stuff, or anything remotely 'bookish' to talk about. Actually shy isn't the right label either since I've been known to be kind of kooky sometimes. It's just hard for me to make everyday conversations, to participate in small talk since I usually have nothing small to say, hehe. I remember last Christmas, I was at this party function where I met a film major who was attending SFU too. After the requisite school talk (how many years been there, sucky class scheduling, the tomb-like quality of the AQ) conversation sort of petered out. So I started asking him about his major and what made him decide on film as an area of study...
Film guy: ...*yadda yadda film is so fun, innovative, inspiring, yadda yadda*...
After several minutes of this, he made some remark along the lines of those "science people" and how science can't be as "fun" and how we never venture outside of our labs in SSB (south science building).
me: *blink* ...
Science... not fun?... *boggle*
In a bio class I took couple of years ago, we studied algae. Algae, the green mucky stuff we see all the time in fish tanks, the kelp in the sea, the murkiness in ponds. We're lucky, we live in the part of the West Coast with the most kelp diversity, since this is the region where the northern species meet the southern ones. Anyway, that particular lab was the one that got me truly interested and a bit obsessed in microscope work. All parents should buy their kids a dissecting microscope. There was an algae sample we looked at, Hydrodictyon. At first glance, it's a nondescript meshy mess of green stringy stuff, but under the microscope, it's a wondrous geometrical pattern of hexagonal shapes. Okay, one might ask what _is_ so special about that? For whatever reason, the sample I had contained a bigger hexagonal-shape mesh. A closer look showed that the smaller net of hexagonal shapes folded upon itself to form a rod like cell and that in turn became a side of a bigger hexagonal pattern. There seem to exist 2 levels of organization! The image reminiscent of fractal art! Still, one might ask again what _is_ so special about that? Just think about it, that such a tiny organism, each cell only about 100 micrometer in size is able to coordinate itself into 2 levels of organization. As a higher level organism, I can barely coordinate matching socks. It makes me want to know more, the mystery behind it, is it chemistry, or electrical activities of the cells that causes them to fold their net to form a bigger net?
As you might have guessed by now, film guy did not stick around. Too bad, he might have been inspired to do a documentary on the magical world of green algae. I spent the rest of the evening chatting with a friend on the problems of construction work in the winter and how they compensate for the expanded wood due to winter wetness.
Film guy: ...*yadda yadda film is so fun, innovative, inspiring, yadda yadda*...
After several minutes of this, he made some remark along the lines of those "science people" and how science can't be as "fun" and how we never venture outside of our labs in SSB (south science building).
me: *blink* ...
Science... not fun?... *boggle*
In a bio class I took couple of years ago, we studied algae. Algae, the green mucky stuff we see all the time in fish tanks, the kelp in the sea, the murkiness in ponds. We're lucky, we live in the part of the West Coast with the most kelp diversity, since this is the region where the northern species meet the southern ones. Anyway, that particular lab was the one that got me truly interested and a bit obsessed in microscope work. All parents should buy their kids a dissecting microscope. There was an algae sample we looked at, Hydrodictyon. At first glance, it's a nondescript meshy mess of green stringy stuff, but under the microscope, it's a wondrous geometrical pattern of hexagonal shapes. Okay, one might ask what _is_ so special about that? For whatever reason, the sample I had contained a bigger hexagonal-shape mesh. A closer look showed that the smaller net of hexagonal shapes folded upon itself to form a rod like cell and that in turn became a side of a bigger hexagonal pattern. There seem to exist 2 levels of organization! The image reminiscent of fractal art! Still, one might ask again what _is_ so special about that? Just think about it, that such a tiny organism, each cell only about 100 micrometer in size is able to coordinate itself into 2 levels of organization. As a higher level organism, I can barely coordinate matching socks. It makes me want to know more, the mystery behind it, is it chemistry, or electrical activities of the cells that causes them to fold their net to form a bigger net?
As you might have guessed by now, film guy did not stick around. Too bad, he might have been inspired to do a documentary on the magical world of green algae. I spent the rest of the evening chatting with a friend on the problems of construction work in the winter and how they compensate for the expanded wood due to winter wetness.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides, and when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness. It is not excitement. It is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just "being in love", which any of us can convince ourselves we are.
~Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Roots gives life to plants, digging deep into the earth, searching for the essential nutrients that the plant needs to survive, to exist. Without roots, we are susceptible to being caught by the wind and blown to the far corners of this world, lost and alone. Roots give us stability, security. Roots let us stretch our branches and yet maintaining our contact with what gives us life.
In him my roots were planted and I was allowed to grow, to flourish, to exist in a way that I have never before. And now I can feel myself withering inside. It is like looking at the sun and wondering why each day the light grows dimmer, why everything has lost its wonder. There is nothing left to anchor me, to give me existence. And now I can only long for the wind to come and carry me away to some unfeeling place, away from all pain, away from all that hurts.
~Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Roots gives life to plants, digging deep into the earth, searching for the essential nutrients that the plant needs to survive, to exist. Without roots, we are susceptible to being caught by the wind and blown to the far corners of this world, lost and alone. Roots give us stability, security. Roots let us stretch our branches and yet maintaining our contact with what gives us life.
In him my roots were planted and I was allowed to grow, to flourish, to exist in a way that I have never before. And now I can feel myself withering inside. It is like looking at the sun and wondering why each day the light grows dimmer, why everything has lost its wonder. There is nothing left to anchor me, to give me existence. And now I can only long for the wind to come and carry me away to some unfeeling place, away from all pain, away from all that hurts.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
A love never forgotten
Around this time last year I was in TO for my grandmother's funeral. I can't even begin to put into words what my grandmother meant to me. I never knew either of my grandfathers, my paternal grandmother is distant but my mom's mom, my pau-pau was everything a grandmother should be.
My earliest memory of my pau-pau was before my family immigrated to Canada. I was young and I used to sleep over at my grandparents house. She and my gung-gung would fold me paper boats, string it together and I would drag it around the apartment behind me. After my grandfather died, she immigrated to Canada too to stay with our family. She was full of love for life and for her family. I always knew that my eldest male cousin was her favourite but she loved all her grandchildren very much. She started to learn English and even gave herself an English name, Amy. Learning some English, she would then buy my sister and I the Western food that we usually prefer to eat like "ta-o" (tacos) and "pitta" (pizza). She valued her independence, I remember once during a snowstorm, she took a bus down to Richmond even though my parents were worried about her slipping and falling on the icy streets.
Her life was filled with color and vitality. She took pleasure in everything, from sharing breakfast with our family dog, Button, to finding a bag that was bright pink and just large enough to hold the newspaper she would get at the local cornerstore every morning. Everyone loved her, her curry and homemade hot sauce was famous and all asked for her recipe. She was a genius with knitting needles and extremely resourceful. And she loved Button, even after she moved to TO, she would ask about Button often.
I've always envied people with extended family who lived nearby, who always had noisy family get togethers. In Vancouver it was just our small family and my grandmother but she was all I needed. When my family moved back to Hong Kong after over a decade in Vancouver, my grandmother moved to TO. I missed her terribly. There were always the summer visits but it wasn't the same anymore. The last time I was with her was a very special time. For the first time in many many years, the whole family, ours and my uncles were together in one city, a family reunion of sorts. That summer, she also taught me how to crochet a scarf and I spent a whole week with a crochet hook under her patient and guiding hands. That was my last memory of her, the shared pride in a finished scarf, ironing it out and then modelling it for the family to see.
This time last year, she was admitted into the hospital with intestinal problems and died in less than 24 hours. It was fast but painless. I remember a phone call in the in the evening where my mom told me Pau-Pau had been admitted into the hospital for surgery and that I should start planning a trip to TO to see her. The very next morning, I got another call from my mom telling me that Pau-Pau was gone. Her death reflected how she lived her life, full to the very last minute.
At the funeral, I look at her in the casket, she looked so peaceful, so beautiful, I couldn't believe she was gone, she's only sleeping. I touched her hand and it was cold, so cold. I couldn't stop crying but when it came time to deliver my eulogy, a calm settled over me. This was my last gift to her as a grandchild, to share my love for my pau-pau to others, to show them who she was and how much she meant to us. My mom gave me Pau-Pau's wedding ring. It's a simple, plain band of gold, the finish dull from 50 years of wear. Inside is engraved my grandmother's name and the date of marriage. I wear it often, sliding it onto my finger, feeling the smoothness and strength of the band. I wear it and remember how it looked on her hand, her hands soft, small but strong, capable of raising her grandkids with infinite love.
Grief never goes away, when you lose someone you love, there is a scar in your heart that remains there forever. Little things like hearing her favourite hymn, a flash of color, the smell of curry brings back multitudes of memories and memories help soften the pain. Memories remind me of the strong woman my Pau-Pau was and memories show me how life should be lived.
My earliest memory of my pau-pau was before my family immigrated to Canada. I was young and I used to sleep over at my grandparents house. She and my gung-gung would fold me paper boats, string it together and I would drag it around the apartment behind me. After my grandfather died, she immigrated to Canada too to stay with our family. She was full of love for life and for her family. I always knew that my eldest male cousin was her favourite but she loved all her grandchildren very much. She started to learn English and even gave herself an English name, Amy. Learning some English, she would then buy my sister and I the Western food that we usually prefer to eat like "ta-o" (tacos) and "pitta" (pizza). She valued her independence, I remember once during a snowstorm, she took a bus down to Richmond even though my parents were worried about her slipping and falling on the icy streets.
Her life was filled with color and vitality. She took pleasure in everything, from sharing breakfast with our family dog, Button, to finding a bag that was bright pink and just large enough to hold the newspaper she would get at the local cornerstore every morning. Everyone loved her, her curry and homemade hot sauce was famous and all asked for her recipe. She was a genius with knitting needles and extremely resourceful. And she loved Button, even after she moved to TO, she would ask about Button often.
I've always envied people with extended family who lived nearby, who always had noisy family get togethers. In Vancouver it was just our small family and my grandmother but she was all I needed. When my family moved back to Hong Kong after over a decade in Vancouver, my grandmother moved to TO. I missed her terribly. There were always the summer visits but it wasn't the same anymore. The last time I was with her was a very special time. For the first time in many many years, the whole family, ours and my uncles were together in one city, a family reunion of sorts. That summer, she also taught me how to crochet a scarf and I spent a whole week with a crochet hook under her patient and guiding hands. That was my last memory of her, the shared pride in a finished scarf, ironing it out and then modelling it for the family to see.
This time last year, she was admitted into the hospital with intestinal problems and died in less than 24 hours. It was fast but painless. I remember a phone call in the in the evening where my mom told me Pau-Pau had been admitted into the hospital for surgery and that I should start planning a trip to TO to see her. The very next morning, I got another call from my mom telling me that Pau-Pau was gone. Her death reflected how she lived her life, full to the very last minute.
At the funeral, I look at her in the casket, she looked so peaceful, so beautiful, I couldn't believe she was gone, she's only sleeping. I touched her hand and it was cold, so cold. I couldn't stop crying but when it came time to deliver my eulogy, a calm settled over me. This was my last gift to her as a grandchild, to share my love for my pau-pau to others, to show them who she was and how much she meant to us. My mom gave me Pau-Pau's wedding ring. It's a simple, plain band of gold, the finish dull from 50 years of wear. Inside is engraved my grandmother's name and the date of marriage. I wear it often, sliding it onto my finger, feeling the smoothness and strength of the band. I wear it and remember how it looked on her hand, her hands soft, small but strong, capable of raising her grandkids with infinite love.
Grief never goes away, when you lose someone you love, there is a scar in your heart that remains there forever. Little things like hearing her favourite hymn, a flash of color, the smell of curry brings back multitudes of memories and memories help soften the pain. Memories remind me of the strong woman my Pau-Pau was and memories show me how life should be lived.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
hester is...
Googlism for: hester
hester is a highly sought recruit
hester is not a tragic heroine
hester is ready to lead after national events
hester is both wild and passionate
hester is above the townspeople on a scaffold
hester is which makes it impossible for hester to live a happy normal life
hester is kind and giving
hester is an active performing artist for yamaha and a regular guest clinician
hester is the saxophonist with tos and betty webb
hester is the book's protagonist and the wearer of the scarlet letter that gives the book its title
hester is kept?
hester is not a name likely to ring many bells
hester is a consultant with hester
hester is still waiting to be implanted and hope to join the ci ranks towards the end of this year
hester is glad she is a lady
hester is released from her cell
hester is keeping the day gig
hester is the protagonist of the novel
hester is actively involved in translation on various levels
hester is the bain of a reporter's existence
hester is the same guy that brought butler's defense to its knees just two weeks ago
hester is the fallible human reality
hester is able to live is that she is so elegant
hester is condemned by the colony
hester is willing to endure
hester is board certified by both the american board of plastic surgery and the american board of surgery
hester is sure enough of herself that she feels that only when she is in the wide open space
hester is that she abases herself for a coward
hester is
hester is so happy that she has a buddy
hester is in an unhappy state
hester is the vice
hester is the ideal radical
hester is surprise that her husband has transformed to a mean evil person
hester is the 823rd most popular last name
hester is the founder & ceo of hester international
hester is stripped of all passion and humanity
hester is played brilliantly by kate winslet
hester is the frida kahlo of australian art
hester is modest in everything that she does
hester is poised to become a major poultry vaccine producer in the world
hester is finding that the busy season suddenly seems to go year
hester is a multi
hester is portrayed as the ultimate evil
hester is a highly sought recruit
hester is not a tragic heroine
hester is ready to lead after national events
hester is both wild and passionate
hester is above the townspeople on a scaffold
hester is which makes it impossible for hester to live a happy normal life
hester is kind and giving
hester is an active performing artist for yamaha and a regular guest clinician
hester is the saxophonist with tos and betty webb
hester is the book's protagonist and the wearer of the scarlet letter that gives the book its title
hester is kept?
hester is not a name likely to ring many bells
hester is a consultant with hester
hester is still waiting to be implanted and hope to join the ci ranks towards the end of this year
hester is glad she is a lady
hester is released from her cell
hester is keeping the day gig
hester is the protagonist of the novel
hester is actively involved in translation on various levels
hester is the bain of a reporter's existence
hester is the same guy that brought butler's defense to its knees just two weeks ago
hester is the fallible human reality
hester is able to live is that she is so elegant
hester is condemned by the colony
hester is willing to endure
hester is board certified by both the american board of plastic surgery and the american board of surgery
hester is sure enough of herself that she feels that only when she is in the wide open space
hester is that she abases herself for a coward
hester is
hester is so happy that she has a buddy
hester is in an unhappy state
hester is the vice
hester is the ideal radical
hester is surprise that her husband has transformed to a mean evil person
hester is the 823rd most popular last name
hester is the founder & ceo of hester international
hester is stripped of all passion and humanity
hester is played brilliantly by kate winslet
hester is the frida kahlo of australian art
hester is modest in everything that she does
hester is poised to become a major poultry vaccine producer in the world
hester is finding that the busy season suddenly seems to go year
hester is a multi
hester is portrayed as the ultimate evil
Saturday, August 07, 2004
coders' code of honour
I found out a friend already has Doom 3, albeit a pirated copy most likely. He invited Chris and I over to view the spankiness of the Doomish game.
M: tell Chris he can come over to see it!
C: I don't want to hear about it!!!
me: why not? it's _Doom 3_!
C: because it's PIIIIIRAAAAATED!!!!!
For those like my clueless-computer-illiterate self all programs, games, computer-related-stuff are just pretty images on a screen that's suppose to come all 'pre-assembled' and dumbified for installation. We're not aware of all the 1s and 0s that people talk about or the amount of programming behind each feature. To me, software companies just pop them out like the proverbial rabbit. Unfortunately I have seen the light or some such since going out with Chris. Just to hear him talk about the aesthetics of a computer program is like hearing an art connoisseur rhapsodize about the beauty of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Every line has to have perfect indentation, the lengths in perfect alignment, the paragraphs, the code, the flow, this and that.... *tunes out* *what? they don't just copy and paste?!?*
I think the majority of all coders have this ingrained code of honour regarding pirated software. They appreciate all the hardwork put into each program because they've experienced it, the thousands of hours in writing and debugging even though the prices charged by companys are ridiculously overpriced to the rest of us. I always wonder if this sense of integrity extends to other things such as music or movies. Despite the exorbitant prices if you really think about it, the networking of the web reaches millions. A pirated copy could potentially be downloaded by anyone with internet access which translates into huge profit losses even though the software is extremely popular. All this probably trickles back down to the coders who'll suffer in a sort of domino effect. This is not to say if I'm ever faced with the choice of shelling out everything in my wallet for a piece of software vs getting a copy free on the net, that I would make the ethical choice. But after seeing Chris work overtime (and that's unpaid overtime) almost everyday the past 3 months trying to get a game out... I'm still not sure that'll sway my conscience *stare*. Maybe I should try taking a compsci course up at school.
On another note, I finished C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces. Excellent reading. It was, as one reader felt, a tale was being told to you instead of you reading a novel. It's basically a retelling of Psyche and Cupid but with a twist that puts the whole myth in an entirely new perspective that one wouldn't think of. It's a book that I finished in a night because I didn't want to break the rhythm of the story. It left me thinking and still thinking about all the imagery and allegory and it's pure genius. Written in the spirit of Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia except in a more sophisticated fashion it is an extremely profound read.
M: tell Chris he can come over to see it!
C: I don't want to hear about it!!!
me: why not? it's _Doom 3_!
C: because it's PIIIIIRAAAAATED!!!!!
For those like my clueless-computer-illiterate self all programs, games, computer-related-stuff are just pretty images on a screen that's suppose to come all 'pre-assembled' and dumbified for installation. We're not aware of all the 1s and 0s that people talk about or the amount of programming behind each feature. To me, software companies just pop them out like the proverbial rabbit. Unfortunately I have seen the light or some such since going out with Chris. Just to hear him talk about the aesthetics of a computer program is like hearing an art connoisseur rhapsodize about the beauty of Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. Every line has to have perfect indentation, the lengths in perfect alignment, the paragraphs, the code, the flow, this and that.... *tunes out* *what? they don't just copy and paste?!?*
I think the majority of all coders have this ingrained code of honour regarding pirated software. They appreciate all the hardwork put into each program because they've experienced it, the thousands of hours in writing and debugging even though the prices charged by companys are ridiculously overpriced to the rest of us. I always wonder if this sense of integrity extends to other things such as music or movies. Despite the exorbitant prices if you really think about it, the networking of the web reaches millions. A pirated copy could potentially be downloaded by anyone with internet access which translates into huge profit losses even though the software is extremely popular. All this probably trickles back down to the coders who'll suffer in a sort of domino effect. This is not to say if I'm ever faced with the choice of shelling out everything in my wallet for a piece of software vs getting a copy free on the net, that I would make the ethical choice. But after seeing Chris work overtime (and that's unpaid overtime) almost everyday the past 3 months trying to get a game out... I'm still not sure that'll sway my conscience *stare*. Maybe I should try taking a compsci course up at school.
On another note, I finished C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces. Excellent reading. It was, as one reader felt, a tale was being told to you instead of you reading a novel. It's basically a retelling of Psyche and Cupid but with a twist that puts the whole myth in an entirely new perspective that one wouldn't think of. It's a book that I finished in a night because I didn't want to break the rhythm of the story. It left me thinking and still thinking about all the imagery and allegory and it's pure genius. Written in the spirit of Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia except in a more sophisticated fashion it is an extremely profound read.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
flibbertawhatsa?
You flibbertigibbet, you!
I have learned something new and useless today. A word that I never knew existed and would have _never_ guessed existed. From submissions made to webster.com, here are the top 10 words...
2004 Top Ten Favorite Words
defenestration
serendipity
onomatopoeia
discombobulate
plethora
callipygian
juxtapose
persnickety
kerfuffle
flibbertigibbet
Have to admit, it'll be fun now using them on people. Hey you're such a callipygian male!
Ooooh or Don't piss me off or I'll defenstrate you! It's amusing because sometimes words just tickles me. It rolls of your tongue and teases your mind. Like pugnacious. I love that word. The way each syllable bounces out. And sometimes when I watch TV, some words pops at me to make an impression on my ears (Oscar de la Hoya or my favourite thus far, Jem'Hadar (yeah yeah, such a trekkie fan))
anyways, after that nerdy display, I'm calling it a night. Night you flibbertigibbets!
I have learned something new and useless today. A word that I never knew existed and would have _never_ guessed existed. From submissions made to webster.com, here are the top 10 words...
2004 Top Ten Favorite Words
defenestration
serendipity
onomatopoeia
discombobulate
plethora
callipygian
juxtapose
persnickety
kerfuffle
flibbertigibbet
Have to admit, it'll be fun now using them on people. Hey you're such a callipygian male!
Ooooh or Don't piss me off or I'll defenstrate you! It's amusing because sometimes words just tickles me. It rolls of your tongue and teases your mind. Like pugnacious. I love that word. The way each syllable bounces out. And sometimes when I watch TV, some words pops at me to make an impression on my ears (Oscar de la Hoya or my favourite thus far, Jem'Hadar (yeah yeah, such a trekkie fan))
anyways, after that nerdy display, I'm calling it a night. Night you flibbertigibbets!
naughty or nice
Is the saying 'nice guys finish last' always true? Woman for the past couple of centuries have been rallying for equal rights, standing behind the shield of feminism but if you look at the many relationships out there, why do they always fall for the bad guys? You have guys who abuse their wives, guys who are chronic cheaters, guys who treat their girlfriends extremely shabbily and yet, they always have a woman by their side. On the other hand, there are guys who are sweet and loving, who can cook, who can actually carry on an intellectual conversation past the chitchat into science, religion, politics and yet they're... womanless.
Why are woman attracted to the bad boys? Is it because they're so ingrained into that relationship, they can't let go and take a chance at finding something actually good and lasting? Or is it that they're drawn to the aura of evilness, like an adventure ride of sorts, like moths to a flame? And for those who _are_ in a loving relationship with a good man, do they secretly yearn for the thrill of something different?
As mammals, we're not exactly wired to be monogamous and yet that's what our culture has evolved to. I wonder how many are unsatisfied, unhappy, uncontent. Is this what leads to infidelity? In a case study I was reading on the mating and reproductive success of unokais (killers) vs non-unokais among Yanomamo men, it was found that the unokais were more successful. Of course one can't really draw a causal relationship from this since Yanomamo are a pre-modern population of people who valued ferocity and manliness. However, it did get me thinking, perhaps as woman, we may say we want the soft,tender, loving man who'll stay home and help take care of the kids when in fact, evolutionarily, our biological genes fall for the hunter, the guy who's a super macho and thinks he's all that and more.
And I'm just ending it here because this has been a messy entry and I don't know what I'm really getting at.
Why are woman attracted to the bad boys? Is it because they're so ingrained into that relationship, they can't let go and take a chance at finding something actually good and lasting? Or is it that they're drawn to the aura of evilness, like an adventure ride of sorts, like moths to a flame? And for those who _are_ in a loving relationship with a good man, do they secretly yearn for the thrill of something different?
As mammals, we're not exactly wired to be monogamous and yet that's what our culture has evolved to. I wonder how many are unsatisfied, unhappy, uncontent. Is this what leads to infidelity? In a case study I was reading on the mating and reproductive success of unokais (killers) vs non-unokais among Yanomamo men, it was found that the unokais were more successful. Of course one can't really draw a causal relationship from this since Yanomamo are a pre-modern population of people who valued ferocity and manliness. However, it did get me thinking, perhaps as woman, we may say we want the soft,tender, loving man who'll stay home and help take care of the kids when in fact, evolutionarily, our biological genes fall for the hunter, the guy who's a super macho and thinks he's all that and more.
And I'm just ending it here because this has been a messy entry and I don't know what I'm really getting at.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Guy/Chick flick
I just watched 'The Hot Chick' and I think I left some brain cells behind on the couch. You always hear the guys moan and complain whenever girls want to see a "chick flick" ala The Notebook, A Walk to Remember... Legally Blonde. After watching 'The Hot Chick' I don't think any guys can complain ever again about chick flicks! It's strange how our minds are wired so differently. Girls love the fluffy movies where we want to experience 2 hours of romance and mush and generally stuff that makes us go 'awwww!'... awwww. Guys just find anything to do with the nether bodily functions to be rollingly hilarious. This one part where Rob Schneider as a girl learning how to expell body fluids whilst standing had the guys watching the movie laughing like they'll never stop.
What is it about gross humor that tickles guys in general so much? I'm not denying that there are lots of girls out there who find this kind of humor just as entertaining but in my experience, it's mostly the guys who crack up the most over it. What happened to the old time comedy that relied on an actor's ability to convey humorous situations instead of having to fall back on the (and i guess infallible) pull-down-the-pants and see what grossness happens.
This reminds me of a talk I had with a guy friend of mine. I wanted to know why guys when hanging out together (like on camping trips or out swimming in the lake) like to strip into their birthday suits and take pictures naked. Or the best one yet, setting flatulence on fire. I'm thinking about all the girls nights I've had where the highlight is chocolate cake and some mushy movie or we get all gossipy and share guy stories. Maybe this is why when guys and girls get together in a relationship, there's so much incompatibility in meshing of abilities to hangout the way they're used to. This is probably the reason that relationship books like "Men are from Mars..." are such bestsellers.
What studios need to do is find the perfect fluff flick that caters to both sexes. Cotton Candy for both genders. Or the cure for cancer can be found.. Whichever comes first.
What is it about gross humor that tickles guys in general so much? I'm not denying that there are lots of girls out there who find this kind of humor just as entertaining but in my experience, it's mostly the guys who crack up the most over it. What happened to the old time comedy that relied on an actor's ability to convey humorous situations instead of having to fall back on the (and i guess infallible) pull-down-the-pants and see what grossness happens.
This reminds me of a talk I had with a guy friend of mine. I wanted to know why guys when hanging out together (like on camping trips or out swimming in the lake) like to strip into their birthday suits and take pictures naked. Or the best one yet, setting flatulence on fire. I'm thinking about all the girls nights I've had where the highlight is chocolate cake and some mushy movie or we get all gossipy and share guy stories. Maybe this is why when guys and girls get together in a relationship, there's so much incompatibility in meshing of abilities to hangout the way they're used to. This is probably the reason that relationship books like "Men are from Mars..." are such bestsellers.
What studios need to do is find the perfect fluff flick that caters to both sexes. Cotton Candy for both genders. Or the cure for cancer can be found.. Whichever comes first.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
You see on TV all the time about unlikely friendships between certain animals. A gorilla snuggling with a kitten, tigers with dogs... and so forth. It's all designed to make us go awwww and look in amazement at the ability of animals to actually bond beyond their own kind. Right now I'm trying to help instigate a friendship between Chris' dog and a bunny. Or more like trying to create a sort of 'not run around killing each other' kind of bond. So far it seems to be working. Bunny doesn't look scared of doggy anymore. He even grooms himself and eats when doggy is sitting right next to him. He'll even come over to sniff around doggy if I keep doggy really still. But is it really possible for dogs to suppress their natural urge to chase anything that moves or for rabbits to suppress their natural fear of anything big and loud? It's just like how human relationships work sometimes. Compromise, give and take. Suppress the urge to run or give chase.
Anyway, Chris and I make a funny pair in the evenings when we take both the dog and Bunny out for a walk. Both on purple leashes. And to think I used to find it funny when people took their ferrets out for walks.
Anyway, Chris and I make a funny pair in the evenings when we take both the dog and Bunny out for a walk. Both on purple leashes. And to think I used to find it funny when people took their ferrets out for walks.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
what passed me?
I went to Caleb's high school grad and found myself overcome with emotions. It was such a mix of feelings. On one hand, I was so proud of the man he's become and on the other, it was like seeing him for the first time as all grown up.
I've known Caleb since he was 3 or 4. My first memory of him was seeing him in his little red and blue jumper, holding a little nerf football and his security blanket. We fell into an easy relationship, like that of a bigger sister and little brother. And he was just that, my little brother for the next 13 years or so. We had great times together on family vacations, just hanging out, at church. Of course he did all the gross stuff that little brothers are oft to do... come to think about it, he still does all that! But somewhere when I hit my teens and then he hit his teens we drifted apart for a bit. 5 years difference is a lot during puberty and then I left for university. First couple years of university was such a tough learning experience for me. But then isn't it for everyone? But almost 6 years later, 3 different schools, countless of moves back and forth all over I'm back in Vancouver and have been bunking it out with Caleb's family since Christmas.
I've known Caleb since he was 3 or 4. My first memory of him was seeing him in his little red and blue jumper, holding a little nerf football and his security blanket. We fell into an easy relationship, like that of a bigger sister and little brother. And he was just that, my little brother for the next 13 years or so. We had great times together on family vacations, just hanging out, at church. Of course he did all the gross stuff that little brothers are oft to do... come to think about it, he still does all that! But somewhere when I hit my teens and then he hit his teens we drifted apart for a bit. 5 years difference is a lot during puberty and then I left for university. First couple years of university was such a tough learning experience for me. But then isn't it for everyone? But almost 6 years later, 3 different schools, countless of moves back and forth all over I'm back in Vancouver and have been bunking it out with Caleb's family since Christmas.
Monday, June 21, 2004
education dilemna
I spent almost all day helping a younger friend study for the provincials, Biology, English, History... And afterwards, it made me realize how crappy the education system really is. Take Biology for example, it's all basically forced memorization. They state a fact but doesn't explain _why_ or _how_. In the DNA translation process, DNA apparently "make a bubble" and then whooaaa it's translated. Okay, not that simplistic but almost! What happened to actual learning? And not to mention what happened to helping kids learn to take a problem and break it down to solve it? We did a practice provincial and he got more than half the multiple questions wrong. When I read over the practice exam, it was all questions he knew! But the phrasing, the way it was asked, they don't know how to interpret that. Where is the free thinking? The application of learned material?
The current education system doesn't teach the kids how to think, how to apply knowledge. They cram stuff into their heads and the kids are able to parrot it. BUT if you take the information they 'know', give it to them in a different format, they can't handle it and it's as if everything you've taught them all went *poof*!
I took each question he got wrong and broke it down for him and he was able to do it, which means the knowledge is there. The critical thinking process of working through problems, comprehending it and dissecting it into understandable parts should be taught. Let the kids work through stuff themselves instead of just stating it as dry fact. Let them think of different and novel ways to look at a problem and solve it! Let them learn how to ask intelligent questions! I find that this happens in university too. You haven't been taught the skills needed in high school and yet that is expected of you when you get into a post-secondary institution. People always tell me that they don't like biology because of the sheer amount of memorization. But lots of things in biology makes sense. There are main concepts and the beautiful thing is, it applies to many aspects in different fields. Yet lots don't see the correlation. I'm not saying there's _no_ memorization to be done. There are and I've complained about it countless of times myself but if you have learned the concepts and know how to apply it, the memorization itself is so easier because now it'll make sense! Retention is another problem *looks for her gingko*
And that's just biology. English is another ballpark. Writing skills, proper usage of grammer, essay formats. I edit papers where "there" and "their" are way too interchangeable and the whole paper was full of "I think...", "To me....", "In my opinion..." I always tell them, I don't care what you think, be assertive, just state it! Kids can go through their _whole_ high school life without having these corrected. I'm amazed actually at how many who don't know the correct use of "there" and "their"!
All this makes me think, can there be changes and will anyone actually put forth the effort to make changes? Somehow, I doubt the answer will satisfy me.
*Rant rant rant*
The current education system doesn't teach the kids how to think, how to apply knowledge. They cram stuff into their heads and the kids are able to parrot it. BUT if you take the information they 'know', give it to them in a different format, they can't handle it and it's as if everything you've taught them all went *poof*!
I took each question he got wrong and broke it down for him and he was able to do it, which means the knowledge is there. The critical thinking process of working through problems, comprehending it and dissecting it into understandable parts should be taught. Let the kids work through stuff themselves instead of just stating it as dry fact. Let them think of different and novel ways to look at a problem and solve it! Let them learn how to ask intelligent questions! I find that this happens in university too. You haven't been taught the skills needed in high school and yet that is expected of you when you get into a post-secondary institution. People always tell me that they don't like biology because of the sheer amount of memorization. But lots of things in biology makes sense. There are main concepts and the beautiful thing is, it applies to many aspects in different fields. Yet lots don't see the correlation. I'm not saying there's _no_ memorization to be done. There are and I've complained about it countless of times myself but if you have learned the concepts and know how to apply it, the memorization itself is so easier because now it'll make sense! Retention is another problem *looks for her gingko*
And that's just biology. English is another ballpark. Writing skills, proper usage of grammer, essay formats. I edit papers where "there" and "their" are way too interchangeable and the whole paper was full of "I think...", "To me....", "In my opinion..." I always tell them, I don't care what you think, be assertive, just state it! Kids can go through their _whole_ high school life without having these corrected. I'm amazed actually at how many who don't know the correct use of "there" and "their"!
All this makes me think, can there be changes and will anyone actually put forth the effort to make changes? Somehow, I doubt the answer will satisfy me.
*Rant rant rant*
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