Friday, December 05, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
How to Talk to Girls
Are you smart enough to take over a girl's heart?
Leave it to a nine-year-old to get down to the basics about how to win victory with a girl. How to Talk to Girls is for boys of all ages—from eight to eighty—and the girls they like.
So read this book and then you're ready. Good luck!
Tips:
Comb your hair and don't wear sweats
Control your hyperness (cut down on the sugar if you have to)
Don't act desperate
Alec Greven is nine years old and is in the fourth grade. He is a published author.
So ladies, I'm don't eat sweets, or act hyper, or wear sweats.......give me a call......
Leave it to a nine-year-old to get down to the basics about how to win victory with a girl. How to Talk to Girls is for boys of all ages—from eight to eighty—and the girls they like.
So read this book and then you're ready. Good luck!
Tips:
Comb your hair and don't wear sweats
Control your hyperness (cut down on the sugar if you have to)
Don't act desperate
Alec Greven is nine years old and is in the fourth grade. He is a published author.
So ladies, I'm don't eat sweets, or act hyper, or wear sweats.......give me a call......
Thursday, November 20, 2008
How stupid can Sarah Palin be? (Sarah Palin gets pranked)
Seriously, not knowing the Bush Doctrine, not being able to name a single newspaper, not being able to name another Supreme Court decision other than Roe v. Wade, not knowing that Africa was a continent and not a country, not knowing that the bailout isn't about the healthcare system........but this........this has just got to be the mother of all cherries on top:
For someone who can see Russia from her house, she can also see Canada. So, assuming her skills in foreign policy would include working with Canada, she apparently has no idea who the Prime Minister of Canada is. In this prank call, the pranksters says that the Prime Minister of Canada is Stef Carse, who in actuality is a pop singer from Quebec. The impersonator also says he has been closely following the U.S. election through his special advisor "Johnny Hallyday," the French pop icon, and Palin makes no connection. In fact, I'm flabbergasted that she got duped for nearly six minutes.......Oh Sarah.....The Idiot to Nowhere.......
Maverick
For someone who can see Russia from her house, she can also see Canada. So, assuming her skills in foreign policy would include working with Canada, she apparently has no idea who the Prime Minister of Canada is. In this prank call, the pranksters says that the Prime Minister of Canada is Stef Carse, who in actuality is a pop singer from Quebec. The impersonator also says he has been closely following the U.S. election through his special advisor "Johnny Hallyday," the French pop icon, and Palin makes no connection. In fact, I'm flabbergasted that she got duped for nearly six minutes.......Oh Sarah.....The Idiot to Nowhere.......
Maverick
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Classic Carlson
I'm taking psychology this semester and participated in a Personality and Online Social Networking study for some extra credit points (Yes, they still exist in college!). A part of the study involved a simple 7 minute chat period where two participants just try to get to know each other while the interaction is filmed. Here's what transpired:
Me: "Hey, my name is _____."
Girl: "Hey, nice to meet you. I'm _____."
Me: "So what year are you?"
Girl: "I'm a sophomore in CBS. What about you?"
Me: "I'm a junior in Carlson."
Girl: "Oh really? My roommate is in Carlson."
Me: "How does she like it there?"
Girl: "Oh she loves it. I never see her do any homework. All I see her doing is typing these emails."
Girl: "I asked my roommate why she's writing so many emails, and she said it's not emailing, it's called networking."
Girl,while rolling her eyes: "It seems like all they do is networking at Carlson."
I nearly fell off my chair laughing. Oh Carlson......Anywhere but here
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Masquerade Ball
Apparently, I am attending a Masquerade Ball this Sunday, which I was just notified. Brilliant.....what the hell does one wear to a masquerade ball? In my memory and movie watching experiences, people show up at Masquerade Balls wearing very fancy clothes like this guy:
with a mask that looks like this:
and I usually look like this:
This will have to be one EXTREME makeover to turn me into this:
God help me!
with a mask that looks like this:
and I usually look like this:
This will have to be one EXTREME makeover to turn me into this:
God help me!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
am ISFJ, aka Mother Teresa
Guardian™ Portrait of the Protector (ISFJ)
We are lucky that Protectors make up as much as ten percent the population, because their primary interest is in the safety and security of those they care about - their family, their circle of friends, their students, their patients, their boss, their fellow-workers, or their employees. Protectors have an extraordinary sense of loyalty and responsibility in their makeup, and seem fulfilled in the degree they can shield others from the dirt and dangers of the world. Speculating and experimenting do not intrigue Protectors, who prefer to make do with time-honored and time-tested products and procedures rather than change to new. At work Protectors are seldom happy in situations where the rules are constantly changing, or where long-established ways of doing things are not respected. For their part, Protectors value tradition, both in the culture and in their family. Protectors believe deeply in the stability of social ranking conferred by birth, titles, offices, and credentials. And they cherish family history and enjoy caring for family property, from houses to heirlooms.
Wanting to be of service to others, Protectors find great satisfaction in assisting the downtrodden, and can deal with disability and neediness in others better than any other type. They are not as outgoing and talkative as the Provider Guardians [ESFJs], and their shyness is often misjudged as stiffness, even coldness, when in truth Protectors are warm-hearted and sympathetic, giving happily of themselves to those in need.
Their reserve ought really to be seen as an expression of their sincerity and seriousness of purpose. The most diligent of all the types, Protectors are willing to work long, hard hours quietly doing all the thankless jobs that others manage to avoid. Protectors are quite happy working alone; in fact, in positions of authority they may try to do everything themselves rather than direct others to get the job done. Thoroughness and frugality are also virtues for them. When Protectors undertake a task, they will complete it if humanly possible. They also know better than any other type the value of a dollar, and they abhor the squandering or misuse of money. To save, to put something aside against an unpredictable future, to prepare for emergencies-these are actions near and dear to the Protector's heart. For all these reasons, Protectors are frequently overworked, just as they are frequently misunderstood and undervalued. Their contributions, and also their economies, are often taken for granted, and they rarely get the gratitude they deserve.
Mother Teresa, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Steward, and Tsar Nicholas II are examples of Protector Guardian style.
Perhaps a career in nonprofit? What will Carlson say about that......
We are lucky that Protectors make up as much as ten percent the population, because their primary interest is in the safety and security of those they care about - their family, their circle of friends, their students, their patients, their boss, their fellow-workers, or their employees. Protectors have an extraordinary sense of loyalty and responsibility in their makeup, and seem fulfilled in the degree they can shield others from the dirt and dangers of the world. Speculating and experimenting do not intrigue Protectors, who prefer to make do with time-honored and time-tested products and procedures rather than change to new. At work Protectors are seldom happy in situations where the rules are constantly changing, or where long-established ways of doing things are not respected. For their part, Protectors value tradition, both in the culture and in their family. Protectors believe deeply in the stability of social ranking conferred by birth, titles, offices, and credentials. And they cherish family history and enjoy caring for family property, from houses to heirlooms.
Wanting to be of service to others, Protectors find great satisfaction in assisting the downtrodden, and can deal with disability and neediness in others better than any other type. They are not as outgoing and talkative as the Provider Guardians [ESFJs], and their shyness is often misjudged as stiffness, even coldness, when in truth Protectors are warm-hearted and sympathetic, giving happily of themselves to those in need.
Their reserve ought really to be seen as an expression of their sincerity and seriousness of purpose. The most diligent of all the types, Protectors are willing to work long, hard hours quietly doing all the thankless jobs that others manage to avoid. Protectors are quite happy working alone; in fact, in positions of authority they may try to do everything themselves rather than direct others to get the job done. Thoroughness and frugality are also virtues for them. When Protectors undertake a task, they will complete it if humanly possible. They also know better than any other type the value of a dollar, and they abhor the squandering or misuse of money. To save, to put something aside against an unpredictable future, to prepare for emergencies-these are actions near and dear to the Protector's heart. For all these reasons, Protectors are frequently overworked, just as they are frequently misunderstood and undervalued. Their contributions, and also their economies, are often taken for granted, and they rarely get the gratitude they deserve.
Mother Teresa, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Steward, and Tsar Nicholas II are examples of Protector Guardian style.
Perhaps a career in nonprofit? What will Carlson say about that......
Monday, August 25, 2008
New (School) Year Resolutions
I will not:
- procrastinate.
- Youtube my life and mind away.
- shuffle around like a zombie due to sleep deprivation.
- be a typical college student and consider microwaving a hot pocket as "cooking".
- dress like a hobo. Am going to business school after all. Must look presentable.
- sit around for 8 hours straight. Will exercise even though did not sign up for a PE class.
- always put first things first. not procrastinate.
- watch educational videos instead of youtube videos.
- get lots of sleep. apparently skin rejuvenates during sleep. attempt to look 21 forever by using lotion & sleep. (no, I am not Dorian Gray)
- listen to my dentist. floss and rinse mouth. convince myself am drinking expensive vodka instead of burning green acid.
- cook myself nutritiously balanced meals and not speed dial 1-800-mom's cooking and have weekly deliveries (though they can drop off groceries).
- use up stored fat from an entire summer of 3.5 months x 30 days x 8 hours = 840 hours of sedentary action.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Olympic Drama
If anyone has been watching the Beijing Olympics, I'm sure they'll agree that this year's Olympics games has had more drama than all the seasons of Desperate Housewives combined.
Watching the Olympics on NBC definitely gives the games a more American flavor--namely, Michael Phelps and Misty May + Kerri Walsh (and endless commercials!!!). For the entire first week and a half, NBC showed nothing but programming of a half-naked Phelps, and the even more scantily clad duo of May & Walsh. Olympics invites thousands of athletes from all over the globe, but NBC made it feel like only three athletes were competing. Everything else was just filler before Phelps swam at the Water Cube, or beach volleyball at Chao Yang Park. Even so, Phelps ensured that everyone stayed glued to his/her television sets, as he out touched his rivals by 0.001 seconds to win gold, and continue his quest for 8 golds. Chinese people have it right, 8 is the lucky number, not 7. Why else do you think the Olympics started on 8.8.08 at 8:08pm?
I was cheering Phelps on until I screamed myself hoarse. His eight gold medals are nearly a third of the US total gold medal haul. Without him, maybe China would have had a chance to top the medal stands and ascend to the pinnacle of sporting superpower.
With the games held in Beijing, it is only natural for the China v.s. USA competitions to be fierce and widely promoted. The United States, who has long dominated the sporting world and won the favor of judges, has lost a little ground. For the first time in a long time, the United States has gotten the short end of the stick in some of the USA v.s. China competitions (or so says NBC commentators).
Women gymnastics between China and the USA has be fierce even before the games began. Rumors circulated around that 5 out of the 6 gymnasts on the Chinese team were underage. NBC couldn't emphasize enough how short the Chinese girls were, how young the girls looked, and how obvious that they were underage. Seriously, when you are under 5 foot tall, it's difficult to look exactly old and mature. In addition, the age eligibility rule really has no place in such a sport. If you limit the age to be 16 for gymnastics, then I see no reason why Tom Daley (14) should be allowed to compete in diving either. Jumping off a 10m platform isn't exactly safe either! China has produced official documents that has satisfied the IOC and the FIG. Whether you believe the Chinese gymnasts are underage or not is now irrelevant, so quit whining and just watch them perform.
The team competition began with USA and China going toe to toe, with China pulling ahead after the uneven bars after superb performances by He Kexin, Yang Yilin and Jiang Yuyuan. Then Cheng Fei proceeded to fall off the balance beam, a 0.8 mandatory deduction. In an instant, the lead put up by China after two rotations was gone, and if the USA held it together, they would be favorites going into the last rotation on floor exercise with two world champions on floor in their arsenal. However, just as soon as Cheng Fei lost the lead for China, Alicia Sacramone's beam mount/fall gave the lead back. Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson kept it close with strong performances on beam to pressure China into the final rotation.
However, by qualifying first, China had the luxury to watch the US perform first on floor, and boy did the USA deliver. Alicia fell twice; Nastia and Shawn both stepped out of bounds, and Bela Karolyi was going ballistic. China won with strong, solid performances by Cheng Fei, Deng Linlin, and Jiang Yuyuan. I think I forgot how to breath during the entire competition.
Speaking of Bela Karolyi, I have come to hate that man. His arrogance and vicious accusations make it laughable when NBC interviews him and use him as the scapegoat to talk smack about China. According to Bela, everything China did was unfair, the judges incompetent, and everyone is biased in favor of China. Bob Costas (NBC host) simply just nods in agreement, though you know he wants to say more.
Just as the team competition was thrilling, the real drama started with the apparatus finals. The vault competition was punctuated with a fall by Cheng Fei (three time reigning World Champion on this apparatus) on her own maneuver (the Cheng Fei vault). Even so, her A score was a 6.5 and she outscored Alica Sacramone to secure a bronze medal. Bela Karolyi was outraged, calling the judges unfair and stupid. His argument was that because the FIG tried to eliminate favoritism from judges by not allowing any of them to come from the same country as the competitors, they have no idea what they are doing. He, and other the other NBC commentators, pointed out especially that the South African, New Zealand judges come from a country with no gymnastics medalists, and therefore has no idea how to judge routines. Ummmm....you really can't have it both ways Bela.....if they had a Chinese judge in the group, I'm sure you would have said it was favoritism that helped Cheng Fei win. Sore loser.
Then it got even more interesting in the uneven bars, as He Kexin and Nastia Liukin battled it out. Both girls received a 16.725 but Liukin was ranked second. Liukin, after her routine, looked especially confused as she asked her dad why she was ranked second even though she got the same score as Kexin? Papa Liukin had difficulty doing the math as well, as he furrowed his brow in bemusement while listening to Martha Karolyi's explanation in Russian-English. It's rather simple, from a math point of view. See Link
Once again, NBC commentators said they would have scored Liukin's routine much higher had they been judging. If anyone had been listening to their comments, then all the American gymnasts would have gotten 16's and everyone else a 0 from all the deductions from leg separations, missteps on landings, and blah blah blah blah blah. Just put a sock in it. I thought Bela Karolyi would have had a coronary after this result but Bela is still at it....."He Kexin is underage, incompetent judging from Australia who is so so behind in terms of civilization that you would think he/she still lived in a cave and danced around a bush, stupid tiebreak rule, Chinese bias, dumb computer system, etc."
And to top it all, China versus USA in baseball got more physical than a boxing match. Two Americans players came barreling down the plates at top speed before tackling the Chinese catchers. The Americans aren't exactly pixies and having a 200lb man tackle you is a lot of F = ma. The Chinese paid back the favor by throwing a pitch at the American hitter's head. According to NBC, the American hitter has a slight concussion but made no mention on the injuries of the Chinese players (who is suffering from a torn ligament and in need of reconstructive surgery). No bias at all, cough cough. Watch the fights here
P.S I'm not the only one hating Bela Karolyi. See Washington Post's sports columnists rant on Bela:
Hate: Bela Karoly. The now silver-haired Godfather of Olympic gymnastics is a camera-hogging crybaby, constantly moaning about the judging, and always when it involves the U.S. team. He was in full Bela-bluster in the NBC studio over the "rip off" that cost American Alicia Sacramone a bronze in the vault, but she clearly took it with a lot more sportsmanship than he did. Last week, he also whined about underage Chinese gymnasts winning the team gold over the U.S., and he may well have been right, but it surely smacked of Ugly Romanian/American sour grapes. And gymnastics play-by-play man Al Trautwig just plain talks too much, though we did love his use of "fahrklempt," a Yiddish expression (roughly translated as being choked up with emotion) to describe one of the competitors, surely an Olympic first.
Watching the Olympics on NBC definitely gives the games a more American flavor--namely, Michael Phelps and Misty May + Kerri Walsh (and endless commercials!!!). For the entire first week and a half, NBC showed nothing but programming of a half-naked Phelps, and the even more scantily clad duo of May & Walsh. Olympics invites thousands of athletes from all over the globe, but NBC made it feel like only three athletes were competing. Everything else was just filler before Phelps swam at the Water Cube, or beach volleyball at Chao Yang Park. Even so, Phelps ensured that everyone stayed glued to his/her television sets, as he out touched his rivals by 0.001 seconds to win gold, and continue his quest for 8 golds. Chinese people have it right, 8 is the lucky number, not 7. Why else do you think the Olympics started on 8.8.08 at 8:08pm?
I was cheering Phelps on until I screamed myself hoarse. His eight gold medals are nearly a third of the US total gold medal haul. Without him, maybe China would have had a chance to top the medal stands and ascend to the pinnacle of sporting superpower.
With the games held in Beijing, it is only natural for the China v.s. USA competitions to be fierce and widely promoted. The United States, who has long dominated the sporting world and won the favor of judges, has lost a little ground. For the first time in a long time, the United States has gotten the short end of the stick in some of the USA v.s. China competitions (or so says NBC commentators).
Women gymnastics between China and the USA has be fierce even before the games began. Rumors circulated around that 5 out of the 6 gymnasts on the Chinese team were underage. NBC couldn't emphasize enough how short the Chinese girls were, how young the girls looked, and how obvious that they were underage. Seriously, when you are under 5 foot tall, it's difficult to look exactly old and mature. In addition, the age eligibility rule really has no place in such a sport. If you limit the age to be 16 for gymnastics, then I see no reason why Tom Daley (14) should be allowed to compete in diving either. Jumping off a 10m platform isn't exactly safe either! China has produced official documents that has satisfied the IOC and the FIG. Whether you believe the Chinese gymnasts are underage or not is now irrelevant, so quit whining and just watch them perform.
The team competition began with USA and China going toe to toe, with China pulling ahead after the uneven bars after superb performances by He Kexin, Yang Yilin and Jiang Yuyuan. Then Cheng Fei proceeded to fall off the balance beam, a 0.8 mandatory deduction. In an instant, the lead put up by China after two rotations was gone, and if the USA held it together, they would be favorites going into the last rotation on floor exercise with two world champions on floor in their arsenal. However, just as soon as Cheng Fei lost the lead for China, Alicia Sacramone's beam mount/fall gave the lead back. Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson kept it close with strong performances on beam to pressure China into the final rotation.
However, by qualifying first, China had the luxury to watch the US perform first on floor, and boy did the USA deliver. Alicia fell twice; Nastia and Shawn both stepped out of bounds, and Bela Karolyi was going ballistic. China won with strong, solid performances by Cheng Fei, Deng Linlin, and Jiang Yuyuan. I think I forgot how to breath during the entire competition.
Speaking of Bela Karolyi, I have come to hate that man. His arrogance and vicious accusations make it laughable when NBC interviews him and use him as the scapegoat to talk smack about China. According to Bela, everything China did was unfair, the judges incompetent, and everyone is biased in favor of China. Bob Costas (NBC host) simply just nods in agreement, though you know he wants to say more.
Just as the team competition was thrilling, the real drama started with the apparatus finals. The vault competition was punctuated with a fall by Cheng Fei (three time reigning World Champion on this apparatus) on her own maneuver (the Cheng Fei vault). Even so, her A score was a 6.5 and she outscored Alica Sacramone to secure a bronze medal. Bela Karolyi was outraged, calling the judges unfair and stupid. His argument was that because the FIG tried to eliminate favoritism from judges by not allowing any of them to come from the same country as the competitors, they have no idea what they are doing. He, and other the other NBC commentators, pointed out especially that the South African, New Zealand judges come from a country with no gymnastics medalists, and therefore has no idea how to judge routines. Ummmm....you really can't have it both ways Bela.....if they had a Chinese judge in the group, I'm sure you would have said it was favoritism that helped Cheng Fei win. Sore loser.
Then it got even more interesting in the uneven bars, as He Kexin and Nastia Liukin battled it out. Both girls received a 16.725 but Liukin was ranked second. Liukin, after her routine, looked especially confused as she asked her dad why she was ranked second even though she got the same score as Kexin? Papa Liukin had difficulty doing the math as well, as he furrowed his brow in bemusement while listening to Martha Karolyi's explanation in Russian-English. It's rather simple, from a math point of view. See Link
Once again, NBC commentators said they would have scored Liukin's routine much higher had they been judging. If anyone had been listening to their comments, then all the American gymnasts would have gotten 16's and everyone else a 0 from all the deductions from leg separations, missteps on landings, and blah blah blah blah blah. Just put a sock in it. I thought Bela Karolyi would have had a coronary after this result but Bela is still at it....."He Kexin is underage, incompetent judging from Australia who is so so behind in terms of civilization that you would think he/she still lived in a cave and danced around a bush, stupid tiebreak rule, Chinese bias, dumb computer system, etc."
And to top it all, China versus USA in baseball got more physical than a boxing match. Two Americans players came barreling down the plates at top speed before tackling the Chinese catchers. The Americans aren't exactly pixies and having a 200lb man tackle you is a lot of F = ma. The Chinese paid back the favor by throwing a pitch at the American hitter's head. According to NBC, the American hitter has a slight concussion but made no mention on the injuries of the Chinese players (who is suffering from a torn ligament and in need of reconstructive surgery). No bias at all, cough cough. Watch the fights here
P.S I'm not the only one hating Bela Karolyi. See Washington Post's sports columnists rant on Bela:
Hate: Bela Karoly. The now silver-haired Godfather of Olympic gymnastics is a camera-hogging crybaby, constantly moaning about the judging, and always when it involves the U.S. team. He was in full Bela-bluster in the NBC studio over the "rip off" that cost American Alicia Sacramone a bronze in the vault, but she clearly took it with a lot more sportsmanship than he did. Last week, he also whined about underage Chinese gymnasts winning the team gold over the U.S., and he may well have been right, but it surely smacked of Ugly Romanian/American sour grapes. And gymnastics play-by-play man Al Trautwig just plain talks too much, though we did love his use of "fahrklempt," a Yiddish expression (roughly translated as being choked up with emotion) to describe one of the competitors, surely an Olympic first.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
My Graduation Speech
It's been almost three weeks since ends of finals, end of what was a memorable four years at the Institute of Technology to say the least. Time seems to just blaze by when I was finally enjoying college, a semester in which I finally learned to balance work and play. A friend told me that he thought I worked hard and played hard, a compliment dear to my heart. Just a semester ago, the only part that suited me was the working hard part.
Looking back, I never realized how much I gave myself to earn my degree until I finished. I never thought getting a college degree would entail a roller-coaster ride of emotions. From the lowest point of depression so deep that I felt like my degree was like quicksand, and I was slowly but surely being suffocated by classes I no longer understood, homework I no longer knew how to do, and good grades I failed to get. It did nearly kill me for I no longer knew who I was. Before college, I was the straight A student from high school who was on a academic highway towards destination Stanford. Then I entered the U of M, thinking it was just a pit stop for continued success. Yet, this pit stop had me halted for nearly three and a half years. It was a time of gray skies and storms of tears that came howling out of me when everything seemed so overwhelming. I was paralyzed with fear of failure, and my greatest fear came true. In my first semester of college, I used my one time withdrawal to drop out of my introductory computer science class. I skipped quizzes in my multi-variable math class because I couldn't bear the thought of not knowing a single answer to the questions. By not being there, I could pretend that I was sick, an excuse for my fears. However, no matter how many quizzes I could skip, I had to show up for the final, and it was the longest three hours of my life. The white spaces beneath the questions seems to goad me, daring me to fill them in. I couldn't because I didn't know any of the answers. I was nauseated with fear and I was failing right then and there. Dark thoughts played through my head like a song on loop back, and I never felt so small, so insignificant. I was a ghost, going through the motions of attending class, but my spirit inside was shattered. I became invisible in front of the mirror and wanted to become invisible from all those around me. My parents tried to support me academically, but the emotional hurdle was one obstacle that I had to cross over on my own. I eventually got a C- in the class, and received a phone call from my adviser who suggested I should drop out of the honors program. My ashen face upon hearing the news made me look even more like the ghost I had become. I tried to find ways out, like by telling myself I hated the major, and that I was being forced by my parents. However, there is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction, and I realized that it had already expired because I was in the drivers seat.
I realized I was unhappy because my dreams and the wishes of my parents were on diverging paths. I also realized that I feared trying to change things or seemingly hard things (like my major) because I was afraid of failing. What if my efforts and hard work were futile, and that no matter how hard I tried, I still failed? It would leave deeper gashes than just not trying at all. However, by then, I had failed. There were circuits I didn't know how to build, homework that I had to come home every weekend to have my father help me do. Friends wanted to know why I went home every weekend, and every time I had to refuse weekend plans because of homework, I felt my insides crumble piece by piece. Eventually, friends stopped asking if I was around, and I had achieved my wish of becoming invisible.
Now in the words of JK Rowling, whose words sum up my thoughts but with a better vocabulary and better paid speech writers, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.
So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me, my degree. I held onto the belief that even though I might hate this degree and hate everything I am learning, I had to finish it to just to prove to everyone, but most importantly myself that I can achieve what I thought was impossible. Had I really succeeded at anything else or switched my major, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I would never be able to do. I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realized, and I had nothing to think about but to persevere and study. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
I know that most people didn't fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.
Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above rubies, like Vanessa. She offered me help when I had nothing to offer in return. For that, I will be eternally grateful.
The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more to me than any qualification I ever earned.
Given a time machine or a Time Turner, I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check-list of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyone’s total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.
So I did use a time turner, and decided to start my college career all over again by applying to Carlson. I know that I could still fail, but it is no longer something to be afraid of. I have welded together the once broken pieces of myself into something stronger. I found inner strength that I know will carry me forward in life, and so I shall walk, with confidence that I am no longer standing on the edge of me, but that I have arrived.
Monday, April 14, 2008
I'm A Power Ranger !?!
My childhood would have been so much more fulfilling if this was Power Rangers instead! Asians Rule!
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Social News
So, I got this email from facebook:
Social News for February 7, 2008
Here is what your friends think about...
... your strengths:
#10 most studious
#31 best to be stuck in handcuffs with
#33 most organized
... your weaknesses:
#85 most fashionable
#93 bravest
(#number represents your ranking among your friends in certain category)
Other social news
Changes in your ranks:
9 places up, now #10 most studious
6 places down, now #31 best to be stuck in handcuffs with
6 places down, now #33 most organized
10 places down, now #34 most talented
13 places down, now #42 smartest
How others compared you recently:
• "Who studies harder", you won 2 and lost 0 times.
I'm perfectly happy with the most studious ranking, it's what I do best :) But best to be stuck in handcuffs with? What does this say about me? Am I a person who's likely to go to jail? Or am I person who can bail you out of jail? Or maybe it's one of those questions like "If you could bring three things to a deserted island, what would you bring?" and people answer "Sunblock, drinking water, and Ben?"
As for my weaknesses, most fashionable? What's wrong with the glasses+sweater+dress pants+collared shirts+being asian = perfect nerd style equation? It's a tautology, and cannot be mathematically proven wrong!
As for bravery? Try benching the bar at the gym and nearly killing oneself without a spotter while people stop and stare......how do you get braver than that? :P
I protest!
Social News for February 7, 2008
Here is what your friends think about...
... your strengths:
#10 most studious
#31 best to be stuck in handcuffs with
#33 most organized
... your weaknesses:
#85 most fashionable
#93 bravest
(#number represents your ranking among your friends in certain category)
Other social news
Changes in your ranks:
9 places up, now #10 most studious
6 places down, now #31 best to be stuck in handcuffs with
6 places down, now #33 most organized
10 places down, now #34 most talented
13 places down, now #42 smartest
How others compared you recently:
• "Who studies harder", you won 2 and lost 0 times.
I'm perfectly happy with the most studious ranking, it's what I do best :) But best to be stuck in handcuffs with? What does this say about me? Am I a person who's likely to go to jail? Or am I person who can bail you out of jail? Or maybe it's one of those questions like "If you could bring three things to a deserted island, what would you bring?" and people answer "Sunblock, drinking water, and Ben?"
As for my weaknesses, most fashionable? What's wrong with the glasses+sweater+dress pants+collared shirts+being asian = perfect nerd style equation? It's a tautology, and cannot be mathematically proven wrong!
As for bravery? Try benching the bar at the gym and nearly killing oneself without a spotter while people stop and stare......how do you get braver than that? :P
I protest!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Random Acts of Kindness
The line was long. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts as they waited to be received at the UPS store counter. An elder lady had a letter in her hand. It looked liked a Christmas card. However, the stamp was crossed out with a marker. On the envelope someone wrote 17 cents more. A young man was waiting behind her to buy a single stamp to send his hand-written letter. Finally, the lady got to the store counter. She explained her situation to the cashier and counted out 17 cents. Little did she realize that her original stamp had been marked invalid. Thus, she had to pay for the original stamp as well as the additional 17 cents. She became distraught as she didn't have enough change. The young man behind her opened his wallet and offered her a quarter. She thanked him and promised to place a quarter in the change box at the counter next time. It is good to spread the kindness.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Bath and Body Works & A Random Rant
So it's another Saturday this winter break and I find myself at MOA once again. It seems to be always packed with people even after the holiday shopping season. I guess it must be all those after Xmas sales. Anyway, it's usually window shopping for me at MOA, although I did go see a movie while my parents were at an Alaska travel convention sponsored by a cruise company. While they sat around for two hours listening to the wonders of Alaska, I spent an enjoyable afternoon watching National Treasure: Book of Secrets. I think I still like the first one better because there was a lot more deciphering clues in the first one, while this one seemed to rely more on just stunts. Anyway, I felt it was a $7 well spent, especially after the diastrous viewing of The Golden Compass. I've just finished re-reading the book, and am now greatly dismayed and worried about how they will film the other two and a half books. The director left out an entire plotline from the first book, while the actress playing Lyra managed just one expression the whole movie: looking pissed off. The scene where Lyra rides the polar bear Iorek was directly copied from a coca cola commercial.
After the movie, I window shopped. Somehow I wandered into Bath and Body Works. The first thing to hit me was the blend of intoxicating smells that attacked my nostrils. Bottle after bottle of creams and lotion that say things like "white tea and ginger extract" are plastered over bottles to attract buyers. Then I had to wonder, when was the last time your skin needed such things as herbal tea and ginger? I don't know when my skin became so bourgeois but I certainly don't have time to sit around and sip herbal tea while rubbing ginger over my hands. A girl tried a few different kinds of lotions before settling on a bottle that smelled like peony. Now, a word to the wise, the boyfriend should step in and take a whiff. Most guys probably could care less what kind of lotion their girl is using, but trust me, when you sleep with your girlfriend who rubs herself all over with that stuff, you better like the smell for it lasts a long time. Talk about stinking up the room. The smells permeates the room and into the sheets, and soon enough, the boyfriend probably feels like he's being gassed to death.
Random Rant:
Britney Spears needs to go away. I was at the gym and every TV channel was talking about the psychological issues of Britney Spears. Seriously, how many degrees does a person need to know she's insane, especially after shaving her head while lip-syncing at an awards show like someone who had been sniffing turpentine while still trying to wobble like jello? Why is this even so news worthy to denote CNN entirely to such a story? I suppose issues like the dollar falling faster than a bullet train, or global warming causing weather havoc in the West coast is all insignificant compared to the issues of the Spears family. I'm laughing my ass off when publicists says how supportive the mother has been. Wow, who wouldn't want a mom who raises an mentally unstable daughter and another who gets knocked up at 16? The mom defends her younger daughter by saying that she such a good child and never misses a curfew. Uhhhh, maybe your daughter had sex before curfew?
I also want a new blogger address. Any suggestions? I have one I like but it's at wordpress.com. Maybe I'll start using that one instead?
After the movie, I window shopped. Somehow I wandered into Bath and Body Works. The first thing to hit me was the blend of intoxicating smells that attacked my nostrils. Bottle after bottle of creams and lotion that say things like "white tea and ginger extract" are plastered over bottles to attract buyers. Then I had to wonder, when was the last time your skin needed such things as herbal tea and ginger? I don't know when my skin became so bourgeois but I certainly don't have time to sit around and sip herbal tea while rubbing ginger over my hands. A girl tried a few different kinds of lotions before settling on a bottle that smelled like peony. Now, a word to the wise, the boyfriend should step in and take a whiff. Most guys probably could care less what kind of lotion their girl is using, but trust me, when you sleep with your girlfriend who rubs herself all over with that stuff, you better like the smell for it lasts a long time. Talk about stinking up the room. The smells permeates the room and into the sheets, and soon enough, the boyfriend probably feels like he's being gassed to death.
Random Rant:
Britney Spears needs to go away. I was at the gym and every TV channel was talking about the psychological issues of Britney Spears. Seriously, how many degrees does a person need to know she's insane, especially after shaving her head while lip-syncing at an awards show like someone who had been sniffing turpentine while still trying to wobble like jello? Why is this even so news worthy to denote CNN entirely to such a story? I suppose issues like the dollar falling faster than a bullet train, or global warming causing weather havoc in the West coast is all insignificant compared to the issues of the Spears family. I'm laughing my ass off when publicists says how supportive the mother has been. Wow, who wouldn't want a mom who raises an mentally unstable daughter and another who gets knocked up at 16? The mom defends her younger daughter by saying that she such a good child and never misses a curfew. Uhhhh, maybe your daughter had sex before curfew?
I also want a new blogger address. Any suggestions? I have one I like but it's at wordpress.com. Maybe I'll start using that one instead?
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