Posting will resume in a couple days when I’m back from Tahoe.
It’s snowing here! We’re here for 3 nights, and we were planning ski 3 days, but with the snow and our lack of snow chains for all the cars, we are staying in today. By which I mean building snowmen in the backyard once the last person finally gets done showering (slowpoke!).
And, man, the fondant-like coating of snow over everything is beautiful.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve.
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
And I was watching the Star Wars trilogy on TV.
We don’t really celebrate Christmas, so it doesn’t really matter to me.
What’s nice, though, is that I get to see my friend Cassio (nicknamed for the role she played in our Othello video in English class in high school). I haven’t seen her in two years! I’ve missed her, but she’s coming down to visit tomorrow =D
Happy holidays, all!
And I was watching the Star Wars trilogy on TV.
We don’t really celebrate Christmas, so it doesn’t really matter to me.
What’s nice, though, is that I get to see my friend Cassio (nicknamed for the role she played in our Othello video in English class in high school). I haven’t seen her in two years! I’ve missed her, but she’s coming down to visit tomorrow =D
Happy holidays, all!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Avatar (You Know, the One With the Blue People)
I saw Avatar in 3D yesterday with some high school friends (most of whom also go to Berkeley but some of whom I haven’t seen lately).
When I first saw the trailers, I was dubious. I mean, blue cat people? But the visual effects were pretty stunning – I loved the bioluminescent nighttime settings, and the method of the Na’vi connection to nature.
My official recommendation is: see it.
Now, I’m off to go ice skating!
When I first saw the trailers, I was dubious. I mean, blue cat people? But the visual effects were pretty stunning – I loved the bioluminescent nighttime settings, and the method of the Na’vi connection to nature.
My official recommendation is: see it.
Now, I’m off to go ice skating!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Cabin Rentals
Man, trying to find a house to rent in Tahoe for 13 people for 2 (or at the most 3) nights between Christmas and New Years is really hard.
We should’ve started looking a couple days ago, but we weren’t completely sure how many families were coming. Now everything’s booked.
I really really wanted to spend at least one night there.
You know, because it’ll mean we have two days to spend snowboarding...that’s all...
>.> <.<
We should’ve started looking a couple days ago, but we weren’t completely sure how many families were coming. Now everything’s booked.
I really really wanted to spend at least one night there.
You know, because it’ll mean we have two days to spend snowboarding...that’s all...
>.> <.<
Friday, December 18, 2009
Flute
I finally picked up my flute again. It’s been 3 years since I really played it– not since high school marching band.
And wow, I suck.
I’m going to have to practice again. My fingers don’t move that fast anymore.
But on the bright side, I found a website that has free sheet music for flutes, with a good selection of warm-ups and more difficult pieces. And all for solo flautists, not a whole band!
And wow, I suck.
I’m going to have to practice again. My fingers don’t move that fast anymore.
But on the bright side, I found a website that has free sheet music for flutes, with a good selection of warm-ups and more difficult pieces. And all for solo flautists, not a whole band!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Winter Break!
I’m hoping there won’t be too much boredom this winter break.
What there will be:
What there will be:
- Snowboarding, hopefully >1 time.
- Seeing one of my best friends from high school that I haven’t seen in 2 years.
- Seeing a family friend I haven’t seen in a while either. My mom jokingly says she would approve of him as my boyfriend – I'm not sure how I feel about that :P
- Watching movies with Dizzle and D-dog.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Now Is The Winter of My Content
I’m on winter break! I am done with finals, as of this morning.
I turned in my paper, did my little part in our mock House hearing as part of a coalition consisting of uninsured heads of households and single mothers on Medicaid, listened to 3 hours of people speaking for their roles, and was finally finished!
A large part of the rest of my day has consisted of playing these three games on Orisinal.
I turned in my paper, did my little part in our mock House hearing as part of a coalition consisting of uninsured heads of households and single mothers on Medicaid, listened to 3 hours of people speaking for their roles, and was finally finished!
A large part of the rest of my day has consisted of playing these three games on Orisinal.
Monday, December 14, 2009
More That's Not Going In My Paper
I'll be more professional in my paper, but Joe Lieberman, you are an ass.
Although maybe I shouldn't call you that, since you're obviously not working with the Democrats (who chose a donkey for the party symbol anyways?).
The Democrats are quite willing to negotiate, because they need your vote to pass reform. Making new demands every time something is close to being settled is simply an abuse of your current power.
You were all for the Medicare buy-in 3 months ago. What happened? Are those insurance companies in Connecticut looking for a new board member when you're done with your term? Will you be the next Billy Tauzin?
Time is running out. People's desire for reform moves in waves. It didn't quite happen when Clinton tried it, although that was also partly his fault for going for perfect rather than enough. But now the wave is back, and if we don't get this done, it will move past, leaving 1 in 8 million Americans without health coverage. Again.
And Democrats: Lieberman isn't going to go for the public option anyways. And the public option is crucial to making sure premiums don't rise too high. So why not focus your efforts on one of the more reasonable Republicans instead? Someone who cares more about their constituents than about political ideology? Maybe Senator Snowe?
Although maybe I shouldn't call you that, since you're obviously not working with the Democrats (who chose a donkey for the party symbol anyways?).
The Democrats are quite willing to negotiate, because they need your vote to pass reform. Making new demands every time something is close to being settled is simply an abuse of your current power.
You were all for the Medicare buy-in 3 months ago. What happened? Are those insurance companies in Connecticut looking for a new board member when you're done with your term? Will you be the next Billy Tauzin?
Time is running out. People's desire for reform moves in waves. It didn't quite happen when Clinton tried it, although that was also partly his fault for going for perfect rather than enough. But now the wave is back, and if we don't get this done, it will move past, leaving 1 in 8 million Americans without health coverage. Again.
And Democrats: Lieberman isn't going to go for the public option anyways. And the public option is crucial to making sure premiums don't rise too high. So why not focus your efforts on one of the more reasonable Republicans instead? Someone who cares more about their constituents than about political ideology? Maybe Senator Snowe?
Almost Done!
My Bio of Cancer final this afternoon was not nearly as difficult as I thought. Actually, it was extremely similar to the two practice exams we were given. Well, I went through those carefully, so I was prepared.
All I have left is this paper! I wrote half of it yesterday morning, and I need to finish it before 8 am tomorrow. I’m kind of tired now, but maybe writing this’ll be a warm up.
All I have left is this paper! I wrote half of it yesterday morning, and I need to finish it before 8 am tomorrow. I’m kind of tired now, but maybe writing this’ll be a warm up.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Anatomy and Protests
Okay, anatomy was relatively easy. Except the final was a fiasco. The professor couldn’t get the projector working for the histology identifications, so it took over an hour before we could go back to the first 10 questions. Then it was too bright, so she turned off the lights. And then we couldn’t see our papers, and she kept flipping back and forth, and people were talking, etc. Didn’t feel like a final at all.
I have more to say, though, so oh well, there goes my 75 words.
The protests are still going on. On Friday, the police arrested some 60 people who were in Wheeler Hall to prevent them from entering locked classrooms and throwing an all-night hip-hop party that might disturb finals the next day (like anatomy). Well, quite a few of those in Wheeler were simply students who happened to be there, studying for finals because the hall was open 24 hours.
The next night, while we were in the anatomy chatroom on bspace (which basically hosts all the course websites), asking and answering questions, someone mentioned that she heard people marching past her house. Everyone just said they hoped that there wouldn’t be any protests during our final, and forgot about it.
In the morning, I found out what happened. According to the Daily Cal, close to midnight on Friday, a bunch of protestors marched to Chancellor Birgeneau’s house (which is inside the campus), carrying torches. No, nothing was burned, but they did vandalize the outside of the house. 8 of the 40-75 people in the original group were arrested, but only 2 of them were UC Berkeley students.
I hope nobody will take this as a reflection on the rest of the Open University protestors, because they are not affiliated. It really was as Governor Schwarzenegger said (though I hate to agree with him), “an act of terrorism.”
I have more to say, though, so oh well, there goes my 75 words.
The protests are still going on. On Friday, the police arrested some 60 people who were in Wheeler Hall to prevent them from entering locked classrooms and throwing an all-night hip-hop party that might disturb finals the next day (like anatomy). Well, quite a few of those in Wheeler were simply students who happened to be there, studying for finals because the hall was open 24 hours.
The next night, while we were in the anatomy chatroom on bspace (which basically hosts all the course websites), asking and answering questions, someone mentioned that she heard people marching past her house. Everyone just said they hoped that there wouldn’t be any protests during our final, and forgot about it.
In the morning, I found out what happened. According to the Daily Cal, close to midnight on Friday, a bunch of protestors marched to Chancellor Birgeneau’s house (which is inside the campus), carrying torches. No, nothing was burned, but they did vandalize the outside of the house. 8 of the 40-75 people in the original group were arrested, but only 2 of them were UC Berkeley students.
I hope nobody will take this as a reflection on the rest of the Open University protestors, because they are not affiliated. It really was as Governor Schwarzenegger said (though I hate to agree with him), “an act of terrorism.”
Friday, December 11, 2009
Finals
I thought I was staying relatively focused today, but looking back at how much work I actually did...maybe not.
Oh well, I don’t feel overwhelmed anymore, I think I can finish everything I need to do in time.
Except, there’s probably going to be more to do for Biology of Cancer than I’m realizing.
My in-depth outline for my paper is already 4 pages (out of 5-7) though! I just need to fill it in.
Oh well, I don’t feel overwhelmed anymore, I think I can finish everything I need to do in time.
Except, there’s probably going to be more to do for Biology of Cancer than I’m realizing.
This poster (made by Cell Signaling Technologies) came with my book. It shows all the known signal transduction pathways involved in human cancer. Captions don't count in my 75 words, right?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Michael Bublé
I’ve been listening to Michael Bublé all day, his voice is just so soothing and beautiful. Thanks to my lovely Italian summer roommate for introducing us!
I love the jazz standards, of course. My roommate from first year is a jazz singer after all, and she taught me about them. I think my favorite song, however, is still the one our Italian originally posted.
It’s just such a feel-good song - Haven’t Met You Yet!
I love the jazz standards, of course. My roommate from first year is a jazz singer after all, and she taught me about them. I think my favorite song, however, is still the one our Italian originally posted.
It’s just such a feel-good song - Haven’t Met You Yet!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Limericks
A friend just referred me to Limerick DB. I think I saw it before when Randall (of xkcd fame) created it, but I forgot about it till now. The limericks are much funnier (though less useful) than those in the Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form. Like this:
If you catch a Chinchilla in Chile
And cut off its beard, willy-nilly
You can honestly say
That you have just made
A Chilean Chinchilla's chin chilly
If you catch a Chinchilla in Chile
And cut off its beard, willy-nilly
You can honestly say
That you have just made
A Chilean Chinchilla's chin chilly
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Stupak Amendment
I’m working on a paper for my public health class right now. We’re supposed to analyze the health care reform bill passed by the house from the position of a randomly assigned stakeholder. But because the controversy over abortion rights is far-reaching and divided, our professor doesn’t want us to spend the whole paper arguing about that. Or any of the paper, for that matter. So I’ll write about it here instead.
I think the fact that the ball of health care reform has started rolling is great. We’ll get something, even if it isn’t perfect, and that can be tweaked later. America is the only developed country that doesn’t have some kind of national plan for universal coverage. The last country to share that distinction was South Africa. Good to know we’re behind the country in which a girl has a better chance of being raped than of learning how to read. Anyways, the Stupak Amendment to the House bill says that any plan paid for or subsidized by federal money cannot cover abortion unless it’s proven to be rape or incest.
That’s great for anti-choice lobbyists, but exactly how would you prove it was rape? From police reports? I’ve read from various sources that anywhere from an estimated 60-80% of rape victims don’t report the crime. Why? Because it’s often someone they know, because they’re not comfortable going to the police, because even if it wasn’t their fault, they will become ostracized. There are plenty of reasons.
What about these women, who make up the majority of rape cases even in the most conservative estimate? Will they not be able to salvage their lives and move ahead if their income is low and they are forced to use the federal subsidies? They already have enough to deal with. This amendment does nothing more than create hardship for these women. I can’t even begin to comprehend how difficult their situation would be, and it’s related to my minor! How can those mainly white male Representatives, sitting comfortably on Capitol Hill, understand the plight of these women?
Even if women are allowed to purchase a supplemental policy (assuming their income is over 400% of the Federal Poverty Level and they are not being helped by the federal subsidy), it's useless. Abortions are used when the pregnancy is unwanted or unexpected. Why would you buy a plan against that when you could just use contraceptives? Women don't expect to have abortions, it happens when the pregnancy is accidental! We need more female representation in Congress to point out the issues that are obvious to women, but invisible to men.
I think the fact that the ball of health care reform has started rolling is great. We’ll get something, even if it isn’t perfect, and that can be tweaked later. America is the only developed country that doesn’t have some kind of national plan for universal coverage. The last country to share that distinction was South Africa. Good to know we’re behind the country in which a girl has a better chance of being raped than of learning how to read. Anyways, the Stupak Amendment to the House bill says that any plan paid for or subsidized by federal money cannot cover abortion unless it’s proven to be rape or incest.
That’s great for anti-choice lobbyists, but exactly how would you prove it was rape? From police reports? I’ve read from various sources that anywhere from an estimated 60-80% of rape victims don’t report the crime. Why? Because it’s often someone they know, because they’re not comfortable going to the police, because even if it wasn’t their fault, they will become ostracized. There are plenty of reasons.
What about these women, who make up the majority of rape cases even in the most conservative estimate? Will they not be able to salvage their lives and move ahead if their income is low and they are forced to use the federal subsidies? They already have enough to deal with. This amendment does nothing more than create hardship for these women. I can’t even begin to comprehend how difficult their situation would be, and it’s related to my minor! How can those mainly white male Representatives, sitting comfortably on Capitol Hill, understand the plight of these women?
Even if women are allowed to purchase a supplemental policy (assuming their income is over 400% of the Federal Poverty Level and they are not being helped by the federal subsidy), it's useless. Abortions are used when the pregnancy is unwanted or unexpected. Why would you buy a plan against that when you could just use contraceptives? Women don't expect to have abortions, it happens when the pregnancy is accidental! We need more female representation in Congress to point out the issues that are obvious to women, but invisible to men.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Belt Test
I had my belt test for yongmudo (a.k.a. hapkido) today. Unlike some of the others, this didn’t make me nervous at all. Even the black belt test doesn’t seem that unreachable. It’s not even an hour long.
My brown belt tests for 3rd and 2nd degree brown belt in kenpo were 6 and 8 hours long, respectively. I already learned I have more endurance than I know.
It kind of puts this test in perspective.
My brown belt tests for 3rd and 2nd degree brown belt in kenpo were 6 and 8 hours long, respectively. I already learned I have more endurance than I know.
It kind of puts this test in perspective.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Busy as a Bumblebee!
These last couple days have been busy. I had my two-day Japanese final, meetings for the research lab I’m going to be working in (+ paperwork), and yongmudo (belt test on Sunday).
Also, the boy has been here 4 out of 5 nights this week. And we still don’t know.
Oops, that wasn’t 75 words, that was 50. I didn’t realize that. I was busy writing another 50-word story, and I think it carried over.
Also, the boy has been here 4 out of 5 nights this week. And we still don’t know.
Oops, that wasn’t 75 words, that was 50. I didn’t realize that. I was busy writing another 50-word story, and I think it carried over.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Phoenix Requiem
Today, I will share with you one of my favorite stories and pieces of art. All in one. It’s a webcomic, actually.
I don’t want to give The Phoenix Requiem a genre, because it doesn’t really fit in any one thing. The art and story fit together well, and they keep getting better.
Just read it, and if you aren’t enamored with the story and the characters, just keep reading anyways, because you will be soon.
I don’t want to give The Phoenix Requiem a genre, because it doesn’t really fit in any one thing. The art and story fit together well, and they keep getting better.
Just read it, and if you aren’t enamored with the story and the characters, just keep reading anyways, because you will be soon.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Hunger, Hunger, Hunger, wherefore am I not hungry?
I don’t usually eat much, but I feel like I’ve been eating less than normal lately. Just haven’t been that hungry.
There’re probably two reasons for this. First of course, is the stress of that ridiculous situation. Glad I’m not worrying anymore! Second, I don’t have snacks around the house. Third, I think, is that I haven’t been eating good breakfasts.
We had Turkish Kitchen’s potato & cheese baked pie for dinner today, though! Yummm…
There’re probably two reasons for this. First of course, is the stress of that ridiculous situation. Glad I’m not worrying anymore! Second, I don’t have snacks around the house. Third, I think, is that I haven’t been eating good breakfasts.
We had Turkish Kitchen’s potato & cheese baked pie for dinner today, though! Yummm…
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