Sometimes ranting in private is useless. You just have to let someone read it.
I am so stupid.
There!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Creativity
It's surprising how many tests I take say that I'm creative...
One test said that I should take up art as my college major, saying that I'm "sensitive, creative, and don't follow established rules". Another said that I would teach potions as Hogwarts, because I'm "a creative person". (I don't see the connection though...)
And a test called "How creative are you?" actually returned the result "the creative soul" and said that I was "very creative". I wonder what the other results were...
Can someone enlighten me about how I'm supposedly creative? I find myself always in lack of ideas...
One test said that I should take up art as my college major, saying that I'm "sensitive, creative, and don't follow established rules". Another said that I would teach potions as Hogwarts, because I'm "a creative person". (I don't see the connection though...)
And a test called "How creative are you?" actually returned the result "the creative soul" and said that I was "very creative". I wonder what the other results were...
Can someone enlighten me about how I'm supposedly creative? I find myself always in lack of ideas...
Don't harden your heart
It's funny how some words come back...in different ways. Some time ago a dialogue on the Charmed series caught my attention:
And then, not so long ago, I read this story, courtesy of Casper:
(I had thought of keeping it for when I don't have anything to post, but this is the perfect occasion)
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea…You will never look at a cup of Oolong the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique, however. After they were in the boiling water , they had changed the water color and taste.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
Again, it is about not hardening your heart...
And today, I read this on a blog:
In the end, it's the same message...let's all take a lesson from Oolong tea.
Paige: So you've got to... harden your heart?
Piper: Protect your heart.
And then, not so long ago, I read this story, courtesy of Casper:
(I had thought of keeping it for when I don't have anything to post, but this is the perfect occasion)
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea…You will never look at a cup of Oolong the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique, however. After they were in the boiling water , they had changed the water color and taste.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
Again, it is about not hardening your heart...
And today, I read this on a blog:
"But it does get easier after a while. I still get emotional about it, but it does get a little easier".
"But don't ever let it harden you. It will get easier, but remember to never take life for granted. But you do what you can".
In the end, it's the same message...let's all take a lesson from Oolong tea.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Of being cool...or not
So today in Transferts Thermiques the prof gave out an exercise...the last one this year, in fact. We'd already done that sort of exercise, so I just went ahead and did it... At the same time the prof was sending students to the board to do the questions.
So I was trying to get the questions done before they were corrected on the board, so I could check my answers...and then this Xavier suddenly told me to not go so fast, 'cos it wasn't "cool" not to wait for them. But then...what do I care about being cool? :P
So if Xavier's theory is to be believed, I am not "cool". lol
I know this post is rubbish, but I just felt like writing something :P
(Transferts Thermiques is really simple...there are just so many possibilities of careless mistakes. Hope I don't fall into one of those traps during the exam...)
And this morning during TP (lab work) we didn't have much to do at the end, except stare at the computer screen to see how the temperature of a circuit changed (in real time) We had to wait for the circuit to heat up after we switched it on...and it took about an hour for it to reach régime permanent (ya know, at the end when the temperature doesn't change any more?) So I clicked on Programs and saw that Minesweeper was on the recently-used list (Freecell was there as well, I believe) So what else, I played la :P I guess a whole lot of people get bored while waiting, so they play something on the computer...
I haven't been playing much lately, so I was pretty surprised (and glad!) to get a 3 on beginner before very long...and I even managed a 22 on intermediate on my first try (my second and last try yielded a 27) I managed several 3s on beginner, which I really did not expect, especially as I wasn't playing on my own computer! I even got pretty optimistic about getting a 2, but I didn't manage it :P The mouse there worked pretty well...that helped a lot :)
But seeing as the high scores were all at 999 seconds before I played, I think the high scores are reset each time the computer is switched off... Too bad, I can't leave my mark on it :P
Okay, back to Transferts Thermiques. It was pretty funny. The prof asked Olivier to choose someone to go do the exercise on the board ('cos no one volunteered). And Olivier didn't dare to choose someone, so he chose himself :P Then the prof (I think he felt sorry for Olivier, who had already gone au tableau (it's so much easier to say and it means "to go do the exercise on the board") several times before) asked Xavier to go and continue, then after a few questions he told him he could continue or choose someone to take his place. And Xavier decided to "sacrifice" himself and continue...
And then the prof decided to ask Aurélia to take Xavier's place (he's actually quite nice, albeit a little exigeant (~demanding) ; uh, I mean the teacher, not Xavier (goodness, these brackets are confusing...) ) and the same cycle repeated itself...he gave Aurélia the choice of continuing or sending someone else in her place, and Aurélia stayed...so in the end he gave up and finished the end of the exercise himself :P
Haha...my classmates are soooo kind :P
So I was trying to get the questions done before they were corrected on the board, so I could check my answers...and then this Xavier suddenly told me to not go so fast, 'cos it wasn't "cool" not to wait for them. But then...what do I care about being cool? :P
So if Xavier's theory is to be believed, I am not "cool". lol
I know this post is rubbish, but I just felt like writing something :P
(Transferts Thermiques is really simple...there are just so many possibilities of careless mistakes. Hope I don't fall into one of those traps during the exam...)
And this morning during TP (lab work) we didn't have much to do at the end, except stare at the computer screen to see how the temperature of a circuit changed (in real time) We had to wait for the circuit to heat up after we switched it on...and it took about an hour for it to reach régime permanent (ya know, at the end when the temperature doesn't change any more?) So I clicked on Programs and saw that Minesweeper was on the recently-used list (Freecell was there as well, I believe) So what else, I played la :P I guess a whole lot of people get bored while waiting, so they play something on the computer...
I haven't been playing much lately, so I was pretty surprised (and glad!) to get a 3 on beginner before very long...and I even managed a 22 on intermediate on my first try (my second and last try yielded a 27) I managed several 3s on beginner, which I really did not expect, especially as I wasn't playing on my own computer! I even got pretty optimistic about getting a 2, but I didn't manage it :P The mouse there worked pretty well...that helped a lot :)
But seeing as the high scores were all at 999 seconds before I played, I think the high scores are reset each time the computer is switched off... Too bad, I can't leave my mark on it :P
Okay, back to Transferts Thermiques. It was pretty funny. The prof asked Olivier to choose someone to go do the exercise on the board ('cos no one volunteered). And Olivier didn't dare to choose someone, so he chose himself :P Then the prof (I think he felt sorry for Olivier, who had already gone au tableau (it's so much easier to say and it means "to go do the exercise on the board") several times before) asked Xavier to go and continue, then after a few questions he told him he could continue or choose someone to take his place. And Xavier decided to "sacrifice" himself and continue...
And then the prof decided to ask Aurélia to take Xavier's place (he's actually quite nice, albeit a little exigeant (~demanding) ; uh, I mean the teacher, not Xavier (goodness, these brackets are confusing...) ) and the same cycle repeated itself...he gave Aurélia the choice of continuing or sending someone else in her place, and Aurélia stayed...so in the end he gave up and finished the end of the exercise himself :P
Haha...my classmates are soooo kind :P
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
So these are the Jonas Brothers!
I've heard the name Jonas Brothers a lot lately, but I didn't know any of their songs... So I searched on Youtube and suddenly discovered this:
Turns out that this song, Kids of the Future, is a remake of Kids in America (no wonder it sounded familiar) for the soundtrack of Meet the Robinsons.
Here are the lyrics:
[All Three]
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids of the future [x2]
[Joe]
Standing on a dirty, old rooftop
Down below the cars in the city go rushing by
I sit here alone and I wonder why
Come on Lewis, keep moving forward
Hold your head up high
There's no time for looking down
You will not believe where we're going now
[Nick]
Here we go, let me remind you
Look ahead, the past is behind you
[All Three]
[Chorus]
We're the kids of the future, whoa!
We're the kids of the future, whoa!
Everybody live 'cause the future is now!
[Joe]
Bright lights, boy, look around you
Your imagination is working overtime
The world that you've dreamt of has now arrived
Hot shot, the greatest adventure
Is where the family you've searched for
Comes alive
So come meet the Robinsons
[Nick]
Looking for a place you belong to
Looking for a family that wants you
[Chorus]
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
[Joe]
Everyday we have fun me and Wilbur
So happy to be here with the Robinsons
I finally feel I can be someone
Outside a new day is dawning
Outside the demon is rolling everywhere
I know that it's right because
[Nick]
We'll save the future together
This family's forever
[Chorus]
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
[All Three]
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids of the future [x2]
And here's another song, SOS:
General verdict: not bad.
We'll see about the other songs...
Turns out that this song, Kids of the Future, is a remake of Kids in America (no wonder it sounded familiar) for the soundtrack of Meet the Robinsons.
Here are the lyrics:
[All Three]
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids of the future [x2]
[Joe]
Standing on a dirty, old rooftop
Down below the cars in the city go rushing by
I sit here alone and I wonder why
Come on Lewis, keep moving forward
Hold your head up high
There's no time for looking down
You will not believe where we're going now
[Nick]
Here we go, let me remind you
Look ahead, the past is behind you
[All Three]
[Chorus]
We're the kids of the future, whoa!
We're the kids of the future, whoa!
Everybody live 'cause the future is now!
[Joe]
Bright lights, boy, look around you
Your imagination is working overtime
The world that you've dreamt of has now arrived
Hot shot, the greatest adventure
Is where the family you've searched for
Comes alive
So come meet the Robinsons
[Nick]
Looking for a place you belong to
Looking for a family that wants you
[Chorus]
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
[Joe]
Everyday we have fun me and Wilbur
So happy to be here with the Robinsons
I finally feel I can be someone
Outside a new day is dawning
Outside the demon is rolling everywhere
I know that it's right because
[Nick]
We'll save the future together
This family's forever
[Chorus]
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na
[All Three]
We're the kids
We're the kids
We're the kids of the future [x2]
And here's another song, SOS:
General verdict: not bad.
We'll see about the other songs...
Monday, June 09, 2008
Of words and logical linking
I
do not
understand...
The French don't pay attention to how words are formed? Check this out... I must say that I would never have confused rémunération with rénumération... In the latter there is the root of numéro clearly visible... (though a search tells me that the word doesn't exist :P) The other word, rémunération, I had already heard, and I had also heard the verb rémunérer, so there's no problem...
It reminds me of a time (quite recently) when I mentioned something of the kind...logically supposing the definition of a word because of its "root"...and the French were surprised...saying they'd never thought of it that way before. I can't remember what word it was though...I believe it was in PRDCE...and Antoine was in it somewhere. (it's got to be in some part of my memory...I hope I think of it soon)
Maybe it's just my way of looking at things... and in this case, words. I'm not even sure whether other people do the same with other languages...
Edit (13th June): I just thought of the word we spoke about...it was trisomie 21 (Down syndrome)...since we're doing something on eugenics (genetic selection) for our ethics presentation. They were saying that those with Down syndrome had one less chromosome, and I was like "it's trisomy, so there should be one extra, right?"
do not
understand...
The French don't pay attention to how words are formed? Check this out... I must say that I would never have confused rémunération with rénumération... In the latter there is the root of numéro clearly visible... (though a search tells me that the word doesn't exist :P) The other word, rémunération, I had already heard, and I had also heard the verb rémunérer, so there's no problem...
It reminds me of a time (quite recently) when I mentioned something of the kind...logically supposing the definition of a word because of its "root"...and the French were surprised...saying they'd never thought of it that way before. I can't remember what word it was though...I believe it was in PRDCE...and Antoine was in it somewhere. (it's got to be in some part of my memory...I hope I think of it soon)
Maybe it's just my way of looking at things... and in this case, words. I'm not even sure whether other people do the same with other languages...
Edit (13th June): I just thought of the word we spoke about...it was trisomie 21 (Down syndrome)...since we're doing something on eugenics (genetic selection) for our ethics presentation. They were saying that those with Down syndrome had one less chromosome, and I was like "it's trisomy, so there should be one extra, right?"
Food, food, and more food
On Thursday a few of us went out for lunch. There's a sushi place in Lyon where there is all-you-can-eat sushi at lunchtime (they have it at dinnertime as well, but it's a whole lot more expensive), and since I've only heard them talk about it, I wanted to go and try it... Unfortunately the weather wasn't very good, so Goh decided not to go, and he didn't call the restaurant to reserve. But...he didn't inform Reen that we weren't going, and that's how, in the end, we ended up going out, 'cos Reen didn't want to prepare lunch at home :P (I had already checked with him, he said he didn't want to go, and he called me back after I had started preparing my lunch! grr...) Tsk tsk...what lousy organisation...
At that time it was already too late to reserve (no places left) so we went out to find another restaurant and finally decided to go into Toya. There are two in Lyon, and I'm wondering whether it's a restaurant chain. The one we went to was on Cours Vitton (Vitton street, if you like); actually we didn't even know there was one there, we always saw the other one (on the way to Guillotière, the Asian neighbourhood)
Inside the restaurant it was super-dark...here's the proof:
It was so hard to read the menu!
But surprisingly the photos of the food came out okay (not too dark, I mean). I'll put a few photos, 'cos their presentation was pretty good. (can't say the same for my photos though :P)
There is such a craze for Japanese food lately (come on la, on so many blogs I read, everyone seems to know everything about Japanese food...or come to think of it, all kinds of food)...is there a need to introduce the dishes?
The appetizer:
miso soup and some salad
Reen and I shared two sushi sets:
Goh had sashimi, which came with meat skewers (brochettes la, I don't really know what it's called in English, someone tell me?) and rice.
I'm putting the sashimi only; you already know what satay-sticks/brochettes and rice look like :P
Frankly, I wouldn't say that sushi is especially delicious. I've tried it a few times, and each time it's pretty good, but nothing to rave about. Which is why I wanted (and still want, actually) to go and try the sushi buffet...I feel that it's especially the variety that counts, because if you have a big plate of identical sushi, in the end you get tired of that particular kind of sushi. Sharing two plates like we did was a way to have more types of sushi :)
It's not the end of the post yet...didn't I say "and more food"? ;) Today I had lunch with Jiqiong...she wanted to let me try a Szechuan fish soup. It was really spicy...and she didn't even put in the whole packet of soup paste!
Nice :)
I bet we can find this in Malaysia...I just don't know where :P
And can you guess what this is?
She showed me the packet...saying that she thought I would know it...but it was frozen (and peeled) so I couldn't recognise it. The name on the packet was familiar, but I couldn't for the life of me think of what it was. That is, until I ate it...
Have you managed to figure out what it is?
It's yam! On the packet the name was taro. I didn't know we could just simply stir-fry yam this way...
For the moment, I want keropok lekor when I get back to Malaysia. Ying Sim and WW have made me think of it... (I shall try to take photos of keropok lekor for the non-East-coast people...if I remember ;P )
At that time it was already too late to reserve (no places left) so we went out to find another restaurant and finally decided to go into Toya. There are two in Lyon, and I'm wondering whether it's a restaurant chain. The one we went to was on Cours Vitton (Vitton street, if you like); actually we didn't even know there was one there, we always saw the other one (on the way to Guillotière, the Asian neighbourhood)
Inside the restaurant it was super-dark...here's the proof:
It was so hard to read the menu!
But surprisingly the photos of the food came out okay (not too dark, I mean). I'll put a few photos, 'cos their presentation was pretty good. (can't say the same for my photos though :P)
There is such a craze for Japanese food lately (come on la, on so many blogs I read, everyone seems to know everything about Japanese food...or come to think of it, all kinds of food)...is there a need to introduce the dishes?
The appetizer:
miso soup and some saladReen and I shared two sushi sets:
Goh had sashimi, which came with meat skewers (brochettes la, I don't really know what it's called in English, someone tell me?) and rice.
I'm putting the sashimi only; you already know what satay-sticks/brochettes and rice look like :PFrankly, I wouldn't say that sushi is especially delicious. I've tried it a few times, and each time it's pretty good, but nothing to rave about. Which is why I wanted (and still want, actually) to go and try the sushi buffet...I feel that it's especially the variety that counts, because if you have a big plate of identical sushi, in the end you get tired of that particular kind of sushi. Sharing two plates like we did was a way to have more types of sushi :)
It's not the end of the post yet...didn't I say "and more food"? ;) Today I had lunch with Jiqiong...she wanted to let me try a Szechuan fish soup. It was really spicy...and she didn't even put in the whole packet of soup paste!
Nice :)I bet we can find this in Malaysia...I just don't know where :P
And can you guess what this is?
She showed me the packet...saying that she thought I would know it...but it was frozen (and peeled) so I couldn't recognise it. The name on the packet was familiar, but I couldn't for the life of me think of what it was. That is, until I ate it...
Have you managed to figure out what it is?
It's yam! On the packet the name was taro. I didn't know we could just simply stir-fry yam this way...
For the moment, I want keropok lekor when I get back to Malaysia. Ying Sim and WW have made me think of it... (I shall try to take photos of keropok lekor for the non-East-coast people...if I remember ;P )
Friday, June 06, 2008
Time flies
I can't believe it's already June. I'm going back in less than a month. And I still haven't bought my ticket to Paris. I don't even know when I'm going to Paris. In less than a month I'll be back home...on holiday. Not a holiday that's almost over once it's started. A long one this time...
But that also means that exams are near. Next Monday I already have two tests, one after the other.
My room's in a mess. My head's in a mess. And I have to clean it up in less than a month. (my room, I mean, not my head :P)
In a month it'll be over. Everything will be cleared up.
I just wonder how I'm going to manage it :P
Head up!
But that also means that exams are near. Next Monday I already have two tests, one after the other.
My room's in a mess. My head's in a mess. And I have to clean it up in less than a month. (my room, I mean, not my head :P)
In a month it'll be over. Everything will be cleared up.
I just wonder how I'm going to manage it :P
Head up!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Pikachu forever
Here's a nice video ;)
And one that's not as well done, but some of the pictures are really nice.
And one that's not as well done, but some of the pictures are really nice.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
My name in two new languages
In Russian and Ukrainian!
On the left is Russian, and on the right is Ukrainian. It's phonetically written...my surname's on the bottom row.
It was my Ukrainian classmate who wrote this for me. Surprisingly, he wrote it first in Russian, and only added the Ukrainian version after I asked him. As you can see, it was in Maths; you can see the paper it was written on :P
Frankly, it made me think of Yi Mun ;)
On the left is Russian, and on the right is Ukrainian. It's phonetically written...my surname's on the bottom row.
It was my Ukrainian classmate who wrote this for me. Surprisingly, he wrote it first in Russian, and only added the Ukrainian version after I asked him. As you can see, it was in Maths; you can see the paper it was written on :P
Frankly, it made me think of Yi Mun ;)
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