And I wanted to harp on how wonderful caffeine and theobromine are.
That is all... go back to your lives.
--C.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Ah debates...
The chatlist has again produced the wonderful thing that is a political debate. What can I say? It's starting to liven up already. This week: the old evolution vs. creationism debate. Or God-directed evolution, or God-initiated evolution, or the evolution of God (Ok, so I made that last one up). I'm not really in a mood to rant right now, and I just wanted to say how much I love these debates.
Also if you have color scheme suggestions, please note them in the box to your right.
--C.
Also if you have color scheme suggestions, please note them in the box to your right.
--C.
Monday, October 27, 2003
If you need to read a dictionary...
This is definitely the dictionary to read. Here's the link to Amazon. It's the New American Dictionary of Cultural Literacy and contains terms (sorted by discipline) that any truly literate American should know... stuff that comes up in everyday conversation and shouldn't make you confused. From Latin terms to American politics to a Biblical overview. From World history to famous book/art references to the physical sciences, this book has it all. And of course, there the listing of common idioms and proverbs. Nothing is oblique or seems too obscure for the layman but it's all terms that come up in the media ("embryonic stem cell" is included, for example but "CHO cell" is not.) Well worth reading and memorizing. I was able to get almost all of the ones in the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences sections but in the American Politics section, I was floundering.
Valuable procrastination... but then again "Procrastination is the thief of time".
--C.
Valuable procrastination... but then again "Procrastination is the thief of time".
--C.
Friday, October 24, 2003
The "Asian" mentality.
Ack, ack, ack, ack, ack! The "Asian community" is up in arms again because of some comment some stupid non-PC Austrailian golfer made. This is annoying. Here's the link .
I'm annoyed for many reasons:
1) As an Asian American, I recognize that the community doesn't really do much in the way of speaking out when it publicly discriminated against. I agree with a lot of the commentary that's flying over the lists about how we keep getting trampled on because we don't do anything. This time (unlike the time with the Abercrombie T-shirts) I actually think this woman made a real racist comment. I don't think she actively hates Asians as much as she was venting frustrations and picked a convenient scapegoat, but her comment was undeniably racist. However, the community response is really annoying. We're going back to that old debate of why aren't we speaking out? why can't we have more of a spine? why do we let this happen... talk talk talk talk. Well talk fizzles quickly. In fact the "analysis" of why we have such miserable traits is pretty weak too, floating more along the lines of "we're boneless, that sucks" rather than "we're boneless and need more goddamn calcium". Instead of speaking out we talk about speaking out as though it were some specimen that had to be analysed. And then as what could have been a mass public outcry fades, we get all indignant that our issues are being ignored. Yep, it's a tough world boys and girls and some people need faster reflexes.
2) I can't stand that people feel the need to WHINE about being discriminated against. Like it's something they can't help and that by telling their own little comfort group that it's the case they get over their own little upset. Well that's all well and good but it doesn't do anything. And that sort of uselessness is aggravating to me.
3) The damn people who think that Asian Americans are the only minority actively discriminated against are amazingly frightening. Just because affirmative action actually acts against Asian Americans (who get on average better test scores than their white counterparts) doesn't mean that we should be weeping. For crying out loud, we want a balanced playing field, not one skewed in our favor. If we have an economic advantage, we're going to have to sacrifice some of it if we want a higher social standing. It's a tendency of self-righteous bigots who think that they are the most important people in the world to think that the only person who is ever insulted is himself. Well, to be quite honest, that's not true.
4) Really, people. She was a participant in a sport that people barely knew existed, ranting because she wasn't happy. People get worked up over the simplest things. I understand that feeling but then brooding over it is really annoying. And feeling the need to wave it in everyone's face like "hey look at this, people actually do discriminate against Asians." I think it makes us look like big crybabies. But hey, we're spineless... that's our job!
Now, I posted something to the chat list to try to explain why I think Asian Americans are so easily trampled on... less of a way to go forward as a pretty insightful explanation (OK, so it really wasn't that insightful but still). I've copied and pasted it below:
Honestly guys, it's not because Asians don't speak out... it's because they
speak out to the wrong people and they don't speak out soon enough and as a
collective. They will e-mail and call each other, talking only to people
in their little comfort groups but no one will confront the public. Why?
It has a lot to do with an indecision in the political stance. After all,
the Asian American community isn't a community in any real sense of the
word. Sure at Stanford there's Okada and the A3C but really, outside,
there's hardly unity among the Chinese American crowd, much less between the
Japanese and Koreans. What does that mean? Well no one's going to stand up
in defend the rights of Asian Americans. Why should they carry the burdens
of such a large group, most of whom they don't even identify with? Secondly
the different groups have entirely different political agendas so they don't
even vote as a collective. So the politicians don't give a damn. We all
know from the 1960s that the black community is now a community and vote
together... and the Latino community is unified not only by physical
proximity but also by language (I can't wait to see Bush try to speak
"Asian" to please the Asian vote).
Furthermore, it's hard to even show we're being discriminated against. It's
like Asians are the anti-minority sometimes... the stats don't show
discrimination against Asians as far as test scores and college admissions.
Workplace discrimination is hard to prove, especially since having an accent
is a perfectly good excuse not to hire someone... and I'm not even sure if
there's workplace discrimination at all. So the only place Asians get
discriminated against is in little things like T shirts and snide
comments... and then people get all confused because they got the impression
that Asians don't care about discrimination or that we shouldn't care
because we're about as nondiscriminated against as can be.
Couple this with an unwillingness to speak out, and you've got the
impression we're always trampled on. But I think the response is not to
rant and rave about these little things in our little communities. The
answer is to write an angry letter and then to stop brooding over it. It
only breeds hard feelings. Maybe if we teach the Asian community to make a
swift early and bold strike (and then to STOP mulling over it), it would be
better. After all, you MUST realize that it was a white man (or non-asian
at least) who noticed this blatant racism -- he was the observant one.
Maybe if we were a little less reactive and more proactive; if we could
express collective disapproval as opposed to having it sent out across
e-mail lists and mulled over like academics, we'd get further in the world.
My rant is running a little low on steam so I'm going to stop now.
Good night.
--C.
I'm annoyed for many reasons:
1) As an Asian American, I recognize that the community doesn't really do much in the way of speaking out when it publicly discriminated against. I agree with a lot of the commentary that's flying over the lists about how we keep getting trampled on because we don't do anything. This time (unlike the time with the Abercrombie T-shirts) I actually think this woman made a real racist comment. I don't think she actively hates Asians as much as she was venting frustrations and picked a convenient scapegoat, but her comment was undeniably racist. However, the community response is really annoying. We're going back to that old debate of why aren't we speaking out? why can't we have more of a spine? why do we let this happen... talk talk talk talk. Well talk fizzles quickly. In fact the "analysis" of why we have such miserable traits is pretty weak too, floating more along the lines of "we're boneless, that sucks" rather than "we're boneless and need more goddamn calcium". Instead of speaking out we talk about speaking out as though it were some specimen that had to be analysed. And then as what could have been a mass public outcry fades, we get all indignant that our issues are being ignored. Yep, it's a tough world boys and girls and some people need faster reflexes.
2) I can't stand that people feel the need to WHINE about being discriminated against. Like it's something they can't help and that by telling their own little comfort group that it's the case they get over their own little upset. Well that's all well and good but it doesn't do anything. And that sort of uselessness is aggravating to me.
3) The damn people who think that Asian Americans are the only minority actively discriminated against are amazingly frightening. Just because affirmative action actually acts against Asian Americans (who get on average better test scores than their white counterparts) doesn't mean that we should be weeping. For crying out loud, we want a balanced playing field, not one skewed in our favor. If we have an economic advantage, we're going to have to sacrifice some of it if we want a higher social standing. It's a tendency of self-righteous bigots who think that they are the most important people in the world to think that the only person who is ever insulted is himself. Well, to be quite honest, that's not true.
4) Really, people. She was a participant in a sport that people barely knew existed, ranting because she wasn't happy. People get worked up over the simplest things. I understand that feeling but then brooding over it is really annoying. And feeling the need to wave it in everyone's face like "hey look at this, people actually do discriminate against Asians." I think it makes us look like big crybabies. But hey, we're spineless... that's our job!
Now, I posted something to the chat list to try to explain why I think Asian Americans are so easily trampled on... less of a way to go forward as a pretty insightful explanation (OK, so it really wasn't that insightful but still). I've copied and pasted it below:
Honestly guys, it's not because Asians don't speak out... it's because they
speak out to the wrong people and they don't speak out soon enough and as a
collective. They will e-mail and call each other, talking only to people
in their little comfort groups but no one will confront the public. Why?
It has a lot to do with an indecision in the political stance. After all,
the Asian American community isn't a community in any real sense of the
word. Sure at Stanford there's Okada and the A3C but really, outside,
there's hardly unity among the Chinese American crowd, much less between the
Japanese and Koreans. What does that mean? Well no one's going to stand up
in defend the rights of Asian Americans. Why should they carry the burdens
of such a large group, most of whom they don't even identify with? Secondly
the different groups have entirely different political agendas so they don't
even vote as a collective. So the politicians don't give a damn. We all
know from the 1960s that the black community is now a community and vote
together... and the Latino community is unified not only by physical
proximity but also by language (I can't wait to see Bush try to speak
"Asian" to please the Asian vote).
Furthermore, it's hard to even show we're being discriminated against. It's
like Asians are the anti-minority sometimes... the stats don't show
discrimination against Asians as far as test scores and college admissions.
Workplace discrimination is hard to prove, especially since having an accent
is a perfectly good excuse not to hire someone... and I'm not even sure if
there's workplace discrimination at all. So the only place Asians get
discriminated against is in little things like T shirts and snide
comments... and then people get all confused because they got the impression
that Asians don't care about discrimination or that we shouldn't care
because we're about as nondiscriminated against as can be.
Couple this with an unwillingness to speak out, and you've got the
impression we're always trampled on. But I think the response is not to
rant and rave about these little things in our little communities. The
answer is to write an angry letter and then to stop brooding over it. It
only breeds hard feelings. Maybe if we teach the Asian community to make a
swift early and bold strike (and then to STOP mulling over it), it would be
better. After all, you MUST realize that it was a white man (or non-asian
at least) who noticed this blatant racism -- he was the observant one.
Maybe if we were a little less reactive and more proactive; if we could
express collective disapproval as opposed to having it sent out across
e-mail lists and mulled over like academics, we'd get further in the world.
My rant is running a little low on steam so I'm going to stop now.
Good night.
--C.
Monday, October 20, 2003
Color Scheme take 3
While red is not my favorite color, there is definate pressure to obey the callings of school spirit. Voila, here it is.
--C.
--C.
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Listen to my music... please!
With a superfast internet connection, I'm now able to stream music constantly and I'm running a server. Basically, here's how you get some fun listening:
Go here and download and run AjooBlast in player mode. The server is cheng.stanford.edu, the port 8800, and IM me for the password. You'll get a list of music folders... just click through until you find a song you like and click it. It'll start streaming.
Oh, and if you want me to serve your music, too (running low on HD space?) ... just tell me.
--C.
Go here and download and run AjooBlast in player mode. The server is cheng.stanford.edu, the port 8800, and IM me for the password. You'll get a list of music folders... just click through until you find a song you like and click it. It'll start streaming.
Oh, and if you want me to serve your music, too (running low on HD space?) ... just tell me.
--C.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
New Resolution
I don't know why I make resolutions, given a history of general disregard for their importance. Nevertheless, I hereby resolve to use more complex sentences in my blog and to stop sounding like I have no native grasp of the English language. One of my pet peeves in others is the use of pointless abbreviations (UR2L33T, for example) and yet, instant messaging and blogging have degraded my own use of the language as deplorably. Towards this end, I feel it may be necessary to pay closer attention to the diction that I employ in these posts. Having not had a real writing-intensive class in over a year, I find myself victim to the following lazy habits. With constant prodding, I should be able to tighten my language and hopefully sound more intelligent and coherent.
I've been using more empty modifiers and pointless hyperbole in recent writings. This is worrisome; words like "extremely", "absolutely" and "really" should be reserved for when the situation is extreme or absolute. "Really" needs to be erased absolutely from my future vocabulary. I know enough English to conceive of specific and accurate modifiers. Furthermore, hyperbolic comparisons have crept into my linguistic rut and taken up residence. While the odd, odd simile perpetuates my image as being only partially stable mentally -- something I don't mind, stale comparisons and outright exaggeration only cripples readability.
Overuse of parenthetical phrases is also a problem. Parentheses, ellipses and dashes usage will be severely limited henceforth. A parenthetical notation is the lazy man's way of including an idea in a sentence without the necessary transitional phrases. While I will confess to all accusations of laziness, I can't allow my writing to suffer that same fate; it's unacceptable.
I do not claim to have more than these two flaws in my writing. That would be both arrogant and false. However, fixing these seems like a reasonable goal for the next few months. Should I slip up, as I have undoubtedly done so in this post, please correct me. It would be very helpful.
Thank You.
--C.
[Edit: Spelling could also use some work]
I've been using more empty modifiers and pointless hyperbole in recent writings. This is worrisome; words like "extremely", "absolutely" and "really" should be reserved for when the situation is extreme or absolute. "Really" needs to be erased absolutely from my future vocabulary. I know enough English to conceive of specific and accurate modifiers. Furthermore, hyperbolic comparisons have crept into my linguistic rut and taken up residence. While the odd, odd simile perpetuates my image as being only partially stable mentally -- something I don't mind, stale comparisons and outright exaggeration only cripples readability.
Overuse of parenthetical phrases is also a problem. Parentheses, ellipses and dashes usage will be severely limited henceforth. A parenthetical notation is the lazy man's way of including an idea in a sentence without the necessary transitional phrases. While I will confess to all accusations of laziness, I can't allow my writing to suffer that same fate; it's unacceptable.
I do not claim to have more than these two flaws in my writing. That would be both arrogant and false. However, fixing these seems like a reasonable goal for the next few months. Should I slip up, as I have undoubtedly done so in this post, please correct me. It would be very helpful.
Thank You.
--C.
[Edit: Spelling could also use some work]
Skipping class.
Yep, I'm doing it again. Skipping class. I really need to keep track of when my midterms are so I don't skip those inadvertently.
Doing waltz in social dance... horray for spinning fast enough to feel absolutely sick and dizzy for hours afterwards!
Today, one of my friends told me that I'm the randommest I've ever been. I was going to say something about that, but I got sidetracked. I'll say something later. I'm writing like a fourth grader; complex sentences, dammit!
--C.
Doing waltz in social dance... horray for spinning fast enough to feel absolutely sick and dizzy for hours afterwards!
Today, one of my friends told me that I'm the randommest I've ever been. I was going to say something about that, but I got sidetracked. I'll say something later. I'm writing like a fourth grader; complex sentences, dammit!
--C.
New site design and chatbox
Let's see how this works out... Just click the links on the side. If you want to say stuff just type it. It may take some time to refresh and don't click on the links below, they generate popups.
Ok. Off to lunch.
Gratuitous good link: Webpage Design for Designers.
Enjoy.
--C.
Ok. Off to lunch.
Gratuitous good link: Webpage Design for Designers.
Enjoy.
--C.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
There's nothing like...
Looking at your past blogging to jog your memory as to what you're supposed to be blogging about.
4) Scavenger hunt. If you don't know what it is... you don't go to Stanford. My sympathies. Anyway it was LOTS of fun but in the furor, I ended up somehow with my head shaved. It's been quite a week with funny looks from old friends... and the full range of comments from: "What the heck did you do to your hair??" to the neutral but cautious "So what inspired the new look" up to the "Damn, you look way better now". Incriminating photos, as is the norm, to follow... as soon as I find some storage space online for them.
5) Ropes course. A FroSoCo tradition: the sophomores get a not-quite-all-expenses-paid-but-heavily-subsidized day on a ropes course. Of course, as with any sort of climbing (and a number of other exercises -- like broomball) your muscles hurt in all sorts of odd places afterwards... but usually there is a definite positive correlation between the amount of creaking the next day and how much fun you had. It's something like the corollary to the old "no pain no gain" adage. "No fun, no pain". Well I definately had fun... and it did hurt... although not as much as two years ago when I had to try everything. Again, there will be photos... although none of me. I have a tendancy to be the one holding the camera at these events.
Ok bed for real now.
4) Scavenger hunt. If you don't know what it is... you don't go to Stanford. My sympathies. Anyway it was LOTS of fun but in the furor, I ended up somehow with my head shaved. It's been quite a week with funny looks from old friends... and the full range of comments from: "What the heck did you do to your hair??" to the neutral but cautious "So what inspired the new look" up to the "Damn, you look way better now". Incriminating photos, as is the norm, to follow... as soon as I find some storage space online for them.
5) Ropes course. A FroSoCo tradition: the sophomores get a not-quite-all-expenses-paid-but-heavily-subsidized day on a ropes course. Of course, as with any sort of climbing (and a number of other exercises -- like broomball) your muscles hurt in all sorts of odd places afterwards... but usually there is a definite positive correlation between the amount of creaking the next day and how much fun you had. It's something like the corollary to the old "no pain no gain" adage. "No fun, no pain". Well I definately had fun... and it did hurt... although not as much as two years ago when I had to try everything. Again, there will be photos... although none of me. I have a tendancy to be the one holding the camera at these events.
Ok bed for real now.
What a week.
Tired and sleepy but I did insist that I would at least blog before going to bed. First off, excuses: 5 problem sets. 'nuff said. Ok, so while this is printing my problem set, I'll blog -- simple enough. I had a few quick points that are on my list of things to blog about. In historical order:
1) Vegan week was a success... but it was definately very nice to eat cheese and meat again. Now that it's been a week of being more omnivorous, I can say with certainty that I do enjoy having the option of eating anything... but that I could definately go back to veganism without that much pain and suffering.
2) Busywork is terrible. I don't understand why professors think busywork is somehow useful to your further eductation. Copying pages from textbooks and lecture notes is not a way to get me to understand the material... it's a way to get me to hate it. I wish they'd put weight on the "inspires interest" section of the evaluation forms... then professors may actually try to do so.
3) On a lighter note: if you are reading this, you REALLY should look at this link. Wirte 50,000+ words in a month. It sounds like so much fun! Now if only I had the time for it... maybe when I get a real job. So that is my recommended link of the week.
4) There was definately a fourth thing but my printing's done and I'm too tired to remember it.
--C.
1) Vegan week was a success... but it was definately very nice to eat cheese and meat again. Now that it's been a week of being more omnivorous, I can say with certainty that I do enjoy having the option of eating anything... but that I could definately go back to veganism without that much pain and suffering.
2) Busywork is terrible. I don't understand why professors think busywork is somehow useful to your further eductation. Copying pages from textbooks and lecture notes is not a way to get me to understand the material... it's a way to get me to hate it. I wish they'd put weight on the "inspires interest" section of the evaluation forms... then professors may actually try to do so.
3) On a lighter note: if you are reading this, you REALLY should look at this link. Wirte 50,000+ words in a month. It sounds like so much fun! Now if only I had the time for it... maybe when I get a real job. So that is my recommended link of the week.
4) There was definately a fourth thing but my printing's done and I'm too tired to remember it.
--C.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
Friday, October 03, 2003
One of those days.
Yeah, it's like that. Computer is starting to burn out and I went to Fry's to get new memory but that was worse. Giving up on my tireless companion of 3+ years. I'm getting a new faster system online... should arrive in 2-3 weeks. In the meantime I have a homework list of 6 items on the back of my hand. I'm also speaking like a news anchor... the choppy sentence syndrome.
Vegan week last day: Discovered Fry's has vegan candy, definate bonus points for an electronics store. Also Sarah gave up a day early on the whole vegan thing: her downfall, Chicken Caeser salad. I'm going to start eating normally tomorrow, but Christina is still at it. You go girl! Although I really don't feel like eating a huge steak or anything... but some chocolate would be nice. All in all, a success... from near failure at the beginning, I'm starting to see how it can just be routine and nearly subconcious after a while. Although it is much harder than I remember from when I was vegetarian, as I expected really. I may try other restrictive diets in later weeks (I find you learn a lot by trying to experience what other people do): no gluten, highly limited phenylalanine, low sugar, low sodium, no casein, no leaven, no caffeine or alcohol. I'll be sure to document extensively all observations.
Ok, sleep, for the weak but I suppose not sleeping weakens you to the point when you can sleep again.
--C.
Vegan week last day: Discovered Fry's has vegan candy, definate bonus points for an electronics store. Also Sarah gave up a day early on the whole vegan thing: her downfall, Chicken Caeser salad. I'm going to start eating normally tomorrow, but Christina is still at it. You go girl! Although I really don't feel like eating a huge steak or anything... but some chocolate would be nice. All in all, a success... from near failure at the beginning, I'm starting to see how it can just be routine and nearly subconcious after a while. Although it is much harder than I remember from when I was vegetarian, as I expected really. I may try other restrictive diets in later weeks (I find you learn a lot by trying to experience what other people do): no gluten, highly limited phenylalanine, low sugar, low sodium, no casein, no leaven, no caffeine or alcohol. I'll be sure to document extensively all observations.
Ok, sleep, for the weak but I suppose not sleeping weakens you to the point when you can sleep again.
--C.
Thursday, October 02, 2003
Was about to go to bed...
But I did promise to update this.
Vegan week, day three. WIth only one day left, I now am in a sort of routine... and feel like I could keep this up for longer. Sometimes your friends are hardest to deal with since they are the ones that will wave a buttery pastery or a steak in front of your face just to see what sort of rise they get out of you. But I supposed I expected that from the start. I think my body is starting to adjust to eating food of a lower energy density since I no longer feel hungry 2 hours after meals. I've found it surprisingly easy not to give up on veganism even when outside the dining hall, too. At our meeting tonight, there were cake and cookies galore (all non vegan, of course) as well as sour cream & onion chips and spinach dip... and I didn't eat any of it. I feel this must be an amazing diet plan: eat anything you want, when you want... as long as it's vegan. And it could even come in the mail-order with a video of murdered cows oozing with bacteria and spurting blood. Double whammy: not only do you reduce calorie intake by eating no meat/dairy, you lose your appetite after watching those videos.
C--.
PS. I'd like to point out that I'm trying very hard to be positive and not cynical in these posts... yet.
Vegan week, day three. WIth only one day left, I now am in a sort of routine... and feel like I could keep this up for longer. Sometimes your friends are hardest to deal with since they are the ones that will wave a buttery pastery or a steak in front of your face just to see what sort of rise they get out of you. But I supposed I expected that from the start. I think my body is starting to adjust to eating food of a lower energy density since I no longer feel hungry 2 hours after meals. I've found it surprisingly easy not to give up on veganism even when outside the dining hall, too. At our meeting tonight, there were cake and cookies galore (all non vegan, of course) as well as sour cream & onion chips and spinach dip... and I didn't eat any of it. I feel this must be an amazing diet plan: eat anything you want, when you want... as long as it's vegan. And it could even come in the mail-order with a video of murdered cows oozing with bacteria and spurting blood. Double whammy: not only do you reduce calorie intake by eating no meat/dairy, you lose your appetite after watching those videos.
C--.
PS. I'd like to point out that I'm trying very hard to be positive and not cynical in these posts... yet.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Ha! Titles now... Google is nifty.
So, now I don't have to do silly HTML tags for titles... but anyway, I'm going to pimp a really cool website: HERE . You may have heard of it, DeviantArt -- it is THE premiere online artist community. Mostly, however, people on it have some of the best design sense or technical ability or drawing ablility or just WOWness, ever. But since it's an open forum for displaying your art, there is some bad stuff but you have to search really hard to find it. Plus they design skins, wallpapers, themes (damn I sometimes wish I had a Mac) etc etc etc. Cool site of the day. For more "WOW" but solely 3D computer generated graphics (I personally don't like this as much as Deviant, but Mike is all for it) go to the Internet Ray Tracing Competition