21

Okay. Really really tired, should go to sleep now.
By the way, watched Ella Enchanted on TV. It was the first time I watched it, and the book was way better.

20

We ran 6 laps today.
The new times for points are significantly harder than last year, and I barely managed 8.5 points. Actually, I was supposed to get 8/10 points, because I was off by one second, but our teacher was nice and just gave me 8.5.
That's really nice, except that its now pretty much impossible, given my ability to get an A in PE. Okay, its not impossible, its just extremely difficult.

19

Today was pro-d day, so I finally managed to get some work done. Not a whole lot, mind you, but I did manage to do an hour or two of solid work. Mostly math and English.
Math 9E is much harder than math 8 regular. However, after asking my brother how to do a couple of questions he never taught in class, I was fine.

18

So tired right now. Must sleep.
Slept yesterday at 12, not fun.

17

You know what, today I feel like going on a rant about the mediocre-ness of American household electronic appliances compared to their far FAR superior Japanese counterparts.
Now, just a disclaimer, I have not done any research whatsoever, and all of this is based purely on my experiences.

Let's start with, hmmm..... How about washing machines?
You know, in North America, there are front-loading washing machines, front-loading dryers, top-loading washing machines, and top-loading dryers. Well, in Japan, there is the not-exactly-front-loading-but-not-top-loading washer/dryer. This design places the chamber thing at 20-40 degree angle, which makes reaching in and out WAY easier. Plus, there aren't any dials, everything is done from the control panel which consists of buttons and displays. There are also many functions, but which I've forgotten. However, Hitachi's flagship model, the BeatWash(or whatever its called) is top-loading but still a two-in-one. I remember it was either Toshiba or Sanyo (probably the former) who first introduced this appliance way back in 2002, and now, almost every major company has introduced a second generation.

It really honestly is wonderful, if I knew Japanese, I would be able to tell you much more about it.

Okay, now lets move on to refrigerators.
I remember in Japan, when I was walking around Akihabara, the world famous electric street (or so I've been told, I've never heard of it before I went there 5 years ago), I walked into one of those electronics stores geared for foreign visitors. In there was a section of fancy new refrigerators. At the very very far end, tucked away in the corner, under the sign "Overseas Models", was a GE refrigerator. Nobody ever ventured there, and when you could just compare the GE model and the Japanese models, it was clear who was the winner.
Japanese houses are significantly smaller than ours, so they had to make much use of their space. Their refrigerators reflect that. They have so many innovative compartments in which you could put probably 2x the stuff inside the same amount of space. Certain models have these ionizers, or plasma ion, and other stuff which is supposed to be good for your food, keeping them fresh, but I never understood them because I don't know Japanese. Usually, the freezer is at the bottom, with 1-3 drawers above it for fruits, vegetables, meat, etc., then on the top is a general compartment with one-touch open doors (yes, you don't have to pull the handles) and ample space. Look, even opening the doors uses significantly less space than our American ones. By the way, all the higher end ones have electronic displays, automatic ice dmaker, stuff like that. However, I have yet to see a single refrigerator with an external ice/cold water dispenser.
Oh, and they're for sure much more energy efficient than American ones, that's a given.

I think I should go now, so I'll just leave it at that.

16

Apparently the Iranian president is not very popular in New York. He's speaking at Columbia University, which I personally think is a good thing. Even though I completely abhorr his policies, I do believe in free speech, debate, and think it is a good thing he can express his opinions, and for us to try to understand why he says the things he says. Then, we hope that he does the same, and then we can all have a fair debate, and then leave hand in hand, shower everybody with flowers, and bring peace to the world.

In a perfect world.
Well, we're just going to have to live with it.

15

Okay, next time I won't borrow a book until I'm sure I don't have any homework for the next while, and will set to read it all in a couple of days and then return it. Otherwise I will just spend my days reading bits and pieces, never reading enough to finish the book, and always spending to much time on it rather than on my work which I should be doing.

14

I didn't manage to write a blog yesterday, because I was really tired and very very busy with Chinese, plus a lot of other activities, etc.

Well, yesterday I went to grassroots. I was washing the recycling bins, and it was at the same time much worse and much easier than I remembered. We managed to finish everything so much quicker, and it wasn't as hot as I remembered. However, I was definetly a lot wetter and icky.

I was listening to a lot of music on the internet, and discovered a lot of hidden gems (okay, maybe they weren't hidden to other people, but they were to me) which were much much better than mainstream music. Even though, to be honest, the ones that I were listening to are mainstream music. I'm not that much of a indie listener, for some reason.

13

Oh dear. Our group still has a science lab plan due tomorrow, and we really haven't started. At all.
And, if HC hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten all together. Then, our group could just freak out tomorrow. Possibly complete it during Applied Skills.

By the way, I have just figured out another big time waster. It's sort of a big 'duh, of course', but for me its the radio. I just sit there, do nothing, and listen to it. Its relaxing sometimes, however, sometimes I just get headaches.

12

I have done absolutely nothing related to homework/piano today, so I plan to sleep early.
My legs hurt quite a bit, I'm guessing its because of running so much after a generally dormant summer. Oh well, its better now after I used some of that analgesic, whatever that meant. However, I do have to run the 6 laps tomorrow...

11

Really tired right now actually. Really want to sleep. Better go do that now.

10

Well, I guess I can't really stall not doing much homework for any longer, cause I just got quite a bit of assignments today. Hm. Maybe it'll take something like this to give me a push to really get back into the regular routine. Which means I need to make a daily timetable, something that I've only done once this school year, plus an organization period to get everything straight.

At the very least, I'm sleeping relatively early...
But not for long, at least, if I don't get everything straight, and soon.

Oh yeah...
By the way, during the summer, I was contemplating whether or not to continue piano or not. I thought that if I got a low mark on my Grade 8 Pratical, I wouldn't continue, and vice versa. Well, it actually wasn't that important to me, as I wasn't eagerly waiting for the test results. I just remembered and checked on the spur of the moment. Anyways, I did fine, getting 82. Like always, the teacher took pity on me. And also gave me the benefit of the doubt. (I made a couple of false starts, and sort of pretended that I played the wrong song and didn't hear her correctly, and so on and so forth).
My teacher just told me to start on Grade 10, because she wants me to finish it before I reach Grade 12 in regular school. Well, that means I have 2 years to complete several theory courses.

Oh, by the way, I missed the Emmys.

9

Okay. I think I should be going to sleep now. Just a brief overview of what happened today.
Regular routinue, homework, piano, etc.
However, participated in a project as an interviewee for somebody. It was about a "kids view" of the world, or more accurately, their school-related habits.

8

The common cold's been making its rounds at school lately, and I'm one of the victims.
Oh well, I think I should be sleeping now.

7 and String Theory Questions

1. When does theory become fact?

The line is actually blurred according to some, as some people consider facts to be influenced in one way or another by theory. I am somewhat confused, but from what I understand, 'theory' is used to explain 'facts', and is more of the reasoning behind these facts, and not necessarily 'scientific facts' themselves.

2. What is the difference between philosophy and theory?

Again, I don't have a clear idea, and after some research, I believe that theory is an explanation based on logic or mathematical calculations of scientific facts, that can either be tested using the scientific method or through observations.
The definition of philosophy is highly debated, and this explanation may not be the perfect one. Philosophy is more of a method, rather than the actual results. The method is based on rational thinking.

3. When will string theory be a religion?

Well, as far as I know, religion is very hard to define, and is quite subjective. You can get a very general definition, in which string theory is already a religion (then again, so would most scientific theories), in which it is a group of people holding a same group of beliefs; or believing in a set of doctrine that governs our lives. Otherwise, you would go into more stringent definitions, which involves deities, and those that are sacred, or divine, or spiritual. Now, if you used that definition, string theory would very likely not become a religion.


Blog 7

Today I switched from Spanish 9 to Japanese 10, because I just felt that learning Japanese would probably be more important to me now than Spanish. Well, anyways, it turns out my teacher and I had a lot to talk about. She lived in Yokohama, a little bit north of where I lived, but she was there from 2000-2001, where she taught at one of the best public schools in the city. Then, she got fired, due to cuts across the board, and came here. Well, I stayed in Yokohama for the summers of 2002-4, and so we had quite a bit to talk about, particularly the development in Minato Mirai 21, or whatever its called.
Quite a pleasant surprise, except now I have to copy 15 pages of 5 hiragana characters.

6

I'm really really tired right now.
I'll just leave it at that.

String Theory

5

Yesterday I finally ordered the book, and, according to a email they sent me, it should arrive on or before September 17, 2007.

I got some homework today, and I also did get some homework earlier last week, but honestly, I really haven't gotten started on them. I'm just constantly procrastinating, still thinking that summer's not over yet, and I have some time left. Sigh.
I remember I wrote down a list/plan of action of how to be more productive, etc., but I have to find that list. As of now, I can't find it, and I suspect that it was thrown away along with some of my notes from last year. Oh well, if I can't find it, I'll probably start on a new list, as I do need to sit down and really work on my very vague goals.

Oh, by the way, I changed the number of the blog, as I made a mistake on the numbering.

4

I just started getting back into the work routine, but I'm not doing that well.

By the way, the VMA's are on tonight.

Oh, and I just spent the better half of an hour watching Ellen DeGeneres online. But, the thing is that I can barely hear her.

3

Oh, I really don't know what to talk about today.
I guess I'll talk about what I know about the Japanese pop scene. Which really isn't a lot, since I only know the chart toppers, plus, I really don't know any Japanese, so yeah.
First of all, most Western singers aren't that big in Japan, at the very least not at the same scale as in Europe. And, of course, none of us have heard of Japanese singers, have we?
Well, anyways, there are four major female solo singers, a couple of bands here and there, and that's really it. Okay, lets just start with those four.
Ugh. I'm getting confused.
Okay, so there's Namie AMuro first, who was the absolute queen of pop for a long time, until I think she got married and had a child I think in 1998. Then, there was Ayumi Hamasaki. She became number one for a while, but then Utada Hikaru came on, and had the best album sales ever. She is also one of very few Japanese artists who could speak English fluently, the rest mumble with a large accent. Well, at least they speak better English than we speak Japanese. Also, she had an English album, Exodus, under Island Def Jam, or whatever its called. It sold very dismally, but it probably had more to do with the fact that she was new, there was practically no promotion, and she was Asian. Oh, by the way, she originally got her start in USA (EMI), but then left for Japan sometime later. Globally, she has sold like 40 m. units and has 3 United World Chart toppers. That's saying a lot for a Japanese singer. Sure, Avril Lavigne or Rihanna could easily do that, but, well, not if you're Japanese. The size of the market makes a really big difference. Oh, and then Kumi Koda came on the scene, while all this time Ayumi Hamasaki still did her part and wasn't bad. Also, Namie Amuro, now divorced, came back on board, albeit without her previous successs. Nevertheless, she wasn't that bad. Also, UH went to Columbia University, but then dropped up to pursue her music career. Oh yeah, this year, Utada Hikaru divorced (I heard it was on the same day her parents divorced), Ayumi Hamasaki broke off her engagement, and Kumi Koda also broke up.

Aside from them, the only people of note are Mr. Children (think UH-like success), KinKi Kids (most consecutive number-1 debuts), and that's pretty much it.

Oh, and by the way, the Japanese have an afinity for weird English names for their bands, albums, and singles, even by chart-topping people. Like, say "very special!!!", "I am...", "A Best 2 -white-", "Step you", "Tommy february6/Tommy heavenly6". They also have an afinity for weird capitalization ("evolution", "CAN'T SLEEP, CAN'T EAT, I'M SICK", "A", "H") and weird usages of "~".


I guess that'll do for now.

2

Oh dear. Some people REALLY don't get what they're doing. Generally reactive people. Ugh. I guess I won't get that book before Monday, it's going to take a while. Mainly because I have $10 in online certificates (I got those from completing online surveys), and possibly some more money on a giftcard which doesn't work. So, the giftcard needs to be sent to a retail store. Which won't happen soon, as the person who I'm planning to ask to do this is pointedly ignoring me.

UGH.

And also being very very defensive, which also means being reactive.
I was also reactive.
Sigh.
I'll talk to him later.

1

Hello.... I realized that I haven't updated in a very long time, and a lot has happened over the summer. Probably going to write bits and pieces of it sometime over this year. Well, anyways, today was the first day of classes.



Anyways, yeah. I guess that's it for now, probably wil add more later on as I really start getting into the school life and settle.