In randomly surfing the web, I’ve come across some write-ups of interesting studies:
1) There is an emerging school of thought which holds that the younger set has a higher sense of entitlement and inflated impression of themselves. Not in the good way.
2) Intelligent people are more likely to experience self-doubt.
3 comments March 14th, 2007
The use of ominous choir and tympani in soundtracks must end. (Why always in D minor? Why?) I used to like Orff’s “Carmina Burana”. Now every time I hear “O Fortuna” and the like, I want to pull out my light saber and take on Darth Maul in a battle that determines the fate of the universe itself. Or go charging into battle on a horse through waving grass against legions of CGI enemies and overwhelming odds with my improbably blonde hair flowing behind me and plate mail gleaming as menacing clouds thunder by atop craggy mountain peaks. John Williams should be barred from composing any more soundtracks until he can find a new idea that can be milked ad nauseam.
Add comment February 14th, 2007
My mom’s sister in law made her a bunch of “sleevies”–elastic cuffs you wear to protect your sleeves while you’re cooking and doing housework. The pair I have is covered in Engrish homilies such as:
“Let’s join a lot of loverly cloths and make the bed cover of will beauty.”
“Present of smile.”
“Everyone is very the same.”
“A party happy to call the companion in the vicinity was held.”
“Happy everyday.”
“A story happy for the family to gather in surroundings of the fireplace and to drink tea also made the mind warm it.”
1 comment January 1st, 2007
Today Mom got her hair cut. She has a bit of a perm, and her stylist had used some mousse and whatnot to give the curls some definition. When her stylist was done, my mom looked in the mirror and said with a huge grin, “I have Marty Friedman hair!”
Something like this.
As if that wasn’t enough… One day as I was sitting quietly at the computer downstairs, I heard a loud BANG! from upstairs in the kitchen. Of course I yelled upwards “YOU OKAY, MOM?” And I got back a weak voice saying, “I think it’s okay, I survived…”
So of course I go barrelling up the stairs in a panic to see what’s wrong–and Mom’s at the top of the stairs, smiling smugly. Turns out the table leaf dropped and hit the floor is all.
“But,” she asked me, “don’t you appreciate the excitement once in a while?”
Add comment December 22nd, 2006
Mom and I were watching The Hour on CBC tonight with George Strombolopoulos. A teaser for a Dave Grohl interview came on. “Can I change the channel? [referring to Grohl] He looks… kitanarashii, you know what I mean?”
The closest English expression I can come up with: “greasy-looking”.
Add comment December 20th, 2006
Occasions when three minutes feels like three hours:
1. Waiting for the bus in -40 windchill.
2. Waiting for an anticipated phone call.
3. Being on hold with the worst hold music ever (*ahem* Dell *cough*).
4. Trapped on the bus next to an obnoxious cell phone user.
5. Load times on the PS2 for FFXII for some boss battles and cutscenes.
6. The “express” line at Safeway.
7. Torrent queues for Metalocalypse episodes.
8. Waiting for an elevator next to someone wearing too much perfume/cologne. Even longer if they’re yelling into their cellphone that they’re about to get on an elevator.
9. Waiting in line for much-needed java behind the person who evidently has never heard of “coffee” but wants something “hot and sweet” and appears to be functionally illiterate.
10. Trying to get your key in the lock when you really, really, really, really have to go to the bathroom.
Add comment November 28th, 2006
Add comment November 23rd, 2006
No, not Christmas. Not that Christmas doesn’t have its merits. But my main reason for looking forward to Christmas is the annual Japanese Mandarin Madness. One year I failed to ration and went through a five-pound box–by myself–in less than four days.
The Chinese Mandarin oranges have been available for a few weeks, but I find the Japanese worth the wait and additional price. They’re eaiser to peel, 99% seedless and 250% better tasting (yes, those are clinically proven quantities). If I can’t find Japanese, I’ll resort to Korean (bigger but not as intense orange-y flavour), and after that I’ll go without. But I’ll stuff my face with Japanese Mandarins given the chance.
Laura once told me her mom told her she would get “orange peel skin” if she ate too many Mandarins. And my mom told me a story about getting caught with orange fingernails by my grandmother after being told not to eat any more oranges. But a pound-a-day habit and my skin isn’t any more bumpy, and no one’s checking my fingernails, so these days Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without me getting sick at least once on Japanese Mandarins. Go and get yourself a box. They’re high in fibre and vitamin C. And their wrappers are 100% biodegradable. And if you save the peels and dry them out, you can add them to a hot bath a few weeks down the road (tie them in a rag first if you don’t like the floaty bits), breathe in some orange-y aroma goodness and relive some Mandarin memories when the season’s over.
Add comment November 19th, 2006
My mom’s latest career advice: “You should play Justin Timberlake songs on your violin. I’ve heard his music, it’s not so complicated, not so hard–not a lot of up and down…”
1 comment November 14th, 2006
Yes, I’m an addict. Today I was terribly proud of myself for denying myself a trip. Instead I bought Ziploc storage dishes to put my Lush product in. But last week I wasn’t quite so disciplined.
Aquamarina Cleanser
Seaweed-wrapped pinkness
Smell that calamine and nori
Wait, nori’s for eatin’…
American Dream Conditioner
Limp, limp, limp, limp hair
No, didn’t get a haircut
Gotta exchange this.
Coolaulin Conditioner
Ah, no more limpness
Supposed to be coconut?
Whatever, it works.
Champagne Snowshowers Shower Jelly
More Jell-o washings!
Light citrus scent, good lather
Eight stars out of ten.
Pied de Pepper Foot Cream
Cinnamon and cloves,
Beats crappy minty lotions.
My feet smell… spicy.
Add comment November 13th, 2006
