The "B" Day

We all have those days when we know we aren't on our "A" games.  Sometimes it's something that we even joke about.  But when those days happen, they usually always seem to come at the worst times, which was the case for me yesterday.  My day started off well, but left me with more questions than answers, which is a shame considering how great I felt.

The day started off in my CJ class, where my teacher loved me because I read the chapter and was vocal about it.  I read the assigned chapters all the time (usually more than once), but rarely participate because I'm introverted and the class has close to 100 people in it.  With a class size that big, you don't think you need to speak all the time.  But I felt like I did yesterday, since the other students didn't care, which made the teacher notice me.  Even though that was not my norm, I have to admit that felt good.  Transitioning from that, my Sociology class had the same results.  I usually always talk when we have group discussions, especially when I have to be the facilitator/leader, but yesterday, I was on a roll, contributing my own life stories, asking questions, etc.  It was all really wonderful, and had me pumped for my Spanish test I was going to take later, which was the thing I was nervous about all day.

Now, I was supposed to take this test last week, but with all the snow days and the fact my teacher became sick, it got pushed back.  Usually I jump for joy when something being pushed back, but tests are different.  When I have more time, that usually makes me more anxious.  And since I was so busy, I didn't study as much as I should have.  Even when I did study though, when it came to the test, I froze; I forgot vocabulary words and even forgot the most basic grammar, which was disappointing to me because the test was very straightforward, and 9 times out of 10, I know I'd do better.  But I was the last person finished, and when I handed in my test, I knew I didn't do as well as I should of. I didn't fail, but I didn't ace it, which is what I wanted.  I could be wrong, but I won't know until it's graded.

That was my day yesterday.  In a lot of ways, not much happened, but at the same time, a lot did with everything being out of the ordinary for me.  Considering how good I felt, I wish the results carried over to my test, but I guess I wasn't on my "A" game as much as I thought I was.  I was just at a "C" or a "B", which is what I think I usually am anyways when it comes to school since I always have to try harder.  As I said before, I could be wrong and do better on the test than I thought, but regardless of what grade I get, I know I need to do better and put this day behind me, cause tomorrow, I have another test, which definitely needs me to be on my "A" game.

Hair Fascination

As I sit here playing with my hair, a few thoughts run through my mind.  I need a haircut, I have way too much time on my hands, and hair is just so damn fascinating!  Did I lose you there?  Let me explain.  Hair has always been fascinating to me, just because it's hair.  Women obsess about it and consider it sacrilege to touch or even ask about it, while most guys I know don't care two licks about it.  But to me, hair is cool.  As mine grows out, I can't help but wonder how I must look to another person with my spiky hair.  What about all the gray hairs I have?  People always joke about how cool it'd be to have silver hair like in video games, but no one ever said anything about gray, which means I'm too stressed or something is up with me genetically.  And what about when my hair eventually stops growing.  It's a fate that won't happen to everyone, but I know it will happen to me one day because all the men in my family have some form of hair loss.  So, while I complain about waking up and having to wash and make my hair look neat, I should enjoy the time I get to spend playing with it because one day, it'll be gone. 

Still, there's just so much I don't get about it.  It's a part of us, but it's something we often take for granted.

Wishlists

My friends who I hang out with at home have this hilarious tradition where we each give each other Gatorade on each others birthdays.  I started the tradition years ago, and looking back, I don't know why I did, but I'm glad I did since it shows how laid back my friends are, and takes the pressure off me getting my friends real presents.  Unfortunately, that philosophy doesn't apply with everyone.  Nor would I want it to.  Recently, when I talked to one of my school friends, they told me that they dreaded getting their friends presents for special occasions.  I didn't understand why since I always thought it was challenging and fun trying to get your friends something, but I could see why she thought that way.  It's tough trying to figure out what to get somebody, especially if you want to make it sincere or have to use a lot of money.  Usually, I escape the problem by getting or making my friends cards, but I know I can't do that for everyone.  So what's a person to do?

That is when my friend and I talked about lists, specifically wishlists.  She said that she preferred her friends tell her what to get them, or give her a wishlist, like on Amazon, but I didn't know if I agreed.  Sure, that makes things simpler, but is it better that way?  Is it fun?  And are you spreading a false message by giving someone what they want, when we all know that you can't have everything you want in life.  Maybe I'm thinking too deep about this, but what do you think?

Question: Do you have/like something like an Amazon wishlist?  What do you think about it?  And do you like being told what to get a person, or having the freedom to choose what to give them?

f(x) And miss A

The beautiful women of f(x)

I listen to K-Pop constantly and post about it on this blog (as many of you probably know).  But one thing I sparingly ever talk about is female groups.  It's not because I don't like female groups; it's just because I'm still new to K-Pop, and with so many artists out there, it's hard to find a good group to focus on.  Luckily, I was able to find a few groups I liked, thanks to the help of my brother and the internet.  Although, these groups should come as no surprise to people, since they are two of the most popular female groups out there: f(x) and miss A.  Right now,  I have to say miss A is my favorite female group because I like and listen to more of their songs, and I can actually name all their members, but f(x) is a close second.  Sadly, I'm still trying to learn everybody's name in their group, but I know Victoria, Amber, and Krystal for sure, so I'm making progress.  Since I just started listening f(x), I don't know all of their songs, but I like what I've heard, even though their stuff is a bit harder and more club/dance-orientated than I'm used to.  But when it comes to K-Pop, I'm always willing to be open minded.  I love 2PM, 2AM, SHINee, K.Will, etc., but it's nice to listen to female groups like f(x) and miss A, who are strong independent women, and most importantly, good role models.  I wish more American artist were like that, but what can you do?  That's why I'm listening to K-Pop and my girls.  I love them, and can't wait to see what they both have in store for 2014. 

The strong women of miss A

Rough Week Ahead

Having so many things due in the 7 days, like essays, homework, and tests, I don't know if I'll have time to write, let alone blog, so if I don't, I apologize.  Hopefully, this week isn't that bad though, and I can get through it, passing everything I need to.  If not, just gotta come back with a good demeanor, trying harder than before.

Only 10 more weeks of school to go.  Don't know if I'll make it, but I'll try to.  The other incentive is that at least it's only a month from spring break.

NBA Lame Dunk Contest

Terrence Ross, Paul George, and John Wall won the Slam Dunk Contest as a team, but did it add anything?

The NBA All-Star festivities were in their second day yesterday, with the the Shooting Stars Challenge, Skills Contest, 3 Point Shootout, and Slam Dunk Contest.  Usually, these events are promoted as the highlight of the whole weekend, but after watching them, I have to say that they were all a complete dud.  The challenges had their moments individually, but they were all boring as a whole.  Even the Slam Dunk Contest, which actually had good dunkers in it, was not as good as I thought it'd be with their confusing new format, and the fact that everyone besides John Wall couldn't do their dunk on their first try.  Yes, there was some good teamwork involved, but if they left things in the traditional format, I think people would have enjoyed that more since it would have just made more sense.

Can All-Star weekend be salvaged?  I would like to say yes because the NBA is always changing and trying to appeal to fans, but they've already tried changing their format so many times, so I don't know if anything new would drastically improve things.  One thing I will say though, is that I think it's taking a step in the right direction with more superstars being in it.  As long as that's the case, then there will always be fan interest during All-Star weekend, even if it sucks.  I think yesterday night's commentary proved something though.  They kept talking about how Paul George was the best athlete and dunker that night, and they were right.  But we all know if LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or more superstars were in it, the quality would have been better.  KD gets a pass because he's competed in the festivities before, but we know LeBron never will (even for charity).  It's a shame, but as long as things stay like that, with mediocre competition and rules, the All-Star weekend will always be a dud.

John Wall doing the best dunk of the night

Love Day

Yesterday, I prayed for a snow day and got it.  And while that alone would be enough for me to rejoice and celebrate, that's not the only reason I'm feeling good today.  I'm happy because Valentine's Day (or Love Day, as I call it) is here once again.  Last year, when I blogged about this holiday, I kept wondering why people disliked it.  Was it because they didn't have somebody, the materialism of it, or did it people just hate that couples needed a day to show someone they cared?  I'm sure the reason why people dislike Love Day is a mix of all those reasons, but after thinking about it, my opinion of the day is still the same, which is that I love it!  Yes, there are negative aspects to it, but all holidays have that.  Love Day is a day where love is the central theme of the day.  I know that can be tiring and even unecessarily dramatic, but it's still a beautiful thing when it goes right for two people.

Now, since I've never been in a relationship, you'd think a day like this would bring me down, but while it has in the past, it doesn't much anymore because I know good, deserving people who are happy.  A few of them are in relationships, while others aren't, but the point of the day is that they're happy and spreading the feeling of love and togetherness all around.  That might not focus specifically on love, like Love day entails, but as long as you have people around you that care, you can find love in all sorts of ways besides the traditional way.

Happy Love Day everyone!  If you have plans tonight, I hope they go well.  And shout out to my friend Steph, whose favorite day is Love Day! 

Praying For Snow

I usually don't hope for a snow day, but with tomorrow's supposed Nor'easter on the way, and my area likely to get a bulk of it, I'm hoping they cancel classes.  I know we had a snow day just a week ago, but that was on a Wednesday, when I only have one class.  On Thursdays, I have 3 classes, and am on campus for close to 8 hours, which is so tiring, even the teachers want the day off.  Now, I was planning on going out anyways because I have to go back to Boston, but my trip would be a lot easier if I had a head start in the morning.  Guess we won't know for a few hours, but here's hoping.  And if we do have class, at least make it so it isn't that bad.  I'm begging you God!

Less Than Necessary

For the past few days, I've been spending my time on the school library website, looking up database sources for a paper.  Being an English major, this is nothing new to me, but now that this is my final full semester, I have to admit, I'm pretty tired of it.  Looking up sources is necessary and even easy at times, but not this time.  I have a research paper to write that needs 6 outside sources.  Now, the fact that my paper only needs to be 5 pages and is only 10% of the grade is a plus, but it also needs 6 scholarly sources, which is hard to find.  It's not like there isn't any information out there, but with so much garbage and duplicates, it's hard to keep track of what you need and what you don't.  My friend Phu always used to complain about essays because he said teachers always made them unnecessarily tedious for no reason.  Like why would we need X amount of sources or words when we can do it in less.  I understand his points, but I also know teachers need to have guidelines, and that sources back up what you're trying to say.  Still, sometimes, I wish it were easier.

Only 11 weeks of school to go...  

Gratuitousness

There's an old cliché that "you can never have too much of anything", which can be used for economics, food, etc.  In writing, that's called gratuitousness, in which you can have too much or too little of something, such as a detail.  It's usually seen as a negative since you're doing/giving more than what the read wants, but you can't help doing it because you want to be honest and give it your all.  Speaking on broader terms though, I wonder if gratuitousness in real life really is a bad thing like the cliché says.  Usually, I would say no, but when you eat too much, that's bad for you.  Of if you have too much money or power, that can corrupt you.  I suppose it isn't important, but when I look at people who have too much time on their hands, or are too reliant on technology, I can't help wondering if we have too much.  Having a lot of something is nice and makes everyone feel more secure, but there has to be a limit, or else it would get out of hand. 

What do you think though?  Are people too gratuitous with certain things?     

The Knockout Game

On Youtube, there's a viral sensation going on in the world currently, though I wouldn't necessarily call it a sensation, since usually that label is saved for something positive.  The thing I'm talking about is knockout videos, which have to do with The Knockout Game.  I don't know much about it myself, but from what I've heard, a person or group of people wait for an unsuspecting person and then punch them in the back of the head, resulting in a knockout.  This type of behavior is cruel in itself, but the fact some people find it amusing sickens me. 

Now, some will try to justify the game, saying it's just people having a little fun, but that's what everyone says before something violent happens like dares or drunk driving.  They start out harmless, but then the ramifications come.  Case in point, a couple of days ago, I heard that someone knocked out a guy, only to be shot by him right after.  You can feel however you want to about that, but anyone who instigates that in the first place is stupid, especially if they didn't know what they were getting themselves into.  There are games in real life, but the Knockout Game is not one of them.  If you want a real one, play a board game, or buy a game system.  Don't play this ridiculous game because you're hurting both the person and yourself by bringing violence, and just being a bully, which the world already has enough of. 

My Favorite Generation I Pokémon

Recently, I've been getting back into Pokémon in more ways than I ever imagined.  I always played the games, but with no 3DS, I had to find some other alternative, which is why I've been getting into the trading card game. As a child, it seemed complicated with all of its coin flips and damage counters, but now, I know it's a pretty simple game to play.  Yesterday, I bought some cards online (showing my addiction to the game), but like all card games, it gets expensive because I always want to buy collectable/older cards.  Sure, I could buy newer cards (and I have), but I grew up with the first two generations of Pokémon the most, so I want those cards in my deck.  Plus, I just like/know most of the Pokémon in general.  That got me thinking though, when it came to the first generation, what were my favorite Pokémon?  I looked back on my main party from those games, but those weren't accurate, since they just represented Pokémon that were there for convenience.  Let's be honest, we all had a Pidgeot, but it was never one of our favorites; it was there just because we didn't want a Fearow or legendary.  So with this question on my mind, I thought long and hard about which Generation I Pokémon were my favorites.  It took awhile, but after thinking about it, I think I have my answer.

Criteria for my favorite Generation I Pokémon is judged by a mix of variables.  I chose some of them based on my use of them in the video games, card game, and my sentimental memory of them.  It's safe to say if I could ever have a main party with these 6, I would.  Without further ado, my favorite Generation I Pokémon are...

Honorable Mention

• Scyther: My friend Phu is going to kill me for this because he loves Scyther to death, but here me out.  I love Scyther now as a Pokémon, sometimes even more than Scizor, but back as a child, I couldn't stand Scyther.  It was a bug Pokémon, which I don't even really like, since like Misty, I just hate bugs.  And back then, it was so hard to get because you could only get it in the Safari Zone or the game corner, which took forever.  Sure, it might have been worth it, but back in Generation I, it didn't have a great move set, and its only real use was to cut trees, which is why it's an honorable mention.

6. Porygon: You'd think Porygon would be in the same boat as Scyther since it could only be gotten at the game corner, and it cost even more coins, but unlike Scyther, I was never afraid of Porygon.  Yes, it had the unfortunate seizure incident in Japan, but that wasn't its fault; that was because of high flashing animation.  Porygon might be weak, but I always thought it was cool that it was made out of cybernetics/technology, and I loved its annoying move set with the Conversion moves and Tri-Attack!

5. Snorlax: Snorlax is here because it's fat, eats, and sleeps a lot just like I used to.  And while I'm not that way anymore, I still remember those days.  They weren't always good times, but they were simpler because I wasn't always worrying about my health the way I do now.  In the old games, Snorlax was the sleeping Pokémon that you had to wake up using a PokéFlute, which I always thought was awesome.  It might not be the best at any specific stats, but I think it has an equal balance of everything.  Not to mention, it's versatile enough to learn HMs like Surf, and it's hard to knock out with its high HP and Rest move.  Considering I didn't like many water Pokémon besides Blastoise, Snorlax was a lifesaver.  

4. Marowak:  There's not much I can really say about Marowak.  In the original Generation, its main preference was that you had to kill it in the Lavender Ghost tower, so you could get by.  It was creepy, but an interesting plot to say the least.  Besides that, I love Marowak because it's different.  It has a skull on its head, always making me wonder how it looks underneath, and it throws a bone, which I always thought was cool since I liked boomerangs.  Its card in the trading card game leaves something to be desired, but there is one version I like that I want, so it still has a special place for me.

3. Pikachu: Being the mascot of the entire Pokémon franchise, Pikachu seems like an obvious choice here.  It has a lot of supporters, but it has a lot of detractors as well.  And I can understand why.  It's not strong, is the main Pokémon of Ash (who sucks as a trainer), and it always loses to other Pokémon in the series, but I like it because it's cute, and a Pokémon my dad and I really connected with.  Not to mention, once it has the light ball and Volt tackle, it's pretty awesome!

2. Dragonite: Dragonite reminds me of the cryptozoology I follow, which has to do with mythical creatures, folklore, etc.  There's stories about it, but you never really see it, unless you capture one.  That's never more relevant then in the anime series when Ash and the gang see the giant one, but in the game, you can't capture one unless you raise a Dratini all the way up to level 55.  I admit, that is tedious, especially since you don't get it until later in the game, which by that point, you probably already have your main party.  But if you're like me and love dragons, you have to love Dragonite; its look, moves, and strength, what's not to like?  Plus, you can fish for it or get it at the game corner, which is always helpful.

1. Charizard: Do I even need to explain this one?  Charizard is the best!  I know a lot of people who hate it because of its popularity, and stat and card game wise, it isn't the best, but I don't care.  I was always fascinated with it as a child because I always thought it was a dragon.  And even though I learned later on it was a lizard, it doesn't change the fact there's so much to love about it.  It's strong, it's orange (which used to be my favorite color), and it breathes fire.  You can't get much better than that, and I really want its EX card, so if anyone wants to give me a near mint one, let me know.

Coca-Cola Commercial Controversy

In my Sociology class, we talk about people for the most part, but on Tuesday, we broke the norm when we talked about the Super Bowl.  I honestly had no idea why we were wasting time on it because the game was disappointingly a blowout, but we focused on something other than football.  We focused on the commercials, two in particular.  One was the GoldieBlox commercial about girls being able to play what they want, which I thought was awesome being a Gender Studies minor.  The other one though, was the "America The Beautiful" Coca-Cola commercial.  I wasn't surprised by its content since Coca-Cola always has interesting commercials, like their Simpsons one, but I was more surprised that it was receiving controversy for the reasons it was.

One of the obvious reasons the commercial was receiving controversy was because it had a homosexual couple in it with their daughter.  I can understand the shock seeing it since we aren't used to seeing homosexuals in commercials, but it isn't a big deal.  Homosexuals are people just like everyone else, and they just want to be accepted.  No matter what your beliefs are, I think you have to at least respect that.  The other reason it was controversial, which I didn't understand, was because it had different people singing "America The Beautiful" in different languages.  It was a beautiful and patriotic thing, but a lot of people didn't like it because they think we only speak English in this country, or they believe it's hypocritical.  I think disliking the commercial for the first reason I stated is ignorant since English isn't the official language of this country, and there are lots of different people who live in our country.  But I understand the thinking that it's hypocritical.  The commercial paints America as something idyllic, yet we all know it isn't like that.  There's still racism, and the very homosexuals in that commercial can't even get married in most states, which is a shame.  Not to mention, Coca-Cola is the one that made the commercial, so while it's great and sends a message, we all know they just want to sell soda.  I understand being angry, but at the end of the day, it's just a commercial.  There are more important things in life than that, so let's just enjoy it for how beautiful it is.

The Coca-Cola commercial.  Do you think it's controversial?  You be the judge...

Olympic Sham

The Olympics opening ceremony was a few hours ago, and from what I was told, it was a spectacle to behold.  It was civil, patriotic, Boston was represented well, and so far, nothing terror related has happened (to my knowledge).  It's good to see sports of any kind getting attention, but in all honesty, as much as I love sports, I don't care about the Olympics!  Does that make me a bad person?  Many would say yes, but I don't think it's a bad thing.  Let me explain.

On the surface, I understand what the Olympics are.  They're a sporting event where the best athletes in the world compete against each other for medals, and for the honor of their country.  That to me, is noble. But lost in that, is all the negative stuff that gets swept under the rug; the controversies, the bad sportsmanship, etc.  Although, this year, it's been no secret how Russia has handled the Olympics.  They've taken controversial stances on homosexuals, killed stray dogs, and even given opposing athletes/people terrible living conditions.  And yet, people still care?  They still watch?  I understand watching if you love sports and competition of any kind, but as I learned in my Psychology and Women class, sometimes when you want to make a statement, you need to boycott something, which I've done with the Olympics practically my whole life.  Maybe it's wrong and unpatriotic, but at least it's honest, which matters to me.  There are people I know who watch the Olympics, but I feel like they're not being truthful because they don't follow any of these sports fully, play them, or know who any of the athletes are.  They're just "pink hat" fans or people who jump on the bandwagon. To truly care or be passionate about something, I think you need to show that and a lot of dedication to it, which many don't do when it comes to the Olympics.  They just watch, without ever really putting much thought into it, which is a shame because if they did, they might appreciate it more for what it is.

So that's how I feel about these Winter Games.  They may be a great spectacle, but I'll be watching the Sacramento Kings take on the Boston Celtics because that's something I truly know and care about.

Snow Day

With 8-12 inches of snow currently falling down in my area, school was canceled, as expected.  I'm always happy for a snow day because, like everyone, I always enjoy the time off.  But today is one of the few times in my life when I can honestly say I didn't want one.  I only had one class today, so it wouldn't have been a big deal to go, and the teacher was going to go over a very important essay that's due in a few weeks.  Along with that, I was planning to go to the library and study, but now, I'm stuck at my place.  That's usually a benefit, but with a computer, I'm obviously going to be distracted.  Hopefully, I can just get enough time to make a study sheet and study for my test tomorrow (unless school is canceled).

Of course, the main reason I didn't want a snow day is because I'm sick of this weather.  It's alright during Christmas when it's the holidays and I'm home and able to enjoy it.  But when I'm at school, it's a bother, especially since I have to walk everywhere, which makes everything I do take longer.  It's supposed to stop tomorrow, but if it's really that bad outside, we should just have another snow day.  I don't want one, but anything is better than going outside.

Young Adult Film Trailers

"The Perks Of Being A Wallflower" trailer

I just saw a trailer for "The Fault In Our Stars", a film adaptation of the novel of the same name.  I enjoyed reading the book, so hearing it was being made into a film was a welcome surprise for me.  Once I saw the trailer for the film though, I shook my head.  It wasn't bad, but I didn't think it looked promising either with its characters, sappy music, and terrible lines.  You probably think I'm being harsh, but I'm not.  I just hate the way Hollywood promotes films from young adult books.  Everyone knows that the book version of something is usually always better because of the content you get from it, so when it becomes a film, from the trailer, they all look the same because they all have similar attributes.  I know every film is going to be different because of the author, but that still doesn't change how I feel about trailers from films based off young adult books.  They look stupid, so when I see them, I'm not surprised why they're criticized the way they are.  

Of course, I know how it feels being a author/fan of film, so I hope these films do well.  I don't know everything; this is just an opinion.

"The Fault In Our Stars" trailer, with many of the same qualities

No Love

My past few days have been a train wreck, trying to deal with things at home and at school.  At times, it can be overwhelming, so I do what I always do when I'm feeling stressed now and listen to some 2PM.  I love all their songs, regardless of language, but their new Japanese album stands out a lot to me.  Not just because it sounds different than their last album Grown, but because of the solo song by Jun. K called "No Love".  I wish I had/knew the English translations, but I don't, so I'll just enjoy this man's great song and talent. Can't wait to see what 2PM has in store this year.

Hottest <3