:: Pedantic Platitudes ::

:: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 ::

namida ga koboreochinai you ni
nijinda sora o miagete iru yo
hito wa doushite omoi no
mama ni ikirarenai no
nakenai yowai kokoro mo
nakanai tsuyosa mo iranai
negai o kakeru nagareru
hoshi o sagashite miru kedo
yoake ga mou hayasugite
mitsukerarezu ni iru yo

kimi no koto omoidasu hi
nante nai no wa
kimi no koto wasureta toki ga nai kara

"I'm looking up at the stained sky
so my tears don't well up and fall.
Why can't people live as they wish?
I don't want a weak heart that can't cry
or the strength not to cry.
I'll search for a shooting star to cast my wishes on,
but dawn is coming too soon,
and I won't be able to find one.

There's never a day that I have to remember you
because I never for a moment forget you."

Some lyrics from the song Hanabi by Ayumi Hamasaki (translated from Japanese).

:: SL 9:34 PM [+] ::
...

Ah, 'twas a fine day today, even though it was somewhat uneventful. I got to sleep in a little, and then I went to my psychology class. It was the last lecture for the semester, and the professor received applause at the end. It seemed weird, however, that the class had to end on bulimia and date rape. There really wasn't a general wrap-up like most classes have at the very end. Oh well... I guess that's what section is for.

This evening, I went to the MAC (Malkin Athletic Center) to exercise. I worked on the rowing machine for about a half hour, and then I ran for another half hour. It was great to exercise. I should do it more often.

Finally, after I had completed my work, I went to visit my friend across the hall, and we watched Who Framed Roger Rabbit? My friend had downloaded it online on her computer. It was such a college thing to do, to randomly decide to start watching a downloaded movie at 1:30 at night. I hadn't seen the movie since it was first released, so I had forgotten a lot of things about the movie. Suddenly, so many elements from the ride Roger Rabbit's CarToon Spin at Disneyland, as well as the Toontown land, made sense. It's really a funny and well-done movie, with many clever in-jokes for those who are fans of animation. Roger Rabbit, however, does get really annoying after a while. Nonetheless, the movie is very enjoyable. We only watched the first half because it was getting late and I have to get up fairly early tomorrow.

:: SL 1:25 PM [+] ::
...

It's getting hot...

Such nice weather we've had these past few days! Although it's a little breezy, it's humid and warm enough to make it a non-issue. This morning, I went to my classes. Then, following lunch, I went to a psych study, where I got to pair pictures with words.

Later, some people from my entryway went to get ice cream from Ben and Jerry's because it was Free Cone Day. The flavor I chose was chocolate chip cookie dough. The ice cream went well with the warm weather. Ben and Jerry's is not only cool in that the ice cream is cold, but it's also cool in that they give away free ice cream! We sat in front of our entryway and enjoyed our quickly-melting ice cream while watching others enjoying the weather in the yard.

My roommate John is hosting a pre-frosh these few days, but he is busy, so I took over the hosting duties, and I took the pre-frosh to downtown Boston to see the sights. We followed the Freedom Trail and saw such historical points of interest as the grave of Samuel Adams, the site of the Boston Massacre, and the Old North Church, where Paul Revere held up his famous lanterns: one if by land, two if by sea. It's always fun to play tourist, even though I live here now. Taking out John's pre-frosh also helps absolve me from the fact that I neglected the pre-frosh to whom I was assigned this past pre-frosh weekend. I was really busy this weekend, so I wasn't able to be a good host, but luckily my good friend from across the hall was able to help me out. Now, I have a little more free time, so I am helping John play host when he is busy. It all works out in the end.

Today was the Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the yard today, there were some students continuously reading a list of names of the victims of one of the most horrifying times in history. I also happened to pass by the New England Holocaust Memorial tonight when I was in downtown Boston. It was especially evocative at night, with the glowing points of light on the ground and the faint smoke rising from the grates. It's always a powerful experience to visit the memorial because it symbolically represents so much.

We must never forget what can happen when hatred controls one's actions.

:: SL 12:46 PM [+] ::
...

I don't know if you guys are familiar with the Teen Girl Squad, but they certainly are a fun bunch (from HomestarRunner.com). Try Issue 1, and if you feel inclined to do so, check out Issue 2. Psoriasis!

:: SL 12:14 AM [+] ::
...

Believe it or not, Harvard actually had a foam party this weekend. Or, rather, Harvard tried to have a foam party called Mather Lather. The advertising campaign included a sign that said, "Harvard College + Mather Lather = Harvard State College." There was much anticipation for this event on Saturday night, but sadly it was shut down because it became too popular and became a safety hazard with overcrowding. Although I wasn't able to go to this foam party, it's still quite a fascinating story. Read about it in this article from The Harvard Crimson.

:: SL 8:01 PM [+] ::
...

It's such a beautiful day today! It's sunny, and it's warm. I will be able to wear shorts and my Hawaiian shirt. Yay!

This morning was a horrible, horrible chemistry test. Afterwards, I had a nice chat with an assistant dean at the Freshman Deans' Office. At noon and through the early afternoon I took a long, much-needed nap to recover from the long night of studying for chemistry.

After my nap, I went to do a couple of psychology studies, which resulted in a net revenue of $22 in two hours. I'm endeavoring to recoup my losses from all my shopping and going out last week. Today was one small step towards refilling my wallet.

Tonight, I got to hear comedian Lewis Black speak as part of the Institute of Politics' Political Humor Series. Lewis Black appears on the "Back in Black" segment of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and he is famous for his angry rants and bitingly sarcastic wit. Like he appears on television, he was very funny. He talked about various things, from the role of humor in politics today, to his success as a playwright and a comedian. My favorite line was when he was talking about the crazy weather in Boston: "You don’t see that kind of weather, even in the Bible!" He also gave good advice to the youth of today. It was fun to watch him do his famous angry yelling when he got worked up on certain topics.

It's a beautiful evening, and my friend and I took a long walk to the video rental place to finally return a movie that was due two weeks ago. Oops! Now, it is time for homework.

:: SL 8:08 AM [+] ::
...

I helped out with the Undergraduate Council with its pre-frosh extracurricular fair in the Science Center. It was actually quite entertaining handing out maps and answering questions such as "Where is the restroom?" and "Where is the nearest vending machine?" and "Could you tell me where the (name of club) table is?" Afterwards, I went to dinner with a couple of my roommates. I was supposed to go to a psych study right after dinner, but the experimenter was out of town, so I had to reschedule.

Later tonight, I went to a comp seminar for The Crimson newspaper. This week's seminar focused on the history of The Crimson. The president of the newspaper talked to us about various major events the paper has covered, as well as famous people who were once editors for the publication. He also shared some humorous tales, including one involving a strange rivalry with The Harvard Lampoon, a "humor magazine" that's pretty famous.

Then, it was off to the second interview for a peer counseling group that I'm hoping to help out with next year. I felt this interview went better than the first one, but I'll find out if I made the cut in a couple of weeks. After that, it was a couple hours at group, where we welcomed some pre-frosh and covered some basics of surviving freshman year.

Finally, I settled some housing issues because the forms are due tomorrow morning. I was going to do some studying for my chemistry exam, but I got distracted when my friend from across the hall invited me over, and I watched the last fourth of Mulan, which I hadn't seen in such a long time. It was one of my favorite modern Disney movie. It reminded me that I need to watch Tarzan again. Afterwards, it was off for a long night of chemistry.

:: SL 9:29 PM [+] ::
...

Here's the next installment in my series of movie proposals (I'm hoping to make this a weekly feature now: The Super Saturday Screenplay):

This film is called "Lunch with Lesbians," and it stars Cher, Liza Minelli, Elizabeth Taylor, and Britney Spears. This film is about a group of four wealthy women (who happen to like other women... in a romantic way). They meet every week for lunch, and they discuss such varied topics as housing, horoscopes, hormones, and homosexuality. Obviously, Britney, being the youngest in the group, is the newcomer, and the three older ladies try to help her in her search for true lesbian love in the big city.

Actual snippet from the script:

[The four women are having lunch at a nice sidewalk cafe. They are discussing Britney's new mansion.]
Liza: Well, I never thought that mansion was very well designed.
Cher: Neither did I.
[Lively ukulele music begins to play in the background.]
Elizabeth: Girlfriend, the bathroom in that building is larger than my makeup box, and that's saying something!
Britney: Well, I am perfectly content with the house I'm living in. I mean, the only additional thing it needs is a hot girl other than me!
Cher: You go girl!
[Lively lesbian laughter.]
Britney: But how do I find a girlfriend?
Elizabeth: Have you tried going to a club? Or an online dating service?
Britney: But I never get any replies!
Liza: How the (gratuitous expletive) does that happen?
Britney: Sigh. Maybe they're just intimidated by my wealth. But I wish people would see beyond that and try to see the real me.
Cher: Someday, my dear, they will see your true beauty.

:: SL 1:50 PM [+] ::
...

Well, it's been such a long day. We did two shows today: an afternoon matinee and an evening performance. There was a "cozy" audience for the matinee, but we had a full house again this evening. I had to get up early (11 a.m. is early for me on a Saturday morning) to make it to call for the musical, and the entire cast headed to the dining hall to sell more tickets and promote the show. Again, the two shows we did today went very well. It went especially well in the evening because the crowd was to capacity, so the laughs and responses from the audience came loud and clear. We actually got a standing ovation at the very end! I'm kind of sad the musical is over. It had an amazing run, though, and it was one of the best theatrical productions I've ever been involved in (almost up there with last year's Claptrap... ah... memories). Apparently, it's also one of the best freshman musicals ever put on.

My favorite lines from the freshman musical, Get Some:
"And on top of that, I think I'm pregnant!" (said by a male).
"I'm not a slut; I just have a big heart."
"Fortune cookies give better advice than me!"
"What the F?!"

Between the shows, I had a great dinner at Cabot House with several people from the cast and orchestra for the musical. I had never been to the dining hall there, but it was very nice. They actually had kiwis! I had five because I have been completely deprived of fruit here. Well, that's a lie; there is always a supply of apples, oranges, and bananas, but we never get cool fruit like kiwis! I have also discovered my love for ginger ale, which I had never tried until today because they had some in the dining hall.

After the show, there was strike, where the entire cast and crew took down the set and cleaned up the theater. It took most of the night, and it was quite tedious. There was quite a bit to be done, but we managed to get it all done a little past midnight.

Then, we went to the cast party. It was held at the suite of one of the directors. It was a ton of fun to hang out with the cast members and see what they are really like outside of their characters. The musical director also performed several of his magic tricks with a deck of cards and then some with a couple of rubber bands. They were amazing to watch. We then had pizza. There was a cool buttery garlic dipping sauce that I had never tasted before, and it made the pizza so much better. I also had Kool-Aid, which tasted sweet and delicious; I never really liked Kool-Aid, but for some reason this time it was good. It was getting late, so I headed back to my dorm.

I'm currently listening to the song Piano Man by Billy Joel. It's such a beautiful song.

"Sing us a song; you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Well we're all in the mood for a melody,
And you've got us feeling alright."

:: SL 1:43 PM [+] ::
...

Wow, I got 41 e-mails today! Must be a new record.

:: SL 9:40 PM [+] ::
...

We had a sold out show tonight! The people at the box office actually had to turn people away because there weren't any seats left! Again, it was a great show with almost no flaws, and the responsive audience made it even better. A lot of people from my entryway came to see tonight's performance. It was a great time, and the show finished fairly early, so I still had the rest of the night free.

Earlier today, I went to classes, as well as an appointment at the BSC (not the Baby-Sitters Club!). Later in the day, I went to a chemistry review and a psychology study that tested implicit associations.

I met my pre-frosh today. He is from a small town of 3,000 people in Michigan... the first student from his high school to go to Harvard. He's pretty cool. I feel bad that I'm so busy with the musical that I can't show him around more, but he seems to be meeting a lot of people and is having a good time.

:: SL 9:35 PM [+] ::
...

Some more photos from my trip to New York are now up.

:: SL 12:00 AM [+] ::
...

Opening night... It's opening night!!!
It's Harvard College's latest show.
Will it flop, or will it go?
The cast is taking its final bow.
Here comes the audience now!
The doors are open; they're on their way.
Let's hear what they have to say!

We can't believe it!
You can't conceive it!
How'd they achieve it?
It's the BEST show in town!

(Modified lyrics from the musical The Producers)

Tonight's opening truly was one of the best openings I've ever been involved with. Everything went nearly flawlessly, and the audience loved the show. I was so happy for the directors and producer and the actors and actresses. They all put in so much effort, and the final product was amazing. Here's to three more great performances.

Earlier today, I went to classes, and then I had a meeting with my academic advisor to sort out some issues. Afterwards, I went to a housing fair at Leverett, where I got to look at rooms and start to think about rooming issues for next school year. So much to think about! As if academic stuff wasn't enough already. Then, my friends and I had dinner together. The dining hall had pumpkin pie! It made me so happy. I love pumpkin pie and I hadn't had any since Thanksgiving! It really made my day.

Now, I must do the dreaded work I have put off all week but is now due tomorrow. Looks like it's going to be a long night!

:: SL 9:13 PM [+] ::
...

This is the musical that I'm in: Get Some. It opens tonight!!!

:: SL 11:02 AM [+] ::
...

I got to see Janet Reno today! She spoke about technology, terrorism, and the law. I went to go see her speak at the Harvard Law School, and the speech was excellent. Janet Reno is the former Attorney General under the Clinton administration; she graduated from Harvard Law School in 1963. In her speech, she talked about the importance of public service, as well as civil liberties, which have been severely curtailed by the current presidential administration. Her talk was very inspiring.



Afterwards, I went to dinner, where the cast and crew of the freshman musical heavily promoted the show by going table to table to invite people to go see the show. Then, we headed to the Agassiz Theater, where we had our final dress rehearsal (we open tomorrow). It went pretty late... We have to vacate the theater at 11:30 because the security guards are there only until that time, and we almost didn't make it. I went back to my dorm, and then I finished some homework. Then, I did some late night postering to help promote the musical. I visited a bunch of dorms and posted fliers for our show. I finally went to bed sometime after 3 a.m.

:: SL 8:58 PM [+] ::
...

Wow! Two pieces I wrote for The Tribune over spring break were published over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I can't link to them because The Tribune charges a fee to access articles from their archives. But basically, both pieces appeared in the Our Towns page of the Local section. The first was an answer to the question "What is the most frequently checked out book in the public library?" (currently John Grisham's novel The King of Torts). The second piece was an answer to the question "Why do fire trucks go out on medical calls, instead of just ambulances?" (fire trucks can often arrive on the scene faster, providing critical support). It's always fun to see something you wrote get published.

:: SL 1:47 PM [+] ::
...

Yesterday, a girl asked me, "Are you from England?" I said, "No, I'm from California." She then replied, "Oh, I was wondering because you have an accent."

I have a British accent?!? Too cool!!!

:: SL 11:42 AM [+] ::
...

This morning, I got up early to have a goodbye breakfast with Katie. Her flight left at noon, and so we had breakfast at Annenberg Hall, the dining center for freshmen. Then, we talked for one last little bit of time, and I took Katie to the T stop, where we bid each other farewell until the summer. Ah, how wonderful it was to have a friend visit. I send out a cordial invitation to all my friends to visit me here at Harvard. As Katie will probably advocate, come to Boston for a good time!

I had Vietnam War class and math section. Then, it was a lunch break before heading to a chemistry problem solving lecture. After that, I went to the William James Hall, where I participated in two 15-minute psych studies, one right after another. They paid very well, and I ended up making $10 in 30 minutes. That, and I got to learn a little something about psychology. Play rehearsal began at 6 p.m. again, so I went to dinner soon after 5.

It was another long rehearsal today, but this time it was much better because I actually got to do stuff! A newly added scene that I am in was choreographed and blocked, and we went over that scene several times before going into a full run-through of the show. It's really coming along nicely. We open on Thursday.

When I finally returned to my dorm around midnight, I discovered that the college had upheld its promise to do its part to provide a safe environment for its students. The trash in that room was cleared out, as was everything else... the dirty clothes, the plastic tumblers stolen from the dining hall, the stained sheets, the hideous posters. Finally, an end to the anguish. It was like the joyous freedom after liberation from an oppressive regime of fear.

We remaining roommates had a great talk this evening. It was a friendly conversation that reminded me of the fresh start of the beginning of the year. It really was a new start, and here we have another new start. Here's to an excellent rest of the year.

:: SL 8:39 PM [+] ::
...

The other day, I posted a photo of God. Now, I am compelled to post a photo of the Devil:



Look at how lazy and gluttonous he is! He epitomizes all that is wrong with the world today. Is this the kind of role model we want for our young, impressionable children?!? Shame on you, Winnie the Pooh.

(If this post doesn't get you guys to comment, I don't know what will...)

:: SL 11:57 AM [+] ::
...

This morning, Katie went off to explore the city herself because I had classes, but she did make it to sit in on my psychology class, which I went to after lunch. Then, I headed to a meeting held for potential psychology concentrators. They answered questions about taking classes in psychology and the best course of action on the road to a thesis, which is kind of scary to think about already, even though it is still years away.

I had an early dinner, and at 6 p.m. I had to go to play rehearsal, which ended up being an all-night affair that dragged on until 11:30. I love being in the musical, but I only have a small part near the beginning and a small part near the end, so I have to wait around for everything else. Last night, there was a lot of last-minute choreographing and staging, so that's why practice went so late. The show, however, is coming along nicely, and we should be able to put out a spectacular product on opening night this Thursday.

I finally made it back, and luckily Katie had enjoyed her day exploring Boston and Cambridge. She seemed to enjoy her day out, most of which was spent shopping. She had bought a ton of fun things, and she was trying to pack all her stuff in her luggage. We talked for a little while, and then I went to finish some schoolwork. Katie is leaving tomorrow morning. She will be back with all of you in California soon!

:: SL 10:26 PM [+] ::
...

Happy Easter! 'Twas another thrilling day of sightseeing, but today it was in New York City! Katie and I left at about 6 a.m. and went to Chinatown, where we boarded the 7 a.m. bus to New York’s Chinatown. Apparently, we made the normally 4.5-hour trip in a mere 3.5 hours; the driver drove really fast! I slept the entire trip, but once we got there, we went to the subway. I was glad they had the $4 all-day pass, which was a really good deal considering how much we traveled by subway. It took us a while to find it, but we took the yellow line to Ground Zero. It was such a powerful experience. You see all these images on television and in the media, but seeing the actual thing in person is mind-boggling. They had set up a viewing platform that had several signs explaining the history of the World Trade Center. There were also notices warning that all objects left at the viewing area would be removed, so we didn't see too many memorials. Still, many people had used permanent pen to write messages of condolence and solidarity on the metal fence. We walked around the site, which is basically now a huge pit with tons of construction machines at the bottom, and then headed to the World Financial Center, where we got to view the proposals for rebuilding the World Trade Center, as well as a full presentation and scale model of the winning proposal. I can't wait to see the plans brought to life.

We then walked along the peaceful park that stretched from the World Financial Center to Battery Park. It was like a boardwalk with a pretty railing and lampposts. We could see the Statue of Liberty standing watch over the water. At Battery Park, we saw all the people lining up to buy tickets to board a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. It was crazy how many people were lined up! We walked around the park and also saw the gold sphere that used to stand in the plaza of the World Trade Center. The art piece represents global unity. It sustained damage when the twin towers collapsed, but it held up, showing the resilience of world peace. It was an inspirational sight to see.

Afterwards, we took the subway to the Wall Street. We saw the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the Trump Building and the Federal Reserve. The buildings in the financial district were incredible because they were built decades ago, yet they were almost as tall as the modern day skyscrapers.

We made a brief stopover at Grand Central Station; from there we walked to Times Square. There were so many people in that area; it reminded me of Disneyland on a very crowded day. Katie decided at the last moment that she wanted to see a Broadway musical, so we tried to get tickets by waiting in the cancellation line at the theater where The Lion King was being presented. Unfortunately, the show was sold out, so we went and had lunch at the McDonald's next door. It was a "fancy" McDonald's (which, I admit, is very much an oxymoron). There were three stories of seating, and the walls had clips from Disney movies projected on them. The only downside was that the food wasn't very warm, even when I asked for a warm hamburger, and the prices were very high.

Following our late lunch, we walked through Times Square a little, taking pictures and shopping around. Katie found some "I (heart) New York" t-shirts that were an excellent deal, and I saw a huge advertisement for the Lifetime made-for-TV movie "Homeless to Harvard." We then boarded the subway to Central Park. We took a lovely stroll through the huge park in the middle of Manhattan. There were many people out and about, and it made me very happy to see so many happy and cute couples holding hands, having a picnic, or walking their dog. There was really green grass, and many flowers had been planted. I would have loved to spend the entire day exploring Central Park. We stumbled upon a big lake in the middle of the park, and there were people in rowboats on the water. Across the water was an island, and there were people exploring it. The whole scene truly reminded me of Disneyland and the Rivers of America. It made me smile to see all the people enjoying the beautiful day in New York City. These simple things are what make life so great.

It began to get late, so we walked to the nearest subway stop and took the 6 train back to Chinatown, where the bus would leave. The 7 p.m. bus was full, so we waited for the next bus, which came at 7:30. Again, I slept for most of the trip back, but this time it took us almost 5 hours to get back to Boston. We took the T back to the Harvard campus, and after working on some schoolwork, I went to sleep because I was so tired from a long day of sightseeing and fun!

:: SL 11:35 PM [+] ::
...

My proposal for a independent foreign film that will become the biggest success and win a million awards:

"The Woman Who Only Saw With One Eye"

It's about a woman who literally only viewed the world with one eye, with the other eye shut. She would only look out of that one eye not because of any physical disability, but because of her unwillingness to open her other eye.

Here is the dialogue from the thrillingly climactic final scene:

[Inspirational music swells.]
Man: The world can be twice as beautiful if you use both eyes to see!
[Woman slowly opens the eye she has kept shut throughout the entire movie.]
Woman: Oh, yes! It is twice as beautiful! I love you! Thank you for helping me see!
[Kissing, followed by erotic sex scene.]
[Music and other things climax.]
The End.

This film should be presented preferably in French or Italian, though German might be interesting as well. Here's the final scene in French, as presented by AltaVista's Babel Fish Translation Service:

[Bosses de musique d'Inspirational.]
Homme: Le monde peut être deux fois aussi beau si vous employez les deux yeux pour voir!
[La femme ouvre lentement l'oeil qu'elle a maintenu fermé dans tout le film entier.]
Femme: Ah, oui! Il est deux fois aussi beau! Je t'aime! Merci de m'aider voient!
[Baisers, suivis de scène érotique de sexe.]
[Musique et toute autre apogée de choses.]
L'extrémité.

And here it is in Italian:

[Swells di musica di Inspirational.]
Uomo: Il mondo può essere due volte bello se usate entrambi gli occhi per vedere!
[Donna apre lentamente l'occhio che ha mantenuto chiuso durante l'intero movie.]
Donna: L'OH, sì! È due volte bello! Ti amo! Grazie per l'assistenza me vedono!
[Baciare, seguito dalla scena erotic del sesso.]
[Musica ed altre cose raggiungono il punto culminante.]
L'Estremità.

Finally, in German:

[Musik inspirational swells.]
Mann: Die Welt kann so schön zweimal sein, wenn sie beide augen benutzen, um zu sehen!
[Frau öffnet langsam das auge, das sie geschlossen während des gesamten films gehalten hat.]
Frau: OH-, ja! Es ist zweimal so schön! Ich liebe dich! Danke für das helfen ich sehen!
[Küssen, gefolgt von der erotischen geschlechtszene.]
[Musik und andere sachen steigern sich.]
Das Ende.

:: SL 10:32 PM [+] ::
...

Katie and I went to see downtown Boston today. The first stop on our whirlwind tour was the New England Aquarium. They had the cutest penguins that stood on rocks jutting up from clear water. They were fast swimmers, too. We also saw Mr. Turtle's relatives and friends, including the biggest turtle I have ever seen. Best line I heard in the afternoon: "That fish is bigger than my dog!" Afterwards, we walked to Faneuil Hall and shopped around and had a snack. Katie had real New England "Chowda," and I had ice cream, even though it was still kinda cold outside; however, I must say 50 degrees is still bearable, even in mid-April. For some reason, my butter pecan ice cream came in two cones, one stacked on top of the other. Strange.

Then, we followed the Freedom Trail through the financial district (seeing some historical sights along the way) to get to Boston Common, where we walked around to see the wonderful park. The lake was placid and beautiful, as always, and some of the trees actually had some leaves on them! The long, severe winter we had this year has caused many plants around here to be late in putting out new leaves. We walked up the famous Newbury Street and visited Copley Place, a really upscale shopping mall with really nice stores like Gucci and Tiffany & Co.

We then took the green line on the T to the Cambridgeside Galleria, where Katie got her ear pierced once again. We then shopped at Old Navy, and I got a couple more shirts. We went to the food court and had some sushi, after which we returned to the campus. It was a fun day, and now it is time for me to do homework. Yay!

:: SL 12:05 AM [+] ::
...

What a busy day! First, I went to chemistry. Afterwards, I took Katie to Radcliffe Yard (where the women's college used to be) so she could take the official Harvard College tour given by the admissions office. Then I finished up my response paper on the Vietnam War and went to section for that class. Then, I joined Katie on the tour because it had not yet finished. When the tour finally ended, we went to the William James Hall, where I let Katie try out a psych study to see what it's like. Meanwhile, I read from my psychology textbook because there would be a test in section later on. Then, we had lunch at Annenberg Hall (the freshman dining hall).

After lunch we went to section for my psychology class. Katie seemed to enjoy the topic we were covering: psychopathology. We talked about paranoid schizophrenia, with a special focus on a case study about a guy who thought that a hidden camera filmed him having a gay love affair and that the film was sold by a conspiracy group as a pornographic film called Honor Thy Father by Gay Talese (a name the guy thought was a play on the phrase "gay tease"). This guy was wracked with guilt because he thought that the pornographic film grossed over $50 million and that the money was being used to fund the Irish Republican Army, thus killing many innocent people. Interesting, no? It's unfortunate that anybody has to suffer any mental disorders.

After section, Katie and I went shopping at various stores in Harvard Square. We visited The Coop, where official Harvard merchandise is sold. We also went to The Garage, which is this great shopping location that features Newbury Comics, a cool store that sells CDs, posters, and other random pop culture memorabilia items. We also visited Tokyo Kid, which Katie loves because she loves all things Japanese.

After shopping in the afternoon, we went to Arrow Street Crepes, where we had dinner. I had this amazing crepe with turkey and cheddar. It was the first time I ever tasted a salty crepe. Crepes remind me of Mrs. Larsen. Because Katie left a tip, the chef gave her a free dessert crepe.

I had to go to an interview today for Contact, a peer counseling group on campus. It offered me a fascinating look into some of the techniques used by counselors and therapists to help those in need of help or advice. I hope I can learn the skills well enough to be able to join the group next year!

After the interview, Katie and I watched Spirited Away, which I had wanted to see ever since it was in theaters. Katie has been raving about this Japanese film ever since she got here, so it gave me a greater incentive to find out what all the hype is about. It was a fun movie, with lots of strange characters. It truly reminded me of a Japanese version of Alice in Wonderland.

Later on, I went across the hall to visit some more friends. It's been a great day today. Tomorrow should be a ton of fun, too. Katie and I are going to see downtown Boston!

:: SL 10:49 PM [+] ::
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It's quite chilling when the living already have obituaries.

:: SL 8:07 AM [+] ::
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Thanks to the magic of html (as well as a request), Pedantic Platitudes now features photos of the author!

:: SL 10:00 PM [+] ::
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Ha ha ha! To all those in California... I have stolen Katie from you!

Well, the day started with classes: Vietnam War and math section. I got my math test back from last week. That was a thrill. After lunch, I went back to talk to my TF (teaching fellow) during his office hours to review my test.

I received the latest issue of The Spyglass (the Morro Bay High School student newspaper) in the mail today. It was nice to see what’s been going on at good ol’ MBHS. Reading the newspaper reminded me of how oppressive and conservative high school was (shudder). Teenagers were trying to assert their individuality and independence, yet too many insisted on meddling in the business of other people, actively stifling civil liberties, particularly that of freedom of expression. Sigh. Those painful memories clash so harshly with pleasant recollections of the wonderful times I spent with my friends. It was the best of times, yet it was also the worst of times.

I seriously have got to stop dwelling on the past.

Later in the afternoon, I participated in a psych study. This one studied implicit biases against women in the workplace. I just had to fill out some surveys about these resumes the experimenter gave me. I was supposed to rate how good of a worker I thought each applicant would be. It was nice to make $8 in 45 minutes.

After dinner, I cleaned up the common room and my own room (yes, more glorious details about the mundane things I did today). I also took out the trash, which is always an adventure because I have to walk across the yard to the waste center in the basement of a different dorm. Then it was off to a quick rehearsal for Get Some, the freshman musical that opens in exactly one week!

Posters for the musical went up today. There was one posted prominently on the bulletin board in the mail room that said, “Reason #11,963 to see Get Some: Sam J Lin.” Yay!

After play practice, I rushed onto the T (the subway) to go to the Boston Logan International Airport. Katie, my good friend from home, has come to visit Harvard! So I went to the airport to pick her up. We got back, and we toured the campus just a little bit. Then, we went with a lot of people in the entryway to get pizza at Pinocchio’s. Katie seems to be enjoying the East Coast, despite its frigid temperatures!

The rest of the night, I did some schoolwork that needed to be done for tomorrow.

Current Song: Santa Monica, by Savage Garden

“On the telephone line I am anyone, I am anything, I wanna be.
I can be a super model, or Norman Mailer, and you wouldn’t know the difference.
And on the telephone line I am any height, I am any age, I wanna be.
I could be a caped crusader, or space invader, and you wouldn't know the difference, or would you?"

:: SL 4:45 PM [+] ::
...

Another nice day! In fact, because of these days of warmer weather, many of the trees now actually have some very young leaves appearing! It's so exciting to see some green in the yard again. The maintenance folks have already tilled the ground and scattered grass seeds, so those should be growing in soon. They also sprayed this icky blue-green fertilizer, so the ground looks very chemical-y and gross. I can't wait for all the grass to grow out again. Unfortunately, it did start to get cold again in the evening. In fact, it will be cold for the next week or so. The warm weather was nice while it lasted.

Today, I had another appointment at the Bureau of Study Counsel, which was a good way to help me sort out my issues. Then, after lunch, I went to psychology class, which was fun once again as we continued with our discovery of the world of Freud. Today, we covered his theory of child development in regards to the oral, anal, and phallic stages. It was so fascinating. Even though Freud is dead and wrong, he does come up with some wonderful stuff. Then, we covered the Freudian analysis of fairy tales. It was so amazing to discover all these hidden psychosexual messages in favorites such as Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and Jack and the Beanstalk. There are many common elements. For example, most of these stories begin with starving homes (like Jack and the Beanstalk or Hansel and Gretel). This represents the end of the oral stage. Then there's the magical land of enchantment (usually the woods, like in Snow White, where she finds a cottage filled with dwarves, or Hansel and Gretel, where the children find a gingerbread house). Anyways, it's all very fascinating. And it gets better, too! For example, the seeds the mother throws out the window in Jack and the Beanstalk are part of the phallic symbol because of the insemination. Then, the giant beanstalk is a huge phallic symbol itself. Incredible. Yay for phallic symbols, and giant ones no less!

After class, I went to UHS (the university hospital) because of a phlegmy problem (he he he... I know... too much information). Then I went to dinner, which was super exciting because they had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce! Good stuff. It was like Thanksgiving all over again.

This evening, I made it to the MAC (Malkin Athletic Center) to exercise. It was so nice to start back up the habit of being active. I haven't exercised since I got sick a month ago. That endorphin rush from running is starting to wear off now, but it was a great time.

To those of the Jewish faith, Happy Passover!

:: SL 10:21 PM [+] ::
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Wow, I can't believe it's taken this long for a kiss like this to be seen on television.

:: SL 5:48 PM [+] ::
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Well, it looks like great change did take place... We'll see what is wrought in the aftermath.

YAY!!! SUNNY, WARM WEATHER! It was so nice today. It truly felt like Los Angeles on a summer day. Everyone was in shorts and short sleeves and summer gear. Plus, everyone's spirits were up because of the nice weather. I wore my new rugby shirt (see post below). It was also wonderful to see so many people outside just enjoying the atmosphere and sun.

I had Vietnam War class and math section this morning. After lunch, I worked on some financial aid stuff and enjoyed the nice weather. After a chemistry lecture, I went to the last chemistry lab of the year. It was kind of sad because my TFs are so nice. I then went to dinner, where I learned that they will make a quesadilla for you at the grill behind the counter! I knew they made hot dogs and hamburgers, but I didn't know about quesadillas! So I had to try one out for myself. I had a veggie one, and it was pretty good, except the cheese wasn't too complimentary to the toasty tortilla.

And now, to continue endlessly about the weather... It's still really nice outside! The window is wide open, and I am not freezing in my short-sleeved shirt! With the warmer weather, people are out on the streets, and the street musicians in Harvard Square are playing music again. It really brings a great atmosphere of life to the place.

Hmmm... now this post looks so barren without a picture! But I will resist the temptation to put a random one in because that might diminish the specialness of posting pictures.

:: SL 5:27 PM [+] ::
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In psychology class, we are now covering Freud and psychoanalysis. My professor admits that there are only two things certain about Freud: He is dead and he was wrong. However, he really likes the guy, so we are getting a healthy dose of him in lecture.

After lecture, I visited a library and read up on some stuff I hadn't read in a while. Later, I saw that my friend from across the hall was wearing her Superman t-shirt, so I had to get into the act as well. So I changed into my Superman t-shirt, and we went to dinner together, causing a lot of people to turn their heads. After dinner, I went to a showing of Oliver Stone's Platoon for my Vietnam War class. The movie was violent and sad, much like the war itself. It really gave a taste of what the war was like. The movie also starred Willem Dafoe, who is still creepy as hell, even when young and playing a good guy.

I had a talk with my proctor, and it appears as if I am at the precipice of great change. I then went to a birthday party for my friend Emer. The cake was from Finale, this uber-fancy (and expensive!) dessert restaurant in Harvard Square. It was so rich and chocolatey that some people could not finish their slices. The cake was really kind of like a really dense, creamy fudge. Yummy. I'll have to make it to Finale some time to try their other desserts.

I then talked to my sister for a long time on the phone. It was nice because I hadn't talked to her in a while. I also tried to find tickets for my trip home for summer. I am supposed to return home over Memorial Day weekend, so clearly the airfare will be quite steep.

Now, it's time for a picture of God (I know I'm going to get a lot of flak for this, but if this is what it takes to get you guys to fruggin' comment on my posts, then so be it!):



That's Martha Stewart, for those who don't know...

:: SL 6:47 PM [+] ::
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I'm still excited about posting my first picture ever on my blog yesterday. First the commentary feature (which, by the way, nobody is using) and now pictures! Now this blog is on the trolley!



Anyways, forgetting slang from the 1920s and the gratuitous trolley photo, I went to a news comp seminar for The Crimson this afternoon. This week's topic was investigative reporting, and the guy who wrote this groundbreaking investigative report about Harvard's secret court of 1920 (Ahh! Not the 1920s again!) gave us tips on how to delve deeper in our reporting and write better stories. Afterwards, my friend and I walked the long distance to the video rental store to return a tape. It was such a nice day. The sun was finally out, and it truly felt like spring.

There was play practice again tonight. One of the main cast members was gone, so one of the directors filled in. He did such a perfect impression, though he did sound like Scooby Doo at times.

I had to write a long letter, so I stayed up pretty late finishing that. But of course I couldn't do any work before I chatted online with friends first.

:: SL 3:12 PM [+] ::
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Thank goodness for the weekend and being able to sleep in on a Saturday morning! I went to lunch with my supportive friend from across the hall. Then, I came back and settled some business online... e-mails, etc. Afterwards, I received a call from my mother saying that I should get something for my sister, whose birthday is next week. So I went to the Cambridgeside Galleria, which is a terrific shopping mall. The T (the subway) was uber-slow today for some reason, but I still had about 90 minutes to shop around. In addition to finding a gift for my sister, I did some shopping for myself, which made my day a lot brighter. I got this super-cool rugby shirt at Old Navy:



The best part is that it fits perfectly on me! I also stopped by Borders Bookstore, American Eagle Outfitters, PacSun, and Filene's (which is the East Coast version of Robinsons May). (OK.... I realize the excessive linking was a bit much... he he he.) I picked up dinner at Taco Bell (we don't get much Mexican food around here, so it was delicious). Then I rushed back to the campus in order to catch the comedies The Real Inspector Hound and Black Comedy, which were being presented together. Unfortunately, as I found out at the door, the show was sold out, so I ran to another theater, which was presenting the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Sorcerer. I managed to get a ticket for that show, but only because the theater was only half full. It was closing night (or "hack night") for the musical, so there were many altered lines and lyrics and humorous moments where characters filled in for other characters and interacted with the orchestra. It was interesting because I got the main storyline, which was already hilarious, but there was also the added comedy of the in-jokes and irreverence of the performers. For example, the role of the "devil" is supposed to be played by a sexy woman in a leather dress, but for this closing night the role was played by a guy, so the line was changed to, "Tell it to that ugly drag queen." He looked really funny in horns and a leather dress.

After the show, I came back and did my laundry. Then, my friend and I watched the other video we had rented, Strictly Ballroom, which is one of her favorite movies. It was kind of like Dance With Me or any other romance movie where relationships and high drama are cultivated in the oppressive setting of a high-pressure dance competition, culminating in an uplifting and inspirational (but still dramatic) climax in which the couple wins the competition after much heartbreak. I also had too many snacks that were unhealthy for me (stuff like salsa/cheese dip, potato chips, Ritz Crackers, and whole milk (AKA "homo milk")). Then my roommates came back, so we all had a great talk. Finally, my pre-frosh, whom I hadn't seen all day, came back from a day of touring the campus and "party-hardy"-ing, and we talked some more. I ultimately went to bed at around 3:30 a.m.

:: SL 4:48 PM [+] ::
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Wow! It's raining hard today! For the first time, I am actually using the umbrella I purchased at the beginning of this school year!

What a long day it's been. I stayed up pretty late last night and then had real difficulty getting to sleep, so I slept in until 11. As soon as I woke up, I rushed to Vietnam War section. After section, I talked to my friend from across the hall, and we went to lunch together. Following lunch, I went to participate in a psych study to receive study pool credit. Afterwards, I went to hear Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer give a speech in the Science Center. She is an old lady who fled from Nazi Germany when she was young. But now she is a sex therapist. She talked about a variety of topics, from abortion to erectile dysfunction. After her speech, I approached her and asked her to autograph my Sex for Dummies book that my friend gave me. She signed, "To Sam, Best Wishes. Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer." How exciting! I then rushed through the pouring rain (the rain here is so dense I quickly became soaked) to my psychology class section. After the section, I met with Assistant Dean Nye on personal concerns. Finally, I was able to return to my room and calm myself for a little while.

Tonight was the student/faculty dinner, but the professor my classmates and I invited declined our request, so I didn't have a faculty member with whom to dine. I still wanted to go to the dinner, though, so my good friend from across the hall and I decided to dress up anyways and "crash" the dinner. The food they served was regular dining hall food, but they did have fancier napkins and table decorations than usual. After dinner, I met up with Jordan, and we went to go see the CityStep show. CityStep is a program where Harvard students volunteer to teach a dance program to local elementary and high schools. This was the big presentation of their work. Jordan had written a song for the program. It had a space theme and had a sample of the Apollo lift-off countdown. It had a hip-hop and electronica feel to it. I knew that Natalie Portman participated in CityStep, and she performed in the show with the students. So, I finally saw Natalie Portman. She's short... she was about as tall as some of the taller elementary school children. What a day of celebrities. First Dr. Ruth and then Natalie Portman.

After the show, we went back and hung out for a while. I saw a demo of how a computer music-writing program works, and then we watched some cartoons starring Homestar Runner.

It was quite unfortunate that the night ended so abruptly, but it was only around 11, and I didn't want to go to sleep, so my friend from across the hall and I decided to go rent a movie. We walked for a long way through the pouring rain to get to the nearest video rental store and got this movie called "The Fluffer" and another one called "Strictly Ballroom." We also picked up some snacks for movie night on the way back.

As I got back to the dorm, my pre-frosh arrived. As a freshman, I get to host prospective Harvard students. This student, whose name is Daniel Pearle, was from Studio City, California, and he is trying to choose between Harvard or Yale (where both his parents attended). We talked to him for a long time and answered his questions about the school. Then, another pre-frosh, who was staying upstairs, stopped by, and we chatted some more about the school.

Finally, at about 3 in the morning, we started watching The Fluffer. In the porn industry, a fluffer is a person whose job it is to, well, keep the male porn star aroused for the next scene. Thus, this film was about a guy who watches a gay porn film for the first time ever and becomes obsessed with the star, Johnny Rebel. He becomes an employee of Johnny Rebel's porn studio as a cameraman and doubles as a fluffer behind the scenes because he is the only one who can keep Johnn Rebel aroused, even though Johnny Rebel is "Gay-for-Pay," meaning that he is really straight, but he does gay porn because it is more lucrative. Thus, interesting issues arise. The movie had an interesting concept, but it was badly executed. The dialogue and soundtrack were horrible. The fact that it was an independent film probably explains something, but it's not an excuse because there are many excellent independent films.

Yes, that was a long post, but yes, it was a long day. I finally went to bed at five a.m., which is probably the latest I've ever stayed up for social reasons.

Oh yes... And perhaps I may be hitting another Steps obsession. I have rediscovered the joys of the now-defunct British pop quintet. Current song: TRAGEDY.

:: SL 1:08 PM [+] ::
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Wow! I got a total of 32 e-mails today! Must be a new record for me.

I spent most of today studying for my math test, which was administered from 7 to 9 p.m. Yeah, it was late. After the test, I went to play practice, and I actually stayed after my scene to watch some of the rest of the musical. The lines are so cleverly written, and the songs are just amazing. I can't wait to be a part of the completed production.

I got back and talked with a lot of my friends, first with my good friend from across the hall, and then I talked to my friends back at home. I was outside on my cell phone when I hear yelling from the fifth story of the building I was passing. It turns out it was Jordan's roommates, and it was the birthday of one of them! So they invited me up, and I hung out for a while with Jordan and his roommates, who were having a drunken celebration. Jordan introduced me to some cool songs and showed me some of his humor writing. We then went to the 7-11 to buy some chips, and we also ran into some more friends in our entryway. We talked for a long time. This was the first Thursday I didn't have to stay up late in order to complete a chemistry problem set, yet I still stay up late to talk to friends!

:: SL 9:12 PM [+] ::
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I'm starting to feel bad because I feel that I'm being misleading with the title of my blog. My random commentary is becoming decreasingly pedantic! (I think I actually hit a new low with the use of the phrase "cum bucket" a few days ago.) To remedy this, I shall post a few, randomly selected words that nobody will ever use in real conversation:

gaucherie: a socially awkward or tactless act; also, lack of tact.
vituperate: to overwhelm with wordy abuse.
sesquipedalian: (of words) long; having many syllables.
deliquesce: to melt away or become liquid.
schadenfreude: a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. (He he he... I like this one.)

Thank you.

:: SL 12:40 PM [+] ::
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Augh. It's such a dreary day today; after all of the snow earlier this week, it is now raining and cold. The overcast sky is really dampening my spirits.

But enough complaining! Everyone knows how I feel about complaining on blogs. There are too many great things in life to keep me from enjoying it. I just found out that famed sex therapist Dr. Ruth will be visiting and giving a talk this week! For those who remember, my dear friend once gave me a present wrapped in plain brown paper. The gift was Sex for Dummies, and it's written by Dr. Ruth! She will be discussing how sex is perceived in our society today, and I hope I can make it out to go hear her talk this Friday.

After chemistry class and breakfast, I took a quick nap. Then I went to psychology class, where I was once again reminded of what a fascinating subject it is... Could I actually be on my way to making a decision on what to major in? It's inconceivable! (But really, I better make a decision pretty soon, because Plan of Study forms are due in a few weeks!)

I then participated in a psych study for study pool credit. After dinner, I studied for my math exam tomorrow. Then there was rehearsal for the freshman musical, which is coming up very soon. Finally, I spent more time studying math (with multiple study breaks chatting with friends and getting a snack).

:: SL 8:18 PM [+] ::
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I am currently on a Cyndi Lauper kick! I am rediscovering how wonderful her songs are. For those with the luxury of being able to download music online, check out the songs "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," "I Drove All Night," "Time After Time," and "True Colors."

:: SL 1:44 PM [+] ::
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I went to my classes, had lunch, and then participated in a psychology study. Afterwards, I took a short nap. I had to go to a comp seminar for The Crimson, and the topic discussed was journalism ethics.

I also went to a short play practice for the musical that I'm in.

I have recently discovered the wonders of a new band called t.A.T.u. Their music is wonderful, despite the fact that everything (including their lesbian love) about them seems contrived in order to sell records.

At 10 p.m., I went to a study break hosted by the guys who live upstairs. The food was the best it's ever been with ice cream, cake, assorted beverages, and fresh strawberries! The music was excellent. It was a lot of European dance techno (my favorite!), so now I have learned several new artists that I will be obsessed about for the next month or so: Lasgo, Milk Inc., and Whyzer.

Then it was off to the library for the rest of the night to study for math.

:: SL 11:26 AM [+] ::
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So, another blog war has broken out, this time between Frankie and Jessi. Apparently, it started with some name calling. I predict it will end with lots of tears and hurt feelings. As I always say, it's all fun and games until someone's blog gets jabbed in the eye or breaks an arm. Maybe this will break out into full-fledged hair-pulling, scratching, and biting, with loud shrieks of "Bitch!" and "Whore!" and "Cum Bucket!" (I'm expecting a lot of comments on this post.)

:: SL 8:30 PM [+] ::
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I got up really early, and because I did so, I had a lot of time for breakfast. I ate so much, I felt as if I had gone to a breakfast buffet. Breakfast was excellent. I then went for a stroll around the river to try to clear up my mind because it's become so cluttered. I was supposed to meet with an assistant dean this morning, but her secretary said she was out sick, so I had to reschedule.

After a refreshing nap, I went to lunch and psych lecture. I had to leave early because I had an appointment at the Bureau of Study Counsel. The session was very helpful in helping me clear up some issues I had been having. I also received some very helpful reading material. I then went to another math review for the test on Thursday. I then had a great dinner with Jordan and all his friends (now my friends also).

I came back and wrote an angry letter. Then I caught up on e-mail and allowed myself some social time online.

:: SL 8:23 PM [+] ::
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Yay! There is now a feature to leave commentary for all who wish to do so! Feel free to respond to the Pedantic Platitudes!

:: SL 7:48 PM [+] ::
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Check out Trogdor! Stomp 10 peasants to achieve burnination! (From HomestarRunner.com.)

"And then Trogdor smote the Kerrek, and all was laid to burnination!"

:: SL 6:33 PM [+] ::
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Random quote of the day:

"I love homosexual men." -Girl from the dorm next door.

Isn't it wonderful what people say when they are inebriated?

:: SL 4:34 PM [+] ::
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The time change thing is really screwing with my head. On the flip side, it is nice to have more sunlight in my day.

This afternoon I went to a review for my math exam on Thursday. I'm really starting to feel a general dreariness about all things academic. I hope I can get out of this slump soon.

I had a great dinner with friends I had made over pre-frosh weekend last year that I haven't talked to in a while. I then spent the rest of the day studying for chemistry.

:: SL 2:55 PM [+] ::
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I slept in way too late today. I did my laundry in the afternoon. It was nice that the laundry room wasn't too busy when I went. Usually when I do my laundry during the weekend, all the machines are being used by other people. I had a great dinner with one of my roommates, and I caught up on all the latest things that have been going on, but I also learned something very disturbing at the same time.

Afterwards, it was all chemistry review for my test on Monday, with a small social break for pizza.

:: SL 3:38 PM [+] ::
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Random quote of the day: "Mommy, what's a hickey?"

:: SL 11:40 PM [+] ::
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OK, it's fruggin' April, but it was snowing today! What is up with that? There's even green grass starting to grow again, yet today it was all covered by ice. Whatever happened to this thing called spring?

:: SL 11:40 PM [+] ::
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Today, I had chemistry, Vietnam War section, and psychology section. Because I didn't get too much sleep, I filled in the time between classes with naps. Then I had to go to a chemistry review because there is an exam (augh) on Monday. I had dinner and then went back to get ready for a big night. It was the opening night of the musical Chess (with songs composed by Benny and Bjorn of ABBA fame), and everyone was to dress up for the "creative black tie opening." So I wore my suit, and then I went over to see Jordan, who had procured tickets to the student production. We thought we were going to be late, but the show started late, so we were OK. Chess is about relationships formed and broken with an underlying theme of cold war tensions as seen through an international chess competition. The musical is well written and very emotionally powerful. Even though it was opening night, this particular production still needed a little bit of work; some cues and effects weren't too coordinated, the sound was a little muffled (there were many microphone problems), and the orchestra wasn't very together. The show definitely has potential, though, and I know these difficulties will soon be worked out. Afterwards, there was a reception with lots of food. Jordan and I came back home and had some hot chocolate, and then we chatted with his roommate Sam (yes, another Sam). It was a really great night.

:: SL 10:55 PM [+] ::
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My friend jokingly came up with the most amazing concept for an Atari video game. The video game player is a housewife who is cheating on her husband while he is away at work. The object of the game is to have an affair with as many men as possible without being caught. The husband would occasionally come home early, at which point the housewife would have to hide the guy with whom she's having an affair before the husband discovered him. She could hide him in a closet or something until the husband left and the guy could leave. If the husband catches the housewife, then you lose the game. Isn't that hilarious? This guy is a genius for coming up with such an amazing concept in all its pixelated, Atari glory.

:: SL 4:08 PM [+] ::
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Hmmm... Nobody's online... Thursday night Farmers Market... Everybody must be hanging out in SLO-town.

:: SL 10:22 PM [+] ::
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I went to my Vietnam War history class this morning, and then I went to my calculus class. After lunch, I started working on my chemistry problem set. Soon, it was dinnertime. So I had dinner with some acquaintances I had never dined with. It was quite pleasant. I then worked on some more chemistry and at 8 p.m. went to a TCS (Taiwanese Cultural Society) meeting where we made these delicious Taiwanese baked goods called Egg Custard Tarts. They're kind of like flan baked in a pastry shell. Very sweet in a flaky crust. It's always been my favorite Taiwanese baked good, so it was fun to make them. The recipe is as follows.

Ingredients:
Mini-Tart shells (flaky pastry)
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup of white sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the eggs, milk, and white sugar together. Stir well.
3. Pour the mixture into the individual tart shells to about 4/5 full.
4. Bake for 10-20 minutes until lightly browned.

(No, I'm not turning my blog into MarthaStewart.com.)

Then, I went to a soiree held by The Crimson for compers (people working towards getting onto the staff). We all dressed up nicely for the "semi-formal" occasion. They served wine and cheese and crackers. I had cheese and crackers. It wasn't too bad. Then it was back to finish up chemistry.

:: SL 11:53 AM [+] ::
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I just found the best thing ever... Watch this at your own risk.

:: SL 11:52 AM [+] ::
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I had a nice dinner with good friends, and then I did some math homework. I also caught up with a lot of friends about what they did for spring break. Finally I chatted online for a long time.

:: SL 10:51 PM [+] ::
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Yay for Granny!

:: SL 2:39 PM [+] ::
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I have always been wary of corporate influences on the news I read and watch, but I never really did anything about it. Now, with the war (plus some interesting points raised by someone whose opinions I respect very much), I have come to realize how truly biased CNN.com is. Its parent company is Time Warner, and the corporate influence is more than apparent. There are frequently articles about the TV show The Sopranos, which is on HBO, a channel owned by Time Warner. Stories about America and conservatives are often given much more emphasis, while world news is relegated to a lower section. Perhaps not-so-important items in the world of entertainment are juxtaposed with matters of more pressing importance (today's top headlines had Sharon Osbourne's cancer recovery right next to the SARS epidemic update - not to say that the celebrity's recovery isn't worthy news... it just seems inappropriate compared to the hundreds diagnosed with the untreatable strain of pneumonia). CNN.com just seems like a big advertisement for the cable channel, and the whole pay-to-watch service for videos on the web page just shows that it's all about the profits.

The point to all this is that I have switched my home page and main news source to Google News. It's fairly new, but it's great. Google News has no bias, corporate influence, or political slant. It culls its news from 4,500 sources, which are reviewed by a complex computer algorithm that seeks out the most relevent news stories at each moment with no human intervention. Each news subject has links to several news sites, so there's a possibility for a variety of viewpoints. This diversity also helps me "read more widely."

:: SL 10:40 AM [+] ::
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My roommate (who actually considers himself a Republican) just said one of the best lines I've ever heard: "The smartest Texan is in the White House, and that's not saying much."

:: SL 8:15 PM [+] ::
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Well, here I am back at school. It was a nice flight. For once, the children were quiet, so I was able to get some sleep on the airplane. During my flight, however, I couldn't help but think of the movie View from the Top and all the flight attendants aspiring to become the best flight attendent ever.

I got into the Boston airport at about 6 a.m., and I got back to my dorm at about 7, so I was able to get a couple more hours of sleep before having to go to classes. Classes were pretty much the same; there were a lot of reviewing of material learned before the break. I also had a chemistry lab, where I actually got expected values! It was exciting that the lab had worked.

After classes and dinner, I worked to clean my desk and room a little bit. I had left it a bit untidy over spring break. Then I went to a study break, where my entryway's proctor announced that his wife was pregnant! Congratulations to them. I also learned that the advisor for a group I attend just had her baby: a healthy boy named Cooper. He came five weeks earlier than expected, but he is healthy nonetheless.

Later, I went out for a snack with someone special whom I hadn't seen in ages. I got this really cool chocolate from Canada that is a big chocolate egg, but there is a hollow center, and in that center is a smaller plastic egg that has a toy inside that you can assemble. It's so cute! The little plastic toy I got was of a flower taking a picture of a bug that's standing on one of its leaves. Tonight was a wonderful end to my first day back at school.

I MISS EVERYONE BACK AT HOME!!!

:: SL 11:12 AM [+] ::
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