The Caf's Mexican Rice with Chicken Fingers!

So I finally found time to blog again. And of course, the first thing I'm going to blog about is food. I felt like eating something tomato-ey and herb-y but still rice-y. So Mexican Rice it was :P

I haven't cooked in ages so I was ecstatic when I found out how simple it was to make. Just some ingredients almost everyone of any culture has in their pantry/fridge and you can throw together some yummy orange rice. It turned out well, considering I've cooked a proper dinner about once in my lifetime. xD

THE RECIPE

What you'll need:

1. 1 tbsp olive oil (great for your skin, fantastic for your arteries!)
2. 1 cup medium or long-grain rice
3. 1 cup chicken liquid stock (or a cup of water, a teaspoon of salt and half a tablespoon of powdered chicken stock)
4. 1/2 an onion, finely chopped
5. 1 clove garlic, minced
6. 1/2 bell pepper (any colour; optional)
7. 1/2 a medium-sized tomato, diced (optional--I know many of you dislike tomatoes and bell peppers!)
8. 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of tomato sauce or tomato paste (you can add more or less according to your preference)
9. A pinch (around 1/4 tsp) oregano (dried or chopped)
10. A pinch of parsley (dried or chopped)

3 breaded chicken strips--I cheated on this one, haha.

What to do:

1. In a skillet (or wok xD), brown the garlic and onions in olive oil. Add the rice and brown that, stirring constantly, for about four minutes or until the onion is soft. This process adds a nutty, rustic flavour to the rice. Set aside.
2. 
   
3. In a saucepan (or wok! :D), bring the chicken stock to a simmer. (Or heat up water and then add salt+powdered stock.) Add the tomato paste/sauce, tomato, bell pepper, oregano, parsley, and a dash of salt. (A dash=roughly a teaspoon. Don't add more salt if you want to eat less sodium!) Bring back up to a simmer and add the browned rice/onion/garlic mixture. Cover and let the rice cook for 15 to 25 minutes.
4. 
   
5. You may want to open it up and stir the rice occasionally (every three minutes) to make sure it doesn't burn. Personally, I like my rice a little dry and a little crispy but I'm sure there are many people who dislike a few hard grains of overcooked rice.
6. 
   
7. As the rice is cooking, place the chicken fingers/strips in the oven or toaster oven at a toasty 425 degrees Farenheit. (Oh shush, I know I'm Canadian but I see Imperial measurements EVERYWHEREEE.) Let them bake for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how dry you like them and your oven's power. Flip after ten minutes.
8. 
   
9. When complete, plate the chicken on the rice and serve! :D

Now, back to my journal-ing.

I finally finished my speech for English! And jeez, Grade 12 this year is a pain. But at least Ms. Mo marks easier than Mr. Hulme! xD

I've decided to do a eulogy. You'll find out how I've decided to do it at my presentation. Hmm.. math test tomorrow... Ugh. I guess now I'll finish eating and go study.

The Menagerie

A reflection on things that require restraint.

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There's this menagerie in my backyard. I never asked for it but it came with everything else I inherited. It seemed cool at first—and it definitely got me lots of attention—until I realized how hard it was to control my animals.

First, there was Misery, the whale. And wail did she ever. It was mostly incoherent blubbering but from what I could gather, life was a series of tragic misfortunes conspiring to make her miserable. I don’t think she has ever smiled. It was one whale song after another: the Premium Whale Feed tasted like expired shrimp meat, the Luxury Standard Marine Enclosure was way too small and should have been graded “Hobo Standard”, all my friends were “idiotic morons”, what had she ever done to be sentenced to this pathetic place, the food sucks, her "goldfish tank" sucks, life sucks.

There are some who enjoy listening to whale songs. Most people were okay with Misery the first month or so. They gave her lots of attention, even asking for encores and such. Misery was entertaining. When the excitement died down though, she took a turn for the worse. She wailed through the night, blubbered through the mornings, and moaned all day. Soon, even the whale-lovers began moving away.

Along with Misery came Ire. Ire was a mangy old dog with an iron will: as long as he could see you, he would never stop trying to bite your head off. Once, a troupe of neighbourhood kids came by and giggled at the way Ire lapped up water. Two minutes into their teasing, he lost it, barking until every bird in the neighbourhood started flying south early. I think he even managed to nip a little girl’s finger.

Ire was near impossible to control. Even after I locked him in a cage, he’d bark at every friend and neighbour who came to visit. Everything was a challenge, a competition, a threat. He had no mercy for harmless public servicemen, either. Nowadays, no one visits anymore.

When the flow of people first started to thin, I found some comfort in Mirth and Mockery—one monkey with two faces. On her better days, her laughs were infectious and she could light up a room with smiles. On her worse days, she would hang off railings and chandeliers, shatter vases with throw pillows, and tear the house asunder in a torrent of Johnny-Depp-driven glee. It was all too funny for her. My visitors found Mirth a delight until she began mocking their words, garbling contexts and twisting meanings.

Mockery behaved the worst the day a lawyer friend of mine visited. His father had recently been diagnosed with cancer and he was torn at the news. Mirth tried to cheer him up but when it proved fruitless, Mockery stepped in and laughed every time he choked on his words.

I didn’t hear from that friend again for a while.

When things continued to worsen, Paranoia surfaced. Paranoia was an entire meerkat herd but only one meerkat ever appeared in the open at once. No entity, living or otherwise, went unchecked and everything was considered a threat to their very existence. Whether it was a child, a fly, or a leaf, the reaction never changed. One meerkat would emerge and inspect the surroundings and then they'd all scurry further out of sight.

At first, I thought Paranoia would remain hidden away from public eyes, as long as there were safe places to hide. Later, I learned nothing was considered safe—everything was fatal. And all things fatal needed considerable examination. I found Paranoia hiding in nooks and crannies everywhere. Some huddled in closets, others shied in drawers, still others crouched behind sofas, in teacups, and under area rugs. If the other animals had not driven my visitors away, finding Paranoia spying on them from behind the shower curtain surely did.

As neighbours disappeared and friends made other plans, Pride redoubled her efforts. She was like Mirth and Misery in that respect: less attention meant more potential for attention. The fewer eyes turned to her, the brighter her Gucci-patterned cage and Tiffany-blue eyes shone. The fewer ears turned to her, the lustier she sang. She had a voice like an untrained parrot but that didn’t matter because she hailed from a faraway, exotic land. Those that once cooed over her beautiful feathers avoided visiting again for fear of her absurdly loud croaking. Any neighbours still left joined the others. No one wanted to be kept up by Pride’s midnight trumpeting.

By now, as you might have guessed, I’ve lost some friends, most of my neighbours, and all of my visitors. It’s demanding, desperate work. Won’t they ever give up? Some days, their enclosures weaken and I almost can’t be bothered to keep them under lock and key. It’s tempting, really. What if I just let them all go? I’d never have to deal with them again. They’d be someone else’s responsibility. I could stop caring and let them do whatever they want. I could let loose.

And then I check myself. I can’t let loose. Because this is my menagerie and they are my animals—no one else’s. When I have no visitors, they are my company. When I have no will, they are my strength. When I have nothing else, I will have my menagerie.

I am their keeper as they are my muse.

Bailey's Blog: Everything's Okay... Everything's Going to Be Okay... REALLY?! [Repost]

Hey all--lazy weekend, so it's going to be another repost. This one's from a friend I met at the ESU program at Queen's University one summer day in 2010. Those of you from Ms. Mo's Grade 10 Gifted class will remember that fantastic week....

But enough about us.

This article's rather thought-provoking and the point-blank prose speaks aloud what I believe many people think once they've gotten to know a few close friends.

Everyone has a story. And everyone has a cover.

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Bailey's Blog: Everything's Okay... Everything's Going to Be Okay... REALLY?!

Everyone is perfect. Everyone has the perfect life. Everything is okay. Everything is going to be okay. Everyone is happy. Everyone has one big happy family. No one is left alone. No one cries. No one is heart broken. Everything... Is... Okay...

That's what they want us to believe. That's what we want to believe. It's easier. The world is perfect. We can just relax. Ignore everything. Because, everything is okay.

But is it?

I was walking through the hallways at my high school today when it hit me; that's what it looks like. Everyone has this face, this mask, that any outsider percieves as they're okay. But, sometimes, you have to wonder what's going on behind that mask. Whose heart broken? Whose depressed? Who had a fight with their parents this morning? Who doesn't have parents? Are they really okay?

Maybe it's none of anyone else's business. But I realized you can't judge a person by what they look like.

I grew up in a world where everything was perfect. Families stuck together. We never fought. Everyone had a Mom and a Dad. No one was struggling. No one was sick. There wasn't a single worry about money. Everyone was happy. Everything was okay... and always would be. But I guess, not everyone is so fortunate. It was kind of a eye-opener when I started high school.

I met a girl. She lost her mother three years ago. I met a guy. He lost his father three years ago. I met a girl; her father's hanging on for his life. Someone just broke up with someone they still loved. Before walking out the door this morning, a girl had a fight with her mother. One girl lost her sister... Less than a year ago. A bunch of people lost a friend.

But they still smile. Or at least, pretend to. No one knows the difference.

It amazes me how strong they can be, to put on this mask when they come to school and give off the impression that everything is fine.

That's until you meet them, talk to them and maybe if they're comfortable with you, they'll tell you... that's when you realize you can't possibly judge someone from a first impression or glance.

Is everything okay?

I don't think so.

I wish it were though.

Field Hockey Wins! Glee! Asian Camp! Awkward Situations! Epidemics! ANALOGIESSSS!

Last week was pretty intense. In addition to two field hockey games two days in a row (which we won 1-0 v. Agincourt and 2-0 v. West Hill, thanks to our top scorer Mily Chen!!), the new season of Glee started (the first episode of which provided Colin and I with material for a legendary argument), the Ontario Universities Fair had a fantastic start, I finished that annoying analogy essay with seven minutes to spare, there was a cold epidemic with an epic Tree of Blame.

FIELD HOCKEY is deadly.
The first two practices were inches away from hell... but now I have an excuse to spend an hour at the new Timmy's having Girly Girly Gossipfests with my girls. And we're so much more in shape now! Nothing gets your legs going like the competitiveness on the field. Plus, the two wins top of the season helps boost morale too!

Agincourt was a learning team, so it was nice to see how our mostly-learning team played against them. West Hill was... very competitive. They were kind of ferocious, haha. And major kudos to those girls who got hurt but kept playing like champs!

GLEE! Brings me such glee!
Oh my goodness, I loved how they talked about Asian camp--it actually exists. All us Asians from 8 to 18 gather together and do lots of Asiany things: including traditional Chinese calligraphy and arts & crafts; traditional Chinese yo-yos; Chinese spinning tops; shuttlecock; jump-rope tricks; traditional dances, often incorporating fans, ribbons, and parasols; an end-of-the-week camp extravaganza featuring 12-year-olds dancing with swords... ironically, the only non-Asian thing there was the cafeteria food!

LEGENDARY ARGUMENTS
If you know me and/or Colin well enough you'll have heard of or been witness to one of our legendarily heated arguments about really petty things. (I think we're both OCD and love to be right.) Anyway, our most recent L.A. was about Rachel Berry's increasing skankiness. He argued that the writers made her slutty all of a sudden and he didn't like the direction they were taking her. I argued that she was always an "attention whore" so the uh... gradual disappearance of the first part of that title was bound to happen, especially with the attention she's gotten since joining Glee Club both on- and off-stage. We started at 9:00. We ended at 9:40. And about halfway through, we actually forgot what we were arguing about:

maggie. IMPROVE YOUR YEARBOOK says (9:26 PM): Wait. What on earth is this
argument about?
xD
I forgot halfway through.
Colin says (9:26 PM): I don't really know...

Anyway this was our conclusion: Rachel's attitude and evolution from fashionably-challenged and seemingly innocent to brash and almost wanton in appearance were all external manifestations of her internal insecurities. She has progressed from a type of awkward insecurity in which she covered everything up to a more open insecurity where she openly welcomes any kind of attention to reassure herself that she is valuable.

Agree? Disagree? Think we're ridiculous for spending 40 minutes arguing something like that? (I agree...)


OUF-BOY and BUTT-BOY
At the Ontario Universities Fair the morning before Shifa's birthday:
[1] OUF-boy
Patricia complains about how difficult University will be and how her future may already be in tatters.
Maggie: "Maybe you should just be a trophy wife."
P: "Good idea! In that case, all I have to do is stick with Jasun--his family's rich and he's gonna be a lawyer."
M: "Unless he gets a hot secretary..."
Colin: "I hope you're up for threesomes."
*Guy in front looks back at the THREE of us*

[2] Butt-boy
Patricia is midway between a dramatic, expressive exclamation about how she's fed up with all this University drama. As she lifts her hands to gesticulate, she pushes forward underhand and grabs a random boy's buttock. Quite firmly. The funniest thing was that he didn't even react. As if he got that kind of attention all the time....

BIRTHDAY BLOG SURPRISE
So this is where the Analogy Essay is supposed to go according to my introduction. But insteaad, I'd like to take the time to wish a FIRCKIN AWESOME belated happy birthday to my BESTEST BUDDIES and FIELD HOCKEY SISTERS, SHIFA ABBAS and CHRISTINA SPINELLI.

Happy birthday, girls! I hope you both had FANTASTIC times (and I know you both did ;D ) and that you both LOVE your gifts! (One's future-tense, one's present-tense :P)


THE COLD EPIDEMIC
Oh my goodness, EVERYONE is getting sick! It started two weeks ago when Terence first got sick. And then Mily, I and some others also got sick. And then that just snowballed until nearly everyone was sick! During the math test, there was pretty much a sniffle or cough every ten seconds. It was enormous.

And then, fingers were pointed and witches were hung. Who started the epidemic? Suggest your blame trees below!


THE MENAGERIE
And, lastly, that deadly essay. Is it just me or is coming up with a lengthy analogy rather tricky? I had the hardest time trying to get everything to flow together. Mine was about the most annoying emotions that are hard to control vs. personized animals in a personal menagerie.

A couple shout-outs to some of the best analogies I've read, though!

Ashwin Baskaran -- Prejudice vs. a Wall that protects? Or imprisons?
Terence Ho -- Parliament vs. a Farmyard in which hens peck at political issues without accomplishing much of anything
Patricia D'Silva -- Fashion & Media vs. a God that twists little girls' minds and tortures them with the demons of Anorexia and Bulimia
Colin Gallinger -- Political Parties vs. Packs of Wolves warring for One More Tree!
Mily Chen -- Life and Motivation vs. Rowing a Boat on the Sea: some days the tide is with you, other days it's against you but either way, you've gotta row to get where you want to go.

OPEN CALL for Yearbook Design Assistants!!

WANNA MAKE YOUR YEARBOOK MEMORABLE AND AWESOME-LOOKING?

Details below, folks! (OR, click here for a high-resolution printable PDF file.)

Graphic Advisors: You'll be previewing the Yearbook to check for design mistakes and other details

Graphic Designers: You'll be creating designs to decorate our Yearbook with. Digital artists only, please!

Why would we want people to help with Graphic Design? There are a few reasons:

1. There are about 140 pages in the Yearbook. Most of the time, these pages are not cohesive and, as a result, look really unprofessional. It is realistically impossible for two people to go through every page and check for design flaws on top of regular course loads and other extra-curriculars.
2. You people are brilliant. The more minds = better product. The more Feedback we can get on the Yearbook before it gets out, the more we can improve it.
3. We aren't pure-Photoshop experts. Yes, we love arts and crafts and we like to format and design things but at the end of the day, we are only mixed media artists. We can't use just Photoshop to create magnificent Text Art and other graphics from scratch.
4. The Yearbook needs people to make it cohesive. I know there are people who just can't stand the look of something unprofessional. I bet some pages in the Yearbook just grind your gears. So make it better. Make it awesome. Join us.

「守株待兔」 or, "Carpe diem."

Like a cat in heat stuck in a moving car--
A scary conversation, shut my eyes, can't find the brake--
What if they say that you're a cloner?
Naturally, I'm worried if I do it alone...
Who really cares 'cause it's your life
You never know; it could be great.
Take a chance 'cause you might grow.
Oh, ah, oh

What you waiting--
What you waiting--
What you waiting--
What you waiting--
What you waiting for?

--"What You Waiting For?" - Gwen Stefani

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I feel like Science Fiction is a most depressing genre of books because it's written so realistically that romantic endings are rare. It reminds you how sad and insignificant your life is--and how unfair life is in general.

Momentary emotional stormcloud aside, let's talk about the end of this week.

This evening's List: HOMEWORK.

MATH: Study for the test by doing questions from the Handbook.
ENG: Write a rough copy analogy essay. Pretend to read Fifth Business. Don a gorilla costume and forget English exists for a full five minutes.
ART: Do sketch.
BIO: Say I did the worksheets and don't.
CHEM: Do some of the worksheets.
CHINESE: Check out the CD-ROM, do the homework, be a good little girl.

There's really not much more to blog about.

Life has been the same, pretty much. Went out for lunch today. Congee Wong. Good food, good pricing, amazingly quick service. If all Chinese restaurants were animals, all of them would be tortoises and Congee Wong would be a hare.

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Let's finish with a nice Chinese maxim/fable: 「守株待兔」 (shǒu zhū dài tù) or， "Guarding a treestump to wait on a rabbit." Okay, so maybe it sounds weird when translated... but the story behind it is really quite meaningful.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer. On his farm, near his fields, was once a great tree. All that was left of it was an enormous stump, hidden by surrounding weeds and tall grass.

One morning, he tending to his fields when, all of a sudden, a rabbit rushed by him. It seemed to be in a frantic rush and did not see the tree stump hidden behind the tall weeds. To the farmer's astonishment, the rabbit ran straight into the tree stump and broke its spine. Overjoyed at his luck, the farmer dropped his tools and went to pick up the rabbit and bring it home. That night, he had a rich rabbit stew for dinner.

From that day onwards, the farmer did not go to tend his fields. Instead, he settled himself among the tall grasses near the great tree stump and waited there for another rabbit to run into the tree stump. However, as days and soon weeks went by, not only did no rabbit run towards the tree stump but none of the farm's surround rabbits could be seen; the farmer's neglect towards his fields had allowed his crops to die and no animal would come by to find food.

The farmer's foolish hope for another windfall had doomed him. His greed and laziness became his downfall.

Moral of this story? I know you smart ones wouldn't sit around and wait for everything to be placed in your lap. But one mustn't give up hope in one's own abilities either. Every talent is worth using.

So whatcha waiting for?

Seize the day and make it yours.

Nine to Five

Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen;
pour myself a cup of ambition,
and yawn, and stretch, and try to come to life.
Jump in the shower, and the blood starts pumping;
out on the street, the traffic starts jumping,
with folks like me on the job from nine to five.

--"Nine to Five" by Dolly Parton



0900 Weeks have turned back to that old 9am-to-5pm routine.

1000 Days blur together, with the exception of Days 1, 2, 3, and 4. No days end in "Y" anymore.

1100 Spares mean working so there's less work to do later.

1200 After school is put aside for extra-curriculars. Lunches are used to maximize productivity--sometimes. Friday Night is Oriental learning time.

1300 Library books pile up as they are neglected in favour of textbooks, WikiPedia, and English required reading.

1400 Getting home means time to wash. Sleep. Study. Eat. Study. Sleep.

1500 There's a pattern somewhere. Clocks tick. Birds chrip. People walk. Something's turning.

1600 Music is getting repetitive. Suggestions?

1700 Social potential. Emotional potential. Mental potential. Physical potential. It's in you to give.

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Today, I knew what it felt like to be dressed in casual all-black with too much smudged liner, a funky drawing on my face, and my vision further blurred by a curtain of hair. The photographer was funny, though.

Today, I woke up at 8.04 am because I forgot to sleep extra last night.

Today, I realized I've lost my calculator and my glasses.

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Everybody's working nine-to-five, so let's dress to the nines tomorrow and let the good times roll from till the clocks strike five. Everyone should take a moment to stop caring.

--Sleepasawrus.



They let you dream just to watch them shatter;
You're just a step on the boss man's ladder,
But you've got dreams he'll never take away.
In the same boat with a lot of your friends;
Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in,
And the tide's gonna turn, and it's all gonna roll your way.

--"Nine to Five" by Dolly Parton

Zombie Mom, field hockey, and curvaceous boys. + ChinaDaily Dating Article [Republished]

Hello, Public Eye.

After a three-day stint of procrastination, I am back! (In case anyone cared.)

Today's blog: Weekend Recap featuring curvaceous boys, Monday Recap featuring zombies and field hockey, and an interesting article on gender issues, East-vs-West perspectives, and the dating game. It's a ChinaDaily piece focused on Chinese women (guess who can relate?) that still offers a unique perspective on the contemporary dating scene.

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Woah-oh-oh
(Well, alright)
It's okay.
(It's okay.)

We all get the slip sometimes everyday
I'll just keep it to myself in the sun, in the sun

--"In the Sun" by She and Him

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Weekend Recap

Guess whose measurements these are!

1. 27-23-27
2. 34-28-38

Guessed? Fantastic. Results will be revealed below.

This weekend was spent doing minimal homework and mostly sitting home doing unproductive things. Oh jeez. I should have blogged earlier because then I'd remember what happened this weekend xD

Oh yes! Kathleen spent our weekend cheating the system of a certain games website to gain a kind of VIP admittance. Our associate, Stephen C. figured out that you could level for multiple accounts at the same time. And then Kathleen discovered the magic of a certain game that'll get your character to Level 5 in one play. So we all got to VIP in a fraction of the time. Yessssssss 8D

Additionally, there were discussions about disproportionate bodies, disproportionate body parts, and the ah... originality of boys with curves.... (WARNING: Photo not work-safe....)

And on that note--here are the answers to the above! Measurements #1 belong to Sharven. Yes, he's so skinny that his ribcage and hipbones actively beat his waist by 4 inches. I bet supermodels use pictures of him for Thinspiration.

Measurements #2 belong to our own dear, gorgeous Lina. I mean Colin. :P
That boy has a heck of a bum. And apparently, it's "perfectly sculpted", too.

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Monday Recap

There was a traffic accident at Ellesmere & Markham--someone got hit by a car, I think? So they closed down Markham from Brimorton to Progressa and Ellesmere from Scarborough Golf Club to... some other street.

Anyway, walking that extra block to school was kind of interesting, especially with no cars driving about. Oddly enough, the first thought that occurred to me when I entered this new vehicle-less world was Zombie apocalypse. No lie. Somehow, I equate all abandoned towns with zombies. I blame a summer of Resident Evil and I Am Legend. And... other zombie stuff. Zombie phase.

Additionally, last night I dreamed my mom turned into a zombie and tried to eat my family. Trust me, you do not know how hard it is to kill your mom when she's a zombie until you try to. In the end, my dad ran off to fight more zombies and my mom ate my brother. Not a fun dream, at all. However, it was much more psychologically-interesting than the giant flaming baby skeletons dream. Or the flying pogo stick race across the ocean dream.

Also, I'm thinking of going into Psychology.

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But I digress. Math was as usual--we covered Chapter 1.3 and we have a test next Thursday. Biology was Biology--now we know what tonicity is! Also, Christina has issues using calculators. "Christina, multiply by -1, multiply by -1, multiply by -1, TURN YOUR CALCULATOR ON." Chemistry was awesome. We learned about CARBOHYDRATES. Oh yeah, mm... alkanes and alkenes.

Lastly, I was productive during my spare and worked with Agent Poodlepup on Operation Mockingbird Caboose, completing another arc of the Projected Timeline and developing a Creative Analogy. Yearbook mini-meetings are okay too.

Finally, field hockey was uber exciting, especially because this year, the DIVALICIOUS SHIFA ABBAS and SEXTACULAR CATHERINE AMBURGEY have decided to join us! You girls are going to make a pair of fantastic goalies and you'll see just how much fun field hockey is. :)

I think I should make a mental note that field hockey tryout #1 hurt exceptionally less than last year, possibly due to my frantic exercise stint before they started. I also fervently thank God for Tofu Snack Boxes. Silken tofu. Protein. Low in sugar, high in health.

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Dating: a tricky game for Chinese university women
( 2003-08-27 11:42) (Women of China)

Women the world over can attest to the difficulties of dating, but for Chinese university women, landing the right guy can involve a particularly tricky game.

Most Chinese university women can agree on one thing: Dating is difficult. From finding a date to stealing time away from classmates, dating takes work. In the university-dating world, women must navigate between their high expectations of personal success and independence and traditional Chinese relationships. They must steer between romantic dreams of "Prince Charming" and the practicalities of money and compatibility.

Unlike most of their Western counterparts, who start honing their dating skills as early as middle school, Chinese youngsters receive little practice in puppy love. In general, Chinese parents disapprove of dating in senior school, preferring their children spend their free time buried in their books-not immersed in turbulent adolescent relationships.

"We wanted to start relationships in senior school, but our parents said no," said 19-year-old Zhang Yao. Young students nervy enough to begin dating in senior school are often pressured by their parents and teachers to end their relationships. As a result, most Chinese women enter the university dating game as rookies.

For Chinese university women, the first dating difficulty is finding men who meet their standards. Many university women believe even highly educated men fear independent and accomplished women. Historically, Chinese women have been the more dependent and compliant halves of romantic relationships. "Boys like girls to be dependent on them, so they can be heroes. In most cases, men want women to be lower than them. But that doesn't mean they don't love their women. This is based on historical reasons," said 26-year-old Qu Hongyan.

Hardly dependent or compliant, women successful in academia and/or business are likely to scare away more traditional Chinese men. It has been said there are three kinds of people in the world: Men, women, and women with PhDs-meaning highly educated women exist outside mainstream society.

Typically, the only men interested in them are even more educated and successful. Twenty-two-year-old Li Yingying explained: "If you are smarter or have a higher status, men can't pursue you, even if they are in love with you. For example, girls with master's degrees can only date men with master's degrees."

Some women resign themselves to the fact they must downplay their successes in order to attract men. Others are indignant, saying they will never date a man who looks down on them, or become dependent on a boyfriend. But determining how a potential beau feels about a female's success can be tricky. Twenty-one-year-old Zhao Ping, who lives with her boyfriend on the weekends, noted: "At first, my boyfriend said he loved me because I was independent and confident. But now that I am his girlfriend, he wants me to be more dependent on him."

Some Chinese women suspect even men who advocate sexual equality prefer the traditional ideal of acquiescent and reliant women. "Men really want women to surrender to them, but they can't express this thought out loud. Boyfriends and husbands are totally different. As a girlfriend, you don't belong to him yet, and he will be very careful to keep you," said 24-year-old Luan Xuefei, a young woman who plans to be especially savvy when sizing up possible suitors.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of courtship for Chinese women is the lack of opportunities for casual dating. Conventionally, Chinese women are discouraged from playing the field. In fact, a Chinese woman who even superficially dates more than a few men may soon be branded as untraditional, brash, or even promiscuous. "If a girl dates two boys, she steps on two boats. People think girls who date around are unreliable and untrustworthy," noted 18-year-old Chen Yi'an. Thus, it's not surprising most Chinese women eschew casual dating and opt for only a few serious dating relationships before getting married.

Not all university women confine themselves to this version of monogamy when dating. Once in college, a rebellious few change boyfriends frequently and disregard any ensuing gossip. Li Yingying wants to date many boys before settling into a serious relationship. "I don't care if people talk badly about me. I think it's just my private business," she confided.

In the West, university women commonly see many men casually, using dating to refine their version of the perfect man. Traditionally, Chinese women don't have the option of using this trial-and-error dating method. As a result, one of the most difficult parts of dating may be deciding on whom to date, as Qu Hongyan believes. Once a girl begins dating a particular man, the relationship may fast become serious or even binding. It is often difficult for women to change their minds and begin dating other men.

Compounding this dilemma is the fact apprehensiveness and traditions tend to deter Chinese women from asking men for dates. Instead, they rely on flirting and dropping hints. Luan Xuefei explained: "I am a proud girl. I won't ask a man on a first date because I am afraid he will refuse." Qu Hongyan demonstrated her fear of rejection by pulling her body into a tight ball. Reluctant to brazenly pursue their love interests, to some extent, university women rely on chance to steer their romantic courses. For these women, dating is clearly an imperfect system.

Even after the onerous task of pairing up with the right man, dating in universities can be problematic. If they have money, they may find a degree of privacy at restaurants or entertainment at discos. But such activities generally prove to be too expensive and couples are forced to look elsewhere for refuge from the university crowds. Dorm rooms are usually not an option as eight students are commonly squeezed into a single closet-sized room. During summer, university couples can be seen holding hands and strolling around the school's racetrack or nuzzling on the library steps. But in the cold winter months, couples must find some privacy indoors. Zhang Yao remarked: "American couples drink and dance together. But in China, we study together."

In search of a degree of privacy, couples may head to university classes. It's rare to find an empty classroom on these crowded campuses, but couples can often be spotted whispering in the dark corners. Twenty-year-old Cao Lei admitted: "Only a few couples actually go to classrooms to study. Many bring books, but never open them. They just talk and stare at each other." Needless to say, university students drool in envy at the lucky couple who get to spend some semi-private hours on a train en route to a family's home.

The difficulties of university dating drive some Chinese women to disillusionment. Already cynical at age 18, Chen Yi'An doubts she will ever find a man who makes her happy. Li Yingying has given up her dream of falling in love at first sight, and now chooses her boyfriends for practical reasons. Some university women have even settled for money over romance, taking advantage of the fact their boyfriends often treat them to meals, clothes and other gifts. Behind their backs, some women refer to their boyfriends as fan ka, which are the cards students use to buy meals on campus. Others, like Luan Xuefei, vow to stick to their standards, despite the unfortunate consequences. "I'm a perfectionist in love. That's probably why I don't date much."

For busy Chinese university women, earning their master's degrees is their main goal. But everyone also wants to be part of a love story, and dating remains the topic of conversation in many dorms. Women the world over can attest to the difficulties of dating, but for Chinese university women, landing the right guy can involve a particularly tricky game.


Comment on It! Agree with this article? Disagree? Is it something you can relate to? Something you learned from? And of course, leave your thoughts about this ENORMOUS triple-post below! You know I love to hear your Feedback.

Laugh with me

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God
When it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from the party yet

[...]

God could be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

-- Laughing With by Regina Spektor

---------------------------------------------------

Cool beans, folks. I feel like, after going through the ringer three years, stuff is starting to mellow out. Hormones are finally leveling out, people are calming down, we've gotten used to the Schedule, and I guess we're just starting to be thankful for our lot.

We're part of the richest 5% of the world, we have the opportunity for post-secondary education in one of the most prosperous cities in the world, we can go almost anywhere we want, we can give our time and money to the needy to relieve our consciences, we live in a rather contemporary and more accepting era than yesteryear, and we've got decades of freedom and opportunity laid out in front of us.

We're a lucky generation.

Beyond the retrospective reflection, I'd have to say that part of this calmness might stem from [1] the end of Grade 11--a scary, scary transitioning time--and [2] exercise. I know I'm going to die if I even attempt field hockey before exercising the days beforehand. So I've been running twice a week over the last month of summer and every couple days now. More importantly, it makes you feel fantastic. I like to think the chemicals released when you stretch muscles and work your lungs is your body's way of rewarding you for keeping it in shape. Because I know that right now, I feel like the opposite of PMS--and it's beautiful, ladies and gentlemen.

As for the rest of today...

Math was as usual. We covered 1.2 of Advanced Functions, involving factorials, more polynomial functions, finite differences, and how they all tie in to geometric series.

English was funstuffs. Watched us some CSI. I can't believe the writers: "People don't vanish, Jim. It's a molecular impossibility." I'm sorry, but no matter how much you try to make such a cheesy line sound cool, it will only be a guy throwing out long words to try to seem smarter. Likewise: "Looks like she had a change of plans. Or someone changed it for her." Why? Why would you unceremoniously crap on English like that?

Society Challenge and Change. Or Individual and Family Living. Or... something along those lines. Family studies, business-as-usual, and TERRIBLY TEDIOUS.

Art. Yay! Drawing manly-looking Greek goddesses and celebrities!

And, finally, plans for the weekend, summarized with one word: Soulpepper. Most likely, I will be going down to the Young Centre for the Performing Arts to see a play, making good use of my Youth VIP Get $80 Seats for Free card before the school year really starts running.

That's about it... I'll put up a recipe or some animology quiz soon. Keep on the look-out if you want to make use of those tortillas/chicken breasts and/or find out if you're a Teal Cat or Pink Sloth!


Stay fabulous!
-Magstar


Mamma mia, here I go again.
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I've missed you.

--Mamma Mia by ABBA

Magasawrus vs. The Tough Cookie

In which many complaints stem from the fact that courses are so freakin difficult to get straight. I've changed my courses officially four times now and unofficially at least 30. I cannot take Writer's Craft, Drama, Theatre Production, Media Arts, or any other such engaging and creative courses due to Gifted scheduling. Yeah, it's certainly a tough cookie to crumble.

Went to Guidance and got my schedule changed today! Hip-hip-hooray! At least for now. God, schedule changes can be pretty close to Hell. It's more threatening than high school, twice as complicated, and very likely to blow up in your face. Why? Because [1] of testy counsellors, [2] scheduling this year was complete crap for Grade 12 Gifted students--or, really, anyone taking maths/sciences, and [3] there is abso-frogging-lutely NOTHING interesting available in Slot D (Day 1, Period 4).

You'll have the choice of Gifted Physics, Business Leadership, Families in a Diverse Society, Anthropology, History, or Food and Nutrition. First one's a pain; second one's lame; third one's boring; fourth one's frustrating; fifth one involves essays, low-80-grades, and sometimes-boringness; and sixth one I've already passed. If you can take the last one, DO IT. It's fun and you spend the last two weeks of it pretty much eating like a starved pig.

Anyway, I couldn't take Food and they stopped accepting TAs for Food, so I'm stuck in Family Studies. Grade 9 all over again. "Yayyyy." At least I'll learn about other cultures...?

On the Bright Side, I was able to get into Art with Grade 11 Media Arts as a sort-of substitute pre-req. And I have my Day 2/4 afternoon spare! (To work on Drama and Yearbook.... Well, at least I'll be occupied.)

As for the rest of today: Math was as usual--intellectually stimulating but still very understandable. I might actually pull off a 90. Please, God(s) of Academics, please. My now-gone second period spare was... *angry angry sad scary guidance oh no course changes why is it so difficult*

Lunch was Biz-as-Usual.

English was funstuffs, what with the Sub (Ms. Lamourie) gone for half the period and us goofing off and the blue 3rd-degree sheet and CSI! OMG does CSI always have such cheesy lines?! It's so... it's just not the same without the sunglasses, though.

And laaaaastly, CHEMISTRY WITH LOZON! He's a really funny teacher. Really puts you at ease--especially with those rumours of him read: hard} marker so we'll see how that turns out. Hopefully he does an amazing teaching job to make up for it.

That's about it for today. I highly doubt I'll be able to keep up this tiring stream of regular updates... but I'll try, I guess. Oh no. Chinese School kicks up next week. -sigh-

Toodle-loo, Interfolks.
Mags

Got a secret, can you keep it?
Swear you'll save.
Better lock it in your pocket,
Taking this one to the grave....

Channel Your Chi!

You can't stop a river 
As it rushes to the sea

You can try and stop the hands of time
But ya know it just can't be


You can't stop the beat, folks, and the toll of the schoolbell is calling y'all back. Yeah, you can't get out of it, no matter how hard you try.You can try to escape the clutches of waking up early, taking neat notes, and juggling fun courses with distasteful ones--but you know it just can't be. High school's a bit of a pain that way.

To the important things: my shed-jewel right now is kind of crappy, mainly because it contains Social Studies-like courses that I worked my butt off in just so I could get out of them when I passed them. I'm sure they're all interesting and stuff when I'm awake, alert, and unstressed-out, but considering the looks of this coming year, I'm also sure I'd be sleeping through them and waking up to a pop quiz or in-class essay from Hell.

Current Shed-jewel:
Day 1/3
1 - Gifted FUNCAL

Above: what high school is not like.

2 - Gifted World Issues
3 - University Biology
4 - World History from the 16th Century
Day 2/4
1 - Gifted FUNCAL
2 - [spare]
3 - Gifted English
4 - Gifted Chemistry

Hopeful Future Shed-jewel:
Day 1/3
1 - Gifted FUNCAL
2 - Gifted English
3 - Visual Art
4 - Food and Nutrition or Family Studies [something called Challenge and Change? :S]
Day 2/4
1 - Gifted FUNCAL
2 - Gifted Biology
3 - [spare]
4 - Gifted Chemistry

And now, to summarize my day! How fantabulously important this is! Firstly, I wish I could go back in time and super bitch slap my younger self. Oh, how vapid and foolish we were, with not a care about the world except for our Public Images. Geez, I feel a little stupid. But then, our brains were still developing so I can has excuse? :D

Secondly: Math was as math usually is, with Mo-ster being awesome and Gifted being Gifted. And loud. Thirty people, jeez louise, how are we supposed to get any work done? World Issues was interesting, the teacher was nice, it left us with stories to tell, but I just couldn't stay awake through it. Sorry, Ms. Johnson--I'm a terrible Humanities student. Biology was blah. It left me with one question: why are Academic classes so damn quiet? and why are Gifted classes SO DAMN LOUD?!?!

Also, Iliescu talks much slower. -- SHINY TOY GUNS BREAK:

We're gonna ride the racecars
We're gonna dance on fire
We're the girls Le Disko
SUPERSONIC OVERDRIVE!

--Aaaannnd we're back! -- Lastly, World History. Funnest class I had all day. Matheson is a funnybone. Seating plans suck. The Church is oddsicles. And, once again, I'm dropping a good course because I won't stay awake through it and likely won't get a "good enough" mark from it. Sadface for the Gifted Rat Race. =(

IN CONCLUSION: 
High school is challenging. High school is vapid. High school is "fun". High school is threatening. High school is HIGH. WHY ARE PEOPLE SO TALL. I'm sorry. I'm being a hypocrite and incredibly shallow. It's just that it both fascinates and scares me a little how tall everyone is. It's like I'm about to enter a forest of denim and skirts. Is that what University is like? The Forest of Denim and Skirts?

Nonetheless, I almost wish the time for acceptances would get here already so we can build Study Note Mountain, fret over fluorescent sheets of paper with numbers and lines on them, go to prom (? more on that later), "dance" like jello people undergoing seizures, get our caps and gowns, and get the heck out of Woburn.

Haha, if I was Superhighschooler, my weakness would be Woburnite. I made a punny.

I will go sleep now. As you could probably glean from this distractedly-written, slow-paced, snarky-and-lazy blogpost, I need to channel my chi into brain-building sleep and STOP USING SO MANY HYPHENS.

Good night, Blogosphere, and let us hope your high school years are/were not as dreadfully lame as mine are/were.

Signing off,
Magasawrus.
"Chocolate for most women is like catnip for most cats--freakin' ambrosia, mannn."

Crazy Facts About Plastic Surgery [Republished]

Taken from the NinjaVideo Blog. Facts compiled and image designed by Ellie Koning.

Scary, scary procedures.

Persevere

The waves kissed the shore,
caressing, receding,
caressing, receding,
caressing, receding.

Hesitantly, they loved the sands,
pushing forward, pulling back,
pushing forward, pulling back,
pushing forward, pulling back.

They could never be sure or strong like the
grounded,
towering
earth,
so they ventured forward,
eagerly,
admiringly,
enviously.

I will be Accomplished,
I will be Accomplished,
I will be Accomplished.

The earth did not move.

What will you accomplish?

They wavered.

I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.

They retreated,
meekly,
humbled by the
rough sands and
smooth stones and
brittle leaves.

The short sat, as
imperial and constant
as ever,
but the waves shifted restlessly,
casting themselves
against the shore's sides.

As it stretched
above
the
clouds,
the earth did not see
how the tossing waves
carved its sides
into
dust.

Wildcat Rampant!

Yes, I know I'm probably breaching protocol by releasing super-top-secret yearbook graphics before the school year's even begun... but I haven't done any art in such a long time, so I felt rather happy with how this came out xD

Although,, in Retrospect [-GASP!- Product Placement!], I should probably have added some more stylized whiskery bits at the side...

I was looking for some rampant creatures [y'know, the animals holding up the shield in a Coat of Arms] and for the life of me, I could not find a wildcat [or just a cat] rampant. I found lions, unicorns, tigers, deer, moose, narwhal, fish, heron, cranes, heck! Even winged unicorns and mer-horses! So I was forced to eventually make my own. Thank God it didn't fail, or I'd have had to screw the head of a cat onto a lion.

Why a wildcat rampant? It's for a super-top-secret page of the super-top-secret yearbook... you'll see ;)

Mily and I are, and thank goodness she thought of it, doing some things before the school year starts so Yearbook doesn't Eat Us Up.

This is what happens when I don't get sleep, sugar, or meditative medication

EDIT: Blinded by a haze of violent red, I was unable to find the tiny "Sign out of Messenger" link sneakily sitting atop my various linked inboxes. I was, logically enough, looking for a "Sign out" option under the Messenger menu in the left-hand side Navbar. Thanks a lot, Convenience.

I hate many things. Many things make me angry. Sometimes, I shouldn't be angry. This post will be very anger- and intra-centric.

See, I've been waiting for emotional inspiration for a blog post. That's why all of July has no posts. Because I was too busy sleeping, eating, and enjoying the unmoderated freedom of student Summertime. See, once summer begins, you stop feeling like doing shit. Any kind of shit. In fact, you start to feel like plain shit. Not the bad kind. The plain kind. The I-don't-want-to-do-anything-and-feel-like-calling-"stuff"-shit-because-I'm-too-angry-and-lazy-to-use-polite-language kind of feeling.

This all leads to something very relevant: writing and throwing things around because emotions strike and the only way to deal with them is to write and throw things around.

POP QUIZ! What's more satisfying than the gunshot-like sound of a 600-page hardcover book hitting a creaky wooden second-story floor? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.


It also helps to imagine that sound effect paired with the image of someone's head.


Anyway. Many things set me off.

1) Food.
2) People shrieking passionate nonsense under the guise of Aspiring for the Common Good. Otherwise known as "Politics."
3) MSN trying to be cool and incorporating Online Messenger into Hotmail. This is the root of this hour's problem.

I've been writing two blogposts. Call me a hypocrite. One is about food. The other is Passionate Nonsense about Politics.

This blog post will be about MSN Trying to be Like Google.

Let me set some things straight:
I do not need to chat with people when I am already communicating with them through e-mail. 
I do not need to see a list of everyone who is online when I already have a list of everyone who is online open.
There is a reason websites like Meebo exist.

This new "Messenger inside Hotmail" feature that CANNOT BE DISABLED as far as I know annoys me beyond the fact that I now have three congruent Stephens and four congruent Jameses in my list because it MAKES EVERYONE'S UNIQUE DISPLAY NAME THE SAME, LIKE STUPID COMMUNISM.

Sorry. I lost it a little there. I'm a little off the kilter right now. A little off-centre and I'm out of tune. Just kicking this can down the avenue. But I'm alright.

Why the hell do I need an online messenger PERMANENTLY open and disrupting the beautiful layout of my Inbox?

Why the hell do I need a browser-based messenger open AT ALL when my Live Messenger Client is working PERFECTLY FINE?

Why do I need to be interrupted in my calming daily inbox check by annoying popups from people I did not want to and did not expect to talk to?

In short: WHEN THE HELL DID I ASK FOR A MESSENGER-HOTMAIL INTEGRATION?

If I needed a browser-based Messenger, I'd use Meebo or the MSN version--WHEN I NEEDED IT. Not EVERY FREAKING TIME I checked my email!

Not to mention that when I check my email, people automatically ASSUME I'm available to chat with because the stupid thing makes my status Available. Well, I'M NOT and I don't wish to be!

I'm already annoyed at the stupid Facebook Chat. I'm just popping in to check my Facebook inbox and notifications. I don't want to a little box popping up with a "Hello" that flashes on every Facebook tab I open! It makes the whole thing lag and distracts me from what I intended to do! If I wanted to chat with someone, I'd have used the already established methods of LIVE MESSENGER, PHONE, AND TEXT.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH.


Rant over. Too lazy to screenshot.


Now I will relieve myself with some tea, chocolate, and reading. Goodnight.

Grade Eleven Chemistry 2010 Final Exam Notes

How to Download: Yes, apparently the big "Download Now" button is a lie. Alright, so at the bottom, under a box with a URL in it, there's a tiny download linke. That's the real one. And if it doesn't work, here's another link: http://drop.io/bxjsp6m/asset/0-grade-11-gifted-chemistry-docx

Here they are.* Fresh off the press.

The notes are a combination of notes taken from the textbook, handouts from Gifted Chem, and my personal stash of notes accumulated from various bouts of productiveness when cramming for tests over the last year. Enjoy, lazy or overachieveing schmucks :)

I'm moving on to Math~ x__x

*You can access the file on Scribd if you Log in with FaceBook.

Note: These notes were made for personal use--so if there are things that aren't in them, it's because those concepts are things I thought were pretty basic. If you need to know those, just look them up in your textbook; they shouldn't be that difficult to find if they're fundamental knowledge.

Chemistry Exam Review!

Alright, guys, so I'm pretty much going to use this blog to upload things.... and such.

Here's a scan of the chemistry final exam review if you haven't gotten it from Room 117 after school and I'll upload my notes as soon as I'm finished them (hopefully tonight).

Add oil, guys! Good luck with your exams!

Finished Phase Three!

Finally. Unfortunately, nothing much has changed for the other fifty gazillion things since my last post...

Background Images used:
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/ske_couch_potato_lg.jpg
http://exercisefitnesshealth.com/images/exercise590.jpg

Sundae:
http://alanadale.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/ice-cream-sundae.jpg

Everything Else:

Microsoft Office ClipArt or my camera xD

Organic Food Packaging

Finally finished the packaging!


Now all that's left to do is the advertisement, the two writeups, the media essay, the media text, the personal response, the bio presentation...... aw, Shaq-a-cat. I'm doomed, aren't I?

Celebrate spring by spreading the cure!

EDIT: To those wondering, here's what's gonna go down:

FOOD. Refreshments in the form of Sandwiches provided by the Royal Canadian Legion Hall!

LIVE MUSIC. Courtesy of our swingin' retro live band, Blue Ice, and featuring the Scarborough Historical Museum's Youth-Run Jazz Band. Prepare for a real HOE-DOWN!

DRESSED TO THE NINES. Girls in pretty dresses & handsome boys in suits--yes, this is a semi-formal event!

DOOR PRIZES. Feel like you want to walk away with something? Want to be rewarded for dressing up? Glad to receive some cool things just for being charitable? We've got lots to give away!

SILENT AUCTION. And, if you want to be more giving (and get some even cooler stuff), prepare for a kickin' silent auction! Featuring gift baskets, pricey coupons, and beautiful artwork from some of our sponsors!

THAT WARM FUZZY FEELING. Keep in mind that all proceeds (yes, even profits from the bar that will be available) will be going towards charity! The majority will go towards the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Naini, India and proceeds made at the the cash bar will go towards the Royal Canadian Legion.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

On Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, from 7:00 pm to 12:00 am, come to the attend the Spring Fling Charity Social to help spread the cure of leprosy!

The Social is a semi-formal charity event hosted by Patricia D'Silva, a 16-year-old humanitarian from Toronto, Ontario. All proceeds from the sale of tickets and items auctioned at the event will go towards funding the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Naini, India.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND  

Last summer, Patricia went on her own dime to volunteer at the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Naini, India. There, she learned the truth about leprosy worldwide. 

Leprosy is a well-known disease that dates back to biblical times. Although modern-day medical breakthroughs have found a cure for the disease, it is still very prevalent in developing countries. Leprosy sufferers often don't have the funds to pay hospital fees and some simply do not have access to well-equipped, proper medical facilities. 

On top of that, there is still a significant amount of social stigma attached to the disease. It is neither sexually transmitted nor highly infections and in fact, almost 95% of people are naturally immune. However, the social stigma attached to the disease still remains an obstacle to self-reporting and early treatment. Sometimes, even after the patients have been treated, they cannot return to their homes because they have been ostracized.

The Leprosy Mission is a global nonprofit charity that supplies facilities to spread the cure of leprosy in developing regions of the world. The Naini Hospital is one hospital in the Leprosy Mission network. While the Hospital receives some funds from the Leprosy Mission, these funds are not nearly enough to cover the cost of supplies and equipment. The donations the Mission receives in general must be spread worldwide to various branches of the organization.

The Hospital's finances are further strained by the influx of patients it must accommodate every day. Not only does the Hospital treat leprosy patients, it also acts as a general treatment facility for hundreds of other patients. These patients arrive from all over Northern India because the Naini Hospital is the only clinic for miles with clean equipment, proper supplies, and formally educated physicians.

After working with the doctors at the Naini Leprosy Mission Hospital, Patricia decided that she wanted to do something to help out the Hospital. So she returned to Canada with aspirations to start a charity and raise funds for the Hospital. 

The Spring Fling Charity Social will be the first major fundraising event Patricia has planned. She hopes to reach her goal of $1000, on top of the costs of planning the event.

THE SPRING FLING DETAILS

To keep a position on Patricia's event-planning staff, I've designed a flyer for the Social. Details for the event can be seen below. Hope to see you there!

Yay Dissection!

Edit: Nevermind. According to Shifa, who just did the dissection exam today (all eleventh-graders do the same exam), you won't need to know the functions of the parts on the exam. Still won't be any reproductive organs because we didn't focus on that body system & almost everyone got a male pig.

After taking a peek at some of the pigs of various groups in the morning bio class, I managed to get down the locations/descriptions of most of the parts.

Mily and Christina have two other versions of this, so if you're feeling like being an overachiever, feel free to cross-reference all three versions...

Anywho, here you go:

Page One

Page Two

Mr Darling's Chance Calculator Algorithm!

Yes, I made an algorithm for "love." But in my defense, so did a lot of female-targeted magazines! This little toy was originally made to be a feature in the now-dead fourth edition of Miscellanea Magazine. Unfortunately, my laptop went kapoof shortly before school started and it was never fixed. The articles were taken out of the hard drive but by then the Hell known as Grade Eleven had already begun so I had neither the time nor the energy to go around and finish formatting all the articles.


If you'd like to see all of them, here's a link to the .ZIP Archive.


And now, preeeeeeeeeesenting MR DARLING'S CHANCE CALCULATOR ALGORITHM! This took ages to format; all those arrows.... -shudder-

It would be convenient if you first find out whether you're as close to the object of your affections as you think. And keep in mind that Honesty is the Best Policy: be brutally honest, just to be safe--it's better to get a pleasant surprise than shattered, illusions, no?

Enjoy!

See this Algorithm in Full Size! 

The Age of Innocence

Last week, I was trying to finish a photojournalism assignment to create a one-photo documentary essay. I chose the social issue of the declining age of innocence in today's youth: they are being exposed to sex, drugs, and violence at ages that used to be absolutely unacceptable for exposure to these things.

Here's the picture I ended up getting:

Today, I was surfing the web and found some absolutely appalling things. Specifically, articles on the incredibly revealing and simply inappropriate things parents are allowing their children to wear these days. Frankly, I'm not a parent--I'm a child myself in many ways--but it doesn't stop these things from disgusting me. Whatever happened to parental responsibility?

One example is this prom dress. It's rather revealing, so I won't post up the actual picture but you get the point. It's shocking, isn't it? That dress was shot with the model wearing it backwards. (Perhaps for shock purposes?) Here's the actual dress--and it's not much better.

The dress is designed to fit girls as young as 14 or 15. Even the design company's CEO admitted that he wouldn't dream of letting his own daughter wear it but, "from a businessman's perspective", he's still willing to market it. It's currently one of the top 20 prom dress designs in America.

I thought that would be the extent of these kinds of things. Apparently, it's not.

Abercrombie and Fitch recently released child thongs. Yes, you heard right. Child thongs. Thongs with phrases like "eye candy" and "wink wink" printed on them! And they fit children within the age range of 8 to 10 perfectly.

According to the company's spokeperson, Hampton Carney, "It's cute and sweet and fun." Ridiculous.

Want more soul-rotting filth? Why not look up "Little Miss Hooters" and "pimp and ho child costumes"?

Little Miss Hooters:

The contest is for girls 5 and under, and will require they be dressed in little orange spandex shorts, and a tied up Hooters t-shirt.

Pimp and Ho Costumes:

Charity Social gets underway!

Oh my gosh, what a hectic week.

Patricia's Leprosy Mission Charity Social planning is going full-blast! We've managed to secure a  banquet hall (The Royal Canadian Legion Hall) for the event (to be held on May 22nd!) and I've been ordered to roll out the tickets and flyers. :)

Luckily, I've already had the tickets designed a couple weeks ago, but my weekend was dedicated to the flyers! In the spirit of spring, I've come up with two designs: one blue/green portrait-oriented flyer and a red landscape flyer. Blue/Green for Spring and Red for the colour of our campaign! I'm actually quite proud with what came out--I even have a slogan for them! "Celebrate spring by spreading the cure!" I'm sure Hulme would be proud of the alliteration there.

Here are some shots of the flyers as of now:

Flyer One -  Blue/Green for Spring! The carnation (originally red) was chosen as the logo of this campaign because it symbolizes Charity.

Flyer Two - Red to match the ticket. Fonts, etc. were all chosen to match the ticket.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty productive weekend. :)

Oh, and speaking of Hulme--our last English class before the break was a hoot! In the spirit of April Fool's Day, we staged a legendary, and very Gifted, surprise for the teachers that came by. With Patricia and Christina at the door to convince Mr. Hulme to stay outside the classroom as long as possible, the rest of the class worked to upturn ALL the desks!

Our Classroom - We turned the tables on Mr. Hulme with the chair backs resting on the floor and the desk balanced precariously sideways. Then, we had everyone sit in them that way! (Disregard Saravanan. He was being a sourpuss. Also take note of Cate taking pictures and UkeBilly/Basshew providing entertainment.)

Mr. Hulme sent Mr. Fenty to check on us (and what a surprise he got!), and when he came back to class, he was so amused that he left again to bring back the drama teachers to see! Ms. Barnes commented that our class was much more interesting than her English class.

Christina, Chris, and Patricia - Bugs on a wall...

The next twenty minutes was spent delaying our Media Issues presentations by taking very trippy pictures of everyone sideways. We looked like butterflies pinned to a wall!

Colin - Hard at work...or is he?

It was one of those days when "Gifted" was more blessing than curse.