Oh woah!!!

Well... can't find a source for me to embed it, so, you will have to visit this link to watch Cristiano Ronaldo's crazy freekick goal he scored on Wednesday against Portsmouth.

{edit: found one...}




http://www.goalvideoz.com/watch/2067-manchester-united-portsmouth-cristiano-ronaldo-free-kick/

Divide and Conquer

It's been awhile, and I don't think I did anything particularly interesting for it to be mentioned. So, I'm just gonna share my thoughts in this one.

So, as the title suggests, it's about divide and conquer. How so? Well, as far as I'm concerned, it's about me getting troubled with a bunch of problems related to my time after graduation. About the paperwork of getting a work visa, about traveling after my graduation, about when should I start my work, about where should I stay during the transition month after I graduate and before I start my job.

No doubt that's a lot of problems, and somehow related, but that doesn't mean that I need to solve all of them at once. Hence, that's how the divide and conquer comes into play.

First of all, divide the problems into individuals. Even one problem can be divided into smaller pieces to make it more manageable. So, if you're ever feeling overwhelmed by problems, try to take a step back and look at your problems from a high level. Take a deep breath, get an overview of things and try to tackle it differently. And most probably, you will see a way through all these complicated problems. Then, conquer them.

Also, sometimes, you will find things are not in your favor, where something don't go your way. But, hey, that's life. Not everything is gonna be smooth sailing. What fun will that be if everything is easy (quite fun actually...)? But, you know what I mean. Instead of fussing, whining, complaining, giving up hope, getting discouraged and disappointed (caffeine makes me sound like a thesaurus), why not do what you can at your very best and see how things turn out? For instance, sometimes, doing your best might not be enough to make things sway your way, but, you can't possibly do more, like my potential problem with getting a work visa. So, what can I say? I did my very best, but, that's how it is. You just have to do your part, and hope that things will work out eventually. Also, have a back up plan. If plan A doesn't go your way, make sure you have a Plan B. Better still, have difference scenarios and plans for each one of your different scenarios. Make a tree chart, think about all the what ifs.

So, what if things don't go your way? Well, you have other options. :)

That's what been clouding my mind recently.

Here are some pictures. Random ones.

something is fishy... well, a huge chunk of salmon and potatoes, oven roasted.
strawberries... need I say more?


Cereal killer... Get it?

So... I said i wanted a 6...

Will...since the exam C/4, I said that I wanted a 6. I didn't get a 6 for it, but a 5 instead, missing it by 1 question, (quite sure about that). But, what's freaky is, I went to my 2nd Michigan hockey game yesterday, and well, we beat Western Michigan University 6 - 1.

Then, today, Manchester United beat Newcastle 6 - 0.

Hmm... freaky huh?

Big House...

Why is this so important? Well, because the Michigan Stadium is the BIG HOUSE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Stadium

Also, check out this blog to see what students are planning to reverse this unacceptable bullshit.
http://bighouse08.blogspot.com/

"Those who stay will be champion!"

I'm pissed!!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Teresa A. Sullivan and E. Royster Harper <targetemail@umich.edu>
Date: Jan 8, 2008 10:38 PM
Subject: Spring Commencement
To:---


Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Because of construction and the disruption of utilities, Michigan Stadium will not be available for the 2008 Spring Commencement ceremony. There is no other venue on our campus large enough to accommodate the graduating class and their guests. Crisler Arena, the next largest venue on campus, would require that we limit each graduate to 2 or 3 guests.

After exploring all other options, the planning committee has decided to hold the all-University ceremony nearby at Rynearson Stadium at Eastern Michigan University. All school, college and department graduation events will remain on campus as originally scheduled. This alternative venue is the best option available to us this spring because it is close to our campus; it offers the capacity to continue to provide eight tickets for each undergraduate degree recipient and four tickets for each graduate degree recipient; and it has excellent parking.

EMU will work with U-M to transform Rynearson into a "maize and blue" environment for the commencement ceremony, and we thank the EMU community for sharing their facility with us for this event. The ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 26. Bob Woodruff, former ABC News Anchor, a Michigan native and 1987 Law School alumnus, will address Spring Commencement and receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Seniors and other graduates are invited to help us make this year's Spring Commencement a joyful celebration by sharing ideas and exploring options with the planning committee. Several opportunities to participate will be posted on the commencement web site at www.commencement.umich.edu <http://www.commencement.umich.edu>. The web site will also provided detailed information on academic attire, accessibility arrangements, ticket distribution, and graduate assembly, along with important updates about the change of location, shuttle bus schedules, and maps.

While this information may disappoint those of you who anticipated completing your academic career with Spring Commencement at the Big House, we hope you will join us as we take steps to ensure this event is an authentically Michigan experience.

Kind regards,
Teresa A. Sullivan, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

E. Royster Harper, Vice President for Student Affairs"


I'm pissed.
I left a comment on their "Questions or Comments" page.

"Why isn't this information convey to students in the previous semester? Is this bad planning or lack of planning? Or just to keep students in the dark? Whatever it is, this is unacceptable. If I were to learn about this, I would have graduated in the last semester. So much so to have my parents to travel close to 10000 miles to attend my graduation at another University's stadium. Thanks."

Total BULLSHIT.

Should I donate to University of Michigan after I graduate? Well, maybe other charities can use the money better. Thanks for nothing. Not to insult Eastern Michigan University, but I came to Michigan for its tradition at the first place. If the administration has no respect for its tradition, don't think I should have respect for them too. So, the very next time I get a call from the Michigan telefund, guess what I'll remember? Oh, my graduation at Eastern Michigan University. Thanks for nothing.

I need a boost...

As usual, like an old-grandfather clock, I need to be winded up really good at the start of every semester in order to function well. Even more so as this will be my very last semester.

Come to think about it, I'm actually not too bad this semester. I've my to-do list and all on my desk, and I'm actually working on it, but just that my efficiency is really low. My attention span is still obscenely short, and I'm somehow are more curious about stuff and ambitious than usual, hence, adding more stuff to my to-do list.

So, I need a boost, a pat on the back, or on my head, or get a girlfriend (i'm hinting), or well, something. :)

Oddly enough, I'm motivated to do physical stuff like running (with a calf pain) and weights and even swimming, but just not stuff involving my brain, like homework assignments, and emails!

Just a random ranting and thanks for reading... :)

Of Movies and Books...

So, I was saying my Christmas break, or to be politically correct, my Winter holiday was spent eating, drinking, relaxing... by watching movies and reading..

So, movies & DVD I watched over the summer (in no particular rank and order):
1) Mary Poppins
2) The Sound of Music
3) Santa Claus is Coming to Town
4) Frosty the Snow Man
5) The Namesake
6) The Simpsons Movie
7) Saturday Night Live dvd
8) Ratatouille

and drumroll... last but definitely not least...
9) Barbie as Island Princess (my niece made her daddy and I sat through with her...) Little girls and Barbies... to keep my niece occupied, all you need to do is put on a Barbie movie, and she'll be as happy as a little girl, oh wait, she's a little girl... But, good for her parents, they are really strict on how much TV she can watch a day...

Books...
1) I Am America (and so can You)
2) What is Religion (still reading... as I told my cousin I'll be taking a class on Asian Religion, he went through his stash of books (a really huge stash) and found me that book on Swami

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Well, i guess it's still in time since it is not epiphany yet.

Happy 2008. A leap-year. My senior year.

So, for my Christmas, as I mentioned many times in previous posts, I went to Richmond, VA to spend time with my cousin and her family. It was really good to be able to spend about 2 weeks with them. (I was only able to spend 2.5 days last time when I visited them on my way back to Ann Arbor after my Summer internship).

I flew from Detroit (DTW) to Richmond, VA with a layover at Columbus, OH, just to avoid Chicago (because of their infamous delays) and I'm too cheap to pay 200 bucks extra for the direct flight. I didn't drive this time either, as it took me 11+ hours to drive (one-way) last time around and I don't think I'm that comfortable driving in the snow. Anyway, I left on Thur, Dec 20th, for Richmond, VA. Both flights were on time, and my luggage showed up at Richmond too. My only complain was the tiny flights. The first plane seats 4 per row(2 and 2), and has 11 rows, while the 2nd plane seats 3 per row (2 and 1), and has 19 rows. Really tiny plane. I'm 5-7/8, and by standing up straight in the aisle, my hair can reach the ceiling of the plane.

"My" room for 2 weeks...
My stuff... notice the football jersey...GO BLUE!...
So, it was basically just eating and drinking (wine mostly, on average of 2 glasses a night), some dinner parties, and of course the really TACKY Christmas Light tour.
One of the houses on the tour...
A video I took from inside the car on the Tacky Light Tour at Richmond, VA.
...just like a gingerbread house.


I tried uploading more onto youtube but it's acting up again.


I also spent two nights at Harrisonburg, VA, my cousin-in-law's hometown. It was also all fun. And more good food.

Not to mention. Got quite some Christmas presents from my cousin and relatives. Let me see, a sweater, a sleepwear set, 2 books, an audio-book, 2 bars of chocolate(dark), a B&N gift card...

So, what else did I do over the 13 days I was under my cousin's care. Let me see, I was computer technician-carpenter-babysitter-white-or-red wine decider-cousin. :)

And children say the darnedest thing. I mean, without any filter. Like my niece, 4.5 years old, in a restaurant, pointed at a lady and said, quite loudly, "She's smoking." Also, at the dinner table at home, "I don't like peanut butter, it's disgusting". And, all the tantrums and flares. Also, while talking to grandma (my aunt) over the phone, she went, "Nana, I want to tell you something... my birthday is coming soon." And her negotiation skill is second to none.

Also, I also recorded quite a number of 'first-times', (Tremayne, NOT THAT first time...). Like, carrying a conversation with someone for more than 2 hours (yes, my first time); watch a Barbie movie; use a power-screwdriver; and playing kiddie stuff with a niece for a long period of time (go check out "my littlest pets"), and Chutes and Ladders, and without getting bored. Also, first time decorating sugar cookies with icing and all. All in all, it's a great learning experience, of American way of Christmas celebration.
Sugar cookies i decorated...

Also, what a great man my cousin-in-law is. Someone that I really look up to.

And, all the conversations really gave me more to think about this year. Especially, I'll be graduating in no time and start working before I know it.

I managed to scribble down my new year resolutions: (not even sure if you can consider this my new year resolutions, more like a to-do list)
1) learn how to float (I can swim the length of a pool but not float)
2) do more running
3) eat more
4) read more
5) think more (sorry if my future post are more philosophical)
6) sleep more (I think i can use 6-7 hours average...)
7) drink more wine, less beer
8) travel more (Cancun for Spring break? not just drink-silly Cancun, but explore Cancun)
9) buy less

...