Modernizing Classics

Reading classic works such as those of Verne's and Alcott's is a tedious process, especially that I find their style and use of language far from what my tongue is used ti. Yes, I have enjoyed the stories but it takes me a long time to finish reading the book. Searching polysyllabic and mostly archaic words in the dictionary, many of which I have not even heard spoken by any of my friends or acquaintances fluent in English, or rather, has English as her first language, adds to the time I spend on a book. Complicated words makes it more difficult to understand the meaning of paragraphs, let alone a sentence. I keep losing my concentration when I read classics because I keep losing my interest, too.

To prove a point, I was able to finish a young adult novel by James Patterson in one afternoon. Simple language for the single minded me. And a book being about people my age is added interest. On the other hand, I haven't finished Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which I started last November. And before that, it took me more than a week to finish his Journey to the Center of the Earth. I blame the Icelandic names of places and things and scientific descriptions every or so paragraph.

Resolutions for the new year?

I think I need to re-think my plans for the future and cut off my ties with the Internet. NOT.

It's hard for me to work without it for school, but similarly the Internet decreases the amount of what's left of my time and concentration that's supposedly for school work. I'm not even sure if that statement makes sense. Am I going insane? Is this withdrawal? But from what?

I'm in the phase when every now and then I have this urge to open my browser do a routine check of social networking sites. I think I might have become overly dependent on technology, like many of the people with access to a computer and Internet. Yes, that's it. "Overly dependent." That's a less harmful way to put it, instead of the extreme "addiction" or "obsession". That will do.

KMN.

Welcome, 2013!

Here's some jokes for you. May you have a pun-y year ahead!

Movie Marathon

I'm excited for 2013 because of all the films that are about to premiere. With that in mid, I have decided to compile the trailers of some of the movies that I would love to see with family, with friends, or maybe just by myself if no one else want to come with me. I didn't make an effort to check which of them gets released first.

Les Miserables

That's what people do!

Crazy people, that is. Thanks to a friend, who will be left unnamed for "security" reasons, for sharing a YouTube video of a compilation of a certain product commercial. The video may or may not cause serious brain damage, convulsions, laughter fits, and differing views about an endangered species. Watch at your own risk.

I should warn you: Never say never...

I want to watch this movie

Dreamworks Animation's Rise of the Guardians started showing today in cinemas across Metro Manila and probably across the country. I have never watched any movie on its premiere so not watching ROTG today is not such a bad thing.  However, surfing around Tumblr has proven me wrong because of the spoilers in photo sets, .gif files and video clips. Now, I can't wait for the weekend when I can actually go to one of the movie theaters and see the film.

30 days and counting down

Let's be excited and countdown the days until Christmas. After all, there is only one month to go. And now, say goodbye to my right mind and hello to a confused list of priorities. On one hand, I have homework to do and lessons to do study. On the other, end-of-the-month, payday and Christmas sales are up and it's time for the annual presents shopping. My wallet is about to die from money hemorrhage, if it is not already dead.

Fluids, materials and possibilities

Having juniors and seniors in the same course as friends can help you anticipate what can happen to you in major subjects and the rest of your college years. One time, they were talking about thesis projects and summer internships. From then on, I can't help but let my imagination run wild about my future in chemistry. Will my internship be in quality testing laboratory or in a factory of one of the country's leading industries? Will I receive allowances? Will I do a good job in it? Or will I embarrass myself and continue to live as a failure? Will my internship lead to choose a thesis topic so astounding it works?  What if it fails? What if I can't finish it? Will I ever get published?

Website-hopping, I chanced upon a video about non-Newtonian fluids and its possible applications. The video got hold of my interest. I thought it can possibly be an inspiration for a thesis project. Possibly, because I am not yet sure about anything regarding thesis. I still have about a year to think things through.

I would love to have my project go around materials science with environmental applications. I think a project with these two together will be quite useful in the current state of the world. Not that the other branches of science are useless, I believe the two that I have chosen can deliver more important contributions in this day and age.

Riddle me this...

... riddle me that.

Logic Boat (c) xkcd.com

When randomly browsing the Internet happens to give you a very important lesson in life: common sense. Thank you, xkcd!

Not yet our time, but...

If you believe that the end of the Mayan calendar is equivalent to the end of the world, then you have five more weeks until the so-called Apocalypse.

Don't fret though. Scientists have found that neither the Mayan calendar ended to foretell the end of the world nor that the Mayan civilization ended. In fact, Mayan descendants still live on; the great empire, on the other hand, did not. The Mayan people had to disperse throughout Central America to survive because of an extreme drought a long time ago.

I found these information through an informative YouTube channel, the Sci Show. There are many more science-y stuff over there, so you better check them out. More to know about the "Apocalypse" in the Sci Show videos below.