Lots to Do

I Am Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:59:00 +0000

Indeed.

Korea Aftermath

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:07:00 +0000

So I'm back from Korea, and ready to relax for the few days before school starts.

Unfortunately, school has already started to press itself into the back of my mind, mainly because the easiest (and one of the more interesting) classes of the semester that I signed up for was cancelled. The impending start of school also presses the need for a job/internship/anything that will prevent me from becoming a baeksoo (bum) after I graduate. But I digress and as always manage to keep these things in the farthest reaches of my mind where nobody (even me!) can easily access them.

In the interlude between Korea and law school, I have of course been logging heavy minutes into one and only one object: Atlantica Online.

Atlantica Online (AO):
server: Delphi
character: Lotse
guild: WatersGate

For some reason AO has captured my attention far longer than any other MMO. This weird hybrid of the Final Fantasy series (turn-based combat + random encounters) and a traditional free micro-transaction MMO keeps me enrapture most likely because it keeps me too busy to think of the whole game as a grind. Because I have to hold the reins on my 9 mercenaries (8 currently) and of a guild (the AO version of Water's Gate), I don't feel the overwhelming repetitiveness that I felt when playing WoW, WAR, etc.

Thus, that has been and will furthermore be what I will be doing for the few days before school starts...with an interview mixed in-between, but ya'll know how important those are ^__^

Google Ads

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:32:00 +0000

I checked my blog (it's been awhile) and the first thing I noticed was that one of the Google Ads was for...Scientology!...and I do love my Scientology (I really don't). Anyways, thank you Google Adsense for somehow linking me with Scientology.

The other ad was for the Korean dating site KoreanCupid...now I can understand that one ^_^.

And yes, Korea is fun and great and I love being here for "work"...but I'll be part-relieved/part-excited to be back in the States in a few more weeks.

July 4th

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:37:00 +0000

Also, happy Fourth of July!!! Or Independence Day!

Whatever.

...

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:31:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've updated here. Hmm...in the meantime I've been mostly bumming around playing healthy doses of Atlantica Online, Counterstrike 1.6, and Defense of the Ancients (WCIII), but I was also busy preparing for my Korea trip which entailed renewing my driver's license (now VA...and ugly), passport, and visa. Finally, I'm in Korea now, interning at the Constitutional Court and having a lot of good food and fun on the off hours.

I probably won't update so much while I'm here either, since I'll be busy doing...stuff ^__^

Oh well.

Gender Analyzer

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:42:00 +0000

Unlike a previous blog I posted in which Gender Analyzer said it was 72% sure I was a woman, this blog has been analyzed to be written by a male with a 52% probability. Although that doesn't exactly inspire the greatest confidence in my maleness of writing, I guess it will have to do.

Back to my LMB paper!!!

p.s. Gender Analyzer "uses Artificial Intelligence to determine if a homepage is written by a man or woman."

Inevitable Result

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:44:00 +0000

Well, having to choose between slogging through my LMB paper due June 12th and procrastinating has led me once again to posting. Unlike certain people I know, there's nothing I can do that prevents me from slacking/procrastinating/putting off until the window for getting something remotely done is just a pixel large. I don't seem to study well in any environment, I get distracted, I stare at blank pages for hours...nothing really seems to work. It seems inevitable and it IS inevitable, mainly because of the fact that I don't really want to work. Oh well.

On another note, it is a sweltering 84F outside right now, and DC feels like the swamp that it is. I'd much rather roast under the 90+ weather of Riverside without the humidity/stickiness than stick around here. Unfortunately, this situation will be exacerbated when I head out to Korea where it will probably be even stickier. Oh well, that's my lot in life these days.

Going back to my paper, I'm pretty sure I've printed out 500+ pages from the Westlaw printer here at school in order to hypothetically write the 20+ pages my LMB paper requires. A bit inefficient, but blame Westlaw for it since its free for me. Although I'm not sure paying free paper really compensates for the $45,000+ I pay every year in tuition...

Also...level 45 in Atlantica Online, Delphi Server...ahhh the things papers/finals make me do to not DO them.

Fire Alarm

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:54:00 +0000

Well its almost 4am for me here, but the fire alarm has gone off, and there is no way I can fall asleep with it ringing. Usually I'd go outside the building just because I'm bored or something, but I'm just way to tired (and cold) to do so. Oh well...as long as I don't see a fire anywhere I think I will be ok.

Aside from that, I've been failing miserably at writing my advanced research and writing paper. Two days ago I set myself a goal of writing 5 pages a day. I should have 10 pages, but I only have 6...and 4 of those pages I wrote about 2 months ago.

Oh well.

Not Done Yet

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:27:00 +0000

I'm actually not done with my finals for the spring semester yet. As always, I took the opportunity that was given to me (a 1-month extension for a final paper) and stretched it along as far as possible. It's now due in 6 days, and so...I should start on it.

Inspirumo

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:00:00 +0000

http://lots.inspirumo.com

Getting Settled

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:13:00 +0000

I keep forgetting how much needs to be done after moving into a new place. There's all the stuff I need to buy and all the services I need to order. So far I've done a little bit of each. I've bought a Hide-A-Mat mattress(my permanent bed - my previous studio came furnished), a nice nifty vacuum cleaner (ergorapido), a bathroom mat (although it was too large - it's now my sink mat), some kitchen towels, and shampoo/conditioner. Since the apartment complex already decides how much I pay a month for gas/electric/water/trash (depending on how much the entire complex uses), the only utility I have arranged for is my Verizon DSL which is being installed today.

I'm missing a lot of stuff still though. I've noticed I need 2 trash cans (one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom), cutlery/dishes/pots/pans, a rug/mat of some sort (for my empty empty wood tile living room), and a shoe rack.

So...I have a LOT to do.

Atlantica Online

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:57:00 +0000

I've recently started playing an MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online Game) called Atlantica Online. Although it's similar to most other MMO's, the two things that appeals to me is the fact that I control more than 1 character (up to 9) and there are certain tactics involved in playing the game. It requires more than the necessary spamming of buttons to do well, and although I haven't played the PvP (player versus player) content yet, I'm sure that will be more interesting than the normal grind of other MMO's. So expect some posts regarding this game in the future...yay.

I am current level 26...feel free to befriend me...my character name is Selfe.

SF/Berkeley/Napa

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:56:00 +0000

I just returned from a trip with my siblings and cousins (total 5) to San Francisco, Berkeley, and Napa Valley. Altogether a memorable trip for a few reasons.

1) I got to see 4 friends I haven't seen in awhile...one of them I hadn't seen for 2 whole years!

2) I learned a little bit more about wine, and I found this mildly interesting.

3) I learned that memories of food are usually better than the food itself...I shouldn't have extraordinary expectations for food from my previous exploits.

4) I got to see the true nature of my ravenous cousin, and see another cousin I hadn't seen in 6 years.

5) I realized that I prefer traveling with friends as opposed to cousins, and I'd rather not travel at all at times.

6) You WILL get sick...or at least feel not-so-good...after 2 7-hour car-rides with 5 people in a Honda Accord.

So I'm sick.

School's Over...Almost

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:44:00 +0000

I guess my blog posting is directly correlated to my entrances into school or something. Ever since my last final, I haven't posted, much less read through my favorite blogs. I guess some of this could be attributed to my attempt and later success in reformatting my computer. Some of this could also be attributed to my subsequent installation of games and absorption into those. But mostly I think it's because I'm done with finals and school in general.

Of course I'm not really done. I still have my writing requirement paper due on June 12th that I need to start...but I feel as if I'm done.

Back Again

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:06:00 +0000

So...the comments don't work...so...back to the old template again. Makes me sad but what can I do when I don't know XML =/

Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Comments don't work...sadness...I probably need to switch back to a regular pre-uploaded template again...

4 Rules Artists Should Live By

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:15:00 +0000

I'm not an artist by any means...I'm actually really bad at anything related to art. Nonetheless, I am a critic of art. I appreciate art that is good according to my own tastes. So, although not completely qualified to lay down some rules for budding/potential artists, I am qualified in that I know what I look for in art. Here they are:

4 Rules Artists Should Live By:

Rule 1: Flaunt your strengths; hide your weaknesses.

Rule 2: Beauty is in the details.

Rule 3: Practice. Improve. And practice even more.

Rule 4: Develop a distinct style. Make it your own.

Let me post a couple artworks to explain these in detail:

This painting by monoberry illustrates rules 1,2, and 3. Let's say monoberry absolutely sucks at painting legs (although I'm sure this is not true...his/her artworks are amazing...). Now, of course you should be practicing rule 3 over the course of your career as an artist. However, if you suck at drawing legs, cover them up. Not only does the dress on this lady look great, you never stop to question whether the artist can draw legs or not (unless you're me...). Also, look at the floral print on the dress, the textures/shadows of the sky, the intricate design of the side rail, etc. What makes this artwork great? The details. Any decent artist can do portraits...only talented and diligent artists can create a scene.

This is definitely not exactly my most favorite work of art. Nonetheless, I appreciate the talent of the artist because the work stands out. Although the artist uses the idea of Totoro, he completely makes this artwork his own. The drops of blood dripping from the girl's umbrella, the tufts of green grass in the background...these details make this work stand out that much more.

Like I said, I'm not an expert in art or illustration. But I guarantee that, as long as you have the talent, living by these 4 rules will make you a better artist!

Moving

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:07:00 +0000

So I just signed a lease to a new studio. I'll be paying $1280 a month on rent, which might seem like alot, and it is...but is also cheaper than what I have been paying for my rat-infested tiny studio (I pay $1300). In addition, Costco is nearby, and there's a small grocery store on the first floor for emergencies. Too bad it's not cheaper, but that's the price you pay to live alone in the DC metro area...

New Layout

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:17:00 +0000

I just uploaded a new template/layout for this blog. Needless to say, it was pretty tough figuring out how to remove certain headers and replace links so that they linked to my own site.

Now that it's done, I'm enjoying what I've done and I will probably try and tinker around with it some more in the future. It's in XML or whatever it's called so I have no idea what I'm doing...but it looks good if I do say so myself.

Yep yep...now back to studying for finals.

new layout via K2Modify.

Top 5 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:47:00 +0000

I'm taking a detour from the usual random off-topic ramblings I go off on and actually produce a list of my favorite science fiction and fantasy books with a very very short phrase or two explaining my reasonings. I don't usually throw sci-fi and fantasy together, but I tend not to remember titles of books unless they are preciously memorable to me, and I came up with only 5-6...so a list of 5 it is:

Honorable Mention:

DAGGERSPELL, by Katherine Kerr - Not only does it have one of the best titles in all of the fantasy genre, Kerr also manages to include the usual array of dark and light forces, daggers that glow, dweomer, elves, humans, etc. Great book, just not in the top 5 because it doesn't fulfill my thirst for intrigue as much as the others.

Top 5:

(5) MAGICIAN, by Raymond E. Feist - You know the author has written a good book when it manages to crack anyone's top five list with the main character being named Pug. Indeed, Magician is Raymond E. Feist's best book (I don't remember the others even though I've read them) where he manages to create and meld two cultures (Midkemian and Tsurani - inferences to a Western/Eastern type of conflict), magic that keeps getting better (almost unbelievably better), pickpockets becoming nobility, and etc. This creation has also led to the release of what many consider a stellar RPG (Betrayal at Krondor). And yet there's 4 books/series I enjoy more...hmm...

(4) ELMINSTER, by Ed Greenwood - I'm not a huge fan of Dungeons & Dragons and their spinoffs, but this book, set in the Forgotten Realms world, was the book that sparked my interest in fantasy books. The book tracks the journey of a young boy, turned thief, turned into a girl, blessed by one of the many gods of magic, turned magician, and manages to keep you riveted throughout the whole process. It made me appreciate the slight flaws, both physical and mental, in character (the protagonist has a hawk-nose...which means its not the prettiest i think? and he gets in a lot of trouble). Definitely a book that incorporates much of what we think of as fantasy in a basic and exciting way.

(3) THE NAME OF THE WIND, by Patrick Rothfuss - This book was a little rough around the edges (it's his debut novel), but I was so impressed and enthralled by the book that I almost put it at number 2. It incorporates narrative storytelling, and narrative storytelling within his narrative storytelling. It incorporates a unique system of magic, and a quest which although not the most epic, is one of the most compelling points of the book. Kvothe, the protagonist, is flawed yet majestic, the quintessential fantasy character with odd/attractive abilities. The plot involves politics, legends, dragons, but in a world that makes it all quite believable. Keep your eyes out for Patrick Rothfuss, he's moving up in the fantasy world.

(2) THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, by Robert Heinlein - This is Robert Heinlein, and it involves Martians throwing rocks at the Earth to gain their independence. Enough said.

(1) A GAME OF THRONES (A Song of Ice & Fire Series), by George R.R. Martin - Political intrigue, crippled boys, direwolves(!), dragons, historical references (War of the Roses), one-armed swordsmen, war, war, and more war. I couldn't ask for more, but I did, and he delivered. An author unafraid to kill of main characters, a household with the motto "Winter is Coming," character development so deep and complex that I've read this book over 5 times and I keep learning more. Definitely my favorite sci-fi/fantasy novel...I just hope he doesn't keep delaying the next book in the series indefinitey (it's been about 3-4 years)...

And there you go, my top five sci-fi/fantasy novels...
If you want to look into my non sci-fi/fantasy loves, here's a few of them:
Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card (yeah it's sci-fi/fantasy but it's not as well!)
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
First Love, by Turgenev
The Millionaire Next Door
The Alchemist

I've linked them up with amazon for easy reviews/listings...enjoy!

End is Near

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:23:00 +0000

Well the end of my second year of law school is approaching along with my first final (not including papers) this Thursday. I don't know why I wanted to post this, but this semester (like every other semester) just seems a bit different.

I mean, there were the normal on-and-off class attendances, the getting behind on reading, and the knowing nothing as finals draw near scenarios, but none of it seems to matter to me anymore. Hopefully this isn't an early outbreak of senioritis which last occurred in high school.

However, the one scenario that is bothering me is the "I should try to get a better summer job" scenario. I'm pretty much at the end of the ropes here and it seems like I will be going to Korea for part of the summer, but it really isn't as exciting a deal as it should be.

Ahh...I've figured out why now...It's because I actually want to figure out what I want to do with my life these days, and going to intern in Korea will not further that goal of mine.

Oh well.

The Violin Unheard

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:54:00 +0000

In Pearls Before Breakfast, Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten tells the amazing tale of the violin that was unheard.

On a busy workday morning at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station, a solitary man unpacked his violin and performed music for 43 minutes. During that time, 1,097 people passed him buy, a couple stopped to listen for a bit, and ~$32 was earned. All good for a street musician right?

Not if the street musician is the world-renowned Joshua Bell (whose music was heard in "The Red Violin" soundtrack) playing 6 passionate pieces on a Stradivari violin worth ~$3.5 million. Not when the music he plays is performed in neighboring concert halls that costs $1,000 a seat to enter.

Unfortunately, in the heart of DC's capital, this story is all too true.

-

Pretty sad.

The BlueBook

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:57:00 +0000

Since I finished writing all the content for my paper on multiculturalism today, I should be feeling pretty happy. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Why? Because Law Journal articles, memoranda, briefs, and every other type of legal publication requires the use of the BlueBook when citing and referencing.

What exactly is the BlueBook? According to its online presence (www.legalbluebook.com), the Bluebook is:

-

"The definitive style guide for legal citation in the United States. For generations, law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals have relied on The Bluebook’s unique system of citation in their writing. In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, The Bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one another about the sources and legal authorities upon which they rely in their work.

The Bluebook can often be intimidating for new users. This introduction is meant to assist you as you begin what will likely become a lifelong relationship with the Bluebook system of legal citation."

In short, for me...it is my worst nightmare, legal-style.

Semi-Passive Income

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:46:00 +0000

It both impresses and depresses me when I hear about people making their living off the internet. For example, Pat, the owner of the Smart Passive Income Blog and InTheLeed made over $30,000 for the month of March while spending about 10 hours a week on his blog and website.

Oh well...back to studying for law school exams it is...

Philosophical Inquiries on Love and Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Glugs) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:10:00 +0000

One day, Plato asked his teacher, "What is love? How can I find it?"
His teacher answered, "There is a vast wheat field in front. Walk forward without turning back, and pick only one stalk. If you find the most magnificent stalk, then you have found love."
Plato walked forward, and before long, he returned with empty hands, having picked nothing. His teacher asked, "Why did you not pick any stalk?" Plato answered, "Because I could only pick once, and yet I could not turn back. I did find the most magnificent stalk, but did not know if there were any better ones ahead, so I did not pick it. As I walked further, the stalks that I saw were not as good as the earlier one, so I did not pick any in the end.
His teacher then said, "And that is love."
On another day, Plato asked his teacher, "What is marriage? How can find it?"His teacher answered, "There is a thriving forest in front. Walk forward without turning back, and chop down only one tree. If you find the tallest tree, then you have found marriage." Plato walked forward, and before long, he returned with a tree. The tree was not thriving, and it was not tall either. It was an ordinary tree. His teacher asked, "Why did you chop down such an ordinary tree?"
Plato answered, "Because of my previous experience. I walked halfway through the forest, but returned with empty hands. This time, I saw this tree, and I felt that it was not bad, so I chopped it down and brought it back. I did not want to miss the opportunity."
His teacher then said, "And that is marriage."

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