tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50090040656300156052024-03-07T23:49:35.804-08:00cyoubx saysPervading your life with my anecdotes.cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-34240384852018337272012-03-21T19:09:00.008-07:002012-03-21T20:05:34.018-07:00Are you happy that you took the piss out of that song?<div>Hey all,</div><div><br />
</div>I'm not an American Idol fan, but I do enjoy seeing Heejun Han as a contestant and making it this far.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>His performance tonight wasn't spectacular by any means and I expected criticisms from the judges but I think what Steven said went too far. It wasn't really a critique about the song or even Heejun's style. It was simply a personal insult.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Steven: He-Man! Are you happy that you took the piss out of that song? The music business will kick your ass; at some point you got to take it more serious.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I honestly don't think Heejun even understood what that meant. So unfortunately for him, he answered, 'yeah' to the question.</div><div><br />
</div><div>A part of me died hearing this. Perhaps Heejun isn't the most likable character, but he didn't deserve treatment like this, either. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Lastly, Steven Tyler should stop playing with Heejun's name. First "Hey June", now "He-Man." It's either patronizing, demeaning, or both.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I was quite shocked and disappointed. Thoughts?<br />
<br />
Here's a video if you didn't see it:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/erPUwdm9VgQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
</div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-87791983207416252542012-03-08T08:30:00.001-08:002012-03-08T18:05:07.941-08:00Don't Support KONY 2012Hey all,<br />
<br />
Well, here's another shoddy post. It's more of a rant. Unscripted, not outlined, and poorly researched. So let's go.<br />
<br />
If you've been anywhere close to a computer, you've probably heard of the KONY 2012 campaign by Invisible Children. Personally, it is all over my Facebook wall. Even before watching the video, I knew I wouldn't like it. But I had to watch it because it was viral.<br />
<br />
Let me just say that within the first ten minutes, I knew what was going to happen. Invisible Children wants to make the "bad guy" popular. As long as he stays popular and a concern for us laymen, the government (and I mean the U.S. here) will try to intervene. They want to stop KONY by December 31, 2012.<br />
<br />
Let me tear this video apart.<br />
<br />
<ol><li>How many times have you seen pictures of starving children on Facebook? Tens of thousands of people share it, like it, and comment. You might have been one of them. But now, tell me this. What did you do about it? I'm going to guess you really didn't do anything. If you actually donated and acted after seeing the picture, I applaud you. But for most of us, we didn't do anything about it.</li>
<li>How long do those pictures stay relevant in our minds? Once they show up, people spread it around for about a week. After that, they disappear. I'm predicting that the KONY 2012 campaign will be a failure because of this. They want to generate awareness. Congratulations, it's been a success. So what? In a week, no one will care...until April 20, 2012 (ironically pot-day), when they cover the night with posters. I'm going to laugh really loudly when someone thinks that Joseph Kony is running for Mr. Prez. But seriously, by May 1, it's not going to be talked about. And so the campaign will fail.</li>
<li>Speaking of dates, what is this December 31, 2012 deadline they're talking about? This is one of the main parts of the video that enrage me. First off, what if we don't succeed? Do we just proclaim "G-G!!" and just give up? Most of you probably think I'm being stupid. It's a goal, not a deadline! You may be right. However, why are they going to remove the campaign video? Because it's not relevant anymore?! </li>
<li>This is what pisses me and a lot of other people off. Invisible Children spends about 30-35% of the funding (depending on sources) on aiding the civilians with schools and scholarships. So roughly a third of the money goes to actual aid. I'm actually okay with that. Can it be more? Yes. But generally speaking, that's not a bad portion. The other money goes towards salaries and travel expenses. That's all good, too. But a LARGE portion goes towards making these films. They've made eleven so far. Since they're going to delete the 2012 video at the end of the year if they don't succeed (which is more than likely), one can only assume that video twelve will come sometime in 2013. Is that really necessary? What would they try to do in that one? Raise awareness? I'm pretty sure the world is aware by now. Awareness leads to solutions, but they are not the same thing. Making another awareness video isn't going to work if the first 11 didn't. People ARE aware, they're just too lazy to do anything about it.</li>
<li>And now for the actual action. Invisible Children wants to fund the Ugandan army to fight little children? Does that sound right to you?! That's a terrible idea. I understand that it's a utilitarian perspective. That is, some children from the Lord's Rebel Army (LRA) might be killed, but it's for the greater cause of saving more children and civilians. I'm not saying I have a better plan, but I'm not convinced this is the best approach.</li>
<li>Lastly, and this one is big, there seems to be a hint of the "White Man's Burden" here. The entire video advocates for a world effort, yet it's almost implied all this effort is to influence the U.S. government, not any other country. They want people all over the world to become activists so that 'Merica can save the world one country at a time?! I'm probably not being cogent, but hopefully you understand the point I'm undermining. The video implies that the U.S. government should be the ones to save Uganda. The pathetic thing is that 100 troops are going to be 'helping' the Ugandan military. No blood will be on American hands...Let's not forget the Ugandan military is almost as corrupt as Kony. They just have more people, so the world seems to forget that they act in a similar manner. </li>
</ol><div>Some people have offered that Invisible Children is a scam. Do I think so? Nope. But that doesn't mean they are right(eous). Something about their line of logic is unsettling:</div><div><br />
</div><div><ol><li>Raise awareness (success).</li>
<li>Raise funding (success).</li>
<li>Raise world-wide activism (success).</li>
<li>Use the WORLD-wide concern to influence the U.S.'s decision on intervention (this doesn't make sense, but will say it's been a success).</li>
<li>Teach the Ugandan military to fight Kony so that the U.S. stays clean!! No.</li>
</ol><div>There are other things I could rant about, but I have class to go to. </div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Here's one more thing, though. This issue has been polarized, people are jumping on bandwagons. My suggestion: don't say something because you saw a video about it or saw a video about the video about it. Have opinions that are your own. I personally like the cause, I just don't like the campaign. You may disagree. That's fine. Just make sure you TRULY believe what you feel. Don't speak for others, speak for yourself.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div><div><br />
</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-79865418470868665832012-01-13T08:53:00.000-08:002012-01-13T08:53:44.599-08:00How to Get Straight A's in CollegeHey all,<br />
<br />
Haven't blogged in awhile, but I've been on break since I've finished my first semester at college. I'm happy to report that I got an A in six of my courses and an A- in my seventh. However, that class was worth only one credit, so my overall GPA was hardly effected.<br />
<br />
I guess for me, I've made big changes since I've entered college. My social habits have changed and influenced my study habits, apparently for the better. <br />
<br />
I have some tips that helped me this semester. Just keep in mind that the classes I took were really only sophomore level, so I can't say that this will work for other years. Also, I'm majoring in Biomedical Engineering, so the coursework is fairly rigorous. Anyway, on with the tips.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Take notes or don't take notes. This sounds more confusing than it is. Basically, if taking notes got you good grades in high school, consider taking them in college. For me, I always took notes in high school, but I found that I hated doing it and I rarely referred back to them before a test. So, in college, I didn't take notes; I just listened closely to the teacher.</li>
<li>Skim the chapter before class. Some classes can get confusing quickly. If you don't preview the material ahead of time, you're going to have trouble during class. All this means that you're going to have to do a lot of studying later on.</li>
<li>Study. You can choose how you want to do this. In high school, I studied every night, going over all the material I learned that day. However, to be brutally honest, I didn't study until the night before a test in college...sans the finals since those are a wee bit more important. Teachers like to tell you that cramming doesn't work. But believe you me, it does. You can hold seven (give or take two) pieces of information IMMEDIATELY before a test. If you 'study' the night before, you can put some stuff into long term memory and the rest can go in your short term cache. The point is study one way or another.</li>
<li>Socialize. If you hate people, go do something counter productive. Watch TV, go bowling, or if you're like me, play 10 hours of Super Smash Bros. Melee each week. 10 hours is possibly more than what I played in a whole year in high school. So I guess you could say I'm less studious, now. The thing is, I feel like 'wasting' this time makes me relax and get away from the coursework. Balance academics with fun-stuff.</li>
<li>Shoot for a higher grade than you really want. For instance, if you want a B, shoot for an A-. You might not get an A-, but you'll be closer to a B. That being said, if you are probably going to get a C, don't shoot for an A. If you fail, you'll be depressingly miserable. Finally, if you're probably going to get an A, shoot for the highest grade in the class. That sounds pretentious, but it works. If you make grades a competitive sort of thing, you'll do better because you think it matters more.</li>
<li>Final tip: Study like an Asian. Remember when I said I studied the day before a test? I meant it. However, that didn't mean a couple hours. No. They were more like 6 or 7 hour sessions with a single break in between. Did I need all of that time? No. It's just what I like to do. I study until I know I can get an A, then I study an additional 3 or 4 hours. In the case of my finals, I had 6 days to study for my three finals. I finished studying in 4. But I didn't socialize at all until I handed in my exams. The single most important tip I have is this: when you think you're done studying, study the material two more times. Do problems from the workbook if it's a problem-solving type class, like math or physics. It helps. It really does.</li>
</ol><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-79481829813396451112011-11-19T08:43:00.000-08:002011-11-19T08:43:47.687-08:00I'm a YouTube Partner!!Hey all,<br />
<br />
I haven't blogged in a while because I haven't really had the time. School has been my focus, and apart from that, I am now a YouTube Partner.<br />
<br />
Thus, my main focus will be on my YouTube channel for now, until I can get my 'flow' going again. Once I have a set schedule for YouTube, I will post regularly here, again.<br />
<br />
Please stick around, I'll be back.<br />
<br />
As always,<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-52068021342623055522011-07-25T18:01:00.000-07:002011-07-25T18:01:44.088-07:00Source Code was a Breath of Fresh AirHey all,<br />
<br />
Often times, movies are boring, and shallow with no real thematic elements. However, every once in awhile, something different comes about to change how we view life and humanity. Source Code is this rare occasion.<br />
<br />
Before going into the specific elements which make this movie astounding, we should probably cover the not-so-goods. The movie lacks a literal plot. It is clear what the story is about but it is rather unclear how everything works. This actually makes the entertainment value of the movie fairly disappointing. The ending doesn't really make sense. Watch the movie, and you'll know what I mean. Nevertheless, plot points aside, the themes suggested in this film more than make up for its loss in plot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>We should first go over Sean. Sean is, in every sense of the word, a foil for the Captain. It's unclear who the real Sean was, seeing as Christina never went into detail. However, it is certain that Sean is a different person than the Captain. The Captain is rational, and curious; Sean is spontaneous and reckless, living in the moment.</li>
<li>One of the major themes is living life to the fullest. That is, living every moment as if it's the last. The ironic twist in the movie is that, Sean literally has 8 minutes to live every time he relives the train crash. However, this movie presents a greater sense of the beauty of life. At the end of the movie, Sean encourages everyone to laugh and have fun; enjoy life.</li>
<li>Another theme is that of fate. The movie seems to suggest that fate is in our own hands if we try hard enough to succeed. The Captain relived and died the same scene multiple times, but was finally successful in changing his fate.</li>
<li>The phone call to his father was one of the most touching moments in cinematic history...in my opinion. The actual storyline was 'meh' but the theme behind it was pretty moving. In the literal sense of the movie, the Captain can no longer be who he was in the real life. He must be Sean, now. However, thematically, when the Captain calls his father, it shows a change in the hero's quest, but also shows failure. He is finally able to contact his father, only to do it in second person, saying he (the Captain) is sorry, rather than he himself is sorry. This shows that Sean has distanced himself with his past, a bittersweet moment.</li>
<li>One of the final things I noticed was the end scene with 'The Bean' in Chicago really framed the movie nicely. In the beginning of the movie, Sean looked into a flat mirror and saw someone else's reflection - the real Sean's. However, in 'The Bean' Sean sees himself, in a distorted manner. It suggests how life will be different now, a false, distorted reality from the one the Captain was used to. Mirrors are associated with reality, and the Captain constantly struggled with his own identity, a major side plot in the movie. As the frames pan and zoom, the view does flatten, showing stability.</li>
</ol><div>Overall, this movie was beautifully directed, and it's lack of closure is made up for by it's strong artistry. If you want a movie worth thinking about for hours afterwards, give Source Code a go.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Final Rating: A</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-70818731213227595092011-07-13T15:45:00.000-07:002011-08-02T10:21:48.014-07:00YouTube, Stop Changing the Aesthetics!Hey all,<br />
<br />
I was trying to watch a video today, when I got distracted by this monstrosity:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6bk26E97hcU/Th4fPPVnriI/AAAAAAAAACY/Nq3zHFX55DM/s1600/black+youtube.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6bk26E97hcU/Th4fPPVnriI/AAAAAAAAACY/Nq3zHFX55DM/s320/black+youtube.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Normally, I wouldn't be too bothered with something like this, since it generally looks nice. The grudge I have is that it just isn't YouTube! I'm not saying change is bad, but there are certain things that make YouTube what it is. The decked out black video player just isn't the same. It actually reminds me of Google's change in thematic colors as well. In fact...they're very similar.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I just had to point that out. YouTube should leave the player as it is. There are certain functions that could be improved upon, but the color scheme should remain.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-40741860044878043522011-07-08T19:43:00.000-07:002011-07-08T19:45:24.101-07:00The World of Cubing is Like that of PokémonHey all,<br />
<br />
So recently, I have been watching a lot of Pokémon episodes for nostalgia. It has been my background noise for cubing for the past few months. All of a sudden, it seems like I now see a connection between cubing and Pokémon. Hear me out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Cubers are like trainers and coordinators. Anyone who speedsolves for the sake of getting better times is like a Pokémon trainer. Those who are collectors or modders are like Pokémon coordinators. - they attempt to show off their cubes as much as possible.</li>
<li>Cubes are like Pokémon. Each cube has a different feel just like how Pokémon all have different personalities. It is the job of the trainer to find that feel and get in sync with the cube. More on this later.</li>
<li>Pokémon evolve, so do cubes. Have you ever sanded a cube? Created a hybrid? Any sort of light modding is the same thing as evolving the cube. When I added screws to my GuHong, the weight increased significantly, sort of like how Turtwig evolved into Grotle. When a cube changes, the trainer needs to change as well.</li>
<li>The connection between cube and cuber is the same as Pokémon and trainer. Ash Ketcham likes to battle a certain way, but not all Pokémon like his style. Buisel enjoys a different style, and Ash needs to adapt. Cubes can morph a tad (AKA breaking in), but the plastic can only be changed so much. The rest of the bond needs to come from the cuber. Cubers should be able to learn how the cube responds.</li>
<li>Trainers are strongest when they are in sync with their Pokémon. Frankly, it's the same with cubing. Ever had a bad day? It's not because of cold or clammy hands. It's actually because you're out of sync with your cube. I sometimes find myself seeing one thing and turning another. This causes lock-ups and pops and generally increases your times. On good days, I am in perfect sync with my cube and can get good times.</li>
</ol><div>The list goes on, but for now, this is enough to think about. In Pokémon, it is never only the Pokémon's fault for a bad battle, more than half of it is the trainer's fault. To be able to do well, a bond between cube and cuber needs to be formed.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-82531694722776362492011-06-14T09:25:00.000-07:002011-06-14T09:25:28.456-07:00Super 8 Does Not Deserve the Hype<b>Note: If you're looking for an interpretation, you won't find one here. This movie is really pretty straightforward and you shouldn't have any trouble following the storyline if you watch it. The below contains a review and small analysis of the movie.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
Yesterday, I caught myself watching the highly acclaimed "Super 8" directed by J.J. Abrams and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. It hit number one at the box office over the weekend, so I was excited for a thrilling movie. I wasn't looking for anything deep, like "Black Swan." I expected a movie that would keep me entertained. Unfortunately, it looked like a movie crafted by a very young Michael Bay, with lots of guns and pretty explosions.<br />
<br />
The movie follows a cute gang of middle-schoolers looking to shoot a short film for the Super 8 contest. During one of their late-night shootings, they witness a train derailment and all chaos ensues. They continue to shoot the film even though the small town of Lillian is quickly being destroyed. There is a monster, the Air Force, and cute love story entangled together in this movie.<br />
<br />
All of that being said, the movie wasn't terrible. The grudge I have with it is that the title is rather misleading and unimportant. But before I get to that, the good stuff is worth mentioning.<br />
<br />
In some ways, this movie was a hit because it was so personal. The movie takes place in the late seventies/early eighties, so the audience is clearly for the middle-aged. "Super 8" refers to the type of film camera used during that time period, and the Super 8 Film Festival was a competition for indie movie directors at the time. J.J. Abrams entered in this competition himself when he was younger, and it was his entry which caught Spielberg's attention in the earlier days.<br />
<br />
As for the movie itself, the cast of fresh actors is remarkably good, and for the budget of around $50 million, this is certainly a good flick. <br />
<br />
Now for the bad stuff...<br />
<br />
The first issue I have with the movie is the title. In an interview, it was stated that,<br />
<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"The fact that the title is not a known thing is probably a sign that we're used to being pre-sold. I'm hoping that people see it, like it, and the title becomes what the title is. Certainly films like 'District 9' and 'Inception' had titles that didn't quite make sense but once they became known, people went, 'Oh yeah.'"</span></blockquote><br />
The difference between "Super 8" and the two films he mentions is that "District 9" was <i>about</i> District 9, and "Inception" was <i>about</i> inception. "Super 8" is NOT about the film. In fact, the whole notion of the film reel with the rest of the movie seems completely out of place. The only connection between the two is the accidental recording of the monster during the train crash. Although it's important, it plays a small role in the movie since the reel is kept hidden for most of the movie. And once it's presented to the Deputy, it's never seen again. <br />
<br />
Seeing as the title really had nothing to do with the core of the movie, it almost makes it seem like there were two separate stories here. The Super 8 film was definitely a look into Abrams' life, but it almost seems like the rest of the movie is more important. It is the monster which brings together more elements of life and society, friendship and trust. <br />
<br />
This movie would be especially confusing for viewers if they didn't know what a Super 8 was. Holistically, the movie was quite watchable, but certain elements of the film handicap it, and the attention it's getting isn't really worthy of the quality. Nevertheless, do watch it, but don't expect anything eye popping.<br />
<br />
<b>Analysis:</b><br />
The movie had its moments, and there were nice elements that made it deeper.<br />
<br />
<ol><li>The movie has a sense of "E.T." (which, interestingly enough, was directed by Spielberg). "Super 8" contains a monster which people inherently assume is bad.</li>
<li>The concept of self-fulfilling prophecy is seen clearly in this movie. Because humans inherently assume the monster to be destructive, they harm it. In turn, the monster fights back, thus creating the notion of violence.</li>
<li>The movie says a word about innocence. The monster is constantly "collecting" people until he meets Joe. They converse, and all of a sudden, there is a shift in attitude. Among the chaos, it is the pure heart that overcomes the destruction.</li>
<li>This next one is a bit tricky. There is a parallel between the movie "Super 8" and the mini film the kids are creating. Charles, the child director, adds in a love story between the detective and his wife in order to make his film more interesting. It seems like Alice was the "wife" in Charles' movie, but in real life. Alice falls in love with Joe, the hero of the disjointed movie. It seems like this relationship is the only one that has a beginning and continuation in the entire movie.</li>
<li>It was mentioned in an interview that the allusion to the Hunchback of Notre Dame was an intentional look onto the story of "Super 8." The monster in this movie is comparable to the Hunchback in that people are afraid of what they do not know.</li>
<li>The last scene with the water tower imploding is a cliché ending. Many movies end with a rainy nighttime to show a change in characters. This movie was no different. The water rained over the kids, their parents, and the Air Force. It was remarkably powerful, because it suggested that the world is really a pretty big society. Lillian may be relatively unrelated to the Air Force, but guess what, they were all fighting for the same cause. The water brought peace to the town, and it welded the people together.</li>
</ol><div>If you want to read up on the interviews, they're here:</div><div><a href="http://www.flicksandbits.com/2011/06/09/j-j-abrams-interview-for-super-8/12485/">http://www.flicksandbits.com/2011/06/09/j-j-abrams-interview-for-super-8/12485/</a></div><div><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110609/film_nm/us_jjabrams">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110609/film_nm/us_jjabrams</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Final Rating: B+</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-56866698369390984972011-05-26T17:41:00.000-07:002011-05-26T17:41:41.587-07:00Here's An Interpretation of Black Swan's Nina.Hey all,<br />
<br />
Here's a slopshodder interpretation of the movie <i>Black Swan</i>. There's so much going through my brain right now that I'm having trouble comprehending this movie. Thus, below is an array of thoughts I need to lay out on the computer screen. I'm assuming you've seen the movie and won't be hurt as I discuss pieces from the whole movie. I'm not going to give a plot summary because it's not that important. I'm literally going to just discuss the psychotic nature of Nina. <br />
<br />
So, first a diagnosis to further this interpretation/psychoanalysis of Nina.<br />
<br />
I've read on some interpretations that Nina is purely psychotic, and not schizophrenic. I disagree. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder, so it makes sense that Nina could be schizophrenic. She exhibits all of the common symptoms of the disorder, including social withdrawal, delusions, bizarre behavior, and loss of contact with reality. <br />
<br />
Her mother is definitely a contributing factor towards Nina's condition - Nina's mother is almost undoubtedly sexually abusive towards her, and it's fairly apparent that this started a long time ago when Nina was still young. Nina's room is decorated with stuffed animals, and has pink decor. Furthermore, the mother constantly suggests Nina to take her clothes off...to check the scratching, of course (ahem).<br />
<br />
There is also something eerie about the scene where Nina "feels" herself only to later find out her mother is sleeping on a chair beside her. The scene is brief but creepy. I can't help but think that the mother was not sleeping at all, merely pretending to sleep as to spy on her daughter.<br />
<br />
Now that the precedence for the mother and Nina's condition is set, I will proceed to the more compelling portion of this interpretation - who's real? Who's just imagination?<br />
<br />
I'm going to assert that the mother is fake. Why? Because there are unsettling things about the character that can't be explained. The most obvious is when Lily comes over; the mother quickly closes the door without asking who it is. However, there are other subtle hints. When Nina closes the door on her mother's hand, the fingers are almost invariably injured. This is shown on Nina when she wakes up the next morning with mittens over her hands. Also, Nina wakes up later than usual to find that her mother did not wake her up. Why? Well, Nina <i>did </i>take hallucinogens the night before, and perhaps that altered her delusions. There is another subtle hint. Nina's mother's room is extremely sketchy. It's never clear if those drawings on the wall are of Nina or someone else. Thus, I make the claim that those paintings are actually of Nina's mother drawn by Nina herself. It creates a sense that maybe her mother is still with her. They're also not positive images, possibly suggesting the fact that they had a rough relationship in the past. Finally, we never find out why Nina's mother is crying - is it because of her failure as a ballerina or something more?<br />
<br />
Lily is for sure real. The fact that the other characters interact with her is a testament of that. The scene where Lily and Nina have sexual relations is actually key in my opinion. There was definitely a change in that part of the movie. Lily is very clearly a character foil for Nina. They are polar opposites. Lily is what Nina wants to become. In the scene where they have sex, it's unclear whether or not it actually happened, but it shows something nevertheless. At one point in the scene, Lily's face transforms into that of Nina's. This is a clear representation of what is going through Nina's mind. Nina has tried to masturbate twice before, and perhaps the third time really is the charm. The fact that Nina imagined her own face on Lily is a testament of how Nina strongly feels like she needs to accomplish Thomas' "homework." From that point onward, it becomes unclear whether or not the Lily's in the scenes are real or fake. The fact that this transformation takes place explains why Nina didn't really stab Lily in the changing room, but really just injured herself.<br />
<br />
This interpretation isn't really that compelling, but it helps me get some stuff down in writing. I hope you enjoyed it, anyway.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-41368401775379373022011-05-17T15:50:00.000-07:002011-05-17T15:50:47.927-07:00Facebook Finally Did Something Right!Hey all,<br />
<br />
I was sending a Facebook message to one of my friends when I noticed that the system had changed.<br />
<br />
Facebook now allows users to create a Facebook email thus making sending messages a much more enjoyable experience.<br />
<br />
Not only is the user interface cleaner, and more contemporary, the additional feature is pretty nifty as well. You are now able to attach files to send in your messages, although the size limit of these files is unknown to me at the time of this post. Either way, sending text files in and of itself will be better since the native Facebook message system was unable to convey "tabs" at the beginning of paragraphs.<br />
<br />
Facebook is notorious for its miscellaneous changes which aren't really that helpful. But I'm happy that they finally did something useful, not just something aesthetic.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-91325039003587805142011-05-15T10:41:00.000-07:002011-05-15T10:41:37.901-07:00It's the Cuber, Not the CubeWhat more can I say? Well, a lot.<br />
<br />
Based on the frequent forum posts on speedsolving.com, I can attest to the fact that there is this huge hype about new cubes.<br />
<br />
In the past months, or year, if you will, we as cubers have gotten a plethora of new cubes. Now, this encompasses all types of cubes, including the 4x4, but I'm less concerned about the hype of those. Why? Because there are clear flaws in ALL 4x4s. Lock-ups, pops, etc. 3x3s on the other hand are way too overrated. Here's why:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>If you average anything over 20 seconds, you need to work on your own style, not on your budget for cubes. <b>New cubes will not make you faster.</b> Practicing will.</li>
<li><b>Pick a preference and go with it.</b> I understand if you are a hobbyist who collects all puzzles. I also understand if you make consumer reviews. I don't understand overconsumption if you are just an average cuber, like me. Why do you NEED to get EVERY SINGLE CUBE AVAILABLE?! You don't. Stick with what you have and practice. Now, granted, some cubes fit some cubers better than others. However, if you're buying 52 cubes a year, you should realized by now what your preference is. If you like smooth, go with the GuHong, if you like clicky, go with Alpha. You don't need both.</li>
<li><b>New cubes does not equate to better cubes.</b> What makes a LunHui better than a GuHong? Unpoppable? My anus. All cubes pop. Plus, cubes can't have it all. The LunHui suffers from less speed. If you prefer speed to minor pops, go with the GuHong; it rarely pops anyway.</li>
<li><b>Stop obsessing over corner cutting.</b> If you rely on 45 degree corner cuts, you need better turning. Period.</li>
<li><b>Stop obsessing over reverse corner cutting.</b> If you need anything more than what a tightly tensioned GuHong can do, you should feel ashamed of yourself.</li>
<li><b>Stop obsessing over speed.</b> This is a persistent issue. People say Eastsheens suck because they don't cut corners. I disagree; I say they suck because they can't turn properly. Why would anyone want a frictionless cube? That's absolutely ridiculous. If you can't turn a GuHong effortlessly, work on that. If you think fast is good, think again. If you average 30 seconds, it's not speed you need.</li>
<li><b>Finally, stop obsessing over Lubix.</b> Lubix is a great product, but it's not the solution to every cube. Sure, it works on 3x3's. However, I highly doubt it's better than silicone spray for 5x5s and other big cubes. Again, stick with what you have. </li>
</ol><br />
<b><i><u>Don't buy new cubes - just practice.</u></i></b><br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-44278064142983477512011-04-26T17:36:00.000-07:002011-04-26T17:36:01.921-07:00Here Are 50 Simple Pleasures In Life For a High School StudentGood job, Sherlock. This is indeed not what I usually write about.<div><br />
</div><div>Here are fifty things you know you find enjoyable, you just may or may not admit to them. These are the things students don't pay enough attention to. :)<br />
<div><ol><li>Watching others fall.</li>
<li>Watching others fail.</li>
<li>Seeing others do worse than you on tests.</li>
<li>Hoping others do worse than you on tests.</li>
<li>Hearing unfortunate events, laughing at them thinking they are jokes, then finding out that they are not.</li>
<li>Defecation.</li>
<li>Eating.</li>
<li>Getting high (presumably...).</li>
<li>Jaywalking.</li>
<li>Having friends.</li>
<li>Seeing someone without friends.</li>
<li>Laughing.</li>
<li>Laughing at someone.</li>
<li>Urination.</li>
<li>Urination after a prolonged urge to hold it in.</li>
<li>Getting an A if you're Asian.</li>
<li>Getting a B if you're not.</li>
<li>Getting a C if you're...[insert ethnicity you believe to stereotypically get this grade].</li>
<li>Being liked by a teacher.</li>
<li>Being the teacher's pet (don't deny this one, you know you like it :P)</li>
<li>Sleeping for more than 3 hours if you're studious.</li>
<li>Sleeping for more than 3 hours if you partied the night before.</li>
<li>No homework.</li>
<li>No tests the next day.</li>
<li>The last day of school.</li>
<li>Taking ten minutes to "get a drink of water."</li>
<li>Passing notes to people.</li>
<li>Seeing the teacher give the wrong notes.</li>
<li>Watching a teacher have a breakdown because he/she did not prepare the lecture well enough.</li>
<li>Watching a student question a teacher's notes.</li>
<li>Watching the teacher have no response.</li>
<li>In-class video!!</li>
<li>With no worksheet!!!</li>
<li>Substitute who tries to give a lecture on something never seen before.</li>
<li>Learning more from said sub than the actual teacher.</li>
<li>Watching student get mocked by teacher.</li>
<li>Field trip!!</li>
<li>Senior skip day!!</li>
<li>Getting late to class but acting like you weren't.</li>
<li>Blurting out answers.</li>
<li>Doing easy math in Calculus class.</li>
<li>Outsmarting the Psych teacher.</li>
<li>Getting better lab results than your Chem teacher (never happened for me, but I sure would like it to.)</li>
<li>Spinning pens in English.</li>
<li>Trying to spin pens in English.</li>
<li>Throwing racial slurs at people of your own race in front of people of another race. Their faces are priceless.</li>
<li>Handing in a rough draft and getting a better score than someone who worked their butt off.</li>
<li>Discussing Harry Potter or Twilight in English.</li>
<li>Swearing because you feel more powerful.</li>
<li>Being a rectum.</li>
</ol><div>Thanks for reading,</div></div></div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-57166410487275688272011-04-25T19:00:00.000-07:002011-04-25T19:00:31.103-07:00New Rubik's Cube World Record!! And Other Cubing AffairsThis title is the superset of what appears in 10% of all forum posts on <a href="http://www.speedsolving.com/">Speedsolving</a>. Recently, many world records have been broken on the Rubik's cube, including Feliks' new WR single. Although, these new records are great, there are myriad of illegitimate posts about new world records in the future. People are concerned about what the limit is. Below are my thoughts about world records and other cubing stuff.<br />
<br />
<ol><li>People can muster 20 tps. 20 is <a href="http://www.cube20.org/">God's Number</a>. So if people can solve optimally and turn at record pace (which is bound to change), 1 second can be achieved. Of course, this is unrealistic due to inspection, lock-ups, and the fact that 20 tps is insane. However, 10 tps can be comfortably achieved, and so 2 seconds would be the new number. Furthermore, getting God's Number on a solve is nearly impossible. It's safe to say that even in the future, 30 moves will be necessary. Thus, the future world record/limit is, in my opinion, <b>3 seconds</b>. And actually, this makes sense. There have been 4 second solves recorded; with new methods and better turning, who's to say 3 seconds isn't possible?</li>
<li>Why does it matter? Let it be well known that no more than a handful of people will ever achieve this status. 20 tps is insane. Most people would be happy with 12. A maximum turn speed for a solve would be 7 at best. If you can turn at <i>maximum</i> speed for an <i>entire</i> solve, you might get 4 seconds, and we all know that's not going to happen. Cubing is difficult, and there's no use thinking about limits if you're still trailing the world record by 20 seconds.</li>
<li><b>CUBES ARE NOT THAT IMPORTANT</b>. This is something I see on the forums all the time. There is some abstract notion that a better cube will improve your time. If you go from a dollar store cube to a LunHui, <i>fine</i>, you win. But, honestly, if you have a GuHong, and you're averaging 30 seconds, there are other things besides your cube you should worry about. Remember this, historic world records were set with "crappy cubes." If you can't beat that with a GuHong, you need practice, not a better cube.</li>
<li>Lubrication (har har). No one can really help you with this because no one really knows. There are a few main lubricants - Silicone spray, lubix, shock oil, and Maru lube. <b>All of these work.</b> So why can't people help you? It depends on <b>how you apply it</b>. If you're using one drop of Maru lube on a 5x5, you <i>can't </i>expect great results. You just have to sort of experiment by yourself.</li>
</ol><div>No, this was not a structured blog, but you'll live. In summary - <b>concentrate on your own technique. Time is better spent practicing than obsessing over nonexistent world records.</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-55386896744282395902011-04-24T14:03:00.000-07:002011-04-27T19:34:50.359-07:00Schools Are For Children"<i>Children are our future.</i>" Really?<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>There's nothing wrong with that pithy quote. It's the way that our education system uses it that frustrates me. It seems to me that there is only one way for a society to grow. And that's with innovation. This video on divergent thinking is a good starting point:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDZFcDGpL4U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br />
</div><div>From that video alone, it's easy to see how our current education system forces students to think inside the box. It's also pathetic how standardized tests are becoming the criterion for individual performance. Even though I do quite well on standardized tests, it nevertheless bothers me how people can rely on those for complete information about a child's performance.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It seems to me like our education system is based off of the assumption that education is stagnant. The way our students our taught today are really the same as the way it was taught the last generation. However, the rest of the world is dynamic, and schools aren't paying enough attention to this.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Technology is in the pockets of most students these days, particularly in high school, and I don't necessarily agree with the arbitrary regulation of use of technology in classes. In fact, many of the rules in school are transcendent powers from an arbitrary authority figure - the teacher.</div><div><br />
</div><div>School rules and classroom rules are imposed by dictatorial adults. Of course many rules make sense, but some just don't matter...not in high school, anyway.</div><div><br />
</div><div>When schools emphasize cognitive development in high schoolers, do they really mean it? Often, as a student, I feel like teachers don't really care how a child performs. At the end of the day, it's just their job. Now, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with that, however, it's definitely not going to improve a student's cognitive ability. Thus, if a school plans to improve overall performance, shouldn't they limit how rules are set?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Authorities still follow Piaget's guidelines for cognitive development. This is fine so long as they also incorporate the outside world. Sadly, this is not the case. Teachers and other staff members are frozen in their own generation, where blackboards and chalk were all that were needed. Furthermore, their values are stuck in the past as well.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I can make the claim that schools are like tiny governments. There is usually some sort of constitution which dictates the do nots for students. The categorical imperative would say that this is fine. But I think this only works if we follow the assumption that schools are actually benefiting students. </div><div><br />
</div><div>For a teacher, a cellphone is a distraction. For students, there is a psychological drive to use technology. So when rules say "no cellphones," this is a major infraction on students' liberties. Thus, students are warranted to expect an equally grand benefit, primarily in education. But this where it all falls apart. There <i>is no </i>measure for benefits. No one can say if a class is beneficial. Schools try to counter this by giving exams. But are students being tested on their cognitive ability? Or are they just being prepared for a test written by a middle-aged, white, middle-class man?</div><div><br />
</div><div>It seems like if we really care about how our students perform we should try to benefit <i>them</i> and not the teachers. Let's be frank here. Not all teachers teach. Many just sit there and read out of a book and receive a paycheck. So when schools write policies, they should be written for teachers as well, not just students.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Since the categorical imperative clearly does not work at the high school level, why not use utilitarianism? Students and teachers alike don't necessarily enjoy the policies. So, maybe we should change them. Make them so that learning is beneficial to more constituents of a school. Currently, when schools make policies, they are made with the intent of making extra money. Better grades on tests imply more funds. But if we truly care about our future in children, why not foster our children? Why not encourage what they <i>can </i>do, not what they are limited by? </div><div><br />
</div><div>In the U.S. we have tools needed for success, but we're not using them. We're overly concerned about how teachers feel, when essentially, schools are for children. We, as a society, need to change this. If the teacher to student ratio is 1:30, does it even make sense to base policies off of teachers' desires?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Change is possible, but we should have the mindset that schools should benefit children, not provide for teachers.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-20987829435690624182011-04-24T09:02:00.000-07:002011-04-24T10:05:04.789-07:00His Cubes Are AmazingHey all,<br />
<br />
Here are the cubes I use. Take a gander.<br />
<br />
2x2 - Maru - lubed with Maru Lube. My first decent 2x2. The corner cutting is phenomenal and overall I really enjoy this cube.<br />
<br />
3x3 - GuHong (black with colored core) - lubed with Maru Lube. Excellent 3x3. It's a little smooth for my liking; I prefer a cube with a slight clicky feeling but this will do. I also enjoy my Maru 3x3 Old Type DIY. It's nice.<br />
<br />
4x4 - Yeah...*cough. I use an Eastsheen. Clearly I don't care about 4x4 too much. Actually...I'm about to get a new one. Leave a comment below saying which one you think is best.<br />
<br />
5x5 - Modded V Cube 5 - Lubed with Kel Silicone Spray - The mod definitely helped. At first, it just felt smoother, but the cube was still extremely tight. After lubricating it and solving it 20 more times the cube got better each successive solve. Highly recommend rounding the corners.<br />
<br />
6x6 - Modded V Cube 6 - Lubed with a liberal amount of Kel Silicone Spray - The mods were unintentional. At first, I just wanted to stop the clicking. However, after sanding everything down, I realized I was committing myself to do the pin mod as well (insert facepalm emoticon here). So...I did. Luckily, it only took 30 minutes for all four pins. Super easy to do. Great cube.<br />
<br />
7x7 - Regular V Cube 7 - Not lubed...yeah, I don't care much about 7x7.<br />
<br />
<br />
Important links -<br />
<a href="http://www.v-cubes.com/index.php">V Cubes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kelloggs-Professional-57500-Pure-Silicone/dp/B000BXOFJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1303660921&sr=8-1">Kel Silicone</a><br />
<a href="http://speedcubeshop.com/">General Cubes</a><br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-38165260619424473382011-04-23T18:41:00.000-07:002011-04-27T15:22:31.700-07:00Teachers DiscriminateHey all,<br />
<br />
As always, feel free to comment on the following.<br />
<br />
As a senior in high school, I've had my fair share of teachers. And as all students know, there are some teachers who are good and some who just plain suck. But have you ever considered <i>why </i>a particular teacher is bad?<br />
<br />
Sometimes I hear that it's based on the subject. Artsy folk may not enjoy science classes. Likewise, science nerds don't necessarily enjoy English classes. But there are other people, like me, who like or dislike <i>classes</i>, not <i>subjects</i>. I have no favorite subject, not in high school anyway. Every subject is generally the same in value for me. But what I've realized is that I tend to either really enjoy a class, or loathe it.<br />
<br />
The reason is actually pretty simple. Teachers can greatly influence how students react to a class. No student enjoys a class where they are hated by the grand authority figure. This is where some social psychologists may emphasize the self-fulfilling prophecy, where students' attitudes towards teachers affect the way they are treated. I'd go so far as to say this is what the majority of students experience; those who hate particular subjects will show that, and that displacement will cause the teacher to act reciprocally. However, if you're like me, this reasoning is incorrect.<br />
<br />
The way I see it, I don't like some teachers because they flat-out do not like me. I think our education system is extremely naive. Whenever we share these thoughts to authority figures, they always brush it off and claim that it's how we act. Our predisposition of a class makes us think that we are being targeted. Never have I heard that it's even <i>possible</i> the teacher is discriminatory. <br />
<br />
At my particular high school, we have all these rules in place regarding discrimination of gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, etc. It's presented in a way that assumes students don't follow these guides. However, why is that? It's obvious many students discriminate one another, but is it really that exclusive? I dare say teachers are equally obligated to follow these guidelines. In my opinion, these guidelines are superficial regulations to create the facade of a peaceful learning environment.<br />
<br />
So a quick summary. Why do I not like classes? Because of bad teachers. Why are teachers bad? Because they discriminate.<br />
<br />
As a minority, it's difficult for me to make any powerful assertions. I can <i>claim</i> a teacher to be racist, but no one would believe me. Why would they? If the rest of the class is Caucasian, they certainly would not feel the same way. But that's the beauty of it. Students never claim of sexist teachers because teachers don't explicitly show that. If the gender split is even, the teacher would have a hard time discriminating against a large group of students. On the other hand, when it's duck, duck, grey duck the teacher can be discriminatory. No, there's no real way to see if a teacher is racist, or sexist, or homophobic without a direct confession, but in my defense, it's equally petty to think all teachers treat all students equally.<br />
<br />
Now the clincher. So what? To be perfectly honest, I don't give a rat's buttocks about the teacher's personal beliefs. A teacher is still a person, and he or she is entitled to opinions. Do I feel targeted at times? Absolutely. In fact, there is no doubt that there are teachers who <i>are</i> racist. Maybe not in my school, but they exist. The real issue I have with this is about superficiality. I don't mind if a teacher is discriminatory. Do they have a moral obligation to be fair? Yes. But they don't need to be. And because of this, the only thing I need from my high school is to recognize that this is a possibility.<br />
<br />
The fact of the matter is that the teacher may not even know it. They might just have a psychological predisposition to dislike certain individuals. A lot of this is cultural. Some teachers may not like what students wear, but they don't consciously recognize that. Essentially, it's not really anyone's fault! The only error is how schools try to hide the imperfections.<br />
<br />
It was cute in 3rd grade to say that we were imagining things. It's not so cute in high school when you can feel things happening. It's extremely painful to not be able to talk about this to a teacher, because after all, I'd be complaining about their colleague. And due to our conditioned responses about confronting a teacher about negative affairs, are we really expected to go and tell them ourselves? They could just as easily say that I'm just imagining things.<br />
<br />
In closing, teachers are just as discriminatory as students. Schools don't need to fix that. Fix how it's portrayed.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-9079066387140349622011-04-23T08:11:00.000-07:002011-04-23T08:11:08.323-07:00Rejection From MIT Was a Worthwhile ExperienceHey all,<br />
<br />
Ready for a long post? Me too.<br />
<br />
The summer before senior year in high school, I thought about which schools I wanted to apply to for college. I was interested in schools with a great Biomedical/Bioengineering program, and the top choices were not hard to find. Naturally, my eyes wandered to MIT, my dream school since I was a youngun. Yeah, I knew my chances weren't high, but looking at the E.C.s and the classes I took, I thought I had a decent shot. <br />
<br />
Over the next few months, I worked incessantly on the application that I thought would determine my future. I went over the application after I finished, and finally sent it in Early Action.<br />
<br />
...The result finally appeared online, and it was not what I hoped for. I got deferred. Strangely enough, I catatonic, a psychological isolation. I became stoic and I wasn't really thinking at all. When it hit me that I wasn't accepted I treated the deferment as a rejection. Prior to this, I hadn't really experienced rejection. I was admitted into the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP), National Honor Society, American Regions Mathematics League (ARML), etc. Getting accepted was the only thing I ever really understood. In retrospect, being deferred didn't mean getting rejected at all, but I had a different mindset back then. To not get accepted was to get rejected.<br />
<br />
So the wait continued. The regular decision date came pretty quickly and I was hoping for the best. I clicked on the little button that would determine my future...and poof....nope. This time I was much less paralyzed. I was pretty openly upset about this. Deferred was a new term that didn't know very well; rejection was a term I despised and hoped I would never get. This is of course all very silly in retrospect, but at the time, I was furious. <br />
<br />
After getting the rejection, I cubed (solved Rubik's cubes) for an unhealthy 4 continuous hours to calm myself. Needless to say, it worked. However, once I thought about the rejection again, I immediately became frustrated. Thus, I went into deep introspection about why I did not get accepted.<br />
<br />
It's sort of funny how I sought out comfort online by looking at other people's rejections. It's wee bit sadistic, but it made me feel better about myself. I also looked at how other people coped, and the supposedly comforting words that kept reappearing were "Getting rejected doesn't mean you weren't good enough." And to this, I say Bull Feces. I take on a fairly pessimistic stance. The sentence just wasn't completed. It should have ended with "other people were just better." For anyone who tells yourself this, don't. It's too quaint. Ick. The other way to refudiate (see what I did there?) this statement is to simply say that if you were good enough, you would have gotten accepted. In the case of MIT, I probably had similar numbers as the next person on file. The fact that I got rejected was because I <i>wasn't </i>good enough. I didn't stand out as much, and so I wasn't as selectable. So in truth, getting rejected <i>does</i> mean I'm not good enough, and I'm okay with that.<br />
<br />
For me, this was an eye opener. I naively thought that I could actually get accepted into one of the most prestigious technical institutions in the world. I took a look at the people who got accepted, and that's when it hit me that getting rejected was expected. The people I know who got accepted were some of the most intelligent people I've ever met. Their drive and academic skills surpassed mine tenfold. Looking at the small pool of applicants I knew, I understood that I really had no chance. The fact that I even got deferred was a blessing. I didn't really deserve to be deferred. The way I see it, getting deferred meant my numbers were adequate, but that I, as a person, didn't stand out. <br />
<br />
So as for my "determined future?" Well, getting rejected from MIT determined my future alright. But not in a bad way at all. Rejection means I won't go there for undergrad, but there's always opportunity after that. Plus, who can say that MIT was the best fit for me, anyway? I can't say for certain that I would have flourished in that competitive environment. <br />
<br />
In the end, I learned a lot. Pessimistically, I'm just not as good as I thought I was. Although that's a depressing statement, it's true. Since getting rejected, I've considered every action I've taken. It's a large world after all, and it's competitive. You may think you're awesome, but there's always at least one person better.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-41351219269444440442011-04-22T14:32:00.000-07:002011-04-22T14:34:50.566-07:00Making Stickers is as Easy as 1,2,3,4,5....An Explanation for ChildrenHey all,<br />
<br />
I've developed my own method for making vinyl stickers for Rubik's Cubes. Originally, I used electric tape since it is a sturdy material, relatively cheap, and it comes in a variety of colors. However, the lifespan was only a couple months. Over time, electric tape tends to soften and the adhesive on the vinyl bonds better to plastic. Thus, the stickers started sliding all over the place. So now...I write up my method for creating your own vinyl stickers.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Supplies - </span></b><br />
<ol><li>Word processor/Paint/Gimp (any word processing or image creation program that features an on-screen ruler.)</li>
<li>Ruler</li>
<li>Regular copy paper and printer</li>
<li>Vinyl sheets and/or double sided tape (I got the vinyl in a pack of six at a local arts and crafts store.)</li>
<li>Scissors/Exacto Knife</li>
</ol><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Procedure - </span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I. Preparation (Template)</span></b><br />
<ol><li>Grab your cube and measure the width of each cubie. Each sticker should be 1/8 inch shorter. <br />
<b>Ex:</b> If a cubie is 3/4 in wide, the sticker should be 5/8 in wide.<b><br />
</b></li>
<li>Take this measurement and go to your computer program; I will be using Microsoft Word. Using the "rectangle" shape tool, draw a square. Right click to format the shape and set the width and height to the length of the sticker. I will be using 0.63"</li>
<li>After the shape is set, copy the shape and paste it 8 times. Then set the nine shapes up into an array. <b>NOTE:</b> To get to this step, you may also "Insert" a 3x3 table.</li>
<li>This is the template for one side. At this point, either select all nine squares or the table, copy it, and paste it 5 times to result in 6 3x3 arrays.</li>
<li>Organize the arrays neatly and print out your templates.</li>
</ol><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0otxh6J3So/TbHx_NAhhhI/AAAAAAAAACQ/Fz4MURGTjv0/s1600/template.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0otxh6J3So/TbHx_NAhhhI/AAAAAAAAACQ/Fz4MURGTjv0/s200/template.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Download this picture for a pre-made template. (It will be the right size)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">II. Cutting Out Stickers</span></b><br />
<ol><li>Take your template sheet and cut out all the arrays (to get 6 individual templates)</li>
<li>Using double-sided tape, glue the template onto the back of your vinyl sheet (my sheets had paper backings). <b>NOTE:</b> Make sure the grid lines on the template face outside so that you can see them...</li>
<li>Take your scissors and cut out the template. Then, cut out the individual squares.</li>
<li>Using nail clippers, cut the corner of each square to "round" it off. (This is obviously optional).</li>
<li>Repeat steps 2-4 five times</li>
</ol><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">III. Application</span></b></div><div><ol><li>Remove the backing of the vinyl squares. The vinyl sheets I purchased were "cling-ons" without adhesive on the back. Rather, they used static to attach to plastic. If your vinyl sheets are not adhesive, use double-sided tape to apply adhesive.<br />
<b>NOTE:</b> This gives the sticker a mosaic feel since the tape cannot be applied perfectly (I like this.)</li>
<li>Place the stickers onto your cube. I used tweezers, but use whatever you need.</li>
</ol><div><b><i><u>Congrats!</u></i></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAKtWKWSdPE/TbHzwu1bb-I/AAAAAAAAACU/uLNmCVEPETY/s1600/IMG_0087%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SAKtWKWSdPE/TbHzwu1bb-I/AAAAAAAAACU/uLNmCVEPETY/s320/IMG_0087%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End Result</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><b><i><u></u></i></b></div></div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Final Notes - </span></b></div><div><ol><li>This was a rather long tutorial, but the actual process should take no longer than an hour for all six sides.</li>
<li>This is ideal for people who want to make custom stickers for various puzzles and for people who do not have the means to purchase from Cubesmith or another online store.</li>
<li>If you have questions, feel free to ask me :)</li>
</ol><div>Good luck!</div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-21294642370345929522011-04-20T17:24:00.001-07:002011-04-20T18:14:22.568-07:00He Has Google AdSense Now!!Hey all,<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Quick updates:</div><div>3x3 - sub 15</div><div>5x5 - sub 2:30</div><div>6x6 - sub 6:15</div><div><br />
</div><div>More importantly...you will now begin to see advertisements on my blog. This is because I now have Google AdSense enabled :)</div><div><br />
</div><div>That's all, folks.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>cyoubx</div>cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-2128252775840045742011-03-12T08:15:00.000-08:002011-03-12T08:15:37.066-08:00Skyline is the Cheesiest, Most Predictable Movie EVAR!!Hey all,<br />
<br />
I made the poor decision to watch Skyline last night. There was absolutely nothing special. From the get-go, I knew the ending. As the movie progressed, my predictions were confirmed, and the ending came and went seamlessly.<br />
<br />
Skyline is a sci-fi thriller taking place in New York City. One momentous day, an alien infestation storms the city and kidnaps people who, we later find out, fuel the aliens. Classically, there are 4 survivors, who later meet-up with a couple more people in an apartment. Following Jurassic Park, they get picked off one by one leaving only the two lovers alive. It's all very quaint.<br />
<br />
I leave out the "twist" at the end, because it's something you should be able to figure out ten minutes into the film. <br />
<br />
I suppose I'll say one good thing before giving out the verdict. There were actually plenty of cinematic symbols I rather enjoyed. The following lines may "spoil" the repugnant movie but I'm sure you'll live. The tentacle-aliens live by feeding off of human brains. The shape of the head looks suspiciously familiar to female genitalia. The twist is that the creature lives when a brain is thrust into the structure and dies when organs are pulled out, as is shown in one of the last scenes.<br />
<br />
Another profound symbol is that of water. Most movies use water to show baptism or some type of change. In this movie, it's surprising to see that the protagonist persistently wants to go to the harbor but never reaches that place (and he eventually gets harvested, oops, spoiler alert). The aliens, on the other hand, never touch the water and use it only to dispose of carcasses. It actually goes further. When the protagonist is harvested, his brain travels through something resembling a water-filled fallopian tube. Essentially, the protagonist reaches water, and that's where the end scene starts to get "interesting."<br />
<br />
The cinematography wasn't anything special, and the sound mixing was decent. <br />
<br />
With it's continuity goofs, and various plot flaws, this thriller is possible the most opiate film I've ever seen. The ending was too story book and took ten minutes to execute when thirty seconds would have been sufficient. Having a B-grade line of actors and a C-grade plot, I can only give this film a<br />
<br />
C+<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-65533274071731971822010-12-31T16:07:00.000-08:002010-12-31T16:07:06.058-08:00Hey Oh PBThis is really just for me :)<br />
<br />
Average of 5: 14.71<br />
1. 14.69 B2 D B F R' D2 F' D' L2 F<br />
2. (11.32) D2 L2 B L' B' L R' B2 L' B'<br />
3. (19.37) D2 B F D2 R B F' R' D' B<br />
4. 14.45 L U' B L' B2 U L' U' R L2<br />
5. 15.01 R U F2 U2 R2 B2 U' B U' D'cyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-59395002214331041452010-12-15T15:27:00.000-08:002010-12-15T15:27:04.255-08:00This One's for HimHey all,<br />
<br />
Haven't posted in a while due to school and other things, but I've gotten faster.<br />
<br />
I've been getting sub 18 second averages for awhile now, but recently (yesterday and today), I've been getting sub 17 second averages.<br />
<br />
Two new PB's today:<br />
16.38 a5<br />
16.84 a12<br />
<br />
I've also recently broken my single a couple times.<br />
9.91 lucky<br />
11.73 lucky<br />
12.93 lucky?<br />
13.xx many times non lucky.<br />
<br />
I hope to get a sub 15 second average of 5 by the end of the year.<br />
<br />
This was more for me, but I thought I'd share with you anyway!<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-48390112448468581292010-10-17T13:32:00.001-07:002010-10-17T13:32:45.652-07:00He's Gotten FasterHi all,<br />
<br />
I've been cubing plenty the past month, and as many of you know, I have achieved sub 20. A few days ago, I got a 16.66 second average of 5 with 17 being my high and 14 as my low. That being said, today was sort of monumental - I achieved three 16.xx second solves. The overall average of 12 was still only sub 20, but nonetheless, it felt good to get so many good times.<br />
<br />
The surprising part of this is not that I all of a sudden learned more algorithms, but instead, I simply slowed down during F2L. As I've said before, going slow and looking ahead is important - 3tps will get you sub 20. However, I was not expecting 16's to pop up from going slow.<br />
<br />
After my average was finished, I thought back about how I did that, and I realized two things.<br />
<br />
1. My "slow" turning was around 4 turns per second, and<br />
2. I went 3/4 speed on cross, 4 tps on F2L, and full speed (roughly 6 tps) on OLL and PLL.<br />
<br />
A few days ago I timed each step of my solves -<br />
1. Cross - 1.5 seconds (3 seconds max)<br />
2. F2L - 8 seconds (11 seconds max)<br />
3. OLL - 2 seconds (2.5 seconds max)<br />
4. PLL - 2 seconds (3 seconds max)<br />
This brings my times to between 13.5 - 19.5 seconds.<br />
However, this excludes pauses. The only place I pause is between each entire step, not each F2L pair. And I usually get anything from 15 to 23, so you can see that I have around 3 seconds to improve on.<br />
<br />
As a current goal - my goal is to get my maximum throwout time to be 20, and thus ALL my solves will be sub 20. The average will naturally decrease from there, if my maximum is only 20. Furthermore, I'm going to try to shoot for a 16 second average of 12 this week, and see how I do. <br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-50505863285078357332010-10-07T18:59:00.000-07:002010-10-07T18:59:13.159-07:00His YouTube Channel is Now Complete!Hi all,<br />
<br />
I made a new <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIe-cPb4DPE">YouTube video</a> declaring what my channel is about.<br />
<br />
I'll take the time to overview the video, but also declare my goals as a cuber on this blog (at least the cubing portion of the blog).<br />
<br />
1. It's a series of videos/blogs to help people reach sub-20 on the Rubik's cube with CFOP Fridrich method<br />
<br />
2. I have not connected enough with my audience, so I have decided to attach a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/cyoubx">poll</a> using Google Moderator on my <a href="http://youtube.com/cyoubx">YouTube Channel</a> to get viewer suggestions.<br />
<br />
3. I am open to really any video idea, so long as it is not profane, etc, etc.<br />
<br />
That's really about it! Happy cubing, and<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5009004065630015605.post-47401526583246376412010-10-02T15:30:00.000-07:002010-10-02T15:30:48.960-07:00Sub 20 is Easy/UpdateHi all,<br />
<br />
I've finally reached sub 20 on the Rubik's cube, and it really wasn't very difficult. I actually achieved this milestone two days after my previous post, but I doubted myself and called it luck. However, by now, it's pretty much consistent with rare quirks of 25 second solves (insert facepalm emoticon here). At any rate, going slow really helped. At this point, I'm thinking of purchasing an F II and go for sub 15...just a thought.<br />
<br />
Now for more housekeeping related updates.<br />
<br />
My <a href="http://www.youtube.com/cyoubx">YouTube channel</a> has been updated. I added the moderator module to get viewer input, and also a "Check out these other cubers" box which is still under construction. All in all, this is my way of saying thanks to all my viewers for sticking with me this long.<br />
<br />
Also, expect the "Movies" tab of the blog to be updated in the next few days - I've watched some movies as of late that I haven't yet reviewed, so stay tuned.<br />
<br />
That's all folks!<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
cyoubxcyoubxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15346449661066031223noreply@blogger.com0