Daily // February 2006


 

February 28, 2006

Almost at the last minute, I decided to go for it. I'm not hoping for anything; my mindset is that I'm just playing tennis. I play for playing and this is for myself. So anyway, there were about 26 ppl who showed up for 4 spots. But as I said, I'm just playing tennis, not competiting for anything..

Let's read about the altos today, shall we?

A Young Person's Guide to the Chorus - 2


Altos
..are the salt of the earth - in their opinion, at least. Altos are unassuming people, who would wear jeans to concerts if they were allowed to. Altos are in a unique position in the chorus in that they are unable to complain about having to sing either very high or very low, and they know that all the other sections think their parts are pitifully easy. But the altos know otherwise. They know that while the sopranos are screeching away on a high A, they are being forced to sing elaborate passages full of sharps and flats and tricks of rhythm, and nobody is noticing because the sopranos are singing too loud (and the basses usually are too). Altos get a deep, secret pleasure out of conspiring together to tune the sopranos flat.

Altos have an innate distrust of tenors, because the tenors sing in almost the same range and think they sound better. They like the basses, and enjoy singing duets with them - the basses just sound like a rumble anyway, and it's the only time the altos can really be heard. Altos' other complaint is that there are always too many of them and so they never get to sing really loud.

To be continued..

February 27, 2006   Dilemma

It's the time of the year again. If you check my previous entries around this period, you'd notice that I usually get quite gloomy, and the reason is because of tennis. Two years had past, and it seems like my fate is inalterable. Should I try for the last time, knowing that if I failed, I would have this triple-defeat permanently burned to my mind? Or should I just call it a day, even if there's nothing to loose to go for it? I don't want to give myself hope and loose it allover again..

Btw, I know that the bg music is not working. This is because the wireless network is still not working, which means I cannot upload. So how do I upload the main content? Well, some special method. Oh, one more thing. Mr. Fifer sent us this humorous article about choral music and its members, which I think is conspicuously accurate. So, for those involved in some kind of chorus, enjoy. You'll read about the Sopranos today, and the other three sections in the next few days.

A Young Person's Guide to the Chorus


Introduction
In any chorus, there are four voice parts: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Sometimes these are divided into first and second within each part, prompting endless jokes about first and second basses. There are also various other parts such as baritone, countertenor, contralto, mezzo soprano, etc., but these are mostly used by people who are either soloists, or belong to some excessively hotshot classical a cappella group (this applies especially to countertenors), or are trying to make excuses for not really fitting into any of the regular voice parts, so we will ignore them for now.

Sopranos
...are the ones who sing the highest, and because of this they think they rule the world. They have longer hair, fancier jewelry, and swishier skirts than anyone else, and they consider themselves insulted if they are not allowed to go at least to a high F in every movement of any given piece. When they reach the high notes, they hold them for at least half again as long as the composer and/or conductor requires, and then complain that their throats are killing them and that the composer and conductor are sadists.

Sopranos have varied attitudes toward the other sections of the chorus, though they consider all of them inferior. Altos are to sopranos rather like second violins to first violins - nice to harmonize with, but not really necessary. All sopranos have a secret feeling that the altos could drop out and the piece would sound essentially the same, and they don't understand why anybody would sing in that range in the first place - it's so boring.

Tenors on the other hand, can be very nice to have around; besides their flirtation possibilities (it is a well-known fact that sopranos never flirt with basses), sopranos like to sing duets with tenors because all the tenors are doing is working very hard to sing in a low-to-medium soprano range, while the sopranos are up there in the stratosphere showing off. To sopranos, basses are the scum of the earth - they sing too damn loud, are useless to tune to because they're down in that low, low range - and there has to be something wrong with anyone who sings in the F clef, anyway.

To be continued..

PS. Music is now fixed.

February 26, 2006
Ten Most Wanted



Ten Most Wanted - оeпкир

                    кў╗╚оq - жn "Circus Feel", е■╖▐дздд│╠╗┤з╓ 8/10
                    ╝п╡nо╔еN - ─Є<┴┘е╜>лс, еtд@н║ж│╕єо╔еN╖Pк║│╨з@ 7.5/10
                    ░є░єиkдH - ▒█л▀жncatchy, оeйЎдJж╒, Joeyлrжrжn▓M! 8.5/10
                    икжa│╖ - ┼е╣Lжnжhж╕, йl▓╫─▒▒oдг╣Lдгев 8/10
                    ╕Єм├к┌╣F░╡░╖ин╛▐ - еjеjй╟й╟..╢√д╙еt├■ 7/10
                    мy▓\▓┤▒цмy▓\▓┤ - н°░ўsad, ж¤жnжb║q╡№░ўжn 8/10
                    ж▐жy╢}дe - нS╛х╕йз@Эяж▒пuлYигдпиг┤╝.. 7/10
                    дWж╕здн╕╛ў - д@┼ееHм░лYEasonЭя<╡╣╖R─R╡╖>. н°░ўмЁеX 7.5/10
                    │╠лск║п№─R╕н - ╡№ш░, ║qе┐, еBж│Э° FIR feel, е■╖▐дд│╠н╚▒o┼е! 9/10
                    еVпv - н°┐∙Эяд@н║║C║q 8/10

February 25, 2006

So, there were no classes today. What did I do instead? Mostly homework, I think. I originally wanted to play some tennis indoors, but decided not to since I'd rather resume when spring break commences. Why? Because I don't want to give myself hope when I start to accept my fate.

One thing to show today: a Will You Survive? test. Hopefully I'll not run into these situations..but since the test indicated that I'd survive, I shouldn't be that scared, right?

P.S. New song. Joey's └H╣┌лeжц. Yes, follow your dreams and never yield.

February 23, 2006
Wadsworth Museum & Galileo Thermometer


On this unexpected holiday, I had an expected trip to Wadsworth Museum in Hartford together with my French IV classmates. We departed at 9:30am, and it was not totally usual that all of the class showed up (as I had said yesterday, some decided to just skip this field trip). Mr. Denyer appropriately bought us small donuts, probably to make up for the fact that we're "missing" a holiday.

We arrived around 10am, and was toured around by a Francophone guide. To suit our needs, he spoke slowly and gave alot of hand gestures, so I was able to comprehend rather well. We looked at a few Impressionist paintings, and spent the remaining time observing the featured Rodin sculpture exhibition. For those who know little about art, Rodin is the creator of the famous sculptor The Thinker. It's quite miraculous isn't it? - looking at such great masterpieces. Of course, only the reduced version of The Thinker is here (the large one being at France).

Around noon, we had a sumptuous lunch in the museum café. With our stomachs full, we spent the last hour looking at one painter, which we will have to write about for homework. We left around 2, and of course, I was greeted by loads of hwk when I came back.

Inaugural (adj) - opening, initial.

P.S. Oh, and that's the Galileo thermometer I bought. Quite nice, ya?

February 22, 2006   Headmaster's Holiday..tomorrow

The crew of Greater Tuna strangely re-acted a scene of the play during assembly today with the excuse that some students didn't get to see the great performance. But well, we soon found out that it's an announcement for a Headmaster's holiday! I was immediately overjoyed by the announcement, but only two seconds later I realized something's wrong - my French IV class has a trip to the Wadsworth Atheneum tmr. What's more, my next block was French. Excellent timing. Sure enough, students were revolting in the language classroom..some even resolved to breaking pens and crying discreetly enough for le prof to notice. It must be seventeen times harder for Mr. Denyer to state that our trip has to be made.

Sigh.. I guess I don't really have a holiday tmr, do I?
Putrid (adj) - decomposed, decayed.

February 20, 2006

During the continuum of our chem lab, Shrubb and I decided to disposed of the dissolved vitamin C tablet since it oxidized to a point that turned the solution brownish. From that point on, everything went perfectly, and the final pKa we got is only 0.09 off from the thereotical value. Perhaps because of this success, my day continued to brighten up, of course, with the help of E and D block off.. Anyway, it's getting late, and no matter how much I don't want to, I have to end this day. Good nite.
Pedantic (adj) - adhering strictly to information in books without using common sense.

February 19, 2006   

Mayday. As I'm sure you all know, that's the international distress signal that is used especially by ships and aircrafts. Yet, very few know its origin. The word mayday actually origined from the French phrase venez m'aider - "come help me!" So from now on when you say this word (hopefully under good conditions), you're really speaking French.
Maelstrom (n) - large whirlpool; disordered and confusing condition.

February 18, 2006

Today, I'd like to direct your attention to the much-anticipated PS3 and it's price - price when it comes out and you rush to buy it, and its speculated price 3 years later. Let's take a look:



So, you, the consumer, would spend ~$900 dollars on a piece of technology that would depreciate to a-third of its value three years later. Is it worth the fortune? You might say no. But the truth is, all the prices of the so-called gadgets behave the same. A good example would be the Motorola RAZR V3 - when it first appeared, its price sky-rocketed to almost $1000; half a year later, it plummeted to ~$250. Perhaps this is the price for staying in the front-line of technology.

Sometimes life doesn't go the way we want. But what we can do is to hold the steering wheel firmly, make a turn, and move on. The truth will find its way to you.
Ramshackle (adj) - broken-down, rickety.

February 17, 2006

Went to watch the play tonight. Greater Tuna. It was blatantly funny. There were only 6 actors so each had to play several characters, and the best parts were the cross-dressing ones. Parent's Weekend continues tomorrow, and Steven said his aunt is coming - his real aunt this time. To end with, let's take a look at the cold front moving towards us.



Pixilated (adj) - insane, mad.

February 16, 2006   Japan Trip'05 Memories

Remember that I promised to post some photos from our japan trip last june? Well, perhaps you don't. But I always keep my promises, even if they happened long ago. Anyway, I created three collages using picasa, which is simple enough. They brought up some great memories..great great ones. Looking at the pictures, I can't even believe that they were taken 7 months ago..


Fortune fountain (where we witnessed a lady using a bottle to carry the water for all her living family members), random tower, Disneyland, "handletters"


F828, random shot, random shot II, on bullet train


Nightshot @ the eerie lodging, our most frequently purchased greentea, random shot III, JAWs!


Ostracize (v) - exclude; banish.

February 15, 2006

A rather restful night with only math test to study for. I need to do well in it.

Oh, my wireless connection isn't working, which means that when you read this post, it would seem quite old..
Erstwhile (adj) - former.



Valentines

This year's St. Valentine's Day is just as bland as last year - but not for everyone. Just like previous years, Valentine's Day has become a day where girls brag about the astronomical number of crush cans they got; or exhibit their ginormous bunch of flowers they received from xxxx. Perhaps Valentine's is a 'vacuous, commercially-driven, hollow shellбж of a holiday.

But Valentine's Day is not only something special between you and your other half. It extends to family, friends, and everyone around you. A great example would be Steven's eleemosynary (if you don't understand the meaning of this word, check Feb 6's entry) act - he bought a total of $600 jewelery for his girlfriend, lady-friends, and his mom.. I don't have such generosity, nor do I have that much money, but to my family and friends, may I say:

Happy Valentine's Day.
It is not only for your lover;
your family, your friends,
are also loving you
each and every
second
.

Eugene Young
February 14, 2006

February 13, 2006

On the day before Valentine's, I did nothing special. No chocolates, no candies, no candles. It's just going to be another day for me, naturally. Perhaps this is why we say:
ж│дHм∙дS╖╨, ╡LдHм∙дS╖╨.
(Eugene then sighs in a distinctively old-man-like way..)
Turgid (adj) - swollen; pompous.

February 12, 2006
Winter..again


Just as we were thinking that this winter would end prematurely, a blizzard knocked in last night. But as I said before, the snow smoothens the outline of the campus. So, let it snow..

Meanwhile, look who I've found in this pix:



Auspicious (adj) - of good omen, favorable.

P.S. New song - a rather jovial one. Enjoy.

February 11, 2006
infinix


Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to announce that the next version of Login U, under the codename infinix, is currently being developed. The current layout (codename ultimax), was finished way back when Login U had its opening, which was a few months shy of three years ago. Ultimax's concept is maximized usabiliy with umcompromised design and aesthetics. For infinix, the idea is that possibilities are infinite and without bounds. The new layout in infinix will inherit its predecessor's amiable usability and sport a few new functions that will be disclosed in the near future. For more news surrounding codename infinix and its progress, check back periodically here at Login U.

February 8, 2006

To alleviate our stress, let's take a look at this comic:


Dabble (v) - superficially involved or interested.

February 7, 2006

Everyone seemed rather lethargic on the first day back to class. Needless to say, I was the same - after waking up around 10 during long-weekend, I find it considerably hard to wake up at 7. Perhaps I should just sleep earlier?

You may ask, why aren't there any pix lately? Well, there will be soon. But for now, good nite..
Fortuitous (adj) - by chance, occuring accidentally.

February 6, 2006

Just one thing to show today: probably the most elaborate error 404 page I've ever seen.

Eleemosynary (adj) - pertaining to charity.

February 5, 2006   IE Beta 2 Preview

Did some homework and reviewed some subjects today. For chemistry, we have to read a lab protocol thats 20-pages long.. And because of that, I found out that it's actually quite effective to study after midnight.

One more thing: I installed IE Beta 2 today. It is a huge improvement from the previous one, Beta 1, which caused so many conflicts that made me uninstall it in less than 15 minutes after installation. The feature I enjoy using most is probably the 'see all tabs' function, where I can get an overview of all my opened tabs. Unfortunately, it still doesn't carry enough momentum to sway me away from the Firefox pool.. Firefox's speed, security and user-friendliness is still unrivaled. Anyway, for you to compare, I've included screenshots of both Beta 1 (taken last summer) & 2.


Beta 2 (The regular toolbar appears when Alt is pressed)

Beta 1 in Windows Vista

Rudimentary (adj) - basic, elementary.


P.S. New song again. I might have posted it before, but it doesn't matter since it's a good song, right?

February 4, 2006

When I got back from brunch today, I was stunned to read that Martina cruised past Maria 6-3 6-1 in the Tokyo tournament. Thus I immediately got hold of the match, and well, she deserved her win - though quite surprisingly, only 12 hours later she got defeated by Elena 6-2 6-0 in the finals, forfeiting her chance to win her first comeback title..

Anyway, around 6, Steven and I went to the dining hall for dinner, but were frightened away by the food. So we walked down to Mattéos, and had the third sumptuous dinner this week. We shared a small but exquisite dish of crab cakes and a 14oz sirloin steak. On the way back, rain started to fall and by the time we got back, both of us became drenched chickens. Perhaps an umbrella would be a good idea next time..
Resplendent (adj) - dazzling, splendid.

February 3, 2006


Today was a typical long-weekend day - sleep-in, brunch, and tennis in the afternoon. After having not played for more than four months, my tennis skills diminished, but the progress of picking it up is so far so good. One more thing: I got a lava lamp. It's something I had wanted since I saw one in our cousin's house. You can see it in action in this short clip.

Guess what? Word of the Day is back. Learning new vocab is always a good idea.
Chouse (n) - fraud, cheat.

February 2, 2006
An Expensive Day


The chem quiz today was prone to errors. I think I did well, but there were so many places that allowed mistakes to occur. So, at night, we went to Ginza Japanese Restaurant, which was an hour away from Taft. Vanessa, Steven and I ordered three dishes - sushi & sashimi combo, fried seafood udon and shrimp hibachi - to share. The food was very savory, though in the end when we got our bill we know why. The total amount for us twenty-three people was $633, which averaged to almost $30 per person! What an expensive meal..

Oh btw, the total visit of last month is 375, a 25% increase from December's index. Thank you for your support for Login U and keep visiting!

P.S. New song today. Another one with Stephanie Sun, but this time accompanied by a Japanese singer. Enjoy.

February 1, 2006   Start of the Month

February has come. Only a few more months till graduation?

Went out with Mrs. McNeill for dinner tonight. At first we scheduled for a lunch, but her tasks got delayed. Guess where we went? Mattéos, again. This time I ordered a Spicy Seafood Pasta, and it was extremely palatable. Two more classes tmr, and a short four-day break will follow. Whose excited? I know I am.