Things I learned today

Live and learn. Those are two things that I think I'm quite good at--so why not post them on this blog? I got this wonderful idea from Marie Zhang, who will do the same on her blog.

Whatever I put on here can be about something new in the world or be about myself. I'll just post them as they come to me.

1/27/12

•  According to a very nice but very drunk senior, in English class, I am a "crazy intelligent bitch who slays ignorant bitches." 
• I enjoy writing essays.
• The point of memoirs is to cause the writer and the audience to experience a "shared discovery."

1/21/12

• The only thing I don't like about glasses is that they make me feel ugly sometimes. 
• Fanny Fern, alias for Sara Willis, is a famous nineteenth-century woman writer, and she coined the saying "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I'm currently reading her story Ruth Hall for my American Women Writers class. It's sarcastic and makes fun of the typical feminine writers of her time.
• I have acne, and I have to deal with it.

1/19/12

• Diffidence: The quality of lacking confidence in one's ability. In archaic usage, diffidence refers to the state of being distrustful. I learned this from my reading of Robert Filmer's philosophy on sovereign rights.
• Circumspectly: Prudently; cagily

1/11/12

• I didn't understand how greatly anticipated the film "Hunger Games" was until I read the first book that it's adapted from. Now, I'm hooked. The book was so emotional and adventurous, and it leaves a reader feeling gutless. Love it. I need to get my hands on the other books now.

1/10/12

• Some author STOLE MY STORY. JK. But really, I just came across "Blood Brothers" by Josephine Cox. I just got it from the library today and there was a really interesting love triangle among two brothers and another girl....something that I was thinking of writing, but...whatever. It was a good read.
• I enjoy writing essays, and I find it so much easier to write them now that I have managed to find my voice. I'll be posting some later...
• Reading Ye's thoughts on her blog has been amazing. She's a great writer and I'm glad she's revealing a lot about herself.

1/9/12

• How to aggressively make caramel, thanks to Chef Gordon Ramsey: 

 

• The people you misunderstood in the past just need less hate and less judgment to be understood.

•  I like Jason Mraz. He just came out with this song, and I am in love with it. 

1/5/12
*everything will be centered around food because I watched Food Network the whole day*

•  Chayote, or vegetable pear, "is a member of the cucurbit family. The fruit is light green in color and pear shaped. The fruit is produced on vigorous growing vines that are cold sensitive." I was watching the Food Network's "Chopped," and one of food challenges was to incorporate this vegetable in a dish. Looks weird, huh?

•  Chilaquiles is a Mexican dish with fried corn tortilla triangle cooked in salsa and sprinkled with cheese. They can be served with eggs and beans.

1/3/12

•  Iowa Caucus, what's the importance? 

(Huffington Post) A communal political experience. The caucus process allows candidate representatives to attempt to persuade undecided caucus-goers at the last minute, in many cases even delivering impassioned speeches before the group comes together for a vote. This event decides who will run against Obama. This year it's only Republicans because Obama is running unopposed, but usually Democrats and Republicans attend this event.

(MSN) "Mitt Romney is the favorite, but a tight result is expected. The latest polls suggest Romney could end up only a few percentage points ahead of Ron Paul, with Rick Santorum in third place. It's such a close contest that nobody is predicted to win 30% of the vote, let alone a majority."

• NyQuil can really knock you out. 

This kind of medicine is a blessing to any sick person. I took 30 ml. and I slept for 15 hours.

1/1/12

• Definition of cứng đầu

Cứng đầu is a Vietnamese term that means "stubborn." My mom used it to describe my brother :)

cứng = adj. hard,  đầu = n. head. The English adjective "hardheaded" means stubborn too! Awesome!

12/31/11

• Definition of knell   

(this will probably be useful, since I tend to write stories that would need it.)

(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death (Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.)

 

•  Presidential Candidates for 2012 

(I feel like I am most ignorant of the political scene. Not a good thing--since I am supposed to be a journalist :/) 

 

Republicans: Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman,  Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Buddy Roemer, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum

Democrats: Barack Obama, Randall Terry, Vermene Supreme, Darcy Richardson