Mensa IQ

Your score was 25 out of 30. That is an excellent score—you would have a very strong chance of passing the Mensa test and joining Mensa.


I was searching for Los Angeles IQ Testing area... want to take an IQ test. According to Mensa, maybe I can join them! haha. I did the test in 20 minutes... seems like I get the same kind of questions wrong. I got 2, 7, 15, 19 and 29 incorrect. I got all of the unscrambling words wrong and half of the number patterns incorrectly. I was never good at unscrambling large words but I think if I practiced, I could get better at recognizing patterns... Some of them I just skipped to save time figuring I won't be able to solve it without alot of time anyway.

Just think it'd probably look good on my transcript and future resume haha

Free Rice Anyone?

What a great site.

FreeRice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Our partner is the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide education to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

And it really does just that. I've been looking for ways to expand my vocabulary. FreeRice allows me to not only have fun while doing so but also help the less fortunate! What more could you ask for!

My vocabulary is okay. I'm currently comfortable at around level 28-36. 28 being a little easier side and 36 being a more challenging.

My boyfriend is feeling a little dysphoria though he is usually quite plucky. Meanwhile, I have been looking pallid from being a bit under the weather. I have a lot of veneration for his ability to put up with my insatiable need for love and attention from him during this time but I suppose we both have our idiosyncrasies - If I were to be guilty of one sin, it would probably be gluttony. From both that, and my voraciousness.

My use of the words is probably a bit off but I find looking up definitions and putting them into a sentence helps me store them away for future use. Go try the site! I have already donated about 4000 grains of rice.


Think I got the link from my favorite cooking vlogger, Chef John from FoodWishes. If you are into cooking at all, watch his videos. He is hilarious (in a kind of sadistic way... which I love hahaha) and has great presentation skills. I think I'm falling in love with his wit and cooking skills. It's just too bad I let my old site expire or I'd refer him more viewers! ah well, in due time :)

Unhappy, spoiled Americans

The following article is the first thing that comes up if you search for "Americans are unhappy" on Google.

A Newsweek poll alleges that 67% of Americans are unhappy with the
direction the country is headed and 69% percent of the country is
unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence, 2/3s of the
citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle
dragger I am, I starting thinking, "What we are so unhappy about?"

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the
summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 % of these
unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a
grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has
seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic
Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through
each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would
find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having
thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is
just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car,
emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved.
Whether you are rich or poor, they treat your wounds and even, if
necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You
may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire,
a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch
equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family and
your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat-screen TVs, a
burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a
bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack
or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or
militias raping and pillaging the residents - in neighborhoods where 90
percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy
that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67%
of you folks unhappy.

The fact is we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the
world has ever seen.

No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its
citizens. They see us for what we are - the most blessed people in the
world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we
hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord that we live
here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has
no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31% approval
rating?

Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after
9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?
Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book
for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist
attacks? The Commander in Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out
there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom.
There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a "general"
discharge, an "other than honorable" discharge or, worst case scenario,
a "dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of
Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it
bleeds it leads, and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch
a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling
lemonade at the corner? The media knows this, and media outlets are
"for-profit" corporations. They offer what sells.

Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the
bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as
a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953: "What
have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the
earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social
freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of
the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given
time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have
been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down
unsullied to our children and theirs."

If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to
explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and
abundance. If we are not careful, this generation will be known as the
"greediest and most ungrateful generation" and would be a far cry from
the proud Americans of the "greatest generation" who left us an
untarnished legacy.

I suggest that we count our blessings for all we have.

link:

http://www.chinatownconnection.com/americans-unhappy.htm

1st Entry

Welcome to my new blog. I don't know how you found it, but you did! Good job =P

Though there are a years worth of entries already, this is technically the first one. My old blog, although popular, was my superficial side. Rarely did I expose my real thoughts. It was just a log of my formerly extravagant lifestyle, a gazillion photos and once in a while I'd post something more meaningful. I suppose I was only catering to the mass public and it worked at the time. The "fame" was fun for a while but after a while, I realized I really did not care about the opinions of the type of people that it attracted and as I got older, I no longer felt the need to share every photo and everything I do with the rest of world.

I've taken a break, matured alot and grew up. I see the world in a different light now and am constantly discovering new things. Whereas before, my blog was focused on me and only me, I feel that I know myself pretty well now. I have a general understanding what I like, what I don't like, how I like to be treated and what I want. Now, I can focus on more important things ;) . I love academics and learning now... join me on my journey if you wish. =)

Consumer Culture

My response to a post on eCompanion for my sociology class:

Americans are very materialistic and it is partly why our economy is the way it is right now. Our eyes are bigger than our wallets so to speak. The media is constantly showing images of the lifestyles of the rich and famous and it is thrown in our faces through media, advertising etc... portraying to the general public that is it the norm for everyone to have luxury items, flat screen TV's, Ferrari's, nice houses and the best and the newest without having to work for it. The finance industry was irresponsible and greedy, they had personal interest in giving out more loans because they worked off commission: the more loans they lent out, the more money they made. So they starting giving loans to people who shouldn't have qualified for them and thus made it easy for the masses to start buying everything on credit. This sudden increase in money resulted in more spending.... because most people did not realize that just because you pay it back in installments, doesn't mean that the things you buy got cheaper in value or that they could buy more. So they spent more than they made trying to live up to this "cool" lifestyle shown on TV and we started to focus more on material things and our image to our peers than focus on more important things. There is a big difference between being able to BUY an item, and being able to AFFORD it.

Now we are starting to see the results of the irresponsible habits of our credit card-using nation and people will be forced to start watching how they spend their money and live more frugally or at least within their means. I was devastated when the economy first started down turning because it affected my own lifestyle significantly. To go from having the nicest clothes, the newest technologies, always eating out at the best restaurants 3 meals a day and traveling around the country to having to budget more and choosing between A and B instead of having both was really like having a sense of culture shock. Who was I without my things? .... it took a while and at first I thought "This is terrible..! The world is ending!" but now I think that this whole situation has really influenced me in a positive way. I've learned to focus on the more important things in life and appreciate what I have and not take things for granted and I think it's forced me to not only be a better person but also a happier one. It's also taught me an important financial lesson so that when the time comes that I do start working again and making a lot of money, I will know how to keep more of it! Many of my peers are extremely depressed and in a state of panic now (esp those in the financial industry) and the lessons that I've learned are things that a lot of people will have to start learning: stop putting so much emphasis on material things that money can buy (it is not the only thing that can make you happy) and spend wiser even if you are making a lot. Be able to distinguish the difference between what you want and what you need.

That concept ties into how to consume less. Before you buy anything, think about if you really NEED it. You don't NEED the newest ipod... you WANT it so that you can have the coolest new toy with an abundance of unnecessary features. If you're about to buy something on the spot (impulsive buy) stop yourself, give yourself sometime to think about it whether it be a week or a month.If you really need something, you'll probably still need it a little bit down the line so. By the end of that period, you'll realize that more than half the time you won't want it anymore.

:)

Religion

I was thinking about going to Church just to check it out and give it a chance since it's been so long since I've been forced to go to church...

how was church JT @ 12:23

ok KC @ 12:23
actually it was horrible 12:23
but i like some of the girls 12:23
i think its stupid 12:24
we had to split into groups and talk about whats bothering us 12:24
and how god has spoken to us this past week 12:24
and this guy was like "oh the last week i realized i can't rely on myself i need god. i can't do anything myself its too much for me" 12:24
what a retard 12:24
and the whole time the mic was fucking up n going in and out 12:24
and they're trying to pray to god to help them with their lives 12:24
uh if god can't even fuckin help with fixing the speakers in his own house how the fuck is he gonna help your life?? 12:25


i think too many people use religion as a crutch--you have to be able to support yourself and have the strength to handle your own problems JT @ 12:27
life sucks sometimes but you have to have the fortitude to deal with the cards you get you know 12:27


ya KC @ 12:28
i like some of the concepts 12:28
like talking about your problems 12:28
and thinking about what u want in life "praying" 12:29
but its not like someone is gonna hand it to you in a gold plate 12:29


its good in the sense that it can teach you some life lessons through stories but you still have to depend on yourslef in this world JT @ 12:29


they preach like just pray and god will do everything KC @ 12:29
thats bs 12:29


absolutely JT@ 12:29


yah these guys r retarded KC @ 12:29
ur responsible for your own life 12:30


from what i know of you you are far too self confident and self reliant to get too far into that JT @ 12:30
when i was younger and more naive i bought into a bit but now i just am not able to 12:30
im too logical i think 12:30


yah KC @ 12:30
like i believe in expressing urself n ur problems to ppl cause it helps YOU figure things out 12:31
but not talking to god as if it's an actual person 12:31
who will solve all your problems 12:31
i was appalled at what they say.. "i need god, i can't live on my own?" wtf 12:31


ya its a crutch and i really dislike that JT @ 12:31
i believe that you can only rely on yourself 12:32
and have to have the confidence to do so 12:32



Then I talked to my Mom and when I mentioned that I went to church she was like why?? and she also told me not to waste my time... "people who are smart and can think for themselves don't buy into that stuff. you're too smart"


Don't get me wrong.. I saw a lot of positive side effects (latent probably though) and I can see why people would allow themselves to get brainwashed... but to think some one/something else has control over your life is irresponsible. YOU make your own decisions and you're responsible for your own actions and thus results. (Christian?) God is for people who can't deal with reality... I know because only in times of GREAT despair where I've tried all else do I think to myself "God?? help?"... but its only because all real solutions have been exhausted and now you turn to fantasy and make believe ("hope") cause you've ran outta options. Then when things turn better (which things almost aways do) people associate that change with the last thing they tried. (classical conditioning, anyone?). Idk.... I'm still not completely sure.... I don't want to be opinionated and rule out ALL forms of religion, who knows, maybe Buddhism or Scientology is more "for me" but since I know nothing about either, I can't rule out all religion. I like to keep an open mind and explore all possibilities.. but for now? I believe there IS something out there... I usually refer to it as the universe.. but Christian "God" and Jesus is bullshit. If this God is willing to "sacrifice" aka let be killed why the fuck would he do anything for you?? Oh wait... he did that cause he loved us so much. Really? Why thanks, how generous. I don't see how a guy who died 2000 years ago really helps me much right now except by maybe giving me a name to whom I can pray to.

haha. k maybe I am being to harsh and maybe someday I may look back and bite my words... but as of now? while I'm still young and full of hope (for actual things) and life hasn't been long enough for me to realize that I didn't get what I wanted out of it yet? I say Religion is bullshit. Just another form of manipulation, control and brainwashing.. what genius came up with it to control the masses? People can find fault in things that are tangible and they can see, hold, touch... Positivism... but idk, I somewhat believe in spirits and ghosts which you can't see at will or touch but at least you can SEE (or think you see) such things. But anyway if you want people to have ultimate faith, give them something abstract, invisible and greater that us and "holy" that they cannot critique. How can you when it doesn't exist?

I shouldn't say "it".. like I said, I believe SOMETHING is out there.. but not one "person" whom we can refer to as him or her. I like the idea that I learned in political philosophy class.. that God is history itself. But I don't know enough about it, or it's opposing theories yet so I won't be all gunho whatever philosophy that is.




Reminds me of elementary school when I convinced this girl that I had invisible pet animals in my desk... by telling her: but of course I'm not even gonna show you cause you can't see them anyway... only I can see them.

All of you on this page are smart enough to figure out the psychological effects of that line..

"no, no! Show me! I can see them now! Ohhhh it's right there! silly me"

No... stupid you. I knew all along there was no invisible animals. But now, YOU are not quite so sure.

Yeah... it's like that. But on a much larger scale. Silly elementary talk was used to get someone to see invisible animals... nothing more, no hidden intent beyond that. Blind faith and religion on the other hand... gets people to do way more. At least it's (usually) positive stuff.

Oh btw.... now if you want to solidify this belief in my invisible animal (if was a rabbit, in case you were wondering) we add in some other stupid friends and get them ALL to see this rabbit of mine.... who no one can see but are all saying they can... suddenly the bond is even stronger and if you disagree there are severe social consequences with that and they will just continue to say they can see this rabbit that never existed in the first place. You can see how it takes someone who can think for themselves to speak out and be like.... wait a minute... there's no fucking rabbit! There's nothing there but blank space! What are you guys talking about, it's a lie! Most people aren't confident enough to go against the crowd like that.... esp because by now the group is so brainwashed that they won't even believe you if you tell them. And people will fight for what they do believe in.... that same belief that has no real base. Isn't it funny? or sad... depending on how u wanna look at it haha.

anyway... must go to sleep... Krav Maga tomorrow!