Commentary

[tarigwaemir]

Lowell House, on the Feast of St. Callistus I

Some observations before I devote myself to chemistry for the rest of the day:

1. It is exceedingly odd to find yourself in the same physics course as the intern for your high school physics class and one of the three New York 2002 USAPO (the Physics Olympiad for those who hate acronyms) semifinalists. They're both juniors and economics concentrators. My question is, of course, why are they taking 11a, which is a repeat of AP Physics and the easier track for calculus-based physics, if they obviously already know the material (unlike me, since I still don't understand how I got a 5 on the AP) and if they are equally obviously not required to take it? I mean, if they're going to take physics because they enjoy the subject, why not a harder track like 15a or 16, which actually covers new material? Somehow I have the sinking feeling that the answer to both questions are those oft-heard words "premed" and "MCAT".

2. What's amusing about my Korean class is that all the Korean-American boys, save one, are socially conservative. In a discussion on music videos and whether they're harmful to teenagers, all the boys replied, "Of course! They don't wear enough clothing! Bad images!" (Well, in Korean and slightly more eloquently.) I now firmly believe that we're all doomed to grow up exactly like our parents. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing...a simple life is probably all I'd ever ask for. I also find it odd that some of the Korean-Americans actually use English names, since we only go by their Korean names in class. I was doing some searching on thefacebook, and I couldn't find some of their profiles for the longest time. I bet if I ever saw them outside of class, I'd call them by their Korean name, and their friends will look at me and ask, "Who are you talking to?"

3. I finished reading Lynne Truss' Eats, Shoots and Leaves and now can honestly say that I know how to use a semicolon now. Well, if I don't forget in the near future. That was an absolutely wonderful book (so hilarious!), and I really should update my reading (b)log about it soon. Unfortunately, I lent it to my friend before I wrote down any quotes, so I don't have any passages to recite at the moment, but as soon as I get it back, I plan to have a huge quotes update. ^_^

4. I really, really want to watch or read Bleach but I can't let myself start another series. ;_; Also, tryogeru, you and I should really go hunting for Ravages of Time volumes in Chinatown during Thanksgiving because I want.

Yours &c.

Post-script: Tomorrow is the saint day of Ste. Catherine of Avila, who is apparently the patron saint of headache sufferers. How incredibly appropriate. (My first chemistry hourly is tomorrow, you see, at the charming hour of eight-thirty in the morning.)

Comments

[memlu.livejournal.com]

This is not a hint. (http://www.bleachworld.com)

[troisroyaumes]

Er, the link seems to be dead...but judging from the link, the non-hint has been taken. XD Do you know where I can get scanslations perhaps? Since TW pulled theirs down.

[memlu.livejournal.com]

BAH. Fickle links. *displeased!*

Volumes three through fourteen (http://dbzgt.cartoonhit.com/manga/Bleach/) (and then some) are available via this website (http://dbzgt.cartoonhit.com/) in .rar format, and sub_divided has the first two volumes up for download (http://www.livejournal.com/users/memlu/149648.html?thread=898704#t898704). soul_society would be the best bet for finding the anime. :D

Join the crack!

[troisroyaumes]

You are awesome. ^______________^ May I blame you if I spend my entire weekend reading Bleach instead of doing schoolwork? XD

[memlu.livejournal.com]

AND. (XD) Rockin' Future 7 (http://soulsociety.colorwalk.net/index.php) (soul_society's website) has text translations (http://soulsociety.colorwalk.net/trans.php) of all the chapter not available at the other sites (chapters 134-151, so almost to the current issue). ...If that made sense.

I will happily accept any and all blame! All in the line of duty, of course. :D

[worldserpent.livejournal.com]

Fah, go ahead and start Bleach. It's only 153 chapters now, and the anime is coming out. And it is soul eating, though not the way I suspect Ravages of Time is. >_> Ravages of time is, BTW, up to 136 chapters in the Chinese. (Having seen some scans ahead, I suspect that this is a damn confusing title. Also that the author really, really loves Luu Buu, because he made him so damn strong, and shouldn't he be dead by now? But then again I have no idea whether Dong Zhuo is dead. )

I wonder, do people ever translate manhua into other languages? Might there be Korean speaking fans? I know there are Korean-speaking fans of Japanese manga series.

[troisroyaumes]

I think there are Korean translations of some Chinese manhua. I base this assumption solely on the fact that JanimeS offers some manhua scanslations, and I know the person in charge works mainly from Korean translations for the non-Korean series. (At least that's what she did with the Japanese manga.) I don't know how much of a fandom there would be though. Also, I have no idea if I'd be able to obtain any Korean translations. ;_;

And ehehe, 153 chapters? Would you know if there's any place to download en masse via BT? My IRC connection is slow and I always hate wading through the fservs. I would give into temptation and start watching the anime since it just came out, but then the free space on my computer would shrink into nothing. >_>

I think Ravages of Time really played havoc with the ages and lifespans of the characters, and I'm already confused by reports that Liaoyuan Huo is actually Zhou Yun (?). Heh...but oh, you're so right; it is soul eating.

[worldserpent.livejournal.com]

Nope, it's er, licensed, so you gotta use IRC, but if you go into any Borders, the first four volumes ought to be there. Aw, but I thought you studied Korean? I have found fandoms for Japanese series in Korean (never underestimate the power of google. XD I have also found er, don't know if I should advert my scofflaw status, scans for a lot of Ravages of Time, which are totally driving me insane. But I so do intend to buy.)

Ravages: Yes, I am totally confused also. The scans are confusing me more and more and more. Did you know it takes like ten volumes for Dong Zhuo to bite it?

[troisroyaumes]

Ten volumes?! Whoa...they're going to take forever to get to Cao Cao then.

I do study Korean, and I have some Korean versions of Japanese manga (Shaman King, actually), but I've never seen any Chinese series available for purchase in Korean bookstores. I assume they're available in Korea though; I checked and there are definitely translated manhua available for purchase on Korean websites. If there was a Korean bookstore somewhere in NY carrying Ravages, I'd definitely spend what little money I have on the series! XD

I didn't even know that there were other sites carrying scans! I should probably conduct better searches. >_< Hmm...maybe I can get my Chinese friends to translate for me...

[worldserpent.livejournal.com]

Nah, as the website sez, Cao Cao shows up in volume six, but I get him confused with other characters because I identify them by character design.

Hmmm, I know nothing about the Korean manga market. I'll go look for a Chinese bookstore in my area to see if they have it. Hmmm.

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

I should read my RotK...>_>

Actually, there's probably places where you can get stuff like that in Korean. I know someone who has Pet Shop of Horrors in Korean.

And I have found yaoi manga in korean. ^__^

O.o

[troisroyaumes]

Demon Diary! Although that's more shounen ai.

I know a place that sells various Japanese manga in Korean (bought first three volumes of Shaman King there), but it mostly has stuff I don't want. Also it's really expensive.

If you know of a cheap place with a wide range of stock, do let me know.

[tryogeru.livejournal.com]

Nope. Sorry.

o.O

[irian.livejournal.com]

I mean, if they're going to take physics because they enjoy the subject, why not a harder track like 15a or 16, which actually covers new material? Somehow I have the sinking feeling that the answer to both questions are those oft-heard words "premed" and "MCAT".

Oh well. Grades *do* matter. I found that out the hard way, considering how difficult it's been for me to find a job because of the F that Math teacher mistakenly gave me but I wasn't able to appeal.

What's amusing about my Korean class is that all the Korean-American boys, save one, are socially conservative. In a discussion on music videos and whether they're harmful to teenagers, all the boys replied, "Of course! They don't wear enough clothing! Bad images!" (Well, in Korean and slightly more eloquently.) I now firmly believe that we're all doomed to grow up exactly like our parents.

For some reason, that brought to mind Laine from Gilmore Girl's mom... Is it because most Korean-Americans (at least compared tp their other Asian counterparts) are very religious or something?

[troisroyaumes]

Well, if it was a matter of an easy grade, they could take a much, much easier class. Like one of the science Cores for example. On the other hand, if they're thinking about medical school, they do need to take a year of calculus-based physics and would probably choose the easier track. The only question then is...why are they economics concentrators? Are they crazy enough to shoot for M.D./M.B.A. degrees? Ah, well, whatever. Sometimes I get the sinking feeling that everyone here is premed.

Korean-Americans do tend to be more religious. It's a bit of an odd phenomenon. We definitely have a higher percentage of Christians than Japan or China. I don't think that being religious necessarily leads to social conservatism though. I mean, most of my Chinese friends are atheist and yet socially conservative as well. I just found it amusing that the boys in the class made more of a fuss about the "bad images" in music videos (i.e. underdressed females) than the girls did. >_>

[irian.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, whatever. Sometimes I get the sinking feeling that everyone here is premed.

Hehe. Wharton's the best school for business-related courses, or so I've heard. But isn't the law program over at Harvard good?


I don't think that being religious necessarily leads to social conservatism though. I mean, most of my Chinese friends are atheist and yet socially conservative as well. I just found it amusing that the boys in the class made more of a fuss about the "bad images" in music videos (i.e. underdressed females) than the girls did.

Hehe. maybe they're afraid that their girlfriends will start "getting ideas"?

[troisroyaumes]

Yes, Wharton is the top business school. Law would be split pretty evenly between Harvard and Yale. But that's pretty much after one graduates--most Harvard undergrads don't go on to Harvard Law or Business or even the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Although many of them dream of going to Harvard Medical School, which is also one of the top in its field.

I think a lot of people are premed, even if they're majoring in the humanities, because it tends to be a tacit assumption that as long as you do get your M.D., you will almost invariably be successful. Personally, the thought of medical school terrifies me, and I find medical research boring. Plus I have no interpersonal skills. But I'm surrounded by premeds, nonetheless, and the constant air of slight hysteria ("Will this get me into med school? Will this get me rejected from med school?") drives me nuts.

[irian.livejournal.com]

Personally, the thought of medical school terrifies me

Me too. BS Management isn't exactly the best pre-med course anyway. I'm too much of an arts person too, which is why I probably won't be getting an MBA at Wharton anytime soon, even if by some miracle my parents could actually manage to afford sending me there...