Privilege Meme

I saw this over at RESEARCHERS from Dr. A. and was inspired to remind myself that I have had a fucking good life, and I deserve this time of "trial" in terms of job search. It will put hair on my chest. How privileged was I? We weren't rich in any way, but I didn't lack for anything, and my parents deprived themselves quite a bit so we could have what we had.

The items that apply to me are BOLD

1. Father went to college

2. Father finished college

3. Mother went to college

4. Mother finished college

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home

9. Were read children’s books by a parent

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 see above (soccer, piano, *edit - I forgot swimming)

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively (what people? growing up there were like no asian people on TV, and if they were asian, they were men doing kung fu)

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs

16. Went to a private high school

17. Went to summer camp (once a soccer day camp, another time a sleepaway camp for gifted kids)

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18 (this is not a sign of privilege in my culture, but a sign of shame)

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels (sometimes - often we went camping but also we'd stay at places like motel 6 sometimes)

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 (Just about, some homemade though)

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them (it was $800, woot woot!)

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child

23. You and your family lived in a single family house

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home

25. You had your own room as a child.

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18

27. Participated in a college entrance exam (eg. SAT/ACT) prep course

28. Had your own TV in your room (and neither will my kids, no matter how much money we have)

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College (I think my mom started one for me in college? I am not sure.)

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16 (several times to visit the "land of my ancestors", also to move across the country)

31. Went on a cruise with your family (in college)

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up. (Not many, but a few times)

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. (In warm climes, heating bills are a non-issue)

From "What Privileges Do You Have?", based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you please acknowledge their copyright.

Bottom line, I had a pretty sweet childhood. I also have a selective memory, I apparently remember childhood much more fondly than my sister, and when I am reminded of shit that happened, I just go "oh yeah"...so shit happened but I DON'T REMEMBER IT!!! I'm kind of glad I'm that way.

Interview Meme

There's an interview meme going around which I got from Ambivalent Academic. I knew she would ask me some interesting questions, and she sure did! The rules are below.

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me" AND leave your email address (or blog link) in the comment! I will interview the first three commenters to ask for it. I's got shiz to do peeps :).
2. I will respond by emailing you (or commenting on your blog with) five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. (If you don't have a blog, I can post your answers here).
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

AA: Do you have a defining event that inspired you to go into Computer Science? What sparked your passion?

PD: I really didn't have a defining moment. I decided to become an engineer largely because my father is an engineer, and being the child of immigrants, choosing engineering is always a good choice. On the first day of my required classes, I realized that I liked the subject matter. I remember thinking, "This must be genetic" because I don't think it's quite normal to like the stuff I was learning, but thanks Dad! But definitely, I wasn't inspired from childhood to always do this. I couldn't code worth a damn when I started college, and I still wouldn't say I am a code ninja. However, one day I took Intro to Subfield, and I realized that, for the first time at Ivy U, I just "got it." I didn't have to study. I could think very well at the level of abstraction the course dealt with. It just made sense. So, from there, I just stuck with it. And I still like it, and it still makes sense. It's cool shit.

AA: How did you meet Mr. PhizzleDizzle? How did you know he was The One?

PD: I met Mr. PhizzleDizzle in college. We were in the same major. I thought he was a biiiiig dork, and I never ever ever would have conceived that we would eventually marry. But we were study buddies every now and then, and we were friends. You know, those guys who are sweet, and dorky, and harmless such that you can be good friends? That's what we were. Sweet, harmless, Mr. Phizzle. Then one semester we were lab partners for a very time intensive course. We spent a crapton of time together, and by the end, we figured something was up, and began dating. Awwwww, geek love.

As for knowing that he was The One, I don't believe in The One. I think the idea of "The One" is crime against human happiness. I do, however, I do believe we have a fantastically good relationship. I posted about my "selection" of Mr. Phizzle once here, you can check it out for details.

I suppose another way to think about this part of the question is "when did I decide he was right to marry?" That came....probably a few days after I accepted his marriage proposal. His proposal was a surprise. A. Total. Surprise. So, since we had been together for years, I accepted, and then as I thought about it....I realized that marrying him would probably be the smartest thing I could do with my life. He's smart, he's responsible, he would always take good care of me, he respects me, and I love him. He was good for me. And I was good for him. And we are good together. Now that we've been married a while, I know -- marrying him *was* the smartest move I've made thus far in my life.


AA: If you couldn't be a computer scientist (say that computers disappeared from the earth tomorrow), what else would you do with your self/time/career?

PD: Sometimes, I have nightmares that the world will go apocalyptic and suddenly, everything I am good for will be gone. So, let's hope computers don't disappear tomorrow! However, if I were to do something else with my life.....wow. I really don't know. I've always been very much a Renaissance person -- I'm kinda mediocre at and kinda like a ton of stuff. I'd read a lot of books. I used to wish my parents were rich and that they could buy me a room by the sea filled with books, and I'd just sit, read, and think, all day long for the rest of my life. Or I could take pictures. I like photography. I like arranging photographs into scrapbooks and such, though I haven't physically done so lately. I'd like to become an amazing cook. I'm not half bad now, but if I really had time I'd really get into that. Or I'd be a historian, anthropologist, or sociologist. I've always been very fascinated by people - in a macro scale though. I'm not quite as intellectually interested in individuals, only groups. Gosh, this has really been a useless, all over the place answer. I suppose that means I really don't know what I would do otherwise - which might be a good thing. If I had an answer at the ready for something else to do, would that imply that I am unhappy (or at least kind of dissatisfied) with what I am doing now?

AA: What was the most outrageous thing that you wanted to be/do/have when you were a child?

PD: Honestly, I have no idea. "be/do/have"....that's pretty broad, but really, I do not remember. Probably that my sister would disappear (she was such a brat back then!). Oh, or that I could be Evie Garland. I don't think I had any real career aspirations as a kid, anything that lasted at least. I was just a kid being a kid, didn't think about the future too much :).

AA: How do you imagine yourself 30-40 years from now?

PD: Wow. Um.....I think I imagine myself like my parents live now. Financially stable, happy, grown children, tons of friends, and lots of parties. I imagine that I'll be satisfied with what I've accomplished in life, as in love with Mr. Phizzle as ever, and happy and amiable in our companionship. I'll run half marathons, and I'll be hip, fit, and awesome.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

It seems JLK is on a music kick and tagged me with this music meme. Enjoy!

RULES:
a) Put your MP3 player, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle
b) For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
c) YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
d) Tag at least 5 people
e) Everyone tagged has to do the same thing (no they don't, actually)
f) Have Fun! (Step f is not required)


1. IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
"The Way You Love Me" by Faith Hill

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by REM

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Doesn't Really Matter" by Janet Jackson (um, yes, it matters :))

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Kush" by Lil Wayne

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"The Celts" by Enya

6. WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
"If I Could Go" by Angie Martinez

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Cowboy Hat" by Nickelback

8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"What's My Age Again" by Blink 182 (actually, they think I act my age)

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey

10. WHAT IS 2 + 2?
"Always" by U2

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel

12. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"The Fox" by Nickel Creek. Cuz yup, I'm a fox :).

13. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Hommage a Rameau" - classical piano piece by Claude Debussy, performed by Phillippe Entremont

14. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Country Grammar" by Nelly

15. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? (A little late for that, but oh well)
"Faith" by Limp Bizkit (haha!)

16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniel's Band (YESSSS!!!!!)

17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"If God Will Send His Angels" by U2

18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
"So Much To Say" by Dave Matthews Band. (Heh.)

19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"What More Can I Say" by Jay-Z and DJ Danger Mouse

20. WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
"Imagine" by John Lennon. (Hmm....appropriate.)

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" by U2. Yes, I am proud of my friends.

22. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel.

I'm tagging:

Mrs. Comet Hunter
Cath
Candid
Disgruntled Julie
Hermitage

America's 25 Top Most Visited Places Meme

Silver Fox did this meme and tagged anyone who felt like doing it. I have traveled quite a lot within the US, not as much outside (though still non-trivial), and so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I like to travel :).

Bold the places you have been to. The numbers are probably the average amount of people per year.

1. Times Square, New York City, NY - 35 million

2. The Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, NV - 31 million

3. National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington DC - 24 million

4. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA

5. Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL - 17.1 million

6. Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA - 14.9 million

7. Fisherman's Wharf/Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, CA - 14 million

8. Niagara Falls, NY - 12 million

9. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN/NC - 9.4 million -

10 Navy Pier, Chicago, IL - 8.6 million - don't think so, but not sure. def. been to chicago though.

11. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ/NV - 7.6 million - don't think so but not sure

12. Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL - 6.2 million

13. SeaWorld Florida, Orlando, FL - 6 million

14. San Antonio River Walk, TX - 5.1 million

15. Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT - 5 million

16. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, PA/NJ - 4.8 million

17. Universal Studios Hollywood, CA - 4.7 million

18. Metropolitan Museum, New York City, NY - 4.5 million

18. Waikiki Beach, Oahu, HI - 4.5 million

20. Grand Canyon, AZ - 4.41 million

21. Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa Bay, FL - 4.4 million

22. Cape Cod National Seashore, MA - 4.35 million

23. Sea World San Diego, CA - 4.26 million

24. American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY - 4 million

25. Atlantic City Boardwalk, NJ - 4 million


20/25 - not too shabby!!! There are lots of interesting and cool places within the US, lots of family road trips in my past.....:)

Where have YOU been? Go for it, anyone :).

The WTF do you do? Meme

Ok, so I've gotten some feedback from people in other fields about my post earlier today on CS 101, and I realized that I really would like to know what everyone else does too.

So, I'm tagging all of the science blogosphere with, "ok, wtf do you do?" Maybe not even that specific. More like, "wtf does your field REALLY mean? what problems are you trying to solve?"

Please edify me :). I like to be edified. Don't leave me hangin' peeps! Link to your posts in the comments. I realize that it is a lot to ask - it took me quite a while to write my post, but let's share!

Ok, Ok, Ok

So, I took this test yesterday. And despite declaring that I would get shittons done today, I guess I will jump on the bandwagon since my blog BFFs AA and JLK have posted their results. I'll even give you my thoughts about each of my scores! (whoop-di-do).

Neuroticism

Neuroticism (sometimes also called Emotional Instability) is the tendency to experience negative emotions such as sadness or anxiety. People who score high on neuroticism are vulnerable to stress and tend to experience negative feelings more often. People who score low in neuroticism tend to be less susceptible to stress, and experience negative feelings relatively infrequently.

You scored 14 out of 50. This score is higher than 4.3% of people who have taken this test.

Ok, so I totally agree with this one. I've always know that I'm very....un-neurotic. This is probably why most of my girlfriends come to me for the most logical, rational advice they can get. I am generally easygoing and hard to really stress out. When I am stressed, I rarely get OVERWHELMED by stress. Something in me, which I think stems from childhood and a long-reaching personal time horizon, always is able to get over the "now" in favor of "the future" and know that, well geez, everything is going to be all right. I suppose this means I am the anti-drama queen, which can be good or bad, depending on whether you like drama or not.

Extraversion

Extraversion (or Extroversion) is the tendency to experience positive emotions and seek out stimulating situations. People who score high on extraversion tend to be active, energetic, and enjoy being around other people. In contrast, people who score low on extraversion, known as introverts, tend to be quiet, low-key, and are typically less involved in the social world.

You scored 33 out of 50. This score is higher than 43.4% of people who have taken this test.

This one is also pretty spot on. I'm not especially shy, nor especially outgoing. I don't feed off the energy of other people to juice myself, nor can I stand to be totally alone for long periods of time and I do require social interaction. So, pretty boring and in the middle.

Openness to experience

Openness to experience is a general tendency to appreciate emotion, adventure, and unusual ideas or experiences. People who are open to experience are intellectually curious, appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty. People with low scores on openness tend to have more conventional, traditional interests.

You scored 37 out of 50. This score is higher than 28.4% of people who have taken this test.

This is also pretty accurate, I think. I'm not totally risk averse (i.e. I have no problem picking up and moving to another part of the country, by myself), but I like to establish routines and patterns in my life. But I'm not a slave to them. However, I am definitely not as spontaneous as very spontaneous people, and I think they caught on that I don't really like art that much. Modern art especially. I appreciate beauty, but in my mind....real beauty, not deep non-sensical beauty like splashing paint on a canvas randomly. I think the flaw in this part of the study is the correlation between appreciating art and appreciating beauty. I remember thinking to myself, well, I'm really not all that into visual art, but sometimes a piano piece, well played, can reduce me to tears, as can the violin. So...anyway, my perception is that this part of the study was a bit too blunt.

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is the tendency to show self-discipline and persistence. People who score high on conscientiousness tend to be persistent, responsible, and duty-driven, but are sometimes perceived as being overly perfectionistic and concerned with order. Individuals low on conscientiousness tend to show less persistence and may have trouble seeing things through.

You scored 33 out of 50. This score is higher than 40.9% of people who have taken this test.

This is interesting to me. I am average here, really in the middle. And it makes sense, because I am not the most disciplined person, I don't think. But, this is really self-reported, and not observed. Part of me is aware that, by virtue of the fact that I have slogged my way through most of a PhD, I cannot possibly be a very undisciplined and unpersistent person. And yet, I really think that I am. Actually, that's not exactly true. I don't think of myself as UNdisciplined, I just do not think of myself as disciplined. This part of the study is difficult because of the self-reporting nature, for me. I find it hard to assess myself along this axis.

Agreeableness

Agreeableness is the tendency to be sympathetic and cooperative towards others. People who score high on agreeableness strive for social harmony and value getting along with others. Disagreeable people tend to be more suspicious and hostile towards others.

You scored 41 out of 50. This score is higher than 76.7% of people who have taken this test.

I definitely do consider myself quite agreeable here - part of me sometimes thinks that I am part Empath (e.g. Deanna Troi) because I generally can sense when other people are uncomfortable, and if I know them well enough (or care), figure out how to alleviate that discomfort. So it's not so much that I am agreeable, but I do think I have a tendency to be sympathetic and strive for social harmony. One of my best friends thanked me after her wedding because of a few specific little things I did to alleviate tension in a situation that were fairly subtle, and that's the sort of thing I think I am good at. So yeah. Now I feel like I have been bragging about myself, that's not my intent at all. Anyway, my point is that I feel like this study captured my tendencies along this axis reasonably well.

Ok, so even though this isn't actually a meme, I tagged it as a meme because it's so meme-like. Someone else do it now! :)

Movie Meme

I'm not a huge movie watcher but I saw this meme over at R.E.S.E.A.R.C.H.E.R.S from Dr. J and had to try it.

Rules are simple: Xs next to movies you've seen, and if you've seen more than 85, you apparently have no life.

****PhizzleDizzle addendum, I will annotate some with brief comments! Woot! ha.

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease -- did not like this at all, is that a crime?
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Joe Dirt
( x) KING KONG
Total so far: 6

( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving -MAS
( ) Flubber (original only)
Total so far: 7

(x) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle -- awesome
( ) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 8

( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You -- my favorite teeny bop movie ever
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans -- who doesn't love a GOOD sports movie???
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 12

(x) Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
(x) Lucky Number Sleven -- a good one that went under the radar
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity -- i *heart* this one
(x) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled (original only)
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
( ) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
Total so far: 19

(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds -- great book, eh movie
(x) Rush Hour
(x) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 24

( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days -- actually kind of a good RoCom
(x) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
(x) Sideways -- 4 stars!
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After -- surprisingly excellent
(x) Wizard of Oz -- i *think* i've seen this but honestly I'm not sure.
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
( ) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 32

(x) X-Men -- I *heart* Patrick Stewart
(x) X2
(x) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid -- I memorized this ENTIRE movie as a child.
( ) Freaky Friday (original only)
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions -- surprisingly mesmerizing
(x) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 43

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
(x) The Notebook -- didn't cry, liked it ok. I know, I lose my chick card with this one. Whatever.
( ) K-Pax
( ) Kippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember -- I have no idea why I watched this. Ech.
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old-virgin
Total so far: 47

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring -- who doesn't love Lord of the Rings????
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
( ) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
( ) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 51

( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History
( ) Three
Total so Far: 51

( ) The Jacket
(x) Kung Fu Hustle -- I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
( ) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 53

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
Total so far: 55

( ) Kill Bill vol 1
( ) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 56

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 62

(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
(x) Team America: World Police -- this movie is freakin' awesome. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
( ) Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
Total so far: 66

( ) Battle Royale
( ) Battle Royale 2
( ) Brazil
( ) Contact
( ) Cube
( ) Dr. Strangelove
( ) Enlightenment Guaranteed
( ) Four Rooms
(x) Memento
( ) Pi
( ) Requiem for a Dream
(x) Pulp Fiction
( ) Reservoir Dogs
( ) Run Lola Run
( ) Russian Ark
( ) Serenity
(x) Sin City
(x) Snatch
( ) Spider
(x) The Sixth Sense -- I found this movie surprisingly funny. I enjoyed.
( ) The Village
( ) Waking Life
( ) Zatoichi
( ) Ikiru
( ) The Seven Samurai
( ) Brick
( ) Akira
Total so far: 71

ok, I guess I do watch kind of a lot of movies. Heh. Oh well.

Tagged again? :)

This almost feels like elementary school, where we ran around the playground tagging each other endlessly. It was so much fun :). Ah, those were the days. Anyway, I guess Eugenie and Dr. A (edit: and newcomer JLK as well! Welcome!) are rarin' to know some stuff. And since I am waiting for experiments, I will take this opportunity to answer some shiz about myself!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Getting my ass handed to me on a platter by my first midterms at ILU. I don't know what I was thinking with that schedule (I was naive) - note to Eugenie, it will be ok :)
2. About to spend my first Thanksgiving away from home. :(
3. Trying to make friends, talking to everyone I met, then tripping in the dining hall and spilling orange juice all over my white sweater.
4. Avoiding the freshman 15 - and not really succeeding
5. Getting to know Mr. PhizzleDizzle, whom I thought was one of the dorkiest dudes I'd ever met.

5 things on my to do list today:
1. Work on my paper.
2. Phone meeting with advisor.
3. Work on my paper.
4. Drink water so I don't pee orange tomorrow, and have some real food.
5. Work on my paper, and do not freak out.

5 snacks I love:
1. Cheddar and Sour Cream potato chips
2. French Fries (even better, topped with melted cheese)
3. Crudites (particularly, broccoli, cauliflower, and mushrooms. and celery. ok, mostly any of them, but not so much carrots, which I will eat but do not LOVE).
4. Tomatoes from my MIL's garden.
5. Cheese.

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Buy a house.
2. Go on a long trip around the world.
3. Endow a regular social hour for graduate students at my institution after I graduate. Imagine that, every week/month, the "PhizzleDizzle Social Hour to relieve you of Graduate Stresses". In fact, I might do that anyway, even if I am not a millionaire.
4. Not live much larger than I do now.
5. Become more financially supportive of a favorite charity.

5 places I've lived:
1. California
2. Connecticut
3. Indiana
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey


5 jobs I've had:
1. Receptionist at a small computer software firm
2. Dining hall at ILU
3. Intern at various tech companies
4. umm....TA?
5. Ooh, I almost forgot - I worked in a library at ILU. That was boring. I love libraries, but not this one.

5 people I'll tag:
I am going to break this rule. I am honestly just too tired to make the links. And I have go to back to work. Sigh. But anyone who wants, go ahead and to the meme and say I tagged you :).

See you all on the flip side!

Tagged!?

It appears that ScientistMother has tagged me in a meme. I didn't even know what a meme was until they started showing up all over these blogs that I read! Ha. Yes, I'm green. Anyway, here goes:

The Rules

1. Link to the person who tagged you. -
   
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry has posted.

1) I can say all 50 states in alphabetical order in less than 20 seconds.
2) I once went to an event/conference where I not only shook Colin Powell's hand but met Ian Wilmut (the man who cloned Dolly) and sat next to George Lucas at lunch.
3) I have really, really soft skin. Losing that a touch though - must be the age :P.
4) I had cranberry sauce and stuffing for the first time ever the Thanksgiving when I was 18 years old.
5) I do not get the Asian glow. I can drink a lot of alcohol and my skin does not flush at all. LUCKY ME!
6) I am 132 lbs. I couldn't think of anything else and decided to take a stand for the ladies of modern times and post my weight on the Internet. I think it's bizarre how asking how much someone weighs is more offensive than asking how much money they make. Geez, it's a number. We should stop caring so much. Caring is a noose that makes you fat! That's my humble opinion. I am 132 lbs, smokin' hot, and proud of it. Snap.

Ok, now I am supposed to tag people. Except that the bloggers I "know" are few and far between, plus they've mostly been tagged, so I'll just do a few. Forgive me.

I tag Eugenie, Juniper Shoemaker, and....umm....can I double tag Candid? She's been tagged already but we don't yet know 6 random things about her. :)