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Racist Brampton Girl Video

If anyone hasn't watched it yet (I bet everyone in Brampton and nearby probably heard about it by now!), here it is:

An ignorant, foolish girl complained that there are too many brown people in Brampton. She wishes to move back to Toronto, away from the brown people and the "curry" smell.  She adds that all brown people need to go back to their own country.

When I first saw this video, I felt disgusted and even laughed when she openly gave out her twitter and facebook id, spelling her name. W-T-H!? The level of stupidity boggles my mind. How can she not expect the public outrage? Has she never heard of online bullying? But now, more than anything, I just feel sorry for this girl. Apparently, her father apologized to the public about her behavior and the girl has received some death threats (sigh, what do you expect!? Note to kids: THINK before posting incriminating or stupid content online because anyone can see it). She even had to go to school with a police escort by her side!

There were a LOT of video responses mocking her but the one that truly stands out for me is this one below:

 Best way to address racism or discrimination? Rather than insult them, educate them instead. Long live humanity!!

You can read up on more details here:

http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news/news/article/1337826

Spread love, not hate!

Remodeling the blog

Hi!

Today is Friday the 13th, my lucky day :) After being infinitely lazy, I figured I'll renovate my blog and make some major changes to the layout and the content (instead of studying for my exam right now- A sneaky new way to procrastinate). I don't want to just share interesting content through my blog anymore. I want to create it! Even if my blog might not reach a wider audience this way, I know I'll be happier if I stick to what I truly love- short stories.What's more important than doing what you love?

But I'll also share interesting things when I feel that urge to share rather than create (possibly due to laziness). One more change: I'll be blogging once a week- this is going to be my goal! No more, no less.

Thanks to all those new and old loyal followers and comments- they inspired me to get back to blogging.

Happy Friday! 

Unleash the power of Vitamin Water!

Here's a hilarious stand-up comedy bit on vitamin water I just had to share:

And if you thought YOU were bad at spelling bee's...

Tagged! (I'm exhausted after finishing this)

This thing is EVERYWHERE, isn't it? It's spreading like a deadly virus! Anyway, Aysh from Meow Meow tagged me. Yes, I'm speading the deadly virus :)

The rules: (Which I'm sure everyone knows by now!)

Rule#1: Put the rules on your blog.

Rule#2: Every person tagged should tell 11 things about themselves, answer the 11 questions asked by the one that tagged you, tag 11 other people and ask them 11 different questions.

Rule#3: Let the people whom you tagged know you've done so.

Rule#4: Don't tag anyone who's been tagged before.

Rule#5: Really do tag 11 others, don't go all ''if you want to take this tag''
11 Random things about myself:

1) I looove classic black and white horror movies and thrillers like Pyscho. I'd rather watch something psychological and terrifying than gory movies.

2) I've decided that the first thing to do after I'm married is to travel the whole world! No going back on this whatsoever.

3) I love Spongebob! <3 I still watch cartoons from time to time.

4) I'm not fond of people who don't have manners (Saying please, thank you and excuse me never hurt anyone). I have a habit of instantly saying sorry even though it's not my fault.

5) I dreamed of being an all star athelete, whatever the sport. This is why I always join sports teams eventhough I'm not great at any sport. Hell, I even tried out for sports I never even played before (Yay for field hockey and lacrosse!).

6) I have a billion nicknames which I won't be mentioning here.

7) I'm more fluent in my second language (English) than my native language, Telugu which is a south indian language.

8) I love Leonardo Dicaprio. He's brilliant. I think his best role is in Blood Diamond. Damn, I love all his movies! Did I mention how amazing he is?

The best looking man on the planet :) Yes, I had to include a picture.

9) Number 6 and 3 are my lucky numbers. I choose these numbers for anything, like microwaving leftovers for exactly 63 seconds. Weird, I know.

10) I'm a virgo!

11) My favorite chocolate bar is a milkybar, which is a pure white chocolate candy bar but I do eat any kind of chocolate offered to me :)

11 Questions I answered:

If you could change one thing about yourself physically, what would you change?

I'd change my height. I'm like 5'10 and I wish to be a couple of inches shorter.

If you had to choose one song to listen to everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tough question since I get sick of songs easily. I think 'Drops of Jupiter'.

If a wizard randomly appeared, and offered you the gift of immortality, would you take it and why?

Hell no! This would mean I'd outlive all my loved ones and friends. I'm not good at dealing with deaths, it tears me apart.

If you could be one character from a book/comic/movie, who would you be?

I want to be Blair from Gossip girl. She's gorgeous. Not to mention young, powerful and wealthy!

Red lorry or Yellow lorry?

Red!

What's your favourite type of food (curry, chinese, italian etc.) 

I love indian food and hakka chinese. Anything really spicy and flavorful actually!

Are some people born evil, or is it a learnt behaviour?

I think it's a learnt behavior but maybe some are more prone to evil than others.

Who is your hero? Why?

Sachin Tendulkar, a cricket player. He's just so inspirational and hard working.

What was your favourite subject in school?

Gym class! I loved playing dodgeball.

Do you think animals have consciousness like we humans do? Do they have a sense of selfhood, and are they aware of their feelings and experiences?

Yes, I think so but maybe not all animals. I think they are aware of feelings and experiences. How else can animals like dogs, cats and even domestic animals like cows, sheep and goats be so loyal and loving, right?

 Do you believe in Aliens?

No, not yet.


My 11 questions:

1) What's your favorite place?

2) If you had to marry a celebrity, who would it be?

3) Do you want a twin?

4) How long is your oldest friendship?

5) What's your greatest achievement?

6) If you could only talk to one person for the rest of your life, who would it be?

7) Socks and sandles- yes or no?

8) Choose your power: Mind reading or invisibility?

9) What's your method of transportation?

10) Favorite book?

11) Facebook, twitter or neither? Why?

11 People I tagged:

Raphael

Magiceye

Rads

Jen  (The Butterfly Effect)

ItsReallyJenny

Raj

Birdy

Garima

Sakshi Singh

Rob Z Tobor

Anthony

Happy Tuesday!

What? It'sValentine's day? I had no idea, especially with everyone prancing around with red roses in my university but for me, it's just a regular tuesday more or less. Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! For those who hate Valentine's day for any reason, Happy Tuesday!! <3 Happy anything, really. Just be happy!

Check out Google's super adorable animation today for Valentine's day! It's so sweet, I loved it.

Here's something awesome I came across today which I personally experienced myself (All three scenarios!)
Note: I don't take any credit for these cartoons!

Visit theoatmeal.com for more!

Could this really be the return of the woolly mammoth?

The Sun recently revealed a "jaw-dropping" live footage of what people claim as a live woolly mammoth! The video, taken last summer in Siberia, became somewhat of a viral phenonmenon striking lots of interest online. Firstly, this is news from The Sun and everyone knows 'The Sun' isn't exactly considered as a legit source. Secondly, the video is so hazy and blurry, it might as well be a dirty elephant that rolled around in mud..or anything!

Watch it for yourself and let me know what you think.

Thankfully, most people aren't gullible enough to fall for this. Here are the two theories that emerged from online discussions:

1) It's fake, the 'woolly mammoth' was digitally manipulated and the video is intentionally blurry.
2) It's a real video but it's just a wild grizzly bear with a fish in its mouth.

Which theory do you believe?  Do you have your own ideas on what this creature is?

For those who are interested in this topic, check out this interesting article here on whether science is capable of cloning a woolly mammoth or click here to learn about this fasinating creature. Both are great reads!

(Source)

The stupidest invention ever?

Why waste time on a washroom break when you can use this?  For more images, click here

It's exactly what it looks like...It's the 'Gotta-Go-Briefcase'! I couldn't stop laughing when I first heard about this but yes, it's real.

Japan's Niban Too Corporation invented the briefcase to maximize employee efficiency in the business world. Features include a cup holder, a mirror, a hand sanitizing dispenser, and room for a newspaper. Best of all, the briefcase is water proof, made with quality Mahogany leather and a stainless steel bowl.

How much weight can it hold? (I'm sure everyone's dying to know!) Approximately 175 lbs! If you go over the limit, be warned! The waste tank can break down, disgusting smell (obviously!) and other things can occur that I really don't want to imagine.

If business professionals are so strapped for time that they resort to using this, it shows that someone needs a vacation from work!
(Source)

Competitive Eating at its best

How many chicken wings can you eat in half an hour? before your stomach tells you ENOUGH!

 A competitive eating champion, Takeru Kobayashi ate an astonishing 337 chicken wings in 30 minutes at this year's Philadelphia wing bowl. That's 152 more chicken wings than the previous title holder, Jonathan Squibb!

The grand prize for his grand feat? Kobayashi left $20,000 richer.

Looks like the man's still hungry!

This isn't his only huge win; Kobayashi has a huge record of such achievements! He can eat 14 twinkies in a minute, 69 hotdogs in 60 seconds, set a record for most turkey eaten in 10 minutes, and claims the title for gobbling down 43 pizza slices in 12 minutes among others. Impressive huh?

By the way, this guy isn't even chubby! He's 5'8 and weighs only 128 lbs according to his official website.

Who said you can't be fit and an accomplished competitive eater?

I always wondered how profession competitive eaters can still be in shape! So I did some research and a site mentioned overweight people cannot eat as fast or consume as much as normal people (source). I also found an informative video where a competitive eater answered lots of questions.

The video below reveals lots of frequently asked questions about competitive eating. Questions we all want to know, like "Do people puke at competitive eating contests?", or "Is it dangerous for your health?" or "Are all competitive eaters obese?" 




Video from www.videojug.com

Main source
Takeru Kobayashi's website

Short story: A Doll Maker

Image from www.collectibleporcelaindoll.com

 Note: I wrote this story for one of my writing classes last night. The underlying theme is labor estrangement (Based on Marx' Labour Estrangement text).

Claire squints her eyes to focus on the one-eyed porcelain doll’s face. She waits for the small paintbrush in her hand to stop shaking. She carefully paints the outer rim of the new eye with jet black ink, using small, quick strokes. Claire took great care making all her dolls, paying close attention to intricate details such as size, symmetry, color and texture. Claire enjoys naming each doll, giving them a unique identity and story through their facial expressions, clothing and accessories.

“Mommy!!” Rachel tightly hugs Claire from behind, throwing her coat and pink Hello Kitty backpack to the floor.

“Ah!”  Claire nearly drops the delicate doll in her hands. She sets the doll and the paintbrush aside on the wooden table.

“What’s the dolly’s name, mommy?”  Rachel’s bright hazel eyes twinkle, “Who’s it for?”

Claire picks up Rachel’s coat and shoes. She stuffs them inside the narrow closet overflowing with old cardboard boxes and a few winter coats and jackets.

“It’s for Mrs. Waterman’s doll collection, sweetie. I’m planning on presenting it to her. If she’s pleased, Mrs. Waterman might even recommend me to her friends and display the doll as part of her doll collection. Since Mrs. Waterman’s picky, Mommy has to do her best.” Claire reaches for the doll and paint brush again, “I’ll call her Laura, after Aunty Laura. She has the same soft smile, see?”

Rachel giggles with excitement.

Claire notices the growing pile of bills stacking up on the kitchen counter. Her headache returns. Claire’s crafts and doll making business hasn’t picked up after moving into the cramped, one-bedroom apartment after Jacob’s death last spring. Being a single parent, Claire couldn’t afford their old house with her sole income. When Sally Waterman invited Claire to a dinner party at her posh mansion, Claire decides it is the golden opportunity she needs for her business to prosper, especially as a new doll maker. Doll making gave Claire the freedom to work at home and take care of Rachel. Claire never imagined her childhood summers spent watching and helping her grandmother making and painting antique dolls at their cottage would help now.

“Hor d’oeuvres, mam?” A waiter offers her a tray full of colourful gourmet finger-food.

“Oh, Thank you.” Claire took a bite of her bite-sized caviar dish with a sip of her chardonnay.

“So this is how the rich live.” She mumbles to herself, her eyes filled with wonder and excitement at the breathtaking avant-garde paintings on the walls and the shimmering chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. Chatter, live classical music and laughter resonate from the enormous room. Claire glimpses at the beautiful silk dress and glittering diamond jewellery of the woman next to her.  Claire feels out of place in Mrs. Waterman’s lavish mansion. She is hyper-aware of the fact that she’s in a foreign world, a world of aristocrats and celebrities.

 “Claire, dear!” Sally Waterman approaches Claire in a glittering, green sequined dress, her sparkling emerald earrings matching perfectly with her dress.

“Let me introduce you to a dear friend of mine. Claire, this is Madame Veronica. She owns a famous doll making business.”

Claire extendes her arm towards the distinguished looking middle-aged woman in the dazzling red velvet gown, “Hello, nice to meet you.”

“How do you do?” Madame Veronica politely nods and shook Claire’s hand. Madame Veronica has a thick French accent.

 “I am currently recruiting more workers for my doll making company, Magma. We just opened a branch right here in old Carlton Hill. Would you be interested? Sally told me you are a single mother. We have very flexible hours.”

“Umm...” Claire didn’t know how to respond.

Claire is happiest working from home but she thought about the bills piling on and the lack of steady income. Claire already used up all of her savings. What if there’s an emergency? Didn’t Rachel want to join Tae Kwon Do this year? Claire didn’t know much about the company and how they’ll use her talent but she made up her mind.

 She bit her lip, “sure. I’d like to know more.”

Madame Veronica smiles, “Here’s our business card. We are located right behind the Mimico buildings on Wesley drive.”

After the mouth-watering feast at the dinner party, Claire realizes she forgot to present her creation. Mrs. Waterman is nowhere in sight. Claire stumbles through the crowd towards the door. If she likes the job Madame Veronica mentioned, she wouldn’t need to present the doll after all.

Claire stares up at the gloomy grey factory building. Dark, billowing grey clouds of smoke puff out from the factory. Unsure if she’s at the right address, Claire hesitantly scurries in. Steady motor sounds and buzzing fills the hallways. Maybe my office is upstairs away from the factory, Claire wonders.  She still didn’t know many details regarding the job. Claire spots a yawning watchman in a khaki uniform seated in a wooden chair beside two large metal doors. 

“Hi there. Do you know where Madame Veronica’s office is?”

The watchman sneers, “office? Why would she need that? She owns the place but she never even set foot inside this factory once. You should see how horrible the management is down here!” he grumbles.

He rubs his rough grey stubble, “Anyway, why do you need to see her?”

 “Madame Veronica hired me as the new doll maker. She told me to come here Monday morning to get acquainted with my new position,” Claire glances around the dim-lit corridors, “Is there someone who can assist me?”

“Oh!”  The watchman rubs his eyes; the flickering lights strain his sensitive eyes.

 “A doll maker, eh? Is that what they call a factory worker now? Funny fancy names they come with these days for all kinda jobs.”  He snorts, “They called my position ‘security operative employee’ when they first hired me.”

He opens the heavy metal doors. Claire peers in. Hundreds of factory workers in identical grey uniforms restlessly assemble individual parts of a doll on the massive conveyor belt. A supervisor yells orders to a middle-aged man to stop lagging behind. He hurriedly attaches the doll’s arms and places it on the conveyor belt, monotonously repeating his steps. Claire shook her head, disgruntled.

Claire scoffs, “This is Madame Veronica’s idea of doll making? They’re...they’re all just attaching individual parts of a doll.” She mutters to herself.

Claire thought about her experience of naming each doll she made with Rachel and the unique clothes and accessories painstakingly hand-made for each doll with love and care. She enjoys working on a doll from beginning to end, every bit of the doll made by only her with the individual customer in mind. No two dolls were the same, like people. Claire believes after a hard day’s work, the joyful expressions of a happy customer made her work worthwhile and rewarding.

Claire sighs, her eyes frozen at the conveyor belt fervently whirring on. Working as a factory worker wouldn’t offer any of these rewards. She knew she’d never be happy labouring in a factory assembling dolls for eight hours a day. She hates the idea of mass producing thousands of identical dolls with no individual identity or story or a sole creator. Claire drove back, strangely content to return home and work on her next doll but first, she headed to Sally Waterman’s mansion to present her latest antique doll.

My very first sports injury!

Image from http://www.zazzle.com/definingyou

 Yesterday was an amazing day. We won our second field hockey game, two in a row! (We only played two games and won both of them.) I had so much fun and even got my first sports injury, YAY!!! Officially my first because getting injured at practice doesn't count (If it does, then scrapping my knee was my first). Field hockey is my favorite sport in the world now... more than badminton. I can't believe it.

Getting injured is part of the sports experience. It makes it more real, tangible and memorable or maybe that's just me. It wasn't a major injury so I can gladly celebrate...but my mom freaked out, like moms always do :). This is why I never tell my parents if I get minor bruises and scratches since parents usually worry too much! but my sister let it slip.

And it's a little embarrassing since no one expects to get hit in the face at field hockey and yes, everyone saw.

This is what it kinda looked like in the morning, though it's not as prominent like the picture below. It wasn't  that noticeable after I got hit but last night, my sister asked where I got the pink eyeshadow from, since I don't own any! Hell, I don't even have proper eyeshadow. I usually steal hers! That's what sisters are for, right? Anyway, that's when I told her I got hit in the eye with the ball. Her reaction? "Oh my God, you loser!" ;) The "loser" is her emphasizing her concern.  

Image of a typical swollen eye

Another incident is when I didn't yell foul when I should have! I still don't know how to react. When I was reaching for the ball with my stick, a girl from the other team literally grabbed my stick with her arm. I thought, isn't that a foul!? But I carried on, pulling my stick towards me and she let go.All in all, the game was so exciting and fun since we WON anyway! ;) It's more memorable than the first game because of the competitive opponents, the swollen eye and running in my shorts in the heavy snowfall towards the dome. The games take place outdoors inside a huge dome (So technically, indoors?) in the Varsity center in downtown Toronto. GO EAGLES! :)

Do you have any memorable sports injuries?

Few things that happened this week...

Never happened yet.

And of course...

 Okay, maybe not this one!

Movie Review: The Elephant Man

David Lynch's Elephant Man is a masterpiece. It's brilliantly executed and beautifully presented. Based on a true story, it revolves around John Merrick, named 'the elephant man' because of his severe facial and skin abnomalities. If you enjoy psychological movies, or if you like movies with great content with a social critique, you can't miss it. And yes, it's old but I only found out about this film recently and I want the whole world to appreciate this great movie like I did!


The movie is based on the real 'elephant man', Joseph Merrick

Plot:
Doctor Frederick Treves from a London hospital discovers John Merrick, deemed the elephant man at a carnival freak show. Treves is instantly speechless and utterly baffled at Merrick's grotesquely deformed face and body, resulting in others to label him as a monster. As one can imagine, Merrick is treated brutally by his 'owner' and endlessly exploited for his owner's selfish purposes.Treves is intrigued and motivated by science, willing to examine him in the hospital. The elephant man's owner states that he is an idiot but eventually, we realize Treves is bright, kind and intellectual and also capable of speech. However, Merrick is under danger once again just as he begins to adjust to his new life in the hospital ward after Treves' efforts. Watch the movie to find out more!

The Elephant Man offers a critique of the exploitative nature of freak shows and even science, as pop culture and science both want to make use of Merrick for its own purposes. Ultimately, it left me asking, who's the real monster?

Rating: 9/10

The movie is available on youtube, with the rest of the parts at the side bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1x2pndJfjg

8 Awesome rooms!

I came across some awesome rooms while I was bored, browsing online. Here's a few impressive and unique rooms:

A pink, hello-kitty inspired room from digsdigs.com

 I adore hello kitty and pink and I LOVE this room but I would get sick of all the pink, eventually. Still an awesome room!

Hello, welcome to my pool...er, I mean room!

This is pretty great.First thing that comes to mind is pushing someone into the pool! :D

I'd love waking up to this view everyday! To learn more about this submarine room, click here.

Sickest view EVER. This is actually a bedroom inside a luxury submarine. Incredible, right?

The spectacular Conrad Maldives Rangali Island suite.

This is one sensational suite!! I wouldn't mind staying in bed all day, looking up at the "ceiling" if this is my room. This award-winning hotel even has a restaurant with the same breathtaking experience. Here's a video of it below:

If you're interested in learning more about this hotel, click here! 

Outdoor bedroom, overlooking Hong Kong's skyline. Click here for the source and more pictures.

Outdoor bedrooms in hotel suites usually have fantastic views like this! The view in this InterContinental Hong Kong outdoor bedroom looks perfect.

InterContinental Hong Kong's presidential suite master bathroom. Click here for more the source and images.

Although it's a bathroom instead of a bedroom, I couldn't help but include this in the list because of the remarkable view!

Batman is real! So is his lair...

 The batman lair can be booked for as cheap as 50$....for a 3 hours stay. Located in Taiwan, Kaohsiung city,  the motel has 46 rooms including the batman lair. Click here for the source, more information and images!

Jack Sparrow's room. Image source

 This room is so creative and amazing! I love the stairs leading up to the 'ship' as well.

I'm a LIAR!?

Is there anything worse than being wrongfully accused!? Yesterday, I was supposed to hand in a short paper in class. It's a huge lecture room. I was ready to hand in my response, waiting for the professor to collect it. If there's one thing I truly hate, it's handing in work late when you FINISHED ON TIME. It sucks so bad!

Anyway, people were just randomnly circulating their sheets and I didn't even know where the hell the pile went. The professor said to hand it in at the back of the room. Later, when lecture ended, I went on a break like everyone else (we get a 10 minute break before tutorial begins). It didn't cross my mind to leave my paper at the back then, and I figured I'd drop it after tutorial ends. Fast forward to tutorial, professor's gone (She stays for lectures only since tutorials are just movie screenings) AND so is the pile!!! FML. I emailed the prof...and??

 She doesn't believe me. She thinks I just did my work late and lied to her, and that I should have fully known where the stupid pile was. GREAT! Now I'm a liar!? If there's one thing about me, it's that I always try to be honest. I HATE being called a liar.

Next time, I'll just directly hand the paper to the professor the moment I see her. I don't care if she's not collecting it yet. I'll just give it to her and run, end of story.

Must watch video! 'Miss Representation'

If you've never watched the documentary or the trailer for Miss Representation, you MUST! It's highly thought-provoking and relatively short, I promise! 

WARNING: It has some sexually explicit images so it's not for children! (Still, it's not that kind of video, it's more of a critique!)

Watching this, even for the second time (previously watched it for another class), I felt emotional and even angry in class today. This video sums up one of the reasons I loathe the media sometimes. And ironically, one of the reasons I want to be involved in the media at the same time; to change it.

Fun facts about friday the 13th!

Click here for image source

It's Friday the 13th today. Strangely, this day has always been lucky for me. Just today, I found my keys I've been looking for everywhere! There's tons of superstitions and silly beliefs associated with this notorious day. Here's a few interesting ones I compiled:

The fear of Friday the 13th is called 'paraskevidekatriaphobia' 


Most people avoid marrying on Friday the 13th. In 1913, Friday the 13th, in Middletown, New Jersey, a pastor let couples marry for free as he condemned the day. ( Source )

It was in believed in ancient Rome that witches supposedly flocked together in groups of 12, while the 13th member was the devil himself!

Houses between the number 12 and 14 is numbered as 12 and half on streets in Florence, Italy.

 People with 13 letters in their name have the devil's luck. Examples include:Theodore Bundy, Albert De Salvo, Jack the Ripper,Jeffrey Dahmer, and Charles Manson who have 13 letters in their names.

According to a Norse myth, 12 gods having a dinner party in their heaven, Valhalla, had an uninvited 13th guest, Loki. There, the god of joy, Balder the Beautiful was shot by the blind god of darkness, Hoder.This was planned by Loki. Balder's death caused Earth to go dark and the entire earth to grieve on this day. ( Source )

Why are black cats seen as unlucky?

Click here for image source

This superstition derives from the Dark Ages (medieval times), known for witch hunts. Mostly, elderly women who lived alone were the ones deemed as witches and they kept black cats as their pets, which people thought were the witches' "familiars", meaning evil animals that the devil sent them.

 There's also another myth involving the devil transforming himself into a black cat when he mingles with witches. Sad fact: I head that black cats are the least adopted pets in shelters!! Fortunately, most people don't believe that black cats bring misfortune. I had great luck the one time I crossed a black kitty so I go out of my way to cross their path if I ever see one! In fact, in England, Ireland and Scotland, black cats are seen as bringers of good fortune when they cross your way. ( Source )

Why should you join a team sport?

Women playing lacrosse. Image from sports-information.org/

I recently tried out for my university's intermural lacrosse and floor hockey team. Now, I'm not athletic to say the least! A little out of shape describes me better. Oh...one more thing! I never played lacrosse or floor hockey before either.
Why would I risk completely embarrassing myself? (Assuming how usually only skilled, experienced people try out to a university level team.)

Top 5 reasons:

1) My DREAM is to be on an intermural sports team! I was planning on this since high school.
2) Playing sports is so much fun! It's the BEST way to get exercise and stay/get fit.
3) Meet likeminded people who also love the sport.
4) Learn new skills like teamwork, cooperation and even time-management!
5) It's so rewarding. It'll look great on your resume and it's just a fulfilling experience.

6) Just a bonus reason: Team pride! GO EAGLES!!! <3 :)

 It doesn't matter if you never played the sport.You might end up absolutely loving it! So go out there and try out, even if you never heard of the sport before! ;) I forced my friend who NEVER heard of Lacrosse to try out with me and she LOVED it. She thanked me for forcing her! Besides, everyone has to start out someway.

Who knows what your next love will be? Mine is defintely floor hockey right now! (Lacrosse is #2).


Image from Google



Places I want to see: Natural Wonders

There's so many exciting, beautiful world wonders out there to explore. More than anything, I want to travel the world and see what's out there; meet different people, experience new things, learn new skills and see life in new ways. If I could go anywhere, these are some of the many places I'd like to visit:

Kjeragbolten boulder in Kjerag mountains, Norway. Image from www.lolgallery.com/

Imagine standing up there wedged between those two huge boulders! According to the Mail Online, the small boulder isn't in any danger of dislocating but hikers standing on the dangerous surface could lose balance on a windy day. Just how far up is it? A staggering 1,000 metres up in the air! To see more pictures of this stunning boulder, visit Daily Mail.

Munnar, a south indian hill station. Image from www.indiatravelblog.net/hill-stations-in-south-india/

I feel disappointed to say I haven't been to this stunning place, though I'm from south India.You can see orange and tea plantations and see tea hand-picked and processed as you sit by a gorgeous lake nearby. Other spots nearby to see include the Echo Point, Nyayamakal waterfalls, Rajmala and the Anaimudi peak. For more information on this dazzling tourist spot, visit www.indiatravelblog.net/hill-stations-in-south-india/

The Giant Galapagos tortoise at the Galapagos Islands. Image from famoustourisms.com/

I absolutely love animals! I enjoy observing exotic animals because animals are fascinating. There's no better place to visit than famous Galapagos Islands to see  incredible creatures up close.There's a vast amount of species to see for nature-enthusiasts and the islands are also gorgeous! To learn more about this incredible place, click here! 

The Blue Grotto located in Capri, Italy. Click here for image source.

The Blue Grotto is a sea cave located in Capri, Italy. I'd love to explore the dark sea cave- I'm sure it's an experience to remember forever.The Blue Grotto is declared as one of the seven natural wonders of Europe according to sevennaturalwonders.org, where you can learn more about this magnificent wonder!

The Rock of Aphrodite. Image from wayfaring.info

The Rock of Aphrodite in Cyprus, Greece, is said to be the birthplace of the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. Makes sense, considering the place looks so magical and sublime!  To learn more about the rock of Aphrodite and other Cyprus attractions, click here!

The Canadian Rockies. Image from www.therockiesguide.com

There are lots to see and do in the Canadian Rockies, which includes several dazzling natural wonders that are part of natural parks. Activities include fishing, skiing, biking, hiking and more! To learn more about the Canadian Rockies including other great Canadian wonders, click here!

China's Colored Fields of Yunnan. Image from molempire.com

Hard to believe, but it's true! This awe-inspiring photograph isn't a painting! This is a photograph of China's colored fields of Yunnan made up of infinite flower fields. Amazing, isn't it?

After searching for some of the natural wonders from around the world, I can truthfully state there's truly so much beauty and wonder in the world that I have yet to explore! I hope to travel and see all of these places someday.

What were the places you always wanted to see?

On a side note: I'm SO proud of my sister, who just published her first paper! A scholarly journal article!! So very proud of her :)  Here's the link to her paper:
www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0028863

Short story: Peer Helpers

 

Note: All characters are fictional.

Monday, 4:10 PM.

“Yo, Mrs. Chung cancelled today’s meeting too!” Vikas rubs his head full of thick, curly black hair. I move closer to the door to read the green post-it note stuck on; ‘Peer Helpers meeting cancelled.’ Mrs. Chung is the school guidance counselor and the head of the Peer Helpers club at Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School.

8:45AM.

Mrs. Chung’s usually glossy pin-straight hair looks coarse and untidy. Her once shiny, manicured nails are chipped and uneven, her elbows dry and cracked and her eyes heavy and droopy. Her noisy 5-inch pumps and suit is replaced with white running shoes and faded grey track pants. Mrs. Chung flies past me, clutching onto a folder overflowing with papers. She accidentally drops her Blackberry and jumps back; as she reaches for her cell phone, her folders slips from her hands, the papers flying to the floor. Mrs. Chung grits her teeth and scoffs.

4: 20 PM.

Vikas gently slaps the back of my head with a rolled-up Bristol board, “What’re you spacing out for?”

I shake my head, “We didn’t have a Peer Helpers meeting for 3 weeks now! I think something’s going on with Mrs. Chung.”

Vikas looks thoughtful, rubbing his stub of a chin, “hhmm… true. I could’ve sworn I’ve seen her crying in her car this morning.”

What if Mrs. Chung had a nasty breakup? Is she overwhelmed with work? Maybe it’s health problems. I’ll investigate. Even guidance counselors need someone to talk to. There would be no Peer Helpers without Mrs. Chung.

I walk to the school office. The soft grey reception desk is organized with a bundle of folders on one side, and colorful souvenirs and knickknacks on the other side. A mini Santa Claus figurine in an orange and yellow Hawaiian shirt and black sunglasses bobs his oversized head from side to side. Two identical reindeer bobble-heads with apple-red noses and matching sunglasses with a drink in their hands jingle their heads back and forth on each side of the Santa figurine. Mrs. Persaud likes to collect bobble heads.

Mrs. Persaud greets me with her best smile, her brown eyes sparkling “Hello dear, how I can help you?”

I set up an appointment with Mrs. Chung at 4:10 pm tomorrow. All appointments for today are cancelled. I scribble my signature and student number onto the sign-up sheet and head out, thanking Mrs. Persaud. She waves at me, the colorful charms on her silver bracelet dangling.

Tuesday, 4:25 PM.

I wait outside Mrs. Chung’s door, poking at Mrs. Persaud’s bobble heads. Mrs. Persaud returns from the cafeteria with a steaming cup of coffee.

Mrs. Persaud frowns, “Mrs. Chung’s not here yet?”

I shake my head and immediately spot Mrs. Chung through the glass in the empty corridor, speed walking. Her shoulder-length hair is caught in the handle of her violet Gucci handbag. She frantically tries to untangle her hair as she creaks open the office door. Mrs. Chung rushes into her room, placing her Starbucks coffee and leather handbag onto her cluttered wooden desk overflowing with transcripts, paperclips, a couple of pens and pencils and folders. She gestures at me, asking me to come inside. Her face looks haggard and tired. The wrinkles at the edge of her dark brown eyes are prominent. Her skin looks dry and irritable, her usual tan glow missing.

“So, what would you like to talk about?”

I stare at the pale grey-blue carpet. My mind remains blank and my body is stiff. I listen to a muffled ringtone coming from Mrs.Chung's handbag .

“Just give me a minute” Mrs. Chung grabs her cell phone out of her handbag and walks out the door.

I sink back in my chair, relieved. I gaze around the tiny room. The shelves are stuffed with thick encyclopedias and novels, and photos of her two young children; a boy and a girl. Everything looks the same like before, except the desk is more cluttered. I search for the family picture in a polished, wooden frame. I scan the room closely; it’s not here. Maybe it was a separation. I hear Mrs. Chung’s footsteps approaching closer. I sit back in my seat.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, Daddy will come by next week, ok? Ok, I love you.”

Mrs. Chung throws her cell phone onto her desk, nearly missing. Her face instantly reddens.

“Sorry, I just need to reorganize everything and I’ll be good to go.” she admits, tying her hair up in a messy bun.

I nod, unsure of what to say. The clock reads 4: 45PM. A student waits outside the door.

“Looks like my time’s up, Mrs. Chung. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Sure. See you next week in the Peer Helpers meeting!” Mrs. Chung smiles warmly.

Mrs. Chung shuffles her notes, organizes her folders and clears the food from her table. Half the clutter is already gone.

Let kids be kids

I never liked the show Toddlers & Tiaras. Most of the moms clearly want to live through their daughters...their very young daughters. It's sad and even a bit disturbing. As if young girls don't have enough pressure to look perfect all the time.

toddlers and+tiaras pics on Sodahead 

Here's a short clip from the show, where a mom forces her 5 year old daughter to have her eye brows waxed! Ouch!!

If you thought that video was disturbing, this one below is absolutely disgusting! A mom injects her 8-year old daughter with botox for a beauty pageant:

Whatever happened to letting kids be just kids?