Step away from the thesaurus.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

So now there's a study supporting something that I've believed in for a while: that unnecessarily using big words and complicated language just makes you sound dumb.

The researcher, Daniel Oppenheimer, gathered a selection of writing samples--some written in normal, simple language, and others modified to use overly complex language and bigger words. Then these were handed to students to a group of evaluators. Guess what: the more complex and flowery the language of the sample, the less intelligent the students perceived its author to be.

It's not really that surprising when you think about it. It's true, having a large vocabulary can indicate that a person is knowledgeable. But the unnecessary use of big words and difficult language--which, let's face it, a lot of people do for the sake of sounding important or intelligent--can sacrifice fluency and clarity. Basically, it doesn't matter how impressive you think your two-dollar words are--if you cram them in it to the point that the language becomes unnatural and unclear, then you're doing it wrong. (“The chief virtue that language can have is clarity.” – Hippocrates)

There's a lot more to be said about being able to express complex ideas in simple language, not the other way around.

And personally, really, I think using big words to sound impressive is just lame. It always just sounds like you're really, really trying. xD

Here's a blog entry that briefly explains Oppenheimer's study (which is titled "Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly". LOL.); and here's the actual study in PDF.

Question? - My Way

Remember when I didn't have a stable job yet and I felt like crap and didn't know what I was gonna do next then I discovered Question's song "Head Banging Boogie" and the lyrics were exactly what I needed that time?

*breathe*

Yeah well they did it again. :D This time Yone wrote the song. Excerpts:

You can get the lyrics (Kanji, Romaji, English trans) here. But here, the parts that I really love:

kono yo wa fuan darake no sekai de
wakaranai koto demo wakari takumonai yo
oikake takumonai monow o
oikake saserareru no mo tsurai desho?
This world is a world full of anxiety
and the things I don't understand,
I don't even want to understand them.
Isn't it also painful how they can make you chase
after something that you don't even want to chase?

and this

nandaka warawareteru ki ga shiteru no
honto chiisana kono machi de mieru daro ?
Somehow I feel like I'm being laughed at
In this really small town. Doesn't it seem like that?

and this, my absolute favorite part

itsu datte jibun rashiku, yaritakute
yarubeki koto wo yaru dake dakara
Because whenever I'm myself, the things I want to do,
the things I should do, I just do them.

And, give it a listen:


[flail] I've said it before and I'll say it again. QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? QUESTION? I LOVE THIS BAND SO MUCH. x3 ♥ YONEMUU~!!! [/flail]

I know there are gonna be people out there who can't get past the Engrish, but... bah, your loss. xD Haha. Anyway... I'm probably reposting this everywhere. I have a loooong recap post to write about everything that happened in November (spoiler: NOVEMBER WAS BAD), but I'll save that for later.

Don't do it for the karma.

First things first: Plurk is awesome.

I know I've joined a lot of social networks* (both out of boredom and for my sideline writing gig), but of the ones that I actually use, Plurk is the one I've recently gotten hooked on. It's got a lot going for it--it's simple, it runs on interactivity, and it loads fast (no clutter). And it's just plain fun.

But of course, it has a dark side. Plurk runs on a karma system, which basically rewards activity--posting, responding to other people's plurks, and updating your profile. As your karma points go up, you get to go up certain levels (the stage of creation, enlightenment, nirvana, et cetera), unlock exclusive emoticons, et cetera. What makes this the dark side?

The people who do it for the karma.

See, it feels kinda nice to notice your karma points go up, but I guess some people are just really... driven. LOL. For these people, the desire to increase their karma points (and level up faster than you), is tremendous. Naturally, they resort to--well I don't know what it's really called--spam-bomb? Plurk-spam? Plurk...bomb? xDDD;

Whatever. They just post way too frigging often. And you can tell they're just doing it for the points. Why is this such a bad thing? Because it's just plain lame. Well, if these people are in your friends list, they will clutter up your timeline and bump back the plurks of your other friends. Ah, and every couple of minutes, you'll get an update on what they're thinking, or doing, or thinking of doing, looking at, sitting on, smelling. Even if it's not the least bit interesting anymore. (Because really, unless you're MacGyver, there's little chance that you're doing something interesting like, thirty times throughout a day.) It makes the whole thing just a little bit less fun. Also, it's lame.

The good news is that you can choose to un-follow these friends--you don't have to take them off your friends list, you just don't get their plurks on your timeline. That'll lower their karma a little. This is actually Plurk's way of discouraging people from over-posting. But it's hard to tell if this is effective (since a lot of people still do it). Besides, un-following people comes with a slight feeling of guilt, as though you're being mean. ;~; I myself have taken some people off my timeline. Because I just felt like being mean. :(

Some folks around the net have remarked that the karma system should be improved, so that the quality of the plurks matter too, not just the frequency. (I'm pretty sure the responses to your plurks are taken into account too. I guess that helps a little.) I'm too much of a right-brainer to try to figure out how it could be improved, but I'll welcome anything that would make the site even more fun.

By the way, I don't spam, so add me? xD

*A lot. Including sites you've probably never even heard of: sosauce, virb, meevee, the sixty one.

It's supposed to look not quite right.

Because of topic research for work, I've been looking into steampunk a lot lately. It's pretty kickass, in an odd and very anachronistic kind of way (which is the point of it, really). For those who don't know, steampunk is a subgenre of fiction that imagines technological inventions existing at a time way before they were invented. Apart from distorting the timeline, the inventions are also created differently from how they actually turned out. We're talking, steam-powered computers. Look--

See, steampunk enthusiasts often mod new things to make 'em look old and retro-futuristic. It's fun, 'cos the people who get into it... really get into it. Like this guy who made hand-crafted variable-aperture brass goggles.
It's all really cool in a horribly geeky way and therefore I love it. xD Kind of makes me wish I at least knew how to weld--I'm already imagining what I could do with my old USB MP3 player. Sadly, crafting isn't my strong point; I tend to superglue my fingers together. Imagine what I could do with a soldering iron.

x x x x x

Long overdue plug: Sid's new blog over at WordPress looks rather healthy and makes sense. :D

A few things made of win.

1. The Yoshi Burger
So. That's the Yoshi Burger from TokyoCafe (at The Block, SM North)... and yes, I totally got it JUST BECAUSE OF ITS NAME. xD But that aside, it was made of awesome. I know there's really not a lot of... diversity to expect from cheeseburgers , nonetheless it was pretty damn good. My mom and I went there last week. I'm sure the rest of the stuff on the menu is promising too only now I'm probably too obsessed with the Yoshi to try anything else.

2. James Dean
I think I'm in love I've found a new fandom. I can't stop watching this. xD I actually ended up writing about him for work. "...young, irreverent, non-conformist, and a loner," I said about him and his rebel image. *swoon* ~(_^_)~♥ But really, apart from the bad-boy image, he's just absolutely amazing as an actor. There's just something really raw and pure about it, it's like he's not even acting. I saw him in Giant years ago (plus another short movie), but I've yet to see Rebel in its entirety, so--DVD hunt this Saturday, I guess. xD Text or IM or something, if anyone wants to come with.

3. Wall-E
WATCH IT. It is bar none the best-looking Pixar film ever. I can't stop saying that. Especially the parts at the beginning. And especially how they made it look like it was shot in film, instead of all synthetic-looking like CG usually is. And I'm glad it was as cool as it was, otherwise I would've looked like a total asshat after I had to... to... preemptively rave about it in a magazine article. xD xD xD OH HEY yeah btw I was published this month. Check out August's issue of SPEED, I have a few articles in there. \(>v<)/ I... forgot to blow my own horn ahead of time, sorry. Ohoho. I DIGRESS. Wall-E was fantastic. It was witty even without dialogue and the CG was kickass.

Anyway that's it for now. More meaningful post some other time or elsewhere. xD I just felt like I had to update here since it's been a while.

Time to dance.

Wow, this took me a while.

Ok. Just because I said I would--and never mind that I've forgotten most of the details by now--here's the follow-up post about the Panic at the Disco concert. With pics.


Clockwise from top left: (1) During "There's a Good Reason These Tables are Numbered," Ryan made us snap to the verse and do jazz hands! for the chorus. (2) Brendon... multitasking. (3) That would hurt, I imagine. D: (4) That's Brendon taking a swig of water (presumably :P) in the bg.

Some more random shots of RyRo and Bden rocking out. Including (top left)... the one photo of RyDen fanservice ♥ that I was able to capture.[?] Oh ho. xD xD xD Bottom left: Bden wearing one of them plastic devil horn things that they sell at the venue. [defensive] Ah, and why I lack Jon and Spencer photos is not just a matter of fangirl bias. xD Jon was far from me, and Spencer... he moved too fast. O_O [/defensive] LOL

x x x x x

Some a-hole kept trying to talk to me during the concert. What. It was bad enough that he was obviously not a fan (he was just with his friend from Canada, who was), but he kept making all these stupid comments. And he kept trying to start a conversation, in really bad fob English, even when my face was like, Meh. I mean, hmm. I like guys that are straightforward, but I'd like to think there's a difference between being straighforward and... and... just being an asshat. T~T

Dude aka Jerko McDouchebag: So... do you... stay hir? In the Philipins?
Me: *while turning away* ...yah. >_>;

[Later]
Dude aka Asshat McStoopid: *glances at my camera* So. Marami ka nang nakuhang pictures*?
Me: *while turning away* nnhhrrnnsssh. >_<;
*Have you taken a lot of photos?

x x x x x

The concert was another one of the rare occasions that let me go out in my stripey socks--this time with boots. I looked ridiculous to normal people, out in the streets, but in the audience, I fit right in. xD Aaand, NO, I did not bother to count the number of patterned hoodies in there. There were. SO MANY. (>v<);

x x x x x

BTW. The opening act--a Canadian band called Crowned King--was pretty cool too. They had this 80's-ish sound to them, I liked it. And I liked their guitarist (right)--first because he vaguely resembled Patrick Stump in, uh, shape... xD and he had some funky dance moves.

Swear to shake it up if you swear to listen.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFASDFAFSDLFJA;SLFJ
ALSJKFLAJSFLAJSFJLJFLAKJSFLJASLJFDAJFLKJLKJASLK
DAJUA'A;AFJSDLAKJFJASDJHGHGJGHAHFHASLKDJFH
ALKSJDFHLKPPPPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIICCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \(>o<)/ (Yes, I think I actually managed to physically make that face.)

*cue uncontrollable flailing*

*jumping around*

*spazz*

*dance*

*breathe* ok now that's out of the way: the Panic at the Disco concert was the GREATEST. THING. EVER. O_O

One more time, with feelings.

The Panic at the Disco concert was the GREATEST THING EVER. \(>v<)/

They played (In semi-random order, just as I remember them.):
♥ = my favorites

We're So Starving
Nine in the Afternoon
She's a Handsome Woman
But it's Better if You Do ♥
There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered, Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet [Ryan made the audience snap along during the verse and do jazz hands! during the chorus xD] ♥
That Green Gentleman ♥
The Only Difference Between Suicide and Martyrdom is Press Coverage
Behind the Sea
Lying is the Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
I Write Sins, Not Tragedies ♥
I Constantly Thank God for Esteban
Folkin' around
Time to Dance [Brendon solo. Naturally, we did "Shotgun! Wedding! Shotgun! Wedding!" :D] ♥
Northern Downpour
Pas de Cheval
Mad As Rabbits

Yes, pretty much, they sang nearly everything in Fever (except Nails for Breakfast and Build God) and some stuff from Pretty.Odd. :D

Needless to say, I shrieked louder than I ever thought I was physically capable of. Ah, and my "seat" was mostly just a technicality because I was on my feet the whole time (well for a while, I stood on the seat... until the bouncer told me not to. Damned spoilsport.) xD I never thought I could keep screaming so loud and for such a long period. I danced and yelled the lyrics sang at the top of my lungs. :D I also did this \m/ a lot. Moohaha. IT WAS SO MUCH FUNx100,000,000,000.

Alright, I'm off to bed to pass out now. (LOL whose bright idea was it to hold this concert on a Thursday.) I'll follow up with a more extensive and hopefully, coherent narration. Because I'm the narrator and this is just the prologue. Sorry, I just had to do that. Oh ho. xD xD xD. Photos (I have lots) will follow as soon as I retrieve them from my sister's camera.

(Also, since they ended with "Mad as Rabbits"... before goodbye, the last lyrics they sang were "we must reinvent love... reinvent love...") ♥ :3

I never gave a damn about the weather.

What: Company outing
Where: the beach, in Puerto Galera
When: right smack in the middle of typhoon season, 1st-3rd August 2008

Let's not get into why. Last Friday, I found myself bound for the beach, for a company team-building(ish) trip to Puerto Galera with two fellow writers, co-workers and bosses from the Korean office, and our Canadian editor. With a complete disregard of everything I learned about coherence, here are some of the highlights.

FRIDAY.
Around noon. Yelling across terraces at the resort.
Editor: HEY INCHUL!!!
Inchul (co-worker from Korea): YEAH?
Editor: LIZ HAS SOMETHING TO TELL YOU!!!
Inchul: WHAT?
Me: ...YOU HAVE A NICE BUTT!
Inchul: *cracks up*

x x x x x

I got to go snorkeling!!! IT. WAS. UNBELIEVABLE. I don't have enough words. The corals and the little fishies were sooooo beautiful!!! I even saw a blue starfish at the bottom, which I swear was the prettiest thing ever. Never mind that it probably wasn't my, um, most graceful moment. xD I couldn't count how many times I had to shake off my mask just so I wouldn't end up drinking half the ocean. :P LOLNOOB.

In the afternoon, the whole group went fishing, and let me just say. I finally understand why I never understood the appeal of fishing. xD I guess I'm just not the kind of person who's up for staying still in one place for a really long time, just waiting for fish that you're not even sure would bite or not. (Ah, that, and I don't even like fish. Wahaha.)

SATURDAY
The snorkeling left us with useless, sore arms, so Meg and I both took a rain check for the "jungle tour" that our other co-workers went on that day. So us two girls--both with considerable ADHD symptoms--scampered about for other activities to fill the day with. First up, we got some sweet henna tattoos--room service, natch. :3

The flower design on my lower spine means balance, the butterfly on my upper back means freedom.

We also hung out at the beach, camwhored a LOT, and oddly, became something of a tourist attraction(?) because some dude just had to trot over to get his picture taken with us in the background. xD LOL WHUT.

SUNDAY
Most of the morning was a huge photo op. Stole hibiscus flowers, posed around. In photo: Those rocks? Those were SHARP. Really sharp. That's me pretending they don't hurt me in the ass.

Afterwards, us three writers went on a relatively long trek along the "shore" (that at that time had disappeared into the tide), and got soaked in the rain, just for the sake of souvenirs for ourselves and loved ones. xD I guess I went a little crazy buying the pretty bracelets, but I just absolutely love their color.


All in all, it was easily one of the best trips I've ever been on. I guess I'd be saying something else if I'd gone on the aforementioned "jungle tour" (which turned out to be something of a mild disaster), but yeah.

♥ I'll probably up more pics to Facebook, Friendster, etc. The mushier (aka moar feelings plskthx) stuff, as always, will be relegated to the not-so-sekrit journal. xD Also, I might edit this tomorrow. I'm so sleepy right now it's no longer funny. Oyasumi nasai! (_^_).zZ

I wasn't high, but

last Friday I saw by the following:

Long-legged dancing showgirls;
acrobats somersaulting through hoops and flying across the room;
a fat lady who sings, in an Elizabethan gown;
a Ricky Martin impersonator;
at least 7 guys dressed as Elvis;
contortionists; and last but not least,
masked mimes in neon-on-black unitards drumming neon-green sticks.

It was... pretty cool(?).

Fine. Here.

I'm too buzzed to comment a whole lot so here, real quick: I liked the acrobats. (Although this will always be my favorite group of acrobats, probably.) And surprisingly, I even liked the mimes (and I am somewhat afraid of mimes). But... the contortionists. That was just plain wrong. Just, OMG, unacceptable. The whole time I was like HEY NO REALLY YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT. /ﾟ~ﾟ\

The Forbidden Kingdom: (not surprisingly) kickass.

So yesterday I yanked my dear mother out ouf bingo to watch The Forbidden Kingdom. She loves Jackie Chan too so it was pretty easy.

(SPOILER ALERT, though I'm not giving away the ending.)

The Forbidden Kingdom. Was. AWESOME. An easy addition to my list of favorites. The nod to Drunken Master was very very cool, and let me tell you: just the fight sequence between Jackie Chan and Jet Li was worth the price of admission. It was long, brilliantly choreographed, and showed off the different styles of two equal fighters. In fact, it was so evenly matched, it was almost as if to mock those fans that still won't abandon the age-old debate over who can kick whose butt.

Of course I didn't like everything about the movie--to be honest, I would've liked it better if they'd just done away with the whole subplot about the kid, whose personality borrowed a little too much from Karate Kid's Daniel-san. Not to mention he looks almost exactly like Shia Lebouf. I have nothing against Shia Lebouf, he's just not my idea of a kung fu warrior.

But the subplot didn't get in the way of the ass-kicking, so the movie is overall still a winner. The fact that it was so over-the-top in some parts (Monkey King!) just made it even more fun to watch, and right for the genre. (If you want something believable, go watch that Patrick Dempsey wedding movie, you pansy.) There was plenty of comic relief. And the fight scenes were pretty frigging sweet.

If you're a fan of both Jet Li and Jackie Chan... you don't need to be reading this. If you're a fan of either one, you'll end up loving the movie and liking them both. And you saw the trailers and the posters, right? Proclaiming the two masters, brought together in a movie--"Never before. And maybe never again." Maybe never again. So start placing your bets on when they'll come out with the sequel.