Joined Reddit & Time Wasting Ensues

The World Famous(?) Reddit Alien

After this forum has been around my life (via YouTube videos and current events) for quite some time, I finally took the plunge and decided to create an account and be part of massive online community for better and for worse. In my short time of being a Redditor, I've learned quite about myself: I have very little willpower to curb my time online at Reddit. On one hand, spending lots of my free time has allowed me to find great sub-reddits, but on the other hand, I've wasted precious free time dicking around some of the more hilariously stupid (sometimes NSFW/L) learning new things, keeping up with world in news and tech, and even just having a much need laugh in a lousy day. Below, are some great subreddits as well as some of the more...interesting...subreddits. Enjoy, and you're welcome ;-)

Some interesting subreddits (for better):

• /r/CarTalk
• /r/ListentoThis
• /r/InternetisBeautiful
• /r/ExplainLikeImFive
• /r/PersonalFinance

Some interesting subreddits (for worse):

• /r/FiftyFifty
• /r/AdviceAnimals
• /r/TIFU
• /r/GoneWild
• /r/Incest (What you're thinking at the moment is 1/10th of how Reddit felt upon its discovery)

I'm still finding some new and interesting subbreddits. The goal is to find more productive and thought-provoking subreddit forums while trying to dodge to the more inane forums. As you can see, I've found several that I've taken a chance on and failed. Miserably. Well, until next time!

Breaking Bad

Again, due to having a crapload of free time this summer, I am feverishly attached to the Netflix and the television, since I'm feverishly watching Breaking Bad. The series finished just not too long ago, and I've somehow managed avoid as much as spoilers along the way. So, I'm now on a Breaking Bad marathon, and I'm now on the final stretch of the final 8 episodes of the series (though I may be done by the time this is posted). 

In all honesty, I'm a bit surprised that it's taken Walter White/Heisenberg some time to be on his own, and begin to establish his empire. In the seasons I've watched thus far, he was always under someone's thumb, whether it was Krazy-8, Tuco, or Gus himself. All the promos and such have always portrayed White as this ruthless man without scruples, but it's taken time Walter to become the ruthless Heisenberg. Also, Pinkman doesn't say "bitch" as much as I thought he would. He tends to say "Yo" more than "B", which is kind of disappointing to say the least, but I have no qualms about that.

I honestly I don't have much to add here. I simply loved watching (and still watching) this critically-acclaimed show. In some ways, I wish I had the privilege of viewing this show along with millions of people, so that I, too, may be part of the conversation, but alas, I was half a year too late, and I'm ok with that. I can't wait to have those lengthy conversations with friends (over beer, of course) about the show. 

A Small R&R

Finally, after this past month and a half, I can actually write for my personal delight again! I spent all this time researching, outlining, and then madly writing two separate term papers - one as a class assignment and the other as a sign of things to come (it was a mock literature review designed to prepare us for the lengthy research process of our undergrad Senior Thesis). Now that both of these assignments are complete (and awaiting corrections/revisions by my professors), I can finally rest easy for this week (before I'll have to adjust my paper to reflect the evaluations my professors will impose upon me).

Unfortunately, this small break from my demanding school schedule is simply insufficient. I'm burned out from almost a whole straight year of juggling work and school, and how I'm holding up is beyond me. I'm afraid of how this Spring will end - I fear this will be my weakest semester thus far in my stay at this university. I know more there is more to life than good grades, but sometimes I forget that, and I end up placing a great deal of value upon a simple 5-letter grading system.

Anyhow, I hope to resumify my writing soon - there are things that I want to write about and try new experiences, hoping for positive feedback and results (more on these later, of course). For now, it's sufficient to say that I'm trying to be mindful to write more, for my sake. Until next, fellow readers!

Come Learn French with Me? (Part Deux - Days, Months, and Numbers)

Moving on from where the previous post finished, today I'll be reviewing days of the week, the months, and more numbers.

Les Jours de Semain (The Days of the Week): 

Lundi = Monday

Mardi = Tuesday

Mercredi = Wednesday

Jeudi = Thursday

Vendredi = Friday

Samedi = Saturday

Dimanche = Sunday

Les Mois (The Months): 

Janvier = January

Février = February

Mars = March

Avril = April

Mai (pronounced "meh" = May 

Juin (pronounced "jweh") = June

 Juillet (pronounced "jwi-yeh") = July

Août (pronounced "oot") = August

Septembre = September

Octobre = October

 Novembre = November

Decémbre = December

Les Chiffres: 

11 = Onze ("ohnz")

 12 = Deuze ("dooze)

13 = Trieze (think of the Spanish "trés")

14 = Quatorze ("cah-torse")

15 = Quinze ("cans")

16 = Seize ("says")

17 = Dix-Sept

18 = Dix-Huit

19 = Dix-Neuf

20 = Vingt ("van")

Come Learn French with Me? (Part Un - Letters and Numbers)

Ah, man, it's been too long! I actually wanted to work on this two weeks ago, but life got in the way, as always (the sickness, work, and a barrage of reading assignments - told ya the demands of life, work, and school would get to me!). Anyhow, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I hope to use this cyberspace to review and share the progress that I'm making as I'm learning French! As I said, I;m a bit late for this (Rachel once told me that I'm constantly late to everything...she might have a point there.), but that won't discourage me at all *insert a heroically egotistical laughter here* MOVING ON! Here is a brief summary of what I have learned thus far =)

L'alphabet - the French alphabet is the same as its English/American counterparts, but with some distinctions:

"A" is pronounced "ah", not "ay"

"B" is pronounced "bé', not "bee";

 

"E" is pronounced like "euh", not "ee";

"G" sounds like "jay" (without the "y");

"H" is pronounced like "ashe";

"I" is pronounced "ee", not "eye";

"J" sounds like "gee";

"P" is pronounced like "pé", not "pee";

"Q" sounds like "kew";

"R" is pronounced like "air";

"T" is pronounced "té";

"V" is pronounced "vé"

"W" is actually called "double 'v'"

"X" is actually called "ix"

"Y" is actually called "i grec";

"Z" is actually called "zed".

Les Chiffres (Numbers) 1-10:

0 = Zéro

1 = Un ("ooh")

2 = Deux ("doo")

3 = Trois ("twa")

4 = Quarte ["cat(r) - the r is somewhat silent]

5 = Cinq ("sank")

6 =Six ("cease")

7 = Sept ("set")

8 = Huit ("wheat")

9 = Neuf ("nuff")

10 = Dix ("deese")

Hiking

Now that the Spring Semester is underway in university, my convoluted schedule has finally allowed me an entire free day to do whatever I please. Unfortunately, this means that I have a whole free day to spend studying (or conducting research, whichever is more important at the time), but I'm sure I'll have a day every week or so to do something...right? 

Well, since these are the early weeks of the Spring Semester (we started quite early, actually), these next Wednesdays are free for me to do whatever I please. So, I spent this past Wednesday hiking. This hike will be the first of many and I hope that I can continue to do such leisurely activities like this in the future. Incidentally, this makes it a new trail that I've trekked, so now I've only to explore 2 more! Finally, I'll just post some photographs that I took along the way - Enjoy!