That's my advice to teachers and parents who see students' getting bored or frustrated as they try to learn their times tables. 

As you help students learn these critical facts, it helps, from time to time — to work on multiplication in a fun and relaxing way.

This is the first in a series of blogposts that make it more pleasurable to learn multiplication facts — by teaching multiplication tricks. Each post will contain a complete lesson plan:  instruction, practice problems, and all answers. 

The first such trick is for multiplying by 5.

TRICK #1:

WHAT THE TRICK LETS YOU DO:  Multiply numbers by 5.

HOW YOU DO IT (EVEN NUMBERS): When multiplying an even number by 5, just take half the value of the even number, then put 0 at the end.  Ta da … that’s your answer.

Example:  5 x 14

Half of 14 is 7.

Put down the 7, then put a 0 after it, and you get 70.

That’s the answer:  5 x 14 = 70.

Can you believe that it’s that easy? Watch how you can do the same feat with larger numbers…

Another example:  5 x 48

Half of 48 is 24.

Put down the 24, then put a 0 after it, and you get 240.

That’s the answer:  5 x 48 = 240.

PRACTICE Set A:  (Answers at bottom)

5 x 8

5 x 16

5 x 4

5 x 28

5 x 36

5 x 84

5 x 468

HOW YOU DO IT (ODD NUMBERS): When multiplying an odd number by 5, first subtract 1 from the odd number, thus making it an even number. Then use the trick (above) for even numbers. And here’s the new thing to know — instead of putting a 0 after the result, put a 5.

Example:  5 x 13

13 – 1 = 12

Half of 12 is 6.

Put down the 6, then put a 5 after it, and you get 65, That’s the answer:

5 x 13 = 65.

Another example: 5 x 29

29 - 1 = 28

Half of 28 is 14.

Put down the 14, then put a 5 after it, and you get 145. That’s the answer:

5 x 29 = 145.

PRACTICE Set B:  (Answers at bottom)

5 x 7

5 x 13

5 x 9

5 x 15

5 x 23

5 x 47

5 x 685

ANSWERS Set A: 

5 x 8  = 40

5 x 16  = 80

5 x 4  =  20

5 x 28  =  140

5 x 36  =  180

5 x 84  =  420

5 x 468  =  2,340

ANSWERS Set B: 

5 x 7  =  35

5 x 13  =  65

5 x 9  =  45

5 x 15  =  75

5 x 23  =  115

5 x 47  =  235

5 x 685  =  3,425

With the economy going berserk, you can say it's the worst time for change of hands or the best time for a makeover by a new leader. I personally feel and am glad that Bush, the current president, is doing his duty well although he has so little time left. Like rallying the G-7 and other meetings, working his butt off for the country and the world. Despite disappointments he has caused, I think too much blame has been put on him rather than the senate who funded the war and approved his stupid mistakes.

Yes, he caused this financial turmoil to a certain extent but this would probably be one of the worst time for a new, inexperienced president to take over. At this time now, candidates Obama and Mcain don't really have much credibility. Sometimes I wonder if this 20-month election is worth it. What I mean is, over 1 billion dollars was spent on this cat-fight between people who may not be ready to take the throne.   As we are in a financial crisis and at the brink of the worst financial disaster, the weight of the world is gonna be put on the person who can talk the best?!

However, like I said, if Obama wins and is able to deliver his promises of change, it would be the best time for Americans to change their mindsets towards blacks and "Arabs". If Obama can rebuild the country and show the world an even more glorious America, then it is definitely time for new blood in the White House. Cus' without change, America will crumble and no longer be relavant to the world.

Therefore, since Bush has to go, it is Obama all the way for me. It has been since the beginning and it will still be. With a 10 point lead, it is quite obvious he would win this election. Despite the grey areas of his abilities, all America can do is trust that Obama, together with god, would build America into a country that her ancestors had envisioned.

Sonrisa!

Danielle

My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION…
“Just wait until your father gets home.”

My Mother taught me about RECEIVING….
“You are going to get it when we get home!”

My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE…
“What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you! Don’t talk back to me!”

My Mother taught me LOGIC…
“If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

My mother taught me more LOGIC…
“Because I said so, that’s why.”

My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE…
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.”

My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD…
“If you don’t pass your spelling test, you’ll never get a good job.”

My Mother taught me HUMOR…
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT…
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

My Mother taught me about GENETICS…
“You’re just like your father.”

My Mother taught me about my ROOTS…
“Do you think you were born in a barn?”

My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE…
“When you get to be my age, you will understand.”

My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE…
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

My mother taught me RELIGION…
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL…
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

My mother taught me FORESIGHT…
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

My mother taught me IRONY…
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS…
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM….
“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

My mother taught me about STAMINA…
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

My mother taught me about WEATHER…
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY…
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”

My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE…
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION…
“Stop acting like your father!”

My mother taught me about ENVY…
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”

My mother taught me ESP…
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

And last but not least…

My Mother taught me about JUSTICE…
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you….Then you’ll see what it’s like!” ]]> http://beauty80.wordpress.com/?p=2231 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:20:27 +0000 beauty80 http://beauty80.ta.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/love-marriage-vs-arranged-marriage/

Love Marriage: Resembles procedural programming language. We have some set functions like flirting, going to movies together, making long conversations on phone and then try to fit all functions to the candidate we like.

Arranged Marriage: Similar to object oriented programming approach. We first fix the candidate and then try to implement functions on her. The main object is fixed and various functions are added to supplement the main program. The functions can be added or deleted.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love Marriage: It is a throwaway type of prototype as client requirements rises with time thus it is a dynamic system and difficult to maintain.

Arranged Marriage: Requirements are well defined so use of waterfall model is possible.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love Marriage: Family system hangs because hardware called parents are not responding.

Arranged Marriage: Compatible with hardware Parents.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love Marriage: You are the project leader so u are responsible for implementation and execution of PROJECT- married life.

Arranged Marriage: You are a team member under project leader parents so they are responsible for successful execution of project Married life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love Marriage: Client expectations include exciting feature as spouse cooking food, washing clothes etc.

Arranged Marriage: All these features are covered in the SRS as required features.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Love Marriage: Acceptance test possible you can try before you Buy.

Arranged Marriage: Product is sold on an as is where is basis, Product once sold will not be taken back!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

To bring some examples, which I hadn't thought about before coming here:

- In US the water boils at 212 °F :-) and freezes at 32 °F.
- The americans body temparature are at 98.6 °F.
- Room temperature normally around 70 °F.

http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/
"Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice"

hahahaha. lättroad idag :)

You can play lots a new games, such as this one in the dance club, in this game you must repete the steps to receive your penguin coins.

In the upper screen, your player card shows and the room your in. In the bottom screen you can walk around the room and play games. Also the bottom screen  (the touch screen) is the one you use to play games with the DS Stylus.

As you can see, the controls of the game are in the bottom screen and the action is on the upper screen. (Just like any other DS game ever!)

Here is another picture of the beacon, in this place you can play jet pack adventure. It also looks like that random agent from G's secret mission!

Here is a picture of a penguin playing the jet pack adventure on DS.

You can go to the pizza parlor and make and buy your own pizza.

Here is the latest picture revealed, the new nintendo DS cover - Club Penguin: Elite penguin force cover (Which you probably have to pay extra for) 

These are some facts about the game:

• It will be coming out on 11th November (in the USA)
• You can use your penguin or create a new penguin and collect coins
• You will be able to play missions that are not on club penguin 
• New games will be added
• Wi Fi connection, which will make you able to chat, add buddies etc

 ~hasta la vista, baby!

It is difficult keeping up with Obama's promises to the voters. There have been so many changes and the package he promises voters is reported in the pliant Media in such a positive way, that the sum total is bewildering.
One thing I can say with certainty, is that he promises a shift toward the welfare state like nothing our Republic has experienced since the Constitution was ratified.

Obama adds continually hype the fact that anyone who makes less than $250,000 a year will not have their taxes raised. What he doesn't tell the voters is that those millions who do not pay taxes, will get a REBATE check! Where the money will come from is of course out of the pockets of the hard working middle class.

Mr. Obama's campaign promise, which he has repeated in his speeches and in the presidential debates, stems from his "Making Work Pay" tax cut that will give a $500 refundable tax credit to every worker or $1,000 to each working couple. But because this provision in his economic-recovery plan is "refundable," a large number of middle- to lower-income workers who have no income-tax liability after taking tax credits and deductions the that Internal Revenue Service allows, will be given the equivalent of the tax cut in the form of direct payments from the US Treasury - funded by higher-income taxpayers.

Because the IRS says that nearly 46 million tax filers - one-third of all filers - had no tax liability in 2006, there is the question of how millions of Americans can receive an income "tax cut" when they pay no taxes. "It's got to raise alarm bells when you claim you are going to cut taxes for 95 percent of working families when more than 40 percent of them pay no income taxes," said Phil Kerpen, policy director at Americans for Prosperity, a grass-roots free-market advocacy group...The freshman senator's campaign Web site defines the Democrat's tax-relief proposal only in terms of offering workers "middle class tax cuts" and "for 10 million low-income Americans, will completely eliminate their federal income taxes."

But in a recent research paper on federal taxpayers, Scott Hodge, president of the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, said, "There will be 47 million tax returns with zero-income tax liability in 2009 under current law. That's one-third of all tax returns and those 47 million tax returns represent 96 million individuals. "source:Investors Business Daily

His "tax cuts" are base lined against the Clinton era brackets and ignore the President Bush tax cuts. The result will a huge tax increase for millions of middle class taxpayers. The one hundred million taxpayers that he claims are being ignored pay no income taxes now, only the payroll (Social Security) tax. He intends to give them a break even on this tax through a massive income redistribution scheme which is nothing more than welfare! These are facts not my opinions!

Then there is the fact that we may be electing an Apostate to the Presidency, despite all the claims by Obama and his campaign handlers that he is not or was not a Muslim.The following is an excerpt from an article written by Lt.Col.Michael Burket(Retired)

"The point here is that the religion of the foreign mother is on no consequence in the Muslim world. The status of my wife’s religion was never asked. It was assumed I’m sure, her religion was the same as mine. That’s the way it is in the Muslim world. Women are not afforded much in the way of status in the Muslim world, and Obama’s mother was no exception.

Islamic law is consistent throughout the Muslim world. Children of a Muslim father, even secular Muslims, those who rarely attend Mosque services, rarely keep the Ramadan fast, the Eid holidays etc. are automatically Muslims. The child of a Muslim father, is a Muslim. There is no wiggle room here. Koranic law is the law!

Barack Hussein Obama lived in Indonesia as a child. His mother, no doubt was a convert to Islam, as a Muslim will not marry a non-Muslim, at least not publicly or officially. Obama’s mother was married twice—to Muslim men! Young Barack Hussein would not have lasted long in a Madrasa, if he weren’t a Muslim. Peer pressure alone would have been intolerable, yet young Obama attended the Madrasa for several years. Make no mistake about it; he attended AS A MUSLIM. There would have simply been no other way.

During Obama’s childhood in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, he attended an Islamic school, we know as a Madrasa. Young Barack Hussein would have studied the Koran, the Haddith and the Sunna. He would have received indoctrination in the Muslim faith, just like the other boys his age and at his level of schooling. Young Barack Hussein would have participated in the five daily prayers, either in a prayer room at his Madrasa, or at a local Mosque.

Obama has attempted to mask his early religious training and affiliation but anyone who knows anything about the Muslim religion easily sees through the charade. So what you say. Why should we care about all of this? The reason is simple. In the Muslim world, Barack Hussein Obama is an APOSTATE. An apostate is a person who has turned his back on Islam. In short, you can’t quit the Islamic faith. It is simply not allowed in Islam!

Of course there are many men and women who do just that. They convert to other faiths for a variety of reasons and for the most part, do so with impunity. However, each and every man or woman who quits Islam and professes belief in another faith, such as Christianity, Judaism or whatever is subject to being killed, in the name of Allah! The Koran demands that an apostate be killed.

Is it of any consequence you continue to ask that Obama was once a Muslim, but is now a Christian? Obama is an apostate and it’s a very serious issue with 1.4 Billion Muslims around the world. Experts on Islam generally agree that someone who is born a Muslim (in effect, someone who had a Muslim father), who later renounces Islam, is considered an apostate, and vile enemy of Islam. Again, it’s Islamic law almost universally.

Should Obama become U.S. commander in chief, there is a strong likelihood that Al-Qaida’s media arm, As-Sahab, will exploit Obama’s background to argue that an “apostate” is leading the Global War on Islam and is attacking and killing fellow Muslims!" source: The New Media Journal

Although I realize that my message is received by too few people, and am literally "preaching to the choir". Wake up Americans and spread the message to your friends and neighbors before we awaken in the new Marxist state!

It is difficult keeping up with Obama's promises to the voters. There have been so many changes and the package he promises voters is reported in the pliant Media in such a positive way, that the sum total is bewildering.
One thing I can say with certainty, is that he promises a shift toward the welfare state like nothing our Republic has experienced since the Constitution was ratified.

Obama adds continually hype the fact that anyone who makes less than $250,000 a year will not have their taxes raised. What he doesn't tell the voters is that those millions who do not pay taxes, will get a REBATE check! Where the money will come from is of course out of the pockets of the hard working middle class.

Mr. Obama's campaign promise, which he has repeated in his speeches and in the presidential debates, stems from his "Making Work Pay" tax cut that will give a $500 refundable tax credit to every worker or $1,000 to each working couple. But because this provision in his economic-recovery plan is "refundable," a large number of middle- to lower-income workers who have no income-tax liability after taking tax credits and deductions the that Internal Revenue Service allows, will be given the equivalent of the tax cut in the form of direct payments from the US Treasury - funded by higher-income taxpayers.

Because the IRS says that nearly 46 million tax filers - one-third of all filers - had no tax liability in 2006, there is the question of how millions of Americans can receive an income "tax cut" when they pay no taxes. "It's got to raise alarm bells when you claim you are going to cut taxes for 95 percent of working families when more than 40 percent of them pay no income taxes," said Phil Kerpen, policy director at Americans for Prosperity, a grass-roots free-market advocacy group...The freshman senator's campaign Web site defines the Democrat's tax-relief proposal only in terms of offering workers "middle class tax cuts" and "for 10 million low-income Americans, will completely eliminate their federal income taxes."

But in a recent research paper on federal taxpayers, Scott Hodge, president of the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, said, "There will be 47 million tax returns with zero-income tax liability in 2009 under current law. That's one-third of all tax returns and those 47 million tax returns represent 96 million individuals. "source:Investors Business Daily

His "tax cuts" are base lined against the Clinton era brackets and ignore the President Bush tax cuts. The result will a huge tax increase for millions of middle class taxpayers. The one hundred million taxpayers that he claims are being ignored pay no income taxes now, only the payroll (Social Security) tax. He intends to give them a break even on this tax through a massive income redistribution scheme which is nothing more than welfare! These are facts not my opinions!

Then there is the fact that we may be electing an Apostate to the Presidency, despite all the claims by Obama and his campaign handlers that he is not or was not a Muslim.The following is an excerpt from an article written by Lt.Col.Michael Burket(Retired)

"The point here is that the religion of the foreign mother is on no consequence in the Muslim world. The status of my wife’s religion was never asked. It was assumed I’m sure, her religion was the same as mine. That’s the way it is in the Muslim world. Women are not afforded much in the way of status in the Muslim world, and Obama’s mother was no exception.

Islamic law is consistent throughout the Muslim world. Children of a Muslim father, even secular Muslims, those who rarely attend Mosque services, rarely keep the Ramadan fast, the Eid holidays etc. are automatically Muslims. The child of a Muslim father, is a Muslim. There is no wiggle room here. Koranic law is the law!

Barack Hussein Obama lived in Indonesia as a child. His mother, no doubt was a convert to Islam, as a Muslim will not marry a non-Muslim, at least not publicly or officially. Obama’s mother was married twice—to Muslim men! Young Barack Hussein would not have lasted long in a Madrasa, if he weren’t a Muslim. Peer pressure alone would have been intolerable, yet young Obama attended the Madrasa for several years. Make no mistake about it; he attended AS A MUSLIM. There would have simply been no other way.

During Obama’s childhood in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, he attended an Islamic school, we know as a Madrasa. Young Barack Hussein would have studied the Koran, the Haddith and the Sunna. He would have received indoctrination in the Muslim faith, just like the other boys his age and at his level of schooling. Young Barack Hussein would have participated in the five daily prayers, either in a prayer room at his Madrasa, or at a local Mosque.

Obama has attempted to mask his early religious training and affiliation but anyone who knows anything about the Muslim religion easily sees through the charade. So what you say. Why should we care about all of this? The reason is simple. In the Muslim world, Barack Hussein Obama is an APOSTATE. An apostate is a person who has turned his back on Islam. In short, you can’t quit the Islamic faith. It is simply not allowed in Islam!

Of course there are many men and women who do just that. They convert to other faiths for a variety of reasons and for the most part, do so with impunity. However, each and every man or woman who quits Islam and professes belief in another faith, such as Christianity, Judaism or whatever is subject to being killed, in the name of Allah! The Koran demands that an apostate be killed.

Is it of any consequence you continue to ask that Obama was once a Muslim, but is now a Christian? Obama is an apostate and it’s a very serious issue with 1.4 Billion Muslims around the world. Experts on Islam generally agree that someone who is born a Muslim (in effect, someone who had a Muslim father), who later renounces Islam, is considered an apostate, and vile enemy of Islam. Again, it’s Islamic law almost universally.

Should Obama become U.S. commander in chief, there is a strong likelihood that Al-Qaida’s media arm, As-Sahab, will exploit Obama’s background to argue that an “apostate” is leading the Global War on Islam and is attacking and killing fellow Muslims!" source: The New Media Journal

Although I realize that my message is received by too few people, and am literally "preaching to the choir". Wake up Americans and spread the message to your friends and neighbors before we awaken in the new Marxist state!

Your food travels 2,000 miles on average.....

(all the more reason to meet it half way.... Eat Out! EattheList!)

The rollercoaster ride is kinda exciting haha, even a big news like "N. korea being taken off the blacklist of USA" is deprived of a headline news and only took up half a page of yesterday's news. And it is not as if the economy crashed only yesterday. lol Everyday, the economic situation takes the headlines even when there is no real "big news" as people express their shock towards whatever's happening.

Even I, a kid barely 16, predicted this economic meltdown to happen weeks before Lehman was brought to its knees.

"brink of another, Great Depression" quoted from a post on my previous blog.

How can they say this is unpredictable?

It is even funnier when analysts say that there will be an economic rebound or even that the situation would stabalise by Q2/3 next year. There is no solution in sight and they can still predict the future? I am starting to think that those "analysts" the newspaper "quoted but didn't give names", are the journalists themselves.

From the looks of the situation now, it would be safer to predict that the recession will be long and deep. With a world purchasing on credit most of the time, debts are inevitable. Since all banks have debt, it is hard to lend to one another or to people who work with a lot of money. Without the availability of credit, business and banks will suffer. With news of the 700b dollar bail out plan not comforting, everything is still rolling downhill.(as if the situation's not bad enough) Therefore, unless someone can assure everyone that people can lend money to people without becoming bankrupt, there will be no end to this credit crunch.

Sonrisa!

Danielle.

P.S I shortened it a lot so the sentances don't really flow. But you get the idea.

Typically true statements in the form of facts are the result of two kinds of devices: technological devices and human devices. Both of these devices are the means by which scientist produce their beliefs, claims/statements, and compete with each other (and each other‘s statements), defeat each other, and remove the contextual dimensions. Human devices are any non-technological means which scientist employ that directly contribute to the statements they make.

Aside from lawyers and politicians, rhetorical/persuasive or human devices are used by scientist often. Latour’s naïve anthropologist in chapter 2 of Laboratory Life describes how the participants he/she studied worked to transform statements into more "fact-like" statements (LL pg73-84). The anthropologist at the end of chapter 2 suggests that by using literary inscriptions, photographs, and diagrams a reader of a statement is persuaded into accepting the transformation of a statement into a "fact-like" statement (LL pg88). Additionally, scientific writing is usually extremely technical and does not make use of personal pronouns. In doing so, scientific writing makes the author invisible, and predetermines the reader, which adds to the validity of the claims made.

In addition to using various kinds of rhetorical devices of persuasion such as different kinds of statements and ways of making those statements that render the authors invisible and make their statements appear more fact-like, often times scientist simply eliminate the competition that other scientist pose. For example, in chapter 3 of Latour’s Laboratory Life, the historian’s deconstruction of a fact shows the changes in context that occurred over time. One such change is the redefining of a field into a subspecialty. This redefinition allows the scientist to redefine standards and methodology such that the use of new equipment that is expensive is necessary. The costly equipment eliminates competition by eliminating scientist who are not sufficiently funded (LL pg122). A similar phenomenon is described in H.M. Collins’ introduction to his work The Golem. Collins explains how Einstein’s Theory of Relativity in combination with Einstein as a figure of authority, sparked contention within the physics community that eventually led to a refining of standards, which dictated what counted as valid. Once the "culture of life in the physics community changed", previous experiments that may have been considered relevant, were no longer so (The Golem pg42).

The elimination of competition, as described by both Latour and Collins, is the result of a human device. This human device is the strategic use of the political and social dimensions of science. In Latour’s case study of TRF(H) in Laboratory Life, the political and social work done by Guillemin and Schally was complaining that the field was outdated, that claims were unfounded, and that elegant hypotheses substituted for facts (LL pg122). Their complaining directly contributed to the redefinition of a subspecialty, elimination of scientists who did not meet the new standards, and to the production of scientific facts.

Collins in his work The Golem is more explicit. An interpretation of Collins work in The Golem is that the success of a statement depends on the success of its authors. When an author of a theory or statement becomes extremely successful, their statements, and other statements either derived or implicated, also become successful. This is extremely obvious in the social sciences, but not in the "hard" sciences. Nonetheless, according to Collins, upon close examination we see that because of Einstein’s figure of authority and genius, his theory was successful. After consensus (which is the result of human and technological devices) was established regarding the validity of Einstein’s theory, various confirming data was reported. Discrepancies that previously plagued the work of other researchers, and inhibited them from drawing conclusions supporting Einstein, disappeared (The Golem pg53). Collins writes that scientific consensus moved from the center occupied by Einstein’s theory, and spread in all directions from that center. This was all the result of "agreement to agree about new things" (The Golem pg54). These new things primarily were derived or implicated from the center, which was the result of possibly part genius, and mostly the social and political dimensions of science.

With that we turn to technological devices. Technological devices used in science range from measuring devices (e.g. test-tubes, mass-spectrometers), experimental devices (e.g. prisms, lasers, gravitational radiation detectors), and one can even argue that the tap water in the laboratory is a technological device. We can broadly define technological devices as any non-human means which scientist employ that directly contribute to the statements they make in the ways discussed earlier. In this way, for example, the tap water is a technological device because it directly contributes to the work in the laboratory, and hence the statements produced by the scientists. If the tap water was to be shut off, scientific activity within the lab would stop. Technological devices are a necessary part of scientific activity among scientists today.

Interestingly, technological devices and their use is intimately entangled with human devices. To illustrate this consider the following: Before a statement is deemed true, consensus regarding what counts as a proper experimental device must be made. Without consensus, any scientist can claim that their results obtained by way of technological devices accurately represent reality. Consensus is negotiated using human and technological devices. Negotiations are made regarding which set of experiments and instruments are competent. Various adjustments are made to methodology, standards, and instrumentation. Collins illustrates this process in his work The Seven Sexes. In this work, Collins describes what he calls the enculturational model. Through this model, knowledge regarding instrumentation is passed down through enculturation. He writes that the only criterion to establish that the knowledge necessary to conduct a proper experiment with the competent technological devices is that the experiment works. What counts as working is negotiated. Furthermore, in coming to a consensus through the process of negotiation, the character of the phenomenon that is under investigation is also decided (The Seven Sexes pg219). Once the phenomenon under investigation is decided, any other experimental devices used by others are deemed inadequate if they do not support the decided upon characterization of the phenomenon. In this way the claims made by scientist using different technological devices, which are always entangled with human devices, are unsubstantiated.

Latour in chapter 2 and 3 of Laboratory Life gives a similar account, but more interestingly he discusses how technological devices can lend validity to a claim. According to Latour’s naïve anthropologist and historian‘s deconstruction of a fact, the claims scientist make are all contingent on technological devices they use. The anthropologist describes in chapter 2 how the participants use specialized equipment to transform pieces of matter into written documents (LL pg51). The participants rewrite and edit the output of the recording equipment several times. The documents produced are then inserted within a larger network of actors (LL pg54). A document is said to be a fact or contain a fact when all the actors are convinced that there is no debate about the fact they are reading (LL pg 76).The process of constructing a fact, according to my interpretation of Latour, begins with technological devices and ends with technological devices. The construction of a fact begins with recording equipment described in chapter 2. In chapter 3, only after TRF(H) has been measured using another technological device, the mass-spectrometer (LL pg146), does it become a fact.

In using technological devices and human devices, the contextual dimensions discussed above are stripped away. Both kinds of devices function to produce claims/statements, allow scientist and their statements to compete with each other, defeat each other and remove the contextual dimensions that allowed the fact to be produced. The examples we discussed thus far exemplify how facts are produced and the contextual dimensions erased. For instance, by using technological devices to convert physical matter into output, a scientist can claim that personal bias was eliminated by using human devices. By using human devices that render the authors invisible, the social, political, and historical dimensions (e.g. previous research that was deemed irrelevant or invalid, but yet contributed to the production of the fact) that contributed to the production of a true statement in the form of a fact are erased.

One interpretation of Collins’ The Seven Sexes is that in deciding what the phenomena under investigation is, the nature of the phenomena is characterized and that characterization becomes fact because there is agreement regarding the nature of the phenomena. But what about truth? Does agreement somehow substantiate truth? Is the agreed upon characterization true? According to the common-man, a statement is said to be true when it corresponds to reality. According to this definition of truth there are several statements that can be said to be true, e.g. "you are reading this post" is a true statement because it corresponds to reality. A fact then can be said is a statement that scientist make which corresponds to reality. But which came first, reality or the fact? Was the statement "you are reading this paper" true before you read it? According to my interpretation of Collins, reality would have to come first.

Latour’s work in Laboratory Life takes a more radical step. Latour argues that once the phenomena under investigation is decided and it becomes a fact, nature itself is created. In a way this seems to imply that nature, science, and society are all co-constructed. Furthermore, the answer to the question asked regarding what came first, would be both because in the production of a fact, nature is produced as well. Latour’s answer seems better because it captures the phenomenon of the production of facts and reality more adequately. Before reading this post the statement "you are reading this post" is not true, but has the potential to be true. After reading the statement and the post in its entirety, the statement "you are reading this post" is still not true. Only in the act of rendering the statement true, does the reality become true (and vice versa). As soon as the facts change, the reality changes as well. Interestingly, this co-construction of nature and fact reinforce each other. In co-producing true statements in the form of a fact and nature, nature reinforces the true statement, and the true statement reinforces nature. In a sense, this is the last nail in the contextual dimensions’ coffin. Once "nature-and-true-statements" are produced, both the phenomenon in nature and the true statement work together to completely remove the contextual dimensions by appealing to the common-man‘s conception of truth. True statements in the form of facts correspond to a reality which is created by the production of the true statements in the form of facts. Ultimately, we end up with incontrovertible commonsensical facts such as "of course the world is made up of atoms", "of course gravity exists", "of course I believe in reality", "of course demons aren't real", and yes "of course race is real".

H. M. Collins (1975). The Seven Sexes: A Study in the Sociology of a Phenomenon, or the Replication of Experiments in Physics Sociology, 9 (2), 205-224 DOI: 10.1177/003803857500900202

1. Doctors Choice mattresses, Firm, Plush, and Pillow Top Mattresses

2. Doctor's Choice Firm Mattress Only Twin XL MA-DMDNSFTX

3. Twin Mattress - Beds & Mattresses - Compare Prices, Reviews and Buy at ...

   ... Posture Premier 8-inch Twin-size Mattress, The Spring Air Company ... SERTA MATTRESS Sertapedic Twin XL Premier Comfort Firm Mattress Dare to Compare Se...

   www.nextag.com/twin-mattress/search-html

4. Twin-XL Mattresses

   Twin-XL Mattresses with free shipping and direct discounts : Latex, Memory Foam, ... Five Star Peony VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress. Price: $299.00. Free Shipping ...

   www.moremattresses.com/Mattresses-Twin-XL--C345-3797.htm

5. Firm Mattresses

   Firm Mattresses with free shipping and direct discounts : Latex, Memory Foam, ... Five Star Peony VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress. Price: $299.00. Free Shipping ...

   www.moremattresses.com/Firm-Mattresses--C345-829.htm

6. Twin Xl Mattress - Mattresses: Find, Compare, Read Reviews & Buy Online ...

   Yahoo! Shopping is the best place to comparison shop for Twin Xl Mattress - Mattresses Compare products, compare prices, read reviews and merchant ratings.

   shopping.yahoo.com/t-Mattresses/twin-xl-mattress

7. Twin XL

   Twin XL. Mattresses - Memory Foam Mattresses by Sealy & Serta ... Stearns & Foster - Dynasty Silk Twin XL Silk Road Cushion Firm Mattress Set. From $832.00 ...

   www.csnmattresses.com/nobot/Twin-XL-l46-c10026-A418~730.html

8. Serta Mattress 574981-320 - Danby Twin XL Mattress Set

   Bed Mattresses - Serta Mattress 574981-320 - Danby Twin XL Mattress Set ... Includes one XL Twin mattresses ... Danby Twin XL Mattress. Included In Set (-$369. ...

   www.csnmattresses.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=XS1824&refid=MP45-XS1824

9. Twin XL - Twin - Mattresses - Macy's

   Serta Perfect Sleeper "Esperanza" Extra Firm Mattress Set with Memory Foam Layer, Twin XL ... PurEmbrace� "Winter Grove" Extra Firm Latex Mattress Set, Twin XL ...

   macys.com/catalog/index.ognc?CategoryID=27762&...

10. Twin - Mattresses - Macy's

    Serta Perfect Sleeper "Esperanza" Cushion Firm Mattress Set with Memory Foam Layers, Twin XL ... Classic "Adrian" Cushion Firm Pillowtop Mattress Set, Twin XL ...

    macys.com/catalog/index.ognc?CategoryID=27760&...&CURRENT_PAGE=7

11. Twin Mattress

    Mattress discounter offering Twin size mattresses. Guaranteed lowest prices and convenient in ... Etoile Plush Euro Pillowtop Mattress Twin XL Size Set ...

    www.brandnamemattress.com/twinsize.html

12. 8-inch Twin XL Memory Foam Mattress from Overstock.com

    Buy 8-inch Twin XL Memory Foam Mattress at the lowest price, guaranteed! $2.95 shipping and customer reviews on all products.

    overstock.com/Home-Garden/.../3361503/product.html

13. Adjust-A-Coil Plush Foam Top Twin XL Mattress from Overstock.com

    Buy Adjust-A-Coil Plush Foam Top Twin XL Mattress at the lowest price, guaranteed! $2.95 shipping and customer reviews on all products.

    overstock.com/Home-Garden/.../3228310/product.html

14. Serta Perfect Day Calm Harbor Firm Twin-XL Mattress Only - Model 93559 ...

    Serta Perfect Day Calm Harbor Firm Twin-XL Mattress Only 93559 at Sears.com ... Mattresses are available in select stores Please call your store for availability ...

    sears.com/shc/s/...?vName=For+the+Home&sbf=Brand&sbv=Serta

15. 1800Mattress - Checkout

    1-800-Mattress.com - Brand name mattresses at discount prices. We carry Sealy, Simmons, Serta, TempurPedic, full, twin, king, queen mattress sets and more with ...

    www.mattress.com/UI/Order/Cart.aspx

16. Twin XL Mattress

    Twin size mattress dimensions and available mattresses ... Twin XL mattresses are most frequently found in hospital beds and adjustable beds. ...

    selectabed.com/twin-xl-mattress.htm

17. Twin Xl Mattress Pads

    twin extra long mattress topper. twin extra long sheet set. twin ... Fits mattresses up to 15" thick. Washable. USA. ... Twin Xl Mattress Pads ...

    www.jcpenney.com/products/naq/N61134.jsp

18. JCPenney: Extra Long Twin Mattress Pads, XL Electric Mattress Pads ...

    ... long twin mattress pads, xl electric mattress pads and waterproof mattress pads. Our extra long mattress pads are ... Fits mattresses up to 17" thick. Dual ...

    www.jcpenney.com/products/C046495.jsp

19. Mattress Warehouse: Product Results

    ... quality and guaranteed lowest prices on mattresses with over 130 locations. ... Clean Rest Mattress Encasement Protector (Twin XL) Everyday Low Price $89.00 ...

    www.sleephappens.com/html/buy_online/product_results.cfm?sizeID=10

20. Mattress Warehouse: Buy Mattresses and Beds, Sealy, Serta, Simmons

    Mattress Warehouse offers the best name brand selection, highest quality and guaranteed lowest prices ... Twin. Twin XL. Full. Queen. King. California King ...

    www.sleephappens.com/html/buy_online/index.cfm

21. Bassett Mattress, Bassett Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, & More Mattresses

    Bassett Mattress, Bassett Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, & More Mattresses. Furniture-Bedroom, Living Room & Dining Room Furniture, Home Furniture

    www.furniturefind.com/Bassett-Mattress-C135354.html

22. Twin XL Sheets

    Super Single Mattress Pads. Super Single Sheets. Throws. Twin Bedskirts. Twin Comforters ... here is specially made for mattresses measuring 39 x 80 inches. ...

    www.preciousbedding.com/twin-sheets-c-29.html

23. Precious Bedding - Common Mattress Dimensions

    ... skirts for all of the sizes of mattresses listed below. ... Twin XL. 39" � 80" Twin XXL. 39" � 85" Super Single (Twin) 48" � 84" Hospital Twin. 30" � 80" ...

    www.preciousbedding.com/mattress-size-chart.php

24. RC Willey - Mattresses

    ... furniture, electronics, appliances, mattresses and flooring with ... Mattress Sets. Twin XL. Home / Sleep Products / Mattresses / Twin XL. 24 Items Sorted By ...

    www.rcwilley.com/GetResults.jsp?category=MAT.MAT.TWINXL.

25. Dormbuys.com " Bedding " Mattress Pads & Toppers

    Our dorm room mattress pads and toppers are for your extra long twin bunk bed or regular dorm room bed. Dorm linens for twin xl beds are a musthave essential supply ...

    www.dormbuys.com/shop/subcategory/117

26. Dormbuys.com " Bedding " Mattress Pads & Toppers " Egg Crate - Twin XL

    Our Egg Crates will turn your dorm bed twin or twin xl size into an enjoyable place to sleep. This foam layer mattress pad is comfortable and essential in college.

    www.dormbuys.com/index.php?action=item&id=1643

27. OverNight Mattress.com - Twin XL - CoolMax Memory Foam

    Twin XL Bed Pack - FREE with Select Beds. Price: $99.00. Check this box to include the item ... Find My Memory Foam Mattresses. 9" Premier Memory Foam Mattress ...

    www.overnightmattress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=CMX6333XMATTRES

28. Five Star Twin-XL Mattresses

    Five Star Twin-XL Mattresses with free shipping and direct discounts : Latex, ... Five Star Peony VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress. Price: $299.00. Free Shipping ...

    moreplatformbeds.com/Five-Star-Twin-XL-Mattresses--C345-3744-3797.htm

29. Five Star Peony VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress - 940591-320

    Five Star Peony VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress - 940591-320: Features: 416 Hi-Profile Unit Decorator Cover Comfort Foam Triple Choice Value Solid State or Steel ...

    moreplatformbeds.com/Five-Star-Peony-VertiCoil-Firm-Twin-XL-Mattress...

30. XL Twin Size Mattresses, Plush, Firm, & Pillow top Twin Size Mattresses

    XL Twin Size Mattresses, Plush, Firm, & Pillow top Twin Size Mattresses. ... Sealy Posturepedic - Sealy Posturepedic Twin XL Jacquin Cushion Firm Mattress $420.00 ...

    www.csnbunkbeds.com/XL-Twin-Size-Mattresses-C134083.html

31. Twin XL

    Memory Foam Mattresses Compare to Tempurpedic Adjustable Beds Select Foam ... Bed Frames Sleeper Sofa Mattress Twin Full King Testimonials About Select Foam ...

    www.selectfoam.com/prod-RegalisTwin XL.htm

32. Twin XL

    Memory Foam Mattresses Compare to Tempurpedic Adjustable Beds Select Foam ... Would you like the massage feature to be included with your mattress? ...

    www.selectfoam.com/prod-OlympusTwin XL.htm

33. Memory Foam Back to School Mattress Topper - Twin XL | Personal ...

    Shop Walgreens.com for Personal Expressions - Memory Foam Back to School Mattress Topper - Twin XL and all your health and wellness needs

    walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=101012&...&id=prod1052497

34. Memory Foam Mattress Topper - Twin | Personal Expressions | Walgreens

    ... Expressions - Memory Foam Mattress Topper - Twin and all your health ... Personal Expressions Memory Foam Back to School Mattress Topper - Twin XL $39.99 ...

    walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?catid=101012&...&id=prod1052498

35. Shopzilla - Best prices on Twin Xl Protect-a-bed Waterproof Mattress ...

    Comparison shop for TWIN XL Protect-A-Bed Waterproof Mattress Cover and choose ... Zoned heating keeps feet extra cozy 10-hour auto shutoff Fits mattresses up to 17" ...

    shopzilla.com/twin-xl-protect-a-bed-waterproof-mattress-cover/.../buy

36. Shopzilla - Best prices on Twin Xl (39"" X 80"") Bleached Poly/cotton ...

    ... shop for Twin XL (39"" x 80"") Bleached Poly/Cotton Mattress Cover w/Zipper ... Zoned heating keeps feet extra cozy 10-hour auto shutoff Fits mattresses up to 17" ...

    www.shopzilla.com/twin-xl-39-x-80-bleached-polycotton/628671845/buy

37. PlatformBeds.com - Extra Long Beds & Dorm Size Beds

    Extra Long Beds & Dorm Size Beds - Twin XL & Full XL sizes. Bed frames are available in several color combinations. Mattresses are available in firm, plush and ...

    www.platformbeds.com/extra_long_beds.html

38. Memory Foam Twin XL Mattress Pad

    Twin xl mattress pads in 4lb and 5lb memory foam as well as 2 inch, 3 inch, and 4 inch thickness. ... products - beds, mattresses, mattress pads, and toppers, ...

    www.absolutecomfortonsale.com/a-TwinXLMattressPad.htm

39. Mattress, Mattress Discounters, Tempurpedic Mattress, Foam Mattress ...

    ... source for discount mattresses, memory foam mattresses, compare to tempur-pedic mattresses and tempur pedic mattresses ... the Twin, 490 in the Twin XL, 660 ...

    www.absolutecomfortonsale.com/memory-foam-mattress-sets.htm

40. Extra - Long Twin Mattresses

    Extra - Long Twin Mattresses. Kids Beds - Trundle & Bunk Beds, Toddler ... Sealy - Sealy Posturepedic Twin XL Jacquin Cushion Firm Mattress Set. From $505.00 ...

    www.justkidsbeds.com/Extra-Long-Twin-Mattresses-C133887.html

41. Mattress Sizes - Dimensions

    Dormia.com Mattress Size Chart for King, Queen, Full, Twin, and California King ... (Two Twin XL Mattresses) Shop For a Dormia Mattress. Metric to U.S. Conversion ...

    www.dormia.com/sleepcenter/dimensions.asp

42. Twin Extra Long Bed Frames and Bed Rails

    mattress pads. mattresses. store locations. help. returns. Browse by Category: Home. Bed Frames ... twin/full bed rails twin XL bed rails full-to-queen ...

    www.thesleepshop.com/store/pc/Twin-Extra-Long-c17.htm

43. Create-A-King: Turn 2 Twins into a King - The Sleep Shop

    ... a-King Plush buckle two twin mattresses together to create a king size mattress. ... Use with two twin or two twin XL mattresses. ( 39" X 75" or 39" X 80" ...

    thesleepshop.com/.../Create-A-King-Turn-2-Twins-into-a-King-37p443.htm

44. Five Star Mattresses

    Five Star Mattresses with free shipping and direct discounts : Latex, Memory ... Five Star Camellia VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress. Price: $539.00. Free Shipping ...

    www.morebedroomsets.com/Five-Star-Mattresses--C345-3744--2.htm

45. Five Star $300 to $449 Mattresses

    Five Star $300 to $449 Mattresses with free shipping and direct discounts : ... Five Star Hyacinth VertiCoil Firm Twin XL Mattress. Price: $415.00. Free Shipping ...

    morebedroomsets.com/Five-Star-300-to-449-Mattresses--C345-3744-1257...

46. Mattresses at Home and Living: Your Source for Twin Size Bed, Twin Size ...

    ... twin size mattresses, twin mattress sets, twin sizes and twin size ... Mattresses " Twin Size. Sort by. 10" Memory Foam Twin XL Mattress By SilverRest $269.90 ...

    www.homeandliving.com/category/2447757941/1/Twin-Size.htm

47. Protect A Bed Mattress Cover Twin XL - Protect-A-Bed� Premium Mattress ...

    Protect your mattress with a Protect A Bed Twin XL mattress cover. ... Custom Size Memory Foam Mattresses. Discount Memory Foam Mattress Toppers ...

    www.allmemoryfoam.com/prbexlmaco.html

48. Memory Foam Mattress Cool Comfort Twin XL - Cool Comfort 12" Memory ...

    Our Cool Comfort Twin XL memory foam mattress will keep you cool, and end those ... Mattresses : Cool Comfort 12" Memory Foam Mattress : Cool Comfort Twin XL 38x80 ...

    www.allmemoryfoam.com/cocotwxlmefo.html

49. Memory Foam Mattress, pads, toppers and pillows by SleepWarehouse

    SITE MAP: Memory Foam Mattresses. Memory Foam Toppers. Anatomic Mattress Toppers. Pillows ... Anatomic Mattress Topper Technology. Sleep Facts and Articles ...

    www.sleepwarehouse.com/SW sitemap.html

50. Latex Mattress Topper

    Latex Mattress Toppers. Latex Foam Pillows. Memory Foam Guide ... Twin XL. 80 inches. 39 inches. Double/Full. 75 inches. 54 inches. Queen. 80 inches. 60 inches ...

    www.sleepwarehouse.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=35

Very Strange News
Mostly True, Weird News from around this Freaky World
http://verystrangenews.com/?p=53
February 10, 2007

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/200758/flying_creature Three friends are out for a drive in Hambury, Germany… one decided to turn on his camcorder and starting filming his friends… but it seems he also filmed something else… something very strange. What he caught on film can only be described as a “flying creature”, that was “light” in color. The friends in the car believe it was an angel… but you can come to your own conclusions.

*Okay, I watched the video and I got goose bumps. I would like all those who came to my blog to give me some feedback. Question: "What in the world was that?"
Let me know by commenting on the post.

• real name: Andre Rene Roussimoff
• born in Grenoble, France
• a.k.a. "The 8th Wonder of the World", "The Gentle Giant", "The Giant"
• at twelve years-old, he reached 6'3" and weighed 200 lbs
• upon his death he weighed 520 lbs. and stood 7 feet tall
• was drafted into France's peacetime army, but rejected upon his physical, as there were no regulation shoes or clothes to fit him, nor was any bed long enough to sleep in
• original ring-name was "Géant Ferré", the name of a legendary French lumberjack
• writer / poet Samuel Beckett sometimes drove him to school
• the first inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame
• signed all his personal checks as "Andre the Giant"
• the hand of an average-sized man could slip through one of his custom-made rings
• trademark move: Bearhug
• had always secretly wished to see a show on Broadway, but always refused to attend, for his concern of blocking anyone's view
• holds the unofficial world record for the largest number of beers consumed in a single sitting: 119 12-ounce beers in six hours. it was one of the few times he got drunk enough to pass out, which he did, in a hallway in his hotel... his companions, quite drunk themselves, feared moving the man, or attracting the attention of the local police, resolved the situation by draping a piano cover over him, stolen from the hotel lounge
• he drank 7,000 calories of booze every day
• once at a tavern, was relentlessly heckled by several drunk patrons, who ended up being chased down the street and locked themselves in a car, which Andre grabbed and turned over with the four men inside
• due to awkward traveling accommodations on long road trips with the WWF, Vince McMahon had a private trailer built where Andre would then consume a case of beer every nine minutes, only stopping for food, ice, or more beer
• it was reported at a celebration dinner with friends, Andre drank three cases of beer, ate five steaks, two lobsters, and polished off the whole meal with a couple bottles of wine and Jack Daniel's whiskey: this was the beginning of the night.
• would not commonly address people by their names, instead, if he liked someone he would call them "Boss"
• most of the money he earned was spent paying his obscene bar tabs
• he treated his friends well, and always picked up the bar tabs and dinner checks: once, a friend of his slipped away to secretly pay the entire table's bill, but upon handing his credit card to the waiter, suddenly felt himself being lifted off the ground, carried back to the table, and deposited back in his chair "like a little boy." this friend was Arnold Schwarzenegger
• considered for the role of Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me
• former World Tag Team champion
• often drank several quarts of beer before matches as a "warm-up"
• trademark move: Double Underhook Suplex
• was once offered a contract to play professional football for the Washington Redskins
• when he challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWF World's Heavyweight Wrestling Championship of The World at WrestleMania III in 1987, he hadn't lost a single's match since 1971. His 3,000 plus winning streak was ended when Hogan picked up the 7 foot tall and 500 pound Giant and body slammed him for the pin

Where do these facts come from? What possessed you to learn them? Sure, in High School most of what you learned was trivia. Who fought in this battle and who wrote this book, well, those aren't things critical to your everyday life and future. Unless you're a History or English major or you're on a Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, but that's another story.

But what about the stuff you know that you didn't pick up in High School? Like the life span of medieval men and women (average: 29 for man) or that Dai Vernon was the only magician to discover the secret to one of Harry Houdini's tricks while Houdini was alive. How did this get into your head?

Is it from being bombarded with information every hour of the day? From radio, to advertisements, to t.v.? Or is it our friends, co-workers, and strangers (who already learned the trivia from other people) that spread the knowledge? Or maybe its just the internet, which is now a constant presence in our lives. Some of the most random stuff pops up on the internet.

And yet, to play both sides, does it matter? If you have trivia, it just means it was something worth remembering. Because how often do you keep something in your memory that you don't want to remember?

So, the fact that punctuation didn't come around in English until the12th century must mean more than that grammar test you failed in 9th grade.

And everyone knows statistics are fun to read and will usually stick in memory. Such as, 33 percent of people polled online believe that scratching a person's vehicle is a more effective form of revenge than burning down their house.

So why do we have such trivial knowledge stuck in our minds? How come it stays, instead of going in one ear and out the other (like an order from a boss?) I don't know, but what I can say is that everybody is learning more everyday because of everyday things, such as t.v and internet and print items.

And what we retain and what we don't, well that depends on the person.

Lol...

And wat's even funny was a mother brought her daughter along and she's damn cute la! When Renee, our instructor, taught us to do the hooker walk, the little gal followed us. What's even adorable was when we were taught to do the shoulder wave..... She tried moving her shoulder but it looks kinda stiff so in the end the whole classroom burst out laughing. By the way she's only around 4 years old.

Really really adorable. =) I guess maybe it's her presence that makes it difficult for us to feel "sexy"... Imagine you're concentrating to coordinate your body and feel sexy at the same time and this little gal was trying to do the same action as you! I simply can't find any words to describe it right now...

Geee.....

And my chinese has definitely "deprove". I think i speak Mandarin with a bit of angmohish feeling. I was at the train with Meiqi waiting for the train in the middle platform and the train was not meant for boarding. So the SMRT person spoke over the PA system, "Attention passengers, the train at the middle platform heading towards Marina Bay is not for boarding." And he repeated this line for at least 5 times in a sing song method.

After he finished, i turned around and asked Meiqi to translate it into Chinese. She gave me a dumbfolded look with a huge question mark floating above her little head... [-_-"]

And so... while we were waiting for the train, we tried to translate it. And in the end we managed to come out with this,  “地铁搭客请注意，请勿乘搭停止在中央月台，通往马林傍列的列车". And that takes us around 5 mins to come out with the sentence but i believe there're many errors to it. Does it sounds right to you?! And I dont even know how to write Marina Bay in chinese... and when we tried pronouncing it, it sounds weird. I guess my language level is neither here nor there now... Whatever happened to my A1 Chinese...???

4 things I did today:

- worked. yayyyyy. but no one had left any poo for us today so that was a plus.

- won a pair of Docs on ebay for $35. Hell yes.

- had AWESOME sex with my boy as soon as i got home from work :D

- had a nanna nap

4 things on my to-do list:

- uni work. ugh. so sick of uni. can't wait til holidays.

- buy more crickets for Drake (my bearded dragon).

- download songs from Em's playlist

- find some nice feather earrings. seriously, it shouldn't be that hard, but it is proving impossible.

4 guiltiest pleasures:

- buying Cleo and Cosmopolitan magazines. They are usually a waste of time and money but I still buy at least one of them each month.

- Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream chips. So bad for me but they taste soooo good.

- sleeping in. Ahhh, I love sleeping in. I try to make sure I get up by 10am though, or I feel like I've wasted half the day.

- long showers. mmm.

4 random facts about me:

- I have difficulty telling left from right and have to look at my hands to tell which is which because when you stretch your thumb out at a right angle on your left hand it makes the shape of the letter 'L'.

- I didn't learn to ride a bike without training wheels until I was 10. I got made fun of a lot because of that.

- I can pick things up with my toes. Just like a monkey. And that makes me awesome, because monkeys are awesome.

- When I wake up in the morning, I crack the following joints: my toes, my ankles, my wrists, my knuckles, my neck and my jaw.

Now I'm going to tag the following bloggers to answer these questions:

Em from Lick My Cupcakes

Ms Constantine from Cupcakes and Mace

Shannon from A Beautiful Dream

Josephine from Aubergine

GO, GO, GO!!

Ini hasil risetnya :
(baca saja, ini bukan salah ketik)

Menuurt sbeauh penilitean di Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, tdaik mejnadi maslaah bgaimanaa urtaun huurf-huurf di dlaam sebauh ktaa, ynag palngi pnteing adlaah leatk hruuf partema dan terkhair itu bnaer. Ssianya dpaat brantaaken smaa skelai dan kmau maish dpaat mebmacanya tnpaa msaalah. Hal ini kerana oatk masunia tdaik mambeca seitap huurf msaing-msaing, tatepi ktaa kesuleruhan

Manejkubakn naggk?

Tenyata dapat terbaca dengan mudah kan???

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground --- it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.