107 days of summer

The blog starts from a summer log of GRE vocabulary learning to an any season free-time writing. By the way, Phineas and Ferb only have 104 days of summer vacation, mine was 107!

[zolekys-blog]

how?

(Sorry for being a Maths geek)

[pump-and-burn]

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[pump-and-burn]

Chontel Hau

[get-fit-4-life]

Kickin’ ass :)

[mind-body-wellness]

DAMN

[flyteestudio]

IT’S ALWAYS TEA TIME!

[thekingm]

This year is all about getting better

[thekingm]

[107summerday-blog]

I'm translating this book Ai and Ky in the World of Invisible Numbers from Vietnamese to English as a personal project. The book is about the adventure of two boys in the world of mathematics. Sound boring? No, trust me, this book will "put a smile on your face".

I'm up to half of the first chapter now, which certainly not very far yet. I just found this interesting detail that I really want to share somewhere.

The first chapter of the book is titled Điểm Tựa, which translates to Pivot in English. It reminds me of how almost every single first episode of the first season of any TV series is titled Pilot. But yeah, this book is written in the language of mathematics so we have Pivot instead of Pilot. Ok, you can certainly see me as a geek now!

(There's a weird mix of characters in this book though. In the artwork -credit to tamypu- is Hetty, the chief in NCIS: Los Angeles and there is a small cameo appearance of ... someone you will know as soon as I finish translating the very last chapter).

I'll give you (or just myself) as many update on this as possible.

[107summerday-blog]

Day #84: Skins, Hormones' Inspiration

Lần này tôi sẽ viết bằng tiếng Việt. Bài viết này sẽ phân tích sơ về sự liên quan giữa 2 series phim truyền hình, Skins của Anh và Hormones của Thái. Một cái tít nghe Kênh14 hơn sẽ là "Mối tương quan giữa Hormones Thái và Skins UK", hoặc là "Đạo diễn phim teen Thái bị nghi đạo ý tưởng phim". Luôn luôn đề cập tới sự việc đang hot trước, đó là điều tôi nhận thấy được. Vậy nên cái tựa đề tiếng Anh tôi đang đưa ra, thực sự dành riêng cho tôi và các fan của Skins hơn là cố gắng viết theo phong trào hiện tại. Chúng ta cùng bắt đầu nhé Skins là series truyền hình về tuổi teen của UK từ năm 2007 tới nay. Công thức của Skins đơn giản một cách phức tạp: Một nhóm bạn - ăn nhậu, yêu đương, hút chích, tình dục, đồng tính, ma tuý, sai lầm, một người trong nhóm chết, cuộc sống vẫn tiếp diễn. Diễn biến tâm lý nhân vật cực kì phức tạp, câu chuyện của từng nhân vật phản ảnh xã hội Anh đang đi xuống. 

Còn Hormones của Thái là bộ phim mới của đất nước chùa Vàng, hiện tôi đang xem tới tập 11. Có lẽ chỉ có mình tôi nhận thấy điều này nhưng thực sự 2 bộ phim này có những sự giống nhau đến ngạc nhiên.

Sự giống nhau: 1/ Ý tưởng chủ đạo: cả 2 bộ phim đều kể về một nhóm bạn học cùng trường. Phim không xoay quanh một nhân vật chủ đạo nào, mà mỗi tập phim được tập trung vào câu chuyện của một nhân vật nhất định. Đây có lẽ sẽ là xu hướng mới và tiếp theo sẽ có một bộ phim truyền hình Việt đi theo hướng này? Tất nhiên là không phải phim nào cũng có thể chia đều đất diễn cho các nhân vật như Glee, How I met your mother hay Suites Life of Zack and Cody. 2/ Tony Stonem và Win Lần đầu tiên nhìn thấy mặt cậu học trò ngỗ ngược Win, tôi đã nghĩ ngay tới Tony Stonem. Khuông mặt họ hao hao giống nhau. Điệu cười nửa miệng cũng giống nhau. Họ cũng là người đầu têu nhưng trò quậy phá và có cùng sở thích cưa cẩm gái xinh. 

3/ Đồng tính Chủ đề đồng tính được đưa lên hai bộ phim cực kì nhẹ nhàng và nghiêm túc. Skins thì có chàng trai tóc vàng dễ thương Maxxie và cặp đôi Naomily. Còn Hormones thì có 2 anh chàng Phoo và Thee tuy Phoo hiện tại vẫn đang phân vân về giới tính của chính mình. Phần mình tôi thực sự khâm phục cả 2 nhà làm phim khi có thể đưa lên sóng những thông điệp thật sự nhân văn về tình yêu của những con người khác biệt.

4/ Nhạc nền Nếu nghe sơ qua thì cảm giác nhạc nền 2 phim y hết nhau. Nhất là khi tới những đoạn cao trào trong Hormones thì phần nhạc đệm chẳng khác gì đoạn intro của Skins 5/ Scandal trong trường Dù chưa xem tập mới nhất nhưng nghe đồn là sẽ có cảnh bạn Win ôm hôn cô giáo. Bạn nào là fan của Skins chắc cũng nhận ra sự giống nhau đến lạ với tình tiết trong season 2 khi cũng có scandal giữa Chris với cô giáo.

Sự khác nhau: 1/ Gia đình Những nhân vật trong Skins đa phần là những đứa con của những gia đình tan vỡ. Bố mẹ bỏ đi, ly dị, vỡ nợ, ngoại tình. Phải chăng thế giới người lớn cực kì đáng sợ đã biến họ thành những con người bất cần đời? Bởi vì như Cook đã nói: "làm éo gì có ai quan tâm, chúng ta chỉ muốn vui vẻ".

Trong khi các nhân vật trong Skins chỉ muốn chạy trốn khỏi gia đình thì các ông bố bà mẹ trong Hormones thực sự khác hẳn. Họ tâm lý và yêu thương con cái hơn rất nhiều. Tuy vẫn có những người phải một mình nuôi con, có người thương yêu bảo vệ con quá mức hoặc cực kì mê tín nhưng gia đình mà họ tạo dựng nên vẫn là một mái nhà đủ ấm để các bạn trẻ quay về, tìm kiếm sự tha thứ sau những phút sai lầm. Ta có thể thấy ngay sự khác biệt giữa xã hội Anh có phần lạnh lùng giữa các thế hệ và xã hội châu Á với những ông bố bà mẹ luôn sẵn sàng bao bọc yêu thương con cái. 2/ Ma tuý và giáo dục giới tính Bất kì ai xem xong Skins cũng sẽ liệt kê ra được tên một loại ma tuý. Các nhân vật sử dụng cần sa, ADMD, hút thuốc lá, uống rượu như một thói quen cực kì bình thường. Họ cũng không đề cập đến vấn đề an toàn tình dục (phải chăng kiến thức này các em tuổi teen ở Anh đã mặc định phải biết?).  Điểm cộng ở Hormones là dù vẫn có sự xuất hiện của thuốc lá và rượu bia, nhưng tuyệt nhiên không thấy bóng dáng của ma tuý. Tất nhiên, ở những nền văn hoá Á Đông như Thái và Việt Nam, hình ảnh học sinh sử dụng ma tuý trên truyền hình thực sự rất phản cảm và gây ấn tưởng không tốt tới việc giáo dục sau này. An toàn tình dục cũng được đề cập đến trong tập về cô bé Dow sau khi cô bé vượt rào cùng cậu bạn trai dễ thương. Cậu bạn Din dễ thương ngay lập tức đã biến mất và để lại Dow phải đối mặt với tâm lý sợ hãi khi bị ám ảnh việc mình sẽ mang bầu. Tập phim cũng phần nào cảnh tỉnh những cô gái ngây ngô dễ thương khác rằng, tình yêu thật sự không phải lúc nào cũng như những câu chuyện cổ tích mà các cô luôn tưởng tượng.

3/ Quảng cáo Nếu có cái gì mình không thích về Hormones thì đó chính là quảng cáo. Xuyên suốt các tập phim là hình ảnh các cô câu bé tuổi teen dùng iPhones nhắn tin LINE cho nhau. Hở một tí là xin nick LINE của nhau. Thậm chí còn xông vào đánh nhau vì một cái nick LINE. Mình chưa dùng LINE, dù cũng vừa download về máy, mình không biết nó dùng tốt thế nào, nhưng thực sự việc họ dành hơi nhiều đất quảng cáo cho các hãng này đã bắt đầu làm mình cảm thấy hơi nhàm. Mình là mình vẫn thích hình ảnh Naomi cầm con gì giống Nokia cục gạch gọi điện cho Emily hơn. Cảm thấy nó bình dân và dễ chấp nhận hơn rất nhiều.  Kết Nếu bỏ qua những điểm giống nhau trên thì Hormones vẫn là một bộ phim tuyệt vời và có những điểm tuyệt vời mà Skins chưa khai thác được. Như tên gọi của 2 phim, Skins là sự trần trụi, sự phơi bày ra bên ngoài. Dù tuyến nhân vật của Skins cực kì phức tạp nhưng tâm lý nhân vật vẫn phần nào bị che lấp bởi những cảm xúc bất cần, tiệc tùng và ma tuý. Trong khi đó, ở một nền văn hoá khác, ở một câu chuyện hơi khác, Hormones lại khai thác được cái lý do ẩn sâu bên trong những hành động bất chợt đó, và nó chính là: Hormones. 

[107summerday-blog]

Day #71: A more updated and late summer reading plan

I know my last entry was since forever because I was too busy working out. The good new is, I have lost 5.2kg of fat. That's certainly an achievement for me. After the whole month of constant pain, I'm back, writing as much as I can to make this summer memorisable.

Unsurprisingly, I went through 1984 with ease and amusement. The book has been another favourite of mine. It did give that stinky, depressing after taste but I recovered from it quickly and became somewhat more productive than before. I'm on Animal Farm now and since I like to plan out stuffs, here are the list of books I'm thinking about reading so I won't download a whole lot of them and not reading any George Orwell's 1984 George Orwell's Animal Farm Daniel Tammet's Born on a Blue Day (for some reason I kept thinking it was Born on the Green Day, and getting Billie Joe Armstrong as the search results)

Hitchhiker Guide to the Galaxy … [to be updated]

[107summerday-blog]

Day #43: July 11th, 10-a-day "interesting words around the world"

So the internet went out for me for a few days (which also includes the weekend where I am too lazy to post anything). Here is the new words I learned the past few days.

Pariah (n) The word comes from Hindi and means an outcast. Another word that also comes from Hindi is pundit which means an expert in a particular area. eg, The one eminent scientist, upon being inculpated for fudging his data, has become a pariah in the research community. Nabob (n) This word also comes from Hindi and was originally used by Indians to describe a wealthy British person living in India. Therefore, the meaning of this word is a wealthy, influential person. Zeitgeist (n) Zeitgeist is "time-ghost" which means spirit of the times. My father used to say that German and English have the same Anglo-Saxon root, so they have similar language system. I don't know if it holds true. May be doing some research about the zeitgeist of that era would help. Sangfroid (n) English people like to say "Keep calm and carry on" where as French would stay sangfroid which literally means cold-blooded and is defined as calmness and poise. eg, The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat or the gun at his head. Parvenu (n) This is a person who has recently acquired wealth and has therefore risen in class. The word has a derogatory (deprecatory) connotation. As a continent with long history, many European believe themselves belong to the true noble class. They seem to disgust the parvenus who used to have no right to enjoy the high class activities. Revise: Demur (v) The word means to object or express reluctance to do something. Not to be confused with Demure (adj) which means coy. Arriviste (n) This word is similar to parvenu but with ruthless ambition connotation. Melee (n) Let's me guess, this word refers to short distance weapons. In game, when you choose melee attack, it means your character will use weapon such as swords, daggers, or pickaxe. The actual definition of the word is a wild, confusing fight or struggle (which I can imaging from the game). Lagniappe (n) The word, originated from Louisiana, means an unexpected gift Picayune (adj) Picayune refers not only to a coin but also to an amount that is trifling or meagre, or a person who is petty. Trifling means insignificant and meagre means deficient in quantity.

[107summerday-blog]

Day #36: July 4th, 10-a-day "featuring words derive from mockery"

So I'm taking up a new hobby, bodybuilding, starting with weight loss. There was no new entry yesterday because I hanged out late with my friend. The moment I arrived home, my body was so exhausted I couldn't move. And today I started the extreme diet plan, ate 4 cucumbers and drank 4 cups of whey protein. I don't even feel tired during work out but it's wearing me out at the moment. Hopefully I will stay sane enough to not messing up my spelling. Juggernaut (n) The word refers to any large force that cannot be stopped. Meet Juggernaut, the unstoppable mountainous guy in X-Men.

Grisly (adj) It means causing a shudder or feeling of horror; horrible; gruesome. In Lineage II, grisly bear is an aggressive mob about level 24 which drops leather after using spoil skill. Decimate (v) The word's first definition is to destroy a great number or proportion of. In Mathematics, the prefix "deci" refers to ten which is the second definition given by the online dictionary, to select by lot and kill every tenth person of. In my understanding, it means to make the victims count from 1 to 10. When that unfortunate person calls out 10, he or she is exterminated, somewhat brutally. Schadenfreude (n) This word comes from German which literally translated to harm-joy. This may sound evil but I have always take joy in the suffering of others and that is what the word refers to. Cackling (v): to utter a shrill, broken sound or cry, as in a hen. Shrill (adj): high-pitched and piercing in sound quality. Sardonic (adj): characterised by bitter or scornful derision Scornful (adj): he smiles in a scornful way would mean a ridicule and mockery way Derision (n): ridicule; mockery Contemptuous (adj): showing or expressing disdain; disrespectful. Bonus: Amuck (adv) This adverb comes from Malay which means to run about frenzied. When those Korean Pop idol first came to Viet Nam, their young and dangerous Vietnamese teen fans ran amuck through the airport. This is one of the most disappointed entry ever. To make up for this disappointment I will discuss my new hypothesis here. At the moment, I'm taking beginner Japanese class every morning and it strikes me that a rigorous analysis of the class seat layout can reveal a lot about the people in the class. There are 3 columns and 7 rows of double table (so 2 people can sit together in one table). My main hypothesis is, when people first came in, assume they did not know each other, they would choose to sit by themselves. Let's also assume that people who came in first are more motivated and responsible for their study, so they would acquire better understanding and develop their Japanese more rapidly. Therefore, at least for the first 4 rows, the table will consist of a person who is likely to be good in the class. The conclusion is, if you are not quite sure about your ability, take the very front seats since there will always be people, who are confident and intelligent and will not beg the questions that you ask, take those front seats. This is only the hypothesis since I have only verified this with my Japanese class. It holds true but only up to the first 4 rows.

[107summerday-blog]

Day #34: 10-a-day "unlikely to see anywhere but quite interesting to know" words (+ some usual words)

Kowtow (v) There is no better mnemonic to this word than translate it to how we would pronounce it "khau dau". This means to knelt down before the king with the forehead touch to the ground to show respect. Kowtow means a person is acting in a subservient or sycophantic manner. The negative connotation of this word perhaps comes from the perception that you only kowtow to someone to show your obedience. eg, Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss herself soon became nauseated by his sycophancy. Subservient (adj) The word means extremely compliant. Other synonym of this word is bootlicking, cowering, cringing, deferential, docile, fawning, ignoble, slavish, sycophantic Powwow (n/v) "Pow chicka powwow, that's what my baby says", I think that is the lyrics of a song from Phineas and Ferb. On the contrary to the funny dancing tune in the cartoon, powwow actually refers to informal discussion or colloquy. Before any group presentation, I would prefer to have a small powwow to make sure everyone is ready. Colloquy (n) Colloquy is a conversation exchange, dialogue, a literary work in dialogue form. Perhaps it sounds much better if they called Shangri-la Colloquy instead of Shangri-la Dialogue. Junta (n) Whenever military groups joined forces to usurp the existing regime, they would form a military junta. The word also refers to the aggressive takeover by a group. eg, As dangerous of a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than the current leadership. So North Korea is dangerous and unpredictable under the current leadership. However, if military groups join forces and gain power, they could be more dangerous and unpredictable than North Korea. Usurp (v) The verb means to seize and hold by force or without legal right. Joffrey usurped the Iron Throne although he did not have legal right since the boy is not the true heir of King Robert. Imbroglio (n) The noun describes a confusing, and potentially embarrassing, situation. It is related to embroil Embroil (v) Embroil means to bring into discord or conflict. Kim Jong Un has embroiled the international relationship between North Korean and the rest of the world by proceeding the nuclear testing program. Encroach (v) This verb is used without object and it means to advance beyond proper, established or usual limits. We can also think of this word as to trespass upon the property. It could be used similar to usurp but without any object. eg, A dictatorship of the majority is encroaching on the rights of the individual. Pungent (adj) A pungent pasta would mean hot and peppery pasta I guess. The meaning of the word is sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell. Some synonyms are hot, peppery, piquant, sharp, sarcastic, cutting, acrimonious, bitter.

[107summerday-blog]

Day #33: the Commonly Confused Sets

Alright, this is as scary as it should be. A month has passed after we got back to Viet Nam. As much as I am happy that we will see each other soon, I also fear the pressure of not study enough for GRE. May the gods of all the 7 kingdoms help me, I need to focus.

Perfunctory (adj) vs Preemptive (adj) vs Peremptory (adj) Looking on the bright side, I have never come across these words before. None of them gives me any idea what they mean and how they are used that would cause the confusion. Here we go. Perfunctory (adj) means doing things in a routinely and hardly inspired manner, as if you are careless about the job. Amazingly, I don't usually feel perfunctory while doing dishes since they sometimes turn into an interesting and inspiring job. Preemptively is to act before someone else does. In warfare, it is important to espionage your opponents and take the preemptive move. Peremptory (adj) means bossy and domineering. This is an embarrassing story of myself. I was 12 at that time when my aunt and cousin came back to Viet Nam for a visit. My cousin brought with him a PSP and let me and my other cousins to play game on it. I was so peremptory I acted as if the PSP was mine and the other cousins must have my permission to play. Indigent (adj) vs Indigenous (adj) vs Indignant (adj) Indigent means poors. Indigenous means relating to a certain area. No one in Australia is supposed to be called Australian except for the indigenous people themselves. Indignant means to feel anger over a perceived injustice. Peter Parkers have felt indignant the night his uncle died. Bruce Wayne's parents died before his indignant eyes. I lie, I don't know if any of them felt anger, or just lost but I would assume losing your loved ones unjustly would cause anger and other pains. Errant (adj) vs Arrant (adj) vs Errand (n) vs Err (v) To be errant is to be wandering, not sticking to a circumscribed path. It can also connote deviating from accepted behaviour or standards. Instead of cycling straight home, I took the errant route today to avoid the traffic jam and to burn a little bit more calories. Arrant means complete and utter, usually modifies a noun with a negative connotation. An arrant fool, Joffrey had Ned Stark beheaded. An errand is a small chore. Robbing a bank is no errand. To err is to make an error. They erred to think that I would be confused between errant and errand. (Ok, so I thought they are the adjective and noun of similar meaning) Artless (adj) vs Artful (adj) vs Artifice (n) Important: neither word relates to art as far as the GRE is concerned. Artful means to be cunning and wily (like the Imp in Game of Thrones) to have "artifice" is to be artful. An unsurprising antonym for artful is artless which means innocent, guileless (I always thought it was guiltless) Expurgate (v) vs Expunge (v) To expurgate means to remove objectionable material. For example, removing the swearing out of TV programs. Remember when Taylor Swift got her rap bleeped out in the end although she claimed to say nothing wrong? Her lyrics was expurgated since it might have contained objectionable material that was not appropriate for the general viewers. To expunge means to wipe out or remove any trace off. For example, murderers often expunge their fingerprints after committed a crime. Censure (v) vs Censor (v) Censor is the synonym of expurgate. To censure someone is to express strong disapproval of that person. When we were skating on the street, we have been censured a lot by the people of the neighborhood nearby. Ponderous (adj) vs Imponderable (adj/n) Ponder means to think over but ponderous does not mean thinking. To be ponderous means to be weighed-down and to move slowly. A good mnemonic would be to think of pounderous as in a lot of pounds which would certainly make you move in a slowly and laboured fashion. Imponderable is not the opposite of ponderous. If you take a close look at the suffix of the two words, they are not the same. An imponderable is something that is impossible to estimate, fathom or figure out. Getting a 100 from Barrie Cooper is imponderable.

[107summerday-blog]

Day #32: 5-a-day Commonly confused sets

So here I am, back after a relaxing weekends, nearly lost count of what day I am on. My list is getting shorter and shorter and it is not a good sign I suppose.

Miserly (adj) vs Frugal (adj) Let's first take a look that the definition for each word. Searching for the meaning of the word "miserly" is one of the moment where you don't know any word mentioned in the definition of this word. Miserly means stingy, and stingy means reluctant to give or spend, not generous. I don't know how much of the mathematics properties (if a=b, b=c, then a=c) can be applied here. I should assume the sense of the word miserly is not generous. The other word, frugal, means prudently saving or sparing, not wasteful. I guess the reason why these two words are easily confused is the situation they are describing. Miserly is not being generous for whatever the circumstance is whereas frugal is being economical. Miserly has a negative connotation and frugal has a positive connotation. Prevaricate (v) vs Variance (n) One is a verb and the other is a noun, so what to be confused between them? Prevaricate is synonym for equivocate, or speaking in an evasive way. Variance means the quality of varying. They are totally unrelated and therefore, one should not be seen as any kind of roots for the other. Histrionic (adj) vs History (n) Histrionic is originated from Latin and used to describe actor, which means to be overly theatrical. Demur (v) vs Demure (adj) To demur is to object or show reluctance. I alway demurred when my friends asked me to watch horror movies. On the other hand, the adjective demure means to be modest and shy which is usually used to describe a woman. My girlfriend is not demure. Beatific (adj) vs Beautiful (adj) A beatific person is one who is so happy, they radiate bliss. I thought it means "this beat is terrific". My girlfriend is always beatific (and beautiful).

[107summerday-blog]

Day #29 (continue): last 4 of "Multiple Meaning"

Fleece (v) Yes, I know the noun of this word. A fleece shirt is one that has woollen texture that keeps you warm and is also very light. The first meaning of this verb is to remove the fleece (wool) of the sheep. The second meaning is to deceive. Eg, Many have been fleeced by Internet scams and have never received their money back. Telling (adj) If something is telling, it is significant and revealing of another factor. For example, her unbecoming dress was very telling when it came to her sense of fashion. As you should remember, becoming as an adjective means appropriate. Wax (n,v) The word wax as far as I know refers to ear wax, hair waxing and waxing car (to make it shiny). Another meaning for wax is to increase (how weird is that). The opposite of wax is to wane (to decrease). Both words seem to be used to describe the moon

Qualify (v) The secondary meaning of this word is to limit, and is usually used in the context of a statement or an opinion. An unqualified statement could be: I love eating cakes. A qualified statement could be: I love eating cakes but they increase my calories intake and therefore increase my body weight. In a way, qualify would be similar to giving some kinds of limitation or condition to the statement. I thought I could add some more words I found on the Economist but my subscription expired. Let's it be this for the night and I'll be back tomorrow with Commonly Confused Word sets. Cheers, Peace out !