7th Musing: Proper Usage of Yaoi! My ranting--no flames allowed

So being an avid fan of manga, anime, video games, and the like, I come across a lot of yaoi in fanfiction and it annoys the heck out of me, to be honest. Usually when I complain, people agree with me, but then there are the "you're against homosexuality? You're a terrible person!" So clarifying things right away, I am definitely not against it, I support love in any shape or form as long as both partners are happy (I'll just keep it as that because, well, that's a whole other topic to delve into, which I probably won't unless I'm actually interested in pondering it).
I guess I'll zero-in on Kingdom Hearts, a video game. Two best friends (and that's it!). The main character all but declares his love for the girl in their little trio and she returns his feelings, which is one of the reasons why the other (heterosexual) character is jealous of the protagonist: because he's also in love with her. Now when I'm trying to find a good story on ff.net, it's all yaoi pairing the two guys together, which, honestly, ruins the whole story for me because, aside from thinking the protagonist and said love interest are quite cute together, these people are twisting the characters' actions and making the whole story about them secretly being in love with each other.
Now a few I wouldn't mind, but when there are hundreds of them and it's hard to just find a good old friendship story (and don't even get me started on two other main characters who are like brothers because they also fall in love with a girl, the third member of their group). I think yaoi can be good if it's canon like Magnus Bane and Alec, and I love Jakotsu---he's one of my favourite characters in the whole show, or Dekka and Brianna, though this one is sad because the latter is straight.
Basically, I'm just saying: use it properly, people! The author wrote it a certain way for a reason! Stop twisting their words and prior actions. Like I said, I can understand some yaoi when the author doesn't intend it, but it's inescapable now to the point where I can't find anything else for my favourite stories. *sigh*

6th Musing: School Systems

Random daily update: (Two of them actually. One, today I repeated something that sounded very familiar to my friends and then I realized it's because I wrote it, but it was quite true. The friend who reads this laughed at me, but I realized I should just have stock-phrases from here in my head now :/ )
(Second: I just finished an amazing (beautiful!) book called Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe).

So I guess since I haven't had many ideas, here's one that tends to circulate in my head sometimes, especially because one of my friends is really bent on changing it. And that would be the school systems of...well, more than one country. And this will be a shorter post too.
I'll be simple.
Here's what's wrong:

Standardized testing
Grades
Favoring memorization over free-thinking and opinions
Forcing students to learn certain subjects past certain grades.
Required reading (by board members, most of whom have never been educators) and have you read The Song of Solomon? Besides emotionally scarring its victims--readers--it teaches me nothing except that the author has mental issues. To be fair, the last two pages were quite good. And I will never forget the time we had to read 150 pages about a man in prison and it consisted of him talking about what he ate at his meals and how grueling and mind-numbing it was to lay bricks for hours. For a few pages he would talk about his family and how they thought he was a spy, but the rest discussed what I wrote a sentence ago.

There's more, but those are the biggest problems as far as purely education goes. So I think there should be a mass reform.
1. Once students know that they hate math or language or any other subject besides writing (because they'll have to do this their whole life anyways), those subjects should not be required because that time otherwise wasted could be devoted to refining their real skills.
2. There should be no grades. Tests are a terrible way to measure intelligence, which renders grades irrelevant to a person's skill. Einstein failed math.
3. A council of current teachers will decide what books to read and they're not all terribly boring, they know books that are both enjoyable to read and those which contain valuable teaching material.
4. Just get rid of standardized testing, it's a waste of time, energy, and really just to fuel America's place in the worldwide competition of "which country has the best students?"

Just some of my thoughts. Also...I lied about this being a short post.

5th Musing: Out of Musings (but somehow we get to sci-fi)

So I sorta skipped a day of musings and with my sincerest apologies, I must also say that I have no musings at the moment! But then I thought: Ah! What a paradox this is!
Because really, I am musing about the fact that I have no musings. If I had musings, I could muse, but if I had none then I could muse about how I could not muse.
And that is how this post has the word muse (or a word in its family) 9 times in 5 lines. That should be some sort of record.
But while we are on this topic of paradoxes, I must say they, especially those of the temporal sort, are some of my favorite things about which to theorize. It's because I watch things like Doctor Who and the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (you can't forget Final Fantasy VIII in addition to that).
I warn you there are spoilers ahead!!

With Doctor Who we could talk all day about paradoxes, so I'll just talk about MoHS. So in the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (like I said: spoilers coming up). The main character's just minding his own business, trying to turn the world back to its original way and then the crazy girl who we thought disappeared like 15 episodes back randomly comes in and stabs him in the back (literally). So while he's writhing in pain and she's making sure he doesn't make it out alive, two saviours step in and save him. One of them is obviously the main character from the future with his friend, a time-traveler, though they only reveal his silhouette and voice. After the second time watching (and reading a couple of forum posts), I realized that he was only alive at the end because his future self saved him. But how did that future self get out alive?  Technically that future self shouldn't have existed.
Or what about that story where this man wanted to see how a building burned down so he went back in time into that building and knocked down the lantern that started the fire. So basically, he caused what he wanted to witness.
So I have to wonder: if time travel is possible (and I really do believe it is, we just haven't achieved the means yet), could these ever happen?
And what about time loops? How many times have you lived this day if it turns back so that you can't remember? In the Endless Eight (MoHS again), they all felt a strong sense of deja vu. Now whenever I feel that, I get creeped out because I think of time loops.
I'd like to find out how much of this is possible and how to achieve something like this because, really, I believe that manipulating time is a possibility, we're just not advanced enough.

4th Musing: Acting

At the risk of this being a topic not many people aside from me will care about....I don't really care, so just wait for tomorrow's post or something.
So basically, one of my dream careers (of many) is to be an actress (film preferred over theatre) and my recent college level theatre class really inspired me to become more serious about it. There is a lot of analysis about human behaviour, which is my niche (psychological brain, to refresh your memory) and also how to display certain characteristics on-stage. My teacher is extremely passionate, which is probably my favourite characteristic in a teacher, and she was always telling us to study actors and listen to their tones and watch their body language. It's just so interesting to see how some of the really excellent actors can capture characters so well. Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, and the like can become entirely different people, yet still believable through each one.
Aside from the three mentioned, my list of inspirational actors is as followed:

David Gallagher
Miyano Mamoru
Jun Ji-Hyun (though I've only seen her in one movie--My Sassy Girl--she is fabulous!)
Alan Rickman
James Franco
Daniel Auteuil
Heath Ledger just because he could become a character completely
Robin Williams
Christopher Lee!

Ahhh the list could go on, but those are the ones that sprang to mind.
I recently discovered just how much an actor can change a character even by one word. I was listening to the Japanese version and then the English version of, well, a video game (but they have really top-notch actors--how I miss you, Billy Zane...). Basically one character accused the second character of not having a conscience and turning to the dark side, so the second character replied, "Conscience?"
So when I first heard it in English it was sassy David Gallagher saying it in a sort of disdainful tone. Then we have a non-sassy Miyano Mamoru say it in a different tone, as if he's hurt that his friend suggested he didn't have a conscience and he seemed far more vulnerable than the closed-off English interpretation.
I was about to tell this to my friend, but I feel like I'd given her enough Kingdom Hearts, and furthermore Riku analysis for a lifetime (but it's only the latter, really, that I'm afraid she'll get tired of). So, sparing her, I just explained my little observation and personally just found it fascinating how it was only one word and how two totally different interpretations can be "correct" (and by correct, I mean give the feel of the character).

And with that I bid you adieu until the fifth musing.

Third Musing: What Makes a Personality

(random daily update: I couldn't write yesterday because of a very bad stomachache :P I must say, though, that I should call these ramblings instead of musings. Thank you for putting up with me.
~listening to Yamagami no Mori he from Hotarubi <3)

So I can safely assure that many of my friends would expect this post by now. I guess I'm what one would call a psychology junkie? MBTI, enneagram, Global 5, astrology, quizilla character personality tests, you name it. Some I like more than others (that would be 1, 2, and 4 on that small list) and I use them to obsessively type my friends, characters I like, celebrities, or just people I'm interested in, in general.
As for me, I'm an ENTP, 4w3, and Pisces (Aquarius moon), which happens to be extremely contradictory. (4 symbolizes individualism and loner tendencies while 3 needs success and depends on admiration from others). Pisces is emotional, Aquarius is rational and so forth, but enough about me. I was just pondering that which contributes to one's personality. Personally, I was never much for the theory stating the brain is your being. Despite the opinions of what I like to call narrow-minded scientist types, I believe in a soul and that the heart, not the brain, rules emotion.
I also never understood the people who claimed that children are just a product (or sum?) of their parents. Yes, I've definitely taken mannerisms and ways of interacting with people based on what I grew up with, but I have my own unique personality that's been with me since I was born as does everyone. I like to claim some individuality.
Another thing that annoys me is that my English teacher (though she's actually my favorite English teacher ever and she is amazing, I promise) one year always had us focusing on our identity and while she told us to look deep within ourselves (and present our findings to the whole class twice a semester), we also had to focus on "external identity" such as race, religion, neighborhood, etc.). I can honestly say that I don't care about any of those and they do not contribute to my inner self whatsoever and reading those articles saying that we are also a product (sum?) of these things was equally irritating. Let's go down the list then:
Race: coming in contact with racism can certainly make one's life harder, sure. What else?
Neighborhood: good or bad can determine your life, not your inner core
Religion: can corrupt or improve a person--nothing to do with personality or who someone truly is.

...So that's my $0.02.

All About People

random update from じゅりあ！: I'm listening to the song kanekane shigure from Hotarubi no Mori he (To the Forest of Firefly Lights), beautiful music to match a beautiful movie, but there is no sheet music anywhere, how saddening).

afternote: I warn you this is very rambly and maybe cheesy :P I didn't want to make it too long, so I'll just give you some thoughts that go through my head oftentimes.

So what I've noticed is that there are a lot of people (especially on the internet where one can remain anonymous and rant and rave all they'd like) about how much they hate other people. I really don't know where I'm going with this and my mind has a stream of consciousness manner to it that unwinds like thread on a spool....so bear with me. I suppose I just can't understand them because I love people. Sometimes it's hard, especially with the news where bad people are broadcast 24/7. And I definitely know that there are things that happen that are really disturbing, but the culprits are never the majority because there are so many good people who hate them just as much.

"There is more light than darkness in this world, but darkness is a lot louder because it loves attention." This is a quote from a very wise woman I know and I found truth in it.

 Another thing is, I have a friend in mind who, though she is very loyal with a wonderful system of values (though passive-aggressive to a head-ache inducing extent at times), can rarely find positive aspects in others or their intentions. I try to help her look for the good in others because I always do that and I usually find it right away, but she always assumes the worst of everyone. I believe that if you're kind, you'll find kindness in return, and so forth. 

I manage to make friends easily (and in random places) because of this, I think (Well that and addressing them in a chummy manner when first meeting and sometimes calling them by a Spanish version of their name depending on my comfort level). People tend to tell me their life stories a lot, but I think it's because I actually care about them and they can see that *shrug*. 

One time I was in the nurse's office for a terrible stomach ache (and got out of yoga, chyaaa ;D) and there were two friends talking and then said sorry "girl over there" for disturbing me, though I found their conversation really funny and somehow we all started talking. So with about 25 minutes left we, well mostly one girl and I because the other quietly listened, got into deep discussions and debate about the government, depression, drugs, and everything and she told me really personal stories. I haven't seen them again (they're a year ahead), but I find it so interesting how people are so deep with so many layers. 

Another semi-anecdote, I always felt bad for pre-judging this girl in my class who looked really, I don't know, standoffish, stuck-up, pick an adjective, and I ended up really liking her and she defied all expectations. Now, I make it a rule never to judge. I mean, there are still unconscious processes (biological hardwiring), but I will make no observations about someone's inner personage until I really know them and have had some sort of substantial conversation with them.

And for my Sunday sermon-worthy piece: everyone is the same, we all have the same insecurities and doubts. We want to be accepted and, no matter what people say, everyone cares what people think at least a little (there's that biological hardwiring again.) 

One more thing: I don't have the exact quote, but I was reading the Japanese book Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe and one character, just one minor character who barely appears, made a really interesting point about how everyone is every age they have ever experienced. I recently theorized that everyone is both a mature adult and an innocent child. I see kids several years younger than me say surprisingly wise, insightful things while I've seen people a lot older than me having the same basic wants and feelings as a young child. You don't truly know someone until you've seen both.

And people are like ogres. "Like onions, they have layers."

(Well I thought it was clever...) 

First Musing: Celebrity Girls in Eastern and Western Cultures

So it's not exactly midnight, but close enough. Right now I'm listening to the Korean song Twinkle by Girl's Generation or SNSD or whichever they prefer. It's a song I know the whole official dance to and my close friends never hear the end of it or catch me doing their cool hand gestures (it took me a whole month just to figure out just exactly what they're doing)).
Anyways.
While singing along with probably terrible Korean pronunciation and saying things like "You have to notice me, I sparkle like a diamond" (nunne hwak di jana, di jana; bitnaneun nareul joahae!, etc.), I noticed how different the images girls want as celebrities. Assuming I'm speaking of First World countries, in Western societies (America, France, etc.), singers are generally sexy and womanly while in Eastern cultures (Japan, Korea, etc.) the girls are supposed to cutesy and, well, girly. Think Kesha vs. girls who wear a lot of glitter of poofy, bright dresses. Now I'm  not saying this about ALL celebrities because there are obviously exceptions, but even when talking to my oriental (I won't say Asian because this encompasses a lot) friends about this, they agree. I remember my one friend, who isn't my friend anymore for a really stupid reason, but I digress. Well sort of because I'm not even on that subject so...I'm on a random tangent. Anyways, this kid only liked girls who were really "cute, talked in a higher pitch, had cute mannerisms, etc. He even rejected a girl because she didn't act cute enough only to confess his love to her later or something (I exaggerate, but this is slightly what happened). Though nothing should be taken to the extreme, obviously, I actually like this image a lot more.
For example, Tiffany from SNSD.

I really don't like how in Japan (I don't know about the others) females are still sort of viewed as objects, though hopefully this will change with time as it is in America. Still, she comes off as far more pure, innocent, and nice than a lot of girls in America who are pressured to show off their bodies especially in rap music videos. Why is that necessary? American media has already marred how girls view themselves and how the male population should treat them, so why is this allowed to go on? Luckily, I do see (slow) progression. I suppose there's hope, but humans are taking longer to develop than I'd like.

Semi-formalish (but not really) Introduction

So here I am starting a new blog after the last one went slightly...disastrously? Basically, I'll just warn you that there won't be much emotional and/or dramatic posts in here, which isn't usually my style anyways, but my last blog was actually semi-personal and then certain people who also happen to have good computer hacking skills at their disposal, saw this blog and caused all sorts of trouble (and that is just cheating!).
For example, I said a certain child representative was a bitch (or some name of the sort, which I don't use lightly) because that is just factually one of her main qualities aside from her incompetence and secret neuroticism (not to confuse with a similar-sounding word), which bellied a surprising temper. I was just being honest and I'm a good judge of people. Unfortunately, she found it along with other posts in my blog from a long time ago when I was very excited to use this thing. I was 15, I believe?
Ah...good memories...... :/
 However, I believe expressing oneself is important, so I'll do just that and as long as I'm not hurting anyone or myself, there should be absolutely no trouble. My blog will probably be a bit more expressive by say, less than 3/4 of a year. I don't mean to sound confusing, I'm just basically saying that I'm not a very emotional person and on top of that I'm being extremely cautious, while valuing my freedom of speech for God's sake!!!!!! XD I kid...but really the Founding Fathers would be quite proud of me....
So my blog will be made up of my random musings (ode to the title) and usually at the later hours when  I can relax and think best. This time I don't care if I have no followers, I just write for myself. Another warning: I'm into weird stuff like astrology, anime (even *gasp* pokemon! that one stays in the closet), learning random languages, and etc. which I generally don't tell most people (I think there's a possibility I seem quite normal on the outside :P How boring) Also, I can ramble...
For a VERY long time. :P
Maybe I should be like that guy who wrote a blog and turned it into a book, which became one of the most popular Korean movies and my favourite romantic comedy--My Sassy Girl :D (and, of course, Americans ruined it with a remake). The movie captured his style very well heheheh
But now I am off to watch Seventh Heaven (at first it was for David Gallagher--my love!--but I'm getting really into it...)