Addendum to the last article about wanting to do something great:
Sometimes I feel like our selves are a composite of all those that have come before us: after all, we are the product of our parents, our ancestors, and those ancestors all had personalities. On any given day, even though physically I feel the same, and I could be doing the same routine day of work, I can be motivated to do different things, and have a different mindset. Some times I am caring and friendly, that's the Social Butterfuly ancestor talking; sometime I am very competitive and aggressive about winning: that's the Chinese warlord acting from years ago. Sometimes I feel very purposeful and diligent; that's the Worker Bee self coming out. There's no telling when these identities will appear and there's no way to control them, but I do think it exists. And no, I'm not diagnosed with multiple personality disorder like in Identity (although, that's a great movie to describe the situation). I remember everything that happens to me, the personalities don't block each other out or cause any type of memory loss; it just sometimes something "comes over me" or "I feel different."
Recently from these personalities, the "Do Something With your life!" personality has been coming out alot. The Chinese have a proverb that goes something like this: 三十而立. Meaning, you establish yourself in society when you turn 30. It makes a lot of sense, and alludes to what I talked about last year: I feel I've grown to become what I can become, my peak physical and mental form where I can do anything I want, and I have the motivation to do things, to accomplish things (which I understand fades as one grows older) and am still hungry to be somebody, to have an impact on society. That's exactly how I feel: All men must die, but before then I want to live. Ok that's actually from Game of Thrones, but the sentiment is that I want to be known for something, not waste this life.
Todd Frazier's definitely making an impact on society as he rounds into 30 (He turned 29 in February). YES! FANTASY BASEBALL! Still following it, even though participating in this "game" goes against my fundamental philosophy of getting busy accomplishing something. O well. I have 2 years until I hit 30. Watching Frazier's at-bats and his growth from a young pup in 2013 to what he is now, one of the most feared hitters in the game, is a real treat. He doesn't look all that intimidating, his swing doesn't look all that prodigious and he isn't the biggest physical specimen in the world, but when he hits the ball in the air, it just keeps carrying, and carrying, and carrying.......until it leaves the yard, 24 times this year before even the halfway point of the season. It's not like he's just selling out trying to hit homers neither; plenty of times with 2 strikes he pokes pitchers's pitches that are 2 inches off the ground into the opposite field, enough for a .294 average. A real joy and great proponent of the Todd Frazier Theory (see previous article).
Mark Buehrle is everything I like about baseball wrapped into one: I remember watching his major league debut with the White Sox in 2001, I remember watching his perfect game in 2007, I remember him winning a World Series in 2005, and here he is in 2015, 36 years old but still one of the fastest workers in the game and best fielding pitchers in the game (Gold Glove caliber) taking a bullet every time he takes the mound by pitching home games in Toronto. I root for him every time. 8-4 and a 3.81 ERA in the American League East, above-average by any measure. I wish I had a Mark Buehrle-day controlling my body once in a while.
Billy Burns is better than Coco Crisp's prime (the man he replaced). Billy Burns is better than people pegged him to be (just a speedster). Billy Burns is arguably better than Billy Hamilton (recently moved to 9th). I would definitely rather have him than Byron Buxton, this season and in all seasons to come. Billy Burns is the post-hype sleeper that every no-patience-for-prospects manager loves. I love Billy Burns.
Zach Britton deals 96-97 MPH heat with huge downward movement is one of the surest things in fantasy baseball right now. On pace with 45+ saves.
Nolan Arenado is not on my team this year, but I've loved watching his progression. Great defensive player, now a great offensive player in what is a changing of the guard in Colorado (from the Tulo-Cargo Era). Welcome to the Blackmon (another emerging youngster)- Sharknado era.
I have now converted firmly to the "Squeezing the Orange" theory: that hot streaks are a thing and you should ride a player when he is hot and dont' stop until he cools off. Some hitters just have that swing going and their body replicates it night after night, and they continue on a roll, until the homestand is over or until baseball eventually catches up to them. So for those who argue that each night is independent of the next, I totally disagree, especially for hitters: I'll ride the hot hitters all the time, every time. It can happen to anybody too. Chris Young, (the other Chris Young), for instance, is on a 9-game hitting streak where he's batting like .500. Many in the fantasy community would have never thought he had that ability due to his horrendous strikeout totals.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Friday, June 26, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
What is "The Iron Throne" in Today's Society
Recently the latest season of Game of Thrones (hard to believe we've already ripped through 5 seasons, only 2 or 3 seasons left in this epic saga!) ended with a bang as (SPOILER ALERT) a major character who was a possible contender for the Iron Throne (king of Westeros) lay dying. As Game of Thrones is a show based on real human characters with very human flaws and human desires, it's an interesting case study on how people behave and adapt.
My 2 favorite characters on Game of Thrones have always been Littlefinger and Varys....two men of common birth who rose up through the ranks to become lords and hold a great amount of power, using kings (like King Robert Baratheon) as chess pieces in a greater game through manipulation, strategy, and grasping opportunities where they presented themselves. I've always aspired to be that. I, Robert of the House Yan, am not noble by birth (I wasn't born into the Bush or Clinton families in America, or into the political elite of Communist China), or into celebrity fame like Will Smith's son, but I hope to rise up through the ranks one day through sheer determination and seizing of opportunities, and possibly, just one day, make it in a position where I can sit atop the Iron Throne.
But what exactly is the Iron Throne in today's world? Sure the theoretical figurehead of power is the President of the U.S., and one can definitely argue that person (may be a she after the next Presidential election) is the most powerful person in the world. That person would be commander in chief of one of the greatest armies in the world and have intelligence information surpassing most of what other countries have. That president also lives in the history books as someone to be revered and remembered (despite it really being just a popularity contest as to who sit there, not a reflection of how someone does when one is actually President)
So is the Iron Throne even something that I want? Just like the Iron Throne on Game of Thrones, with great power comes great responsibility, like having to answer to the citizens of the country one is king/ President of, or defeating other armies, or always thwarting attempts on one's life from people who also want to be in that position. The best position may be just like the ones that Varys or Littlefinger sit, being adviser to the King/president and providing useful information/ "advice" that goes to further one's schemes.
A powerful position in the world is media power, a hero like LeBron James or Jay-Z who transcends their particular arena to have a global impact. These people, right or wrong, have the adoration of the whole world and have more power than even the president, in the hearts and minds of the people. This would be like the Jamie Lannisters or Lorys Tyrells of the real world: warriors whose names ring out
There's also the finally wealthy positions. At last check, the wealthiest person in the world was Carlos Slim, followed by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. These people hold power through the money that they possess and are able to make an impact through business and affecting the fates of huge businesses (that are kingdoms in themselves). As we saw through Tywin Lannister's philosophy of controlling the purse strings of the country and making everyone in debt to oneself, it's a great way of gaining power over others. Especially in today's business-based society where wars aren't won or lost so much on the battlefield as much as they are in the boardrooms and CEO offices, it's a great power to be a business titan.
The point is, I've realized recently that I've been fortunate enough to make it where I am now, where I can live comfortably and have a normal life of playing dodgeball, running, meeting up with family now and then and eventually starting my own, but is that all I want in my life? My mom was very ambitious and tried to make the very best life that she could for herself, and that blood kind of runs through my veins. My ancestor was a warrior known throughout China feared throughout the country, darn it! He has a page in the history books! I want one too! The road to the Iron Throne, whichever form it takes, whether it be the seat of a corporate boardroom, or the seat at a media performing center, or a seat in a government office, begins now!
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
My 2 favorite characters on Game of Thrones have always been Littlefinger and Varys....two men of common birth who rose up through the ranks to become lords and hold a great amount of power, using kings (like King Robert Baratheon) as chess pieces in a greater game through manipulation, strategy, and grasping opportunities where they presented themselves. I've always aspired to be that. I, Robert of the House Yan, am not noble by birth (I wasn't born into the Bush or Clinton families in America, or into the political elite of Communist China), or into celebrity fame like Will Smith's son, but I hope to rise up through the ranks one day through sheer determination and seizing of opportunities, and possibly, just one day, make it in a position where I can sit atop the Iron Throne.
But what exactly is the Iron Throne in today's world? Sure the theoretical figurehead of power is the President of the U.S., and one can definitely argue that person (may be a she after the next Presidential election) is the most powerful person in the world. That person would be commander in chief of one of the greatest armies in the world and have intelligence information surpassing most of what other countries have. That president also lives in the history books as someone to be revered and remembered (despite it really being just a popularity contest as to who sit there, not a reflection of how someone does when one is actually President)
So is the Iron Throne even something that I want? Just like the Iron Throne on Game of Thrones, with great power comes great responsibility, like having to answer to the citizens of the country one is king/ President of, or defeating other armies, or always thwarting attempts on one's life from people who also want to be in that position. The best position may be just like the ones that Varys or Littlefinger sit, being adviser to the King/president and providing useful information/ "advice" that goes to further one's schemes.
A powerful position in the world is media power, a hero like LeBron James or Jay-Z who transcends their particular arena to have a global impact. These people, right or wrong, have the adoration of the whole world and have more power than even the president, in the hearts and minds of the people. This would be like the Jamie Lannisters or Lorys Tyrells of the real world: warriors whose names ring out
There's also the finally wealthy positions. At last check, the wealthiest person in the world was Carlos Slim, followed by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. These people hold power through the money that they possess and are able to make an impact through business and affecting the fates of huge businesses (that are kingdoms in themselves). As we saw through Tywin Lannister's philosophy of controlling the purse strings of the country and making everyone in debt to oneself, it's a great way of gaining power over others. Especially in today's business-based society where wars aren't won or lost so much on the battlefield as much as they are in the boardrooms and CEO offices, it's a great power to be a business titan.
The point is, I've realized recently that I've been fortunate enough to make it where I am now, where I can live comfortably and have a normal life of playing dodgeball, running, meeting up with family now and then and eventually starting my own, but is that all I want in my life? My mom was very ambitious and tried to make the very best life that she could for herself, and that blood kind of runs through my veins. My ancestor was a warrior known throughout China feared throughout the country, darn it! He has a page in the history books! I want one too! The road to the Iron Throne, whichever form it takes, whether it be the seat of a corporate boardroom, or the seat at a media performing center, or a seat in a government office, begins now!
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Father's Day ( In Chinese and English)
我爸是上海人， 从小就会说上海话. 有一句我爸说的话我从小记在心里，就是： “儿子，我知道你翅膀硬了，长大了，但你答应我这一点：保持你的中文。永远不要忘记。“ 这是在我快要高中毕业以前，马上就要离家上大学以前。还说的真是时候，我那时还会中文，但已经开始忘一些字了，所以我爸说的是未雨绸缪。他说这话不是为了自己，完全是为了我未来的教育和生活。我从那句话以后就自觉地读中文报纸，主动跟华人打交道， 然后读完法学院后发现中文派上用处了。我那时候18岁的我没有体验到中文这重要的本领，还多亏我爸提醒我了。我爸现在也帮我妹妹复习中文，他的这份心给我们兄妹算是一石二鸟了。
I
要是我妈给我的最大贡献是追我的梦想，努力奋斗的话，我爸给我的应该是不要大作声势， 不要直接批评别人，一直要让着别人。在美国社会里不是每个人都会同意这关点的，但我觉得是一个很重要的教训。美国有句话叫”speak softly and carry a big stick.” 我爸就是这种人，不要拍自己的马屁，反而要谦虚。
虽然我爸妈有炒炒闹闹的，但是到底有些地方配合的满好的。我妈野心很强，敢闯，敢冒险，对自己有高要求。象征性的，我妈是先来美国的， 然后我爸才跟过来的。搬到加州也是，是我妈些找到工作来的，然后几年后我爸才来的。夫妻俩，尤其有孩子的话，需要配合，需要有一人让（像孔融让梨似的）。 当然我妈也付出了，但我爸能在家里看着家，做饭送我上学也需要表扬的，而且为我做了搒样。 有一次我爸妈争的时候他说了一句难忘的词：”family first!" 虽然我爸英语一向很差，这一点还真说到点子了。我妈很会自己提高，赚钱很会赚，在财务和处理方面非常强，但有时因为干得那么幸苦没时间陪家里人了，我爸这一句算是提醒我妈一下，平衡了一下。我爸一直是为家里人想了不少，不仅是家务但精神上： 他在中国的时候跟大部分中国人一样，会抽烟。但有了我以后就戒烟了，甚至我没有一次见到他抽过烟。可能我们家本来就么有这个习惯，但我也从来没吸过烟，大部分原因是我爸的影响。
夫亲节快乐！
My father was born in Shanghai, and from birth knew how to speak Shanghainese, a dialect of Mandarin. There’s one thing my father told me that I’ve always remembered, which is: “Son, I know you’re growing up and your wings are hardening (Chinese phrase meaning becoming an adult), but promise me this one thing: maintain your Chinese always. Never forget it.” At the time I was about to graduate from high school, and right before I was leaving the Chinese-speaking confines of home, so it was perfect timing. I still knew Chinese at that time, but I had already started forgetting some words, so it was a great prophylactic measure by my Dad. He wasn’t saying it for himself, rather it was all for my education and future life. From then I started proactively reading CHinese newspapers, communicating with Chinese people, and then after law school I realized that Chinese was a big help in my career and work. My 18-year-old self did not grasp how important learning Chinese was, and props to my Dad for reminding me. My dad now helps my sister study Chinese, so his bit of loving attention is like killing two birds owith one stone.
If my mother’s biggest contribution was to encourage me to pursue my dreams and unabashedly fight for my goals, my dad’s contribution was to as they say “speak softly and carry a big stick.” Dont’ directly confront others, defer to others sometimes and practice leniency. Although not everyone in American society would adhere to this philosophy, I think it’s an important lesson. My dad practices humility and not boasting about oneself.
Although my parents have their disagreements and arguments, they actually complement each other well. My mom has great ambition and is willing to take risks in life, setting a high standard for herself. Symbolically, it was my mom who first came to America, and my Dad followed her. When we moved to California, it was also my mom finding a job first, and then my dad gradually moving over as the family moved over. I’ve always thought that a couple, especially with kids, needs to cooperate with each other, and needs one of the parents to make some sacrifices. (like the famous proverb of Kong Rong giving away his pears). Of course my mom also sacrificed to put her career first, but my Dad helping out at home needs to be commended. I’ll never forget another thing my dad said once during one of my parents’ arguments: “Family First!” Although my Dad’s English ability has consistently been pretty weak, I was pleasantly surprised by this sediment. My mom is very accomplished, and makes a lot of money for the family, and is great at finances and taking care of tasks for the family, but because she’s working so hard she sometimes sacrifices family time and being with the family, so my dad’s words reminded y Mom to maintain balance. My dad has always helped out at home a lot, not just physically with tasks but also spiritually: When he lived in China he practiced the great Chinese tradition of smoking cigarettes. But when I was born, he quit smoking, to the extent I’ve never ever seen him smoke. Maybe it’s just not in our family’s nature to smoke, but mainly due to my dad’s influence I’ve also never smoked.
Happy Father’s Day!
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Third Time's the Charm
However cliche it is, there is some truth to the phrase, "third time's the charm." Engaging in any endeavor really takes 3 times to get it good (not perfect, that takes many more times, but good can be achieved in 3). The first time is thrilling and terrifying at the same time because of the newness of the whole experience, the 2nd time one reacts to the first time and tries to alter some things, maybe overcompensating for some things, and then the 3rd time you get the right balance of knowledgeable experience and fresh enthusiasm. Hence the brilliance of the Wire Season 3, the dominance of the Chicago Bulls dynasty runs, why you get 3 arrows at the archery range (so you can recalibrate after the first two and then make the 3rd one true). There's value in doing something 3 times.
Over the weekend I did 2 major activities for the 3rd time: played at the Walt Disney Hall with the L.A. Lawyers Philharmonic for the 3rd time, and engaged in jury duty for the 3rd time.
1.) I ruthlessly bashed jury duty and the entire system 2.5 years ago, but it bears repeating: the jury system is broken. At least in Ventura County where I'm registered. Nothing screams "this is a waste of time!" than 50 men and women over 18 years old (presumably competent adults due to the jury pool being constructed of people who have driver licenses) going through jury selection for a day and a half for a meaningless, trivial case that should have been pleaded out to save everyone the trouble. Yup, not to sound bitter, but that was what I was doing for all of Friday and part of Monday, when I should have been at work or doing ANY OTHER ACTIVITY AVAILABLE TO ME. I want my 10 hours back. At least this time I figured it out, something I missed the first two times: Ventura County, at least, has a comically lenient stance towards "hardships" that allow people to limit the damage of jury duty to one day and avoid getting on a panel. Not suggesting anyone lie to get out of jury duty, and I certainly didn't, but the standards for being excused seems EXTREMELY paper thin. I was surprised when half of the panel I was in claimed hardship ( I didn't at first), more surprised when some just plainly stated, "I have vacation coming up" without further explanation, and EVEN MORE SURPRISED when they were excused!!!! I don't get paid if I don't go to work, and I felt that was MUCH MORE of a hardship than a vacation, so later on I explained to the judge my "hardship." BUT NOT AFTER HAVING WASTED TEN HOURS OF MY LIFE!!!! I'll say it again: The jury system is broken. (See my September 25, 2012 article.
2.) At some point during high school I realized I was not a great musician. I'd started playing violin since I was 7 and it was a big part of my childhood, but the age-old problem was I didn't like it. I didn't have enthusiasm, and the results showed: my progress slowed down, I didn't concentrate during violin lessons, I only went because I thought I would let down my parents if I didn't. However, despite slogging through years of orchestra and violin lessons in high school and then completely going cold turkey in college, I realized how much I missed it, and joined the Lawyers Philharmonic, and I've played 3 times at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Here's some reasons why everyone should learn an instrument (I've played clarinet and violin in my life, and later on I want to try guitar/ cello!)
1.) makes one appreciate classical music, a dying art
2.) makes one understand how to fix one's mistakes (tons of them when playing music)
3.) helps to find one's passion (if not music, then move oneself in a different direction)
4.) understand the concept of a group endeavor- one violin misses the mark, makes the whole orchestra suffer.
5.) cuz one can attract chicks that way- psych, just kidding, not really
3.) The next career decision I make will be my third: When I went to undergrad I decided to major in finance and be some sort of businessman, but that didn't work out. When I went to law school I was set on being a lawyer......and here I am. I just don't think I will be a lawyer my whole life (although I'll probably get sucked dry from paying my share of bar dues every year) and anticipate having to go down my 3rd career path in a few years. I've learned from my first few choices, having not been selected under the best circumstances possible. I studied finance because it seemed like a reputable occupation so that I could justify my college decision and having worked so hard in high school only to go to the local state school, and then law I did to make money and "because I didn't know what else to do after undergrad." This 3rd decision needs to be motivated mainly by things I actually like (I sometimes get upset at the legal system and other lawyers) , what I think I will be good at (I admittedly am not very good at law) and what can be an enjoyable career for the rest of my life. I will do some research.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Over the weekend I did 2 major activities for the 3rd time: played at the Walt Disney Hall with the L.A. Lawyers Philharmonic for the 3rd time, and engaged in jury duty for the 3rd time.
1.) I ruthlessly bashed jury duty and the entire system 2.5 years ago, but it bears repeating: the jury system is broken. At least in Ventura County where I'm registered. Nothing screams "this is a waste of time!" than 50 men and women over 18 years old (presumably competent adults due to the jury pool being constructed of people who have driver licenses) going through jury selection for a day and a half for a meaningless, trivial case that should have been pleaded out to save everyone the trouble. Yup, not to sound bitter, but that was what I was doing for all of Friday and part of Monday, when I should have been at work or doing ANY OTHER ACTIVITY AVAILABLE TO ME. I want my 10 hours back. At least this time I figured it out, something I missed the first two times: Ventura County, at least, has a comically lenient stance towards "hardships" that allow people to limit the damage of jury duty to one day and avoid getting on a panel. Not suggesting anyone lie to get out of jury duty, and I certainly didn't, but the standards for being excused seems EXTREMELY paper thin. I was surprised when half of the panel I was in claimed hardship ( I didn't at first), more surprised when some just plainly stated, "I have vacation coming up" without further explanation, and EVEN MORE SURPRISED when they were excused!!!! I don't get paid if I don't go to work, and I felt that was MUCH MORE of a hardship than a vacation, so later on I explained to the judge my "hardship." BUT NOT AFTER HAVING WASTED TEN HOURS OF MY LIFE!!!! I'll say it again: The jury system is broken. (See my September 25, 2012 article.
2.) At some point during high school I realized I was not a great musician. I'd started playing violin since I was 7 and it was a big part of my childhood, but the age-old problem was I didn't like it. I didn't have enthusiasm, and the results showed: my progress slowed down, I didn't concentrate during violin lessons, I only went because I thought I would let down my parents if I didn't. However, despite slogging through years of orchestra and violin lessons in high school and then completely going cold turkey in college, I realized how much I missed it, and joined the Lawyers Philharmonic, and I've played 3 times at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Here's some reasons why everyone should learn an instrument (I've played clarinet and violin in my life, and later on I want to try guitar/ cello!)
1.) makes one appreciate classical music, a dying art
2.) makes one understand how to fix one's mistakes (tons of them when playing music)
3.) helps to find one's passion (if not music, then move oneself in a different direction)
4.) understand the concept of a group endeavor- one violin misses the mark, makes the whole orchestra suffer.
5.) cuz one can attract chicks that way- psych, just kidding, not really
3.) The next career decision I make will be my third: When I went to undergrad I decided to major in finance and be some sort of businessman, but that didn't work out. When I went to law school I was set on being a lawyer......and here I am. I just don't think I will be a lawyer my whole life (although I'll probably get sucked dry from paying my share of bar dues every year) and anticipate having to go down my 3rd career path in a few years. I've learned from my first few choices, having not been selected under the best circumstances possible. I studied finance because it seemed like a reputable occupation so that I could justify my college decision and having worked so hard in high school only to go to the local state school, and then law I did to make money and "because I didn't know what else to do after undergrad." This 3rd decision needs to be motivated mainly by things I actually like (I sometimes get upset at the legal system and other lawyers) , what I think I will be good at (I admittedly am not very good at law) and what can be an enjoyable career for the rest of my life. I will do some research.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Trivia (まめちしき)
Trivia in Japanese is mamechishiki (まめちしき), or "a little knowledge about beans," which is an interesting way to look at knowing insignificant facts about stuff. One of my roommates is a big Jeopardy! fan and has been watching the show religiously since he was a kid and is in fact very good at trivia. He knows a lot of the others and would be able to be competitive on the show, unlike myself. Unfortunately I have never been very good at remembering all the British kings in succession, or the world countries and capitals, or songs of the 1970's, or religious epithets. I do respect those who have all of that knowledge and the tremendous amount of dedication they put into memorizing all those figures, but my view is that there is a lot of information in this world; we're not computers. My brain certainly doesn't act like one.
It is very depressing, however, to go to a Trivia Night with friends and not know any of the answers and feel like a total zero; even sometimes when I know the answer (that the Canadian national animal is the beaver) I don't access it in time or get nervous or something and miss it. Just not a trivia guy! Not to derail those who know trivia, but I think it's much more important to apply the important facts of life to applicable situations and learn from the facts we do know than to focus on, you know, *by definition* things that are not that high in importance.
What I do like are idioms and proverbs/ wise sayings, like "early bird gets the worm," or "spill the beans," except in both Japanese and Chinese they're often expressed in 4-word idioms, so that each phrase just rolls off the tongue and it packs in the maximum amount of meaning into a short amount of words. The most apt recent one has been 高嶺の花 (Takane no hana), literally a flower on a high peak, but basically meaning "someone/something out of one's league" (it's funny how all languages share the same ideas/ concepts) and 言わぬが花 (Iwanu ga hana), meaning, "not speaking is the flower." Totally reflects the Japanese culture of understanding without verbal communication, just by understanding what the other person is feeling through 以心伝心(ishin denshin) (there's another one!), with the slight nuance of "there's some things that are better left unsaid." Notice how the Japanese love proverbs/ idioms with central symbols like heart, (心) and flower (花 ).
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
It is very depressing, however, to go to a Trivia Night with friends and not know any of the answers and feel like a total zero; even sometimes when I know the answer (that the Canadian national animal is the beaver) I don't access it in time or get nervous or something and miss it. Just not a trivia guy! Not to derail those who know trivia, but I think it's much more important to apply the important facts of life to applicable situations and learn from the facts we do know than to focus on, you know, *by definition* things that are not that high in importance.
What I do like are idioms and proverbs/ wise sayings, like "early bird gets the worm," or "spill the beans," except in both Japanese and Chinese they're often expressed in 4-word idioms, so that each phrase just rolls off the tongue and it packs in the maximum amount of meaning into a short amount of words. The most apt recent one has been 高嶺の花 (Takane no hana), literally a flower on a high peak, but basically meaning "someone/something out of one's league" (it's funny how all languages share the same ideas/ concepts) and 言わぬが花 (Iwanu ga hana), meaning, "not speaking is the flower." Totally reflects the Japanese culture of understanding without verbal communication, just by understanding what the other person is feeling through 以心伝心(ishin denshin) (there's another one!), with the slight nuance of "there's some things that are better left unsaid." Notice how the Japanese love proverbs/ idioms with central symbols like heart, (心) and flower (花 ).
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Mazakon
This was written a month ago on my birthday, but for some reason it didn't post.
I turn 28 today! Yay! Here's to 28 years of life so far! 2 years til 30! So excited to joke that I'm turning 21 when I turn 30!
If you adhere to the theory that life starts after high school, I've been out of high school now 10 years, and so it's been a nice 10 years of life! Yay!
Btw, just looked up Mazakon (see previous entry) and it reads like a "Cosmopolitan" magazine survey: If you answered "Yes" to any of the following questions, you might be a Mazakon!
1. A person who is spoiled by his mother and cannot gain independence from his parents.
2. A person who cannot stand up to his mother and does whatever he is told.
3. A person who wants his female love interests to look like his mother.
4. A person who has romantic feelings toward older women who are close to his mother’s age.
No. 3 and No. 4 definitely don't apply unless I have some subconscious Freudian id I don't know about, but No. 2 has a hint of truth to it (I've backed down, I admit) but No. 1 is definitely the one that should get the most attention: I still live within one hour proximity of my parents and go home to visit them at least once every other week. Have I not gained independence? Here's where the magazine would say "You have a 60-75% chance of being a Mazakon!"
Upon further review a month later, I really am not a mazakon, but I probably do look for some of the characteristics in a potential spouse that I do in my mother: generous, smart, and with the same morals/ethics of how to treat people (like offering to pay for dates, for example, which in all serious was what turned me off of my previous dates when they didn't). I think many men care deeply (whether they like to admit it or not) about how the women in their lives view them, whether it be their moms, sisters, or girlfriends/ wives. It's only natural that they value similar characteristics in all of those important figures in their lives. I do too.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Acne
にきび. 面皰. 吹出物
Acne. Zits. Pimples. Just the mention of some a grotesque term turns me off and I’ve shied away from writing about it, but the reality is I have it. I’ve had it since I was 12 years old, and it’s plagued me in various degrees since. I’ve tried different antibiotics, skin cleansers, oil removers, sulfur masks, different diets, drinking more water than usual, almost everything, but at this point I’ realize that it’s around to stay.
I think those who suffer from acne, whatever degree, have all done some, if not all, of the following:
-
Feel jealous of those who have great skin
-
Look in different mirrors and different types of lighting to get the “best view” of one's face
-
Try to pick at blemishes even though it’s not a great idea (acne supposedly grows back faster if you pop it early)
- used concealer to hide acne or acne scars.
- Cringe whenever a new acne product advertisement comes on and other people are in the room
- Not be able to look someone else straight in the eye when a really bad breakout day comes
- Take a day off/half day off when a new breakout occurs
- Irrationally argue that a certain medication "is working, it just takes some time" when in reality it really has no effect and one is just kidding oneself
- Get frustrated by a dermatologist for not prescribing the right medication
- Complain about the amount of time it takes to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist
- Consider "Accutane," the only "true" cure for acne
- Blame one's parents for having genetically bad skin
- See someone else in public with even worse skin and shamelessly think, " at least my skin's not that bad."
- Get made fun of in high school for having acne
- pray at night before going to bed that the acne will just somehow disappear in the morning
To summarize, having acne is very, very difficult and causes self esteem problems as well as create stress for people in such a materialistic/appearance-based world. If you can relate to the above post, don't despair there are others out there who are going through the same thing. If you've never had to deal with acne, I lay curse on your house. Just kidding. Enjoy an acne-free world, I am very jealous of you.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Arm Injuries
It’s hard to fathom how a human being can throw more than 90 MPH, even more than 100 MPH. That’s twice as fast as my hardest throw! (About 51 MPH, I’ve timed it). It’s uncanny how someone’s arm can be constructed that way, yet every major league baseball team has multiple players who can throw that fast.
I’ve often bragged to others how I’m one of the healthiest people in the world, and that may be true (haven’t gotten sick in years ever since I moved to LA), but even I get arm injuries after dodgeball if I’ve thrown a lot of balls. The human body is not meant to throw balls at a high rate of speed; it’s not geared to do so, and definitely not for massive quantities of throws.
Places where it hurts:
- shoulder
- elbow.
I mean really the two most obvious places, A lot of torque goes into a throw, and something called the “rotator cuff” gets damaged constantly due to the tremendous rotation
What’s more impressive: a 140 MPH tennis serve, or a 95 MPH baseball pitch? I’m told it’s all in the mechanics, but there certainly has to be a lot of natural talent involved. I admire all those guys who have to nurse arm injuries, and will no longer question “the toughness” of pitchers who sit out due to a sore arm. I will now go nurse my own “barking” shoulder injury.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Fan Safety in Baseball
This past week, a fan at a Boston Red Sox game was struck in the head by a bat and seriously injured. The fan had to be stretchered out of the stadium and sent to the hospital and nearly lost his life.
In a game that involves balls traveling at speeds up to 100 mph (and even faster sometimes when the bat makes contact with the ball and where bats get "broken" as well as slip out of players' hands into the stands, it seems unnecessarily dangerous compared to the other major sports for fans. Basketball, football, hockey all have just one ball in play at all times (as compared to guys in the bullpens for baseball) and also balls that can't be thrown at a speed that can kill someone, or a puck that would get stopped by the guard rail if it was a screaming liner. Baseball, for the most part, doesn't have that. Balls get lined into the stands where fans are all the time, and I always cringe when a really fast ball goes into the stands and it looks like it rattles around. Sure, the expectation (and the way baseball escapes liability) is that fans are paying attention to the game and know when a ball is coming, but especially with the way people are always on their phones now, can we expect that they're paying attention to every pitch? (I went to a baseball game recently where most of the people in my row were texting or chatting to people around them.)
And what if a bat comes flying into the stands? One can feasibly catch a baseball (I've never actually had a ball come to me in a real game but I imagine it would hurt to catch it with one's bare hands, that's why baseball players wear gloves), but a bat? really dangerous to try to catch and a lengthy wooden object that's presumably spinning around due to the batter losing control of it. That's extremely dangerous, especially one that's been broken and there are shards/ pointy ends. (kind of what happened to the Red Sox fan last week) As long as that scenario is in the realm of possibility, I gotta say baseball's a dangerous game to
Plus, the nature of the game makes it dangerous for the pitchers. Aroldis Chapman, Reds closer, got hit in the face by a line drive last year during spring training that caused him to get stitches. Sure kind of a fluke accident, but there's no guarantee it never happens again, especially with the way Aroldis and some other pitchers throw. It's 60 feet from home plate to first base and much less (probably around 40 feet) to the pitcher's mound. You're banking on either 1.) the ball barely missing the pitcher or 2.) the pitcher reacting in time if the ball is coming right at him. Not something I'd want to bank on if I were a major league pitcher, especially if I'd already been hit before in the face. (Actually I have, I got a black eye and did not feel good for the next month)
I guess my point is, baseball is an inherently dangerous game. I love it and I love watching it (well, mostly highlights now, can't sit through a whole game even if my fantasy pitcher is on the mound) but it's got serious safety concerns that don't get nearly the amount of scrutiny that football does. MLB is currently in the process of examining what protective measures can be taken, including more protective netting behind home plate. I support more safety measures, and let's get more physicists and scientists in on this issue regarding how bats break, the trajectory of possible loose shards from home plate, how best to set up the netting to cover the most likely areas of danger, etc.
Meanwhile, Tonya Fair, the victim of the broken bat incident, has reportedly been upgraded to fair condition. Hope she recovers quickly and that this kind of "random bad luck" is mitigated and eliminated.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
In a game that involves balls traveling at speeds up to 100 mph (and even faster sometimes when the bat makes contact with the ball and where bats get "broken" as well as slip out of players' hands into the stands, it seems unnecessarily dangerous compared to the other major sports for fans. Basketball, football, hockey all have just one ball in play at all times (as compared to guys in the bullpens for baseball) and also balls that can't be thrown at a speed that can kill someone, or a puck that would get stopped by the guard rail if it was a screaming liner. Baseball, for the most part, doesn't have that. Balls get lined into the stands where fans are all the time, and I always cringe when a really fast ball goes into the stands and it looks like it rattles around. Sure, the expectation (and the way baseball escapes liability) is that fans are paying attention to the game and know when a ball is coming, but especially with the way people are always on their phones now, can we expect that they're paying attention to every pitch? (I went to a baseball game recently where most of the people in my row were texting or chatting to people around them.)
And what if a bat comes flying into the stands? One can feasibly catch a baseball (I've never actually had a ball come to me in a real game but I imagine it would hurt to catch it with one's bare hands, that's why baseball players wear gloves), but a bat? really dangerous to try to catch and a lengthy wooden object that's presumably spinning around due to the batter losing control of it. That's extremely dangerous, especially one that's been broken and there are shards/ pointy ends. (kind of what happened to the Red Sox fan last week) As long as that scenario is in the realm of possibility, I gotta say baseball's a dangerous game to
Plus, the nature of the game makes it dangerous for the pitchers. Aroldis Chapman, Reds closer, got hit in the face by a line drive last year during spring training that caused him to get stitches. Sure kind of a fluke accident, but there's no guarantee it never happens again, especially with the way Aroldis and some other pitchers throw. It's 60 feet from home plate to first base and much less (probably around 40 feet) to the pitcher's mound. You're banking on either 1.) the ball barely missing the pitcher or 2.) the pitcher reacting in time if the ball is coming right at him. Not something I'd want to bank on if I were a major league pitcher, especially if I'd already been hit before in the face. (Actually I have, I got a black eye and did not feel good for the next month)
I guess my point is, baseball is an inherently dangerous game. I love it and I love watching it (well, mostly highlights now, can't sit through a whole game even if my fantasy pitcher is on the mound) but it's got serious safety concerns that don't get nearly the amount of scrutiny that football does. MLB is currently in the process of examining what protective measures can be taken, including more protective netting behind home plate. I support more safety measures, and let's get more physicists and scientists in on this issue regarding how bats break, the trajectory of possible loose shards from home plate, how best to set up the netting to cover the most likely areas of danger, etc.
Meanwhile, Tonya Fair, the victim of the broken bat incident, has reportedly been upgraded to fair condition. Hope she recovers quickly and that this kind of "random bad luck" is mitigated and eliminated.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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