What's Wong?

 Every once in a while, I find myself joking to avoid having to put effort into a conversation. Now having lived for an extremely long 18 years, I am definitely the most qualified to give the goodest guide to types of humor (provided there are no comedians or literature majors nearby). Anyway, here we go! Most of the comedy I am familiar with is observational, because it’s quick and easy to do decently. Personally, I split these into several sub-categories: It's Funny Because It's Relatable Often, pointing out a shared experience, especially ones that go unnoticed, can be funny. Finding a bit of irony in how we can’t fall asleep easily, but also want to get out of bed is a common example.   Finding some amusement in the everyday is a fairly common way to craft a joke. The way we aren’t used to the normal lights being on in the classroom, or rushing the conclusion of an in class essay, as long as it is said in an interesting way, can be pretty funny. Similes and metaphors come ...

"Should we be laugh or cry in the face of despair?" Democritus, the philosopher guy I can't quite pin down why, but that question sticks in my mind, even three weeks after we watched that video. In the video, Democritus claims that the disappointment that the world brings can be taken as a baseline, so anything above that is a highlight, something to be celebrated. I do have some issues with this philosophy, such as the inherent complacency of the philosophy that doesn't drive change, or how it is far easier to say from a place of privilege and security (Democritus was a party guy, after all). Despite this, we are still left with the initial question. So, how should we get through life?  Do we ignore what's wrong?  Work to make it better?  Live in despair? Personally, gratitude is the way to go. Now, before you groan at this often cliche statement (with it being thanksgiving break and all), hear me out. Just finding small reasons to be thankful or happy or to laug...

I’m sure that all of us have heard the phrase, “ignorance is bliss,” at least once, the idea that sometimes, we’re just better off not knowing. The phrase itself originated in the poem Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College written by Thomas Gray in 1742. The general sentiment goes even further back, even being mentioned in the Bible, with Ecclesiastes 1:18 stating the logical inverse: “ He who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” But is there merit to this idea? Are there times when we are simply better off not knowing?  Real image of me when I was ignorant to the fact we had this assignment. Life is often simpler the less information you know. Think back to your elementary school years; you’d mostly be worried about grades, friends, and your parents. Not much else had to be processed in those days. I’m quite sure that we miss those times every once in a while, but now we’re here, applying for college. At the start of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun , Klara is in a simil...

Over the past few weeks I have been reading Boy Erased by Garrard Conley, a memoir about his experience as the son of a pastor, in a gay conversion program, as well as his family and friends. Having finished it recently, I can say that it is a very powerful story, and is a great insight to how damaging the Ex-gay movement was at the time (2004). It’s very moving, as a result of how vivid and visceral his descriptions are. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is even vaguely interested in this sort of thing. Moving on to the bento box! The Bible was an ever present part of Conley’s life, both physically and mentally, as he was well versed in it. Throughout the text, there are many time in which the Bible (or parts of it) is an important part of a scene. For example, early on in his life, he fails to lead a Bible study and is embarrassed. Later on, a fellow member of the program brags about memorizing all of the clobber verses (7 verses that are often pointed to support the claim t...

 Another year, another blog. Here I am, sitting up in my chair, stretching out my fingers and typing on this fine Monday evening. So, last week, we discussed how to write college essays, which left me questioning if my current college essays were good (or even passable for that matter). However, the UM community essay stuck out to me, because it got me to think about the communities I fit into, specifically that of my church. So I guess I'll just spitball an idea here. Me rewriting my college essays, circa 2023 My relationship with my church has always been kinda complicated, because my dad is one of the pastors of the Chinese group there. Pros: All the old ladies know me! Cons:  Pressure. If you know me, you'd also know that I like biology and evolution (I hope you can see where this is going). Like, ever since I was a kid I had this big human anatomy book. Sure, I couldn't read it, but those pictures sure looked cool. Pros: AP Bio was easy! Cons:  My church doesn't ...