I am absolutely high in life.

Foie Gras Barbarism

danikajpg — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:16:09 +0000

After hearing the term on my French podcast, I googled Foie Fras and accidently learned about this modern animal cruelty. The youtube videos are truly galvanizing. I can honestly say that my heart breaks for those ducks.

Foie Gras, literally means “fat liver” in French, is a kind of meat such as steak that one can indulge in. I’m just really curious how man came up with this idea of intentionally torturing ducks just so we can add another variety to our already extensive cuisine. I mean we do have enough raw ingredients out there, so torturing these poor animals are not at all necessary.

Basically what happens is that people jam these long tubes down these poor ducks’ throat every single day as a way of force-feeding them. It would obviously hurt like crazy. These ducks’ throats obviously start to swell. Their livers get swollen as well. The ducks get sicker and sicker while their livers get bigger and bigger. They soon die and their livers end up in supermarkets, restaurants, people’s stomach..

So yeah.. that’s just sick.

I couldn’t watch the whole video. It’s just really really upsetting. It’s disturbing and outright barbaric. It makes me want to become a vegetarian. But who am I kidding, I know I am to weak to resist meat. However, after seeing those videos, I really don’t think I can ever try eating foie gras in my life, EVER.

Possibly Useful French Expressions

danikajpg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:37:09 +0000

Si ce n’est pas indiscret - if it’s not too personal, if you don’t mind me asking (normal)

Si ce n’est pas indiscret, que faites-vous dans la vie?
If you dont mind my asking, what do you do for a living?

Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe - to turn up at a very awkward moment (informal)

J’étais en train d’imiter mon chef quand il est arrivé comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
I was doing an impersonation of my boss when he showed up.

Quelle mouche t’a piqué? - What’s gotten into you? What’s the matter with you? (informal)

C’est la troisième fois que tu as crié! Quelle mouche t’a piqué?
That’s the third time you’ve yelled! What’s gotten into you?

Tu te rends comte! - Can you imagine? Can you believe it? (normal)

Après m’avoir larguée, il m’a demandé de l’aider avec ses devoirs. Tu te rends compte!
After dumping me, he asked me to help him with his homework. Can you believe that?!

Tu m’étonnes - I know, tell me something I don’t know yet. (informal)

L’économie globale ne va pas très bien.
Tu m’étonnes.

The global economy is not doing very well.
Tell me something I don’t know.

Trempé comme une soupe – to be soaking wet

Ne marche pas sur le tapis. Tu es trempé comme une soupe!
Don’t walk on the rug. You’re soaking wet!

[Source: About.com]

Useless Yet Interesting Trivias

danikajpg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:13:39 +0000

Where did Arctic and Antarctica get their names?

In Greek, Arctic is Arktos, which means “bear.” And as we all know, polar bears are in the Artic region of the world. Antarctica means Anti-Arktos, opposite of Arctic. Thus, no bears in the South Pole.

[taken from Dan Brown's Deception Point]

Summer Reads

danikajpg — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:04:36 +0000

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows [FINISHED]

2. Good Omens [FINISHED]

3. Love in the Time of Cholera

4. Breaking Dawn

5. Digital Fortress [FINISHED]

6. Deception Point [FINISHED]

7. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

8. Perks of Being a Wallflower

9 . A Thousand Splendid Suns [FINISHED]

10. A Heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genius

11. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle [FINISHED]

12. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [FINISHED]

13. Eclipse [FINISHED]

14. The Stranger [FINISHED]

Del.icious Entry

danikajpg — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:07:05 +0000

Useful links for language learning:

http://www.livemocha.com

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/Languages/French/Learn-French-by-Podcast/19444

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/Languages/Spanish/Learn-Spanish-on-SpanishDictcom-Video-Podcast/30310

http://www.wordreference.com

http://verb2verbe.com

http://http://www.ielanguages.com/french.html

htttp://www.learner.org

SPANISH ONLINE TOOLS:

1. Livemocha
2. Spanishdict
3. BBC Mi Vida Loca
4. Laits.UTexas
5. Learner.Org Destinos
6. LearnoutLoud Podcast (which one?

I’m Bringing Bloggin’ Back!

danikajpg — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:39:53 +0000

I can’t believe I made another blog again. I thought after high school, I was over this online journal for good. But it’s summer, i’m bored, and I still don’t have a job, so I’m bringing blogging back, rar!

Goals :)

danikajpg — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:23:16 +0000

1. Become fluent in French

2. At least advance level of the Spanish language

3. At least intermediate level of German, Chinese and Japanese

4. Study abroad in Paris, France

5. Live and work in Europe for some years

6. Be an extremely good cook

7. Have a big modern kitchen

8. Work for an international firm

9. Volunteer for a good cause

10. Backpack through Europe

11. Skydive

12. Bungee jump

13. Plant a tree

14. Read more books

15. Build a library in my home

16. Learn how to play an instrument

17. Have 3 kids

18. Have my own business, restaurant perhaps?

19. Teach in a university when I am way older

20. Inspire someone

21. Exercise regularly

22. Read Little Prince in French

23. Organize my clothes and other stuff

24. Go to grad school a year after I get my bachelor’s degree

25. Save a lot and invest money as early as possible.

26. Be in the dean’s list

27. Win the lottery?