Ten Years Too Late: Ten Random Facts

Day 1: A Picture Of Yourself With Ten Facts

This picture has a lot of history behind it.

Although it is not a recent picture, it is most definitely one of my favorites. I took it (and edited it a small bit on my old Mac) during my tenure in Korea, during a very strange, complicated time in my life. However, the look and the meaning it holds is still one I have today: me deep in thought.

A lot of people think I think too much. I always tell them I find that statement absurd, and snort derisively. I think that thought is the only thing that truly separates humans from any animal on Earth.

Also, I really miss that shirt.

~~TEN FACTOIDS~~

Now, the facebook busyness said nothing about facts about myself, so I have decided to ~~scour the internet for days~~ do a quick Google search for ten random facts. But, I will only give ones which have some really cool meaning to me or really interest me. Also also, butter pecan ice cream is awesome... but that is just my opinion, not a factoid.

1. Although the wolverine may look like a small-sized bear, it actually is the largest species of the weasel family. Its fur is brownish-black in color with light brown strips along the sides. It is dense and long, and resists water, which is what helps the wolverine tolerate the cold and frost of the environment it inhabits.

And they are so cute and cuddly... until they want to rip your face off. There are accounts of them destroying entire barns in search of food! Craziness. But I love wolverines. They are one of my favorite aminals.

2. The Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") is a name given to several groups, both real (historical) and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776. In more modern contexts the name refers to a purported conspiratorial organization which is alleged to mastermind events and control world affairs through governments and corporations to establish a New World Order. In this context the Illuminati are usually represented as a modern version or continuation of the Bavarian Illuminati.

And they are still out there.

3. A number of European explorers sailed the coast of Australia, then known as New Holland, in the 17th century. However it wasn’t until 1770 that Captain James Cook chartered the east coast and claimed it for Britain. The new outpost was put to use as a penal colony and on 26 January 1788, the First Fleet of 11 ships carrying 1,500 people – half of them convicts – arrived in Sydney Harbour. Until penal transportation ended in 1868, 160,000 men and women came to Australia as convicts.

I want to live in Australia SO BADLY. I mean, come on... A country founded as a penal colony and a continent which is also its own country which is also basically an island? What better place for a freedom-loving insane asylum candidate??

4. Arabic is a Semitic language, fairly closely related to, for instance, the Hebrew language and the Aramaic language. Many dialects are spoken in modern Arabic states such as Egypt, Lebanon, and Morocco, but all of these countries use Modern Standard Arabic for printed media. Its function however is different from that of Western standard languages: it is used for practically all writing, but is spoken only on formal oracademic occasions. Consequently, prestigious vernacular varieties (especially Egyptian Arabic) fulfill some of the functions that standard languages have in Western countries.

Which is what I am about to learn for the next 15 months. I am actually very excited!! Well... Nervous as hell, really. I'm not sure how I am going to do getting thrown back into classes. But I am determined to do my best.

5. Guinea pigs were thought to have been domesticated and used in South America as a source of food from as early as 5,000 BC and the guinea pig was also often depicted in art and are seen in statues that are from the times of the ancient civilizations of Peru. In some instances the guinea pig is thought to be a supernatural medium and the guinea pig is therefore often used to heal the sick.

Ours just scream a lot and eat.

6. Batman's best know ally in the war against crime is Robin who originally was Dick Grayson now known as Nightwing. The second Robin, Jason Todd was killed by the Joker, and finally the third Robin Tim Drake first appeared in Batman #436 (August 1989).

Batman has also been aided by Batgirl (Commission Gordon's daughter Barbera) who later became confined to a wheel chair thanks to the Joker. She then aided the Batman has Oracle. Batman has also teamed up with Superman in a few hundred issues of Superman, and has also been a member of the Justice League. Batman first teamed up with Superman though not in a comic book but on Superman's radio show in March 3, 1945.

And he is the only hero I truly like from the DC Universe.

7. In ancient Chinese texts, Korea is referred to as "Rivers and Mountains Embroidered on Silk" and "Eastern Nation of Decorum" . Individuals are regarded as one year old when they are born, as Koreans reckon the pregnancy period as one year of life for infants, and age increments increase on New Year's Day rather than on the anniversary of birthdays. Thus, one born immediately before New Year's Day may only be a few days old in western reckoning, but two years old in Korea. Accordingly, a Korean person's stated age (at least among fellow Koreans) will be one or two years more than their age according to western reckoning. However, western reckoning is sometimes applied with regard to the concept of legal age; for example, the legal age for purchasing alcohol or cigarettes in the Republic of Korea is 19, which is measured according to western reckoning.

This dish is kimbop. It is THE BOMB. I ate it all the time. Also, if you ever get the chance to live in a different country, do it. So worth it. I hated it at the time, but boy, looking back now, I learned so much.

8. In 1886, Nikola Tesla founded the Tesla Electric Light & Manufacturing Company. Within the first year, Tesla's financial investors disagreed with his plan for an alternating current motor and fired him from the company.

He is one of my idols. I despise what Edison did to him and hope one day to continue his work in electronics and other things of that nature. Even if it only ever is my hobby... That was a man who was a mind. Unfortunately, he gave his life to the looters... Sad day.

9. In terms of the worldwide prevalence of blindness, it is present on a much greater scale in developing world countries than in developed world countries. According to numbers from the WHO, 90% of blind people live in the developing world. Of these, cataract is responsible for 65% or more than 22 million cases of blindness and glaucoma is responsible for 6 million cases, while leprosy and onchocerciasis each blind approximately 1 million individuals worldwide.

A thing I hope I never ever get. I have bad eyesight, but I sincerely hope I never become truly blind. I value my sight way way too much.

10. Hermes was the herald, or messenger, of the gods to humans, sharing this role with Iris. A patron of boundaries and the travelers who cross them, he was the protector of shepherds and cowherds, thieves, orators and wit, literature and poets, athletics and sports, weights and measures, invention, and of commerce in general. His symbols include the rooster and the tortoise, his purse or pouch, winged sandals, winged cap, and held in his left hand, the herald's staff, the Greek kerykeion or Latin caduceus.