so, while we're on the topic of changing things, I think i'm going to move to my other xanga also: http://www.xanga.com/relentless_insomnia 

I might just give up physics_demonstrations, because:

1) I REALLY need to forget about the physics demonstration.

2) It just conveys the idea of "geek" to everyone... (well, not that I'm not a geek already)

3) I'm bored, and I need a change. This'll give me something to do.

So farewell, old xanga. Hello, new one. (and plus, relentless_insomnia describes me better than physics_demonstrations anyway.)

I have a new email address: yangkan@umich.edu

I'll still be using my old one: yangk11104@yahoo.com, but not as often.

Oh god, this just disgusts me...

The Department of Homeland Security has decided to get kids interested in  the war on terror. So what do they do? They introduce a fuzzy, cuddly mascot to symbolize preparedness against terrorist attacks. MASCOT? are you freaking insane?? And what's better, it's supposed to symbolize Homeland Security director Tom Ridge (yes, the same guy that made the idiotic color-coded charts, which somehow is raised a level whenever the Democrats have an organizing event). So what's the mascot? An American Shepherd. (Does the dog even exist? There's German Shepherds, Australian Shepherds, and even North American Shepherds, but no American... hey, they can make up anything for patriotism right?). It's supposed to take after the example of McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, or Smokey the Bear who stops forest fires. What makes me sick, though, is that they're doing this to put a cute, cuddly side to the war on terror. That's right... they're putting a nice, kid-friendly facade to the killing of thousands of innocent civilians. Damn... following this example, they're making war and death so benevolent it's like they're saying the Holocaust was just Hitler partying with the Jews, and the Asian Holocaust was just Japanese people going into China with toy guns and making "kapow"-ing sounds.

Ugh... and I can't believe people actually buy this crap.

Oh, and if you ever had any doubts about Bush's true intentions... here's a recent bushism that should help assay your incredulity: Bush's latest vow is to "harm our country or our people." I'm serious. Listen to it here: http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=12-Aug-2004&prgId=17 (scroll down)

Also, the Counter terrorist American Shepherd Homeland Security Mascot bit is here: http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php?prgDate=11-Aug-2004&prgId=17 (scroll down)

My Parents' argument:

Your emotional happiness is of no concern to ours. You just better damn well be happy that you have food in your mouth and a roof over your head. We can opt not to care for you if we don't want to... it's not our obligation. You think you have worries? well, what miniscule part of life have you experienced yet? Your worries are rat shit compared to ours. We had to clothe you and take care of you for 17 years, and you complain? What the hell do you have to complain about? You kids have it so damn easy these days, and still you're not satisfied. Stop talking about your petty little problems. You're just an insignificant little kid. Just listen to us... we're always right. Without us, you'd be nowhere. There. You have no excuse to complain to us anymore.

....well, for the most part, I accept what they say. I just can't help but feel so belittled and lonely sometimes.

Staring at a screen. With a piece of candy in my mouth. Aimlessly typing.

...yep, that's pretty much all of the excitement in my life right now.

Anyway, Eddie came over on friday and left on sunday. He came in on a plane friday morning, and afterwards we went to watkin's glen... a park that can be summed up in 2 words: cliffs and waterfalls. Usually, it's one hell of an exercise climbing up to the top from the trails (an ascent of about 200-300 feet), but eddie managed to scale it in about an hour, and with hardly any energy. Must be a new record . Anyway, we stayed out in the freezing cold until my stepdad, who probably had intentions of us getting pneumonia (yes, it's still about 50 degrees here during the night), finally came to pick us up 2 hours late. 

Still, it was good talking to him... which is practically what I did all day the next day. (Other than watching the Manchurian Candidate, which is an amazing movie). Sitting next to the fireplace with him, with soft music playing, it allowed me to release a lot of tensions and finally relax in a long while(by talking.... get your mind out of the gutter); and ok, I swear i'm not gay, although the way I just described it, it seems like I am. (Yes, and we made passionate love till 3 o'clock every night , I mean, held conversations. It does convince me, though, that he really is the self-described vampire he says he is, since he can survive on 3 hours of sleep, and sometimes less). Anyway, had a very enjoyable weekend, and it was at least a little harbinger of happiness in an otherwise dull and uneventful summer with my sadistic control-freak parents. But, with him gone now, I feel infinitely more lonely. Again, no one to talk to *sigh*, and it reminds me of all I could've had if I only had close friends to be around. I'm missing everyone in MD terribly now .