Wednesday, July 05, 2006
I really want to go out and watch a movie. I want to munch on popcorn, and steal my pal's coke, and jump at the scary bits and laugh suddenly and blush... none of which will be seen by anyone, thank God, so I can be as foolish as I like. And I'm not going by myself as a (broke) friend very logically suggested. No way am I wasting $8 on a seat to watch a movie my cousin will have on dvd in a few months... Sigh someone WATCH A MOVIE WITH ME!!!:D Haha I should have been heard by somebody with cash. :p Anyway. Done complaining. AMBER Scientific Information: Amber is not a true stone. It is fossilized resin of coniferous trees of the Oligoncene geological epoch, some thirty million years ago. It varies in color from pale yellow to dark brown, although some specimens have been found that are red. Amber is famous for containing insects and small animals of various kinds as well as leaves, bark and other contemporary detritus which became stuck and enclosed in the resin while it was still liquid. It is sometimes also called succinite. Amber is a very soft stone, with a hardness of 2 to 2-1/2. Environment: The trees that exuded the resin for Baltic amber grew in what is now central and south-eastern Sweden. From there, it was carried by rivers and the sea to the present site. Occurrence: The most prolific source of amber is the Baltic seacoast to the north and west of a town now known a Kaliningrad in the USSR. Small deposits have been found in the Dominican Republic. Name: The name is derived from the Arabic. Succinite is from the Latin [succus], meaning "juice". The ancient Greeks called it [elektron]. Legend & Lore: The ancient Greeks were the first to record information about amber's "electrical" properties. If it is rubbed with a piece of silk, it will attract dust and ashes. Because of the inclusions of insects and small animals, it was often thought to contain the essence of life. Magical Properties: Amber has always been associated with magic. It is a favorite protective and enhancing stone of Wiccans and Shamans. It is a sensual, (amber is warm to the touch,) magnetic stone that attracts love. Healing: In ancient times, amber was burned to cleanse the air, especially during childbirth. It was also thought to improve eyesight by gazing into it.Testimony(of others): Touching amber is soothing to the nerves. Stones of the pale/bright yellow type are good "all-healers", since they represent the energy of the Sun. They were used at the Solar Plexus, which is the center of Chi in the body. Note: Amber will float in a saturated salt solution (ten level teaspoonfuls of salt in a tumbler of water). Plastic will not. Ambergris, which is much used in perfumery, is totally different in appearance and is not even distantly related to amber. People are discouraged from burning amber, although it will create a rather pleasant odor. Amber, like all fossils/fossil fuels is NOT a renewable resource.And so should not be wasted. :)BAY LEAVES: G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire. Magical attributes: Psychic visions and dreams, repels negativity and evil.BENZOIN G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Air. Magical attributes: Used widely in purification incenses. Tincture of benzoin preserves oils and preparations.BETONY G/P/E: Masculine, Jupiter, Fire. Magical attributes: Add to incenses of protection and purification. Sleep on a pillow stuffed with betony to prevent nightmares.
Oh and the econs test? That I was so worried about? That I set so much aside for? Was a farce. They should have sent out samples of the advanced placement paper. Hell, what they want we're not even taught in JC.
Example: A 40 mark (out of a 100) question on game theory and Nash equilibrium. I checked the text after the test. Sloman had little more than ONE PAGE on it. Jeez.
Want another example? One question was on the government wanting to reduce the consumption of a good by half. The first part you have to guess the price of the good, then you have to give them an estimate of the excise tax (A NUMERICAL FIGURE) that would do the trick.
God. If I had known the difference in the syllabus I wouldn't have even considered going for the test. Would have saved me a week. And the same goes for pretty much everyone else I talked to there.
It's a good thing I'm a chatterbox. Everyone was so quiet sitting by themselves. I made a new friend and got reacquainted with another friend... Haha...
I'm going to suggest they make a couple of changes in their application process. :p
Ta,
Eve.
