Cynophobic, I am

Cynophobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of dogs. Sufferers from cynophobia experience anxiety even though they realize that most dogs pose no threat. To avoid dogs, they may barricade yards or refuse to travel except in an enclosed vehicle.
"Cynophobia" is derived from the Greek "kyon" (dog) and "phobos"(fear). Source: MedicineNet.com

I’m cynophobic.

I guess I’m not as bad as the definition above (thank GOD, I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself), but I can say I’m pretty bad.

How Long?: Thoughts on Haiti

Photo by Al-Jazeera

I’m usually a cold, calculating person.  If I have anything to say, usually, I will say it according to the best logic I can muster, with as little emotional envelopment as I can. On contrary, what I hear about in Haiti just about transcends all my ability to analyze, leaving me with nothing but pure emotion.

Mathematics: The bane of my existence

I hate math.

That’s right. I said it.  I hate the very thought of it.  It has ruined my test scores. It’s made me 0.2 points away from a 4.0 GPA.  It’s also threatened to batter my self esteem.  But after contemplating on the issue for a bit, I’ve realized that it is impossible to escape it.  It’s there.  It’s always there.  Always behind you, stalking you.

De-motivating the Light

Image courtesy of Anna Cervova

U.S. has just unveiled the plan for upgrading the pitifully ineffective general surgeon’s warning found on every cigarette box.

Instead of just saying that “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy,” the FDA plans, like many other countries, to show that smoking is a bad habit by putting pictures of cancer patients, corpses after autopsy, and pictures of horrendously damaged lungs.  The proposed effect?  That smoking will drop down substantially, right along with the cases of cigarette-related cancer.

“World” Series?

I’m an American.  Raised in the U.S., there are many things I’ve grown to love, accept, and understand.

Everything except baseball.  I sleep through most of the games.  Sorry.

A number of my European friends accuse me of being an ignorant, arrogant American, despite my mixed culture.  I’ve retaliated many times, but one point got to me.

“L, why do Americans call their baseball championship games “World” Series? Don’t you think it’s a bit weird that an American club wins the game every year?  You don’t think that’s a bit arrogant?”

I couldn’t argue.  I fumbled on my words, saying that Japan plays in it too.  He retorted, “Yeah, in the Little League.  If you want something really World, try the World Cup.”

So, are we Americans arrogant for naming the championship of an American favorite pastime “World Series”?