Of quotes and… memory pills?
I read on the Internet that some TV network had compiled a list of the 100 greatest catchphrases in TV recently. Of course, since TV refers to the shows in America, I didn’t really think that I would recognize all (or even a lot) of them. But it’s rather surprising to note the origins of the phrases that I do recognize (and sometimes use) *grins*, such as (in alphabetical order):
1. "D’oh!" (Homer Simpson, "The Simpsons") - I think I usually refer to this as "Duh!" *grins*
2. "Good grief" (Charlie Brown, "Peanuts" specials)
3. "Here’s Johnny!" (Ed McMahon, "The Tonight Show")
4. "Holy crap!" (Frank Barone, "Everybody Loves Raymond")
5. "How you doin’?" (Joey Tribbiani, "Friends")
6. "Is that your final answer?" (Regis Philbin, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire")
7. "Let’s get ready to rumble!" (Michael Buffer, various sports events)
8. "Live long and prosper" (Spock, "Star Trek") - Mark, you just love to use this phrase!
9. "One small step for man …" (Neil Armstrong)
10. "Resistance is futile" (Picard as Borg, "Star Trek: The Next Generation")
11. "Smile, you’re on `Candid Camera’" ("Candid Camera")
12. "Space, the final frontier …" (Capt. Kirk, "Star Trek")
13. "The tribe has spoken" (Jeff Probst, "Survivor")
14. "Two thumbs up" (Siskel & Ebert, "Siskel & Ebert")
15. "What you see is what you get!" (Geraldine, "The Flip Wilson Show")
16. "Yabba dabba do!" (Fred Flintstone, "The Flintstones") *grins*
17. "Yada, yada, yada" ("Seinfeld")
18. "You’re fired!" (Donald Trump, "The Apprentice")
On another note, I also read about a pill that could lessen the bad memories of what happened, which they’re now calling the memory pill. It’s actually a drug called propranolol, and it’s already used to treat high blood pressure. Basically, you can use it to modify memories. Of course, there are pros and cons to it. They’re saying that you could take this pill after experiencing a painful or traumatic event (such as rape, etc.) , so that it would permanently weaken your memory of what had just happened. However, there is also the potential for misuse, such as criminals misusing it to lessen guilt, and so on. Of course, this is still an ongoing study, so nothing is certain. But I think that any kind of drugs has the potential for misuse, like the case with cough syrup, painkillers, etc. The real point should be: do we really need this drug? What are the benefits, and do those overcome the side-effects? (There are always side-effects, somewhere…)
- So true…
Funny
I read a really funny article recently - The Forbes Fictional 15, their annual listing of fiction’s very wealthiest *grins*. I have to admit, there are some characters whom I don’t recognize (anyone recognize the 1st place winner, one Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks?). But I do recognize some of them, like the very stingy Scrooge McDuck who is at No. 3 (not surprising, really. They say that the source of his income is mining and ‘treasure hunting’); Mr. Monopoly at No. 6 (from real estate, of course!); Bruce Wayne at No. 7 (from his inheritance and ‘defense’); Willy Wonka at No. 11; Lara Croft at No. 14; Mario at No. 15 (becomes rich after ‘decades of collecting gold coins’); and to me, the most surprising of all is one Lucius Malfoy at No. 12!! Even ‘imprisonment hasn’t hurt his net worth’ it seems *grins*.
The description that comes with some characters are really funny: Scrooge McDuck is ‘known to enjoy swimming in money. Literally.’ Mr. Monopoly was ‘arrested and indicted for federal conspiracy to commit wire and securities fraud; he shook off conviction with a "get out of jail free" card’. Mario ‘maintains the best way to get rich is smashing brick block’. However, the icing on the cake should be - ‘rumours continue to swirl over (Bruce Wayne’s) long-time habit of keeping teenage boys as wards’ *evil smirk*.
- Anyone reading/watching Fruit Basket would appreciate this quote even more *grins*.
Trip to Exeter
I was really very, very busy with work this past week, tidying up my report and stuff, so a trip to somewhere was just what I needed to escape *grins*.
Anyway, I went to a trip to Exeter, which is again organized by my university’s International Office. Exeter is a city in the south-west of England; it takes about two hours by coach from Bath. And quite a bit like Bath, Exeter has grown from Roman origins. One of its famous attractions is the Exeter Cathedral, with its decorated Gothic style.
Originally, there was a wall all around the city, which is now called Exeter’s City Wall. The City of Exeter (and the wall) has existed for almost 2000 years! Wow. Almost 70% of the wall still remains, but it’s not that visible unless you look for it *grins*.
Of course, in every UK city there is a High Street - a street filled 
with shops and people. We just walked along the street tho
ugh, no shopping involved! *grins* And where there’s a city, there is also a river. Er, actually, it should be the other way around; a city always exists near a river. Anyway, the Exeter riverside is really lovely. We took a long walk along the river…
As you can see, I walked quite a lot on this trip. When I returned to my room, my feet were aching! But it was a nice trip; I even made some new friends! *grins* I’m looking forward to my next trip. Where to? Well, that’s for me to know and for you to find out… *winks*
Travel | Comment (1)Something interesting
My friend had a small gathering yesterday at her house to celebrate her birthday. It was fun - we had food (as usual *grins*) and chatted a lot. But one of us made an interesting observation; between the 11 of us gathered there, there were actually 9 different languages being spoken: English (of course!), Welsh (spoken by people living in Wales, UK), Malay (that’s me!), Greek, French (there was an actual French guy), Chinese, German, Spanish and Dutch. Remarkable, isn’t it? And all of us are from the same department at the university! Actually, I also have friends in the department who speak Russian and Arabic. Talk about diversity… *grins*. Well, there are a lot of international students in Bath…
Anyway, I just stumbled upon an interesting article recently, about Internet addiction. It seems that some country is actually treating people for Internet addictions via some counseling treatment. Well, I guess it’s not impossible. And since I’ve been moaning forever about how I can’t live without the Internet (a sign of addiction, maybe? *grins*), I decided to take the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). And my mark says that: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage. Phew!
- My sentiment exactly…
Aidilfitri party
Yesterday the Malay community in Bath organized an Aidilfitri party @ jamuan Hari Raya. It was great! There were lots of people to chat with, and lots of good Malay food. What more could one ask for? *Grins*.
Apart from all the chatting and eating, there were also some 
competitions being held. Like the ketupat weaving competition, which yours truly actually participated in, but sadly lost. Well, considering the fact that I just learned how to weave a ketupat a few weeks ago after being forced to enter this competition, I’m not really too sad *grins*. Although it’s a bit weird that I actually learn how to weave a ketupat in the UK…
The other competition was the Raya song guessing game. I didn’t participate because I thought my knowledge of the lyrics in Raya songs was woefully inadequate, and I didn’t want to embarrass myself. However, it was actually quite fun; I managed to sing along to quite a few Raya songs. Wow, would wonder never cease *grins*.
All in all, it was great fun!
- Some of these ketupat are the ones that I weaved. Not too bad, huh? *Grins*.
It’s cold, people
You know what’s more annoying than being waken up by a false fire alarm very early in the morning? It’s being waken up from your warm, toasty place under the duvet at 4.30 bloody am by a false fire alarm, and having to go out when it’s damn freezing outside! Damn! Plus it’s like zero degrees outside (actually it might even be minus degrees), and you had to stand out there for quite awhile wearing your pajamas and just one layer of coat, and your toes were freezing off because you’re wearing only your slippers… And to have to repeat the whole damn experience again at 12.30 am the next morning! That’s what I call really damn annoying! *Grumble, grumble* I had no idea what happened, but in both cases the fire brigade came (there was a fire engine even!); I know it’s a false alarm because the fire alarm immediately shut down afterwards.
On a side note, it’s winter here already… obviously *sarcasm dripping*. The day time is not too bad, like around 10 degrees, but it can get down to even minus degrees at night! Really. Like last night. Anyway, there are frost everywhere! And my local friend told me it will slowly get colder… Like maybe zero degrees even in the day time. Brrrrrr! Of course, I’ve already experienced this last year, but it’s still such a shock every time…
- The Kyouya Glare, reserved for people who disturb me from my wonderful sleep…