Stupid! I lost the key to our locker in microbiology and biochemistry. Good thing that the lab tech has a spare key but I need to have it duplicated. It seems it's not a big problem but the key is a weird one and I do not think they make keys that are like it any more. Still, I could comfort myself with the fact that they'd probably stop using those locks if they do not know any one who could make a duplicate of it. Actually, there is a place, somewhere in Buendia. I do not know where exactly but what I do know is that Buendia is a big place. Hufff... I just hope I didn't really lose the key and it's just hiding somewhere in one of my classmates bags.

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I've just learned that there was a contest about the Filipino language. It said that the entries were supposed to be blog entries on the theme of Filipino Month(Buwan ng Wika). Well, the contest has ended and the winners will be announced next week. Too bad since I have so many things to say(rant...) about the Filipino language and the language situation, I think I have made a post about it in the past, I just don't know when and where it is(I'm too lazy to look for it).

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Somenone's been pestering me about my past crushes. Oh please! Like I'll ever tell! It's my BIG secret who those(plural?!) are. Besides, I've decided to not fall in love with anybody(as if I could stop that from happening... well, I could... I'd just have to surround myself with academics and friends... then again, I get a bit lonely sometimes...) and focus on my studies, I have yet to make a scientific breakthrough or uplift the lives of people in a certain community. Love can wait.

I cannot believe, I've only heard of it today(thanks to RSS)!

Why would anyone propose to not require the reading of fiction in (elementary and high)schools?
Well, Ms. Althouse here proposed that. Here's the link. Do not read the comments yet as I would also like to share a counter-article about her proposal. Just go to these two: Adventure in Ethics and Hullabaloo. The first is shorter but the second is nastier.

My take on the matter? Well, Ms. Althouse mentioned that schools shouldn't force kids to read fiction as some may not be inclined to reading it and she pushed for pure nonfiction readings in schools. Also, she told things about how reading fiction and reading for pleasure is not related to economic success. Maybe, it is not related. I am not sure. The Philippine situation seems to contradict my belief, as I do not think many of the successful businessmen here like to read fiction. Studies point out though people who likes reading fiction have higher scores in standardized tests. Again, higher scores doesn't guarantee economic success. I do not think anything ever guarantees economic success. Anyway, I digress.

Regarding her thoughts on the inclination of children, I do not think many people are naturally inclined to math or science or history yet the schools are forcing them to study it. Why? Ms Althouse says they are "something academic and substantive." And reading is not academic? So all those diplomas for MA's and PhD's on literature are just glorified asswipes? Faculty members dedicated to the study of literature are just bums afraid to do "real work?" Not substantive? Hah! By substantive, she would be referring to its usefulness and haven't tons of studies already highlighted the important role that reading fiction play in the growth of a mature human being?

Also, applying her belief that we should let every child to choose what to study based on her inclinations would just lead to anarchy or at least, a very stupid generation as most children are not naturally inclined to anything academic. It's like the Creationists' argument, schools should teach all the knowledge they could offer; teach both evolution and creationism. With the notable exception that Creationism should not be taught, at least in Science class, because it is not a scientific theory. And schools are supposed to be places where kids will learn what they want to do, what they want to become, what they want to learn and what they want. Depriving them of reading fiction would not lead them to thirsting for it. Not introducing them to fiction is the same as saying that all of the children would become scientists even though science was not introduced to them. With her plan, I would be surprised to see the resulting adults even wanting to read anything. Or maybe it'll lead to a society where thick reference books are the Harry Potter books. Besides, how could you entice people to read thick wonderful novels by depriving them of it and forcing them to read textbooks?

But I do agree that good reading material should be present in schools. Not just fiction and not just nonfiction. But seriously? Non-fiction used to entice people to read? Or maybe it is because I tend to attach the word nonfiction(textbooks, lab reports, case studies, essays, biographies) to the word boring.

Maybe after finishing the Dune Series and the Harry Potter series, I should start tackling Tolkien. Yes, I already know the main story( the good guys win, bad guy/s lose) but I am intrigued by the series because of the number of Tolkien fanatics out there. Hey! These curiosity is what led to my being a WoT and Dune fan(not yet a fanatic; when you see me cosplaying as a Mydraal or a Suk Doctor, I'll be a fanatic) Besides, the last book for the Wheel of Time is set to be at the shelves by 2008. Assuming of course that I do not get buried under textbooks in the coming academic year, I need to find another series to read. Or maybe I should start reading General Fiction again. Those best-selling novels are tempting me with their very beautiful book covers. I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover but if that were always the case, making cover art wouldn't become such a nice business. Neil Gaiman seems nice but his books are too expensive. Compare the near 1000 leaves of a Wheel of Time book to his novel with 300 leaves and the Gaiman book manages to be more expensive. Normally, I would dismiss Gaiman and call him an overrated author but I have read one of his "kiddie" books and it was great! But I shouldn't be thinking about these books right now because I still do not know how I would manage to buy the needed textbooks for the next semester. This semester will be learning things we'd actually apply in our lives(as public health workers)!

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Sabi ko sa inyo para akong babae kapag nag-e-english eh! Naisip ko lang kasi na kung gusto ko magkaroon ng mga mambabasa kailangan ko na uli mag-blog gamit ang wikang Ingles. Hindi ko naman gusto ng mga fans o kung anu man. Gusto ko lang na may maka-diskusyon ako paminsan-minsan. Weird! Eh kapag nasa mga ORPG nga ako ay ang taray-taray ko tapos ngayon gusto ko ng kausap. Hehehe.

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New links and blogs! Visit them! I recommend Dream Anatomy in the links section and Science blogs in the blogs section. And no, it's not just about science. If you like reading about the Creationism controversy, this would be a good place to be and if you know nothing about it, it would be a good place to start. On second thought, the Simpsons would be a better one(start with the Angel discovery then to the Ban on Evolution). Seriously though, Creationists need to have their heads whacked a bit with a hardbound copy of the Bible.

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I've learned about RSS yesterday. You should try it! Click here to learn more. After you set-up your reader, try subscribing to my blog. Heh. Shameless promotion! Most of the blogs in blogger do not show their subscribe buttons/links but could be easily fixed by typing in the adress box: + feeds/posts/default. ex. http://purpolkurtina.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default. That will lead to the subscription set-up page.