Have you experienced the true hungriness of hunger?

After being hungry for some time, you're supposed to stop feeling hungry (even if you don't eat). Today, it seemed like that feeling wouldn't go away.

Some people take up too much physical space.

I don't think I'm one of these people - I'm not overweight. I don't mind tall people taking up more space, because by nature they should have a bigger frame than shorter people. But, for some reason, it gets on my nerves when there are people shorter than me that are very round that wear thick jackets and take up too much space on the subway or the sidewalk. Part of the agitation stems from there being less space for me. A lot of times on my commute I can't hold a handle in the subway because there isn't one I can reach (which isn't entirely bad, since I get to practice and improve my balance). But, I also feel that these people shouldn't be so overweight, they shouldn't be taking up so much space. I guess it gets on my nerves that they aren't taking care of their health and are also probably patrons of the fast-food industry. Another reason for my feelings might be because I grew up in South-East Asia - people on average aren't as tall there and they don't have a tendency to put on much weight.

What does it mean when your department is on the top floor of the office building? Does it mean that it's among the most important or valued departments? Does physically being above others mean or represent that you are valued more than them?

One perk of being on this floor is that it has the best view. However, the flipside is that it's the furthest away from the company cafeteria (2nd floor), and it takes the longest to get to and from this floor (since people keep getting on from and off onto other floors).

FINALLY!!! There's one thing in this country that I have a one-up on over US citizens! I pay hardly any taxes on what I make at my internship.

You know you're busy when Jan 16 is the day you finish opening Christmas cards.

In response to the US government fingerprinting and photographing all visitors from other countries that enter the US, the Brazilian government has decreed that all Americans visiting Brazil be fingerprinted and photographed (and their travel be delayed for hours).

It's refreshing to see that people don't lose their childishness completely, even when they grow up and work in governments.

FYI it took me just about 2 hours to get out of JFK last week, largely because of the 400+ foreigners in line for immigration in front of me.

It is well known in the realm of psychology that extrinsic rewards undermine intrinsic motivation. I am in the peculiar situation of having a paid internship, which provides extrinsic rewards ($), which is supposed to reduce my intrinsic motivation, but also having the extrinsic rewards reduced. I have to pay my college to receive academic credit for this internship, as that was the only way to get work authorization in time.

Reduced intrinsic and extrinsic rewards... what a predicament. I'll still pursue it though. If life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

ya sei

15 days of blog silence for the approximately 150,000 killed.

Events like that really change our perspective, not to mention the Earth's rotation.