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Holy craps it's been a while since I've written! School is finally out. It was a good semester, but I can't say I'll miss it. I'm looking forward to next semester, even though I won't be able to say I miss it when it's over, either... I always start out optimistically, but, a few weeks in to the semester, I'm slightly less enchanted by the idea of... school. Right now, I'm thinking, "Hey! Fourth-year Chinese, Literary Chinese, and Meta-Physics should be really great!" Actually, they probably will be.

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. I have a job. Two jobs. Job #1 is a summer job, for now. I sit behind a big desk in a room, answer phones, fill in invoices, charge credit cards, blah blah blah for these two websites. Job #2 starts at the end of summer and lasts for the fall. I'm the cymbal tech (looking out for the cymbal line) for the ASU marching band drumline. That's right.

Since I haven't written in a while, I have a ton of things to write about... or do I? I have a huge list of things that I could write about, but we'll see if everything is still relevant. I might split everything up over a couple of posts, too...

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To begin, Kaskade's latest album, Dynasty, rules. I have a major soft spot for vocal dance tracks with female vocalists. Kaskade and Late Night Alumni FTW!

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Events which possess sad or unfortunate elements are not necessarily incapable of being laughed at... Par example:

Listen for "Dada!"

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"Pain is what makes us remember. We remember what hurts us most. We need memory."

-My Existentialism notes

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I think that it should not surprise us that we find fictional media, especially those of the sci-fi and fantasy genres, so intriguing and, to an extent, appealing. What's fiction to a 1st-grader? "Not real". Right. Sci-fi and fantasy stories especially present to us places, objects, and phenomena with which we are not realistically acquainted. If we are so deeply attracted to those "not real" places, if we feel even an inkling of a desire to live in a place that is "not real", what does that say about Earth, about the "real" world? I submit that our propensity toward immersion (by reading or watching media) in those unreal worlds points to the idea that we do not belong here.

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cos my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know You
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming

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Existentialism Professor:

"We tend to invest (in endeavors) where we're getting encouragement and rewards"

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15 days until FIFA 2010 World Cup! I am beyond stoked.

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A "Dune" film remake is in store for 2012! I hope it's good... I suppose it doesn't have to be too great to be better than past film adaptations of the novel, but we'll see.

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"Think with the learned, speak with the vulgar."

-George Berkeley

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I enjoy listening to soundtracks and reading books before I see the films with which they correspond. I can remember listening to the soundtracks for the following films years before I actually saw them:

Schindler's List

Finding Forrester

Good Will Hunting

Kontroll

Children of Dune

The Hulk

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"Self deceit is a bitch."

-Existentialism Professor

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Check this out.

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You probably know of my rather specific standards regarding the films and TV shows that I watch. If I'm going to spend time (and sometimes money) watching a film or TV show, I want it to be worth my while.

This was more than worth my while. I recommend watching it with all my heart. If my recommendation isn't enough, it might help to know that it won an Oscar in 2008...

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Bethany Dillon- Get Up and Walk

David Holmes- 11, 12, 13

Gemma Hayes- Chasing Dragons

Kaskade- All That You Give

These are special:

Pogo- Alohomora

Pogo- Bangarang

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Plenty more...

Hi. My name is Chris, and I'm addicted to peanut butter. And almond butter.

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A couple of weeks ago, I had withdrawal. It was like the withdrawal I used to get after a week of summer camp at age 8, when I'd be apart from the girl with whom I'd been flirting for those previous six days. It made me feel hopeful, like I was going to see her again, but I'd no idea when.

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A man has to be able to make a living before he can provide a place for love to dwell.

-Lu Xun, Mourning the Dead

I don't know how I feel about this. I do not believe that love cannot dwell in a place if a man has no living, yet I sense some wisdom in the words.

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Out of all of the little intro things that come on before a film, the Dreamworks one is, hands down, my favorite. Good visuals, Excellent music.

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I have no shame in admitting that I think Erin Esurance is way cute.

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Moving out feels like moving home.

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I rest in the assurance I have that God Expecto Patronum'd all of my filth away.

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Dear American Television,

I despise you for not broadcasting the Boston Marathon. Or football (unless it's the World Cup or a USAMNT home game or select MLS games or Mexican league games on the Spanish language channels.)

Hate,

CK

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I saw two people talking to themselves yesterday. Yes, I am sure that they did not have Bluetooth things in one of their ears.

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Crossword Puzzle Update:

After my last post, when I wrote about how bad I am at crossword puzzles, I got better.

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Thanks for reading this, Bee Tee Dub.

没什么

Things have been calm recently. My schoolwork is winding down- with the exception of day-to-day assignments (which are few), I only have two papers and finals remaining. Anyway, I figure I'll do what most people do when they are bored... talk about themselves. Or, in this case, write about themselves. Myselves. Self.

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I try to do crossword puzzles, but I rarely get very far. Sometimes I get lucky and complete around 50% of a puzzle, but this is rare. My ego protects itself by telling me that "This one must be another really tough one", "You must just not think in crossword-puzzle terms" (whatever the hell that means!), or "These are all pop culture references and you just don't keep up with that stuff".

Today must be a lucky day. I'm staring at a crossword puzzle that's more than halfway done, and I'm not even close to giving up...

Actually, I'm staring at a computer screen...

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Paramore

William Fitzsimmons

Feist

Benny Bennasi

Kaskade

Phoenix

Swimming with Dolphins

Sufjan Stevens

Muse

Massive Attack

Portishead

Epik High

Gemma Hayes

Immy

Iron and Wine

Mint Royale

These are a few of my favorite things

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I mix most of my food.

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Peanut Butter

Almond Butter

Tempeh

Pizza

Yogurt

Olive Oil

Milk and Cereal

Fruit

Brownies stirred up in ice cream

饺子

烧烤

These are more of my favorite things. I do NOT mix all of these foods together.

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I haven't listened to the radio in more than a few months. I don't miss the radio.

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The severance or lengthening of relational ties is looked down upon in American society.

I submit that there is a time for severing or lengthening ties.

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It pains me to watch people picking things up with their backs instead of pushing up with their legs.

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Being shorter than average has an advantage- Most people underestimate short people, which means we perpetually have the element of surprise on our side. Underestimate in what regard? Every regard. I suppose I'm mainly thinking intellectually and physically.

I'm short, and I'm not ashamed.

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Mocky feat. Feist- Fighting Away the Tears

I do not appreciate it when my professors comment on an essay that I have written by writing the word "Why?" in the margin. It's not like they put it beside a passage in my paper that requires further explanation or background. Furthermore, it's usually the case that I have answered the question, "Why?", which they have so succinctly posed in the margin, I have just answered it at another point in my argument.

One may present a vindicating argument for said posing of question, "Why?", in the margin of a university upper-level division class essay. I find it annoying and pointless, I daresay, nonetheless. Why pointless? Because I already wrote the paper. Because the paper has been written. Because after the paper has a grade on it, it goes in the manila folder, and after it goes in the manila folder, it stays in the manila folder. And after it stays in the manila folder, it gets thrown out at the end of the semester.

Why?

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I found this article quite interesting, and I wish I could present this quote to my Chinese acquaintances when they cite, boast of, or complain about the hours and hours they spend studying and getting tutored:

Former U.S. assistant secretary of education Chester Finn recently wrote in TheWall Street Journal that the average Chinese college applicant has spent 30% more time in the classroom than his American counterpart--and that's not including considerable time in enrichment classes after school and on weekends. Finn cites that figure as something the U.S. should emulate. I could not disagree more. The amount of time in class is not the issue; the quality of that time is, and there the Chinese education system is lacking.

Here's to critical thinking...

Here's hoping for a good education reforms in China, even when they don't seem likely to ever happen.

Here's to the hope we have in Christ and His redemption of all that is so effed up...

...starting with me.

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When playing drums in a marching band drumline, if one drops a drumstick during a performance or rehearsal, one must take part in the "Lean of Shame" to pick up said dropped drumstick. It's not fun. If someone watching didn't notice that a drumstick was dropped, they will definitely notice the dropper leaning over.

I find that there exists in the classroom a similar shameful lean. If one drops his or her writing utensil and it lands or rolls to a position which is directly beneath the desk or table at which one is sitting, one must lean over to pick up said dropped writing utensil. To make matters worse, it is usually most convenient for the dropper to bring his or her head very close to the table while he or she reaches for the dropped writing utensil. This produces, for a moment, an awkward moment during which it appears that the dropper is just laying his or her head on the table or desk for some unknown reason.

Don't believe me? Try it. Drop anything under the table or desk at which you are sitting... chances are high that you won't want to put your head underneath the table or desk, and chances are high that it will be most convenient for you to keep your head above the table or desk while you reach for whatever you dropped.

I wrote way too much about this.

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"If God didn't want us to eat animals, why did He make them out of meat?"

-Samuel Rognstad

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"If you form your hands in certain ways, your enemy is gonna die!"

-Chinese Lit prof talking about Kung Fu-genre characters

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"How do you explain the music of the 80's?"

and

"Why is giving a diamond ring an expectation when getting engaged?"

Answer to both:

"It's just something that some lady made up."

-Philosophy professor

Question: How is requiring that a man give a woman a diamond ring when he asks her to marry him NOT encouraging them both to view love as something which is inseparable from money?

Wouldn't it be much healthier to start out such an incredible relationship with the giving of a $.25 ring from the toy machines in the lobby thing at Wal-Mart? Wouldn't it save a lot of money that young married couples could afford to hold on to? If a ring is representative, then it's monetary value should be insignificant.

Round 1: Fight!

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"My father told me and my brothers and sisters that his name is Gerald. I only found out that his real name is Maurice a couple years ago."

-Philosophy professor

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I don't like this post.

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I like this song.

Nothing doing...

Television is eating my father. Solitaire is eating my mother. CSI is eating my entire family, except me.

...but Arrested Development devoured me a long time ago.

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This is fun.

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This is cool. (Originally posted by Mark Kaech)

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Since I started writing this B-log, I have not written extensively about two things:

1. My feelings.

2. Controversial topics.

Whether this has been done (or not done, rather) subconsciously or consciously, that time is over.

If you want to respond to anything I write, write me, or talk to me. Or write in the comments section. Or whatever.

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Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person I know who isn't a Republican. I know plenty of Democrats, but I don't come into contact with them as often as I come into contact with Republicans.

I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat. I'm apolitical in every sense of the word.

I feel like politics leads to fear, and "fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

I'm not joking.

So what am I? I follow Christ. And I submit that being a Republican or Democrat never did anything to help or encourage anyone to call God their father. I would even submit that it has done only the opposite, creating division and turmoil.

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I can and will talk about politics with people, but I refuse to let it separate me from those I love. It breaks my heart to write that I find this nearly, if not entirely impossible.

Don't misunderstand me: I understand the strength of the democratic system, I understand that the tension between the political parties is one thing that makes the system so strong.

I am not imploring you to become apolitical like myself. I am imploring you to remove your love, your respect, your honesty, and your humanity from the sacrificial fire pit of politics. I am imploring you to see politics for the dividing wedge that it is. I mean, simply being mindful of the fact that it is very capable of division is enough. Don't let it divide. Don't let it foster hate.

Because, from my apolitical point of view, fostering hate and division is one of the main things politics does.

Set aside your nationality, your politicality, your denomination.

Christians: Recognize God as King. Non-Christians: Seek God as King.

The end.

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I find myself incapable of writing "short essays" and short letters to people. I write a lot.

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I could swear that, in Phoenix, Arizona, there is a headwind in every direction. It feels like one could ride a bicycle in a circle and the wind resistance would be consistent the entire time. Dislike.

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12 days until ITU World Championship Series begins in Sydney

72 days until FIFA World Cup 2010!!!!!!!

850 days until London 2012 Summer Olympics

1437 days until Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics...

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Music:

JJ Heller- Love Me

JJ Heller- Your Hands

Gotan Project- La Revancha Del Tango (Album)

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Lyrics:

Amazing grace
Christ gave that day
My life was changed
When from my shoulders
Fell the weight of my sin

Consume my thoughts
As I rest in You
I'm now in love
With a Saviour
Bearing the marks of His love

Hillsong United- Second Chance

I have unanswered prayers

I have trouble I wish wasn't there

And I have asked a thousand ways

That You would take my pain away

That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand

How to walk this weary land

Make straight the paths that crookedly lie

Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking

Heaven stands

When my heart is breaking

I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth

You healed the broken, lost, and hurt

I know You hate to see me cry

One day You will set all things right

Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking

Heaven stands

When my heart is breaking

I never leave Your hands

Your hands

Your hands that shape the world

Are holding me, they hold me still

Your hands that shape the world

Are holding me, they hold me still

JJ Heller- Your Hands

"Ground Fighting's Not My Scene, Man!"

Google Maps (or whoever supplies their satellite photographs) took new pictures of my house! Because I enjoy running and cycling, I often use Gmaps Pedometer to map or calculate the distances of runs or rides. Anyway, the satellite photographs of the area in which I live which were used for the last few years were replaced with updated ones recently.

Yay.

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Writing of Google, check this out. That's called sticking it to the man. The mainland Chinese man.

(Thanks to Harris Kwok)

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Favorite post-bicycle ride food: Almond butter, honey, and banana on whole wheat bread.

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I did not wear green at any time during St. Patrick's Day, and I'm not sorry.

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Spring break was a bad idea. To refer to a previous post, it's like coming to a complete stop on a bicycle- one must work extra hard to gain back all of the momentum that one gained before stopping. Or... must one?

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One of the last bits of direct speech at the end of the first chapter of the 1969 Chinese novel "The Deer and the Cauldron":

"I know, I'm just Trinket: Little White Dragon's the name, swimming's the game. Water sports. Staying under water. Eating raw fish and prawns. Ground fighting's not my scene, man!"

I want to see the original Chinese writing from which the sentence, "Ground fighting's not my scene, man!" was translated...

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Anyone need or know someone who needs a Mandarin Chinese interpreter?

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Music:

Where You Go I Go- Jesus Culture

Your Love Never Fails- Jesus Culture

A Parenthetical Post

Procrastination is stupid. I find that I somewhat dread writing papers and such only up until the second that I open Microsoft Word. The precise moment that the blank page appears before me, I've accepted my fate, and the writing and work begins without a problem. Weird.

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I have recently met multiple people who study Asian languages who like the Korean music group called Epik High. I don't say that I love things very often, so perk your ears... I love (and have loved for two years) the music of the Korean group called Epik High.

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I, for some reason, have high, very high standards for films these days. (For example, I haven't seen Avatar. I don't intend on seeing Avatar until it presents itself before me and practically pays me to watch it. Get over it.) I mean, I just haven't been watching many movies, so, when I do, I want them to be ones that I'll enjoy (especially if I'm going to spend money to see it in a theater). That being said, I have been excited about this movie for the last couple of months.

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Does going to see movies in a theater not make sense to anyone else? I'll see a movie in the theater for three reasons:

1. The graphics are so incredible that... they're incredible. (Apparently this isn't always true because I had a friend tell me to go see the latest Star Trek movie in the theater because the graphics were "so amazing", and then Avatar came out and everyone said the same thing... and I clearly haven't seen that either. Soooooo... let's just scratch this so-called "Reason #1").

2. I have wanted to see the movie for a long time. In other words, I want to see the movie, and I don't want to have to wait for it to come out on DVD. (This happens once or twice a year).

3. The movie theater atmosphere is appropriate for the film. (I can only think of one example, and that was the after-midnight showing of "Grindhouse" in 2007).

Furthermore, it doesn't make sense to "hang out" with friends by going to see a movie. Unless you are talking throughout the movie, that's not "hanging out", that's "accompanying".

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Something was going on at school on Thursday and Friday this week. On Thursday, my Chinese Lit teacher came into class and told us that he got a cold as soon as he walked out of class on Tuesday afternoon. Then, he told us that he took two Dimetapp on Thursday morning, which was one (or two) too many. He kept saying "Soooooooo..." which made me (and apparently a few of my classmates, as well) think that he was going to follow that by saying "... we are going to cancel class for today." False. He proceeded to give his lecture, but his eyes would droop and completely close every couple of seconds. He'd keep talking like normal, though. That was awkward, but not as awkward as what he was talking about.

Here's a conglomeration of some of the topics he covered and words that he said:

Sex

Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution"

Sex

Expanding our Moral Boundaries (?)

Sex

The "F" word

Seeeeeex...

Why having us watch a film is appropriate in a Chinese Literature class (He also teaches film)

Sex?

"Bosom"

...you get the idea.

Then, on Friday, I took a Chinese test in Chinese class. The teacher, though, must be as bored as we've been recently. (In fact, she has told us unashamedly that she has been more bored than us the past couple of weeks... that's debatable). Before class began, she asked my friend Dacre how tall he is. We then started talking about how we use the standard measurement system in the U.S. And then, she stated (in Chinese) (no less than 3 times) that, if I, Chris Kyle, took off my shoe and measured the height of said friend "Dacre" in feet according to the size of my shoe, we would not have to take the Chinese test that was planned for the day.

Top that.

I didn't agree to do that, by the way. Weird...

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Know what else is weird? It's weird when you get stuck behind an old-person car with the turn indicator perpetually blinking that's going 15 mph under the speed limit, but, when you pass the car and turn to see who is in the driver's seat, it's a 35-40 year old man or woman. (As opposed to the 4' 9" 63 year old snowbird that you thought would be driving...)

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I was watching the Indoor Track and Field World Championships and Universal Sports.

A. They must be using the online audience as practice time for the amateur sports commentators because... yeah. No.

B. They kept cutting to field events IN THE MIDDLE OF A RACE. Seriously, how frustrating is it to be watching the women's 3000m final and then, suddenly, BAM SHOTPUT! Oh, but wait... we're going back to the 3000m final, 7 laps to go... oh wow, here we go, picking up the pa- BAM POLE VAULT IN YOUR FACE! Oh, but we're back in the 3000m final... etc...

No good.

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To end on a not bitter note... 春假愉快! Happy Spring Break! (If yours isn't this week, or ever, then "look forward it", and "I'm sorry", respectively.)