Justification

Many people seem to ridicule the notion that Starcraft is a legitimate program to watch. They laugh at the idea that we would watch people play a VIDEO game. I can feel their scorn when I tell them I'm watching Starcraft. So, why is it that I watch it?

Well, to me, Starcraft is just like any other TV show to you. Be it Glee, Fringe, The Office, or Starcraft, they're all the same to me. We watch these shows to trigger an emotion, or a variety of emotions. Happiness, suspense, sympathetic sadness, etc.

In the same token, I watch Starcraft to watch competition unfold. You see, when two go at it, head to head, mano-a-mano, THAT'S when competition blossoms. Oh, and trust me, it blossoms. These players train for hours on end to become a maestro in the art of Starcraft. Everytime a fierce battle unfolds, it's like watching two virtuoso composers coming together to create a symphony of destruction with each one trying to out perform the other. The competition they create, the magic that happens, when their wills clash? It's simply unparalleled.

Oh, and another thing that's great about the Starcraft emotions? They're real. There's nothing between you and your opponent. It's simply a test of mastery and intelligence. When you compete, it's all on you; when you lose, YOU lose and no one else. That's why the competition is so real. That's also why people cry, be it in happiness or sadness. That's right, people cry about Starcraft. Don't believe me?

Jaedong after his first OSL win.

Nada after winning the OSL for his father.

Boxer after losing to his pupil and best fried Iloveoov

 And all that does is make Starcraft more pure. It's grounded on the dedication of its players. These players rejoice in the hands of victory and whittle away in the crushing palms of defeat. They don't need to act to display these emotions like our actors do, no, it's simply there.

That is why I love Starcraft. Because it's not just a game. Don't see it as one. Let go of your preconceived notions and see it as an art of competition. Then you'll see how beautiful this art can be.

Full-swing baby!

Yup, now I KNOW the school year is going full swing. I've tasted the agonies of failures (GRRR, PHYSICS), the pain of stupid mistakes (GAAAH, X^2), and the succulence of Kilkelly brownies (d(^_^)b GOOD!). My sleep schedule is already screwed up, and I've already been studying like crazy for history tests. Life finally seems to be getting back to normal.
Isn't it weird though? To think that my normalcy coexists with school. Hmm, maybe it's because all these new ideas are just so INTRIGUING! I mean, learning about centripetal force (despite my failures) and the derivative of inverse trigonometric functions are just fascinating. Calculus is fun! :) It just takes one simple concept to discover a new range of ideas. Applying the chain rule to create implicit differentiation is just awesome. xD The proofs uncovered from this rule allows for so many different possibilities.

Of course, I also miss Starcraft. Maybe I'll write a tribute sometime to tell just how mind-blowingly awesome that game is despite all the negative stereotypes associated with it. I mean, I miss the challenge of that game. I sucked, but I loved it. The feeling of executing a strategy well, winning through theoretical game ideas, and of outmacroing the other guy, god those were great times. I miss iccup. I didn't even know anyone on there, but the competition drives me. That's what I love about Starcraft, you never run out of competition. It hones the competitive spirit, and it lets you deal with failure so you can push onwards. It's too bad that my skills have probably fallen drastically due to no practice. I doubt I can even execute a 3 hatch muta vs Terran just against a computer anymore. T_T sigh... Man, I can't even watch Proleague despite it starting up. I just HAD to miss that epic matchup of SKT vs KT. And now I SC2 is coming in to replace Broodwar? I call bullshit. That's like saying checkers can replace chess. Never going to happen. W/es, I'll just be crazy then, and get back to SC:BW whenever I can.

Luckily, MEA break is coming up soon. Maybe I can finally get away from all this normalcy. After all, eccentricity is nice too. ^_^

Words of choice

I am but a tyro of vocabulary words with an iota of knowledge. I approach the PSAT without a shred of hubris, even doubting my cerebral abilities. I dread the chagrin I face as I mark down egregious answers. I wish for a felicitous experience instead of a hapless one. I wish I were less discomfited by even the simplest vocabulary words. Nonetheless, my extant, studious spirit shall not be enervated. I will not rescind from this challenge; instead, I am galvanized by it. I am no longer desultory or dilatory in my study habits. No, I have become efficient. Watch as I stupefy the world as I become a juggernaut of vocabulary with my intemperate study habits. My meliorism shall be ineffable. You can juxtapose me with any pedantic pontificate and I shall still seem a pedagogic behemoth, a leviathan. I don't mean to vaunt like a turgid upstart. I'm simply trying to be auspicious despite my doubts. It's alright, you don't have to brook this. I will now curtail this activity and say, adieu.