Official Blog of Megumu Jansen

Please Help Me

2012-02-12T20:13:00.000+09:00

I have looked at some of my old posts and noticed how many mistakes I have made in my typing, so if you find a mistake, please help me out by letting me know as a comment of the post with the mistake you found. Thanks!

Gmail's New Look

2012-02-12T20:06:00.002+09:00

So, as you probably know if you use Gmail, it has a new look. I personally love the new look, but then I noticed that there were some people who didn't like it. I looked it up on the web, and it turned out that so many people didn't like it. In fact, in the video Google posted on YouTube, it was almost half dislikes! Many people want Google to give them the option between using it and not using it, instead of getting forced to use the new look (the old look will soon be unavailable).

But the new look has a lot of great features, such as:

Nicer organization of buttons
Nicer organization of conversations
Labels/chat divider
Fits to many screen sizes
Very simple

However, since there are so many people who don't like the new look, why doesn't Google just keep the old look available forever and add some of the great new features to them? Well, I heard that it wasn't possible under certain circumstances, but they should still keep the old look as an option.

One thing I thought was strange about the new look was that they said that they changed the buttons to symbols to make it more consistent. However, the "More" button still has writing, so it would have been more consistent if they were all text.

Anyway overall, I love it but Google shouldn't force people to love it.

2012-02-10T19:09:00.001+09:00

I just noticed that the search gadget on the sidebar is having a problem. I am sorry; I hope it gets fixed soon.

New Design

2012-02-10T15:39:00.001+09:00

Hope you like it!

Mac OS X Lion Only Makes My Computer Slower!

2012-02-02T18:55:00.000+09:00

Okay so during the summer, I got my MacBook (the white one that isn't sold to customers anymore), just before the Lion operating system came out. I decided to get it because I was told that people who bought a Mac then would be able to get Lion. I was really excited that I would be able to get my first computer and also get the new operating system. However, after getting the new OS, things got so much worse. My computer began to operate a lot slower, and when I checked yesterday, it took 1 minute and 27 seconds for it to shut down. It was about the same when I checked today for startup (subtracting the amount of time for the log-in procedure). It is really disappointing for me because Lion has so many great new features, but I am getting frustrated because of the speed problems.

Most people who added Lion to their computer don't seem to be getting this problem. However, I searched on the web and found that some people were experiencing the same pain I am experiencing now every time I use my laptop. I still haven't tried re-installing it, but first of all I'm not even sure if that's possible anymore since Lion is on the App Store.

With my slow computer, I have fallen in love with Google Chrome. It is great, with many themes and apps. Unfortunetely, this fast browser has also been affected by my slow OS. When I open a new tab, for example, it takes a few seconds for my apps to show up. Yesterday, I tried opening a .swf file (for an assignment at home since we didn't have school) , and it was opened by the browser Opera, which I had downloaded earlier just for fun. Ironically, it seems faster than Chrome (with the Speed Dial), so I will test it out for a few weeks. This will be the seventh browser I have tried using, I think (after Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Camino, OmniWeb and Chrome).

Opera already has some great features, but a lot of features compared to Chrome, it seems. It probably isn't the features that effect the speed of the browser rather than the things you install to it. I already like the small choice of themes, which is nice compared to the number of themes in Chrome, most which I don't like.

I checked just now, and learned that about 1% of people use Opera as their browser. So I'll be part of the 1%. Okay, that kind of doesn't sound good considering what people are protesting nowadays.

Anyways, yes I have a slow computer, but not that slow compared to some PCs.

Hi Again

2012-02-01T17:13:00.001+09:00

Well I told a lie in my last post, and I apologize. It's just that I am really busy.

Today, my class had no school because I the flu. It is kind of ironic because we had no school last Tuesday because of snow. Today has been very productive compared to last week's no-school day. Last week. I didn't finish anything and ended up with only about 250 words of a paper finished at the end of the day. I still haven't finished anything today, and have gotten very close to doing so.

Yes, I have been talking about how busy I was during the past month. I am now at a point where I am not so busy, but where I will soon be busy if I procrastinate. We have just started a new semester, so there are many new projects that aren't due for a while, but overwhelm me to think about. When I get a whole day like today, I feel good because I think I can do lots of things, but then time just slips away.

One of the things I really want to do is add my experience of the March 11 earthquake to my blog. But that takes longer than I thought, and I probably won't be able to do it until Spring Break. That will be just after March 11 this year.

Okay my fingers are getting tired because I am writing from my iPod Touch. Also I apologize if there are mistakes in my typing because it is easy to do so with this keyboard.

2012-01-25T18:22:00.001+09:00

I'm kind of busy today. I will write tomorrow.

Blogger and Tumblr Comparison

2012-01-17T20:42:00.002+09:00

Please note: On the sidebar in the list of posts I will will write soon, I wrote "Blogger and Twitter Comparison". I had made a mistake; I will now compare Blogger with Tumblr.

Yes, I switched to Tumblr for a while. Then I switched back but created a nicer blog on Blogger. But it was a difficult decision to make. For the English project which was due today, I decided to do a blog, and I used Tumblr, in fact. And now I will show you some unique features of each blogging platform that I love.

So for Tumblr:

Probably has a better interface, easy to create a post, organizes posts based on what kind it is (e.g. text, photo, audio, video, quote)
You can favorite posts
Reblogging! Easy to share stuff you like but give credit to the author
Great choice of themes

For Blogger:

Lots of options for layout
Lots of gadgets
Easily insert HTML code as a gadget, you don't need to be a pro to set it up
Dynamic View (really cool; I'm not using it because of the lack of options for gadgets)

Well, hope this helps. Gotta go finish up my small amount of homework!

Almost at the End

2012-01-17T20:29:00.001+09:00

Whew! It's been a while since my last post, and that's because I have been really busy. Yes, I know I said I would be busy last week, but it really lasted to today. Today I had an English presentation and a physics test which the teacher said would be hard. Today it is over, and although it is a Tuesday, half the school week is over because Friday is a no school day.

Well, better start adding those posts I said I would add for a long time!

P.S. Whoops! I almost forgot to mention: After this Thursday, the first semester is over. So this weekend I will be able to do some more relaxing than usual weekends. (Now I think the title makes more sense. ;)

The Peak

2012-01-11T19:39:00.000+09:00

Finally I feel like I am gaining more control over my life. The English project turned out to be easier than I thought, and today we did a forty minute jazz rehearsal which helped a lot. It feels like I have reached the peak of a mountain, and it is all downhill from now.

Whenever a project is assigned, it seems really hard. I have no idea how I'm gonna complete them. But as time goes by, I keep climbing the mountain, progressing at the project until I reach the peak. From the peak, I'm not finished yet, but I can see how I will complete everything. That's where I am now.

Thank you God.

2012-01-10T19:57:00.001+09:00

"One comments". Seriously, Blogger?!

2012-01-09T20:13:00.001+09:00

Wow. I just noticed that my January post frequency is so little compared to December's and November's. It is happening already!!!

Busy!

2012-01-09T20:10:00.000+09:00

Wow! School started last Wednesday, and it already is really busy.

Before Christmas Vacation began, it was busy. However I could keep reminding myself that pretty soon I would be able to relax and not be woken up by an alarm clock.

Now we are back, and it feels so hopeless. This Friday, there is a jazz performance that I have to do for my jazz class and we are so unprepared. Today we tried to practice, but there was a misunderstanding and another group was practicing there. Also on Friday there is a math project due. It is a project where we all have to do a perspective drawing. At first I thought it would be easy, and I get the concept, but there are so many details I must include. If only it were due next Monday, things would be easier.

Speaking of next Monday, another big thing is a presentation on Monday. I'm doing it myself and not with a group so it will require a lot of practicing. When I do a presentation with a partner or group, I usually don't get that nervous, but when it is individual, boy do I get nervous!

Today I have decided to not procrastinate that much from the time I get home. So far it has been working well. I wouldn't say that blogging is procrastinating, but I shouldn't do it too long. One of the main problems about today's homework is that there is a lot due soon but only one assignment I must finish by tomorrow.

Well, it's been a rough start to 2012. But God will help me and so far the world hasn't ended :). (By the way I don't believe in the prophecy.)

2 Services by Yahoo! Many People Use

2012-01-04T22:10:00.002+09:00

Yahoo! Answers - it seems more used than WikiAnswers and Ask.com.
Flickr - After Snapfish and Windows Live Photos, it has the most users. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photo_sharing_websites)

Last Day

2012-01-03T21:07:00.001+09:00

Well, it's the last day of Christmas vacation for me. School starts in about 12 hours. I kind of wish it was longer, but it was a nice length. It was enough for me to relax. And yes, I know I said I would write a post about blogs. Oh well. Gotta put that off to later. You might have to wait a while.

What I like the least about school is when there is so much work to do. Like when I procrastinate, or there is an important assignment I completely forgot about until I am close to its due date. That happened today. So I want to work a little more on it, but there is not that much time since I am blogging!

What I like about my school is that on Wednesdays, school starts an hour later for students because the staff have a meeting. And tomorrow is a Wednesday. So that is a great way to transition out of vacation and resume the life where I have to be woken up with an alarm clock almost every day.

2011-12-25T20:22:00.001+09:00

Okay, so if you look at the sidebar, you can see that I said I will soon add a post about what I like about Blogger and Tumblr and what I wish they would have. ~~Unfortunetly~~ ~~Unfortunetely~~ ~~Unfortunitley~~ (... I GIVE UP!!! I will now write it correctly with the spell checker) Unfortunately I cannot write about that right now. So happy Hanukkah and merry Christmas!

iPhone 4S

2011-12-21T20:56:00.000+09:00

Today I went to a cell phone shop, and I got to try the iPhone. Here is a screenshot of a conversation I had with Siri. When I was sending this image to myself, I used my voice to write the message. I said, "this is a conversation I had with Siri." It thought I said, "this is the conversation I had with Siri". Luckily, the iPhone has a grammar checker, so it underlined it blue. The iPhone isn't perfect, but it sure is smart!

There is now a new commercial for it to!
http://www.apple.com/iphone/videos/#tv-ads-santa

Plus something interesting I noticed: other countries that sell iPhones with Siri in their language have commercials for the iPhone 4S. If you watch all of the commercials for these countries' iPhones, you will notice that they are all basically the same, with different actors and a different Siri — well not a different Siri, but one speaking a different language!

2011-12-20T14:37:00.001+09:00

Enjoying Christmas Vacation! Enjoying freedom.

Why Blogging Isn't a Waste of Time

2011-12-15T09:24:00.000+09:00

If I am on Facebook or Twitter, sometimes I am looking at stuff and just wasting my time. However, blogging is different. I don't remember the name, but one author said that if you want to become a better writer, you just have to write for fun. And that is what I am doing here. Improving my writing skills. Now that is not wasting time!

Social Me

2011-12-15T09:16:00.000+09:00

I am amazed at the fact that I am able to use Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger all on a regular basis.

Facebook - I use it to connect with most of my friends and my class at school (homework help).
Twitter - I don't know why, I just like the simplicity and how I can follow news groups... better than RSS feeds because each tweet is short.
Blogger - I can write as much as I want, can have lots of options, be artistic and feel freedom, but quickly writing a post is easy.

And then there's Google+. I wish everyone using Facebook could switch to G+ but I think that is never gonna happen.

2011-12-14T18:13:00.001+09:00

changed
the
background

New Google Navigation

2011-12-14T17:32:00.004+09:00

New Google navigation lets you access YouTube from right there. I like that. What I wish is for Google to make it possible to edit the navigation menu. Since I blog a lot (at least now I do), I want to move that from the "More" section to the first list.

Google+ Integration

2011-12-14T17:31:00.001+09:00

I just connected this blog to Google+. Is it working???

Search Problem

2011-12-13T14:59:00.001+09:00

I just noticed a problem on my blog and I would like to apologize.

What I noticed is that when you use the "FIND A POST" on the sidebar, there are many results that aren't on this blog. They are most likely from my old blog, which has a new URL. Therefore, if you search something using the sidebar feature and the result isn't on this blog, it is most likely on:

megjansen.blogspot.com

Me and My Long Blogging History

2011-12-12T21:03:00.000+09:00

It's cool how I started blogging before I was in middle school and now I am blogging in high school. I still find Twitter and Facebook useful, but there is something I like about blogging that I have liked since I started. I think it is the freedom to design and write as much as I want about anything. Since there aren't that many people who will actually read, I can write stuff. But not inappropriate stuff. That's for sure.

By the way, you may not think that 3 and a half years is a long time, but it is for me. So far, it is about a quarter of my life!!!!

(Even though I haven't really been blogging that much since I created this new blog.)

Study Habits

2011-12-12T18:09:00.001+09:00

Finished my first day of the last week of school. Starting on Wednesday there are exams until Friday, but Friday is a half day, plus I only have to be at school during an exam, and I don't have one for every class.

Today during homeroom, there was someone who came to talk about how to study for tests. Earlier this person had talked about procrastination and how to deal with it. This person said that it is okay to take breaks and do non-homework things, but no procrastination. The thing I hate about procrastination is that the more time I have, the more I procrastinate. The thing about Blogger is, I feel like I must write the stuff down at the moment.

One site that I tend to procrastinate on especially on the weekends is YouTube. I watch one video, then another video I want to watch comes to mind, then I keep watching. Yesterday I watched some videos, then I ran out of ideas and stayed on YouTube anyway. I probably ended up being on YouTube or watching videos for at least an hour yesterday, and THAT is bad. Well, it's okay if I am done with my homework, but, you know.

There is so much to write but I keep forgetting what to write! That is what I hate most about Blogger. Do I have to write an outline for every post I plan to write???!

+1 Button

2011-12-11T11:08:00.001+09:00

Just added a Google +1 button to my site. If you want to add your own, go to:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/webmasters/+1/button/index.html

I was just wondering: if Google wants to put the button all over the place, why don't they allow it to be an option as a Blogger gadget?

Well, we'll see if they add it.

What Did the GOP Do for America This Year?

2011-12-10T16:17:00.001+09:00

They labeled pizza as a vegetable.

2011-12-10T16:15:00.001+09:00

Why did I ever leave blogger?

Still loving the interface.

Apple Store Opens in Grand Central Terminal

2011-12-10T16:13:00.001+09:00

It blends in so well. I couldn't find it at first in the main photo.

http://www.apple.com/retail/grandcentral/

The Notebook

2011-12-09T22:01:00.001+09:00

Today just before I left school, I noticed something shocking: I had lost my geometry notebook. This has half of what I need to know for an exam next week. But even worse: I must turn it in next Wednesday or else I will get a zero. I can redo some of it and turn it in on Wednesday but that will take a lot of work.

I asked God to tell me where it was, but He didn't tell me. I was really frustrated, and became worried that I wouldn't be able to find my notebook. Then I noticed that I shouldn't be worrying. If I pray and I trust God, I shouldn't have doubt. It is SO hard not to have doubt.

But I know that God gives great things even though we don't deserve it. No, we do not deserve it one bit. But out of love, God have blessings to us sinners. So I know God will answer this prayer. I will wait.

I will wait.

And even though I can't see what's ahead of me, God is right there. And he has plans.

This might seem strange that I am writing so much about me losing a notebook, but it really matters since now is not the time to lose it. Plus I heard of one person who prays about what shoes to buy!!!!

2011-12-06T22:14:00.001+09:00

14 page views today! WOOHOO!

(I hope these people aren't people trying to get my private info)

This Week

2011-12-06T22:08:00.001+09:00

This week is packed with stuff to do at school and at home. You may have been able to tell because I am not posting every day like I said I would. When I start to feel that I am not in control of my life, I remind myself that it's not true. Because really, it's not. I am not a slave, and God has given me many blessings. Even if I feel really stressed out, it will pass soon. There are still three more days of school left this week, but I know I can make it because God will be with me. After that, just one more week and it's Christmas vacation!!!!

Hopefully then I will begin blogging daily again.

2011-12-01T08:22:00.001+09:00

Got 100% on a science test I only studied a little for!

Browsers

2011-11-27T11:25:00.001+09:00

If you think this blog still takes a lot of time to load, I have one question for you: Are you using Internet Explorer? Get Google Chrome.

2011-11-27T11:09:00.001+09:00

Time to start my homework! (Well, it was time and hour ago. So I gotta stop procrastinating and start doing!)

2011-11-27T10:46:00.001+09:00

I view my blog every time I update it! :)

Tribute to Steve Jobs at Ginza Apple Store

2011-11-27T10:36:00.001+09:00

Here are two videos of that. In the second video, keep watching at least until you see the amazing apple carving of Steve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlNwxX0UuCM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=tmIHOcR97WI

Well Here I Am Writing Another Post

2011-11-26T20:57:00.001+09:00

So I lied. But I would just like to acknowledge one of the people who made me want to start up this blog again: Mr. Gibson, my current World History teacher. His blog is at:
http://friedeggsandnatto.blogspot.com/

Also, I would like to thank everyone who looked my name up on the Google search engine because you all reminded me that having a Blogger blog is the way to have a blog that people will be able to find easily... Especially since I am probably the only Megumu Jansen in the world! (Rare Japanese name plus a European name. Speaking of names, my last name means "son of Jan". Cool, isn't it?)

Anyway, like I said in my last post, I say lots of things people may think are boring but I won't care since I feel good when I am blogging. Plus I feel it has more meaning than Facebook, even though not that many people know about my blog compared to the number of Facebook friends I have. But still, Blogger feels more fulfilling.

See you soon!

Feelin' Good!

2011-11-26T20:41:00.001+09:00

Just finished the Bible project which took a lot of time. I really should have done it well over time but procrastination is part of human nature. Now I want to relax, but there is still so much more to be done. I keep saying this but I really feel glad to be back on Blogger. I can really express my feelings comfortably on here...although to tell you the truth...uh, I forgot what I was going to say. That happens to me a lot. (By the way it is so funny when someone in class is about to ask a question and then they end up forgetting :) I just mixed my closing parenthesis with a smiley! That is so cool! Anyway as you can tell, I do feel much more comfortable on this blogging site that I am saying random things you may not even care about.

By the way my Twitter account is mdj2015. Sorry but I won't let just anyone follow me.
If it is Christian, from or about Fiji, by a Fijian (since I love Fiji), or someone I know or someone who posts unique things that I am interested in, you can request me to follow you. Sorry, but it might take a while until I accept since I am really busy. (But probably not the busiest person.)

Wow, this was just supposed to be a short post but I am now on my third paragraph. Better give this post a name.

2011-11-26T19:14:00.001+09:00

Homework coming along well. Almost done with a big project.

Date Problem No Longer a Problem

2011-11-26T19:12:00.001+09:00

I just figured out why the date header wasn't matching-because my date setting wasn't set to Japan's time zone. I will soon change it.

2011-11-26T18:58:00.001+09:00

Listening to Jango Radio while working on my Bible project.

Funny Video

2011-11-26T15:29:00.001+09:00

Funny video - a bad lip reading of Mitt Romney.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9L9A1IMTQo

Date Header Problem

2011-11-26T15:15:00.001+09:00

Okay, why isn't the date header showing for yesterday's? Is it supposed to do that?

Other than that, it feels great to be back on Blogger. I feel back at home. Now I gotta go do my homework instead of continuing to customize my blog. The great thing about Blogger is that there are so many options, the bad thing is that it is easy to make a slow blog that is cluttered and doesn't even look like a blog anymore, and also that users can get addicted to changing stuff.

By the way I still don't have any followers so I will follow my own blog so that it looks like I do. But please follow it. Also I have added a new function where you can get updates of my blog by email so that is an option. But please follow this blog if you know me. You don't even need to be a Blogger user you just need a Google account. So please do.

Quotes on Tumblr

2011-11-26T14:56:00.001+09:00

Quoting people would be more fun on Tumblr. Oh, well I have decided that Blogger gives more choices and is better. I sure wish there was a blogging service that gave all the great I have experienced during this wishy-washy period.

New Blog Plan

2011-11-26T14:54:00.001+09:00

Okay so for this new blog I will try to put a post everyday (unless I am on vacation or something like that) even if it is really short and has no title.

2011-11-26T14:53:00.001+09:00

Gotta do my homework but I don't feel like it.

2011-11-25T20:33:00.001+09:00

I have fallen in love with Blogger again! Wanna customize the background image but it must match perfectly. I am a perfectionist in blog designing.

Uh oh!

2011-11-25T20:11:00.001+09:00

Yikes. Even though I have set this up to the new interface, when I try to view my profile, it is the old ugly one.

But way to go Blogger for making a nice one!

Coming up: A post about what I love about Blogger, what I love about Tumblr, and what I wish either one would have.

Here I Am!

2011-11-25T19:19:00.001+09:00

Boy am I wishy-washy. But I have decided to return to Blogger using a new blog. This blog is designed to not be slow and be more simple. Plus I figured out how to make it work on mobile devices! So bye bye Tumblr and long-time-no-see Blogger!

If you want to view my old posts, the URL is:
http://to2011megjansen.blogspot.com/
And watch out for sound!

There is a nice game on my old blog. I wish I could put it on here but that will slow it down. So if you want to play the game, go there!