Viv's Blog

I finished How I Killed Pluto a few weeks ago so it’s not as fresh in my mind, but I really did enjoy reading the book. Although this book is technically an autobiography, I enjoyed reading a more science-y book. My genre of choice is generally suspense/thriller so it was nice to read something outside of that. While I did get to learn about Brown’s personal life, it didn’t feel sappy like I feel most autobiographies are. I feel like autobiographies are usually like “omg listen to my sob story and how I overcame so much adversity”, but How I Killed Pluto was more educational. Not only did you learn about someone’s life, but you learned about why his studies and work were actually influential in academia. Brown takes you along for the ride throughout his time searching for planets. You feel as though you are there with him during his sleepless nights of searching for moving “specks” in the sky. You can also see the dedication and commitment to his craft. Brown talks about meticulously l...

Modernism Is Ugly Why Your House Is More Like an Insane Asylum Than A Sanctuary What better pastime is there than to judge houses you can’t afford on Zillow? None! But when you’re looking for your future home (imagining you had an unlimited budget), what exactly are you looking for? Certainly not something modern I hope!   As an avid HGTV watcher, I know a thing or two about real estate and architecture. Growing up watching House Hunters , I suffered disappointment one too many times as I would watch couples choose the ugliest out of three homes that they were shown. To prevent you from making the same mistake when it comes to your future home I will be telling you what kind of architecture you should definitely evict from your choices and which kinds you should open the door to.   Brutalism, a subcategory within modern architecture has been on the rise since its development in the 1950. Emerging post World War II, you could see where the style gets...

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown What initially drew me to this book was that the other options did not seem interesting. I honestly did not want to read the come-up story of a Hollywood actor or actress. Though I don't doubt the hard work they must've put in to get where they are, it honestly seemed a bit boring.  How I Killed Pluto , on the other hand, now that's an exciting title! I'm very glad I chose this book and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Brown has a very easy-to-read writing style and avoids intimidating scientific jargon that would be hard for the average reader. Instead, he explains concepts in very clear and understandable ways, without having to oversimplify. He uses plenty of analogies so that the reader can comprehend the scope of what he is talking about. Now you might be wondering, "What exactly is he talking about?". Space, of course! Specifically, Pluto and Brown's very own discovery of a planet beyond Pl...

Cheer Coach   I never would have thought that I would be a high school coach, but this past semester I found myself being just that. In those past few months, I spent part of my time being a cheer coach at my alma mater. You might wonder what the qualifications might be for coaching. Turns out that being an alumna was enough. Nonetheless, I was excited to give back to an organization that provided me with many skills and enjoyable memories.    A sports coach is an “individual responsible for guiding and instructing athletes or a sports team”. Most of us have been on sports teams and know what it is like to have an inspiring and influential mentor. Now was my time to put myself in that position. Being a great coach means gaining the respect of your athletes while also inspiring them to be great students and players. And I aimed to do just that.   I would define my responsibilities as a cheer coach with the following descriptions: Persona...

Home to me has always been Los Angeles, more specifically Pasadena. I have grown up here and haven’t lived anywhere else. Yet, I hope to change that one day. One place I know I do want to go is San Francisco. I have been to the city on three different occasions and each time I have felt like that was the place I wanted to be. Although I have recently gained an interest in data analytics and hope to pursue a career involving that, I am not specifically sure what my future might look like. Maybe a career in analytics will hopefully take me up north.  I think my parents have shown me a lot. My mother has traveled around the world and has shown me that there is plenty to discover outside of the comfort of where we call home. Because of her I love to travel and hope to one day make it to all the different parts of the world. My dad has always taught me to go after what I want and has never failed to do the same. However, unlike my father, I feel as if sometimes I lack the same initiativ...