The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon was an account of the Japanese Heian Court during the 11th century. This my modern day UCLA version of that book.

• Things that Occur During Finals Week

  During the Fall, it is a rainy day.
  During the Winter, it is the NCAA basketball tournament.
  During the Spring, it is the NBA finals.

• Things that are Good to Eat on Campus

  The best fries are at Burger Works.
  At the Bombshelter, one should get a chicken lavosh sandwich.

• I was Playing Virtua Fighter

  I was playing Virtua Fighter at the Villager Arcade one day when a small crowd formed behind me to watch my battle against another guy. It was fun to hear the crowd cheer as we tried out different techniques on each other.

  After I executed a move that I hadn't used before, someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked me how to perform that move. It was the director John Singleton. He was currently filming the motion picture, "Higher Learning", at the UCLA campus. Some of the scenes were located at Sproul Hall. Well, it turned out that he had his own Virtua Fighter machine and wanted some hints on how to play the game. So, I showed him a few more things before I had to leave.

• Annoying Things

  The Neo-Print machine.
  People sitting next to you who whisper all the time.
  When your laundry doesn't dry in one cycle.

• Arcade Story part 2

  I was in the middle of a game of Bust-A-Move at the arcade when someone challenged me. I won, but right before the guy walked off, he turned to me and said, "Thanks for wasting my money." Huh?

• In All of My Five Years

  In all of my five years here at UCLA, I have never had a midterm that took half an hour to get started. At my MMG C106 midterm, this is exactly what happened. The professor and the TAs were checking picture IDs individually and checking names off a roll sheet. They were also looking at the seat numbers.

  Someone next to me said, "It's all a mind game. Just like the Freefall ride at Magic Mountain. They keep you up in the air for a long time until they finally drop you without warning."

  I suppose that this procedure was understandable considering the necessity for security and prevention of cheating. However, couldn't time have been saved if this was done while people were taking the test?

• In-n-Out Burger

  I have always taken the popularity of In-n-Out Burger for granted, that is, until the night that the Westwood branch opened. That night, the restaurant was extremely crowded. The line of cars going through the drive-thru was so long that it went around the street corner. All of this popularity despite the fact that the restaurant's menu was so small. Yes, their burgers were exceptionally tasty, but the menu consisted of just three types of burgers, fries, and a few drinks. These were all at cheap prices, too. How could this business survive?

• Grace On Campus

  Grace on Campus is such a wonderful support group. I have only been a part of this group for a few months, but it feels like I’ve known them all of my life. I’m sure they feel the same way about me. The interesting thing is that I feel like I can relate to and understand other members of this group more than my other friends who I have known for years. This is because of the bond and unity that we have through Christ. Without a knowledge of Him, my other friends would never understand me the way my friends at Grace on Campus do. How I long for the day that my friends would come to know Christ and be a part of this unity.

• Things One should Do In Order to Follow
  "The Rules of Arcade Etiquette as they Apply to Fighting Games"

  If one desires to challenge the person currently playing, one should ask for permission beforehand. One may also place a quarter on the video game console as an alternative way of indicating ones intent to challenge.

  If there is a row of quarters already on the console, a prospective challenger must place his quarter at the end of the line and wait for his turn.

  A typical game consists of winning two out of three rounds. If ones opponent does not seem to be as skilled, it would be nice to give away the second round if one has already won the first round. However, one should lose this round in such a way that it does not appear to be done on purpose. Simply letting go of the controls would be very humiliating for the opponent. For the third round, one may then resume playing normally.

  It is really upsetting when someone does not follow these rules.

• Going to the Arcade

  Going to the arcade does not necessarily mean that one is going to play video games. One can spend hours in there without spending a single quarter simply by watching other people play games or engaging in conversation with other people in the arcade. However, eventually one would probably be tempted to play something, anyway. If one goes to the game room enough times and plays video games long enough, one would most likely get to know the other regular visitors to the arcade. There is also the possibility that one would also meet some of the game attendants that work at that place. Of course, this might lead to being able to play some games for free since a game attendant might give some credits at a machine. In addition, one of the other regulars might offer to take turns playing or even give away a quarter just so one would play at least one game. Free games just for befriending someone! This does, however, require that one stay in the game room long enough to be recognized as a regular visitor himself.

• Things that Give a Great Sense of Accomplishment Once One Finishes Them

  A video game when it is completed for the first time.
  An anime television series or a Japanese drama series.
  A paper for any North Campus class such as English, History, or Sociology.
  A very long set of homework problems or a lab report.
  The sense of accomplishment is even greater when others finish it with you, as well.