Monday, June 06, 2005
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Latest crafty progress report
I've got a progress report for the butterfly fairy and the scarf up on my stitching blog. As always, the photos don't do the projects justice.
Epilogue Artist - Neven Shadowbourne : Hope
This picture doesn't much say hope to me. It's more longing or even sadness.
Friday, June 03, 2005
It occurred to me . . .
. . . at lunch today - which I didn't stop for because I was working on three projects at the same time trying to get just one of them done - that I haven't done any knitting all week. I have no idea why that should have popped into my noggin while I was fighting security issues, a recalcitrant MS Office install, and ordering some stuff from CDW since none of that is even vaguely related to knitting. But it did. I've spent all week playing on the computer instead of watching TV or reading or knitting or even cross stitching. I guess the computer bug bit me. I guess this means I need to knit a bit tonight just to say I worked on the scarf this week.
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Business (Sinking the Sub Club)
Claim: Subway is ending its long-running Sub Club promotion due to the prevalence of counterfeit stamps.
Status: True.
I would like to just shout out a great big "Thank you" to the useless asses of the world who ruin a perfectly good free lunch by trying to steal a perfectly good free lunch.
Status: True.
I would like to just shout out a great big "Thank you" to the useless asses of the world who ruin a perfectly good free lunch by trying to steal a perfectly good free lunch.
agglomeration
Dictionary.com/Word of the Day:
That pretty much describes my house. I firmly believe a jumbled cluster makes a home.
;D
agglomeration \uh-glom-uh-RAY-shuhn\, noun:
1. The act or process of collecting in a mass; a heaping together.
2. A jumbled cluster or mass of usually varied elements.
Agglomeration is the noun form of agglomerate, "to gather into a ball or mass," which derives from the past participle of Latin agglomerare, "to mass together; to heap up," from ad- + glomerare, "to form into a ball," from glomus, glomer-, "ball."
That pretty much describes my house. I firmly believe a jumbled cluster makes a home.
;D
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
What classic story role do I play?
You Are The Outlaw
"Sure, I'll do it. My way."
Just because you do not conform to the same laws and rules as everyone else does not mean that you are a bad guy. You travel your own path, separate from those around you, with your own reasons for doing what you do. Because of this and your own nature, it goes without saying that you are generally misunderstood. That does not matter much, though, as people love you for being who you are. You are pretty well set in your ways and have no real intention of changing. This can come across as a flicker of arrogance if your not careful. You do what is right for you, and God help anyone who stands in your way.
brought to you by Quizilla
Geek Trivia: Pole positions
As part of Geek Trivia's continuing efforts to highlight obscure anniversaries from the annals of science and history, I'll remind you that 174 years ago today, explorer James Clark Ross' expedition became the first group to locate the Earth's Magnetic North Pole. On June 1, 1831, Ross and his team became the first people on Earth to discover an exact position in the arctic where the dip in the planet's magnetic field is precisely 90 degrees.
The 90-degree dip means that the Earth's magnetic field lines are pointing straight up from that position (90 degrees from a level horizon)--essentially marking the exact center point of the field. Moving away from that spot, the field lines angle toward an incline, growing more pronounced as you move away from the pole. Put another way, Ross found the very site toward which all magnetic compasses were pointing, a virtual magnetic X marking the spot.
Exciting, isn't it? Well, if this milestone moment from geomagnetic orienteering doesn't get your blood pumping, consider this: Assuming you could venture to the exact geographic position that Ross' team marked in 1831, you would not be at the Earth's Magnetic North Pole. That's because the Earth's Magnetic North wanders, and various expeditions have found it in different positions, including one by famed arctic and antarctic explorer Roald Amundsen.
During the 20th century, Magnetic North headed steadily northwest at an average speed of about 11 kilometers per year--although its pace has accelerated since 1970--and it should reach Siberia sometime around the year 2050. Of course, this begs the question: How can the North Pole move northwest? Wherever the North Pole is, that's true north, right?
Wrong: As usual, science flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Setting aside the well-established fact that the Earth's magnetic poles flip about every 500 millennia or so--to say nothing of various conceptual "Norths" used by astronomers when dealing with galactic planes and satellite orbits--Magnetic North is only one of several "Norths" recognized by science. As applies to planet Earth, there are no less than four different kinds of North Poles.
What are the four types of North Poles on planet Earth typically recognized by science, three of which are different from the compass-designated Magnetic North?
Besides Magnetic North, intrepid explorers have found their way to the Geographic North Pole, Geomagnetic North Pole, and the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility. As previously mentioned, the short definition of Magnetic North is the spot on the Earth's surface toward which all magnetic compasses point.
Geographic North, by contrast, is the spot on the Earth's surface directly above the Earth's axis—think of it as the head of the pin around which the planet spins. This is the only location that can lay claim to the True North title, and it's the point of reference used to mark how far Magnetic North is "wandering" each year.
Not to be confused with the Geographic North or Magnetic North Poles is the obscure Geomagnetic North Pole. This one is a little trickier to explain, so bear with me. The Earth has a geographic axis, around which it spins. In addition, there is a magnetic axis, like a giant bar magnet, around which the Earth's magnetic field emanates.
The magnetic and geographic axes don't match up, with the magnetic axis offset from the geographic axis by about 11 degrees. If you were to extend the imaginary bar magnet so its ends touch the Earth's surface, you would have two geomagnetic poles. The pole closest to True North is the Northern Geomagnetic Pole.
Ironically, compasses don't point toward the Geomagnetic Pole because the imaginary bar magnet doesn't actually extend all the way to the Earth's surface (so to speak), with the field's endpoints actually underground.
The last North is perhaps the most bizarre. The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is the northernmost point farthest from every possible coastline. In other words, it's the spot in the Arctic Ocean that's farthest from land on all sides.
Officially, it’s the middle of nowhere. The Pole of Inaccessibility has no magnetic or axial component. It's merely an artifact of cartography, navigation, and—of course—Geek Trivia.
Oh, migawd! They know where the middle of nowhere is and I don't actually live there! Who would have thought?!?
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
My seduction style
Your Seduction Style: The Coquette |
 You are a pro at playing the age old game of hard to get. Your flirting style runs hot and cold, giving just enough to keep them chasing you. Independent and self-sufficient, you don't need any one person to make you compelte. And that independence is exactly what makes people pursue you. |
Compelte? I should hope I don't need any one person to make me compelte.
;D
That sounds like something you would do to fur and / or hide before you make it into a finished garment of some sort.
Lost
ABC has left fans a hint of what’s to come on the second season of Lost at http://Oceanic-Air.com. The site for Oceanic Flight 815 in the series has a hidden Flash teaser that you can now watch.
To do so, click on the link above. Then at the bottom of the site, where it says ‘Travellers’, type in Hurley’s “lucky” numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42. Click on ‘Find’ which will take you to the flight’s seating chart. Next, click on those numbers again in order right below the chart and the teaser will start.
To do so, click on the link above. Then at the bottom of the site, where it says ‘Travellers’, type in Hurley’s “lucky” numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42. Click on ‘Find’ which will take you to the flight’s seating chart. Next, click on those numbers again in order right below the chart and the teaser will start.
Toting it around
The American Tourister tote I wrote about on the 19th arrived today. It is so cute. It is just the right size for a couple of changes of clothing needed for a long weekend away.
It came a lot more quickly than I was expecting. The survey indicated it would be six to eight weeks before it would arrive, but it showed up in just under two. Too bad I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while.
It came a lot more quickly than I was expecting. The survey indicated it would be six to eight weeks before it would arrive, but it showed up in just under two. Too bad I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while.
Monday, May 30, 2005
So peaceful
I managed to go three days of a four day weekend without once turning on the computer. No email. No newgroups. Nothing.
It was so peaceful and quiet.
I think there need to be more four day weekends.
Anywho . . .
The wound is still quite red, but it has begun to scab over so it's well on the way to healing. I no longer have to put gauze on so it's been getting a lot of air. I haven't had shoes on since Thursday so nothing has interfered with the healing process.
I did knit Thursday night and I did not suffer a repeat of Tuesday. I didn't have to unknit a single stitch.
I've worked on the butterfly fairy cross stitch all weekend and it is going along nicely. The part I'm dreading is filling in the moon. The yellows and very pale creams are just a pain to work on the white fabric. I may have to put off working on the fantasy sampler until after I finish the fairy so I can take it to work with me. I think the bright lights in my office will help with stitching up the moon.
I'm going back to my stitching now. I'll put up a progress picture later.
UPDATE: Progress picture of the butterfly fairy.
It was so peaceful and quiet.
I think there need to be more four day weekends.
Anywho . . .
The wound is still quite red, but it has begun to scab over so it's well on the way to healing. I no longer have to put gauze on so it's been getting a lot of air. I haven't had shoes on since Thursday so nothing has interfered with the healing process.
I did knit Thursday night and I did not suffer a repeat of Tuesday. I didn't have to unknit a single stitch.
I've worked on the butterfly fairy cross stitch all weekend and it is going along nicely. The part I'm dreading is filling in the moon. The yellows and very pale creams are just a pain to work on the white fabric. I may have to put off working on the fantasy sampler until after I finish the fairy so I can take it to work with me. I think the bright lights in my office will help with stitching up the moon.
I'm going back to my stitching now. I'll put up a progress picture later.
UPDATE: Progress picture of the butterfly fairy.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Walking wounded
I scratched an itch and now I'm missing a patch of skin on the top of my foot. The patch is about the size of a quarter and it's smack in the middle where the shoe hits when you walk. I have no idea what happened, whether something bit me or I had a reaction to something.
It itched. I scratched. The skin came off. It looks very much like a very, very nasty blister popped.
I've doused the area in Neosporin and taped some gauze over it. I'm wearing my old, worn out shoes because they're not as tight and don't quite cripple me when I walk. Needless to say, I have a funny limp right now.
Update: Here's what my little wound looks like this evening. It's two days old now.
I'm letting it air until I go to bed. Then it will be more Neosporin and another bandage.
Yech! I have dirty feet.
It itched. I scratched. The skin came off. It looks very much like a very, very nasty blister popped.
I've doused the area in Neosporin and taped some gauze over it. I'm wearing my old, worn out shoes because they're not as tight and don't quite cripple me when I walk. Needless to say, I have a funny limp right now.
Update: Here's what my little wound looks like this evening. It's two days old now.
I'm letting it air until I go to bed. Then it will be more Neosporin and another bandage.
Yech! I have dirty feet.
More tired than I thought
I've mentioned hither and yon that I've had a couple of projects at work that have kept me busy and tired. Well, Tuesday night I decided to knit away the hours since there was nothing on television I was interested in watching.
Oh, boy.
I knit a couple of iterations of the pattern and get to within six stitches of the end of the pattern row when I realize I'm one stitch short. I recheck the stitches on the row and I don't see a goof. I check to see if maybe I dropped a stitch and don't see anything obviously amiss. I have no choice but to unknit four rows. I count stitches. I have the requisite number.
Oh, boy.
I knit a couple of iterations of the pattern. I get to within six stitches of the end of the pattern row when I realize I'm one stitch short. I recheck the stitches on the row and I don't see a goof. I check to see if maybe I dropped a stitch and don't see anything obviously amiss. I have no choice but to unknit four rows. I count stitches. I have the requisite number. I put the knitting away. I was obviously too tried to be working on it if I could loose one stitch twice.
Oh, boy.
I'm going to try my hand at knitting again tonight since there is nothing on television I care to watch. With any luck, it won't be a repeat of Tuesday and I'll actually get some knitting done.
Oh, boy.
I knit a couple of iterations of the pattern and get to within six stitches of the end of the pattern row when I realize I'm one stitch short. I recheck the stitches on the row and I don't see a goof. I check to see if maybe I dropped a stitch and don't see anything obviously amiss. I have no choice but to unknit four rows. I count stitches. I have the requisite number.
Oh, boy.
I knit a couple of iterations of the pattern. I get to within six stitches of the end of the pattern row when I realize I'm one stitch short. I recheck the stitches on the row and I don't see a goof. I check to see if maybe I dropped a stitch and don't see anything obviously amiss. I have no choice but to unknit four rows. I count stitches. I have the requisite number. I put the knitting away. I was obviously too tried to be working on it if I could loose one stitch twice.
Oh, boy.
I'm going to try my hand at knitting again tonight since there is nothing on television I care to watch. With any luck, it won't be a repeat of Tuesday and I'll actually get some knitting done.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
North America Settled by Just 70 People, Study Concludes - Yahoo! News
Seems there's no such thing as a native American.
Guardian Unlimited Film | News | Out of the lion's den: CS Lewis film saves Disney from Christians
You cannot imagine how it gladdens my heart to know a group of bible thumping bigots has decided to stop its ban on Disney. I will sleep so much better tonight.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Bets reopen on Dumbledore death
Not that I have any illusions left, nor even a microscopic shred of innocence, but betting on which character dies in a children's book sort of takes what little was left completely out of me.
CNN.com - Researches hope artifacts identify pirate's ship - May 24, 2005
Avast ye, matey!
(You know, that just doesn't look right.)
(You know, that just doesn't look right.)
Monday, May 23, 2005
Book Reviews, a novel approach - StoryCode.com structured book recommendations
I've haven't dug into this yet, but it looks mighty innerestin'.
Powerful New Map: Where the Wind Blows - Yahoo! News
And yet most electric utility companies would rather use non-renewable fossil fuels or nuclear power to generate electricity.
Elephant attack boosts business at eatery - Yahoo! News
It seems even rampaging elephants come with a silver lining.
BBC NEWS | Americas | US urged to curb Viagra allowance
I'm not going to say anything.
Yes, I am.
Why are convicts, regardless of their crimes, getting Viagra? Are erections something prison officials really want happening in prisons where, as we've been led to believe by television, voluntary and involuntary sexual acts among inmates abound?
Color me skewed, but failing to get an erection is not a serious health issue requiring public funding to dispense medication for.
Yes, I am.
Why are convicts, regardless of their crimes, getting Viagra? Are erections something prison officials really want happening in prisons where, as we've been led to believe by television, voluntary and involuntary sexual acts among inmates abound?
Color me skewed, but failing to get an erection is not a serious health issue requiring public funding to dispense medication for.
Sci Fi Wire -- Mythopoeic Finalists Named
Looks like there might be some interesting reading in my future.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
The New Yorker: The Critics: The Current Cinema
Thank you, Anthony Lane:
The general opinion of “Revenge of the Sith” seems to be that it marks a distinct improvement on the last two episodes, “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones.” True, but only in the same way that dying from natural causes is preferable to crucifixion.
Star Wars III
The Prodigal Son, his girlfriend, and I went to see it last night. The good news is this one is very much better than the last three Lucas did. The bad news is that what's wrong with the last three is also wrong with this one - cutesy, corny crap, stilted dialog, flat acting, special effects that overpower everything. No matter how many times you try to convince me to the contrary, more is not better, George. Most of the time, more is just more.
I was actually prepared to like this film given the mostly positive things I'd heard about it from various sources. But when the 'droids at the beginning of the movie had more personality than the live actors, the likelihood of me liking the film stepped out of the theatre and patiently waited for me to join it in the car.
I'm glad the saga is finally over. It didn't deserve what was done to it. It deserved a dedicated storyteller with vision to craft it into a tale of love and hate, peace and war, good and evil. It did not deserve to be handled by a CGI fan-boy with the heart of a merchandiser.
I was actually prepared to like this film given the mostly positive things I'd heard about it from various sources. But when the 'droids at the beginning of the movie had more personality than the live actors, the likelihood of me liking the film stepped out of the theatre and patiently waited for me to join it in the car.
I'm glad the saga is finally over. It didn't deserve what was done to it. It deserved a dedicated storyteller with vision to craft it into a tale of love and hate, peace and war, good and evil. It did not deserve to be handled by a CGI fan-boy with the heart of a merchandiser.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Scotsman.com News - Features - A bit of a star
And die is what he did in surely the most famous film of his career. As the final Star Wars film takes cinemas by storm, MacInnes can bask in the reflected glory earned by his role as Gold Leader in Star Wars: A New Hope. Or at least he could bask if he thought that any of the latest films were any good.
"George Lucas has just destroyed Star Wars with all the Computer Generated Images." says Angus. "Someone really should have taken his toys away!"
A man after my own heart! It's too bad Lucas couldn't have hired someone capable of telling a story to tell the story he thinks he's told.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
The master of all I survey
I took two surveys today. They were almost identical but were run by two different companies. They were IT/IS related and asked how I find out about IT products and services and took about 45 minutes each. One of the surveys will pay me $25 for my time and the other will send me an American Tourister tote.
I need a tote for those short weekend trips I take every once in a blue moon. The one I used to have disappeared somehow somewhere and I had to use one of my craft bags as an overnight tote when I went to Austin a few weeks ago. I'd planned on going either this weekend or next to pick up a tote at WalMart or Target, but now I won't have to.
Sometimes, it really pays to be in IT.
~ snerkle ~
I need a tote for those short weekend trips I take every once in a blue moon. The one I used to have disappeared somehow somewhere and I had to use one of my craft bags as an overnight tote when I went to Austin a few weeks ago. I'd planned on going either this weekend or next to pick up a tote at WalMart or Target, but now I won't have to.
Sometimes, it really pays to be in IT.
~ snerkle ~
The Rules of Writing
1. Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Don't use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Kill all exclamation points!!!
24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
And finally...very important
34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
(Submitted by Scribes on 1-14-2003)
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.
4. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
5. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat)
6. Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.
7. Be more or less specific.
8. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.
9. Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
10. No sentence fragments.
11. Contractions aren't necessary and shouldn't be used.
12. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
13. Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
14. One should NEVER generalize.
15. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
16. Don't use no double negatives.
17. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be ignored.
21. Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.
22. Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.
23. Kill all exclamation points!!!
24. Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.
25. Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.
26. Use the apostrophe in it's proper place and omit it when its not needed.
27. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
28. If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.
29. Puns are for children, not groan readers.
30. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
31. Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
32. Who needs rhetorical questions?
33. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
And finally...very important
34. Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
(Submitted by Scribes on 1-14-2003)
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
College ad to protest Bush visit - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - May 17, 2005
Wow. I'm impressed.
"No single political position should be identified with God's will," says the ad, which also chastises the president for "actions that favor the wealthy of our society and burden the poor."
Christians are to be characterized by love and gentleness, it adds, but "we believe that your administration has fostered intolerance and divisiveness and has often failed to listen to those with whom it disagrees."
Moreover, says the letter, set to run in the Grand Rapids Press, the Bush administration's environmental policies "have harmed creation," and it asks the president "to re-examine your policies in light of our God-given duty to pursue justice with mercy."
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: DOE V. MOE
This is a case of the ol' bump and grind being a little too bumpy and grindy. Basically, the guy sued the girl because she broke his . . . well . . . you know . . . while she was riding him like a bucking bronco.
I'm smirking. Can you tell?
I'm smirking. Can you tell?
Monday, May 16, 2005
HoustonChronicle.com - Officials to temper biting term
Officials to temper biting term
By CINDY HORSWELL
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
THE Anahuac City Council has dealt with sensitive topics on occasion, and today's meeting could provide another opportunity.
Tammy McDaniel, the animal control officer in that Chambers County town, has suggested replacing the word "bitch" in the city's animal control ordinance with "female dog."
"It's a term that's been around forever. Even kennel clubs use that word," McDaniel said. "But people don't like to hear it called out."
The word has even been used in classical literature by such authors as William Shakespeare, in The Merry Widow, and D.H. Lawrence, in Sons and Lovers.
But city officials said one of the word's most common slang definitions, which refers to an ill-tempered woman, is considered profane.
"The word does not necessarily offend me. It's what I've grown up calling a female dog," said longtime councilman Ottmar Schimek, who retired after the council's most recent meeting. "But the word has a different meaning to the younger generation since the women's movement and equal rights."
The ordinance, which currently states that it is unlawful to let a "bitch in heat" run at large, will be changed to say "female dog in heat," McDaniel said.
Oh, please.
BBC NEWS | Business | US lifts ban on out-of-state wine
Woohoo! Texas used to be one of those states you couldn't order out-of-state wine from. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but it's nice to know I can order wine if I want.
MoveOn PAC
This looks interesting. I haven't perused it to my satisfaction (or complete edification), but it does look interesting.
camarilla
Dictionary.com/Word of the Day:
camarilla \kam-uh-RIL-uh; -REE-yuh\, noun:
A group of secret and often scheming advisers, as of a king; a cabal or clique.
Camarilla comes from Spanish, literally, "a small room," from Late Latin camera, "chamber" ("vault; arched roof" in Latin), from Greek kamara, "vault."
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Kuwaiti women win right to vote
Many of these had argued that Islamic law prohibited women from positions of leadership.
The amendment requires women voters and candidates to abide by Islamic law.
Correspondents say this is an attempt by the ruling family to reassure Islamists. But it could also place restrictions on women campaigners.
Makes it sound like a step sideways instead of a step forward. But even a step sideways can be a good thing in the larger scope of things.
Committee Schedule Display
A summary of Texas politics.
I find HJR 6 particularly offensive. Through it, the state would like to legalize bigotry, prejudice, and hatred.
I find HJR 6 particularly offensive. Through it, the state would like to legalize bigotry, prejudice, and hatred.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Strange New World: No 'Star Trek'
"Screen sci-fi has finally caught up with written science fiction. We're in college now. High school is over. There's just no need for 'Star Trek' anymore."
Friday, May 13, 2005
triskaidekaphobia
triskaidekaphobia \tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh\, noun:
A morbid fear of the number 13 or the date Friday the 13th.
Triskaidekaphobia is a fairly new word (first found in print in 1911) formed from Greek treiskaideka, triskaideka, "thirteen" (treis, "three" + kai, "and" + deka, "ten") + phobos, "fear." The adjective form is triskaidekaphobic. One who fears the number 13 is a triskaidekaphobe or triskaidekaphobic.
There are many theories about the origin of triskaidekaphobia. In medieval Christian countries the number 13 came to be considered unlucky because there were 13 persons at the Last Supper of Christ. Fridays are also unlucky, because the Crucifixion was on a Friday. Hence a Friday falling on the thirteenth day would be regarded as especially unlucky.
Some famous triskaidekaphobes1:
Napoleon
Herbert Hoover
Mark Twain
Richard Wagner
Franklin Roosevelt
1. Source: "It's just bad luck that the 13th is so often a Friday," Daily Telegraph, September 8, 1996
Pigging out
Remember the wild pigs in Germany I was watching last month? Well, there be young'uns. I just watched a whole passel of them nursing, rooting, scratching, gamboling, and chatting up the blackbirds that were hopping around.
~ time passes ~
Aw, how sweet! Everybody is settling down for a nap.
And speaking of naps, I think it's time for me to stop watching pigs sleep in Germany and go to bed . . .
~ time passes ~
Aw, how sweet! Everybody is settling down for a nap.
And speaking of naps, I think it's time for me to stop watching pigs sleep in Germany and go to bed . . .
Thursday, May 12, 2005
You Tarzan, me scarce
I know I've been scarce this week, but I've been very busy at work so I've come home tired every day. I've also had trouble sleeping this week so I'm basically running on empty right now. Both projects I'm working are getting close to being done so I hope things will get back to normal soon.
Right now, I'm going to finish eating my pizza and park myself in front of the TV to wait for ER to start later. While I wait, I think I'm going to read some instead of being crafty. I'm really, really tired today.
Right now, I'm going to finish eating my pizza and park myself in front of the TV to wait for ER to start later. While I wait, I think I'm going to read some instead of being crafty. I'm really, really tired today.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
What is your world view?
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You scored as Postmodernist. Postmodernism is the belief in complete open interpretation. You see the universe as a collection of information with varying ways of putting it together. There is no absolute truth for you; even the most hardened facts are open to interpretation. Meaning relies on context and even the language you use to describe things should be subject to analysis.
What is Your World View? created with QuizFarm.com |
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Which science fiction writer you are
 | I am:Isaac AsimovOne of the most prolific writers in history, on any imaginable subject. Cared little for art but created lasting and memorable tales. |
I love Asimov! If his name was on it (and I knew about it), it was a must read back in my wild and wicked youth.
Monday, May 09, 2005
There's Always a Reason
Eccentric?
My new keyboard suddenly stopped working, user tells pilot fish. What kind is it? fish asks. 'She responded, 'I don't know what brand, but it's origami,' says fish. It took me about five minutes to figure out what she was talking about - she meant ergonomic. After I managed to stop laughing, she asked me, 'So, do you know anything about organic keyboards?'
Saturday, May 07, 2005
I finally did a mildly crafty thing
Because I promised, I put up the pattern for the scarf I'm knitting my stepdaughter. It is a variation on a feather and fan pattern over 17 stitches.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Shine
When did 'shine' go from being an irregular verb to a regular one? All my life, the past tense of 'shine' was 'shone' and today I was hit in the face with 'shined'. It was such a violent shock I was yanked right out of the story I was reading (R. Scott Bakker's The Darkness That Comes Before, last paragraph on page 27 of the US hardback edition.)
Is that part of the dumbing down process that's been occurring over the last 30 years or so? Am I the only person who notices things like that?
Stumbling into 'shined' was almost as jarring as falling over 'leaped' was. All my life, the past tense of 'leap' was 'leapt'. I wonder when 'sleep' will make the migration and 'slept' turns into 'sleeped'.
Is that part of the dumbing down process that's been occurring over the last 30 years or so? Am I the only person who notices things like that?
Stumbling into 'shined' was almost as jarring as falling over 'leaped' was. All my life, the past tense of 'leap' was 'leapt'. I wonder when 'sleep' will make the migration and 'slept' turns into 'sleeped'.
Shark Tank: But at least that contractor rule isn't broken
Contractor pilot fish is doing support work for this big client, and he takes his job seriously. "I would frequently be the first support tech to enter the building at 7 a.m. and often had several calls waiting for me when I arrived," fish says.
Fish knows where the problems are coming from: The network is being used beyond its capacity, so users are starting to drop off on a daily basis.
Then things get worse. "The servers started to time-out and needed to be rebooted to reconnect to the network," says fish. "This is when I learned that my key card, which allows me access to the server room, will not work before 8 a.m.
"The network manager talks with the security manager to get me access, but no dice. He is told contractors cannot have access to the server room before 8 a.m. Security won't budge, and many people are unhappy that they have to wait until 8 a.m."
Network manager and security manager go back and forth, but the security guy won't budge. The rule is the rule: No access for contractors until 8 a.m.
Then early one morning fish gets a call from the security manager. He needs access to something on a server that has dropped off the network.
"I politely reminded him that I am an outside contractor and will only be able to access the server room at 8 a.m.," fish says. "He had someone open the door for me and the issue was resolved.
"After that, I was still not allowed to have access with my keycard.
"But every day, someone from security would prop the door open and leave it unguarded."
BBC NEWS | Americas | US school battle over evolution
Many of the witnesses support "intelligent design", the belief that scientific evidence cannot account for the complexity of the universe and that it must be the result of some higher power.
And the Earth is flat and revolves around the Sun.
God, help us! It's a science class. Note the word SCIENCE. God is not science. God is not fact. God is faith. God is belief. And not everyone's faith or belief involves God.
Get over it! Get a life! And stop trying to make everyone a mindless automaton.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
I finished the Atwood!
It's about time. I feel like I've been reading this book for most of my life. Despite being well written, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. Normally I very much enjoy soul searching 'why I tick' books, but I was really hard pressed to keep going with this one. The only reason I managed to stick with it is because it was so well written. There just wasn't anything quirky or catchy about the main character or her story to make the book a must read. Despite blurb claims the book is "disturbing, hilarious, and compassionate", there was a whole lot of disturbing with nothing hilarious and a minimum of compassionate.UPDATED: I just checked and I began Cat's Eye on March 27. No wonder it felt like forever.
The spaghetti was so good!
It hit the exact spot just exactly. There were huge chunks of mushrooms in the tomato sauce and I browned some mild Italian sausage and some hamburger to mix in as well. And there was garlic toast with cheese to soak up the leftover sauce after all the spaghetti was slurped up.
Yum!
And I've decided I won't be crafty after all. After I catch up with my computery stuff, I'm going to read and relax and be a bum.
~ insert contented sigh here ~
Yum!
And I've decided I won't be crafty after all. After I catch up with my computery stuff, I'm going to read and relax and be a bum.
~ insert contented sigh here ~
So far, so good
I've managed to last until today without touching anything crafty. I haven't even looked at any of the books or magazines or patterns I have. Which, of course, explains why I haven't posted the pattern instructions for my latest scarf on my stitching blog.
But I suspect I may lapse this evening. There's nothing much to watch on TV and I'm getting antsy to be working on things again. I think I may pick up the knitting and work on the scarf for an hour or so after I make dinner and before ER comes on.
I have this craving for spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic toast so that's what I'm fixing for dinner this evening. It's been a really long while since I've made spaghetti. I'm ready for the day to be over - and it's only barely begun - so I can go home and make dinner.
But I suspect I may lapse this evening. There's nothing much to watch on TV and I'm getting antsy to be working on things again. I think I may pick up the knitting and work on the scarf for an hour or so after I make dinner and before ER comes on.
I have this craving for spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic toast so that's what I'm fixing for dinner this evening. It's been a really long while since I've made spaghetti. I'm ready for the day to be over - and it's only barely begun - so I can go home and make dinner.
Wired News: This Dino Eats His Vegetables
Falcarius utahensis . . . doesn't give you much to work with to come up with a really nifty nickname.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Texas House Bans 'Suggestive' Cheerleading - Yahoo! News
Edwards argued bawdy performances are a distraction for students resulting in pregnancies, dropouts and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
And saying the word 'fuck' is going to make reality as we know it cease to exist, to be replaced by a hell dimension the depths of which are . . . well . . . deep. Really deep. And red. Evil is always red. With splotches of black. And that really nasty shag carpet that was way too popular in the '70s. I've always thought hell dimensions should have shag carpet.
BBC NEWS | Americas | US general warns of forces strain
The top US general, Richard Myers, has warned that ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could limit the ability of the US to fight another war.
It was the "could limit the ability of the US to fight another war" that caught my eye. Is the Shrub planning to invade someone else before we've extricated ourselves from the mess he's already gotten us into?
The supreme irony of life
"The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive." -- Robert Heinlein
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