martedì, settembre 30, 2003
And the winner is....
The Poll results are in! And, in a surprising finish:
BEANS, with 22% of the vote
Followed closely by: BANANA, with 20%
The big loser was PUMPKIN, with only 1%
CORN, my personal favorite, got 6 votes, at least 5 of which were cast by me.
Thank you everyone who voted. Your vote really does count! Here, at least.
The Poll results are in! And, in a surprising finish:
BEANS, with 22% of the vote
Followed closely by: BANANA, with 20%
The big loser was PUMPKIN, with only 1%
CORN, my personal favorite, got 6 votes, at least 5 of which were cast by me.
Thank you everyone who voted. Your vote really does count! Here, at least.
Confession: Google Vanity
I think that everyone Googles themselves every now and then. For me, it used to be that all of the results would clearly be me. Now, there are at least two other people with my name who come up. It's kind of surprising, actually, because my last name is not particularly common. But I feel a bit incensed because one of the other ones is the first result on Google now!
Also, this first link includes a picture of this other "Sara Myname". She is older than I am, and, ummmm, she isn't the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I realize that this is both mean and shallow, but I can't help it. I hope nobody googles me, gets her, and thinks that it's me.
Yes, I admit it, I have a case of Google Vanity. Anyone else?
I think that everyone Googles themselves every now and then. For me, it used to be that all of the results would clearly be me. Now, there are at least two other people with my name who come up. It's kind of surprising, actually, because my last name is not particularly common. But I feel a bit incensed because one of the other ones is the first result on Google now!
Also, this first link includes a picture of this other "Sara Myname". She is older than I am, and, ummmm, she isn't the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I realize that this is both mean and shallow, but I can't help it. I hope nobody googles me, gets her, and thinks that it's me.
Yes, I admit it, I have a case of Google Vanity. Anyone else?
domenica, settembre 28, 2003
Corn Smut T-Shirts!
The Corn Smut Shop is now open for business, though with a very small selection at the moment.
Front
Back
I don't know how they look in reality, but I'm going to order one myself, so I guess I'll find out.
It was surprising how long it took to get the image the right size and to upload it! I wanted to do a Corn Star design too, but that is going to have to wait until I have more time.
Hope you like them ;)
The Corn Smut Shop is now open for business, though with a very small selection at the moment.
Front
Back
I don't know how they look in reality, but I'm going to order one myself, so I guess I'll find out.
It was surprising how long it took to get the image the right size and to upload it! I wanted to do a Corn Star design too, but that is going to have to wait until I have more time.
Hope you like them ;)
sabato, settembre 27, 2003
Samurai Swords!
I saw an ad for this on a random blog. My ads are too boring.
*I demand Samurai Swords, 300 kinds*
I saw an ad for this on a random blog. My ads are too boring.
*I demand Samurai Swords, 300 kinds*
Cornsumerism
I am investigating cafepress, and I have already found lots of stuff I want. Including:
We like the moon lunchbox!
Independent Kittens mousepad!
A journal featuring Estella's paint art!
Providence theme: Obey Giant BBQ apron and frisbee!
VegiErotic: Frijol Malo's Bad Bean Boxers (for all you bean lovers), and The FoFo Pickle Thong!
Just plain silly (yet somehow appealing): Squished Frog bib.
Too bad I can't afford any of it! Maybe if I sell millions of dollars of Corn Smut merchandise, I can buy more junk! Tee Hee.
I am investigating cafepress, and I have already found lots of stuff I want. Including:
We like the moon lunchbox!
Independent Kittens mousepad!
A journal featuring Estella's paint art!
Providence theme: Obey Giant BBQ apron and frisbee!
VegiErotic: Frijol Malo's Bad Bean Boxers (for all you bean lovers), and The FoFo Pickle Thong!
Just plain silly (yet somehow appealing): Squished Frog bib.
Too bad I can't afford any of it! Maybe if I sell millions of dollars of Corn Smut merchandise, I can buy more junk! Tee Hee.
venerdì, settembre 26, 2003
A long day
What was supposed to be a kind of long day turned into a really long day, but mostly in a good way.
I dragged my sorry ass out of bed at 6:30. For those of you who may either know me in person or have guessed by now, I am not a morning person. Once in an 8:00 college course, I wrote a poem about my perky, cherpy professor. I forget it now, but it went something like this:
Why do you schedule all of your classes for 8AM??
MORning persON
MORning persON
MORning persON
If you are a morning person, go ahead and write me hate comments. That's just the type of thing I would expect from you!
Oh yeah, so I was really tired because I didn't sleep well at all. The worst feeling is to wake up at 5:30 and know your alarm is going off in a half hour. (I hit snooze a minimum of 3 times).
Lots of coffee, and I was ready to take the train. But at the ticket window they said they don't sell commuter rail tickets so I should talk to the conductor. So I got in the train and tried to buy a ticket from the conductor, who yelled at me for not knowing that I should have bought the ticket in the cafe. Of course! You should buy a train ticket in the cafe rather than at the train ticket vending window! Whatever.
As you can tell, I was grouchy. Morning bleh.
But then I got to the seminar, which was quite good, and I knew a lot of people there. It turned out that there was a lecture at 3 that I wanted to go to, so I decided to wait around. I went to lunch with someone and then she said she was going to go sit in the library and read and asked if I wanted to do so as well. I did because I still had a couple of hours to kill. Plus, I was wearing shoes that are comfortable up to a point, but then rub my toes blistery red when I overstep their bounds (for more uncomfortable shoe stories, I refer you to My2SecondShelfLife).
Now, I wasn't going to say where this school is, but for the next part of my story, maybe you can guess. Because this school is anal anal anal about their libraries. The security is tighter than at an airport, and I'm not really even kidding. Most of their libraries, if you manage to get through, have all the books behind a cage so you can't even touch them. Forget about reading one, or photocopying an article, or (gasp) trying to check one out.
What school am I talking about, located in Cambridge? Try getting in the library sometime.
I went with this person who had a valid Harvard ID (oops, did I say it?). First we just went in, and I asked nonchalantly if my ID was OK. In most any other school, it would have been fine. The guard just said "no." Absolutely no discussion. No, get out!
So we went to another entrance, where this student had to sign me in and promise that she would not let me out of her sight! "If they find you alone," the second guard said to me, "you'll have to leave immediately." He glared at me. Do I have book thief tattooed on my forehead or something? No, I don't. But they treat everyone like this, I know.
They videotape you as you come in and match your picture up when you leave. Seriously.
"I'm surprised they don't handcuff us together!" said my friend.
"Will you have to sign me in to use the bathroom?" I asked.
She had to leave a while later, and she said I probably could stay anyway, but I decided not to risk it.
Then eventually I went to see the presentation by Slavoj Zizek. It was like being initiated into a strange cult. I can't even explain this man at all, but he was very interesting. I wish I could show you a picture of the back cover of his new book, but they won't put a picture of it up. Wouldn't have been safe for work, anyway.
Then I ran in my owie shoes to catch the 5:03 commuter rail back, which was packed. On one side of me was a big man with a hacking cough, and on the other side in the aisle was a woman's butt, right in my face.
So that's where I've been!
What was supposed to be a kind of long day turned into a really long day, but mostly in a good way.
I dragged my sorry ass out of bed at 6:30. For those of you who may either know me in person or have guessed by now, I am not a morning person. Once in an 8:00 college course, I wrote a poem about my perky, cherpy professor. I forget it now, but it went something like this:
Why do you schedule all of your classes for 8AM??
MORning persON
MORning persON
MORning persON
If you are a morning person, go ahead and write me hate comments. That's just the type of thing I would expect from you!
Oh yeah, so I was really tired because I didn't sleep well at all. The worst feeling is to wake up at 5:30 and know your alarm is going off in a half hour. (I hit snooze a minimum of 3 times).
Lots of coffee, and I was ready to take the train. But at the ticket window they said they don't sell commuter rail tickets so I should talk to the conductor. So I got in the train and tried to buy a ticket from the conductor, who yelled at me for not knowing that I should have bought the ticket in the cafe. Of course! You should buy a train ticket in the cafe rather than at the train ticket vending window! Whatever.
As you can tell, I was grouchy. Morning bleh.
But then I got to the seminar, which was quite good, and I knew a lot of people there. It turned out that there was a lecture at 3 that I wanted to go to, so I decided to wait around. I went to lunch with someone and then she said she was going to go sit in the library and read and asked if I wanted to do so as well. I did because I still had a couple of hours to kill. Plus, I was wearing shoes that are comfortable up to a point, but then rub my toes blistery red when I overstep their bounds (for more uncomfortable shoe stories, I refer you to My2SecondShelfLife).
Now, I wasn't going to say where this school is, but for the next part of my story, maybe you can guess. Because this school is anal anal anal about their libraries. The security is tighter than at an airport, and I'm not really even kidding. Most of their libraries, if you manage to get through, have all the books behind a cage so you can't even touch them. Forget about reading one, or photocopying an article, or (gasp) trying to check one out.
What school am I talking about, located in Cambridge? Try getting in the library sometime.
I went with this person who had a valid Harvard ID (oops, did I say it?). First we just went in, and I asked nonchalantly if my ID was OK. In most any other school, it would have been fine. The guard just said "no." Absolutely no discussion. No, get out!
So we went to another entrance, where this student had to sign me in and promise that she would not let me out of her sight! "If they find you alone," the second guard said to me, "you'll have to leave immediately." He glared at me. Do I have book thief tattooed on my forehead or something? No, I don't. But they treat everyone like this, I know.
They videotape you as you come in and match your picture up when you leave. Seriously.
"I'm surprised they don't handcuff us together!" said my friend.
"Will you have to sign me in to use the bathroom?" I asked.
She had to leave a while later, and she said I probably could stay anyway, but I decided not to risk it.
Then eventually I went to see the presentation by Slavoj Zizek. It was like being initiated into a strange cult. I can't even explain this man at all, but he was very interesting. I wish I could show you a picture of the back cover of his new book, but they won't put a picture of it up. Wouldn't have been safe for work, anyway.
Then I ran in my owie shoes to catch the 5:03 commuter rail back, which was packed. On one side of me was a big man with a hacking cough, and on the other side in the aisle was a woman's butt, right in my face.
So that's where I've been!
giovedì, settembre 25, 2003
VegiErotica: Farm Fresh!
It's everywhere!
This is the cover of the Providence Journal "Live" section that Bil mentioned in the comments. It really is pretty scandalous!
Copycats!
It's everywhere!
This is the cover of the Providence Journal "Live" section that Bil mentioned in the comments. It really is pretty scandalous!
Copycats!
Breaking the Blog Fast
As mentioned earlier, in homage to the Gods of Academia and Time Management, I actually did spend the past two days working really hard! I did get a lot done, though not as much as I had hoped (as usual).
Tomorrow I have to wake up early to take the train to Boston. It is the first session of a weekly seminar series at another school. It is just far enough that it takes up the whole day for a two hour thing - plus travel time and energy expenditure. Sigh.
As mentioned earlier, in homage to the Gods of Academia and Time Management, I actually did spend the past two days working really hard! I did get a lot done, though not as much as I had hoped (as usual).
Tomorrow I have to wake up early to take the train to Boston. It is the first session of a weekly seminar series at another school. It is just far enough that it takes up the whole day for a two hour thing - plus travel time and energy expenditure. Sigh.
Coupling?
It was almost exactly the same yet completely wrong! Wrong! All Wrong!
1. They re-did the theme song? With a "peppier" beat?
2. What was up with that Pussycat Dolls thing?
3. It was nevertheless fascinating, in the "train-wreck" kind of way. I could pick out little things that just made it wrong. It was "I'm wearing stockings" not "I'm not wearing panties"! All wrong!
It was almost exactly the same yet completely wrong! Wrong! All Wrong!
1. They re-did the theme song? With a "peppier" beat?
2. What was up with that Pussycat Dolls thing?
3. It was nevertheless fascinating, in the "train-wreck" kind of way. I could pick out little things that just made it wrong. It was "I'm wearing stockings" not "I'm not wearing panties"! All wrong!
martedì, settembre 23, 2003
Special Exposé: The Dark Side of the Corn Smut Industry
Sure, the Corn Smut industry seems like it offers a glamorous lifestyle. Lavishly buttered kernels, trashed hotel rooms, cars, boats, Minestrone orgies! The life of the Corn Star seems like an endless party! It is just so easy for a young cornlet to be seduced by this lifestyle.
But it’s not all picnics and hot tamales! There is also a dark side to this glamorous lifestyle that the Corn Smut peddlers don’t want you to know!!!!!
This is where it really ends. In the trash. Boiled, chewed up, ripped apart, discarded like someone’s used dinner napkin!
Is this the life you want for yourself? Don’t you want to keep your husk intact? It’s OK to wait for the right person before you decide to get eaten! Keep your cornsilk covered and keep your dignity!
If you are a victim of the Corn Smut industry and want out, call our helpline at 1-900-EAT-BEET. We care about you!
[this message brought to you by mothers against vegetable exploitation and the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG)]
Sure, the Corn Smut industry seems like it offers a glamorous lifestyle. Lavishly buttered kernels, trashed hotel rooms, cars, boats, Minestrone orgies! The life of the Corn Star seems like an endless party! It is just so easy for a young cornlet to be seduced by this lifestyle.
But it’s not all picnics and hot tamales! There is also a dark side to this glamorous lifestyle that the Corn Smut peddlers don’t want you to know!!!!!
This is where it really ends. In the trash. Boiled, chewed up, ripped apart, discarded like someone’s used dinner napkin!
Is this the life you want for yourself? Don’t you want to keep your husk intact? It’s OK to wait for the right person before you decide to get eaten! Keep your cornsilk covered and keep your dignity!
If you are a victim of the Corn Smut industry and want out, call our helpline at 1-900-EAT-BEET. We care about you!
[this message brought to you by mothers against vegetable exploitation and the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG)]
Jury Duty *poof*
I was running around trying to do all of my errands today before jury duty tomorrow when I ran into my academic advisor. When I talked to her last week, she told me that she had also been called for jury duty (which seemed strange). When I saw her today, she said, "Well I called them up and said I can't come! And they said OK. So I'm not going!" I was surprised. "You should try that too!" She said.
Now, my advisor is a very outspoken, confident, 6-ft tall Hungarian woman, and she has much more chutzpah than I have, but I decided it was worth a try. Of course, I absolutely hate making this kind of phone call - it is practically to the point of phobia. But I was so freaked out about being put on a jury that I did it.
At first, they yelled at me for calling at the last minute, so I thought it was a no-go. But then they said I would be excused and to write them a letter, which I did. What a relief!!!!
I want to say that I actually wouldn't mind being on a jury under certain circumstances, but the beginning of the fall semester for a graduate student in her final year who has time deadlines for the dissertation and job applications due very soon, this is not not not a good time!!
I was on a jury once the summer after I graduated college in Boston, and it was actually kind of interesting. I have been called for jury duty four times in three different states, and I am only 29! Two times were in New Mexico, and I was living on the East Coast both times, so it was obvious I couldn't do it. Then the one I did in Mass. then this one. Neither of my parents has ever been called for jury duty. Why me?
Well at least I'm OK for now. And so, as homage to the Gods of Academia and Time Management, I am going to spend tomorrow and Thursday working really hard on academic necessities! (So I'll be gone for a few days).
Yay! Saved.
I was running around trying to do all of my errands today before jury duty tomorrow when I ran into my academic advisor. When I talked to her last week, she told me that she had also been called for jury duty (which seemed strange). When I saw her today, she said, "Well I called them up and said I can't come! And they said OK. So I'm not going!" I was surprised. "You should try that too!" She said.
Now, my advisor is a very outspoken, confident, 6-ft tall Hungarian woman, and she has much more chutzpah than I have, but I decided it was worth a try. Of course, I absolutely hate making this kind of phone call - it is practically to the point of phobia. But I was so freaked out about being put on a jury that I did it.
At first, they yelled at me for calling at the last minute, so I thought it was a no-go. But then they said I would be excused and to write them a letter, which I did. What a relief!!!!
I want to say that I actually wouldn't mind being on a jury under certain circumstances, but the beginning of the fall semester for a graduate student in her final year who has time deadlines for the dissertation and job applications due very soon, this is not not not a good time!!
I was on a jury once the summer after I graduated college in Boston, and it was actually kind of interesting. I have been called for jury duty four times in three different states, and I am only 29! Two times were in New Mexico, and I was living on the East Coast both times, so it was obvious I couldn't do it. Then the one I did in Mass. then this one. Neither of my parents has ever been called for jury duty. Why me?
Well at least I'm OK for now. And so, as homage to the Gods of Academia and Time Management, I am going to spend tomorrow and Thursday working really hard on academic necessities! (So I'll be gone for a few days).
Yay! Saved.
VegiErotic Merchandise?
I have been thinking over the idea of the Corn Smut T-shirts and sundry at caffepress, as long as it is free to set up. I liked Shy Lux' Corn Star, of course. I also like Scott's Hardcore Cornography, except I think it would have to be HardCob Cornography, actually.
Maybe I can scribble up a few potential designs over the weekend & see what you think on Monday.
I have been thinking over the idea of the Corn Smut T-shirts and sundry at caffepress, as long as it is free to set up. I liked Shy Lux' Corn Star, of course. I also like Scott's Hardcore Cornography, except I think it would have to be HardCob Cornography, actually.
Maybe I can scribble up a few potential designs over the weekend & see what you think on Monday.
domenica, settembre 21, 2003
VegiErotica: Get Shucked!
A few days ago, Estella wrote that she saw this shirt while shopping at the mall and thought of me. I was going shopping anyway, so I knew I had to go to American Eagle and try to get one.
So I did! I especially like the cool corn dude doing the hows you doin' AlphaEar point.
Now I have something to wear in case I ever go to a blogger meetup.
Thank you Estella!
A New Trend!
Also, I was right about VegiErotica becoming a new trend! And you saw it here first. Soon I'll be so trendy that Google will buy me out!
No, I guess not.
A few days ago, Estella wrote that she saw this shirt while shopping at the mall and thought of me. I was going shopping anyway, so I knew I had to go to American Eagle and try to get one.
So I did! I especially like the cool corn dude doing the hows you doin' AlphaEar point.
Now I have something to wear in case I ever go to a blogger meetup.
Thank you Estella!
A New Trend!
Also, I was right about VegiErotica becoming a new trend! And you saw it here first. Soon I'll be so trendy that Google will buy me out!
No, I guess not.
Obsession? Maybe: I have already changed Auxiliary Blog a bit. Yes, it's hard to read. I like it that way.
Tedious!
I have now reconstituted my blogroll. I also found the "backup" feature, which is good.
If I left you out, tell me!
I have now reconstituted my blogroll. I also found the "backup" feature, which is good.
If I left you out, tell me!
sabato, settembre 20, 2003
Confession: Second blog
Yes, Corn Smut now has a jealous younger sibling.
When I was doing the redesign, I started a second blog to test templates. Now that Corn Smut is done, I started thinking, well, this other blog needs its own template now.
The best part is that the new template can be completely strange and different! Will give new meaning to experimental...
It is at its very early baby stages now, and is a long long term project. But if you want to take a peek, go on: Auxiliary Blog. Click where it says "Open." Works better on IE than Mozilla.
Yes, Corn Smut now has a jealous younger sibling.
When I was doing the redesign, I started a second blog to test templates. Now that Corn Smut is done, I started thinking, well, this other blog needs its own template now.
The best part is that the new template can be completely strange and different! Will give new meaning to experimental...
It is at its very early baby stages now, and is a long long term project. But if you want to take a peek, go on: Auxiliary Blog. Click where it says "Open." Works better on IE than Mozilla.
venerdì, settembre 19, 2003
New New Redesign
This is the final one.
Three columns turned out to be too unwieldy, so it is back to two. This new design SHOULD do the following:
1. Work (on full screen) for 800x600 res.
2. Work on a minimized screen. At some point (depending on screen resolution), the sidebar will drop down, but you should still be able to read the blog entries at any window width.
I hope this one works! Does it?
This is the final one.
Three columns turned out to be too unwieldy, so it is back to two. This new design SHOULD do the following:
1. Work (on full screen) for 800x600 res.
2. Work on a minimized screen. At some point (depending on screen resolution), the sidebar will drop down, but you should still be able to read the blog entries at any window width.
I hope this one works! Does it?
Bad Blogger! What did I do? **
I somehow completely f-ed up my blogroll. I was trying to put some button images in to see if it would work on the free version, and I guess it didn't, because now I can't get in to edit any of my links. I might have to start over :( So if it disappears for a while, that's why.
** Whenever our dog does something bad, like ripping up the trash or stealing food from the table, we ask "what did you do? what did you do?" and he gets a really guilty look on his face. So now I have taken to saying this to myself as well.
I somehow completely f-ed up my blogroll. I was trying to put some button images in to see if it would work on the free version, and I guess it didn't, because now I can't get in to edit any of my links. I might have to start over :( So if it disappears for a while, that's why.
** Whenever our dog does something bad, like ripping up the trash or stealing food from the table, we ask "what did you do? what did you do?" and he gets a really guilty look on his face. So now I have taken to saying this to myself as well.
Where's the CITGO Sign?
Whenever I see the Red Sox on TV these days, I can no longer see the Citgo Sign!!! I was miffed when it became partially blocked by a Sports Authority sign, but now it seems to have been completely blocked! Is it just the angle of the TV cameras? Is it off?
I loooooove the Citgo Sign, so I am enraged at its disappearance.
Whenever I see the Red Sox on TV these days, I can no longer see the Citgo Sign!!! I was miffed when it became partially blocked by a Sports Authority sign, but now it seems to have been completely blocked! Is it just the angle of the TV cameras? Is it off?
I loooooove the Citgo Sign, so I am enraged at its disappearance.
giovedì, settembre 18, 2003
Tomato Smut
This is a tomato from my garden. Doesn't it look nice and round and juicy and red? Mmmmm, couldn't you just eat it up?
Do you want to see the tomato's bottom? Click on the image.
What did you think?
This is a tomato from my garden. Doesn't it look nice and round and juicy and red? Mmmmm, couldn't you just eat it up?
Do you want to see the tomato's bottom? Click on the image.
What did you think?
Comment Mystery Solved
Texas T-Bone suggested that I go to the Haloscan site to look for updates. There weren't any updates, but I did find the answer to my question in the member support area.
Q:Comments (0) When There Are Comments
A: The comment count loader only analyzes the last 200 or so comments (500 something for premium members) so anything more than the most recent 200/500 will say 0 comments even though you can still click the link and view them all.
--------------------
Jeevan
HaloScan.com Admin
Texas T-Bone suggested that I go to the Haloscan site to look for updates. There weren't any updates, but I did find the answer to my question in the member support area.
Q:Comments (0) When There Are Comments
A: The comment count loader only analyzes the last 200 or so comments (500 something for premium members) so anything more than the most recent 200/500 will say 0 comments even though you can still click the link and view them all.
--------------------
Jeevan
HaloScan.com Admin
mercoledì, settembre 17, 2003
Twacta Twaila
A local company, New England Tractor Trailer Training School, has a home-made type ad that we see quite frequently on TV. They hired a very pretty, thin, blonde woman to be their spokesperson. Unfortunately, this thin blonde woman talks like Elmer Fudd. So the school's name becomes "New England Twacta Twaila Twaining School", where you can get valuable "Caweea Twaining"...
A local company, New England Tractor Trailer Training School, has a home-made type ad that we see quite frequently on TV. They hired a very pretty, thin, blonde woman to be their spokesperson. Unfortunately, this thin blonde woman talks like Elmer Fudd. So the school's name becomes "New England Twacta Twaila Twaining School", where you can get valuable "Caweea Twaining"...
*Sneeze*
I have caught a cold. At first I thought it was allergies, but now I realize it is a cold.
It seems like so many bloggers are sick right now! If this weren't online, I would think I caught it from one of you. Are you sneezing into my comment box?
I have caught a cold. At first I thought it was allergies, but now I realize it is a cold.
It seems like so many bloggers are sick right now! If this weren't online, I would think I caught it from one of you. Are you sneezing into my comment box?
Comment Mysteries
Maybe there is some sort of Haloscan comment quota, so if I exceed a certain number of total comments or comments per day it drains old comments to feed the new ones? That might explain why old posts say comments (0) even though there are actually comments there.
Maybe there is some sort of Haloscan comment quota, so if I exceed a certain number of total comments or comments per day it drains old comments to feed the new ones? That might explain why old posts say comments (0) even though there are actually comments there.
martedì, settembre 16, 2003
Magical Shrinking Comments
The comments for the experiment used to have 41 comments and say 41. Then it said 40, then 37. Now there are 43 comments and it says 36. Curiouser and curiouser.
Update: Now it seems to go down by one on each reload!
The comments for the experiment used to have 41 comments and say 41. Then it said 40, then 37. Now there are 43 comments and it says 36. Curiouser and curiouser.
Update: Now it seems to go down by one on each reload!
Rejection Sucks
I have been rejected in another academic paper contest. You may remember the last few times this happened (plus an honorable mention). Why did I enter all of these paper contests? I certainly don't know anymore.
Now that I am starting to apply for postdoctoral fellowships, this slew of rejections is doing nothing to make me feel anything but doomed about my prospects of getting any postdoc at all.
Maybe I should just quit and become a farmer. I could raise, um, "theme" corn...
Rejected titles for this post:
Rejection Sucks Kumquat (too obscure)
Rejection Sucks the Big Ear (ear of what? could be extra-creepy if you don't get the corn reference)
Rejection Sucks Beans (beans are still winning, you know)
Related link: The Rotting Kumquat
I have been rejected in another academic paper contest. You may remember the last few times this happened (plus an honorable mention). Why did I enter all of these paper contests? I certainly don't know anymore.
Now that I am starting to apply for postdoctoral fellowships, this slew of rejections is doing nothing to make me feel anything but doomed about my prospects of getting any postdoc at all.
Maybe I should just quit and become a farmer. I could raise, um, "theme" corn...
Rejected titles for this post:
Rejection Sucks Kumquat (too obscure)
Rejection Sucks the Big Ear (ear of what? could be extra-creepy if you don't get the corn reference)
Rejection Sucks Beans (beans are still winning, you know)
Related link: The Rotting Kumquat
lunedì, settembre 15, 2003
Hahahahahaha!
I think Jen and Ben broke up over the extremely important Red Sox vs. Yankees conflict.
Go Sox! Keep using your curse for good not evil!
I think Jen and Ben broke up over the extremely important Red Sox vs. Yankees conflict.
Go Sox! Keep using your curse for good not evil!
The Background is Made of Corn!
Through the magic of new Blogger features, this post has been saved from the bottom of the pile!
Remember this picture?
Thanks to the magic of the highly specialized graphic design program paint, it became:
then
then finally
!
Through the magic of new Blogger features, this post has been saved from the bottom of the pile!
Remember this picture?
Thanks to the magic of the highly specialized graphic design program paint, it became:
then
then finally
!
What a revelation!
I am looking at pages in the 800 X 600, and it is really amazing. This Fish, a site with a nice design, on my usual resolution takes up about 60% of the screen and aligns more or less to the left. On this resolution, it is pretty much centered and takes up most of the screen.
So, in terms of learning stuff, this re-design was actually a huge success. Perhaps some of you are laughing at me for not thinking of resolutions enough earlier, but don't forget that I really started with very little knowledge or time, and anything learned is good. Everyone has to learn somehow, right?
So, with this new perspective, I am probably going to clip it back down to two columns (when I have time). It may seem like a waste to go through all this almost from scratch and just end up with a two-column blog, but I think it was all valuable in the long run.
Another thing I learned:
Making widths relative (ie a percentage of the screen), doesn't actually seem to do what I thought it would do (ie make it vary relative to screen width). Hmmm.
I am looking at pages in the 800 X 600, and it is really amazing. This Fish, a site with a nice design, on my usual resolution takes up about 60% of the screen and aligns more or less to the left. On this resolution, it is pretty much centered and takes up most of the screen.
So, in terms of learning stuff, this re-design was actually a huge success. Perhaps some of you are laughing at me for not thinking of resolutions enough earlier, but don't forget that I really started with very little knowledge or time, and anything learned is good. Everyone has to learn somehow, right?
So, with this new perspective, I am probably going to clip it back down to two columns (when I have time). It may seem like a waste to go through all this almost from scratch and just end up with a two-column blog, but I think it was all valuable in the long run.
Another thing I learned:
Making widths relative (ie a percentage of the screen), doesn't actually seem to do what I thought it would do (ie make it vary relative to screen width). Hmmm.
Out of time
I have tried to fix things to work with different resolutions, but unfortunately I have run out of time for this, so if it doesn't work, it's going to stay not working for a while. You will have to come back for the lovely witty content and VeggiErotica instead of the oh-so-bizarre design, I guess!
Some questions:
1. Does everyone have problems with changing screen resolutions/browsers, or am I the only one ignorant/lazy enough not to know how to fix this? Just wondering.
2. How can anyone stand a screen resolution of 800 X 600? When I said everything looked awful, I meant everything, not just my template.
3. Well, does it at least fit on your screen now?
I have tried to fix things to work with different resolutions, but unfortunately I have run out of time for this, so if it doesn't work, it's going to stay not working for a while. You will have to come back for the lovely witty content and VeggiErotica instead of the oh-so-bizarre design, I guess!
Some questions:
1. Does everyone have problems with changing screen resolutions/browsers, or am I the only one ignorant/lazy enough not to know how to fix this? Just wondering.
2. How can anyone stand a screen resolution of 800 X 600? When I said everything looked awful, I meant everything, not just my template.
3. Well, does it at least fit on your screen now?
Interesting
I have set my screen res to 800 x 600, and everything looks kind of awful. Making the right column position absolute makes it all work on IE, but you have to scroll horizontally. On Mozilla, it is a big mess.
I am going now to modify long pictures from earlier posts, which do seem to make a difference.
I have set my screen res to 800 x 600, and everything looks kind of awful. Making the right column position absolute makes it all work on IE, but you have to scroll horizontally. On Mozilla, it is a big mess.
I am going now to modify long pictures from earlier posts, which do seem to make a difference.
Still working out a few kinks
Hmmmm. I had the percentages at 98%, but will now try 95%. I may also have to modify some of the longer pictures I have in earlier posts, which may or may not have an impact.
So if your right column isn't there yet, I'm working on it.
Hmmmm. I had the percentages at 98%, but will now try 95%. I may also have to modify some of the longer pictures I have in earlier posts, which may or may not have an impact.
So if your right column isn't there yet, I'm working on it.
domenica, settembre 14, 2003
New Template Ready Soon
It is heavily modified from the 3 columns, all fluid style on glish.com. It looks like it will work on IE and Mozilla (with both huge and small screen resolutions), although it seems to work slightly better on IE (even though I use Mozilla). Hopefully it actually does work!
Please note that this is not going to be a masterpiece! It's just something new.
It is heavily modified from the 3 columns, all fluid style on glish.com. It looks like it will work on IE and Mozilla (with both huge and small screen resolutions), although it seems to work slightly better on IE (even though I use Mozilla). Hopefully it actually does work!
Please note that this is not going to be a masterpiece! It's just something new.
*duh*
Looking through it now, I realize that the style information in the blogger template I have now is already technically css. I was changing it around without knowing what I had. I thought it was just some newer html stuff, which I guess it is, really.
Looking through it now, I realize that the style information in the blogger template I have now is already technically css. I was changing it around without knowing what I had. I thought it was just some newer html stuff, which I guess it is, really.
sabato, settembre 13, 2003
More Design Musing
It's OK to have really boring content on the weekend when people with real jobs aren't on the blog.
There are many nice designs out there, but there is one particular type of look that I like the best. It is the design that is simple and clean-looking while simultaneously being very creative and individual. Colorful, but in a subtle way. I guess the epitome of this type of design is Dooce, who always has excellent designs. Some other great designs in this ilk include Candygenius (who seems to be gone! Wah!), [reality?], What Kind of Sick Weirdo Are You?, and adventurejournalist. (Don't be offended if I didn't mention you here. There are also a lot of great sites that are just a little more or less colorful than this particular type I have in mind. I also may have forgotten some I should have mentioned.)
It is probably not a coincidence that the sites mentioned above are those of professional artists and/or professional web designers and computer scientists. I am none of the above.
There are also some additional constraints. Corn Smut is kind of a brash type of blog in theme, and therefore needs to look it to some degree. Also, as I have mentioned earlier, my resources are limited in terms of graphic design programs.
Oh, and finally, I really like the thrown-together home-made look when it is done ironically. In order to do it ironically, though, it takes a lot of skill and effort. I love the irony of a web page that looks like it was made on the office photocopier when nobody was looking. Like a low-budget 'zine.
So then, my ideal Corn Smut would be subtle, original, colorful to a point but not past that point, and ironic. Notice I said ideal. I don't want anyone to get their hopes up because my time and skill are actually really, really limited. So, my realisitic ideal is something just a little bit better than what I have now!
It's OK to have really boring content on the weekend when people with real jobs aren't on the blog.
There are many nice designs out there, but there is one particular type of look that I like the best. It is the design that is simple and clean-looking while simultaneously being very creative and individual. Colorful, but in a subtle way. I guess the epitome of this type of design is Dooce, who always has excellent designs. Some other great designs in this ilk include Candygenius (who seems to be gone! Wah!), [reality?], What Kind of Sick Weirdo Are You?, and adventurejournalist. (Don't be offended if I didn't mention you here. There are also a lot of great sites that are just a little more or less colorful than this particular type I have in mind. I also may have forgotten some I should have mentioned.)
It is probably not a coincidence that the sites mentioned above are those of professional artists and/or professional web designers and computer scientists. I am none of the above.
There are also some additional constraints. Corn Smut is kind of a brash type of blog in theme, and therefore needs to look it to some degree. Also, as I have mentioned earlier, my resources are limited in terms of graphic design programs.
Oh, and finally, I really like the thrown-together home-made look when it is done ironically. In order to do it ironically, though, it takes a lot of skill and effort. I love the irony of a web page that looks like it was made on the office photocopier when nobody was looking. Like a low-budget 'zine.
So then, my ideal Corn Smut would be subtle, original, colorful to a point but not past that point, and ironic. Notice I said ideal. I don't want anyone to get their hopes up because my time and skill are actually really, really limited. So, my realisitic ideal is something just a little bit better than what I have now!
Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit!
I am surprised to see that Beans are winning as the most erotic fruit or vegetable! You go, beans!
Also:
As per Scott's suggestion, I have added Kumquat to the list.
Feel free to vote more than once! Vote every time if you want.
I am surprised to see that Beans are winning as the most erotic fruit or vegetable! You go, beans!
Also:
As per Scott's suggestion, I have added Kumquat to the list.
Feel free to vote more than once! Vote every time if you want.
venerdì, settembre 12, 2003
Two different ways to do something
CSS as an example:
a. Be reasonable about it. Go through the tutorials until you really understand the concepts fully, and then start slowly.
b. Download some basic code, then rip it to shreds and bastardize it until you have some basic idea of how it works.
I think I am more of a "type b" girl.
CSS as an example:
a. Be reasonable about it. Go through the tutorials until you really understand the concepts fully, and then start slowly.
b. Download some basic code, then rip it to shreds and bastardize it until you have some basic idea of how it works.
I think I am more of a "type b" girl.
Pirate Flags!! Pirate Flags!! Pirate Flags!!
Surfing random blogs, I came across one here with ads for Pirate Flags.
Out Post Pirate flags- Buy Pirate merchandise here. dealer prices available - and - Pirate Flags & Provisions -Port Royal Trading Co. has Pirate Flags, Hats, Books & Other Flotsam
Maybe I can get one of these ads too! I would love to have one ad for Pirate Flags, another for Poison Dart Frogs (again), and then some wacky related searches - like flotsam and mayonnaise, for example.
Update:
Sept 19 is official talk like a pirate day
What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!
Surfing random blogs, I came across one here with ads for Pirate Flags.
Out Post Pirate flags- Buy Pirate merchandise here. dealer prices available - and - Pirate Flags & Provisions -Port Royal Trading Co. has Pirate Flags, Hats, Books & Other Flotsam
Maybe I can get one of these ads too! I would love to have one ad for Pirate Flags, another for Poison Dart Frogs (again), and then some wacky related searches - like flotsam and mayonnaise, for example.
Update:
Sept 19 is official talk like a pirate day
What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!
Back to the Real Theme of this Blog:
Erotic vegetables!
Please note my new Corn Smut Poll, just added at right. You are encouraged to vote for the vegetable (or fruit) you find most erotic! Come on now, I know you have an opinion! (Poll site link from My2SecondShelfLife)
PS any Mozilla users out there, I'm trying to make it line up! More reason to look into CSS!
PPS should line up now. Does it?
Erotic vegetables!
Please note my new Corn Smut Poll, just added at right. You are encouraged to vote for the vegetable (or fruit) you find most erotic! Come on now, I know you have an opinion! (Poll site link from My2SecondShelfLife)
PS any Mozilla users out there, I'm trying to make it line up! More reason to look into CSS!
PPS should line up now. Does it?
Blog?
The new spell check also picks out "blog" as a misspelled word. It actually suggests bolos as an alternative. What are bolos? Does this have something to do with a bolo tie?
The new spell check also picks out "blog" as a misspelled word. It actually suggests bolos as an alternative. What are bolos? Does this have something to do with a bolo tie?
Design
Even though I am not a design person, I have recently been thinking about redesigning my site. I want to learn how to use css. Cascading Style Sheets, doesn't that sound romantic? Symptoms of this latest nagging obsession:
But I probably don't have time for this after all. Nevermind.
Even though I am not a design person, I have recently been thinking about redesigning my site. I want to learn how to use css. Cascading Style Sheets, doesn't that sound romantic? Symptoms of this latest nagging obsession:
- I keep eyeing the tutorials on glish.com/css
- I am fascinated with looking through random blog links, seeing people's designs (read about once again on evhead, who should certainly know about these things). The design of random blogs is generally pretty bad, and the content is usually worse, but sometimes there's something nice. Check out this one I found, which seems to have a potentially nice format and totally unintelligible content.
- I am determined not to download a pre-made css template. If I don't learn how to do it, it wasn't worth it, even if the home-made, paint-illustrated result is a silly disaster!
But I probably don't have time for this after all. Nevermind.
giovedì, settembre 11, 2003
A final note on change
Then no more about this
I have many friends and have met many people over the years from Europe and elsewhere who are very intelligent, sympathetic, understanding, educated, and careful about what they say. This is probably part of the reason that I was so surprised at the sheer frequency at which people said awful things to me in September 2001. Some individuals who were otherwise very nice and reasonable actually sought me out in order to say horrible things to me. I was very surprised and honestly disappointed.
The point is that some things may change, but one can only see them by radically changing life perspective and context, or by physically moving to a very different place. Many changes are invisible within the point of view of regular, everyday life. I saw a change that happened within a specific place and specific time frame. But it had a big impact on me.
Then no more about this
I have many friends and have met many people over the years from Europe and elsewhere who are very intelligent, sympathetic, understanding, educated, and careful about what they say. This is probably part of the reason that I was so surprised at the sheer frequency at which people said awful things to me in September 2001. Some individuals who were otherwise very nice and reasonable actually sought me out in order to say horrible things to me. I was very surprised and honestly disappointed.
The point is that some things may change, but one can only see them by radically changing life perspective and context, or by physically moving to a very different place. Many changes are invisible within the point of view of regular, everyday life. I saw a change that happened within a specific place and specific time frame. But it had a big impact on me.
Why do I think the world is different?
I guess I can explain better.
Growing up in New Mexico, nothing external changed the world. When the first Gulf War started, it made very little difference in our lives. New Mexico is very removed from the world, in many ways. Growing up there, New York is like a foreign country. If I had been living there for the past two years, I probably would not have noticed many changes.
Living on the East Coast is a bit different, especially going to a university where people are very in touch with current politics. I think life here has changed. I, for one, am very nervous about losing civil rights and freedoms these days after many "security" laws have been passed (or snuck through). When Bush uses "don't forget September 11th" to justify everything he wants to do, I think it is a blatant manipulation, but it is still a noticeable change. Some people are still panicked; oddly, those in NY seem less panicked than people in the areas where the terrorism didn't actually occur. (Though not so much in New Mexico, it seems, even though they are probably higher up on the target list than many other states).
My particular view point is related directly to living abroad (in Italy) for the year right after September 11. We had to delay our trip, actually, because the planes still weren't flying when we had planned to go originally.
I had lived in Italy before, for 6 months in 2000, and I was treated fairly well even if some people criticized "America" (as an abstraction). When I returned right after Sept. 11, people treated me differently. I was treated much less as a person and much more as an "American" (ie not as an individual but as the pawn of an ideological gambit).
When we hear that people in Europe were in support of us after Sept. 11, I am not sure that it is really true. Though there was some sympathy, it very fast became a type of glee. I don't want to get into it too much because it is still stressful, but people told me some of the most awful and offensive things I have ever heard during this period. I certainly don't support Bush, and I disagree vehemently with his supporters, but I still think that people in the US are human beings worthy of respect as such. I had people yell at me the first time I met them and threaten me and blame me personally for things that happened in Vietnam (I'm 29 years old). I never ever blamed an individual on first meeting for things that happened during World War 2, but yet that attitude seemed perfectly acceptable to them when invoked in the reverse.
There were certainly people who were more understanding, but I was extremely surprised at some of the sheer malice that I encountered. I was treated very very differently than the first time I had lived there, and it had only been a year earlier.
So when I say things have changed, this is what I remember. I have also heard people say things like "Europeans understand the difference between a government and the people of a country". This is usually formed as some sort of admonition towards the people in the US. Though this varies a great deal through Europe (as it does in the US), in my experience many Italians did not differentiate people from government.
Please note as well that I speak Italian and could understand what the news media was saying as well as have conversations in Italian. I have also noticed that many people in Europe will portray their own governments to foreigners in a very favorable light, but when they talk amongst themselves, some of these favorable pictures disintegrate very quickly. (It also interests me that when people from the US talk to foreigners [ie the type of people who would find themselves talking to foreigners] they tend to portray the US as more bad and wrong. Is it more prestigious to take on a "European" viewpoint?) In any case, there are big problems on both sides of the Atlantic. If you think that Europe is always more tolerant of difference, look into some of the debates right now on immigration -- even in places like Scandinavia and the Netherlands. It may be a surprise.
The current administration is not the same as the United States as a whole, neither representative of all of its history nor all of its people. The country has been around for over 200 years, and W. has only been president for less than three of them. There have been more than forty presidents, and W. is only one of them. This is my home and I want to make it better. When someone says "I wish more Americans had died on September 11th" I get upset. (Yes, more than one person said this to me). There is no way to take this but personally. To wish generically that "Americans" would die includes me and my friends and my family and a lot of good people. (And maybe you as well, dear reader, no matter your viewpoints or personal history).
So perhaps what has really changed in the past two years is me.
I guess I can explain better.
Growing up in New Mexico, nothing external changed the world. When the first Gulf War started, it made very little difference in our lives. New Mexico is very removed from the world, in many ways. Growing up there, New York is like a foreign country. If I had been living there for the past two years, I probably would not have noticed many changes.
Living on the East Coast is a bit different, especially going to a university where people are very in touch with current politics. I think life here has changed. I, for one, am very nervous about losing civil rights and freedoms these days after many "security" laws have been passed (or snuck through). When Bush uses "don't forget September 11th" to justify everything he wants to do, I think it is a blatant manipulation, but it is still a noticeable change. Some people are still panicked; oddly, those in NY seem less panicked than people in the areas where the terrorism didn't actually occur. (Though not so much in New Mexico, it seems, even though they are probably higher up on the target list than many other states).
My particular view point is related directly to living abroad (in Italy) for the year right after September 11. We had to delay our trip, actually, because the planes still weren't flying when we had planned to go originally.
I had lived in Italy before, for 6 months in 2000, and I was treated fairly well even if some people criticized "America" (as an abstraction). When I returned right after Sept. 11, people treated me differently. I was treated much less as a person and much more as an "American" (ie not as an individual but as the pawn of an ideological gambit).
When we hear that people in Europe were in support of us after Sept. 11, I am not sure that it is really true. Though there was some sympathy, it very fast became a type of glee. I don't want to get into it too much because it is still stressful, but people told me some of the most awful and offensive things I have ever heard during this period. I certainly don't support Bush, and I disagree vehemently with his supporters, but I still think that people in the US are human beings worthy of respect as such. I had people yell at me the first time I met them and threaten me and blame me personally for things that happened in Vietnam (I'm 29 years old). I never ever blamed an individual on first meeting for things that happened during World War 2, but yet that attitude seemed perfectly acceptable to them when invoked in the reverse.
There were certainly people who were more understanding, but I was extremely surprised at some of the sheer malice that I encountered. I was treated very very differently than the first time I had lived there, and it had only been a year earlier.
So when I say things have changed, this is what I remember. I have also heard people say things like "Europeans understand the difference between a government and the people of a country". This is usually formed as some sort of admonition towards the people in the US. Though this varies a great deal through Europe (as it does in the US), in my experience many Italians did not differentiate people from government.
Please note as well that I speak Italian and could understand what the news media was saying as well as have conversations in Italian. I have also noticed that many people in Europe will portray their own governments to foreigners in a very favorable light, but when they talk amongst themselves, some of these favorable pictures disintegrate very quickly. (It also interests me that when people from the US talk to foreigners [ie the type of people who would find themselves talking to foreigners] they tend to portray the US as more bad and wrong. Is it more prestigious to take on a "European" viewpoint?) In any case, there are big problems on both sides of the Atlantic. If you think that Europe is always more tolerant of difference, look into some of the debates right now on immigration -- even in places like Scandinavia and the Netherlands. It may be a surprise.
The current administration is not the same as the United States as a whole, neither representative of all of its history nor all of its people. The country has been around for over 200 years, and W. has only been president for less than three of them. There have been more than forty presidents, and W. is only one of them. This is my home and I want to make it better. When someone says "I wish more Americans had died on September 11th" I get upset. (Yes, more than one person said this to me). There is no way to take this but personally. To wish generically that "Americans" would die includes me and my friends and my family and a lot of good people. (And maybe you as well, dear reader, no matter your viewpoints or personal history).
So perhaps what has really changed in the past two years is me.
mercoledì, settembre 10, 2003
Jury Duty: escape plans
I got some pretty interesting suggestions for avoiding jury duty! Does anyone else have an idea?
Also, do people really do these things? I've heard of the person who wore Star Trek costume as an alternate juror for the Whitewater case.
Have you ever done something out of the ordinary to get out of jury duty?
I got some pretty interesting suggestions for avoiding jury duty! Does anyone else have an idea?
Also, do people really do these things? I've heard of the person who wore Star Trek costume as an alternate juror for the Whitewater case.
Have you ever done something out of the ordinary to get out of jury duty?
Wow, Spell Check!!
Just appeared in my blogger composition window. bliegrlrs
Evaluation:
It correctly picked out "bliegrlrs", but it also identified "blogger" as misspelled, suggesting
blocker
blockier
blacker
blusher
Bleeker
bleaker
blazer
bleacher, and
Bulgaria
as alternatives
Still, quite a good thing!
Update: This explains why.
Just appeared in my blogger composition window. bliegrlrs
Evaluation:
It correctly picked out "bliegrlrs", but it also identified "blogger" as misspelled, suggesting
blocker
blockier
blacker
blusher
Bleeker
bleaker
blazer
bleacher, and
Bulgaria
as alternatives
Still, quite a good thing!
Update: This explains why.
martedì, settembre 09, 2003
Jury Duty
To add to my troubles, I got a jury duty summons today. It's for the 24th. Why couldn't it have been over the summer?
To add to my troubles, I got a jury duty summons today. It's for the 24th. Why couldn't it have been over the summer?
concern
My external granting agency has the tendency to send my grant money late (anywhere from 1 week to 7 months). This causes, apparently, genuine distress on the part of individuals in the bursar's office, who sent me this letter:
Dear Sara:
Did you forget to make your payment? Our records indicate your student account currently has a past due balance of $x,xxx.xx. I am concerned the account balance is still outstanding...
[continues: vague threats]
Sincerely,
--
Bursar
Wow, it is nice to know that the bursar is so concerned about me. They are apparently "concerned" that I have lost my mind and therefore "forgot" to make my payment.
I may have lost my mind, but no, I didn't forget to make my payment! I have been worrying about this very thing for weeks, but thanks for your concern!
The grant money has actually arrived in "University Account #A". I called the bursar's office to ask what forms I should fill out so that the money in "University Account #A" can go to pay the balance due in "University Account #B". They had no idea at all. Last year one of the deans helped me with this problem, but after an administrative shake-up, she is no longer a dean. So I have no idea what to do. Wheee!
But, anyway, at least I know that there is someone out there who is genuinely concerned about my well-being!!!!
My external granting agency has the tendency to send my grant money late (anywhere from 1 week to 7 months). This causes, apparently, genuine distress on the part of individuals in the bursar's office, who sent me this letter:
Dear Sara:
Did you forget to make your payment? Our records indicate your student account currently has a past due balance of $x,xxx.xx. I am concerned the account balance is still outstanding...
[continues: vague threats]
Sincerely,
--
Bursar
Wow, it is nice to know that the bursar is so concerned about me. They are apparently "concerned" that I have lost my mind and therefore "forgot" to make my payment.
I may have lost my mind, but no, I didn't forget to make my payment! I have been worrying about this very thing for weeks, but thanks for your concern!
The grant money has actually arrived in "University Account #A". I called the bursar's office to ask what forms I should fill out so that the money in "University Account #A" can go to pay the balance due in "University Account #B". They had no idea at all. Last year one of the deans helped me with this problem, but after an administrative shake-up, she is no longer a dean. So I have no idea what to do. Wheee!
But, anyway, at least I know that there is someone out there who is genuinely concerned about my well-being!!!!
A final animation (for the moment)
Sarah the Little Goth Girl
Also from the UK, this time on matazone.co.uk. (Link from Enigma's Conundrum)
Sarah the Little Goth Girl
Also from the UK, this time on matazone.co.uk. (Link from Enigma's Conundrum)
I couldn't resist
Another one from rathergood.com. If Destiny's Child were kittens from Northern England, this is what they would sound like. (Independent Woman)
Another one from rathergood.com. If Destiny's Child were kittens from Northern England, this is what they would sound like. (Independent Woman)
lunedì, settembre 08, 2003
Dictator Gender Inequalities
I have been wondering if there have been any female dictators in recent history. I can’t really think of any. By dictator, I mean for example, the Duvaliers in Haiti, Mobutu in the Congo, Ceausescu in Romania, Suharto & Sukarno in Indonesia, Pinochet in Chile, Hoxha in Albania, Stroessner in Paraguay. There’s plenty more.
I don’t mean a dictator’s evil wife. That is very different from being an actual dictator. So, even though Imelda Marcos had lots of shoes, she was still a dictator’s wife, not a dictator. Dictator mistresses or women who “had lots of power behind the scenes” don’t count either.
Isabel Perón, for the few years after the death of her husband Juan and before her overthrow, has some potential. This is the second wife, of course, not Eva Perón, who was the dictator’s first wife later portrayed by Madonna.
Can you think of modern female dictators? (I’m serious. I don’t want answers like “my mother-in-law” or Margaret Thatcher or Hillary Clinton).
Why aren’t there more female dictators? Does it reflect a lack of long-standing relationship to the military – often necessary in a coup?
Should a feminist be happy or incensed about the lack of female dictators? Is it appropriate to be happy – see females are more peace loving and therefore don’t choose the dictator career path…? Or annoyed – yet another example of widespread gender discrimination and glass ceilings…?
What would a female dictator do differently than a male dictator?
Ps. No, I have no desire to be a dictator. I am not planning my “campaign strategy” or anything here. Just wondering why.
I have been wondering if there have been any female dictators in recent history. I can’t really think of any. By dictator, I mean for example, the Duvaliers in Haiti, Mobutu in the Congo, Ceausescu in Romania, Suharto & Sukarno in Indonesia, Pinochet in Chile, Hoxha in Albania, Stroessner in Paraguay. There’s plenty more.
I don’t mean a dictator’s evil wife. That is very different from being an actual dictator. So, even though Imelda Marcos had lots of shoes, she was still a dictator’s wife, not a dictator. Dictator mistresses or women who “had lots of power behind the scenes” don’t count either.
Isabel Perón, for the few years after the death of her husband Juan and before her overthrow, has some potential. This is the second wife, of course, not Eva Perón, who was the dictator’s first wife later portrayed by Madonna.
Can you think of modern female dictators? (I’m serious. I don’t want answers like “my mother-in-law” or Margaret Thatcher or Hillary Clinton).
Why aren’t there more female dictators? Does it reflect a lack of long-standing relationship to the military – often necessary in a coup?
Should a feminist be happy or incensed about the lack of female dictators? Is it appropriate to be happy – see females are more peace loving and therefore don’t choose the dictator career path…? Or annoyed – yet another example of widespread gender discrimination and glass ceilings…?
What would a female dictator do differently than a male dictator?
Ps. No, I have no desire to be a dictator. I am not planning my “campaign strategy” or anything here. Just wondering why.
domenica, settembre 07, 2003
Evil Squirrel Animation of the Week: We Like the Moon. (Be sure to listen, too). Upon further inspection, we find that they are Spongmonkeys, which may or may not be squirrels. See more British silliness at rathergood.com. I am also liking Crab Bloke in London and Viking Kittens sing "Gay Bar" (Link indirectly via Xolo).
sabato, settembre 06, 2003
Hair
I think I am getting too old to have "messy ponytail" as my hairstyle. Does anyone know of a good stylist/salon in Providence or Boston? Preferably one that doesn't cost mega $$$$?
I think I am getting too old to have "messy ponytail" as my hairstyle. Does anyone know of a good stylist/salon in Providence or Boston? Preferably one that doesn't cost mega $$$$?
Oh Blogger, Where Art Thou?
When blogger starts doing things like eating posts, or when the whole domain goes down for multiple hours, I start to fantasize about what I would do with more time/energy/money: ....moveable type.... xml.... photoshop... my own domain name... css....
Oh well.
When blogger starts doing things like eating posts, or when the whole domain goes down for multiple hours, I start to fantasize about what I would do with more time/energy/money: ....moveable type.... xml.... photoshop... my own domain name... css....
Oh well.
Hold the Mayo
In spite of begging for Mayonnaise ads, I seem to be getting:
North Korea news
Analysis and reports on Politics, Economics, Trade
and some school for aspiring homeland securitythugs officers.
In spite of begging for Mayonnaise ads, I seem to be getting:
North Korea news
Analysis and reports on Politics, Economics, Trade
and some school for aspiring homeland security
Warning: Toxic Itch Overload!
I haven't had too many mosquito bites this summer (probably because I rarely leave the house), but yesterday I got enough to make up for it. Today all of the itchy spots have merged to result in a cumulative total-body itch dysphoria.
I haven't had too many mosquito bites this summer (probably because I rarely leave the house), but yesterday I got enough to make up for it. Today all of the itchy spots have merged to result in a cumulative total-body itch dysphoria.
giovedì, settembre 04, 2003
In honor of the recent North Korea link at Volume 22, I present:
North Korean News Item of the Summer: New flowerpot and plant variety. Also in Spanish! nuevo florero y nueva variedad de nogal All, from Korean Central News Agency
Runner-up:Korean Jewel Picture
For any, um, homeland security-type readers out there, please note that I am joking and my links above in no way indicate any support of North Korea or North Korean politics! (Their flowerpots seem OK, though)
North Korean News Item of the Summer: New flowerpot and plant variety. Also in Spanish! nuevo florero y nueva variedad de nogal All, from Korean Central News Agency
Runner-up:Korean Jewel Picture
For any, um, homeland security-type readers out there, please note that I am joking and my links above in no way indicate any support of North Korea or North Korean politics! (Their flowerpots seem OK, though)
Discovered! Another Time Waster Outed!
Much like Shy Lux, I have also been blog-discovered by a real-world friend (and, as it turns out, someone with a livejournal with a Latin title: cuiuslibet commentaria quae ad res magnas res parvas etiam nugatorias pertinent. The Latin is not a surprise, but what does it mean????)
Luckily, I am finished with my time-wasting days. (not finished with sarcastic days. will never be, alas)
Much like Shy Lux, I have also been blog-discovered by a real-world friend (and, as it turns out, someone with a livejournal with a Latin title: cuiuslibet commentaria quae ad res magnas res parvas etiam nugatorias pertinent. The Latin is not a surprise, but what does it mean????)
Luckily, I am finished with my time-wasting days. (not finished with sarcastic days. will never be, alas)
shriveled up like a piece of roast goat?
I am considering auditing a course, so I went to see what it is like. I was sitting there waiting for it to start when an undergraduate came in and sat beside me. We started talking, and he told me that he is a sophomore.
"Oh, I've been here for a long time," I said.
"How long?" he asked, "Like, three years?"
"No, more like six years," I said.
"Six years!! When you started, I was still a freshman in high school!"
Thanks a lot, kid! Rub it in!
I need another cup of coffee.
I am considering auditing a course, so I went to see what it is like. I was sitting there waiting for it to start when an undergraduate came in and sat beside me. We started talking, and he told me that he is a sophomore.
"Oh, I've been here for a long time," I said.
"How long?" he asked, "Like, three years?"
"No, more like six years," I said.
"Six years!! When you started, I was still a freshman in high school!"
Thanks a lot, kid! Rub it in!
I need another cup of coffee.
mercoledì, settembre 03, 2003
Inept
I wanted to pick "inept" for my imood (at right), but that wasn't one of the choices. So I chose drunk instead, which is also true. I had a glass and a half of wine. That does it for me.
On a non-related note, I have promised myself that I will only be allowed to write a real (read non-contentless) post after I have finished the chapter I am working on. Goddamned chapter, it's taking forever! Luckily, this post is relatively contentless, so I am still safe.
I wanted to pick "inept" for my imood (at right), but that wasn't one of the choices. So I chose drunk instead, which is also true. I had a glass and a half of wine. That does it for me.
On a non-related note, I have promised myself that I will only be allowed to write a real (read non-contentless) post after I have finished the chapter I am working on. Goddamned chapter, it's taking forever! Luckily, this post is relatively contentless, so I am still safe.
Science Tidbit
I hear that the replacement rate for 100% of the molecules in your body is 7 years. In practice, this would mean that about 95% of the molecules in your body are different than the ones you had as a child. But you can still remember your childhood, right? Isn't memory a wondrous thing! (Info from dad)
I hear that the replacement rate for 100% of the molecules in your body is 7 years. In practice, this would mean that about 95% of the molecules in your body are different than the ones you had as a child. But you can still remember your childhood, right? Isn't memory a wondrous thing! (Info from dad)
martedì, settembre 02, 2003
Semester
The semester started today, and I thought it started tomorrow. Does this give you a good indication of how prepared I am this year?
Since the semester has started, I will need to work a lot more. Because if I don't get my ass in gear (as my dad would say), I'm not going to graduate in the spring. This would be bad.
As a sad sad result, I will be able to blog less. Including:
:(
The semester started today, and I thought it started tomorrow. Does this give you a good indication of how prepared I am this year?
Since the semester has started, I will need to work a lot more. Because if I don't get my ass in gear (as my dad would say), I'm not going to graduate in the spring. This would be bad.
As a sad sad result, I will be able to blog less. Including:
- Fewer posts
- Fewer posts that make sense. I will need to use my sense-making brainpower (such that it is) elsewhere
- Less time to read other blogs and make comments
:(
lunedì, settembre 01, 2003
East Coast Back-to-School Fashion!
Q: School is starting soon. What should I wear?
A: Dress like Prudence the Naughty Pilgrim!
Hot for fall! Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner with your family, too! (Link from candygenius)
Q: School is starting soon. What should I wear?
A: Dress like Prudence the Naughty Pilgrim!
Hot for fall! Perfect for Thanksgiving dinner with your family, too! (Link from candygenius)
