Random Thread: Chad-ember, Part 2
Remember the time Chad tried to reverse global warming with his Climate Control Machine?
Continued from Part One.
Date: September 17, 2012
Categories: At the Top of the Blog, Random craziness
Comments RSS TrackBack 253 comments
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1
Dodecahedron
in September 17th, 2012 @ 20:36I REMEMBER THIS
also, “pretty cool, eh?” is THE BEST PUN
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TNÖ
in September 17th, 2012 @ 21:46so our dorm just had our first block fire drill. the fire escape door on the north side of the building jammed and it took the combined weight of two fairly athletic students throwing themselves against it to get it open. after which point the twenty-thirty students trapped in the stairwell were able to evacuate the building as normal.
I’m torn between making pithy comments about how cornellians REALLY believe in survival of the fittest, or about how i’m really glad that the lightning that struck college hall last week didn’t hit bowman instead.
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2.1
Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 17th, 2012 @ 22:38Our fire drill happened in the middle of winter… so that was awful.
Actually I think we only had one fire drill the entire year. The other two times the fire alarm went off it definitely wasn’t planned. One of those times everybody just went into the dining hall and it was packed! That’s probably why the actual fire drill happened after the dining hall closed.
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2.1.1
FantasyFan?!?!
in September 17th, 2012 @ 23:15Last year I managed to be out of the dorm when the actual fire drill occurred. I came back to find all these students crowded outside and no idea what was going on.
Later in the year we did have a sort-of evacuation, at 3 in the morning, because some idiot pulled the fire alarm. I say it was a sort-of evacuation because it was raining heavily outside and nobody knew what was going on, even if they didn’t think it was for real, but they didn’t sure as cake didn’t want to go outside unless there was fire right there. At least, that’s what I was thinking. I was slightly sleep-deprived and very caked off at being woken up when I’d only gone to bed an hour or so before. Also thinking vengeful thoughts at whatever drunk fool pulled it in the first place…
…It doesn’t bode well for my survival in the real thing, I suppose.
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Cat's Meow
in September 17th, 2012 @ 21:58The good: When your math teacher accidentally starts a My Little Pony conversation in the middle of (online) class. (Somebody said “derp” when they made a mistake, and he thought it was a reference.)
The bad: When it’s 8pm and your scheduled day (class, homework time, class, soccer, NHS meeting, class) just ended.
The awkward: When you essentially get asked to homecoming. By someone you would never date. On [snipped external site — Admin.]. By his friend. Who you have never talked to.
The better: All of that’s over with, and now maybe I can do something real with my day. Looking up!
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3.1
Cat's Meow
in September 18th, 2012 @ 22:51Thank you for snipping, GAPAs. I realized belatedly that it had slipped in there.
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Midnight Fiddler
in September 17th, 2012 @ 23:30The chapel on campus has really great acoustics, and it’s always unlocked.
I went for a walk this evening and on a whim decided to go in, and sang a few hymns. It was lovely, and I think I’m going to have to add that to my “simple things that keep me sane” list and go back again.
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bookgirl_me
in September 18th, 2012 @ 05:48I have a new phone! With internet! I know, that was a gratuitously shallow post, but internet includes MB!
It’s funny, actually- I just realized I haven’t seen
s around in a while… Perhaps they’re plotting somethingFantasyFan (on the last thread)- I honestly am not sure. You sound a little depressed, but then again, there are usually better or worse patches in life.
1) Don’t feel guilty about not doing anything. I have literally driven myself up a wall with this one because I attach way to much of my self-worth to grades and the like: I started to feel guilty because I wasn’t studying in the middle of my summer vacation, before I even had the textbooks for university and while I had no idea what I should be studying. Just because you spend a rainy day sitting around in your
pjs watching a Doctor Who marathon doesn’t mean you’re wasting your lifetime. If you still feel guilty about doing nothing but don’t feel up to studying or socializing, do little things to keep yourself busy. Bake brownies, re-read HG2G, learn to make bubble tea at home without damaging the kitchen beyond repair. Or try to get eight hours of sleep on a weekday (it’s not completely impossible).Bottom line: In life, you will end up doing nothing at some point since it’s not humanely possible to be constantly doing something productive, so you might as well enjoy it.
2) We’re always here for your rants and plaints. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not just my personal thread to whine about life and I like it when someone else actually posts there too
Makes me feel like less of a whiny brat.3) You don’t have to take every single opportunity given. I don’t know what your goals in life are, but when I think of taking advantage of life, there’s the word FUN bouncing around in ten-foot neon letters. What’s the point of giving yourself amazing experiences if you’re too miserable to enjoy them? (Of course, this comes from someone who’s already planning to blow off two days of her semester (and possibly an exam) to go scuba diving in Egypt so you might not want to take too much of my advice
)If you want to stop not taking advantage of your life, then a) try to find things that are fun for you- and do them! b) let it all out- we’ll listen and c) look up the burnout syndrome online, it sounds like it might fit more than depression. There’s also a quiz thingy online called Sanity Score that helps you “identify concerns” or whatever (I always end up with minor life events and PTSD for some reason) that I rather like to keep track of how I’m feeling over time (you can save your scores). I just don’t know if it has burnout on it. Anyhow, good luck!
((Sorry about the green, GAPAS))
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5.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 18th, 2012 @ 09:19Congratulations, bookgirl! May you use its great powers always for mostly harmlessness.
I suppose that, technically, MuseBlog is part of the Internet. But we prefer not to think about such unpleasant things.
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5.1.1
bookgirl_me
in September 18th, 2012 @ 10:09Lessons learned today: If you go and talk nicely to the nice people at the phone shop, they might just give you unlimited internet for 9$ a month and throw in a brand-new smartphone to boot.
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Drama Llama
in September 18th, 2012 @ 17:48A parody of Rock Lobster:
“And everybody had matching trowels!”
OR
“And everybody had matching jowels!”
OR
Well, if you play the rhyming game, you can figure it out yourself.
(I didn’t want to give the GAPAs a heart attack.)
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Lizzie
in September 18th, 2012 @ 21:47vowels? fowls? dowels? I’m drawing a blank here.
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6.1.1
Bibliophile
in September 19th, 2012 @ 12:41Towels.
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6.1.2
Agent Hippie
in September 19th, 2012 @ 18:49Starts with a b.
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KaiYves
in September 18th, 2012 @ 20:53Jeepers, the wind is loud out there! I must be ten stories above those trees and I can still hear them getting battered!
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shadowfire
in September 18th, 2012 @ 21:42Update on previous post regarding music for Twelfth Night:
I will be playing the Jeeves & Wooster theme.
Squeeeeeeeeee-
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Vendaval
in September 18th, 2012 @ 22:01POSOC- (from Chadember Part 1) Doctorow. He was on the way to lunch with his editor at Tor, and very friendly! I recognized him by his glasses, we chatted a little about Little Brother, and he said his email is always read. His editor was a bit grumpy, but I think that might’ve been just social awkwardness.
I just got a laser cutter! More precisely, someone has donated a laser cutter to me because I’m a “bright young lad”, and I’ve yet to install it. I have a few ideas for things to cut, but I wonder if anyone here has any cool ideas! It’s a 50 watt CO2 laser with a working area 32″ x 18″, so I can cut paper, acrylic, cookies, and similar substances, but no metal.
It got me thinking, what does “The Shop” at Muse Academy have? Tools, materials? 3D printing and laser cutting, of course, but also handlooms and letterpresses…
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9.1
oxlin
in September 19th, 2012 @ 01:32Who is his editor?
Laser cutter? Awesome!
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9.1.1
Vendaval
in September 19th, 2012 @ 06:30I don’t know his name. He has a beard.
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9.2
Jadestone
in September 19th, 2012 @ 12:19Ohh, laser cutting! How does it work? Is it a freehand sort of thing or do you put in designs somehow?
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Vendaval
in September 19th, 2012 @ 20:51You feed the computer raster or vector files, for engraving or cutting. Power levels go from singeing tissue paper to cutting wood.
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Cat's Meow
in September 18th, 2012 @ 23:55It’s weird when my classes suddenly start relating to each other. My English class is reading The Tempest and has been having really intense discussions about everything from characters to performance history, but all we’d really gotten about Shakespeare’s inspiration for the plot and setting was “it’s original but probably based on accounts of a contemporary shipwreck in Bermuda”. Meanwhile, in my American History class, we’re learning about Jamestown. One of the fleets of ships that came over just in time for a really, really terrible winter lost one of its ships in Bermuda, and when that ship finally made it to the starving settlement, they loaded up the survivors and started to head for home. They were headed off by a ship containing tons of supplies and a new governor, but the point is that during history today, the video we were watching finally put two and two together for me: “OH. THOSE WERE THE SAME SHIP.” All of a sudden my edition of The Tempest is talking about the Virginia Company in its introduction, and everything fits. It’s incredible.
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10.1
KaiYves
in September 20th, 2012 @ 20:56It’s really great when that happens! It happened to me in the spring when we were doing the Mycenaean Linear B script in Archeology of the Aegean Bronze Age, the decipherment of Linear B in Lost Languages and Decipherment, and cryptography in Introduction to Computer Science.
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oxlin
in September 19th, 2012 @ 01:29My new hobby: listening to Voltaire’s “When You’re Evil” on repeat. Mwahaha.
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11.1
Randomosity101
in September 19th, 2012 @ 18:06You sound like me. “When You’re Evil” is the best. Or worst. Meheheheh.
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Piggy
in September 19th, 2012 @ 12:15With today’s xkcd, it’s easy to see why Randall Munroe’s been doing such simple strips lately. Clicking and dragging is slow, though….
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12.1
Cat's Eye
in September 19th, 2012 @ 14:25Yeah, I’m really impressed. I feel like I could spent half an hour just moving around. Going through the tunnels was a bit claustrophobic, though. I felt like I was going to get lost forever.
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POSOC
in September 19th, 2012 @ 17:03Did you find the creeper?
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Agent Hippie
in September 19th, 2012 @ 19:18I did! Even though I don’t have Minecraft, I knew what it was!
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Agent Lightning
in September 19th, 2012 @ 18:34Me been explorin’ fer th’ last hour…
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Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 19th, 2012 @ 20:09There are theories that it’s the last comic, though… Since it’s so huge and references the first comic.
Also tiles n11w11, n11e11, s11w11, and s11e11 are blank. There are other blank tiles, but seeing as all four of these are the number of Friday’s comic (1111) it might be a hint that something big’s going to happen.
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Agent Lightning
in September 20th, 2012 @ 17:47oh my gosh please not let it be the last comic
please don’t let it be the last comic
oh my gosh not the last one
don’t let this end please
please
Yes, I know he has a lot going on (the cancer, etc) but still. xckd is so great– I look forward to getting on the computer for each new addition on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
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Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 21st, 2012 @ 15:01Whelp, I guess it’s not the last comic.
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12.3.1.1.1
Agent Lightning
in September 21st, 2012 @ 19:44So. Relieved.
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Mikazuki
in September 19th, 2012 @ 17:26OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS
SO I WROTE A BOOK REVIEW FOR A BOOK (AN ARC)
AND THE OWNER OF THIS BOOKSTORE, WHO GAVE IT TO ME
SENT THE LINK TO THE AUTHOR
AND I’M GOING TO FREAK OUT NOW
BECAUSE SHE WAS LIKE, “THAT’S REALLY COOL, TELL HER THANK YOU”
AND I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY AND MAYBE GEEKING OUT A BIT
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13.1
Piggy
in September 19th, 2012 @ 17:42The pirate plugin really mangled that comment, didn’t it?
That’s awesome! What book/author?
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13.1.1
Mikazuki
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:17Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, Emma Straub.
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Bibliophile
in September 19th, 2012 @ 17:44Oh, I love it when that happens! Congratulations!
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KaiYves
in September 20th, 2012 @ 13:07Congrats, Mika!
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Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:43Congratulations, Mikazuki!
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Bibliophile
in September 19th, 2012 @ 21:36Er.
So I realized that if I test out of Spanish or English (let alone both) by the end of my sophomore year, I’ll technically have enough college credits that some really awesome colleges in my state would have to accept me because of transfer admission guarantees.
So I could just skip the last 2 years of high school. I mean, I heard about Simon’s Rock, but that’s across the country…
Except I couldn’t do that. I cannot get to the point where I could live on my own (because none of these universities are that close by 2 years from now. I don’t even know how to match clothes. I can try, of course, but it’s highly unlikely that I’d be independent enough so soon.
And then there’s the expense. If I finish high school, I will get 60 college credits for free. That’s big. I’d only have a semester of college credits by my sophomore year (technically less, but close enough to make up for the missing credits easily and quickly), and my family and I would have to pay for the rest. And it is really hard for a 15-year-old sophomore to get scholarships. And I want to go to graduate school for a Master’s degree and then again for a PhD. That’s expensive.
But… If I did this… I could graduate from college 3 semesters early. But I haven’t even talked to my parents because it’s all so unlikely. But I can’t help wondering if maybe it would be worth it if it could be a thing. My biggest regret is that I wasn’t potty-trained until I was 5, because my parents couldn’t home-school me, and I was academically ready for kindergarten at 2. And if I did this…
But I don’t know if 16-year-olds are even allowed to live away from their guardians. And I’d only be one semester ahead of where I expect to be…
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Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 19th, 2012 @ 23:08I’m pretty sure you would be able to live in the dorm of a college/university. I mean, I was seventeen for a few months in college, and I remember that there was someone who was sixteen (and bragging about it :sarcasm: ) in the dorm supply shop. So I don’t think it would be too much of a problem.
College itself makes you grow up. Seriously. I can’t believe how different I am now than when I graduated high school.
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Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 19th, 2012 @ 23:09Shoot, that :sarcasm: was supposed to be a
but I forgot which word to use and didn’t preview it.
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14.1.2
Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 20th, 2012 @ 12:02I think the only thing that required parental signature if you were a minor was signing up for housing next year. If someone wasn’t eighteen, they would have to mail the form to their parents to get the signature. Kind of a hassle, but not if you’re prepared.
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bookgirl_me
in September 20th, 2012 @ 05:04You would really be surprised by how far you can get in two years. For instance, I never knew I could cook until I was given an ultimatum: it turned out that I can cook (some) meals. I couldn’t imagine moving out when I was thirteen: I started wishing I could move out when I was fifteen. I don’t know much about US colleges, but it sounds like you don’t have to cook & clean so that’s a plus. You’ll be surrounded by others who are, if not in your situation, roughly your age, and probably in the same position. Give it a go at least
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Bibliophile
in September 20th, 2012 @ 12:47I just suddenly out of the blue remembered this program I’m considering that sounds awesome but I’m hesitant about for the same reasons. It’s basically what I just described except that it’s an actual encouraged program there, and I think it’s much, much less expensive. But it’s still thousands of dollars. But it might be worth considering, if I was able to reach that level of independence so soon… The trouble is, it might not be an option, because it’s really competitive. I know it sounds weird that I know I can get into college at 16 if I want to but might not get into a high school program, but requirements are just different. But it would probably be worth applying for, and on the plus side, my awesome biology teacher did it when she was a teenager, so she can talk to me about what it’s like. And I wouldn’t have to cook because it has a vegan dining hall, which might not be the case at other places.
But it’s still about 7,000 dollars per semester, as opposed to zero…
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KaiYves
in September 20th, 2012 @ 13:07Clothes aren’t as hard as you think. Black pants go with practically any shirt.
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bookgirl_me
in September 20th, 2012 @ 13:39Yep. Or jeans + shirt. Gray sweaters also work with pretty much anything if you want to layer. Or easier still: dress.
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Rainbow*Storm
in September 20th, 2012 @ 22:48Jeans or black pants, with black Converse or boots … Are you me?
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KaiYves
in September 21st, 2012 @ 07:31You’re my long-lost sister, we’ve established this.
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Bibliophile
in September 20th, 2012 @ 18:32Well, I did talk about it with my mom, and I’d have to get a really good scholarship to be able to afford it, which is unlikely. Oh, well. Thanks for all the advice!
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FantasyFan?!?!
in September 20th, 2012 @ 01:17I spent a lot of last night on Tumblr. I didn’t even have an account but I’m addicted.
Also last Tuesday we spent the beginning of my ecology class talking about tardigrades.
Today I contributed to the Who need feminism? project. Also, there was this sign that asked students what they wanted from life–or what they “were thirsty for”, I think it might have been a bit of a Coke ad campaign. The answers, from most to least, were success, then purpose, then about half that for love, and even less for fun. I think that says something interesting about my generation. I put success because I think that success can encompass a wider range of things, like love and fun and job success. I was debating between that and purpose–is it possible to have success without purpose? But then I just put success. And who knows, maybe it was a bit of jumping on the bandwagon. My fellow MBers, what would you choose?
The other semi-interesitng thing that happened to me today was that when I was leaving the poll sign this random guy I don’t know asked me what I had chosen. I told him, and then he asked me if he could ask a personal question. My curiosity was piqued and I said yes. He asked me how I felt God affected my choice. What followed was–from my point of view–a weird exchange of notes on our respective religious traditions. At the end I asked him why he asked me in the first place. On the whole, it came out of nowhere, and left me feeling slightly baffled.
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15.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 20th, 2012 @ 08:35Not world domination? We have blogged in vain.
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KaiYves
in September 20th, 2012 @ 13:04What do you think she wants to be successful in, Robert?
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Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 20th, 2012 @ 13:11A-ha! And, of course, it makes sense that she wouldn’t want to be too specific about it. Well done!
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LittleBasementKitten
in September 20th, 2012 @ 14:37Good news: My world history teacher liked my group’s presentation on Christianity, done with puppets.
Bad news: I’m pretty sure I flunked the Great Expectations test.
Good news: I think a lot of people flunked it as well, so it’s not a problem with me, it’s a problem with the test.
Overall, not a bad day.
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bookgirl_me
in September 20th, 2012 @ 14:44Pie? Squid? *agonizing dilemma*
A presentation with puppets? That sounds fun!
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LittleBasementKitten
in September 21st, 2012 @ 04:38It was pretty fun. Once I got over my crippling social anxiety that appears whenever I have to do presentations. But I was Bunny McLure!
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Adeliae
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:15Welp. I’m back.
Ended up going to rehab for three months, but here I am, I suppose.
Anyway. Penguins.
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17.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:21Welcome back, Adeliae!
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17.2
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:42Hello and welcome back!
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17.3
Dodecahedron
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:49I’m glad to hear that you’re okay!
(for whatever definition of okay is most suitable)
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17.4
Agent Lightning
in September 20th, 2012 @ 17:43Welcome back, Adeliae. *hugs*
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17.5
Bibliophile
in September 20th, 2012 @ 18:34I’m so glad you’re back! I missed you!
I don’t remember/never learned about whatever happened that caused you to go to rehab. Do you want to talk about it? I understand if you’d rather not.
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17.6
Choklit Orange
in September 20th, 2012 @ 22:10*welcome hug* I’m so glad that you’re back! So glad! Penguins indeed!
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17.7
oxlin
in September 20th, 2012 @ 23:54Welcome back!
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17.8
Maths Lover ♥
in September 21st, 2012 @ 02:02*welcome hug* I’m glad to see you back!
Wow, has it been three months? If you want to talk about rehab and related stuff we’re here for you, and if not we’ll understand.
Yes, penguins!
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17.9
Cerulean Pyros
in September 21st, 2012 @ 08:32Adeliae! I have been wondering how you were doing. Glad to have your kind and thoughtful presence again!
Flightless aquatic avians in formal clothes? Yes!
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17.10
Adeliae
in September 21st, 2012 @ 17:54Thank you very much – it’s good to feel welcomed.
There is some stuff I’d like to talk about, I guess… but for now I think I’m just going to bask in the magical wonderfulness that is Museblog.
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Jadestone
in September 20th, 2012 @ 15:52So my college is offering a SCUBA certification class. It’d be 3 4-hour sessions in a classroom, and 3 in the pool. Then there would 4 four open-water trips to nearby quarries to complete the certification.
Getting certified is pretty expensive, but the college would be paying for over half of it. They’d cover the classes and $300 towards the trips, and we’d have to buy our own materials (fins, snorkel, mask) and pay the rest of the cost of the trips. So it’d be $250-$350.
Which is a lot of money. But still cheaper than it would be anywhere else. And certification is for life.
I don’t even know if I have time to do this but I really want to. I’ve always wanted to go diving, and this might be my chance to learn… the class will probably be offered again next fall but I don’t know if I’d be able to take it then with my classes and stuff. I’m not even sure I can take it now, but I think I might try.
IT IS AN EXCITING THOUGHT, I mostly just hate paying money, but adgfja SCUBA DIVING, SO COOL
I also know someone in the SCUBA club who could maybe help get me into the class? There are only 10 spots so I’m not even sure I’d be able to get in but if I can… it’d be cool. And fun. And Awesome.
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18.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 20th, 2012 @ 16:04This GAPA thinks it’s worth it. A skill like that can take you all sorts of places worth going.
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18.1.1
Rebecca Lasley (Administrator)
in September 20th, 2012 @ 16:58And add in the photography skills….
In fact, photography might be a way to earn back the money for the class.
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18.2
Prussia=Awesome
in September 20th, 2012 @ 17:20AWESOME IDEA!
I would do that, but only if I get over some fears. Sign up. If you’re not picked, you don’t have to pay. It is cheaper than anywhere else, right?
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18.3
bookgirl_me
in September 20th, 2012 @ 17:58I’d go for it too. If you buy a decent mask and fins, they’ll also keep for at least a good decade, probably longer is you keep them out of the sun and clean them like you’re supposed to. The theory part really isn’t hard- most of it is common water sense, plus a few silly rules to memorize.
Addendum: If you decide to take the course, buy your mask well in advance. All masks, especially the dive-shop type, come with a coating on the lenses that fogs up the mask until it wears off. The effect is usually even worse in cold water (I’m guessing quarries will be cold). I’ve mostly inherited masks thus far, but there’s some sort of solution that helps take the coat off (I think there was some trick with rubbing alcohol but I’ll have to inquire)- and yes, you’ll still have to spit in it every time afterwards. Otherwise, your first dive will have a distinctly foggy panorama.
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18.4
KaiYves
in September 20th, 2012 @ 21:00Scuba is awesome. Go for it!
I’m bummed my certification expired, although it was inevitable being 14 and living in the Northeast, but I really want to take a refresher course and renew the certification while I’m in college.
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18.5
Vendaval
in September 20th, 2012 @ 21:53No doubt, you should do it!
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18.6
oxlin
in September 20th, 2012 @ 23:55Do it do it do it!
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Bibliophile
in September 20th, 2012 @ 18:38Good news: I really enjoyed everything I did today. Soccer turned out to be optional, and I wasn’t even the only person who didn’t do it.
Bad news: They don’t let you test out of core classes, so I’m almost certainly going to have to stay in Geometry no matter how excruciatingly slow-paced it is. (We’re still reviewing algebra, after almost a month. I have learned nothing. And I have a feeling that the greater part of my time in that class will be spent not learning).
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KaiYves
in September 20th, 2012 @ 21:02I accidentally wrote “calligraphy” as “caliphgraphy”, probably because it was while taking notes from my Islamic Art textbook. I suppose caliphgraphy would be writing about caliphs?
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21
Rainbow*Storm
in September 20th, 2012 @ 22:43Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could help me with something? have a Coby MP3 player and buy songs from Amazon. I have two song files that won’t play and freeze the MP3 player so I have to press the Reset button. I paid for and downloaded both songs from Amazon just like all the others, and on my computer files they show up and play fine. All my other songs play like normal. I only have 27 songs, so it’s not a space problem … Does anyone know what’s going on?
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21.1
Dodecahedron
in September 21st, 2012 @ 11:47Try deleting the files from the mp3 player and then adding them again. It sounds like they might be corrupted on the mp3 player. Make sure you safely remove/eject the mp3 player after changing things on it from your computer!
Good luck! Let me know if that works.
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21.1.1
Rainbow*Storm
in September 21st, 2012 @ 20:58I tried and it’s still not working. They’re still playing fine on the Cloud Player and my computer files, though. I might call the Amazon Help Desk to see if they can help.
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22
oxlin
in September 20th, 2012 @ 23:45Heh. I have taken to using the odd sudden profusion of spam in my inbox for gender identity purposes. I can see the first sentence of each spam, and see various addresses, “Dear Madam” “Dear Sir.” I prefer Sir to Madam for sure, but in general I just prefer avoiding pronouns altogether if grammatically possible.
I’m agender. I know that people will gender me/my clothing/presentation no matter what but I wish that wearing clothes opposite of your assigned gender weren’t the way everyone assumed androgyny were expressed. I wish there were a better way to express a lack of gender. I tend to wear skirts, tights, ties, vests, button down shirts, earrings, and sometimes blazers. I feel dapper that way, but I wish clothes in general weren’t so gendered.
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22.1
oxlin
in September 20th, 2012 @ 23:56Also pockets. Pockets are important.
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22.2
KaiYves
in September 21st, 2012 @ 07:30Finally, a constituent who would be okay with “Dear Friend”! (I worked in a Congressional office this summer writing constituent letters and we were told to address them “Dear Friend” if we couldn’t figure out the constituent’s gender based on the letter, e-mail, or fax they’d sent us.)
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22.3
Jadestone
in September 21st, 2012 @ 07:49I HAD A DREAM ABOUT YOU LAST NIGHT
I don’t remember most of it, all I can recall is you wearing exactly that (vest, shirt, skirt, tie, fedora, and at one point a jacket). And your skirt was super twirly so you spun around a few times. I don’t have any other context for the dream though, alas.
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23
Maths Lover ♥
in September 21st, 2012 @ 06:26Yay. 2 half-assignments due in two days. Friendship problems. The perfect mix.
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24
bookgirl_me
in September 21st, 2012 @ 09:15I finally found an awesome flatshare (I hope). The location is flammy; the room is small but fairly inexpensive and it’s literally 5 minutes away from the University Maths department yet in a very nice and very safe neighborhood. I get to see it on Monday and I’m praying that it all works out: it’s like a dream come true! Plus, at least two of my flatmates are roughly my age (19 and 20) and did I mention YAYYAYYAYOMGI’m ridiculously excited. *crosses fingers*
And, even though my mom is still somewhat passive-aggressively trying to discourage me from moving out, my dad’s girlfriend has become my biggest supporter/champion for my cause.
… Sometimes, I feel like my life is a telenovela written by a very, very peculiar person indeed.
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24.1
Rebecca Lasley (Administrator)
in September 21st, 2012 @ 16:16It’s good to have an ally. Bonne chance!
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24.2
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 06:41Good luck, and enjoy it if/when everything works out!
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25
Jadestone
in September 21st, 2012 @ 11:58Alright so I went to the SCUBA info meeting last night and only 5 people showed up (+1 more who emailed and was interested), so I’m in the class if I can make the times.
I think I’m going to try it? There are two main concerns I have about it. The first is that the 4 open water dives have to happen within a year of getting certified, and they had to push the dates of the program back this year to later in the fall, so we wouldn’t go on any this semester. But I’ll be in Ireland for next semester (if all goes well) so I won’t be able to do those. And Ireland is not exactly known for it’s scuba diving…
Which means I’d need to get them in the summer or early fall. Which might be tricky to arrange, but might be worth trying.
The second concern would be that I might potentially have to overcome a pretty personal phobia in order to be able to complete the course. It might not even be an issue, but it’s still a hard concept to think about/imagine that I could get over in a few months, and I certainly don’t want to have wasted a lot of money by if I end up not being able to : /
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25.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 21st, 2012 @ 12:18There is diving in Ireland. Lots of ocean nearby, and the Gulf Stream keeps the water surprisingly warm. I hear there’s not much to see down there, but people do it.
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25.1.1
KaiYves
in September 21st, 2012 @ 13:20I’ve heard there are spots in Ireland with palm trees because of the Gulf Stream. Interesting if true.
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25.1.1.1
Prussia=Awesome
in September 21st, 2012 @ 17:10I’m checking Snopes.com about that one.
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25.1.2
Jadestone
in September 21st, 2012 @ 16:26Maybe I can do a day-trip or something to somewhere. If I can find a dive shop and rent a wet suit to go on a day trip that could be feasable maybe? I’ll have to ask the club about more details I suppose.
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25.2
bookgirl_me
in September 21st, 2012 @ 14:44Do it! I’m sure there’s diving in Ireland: heck, there’s diving in Austria, in March even though it sometimes still snows. The trick is getting a dry-diving suit or a really, really thick wetsuit.
Phobia: Onwards is the best way forwards. I’ve had some bad experiences diving which left me petrified of certain exercises, but I’ve been working through it and one of those fears is gone, the other has become manageable. Anyway, any decent dive instructor knows not to push people when there not feeling too good. My dive instructor always emphasized one rule: if you don’t feel alright, you can back out literally until your flippers hit the water. No-one’s going to force you to do anything you don’t want to.
Do you mind telling us what the phobia is?
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25.2.1
Jadestone
in September 21st, 2012 @ 15:08Weeellll it’s not actually related to anything to do with diving/being underwater/etc. It’s potentially TMI so stop reading here unless you don’t want to know weird personal details about me, but basically I get really freaked out by the idea of things being inside of me which is relevant because my period could potentially happen in whatever 3-week period we’ll be having, and I am very terrified of tampons D:
</TMI>
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25.2.1.1
Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 21st, 2012 @ 16:40Ooh, that’s a problem… I feel your pain. I’ve never used one before either, and I get bewildered whenever I even think of it. It’s just so weird…
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25.2.1.2
Dodecahedron
in September 21st, 2012 @ 17:23I BELIEVE IN YOU <3
(I’ve never had problems with tampons, aside from leaving them in too long and bleeding through them, so if you ever need moral support or practical advice, you can ask me.)
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25.2.1.3
KaiYves- Curiosity Will Lead The Way!
in September 21st, 2012 @ 21:42I understand entirely. Peeing in a wetsuit isn’t really a big deal in scuba (you wash it out afterwards anyway), but I don’t know about menstruating. I’m sure your teacher will let you sit out a class if you don’t feel well that day.
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25.2.1.3.1
Jadestone
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 19:39We’ll see… the wetsuits won’t be our own, which is even more of a problem, and there’s only 3 pool classes so not being able to go to one may make a difference between getting the cert and not : /
Dodec & CPM: thanks x_x We’ll see how if I even need to have to deal with it, but uh, the last time I tired to brave trying them I got as far as unwrapping it before I started crying and had to stop, so we’ll see
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25.2.1.3.1.1
KaiYves- Curiosity Will Lead The Way!
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 15:40I have faith in you!
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26
Midnight Fiddler
in September 21st, 2012 @ 12:52Jade (18, 25)~ YOU ARE A MERMAID, DO IT. Seriously though, that’s really cool and also really useful skill to have. On the various boats I’ve worked on there are usually people who are certified and they’re really helpful, like the time when Roald Amundsen ran aground on some rocks and Niagara sent over some crew to check their hull for damages. (There weren’t any, thankfully.)
Oxlin (22)~ Gender and gender presentation is interesting and difficult.
I love your style. It’s lovely and snazzy and whimsical and I feel like it’s very you.
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27
Tesseract
in September 21st, 2012 @ 15:02Hi guys! Checking in again. Someday soon I will be back more regularly, I promise.
I’m about three weeks into college now. For the most part, I really like it! I’m taking French, Intro to Linguistics, Intro to Cognitive Science, and Ancient Maya Writing. The last one tends to earn me strange looks whenever I mention it, but I’m so glad I’m at a school where I can just take pretty much whatever I want for a few semesters while I try to figure out what I’m interested in! Linguistics and CogSci are two majors I’m considering right now, and we’ll see where that stands at the end of the semester. I’m really enjoying all of the classes so far. The two intro classes are large but the professors are really good lecturers, and I love my French professor, who is also my advisor. My Maya teacher is a little pretentious, but he’s very knowledgeable and the subject matter is undeniably awesome. My workload is starting to get larger, which scares me a little, but classes generally speaking are going great.
I also have friends! I still feel like the friendships that I have are still very new, fragile, and surface-level, but the only remedy for that is time, and time will remedy it. I really enjoy spending time with my friends, and they’re all fun and interesting and nice to be around. I don’t know yet if these are the people that will end up being my good friends a year or three from now, but I’d feel good about it if they are. Also cool is the fact that everyone I’ve met, even the people that I wouldn’t normally find myself drawn to, has been genuinely nice and interesting once I’ve started talking to them. This university has a wonderful student body.
I have been dealing with some homesickness on and off. Mostly I’m fine, but I’ve definitely had my moments. Tuesday, for instance, was pretty miserable (although the evening was nice!). But I talk to my family every day, and my dad is here right now, and I’m going home for the first weekend of October, and then family weekend is a couple of weeks after that, and then it’s a month to Thanksgiving and another month to my (month-long) winter break. So that feels… pretty manageable, mostly. I’ve spoken to one of my RCs about this a couple of times, and she’s been really nice. It’s helpful just knowing that I have someone I can talk to, and I don’t feel comfortable relying on my friends here yet–I’m worried about scaring them off. I also have an appointment at psych services for Tuesday, not because I think I can’t handle life here, but because it could help me (continue to) do well and feel good. I want to make very clear that I am okay, and just because I struggle with homesickness sometimes it doesn’t mean that I’m not okay, because everyone’s “okay” has its ups and downs. But yes.
So, college! Mostly good, sometimes rough. But this is the right place for me.
[Cookies if you actually read all that.]
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27.1
Rebecca Lasley (Administrator)
in September 21st, 2012 @ 16:12Very envious of the Ancient Maya Writing class. Such a fascinating topic. NC connection: Duke is supposed to have one of the best collections of Maya pottery.
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28
Bibliophile
in September 21st, 2012 @ 16:02The new Pottermore chapters are awesome. Although I finally collected all the ingredients necessary to brew Herbicide, and I failed at it. I know I technically can just buy the ingredients, but I have ethical objections to killing fish and slugs in order to kill plants, which are so strong that I’m being ridiculous and conducting virtual boycotts of things that don’t exist in the virtual wizarding world that also doesn’t exist. But the information is amazing, especially about pure blood! And so many of my questions about Peeves were answered! Granted, I was a bit disappointed that my speculations on the subject were all incorrect, but at least I knew–and Book 1 proved that I was completely right in every guess I ever made about wands, so that made up for it.
I also feel like I really should tell you about the volunteering I’m doing. I can’t believe how awesome it is. The things we actually do are certainly not interesting: cleaning/sorting pots, planting/pulling plants, picking up trash, etc. But it is just an incredible place to be. There are so many creatures everywhere, lots of butterflies and spiders and frogs and anoles and turtles, and we are not only allowed but encouraged to stop everything we’re doing to watch them at times, because the adult volunteers know how amazing it can be, and they do it, too. And if we can catch anything, then at the end, we can take it to someone with a master’s degree in entomology so that he can identify it, and there are also so many field guides it is amazing; I want their library. Seriously, I need to write down all of the titles of those books so that I can buy them all. And the people there are awesome, and I get to go every Friday (I don’t even have to go to classes that day) and Sunday and sometimes other days, and it is just the most wonderful thing.
Can I also tell you about all my wonderful classes? Geometry is awful, but I don’t know how to convey to you how awesome biology is, and I already did my best, so I’ll just skip it. World Geography is really, really fascinating and incorporates much more natural science than I thought it would, and the class is really informal, and you can talk and people will actually listen, and the teacher is hilarious. And our homework assignments are so vague that it’s really easy to turn them into something really fun. And English isn’t boring! That’s very nice.
And have I told you about clubs yet? There’s public achievement, where basically you find an issue that’s really important to you and work in groups to do something about it. I’m really excited. And there’s drama club and Spanish club and environmental club and yes.
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28.1
Adeliae
in September 21st, 2012 @ 17:58I still need to get a move on Pottermore – I haven’t seen the new chapters. But I am very motivated to now… I certainly loved the first book.
Volunteering sounds great. I would love to do that sort of thing. I never know where to look to find those opportunities, though. But I can’t get over how fun that sounds!
I love it when classes actually work out and are fun. That’s the best.
Clubs. Yes. All the clubs.
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28.1.1
Bibliophile
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 13:08What I do is look at the websites of local organizations near me that sound interesting and see if they let people my age volunteer. This is much more practical for me than anywhere else I’ve volunteered/wanted to volunteer, though, because one of the adult volunteers is awesome and willing to drive me when my mom won’t/can’t (like Sunday mornings, when she has church). Although there is another park farther away that I’d like to try, because if you get enough hours, you’re technically considered a ranger (regardless of age) and get to take awesome classes and go on awesome field trips for free. But I’m really lucky because my school actually takes us volunteering every Friday instead of giving us classes. They have a lot of options, too; there are people doing living history and teaching adults to read and helping at elementary schools and hospitals and food banks… It’s great.
Today, while volunteering, I saw a treefrog! I think it was a squirrel treefrog, but I’m not sure. And they’re letting me write a report on hognose snakes that they’re actually going to present to people! Yay!
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29
Midnight Fiddler
in September 21st, 2012 @ 17:56I finished Guns, Germs, and Steel yesterday, and today I had a lovely conversation with one of my professors about it. I read it for a class called Great Books, which is where you read books and then talk to various professors about them and that’s the entire thing. It’s kind of wonderful.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the book and I always really enjoy having good conversations. We talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the book’s premise and the author’s skill in being convincing. I always get so excited about interesting things like that, and being able to discuss things with people who actually know how to carry on a discussion makes me really happy. That was my last class-like thing of the day, and even though I’ve barely slept for the past two days and have been tired I was ridiculously energetic.
I probably came off as crazy, since when I’m excited about things I talk really fast and wave my hands around and make lots of faces, but oh well. At least it’s an accurate impression, I guess.
I feel really good about how it went though, if the rest of the books I’m reading for this class go the same I’ll e really happy.Speaking of which, I’m going to head off to the bookstore in town in a little bit, because I need to get the next one I’m reading, The Handmaid’s Tale. Then after that I’m reading Much Ado about Nothing, and really looking forward to it.
And I fixed a banjo at work today. The fifth string’s tuning peg’s grip was broken and I found another one in one of the drawers at work along with a screwdriver, so I took the old one off and put the new one on and it works. Yay!
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29.1
Rebecca Lasley (Administrator)
in September 21st, 2012 @ 20:04I’ve never known a professor who wasn’t thrilled to have an enthusiastic student. You probably made ens day, too.
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29.2
Cat's Meow
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 16:32That class sounds fantastic! Guns, Germs, and Steel is wonderful and really made me think. For a while, that book had me convinced I wanted to study some sort of anthropology.
When you read Much Ado, I would love to hear your insights! Just know going in that Dogberry is totally the main character.
(no bias here whatsoever)
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30
Choklit Orange
in September 21st, 2012 @ 18:00At the beginning of Orchestra today, our teacher took us all out into the Quad, so that we could watch the Space Shuttle Endeavor fly straight over us. It was… guys, it was the most amazing thing oh my god. We were all standing there on this otherwise empty, quiet blacktop, wondering where it was (every time someone saw a plane in the distance, we got all excited)- and then it roared out of the corner of the horizon and we all screamed.
It was flying pretty low (the shuttle itself was attached to the top of a jumbo jet), and really close by- I think because they were going to fly it over NASA Ames at Moffet Field- and you could make out a lot of detail. (There was a military jet next to it, too, I suppose in case anyone tried to attack the shuttle.) Anyway, everyone laughed because I sprinted across the school so I could keep watching it until it disappeared, but it was just so exciting (I just don’t understand how you can not be excited about space. It’s space). I was actually crying a bit.
I wasn’t going to go to school today, because I’m really sick (my flu has just kind of expanded exponentially), but I am so glad I eventually went. I’d never seen something like that before- and I suppose I probably never will again.
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30.1
POSOC
in September 21st, 2012 @ 20:10“The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there’s no good reason to go into space — each discovered, studied and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision.” — Randall Munroe
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30.2
KaiYves- Curiosity Will Lead The Way!
in September 21st, 2012 @ 21:44So awesome that you got to see it! Will you be going to visit Endeavour in his new home at the science center?
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30.2.1
Choklit Orange
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 11:35I live pretty far from LA, but if I happen to be in SoCal soon, you bet I will.
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30.2.1.1
KaiYves
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 13:04Well, it will take them time to put it on display. It took the Intrepid several months to put Enterprise on display, and that’s only a temporary pavillion. The Kennedy Space Center’s home for Atlantis will take several years to be ready, like Enterprise’s permanent home. Only the Smithsonian really was able to display Discovery in final form as soon as they got her, and they will of course add new displays around her as time goes on.
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30.3
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 06:31That sounds amazing! I wish I could have been there.
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31
FantasyFan?!?!
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 00:32Today I played my first game of D&D.
…My character is currently unconscious and dying. The next game will be played in two weeks.
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31.1
POSOC
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 12:41Does your group have a cleric? You need a cleric.
Though the most memorable games are often the ones where someone almost dies.
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31.1.1
shadowfire
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 15:33Our cleric enjoyed grumbling about how terrible we all were and what a waste of time it was to heal us. And then she got out a scythe and kicked major butt. It was fun.
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31.1.1.1
FantasyFan?!?!
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 19:02No cleric. No paladins either. The DM felt that lawful good would limit us too much in a setting where nearly everyone is a pirate.
We have two druids, though, and they have healing-type powers( who are unfortunately separated from my part of the group). The group is kind of unbalanced that way. Two druids, a mage, two monks, and a rogue. I’m a fighter, and the only tank among the group. And there I am near death.
It’s not my fault I got killed, ok? I just had a series of bad rolls and because two of the people who I was rooming with left, there were only half of us against the water elementals as we thought there would be.
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31.1.1.1.1
POSOC
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 19:47Pirate D&D sounds like an awful lot of fun. Which edition do you play? It sounds like 3.5, if paladins are lawful good and druids can heal.
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31.1.1.1.1.1
FantasyFan?!?!
in September 24th, 2012 @ 18:45I’m not sure, actually, but if you say it’s 3.5 I’m inclined to believe you.
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31.1.1.1.1.1.1
POSOC
in September 25th, 2012 @ 17:22It could be Pathfinder (3.5 with some rule changes, run by a third-party company called Paizo). 3.5 books are getting increasingly difficult to find now that the parent company has moved on to 4th and is already preparing 5th.
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31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
FantasyFan?!?!
in September 26th, 2012 @ 12:13I have this sneaking suspicion that we are using an ebook, not a physical book copy, based on the computers we kept using as reference. It could be a PDF file or…something. I’ll try to remember and ask next session.
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31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
POSOC
in September 26th, 2012 @ 16:33Cool, thanks. It will allow me to continue living vicariously through other people’s experiences of living vicariously through a game.
…
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31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
Jadestone
in September 26th, 2012 @ 20:27THAT’S THE SPIRIT
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31.2
Koko's Apprentice
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 15:36Ah, I love D&D. DMing campaigns is really fun.
And getting paid to do it doesn’t hurt either
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31.2.1
POSOC
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 18:56You get paid to DM? What is your job, and can I have it?
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31.2.1.1
Koko's Apprentice
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 14:37My job is to walk down to the middle school every Friday and DM a campaign for three hours on minimum wage. It’s an extricurricular activity funded by the school.
And no. It’s mine. Best job I’ve ever had.
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31.2.1.1.1
POSOC
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 15:35There’s no way we could have gotten a tabletop gaming club funded at our middle school. I envy those kids.
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31.2.1.1.1.1
Koko's Apprentice
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 18:33It’s pretty popular too. At first we had a single campaign, but we eventually realized that running a single campaign with 20+ middle school – aged kids wasn’t working out too well, so we split it off into three different groups all doing the same campaign, though at different rates, and splitting off into different paths, usually. My brother and each run one, and the adult supervisor runs one too.
That usually works out far better, especially now that 2 of the old players are now in the high school and have been coming down as volunteers for fun.
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31.2.1.1.2
oxlin
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 23:06Envy.
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31.3
Adeliae
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 12:02That reminds me of when I tried to play Diplomacy.
I think all my little army camps got eaten in the first round.
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32
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 06:37If anyone remembers what I wrote a while ago about French being too easy – good news, since we’ve managed to arrange something with the head of languages which means I’ll be dropping the normal classes and having private lessons twice a week instead of sitting through seven periods of boredom. At our school there are two teachers for every subject at A-levels, and one of the two for French was quite awful, so I’m very happy I don’t have to sit through a year of lessons with her. The only thing I am sad about is no longer having lessons with the other, who was extremely kind as well as being a great teacher, a combination you don’t always get.
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Cat's Eye
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 12:28Aw man yesterday was awesome. We had Senior Picnic, which is when all the seniors get to take a day off school, and the school drove us to this beautiful place out in the hills. There was a swimming pool, and trails to hike on, and a baseball field. Some people brought Frisbees and kickballs, so we got that going, too. And they gave us fresh-cooked hamburgers right off the barbecue for lunch, and I hung out with my friends and played increasingly complicated card games.
Then we had a cross-country meet right afterwards, which was pretty much the worst timing because all the seniors wanted to do was take a nap in the sun for a long time. It was a really strange meet; instead of junior varsity and varsity, all the freshmen ran together, and all the sophomores, and all the juniors, and all the seniors. So instead of running against unathletic underclassmen like usual, I ran against seniors, for the full 3-mile varsity course instead of the 2-mile JV course. Didn’t do too well, but it was fun, and afterwards we went out for pizza on the cross-country budget.
Then I went to Terpsichore’s house; our friend group is trying to start a regular thing where we play mahjongg over dinner every Friday at somebody’s house. I missed the mahjongg because of the meet, but I did arrive in time for home-cooked cinnamon rolls and a Hot Gossip session, which was really fun. (A Hot Gossip session is when we sit in a circle and my friend Hippolyta tells us all the gossip she knows since she’s the only one who knows any gossip (sometimes Terpsichore knows some but not usually) and then cajoles us all until we admit who we like/who we think is good-looking. It’s really, really fun, and no one actually has to say anything; if someone is feeling uncomfortable we move on to another topic.)
Quote of the night: “[group of people at our school] are basically the District One Career tributes. They’re all blonde, and they all inter-date.” It was super, super fun, and I haven’t ever been so tired after anything, and I love being a senior.
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34
KaiYves
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 12:59My readings for my Aztec and Maya Archeology course this weekend are unexpectedly all about world domination– in particular, theories about how or if the Olmecs managed to dominate ancient Mesoamerica, which was presumably their known world. After I write my essay about these theories,I’ll try to prepare a Kokonspiratorial report on their implications for Mostly Harmless.
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35
Midnight Fiddler
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 14:56Tofu fixes everything.
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35.1
LittleBasementKitten
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 05:47As a Tyrannosaurus Rex, I refuse to believe that. *om nom nom steak*
I will concede that tofu-meat tacos are delicious, as is pasta with tofu.
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35.2
Paul Baker (Administrator)
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 09:36Nah. It makes lousy shock absorbers, and it’s no good as wood glue.
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36
Jadestone
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 19:52Working on a lab report in the bio lab… staring at single-celled organisms (bacteria and protists) under a microscope. I’m becoming more and more aware of how bad I am at microscopes
It’s really hard for me to get a good clear look. Black borders (eyelids??? Edges of microscope??? They wobble as I move so I can’t even tell) ambush me, and my eyes hurt trying to focus, I think maybe because I’m nearsighted? I was wearign glasses the last time I was here and tried contacts this time but it’s still not great Which is really sad because microscopes are SO COOL and I am interested in seeing what’s up on a tiny level but it’s to the point where doing it for more than 10 minutes gets painful… I keep taking breaks to let my eyes rest (hence, internet and posting), making sure to look at things far away, but still not good
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36.1
Jadestone
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 20:08Well, I could only find one cover slip (and it wasn’t even in the box, it was on a bench and I had to clean it off), so I guess I get to stop after one slide : / Oh well… at least my eyes get to rest… going to go back to my room (after returning the lab keys) and color fall-themed pictures with some friends.
In happier news, I’ve talked to someone who works as a lifeguard at the pool here, and they don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be allowed to try out my mermaid tail there
I’ve been working on painting the fluke (finished the scales before school), so it’ll be a while before I can, but looks like a test may come sometime soon
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36.2
Paul Baker (Administrator)
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 09:34If I were you, I’d get my eyes checked. I’m lucky enough to have reached the age of ancient (I think that’s official) with just a minor loss of close focus. I don’t hold with solutions being applied when there isn’t a problem, but it sounds as if your eyes need a bit of assistance. Doesn’t the microscope have diopter adjustment on the eyepiece? That usually helps if you have short or long sight.
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36.3
Adeliae
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 12:05I know I always have weird things with glasses, eyelashes, and/or contact lenses getting in the way. It is a pity to have entry in such a lovely microorganism world and then have to leave because your eyes are problematic.
Good luck though – sounds like a fun report.
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Piggy
in September 22nd, 2012 @ 21:55Okay, something kind of weird happened to me today, but I’m pretty sure I’m just being my usual paranoid self and I guess I want some reassurance that everything’s shiny.
I went to the football game this afternoon, but when we were ahead 42 to 0 in the second quarter I decided to leave early because I needed to drive back home this weekend. I went to my room, grabbed all my stuff, and headed for the parking garage. So far, so good. At one point, there was a group of 7-8 people chatting on the sidewalk (one girl, the rest guys), so I stepped into the grass to go around them. As I passed them, they quieted down, and, though I ignored them, I saw in our shadows and heard one of them make some kind of noise with his hand (or something in his hand) just behind my head. I don’t know if he was flicking a lighter or snapping or what (at first it sounded like a little squirt gun), but he did it for a second or two and then stopped, apparently displeased or uninterested by my lack of reaction.
Anyway, I got to the parking garage and climbed the stairs to where my car was parked. Two or three floors up, I saw out the window that four guys were crossing the street outside, headed towards the parking garage. They looked like some of the guys that had been on the sidewalk, but I’m not sure. Frowning a bit at this point, I got to my car, put my backpack inside, and got behind the wheel. I fiddled for a minute with the iPod transmitter, and I happened to look up and see that those four guys were walking around in the garage as well, on the same floor but a couple rows over. One of them kind of climbed up one of the rails, looking around for something. I also heard one of them use the phrase “that little [ship]” in his conversation. I sat very still until they headed up to the next level and then started the car and drove as quickly as prudence allowed down and out of the garage.
So. The incident on the sidewalk is very easily explainable as being some bored, slightly drunk people; that in itself did not bother me. Their mannerisms inside the parking garage, however, did shake me up a bit. I think I’m being illogical, though. I don’t even know whether they were the same guys as on the sidewalk, and I have no evidence they were doing anything other than looking for their own car. Keep in mind that this was all in broad daylight on a campus that, while not packed with people, was not empty either. To my knowledge, I did nothing impolite or provocative to them or anyone else today.
I don’t know what I’m looking for in writing this post. This is just something that freaked me out, which doesn’t happen often.
The rest of my day was great, though! I went to the farmer’s market in the morning–very cold out there. I bought some blue cheese bread for my mom and some jerky for my dad. As well as an apricot danish for my own breakfast. I nearly froze my fingers off walking back to campus, which only made the whole experience more enjoyable.
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37.1
Paul Baker (Administrator)
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 09:25Hmm. It’s probably just paranoia. Stupid, mildly aggressive half- threats aimed vaguely at someone who just happened to be passing. Unless it recurs, and you’re fairly sure you’re a target, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just try to avoid drunkards.
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37.1.1
Piggy
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 18:53Believe it or not, most of the drunkards I encounter around here are quite friendly.
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38
Cat's Eye
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 01:04Giants clinched the NL West Divison title! I was at the clinching game! AAAAH
(I apologize for the next few weeks because it will hopefully be 2010 all over again)
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39
Maths Lover ♥
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 07:13Update: I’ve basically done my physics assignments. I still have stuff to do, but it’s doable. If it was just those, I’d be fine to hand them in at the end of the school day tomorrow. And if it was just the biology research, I’d be fine to finish that and hand it in. Both together… hmm. Challenge remains accepted.
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40
Agent Lightning
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 07:48Guys the competition is on Saturday MARCHING BAND COMPETITION IS ON SATURDAY
Plus there’s all sorts of other things going on that week! Like middle school night for Friday’s football game and I get to see all the eighth graders that were seventh graders last year and will be freshmen next year!
Meanwhile my teachers are all “Marching band competition? What marching band competition? Homework!” Ah well when the season is over it’ll feel like I’m rolling in free time.
In other news I was going to watch Asylum of the Daleks last night but iTunes was being a cakeface and going all “Your tv show is ready to watch PSYCHE IT’S STILL DOWNLOADING AND IT’S LAGGING LIKE CRAZY”
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40.1
Mikazuki
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 08:25Good luck!
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41
Midnight Fiddler
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 10:52It’s been almost a year since I’ve spun fire, and I only practiced poi a few times this summer.
But last night my friends in Fire Legion (who, it turns out, remember/realize that I exist!) convinced me, so I spun twice. It was a lot of fun. I didn’t do particularly well, since I’ve not practiced in forever and I’m not even that great anyway, but it was really fun anyway. I’d missed it.
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42
KaiYves
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 11:05Reading in bed with the window open, then a cranberry nut muffin and vanilla milk on the Student Union patio… life is good.
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43
Daekie
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 15:51THERE’S WHAT LOOKS TO BE A TV PILOT COWRITTEN WITH OTHER MUSEBLOGGERS IN MY DOCUMENTS FROM OVER TWO YEARS AGO
I
WHAT
(also hi it’s avalongirl/witchneko/thief of light i return uvu)
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43.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 17:53Welcome back, ToL!
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43.1.1
Daekie
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 18:15Heeeey!
It’s been a while, ahaha~ Missed you guys. uwu
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43.2
Maths Lover ♥
in September 24th, 2012 @ 01:32Welcome back!
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43.3
Bibliophile
in September 24th, 2012 @ 10:12Hi! It’s great to see you again; I remember your hilarious additions to The Embi Family. Welcome back!
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43.3.1
Daekie
in September 24th, 2012 @ 13:55I wasn’t that funny, hush. uwu But yeah – I’ve been busy with high school as of late! It’s not about me, though. How are YOU guyss?
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43.3.1.1
Bibliophile
in September 24th, 2012 @ 17:58You were, too! I made a reference to The Embi family in casual conversation, actually, although the part I referred to was written by Fireh. It went something like this:
My dad: [jocosely] Corn road? A road made of corn?
Me: No, it’s just a name.
Him: [jocosely] Why call it Corn Road if that’s not what it is?
Me: [sarcastically] Oh, I know! Nothing is real in America anymore. Sugar made of corn, Flamingos made of plastic… I hate it when things advertise falsely, don’t you? I mean, WE only get Shepherd’s Pie made with real shepherds. Nothing fake in our house! Everything is real! Even the needles on our Christmas trees can be used for sewing!
Incidentally, I’m doing quite well, thanks for asking! I just started high school, and I love it, except for one class that’s torturously easy. My school is awesome in several ways; for instance, we’ll all have gotten 2 years of college credits by the time we graduate from high school, and on Fridays, we volunteer instead of having classes.
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43.3.1.1.1
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 25th, 2012 @ 04:12Aw, I miss this.
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43.4
Agent Lightning
in September 24th, 2012 @ 14:08I REMEMBER YOU THIEF
*GLOMPGLOMPGLOMPGLOMPGLOMPGLOMP*
HI!!!!!
So! How’s life?
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43.4.1
Daekie
in September 24th, 2012 @ 14:48OH MY GOSH GIRL CHILL OUT WOW YOU’RE GONNA BREAK ALL MY RIBS
Life is good~~ uwu You?
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44
Tesseract
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 16:07Last week, when I was having a really hard (homesick) day, I called a good friend from home just to have someone to talk to. And today, she was having a really rough, lonely day, and she called me.
It is such–such–a good feeling to have someone reach out to you, to indicate they love and miss you and feel that talking to you will help them. And to talk about the anxieties and rough patches you’re having honestly and openly with a friend who knows you incredibly well, and to hear someone else voice the things that you’ve been thinking but haven’t heard from anyone else in your situation yet. It’s validating and warm and somehow, that being relied upon makes everything else feel easier.
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44.1
Cat's Meow
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 19:00I know that feeling! It’s beautiful.
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45
Randomosity101
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 16:47I have nothing to talk about.
So I’m just dropping in to mention how much I love this site.
See you all later!
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45.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 17:53Well, thanks, Randomosity! Whenever you don’t have anything else to say, that’s always good to hear.
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Mikazuki
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 19:48Okay, so I was in history class…
..and I was sitting with this guy named Rory, who’s kind of a jerk, but I didn’t have a choice in the seating arrangements…
…and my teacher walked by and said, “If you could meet any famous person in history who would it be?”…
…and then Rory said, “Julius Caesar. He was so cool. I really love the Roman Empire, it seems awesome. I’d love to be a Roman. Romans are so cool.”
YOU GUYS
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46.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 20:53Julius Caesar missed the Roman Empire by a few years.
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46.1.1
KaiYves- Curiosity Will Lead The Way!
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 21:08I guess “the Roman Empire” rolls off the tongue more easily than “Roman Civilization”.
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46.2
Agent Lightning
in September 24th, 2012 @ 14:11HAHAHA even if as Robert pointed out it wasn’t the most historically accurate statement. Oh well. Rory was around for ALL OF IT.
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47
Cat's Meow
in September 23rd, 2012 @ 21:57My online high school Calculus C study group just made a series of jokes that requires understanding of both modern American politics and calculus to get. You guys, I get to go to school with other people who understand and like politics/calculus jokes. This is amazing.
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47.1
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 24th, 2012 @ 08:27What were the jokes, if you can remember? Even if my knowledge of calculus is admittedly fairly poor, I’m curious.
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47.1.1
Cat's Meow
in September 24th, 2012 @ 22:53For context, it was at the end of a conversation that started with math, got distracted into languages, wandered via French socialism into a comparison of economic systems, strayed into a lengthy debate on the American health care system, and ended with us realizing that the first debate will literally be going on during our math class. We rejoin the edited version of the conversation as we’re talking about what class could be like that evening.
D: OH I MEAN YES SIR THAT IS THE INTEGRAL OF OBAMA CARE FROM 0 DOLLARS TO INFINITY AS THE LIMIT APPROACHES THE CONCEPT OF PRIVATE INDUSTRIES
[me]: TOO BAD THAT INTEGRAL IS IMPROPER
[me]: NOW FIGURE IT OUT!
P: Wait, isn’t the integral of Obamacare just…Romneycare?
P: Because Obamacare is the derivative of Romneycare!
[me]: Hahahahahaha.
A: Hahaha too funny
P: I solved it, [Meow].
P: The answer is flip-flopping!(Of course, that begs the question of whether the integral converges at all, since there might not be a limit as Romneycare approaches infinity dollars.)
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48
Maths Lover ♥
in September 24th, 2012 @ 02:04Well, I needed several hours, but I finished. Now I’m like wait, it’s over? I’m free? Really? I have to prepare for a field trip (yay) and do math homework and sort out some other stuff, but that’s okay.
Now, since I somehow have a life outside of school: In the course of procrastinating on my biology assignment I read some more of the Irreular Webcomic archive, and it included the annotation on Godel’s Incompleteness Theorem. I enjoyed myself. While researching physics stuff, I came across awful-looking equations involving complex numbers describing light waves, and I thought something like “when I understand the math I will love this”.
My mum bought glow-in-dark stars for me! I had a set on the wardrobe in my room when I was little, but I have different furniture now and these are new and shiny!
I’m going to watch the L Word pilot. No idea if I’ll like the show, but I want to find out.
My friendship group has split into two. I don’t feel like explaining it now, but so far there’s no more drama. It’s unrelated to last year’s fights, it’s a different, but also new to us, person causing problems.
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49
Bibliophile
in September 24th, 2012 @ 10:22Oh, did I not tell you about my weekend? It was amazing. On Saturday, I found this really awesome, huge beetle in the woods. I took it home and looked in my field guide, and I was able to identify it as a Bess beetle. It was awesome!
The next day, while volunteering, I found over 30 snail shells (which I took home) and a treefrog! I think it might be a squirrel treefrog, but I’m not sure yet. Anyway, later that day, I found a headless cicada! I love it when that happens!
Also, I had a biology assignment earlier where I could use the adaptations of any 2 organisms in the world as examples of how life adapts to its environment, so of course I used a tardigrade and a loriciferan (an anaerobic marine animal–yes, an anaerobic animal, really! Its ability was only discovered 2 years ago). My teacher wrote that the tardigrade photo was “adorable,” which I thought was pretty awesome. And now I’m doing a 3-D map of climate for World Geography, which basically means systematically covering a sheet of paper with lichen and grass and tape and sand and leaves.
Life is good.
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49.1
Agent Hippie
in September 24th, 2012 @ 13:53A few days ago, we found a tree frog on our mail box. It was tiny and adorable.
I looked up pictures of the Bess beetle and they are awesome!
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50
Prussia=Awesome
in September 24th, 2012 @ 17:07I had a birthday pie instead of a cake.
Pie is better, right?
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50.1
Bibliophile
in September 24th, 2012 @ 18:00Taste is a matter of personal preference, but pie is certainly more aerodynamic.
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50.1.1
Adeliae
in September 25th, 2012 @ 09:30Indeed – and it tastes so much better once you throw it.
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50.2
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 25th, 2012 @ 09:35Any celebration’s so much better with a pie.
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51
FantasyFan?!?!
in September 24th, 2012 @ 19:17Beauty is at once held high and trivialized in today’s society. Today I was walking around and thinking about my relationship to modern art. Which is mainly one of unappreciation. I don’t hate it, I just don’t get it. Why is it considered beautiful? Or maybe the word to use here sinot beautiful, but artistic. Today I was bemoaning the lack of really beautiful things nowadays and then I realized that what I was really missing was beautiful craftsmanship.
I’ve been to art museums. I can’t appreciate them. I’m sure that it takes skill to wield paint and brush like that, that there are names for the techniques used in those Renaissance portraits, but I don’t care about them. I can appreciate the skill, but not what actually makes the painting attractive. And as long as those painting are in some museum, I don’t think I will ever be able to. (There’s also the matter of renaissance painting possibly not being my thing, which is another matter entirely.)
We put our precious things behind glass and climate-controlled screens, but I can’t appreciate them like that. I need to be able to see them,and also feel them, use them in my everyday life. Which leads back to beautiful craftsmanship.
It is a sad fact of today’s society that much of what we use is designed to be thrown away and not to last. Everything is mass produced, not unique or original. It sounds cheesy to say this, but there’s no love there. Pretty things are trivialized.
When I go to museums and such, I spend a lot of time admiring the clothes, and the furniture, and the utensils–the stuff that’s actually use din everyday life. Yes, it gets worn down, but that just means that you’ve actually gotten some use out of it, it hasn’t just been a waste of space.
And I really wish there were more examples of that craftsmanship in my daily life. I know they’re out there, but they are really expensive. And basically I want more stuff that I find visually appealing to also be useful, and vice-versa.
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51.1
Dodecahedron
in September 25th, 2012 @ 07:36I RELATE TO THIS POST
You could try learning how to craft some things? I mean, that’s why I sew so much, when I have free time: I love having pretty things but can’t justify paying for them. Plus, crafting is rewarding for its own sake.
Handmade things are expensive because of the time put into their creation. I know I’ve mentioned this on blog before (don’t think I’m accusing you of not taking this into account, I know that knowledge can’t buy things), but I don’t think it can be said too often, especially in a culture when so many things are mass produced. Materials are only a minor percent of the cost of something made — it might cost a couple yards of $7 a yard fabric to make a skirt, for example, but it’ll probably take four hours or more to make it, and making skirts is a skilled activity which deserves more than minimum wage to complete.
For the things you can’t make yourself, save up, maybe sell some of the things you can make, and if you can, make friends who are talented in ways you are not.
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52
Randomosity101
in September 24th, 2012 @ 19:23In my English class, I sit across an aisle from a girl, let’s call her Strawberry, who often dresses all in hot pink. Even when she isn’t dressed all in hot pink, she at least wears a hot pink headbands and shoes. The girl who sits right behind her, let’s call her Spiral, mentioned in class today having a hot pink rabbit’s foot as a sort of lucky talisman. What should I do??
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52.1
Prussia=Awesome
in September 25th, 2012 @ 07:31Birthday pie!!!!!
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52.1.1
Randomosity101
in September 25th, 2012 @ 15:44Um… What?
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52.1.1.1
Bibliophile
in September 25th, 2012 @ 19:54Prussia had a birthday pie recently; maybe she’s going to send you a piece so that you can throw it at the rabbit.
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52.1.1.1.1
Randomosity101
in September 26th, 2012 @ 10:11Ah. In that case, thanks!
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Midnight Fiddler
in September 24th, 2012 @ 20:51Sometimes when I’m just sitting here in my bed-cave minding my own business my roommate and her boyfriend cuddle-attack me while saying “Fern must be cuddled!†in dalek voices.
It’s the most terrifying thing.
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Zinc
in September 25th, 2012 @ 00:30A teenage boy is getting ready to take his girlfriend to the prom. First he goes to rent a tux, but there’s a long tux line at the shop and it takes forever.
Next, he has to get some flowers, so he heads over to the florist and there’s a huge flower line there. He waits forever but eventually gets the flowers.
Then he heads out to rent a limo. Unfortunately, there’s a large limo line at the rental office, but he’s patient and gets the job done.
Finally, the day of the prom comes. The two are dancing happily and his girlfriend is having a great time. When the song is over, she asks him to get her some punch, so he heads over to the punch table and there’s no punchline.
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Agent Lightning on a school computer
in September 25th, 2012 @ 08:40Done typing my speech (which is basically a big rant about not making All-District last year, but I’m okay, but I might play my sax as part of my presentation since my teacher suggested it) so just dropping in: HI!! Also today is Fictional Character Day and I’m rubbish at costumes so I’m wearing my Single/Taken/Waiting For A Mad Man With A Box shirt and I drew tally marks on my arms. Also I’m wearing rubber boots because I wear rubber boots now. Rubber boots are cool. My friend Sam is the Doctor. He’s using my sonic screwdriver. And my friend The Wizard of Oz is a knight. And Hippie is Darth Vader and as I said before I guess I’m kind of a Doctor Who character. Muahaha. Awesomeness. Anyway I’m pretty okay right now except I may have lost my sweatshirt. But I’ll probably find it next period. This might be kind of a PoPo. *pays fine* Anyway,
Prussia—Hooray for birthday pie! Happy birthday again even though I think I already said that.
R101—holy cake, that’s scary. *sends depigmentizer darts and BunnyBlasters*
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Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 25th, 2012 @ 09:13So technically I’m a day late, but let’s not quibble over the details…
The 24th, as it turns out, was my three-year-blogiversary! It seems like only yesterday that I was commemorating my two years, and now here we are. You have all taught me and continue to teach me so much about the world and about myself; though it’s not for me to judge, I hope I have become a more mature, thoughtful person in these three years. If I have, MB has undoubtedly been an incredibly important part of that.
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Adeliae
in September 25th, 2012 @ 09:38I am crocheting a strand of DNA.
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57.1
Agent Lightning
in September 25th, 2012 @ 17:23♥ ♥ IT CAN BE FRIENDS WITH MY RIBOSOME ♥ ♥
(I promise, pics are coming! I just have to wait for the camera to be uploaded to the computer and a thousand other things, since it’s not my camera nor my computer that’s being uploaded)
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57.1.1
Oobatooba
in September 25th, 2012 @ 18:15And my paramecium!
…or rather, they could be inside or it…
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57.1.1.1
Adeliae
in September 27th, 2012 @ 11:16Details, details. They can still be friends.
GAPAs – what’s the protocol if I have some pictures of this and maybe would like to post them? There are no people or identifying landmarks or anything suspicious.
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57.1.1.1.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 27th, 2012 @ 13:41If we post picture of people’s squids, we can certainly do the same for other organisms, organelles, and biomolecules.
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Midnight Fiddler
in September 25th, 2012 @ 11:19It was sweater-wearing cold this morning. Ahh, that beautiful time in the mountains has started where the temperature changes in excess of 20 degrees Fahrenheit daily and you never know what to wear to avoid dying from overheating or freezing.
No actually I really do love fall.ALSO today I realized that IT IS TIME to start the job-hunt for winter boat jobs. Yes. There are two that I know of right away that I’m interested in that’ll take someone for just a month. So…that’s good. I need to do some contact-ing stuff and see about getting references. But yeah.
Another thing I have to do today is get an application for working over fall break here at school.
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59
Castle
in September 25th, 2012 @ 15:31I got a ride up to Massachusetts and visited that wonderful self-directed learning place while I was there. I had an awesome time and met someone who is not only massively out of my league but also essentially my soulmate.
I also had the pleasure of listening to a few new students, who I looked at and thought “Yeah, they’re about my age” argue over which was a better birth year, 1998 or 1999. I also just realized that my brother, who just turned 10, was born well after 9/11, and that I have been a teenager for two full years, and that I am more than halfway from age 10 to age 18.
I should move to New Hampshire so I get get my learner’s permit.
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59.1
Koko's Apprentice
in September 25th, 2012 @ 17:18Being able to drive is fun. I just got my learner’s permit in July.
And I’ve only almost crashed into a school bus and a cat. Well, not really. The cat I had plenty of time to brake, but it was only my second time driving, so it creeped me out. And the school bus I didn’t really almost crash into, more almost not turn and go straight, where the school bus was. I did turn though, and with a good amount of time to spare.
Yeah. But overall, really fun.
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60
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 25th, 2012 @ 16:48One of the nice things about boarding school is that you can never forget anything ‘at home’, because your room is literally less than a hundred metres away from the main School buildings. And, during any frees (although I don’t have many of those) you can come back to the comfort of your room.
A disadvantage to having a roommate is that it means I can’t blast Holst’s Mars, the Bringer of War at full volume when I feel like it. Or any other music of suitably epic proportions.
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60.1
Agent Lightning
in September 25th, 2012 @ 17:59MARS, THE BRINGER OF WAR
OH MY I LOVE THE PLANETS
even though I don’t get to listen to it very often
And yeah, I know what you mean about limiting the range of places you can forget things. I don’t care if it kills my back and shoulders, I like not having lockers. One less place I can forget something.
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60.1.1
Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 25th, 2012 @ 23:02RARGH I used to have a CD of The Planets but I lost it before I got my iPod and I don’t have any iTunes money RARGH
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60.1.1.1
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 26th, 2012 @ 04:40YouTube? I recommend the version by James Levine and the Chicago Symphony.
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60.2
Adeliae
in September 27th, 2012 @ 11:13Pah. If your roommate doesn’t want to hear epically blasted music, that’s their problem.
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60.2.1
Bibliophile
in September 27th, 2012 @ 17:41Speaking as someone who is sensitive to sound and has major issues with loud music, I find that rather inconsiderate, to say the least. I’ve literally cried due to loud noise in the past; I know people who’ve had panic attacks. Unless you’ve had that kind of experience before, I don’t think you have any right to tell others to just deal with the problems you create for them. Even if you’re joking, it isn’t funny.
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60.2.1.1
TNÖ
in September 27th, 2012 @ 18:45“Blasting” for me is 25% volume on my iPod stereo, 35-40% on my computer (which has much quieter speakers). Anything louder is either deeply uncomfortable or actually painful. And regardless of actual volume, I have to be able to hear ambient noise at all times or I get really anxious (this is also the reason I am incapable of listening to music with both earbuds at the same time). So: seconding the “it’s not necessarily a case of them just having to deal with it” thing.
Also, even if the person in question doesn’t have actual loud-noise-related-issues, it is really inconsiderate to blast music that en doesn’t care for, especially if they don’t have adequate equipment to drown it out (i.e. noise-canceling headphones). I was fortunate enough to get a roommate with near-identical musical tastes, but we still have an agreement on certain things that we are Not Allowed to listen to without headphones (Les Mis for her, Follies for me, the former because that’s all she would play otherwise and the latter because she hates it for some reason). It’s annoying, sometimes, but I think it’s less annoying than potentially causing serious relationship issues by just going “eh, it’s her problem if she doesn’t want to listen to this” and refusing to compromise.
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60.2.1.2
Adeliae
in September 28th, 2012 @ 09:21I’m really, really sorry about this. I did mean it as a joke, but that doesn’t change that what I said was highly inconsiderate and rude. I apologize for my thoughtlessness. I don’t think that it’s actually okay for someone to just blast music loudly and say “Deal with it,”, and understand that making a joke about it isn’t any better. Again, I’m really sorry that I didn’t think and was disrespectful. I can’t get over the fact that I said something so stupid.
I’m sorry.
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61
KaiYves
in September 25th, 2012 @ 20:29My Remote Sensing professor’s commentary on “Alien vs. Predator” today was one of the funniest things I’d heard in a while. Warning, toilet humor.
Character on screen: “There are three rules on this expedition. Number 1: nobody goes anywhere alone.”
Professor: “Not even the bathroom.”
Character: “Number 2: remain in constant communication at all times.”
Professor: “Even in the bathroom.”
Character: “Number 3: unexpected things will happen.”
Class: *laughs our heads off*I’ll post some of his other comments tomorrow, they really mangled remote sensing in the clip of that movie we saw today. (I’m not brave enough to watch the whole thing.)
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61.1
Cello-Playing Mathematician (AKA Kyra)
in September 25th, 2012 @ 23:01Character: “Number 3: unexpected things will happen.”
Professor: “ESPECIALLY in the bathroom.”
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62
bookgirl_me
in September 26th, 2012 @ 08:29Gah. Remember (did I tell you?) when I found a great flatshare? Guess what, they cancelled on me. Now I have to scramble. *facepalm*
To make things even more fun, one of my best friends (who wants to be a musician) failed the admissions exam for music school. The head of the commission went all Simon Cowell on her and told her that she should find another career because of her shy personality and then her mother agreed. My other friend is in Ireland, and my other other friend has decided that partying and pot are the best ways to spend one’s weekend. And my next other friend is really sweet but incredibly studious and she keeps calling me up to compare answers on problems I haven’t even looked at because she thinks I have all the answers and I haven’t downloaded the problems or become aware of their existence.
But hey, at least my dog loves me.
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63
KaiYves
in September 26th, 2012 @ 14:21So, when are we going to start planning the Halloween Ball?
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63.1
Piggy
in September 26th, 2012 @ 16:31As soon as possible, I say. To be honest, I think not many people would mind if we just planned it and skipped the actual ball entirely–the preparation is always the fun part.
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63.1.1
Randomosity101
in September 27th, 2012 @ 16:42I, for one, love the actual ball, even if nobody else does.
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63.2
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 26th, 2012 @ 16:52Piggy makes an interesting point, which we can discuss as we plan.
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64
Drama Llama
in September 26th, 2012 @ 14:53Just finished watching…
(wait for it…)THE AVENGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ON DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I think that’sthe first movie I have ever purchased the day it came out. (We bought it yesterday, but it was “too late” to watch it last night.)
I had to refrain from pausing every time there was a close up of Captain America. *swoon*
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64.1
Adeliae
in September 27th, 2012 @ 09:00It is never too late to watch The Avengers.
Sleep is for the weak, remember?
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64.1.1
Jadestone
in September 27th, 2012 @ 10:25PRECISELY
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64.2
LittleBasementKitten
in September 27th, 2012 @ 14:56*swoons along with you*
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64.3
TNÖ
in September 27th, 2012 @ 18:47I should REALLY watch that sometime, shouldn’t I? I feel like the only person on the planet who hasn’t seen it.
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64.3.1
Mikazuki
in September 27th, 2012 @ 19:51I haven’t seen it! I’m waiting for Netflix.
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65
Midnight Fiddler
in September 26th, 2012 @ 18:11I sent an email today.
Maybe I’ll work on a boat for winter break.
That would be cool.
Yeah.I need to do homework. Don’t wanna. And it’s not even that bad, I just need to read a book. *sigh*
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Jadestone
in September 26th, 2012 @ 20:34day off
I have done so little work
I have so much due friday (a proper lab report that I haven’t even started yet, a research proposal revision, a huge test I have barely studied for)
whooooops
where is my time management
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67
Adeliae
in September 27th, 2012 @ 11:12I looked at my schedule and was pleasantly surprised to see that I had more frees than I thought I would.
Then I realized that means that I have three per week.
Well. I had expected fewer.
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68
TNÖ
in September 27th, 2012 @ 15:29my first block of the year is officially DONE. and right on time, too, because I don’t think I could have handled another week of reading 100+ pages of 18th century literature every night.
I will probably be psyched for playwrighting next block as soon as I’ve finished catching up on sleep.
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69
Midnight Fiddler
in September 27th, 2012 @ 16:49Tomorrow and Saturday I’m going to be on a field trip doing archaeology! I’m excited about it.
Tonight is contra.
Also I am so unhungry, but it’s dinner time and I can’t go later WHAT IS LIFE?!
Early music meets tonight too….I don’t know. It’s just recorders and me. *sigh* I wish I was more enthusiastic. I’ll go, because I really want to expand it and I know if I just give up it never will get beyond a recorder group. But still. It’s annoying and doesn’t really make me excited to go and advocate for adding violin and voice to it.
Buh.
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69.1
oxlin
in September 27th, 2012 @ 23:27Awesome! Id’ love to hear how your field trip goes!
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70
Prussia=Awesome
in September 27th, 2012 @ 18:00So yesterday I had a field trip. More of a yard trip than a field trip, but still.
The whole seventh grade went to a local nature center, and we were supposed to be studying ecosystems. But we, being seventh-graders, decided the wood prairie dog on the wall was a Giant Mutant Prairie Dog From Outer Space, and we had to question just about everything. Then we got to go outside, and skip all around the prairie, and cut open some strange bulbs with our clipboards, which looked like albino kiwi, but had living, breathing maggots inside. ( Some people in other groups ate them. Eew) It went downhill when Max tried to squish the maggot that was in my bulb with a stick, and it fell on me. It was fun.
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Jadestone
in September 27th, 2012 @ 20:19whhhhhhyy
okay I have a POTENTIALLY almost done lab report now
I don’t actually know anything he wants for this, I think he said somewhere about two pages but I don’t know anything about the analysis he ran on our data and sent us (ANOVA analysis) so I just have to hope multiple webpages I googled weren’t lying to me. Or that I didn’t miss whatever he really wanted us to talk about? I have no idea
my research proposal revision is still NOT VERY GOOD AT ALL but I at least fixed the things he corrected in my first draft. Mainly, the wording. I feel like I should definitely do more than that though
Test is STILL NOT REALLY STUDDIED FOR OH GOD
I’m heading to a study session now but it’s only on this week’s material since I blanked and forgot to go to the review session overall last night ahhh bad student Jade
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72
Cat's Meow
in September 27th, 2012 @ 22:08I GOT AN A- ON MY FIRST ENGLISH PAPER OF THE YEAR.
This is the class that I have worried the most about: new (online) school, new teacher who doesn’t know me, brilliant classmates with really insightful ideas. I have been so worried about not measuring up to the higher standards of reading, writing, and thinking at my new school. This first paper, on The Tempest, was terrible the night before it was due, only coming together during the next school day with about four hours hard focus and writing. Even then, I couldn’t tell whether it was any good.BUT I GOT AN A-! And wonderful comments! My teacher wrote, “This is an exceptionally well written, torrential, and sometimes brilliant essay … [suggestions for improvement] … but what a pleasure this was to read.”
YESSSS. I feel like I could walk on water!
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73
bookgirl_me
in September 28th, 2012 @ 10:44I finally found a flatshare! And they all seem really nice and the location is great, the apartment is beautiful and I have my own bathroom.
Except suddenly I’m scared cakeless. University starts on Monday and I’m (hopefully) moving out and I feel silly because I want to move out and get on with my life and everything- heaven knows I don’t want to stay- but now that it’s all happening it’s kind of freaking me out. And I feel like a bit of a wimp for feeling this way.
At least I have you guys
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73.1
Robert Coontz (Administrator)
in September 28th, 2012 @ 10:51“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.”
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74
Piggy
in September 28th, 2012 @ 11:29Just got done with my first exam in any subject this semester! It was in Spanish-American Authors I. The test was easier than I expected it to be–the professor left out an entire section that he said was going to be on there–but I’m still not sure how I did. I finished ten minutes early, which means I either aced it or bombed it. I’m not sure whether I wrote too little (how much can you say about Mariátegui’s writing style?) or too much (halfway through he reminded us that he was only looking for two sentences per question). But hey, at least I know the contexts, biographies, works, and ramifications of fourteen Latin American writers now. If nothing else, I know to avoid Agustini’s stuff in the future.
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75
Midnight Fiddler
in September 29th, 2012 @ 14:03So remember how yesterday and today I was doing archaeology?
YEAH. It was glorious. I now am seriously thinking about whether I want to go more in-depth than this intro class. I think I do.Yesterday I found a 16th century Spanish nail!
I’d try to be more articulate, but I’m really tired.
It was exciting. Really exciting. They’ve found about 12 other nails in the 20 years they’ve been excavating that site, which is pretty cool, and the one I found was in really good shape.
I got to hold a nail that hadn’t been seen by humans in hundreds of years.
That is so cool.
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75.1
KaiYves- Curiosity Will Lead The Way!
in September 29th, 2012 @ 21:39Rockin’!
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75.2
Paul Baker (Administrator)
in September 30th, 2012 @ 02:48Having jumped up and down manically for several minutes, my next thought would be “context”. Was it an isolated nail that a 16th century carpenter had dropped? Or was it holding together two pieces of wood that have disappeared? Door? Ship? Coffin? Were there any stains in the ground that could indicate decayed wood?
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75.2.1
Midnight Fiddler
in September 30th, 2012 @ 19:50I was at the site of the indian settlement known as Joara, and the nail came from a Spanish settlement (the earliest european settlement in the interior of North America). It was a fairly small nail, so not structural, and it was in the plowzone, so there weren’t any associated objects or stains in the dirt that would place it.
And no, since I’ve gotten asked multiple times, I didn’t get to keep it.
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76
Randomosity101
in September 29th, 2012 @ 16:26Has anyone else here heard of the game Sneaky Statues? For those of you who don’t know, this is how the game works:
There’s a large group of people who are the statues, and one person who is the museum curator/watchman/whatever you happen to call en. For my purposes I’ll call en the watchman. The watchman’s goal is to constantly look around at all the statues (presumably to deter nefarious activity, vandals, et cetera). The statues’ goal is to move around as much as possible without being seen by the watchman, who doesn’t know that they’re alive. Whenever the watchman isn’t looking, they move freely, but must freeze in place if the watchman looks towards them. If the watchman sees any of them move, the one(s) en see is/are out. The last statue to not be caught wins. In more sophisticated versions of the game, a theme can be called out for a round, in which case the statues’ poses for when the watchman is looking should match the theme (I once played a round in which the theme was “food” and the first pose I struck was supposed to be a hot dog).This is a fun, simple game that I used to play at nearly every summer camp I ever attended. And I’ve been to a lot of summer camps.
Having seen “Blink” and the other Doctor Who episodes concerning the Weeping Angels makes this game take on a whole new meaning.
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76.1
Cat's Eye
in September 29th, 2012 @ 17:37Yeah, when I saw the beginning of your comment in the Recent Comments bar, my first thought was, “This seems like a great way to make me even more terrified of Weeping Angels than I am.” And then I got to the end of your post. You know what they say about great minds…
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76.1.1
Randomosity101
in September 29th, 2012 @ 19:02That Whovians have the greatest?
The worst part is, that game is so much fun. I even taught my little brothers how to play. But now…
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76.2
KaiYves- Curiosity Will Lead The Way!
in September 29th, 2012 @ 21:39Isn’t this sort of like Red Light Green Light 123 without the turning around?
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76.3
Agent Lightning
in September 30th, 2012 @ 09:01Oh, I played that game at summer camps when I was younger! It was quite fun! I made the connection with the Weeping Angels almost as soon as I had seen Blink.
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76.3.1
Agent Hippie
in September 30th, 2012 @ 13:23Same here!
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77
Selenium the Quafflebird
in September 30th, 2012 @ 08:17Spending the long weekend at the estate in Shropshire with my parents and sister, and grandparents. We’re quite in the middle of the countryside being a country house surrounded by fields and farmland.
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78
Agent Lightning
in September 30th, 2012 @ 09:14So here was my week, in terms of marching band:
Thursday: We had this Homecoming Parade thing that we were supposed to do after school. I was on the first busload to drop us off at the start of the route: the rest were driving in seniors’ cars or going on the next bus. Once there, we were informed that the parade was going to start in six minutes and we should get in our lineup right now. Half the band ended up running in and joining when we were almost done. Our drum major wasn’t even here for the first part.
Friday: Homecoming football game. It was Eighth Grade Night (eighth graders from the middle school come and join us for one night and get to practice with us) and I was all excited for that. We did our show beforehand for them and then when we got back to the band room it started raining and the game got delayed. We ended up not playing the football game at all.
Saturday: First competition! Yay! We all got on the buses and went to a high school an hour away and preformed our show for critique and then had four hours’ downtime before actually preforming it for competition. However, during that four hours’ downtime it started raining and we were sitting in the buses to shelter ourselves from the rain when AAHHH AAHH TORNADO WARNING and we all thought we were going to die. Competition ended up getting canceled and we went home hours earlier than expected.I think we’ve woken up some sort of ancient pharoh and he’s put a curse on us (HA HA GET IT LIKE ANCIENT EGYPT (our show’s theme is ‘Mysteries of the Pyramids’))
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79
Castle
in September 30th, 2012 @ 10:55Newegg was having a third-quarter-2012 blowout sale, so I bought myself 16GB of RAM, a new 1TB Seagate drive, and a new 3.4gHz quad core.
Hopefully now my computer will stop misbehaving and go back to its once speedy performance – of course, the hope is that it’ll be a lot better, given the nearly 1gHz processor clock speed boost its getting, a new and not-failing hard drive and quadruple its original amount of RAM.
In other news, I decided to read The Walking Dead comics, got hit on by a girl I’d never met while working at the library, gotten rejected for being slightly too honest, and somehow managed to sit through most of John Frusciante’s new album without dying of happiness/enduring my eardrums exploding.
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bookgirl_me
in September 30th, 2012 @ 11:39I just went to the Vienna ComicCon! *awesomeness*
For some reason, it’s mostly manga, but I still got three cheap books (two of which were in english! *squee* And there were a bunch of people in awesome costumes and a crazy amount of comics. Anyways, next time I’m going to figure out a costume…
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Midnight Fiddler
in September 30th, 2012 @ 14:11room: de-glittered to the best of my ability
laundry: going
dishes: washed
chai: consumed
incense: burning
homework status: denial
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82
agrrrfishi
in September 30th, 2012 @ 17:54my music theory TA and I just bonded over our shared fandom when she mentioned the phrase ‘bow ties are cool’ as we were reviewing rhythmic notation and then I said ARE YOU A WHOVIAN and she screams YES and then we cried together over the Ponds and the last episode and hugged and became best friends
this class just became 500% better
oh by the way, college is actually pretty great
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82.1
agrrrfishi
in September 30th, 2012 @ 17:54(and I can’t type in complete sentences because I am so stressed out but hey whatcha gonna do)
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83
Prussia=Awesome
in September 30th, 2012 @ 19:04i wonder what Muse October will be.
The reason I love MB is because you can post crazy sentences and no one will even blink.
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83.1
Agent Lightning
in September 30th, 2012 @ 19:52Pipes avocado the rutabaga canteloupe! Zucchini avocado!
…I have left this far in my past
…sixth grade never actually happened
…I have always been a normal person
…I am a normal person, okay?
Forty-two!
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Bibliophile
in September 30th, 2012 @ 21:17Have you heard of Earthwatch? Because you all have to look it up. Now.
It is this charity that sends volunteers on expeditions to conduct field research with scientists in environmental science and archaeology. And it costs money because they can’t fund it all on donations alone, but if you save up, you can go to, say, Mongolia and do actual research on the wildlife and SLITHERING SQUAMATES THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN DREAMING OF ALL MY LIFE BUT I THOUGHT I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I WAS OLDER. I mean, technically I do, because you have to be at least 15 even for the Teen Expeditions, but I know that I, for one, will be very lucky if I’m not very much older than 15 by the time I have enough money for this. Even if you’re under 15 and can afford it, you can save up so that when you are old enough, you can go more than once (or more than however many times you could otherwise go). And anyone can do this; you don’t have to be selected.
HOW DID I NOT KNOW I LIVED IN A WORLD WHERE THIS WAS POSSIBLE SERIOUSLY YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK THIS UP BECAUSE YOU WILL ALL LOVE THIS
I’d especially recommend this to Sel and because she lives in England, and there’s an archaeology program in England, so she wouldn’t have to pay for airfare, at least, so maybe it would be more practical for her. (I know Paul lives in England, too, but this archaeology expedition is a teens-only program–although for all I know, there might be an adult program in England, too; I haven’t looked). And if any of you are 15-18 and live in Pennsylvania, there’s a program there studying endangered terrapins.
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