30 January 2007

On the inside, I'm saying this

Here's what I would love to say so many times, as i grade student papers. (And no, I am not Billy in this scenario!)

29 January 2007

New U2 video

I've been meaning to post this for ages. How cool is this?!? You can def. see why it took 3 months to put this together...

28 January 2007

Why will there always be an England?

Last night, Mitch and I went to see Children of Men. It's a fine film, and I am glad we saw it, though I have to wonder - why is that post-apocalyptic stories always seem to be set in England? Just off the top of my head (and in no order of quality), we've got 1984, Brave New World, V is For Vendetta, Never Let Me Go, and now, Children of Men. The old saying "there'll always be an England" seems to have become a literary and cinematic, if not just an historic, one. Why? Is it the island effect, or something else? I'm curious.

I also learned - Alfonso Cuarón is fond of the hand-held camera. Word to the wise: get there early enough to avoid a seat in the second row. I was more than a bit seasick by the midpoint in the movie, and I'm not a seasick sorta person usually.

27 January 2007

Best. Headline. Ever.

The Best Headline Ever award goes to the Chicago Sun-Times for [Naomi] Campbell in town, no one hurt.


How could anyone ever top that?!?

Hogwarts-bound

I want to become a child, move to the UK, and be on this show. Or maybe, if 32-yr olds aren't considered valid candidates for the programme, I could get Ethan a spot?

24 January 2007

Half-tempted

I'm half-tempted to try this myself:

Make mine a glazed maple flavor


I love Krispy Kremes, and I am all for exercise, but this is not something I plan to do next weekend.

16 January 2007

What's in a name?

I've been reading a really cool series called The Book of Names in The Times of London, all about people's first name. They've got all sort of neat articles here about how one's first name determines all sorts of things about how life works out (or doesn't). They've also done some cool analysis of names and stats associated with them.

For example, i have leaned:

According to a 2005 report by insurance company esure, Alastairs are among the most dangerous drivers in Britain, or at any rate most likely to be involved in a car insurance claim.

Trevors are three quarters more likely to be self-employed than most people. (The one Trevor I know is self-employed...)

According to a study presented to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2000 by Dr Luke Birmingham of House Medium Secure Unit in Hampshire, the name Fiona has the most positive associations for psychiatrists. They are far less likely to consider a patient called Fiona a malingerer or a drug addict than someone called, say, Tracey.

Anna is the name most likely to live in a home built before 1900. (Ethan would have been an Anna, had he been a she.)

Great hair

The guys at Project Rungay have been b;logging as they watch DVDs of past seasons. They're in Season One now, with Austin Scarlett, who cracks me up. This post about Austin's tribute to former first ladies has me ROTFL this morning. Be sure to follow the "continuing" link too. OMG!

14 January 2007

More wisdom...

Health care plans are like mirrors, the glass is smooth easily able to see in, but once cracked it is no longer properly able to do its job

Later, in the same paper:

Simply put, we need to be in control of the escalating costs of health care that relinquish millions of people that have the need for health care

and

The expansion of carelessness in our conventional health care system is highly proficiently than numerous human beings can figure out.

Another paper said:

they may have the desire to learn another language and become bilingual in several foreign languages

12 January 2007

Teletubbies do what?!?

Im grading finals - beware. So far today I have learned this - and as you know, you just can't make this stuff up!

The media and television broadcasting of women is not all negative. And example of women portrayed because of their gender is the Teletubbies it shows a definitive way the female are supposed to act.

You wanna know what kills me about this? The paper was plagiarized. Not just one person thought this fit to write and send out into the world, but apparently 2+ did. It can be yours, too, for the low, low price of $14.95. Oy.


NEW: Depression can affect someone’s concentration, social life, and most importantly their life.

September 12




Your Birthdate: September 12



You're a dynamic, charismatic person who's possibly headed for fame.

You tend to charm strangers easily. And you usually can get what you want from them.

Verbally talented, you tend to persuade people with your speaking and writing.

You are affectionate and loving, but it's hard for you to commit to any one relationship.



Your strength: Your charm



Your weakness: Your extreme manipulation tactics



Your power color: Indigo



Your power symbol: Four leaf clover



Your power month: December

10 January 2007

What a relief!

The TSA has finally released its specific guide to traveling with monkeys. Now that I know how my monkey might be treated during airport security checks, I'll feel more comfortable with the idea of bring Marcel along on trips.

09 January 2007

Bright colors on a grey day


It seems our mid-winter summertime weather has come and gone, and we've been left here with drizzle, grey skies, and temps that, tomorrow, will not get above 45. Where's that 74 from last week now?

However, all is not lost - I spent a fantastic morning at the North Carolina Museum of Art taking in their exhibit Monet in Normandy. What a wonderful show it was! It's being put on as a join project between the NCMA, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. The show is 50+ works by Monet, and they are just magnificent. As you can imagine from the title, it's all work done in Normandy, which gives us a great sampling of his work - water lilies from Giverny, haystacks, Etretat, cliffs, seascapes, and the Rouen Cathedral. The exhibit has been here for two months and closes Sunday - the last article I read about it said the only remaining tickets were for 3:30-4:30 AM Sunday (yes, the last 36 hrs go non-stop), but today at the museum there was a notice up saying ALL tickets for all days and ties had gone. Though I was glad to go at 9:30 AM, there is something sort of irresistible about going in the middle of the night to see it.

After the museum, my mom and I went to Zest, one of my all-time fav lunch places - life is good :-)

Eurovision

I love the Eurovision Song Contest, but frankly this is just scary (and a tad depressing). Why would Morrissey do this to himself? It's one thing to start off there (Riverdance), but to be on after you've made it big? I dunno.

08 January 2007

Sealand, Sealand, Sealand


Sealand is for sale. Part of me actually wishes to buy this thing/place, all on account of this article I read years ago in Wired magazine.

Who needs the talkies?

I love this:

04 January 2007

No wonder!


No wonder my students are the shining stars they are...

This is a screenshot taken from my campus emai accountl - click on the pic to see it better.

Calgon, take me away!

My parents told me that if the bus company that when bankrupted don’t reimburse us that they will help us raise the money some how. Sense this horrible incident happen I been doing all I can and is trying to get us on that trip with out know more money out of our pock,

Can you tell it's grading time again? (rolling eyes)

03 January 2007

Please God make it so


Oh, how I hope that news The Police might get back together this year pans out! If anyone can do it and do it well, they can, right?

01 January 2007

Animals need presents too

I just read an article about the wish lists the animals at the National Zoo have for Christmas. How cool this this? I hope the otters get their double-decker slide!