Oct 5, 2010
Please stand by!
This blog is on a very brief hiatus while I work on writing and some other projects. I'll be back, though! You can't get rid of me that easily.
Oct 1, 2010
Sep 14, 2010
Holy sands of time, Batman...
I just realized that this year, my blog entered into its fifth year. Five years of angst, observations and attempts at humor. Five years of a tiny handful of regular readers. A whole lot of myself posted all over my own private corner of the internet, using the blog as confessor and balm for my soul. Time sure does fly.
Happy (belated) birthday to my Invisible Blog!!
Happy (belated) birthday to my Invisible Blog!!
Sep 13, 2010
Rivaling Madame Tussaud's Best Work
No offense to the Catholics out there who buy into this, but I find this whole thing suspect:
From comments on the Facebook post: "he is what they call incorruptible- his remains have not decomposed for 2oo years- highly spiritual things to catholics. they consider it is because of Gods intervention that he has not decomposed. this is what they refer to as a "relic"."
One, this is reminiscent of the diefication of political figures such as Lenin - what's that thing about worshipping idols? Oh, it's a *religious icon*. Totally okay, then... And second, unless this thing they've got this corpse in situ is technologically advanced and completely airtight-and-vacuum-sealed, I call shenanigans. That doesn't even look like real hair! He's the Patron Saint of Stage Magicians according to Wiki, which does not address this holy pilgrimage cum corpse parade - I couldn't really find anything about this macabre road show on a cursory search of the 'nets!
Oh, stop the presses - here's an update: in a story about the actual event, it notes that the "body" is a fiberglass replica and the "relics" (a finger and some skin tissue), are stored inside the fiberglass replica. No less bizarre of a practice, in my opinion, but explains why in photos of the body it looked like a mannequin!
From comments on the Facebook post: "he is what they call incorruptible- his remains have not decomposed for 2oo years- highly spiritual things to catholics. they consider it is because of Gods intervention that he has not decomposed. this is what they refer to as a "relic"."
One, this is reminiscent of the diefication of political figures such as Lenin - what's that thing about worshipping idols? Oh, it's a *religious icon*. Totally okay, then... And second, unless this thing they've got this corpse in situ is technologically advanced and completely airtight-and-vacuum-sealed, I call shenanigans. That doesn't even look like real hair! He's the Patron Saint of Stage Magicians according to Wiki, which does not address this holy pilgrimage cum corpse parade - I couldn't really find anything about this macabre road show on a cursory search of the 'nets!
Oh, stop the presses - here's an update: in a story about the actual event, it notes that the "body" is a fiberglass replica and the "relics" (a finger and some skin tissue), are stored inside the fiberglass replica. No less bizarre of a practice, in my opinion, but explains why in photos of the body it looked like a mannequin!
Sep 9, 2010
Query...
If I blogged aboute really popular topics would it drive page views, or whatever those web-fu people call it? (I saw a job advertised as 'WEB EVANGELIST' the other day. Seriously - web "master" wasn't grandiose enough?) I mean, I'm sure I could go on and on about the coke-whore starlet of the week, or that dickweed pastor who apparently thinks 'Farenheit 451' is a how-to guide of some sort, or how Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck's plan to "celebrate" (!?!) September 11th is nothing more than a disgusting money-grab aimed less at memorializing and honoring the dead as having their own names in headlines, but those topics are usually well covered by writers with far superior wordsmithing skills and a broader readership already. But if I more actively shared this private corner of my universe, where I wax rather unpoetically on topics directly relating to me and my worldview with really irregularly timed content, would visits to my blog increase? If I self-marketed more? Should I even want people to read this ennui-filled, angst-ridden mess at all?
How about if I talked about boobs? Because today, I'm very boob-centric today (it's a topic close to my heart, ahahaha, errr...sorry), so it's foremost on my mind this morning. So maybe I will. Later. After doing some work and filing and lunch. Maybe by then I'll be past this topic of discussion onto something less...likely to get my comments uber-spammed.
How about if I talked about boobs? Because today, I'm very boob-centric today (it's a topic close to my heart, ahahaha, errr...sorry), so it's foremost on my mind this morning. So maybe I will. Later. After doing some work and filing and lunch. Maybe by then I'll be past this topic of discussion onto something less...likely to get my comments uber-spammed.
Aug 9, 2010
Get me another round, barkeep!
You're just in time for another fabulous round of everyone's favorite game, "Awesome/Not Awesome":
Awesome: Thai tea with lunch
Not Awesome: Lunch taking forever and being kind of lackluster
Awesome: Having that one waiter again - you know, that one with the accent, he may be Italian or even Greek
Not Awesome: Today is Monday, I have a headache, and want to take a nap
Awesome: One week until the second road trip of the summer
Not Awesome: Having to come back to work after road trip numero dos
Not Awesome, special Bounus Round edition: Finding a cool opportunity that would not require a loss of benefits, or a commute (it's right around the corner!), but upon asking for a letter of recommendation from a manager from another area who used to work for the manager of the program that has the vacancy, being advised that the potential supervisor may be kind of a task-master with ridiculously high expectations, even of support staff
Why does *everything* always seem to have some kind of hitch?!?
Vacation, I neeeed you!!!
Aug 6, 2010
Jul 30, 2010
Someone...
Somewhere...
Has taken to spamming my comments. Whoever you are, I do monitor my comments.
So knock it off. Dickhole.
Has taken to spamming my comments. Whoever you are, I do monitor my comments.
So knock it off. Dickhole.
Jul 27, 2010
It's only *time* after all...we've got *plenty* of that
I hate people who waste my time. I hate projects that are assigned for no purpose other than because someone can. I hate directions that are incomplete and meandering, and delivered by someone with more education but less skill. I hate feeling trapped. I hate having no compass, let alone anything remotely resembling a roadmap. I hate having to manipulate data to match someone's idea of what the data should reflect, not what the data actually shows. If a manager is dedicated to the success of the team, they must be devoted to the success of the individual. A failing individual means the guaranteed failure of the team, over the long term. If a manager is a poor leader, the poorly led are not going to manage.
I know it may be this way wherever I may choose to go. But at least it won't be done under the guise of high ethical standards and "academic integrity". Recent events have reminded me as to the value of time. I had forgotten. It's finite. Use what you've got. Because it's all you have.
I know it may be this way wherever I may choose to go. But at least it won't be done under the guise of high ethical standards and "academic integrity". Recent events have reminded me as to the value of time. I had forgotten. It's finite. Use what you've got. Because it's all you have.
Jun 14, 2010
Because being cheap is quite the positive attribute
There's now a sign on the refrigerator next door stating that the bottles of water and Coke on the bottom shelf are for the chief executive and Governor's guests only. (The Governor steps foot in the office he keeps here *maybe* three times a year.) That's fine. I guess I can understand that. Although, that *is* a communal fridge and a common breakroom, and a case of water costs less than ten dollars. But overlooking handful of staff in the offices that commonly do business in that suite taking the occassional bottle of water is apparently cutting into their "giftbags and assorted bs" budget. In addition to this, there's now a sign by the coffee machine saying that we're "welcome" to partake in the often poorly brewed coffee from the big percolator, but that contributions to the supplies are "appreciated". Half the time, when I go over there, the executive's assistant hasn't even bothered to make it, so I end up doing it (which is fine, because a lot of people over here brew something that resembles burnt tar). I love when the illusion of generosity gets ripped away, and you can see what's really underneath: a bunch of people pinching a penny and losing a pound as they pander to politicians and corporate muckity-mucks who ultimately will do very little to contribute to the success of this institution, as the ridiculously loyal staff (not all of them hard-working, but, still...) continue to get squeezed. No COL in four years, because we're "state employees" when it suits the legislature. Budget cuts for two years, affecting primarily the staff levels, and hitting maintenance especially hard. The ability to pay $10K for a cubicle for an executive assistant who turns around and retires, and various under the radar increases for favorite employees or as hush money for others, but little money and advancement opportunity for those who really are working their asses off. It all adds up to the hard truth that I've worked here way too long.
Jun 2, 2010
More dusters and period drama, less sharp clavicle
So, no updates because I'm working on filling my brain with alternate reality, alt-history fiction. And work sucks. And I'm exhausted. And I'm looking for a new job. That's...pretty much it.
I had an anonymous SPAM comment posted on my last missive. Haven't had one of those in a while. Ahh, nostalgia.
And now, for something completely different -all refined brooding and repressed passions courtesy of those loves at the BBC: a nonworking link to a YouTube video that doesn't fit the tables in this here blog. (Thanks loads, Google, for making your products sooo compatible with each other. You're a peach!). Alas. Alack. Well, look up the miniseries "Little Dorrit", to see what I was talking about (OMG DUSTERCOAT), and *then*do yourself the favor of tracking down the 1998 version of "Wuthering Heights" where Matthew MacFadyen plays Hareton Earnshaw.
I had an anonymous SPAM comment posted on my last missive. Haven't had one of those in a while. Ahh, nostalgia.
And now, for something completely different -
Apr 30, 2010
Sadomasichism at its finest as the hallmark of higher ed
It looks like I got a B in the Anthropology class. I somehow managed to just about bomb the last exam, with a 78 (C grade). If I'd have done an extra credit project, I'd have enough points to have an A overall. But I didn't do extra credit because I didn't think I was going to completely tank the last test. I feel like I've failed every expectation I set for myself. I feel like giving up. Update: final grade was 89.75 - she set my letter grade as an A-. Huzzah!!
To add insult to injury, I got *this* delightful message today (names and identifying info have been removed so as to protect...whoever needs protecting from whatever I'm protecting them from or somesuch...):
Hi [Redacted],
You have successfully shared your eportfolio, but unfortunately it is listed as "under construction" and the links to the response papers do not function. Please be certain to address these issues ASAP: remember that (as per the syllabus) failure to submit your response papers to your Eportfolio will result in an F for the course.
Note: the Eportfolio is not the same as SafeAssignment: papers submitted to SafeAssignment will not appear in your Eportfolio. For instructions on how to create an Eportfolio and upload documents to it, please look under "Course Documents" for this class.
If after reading through the instructions you are having difficulty with the Eportfolio, I encourage you to stop by my office hours and I will work with you to address any problems. However, you must do this as quickly as possible, as the semester ends shortly.
Dr. [Redacted]
Sooo. I'm left to wonder - am I the only one still having problems with this part of the class? This feels like a form letter, so it's possible that this was sent out to some of the other people in the class. But that message is what greeted me first thing in the morning, because he didn't send it out until 8:30 last night. Today is technically the last day of classes. So, what - he didn't check the submissions on the due dates and notify his students immediately that there was a problem so we could troubleshoot? Not to mention the fact that my particular issue wasn't covered by the instructions we were given, so I had to suss out the solution to why he was getting an "under construction" error. All I know is that my portfolio has been set up since January and we've had two assignments to submit since that time, and I hustled to get them in on deadline...and he notifies me basically a day before the last day of classes that he can't see the papers I submitted and I might end up having to take an F in the class that I've worked really hard in? Seriously?
R.A.G.E.
To add insult to injury, I got *this* delightful message today (names and identifying info have been removed so as to protect...whoever needs protecting from whatever I'm protecting them from or somesuch...):
Hi [Redacted],
You have successfully shared your eportfolio, but unfortunately it is listed as "under construction" and the links to the response papers do not function. Please be certain to address these issues ASAP: remember that (as per the syllabus) failure to submit your response papers to your Eportfolio will result in an F for the course.
Note: the Eportfolio is not the same as SafeAssignment: papers submitted to SafeAssignment will not appear in your Eportfolio. For instructions on how to create an Eportfolio and upload documents to it, please look under "Course Documents" for this class.
If after reading through the instructions you are having difficulty with the Eportfolio, I encourage you to stop by my office hours and I will work with you to address any problems. However, you must do this as quickly as possible, as the semester ends shortly.
Dr. [Redacted]
Sooo. I'm left to wonder - am I the only one still having problems with this part of the class? This feels like a form letter, so it's possible that this was sent out to some of the other people in the class. But that message is what greeted me first thing in the morning, because he didn't send it out until 8:30 last night. Today is technically the last day of classes. So, what - he didn't check the submissions on the due dates and notify his students immediately that there was a problem so we could troubleshoot? Not to mention the fact that my particular issue wasn't covered by the instructions we were given, so I had to suss out the solution to why he was getting an "under construction" error. All I know is that my portfolio has been set up since January and we've had two assignments to submit since that time, and I hustled to get them in on deadline...and he notifies me basically a day before the last day of classes that he can't see the papers I submitted and I might end up having to take an F in the class that I've worked really hard in? Seriously?
R.A.G.E.
Apr 16, 2010
News from the front
A wire update on the ongoing war effort: the Germans are advancing and the Pacific theater is a mess of warships and jungle combat. Higher casualties than previously anticipated are being reported. The rationing continues, and everyone is encouraged to plant a victory garden and pray for the safe return of our boys overseas.
One of the HR people just barged into my office, after the most perfunctory of knocks, and proceeded to rail at me about something that someone told her I said. She didn't want to listen to what I had to say, she just wanted to be upset (trust me, it doesn't take much), especially because she's had previous run-ins with the person she was originally arguing with -- about document shredding, in this case. Office resources are highly emotional topics around here, and cause conflict ridiculously easily, so the heated discussion migrates to other points of contention, my name gets brought into the mix, and this lady wants to be mad at me because I said that HR uses twice as much paper as I do, but I buy half of the paper for this whole office and it's affecting my budget, so I may have to start tracking the paper I *actually* use from the HR stock and cover just the cost of that. It's worth almost shouting at me, apparently? HR is populated by a group of individuals not known for their logic and rational thinking. I don't have time for this childishness...some of us have actual business to attend to.
My shipyards are commissioning new warships as we speak, and ground forces are being given orders to overtake and neutralize enemy positions at all costs.
One of the HR people just barged into my office, after the most perfunctory of knocks, and proceeded to rail at me about something that someone told her I said. She didn't want to listen to what I had to say, she just wanted to be upset (trust me, it doesn't take much), especially because she's had previous run-ins with the person she was originally arguing with -- about document shredding, in this case. Office resources are highly emotional topics around here, and cause conflict ridiculously easily, so the heated discussion migrates to other points of contention, my name gets brought into the mix, and this lady wants to be mad at me because I said that HR uses twice as much paper as I do, but I buy half of the paper for this whole office and it's affecting my budget, so I may have to start tracking the paper I *actually* use from the HR stock and cover just the cost of that. It's worth almost shouting at me, apparently? HR is populated by a group of individuals not known for their logic and rational thinking. I don't have time for this childishness...some of us have actual business to attend to.
My shipyards are commissioning new warships as we speak, and ground forces are being given orders to overtake and neutralize enemy positions at all costs.
Mar 29, 2010
This is a hair post
Haha! I want several of the shirts offered by Hirsutehistory. But I think you know which one I really, really covet...
By the way, today sucked: my job is wearing me down (and filling me with a wretched emotional cocktail that's equal parts rage and despair, with a sidecar of malaise to chase it all down with), I have a paper due *tomorrow*, which is stressing me out, I have to be in training most of tomorrow - and then go to class (to turn in this bastard response paper), and not even the prospect of a visit to the homestead of the writer who made Cross Creek famous (all thanks to the story of a little Florida Cracker boy and his pet deer) and celebrating my son's birthday this weekend are doing much to boost my spirits.
(I'm so bitter I can't even spell or manage my apostrophes correctly...)
By the way, today sucked: my job is wearing me down (and filling me with a wretched emotional cocktail that's equal parts rage and despair, with a sidecar of malaise to chase it all down with), I have a paper due *tomorrow*, which is stressing me out, I have to be in training most of tomorrow - and then go to class (to turn in this bastard response paper), and not even the prospect of a visit to the homestead of the writer who made Cross Creek famous (all thanks to the story of a little Florida Cracker boy and his pet deer) and celebrating my son's birthday this weekend are doing much to boost my spirits.
(I'm so bitter I can't even spell or manage my apostrophes correctly...)
Mar 21, 2010
Where's my socialist healthcare, bitches?!
SO MUCH WHARGARRRBBBLLL IN THE HOUSE!! I've just watched *endless hours* of grandstanding. This. Changes. Nothing. Please stop invoking the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights struggle and dredging up the bloated ghost of Ted Kennedy. I have less faith in the system of government that's supposed to serve the will of the people than I ever have, after seeing how self-serving and partisan almost EVERY SINGLE member of the House of Representatives is, regardless of party affiliation, after these many hours of televised posturing and fear-mongering. And they haven't even gotten to the damn *vote* yet!
As an aside, Jesse Jackson, Jr. is a total badass, and I hope to see good things of him in his political career.
Mar 19, 2010
The PC Patrol Cometh
Just got this notice in my email re: our next contemporary lit assignment:
"Just to quickly re-iterate a "parental guidance" announcement that I made on the first day of class: of the semester's texts, Skins is perhaps the most violent and sexually explicit-- definitely R-rated stuff. If you are uncomfortable with such issues, let me know in advance and I will assign an alternative novel for you to read (the content of which you will be responsible for on the final exam, and for which you will write an alternative response paper)."
1) I hope someone didn't complain because their delicate sensibilities got all in a wad. Because I'd have to taunt them and call them names.
2) I think that our last assignment 'Bearheart' is much more sexually explicit. And very, very WEIRD. (I've...kind of read ahead a little...).
I could be wrong on both counts, because he could just be assuming he has pussy cry-babies in this class and is hedging his bets, and since I'm not done with 'Skins' yet, I could be unaware of escalating sexual content. I'm a few chapters in, and it's definitely there, and the violence is there already too, but they are activities in context of the overall story.
"Just to quickly re-iterate a "parental guidance" announcement that I made on the first day of class: of the semester's texts, Skins is perhaps the most violent and sexually explicit-- definitely R-rated stuff. If you are uncomfortable with such issues, let me know in advance and I will assign an alternative novel for you to read (the content of which you will be responsible for on the final exam, and for which you will write an alternative response paper)."
1) I hope someone didn't complain because their delicate sensibilities got all in a wad. Because I'd have to taunt them and call them names.
2) I think that our last assignment 'Bearheart' is much more sexually explicit. And very, very WEIRD. (I've...kind of read ahead a little...).
I could be wrong on both counts, because he could just be assuming he has pussy cry-babies in this class and is hedging his bets, and since I'm not done with 'Skins' yet, I could be unaware of escalating sexual content. I'm a few chapters in, and it's definitely there, and the violence is there already too, but they are activities in context of the overall story.
Further Adventures in Superstitious Thinking
This morning during my typical walk from where my car is parked to the building I actually attempt to do work in, I saw one of our resident ospreys land on the roof of the building I was walking next to. For anyone who has ever had the misfortune of being crapped on by a seabird, you completely understand why I moved away from the sidewalk to avoid walking under the building. I love when the ospreys use my office building as their launch zone, though. I'll take little breaks to walk down and watch them circle the harbor. I heard the osprey perched on the research building calling, so I assumed its mate was close by, and as I watched, the first bird flew to the next building and was joined by an additional osprey. Then, the first two were followed by a third flying over to them from the port side of the peninsula. Three ospreys! This is double lucky because it fufills my superstition about the Rule of Three, and I consider birds of prey to be fortuitous. The third osprey is probably the adolescent from a couple of nesting seasons ago. I'm hopeing the breeding pair nests nearby this year, and if we're lucky we'll get to see them quite a bit this summer.
Which brings me to my Anthropology class from last night, and a story I'd like to file under the old adage (paraphrased): "Better to keep quiet and have people think you're a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt". This week's lecture was about religion, which the professor admits is one of her favorite topics to teach, although her lesson plans put emphasis on the indigenous practices and beliefs as opposed to Islamic and Judeo-Christian religions. (Which I can see why - she is an anthropologist, not a theologian, after all.) So, it has more to do with traditional myth and superstition than modern western dogma. During part of her lecture, one poor misguided soul asked a question using the word "primitive" in reference to the cultural beliefs and practices relating to the Trobriand Islanders and the role of the community magician in the fertilization rituals relating to their agricultural practices. The look she gave him should have told him to shut it, but this one must be particularly dense, because when she questioned him on whether he understood the negative implications of a word like primitive when discussing cultural issues, he persisted. This caused the most lively debate I've seen in the class so far. The professor asked him if he remembered our first couple of class lectures, and some of the early reading that addressed the use of certain terms to imply the cultural superiority of western society over others. She asked him why he thought that American ways were better, and although he insisted he didn't think that, he kept vaguely referring to studies that prove western medicine and western technology work far better than indigenous or traditional practices.
Obviously, the kid doesn't know the history of "modern" medicine (or the upswing in what are commonly now thought of as eastern or "holistic" practices, such as massage, accupuncture, herbalism, etc.), or that Big Pharma routinely scours traditional cultural knowledge for sources and alternatives to synthasize as the ingredients in our lab created pharmaceuticals. He also doesn't understand basic agriculture, since we were basically talking about how the Trobriand Islanders have ritualized their fertilization techniques to enhance community cohesion (sort of like a good old fashioned American barn raising...). Helllllo - modern farmers compost too, dumbass! She ended the discussion by saying that by the end of the semester she hoped he came out of her class with a better understanding of the value of different cultural and religious beliefs and practices, and that just because it's "different" than the American way it shouldn't be inferred or implied that it is "less than" or inferior. I'm thinking "Don't count on it, sister".
At the end of the class we watched a film called "In the Light of Reverence" (narrated by Peter Coyote!), about the difficulties faced by many Native American groups in the post-reservation era as they try to preserve part of their culture by engaging in their traditional religious practices. This film made me alternately deeply sad and very, very angry at the ignorance and arrogance of many of the people featured. I understand that it was a film intended to be sympathetic to the native American perspective, and that bias was obvious. BUT - some of the white people interviewed came off as the most bigoted, ass-backward, and ignorant of their own country's history I've seen in quite a while. Or maybe that's me being the culturally insensitive one...
By the way, for those who may be interested, the reason I got a 99 on my outline/lecture, is because I broke my thesis statement up into two sentences, and it's only supposed to be one sentence, so I lost a point. I also didn't put the references cited in alphabetical order, so I lost another partial point (but it looks like she gave me back another half point for something, as she only took one point off overall). Now, in my defense regarding the bibliography, I didn't see anything in the AAA style guide to that effect (though it's possible I may have missed it), and the example outline she provided that she directed us to use as our template didn't appear to have the references in alphabetical order either. But I'm not going to quibble over petty little things like that - there were no marks off for the content, spelling or grammar, and she wrote "Excellent" under my grade, so I can be satisfied that I earned that grade!
Which brings me to my Anthropology class from last night, and a story I'd like to file under the old adage (paraphrased): "Better to keep quiet and have people think you're a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt". This week's lecture was about religion, which the professor admits is one of her favorite topics to teach, although her lesson plans put emphasis on the indigenous practices and beliefs as opposed to Islamic and Judeo-Christian religions. (Which I can see why - she is an anthropologist, not a theologian, after all.) So, it has more to do with traditional myth and superstition than modern western dogma. During part of her lecture, one poor misguided soul asked a question using the word "primitive" in reference to the cultural beliefs and practices relating to the Trobriand Islanders and the role of the community magician in the fertilization rituals relating to their agricultural practices. The look she gave him should have told him to shut it, but this one must be particularly dense, because when she questioned him on whether he understood the negative implications of a word like primitive when discussing cultural issues, he persisted. This caused the most lively debate I've seen in the class so far. The professor asked him if he remembered our first couple of class lectures, and some of the early reading that addressed the use of certain terms to imply the cultural superiority of western society over others. She asked him why he thought that American ways were better, and although he insisted he didn't think that, he kept vaguely referring to studies that prove western medicine and western technology work far better than indigenous or traditional practices.
Obviously, the kid doesn't know the history of "modern" medicine (or the upswing in what are commonly now thought of as eastern or "holistic" practices, such as massage, accupuncture, herbalism, etc.), or that Big Pharma routinely scours traditional cultural knowledge for sources and alternatives to synthasize as the ingredients in our lab created pharmaceuticals. He also doesn't understand basic agriculture, since we were basically talking about how the Trobriand Islanders have ritualized their fertilization techniques to enhance community cohesion (sort of like a good old fashioned American barn raising...). Helllllo - modern farmers compost too, dumbass! She ended the discussion by saying that by the end of the semester she hoped he came out of her class with a better understanding of the value of different cultural and religious beliefs and practices, and that just because it's "different" than the American way it shouldn't be inferred or implied that it is "less than" or inferior. I'm thinking "Don't count on it, sister".
At the end of the class we watched a film called "In the Light of Reverence" (narrated by Peter Coyote!), about the difficulties faced by many Native American groups in the post-reservation era as they try to preserve part of their culture by engaging in their traditional religious practices. This film made me alternately deeply sad and very, very angry at the ignorance and arrogance of many of the people featured. I understand that it was a film intended to be sympathetic to the native American perspective, and that bias was obvious. BUT - some of the white people interviewed came off as the most bigoted, ass-backward, and ignorant of their own country's history I've seen in quite a while. Or maybe that's me being the culturally insensitive one...
By the way, for those who may be interested, the reason I got a 99 on my outline/lecture, is because I broke my thesis statement up into two sentences, and it's only supposed to be one sentence, so I lost a point. I also didn't put the references cited in alphabetical order, so I lost another partial point (but it looks like she gave me back another half point for something, as she only took one point off overall). Now, in my defense regarding the bibliography, I didn't see anything in the AAA style guide to that effect (though it's possible I may have missed it), and the example outline she provided that she directed us to use as our template didn't appear to have the references in alphabetical order either. But I'm not going to quibble over petty little things like that - there were no marks off for the content, spelling or grammar, and she wrote "Excellent" under my grade, so I can be satisfied that I earned that grade!
Mar 16, 2010
Good Omens
Earlier today, after taking a walk with my supervisor where we chatted about some various things, when I got back into my office I discovered I had the tiniest of spiders crawling on my jacket. Lucky me!
Later I found out I got a 91 on my Contemporary Literature exam (still waiting on the actual midterm grades). Although a low A-grade is more disappointing than a higher A, I'm still excited by this outcome because 1) I wasn't crazy about my responses, mainly because I didn't really enjoy some of the reading 2) Some of the other students have had this professor before or have taken college-level lit courses and I would have been expecting them to be more prepared than me. But, lo and behold, one of talkiest, most obnoxious and opinionated people in the class got an 86. And she said that she has to consider that a triumph. HA! This fool went on and on during our class discussion today, she's so "passionate" about this subject. As if she has any idea how having a complete lack of real self-identity feels. Or what it's like to watch people caught up in the self-perpetuating cycles of addiction and poverty. But, oh the empathy of this girl over the injustice of the white man oppressing the gentle, earthy Native Americans, it just about moves her to tears...
Later I found out I got a 91 on my Contemporary Literature exam (still waiting on the actual midterm grades). Although a low A-grade is more disappointing than a higher A, I'm still excited by this outcome because 1) I wasn't crazy about my responses, mainly because I didn't really enjoy some of the reading 2) Some of the other students have had this professor before or have taken college-level lit courses and I would have been expecting them to be more prepared than me. But, lo and behold, one of talkiest, most obnoxious and opinionated people in the class got an 86. And she said that she has to consider that a triumph. HA! This fool went on and on during our class discussion today, she's so "passionate" about this subject. As if she has any idea how having a complete lack of real self-identity feels. Or what it's like to watch people caught up in the self-perpetuating cycles of addiction and poverty. But, oh the empathy of this girl over the injustice of the white man oppressing the gentle, earthy Native Americans, it just about moves her to tears...
Feb 18, 2010
Count yellow highway lines...
There's news of a new, live album from The Weakerthans. If I EVER have a chance to see them on tour again, I'm going. Even if I have to go by myself.
Feb 16, 2010
Feb 9, 2010
Sprinkled with awesome, with just a dash of win
First and foremost, I want to point out that this is post #530. I can't even believe I've had so much nothing to say over the few years since I started doing this. A lot of it, when I look back over the posting history, is ranting, disillusioned, and snarky in tone. I've tried to brighten things up from time to time, but that hasn't been very successful. It's also probably why I have low "readership". Which is okay - I don't advertise or promote this thing, since it was originally meant to keep people who I don't see on a daily basis up to speed on my Mauscapades. (Another reason why I don't get a lot of traffic: my life is more than a little boring and what I have to say isn't really packaged for an audience of people who don't know anything about me...)
This is cute:
This is cute:
Courtesy of Neil Gaiman's blog (he's on Twitter - @neilhimself). Guess who else just jumped on the ADD-fest that is Twitter? Craig Ferguson. He's @CraigyFerg (verified account and everything!). And he's in the 'just figuring out WTF this thing does' phase. So be gentle.
Oh, and just for fun: an online repository of photo weirdness!
Feb 2, 2010
L-O-S-T
It's back! This is, of course, the last season. Cuse, Lindeloff and Abrams better do right by the audience that has stuck by the show up to this point. I'm not the most die-hard fan girl out there, but I know that the last thing anyone wants to see after all of this amazing storytelling and character development is some lame, cop-out ending (*yes - I'm looking at you BSG!).
Awesome LOST-themed artwork from Mattson Creative
**Unfinished sentences happen when you try to Blog at work...
Jan 26, 2010
First order of business
State of the Union drinking game!
First rule: for every instance of the words "hope" "change" "stimulus" "healthcare" or "green" - in any context - YOU DRINK.
Second rule: For every minute that Nancy Pelosi does not blink, take one drink. For every time she pops up like a botoxed Wack-a-Mole, take a drink.
Third rule: For every goofy grin on Joe Biden's face, take one drink.
Final rule: for every inappropriate response or outburst from the right side of the aisle, you take a shot.
Post your intoxication level in the comments section. Prost!
First rule: for every instance of the words "hope" "change" "stimulus" "healthcare" or "green" - in any context - YOU DRINK.
Second rule: For every minute that Nancy Pelosi does not blink, take one drink. For every time she pops up like a botoxed Wack-a-Mole, take a drink.
Third rule: For every goofy grin on Joe Biden's face, take one drink.
Final rule: for every inappropriate response or outburst from the right side of the aisle, you take a shot.
Post your intoxication level in the comments section. Prost!
Jan 20, 2010
Behold our future!
AND WEEP!
(This is a follow-up to the previous post)
The downside of letting your pre-teen child use popular social-networking sites that are generally meant for grown folk? They air all your bidness, fool!
Like this:
OMG my sister is such a druma queen! My sister yells so much and fights with my dad to much i am so disapointed at her she talks back to him alot and gets spancked alot and grounded alot.
And THIS:
my sister says my dad is picking favorites but he isnt she says he dose not love her and he dose.She said she would rather go to gufenial detenchen then live with us her family
I'm serious - this is directly from the younger one's profile. I'm just going to go ahead and say that I don't think the "spanck"ing is having much effect...might I suggest the intervention of a nanny? This one comes highly recommended!
(This is a follow-up to the previous post)
The downside of letting your pre-teen child use popular social-networking sites that are generally meant for grown folk? They air all your bidness, fool!
Like this:
OMG my sister is such a druma queen! My sister yells so much and fights with my dad to much i am so disapointed at her she talks back to him alot and gets spancked alot and grounded alot.
And THIS:
my sister says my dad is picking favorites but he isnt she says he dose not love her and he dose.She said she would rather go to gufenial detenchen then live with us her family
I'm serious - this is directly from the younger one's profile. I'm just going to go ahead and say that I don't think the "spanck"ing is having much effect...might I suggest the intervention of a nanny? This one comes highly recommended!
Jan 11, 2010
So...good luck with that
A little rant, in which I get more than a little hyper-critical and judge-y:
My husband has a friend who was married just out of high school, whose son is the same age as mine. This friend and his wife are about my and my husband's age, if maybe a year or two younger. They have four children, the oldest being eleven, the youngest being I believe four or five (with a ten and seven year old in between). They've never had a lot of luck, moving back and forth between here and family in other states, and often struggling to make ends meet. In the past, I've mostly wanted to attribute this unsettled and transient lifestyle to certain choices and the husband's inability (or lack of interest) to hold down a steady job after leaving active duty in the military. He's been supposedly enrolled in classes in "aircraft maintenance" somewhere, but he's always struck me as one of those perpetually lazy people who only ever wants to do the easy thing, and I get the feeling that he spends a lot of time playing WoW these days. His wife works rotating shifts at a convenience store and is taking some classes. The two oldest kids, both girls, ages 11 and 10, were recently allowed to create Facebook profiles. The older girl's profile is peppered with the word "fuck" (and all her mom & dad have done is post comments warning that she's not allowed to take those quizzes any more?!), and neither has their pages set as private, so they seem to be viewable by anyone using Facebook. The younger girl lists her interests as "men". It's like I'm watching a set-up for 'To Catch a Predator'. I see bad things on the horizon for these little girls. Then, to top it off, their mom just went out and got tattoos of all of her children's names. On her wrists. Her. Wrists. In rather large lettering. Because nothing screams "7-11 employee for life" like a well placed wrist tattoo. Her daughters are posting to her Facebook profile how much they like her "tats". And the circle is complete...
Rant off.
And you thought it couldn't get worse? Wrong. They just made a Facebook profile for the seven year old. Lost faith in humanity I have. Facepalm I must.
My husband has a friend who was married just out of high school, whose son is the same age as mine. This friend and his wife are about my and my husband's age, if maybe a year or two younger. They have four children, the oldest being eleven, the youngest being I believe four or five (with a ten and seven year old in between). They've never had a lot of luck, moving back and forth between here and family in other states, and often struggling to make ends meet. In the past, I've mostly wanted to attribute this unsettled and transient lifestyle to certain choices and the husband's inability (or lack of interest) to hold down a steady job after leaving active duty in the military. He's been supposedly enrolled in classes in "aircraft maintenance" somewhere, but he's always struck me as one of those perpetually lazy people who only ever wants to do the easy thing, and I get the feeling that he spends a lot of time playing WoW these days. His wife works rotating shifts at a convenience store and is taking some classes. The two oldest kids, both girls, ages 11 and 10, were recently allowed to create Facebook profiles. The older girl's profile is peppered with the word "fuck" (and all her mom & dad have done is post comments warning that she's not allowed to take those quizzes any more?!), and neither has their pages set as private, so they seem to be viewable by anyone using Facebook. The younger girl lists her interests as "men". It's like I'm watching a set-up for 'To Catch a Predator'. I see bad things on the horizon for these little girls. Then, to top it off, their mom just went out and got tattoos of all of her children's names. On her wrists. Her. Wrists. In rather large lettering. Because nothing screams "7-11 employee for life" like a well placed wrist tattoo. Her daughters are posting to her Facebook profile how much they like her "tats". And the circle is complete...
And you thought it couldn't get worse? Wrong. They just made a Facebook profile for the seven year old. Lost faith in humanity I have. Facepalm I must.
Of dead cultures and missing links
It is so cold in my building that I'm wearing my heavy coat inside my office. The temps in the offices are ranging from the 40s to the mid-60s. Although it was around 30 degrees outside when I got in this morning, and it is technically warmer in here than out there, there is still a pervasive chill that I haven't been able to shake, even with coffee fresh out of the pot. Don't even get me started on the meat locker ambiance of the restrooms. And I wish the HR receptionist would stop acting like the world stops because she's chilly. We're all cold. The facilities people are doing what they can to make it warmer. Convincing the manager to call the maintenance department head isn't going to make the boiler work faster. It's not like no one realized it was freaking freezing in here up until you mentioned it.
*The one who may not have a job after this week. So...yeah. Hahaha. Make fun if you want, lady. At least I know I have a job (whether I like it or not...). She's hinting around that all of her projects will be reassigned to me. Which makes me...not laugh.
We got really cold rain over the weekend, but the possibility of snow never quite materialized. I got one little icile on my roofline on Saturday night, and there was a brief period earlier in the day where we could see a flake or two in the drizzle, but that was about it. Other areas of the state did see the white stuff, though, and the proof will be in the spike in price for strawberries and oranges. It's supposed to warm up laster this week, in time for M and I to see Jonathan Coulton with Paul and Storm at this gorgeous little place downtown called NOVA535. I'm thinking Hook's for some edamame, miso soup and maki rolls beforehand?
I am all set for my Cultural Anthropology class. I'm actually looking forward to it. One of my coworkers* has decided to make fun of the fact that I have the syllabus, the lecture outlines, the supplemental reading and the class calendar (that the professor made available as part of the course outline - I want to hug her!) all together in a binder. I'm a little fanatical about being organized. Sometimes.
My Literature class is the the exact opposite situation, though, and far from ideal - no syllabus posted, seven assigned books (one of which isn't even available to purchase because it's - get this - out of print), and according to the college staff, they haven't seen hide nor hair of the (adjunct) professor since the holiday break. Of course, the staff promised to find out what was going on and get back with me. Which they did not do. Big. Surprise. The class is tomorrow. If it turns out that this is a potential disaster, I'll drop it and find another literature or writing class that will suit me for this semester. No use in making myself crazy for something that I'm just doing for fun for the time being.
Just because:
I am all set for my Cultural Anthropology class. I'm actually looking forward to it. One of my coworkers* has decided to make fun of the fact that I have the syllabus, the lecture outlines, the supplemental reading and the class calendar (that the professor made available as part of the course outline - I want to hug her!) all together in a binder. I'm a little fanatical about being organized. Sometimes.
My Literature class is the the exact opposite situation, though, and far from ideal - no syllabus posted, seven assigned books (one of which isn't even available to purchase because it's - get this - out of print), and according to the college staff, they haven't seen hide nor hair of the (adjunct) professor since the holiday break. Of course, the staff promised to find out what was going on and get back with me. Which they did not do. Big. Surprise. The class is tomorrow. If it turns out that this is a potential disaster, I'll drop it and find another literature or writing class that will suit me for this semester. No use in making myself crazy for something that I'm just doing for fun for the time being.
Just because:
*The one who may not have a job after this week. So...yeah. Hahaha. Make fun if you want, lady. At least I know I have a job (whether I like it or not...). She's hinting around that all of her projects will be reassigned to me. Which makes me...not laugh.
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