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Possibly the nerdiest thing I have ever thought

March 6th, 2008 by Raggedy Android

So I as step out if the shower, I notice that I dry myself a specific way. I use one side of the towel for the my hair and the other side for the rest of me. This is because shedding on myself (particularly when I am newly clean) is a pet peeve. As I am drying, I start to think about that novelty towel that says “head” on one side and “butt” one the other. I develop in my mind a towel that says “hair side” and “flesh side”, but then I think, “Hm, I can probably only market that to paleographers and codicologists.”

Someone stop me…

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“24″ (or so)

February 24th, 2008 by Raggedy Android

Fri, 12pm: Discover that I passed my Master’s comprehensive exams

Fri, 1pm: Administer exam to West Civ II class

Fri, 2:30: Meet Six and Mel at a tattoo parlour

Fri, 4:00: Unable to stop her premature labour, Amy has a C-section, and Matthew is born 11 weeks early

Fri, 5:30: SB and I attend a ceremony to induct me (and some others) into Phi Alpha Theta (professional history society)

Fri, 8:30: Go home to change

Fri, 9:30: Decide we are all too exhausted and weirded out to do more that evening

Sat, 10:30am: Meet Mel, Six and Mike for brunch

Sat, 12pm: Visit Amy at hospital

Sat, 1pm: See Matthew in ICU

Sat, 2pm: Play Arkham Horror with Mel, Loricious, Six, Mike and SB

Sat, 4pm: Lori has to leave for dinner plans

Sat, 4:20: Lori calls to say Dave’s dad (who has had cancer) is not doing well and that they are driving to Illinois to visit

Sat, 4:30: Mel heads out to visit her mom

Sat, 4:45: Ryan calls to say Dave’s dad has passed away; we continue to phone tree

Sat, 5pm: We are unsure how to spend the evening, sit around not saying much

Sat, 6pm: Mike and SB go out to pick up dinner; Six and I talk about death experiences and how all we can do is be there for our friends Dave and Loricious
Sat, 8pm: Ryan comes over to pass the evening; we play Descent

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the INTERNET

February 10th, 2008 by Raggedy Android

Steelbuddha and I agree that this basically sums up the internet:

http://blackpeoplehatespacetravel.ytmnd.com/

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Stardust Soundtrack

November 14th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

I listen to soundtracks…a lot…

I just purchase the Stardust soundtrack from iTunes and have noticed that many of the tracks have drawn heavily (very heavily) from other soundtracks.  I have noticed themes from Lord of the Rings, Coppola’s Dracula, Harry Potter, and even An American Tale.  This theme-pirating is probably as overt as John Williams cannibalizing his own Hook soundtrack for the Anakin and Amidala love theme.
At the same time, it’s like a riddle.  Name that tune!

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LOLCatz: A History

November 4th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

http://break.com/index/the-history-of-lol-cats.html

A funny little parody.

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Halloween 2007

October 31st, 2007 by Raggedy Android

See Team Steam!

Our group costume theme this year was Harry Potter adults/faculty. If we rehash this in the future, we really need to fill in the gaps, such as Dumbledore, McGonagal, Snape, Lockhart, Hooch, Sprout, Fudge (ahem), etc.

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World Beard & Moustache Championships

October 8th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Coming to the US in 2009!

www.worldbeardchampionships.com

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Venetian Courtesan

September 4th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

See my new costume!

I have been collected fabrics and beads and such for this costume for probably a year now. I had the corset made last winter. Since closing day of ren faire was Monday, I spent the weekend making the rest of the outfit, including jewelry.

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I got Level 40 and a CHICKEN!!

August 30th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

I’ve only been playing the damn game since the beta (three years), and my primary goal was to get a mechanical chicken (and make a wardrobe of goggles). Done!

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Raggedy Android

August 27th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

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SF: Final Approach

August 20th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

I started writing this entry in the Atlanta airport, but was called to board, so I am continuing at home.

Friday morning we had our final exam. The medieval prose went well, as well as the sight-reading, but I still have trouble with the poetry. The sentence structure is not as intuitive. But it’s done. Now I have just have to keep on it.

After the exam, we met at the building where three of our classmates lived near campus for a cook-out. It was a really nice get-together, but it was weird trying to say “bye” to people you were only knew for this 10-weeks but saw every day for many hours but might never see again. People just kinda floated out. I took the opportunity to leave when several people were heading out, jokingly making the suggestion that we could keep in touch by forming a guild (which was funny to about 2-3 people).

Friday evening, we went to the Golden Gate Bridge (see photos). We concluded with a lovely Japanese-French fusion restaurant. I didn’t start packing until about 11pm, and my shuttle picked me up for the airport at 4:30am. Surprisingly, my flights went very smoothly. I was on the ground in Milwaukee by 6pm. Chris picked me up and we went out for yummy Greek. After dinner, I was pretty much too sleepy to be useful.

Sunday, we went to see Stardust, which was great. We went out to dinner with Mom, Bill & Steph. Today I did lunch with Jess. It’s been nice catching up and getting back into the swing of things. Tomorrow I have a lunch date with one of my profs and I start TA orientation on Wed.

Back to the grad school grindstone.

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SF: Entry #41

August 15th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Ok, I admit. I’ve been a little lax on my homework this week. Ovid is still a drag, but we’ve been doing the martyrdom of Thomas Becket in my prose class, and that’s been easy-peasy. Makes me feel like I’ve learned something.

Last night, we hit Haight Street and Chinatown again, and tonight we plan to hit Japantown once more. There’s only so much I can get into the last week, particularly with homework and the final looming.

A few new pics…

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SF: Entry #40

August 13th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

I had dinner with Chris’s aunt Ann this evening. She sends her best to all.

I’ve been thinking about photographs lately since I’ve been taking so many. I’ve been noticing that I look terribly goofy in the photos, but then, so do most everyone else. I think that maybe people with inner beauty are not the most photogenic because you can’t capture certain aspects of them.

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SF: Entry #39

August 12th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Saturday, I took the bus->subway->train to meet two friends from Emerson, Anne & Beth, for the weekend. We visited Hakone Gardens, wandered around the quaint downtown of Saratoga and had dinner. Afterward, we did a wee bit of shopping until we decided that we *needed* to see Transformers.

We went to a theater that we had seen while driving, but we didn’t want to wait 2.5 hours for it. So we asked until we found a showing in 30 minutes. We got directions from the manager at the other theatre and took off. The directions took us into the middle of nowhere. After missing what would have been the commercials, trailers and credits of the movie, we decided to forgo that theatre. Beth pointed out that the manager had probably sent us to be chopped up by a psycho and that it was good that we couldn’t find the street.

It then became a race to find Transformers. Beth sat in the backseat on the phone calling around while Anne drove us towards to hotel where we had internet access. Nothing fruitful came from the phone inquiries, and looking online Anne found the movie at a drive-in. We were thrilled. We drove around trying to find an open convenience store to get junk food, and eventually made it to the drive-in. Trying to get in was obnoxious, but once in, it was fun.

Sunday, we took our time getting up and ready (well, we woke up at 9am) and had brunch. Then we toured the Winchester House. It’s cool and weird. I took *so* many pictures, some of which I posted. I took lots of pictures of detailed architecture and decor, so if you happen to be interested in vintage home detailing, I can more pictures of molding, wallpaper, etc.

Now, I have tons of homework. I wish I could just spend every evening this week doing stuff in SF, but I have to work :/

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In Defense of Riley Finn

August 11th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Context: While playing a game with friends, Buffy the Vampire Slayer came up in a few contexts. At one point, Angel was mentioned, and people were a little groany about him. I said that I never really liked Angel and someone asked, “So you prefer her with Spike?” My reply was, “Actually, I like Riley,” to which the response was an aghast “who are you?”  I feel compelled to expound on this matter. Who I am is someone who feels the world needs more heroes.

We seem to regard the dark and brooding as sexy and mysterious.  It has become an archetype to which many of our generation aspire.  But I suspect that, in the majority of cases, this is artifice.  Is this unfair of me to say?  Whether I am wrong or not, what purpose does an internalized negative attitude serve? Surely I make allowances for people who truly are troubled, but this nevertheless is a increasingly common façade through which feelings characteristic of the whole of humankind are filtered.

What occurs when such discontent finds a different outlet, when the negative attitude turns from internal to external?  This aggressive sort is alluring by the appearance of strength and promise of danger.  But what is so wrong with good intentions?  What is so wrong with a positive attitude?  I have  felt the anger and the pain, just like everyone else, and I tried internalizing and externalizing it. It got me nothing but some ugly evidence and 5+ years behind in my life. I don’t want brooding and I don’t want anger.  They are no longer compelling.

So in this time and place when/where this submersion in negativity is self-absorbed—wallowing in the same pain as everyone else—we need more people who are willing to think of others.  We need those looking out for others in need.  We need people to demonstrate that positivity is not intrinsically antiquated.  We need people with manners and courtesy.  We need people who are willing to sacrifice, even just a little. We need heroes.

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SF: Entry #38

August 11th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

TGIF

It was a rough week, but I’m still here. The lecture this afternoon was rather dull and long, and at the convivium, people didn’t stick around very long. So Katie, Lauren and I picked up Lauren’s boyfriend Jeff and went for some tasty bbq (and grits and cornbread).  We then hooked up with Chris and went to a bar called Albatross. We need a place like this in Milwaukee. It’s 21+ only, and there’s no smoking (because it’s CA). They don’t serve food, but you can carry it in. And it is entirely stocked with board games that you check out. So we played Taboo for 2+ hours. I was voted most amazing answer of the night.  –Anyone who’s spent enough time with me (and paid attention) has witnessed something like this at one time or another.– So the timer had mere seconds left, and Lauren said “this is a noise-making device” and I answered “clarinet.” And I was right.

Katie took pictures.

This weekend I will be visiting with friends from Emerson.

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Quid feci?

August 10th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Nothing to say. Just working.

“…the morphology has gone badly wrong here…”

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A Gentleman’s Duel

August 6th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Chris sent me this, and you all should see it! Very funny.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2aj1j_a-gentlemens-duel_shortfilms

Update:

This video seems to have disappeared from all over the internet. The closest thing is a trailer from the creators:

http://www.blur.com/gentlemans_duel.html#

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SF: Entry #37

August 5th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Did lots of stuff yesterday, with lots of pictures.
We first walked to North Beach for lunch. Then we walked to Coit Tower, which is probably most famous for its view. Then we walked to Fisherman’s Wharf, checked out the Ghiradelli mall and had ice cream. Then we took a boat to Alcatraz and toured the joint. (Be sure to check out the photos.) Then we booked it by bus to meet people for dinner and to see “Bourne Ultimatum”.

When we were walking to the station, there were assorted zealots yelling about things. One had a neon bright sign that read “Jesus Loves You”. I turned to Chad and said “All right! Jesus loves you! High five!” Then I turned to Hann and said “Jesus loves you!” and he replied “oo, I hope not”. that just seemed like a funny response to me.

Today, I’ve spent half the time doing homework, and the other half we went shopping around downtown. At 10:10pm, the week is looming…

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SF: Entry #36

August 4th, 2007 by Raggedy Android

Whew, I’m beat. It’s been a long week. Between spending too much time on homework and a high percentage of food not settling well, it’s been draining. It’s a good thing that I’m surrounded by nice people.

The quiz I took yesterday went pretty well. I hope the one today was ok. I hung out with classmates after the convivium today. I’m such a party animal that when I got home tonight at about 12:30, I fell asleep on the couch almost immediately. The lame fish fry I had for dinner hit kinda hard. It was awfully greasy for being so flavorless. The potatoes were fine.

I wore my t-shirt today that says “You have died of dysentery”. It may in fact be my best conversation-starting shirt. Anyway, Dan said that he should retire from school and design the game “Oregon Trail 3000″ which is about crossing the country in a covered wagon post-apocalypse. Laura responded with “You just killed a 4000 pound mutant goldfish; you can carry 50 pounds.” She then said that there should be an “Oregon Road Trip” game, with bits like “You sing ’80s tunes with your friend; you can sing 3 tunes”. Dan commented with “You have died of nostalgia”.

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