from the unaired Buffy the Vampire Slayer pilot--before Alyson Hannigan there was Riff Regan.
Chunky girls unite! (Thanks to YKWIA for finding the following videos for me):
and Buffy's first fight--with the original Willow getting in on the action (although why a Jew is running around with a cross, I don't know...maybe she wasn't Willow Rosenberg yet?)--warning, the music sort of ruins it, although the poster plans on doing a non-musical version, apparently. I'm just not a Garbage fan--I think that's the band.
PS Came across this quote by Sarah Michelle Gellar and it exactly sums up my feelings on the matter: 'I have good friends, gay couples, who've been together for 18 years. It drives me crazy that in the eyes of the law, their love isn't acknowledged when I have girlfriends who have married four times by the age of 25.'
Friday, August 31, 2007
On the other hand, I think the government should throw the book at employers who hire illegal immigrants
Immigration raids Ohio chicken plant
One illegal immigrant on the payroll is an oversight, perhaps. Maybe the documents were convincing forgeries. But 160? That's ridiculous, and Koch Foods should be charged and fined at the very least--and some of their staff should be losing their jobs, too.
As long as such companies make it easy for illegal immigrants to work, they'll continue to come. If we enforced and obeyed the laws as they are written, a lot could be done for illegal immigration. I'm not against illegal immigrants as people. Of course they're trying to make their lives and the lives of their families better. But they don't need to do it illegally, and cutting off the payroll is the best way to prevent it, just like cutting off the supply of drugs makes more impact than arresting a small-time drug user. Obviously, you do both, but I'm just saying the impact is greater higher up the chain. Shutting down or otherwise punishing businesses that hire many illegal immigrants (often for substandard working conditions), makes a greater impact.
One illegal immigrant on the payroll is an oversight, perhaps. Maybe the documents were convincing forgeries. But 160? That's ridiculous, and Koch Foods should be charged and fined at the very least--and some of their staff should be losing their jobs, too.
As long as such companies make it easy for illegal immigrants to work, they'll continue to come. If we enforced and obeyed the laws as they are written, a lot could be done for illegal immigration. I'm not against illegal immigrants as people. Of course they're trying to make their lives and the lives of their families better. But they don't need to do it illegally, and cutting off the payroll is the best way to prevent it, just like cutting off the supply of drugs makes more impact than arresting a small-time drug user. Obviously, you do both, but I'm just saying the impact is greater higher up the chain. Shutting down or otherwise punishing businesses that hire many illegal immigrants (often for substandard working conditions), makes a greater impact.
I don't think they should be thrown out of the country
Foreign-Born Widows Face Deportation
If a green card application is pending at the time of a US-born spouse's death, then the widow/er who is foreign-born is subject to deportation, even if there are children from the marriage who are US citizens. For that matter, if the application was approved but the spouse died before the marriage was two years old, it is subjected to deportation consideration on a case-by-case basis. The only exception is if the spouse was an active member of the US military.
It seems a shame to kick out a legal immigrant after she or he has already suffered great personal loss. In the cases presented in this story, one man died trying to save drowning children and was posthumously awarded one of the Coast Guard's highest honours, and two died in Iraq as military contractors, supporting the armed forces there. That their spouses are facing deportation because of their deaths is a slap in the face of their heroism.
It seems to me that maybe this crack in the sidewalk should be mended. In the meantime, if you're a couple that has a US citizen and a foreign national together, by all means do the paperwork for permanent residency as soon as it can be done...your future may depend upon it.
For more information about this, including the class action lawsuit that has been filed to try to change things, see Surviving Spouses Against Deportation.
If a green card application is pending at the time of a US-born spouse's death, then the widow/er who is foreign-born is subject to deportation, even if there are children from the marriage who are US citizens. For that matter, if the application was approved but the spouse died before the marriage was two years old, it is subjected to deportation consideration on a case-by-case basis. The only exception is if the spouse was an active member of the US military.
It seems a shame to kick out a legal immigrant after she or he has already suffered great personal loss. In the cases presented in this story, one man died trying to save drowning children and was posthumously awarded one of the Coast Guard's highest honours, and two died in Iraq as military contractors, supporting the armed forces there. That their spouses are facing deportation because of their deaths is a slap in the face of their heroism.
It seems to me that maybe this crack in the sidewalk should be mended. In the meantime, if you're a couple that has a US citizen and a foreign national together, by all means do the paperwork for permanent residency as soon as it can be done...your future may depend upon it.
For more information about this, including the class action lawsuit that has been filed to try to change things, see Surviving Spouses Against Deportation.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Feeling good, yet in a hauntingly Gothic mood nonetheless
I think Amy Lee has a beautiful voice that I could only hope to have a fraction of.
'My Immortal' by Evanescence
'Lithium', also by Evanescence (and YKWIA, there's a brief shot of a frozen spider carcass 18 seconds in on this one)
Lithium is usually used to keep down mania in bipolar disorder moreso than as an anti-depressant, athough it does have those properties as well. I've never taken lithium, but I take Lamictal for the same reason. My life has been so much better since I went on it...I've found it freeing, really. But I could see how someone might mourn the loss of the thing that defined them.
Good night. I'm going to bed at midnight, not three in the morning. Woo-hoo!
'My Immortal' by Evanescence
'Lithium', also by Evanescence (and YKWIA, there's a brief shot of a frozen spider carcass 18 seconds in on this one)
Lithium is usually used to keep down mania in bipolar disorder moreso than as an anti-depressant, athough it does have those properties as well. I've never taken lithium, but I take Lamictal for the same reason. My life has been so much better since I went on it...I've found it freeing, really. But I could see how someone might mourn the loss of the thing that defined them.
Good night. I'm going to bed at midnight, not three in the morning. Woo-hoo!
The writer of this test was nearly illiterate
and I think I came out odd. But here you go:
Your Score: The debutante
You scored 53% stylishness, 34% Passion, 68% Knowledge, and 30% Debauchery!
Youre smart, people know it and you pull it off without insulting half the room. when you tell a joke people listen, when you dont like someone, you shatter them with your disregard for anything that they say or do. In fact with a little elbow grease, you would be the high of high society without a shred of heart. But who needs heart?
| Link: The fatal flaw Test written by luxojr2 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
See! I'm home at a decent time!
though I wasted an hour trying to get a medication that 1) is still awaiting prior autorisation and 2) was supposed to be called in at my last dosage to brige me over and that hasn't been done yet (the office told me they would on Monday). None of that is the pharmacy's fault, but this is: I was told that they 'won't be carrying distilled water in the future' when I asked where it was. Let's see, pharmacies sell humidifiers, humidifiers and other medical devices require distilled water, hmmm. They have drinking water, pediatric water. I think they may even have soda water. But alas, no distilled. Okay, I forgot to take my meds today; so maybe that's making me a little more irritable than normal. But wouldn't you expect a pharmacy (or at least one that carries the humidifiers and such, at least) to carry distilled water? Oh, well, rant over. But it's to the grocery for distilled H2O from now on, although tonight I didn't feel like going because it was thunderbooming (and still is, although now that Cerys and I are tucked away inside it's finally raining hard, so I'm glad I got in first. And we so need the rain.
I used to have a terrible phobia of thunder. Even as a baby I screamed during thunderstorms. As a teenager I dove under a table in front of company when a particularly loud one sounded. It got better slowly until my honeymoon, where we stood up on top of a hill trying to save the camp by manning wooden tarp poles, and when the inevitable bolt struck enough for everyone else to feel the electricity, I was in foetal position in a puddle of water. So for awhile after that I was pretty sensitive. But it's lessened, and now I can actually enjoy a thunderstorm--at least if I'm inside. :) Between writing and all of those ions being charged, I think I'm feeling better.
Today I was off work celebrating a birthday with Indian food. Yay! So I got to sleep late and come home early, woo-hoo! The friend I pick up at midnight most nights was off, too, so I don't have to go back out tonight unless there's an emergency. Double woo-hoo! I did have one moment where the car died today but restarted with no trouble. I'll keep an eye out for that. I know my fluids are okay; I checked them a couple of weeks ago. And it was a little low on gas (but not on empty) and I've filled up since then, so maybe it will be okay. She has over 240,000 miles on her, is on a salvaged engine, and has a door that keeps falling off, but she's gotten me where I need to go most of the time. I hope there's some life left in her.
Speaking of old but chugging along, Cerys has been sleeping really close to me, although generally not in bed anymore. She'll be right where my feet come down off the mattress, for instance, or yesterday I napped in the recliner and she slept under my feet. So I'm being really careful about where I put my feet. It's adorable, really. I think she's having trouble getting on the bed, though.
This morning I put a little gas in the car and found out that our cheques had come, so I put mine in the bank. Yay! I get paid at the hospital tomorrow and then I can go ahead and pay my rent a little early. The schedule wasn't up yet, though so I left my appointments with my boss (we'd talked for a little while about stuff to do with work) and then tonight after the pharmacy I came back to get the full tank of gas and check the schedule. I'm working tomorrow 5-9 (truck night), Friday from 6-8, and then nothing. That's right, I'm off all day Saturday. Woo-hoo! I think that's number three or four since I started in December 2005. And then I'm off through Wednesday. Granted, I'll only get paid for 6 hours for the week, but that will fall on my off payday that coincides with the next hospital payweek, so it should be okay. It won't affect my rent, anyway, and I think I can take care of my bills as long as it doesn't continue to be that low. We're shooting for about 15 hours a week rather than 27, which is what I was working for awhile. That gives me a little more time for things other than work, sleep, food, notes, and errands. :)
Okay, that's all for now. I think I may curl up for a bit and listen to the thunder.
I used to have a terrible phobia of thunder. Even as a baby I screamed during thunderstorms. As a teenager I dove under a table in front of company when a particularly loud one sounded. It got better slowly until my honeymoon, where we stood up on top of a hill trying to save the camp by manning wooden tarp poles, and when the inevitable bolt struck enough for everyone else to feel the electricity, I was in foetal position in a puddle of water. So for awhile after that I was pretty sensitive. But it's lessened, and now I can actually enjoy a thunderstorm--at least if I'm inside. :) Between writing and all of those ions being charged, I think I'm feeling better.
Today I was off work celebrating a birthday with Indian food. Yay! So I got to sleep late and come home early, woo-hoo! The friend I pick up at midnight most nights was off, too, so I don't have to go back out tonight unless there's an emergency. Double woo-hoo! I did have one moment where the car died today but restarted with no trouble. I'll keep an eye out for that. I know my fluids are okay; I checked them a couple of weeks ago. And it was a little low on gas (but not on empty) and I've filled up since then, so maybe it will be okay. She has over 240,000 miles on her, is on a salvaged engine, and has a door that keeps falling off, but she's gotten me where I need to go most of the time. I hope there's some life left in her.
Speaking of old but chugging along, Cerys has been sleeping really close to me, although generally not in bed anymore. She'll be right where my feet come down off the mattress, for instance, or yesterday I napped in the recliner and she slept under my feet. So I'm being really careful about where I put my feet. It's adorable, really. I think she's having trouble getting on the bed, though.
This morning I put a little gas in the car and found out that our cheques had come, so I put mine in the bank. Yay! I get paid at the hospital tomorrow and then I can go ahead and pay my rent a little early. The schedule wasn't up yet, though so I left my appointments with my boss (we'd talked for a little while about stuff to do with work) and then tonight after the pharmacy I came back to get the full tank of gas and check the schedule. I'm working tomorrow 5-9 (truck night), Friday from 6-8, and then nothing. That's right, I'm off all day Saturday. Woo-hoo! I think that's number three or four since I started in December 2005. And then I'm off through Wednesday. Granted, I'll only get paid for 6 hours for the week, but that will fall on my off payday that coincides with the next hospital payweek, so it should be okay. It won't affect my rent, anyway, and I think I can take care of my bills as long as it doesn't continue to be that low. We're shooting for about 15 hours a week rather than 27, which is what I was working for awhile. That gives me a little more time for things other than work, sleep, food, notes, and errands. :)
Okay, that's all for now. I think I may curl up for a bit and listen to the thunder.
Ah, but I thought I was Igor?
Your Score: Mad Scientist
You scored 50 Mad, 90 Scientist!
You already know that you're a scientist. But are you mad? Yes, frothing. While these plans for world domination and histories of questionable ethical conduct may seem like a good idea right now, remember that it's all fun and games until your little "experiment" comes back to you with a bone to pick.....or several.
| Link: The Mad Scientist Test written by JenovasWitness7 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Good night--I've stayed up too late; thank goodness I'm not working tomorrow
Your Score: Dorothy & Scarecrow
You scored 44% Heart, 73% Brains, 57 Courage%, and 76% Home!
You share equal qualities of Dorothy Gale and the Scarecrow! Yours is a great combination of pluck and brains! You've got the insight to see to the heart of a problem, and the spirit to get you through. No witches or wizards can keep you from your goals once you set your mind to it! Eventually, you'll become a princess in Oz, or rule the Emerald City!
| Link: The Off to See the Wizard Test written by DennisFL on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
I was a little late getting in tonight
because I helped jump a neighbour's car. Unfortunately it sounds like the starter, not the battery (the car just clicked), so that sort of sucks for them. But it was nice to help someone out, and they weren't even serial killers. :)
On to the news.
It seems to me that either Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) is in serious denial or he really believes he can snow constituents. Let's see--caught by police in a sting to stop sex in men's bathrooms at the Minneapolis airport, then keeping the whole thing to himself--not even getting a lawyer--and pleading guilty and receiving probation, then saying he's not guilty and not gay. Hmmm...I know from intimate sources of my youth just what goes on in men's rooms. I also know from my sociology studies (see, I'm using one of my majors!) that the majority of men who frequent the restrooms do not in acutality identify themselves as gay. There's a reason the CDC and others studying AIDS list it as MSM (men who have sex with men) rather than homosexual. Plus, all this is on top of a local newspaper's investigations of his sexuality given his attitudes towards gay rights. And for pete's sake, in the future, get a room.
Only in San Francisco would they have an 'Astrowizard' explaining the lunar eclipse. :) [Video from SF Gate; requires Quicktime]
I'm interested to see how this plays out in the courts:
Yahoo!: we did not assist torture in China
I think Yahoo! has the stronger case, because 1) when it operates in another country it is subject to that country's laws, 2) users of these sorts of companies are warned in their privacy statements that privacy ends when court-ordered, 3) the dissidents knew at the time that they used the e-mail that they were violating Chinese law and were subject to such a court order, and 4) the plaintiffs are foreign nationals attempting to sue under US court against a US company for actions taking place in a foreign jurisdiction. Now, that doesn't always protect you. Think of American countries sued for profiting from the slave labour of the Holocaust in Europe, for example.
I'm not saying I agree with the laws of China; I don't. Nor would I have handed over the files myself. But, legally speaking, I think Yahoo! has a better footing. It will be interesting to see what the courts decide.
On to the news.
It seems to me that either Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) is in serious denial or he really believes he can snow constituents. Let's see--caught by police in a sting to stop sex in men's bathrooms at the Minneapolis airport, then keeping the whole thing to himself--not even getting a lawyer--and pleading guilty and receiving probation, then saying he's not guilty and not gay. Hmmm...I know from intimate sources of my youth just what goes on in men's rooms. I also know from my sociology studies (see, I'm using one of my majors!) that the majority of men who frequent the restrooms do not in acutality identify themselves as gay. There's a reason the CDC and others studying AIDS list it as MSM (men who have sex with men) rather than homosexual. Plus, all this is on top of a local newspaper's investigations of his sexuality given his attitudes towards gay rights. And for pete's sake, in the future, get a room.
Only in San Francisco would they have an 'Astrowizard' explaining the lunar eclipse. :) [Video from SF Gate; requires Quicktime]
I'm interested to see how this plays out in the courts:
Yahoo!: we did not assist torture in China
I think Yahoo! has the stronger case, because 1) when it operates in another country it is subject to that country's laws, 2) users of these sorts of companies are warned in their privacy statements that privacy ends when court-ordered, 3) the dissidents knew at the time that they used the e-mail that they were violating Chinese law and were subject to such a court order, and 4) the plaintiffs are foreign nationals attempting to sue under US court against a US company for actions taking place in a foreign jurisdiction. Now, that doesn't always protect you. Think of American countries sued for profiting from the slave labour of the Holocaust in Europe, for example.
I'm not saying I agree with the laws of China; I don't. Nor would I have handed over the files myself. But, legally speaking, I think Yahoo! has a better footing. It will be interesting to see what the courts decide.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Got this via a freakish ex-friend's site
but damn, it's good:
'Tale About The Cat And The Moon'
And now, to bed.
'Tale About The Cat And The Moon'
And now, to bed.
Apparently there is a limit to how long a post can be, and I hit it
so I broke the last one and this in two.
Here's a quiz where I came out Air Force, which makes sense, because I grew up as an Air Force brat. Besides, they're the smart ones. :)
and a video...
Forget knitting. Here's something really cool to do with yarn and other fibres:
[to the tune of AM Syndicate's 'To the Peasants of the Emperor'. Check out more animation at Clear Productions.]
Here's another of his, this one entitled 'Waltz', by Seth Bedford [performed by the Elastic WasteBand] (which brings us back to murder):
Here's a quiz where I came out Air Force, which makes sense, because I grew up as an Air Force brat. Besides, they're the smart ones. :)
74 % aiming high, 28 % deck swabbing, 11 % army strong, 0 % grunting
Congratulations! Way to push your "man-up" button and see how you'd fit in the DoD.
The scores are self-explanatory, but it you don't get it, you may want to join the Army regardless. (I kid.) For those not familiar with the US armed forces, "aiming high" is your Air Force aptitude, "army strong" is so obvious it's Army-proof, "grunting" is your Marine Corps ranking, and "deck-swabbing" is your Navy percentile.
If you scored about the same in two categories, you're fairly average. (Unless you scored highly for both Air Force and Marines, in which case God help you, because there is no safe place for you.) More than likely, your Navy and Air Force aptitudes were similar. Those are the two branches of service that know how to have a laugh or two, chill when possible, and still get the job done and done right.
You may also have similar Army and Marine Corps aptitudes. Nothing wrong with that at all; you're probably just more on the straightforward and practical (Army) or humorless and ruthless, but badass (MC) side of life.
If you were split between Army and Air Force or Army and Navy, well, you're odd, but you may find happiness as a Department of the Army Civilian. First, ask yourself an important question: are you okay with another person being the lord of your fucking universe just because they pinned on their last rank - which is the same as yours - a day before you did? If the answer is yes, run, don't walk, to join that Army of One, because you don't belong a damn place else.
Finally, if you came out even across all four, don't mistake yourself for "average" as a result. You're a freak. Square peg, kid. You may want to spend a few years on a mountaintop, just figuring shit out.
| Link: The Which Armed Service is for You Test written by embraceitall on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
and a video...
Forget knitting. Here's something really cool to do with yarn and other fibres:
[to the tune of AM Syndicate's 'To the Peasants of the Emperor'. Check out more animation at Clear Productions.]
Here's another of his, this one entitled 'Waltz', by Seth Bedford [performed by the Elastic WasteBand] (which brings us back to murder):
Yipee! You actually get textual content tonight!
I'm home at a semi-reasonable hour tonight. So, here are some random things I needed to blog about:
That's all I can think of right now.
- Shane Ragland, who had been convicted of murdering UK football player Trent DiGiuro in 1994, but that conviction had been overturned because a forensics expert lied on the stand, was set for his second murder trial when he copped a plea for second-degree manslaughter instead. The authorities are recommending an eight-year sentence, but with credit for time served, so he'll be out in three days.
I can understand why he took the plea bargain--he was facing life in prison for using a scoped rifle to shoot and kill DiGiuro who was out on a balcony with friends celebrating his 21st birthday. My first thought was why on earth did the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney offer it? Apparently it was to protect the main witness, who had been under the protection of state and federal agencies, but this could be done only once. Still I don't get it. Wouldn't she be safer with Ragland behind bars?
The defence of course maintains Ragland's innocence, saying that he had to say he did it to get out of jail, basically. What a load of crap. Either you plead guilty because you did it, or you plead innocent because you didn't.
At the time of DiGiuro's death, I lived two blocks away, near campus. It shocked the community that anyone would do this. Now the guy's going to just walk? Argh. My thoughts are with DiGiuro's family. It's been an emotional rollercoaster and I'm sure this isn't how they wanted it to end, although I guess it's good he did serve some time. - On a lighter note, the moon is high and beautiful and full overhead, but later on tonight there will be a full lunar eclipse. It'll be near morning, which might affect viewing. I'm not sure if I want to get up at 4 or 5 in the morning to watch, but thought I'd put it out there for any of you who want to watch it. The high point I think is 5:52 EDT.
- My neighbour across the hall, who is Hindu, came up to me and told me that in her religion they feed animals because they are close to God, and she didn't have any and neither did her friends. Her family is far away. So she wondered if it would be okay to get food for my dog and if so, what kind do I feed her? I told her that would be fine, but I was pretty sure it had beef in it and I didn't know if that would be a problem. I looked at the ingredients and there it was. She said she'd check with her mother (she seems pretty young, in her early 20s). Apparently it was alright because this morning next to the newspaper there was a bag of food for Cerys. So Cerys benefits and so do we. That's very nice of them. I must find a way to thank them (although I wish they'd feed me; I constantly smelling wonderful smells of Indian food when I pass their apartment). :)
- I worked 10 hours Saturday but I'm off from the store today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Yay! Maybe I can get some rest.
- Despite the heat and drought, I've seen lots of butterflies lately. I love them. My middle name, Eilir, actually means butterfly in Welsh. They're wonderful examples of transformation.
- I'm beginning to get stuff out of the library. I have boxes of books in my new closet, and I'm putting the journals that have been weeded on a cart to go back to the compactor (and yes, I did offer them to other libraries first). Emptying that shelving unit gives me room for things that were on my small bookshelf, which will be going away. Eventually my desk will be back with that larger shelf. I need to keep room for acquisitions to be processed, though.
That's all I can think of right now.
Monday, August 27, 2007
A many-questioned variant (as opposed to the 2 before)
I think I have strong streaks of both, as seen in the following tables...
Take Free Enneagram Personality Test
Take Free Enneagram Personality Test
Main Type | Overall Self |
 |  |
| Enneagram Test Results
Your variant is social |
This is pretty much me
Your Score: 4- the Individualist
Thanks for taking the test !
you chose BY - your Enneagram type is FOUR (aka "The Romantic")
"I am unique"
Romantics have sensitive feelings and are warm and perceptive.
How to Get Along with Me
- Give me plenty of compliments. They mean a lot to me.
- Be a supportive friend or partner. Help me to learn to love and value myself.
- Respect me for my special gifts of intuition and vision.
- Though I don't always want to be cheered up when I'm feeling melancholy, I sometimes like to have someone lighten me up a little.
- Don't tell me I'm too sensitive or that I'm overreacting!
What I Like About Being a FOUR
- my ability to find meaning in life and to experience feeling at a deep level
- my ability to establish warm connections with people
- admiring what is noble, truthful, and beautiful in life
- my creativity, intuition, and sense of humor
- being unique and being seen as unique by others
- having aesthetic sensibilities
- being able to easily pick up the feelings of people around me
What's Hard About Being a FOUR
- experiencing dark moods of emptiness and despair
- feelings of self-hatred and shame; believing I don't deserve to be loved
- feeling guilty when I disappoint people
- feeling hurt or attacked when someone misundertands me
- expecting too much from myself and life
- fearing being abandoned
- obsessing over resentments
- longing for what I don't have
FOURs as Children Often
- have active imaginations: play creatively alone or organize playmates in original games
- are very sensitive
- feel that they don't fit in
- believe they are missing something that other people have
- attach themselves to idealized teachers, heroes, artists, etc.
- become antiauthoritarian or rebellious when criticized or not understood
- feel lonely or abandoned (perhaps as a result of a death or their parents' divorce)
- help their children become who they really are
- support their children's creativity and originality
- are good at helping their children get in touch with their feelings
- are sometimes overly critical or overly protective
- are usually very good with children if not too self-absorbed
Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
Harper SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages
You liked the test?
so S P R E A D I T ! tell everyone!!! (use Quick-Paste below)
you wanna know MORE?
so check out, what Wikipedia says about your type...
...even more you'll find in Google
or do you prefer to
 |
You are not completely happy with the result?!
You chose BY
Would you rather have chosen:
| Link: The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Another day in the weekend, another quiz
Your Score: Prophet
You scored
Now, don't take this the wrong way. You are probably not a prophet in the strictest sense of the word. However, your creativity allows you to come up with brilliant ideas on how to spread your morality. You are good at inventing reasons for people to follow you. Whether this is a good or bad thing... well, that's entirely up to you.
| Link: The Character Analysis Test written by Knyaz_S on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Sorry, it's late again. I really will try to write soon.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Today's been busy and I need to go on to bed
but I did a quiz while I was eating. Here you go...
I really will try to be up to something other than quick quizzes soon. :)
Link: The Online Dating Persona Test @ OkCupid - free online dating. My profile name: : eilir |
Your Score: Activism
You scored -10Moral Order, 6 Moral Rules!
Activism can be dedicated to many causes: animal rights, environment, civil rights, global poverty... Activists come in all shapes and form but tend to share the same belief as Socialists regarding InterDependence. They tend to focus social causes that are farther to the left than the mainstream, therefore their position on the chart. Also included in this category (although maybe with some variations) are: Anti-Globalism Greenism
| Link: The Moral Politics Test written by humder on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
I really will try to be up to something other than quick quizzes soon. :)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Here's another one, and then I must head to bed.
Your Score: IDI-Donna Elvira
You scored 50%Selflessness, 30 % Aggressiveness, 45 % Head/Heart!
Self(I)sh, (D)emure and (I)ntelligent you are Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni's sassy noble woman scorned. Perhaps one of Mozart's most tenacious heroines, you are an unlikely combination of class, composure and self-preservation. You tend to face every situation with a graceful demeanor meaning that although from time to time you may get mistreaten, you are never anybody's fool.
| Link: The Which Operatic Heroine are You Test written by amneris59 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
I'll try to actually write about my week tomorrow.
Found this quiz on Anita Blake's universe
Could have done better, and probably should, although I haven't read the last few (they're getting to be pretty much sex, violence, and maybe a storyline that strings them togethere...still, I'd like to catch up on them).
Your Score: Anita
You scored 87%!
You're the woman herself! You kick ass, and you know it! You know what's going on and probably even have a clue what's coming in the future. You pay attention to the details and keep your facts straight. You're a rare individual.
| Link: The Anita Blake Test written by kittyvamp85 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Quizzes!
Your Score: The Monk
You scored 13% Cardinal, 76% Monk, 44% Lady, and 35% Knight!
You live a peaceful, quiet life. Very little danger comes your way and you live a long time. You are wise and modest, but also stagnant. You have little comfort, little food and have taken a vow of silence. But who needs chatter when just sitting in the cloister of your abbey with The Good Book makes you perfectly content.
| Link: The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test written by KnightlyKnave on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Your Score: Halberd
You preferred a weapon with 43% power over speed and 29% range over melee.
You use a Halberd.
Possibly the most versatile polearm ever made, the Halberd is an elegant mix of spear and staff, remaining relatively light while having an effective cutting edge and stabbing point. Your enemies will never get near you; your personal space will be as unreachable as a faraway land.
| Link: The What's Your Signature Weapon Test written by inurashii on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Your Score: The Perfect Balance
You scored 79% Playfulness!!!
You walk hand in hand with your inner child. You are not entirely consumed by childlike wonder, but you recognize it and still enjoy it to a high degree. You take your inner child out for regular playdates, and this makes you a lot of fun to be around, if a little unpredictable to those around you. But that's okay, it keeps them on their toes! (Now rate this test if you love me! Or even if you don't hate me, that's good enough too!)
| Link: The Childlike Wonder Test written by seraphimjezebel on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A friend wanted me to take this test. Here's how I scored.
I liked both the machete and rifle options.
Here's another one for good measure...good night.
Your Score: Zombie Master.
You scored 70% survivability and 60% kickass-ability!
You were born for z-day. Not only will you be killing zombies left and right, but you will be leading the other survivors. You will be the one making decisions and the person who is looked to for advice. Congratulations.
| Link: The Non-lame Zombie Survival Test written by jesmanpokeyfun on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Here's another one for good measure...good night.
Your Score: Franz Kafka
Your Literary Style Is 0% Realistic, 100% Philosophical, and 66% Psychological!
Franz Kafka's literary style is so distinct that an adjective has been coined from his name to describe similar styles. That adjective is "kafkaesque". Your own writing, obviously, is kafkaesque. Kafka wrote very strange, horrifying stories. His most famous novella involves the transformation of a man into a giant insect. His works are not only fantastic and symbolic, but they are often very philsophical and thought provoking. Many of his stories are allegorical or metaphorical, focusing on the nature of spirituality and the absurdity of life. Not only that, but his work is often intensely cerebral, delving deep into the minds of his characters and examining their psychology and the motivations for their actions. Your writing follows Kafka's example by being highly philosophical, psychological, and surrealistic.
Some stories you may enjoy: "The Metamorphasis", The Castle, The Trial, and "A Hunger Artist".
The other literary styles:
Edgar Allan Poe / Jorge Luis Borges / George Orwell / F. Scott Fitzgerald / Fyodor Dostoevsky / Herman Melville / Albert Camus
| Link: The Literary Style Test written by saint_gasoline on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Two more ways to support Congolese women
For the athletic:
Run for Congo Women
You can run at an event, as a group, even as an individual. Donations are made through the organisation below; the same ways to donate apply. Here are some 'talking points' from this organisation:
Run for Congo Women was created by everyday women like us to send a message of hope and dignity to women living through this conflict. This year, I'm going to donate to RFCW--and if I can, I'll sponsor a woman. I don't have much money to give, but what little I can will be pooled with others to make a difference in the lives of these women. And I can help raise awareness through this blog and other avenues. Here's why it's important to me: but for an accident of birth, any of us could be experiencing the horrors of the women of the Congo...every woman deserves the inherent dignity she has as a human being and to live--and if she chooses, to raise a family--in safety. Violence against women must stop if we are ever to rise above the baser aspects of the human condition. Women are important. They raise each new generation--and violence against women does harm not only to the woman, but to their partners, their children, their families, and their communities.
We are raising awareness and sponsorships through Women for Women International's Congo program. For $27/ month we can sponsor a war affected woman with support groups, rights awareness, job training, literacy, and other training, as well money to use at her discretion, and we can exchange letters with her. The goal is self-sufficiency within 1 year. The programme has been endorsed by Oprah.
Here's what I'm asking:
We hope you will join the statement that is Run for Congo Women, however you chose to get involved. In fact, by taking the time to listen, you already have!
OUR STATEMENT
Congolese lives matter. The lives of Congolese women are significant. The lives of Congolese children are precious. The have waited far too long. They are worth our effort. We are running to help.
and
Women for Women International
For $27 a month, you can sponsor a woman (in Afghanistan, Bosnia, the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, or the Sudan), providing her with financial support, job skills training, rights education to make her life and that of her family better. You receive a packet with information about the woman and can exchange letters with her if you like. They also accept flat fee donations.
Run for Congo Women
You can run at an event, as a group, even as an individual. Donations are made through the organisation below; the same ways to donate apply. Here are some 'talking points' from this organisation:
Talking Points
- Are you familiar with the Rwandan Genocide of 1994? At it's conclusion, militias were pushed over the border into the Congo, where they continued killing, raping, and terrorising Congolese. They continue to this day.
- Chaos erupted into what has been termed "Africa's First World War", as rag-tag militias backed by 9 African governments roam Congolese forests, terrorizing civilians.
- All countries involved use the war as a cover for looting diamonds, gold, coltan, and other precious resources from this mineral rich region, according to the United Nations.
- More hope than ever has arisen, with a peace treaty in 2003, and recent elections. And yet…
- More than 4 million people have died.
- 38,000 continue to die every month, 1200 a day.
- This is the equivalent of an Asian Tsunami every 6.5 months
- Or a September 11 every 2.5 days
- Half of these deaths are children under the age of 5 years.
- Most children don't reach their 5th birthday.
- Women are targeted daily for gang rape, torture, and sexual slavery.
- THIS IS THE DEADLIEST WAR SINCE WORLD WAR II.
- And yet we don't talk about the Congo. Never heard of this conflict? You aren't alone. Most people haven't. It receives almost no news coverage.
- The Congolese people know they have not been worth the effort in the eyes of the world. "When 4 million people have died, and no one cares, we don't feel human anymore."- Jean Paul, Congolese man.
Run for Congo Women was created by everyday women like us to send a message of hope and dignity to women living through this conflict. This year, I'm going to donate to RFCW--and if I can, I'll sponsor a woman. I don't have much money to give, but what little I can will be pooled with others to make a difference in the lives of these women. And I can help raise awareness through this blog and other avenues. Here's why it's important to me: but for an accident of birth, any of us could be experiencing the horrors of the women of the Congo...every woman deserves the inherent dignity she has as a human being and to live--and if she chooses, to raise a family--in safety. Violence against women must stop if we are ever to rise above the baser aspects of the human condition. Women are important. They raise each new generation--and violence against women does harm not only to the woman, but to their partners, their children, their families, and their communities.
We are raising awareness and sponsorships through Women for Women International's Congo program. For $27/ month we can sponsor a war affected woman with support groups, rights awareness, job training, literacy, and other training, as well money to use at her discretion, and we can exchange letters with her. The goal is self-sufficiency within 1 year. The programme has been endorsed by Oprah.
Here's what I'm asking:
- Support my efforts by signing up to sponsor a woman in Congo through Women for Women International.
- Host a Congo Care Gathering, to educate your circle about what is happening in the Congo.
- Can't sponsor? Donate a flat amount to Women for Women's Congo programme.
We hope you will join the statement that is Run for Congo Women, however you chose to get involved. In fact, by taking the time to listen, you already have!
OUR STATEMENT
Congolese lives matter. The lives of Congolese women are significant. The lives of Congolese children are precious. The have waited far too long. They are worth our effort. We are running to help.
and
Women for Women International
For $27 a month, you can sponsor a woman (in Afghanistan, Bosnia, the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda, or the Sudan), providing her with financial support, job skills training, rights education to make her life and that of her family better. You receive a packet with information about the woman and can exchange letters with her if you like. They also accept flat fee donations.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
One last thing
 | My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Baroness Eilir the Appropriate of Mellow under Trollness Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |
Having reflected on what life would be like save for an accident of birth
(and I have to admit, it's days like this I'm very thankful to be an American. I may not be affluent, I may not agree with some of my fellow Americans, but at least I'm relatively safe and happy and I don't have a war waging in my country)--it might be best to end the night on a positive note. So...
(I'm actually O+)
Good night, all.
| Your Christmas is Most Like: The Muppet Christmas Carol |
 You tend to reflect on Christmas past, present, and future... And you also do a little singing. |
| Your Inner Blood Type is Type B |
 You follow your own rules in life, even if you change the rules every day. Sure, you tend to be off the wall and unpredictable, but that's what makes you lovable. And even though you're a wild child, you have the tools to be a great success. You are able to concentrate intently - and make the impossible possible. You are most compatible with: B and AB Famous Type B's: Leonardo Di Caprio |
(I'm actually O+)
| You Are 40% Happy |
 You're not miserable, but you could stand to be a lot happier. Focus on what's right in the world, and you'll be happier than you ever thought possible. |
| Your Famous Last Words Will Be: |
 "Nice doggy." |
| Your Ex is Narcissistic |
 Your ex thinks they're the most important person in the world and couldn't care less about anyone else. Your ex definitely has a god complex. People with narcissistic personality disorder want total power, lack empathy, and are very arrogant. Sound at all familiar? |
| Your Superpower Should Be Invisibility |
 You are stealth, complex, and creative. You never face problems head on. Instead, you rely on your craftiness to get your way. A mystery to others, you thrive on being a little misunderstood. You happily work behind the scenes... because there's nothing better than a sneak attack! Why you would be a good superhero: You're so sly, no one would notice... not even your best friends Your biggest problem as a superhero: Missing out on all of the glory that visible superheroes get |
Good night, all.
Monday, August 20, 2007
A heartbreaking story from the Congo...and how you can help
I opened my latest issue of Glamour Magazine (of the anonymous gifting), and in between the makeup tips and materialistic mayhem, I found this. Remember the piece from Newsweek on the mountain gorillas of the Congo? Here is what is happening to the women and girls there. It has haunted me most of the evening, particularly one woman's story. This so needs to be publicised far and wide, and something must be done to save the people, land, and wildlife of the Congo--before it's too late.
Women left for dead—and the man who’s saving them
Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler writes a moving piece on the women of East Congo who have been gang raped and tortured and the man who has pieced their bodies and minds together and given them a sanctuary at a struggling private hospital. It's a ray of hope in a barbaric conflict--the world's deadliest since WWII, with almost four million having died so far*--where cowardly thugs destroy women, children, and families as they patrol the countryside. Please read the story. At times it is very graphic, and you wonder how these men can even be human. But unfortunately the darker side of humanity can be very brutal. On the other hand, the work of Dr Mukwege shows what one person can do with dedication to bring light to that darkness.
What you can do:
The women of Eastern Congo, V-Day and UNICEF—the latter acting on behalf of United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict—are launching a new campaign to urge an end to the femicide and raise money for women’s groups in the Congo. You can…
- Write a letter addressed to His Excellency, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila Kabange; demand that he take action to stop the attacks on women. Send it to U.N. Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, P.O. Box 3862, New York, NY 10163, and it will be delivered to Kabila.
- Donate directly to Panzi Hospital through vday.org. Money donated to Panzi also goes to establish a City of Joy, a safe haven for the healed women, where they’ll learn to become political leaders.
According to Wikipedia, on
July 30, 2007, a report by Yakin Erturk, special rapporteur for the United Nations Human Rights Council on violence against women, found extreme sexual violence against women is pervasive in the DRC and local authorities do little to stop it or prosecute those responsible. Her report also found 'women are gang raped, often in front of their families and communities. In numerous cases, male relatives are forced at gun point to rape their own daughters, mothers or sisters.' Survivors told Ertuck that after rape, many women are held as slaves by the gangs and forced to eat excrement or the flesh of their murdered relatives.**
*The New York Times, "War’s Chaos Steals Congo’s Young by the Millions" By Lydia Polgreen, July 30, 2006, as referenced by the Wikipedia article on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
**RTÉ News, "UN: Violence in Congo 'beyond rape'", June 30th, 2007,as referenced by the Wikipedia article on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For an Israeli video shot in Panzi Hospital, watch this:
Part I
Part II
Finally
| You Are 100% Feminist |
 You are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man). You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but somehow complicated for the world to put into action. |
Big surprise there. :) Good night.
Cleaning out my to-blog list
Google and Microsoft Look to Change Health Care
How would you feel about being able to easily search all your health information and have it at your fingertips? Sound good? Well, yes and no...what about privacy. Two juggernauts are heading towards changing health care.
Is Parental Age Related to Autism Risk?
Oddly enough, maternal education, when adjusted for age and other factors, correlated with increased autism in children. Paternal education had no significant effect.
Democratic hopefuls grilled on gay rights
Kucinich still has my vote, at least through the primary, because he's for gay marriage. I'm not impressed with the Big Three's take on civil unions being adequate and Richardson really flubbed his chances with me with a slur which he then tried to backpedal out of.
Library Time Line
Did I post this already? It's a cool site, giving important dates in the history of libraries.
Here Come the Cyberchondriacs
More people are looking up medical information before seeing their doctor.
How would you feel about being able to easily search all your health information and have it at your fingertips? Sound good? Well, yes and no...what about privacy. Two juggernauts are heading towards changing health care.
Is Parental Age Related to Autism Risk?
Oddly enough, maternal education, when adjusted for age and other factors, correlated with increased autism in children. Paternal education had no significant effect.
Democratic hopefuls grilled on gay rights
Kucinich still has my vote, at least through the primary, because he's for gay marriage. I'm not impressed with the Big Three's take on civil unions being adequate and Richardson really flubbed his chances with me with a slur which he then tried to backpedal out of.
Library Time Line
Did I post this already? It's a cool site, giving important dates in the history of libraries.
Here Come the Cyberchondriacs
More people are looking up medical information before seeing their doctor.
Listening to KT Tunstall
'Hold On'
And of course there's 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree'
and 'Suddenly I See'
And of course there's 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree'
and 'Suddenly I See'
Random news notes
Psychologists Weigh Interrogation Ban
Concerns over psychiatrists and psychologists involved in the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Graib abuses have led the American Psychological Association to review it's policies.
Medicare Won't Cover Hospital Mistakes
Don't panic--hospitals who make the mistakes will bear the cost, not the person covered by Medicare.
Miners likely dead, may never be found, officials say
Just sad. Nine lives were lost--the original six and the three rescuers who were killed this week.
Concerns over psychiatrists and psychologists involved in the Guantanamo Bay and Abu Graib abuses have led the American Psychological Association to review it's policies.
Medicare Won't Cover Hospital Mistakes
Don't panic--hospitals who make the mistakes will bear the cost, not the person covered by Medicare.
Miners likely dead, may never be found, officials say
Just sad. Nine lives were lost--the original six and the three rescuers who were killed this week.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Making public information more public--to the embarassment of some Wikipedia editors
Wikipedia and the art of censorship: "It was hailed as a breakthrough in the democratisation of knowledge. But the online encyclopedia has since been hijacked by forces who decided that certain things were best left unknown."
Fortunately the folks at Wikipedia and watchdogs among those who routinely edit tend to catch insults, conflicts of interest, and questionable deletions. But a new program links edits with the organisation with which the computer used is affiliated, and that's caused some embarrassment for companies, political parties, government agencies, religious groups, all sorts of people. It can't get specifically down to who made the edits, but it's picking up the conflicts of interest and tinkering being done in the interest of public relations and cover-ups.
Okay, I really am going to bed now. Oh, and here's the website for WikiScanner
Incidentally, I put in my own company and I went from a page that an unknown coworker apparently edited on Monty Python and the Holy Grail to this:
Estimating the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow
and incidentally, no it wasn't me....I have never edited a Wikipedia article, yet.
Fortunately the folks at Wikipedia and watchdogs among those who routinely edit tend to catch insults, conflicts of interest, and questionable deletions. But a new program links edits with the organisation with which the computer used is affiliated, and that's caused some embarrassment for companies, political parties, government agencies, religious groups, all sorts of people. It can't get specifically down to who made the edits, but it's picking up the conflicts of interest and tinkering being done in the interest of public relations and cover-ups.
Okay, I really am going to bed now. Oh, and here's the website for WikiScanner
Incidentally, I put in my own company and I went from a page that an unknown coworker apparently edited on Monty Python and the Holy Grail to this:
Estimating the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow
and incidentally, no it wasn't me....I have never edited a Wikipedia article, yet.
When I was a kid
my grandmother called my mother and they talked on the phone for awhile, then my mom went back to sleep. I learnt later that they were both asleep at the time and had no memory of the conversation.
Well, today was my turn. My boss had moved my schedule back to 11-8 for today, which I found out when I went in for some gas yesterday. I was pretty disappointed, and I'm sure she could tell. Apparently this morning she looked at the schedule again and realised she had coverage, so she called me at 6:40 am to let me know I didn't have to come in till three.
But I never really got that message, because I was asleep at the time, even though I must have given every indication of being awake. Come 10 am I woke up, and a little before 11 came in and my coworkers were like, what are you doing here? The boss said to tell you to go home if you came in. (Okay, so maybe I didn't sound 100% awake). She said she called you and told you not to come in till three. I thought they were joking at first, but each corraborated the other. So I clocked back out and went home. Sure enough, there was a light blinking for 'new call' from work time stamped 6:40. So what did I do with my newfound freedom? I went back to bed, of course, and got some of my deficit taken care of.
When I went back to work, my boss called, apologising for calling me at 6:30 in the morning and about the schedule issue. I told her I didn't remember a thing and that I'd come in at 11. She asked me if I'd stayed or gone back home, and I told her. Then she was like 'So I called you at 6:30 in the morning for nothing?' which was pretty much true. She was really surprised I hadn't been awake.
Anyway, it was nice to get some extra sleep, especially as I have to get up at 6 am tomorrow (and Tuesday, for that matter), so I should sign off here as well. Good night.
Well, today was my turn. My boss had moved my schedule back to 11-8 for today, which I found out when I went in for some gas yesterday. I was pretty disappointed, and I'm sure she could tell. Apparently this morning she looked at the schedule again and realised she had coverage, so she called me at 6:40 am to let me know I didn't have to come in till three.
But I never really got that message, because I was asleep at the time, even though I must have given every indication of being awake. Come 10 am I woke up, and a little before 11 came in and my coworkers were like, what are you doing here? The boss said to tell you to go home if you came in. (Okay, so maybe I didn't sound 100% awake). She said she called you and told you not to come in till three. I thought they were joking at first, but each corraborated the other. So I clocked back out and went home. Sure enough, there was a light blinking for 'new call' from work time stamped 6:40. So what did I do with my newfound freedom? I went back to bed, of course, and got some of my deficit taken care of.
When I went back to work, my boss called, apologising for calling me at 6:30 in the morning and about the schedule issue. I told her I didn't remember a thing and that I'd come in at 11. She asked me if I'd stayed or gone back home, and I told her. Then she was like 'So I called you at 6:30 in the morning for nothing?' which was pretty much true. She was really surprised I hadn't been awake.
Anyway, it was nice to get some extra sleep, especially as I have to get up at 6 am tomorrow (and Tuesday, for that matter), so I should sign off here as well. Good night.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Sleepy, good night
| You Are a Brownie |
 Decadent and intense, you aren't for the weakhearted. Those who can deal with your strong flavor find out how sweet you really are. |
| Your 2006 Summer Anthem Is |
 Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield "No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins" |
(I love this song...here is one video [the climbing book], and another [the elevator version]
Mind you, I've never forgiven her for the whole hyperbole/'hyperbowl' thing in These Words (I don't care for the song at all, for that matter. I thought maybe the pronunciation was just a British thing, since she was born in London of New Zealander paretns, but I don't think so--at least I can't find any trace online about it. Still, it was possiblilty. Let's face it, it is our mother tongue, but they also pronounce 'Regina' (should be Re-g[hard g]ee-na in Latin) to rhyme with vagina.)
Friday, August 17, 2007
My therapist brought up PostSecret.com the other day
The guy behind PostSecret has made this movie:
It's an interesting and worthwhile project. They also promote the 1-800-SUICIDE National Hopeline on their site. It's well worth checking out.
And yes, my therapist asked me my secret. I couldn't tell him then. I think I will soon--for now, only my best friend knows.
It's an interesting and worthwhile project. They also promote the 1-800-SUICIDE National Hopeline on their site. It's well worth checking out.
And yes, my therapist asked me my secret. I couldn't tell him then. I think I will soon--for now, only my best friend knows.
Listening to
Blue October, 'Calling You':
I don't have their album History for Sale, which has this song on it (I have Foiled, with 'Hate Me' and 'Into the Ocean'), but I really like this one, too.
I guess part of the appeal is that lead singer Justin Furstenfeld knows very much what it's like to have depression, something he's battled most of his life. Even the name of the band, Blue October, came from a time during which he was hospitalised. (Isn't Wikipedia grand for such bits of trivia?) He's also a little on the chubby side (I wouldn't call him fat, but he is chunky) and I guess the anti-pop star image appeals to me. I'm not sure I'd recommend listening to a lot of Blue October during active depression, but it's good for when you've been there to remind you of where you've been, and to distance yourself from it if possible.
Good night.
I don't have their album History for Sale, which has this song on it (I have Foiled, with 'Hate Me' and 'Into the Ocean'), but I really like this one, too.
I guess part of the appeal is that lead singer Justin Furstenfeld knows very much what it's like to have depression, something he's battled most of his life. Even the name of the band, Blue October, came from a time during which he was hospitalised. (Isn't Wikipedia grand for such bits of trivia?) He's also a little on the chubby side (I wouldn't call him fat, but he is chunky) and I guess the anti-pop star image appeals to me. I'm not sure I'd recommend listening to a lot of Blue October during active depression, but it's good for when you've been there to remind you of where you've been, and to distance yourself from it if possible.
Good night.
An eventful evening
We were checking in our order at the store when the power went out. It stayed out for almost three hours. The poor guys were putting things into the cooler by flashlight, and then we were one box short and had to go through every box to see what was missing.
Meanwhile, since we couldn't just lock up with the order coming in, I appointed myself gatekeeper of the door, going out in the rain (I'd already been drenched when I took out some trash) to tell people our power was out and they couldn't get gas or cigarettes, or whatever they were after. I was nice and apologetic. Several people figured it out on their own when they saw our lights out. But some had to be nudged away. I sent them down to places I knew were open. But Texas Roadhouse, Hooters, Kroger, and all of Man O'War Place, plus Wal-Mart, Shell, and BP looked down. Oddly enough, Movie Tavern had power. I can't imagine being in a theatre when the power went out. I hope they have emergency lights. Our exit signs and one spotlight worked; everything else was down. The Texas Roadhouse crew at one point was on their front steps taking group pictures, once the rain had lifted.
Of course the good news is we got rain; we're in a drought. I always said I'd like to be at the store when the power went out. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't fun, either; I'd rather have worked normally. Plus, power went out at my house (I don't live but two blocks away), so it was fun to reset the computer and modem to get online.
Anyway, that was my excitement for the evening. How about you?
Meanwhile, since we couldn't just lock up with the order coming in, I appointed myself gatekeeper of the door, going out in the rain (I'd already been drenched when I took out some trash) to tell people our power was out and they couldn't get gas or cigarettes, or whatever they were after. I was nice and apologetic. Several people figured it out on their own when they saw our lights out. But some had to be nudged away. I sent them down to places I knew were open. But Texas Roadhouse, Hooters, Kroger, and all of Man O'War Place, plus Wal-Mart, Shell, and BP looked down. Oddly enough, Movie Tavern had power. I can't imagine being in a theatre when the power went out. I hope they have emergency lights. Our exit signs and one spotlight worked; everything else was down. The Texas Roadhouse crew at one point was on their front steps taking group pictures, once the rain had lifted.
Of course the good news is we got rain; we're in a drought. I always said I'd like to be at the store when the power went out. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't fun, either; I'd rather have worked normally. Plus, power went out at my house (I don't live but two blocks away), so it was fun to reset the computer and modem to get online.
Anyway, that was my excitement for the evening. How about you?
Not sure where I stand on that decision
NASA says no shuttle repairs required
but this made me feel better:
In essence they decided to not pursue a fix via a risky spacewalk for something not felt to be catastrophic. Still, I hope they're not horribly wrong.
but this made me feel better:
Their worry was not that Endeavour might be destroyed and its seven astronauts killed in a replay of the Columbia disaster; the gouge is too small to be catastrophic. They were concerned that the heat of re-entry could weaken the shuttle's aluminum frame at the damaged spot and result in lengthy postflight repairs.
In essence they decided to not pursue a fix via a risky spacewalk for something not felt to be catastrophic. Still, I hope they're not horribly wrong.
Grief and tragedy
Peru quake aftershocks rattle survivors, rescuers
The death toll is up above 500 and potentially rising, as the USGS upgrades the quake to an 8.0 on the Richter scale.
3 Rescue Workers Killed at Utah Mine
No one knows if the miners who were trapped by the original cave-in are alive. Now three people are dead as authorities try to determine if the rescue effort should continue.
The death toll is up above 500 and potentially rising, as the USGS upgrades the quake to an 8.0 on the Richter scale.
3 Rescue Workers Killed at Utah Mine
No one knows if the miners who were trapped by the original cave-in are alive. Now three people are dead as authorities try to determine if the rescue effort should continue.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
A couple of quizzes between jobs
| Your Vocabulary Score: A+ |
 Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person. |
And because I just had to take my semi-annual alcohol training:
| You Are Guinness |
 You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around. |
Which is funny, because I don't care for any beer but very stout, but can't drink enough of it to get drunk because it's just too much. Maybe a half-pint of Guinness is for me. I was very disappointed that O'Neill's didn't have them.
I'm just not an alcohol person anyway. If I drink, it's usually something fruity like a dacquiri, and really, what's the point of the alcohol at that point? What I really like is the smoothie taste. :)
Okay, one last thing
Americans clueless about Canada
Geography, among others things, is apparently lost on many Americans--such as the famous Russian invasion of Saskatchewan. ;)
Geography, among others things, is apparently lost on many Americans--such as the famous Russian invasion of Saskatchewan. ;)
Ending on a lighter note, quizzes...
| You Are 36% Politically Radical |
 You've got a few unusual political ideas, but overall you're a pretty mainstream person. Chances are that you're turned off by both the radical right and looney left. |
| You Are a Liberal Lady |
 Like Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore, you don't shy away from your liberal causes. You may consider yourself a feminist, and you definitely trust your heart to tell you what's right. You are likely to have a million issues you care about - and not nearly enough time to devote to them all. |
| Your Dominant Thinking Style: Exploring |
 You thrive on the unknown and unpredictable. Novelty is your middle name. You are a challenger. You tend to challenge common assumptions and beliefs. An expert inventor and problem solver, you approach everything from new angles. You show people how to question their models of the world. |
| You Are 32% Weirdo |
 You're a little weird, but you'd be even weirder if you didn't have a few quirks. You are just strange enough to know it, but nobody else seems to notice your weirdness. That's because, deep down, everyone is a little freaky! |
| Your Hidden Talent |
 You are both very knowledgeable and creative. You tend to be full of new ideas and potential - big potential. Ideas like yours could change the world, if you build them. As long as you don't stop working on your dreams, you'll get there. |
Good night.
Isn't it strange?
I spend a lot of my time trying to avoid being adult and responsible. Yet I carry deep-set feelings of responisbility for several things I experienced as a child, even though I was in no way to blame. Things like sexual abuse, never measuring up enough to be wanted, my parents' divorce, that kind of thing.
I'm learning to take responsibility for all the little and big things I should. But maybe I need to let go of the guilt and responsibility that I have left over from my childhood.
Maybe I try to avoid more responsibility because of the feelings I associate with it.
I know now that I was a bright, trusting, and lovable child that most people would have loved to have as their own. A lot of trust was broken, I felt terribly unlovable, and I took refuge in being bright but never really developed it as I should have. My emotional growth stopped when I was very young. My intellectual growth stopped as a teenager. I've come very far in getting them further down the pipeline. But I wonder if I hadn't had some of the experiences I had--if I'd been encouraged and nurtured, and most of all, not harmed, what kind of person I would be.
I don't know, maybe we grow and evolve more in the presence of adversity. But we also grow when nurtured. I can't ever get the nurturing I could have had, but I can nurture myself. So that's two ways to grow. So now it's time to plant some roots and flourish, don't you think?
I'm learning to take responsibility for all the little and big things I should. But maybe I need to let go of the guilt and responsibility that I have left over from my childhood.
Maybe I try to avoid more responsibility because of the feelings I associate with it.
I know now that I was a bright, trusting, and lovable child that most people would have loved to have as their own. A lot of trust was broken, I felt terribly unlovable, and I took refuge in being bright but never really developed it as I should have. My emotional growth stopped when I was very young. My intellectual growth stopped as a teenager. I've come very far in getting them further down the pipeline. But I wonder if I hadn't had some of the experiences I had--if I'd been encouraged and nurtured, and most of all, not harmed, what kind of person I would be.
I don't know, maybe we grow and evolve more in the presence of adversity. But we also grow when nurtured. I can't ever get the nurturing I could have had, but I can nurture myself. So that's two ways to grow. So now it's time to plant some roots and flourish, don't you think?
Can you imagine feeling a quake 1,200 miles away?
Peru Hit by Magnitude 7.9 Quake; 50 People Killed
Hopefully the death toll will not climb higher. A tsunami warning was made but cancelled later. Many of the dead were attending mass at a 16th-century church that collapsed in the town of Ica. State doctors called off a strike to provide emergency services.
I guess the amazing thing for me, too, is just how widespread it was felt. It was felt as far north as Bogata, Colombia and as far south as Coquimbo, Chile.
Scary.
I used to live in California, which is pretty well known for quakes. Kentucky isn't, but...the New Madrid fault that runs where Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas join could prove very damaging to the Commonwealth. In 1812 a quake was so strong it made the Mississippi River run backward and jump positions and was felt as far away as Boston and New York, where bells rang. Oddly enough, in neither state have I felt one, even though I've been through at least three minor ones. Maybe I'm just 'deaf' to earthquakes.
Hopefully the death toll will not climb higher. A tsunami warning was made but cancelled later. Many of the dead were attending mass at a 16th-century church that collapsed in the town of Ica. State doctors called off a strike to provide emergency services.
I guess the amazing thing for me, too, is just how widespread it was felt. It was felt as far north as Bogata, Colombia and as far south as Coquimbo, Chile.
Scary.
I used to live in California, which is pretty well known for quakes. Kentucky isn't, but...the New Madrid fault that runs where Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas join could prove very damaging to the Commonwealth. In 1812 a quake was so strong it made the Mississippi River run backward and jump positions and was felt as far away as Boston and New York, where bells rang. Oddly enough, in neither state have I felt one, even though I've been through at least three minor ones. Maybe I'm just 'deaf' to earthquakes.
This 98-year-old Australian great-grandmother puts me to shame
Never too old to be a champion
And heaven help anyone who crossed her; she could easily take someone out with her athletic skills.
And heaven help anyone who crossed her; she could easily take someone out with her athletic skills.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Two more
| How You Life Your Life |
 You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside. You're laid back and chill, but sometimes you care too much about what others think. You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly. You have one big dream in your life, and you never lose sight of it. |
(I thought the faces were fish at first...too late at night to be up.)
| You Make a Good First Impression |
 You probably are making a much better impression than you realize. Social situations can be a bit awkward for you at times, and you tend to over think what you say and do. If you make a social faux pas, you remember it a lot longer than anyone else does. Just relax and do your best. There are little things you can do to improve your social image. Express more of an interest in the people around you, and be a good listener. The secret of fascinating people is that they find everyone else fascinating! |
It amazes me sometimes
how fast my emotions can turn. I've been basically happy all day, and now I feel like a failure because my attention wandered (it's bad when your ADD medicine wears off late at night) and I did the wrong thing as a result and looked stupid.
Not that I shouldn't be used to that...
You think it's frustrating dealing with someone who's brain chemistry is messed up? Try being that person. With me I'm usually either dealing with inattention issues or the emotional rollercoaster that is bipolar disorder. The medicine helps (I've been on an even keel emotionally for many months now, for example), but it's not really a cure. Throw in some obsessive-compulsive issues and borderline personality, and I should be one huge failure, and scary to boot.
But you know what? I'm mentally healthier than at any time in my life. I have a therapist who really explores my past and how I feel about it. I'm on a good combination of medications. So things are looking up. And one thing I've realised of late is that I'm not a failure. A late bloomer, perhaps, but not a failure. I have lots of accomplishments under my belt.
Plus, I've known quite a few people who make me look quite sane, and happily, they are behind me and I have no reason to have anything to do with them these days, though I do sometimes keep tabs, and it seems to me that the general trend is they become mad freaks who seem to spend all of their time in their heads rather than in the real world with the rest of us. I have that tendency too, but I'm trying to eradicate it, and I know where the holodeck's arch is, thank you very much. I don't have many friends, but they're people I can count on and who honestly care for me. Certainly that's part of my criteria for being a friend as well. You can't get much better than that.
Just some ideas late in the evening. :)
Not that I shouldn't be used to that...
You think it's frustrating dealing with someone who's brain chemistry is messed up? Try being that person. With me I'm usually either dealing with inattention issues or the emotional rollercoaster that is bipolar disorder. The medicine helps (I've been on an even keel emotionally for many months now, for example), but it's not really a cure. Throw in some obsessive-compulsive issues and borderline personality, and I should be one huge failure, and scary to boot.
But you know what? I'm mentally healthier than at any time in my life. I have a therapist who really explores my past and how I feel about it. I'm on a good combination of medications. So things are looking up. And one thing I've realised of late is that I'm not a failure. A late bloomer, perhaps, but not a failure. I have lots of accomplishments under my belt.
Plus, I've known quite a few people who make me look quite sane, and happily, they are behind me and I have no reason to have anything to do with them these days, though I do sometimes keep tabs, and it seems to me that the general trend is they become mad freaks who seem to spend all of their time in their heads rather than in the real world with the rest of us. I have that tendency too, but I'm trying to eradicate it, and I know where the holodeck's arch is, thank you very much. I don't have many friends, but they're people I can count on and who honestly care for me. Certainly that's part of my criteria for being a friend as well. You can't get much better than that.
Just some ideas late in the evening. :)
Tonight's Quiz
| You Are a Good Friend Because You're Supportive |
 You are almost like a life coach for your best friends. You give them help when they need it... but you also know when to give them a push. People tend to rely on you for moral support and advice. You've probably always been mature for your age, so this is a role that's you're comfortable with. A friend like you is one of the rarest kinds. You are both a good mentor and companion. Your friends need you most when: They are confused or worried You really can't be friends with: Someone who only wants to complain Your friendship quote: "The only way to have a friend is to be one." |
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Quizzes before bedtime
| You Need Some Green in Your Life |
 Green will make you feel alive, renewed, and balanced. And with a little green, you will project an aura of peacefulness and harmony. If you want stability, you've got to get a little green in your life! For extra punch: Combine green with blue or purple The downside of green: It can promote jealousy in yourself or others The consequences of more green in your life: You will be drawn to a new life path You will feel free to pursue new ideas and interests, no matter how strange You will be released from the demands and concerns of others |
| You Are 76% Pure |
 You're pretty pure, and you have no plans on changing that. You do have a devilish side though... and it will probably get the better of you. |
| Your Job Satisfaction Level: 54% |
 Your job is about average. There are some parts you really enjoy, and some parts that stress you out. It's possible that you need a small change. Maybe you should switch companies or positions. It's also possible that you're simply burned out. No job is perfect, even a great one. Give yourself a personal day to think about your career goals - and if your current job is helping you achieve them. |
| You Are 12% Cynical |
 Cynical? Not even close! If anything, you're a bit naive. Overall, you enjoy life and try not to be paranoid. Even if you've been burned before. |
Monday, August 13, 2007
| Your Brain is 53% Female, 47% Male |
 Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve |
| You've Experienced 72% of Life |
 You have all of the life experience that most adults will ever get. And unless you're already in your 40s, you're probably wise beyond your years. |
| You Are Fall Flowers |
 |
Good night!
Great news for someone I've met
Medical Librarian Selected to Attend Mental Health Institute
Tagalie Heister of the UK medical library has been chosen to participate in the Dartmouth College Summer Institute in Evidence-Based Mental Health. Yay for her!
Tagalie Heister of the UK medical library has been chosen to participate in the Dartmouth College Summer Institute in Evidence-Based Mental Health. Yay for her!
The world needs more Hazel Kings
From yesterday:
Service today for coal country activist
She served as a WAC in World War II, then for 21 years in the Air Force at a time there weren't many women in the service. She retired to her native Harlan County and took up the fight to keep strip mining and other coal-related environmental hazards from happening--or at least from going unnoticed. She fought for the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and became a citizen enforcer, blowing the whistle on spills and the like. She worked so closely with the inspectors from the Office of Surface Mining that some people thought she was a government agent.
Imagine living a life where so much of what you did bettered life for others, really made an impact. Not many of us can say as much, can we?
Service today for coal country activist
She served as a WAC in World War II, then for 21 years in the Air Force at a time there weren't many women in the service. She retired to her native Harlan County and took up the fight to keep strip mining and other coal-related environmental hazards from happening--or at least from going unnoticed. She fought for the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and became a citizen enforcer, blowing the whistle on spills and the like. She worked so closely with the inspectors from the Office of Surface Mining that some people thought she was a government agent.
Imagine living a life where so much of what you did bettered life for others, really made an impact. Not many of us can say as much, can we?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Off to bed
| You Are 68% Nerdy |
 You are a pretty big nerd, and you're getting nerdier every day. Don't worry if you don't have friends... there's always robots. |
| Your Gemstone is Emerald |
 Balanced, liberated, and peaceful. You bring luck into any situation. |
| The Part of You That No One Sees |
 You are unique, witty, and even a little snobby. You're quite proud of who you are, and nothing is going to change that. You've paved your own way in life, and you've ended up where you want to be. Underneath it all, you feel very isolated from the rest of the world. It's hard to find people to relate to you on every level. The mundane interests of your friends and family often bore or depress you. |
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