One More Week...

I miss my kitties so much!

The zombies are coming! The zombies are coming!

OMG ZOMBIES!!!

More Birdies!

Apparently, there's just a whole huge flock of goldfinches that like to hang around campus :)

And now for something completely different.

You get bonus geeky English major points if you catch the reference to a certain other poem ;)

JARRING NEWS

The price of pots in Athens!
It really made me burn
when the potter told me just how much
I owed on a Grecian urn.

-JACK LITTLE

Bloody Hand

by Cieran Carson, 1989

Your man, says the Man, will walk into the bar like this — here his
fingers
Mimic a pair of legs, one stiff at the knee — so you'll know exactly
What to do. He sticks a finger to his head. Pretend its child's
play —
The hand might be a horse's mouth, a rabbit or a dog. Five
handclaps.
Walls have ears: the shadows you throw are the shadows you
try to throw off.

I snuffed out the candle between finger and thumb. Was it the
left hand
Hacked off at the wrist and thrown to the shores of Ulster?
Did Ulster
Exist? Or the Right Hand of God, saying Stop to this and No
to that?
My thumb is the hammer of a gun. The thumb goes up. The
thumb goes down.

The Onion makes me smile

Scientists Isolate Area Of Brain That Doesn't Like Poking

Tempus Fugit

Man, I haven't written here in forever...

What can I say? The Snapper has stolen my soul once again.

Nature II

On my way to dinner, I saw a little baby birdie sitting in a shrubbery!

...so I took a lot of pictures.

...and then I saw a bunny.

Nature

Closet 2.0

My mother kindly dropped off the shelving I used last year to store food, dishes, etc, and I finally got it set up! I feel so much more organized now.

I love Bunny comics

bunny

Power Up

Hmm, well, I guess it is about time for me to post something meaningful here, but with classes and work all week and the Snapper starting up again, life's been busy!

So instead, here are parts of Professor McVay's commentary on her Intro to Lit class (which I am helping out with in sort of a TA capacity).

"So, I'm introducing you to literature. Literature, this is my students; students, this is literature."

"How many of you have had a literature class that just really sucked?"
[some students raise their hands]
"Well, in this class, I am going to take the suck out of literature. There will be no suck in this class!"

"We're not going to be delving deep into the deep hidden meanings of the text until we find some small gem so then we can, you know, power up and move to the next level..."

Hononyms

Hanger

Hangar

Another Interlude

I'm packing up today and moving back to Millersville for the fall semester tomorrow! Until then, click the image and enjoy the silly (yet appropriate) comic.

explosm.net

Thunk, and Other Fun Words

The walnuts have begun falling now, a bit early in the season but our black walnut tree is old and so it drops its fruit and leaves before the other trees. They're huge round green things that don't look at all like the lovely walnuts one buys in the store, but the squirrels know what's past the thick rind and carry them all over the yard, gnawing through the pulpy exterior and the hard shell to reach the meat of the nut. Their job is sometimes made easier when the walnuts land on our porch, startling the cats, or when they smack the roof outside my bedroom window on the way down (disturbing my dreams). Some squirrels even take a walnut up the telephone poles with them, sit on the wires that are strung over the roads, and drop their burden in hopes that a car will run over it. It seems so very smart, but then they have to sit in the road if they want to eat their prize.

Utah Mining Cave-In

Bob Murray, chief executive of Murray Energy Corp., issued an initial statement that promised "we will not be deterred, and we will not leave this mountain until we find our people."

That was followed a few hours later by another release, saying: "We will not leave this mountain until we achieve a resolution to this tragedy."

In the Desert

I was flipping through a book of Stephen Crane's poetry in the library today and the pages fell open to this poem, which just popped back into my memory. I hate to admit it after complaining bitterly through my American Lit class, but I do enjoy his poetry. It's so short and enigmatic but makes me think.

In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter – bitter", he answered,
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

Movie Kisses That Make My Spine Tingle

I know, I'm a hopeless romantic...

Brokeback Mountain: not the early ones as much, but the scene where they reunite after however many years of separation is powerful and tinged with desperation.

The Matrix: "So you see, you can't be dead. You can't be... because I love you. You hear me? I love you." Yum.

V for Vendetta: maybe it's not a traditional kiss, but when Evey kisses V's mask, it's so tender and tragic at the same time... it's like she's hoping that somehow, magically, he'll be able to kiss her back, and the audience (or at least me) is drawn into that and then when nothing happens, just the look in her eyes...

Mr. & Mrs. Smith: right after they finish demolishing-- I mean... redecorating. Angelina Jolie! Need I say more?

Spiderman I: ok, maybe it's over-rated a little, but that upside-down kiss is still just cool. 'Cause I'm a dork.

I'll probably think of more later.

Breasts!

Ok, now that I've got your attention, yesterday was a very busy day for me. I got my hair cut in the morning, went to work, then helped tidy up the house for the visit of some relatives who arrived a little later in the evening as we were preparing a light dinner. I made an awesome lettuce and fruit salad, inspired by one we made at a meeting of the dinner club, and there was icecream with some of our hoarded lovely blackberries for dessert. Late this morning they'll head out to a conference, then they'll be back on Sunday for another dinner and off again the next morning for another short conference before they head back to the airport to fly back out to California. It's amazing how busy some people's schedules are...

Also, I finally heard back from my new roommate! I knew I should've called her... she said she doesn't check facebook often. Oh well, better late than never. I'll give her a call later this evening (or maybe earlier so I can just leave a message).

Still want to hear something about breasts? Read this article.

Stardust

After some mishaps yesterday, I finally made it to the movie to see Stardust! I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite scenes played out with lovely special effects and pretty people. Michelle Pfeiffer made an absolutely amazing Lamia (the witch), as I knew she would.
One of my friend's main criticisms was that it wasn't as consistently funny as she was hoping it would be (compared to the book). I mostly felt that they played up the squishy romantic aspect a little too much, and changed the ending-- although I can understand why they would have to, cinematically. Robert DeNiro's part was amusing, but as a person who prefers more of a light touch with humor, I thought they could've played down his flamboyant nature just a little bit with the same comedic effect.

All in all, it was a fun time and the inclusion of the pirates didn't ruin the movie or draw comparisons to the Pirates of the Caribbean.

I also saw the preview for the newest Beowulf movie, which Gaiman is writing the screenplay for. It is going to be so beautiful and amazing, and I'm not just saying that 'cause of Angelina Jolie (though I admit to having a bit of a fancy for her). Plus it comes out just in time for my birthday!

Unfortunately, the movie version of The Dark is Rising (which isn't even the first book in the series) looks absolutely HORRIBLE. It's a pity, because I love those books so much....

Books and Bugs

Tomorrow morning I'm supervising a mini-book sale at the library, since the fall book sale won't be until October and book donations are piling up... it's very exciting. I've been singlehandedly sorting all the book donations this summer and worked very hard to convince the librarians to get some tables to put out tomorrow, to coincide with the community's "yard sale in the park" event. Am I awesome, or what?

Also, I was incredibly privileged to see this amazing occurrence on Wednesday as I walked outside the library, and I must share it with you: A cicada emerging from its old exoskeleton :)

Literary Humour!

(click the image to enlarge)

If you don't get it... why haven't you read The Most Dangerous Game yet?

I amaze even myself sometimes.

As a young vampire, Dracula was a bit impetuous, because as we all know, his type isn't known to pause and reflect.

You know I can't resist a good pun...

Blackberries!

(...and I'm not talking about the palm pilot.)




So, yesterday morning I went out blackberry picking with my mother out at the farm where I worked last summer. We each filled a little white basket, although mine was heaped a bit higher. Although sunny and rather hot, it was incredibly peaceful and quiet out in the rows of blackberry bushes-- we were practically the only two people there, and had spread out, so I was alone with the hum of insects and the occasional bird noise and my thoughts... and of course, the blackberries. It was nice being in the midst of nature and picking sun warmed fat black berries. I felt positively Earth-motherly.

I have one of these, myself

Wilting

Meh... it's hot and I am lacking inspiration. Will write something eventually...

Astronomers Have Smutty Minds

No Diamonds Around Uranus

Best Lawyer Shingle Ever

How to Solve Really Hard Math Problems Without a Calculator

Ready? Here we go. I'll start with one simple one.

5 x 5= 5 x 5

2866777 x 990= 2866777 x 990

34000 / 233= 34000 / 233


I think, therefore I am :)

Round 3

(both flowers are in focus in this picture)

*Geeks Out*

So creepy... but so funny...

(lolcats again)

Goodness, I love this guy

So, I found Monty Python's Flying Circus on TVlinks and was particularly elated by this sketch...

Storytime

More Opinions Please

They're different photos, I swear...

Crush

Love me, love me
say that you love me
fool me, fool me
go on and fool me
love me, love me
pretend that you love me
leave me, leave me
just say that you need me...

~The Cardigans: Lovefool

Smile!

(lolcats)

I Beg to Differ

This study on chimps says only humans are spiteful.

I disagree.

figure a:

She Remembers the Date

Oh yeah, I should have known better than to try to arrange a time to hang out with a friend or try to get my passport taken care of today...

(needed a splash of color in my monochromatic life)

Opinions Please

Too Early

My mom told me today that she had gotten a call from one of the people we still keep in touch with from church that Becca, the youth pastor who moved to California maybe five or six years back, her husband, and some kids were in a car accident on their way to a church retreat on June 21st Becca and three kids died and her husband is massively injured. They have a two-year-old little girl :(

Becca was just so young and passionate and active, and she really strengthened the youth group and tried to draw me out of my shell a little. Even though we didn't keep in touch when she went to CA and I rarely thought of her and Tom, it's really hard to think that her life was so short...

Weaving Song

I thought a poem while I was braiding a friendship bracelet.

Blue under over under purple
Tag, pass it on, back again
Purple bows and dips
Blue swaths move again
Little purple dance
Wrap in blue
Pull.

Time for another picture

Pure Comedic Gold

Victor Borge has assigned a sound to every punctuation mark. Unfortunately the video starts after his explanation, but see if you can guess what each sound is. Phonetic Punctuation.

Also, check out Inflationary Language. It's very fitting when you think about the economics...

Smug Superiority

Hah! I understand this.

Ireland Update

After kicking around some Lancaster shops for a while in the morning and then eating lunch, my mom and I arrived on campus and went in to our meeting. After a lot of talking and hearing some more details about the program to St. Mary's in Belfast (the only one that is through Millersville) concerning , we went to an impromptu meeting with my financial aid counselor, who was very helpful and explained a lot of things that left my head positively spinning.

However, what it comes down to is: if I accept the maximum amount allowed by the Stafford Loan to students in their junior year, that surplus will be practically enough to cover the additional expenses of living (in an apartment), food, personal expenses, insurance, and travel (to and from Belfast) and the remaining gap should be covered by the money I have saved. My mom is pretty much on board with the idea, but now that it actually looks like it could be a reality, I find myself feeling oddly nervous and conflicted and excited, all at once, and wondering about the silliest things-- like, how would I pack a pillow overseas?

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Saw this on Myspace today, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not Johnny Depp, or any celebrity. I think I would have noticed by now, don't you?

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Reading

I just finished reading Nausea (by Jean-Paul Sartre), and I must say I've been in a weird mood for the past few days while reading it. I have been reflecting on this, and I think it's partly that although I understand the book, and other "deep" literature like it, I also absorb powerful works of literature in some way... I take on the voice and spirit of the narrator even after the book has ended, and it's almost like possession...

I guess you could say I get really into my reading.

And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
And it rips my life away, but it's a great escape

Oh, I just remembered this joke

What's the difference between a cat and a comma?

The cat has claws at the end of its paws, but the comma is a pause at the end of a clause.

*runs off before someone can arrest her for a really bad english-major style pun*

Just write something... anything...

"Well, my husband was in World War Two and my son was in Vietnam, and they both said it was quieter over there than here with me," she says with a sly little smile. Her hair is steely white and one can feel the resolve that lies beneath it.

The air in the library was almost completely still, the stultifying not-calm that falls in a space where the apathetic air conditioner vents have lost hope. It oppressed our minds, paring conversation down to trivialities couched in quaint Pennsylvania expressions and a sporadic redundant "mhm."

Staying alert was a struggle, but not for her, the icy-haired lady, who moves around the desk, ponderous but inexorable. Small children arrive at the counter with armfuls of picture books they can barely lift onto the scarred wooden surface, their mothers lingering indulgently behind, and she turns her sharp gaze on them.

"We all set then?" Her suddenly kindly tone is incongruous with the strength of her presence, and the eyes of the children standing before her are round and filled with awe.

And so begins another week

I'm looking for me
You're looking for you
We're looking in at each other
And we don't know what to do

They call me The Seeker
I've been searching low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
Till the day I die

And another...

I almost forgot that The Golden Compass is also in production! I can't wait for December...

I'm oddly flattered at this quiz result

Which Firefly Line Are You?

"The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems." (River, Safe)
Take this quiz!