Sunday, January 27, 2008
Easily Amused
As some of you might have noticed, I am very easily amused (whenever I am not on my period, or "on the rag", suffering a "visit from Aunt Flo", "Raining down south" ... or whatever you want to call it (God, I love the English language!)).
At risk of sounding dangerously like Hughes let me tell you about the newest addition to our house, our baby, our shinny star, our pride and joy: The Blackboard. Yes, we are now the proud owners of our very own blackboard. In fact, we have made it ourselves!
Actually, making it was the easy part. Finding chalk, on the other hand, was an arduous pilgrimage. You would think that art supply store would sell that kinda thing... you would think..
But no matter! We have found chalk and returned happily to our home, and here is one of the very things Harry wrote with the chalk we bought:

I laughed.
At risk of sounding dangerously like Hughes let me tell you about the newest addition to our house, our baby, our shinny star, our pride and joy: The Blackboard. Yes, we are now the proud owners of our very own blackboard. In fact, we have made it ourselves!
Actually, making it was the easy part. Finding chalk, on the other hand, was an arduous pilgrimage. You would think that art supply store would sell that kinda thing... you would think..
But no matter! We have found chalk and returned happily to our home, and here is one of the very things Harry wrote with the chalk we bought:

I laughed.
Meet the cast.
We've Made It!!
Twenty-two days ago Daniel, Harry and myself left Atlanta (where my good friend Phil lives) and started on our journey across country. But, after days of fast food, cheap hotels and - sigh - scarce and scattered tubes, we've made it! Dan is back at school and Harry and myself managed to get ourselves a nice place, we had an adventure involving a couch, a belt, and an elevator... we even made ourselves a blackboard (it's ok to be jealous).
As I have mentioned in previous postings, I have maintained a diary of our trip in the form of comics. Over the next few days, I'll be disseminating them via posts on this blog. Don't worry if you don't understand them - that makes you one of the lucky ones.
... now all we need is to get a job... or 2, if possible.
As I have mentioned in previous postings, I have maintained a diary of our trip in the form of comics. Over the next few days, I'll be disseminating them via posts on this blog. Don't worry if you don't understand them - that makes you one of the lucky ones.
... now all we need is to get a job... or 2, if possible.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
pseudo-update
Look, voracious fans. I know I haven't updated this blog since I've been on the road...
I was going to follow it with an excuse, but I find none fitting. No worries though. I have been keeping every adventure logged in cartoon form. It will be grand.
So yeah. Blogging about not blogging. How sad.
Anyway, maybe I'll update for real tomorrow. It depends where we are spending the night.
XOXO
Julia
I was going to follow it with an excuse, but I find none fitting. No worries though. I have been keeping every adventure logged in cartoon form. It will be grand.
So yeah. Blogging about not blogging. How sad.
Anyway, maybe I'll update for real tomorrow. It depends where we are spending the night.
XOXO
Julia
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Cute or Creepy, part III
Lyrics by Belle and Sebastian
Winter Wooskie
Who's that girl?
She must be nearly freezing
Who's that girl? I'll bet
All that snow makes it hard so see her
Today she waved to me
And maybe I'm in love
Love love, love love
And maybe that's enough
That stuff, that stuff
Made a film
I made it through the window
Who's that star I cast?
All wrapped up in her winter wardrobe
She hurries by so fast
And maybe I'm in love
Love love, love love
And maybe that's enough
That stuff, that stuff
On summer days when the sun shines
I watch the tape
And through the snow, through the window
I watch her wave to me
Who's that girl?
She must be nearly freezing
Winter Wooskie
Who's that girl?
She must be nearly freezing
Who's that girl? I'll bet
All that snow makes it hard so see her
Today she waved to me
And maybe I'm in love
Love love, love love
And maybe that's enough
That stuff, that stuff
Made a film
I made it through the window
Who's that star I cast?
All wrapped up in her winter wardrobe
She hurries by so fast
And maybe I'm in love
Love love, love love
And maybe that's enough
That stuff, that stuff
On summer days when the sun shines
I watch the tape
And through the snow, through the window
I watch her wave to me
Who's that girl?
She must be nearly freezing
Julia's Post.
I love how Harry has usurped my blog.
Harry reminds me that the proper term is "coup d'etat."
He's actually typing this right now.
=)
Harry reminds me that the proper term is "coup d'etat."
He's actually typing this right now.
=)
Harry and Julia Explain the World, Part II: The Deep
If you are my friend, you've probably heard my theories and feelings on the philosophy, or rather attitude, that I like to call The Deep. The Deep is a very complex concept - a Nirvana-esque state, if you will. Being Deep consists of talking about things that amaze you because you don't fully understand them (and attributing these things to forces that are almost spiritual or intangible... forces that only you - and perhaps a few other blessed ones - are insightful enough to grasp) while trying to woo your listener; after all, not everyone can reach such wonderful secrets of life. Now, everyone has talked Deeply - probably during their teenage years. Yesterday, however, I found an epidemic of The Deep. I promise you: it's one beautiful Deep Moment after another. Ladies and Gentlemen: Before Sunset (2004)

Watch it, and you'll see what I mean.
Here are a few gems:
Jesse: Do you believe in reincarnation?
Celine: Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting.
Jesse: Yeah, right. Well, most people, you know, a lot of people talk about past lives and things like that, you know? And even if they don't believe it in some specific way, you know, people have some kind of notion of an eternal soul, right?
Celine: Yeah.
Jesse: OK, well this was my thought: 50,000 years ago, there are not even a million people on the planet. 10,000 years ago, there's, like, two million people on the planet. Now there's between five and six billion people on the planet, right? Now, if we all have our own, like, individual, unique soul, right, where do they all come from? You know, are modern souls only a fraction of the original souls? 'Cause if they are, that represents a 5,000 to 1 split of each soul in the last 50,000 years, which is, like, a blip in the Earth's time. You know, so at best we're like these tiny fractions of people, you know, walking... I mean, is that why we're so scattered? You know, is that why we're all so specialized?
Celine: I don't know. Wait a minute, I'm not sure... I don't...
Jesse: Yeah, hang on, hang on. It's a, it's a totally scattered thought. It... which is kind of why it makes sense.
Celine: You know, I have this awful paranoid thought that feminism was mostly invented by men so that they could like, fool around a little more.
Celine: I believe if there's any kind of God it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.
Priceless.

Watch it, and you'll see what I mean.
Here are a few gems:
Jesse: Do you believe in reincarnation?
Celine: Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting.
Jesse: Yeah, right. Well, most people, you know, a lot of people talk about past lives and things like that, you know? And even if they don't believe it in some specific way, you know, people have some kind of notion of an eternal soul, right?
Celine: Yeah.
Jesse: OK, well this was my thought: 50,000 years ago, there are not even a million people on the planet. 10,000 years ago, there's, like, two million people on the planet. Now there's between five and six billion people on the planet, right? Now, if we all have our own, like, individual, unique soul, right, where do they all come from? You know, are modern souls only a fraction of the original souls? 'Cause if they are, that represents a 5,000 to 1 split of each soul in the last 50,000 years, which is, like, a blip in the Earth's time. You know, so at best we're like these tiny fractions of people, you know, walking... I mean, is that why we're so scattered? You know, is that why we're all so specialized?
Celine: I don't know. Wait a minute, I'm not sure... I don't...
Jesse: Yeah, hang on, hang on. It's a, it's a totally scattered thought. It... which is kind of why it makes sense.
Celine: You know, I have this awful paranoid thought that feminism was mostly invented by men so that they could like, fool around a little more.
Celine: I believe if there's any kind of God it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.
Priceless.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Commemorative Post
A university professor set an examination question in which he asked what is the difference between ignorance and apathy. The professor had to give an A+ to a student who answered: I don't know and I don't care.
- Richard Pratt, Pacific Computer Weekly, 20 July 1990
A thought I'd make an entry marking the exact time I am officially done with school work. I just submitted the final draft of my research paper. It was bitter sweet, handing in my baby.
I'll have more posts about graduating soon. For now, sighs... which kind of sighs varies by the second.
- Richard Pratt, Pacific Computer Weekly, 20 July 1990
A thought I'd make an entry marking the exact time I am officially done with school work. I just submitted the final draft of my research paper. It was bitter sweet, handing in my baby.
I'll have more posts about graduating soon. For now, sighs... which kind of sighs varies by the second.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
plagiarism
Sonnet 130
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
To someone whom I love so very much.
Dialética
É claro que a vida é boa
E a alegria, a única indizível emoção
É claro que te acho linda
Em ti bendigo o amor das coisas simples
É claro que te amo
E tenho tudo para ser feliz
Mas acontece que eu sou triste...
É claro que a vida é boa
E a alegria, a única indizível emoção
É claro que te acho linda
Em ti bendigo o amor das coisas simples
É claro que te amo
E tenho tudo para ser feliz
Mas acontece que eu sou triste...
Harry, Condoms and Anthropology
I have a great friend. For anonymity's sake, let's call him Harry.
Harry truly is one of the best human beings I know. People who know him would agree.
He was the one who first pointed out to me the golden rule of convenient-stores-condom-arrangements: condoms always go next to headache medicine.

But this entry is about his newest theory (and it's not like he doesn't have a new one every day)...
Anthropology...
I always thought Anthropology only really had one actual theory that it may claim its own:
Cultural relativism (which, by the way, I don't deem to be that great of a theory anyway).
The rest of it is mostly applied linguistics, with some stuff borrowed from psychology.
Now, Harry has a different theory. See, he is taking this anthropology class this semester and ... let's just say it's not his favorite class. He said to me that anthropology is the one discipline that actively seeks to conclude that we do not know - that we do not, cannot, understand.
In fact, he says, anthropology is the only subject area I know that prides itself the most at not knowing... "Oh yeah, I am a good anthropologist, I know that I couldn't possibly understand that culture for I am a middle class western white male"...
I laughed. I think he is right.
Harry truly is one of the best human beings I know. People who know him would agree.
He was the one who first pointed out to me the golden rule of convenient-stores-condom-arrangements: condoms always go next to headache medicine.
But this entry is about his newest theory (and it's not like he doesn't have a new one every day)...
Anthropology...
I always thought Anthropology only really had one actual theory that it may claim its own:
Cultural relativism (which, by the way, I don't deem to be that great of a theory anyway).
The rest of it is mostly applied linguistics, with some stuff borrowed from psychology.
Now, Harry has a different theory. See, he is taking this anthropology class this semester and ... let's just say it's not his favorite class. He said to me that anthropology is the one discipline that actively seeks to conclude that we do not know - that we do not, cannot, understand.
In fact, he says, anthropology is the only subject area I know that prides itself the most at not knowing... "Oh yeah, I am a good anthropologist, I know that I couldn't possibly understand that culture for I am a middle class western white male"...
I laughed. I think he is right.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Packing
In a few weeks (hopefully) I'll be on a plane... to Holland (?) ... surely to somewhere. And I am only allowed one backpack. Problem: I HAVE TOO MUCH CRAP.
There is the stuff I am keeping for when I loose those extra pounds;
Stuff my grandma gave me that, well, I don't actually use ...
That dress that I only use every 3 years.
That gorgeous outfit that only goes with that purple pairs of shoes I bought specially for it.
That gorgeous pair of shoes that only goes with one outfit.
The clothes that are amazingly comfy but I don't ever dare to wear in public.
SO MUCH CRAP. It all must go...
... and even then... there are more clothes than room on my pack. boo.
There is the stuff I am keeping for when I loose those extra pounds;
Stuff my grandma gave me that, well, I don't actually use ...
That dress that I only use every 3 years.
That gorgeous outfit that only goes with that purple pairs of shoes I bought specially for it.
That gorgeous pair of shoes that only goes with one outfit.
The clothes that are amazingly comfy but I don't ever dare to wear in public.
SO MUCH CRAP. It all must go...
... and even then... there are more clothes than room on my pack. boo.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Physics
In a nuclear reactor, rods made of boron are used to slow down neutrons to control the nuclear
reactions (the more neutrons flying around, the more fission reactions). Boron has a light
nucleus. Why not use a massive nucleus like lead to slow the neutrons?
reactions (the more neutrons flying around, the more fission reactions). Boron has a light
nucleus. Why not use a massive nucleus like lead to slow the neutrons?
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