tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57572402011-04-21T18:36:13.501-05:00I Prefer PiThe best blog on the world wide webhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comBlogger1671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1156256267695375952006-08-22T08:51:00.000-05:002006-08-22T09:17:47.706-05:00My favorite way to start the day, if I can manage to get up in time, involves going to the gym and simultaneously watching 10 closed captioned TVs while listening to NPR on my armband radio. I like to think that it's waking up my brain, but in reality, it's probably just decreasing my attention span. At any rate, this was one of those happy mornings. I learned about blogging in Iran, read helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1155913873378231522006-08-18T09:51:00.000-05:002006-08-18T10:11:13.403-05:00How much emphasis is it appropriate to put on place when making life decisions? Let me elaborate, or at least explain why I'm asking. A couple days ago, I saw a posting for my dream job - something combining economic justice, environmental protection, living in Madison, and hugging Pound Puppies. I'm already scheduled to be going to school when this job would start, but hey, I told myself, helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1149459680612075252006-06-04T17:06:00.000-05:002006-06-04T17:21:20.646-05:00College was great and all, but I wish I had gone during the awesome-commencement-speaker era and not the lame-ass/implicated-in-latin-american-scandal-commencement-speaker era. Does anybody still read this blog? And if you do, were you at the Knox graduation this year? Did Steven Colbert really ad lib about Umberto Eco like it says in the transcript? That guy is awesome. AWESOME!So I tried helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1140138649101283972006-02-16T18:58:00.000-06:002006-02-16T19:10:49.140-06:00If you've known me at any time since 1986, you've probably heard me talk about how my *real* dream is to be in a band. Well, I saw a posting on Craigslist for a "feamle keyboardist" for an indie-pop group this week and thought, what the heck, I'll reply. I'd been emailing the drummer back and forth for a couple days, the whole while thinking a) i have no idea how to play music that's not on a helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1137993669773026872006-01-22T23:07:00.000-06:002006-01-22T23:21:09.803-06:00I had this great plan when I started grad school that I was going to allot myself 40 normal working hours every week to go to classes and do homework, and have evenings and weekends free. I figured there was no way I would have more than that much work to do, and I have a decent amount of will power when I want to. But it just never happened, no matter how hard I tried. I chalked it up to lackhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1136320022003410122006-01-03T14:19:00.000-06:002006-01-03T14:27:02.016-06:00While snowshoeing around my house today, it occurred to me that being at home is sort of like being at a winter-themed spa. I eat healthy food, do some sort of winter sport and yoga pretty much every day, and read. And usually when I come home, my dad treats me to a massage at the massage school. All I'm missing is a fluffy white robe and a face mask. I don't have much experience with it yet, helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1134610974733717252005-12-14T19:39:00.000-06:002005-12-14T19:42:54.743-06:00According to Wired, hydrogen inventions aren't going to save the world any time soon:"Eighty percent or more of the ideas that come directly to us violate the laws of physics," says Patrick Serfass, a spokesman for the National Hydrogen Association.At least now I know what Dan's doing when he's not building snowmen...helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1133820887818807642005-12-05T16:03:00.000-06:002005-12-05T16:14:47.830-06:00The other day in math class, our professor drew yet another graph that looked like a boob on the board. (For the math-inclined, he was making a point about how the implicit funciton theorem doesn't work when the tangent becomes vertical, so he drew something that looked like a C and then drew a dot - or nipple - on the outermost part to show where this happens). I had just been discussing the helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1132973354190124742005-11-25T20:35:00.000-06:002005-11-25T21:26:47.203-06:00Happy Day after Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day. I just remembered that last one, and happily, I managed to buy nothing without even thinking about it. Maybe that's not such a feat. Anyway, since Minnesota is an expensive plane ride away, my friend and sometimes duet partner Kaila invited me to celebrate the holiday with her family. This was an incredibly nice gesture, since I had spenthelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1127451888816452402005-09-23T00:03:00.000-05:002005-09-23T00:04:48.823-05:00In case anyone wants to know what radical economists look like.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1126896761372869882005-09-16T13:45:00.000-05:002005-09-16T13:52:41.376-05:00Yesterday, I fell off the exam table at the doctor's office. I was fine, but it made a pretty big thud. The nurse's response? "That's never happened before! You just took ten years off my life." Despite the nurse's lack of compassion, it's great to be back in free-healthcare-land. And in college-land. I seem to have forgotten how to absorb information through reading, but what with all the helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1119539592790838482005-06-23T10:12:00.000-05:002005-06-23T10:13:12.796-05:00The girl at the card catalog next to me just searched for "McBeth" and gave up in frustration when the search found no results. I probably should have said something, but I didn't want her to know I was reading over her shoulder.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1119283757006764132005-06-20T11:01:00.000-05:002005-06-20T11:09:17.016-05:00If you've never flown Midwest Airlines, book your tickets now! Not only do they offer comfortable seats and friendly Midwestern accents, but they dole out freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on every flight! With connections, I had four Midwest flights and eight cookies this weekend. After seeing my friends and relatives, the cookies may have been the best part of the Minnesota visit. And helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1118866892591935002005-06-15T15:21:00.000-05:002005-06-15T15:21:32.596-05:00Public transportation, it fails us now.Today was going to be Value Village-Ikea-ticket buying day. It turned into Value Village-waiting and waiting for the bus to Ikea that never came day. On the plus side, I got a dress, two jackets, three pairs of jeans, and about a zillion shirts for $35. And now I can take a nap before That 70s Show comes on at 6. Not working rules.As I was writing that last helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1118813613377146052005-06-15T01:32:00.000-05:002005-06-15T00:34:25.146-05:00Blog, I've been half-assedly posting to you for long enough. I either need to make a commitment or end it once and for all. Or, you know, continue slapping up an uninformative and uniteresting post every month or so. Things aren't that bad this way, are they?This one'll at least be informative, if not interesting. My internship ended (or, rather, I ended my internship) at the end of May. People helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1115957792307452772005-05-12T23:01:00.000-05:002005-05-13T08:23:29.993-05:00Some fun things I have done and will do - Tuesday, May 3 through Tuesday, May 171. May 3: Mountain Goats show. Peter Hughes says it better than I: "The D.C. show was off the hook. Erik: astonishing. Shearwater: fantastic. The Mountain Goats: pretty damn great, thanks largely to contributions from the above and J[ohn]V[anderslice] who all joined us at various points throughout the set to beautifulhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1111121665500965612005-03-17T22:54:00.000-06:002005-03-17T22:54:25.503-06:00So I was walking to work yesterday, trying to figure out how many possible three-letter, three-number license plate combinations there are. (You know, like you do while walking to work.) And I realized 26X26X26 was just too much for me to calculate in my head. But even after I gave up trying to find the actual number, I realized that it wouldn't be accurate anyway because some combinations arehelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1109168422056869372005-02-23T08:15:00.000-06:002005-02-23T08:20:22.056-06:00Best weekend ever! England was great, friends were great, finding out I got into grad school was great! Weeeeeeeeee!helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1108654030434117222005-02-17T09:25:00.000-06:002005-02-17T09:27:10.436-06:00Going to England for the weekend! Yep yep yepyepyep...uh huh, uh huh.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1108045655498830472005-02-10T08:24:00.000-06:002005-02-10T08:27:35.496-06:00My favorite snippet from yesterday's Washington Post:
Some federal agencies should not be blamed for thinking that the Office of Management and Budget is to managing and budgeting much the way William "The Refrigerator" Perry is to dieting.
OMB, charged with ensuring taxpayers get the most bang for their hard-earned bucks, routinely ranks other agencies' performance according to five criteria. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1107903594203614332005-02-08T16:48:00.000-06:002005-02-08T16:59:54.206-06:00Went to a rock and roll show last night and heard some of the best and worst stage patter ever. Can you figure out which is which?
Pedro the Lion
Opening joke: "How come Michael Jackson never wins a race? Because he's always coming in a little behind."
Low (this is a little more involved)
Alan Sparhawk: We're not as good at talking to the audience as Pedro the Lion, but if anyone wants to askhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1106702247754468222005-01-25T19:09:00.000-06:002005-01-25T19:17:27.756-06:00It's 8:15, and I'm still at work, doing data entry. They were going to hire a temp, so I offered my services to save them some money (and make me some). I decided I absolutely wouldn't do it for less than $8/hr. They're paying me $15. So maybe some of the monthly trips I'm planning to take between now and August will actually happen!
Still, I'm having some misgivings about this overtime. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1105755286551542022005-01-14T19:56:00.000-06:002005-01-14T20:14:46.550-06:00I don't think I've ever cried as hard at a movie as I did just now watching Before Sunset. Rose introduced me to Before Sunrise while we were at Knox, but I didn't realize a sequel existed until about a week ago. And given that I didn't hear about it when it was in theatres (probably a result of being in the wrong country) I'm happy that the knowledge didn't come until it was out on video.
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1105541234943213122005-01-12T08:37:00.000-06:002005-01-12T08:47:14.943-06:00Every day, walking to work, I pass a rough-looking older man who looks to be in a totally different world. The oddest thing about him (and there are a number of odd things) is that he always has one of those rubber exercise bands that people use for strength training. And he doesn't stretch it out and then relax. He seems to have it stretched out in front of him at all times. I keep wanting helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1105379395474933492005-01-10T11:41:00.000-06:002005-01-10T11:49:55.473-06:00Anyone want to come to DC on January 20 to protest the inaugeration and attend the Billionaires for Bush Ball?
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1104638952275698252005-01-01T21:41:00.000-06:002005-01-01T22:09:12.276-06:00What is it about my parents' computer that inspires me to blog? And check others' blogs? I don't know, but this paragraph already has two plural possessive words in it. Nice!
So I was just digging through boxes of college stuff, looking for econ textbooks to review in case I make it in to grad school, and I got distracted reading some term papers I had written junior year. Does anyone else helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1104428126537967732004-12-30T11:05:00.000-06:002004-12-30T11:35:26.540-06:00What do I write about in my first post in three months? How about the gigantic laser printer just to my left which, according to its instruction manual, emits ozone and radiation and makes the lights flicker whenever it is turned on. My environmentalist self should probably protest my dad's belated Christmas present to himself, but it sure does print better than any of its four inkjet helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1096563634309865812004-09-30T11:41:00.000-05:002004-09-30T12:00:34.313-05:00I like Ralph Nader. I really like Ralph Nader. I know there are lots of reasons I shouldn't vote for him, but man, he just makes so much sense. Publicly financed elections. Yes! Universal health care. Yes! Tax codes that don't privelege the super rich. Yes! Instant runoff voting so I can vote for Ralph Nader without feeling guilty. Yes!!
I also really like That 70s Show. I don't know helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1095276849510645362004-09-15T14:28:00.000-05:002004-09-15T14:34:09.510-05:00Back in Minn-ee-so-tah, in just in time for both Bush and Nader's visits! That reminds me, I need to check out where they are both going to be. I'm in a library right now, feeling guilty for using the card catalog computer for blogging, so my first entry in a month shan't be too long. The three books I'm about to check out are
Consuming Culture: Why you eat what you eatLongitude: The true helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1091455365827590422004-08-02T08:35:00.000-05:002004-08-02T09:02:45.826-05:00Since Keele is so centrally located in England, and since they need extra money to keep their educational programs afloat, the university becomes a hotbed for conferences of all sorts during the holidays. This week appears to be some sort of Christian Teen extravaganza, and this morning, I overheard some of the proceedings while on my way to the campus store. Let me just say, I had no idea helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1090454056547614412004-07-21T18:41:00.000-05:002004-07-21T18:54:16.546-05:00Adventures in trying to change the return date on a plane ticket:
So I wanted to change my flight out of London to fly home with Alison when she leaves, but despite the promise of my STA agent, the process was not quick and easy. First I called American Airlines, where I was put on a hold for a while, only to find out, when I got to talk to a person again, that changing my ticket through the helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1090367110812689542004-07-20T18:36:00.000-05:002004-07-20T18:45:10.813-05:00Fun places I will travel to in the next couple months:Reading for the World of Music and Dance festival - July 23-25. (Note: this is not the Reading Festival. I aspire to be that cool.)
Copenhagen to visit Danish friend, Katrine - July 26-31.
The land of no more dissertation to write - September 1.
Ireland with Alison! - September 3-10.
If money were no object and passing my course did not helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1088586883247490922004-06-30T04:03:00.000-05:002004-06-30T04:14:43.246-05:00Updating from London once again. Gatwick Airport, more specifically. Favorite thing I've read since being here: "Caution! Beware passenger buggies." There should have been a sign that said "Caution! Pushing a passenger buggy full of heavy luggage while holding a ceramic mug of coffee and biscotti is a stupid thing to do and should not be attempted." I guess I've learned my lesson.
So leghelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1088432570265192692004-06-28T09:17:00.000-05:002004-06-28T09:22:50.266-05:00In 4 hours, I'll be leaving St. Louis. Boo. It has been an excellent few days, though, and I will try to post the highlights soon. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1087956430145690582004-06-22T21:04:00.000-05:002004-06-22T21:07:10.146-05:00In 24 hours, I'll be in St. Louis! Or more accurately, in 24 hours, my plane will be descending towards St. Louis and I will be attempting not to be sick because I don't do very well with landings. But in 24.5 hours, I'll be in St. Louis and on my way to see Aaron, which almost never makes me feel sick! Time to pack. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1087744518290437542004-06-20T09:48:00.000-05:002004-06-20T10:17:01.763-05:00Besides attending the world's most perfect wedding yesterday, I also got to see a bunch of familiar faces from high school, which was a blast. And all those familiar faces are either engaged, married, or having babies. It made me feel like a 15-year-old trapped in a (young) adult's body. But any evening containing friends, food and dancing is guaranteed to be fun. Derek and I relived our dayshelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1087568722504494722004-06-18T09:04:00.000-05:002004-06-18T09:25:22.503-05:00Today promises to be a good one. On the agenda:
- Lunch at an Indian place with my dad
- A real massage!
- Being Kaari's date at Sarah and Derek's groom's dinner
- Seeing Shereen's new home
This should definitely beat yesterday's schedule of events, which included:
- Invasive testing at the doctor's office
- About 5 hours in the computer lab at the library, and
- A walking trip to the mall in helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1086915802192709472004-06-10T20:00:00.000-05:002004-06-10T20:03:22.193-05:00"I never realized how little I wiggle my hips on a normal basis."
~ My mom, in her most recent email to mehelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1086478062059341202004-06-05T18:14:00.000-05:002004-06-05T18:46:35.266-05:00About five minutes ago, the biggest spider I've ever seen was on my wall. I stood staring at it for a while, wondering if it would eat me in my sleep if I left it there. I thought it might, so I decided to lead it onto a piece of paper and usher it gently outside. But when I approached it with a piece of paper, it made a move indicating that it might just eat me, so I changed tack and smooshedhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1086166170136088122004-06-02T03:43:00.000-05:002004-06-02T03:49:30.136-05:00I've finally found a mug less appetizing to drink out of than the blood-colored blood donor mug that Alison had last year. This one has a picture of a cartoon stomach made to look like a devil and says:
"Devilish Savings with MUCOGEL (co-magaldrox) antacid suspension. The other co-magaldrox will cost you over 18% more. MUCOGEL is now only £1.82 for 500 ml."
Mmm Mucogel. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1085856783614763992004-05-29T13:35:00.000-05:002004-05-29T13:53:03.613-05:00Thought I'd continue my tradition of updating while in London. I just saw a play called Oleanna starring Julia Stiles and Aaron Eckhart, and boy, was it bad. I guess that's what I get for being seduced by the appearance of Hollywood stars. I checked out the reviews before getting tickets, though, and they were mostly favorable. There must've been bribes involved. First of all, the play helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1085712621524610122004-05-27T21:40:00.000-05:002004-05-27T21:50:21.523-05:00Seems like it's time for an update, so here goes. Life for me continues to be incredibly laid-back and practically devoid of any responsibility. Today included
- a couple hours of reading about the "State of the World," courtesy of Worldwatch
- a long lunch
- some guitar strumming/building up of callouses
- dinner at a curry place
- a nice Japanese film called Zatoichi at the art film house
-helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1084925769466018972004-05-18T19:14:00.000-05:002004-05-18T19:16:09.466-05:00"People use power chords because they are neither major nor minor. This is because they don't have a third degree, and the third degree tells you whether a chord is major or minor. They are also used because they give the feel of raw power."
~ from Patrick MacFarlane's Guitar Lesson Worldhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1084801259547188612004-05-17T08:38:00.000-05:002004-05-17T08:40:59.546-05:00Hello sun!
Goodbye work!
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1084471341784725672004-05-13T12:58:00.000-05:002004-05-13T13:02:21.783-05:00About once a year, I rediscover the Burn Maker at thespark.com. Since I can't seem to stretch my research proposal out to the 3,000 word minimum, I've decided to "burn" it for extra words. Here's the first paragraph:
In my fucking dissertation, provisionally titled “The fucking Promise of Sustainable Consumption: A critical analysis of mainstream and green views,” I propose to fuckin' address helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1084233153089450682004-05-10T18:45:00.000-05:002004-05-10T18:52:33.090-05:00Willpower is...
having the most delicious-looking cake in the world sitting on your shelf and not eating it. FYI, the most delicious-looking cake in the world is a chocolate layer cake with mocha frosting. It is sitting on my shelf not being eaten because I baked it for someone's birthday and plan to give it to her tomorrow. But then I thought, her actual birthday was Saturday, and she helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1084041296456458152004-05-08T13:34:00.000-05:002004-05-08T13:38:38.606-05:00I was reading this paper for my dissertation and, well, tell me if I'm missing something here:
"The second [example] concerns the richest 20% of the world's population which has increased very little numerically but has raised its per capita consumption of meat and timber twofold, its car ownership four-fold and its use of plastics five-fold since 1950. The poorest 20% (which have increased in helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1083862875026352422004-05-06T12:01:00.000-05:002004-05-06T12:04:28.403-05:00I've turned the automatic spell checker in Microsoft Word off and I feel so free! helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1083812486501458362004-05-05T22:01:00.000-05:002004-05-05T22:04:39.296-05:00One-thousand seven-hundred forty-seven words into a 5,000 word paper. Apparently Wednesday nights are the only time I can actually do work, which wouldn't be so bad if there weren't so few Wednesday nights left (one) until all my stuff is due. Does all this complaining about the hardships of being a student anger you people with real jobs?
Today sucked because:
1) There was no sun, and
2) I helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1083714281718103022004-05-04T18:44:00.000-05:002004-05-04T18:54:57.670-05:00I wonder what percentage of Kill Bill 2 watchers did not first see Kill Bill 1. I wonder because I just nudged the percentage up. Despite not seeing the first one, I thoroughly enjoyed it. And more sweet popcorn!
Life plan, #354: Get job in New York. Study part time at the Natural Gourmet Cooking School. Win $16,000 in lottery to make second part of plan feasible.
Happy Birthday Alisonhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1083529419187344202004-05-02T15:23:00.000-05:002004-05-02T15:26:48.500-05:00Five-thousand five-hundred twelve words into a 6,000 word paper. I hate writing conclusions. This one is especially bad because I don't believe much of what I wrote in the introduction and body, and to reiterate it seems particularly dishonest. Also, I have no idea if I spelt 5,512 right there, but I was trying to be grammatically correct and spell out numbers when they are the first word in helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1083205991305224962004-04-28T21:33:00.000-05:002004-04-28T21:50:03.560-05:00I like using Blogger as a method of procrastination, which I think explains the dearth of updates lately. I haven't done any real work since January. But now, with several essay deadlines, a dissertation proposal and an exam coming up, expect a flood of entries. Maybe.
It's so perverse, but I really enjoy staying up into the wee hours of the morning writing papers. It's about 3:30 right now,helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1083176904414661172004-04-28T13:28:00.000-05:002004-04-28T13:31:29.610-05:00Is Bob Dylan really doing commercials for Victoria's Secret? helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1082365195125517202004-04-19T03:59:00.000-05:002004-04-19T04:02:51.170-05:00Back from a two-week family vacation with my parents to, well, England. But parts of England that I don't normally see, like London and Bath and Stonehenge. It was a pretty great time, all in all, but the fact that neither of my parents have seen Spinal Tap meant I had to giggle to myself when visiting the latter. I've also come back uncharacteristically concerned with my appearance. Not helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1080723706867941072004-03-31T03:01:00.000-06:002004-03-31T03:04:23.780-06:00When job descriptions say "Professional experience required," they don't mean required required, do they?helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1080652299613771042004-03-30T07:11:00.000-06:002004-03-30T07:14:15.560-06:00A couple days ago, one of my good friends here commented on how he's never seen me pissed off. Last night, after he made a number of offensive jokes about another friend of mine, I got extremely pissed off and left him alone in a diner. Probably the worst part is that it really changed my opinion of him. Lessons to be learned from this:
#1: Never tell me, for instance, "Helen, you know, helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1080076957916290262004-03-23T15:22:00.000-06:002004-03-23T15:25:07.076-06:00Let's clear up several common misconceptions Christians have about weight loss and dieting:
#1) God does NOT want you to be overweight.
#2) Being overweight is NOT a punishment for sin.
#3) It's NOT God's big joke on you.
#4) It's NOT because you've eaten "unrighteous" or non diet food.
#5) It's NOT even because you've been cursed with a slow metabolism!
#6) You CAN achieve permanent helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1079532262996337602004-03-17T08:04:00.000-06:002004-03-17T08:06:46.140-06:00This crazy place.
In the waiting room at the doctor's office this morning, I found myself sitting across from the pamphlet holder on the wall. All the normal topics were covered: back pain, high blood pressure, menopause, cancer, and watercress. That's right, watercress. Did you know that in the old(e) days, people used to hold it in a bunch and eat it like an ice cream cone? Happily, I helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1078957596857075932004-03-10T16:26:00.000-06:002004-03-10T16:28:53.030-06:00"If there's something Americans love better than chocolate chip cookies, it's the batter before it's baked. Which is how this became our best selling flavour."
Today was made considerably tastier when my friend donated the last half pint of her Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream to me. After my grandma died a couple months ago, all I wanted to do was get a pint of ice cream and watch movies helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1078317660114373232004-03-03T06:41:00.000-06:002004-03-03T06:43:08.670-06:00Death is no laughing matter, but this headline is:
Paramedic fired for 'honking dead woman's breast'
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1078170577122099402004-03-01T13:49:00.000-06:002004-03-01T14:01:37.076-06:00As promised, a couple pictures from my foray into the world of protesting:
The communal bender:
Ultimate tree house:
We had a pretty kick-ass party this weekend, but since such activity in undesignated areas is illegal, I now have a note that says "You have been fined with immediate effect. The Student Support Manager will write to you with details of the fine and payment method." helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1077890946845873222004-02-27T08:09:00.000-06:002004-02-27T08:11:10.920-06:00creepyhelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1077615620412369452004-02-24T03:40:00.000-06:002004-02-24T03:42:20.890-06:00There's supposed to be a teacher strike on here today and because my afternoon class got cancelled, I've been anxiously checking my email to see if my morning one will be too. Its reminiscent of waking up in a snowstorm and praying for the radio announcer to read the name of your school. There's less of a chance that the rest of my day will be filled with making a snowman, though.
Yesterday helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1077365886175882742004-02-21T06:18:00.000-06:002004-02-21T06:20:04.060-06:00Three fun and easy ways to Angloci(s)e your vocabulary, courtesy of my friend Jenny and some things she said yesterday:
Instead of: Get lost!
Try: Sod off!
Instead of: She really liked him.
Try: She fancied the ass off him.
Instead of: He's not very good at planning activities for groups of people.
Try: He couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076884544818192462004-02-15T16:35:00.000-06:002004-02-15T16:37:37.043-06:00In case maintaining your own blog and compulsively reading those of friends/acquaintances is leaving you feel unsatisfied in the blog department, you should check out the latest recommendation from the banner at the top of mine:
Free - Forum4Bloggers
Where bloggers meet to talk about blogging!
This is also a good site to visit if you're looking to up your geek quotient.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076638004177149982004-02-12T20:06:00.000-06:002004-02-12T20:08:33.763-06:00Wanna hear about my recent brush with coincidence? I'll tell you anyway...
So my friend Lea called the other day.
"Do you have Costas' phone number?" she asked.
"I don't think I know who Costas is," I replied.
"Okay," Lea said. "It's just that I told him to call me today so we could hang out, but since I just moved, I accidentally gave him the wrong number."
"Oh...sorry. Good luck helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076547766740581502004-02-11T19:02:00.000-06:002004-02-11T19:18:15.093-06:00Went to a pub tonight to hear live jazz music and ate an organic pickled egg. I think it was the "organic" more than the "pickled egg" part that made me want to buy it, but it ended up being mostly alright. While I was eating the egg, I had the following conversation:
Scary man: Pweqewn zmsaoein wwkrelkj pickled cockles asfoj er vgmaoin pickled eggs.
Me: Excuse me?
Scary man: Pwejrl wmekn wanthelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076464654234744122004-02-10T19:57:00.000-06:002004-02-10T19:59:21.076-06:00I was feeling too serious tonight so I put my hair in pigtails. Reading Marxist philosophy has never been so lighthearted and fun!
When I open my bakery-cafe, will you come?helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076372925078220522004-02-09T18:28:00.000-06:002004-02-09T18:30:31.233-06:00I'm going to die on May 9, 2060.
Find out when you're going to die.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076371732952835682004-02-09T18:08:00.000-06:002004-02-09T18:10:39.373-06:00New, partially-formed dissertation idea: something about consumption and the environment, possibly involving green consumerism and/or culture jamming and/or voluntary simplicity movements. Just need to make these ideas congeal into a nice, solid, answerable question.
I wanna join a LETS.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-107624448200804692004-02-08T06:48:00.000-06:002004-02-08T06:49:46.403-06:00This is great. I'm at a computer in the library right now, and three chairs down from me is a guy with some sort of stringed instrument made out of a gourd. It came in a brown bag covered in packing tape, so he spent about the first 15 minutes I was here noisily ripping the tape off. Now he's just casually plucking at it while talking to someone on MSN Messenger, despite the frantic/annoyed helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076147858148089842004-02-07T03:57:00.000-06:002004-02-07T03:59:22.090-06:00From the Guardian today:
An explicit government advertising campaign will be launched by the Department of Health on Monday as part of a drive to reduce the rates of sexually transmitted diseases...
One of the [spoof Valentine's Day] cards shows a pink teddy bear with its face twisted in pain and the message "I love you so much it hurts ... when I pee."
Another has a couple in a romantic helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1076002038849597992004-02-05T11:27:00.000-06:002004-02-05T11:41:00.356-06:00Since I don't understand HTML, please disregard the large space below and enjoy the shocking figures, courtesy of Worldwatch.
Table 1-6: Annual Expenditure On Luxury Items Compared
With Funding Needed To Meet Selected Basic Needs
Product
Annual Expenditure
Social or Economic Goal
Additional Annual Investment Needed to Achieve
Goal
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1075984750417190342004-02-05T06:39:00.000-06:002004-02-05T06:40:51.920-06:00There's a bottle of good Spanish white on our kitchen table right now. I know this because the label identifies it as "Good Spanish White." helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1075973237231618572004-02-05T03:27:00.000-06:002004-02-05T06:31:37.030-06:00Attempting to figure out why I've contracted another cold, I decided to blame some funky cheese I ate a couple days ago. But it occurs to me now that hiking for 5 hours in the cold and rain last weekend might have played a part. Oh well, it was worth it. We went to the Lake District and communed with nature, sheep, and the ghosts of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.
Here's me busy trying to helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1075510109655514012004-01-30T18:48:00.000-06:002004-01-30T18:50:05.716-06:00Possible dissertation topic: comparative analysis of media representations of genetically engineered foods in the US and the UK, using the Washington Post and the Guardian.
I thought I'd write that here so I know where to find it when I forget.
And while I'm on the topic, here are some good reasons to oppose GM crops if you're feeling ambivalent:
- Monsanto's patent for their herbicide helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1075426000424436442004-01-29T19:26:00.000-06:002004-01-29T19:29:36.856-06:00The banner at the top of my blog just said:
Brownies
Compare Prices at 40,000 Stores.
Find the Best Deals at BizRate.com!
I've been so foolish in my brownie shopping in the past, practically throwing my money at the grocery store clerks with hardly a second thought as to whether there might be a less expensive product out there somewhere. I might as well have just mixed $100 bills into the helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1075424308070620332004-01-29T18:58:00.000-06:002004-01-29T19:15:41.076-06:00When I get an idea, especially regarding my future, I tend to rush headlong into it without seriously thinking about its implications. Most of the time, this has worked to my benefit. Applying to study in England fits into that category. So does the guitar I just bought. Today, I spent several hours writing a resume and cover letter to become a graduate trainee with The Times in London. The helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1075342345531072072004-01-28T20:12:00.000-06:002004-01-28T20:15:44.043-06:00After spending most of last year wishing I had never run for student senate chair, I promised myself that I would not join groups of that nature anymore. For example, the Keele Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir tour fundraising committee. I offered to be on it initially because I thought they were going to America, and I thought I could be useful in some American capacity. But now they've helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1074997834423607742004-01-24T20:30:00.000-06:002004-01-24T20:32:04.763-06:00Came back from London after all. I felt a certain obligation to resume my master's degree program. Also, renting a cardboard box to live in there would probably consume all my savings. I did, however, find some wall decorations at a market today. Four stock art prints, but happily, no Monet water lilies or Van Gogh starry nights. I do have Klimpt's lesser-known work "The Embrace." I also helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1074858871405060282004-01-23T05:54:00.000-06:002004-01-23T05:55:59.686-06:00Last night I talked to the Royal Family's Communication Officer at a cocktail party. I asked him if the queen is more human than she comes across in the media. He told me that everyone is human. Wham.
In a perfect world, Keele University would be in London. I like it here. I think I might stay.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1074469448797427142004-01-18T17:44:00.000-06:002004-01-18T17:45:32.920-06:00Sign Herehelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1074396241695450572004-01-17T21:24:00.000-06:002004-01-17T21:25:25.186-06:00Having no work to do these past few days has made me suddenly aware of my lack of direction in life. Given large amounts of free time, I've found myself trying to figure out a) what life is all about, anyway or b) what it is I like to do when someone else isn't structuring my time. Sleeping is up there. Music, dancing, books, eating, people (sometimes), eating people (rarely), and probably helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1074277729631458992004-01-16T12:28:00.000-06:002004-01-16T12:35:10.593-06:00Vibraslap!
"Vibraslaps have that distinctive 'rattle-snake' effect and are most commonly used in Latin-American music. The length of the rattle is controlled by squeazing the vertical rod parts together and using a down-stroke open-hand slap over the wooden ball. '.... oooh er missus'"
~Caulfield Music Centre
Oooh er missus?
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1074004962602782642004-01-13T08:42:00.000-06:002004-01-13T08:44:01.293-06:00Does anyone know what the percussion instrument used in just about every Cake song is called? I'm thinking ratchet. Does that sound right? helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1073954481580879882004-01-12T18:41:00.000-06:002004-01-12T18:44:23.950-06:00If you're bored, near a computer with a fast connection, and interested in laughing, I recommend watching some clips of Mitch Hedberg doing standup comedy. It's like a goldmine, but in a more realistic sense of the term. It's not all gold, but when you find it, you'll be glad you hung in there.
I shouldn't try to make analogies anymore.
I don't think European bargain airlines are very nice.helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1073663857215011192004-01-09T09:57:00.000-06:002004-01-09T09:58:51.810-06:00Back to the homeland today. Well, not my homeland, but somebody's homeland. Keele is just a car ride, a short flight, a long flight, a tube ride, a coach ride and a bus ride away.
I had a dream last night that I married Steve Jones. It was an interesting sort of ceremony; lesbian Knox professors (who aren't professors in real life) officiated and instead of exchanging rings, we both had to helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1073460816230249572004-01-07T01:33:00.000-06:002004-01-07T01:34:48.796-06:00After telling a shoe salesman today that the first pair I tried on didn't fit correctly, he responded "Yeah, those ones are designed for standing and walking. You might want to try one of these other brands."
Why does salon shampoo always smell so much better than my normal shampoo?helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1073320226292804892004-01-05T10:30:00.000-06:002004-01-05T10:31:37.280-06:00The other night, I heard my mom telling a soon-to-be-married girl, "You've gotta let them know they're expected to do things right away, or they never will." When we got home, my dad had baked muffins, brownies, and a pineapple-upside-down cake. I guess my mom had expressed the importance of baked goods early on in the marriage.
So the holidays have been pretty sweet. Not really excited abouthelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1072586680306035462003-12-27T22:44:00.000-06:002003-12-27T22:45:42.700-06:00"Baby Got Back" is much harder to do karaoke to than you might expect. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1072284354381689332003-12-24T10:45:00.000-06:002003-12-24T10:49:53.560-06:00Since I'm a fan of lists, here are 7 things I've done since coming home that I couldn't have done in England:
- Interviewed an announcer from Minnesota Public Radio for a paper
- Cross country skiied
- Got stood up by the President of the Minnesota Taxpayer's League, who I was supposed to interview for the same paper
- Went to Buffalo Wild Wings with a bunch of high school friends and drank helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1071941204147836052003-12-20T11:26:00.000-06:002003-12-20T11:27:39.450-06:00Home in about 36 hours!
Today, I went to the Tate Modern museum in London and saw one of the most beautiful art installations I've ever seen. Yesterday, I went to a Greek restaurant (complete with plate breaking and dancing) and saw some of the most jiggly boobs I've ever seen. It's been a good couple of days.
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1071702876481013092003-12-17T17:14:00.000-06:002003-12-17T17:15:29.200-06:00Well, I've been sitting at my computer for about the last 15 hours now and I officially have 2000 words of a 5000 word essay done. I can't work like this. The deadline isn't until January 14 but I tried to fool myself into believing it was tomorrow. "Helen," I said, "if you get this done now, you'll only have two more to do while you're at home in Minnesota, leaving more time to have fun and helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1071622775981442902003-12-16T18:59:00.000-06:002003-12-16T19:00:27.966-06:00Just took the "which presidential candidate should I vote for?" quiz and somehow, I'm eight percent closer to George W. Bush's ideology than Maria is. I'm slightly ashamed of that. Anyway, I hope my ideal theoretical candidate enters the race soon, because she sure sounds great:
1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
2. Socialist Candidate (88%)
3. Sharpton, Reverend Al - helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1071310718634636022003-12-13T04:18:00.000-06:002003-12-13T04:19:26.793-06:00I'd really like some cold Papa John's pizza for breakfast. Someone asked me a couple days ago what American foods I missed most, and I couldn't think of anything important at the time. I should find this person and update them.
On a related note, do you ever wonder how you would go about getting something if you were a rock star's lackey and they demanded, say, cold Papa John's pizza in the helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1071283628350215632003-12-12T20:47:00.000-06:002003-12-12T20:47:55.983-06:00Visiting the Knox website has never given me such a sinking feeling. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1070910525178375332003-12-08T13:08:00.000-06:002003-12-08T13:09:28.903-06:00Made a schedule for my (anal) self this morning in attempt to organize my life, and apparently, I've scheduled "Cock!" in for 11pm tonight. I wonder if putting something improbable on your schedule makes it more likely to come true. Tomorrow, I think I'll pencil in a 2-hour Swedish massage. Anyway, I believe I meant to write "Cook!", but that probably raises a whole other set of questions. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1070712349069175412003-12-06T06:05:00.000-06:002003-12-06T06:17:53.250-06:00I got an email this morning that said:
Vi@gr@ - It's a new medication that got its name from "vigor" and "niagara".
Of course! If only I had known the etymology, I would have been buying Viagra (or Vi@gr@) for years. helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1070680787496019552003-12-05T21:19:00.000-06:002003-12-05T21:20:28.450-06:00In response to some recent comments:
Alison, "Dear Saint, we know nothing about you except your name. But you gave us the Mother of God who called herself handmaid of the Lord. In your home you raised the Queen of Heaven and are rightly the model of homemakers. In your womb came to dwell the new Eve uniquely conceived without sin. Intercede for us that we too may remain free from sin."
helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5757240.post-1070680205364089552003-12-05T21:10:00.000-06:002003-12-05T21:10:46.466-06:00Just got back from seeing Love Actually and I'm still cringing. Usually, when I see a cheesy romantic comedy, I profess to have found it terribly-acted and intelligence-insulting, while inside I think "Ahh...that made me feel all warm and squishy." But not this time. I can't tell whether my taste in movies is becoming more refined or whether it was just that bad. I'll have to rent Dirty helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950671697824663463noreply@blogger.com