The rain comes down for
Several hours, non-stop
Drip drop, plip plop, splash.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Days
Thanksgiving is a day
For turkey, and football
Pies and the Macy's parade.
But it is also a chance
for poor tired students
to go home
and sleep.
I fly three hours
And then another four
to be home in my bed.
I fly not only for pie,
But also for snow, and home.
For friends
For family.
And so, I go
With my suitcase and backpack
And no work, for a time.
I go home.
For turkey, and football
Pies and the Macy's parade.
But it is also a chance
for poor tired students
to go home
and sleep.
I fly three hours
And then another four
to be home in my bed.
I fly not only for pie,
But also for snow, and home.
For friends
For family.
And so, I go
With my suitcase and backpack
And no work, for a time.
I go home.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Conformity
Conformity.
It keeps us running.
Stop to catch a breath, then we keep running.
Never going to stop going in circles.
We like to hide by the game of camouflage because we know
we can win.
So keep your head down
and keep your pace up
and you’ll be okay.
Safety is conformity.
Oh, boring!
It’s all the same!
Stop ignoring yourself.
They are not your definition,
so wake up from your sad condition,
losing yourself
to everyone else.
Who are you?
Yeah, you?
Yeah, you?
Yeah,
you?
Strike off on a trail on your own!
It’s not safe, and you might feel alone.
But you’re not! No, you’re not.
No, you’re not alone.
And you are free,
free to be,
free to see,
so look around
and listen to the sound
of peace.
It keeps us running.
Stop to catch a breath, then we keep running.
Never going to stop going in circles.
We like to hide by the game of camouflage because we know
we can win.
So keep your head down
and keep your pace up
and you’ll be okay.
Safety is conformity.
Oh, boring!
It’s all the same!
Stop ignoring yourself.
They are not your definition,
so wake up from your sad condition,
losing yourself
to everyone else.
Who are you?
Yeah, you?
Yeah, you?
Yeah,
you?
Strike off on a trail on your own!
It’s not safe, and you might feel alone.
But you’re not! No, you’re not.
No, you’re not alone.
And you are free,
free to be,
free to see,
so look around
and listen to the sound
of peace.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Is Anybody Out There?
Please excuse our many
Absences, for it's that we
Have not enough time.
We all have, you see
much academically, and
Cannot be here now.
In short (and simple)
We do not have enough time
To update our blog.
Sorry.
Absences, for it's that we
Have not enough time.
We all have, you see
much academically, and
Cannot be here now.
In short (and simple)
We do not have enough time
To update our blog.
Sorry.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Maybe they should check their symptoms...
I received an e-mail this morning from the lovely institution that I attend. It was well intentioned I'm sure. But logical...?
The email is a warning about heat stroke, and other heat related problems. There's currently a heat wave here, with the temperature right now above 100. And so, this e-mail. I shall present you with a few excerpts.
"The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by those people sensitive to the heat. 'While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded to take care of themselves [...] when the weather gets hotter,' said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. 'When temperatures are high, prolonged sun exposure may cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.'"
Useful information, it's true. The risks of heat related illness are very real, and it's easy to forget how long you've been out and that you need to drink more water. But wait, there's more:
"If you plan to be outdoors, take precautions to protect yourself from the heat. Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst. Individuals with these symptoms should be moved to a cooler, shaded place and given water or sport drinks. More severe symptoms such as diminished judgment, disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke and requires immediate medical attention."
Scary. But, hold on. Diminished judgement? Really? Ok, I'm not knocking the truth of this, but I would say that diminished judgement has something to do with the following instructions to students.
• During peak heat hours stay in an air-conditioned area. If you don’t have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool.
• Avoid unnecessary exertion, such as vigorous exercise during peak sun hours, if you are outside or in a non-air conditioned building.
• Stay out of the sun if you do not need to be in it. When in the sun, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim, and loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants to protect yourself from sun damage.
Objection 1:
Only three dorms and one class building have reliable air conditioning. The other two buildings and six dorms do not. The other four campuses have a similar situation, with some newer buildings having AC, and most older buildings not. Students will have spotty access to air conditioning at best, and none at worst. Strike one.
Objection 2:
Students are required to exert themselves to get anywhere on campus. The wonderful faculty and staff have access to a wide range of campus-owned golf carts, but students either walk, bike, unicycle, skateboard, or scooter their way to class. And when one has to, for example, get from the middle of the southern most campus up to the north end of the northern most campus in ten minuets, "unnecessary exertion" is the least of their worries. Strike two.
Objection 3:
I'm not sure if I'm reading this right. "Stay out of the sun" it says. Hmm. Well, when that campus wide umbrella is built, this may be possible. In the mean-time, students are, as I mentioned above, out and about going to class and office hours and hanging out in the courtyards and sunbathing conveniently in the path of the shirtless CMS cross country team... In short, not avoiding the sun. While some of those activities are unnecessary (except the sunbathing, clearly), some are unavoidable. Students do still have to walk to class... Strike three.
You're out.
Now, would you like some water, Scripps? You're looking a little disoriented.
The email is a warning about heat stroke, and other heat related problems. There's currently a heat wave here, with the temperature right now above 100. And so, this e-mail. I shall present you with a few excerpts.
"The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, would like to remind everyone that precautions should be taken, especially by those people sensitive to the heat. 'While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded to take care of themselves [...] when the weather gets hotter,' said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. 'When temperatures are high, prolonged sun exposure may cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.'"
Useful information, it's true. The risks of heat related illness are very real, and it's easy to forget how long you've been out and that you need to drink more water. But wait, there's more:
"If you plan to be outdoors, take precautions to protect yourself from the heat. Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst. Individuals with these symptoms should be moved to a cooler, shaded place and given water or sport drinks. More severe symptoms such as diminished judgment, disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke and requires immediate medical attention."
Scary. But, hold on. Diminished judgement? Really? Ok, I'm not knocking the truth of this, but I would say that diminished judgement has something to do with the following instructions to students.
• During peak heat hours stay in an air-conditioned area. If you don’t have access to air conditioning in your home, visit public facilities such as shopping malls, parks, and libraries to stay cool.
• Avoid unnecessary exertion, such as vigorous exercise during peak sun hours, if you are outside or in a non-air conditioned building.
• Stay out of the sun if you do not need to be in it. When in the sun, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim, and loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants to protect yourself from sun damage.
Objection 1:
Only three dorms and one class building have reliable air conditioning. The other two buildings and six dorms do not. The other four campuses have a similar situation, with some newer buildings having AC, and most older buildings not. Students will have spotty access to air conditioning at best, and none at worst. Strike one.
Objection 2:
Students are required to exert themselves to get anywhere on campus. The wonderful faculty and staff have access to a wide range of campus-owned golf carts, but students either walk, bike, unicycle, skateboard, or scooter their way to class. And when one has to, for example, get from the middle of the southern most campus up to the north end of the northern most campus in ten minuets, "unnecessary exertion" is the least of their worries. Strike two.
Objection 3:
I'm not sure if I'm reading this right. "Stay out of the sun" it says. Hmm. Well, when that campus wide umbrella is built, this may be possible. In the mean-time, students are, as I mentioned above, out and about going to class and office hours and hanging out in the courtyards and sunbathing conveniently in the path of the shirtless CMS cross country team... In short, not avoiding the sun. While some of those activities are unnecessary (except the sunbathing, clearly), some are unavoidable. Students do still have to walk to class... Strike three.
You're out.
Now, would you like some water, Scripps? You're looking a little disoriented.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tiananmen
I really love this poem- I think it is incredibly powerful.
Tiananmen
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
What happened then
And you can't speak
Of Tiananmen.
You must not speak.
You must not think.
You must not dip
Your brush in ink.
You must not say
What happened then,
What happened there,
In Tiananmen.
The cruel men
Are old and deaf
Ready to kill
But short of breath
And they will die
Like other men
And they'll lie in state
In Tiananmen.
They lie in state.
They lie in style.
Another lie's
Thrown on the pile,
Thrown on the pile
By the cruel men
To cleanse the blood
From Tiananmen.
Truth is a secret.
Keep it dark.
Keep it dark
In your heart of hearts.
Keep it dark
Till you know when
Truth may return
To Tiananmen.
Tiananmen
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
When they'll come again
They'll come again
To Tiananmen.
by James Fenton
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
What happened then
And you can't speak
Of Tiananmen.
You must not speak.
You must not think.
You must not dip
Your brush in ink.
You must not say
What happened then,
What happened there,
In Tiananmen.
The cruel men
Are old and deaf
Ready to kill
But short of breath
And they will die
Like other men
And they'll lie in state
In Tiananmen.
They lie in state.
They lie in style.
Another lie's
Thrown on the pile,
Thrown on the pile
By the cruel men
To cleanse the blood
From Tiananmen.
Truth is a secret.
Keep it dark.
Keep it dark
In your heart of hearts.
Keep it dark
Till you know when
Truth may return
To Tiananmen.
Tiananmen
Is broad and clean
And you can't tell
Where the dead have been
And you can't tell
When they'll come again
They'll come again
To Tiananmen.
by James Fenton
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Time Has Come
As it is now late August, a terrible time has come upon us. We may wail, beat our chests, and cry pitiosly, but the march of time cannot be stopped. And so we sadly pack our suitcases and bid a tearful goodbye to summer.
Some of us have already returned to school. Some of us will be back soon. Two of us will be starting college for the first time. And as exciting as it is to be reunited with friends from around the country (or to meet new ones), there is still a certain sadness involved when the time comes to leave home (note: the author has only been home for the last week and is not yet sick and tired of having nothing to do but sit around all day).
But inevitably, go we must. We go to new roommates and new classes, often in old buildings with old professors. We go to clubs, dance teams, afternoon tea and bible study (to each their own). We go with memories of exotic, far away places, exciting adventures, and plenty of new photographs.
And most of all, we go with the knowledge that this year, perhaps, can be just a little better then the year before. We'll try something new, meet someone new, learn something new. With each year, so may new things, and there's no going back.
The time has come.
Some of us have already returned to school. Some of us will be back soon. Two of us will be starting college for the first time. And as exciting as it is to be reunited with friends from around the country (or to meet new ones), there is still a certain sadness involved when the time comes to leave home (note: the author has only been home for the last week and is not yet sick and tired of having nothing to do but sit around all day).
But inevitably, go we must. We go to new roommates and new classes, often in old buildings with old professors. We go to clubs, dance teams, afternoon tea and bible study (to each their own). We go with memories of exotic, far away places, exciting adventures, and plenty of new photographs.
And most of all, we go with the knowledge that this year, perhaps, can be just a little better then the year before. We'll try something new, meet someone new, learn something new. With each year, so may new things, and there's no going back.
The time has come.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Trials (and Errors) of Traveling
Last Friday, I stood in the 100 degree heat. I was waiting for my taxi.
Not a very good beginning, but that's how it started.
I was on the side of Mills Avenue, the street that divides Pitzer and Scripps campuses. I chose this spot because it's the only street address I knew for Pitzer. 1050 N. Mills Ave., aka Pitzer admissions office, Smith Campus Center. I didn't intend to be there long, I had about ten minuets before my taxi was supposed to be there. The time was 2:20. My train left the station in Pomona at 3:10.
A little while later, I checked my watch. 2:40. My taxi was ten minuets late. I called the company, and no-one answered the phone. I started to panic. I dialed 411 on my phone, and was given the number for Claremont Yellow Cab. I called them, and explained that I had called ahead for a cab from another company, and it hadn't shown up. I was catching a train leaving at 3:10. I needed a cab as soon as possible.
"Oh, yeah, we got a cab near you, just wait a little, they'll come get ya."
It was hot out there. I had been saving my water bottle for the train, but I took a few sips in a futile effort to cool off. I was getting nervous. Where was my cab? I looked at my watch again. 2:50. Twenty minuets before my train left. I called the company again.
"Oh, looks like we've got a cab about 20 minuets away, they'll come get you"
I explained again that my train left in 20 minuets, that was too long, I would miss my train. I couldn't miss that train. The response was apathetic at best. I was told that this was they best they could do, so I was stuck.
I started to cry. Then I had an idea. I prayed it would work, that it wasn't too late. I called the 1-800 number for Amtrak. The woman I got on the phone was very understanding. "Oh, don't worry about it hon. Just you try and get yourself to Ontario. Now remember, that train leaves at 3:35. You've got about 45 minuets to catch it. Just you try and get yourself a cab." I thanked her profusely, and waited.
At 3:05 my cab came. I got in and said "Ontario Amtrak station, please."
The driver turned to look at me. "But I'm supposed to take you to Pomona."
I took a deep breath and explained that yes, he was supposed to take me to Pomona, but that train left in five minuets, so now I had to get to the next stop, which is Ontario, and it would be appreciated if we got there quickly.
He still looked puzzled. "But, Ontario's east 'a here. Pomona's west. It's the other way." I gave up, and just asked again that he get me to Ontario.
After a minuet or too, I told him that I was going to pay with credit card. He scowled. "We don't like no credit cards, miss. The company charges us somethin awful for them. It's like eight percent. Do you have an ATM card?" I said yes, it's a debit card. He shook his head. "No, I mean like, we stop at a bank and you go get me some cash."
Honestly, I was stunned. To be fair, I don't think he meant it to be as menacing as it sounded. I think the guy just wanted to be paid in cash, thank you very much. Still, this frightened me slightly. I made the excuse that there probably wasn't enough time. Which was true.
We pulled into the station at 3:20. I handed him my card and waited for him to process it. It seemed to take several minuets, but I'm sure it was maybe one or two. I was just frantic to get on that train, now that I'd made it. I got out of the cab, thanked him, and ran across the street to the platform.
At this point, I discovered another problem. Since I was originally leaving from Pomona, I didn't have an actual ticket. At the Pomona station, they have little ticket dispenser machines, and you key in your confirmation code to get your ticket. This was not the case here. There were no dispensers to be found.
I asked around, and learned that to leave from this station, you had to get your tickets mailed to you.
To put it bluntly, I didn't have a ticket.
The train pulled up. I was trying not to cry again. I just wanted to get on that train. The conductor got out, and started to direct people to the appropriate car for their destination. Mine was down near the end. I got to the door, where there was a gentleman checking tickets and assigning seats. I showed him my paper, with the confirmation code and started to explain- when he cut me off. "Seat 58 is open."
I entered the train and climbed the tiny little staircase. on the second level, there were about a hundred rows of seats. I looked for seat number 58, and found it. I sat down, and relaxed. I'd made it.
The train pulled out from the station.
A young man tapped on my shoulder.
"Excuse me miss, you're sitting in my seat." I looked around. "This is seat 58, isn't it?" "Yes, and it's mine." I got up, and stood in the aisle. Once again, a small catastrophe. Eventually, the man who had told me where to sit came up the steps and down the aisle. I got his attention, and explained. He looked confused, and consulted his chart.
"Oh, well, 56 should be open." he turned around, and looked at the seat in question. There was an elderly woman sitting in it. "Did you move?" he asked her, rather gruffly. She shook her head, and told him smugly that he himself had seated her there. He looked at his chart again, and started moving down the rows of seats. Finally, he found one that was unoccupied on his (somewhat dubious) chart, and in reality. I sat there. It was a window seat, and the seat next to me was empty. I sat for a few minuets and watched the dregs of civilisation float past my window.
The conductor came up, and started collecting tickets. When he got to me, I started to explain that I didn't have a ticket, but I did buy one and that my taxi... and then the other taxi... and I found out that the station... He laughed. "Oh, it's fine," he said, "your credit card is only used to hold the ticket anyway. Say, how much did they quote you for online?" I told him. "Really? Now that's a bit much. Here, you've had a tough day. How bouts I give it to you for 20 less?"
I thanked him profusely, an handed him my card. He gave me a ticket, marked the seat taken and moved on down the aisle.
I had made it.
Not a very good beginning, but that's how it started.
I was on the side of Mills Avenue, the street that divides Pitzer and Scripps campuses. I chose this spot because it's the only street address I knew for Pitzer. 1050 N. Mills Ave., aka Pitzer admissions office, Smith Campus Center. I didn't intend to be there long, I had about ten minuets before my taxi was supposed to be there. The time was 2:20. My train left the station in Pomona at 3:10.
A little while later, I checked my watch. 2:40. My taxi was ten minuets late. I called the company, and no-one answered the phone. I started to panic. I dialed 411 on my phone, and was given the number for Claremont Yellow Cab. I called them, and explained that I had called ahead for a cab from another company, and it hadn't shown up. I was catching a train leaving at 3:10. I needed a cab as soon as possible.
"Oh, yeah, we got a cab near you, just wait a little, they'll come get ya."
It was hot out there. I had been saving my water bottle for the train, but I took a few sips in a futile effort to cool off. I was getting nervous. Where was my cab? I looked at my watch again. 2:50. Twenty minuets before my train left. I called the company again.
"Oh, looks like we've got a cab about 20 minuets away, they'll come get you"
I explained again that my train left in 20 minuets, that was too long, I would miss my train. I couldn't miss that train. The response was apathetic at best. I was told that this was they best they could do, so I was stuck.
I started to cry. Then I had an idea. I prayed it would work, that it wasn't too late. I called the 1-800 number for Amtrak. The woman I got on the phone was very understanding. "Oh, don't worry about it hon. Just you try and get yourself to Ontario. Now remember, that train leaves at 3:35. You've got about 45 minuets to catch it. Just you try and get yourself a cab." I thanked her profusely, and waited.
At 3:05 my cab came. I got in and said "Ontario Amtrak station, please."
The driver turned to look at me. "But I'm supposed to take you to Pomona."
I took a deep breath and explained that yes, he was supposed to take me to Pomona, but that train left in five minuets, so now I had to get to the next stop, which is Ontario, and it would be appreciated if we got there quickly.
He still looked puzzled. "But, Ontario's east 'a here. Pomona's west. It's the other way." I gave up, and just asked again that he get me to Ontario.
After a minuet or too, I told him that I was going to pay with credit card. He scowled. "We don't like no credit cards, miss. The company charges us somethin awful for them. It's like eight percent. Do you have an ATM card?" I said yes, it's a debit card. He shook his head. "No, I mean like, we stop at a bank and you go get me some cash."
Honestly, I was stunned. To be fair, I don't think he meant it to be as menacing as it sounded. I think the guy just wanted to be paid in cash, thank you very much. Still, this frightened me slightly. I made the excuse that there probably wasn't enough time. Which was true.
We pulled into the station at 3:20. I handed him my card and waited for him to process it. It seemed to take several minuets, but I'm sure it was maybe one or two. I was just frantic to get on that train, now that I'd made it. I got out of the cab, thanked him, and ran across the street to the platform.
At this point, I discovered another problem. Since I was originally leaving from Pomona, I didn't have an actual ticket. At the Pomona station, they have little ticket dispenser machines, and you key in your confirmation code to get your ticket. This was not the case here. There were no dispensers to be found.
I asked around, and learned that to leave from this station, you had to get your tickets mailed to you.
To put it bluntly, I didn't have a ticket.
The train pulled up. I was trying not to cry again. I just wanted to get on that train. The conductor got out, and started to direct people to the appropriate car for their destination. Mine was down near the end. I got to the door, where there was a gentleman checking tickets and assigning seats. I showed him my paper, with the confirmation code and started to explain- when he cut me off. "Seat 58 is open."
I entered the train and climbed the tiny little staircase. on the second level, there were about a hundred rows of seats. I looked for seat number 58, and found it. I sat down, and relaxed. I'd made it.
The train pulled out from the station.
A young man tapped on my shoulder.
"Excuse me miss, you're sitting in my seat." I looked around. "This is seat 58, isn't it?" "Yes, and it's mine." I got up, and stood in the aisle. Once again, a small catastrophe. Eventually, the man who had told me where to sit came up the steps and down the aisle. I got his attention, and explained. He looked confused, and consulted his chart.
"Oh, well, 56 should be open." he turned around, and looked at the seat in question. There was an elderly woman sitting in it. "Did you move?" he asked her, rather gruffly. She shook her head, and told him smugly that he himself had seated her there. He looked at his chart again, and started moving down the rows of seats. Finally, he found one that was unoccupied on his (somewhat dubious) chart, and in reality. I sat there. It was a window seat, and the seat next to me was empty. I sat for a few minuets and watched the dregs of civilisation float past my window.
The conductor came up, and started collecting tickets. When he got to me, I started to explain that I didn't have a ticket, but I did buy one and that my taxi... and then the other taxi... and I found out that the station... He laughed. "Oh, it's fine," he said, "your credit card is only used to hold the ticket anyway. Say, how much did they quote you for online?" I told him. "Really? Now that's a bit much. Here, you've had a tough day. How bouts I give it to you for 20 less?"
I thanked him profusely, an handed him my card. He gave me a ticket, marked the seat taken and moved on down the aisle.
I had made it.
Friday, June 12, 2009
An Ode to an Ant (and a hundred more)
Oh ant,
Why do you insist
Upon living in my bathroom?
You may be small
But you are a large nuisance,
Walking across the counter
Outside, I hear,
Is a very nice place to live
Much better then under
A leaky sink
What do you eat,
Oh ant?
For the bathroom does not have
Any food.
One day,
I will enter the bathroom
And you will be gone.
If my maintenance request is filled.
Why do you insist
Upon living in my bathroom?
You may be small
But you are a large nuisance,
Walking across the counter
Outside, I hear,
Is a very nice place to live
Much better then under
A leaky sink
What do you eat,
Oh ant?
For the bathroom does not have
Any food.
One day,
I will enter the bathroom
And you will be gone.
If my maintenance request is filled.
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Contents of my Snack Box on the Airplane from Shanghai to Xi'an
-Dried apple and sweet potato chips
-a roll
-some sort of cakeishness
-water
-onion cookies with original flavor
-yi lin dried radish
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Bread! (and the Aimie encounter)
Okay, so there are two events in this set of pictures. One is proof of the highly exciting meeting of Aimie and Rianne in Texas. We failed quite miserably at self-photography, so we had to get somebody else to take a good picture of us. Still, fun times were had in Texas, and I learned that the Baylor dining halls are far superior to our own.
Event 2: BREAD! For our Intro to Chemical Engineering class, we had to come up with an egg drop project, that was supposed to somehow involve or be based off of a chemical compound or chemical reaction. This was to be dropped out of an 8th-floor window in the Engineering Center. Our group decided that the best plan of action was to make a massive loaf of bread, and stick the egg in the middle. We figured while we were at it, we would make some more bread just to eat, because bread is quite good. So we made three batches of dough, which in hindsight was probably excessive, but we ended up with lots of nice bread. Interestingly, I had chosen this recipe for its simplicity and short ingredient list, and because the reviews said it was basically impossible to screw up – not based on any flavor criteria whatsoever. Turns out, it was ridiculously tasty, and so we were glad we had made so much dough. So, we used the biggest round one as the project bread, and the other loaves were for consumption. Day of the drop, I was cutting a hole in the bread to put the egg in, and then we were going to reseal it with the core and some peanut butter. When I cut and removed a core of the bread, I noticed there was a hole underneath it. Turns out, the giant loaf of bread had a large hollow in the center. Don’t get me wrong, there was still about 2 inches of thickness on all sides, but there was also a large cavern in the center of the bread, which is not conducive to cushioning an egg. So, after a panicked call to a teammate, we decided to pack it with Kleenex and call it good. So, I dropped it off in its little grocery bag with no further ado. Although I wasn't actually at the egg drop to see it, our egg did survive its miraculous flight from the 8th story of the engineering tower. However, the official egg-drop-droppers neglected to remove it from the bag before throwing it out the window. This didn’t affect the performance of our loaf, but it did make it look a little less cool. And such was the fate of the large loaf. The smaller round one, we gave half to the people whose kitchen we had used, and half went to one of the guys in our group. The two baguette-shaped things both came back to Hallett, and were entirely gone before 24 hours was up. Yum.
Event 2: BREAD! For our Intro to Chemical Engineering class, we had to come up with an egg drop project, that was supposed to somehow involve or be based off of a chemical compound or chemical reaction. This was to be dropped out of an 8th-floor window in the Engineering Center. Our group decided that the best plan of action was to make a massive loaf of bread, and stick the egg in the middle. We figured while we were at it, we would make some more bread just to eat, because bread is quite good. So we made three batches of dough, which in hindsight was probably excessive, but we ended up with lots of nice bread. Interestingly, I had chosen this recipe for its simplicity and short ingredient list, and because the reviews said it was basically impossible to screw up – not based on any flavor criteria whatsoever. Turns out, it was ridiculously tasty, and so we were glad we had made so much dough. So, we used the biggest round one as the project bread, and the other loaves were for consumption. Day of the drop, I was cutting a hole in the bread to put the egg in, and then we were going to reseal it with the core and some peanut butter. When I cut and removed a core of the bread, I noticed there was a hole underneath it. Turns out, the giant loaf of bread had a large hollow in the center. Don’t get me wrong, there was still about 2 inches of thickness on all sides, but there was also a large cavern in the center of the bread, which is not conducive to cushioning an egg. So, after a panicked call to a teammate, we decided to pack it with Kleenex and call it good. So, I dropped it off in its little grocery bag with no further ado. Although I wasn't actually at the egg drop to see it, our egg did survive its miraculous flight from the 8th story of the engineering tower. However, the official egg-drop-droppers neglected to remove it from the bag before throwing it out the window. This didn’t affect the performance of our loaf, but it did make it look a little less cool. And such was the fate of the large loaf. The smaller round one, we gave half to the people whose kitchen we had used, and half went to one of the guys in our group. The two baguette-shaped things both came back to Hallett, and were entirely gone before 24 hours was up. Yum.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sprinkler On a Sunny Day
As the heat
Rises
My attention
Drops
Like water I
wish
I could be in
Class, at
100
Is an impossible
Feat
In a building
Without
Air conditioning
En clase, hacÃamos
hablado
Del calor, y pensamos
De frÃo
Cunado aprendiendo
La tema
De pluscuampefecto
Returning from lunch,
I see
A sprinkler, watering
the lawn
I forget the tests
exams
And other worries, just
R U N
Rises
My attention
Drops
Like water I
wish
I could be in
Class, at
100
Is an impossible
Feat
In a building
Without
Air conditioning
En clase, hacÃamos
hablado
Del calor, y pensamos
De frÃo
Cunado aprendiendo
La tema
De pluscuampefecto
Returning from lunch,
I see
A sprinkler, watering
the lawn
I forget the tests
exams
And other worries, just
R U N
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Okay, here I am!
So, just got back from the third Diff Eq midterm, and this conversation between my roommate and I summed it up pretty well, I think:
Background: We had just left the testing room. 5-question, 100-point test, 1st section "multiple choice" (but it really was short answer) had 6-6point subquestions, no partial credit, with the other other 4 sections adding up to the remaining 64 points.
"So, how did it go?" I asked.
"It seemed pretty good...well, I didn't really get 2c or 5c. And I didn't really know what I was doing on the multiple choice section on the front either. But aside from that-"
"So, besides half the test, it went pretty well?"
"Yeah, that's about right."
And that was about how I felt, too. In these situations, there is only one thing to do:
Hope everyone else did worse.
Background: We had just left the testing room. 5-question, 100-point test, 1st section "multiple choice" (but it really was short answer) had 6-6point subquestions, no partial credit, with the other other 4 sections adding up to the remaining 64 points.
"So, how did it go?" I asked.
"It seemed pretty good...well, I didn't really get 2c or 5c. And I didn't really know what I was doing on the multiple choice section on the front either. But aside from that-"
"So, besides half the test, it went pretty well?"
"Yeah, that's about right."
And that was about how I felt, too. In these situations, there is only one thing to do:
Hope everyone else did worse.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Graffiti
SCISSOR ME SCRIPPSIES
Reads one, in bright orange spray paint
In the driveway of the alumni house.
EVERY LASH
Says another, in green
On the way to the dining hall
(DICK)TATION
Cry others, in many colors
In front of the dorms
On the tree walk
On the lawn
Maturely written with a phallus,
Rather than words
Last week, another,
Sprayed on a plaster wall
Behind my dorm
Declared us all lesbians
And worthy of punishment
Although the wording
Was much less eloquent
What have we done
To deserve such words?
Such hate?
Such malice?
Such defamation?
Perhaps, one whispers,
We've done nothing.
This voice gets stronger,
Repeating the phrase.
We've done nothing
Nothing to deserve any of this
Except one thing:
We learn.
We are a community of women,
Living and learning together.
We support each other,
Respect each other,
Love each other.
This, the voice says, must be why.
By being independent.
By considering ourselves equals.
By working to be more than just women.
By learning.
To the men who've done this
For they must be male,
We offer you this:
No
Mercy.
Reads one, in bright orange spray paint
In the driveway of the alumni house.
EVERY LASH
Says another, in green
On the way to the dining hall
(DICK)TATION
Cry others, in many colors
In front of the dorms
On the tree walk
On the lawn
Maturely written with a phallus,
Rather than words
Last week, another,
Sprayed on a plaster wall
Behind my dorm
Declared us all lesbians
And worthy of punishment
Although the wording
Was much less eloquent
What have we done
To deserve such words?
Such hate?
Such malice?
Such defamation?
Perhaps, one whispers,
We've done nothing.
This voice gets stronger,
Repeating the phrase.
We've done nothing
Nothing to deserve any of this
Except one thing:
We learn.
We are a community of women,
Living and learning together.
We support each other,
Respect each other,
Love each other.
This, the voice says, must be why.
By being independent.
By considering ourselves equals.
By working to be more than just women.
By learning.
To the men who've done this
For they must be male,
We offer you this:
No
Mercy.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Late at night
i sit on my bed
feel the tenseness in my shoulders
a combination
of exercise classes,
carrying water,
and stress
i stare at my computer screen
willing my thoughts to arrange themselves into an essay
look through old photos
read and reread the texts
wish i could just go to sleep
i sit
listen to the hum of the air
the soft breath of my roommate
and chill music from pandora
i sit
my mind preoccupied with my to-do list for the week
always thinking of the next thing
but
maybe
for now
I will live
just today
i sit
and i listen
and i think
i think of that girl trapped in the wallpaper
too weak?
just caught,
pinned into a role she has no desire to inhabit
i am not that girl
i will live for me
pursue my passions
my interests
once i figure out just what they are
but for now
i sit
i think
i begin to write.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A few more excellent quotations
Am I not using this door right?
-Loni
It's a complicated equation involving the location of my dad's desk, the TV, and the prevailing couches...
-Eric (on which room in his house is the family room)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
It was a little Ridiculous
The epic bra search
Spanned two days and was, at last
Successful. Very good
Hooray for Brassieres
That fit! But I can't spend that
Much money again.
Spanned two days and was, at last
Successful. Very good
Hooray for Brassieres
That fit! But I can't spend that
Much money again.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Jeepers, creepers, why don't you close those peepers?
Peeping toms
across the street
second floor balcony
of the Mudd dorm
pass a cigarette
amongst themselves
see me looking
smile
and give
a jaunty wave
across the street
second floor balcony
of the Mudd dorm
pass a cigarette
amongst themselves
see me looking
smile
and give
a jaunty wave
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A Haiku on Fire Alarms, and How Much They Annoy Me
I sat, serene, the
Room was quiet, still, empty
The alarm went off
I stand, in the wet
Grass and consider, glad I
Was not showering
The moral of this
Story is that one must use
More care when cooking
Room was quiet, still, empty
The alarm went off
I stand, in the wet
Grass and consider, glad I
Was not showering
The moral of this
Story is that one must use
More care when cooking
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Completely random and Very Funny Quotations
From a random girl I walked past in front of the MU-
"...and then I told him...there is like no way those could be my pajamas...I don't even own any pajamas!"
"...and then we get to the Count (a character in the Marriage of Figaro) who, lets face it, is basically a complete asshole." -Dr. Jacquie Scott (my badass human event teacher who wears gorgeous clothing, great heels, and is a totally awesome feminist...)
In my Bones, Stones, Human Evolution textbook-
"The chances of a structure like the human eye arising completely by chance are like a hurricane blowing through a junkyard and by chance assembling a Boeing 747"
"God Bless Women...its the little things you learn, like you will never again wear jeweled underwear to pilates, because that cute little jewel is now forever imprinted into your back."
-Pilates teacher
"Basically...people have sex. And then along comes a baby."
-Dr. Thomas Puleo (who, incidently is the best dressed male professor I have ever met)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Neologism contest
I suspect you're all the sort to like this sort of thing... :P
The winners are:
1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n .) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.
1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n .) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.
The Washington Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year's winners:
1. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright idea s from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of having sex.
3. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.
8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease.
9. Karmageddon (n): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.
12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
13. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
14. Beelzebug (n.) : Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.
And the pick of the literature:
16. Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an asshole.
1. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright idea s from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of having sex.
3. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.
8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease.
9. Karmageddon (n): It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.
12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
13. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
14. Beelzebug (n.) : Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.
And the pick of the literature:
16. Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an asshole.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Slideshow Help
I have been trying to get the slideshow to function....and as far as you all can probably can see, it is not working very well. I have a bunch of pics tagged scattered_alaska, and the only one that shows up is Justin in Prince William Sound. While a lovely picture, there are plenty of other ones I would like to show up... And it now seems to be working in the preview window but not actually on the blog...but now it is only showing like the five pics Rianne has posted...so confusing.
And don't stop reading at my boring post, Andrea has a lovely picture and poetry down below.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Photos on a Rainy Day
I wake, the sky is
dark, full of clouds, pregnant with
moisture, class beckons
Physics class, too warm
California heat on a
Chilly winter day
Outside the chill soaks
Into my clothes, the sky glows
With light from nowhere
Grab my camara,
The lighting is perfect for
photos, soft and clean
Drip, drip, the trees drop
Moisture onto the bright red
Of my umbrella
Soft light makes flowers
Glow from within, flash! destroyed
By forgetfulness
Settings reset, once
More I attempt to compose
Colors in a shot
A lilly in the
Fountain glows, gold fish swim below
Disturb reflection
Leaves float in a small
Puddle between paving stones
Forever captured
Deep blue iris glistens
With beads of water, each one
Attracts the eye more
A lamp-post stands, alone
The curve of a bench accents
The unyeilding form
The battery quits
Protests the hours my camara
Has spent on this day
Return in the rain
I glance behind, so many
Potential pictures
dark, full of clouds, pregnant with
moisture, class beckons
Physics class, too warm
California heat on a
Chilly winter day
Outside the chill soaks
Into my clothes, the sky glows
With light from nowhere
Grab my camara,
The lighting is perfect for
photos, soft and clean
Drip, drip, the trees drop
Moisture onto the bright red
Of my umbrella
Soft light makes flowers
Glow from within, flash! destroyed
By forgetfulness
Settings reset, once
More I attempt to compose
Colors in a shot
A lilly in the
Fountain glows, gold fish swim below
Disturb reflection
Leaves float in a small
Puddle between paving stones
Forever captured
Deep blue iris glistens
With beads of water, each one
Attracts the eye more
A lamp-post stands, alone
The curve of a bench accents
The unyeilding form
The battery quits
Protests the hours my camara
Has spent on this day
Return in the rain
I glance behind, so many
Potential pictures
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Fire Goddess Confession
On the evening of January 4th our dear friend Emily came up to me at Aimie's birthday party. Putting her arm around my shoulders, she said, "You know I hate to say this but it's a bit too cold for skiing. Do you think you could warm things up a bit?"
Now everyone knows I am the Fire Goddess, Bane to Skiiers and their precious snow. Thankfully in past years we have come to an agreement. They give me cheesecake and they can keep their cold snow. I had never had a Skiier ask me to make things warmers but I assumed it would require the same payment.
"You have cheesecake?"
Emily shook her head. "No, but we are eating pretty good ice cream cake. That should be enough."
"Ok, I'll see what I can do."
What Emily and I failed to take note of was that we were eating sacred ice cream cake of the mint chip variety. Two days after I got back from Nome the temperature started to rise and as most of you know the rest of the story is history. Ski races, school, and a lot of other things were canceled because of too much warmth.
The moral of this story: Don't ask the Fire Goddess to make it warm until spring and don't underestimate the power of the sacred ice cream.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Psycho Weather
All this fall, people in Tempe asked me how I stood Alaska in the winter, why I didn't simply freeze into one big popsicle...and so on. I tended to reply with my various tour guide-y facts about Anchorage being more temperate than one might think, and actually in most cases having a milder winter than the Midwest. I would also mention that you can always put on more clothing but can only take so much clothing off... Had this been a more normal winter that is the case, and granted it is the case, but 10 below is absolutely freezing no matter what excuses one offers up.
I was home during a cold snap...yuck...and it was long too! I personally blame it on Justin, cause the day after he left the temp went within the average range again. I recognize there isn't NECESSARILY a causal relationship, but I still maintain that the cold snap was his fault...
I was looking at the weather page, which has a graph of the past week or so of high and low temperatures, along with lines that delineate the average highs and lows for this time of the year. Anchorage went from days of having the high be near or below the average low temperature, to Monday when the temp range was within the averages to Tuesday and Wednesday highs being WAY above normal highs.
The last two days ASD has canceled school because the warm temps put a lovely layer of water on top of the existing ice, I think Alaska may be the only place where school gets canceled because it is too warm :) It has also been gusting wind, hard enough that the house sounds like it is about to lift up like something from the Wizard of Oz and my mom is afraid the wind will take out one of the trees around our property which would probably NOT be a good thing because many of them are tall enough that they would most likely hit the house. Also, in the typical classy Novak style, when my dad and brother replaced our old fridge with another (not a new one, but more functional) they decided for some reason to leave the old fridge on the back deck. I'm not sure if it was dangerous to get it down the stairs, if they were defrosting it, or they just got lazy. Anyway, the fridge has been a lovely deck ornament since sometime this fall, and got frozen to the deck with all of the snow and ice, however in the warmup that all melted, and the fridge was freestanding. This morning, we woke up to all of our trashcans blown away, and the slightly scary fact that the winds had been strong enough to move the refrigerator about five to ten feet across the deck. I guess it is good to keep things interesting :)
I guess this all just fits the Alaska maxim of: Don't like the weather? Wait ten minutes, it'll change.
I was home during a cold snap...yuck...and it was long too! I personally blame it on Justin, cause the day after he left the temp went within the average range again. I recognize there isn't NECESSARILY a causal relationship, but I still maintain that the cold snap was his fault...
I was looking at the weather page, which has a graph of the past week or so of high and low temperatures, along with lines that delineate the average highs and lows for this time of the year. Anchorage went from days of having the high be near or below the average low temperature, to Monday when the temp range was within the averages to Tuesday and Wednesday highs being WAY above normal highs.
The last two days ASD has canceled school because the warm temps put a lovely layer of water on top of the existing ice, I think Alaska may be the only place where school gets canceled because it is too warm :) It has also been gusting wind, hard enough that the house sounds like it is about to lift up like something from the Wizard of Oz and my mom is afraid the wind will take out one of the trees around our property which would probably NOT be a good thing because many of them are tall enough that they would most likely hit the house. Also, in the typical classy Novak style, when my dad and brother replaced our old fridge with another (not a new one, but more functional) they decided for some reason to leave the old fridge on the back deck. I'm not sure if it was dangerous to get it down the stairs, if they were defrosting it, or they just got lazy. Anyway, the fridge has been a lovely deck ornament since sometime this fall, and got frozen to the deck with all of the snow and ice, however in the warmup that all melted, and the fridge was freestanding. This morning, we woke up to all of our trashcans blown away, and the slightly scary fact that the winds had been strong enough to move the refrigerator about five to ten feet across the deck. I guess it is good to keep things interesting :)
I guess this all just fits the Alaska maxim of: Don't like the weather? Wait ten minutes, it'll change.
Friday, January 9, 2009
My Melancholy Mood at wanting to be back at college yet at the same time not...
Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos. ~Charles M. Schulz
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Dinking around on html with little success
I am trying to get a slideshow to work properly...I would get it to display the first picture but nothing after that. Also I tried to make the blog have three columns so that we can have slideshows for different people etc...and so I was looking up tutorials online...trying to edit the html and having little success.
If anyone wants to try to make it work, I can make you guys have admin powers if you need them to edit the format, just save a backup copy of the format before you do too much. I throw out a challenge to you all, I don't know what the reward is quite yet, but you can suggest appropriate prizes...
If anyone wants to try to make it work, I can make you guys have admin powers if you need them to edit the format, just save a backup copy of the format before you do too much. I throw out a challenge to you all, I don't know what the reward is quite yet, but you can suggest appropriate prizes...
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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