- I made a sweater. Well, it’s a tank top, but it’s knitted, so it’s kind of a sweater. It’s my first functional garment. Pictures with me in it will be coming shortly, but for now, here’s this pretty orange cotton thing:
- I’m in San Diego. I wore open-toed shoes for the first time since I was here in January. Amen, hallelujah and all that jazz.
- Pursuant to that point, by the time dinner is over, my first three meals in San Diego will have been Mexican food. Apparently there is something about the shadow of Mt. Ranier that prevents quality Mexican food from being available. Other theories are always welcome.
- I am really really over my job right now. If you haven’t seen me face to face in a little while, you may want to avoid the opportunity. Actually, I love my job. It’s people I hate. People who write dumb things that I have to read. Arg.
the fastest post in the west
April 3, 2008 By
not a quick thinker
October 30, 2007 By
To: The guy sitting next to me at Zoka last night
Thank you for letting me take the empty seat at your table. Space was especially tight, and my computer’s battery isn’t what it used to be. Thanks also for letting me chime in with my Trivial Pursuit answers. It is admirable to see people playing a version that is older than they are–kudos to you for that.
Now that I’ve had some time to think about it, I would like to respond to your comment, “I really believe MySpace is of the Devil.”
No one–I mean NO ONE–who has seen MySpace doesn’t think it can be used for evil. Not only has it enabled dangerous lifestyles and child predators, but it has revived ascii art and created an entirely new evil: Blingees.
The point I want to make is that “used for evil” is very different than “of the devil.” Cars are often used for evil. Medicines are often used for evil. Frankly, churches are sometimes used for evil. No one believes that this makes these things exclusively the devil’s territory, it just happens that people are generally susceptible to making bad decisions.
There are three effects of your comment and the underlying belief that you may not have considered. First, you disregard, discount and dismiss all the ways that MySpace is used for good: Relationships get healed, faith-based events get publicized, lonely people connect with other lonely people. There is a lot of wholesome, Godly stuff going on out there, and by assigning it to the devil, you rob it of its glory.
Second, you give credit where it is not deserved. In the case that the Devil exists as a sentient being, how do you suppose that verbally giving him attribution would affect his power?
Third, you reinforce stereotypes that Christians are narrow-minded, naive, judgmental, self-righteous, isolationist fear-mongers. Please, please think next time you decide to make such flip statements about good and evil. Next time, the person who overhears you will probably take it out on their opinions of you and your god, rather than on their blog.
Security Theater
September 10, 2007 By
That’s not my word for it. Some guy who knows a lot more than me about national security, intelligence and privacy made up the term security theater to refer to the stuff that currently goes on at airports. It’s security the way that stage performances are life: that is to say, only in appearances.
I know everyone who travels by plane has one, but here’s my most recent ridiculous experience, for your reading pleasure. (Just in case anyone thought that I was too happy out here to still be using my brain, here’s evidence to the contrary.)
I almost never carry on. I’m totally a girl scout at heart, so I have a serious tendency to over-pack (thanks, mom!), and therefore get to check all of my gels and liquids. This time, it was a long weekend where I wouldn’t be required to wear anything other than a bathing suit and pajamas, so I decided to travel light. I made a special trip to the drug store to buy unbelievably over priced mini-toothpaste, deodorant, and small empties for my other necessary liquids and gels. I was so diligent.
Now, I know the 3-1-1 rule. I know that all of my 3 ounce-or-less containers are supposed to be in one plastic quart-sized ziplock bag. We don’t keep those around the house, so I figured if it was a deal-breaker, they’d have to give me one.
Seattle to San Jose: Uneventful. I took my toiletry bag, containing 3 ounce-or-less liquids and gels, toothbrush, ponytail holders, etc., and sent it through the big machine. The uniform nodded and smiled. Hoorah.
San Jose to Seattle: Though I did exactly the same thing on the return trip, my experience was quite different. This time, the nice girl (I know she doesn’t make the rules, it’s not her fault. Fine.) decides that what needs to happen is that the 3 ounces-or-less containers need to go through the x-ray machine again, in the comfort of a plastic bag. Which means I have two options–I can schlep all my stuff through a second time, or I can leave all my stuff with Matt, and take only my plastic bag of gels and liquids and my boarding pass and do a second cattle-call barefoot through everyone else’s cooties.
Seriously? Seriously. I have absolutely NO clue what benefit could possibly come from putting me through this. Everything was clearly available for them to see. The presence of the plastic bag does not reveal a hidden danger. The line is not getting shorter.
From a teaching perspective, I wonder if maybe this practice is to condition travelers to follow the policy. If you don’t have your baggie, you’ll be punished in order to encourage you to follow the rules next time? Awesome.
So, the obvious problems with this are that when security practices are inconsistent, that’s nearly the same as ineffective. Besides that, this go-back-and-do-it-right mentality is irrational, and as a result infuriating. NO ONE’s baggie is going to prevent a plane from going down, and these kinds of security measures are never going to prevent what we’re afraid of because they’re all reacting, rather than anticipating. The bad guys are one step ahead of us, and we’re wasting time trying to thwart last year’s attack.
Ironically, I had a pair of very sharp scissors in my bag as well, though no one asked to see those.
I’m a good kid, and I love my country so much that I go out of my way to educate myself about its decision-makers and decisions, but this is just so stupid.
UPDATE 9/18/07: OMG read this guy’s blog he brought a box cutter on the plane, but they took his coffee away. Includes pictures!
Also, I swear I will write something light and fluffy and fun and interesting today. I promise I will.
It’s Not Chocolate!!
April 24, 2007 By
Friends! We’re in trouble! They’re trying to take the chocolate out of chocolate!!
From slashdot:
“The US Food and Drug Administration is considering redefining ‘chocolate’ to allow substitution of vegetable oil ($0.70/lb.) for cocoa butter ($2.30/lb.), and whey protein for dry whole milk. There are already standard terms to differentiate these products from chocolate, such as ‘chocolatey’ and ‘chocolate-flavored.’ The change was requested by the industry group Chocolate Manufacturers of America. Leading the resistance to this change is high-end chocolate maker Guittard, with significant grass-roots support from the Candyblog. The FDA is taking consumer comments until April 25. Here is the FDA page on the proposed change, which oddly enough does not say what the proposed change is.”
Again, the here is the link to complain to the FDA before they make a decision. As I learned in my Scharffen Berger factory tour, most chocolate here in the states has a significantly
Ah, the peaceful South
March 20, 2007 By
I’m not a complainer. If you didn’t already know, I just want to be clear. I’m really not a complainer. Generally I’m an easy going, don’t sweat the small stuff, water off a duck’s back kind of girl.
But South Carolina is so loud, I can hardly believe it. It must be complained about.
- Train. Lish’s house (adorable–really, really SO cute it makes me want to spend the day at Home Depot) is on some train tracks. Before we went to bed last night, she said “oh, and the train *isn’t* going to come through the house.” I swear, even with this disclaimer, it’s hard to believe. I was still awake when the first one came through, and I was so impressed with the blaring horn and the shaking house that I cracked up. Laughed myself silly.
- Birds. Listen, I’m not an animal lover. The occasional charming mutt has wiggled its way into my heart, but that’s really the extent of it. The large green squawking hooked-beak bell ringing things in the cage in the hallway? No love for them. Maybe a Bearnaise sauce, but no love.
- Pile Driver. For the love of God.
Okay, fine, also I want to say that Lish is nice, her dad is cool, and the flight was fine. Blah blah blah.
After the rain
November 9, 2006 By
I swear, I wish I had more control over my own brain.
Right this second I am in a coffee shop, trying not to work, and wishing that I could decide what stays in and what gets kicked out.
It seems that beyond my control is the persistance of lyrics to Nelson’s great After the Rain ballad. If you could sing every word along with them, you’d be outraged too.
Of course, you have to recognize the bravery of LeStat’s for being tuned to the satellite radio station that plays this stuff.
Thought for the day from Gunnar and Matthew: Don’t be afraid to lose what was never meant to be.
Real Beauty
October 17, 2006 By
Those of you who participated in my life as I transitioned from San Diego to Berkeley oh so many years ago, or as I transitioned more recently back to San Diego know that the wearing of makeup, bikinis, and other so-cal kinds of things is something that I don’t take lightly.
This is relevant for two reasons. First, everyone EVERYONE EVERYONE should watch this video. Especially girls between the ages of 10 and 25, because that’s when I think Cosmo, Hollywood and other related evils do the most damage.
Just for fun, here’s some FASCINATING photoshopping advice/tutorial to help make my point.
There’s another thing. Why is “taking care of yourself” some kind of code for wearing makeup and blow drying your hair? Why isn’t it about working out? Drinking soy milk*? Wearing sunscreen?
Nobody gets to give me crap when I show up somewhere wearing makeup, by the way. I’m still working this out for my own self.
*Bronwyn informs me that you can’t milk a soy, so it’s more accurate to say “soy juice.” Whatever.
